bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Hurricane Winds and Precipitation on Hydrodynamics in a Back‐Barrier Estuary
Authors: Rey Alexander J. M. , Corbett D. Reide , Mulligan Ryan P.
Published: November 2020

During extreme storms, both wind‐driven changes in water levels and intense precipitation can contribute to flooding. Particularly on low‐lying coastal plains, storm‐driven flooding can cover large areas, resulting in major damage. To investigate the roles of rainfall and storm surge on coastal flooding, a coupled flow‐wave model (Delft3D‐SWAN) that includes precipitation is used to simulate two major storm events. The modeling system is applied over a domain covering coastal North Carolina, USA, including the large Albemarle‐Pamlico estuarine system, and a long and narrow back‐barrier estuary (Currituck Sound [CS]) that experiences major water level variations is investigated in detail. A high‐resolution (50 m) grid with eight vertical layers is used to simulate the conditions during Tropical Storm Hermine and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Hindcasts (winds, pressure, and precipitation) from eight different atmospheric models are used as atmospheric input conditions, and the results are compared with detailed observations of surface waves, currents, and water levels from sensors mounted on five monitoring platforms in CS. Results show that major differences exist between wind fields producing variations coastal conditions. Precipitation directly on the water surface had a large effect on water levels and produced a larger inundated area. These results help to understand the important contributions of each physical process (precipitation, wind‐driven surge, and waves) to circulation and water levels, and provide guidance on the impact of atmospheric forcing conditions on back‐barrier environments during hurricanes.
Gravity Wave Breaking and Vortex Ring Formation Observed by PMC Turbo
Authors: Geach C. , Hanany S. , Fritts D. C. , Kaifler B. , Kaifler N. , Kjellstrand C. B. , Williams B. P. , Eckermann S. D. , Miller A. D. , Jones G. , Reimuller J.
Published: November 2020

Polar mesospheric cloud (PMC) imaging and lidar profiling performed aboard the 5.9‐day PMC Turbo balloon flight from Sweden to northern Canada in July 2018 revealed a wide variety of gravity wave (GW) and instability events occurring nearly continuously at approximately 82 km. We describe one event exhibiting GW breaking and associated vortex rings driven by apparent convective instability. Using PMC Turbo imaging with spatial and temporal resolution of 20 m and 2 s, respectively, we quantify the GW horizontal wavelength, propagation direction, and apparent phase speed. We identify vortex rings with diameters of 2–5 km and horizontal spacing comparable to their size. Lidar data show GW vertical displacements of ±0.3 km. From the data, we find a GW intrinsic frequency and vertical wavelength of 0.009 ± 0.003 rad s−1 and 9 ± 4 km, respectively. We show that these values are consistent with the predictions of numerical simulations of idealized GW breaking. We estimate the momentum deposition rate per unit mass during this event to be 0.04 ± 0.02 m s−2 and show that this value is consistent with the observed GW. Comparison to simulation gives a mean energy dissipation rate for this event of 0.05–0.4 W kg−1, which is consistent with other reported in situ measurements at the Arctic summer mesopause.
Regional Scale Temperature Rather than Precipitation Determines Vessel Features in Earlywood of Manchurian Ash in Temperate Forests
Authors: Zhu L. , Cooper D. J. , Yuan D. , Li Z. , Zhang Y. , Liang H. , Wang X.
Published: November 2020

The earlywood vessels (EWVs) of ring‐porous species are formed in the outermost tree ring to guarantee efficient water transport before bud break. At present, it is unclear which climatic factors influence the formation of EWV traits of trees in temperate forests, which limits the accuracy of predicting forest response to climate change. We investigated the EWV traits of Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.) in a network of 19 sites in northeast China. Ring width (RW) was significantly negatively correlated with vessel density (VD) and positively correlated with other EWV traits, including mean vessel area (MVA), hydraulic diameter (Dh), vessel number (VN), and total vessel area (TVA). The climate signals recorded by RW and EWV traits were consistent in almost all sites. Temperature was the most important climate factor limiting xylem formation that influences RW and EWV of Manchurian ash. The minimum temperature, especially in the previous growing season, was positively correlated with RW and EWV traits but negatively correlated with VD at almost all sites. In the drier northern sites, temperature and moisture in nongrowing season also had a positive effect on RW and EWV traits. The rapid warming around 1980 significantly promotes hydraulic efficiency (Dh, VN, MVA, and TVA) and carbon assimilation (RW), which provided a potential physiological mechanisms of climate warming leading to growth increase of ring‐porous broadleaf species. It is worth noting that continuous climate warming has brought great benefits to tree growth, but it also increases the risk of hydraulic failure, especially in the south.
Unraveling Glacial Hydroclimate in the Indo‐Pacific Warm Pool: Perspectives From Water Isotopes
Authors: Windler Grace , Tierney Jessica E. , Zhu Jiang , Poulsen Christopher J.
Published: November 2020

The Indo‐Pacific Warm Pool (IPWP) is home to the warmest sea surface temperatures in the world oceans, favoring strong tropospheric convection and heavy rainfall. The mechanisms controlling long‐term change in the region's hydroclimate are still uncertain. Here, we present a 450,000‐year record of precipitation δD from southern Sumatra that records a consistent pattern of glacial isotopic enrichment and interglacial depletion. We synthesize existing paleo‐indicators of precipitation δD and δ18O in the IPWP and compare results with water isotope‐enabled climate simulations of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The simulations show glacial isotopic enrichment over the eastern Indian Ocean extending into the southern IPWP and isotopic depletion over Southeast Asia, the west Pacific, and Australia. The pattern of simulated LGM isotopic change agrees generally well with our proxy synthesis. We conclude that reorganization of regional circulation under glacial conditions controls precipitation isotope variability in the IPWP: Low‐level tropospheric convergence dominates the signal in the north/east, whereas divergence controls the response in the south/west. Additional sensitivity simulations suggest that the LGM ice sheets and the associated lowering in sea level, rather than decreased greenhouse gases, are responsible for the distinctive spatial pattern in glacial changes of precipitation isotopes and hydroclimate across the IPWP.
First Estimations of Geomagnetically Induced Currents in the South of Portugal
Authors: Alves Ribeiro Joana , Pinheiro Fernando J. G. , Pais Maria Alexandra
Published: November 2020

Geomagnetic storms induce electric fields in the conducting Earth, which are the source of geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in grounded power lines. In this study, we compute time‐varying geoelectric fields induced in the southern region of the Portuguese mainland at the time of the strongest geomagnetic storms during solar cycle 24, using a plane‐wave approximation. The driving geomagnetic storm signals are obtained from series recorded at the Coimbra magnetic observatory. Magnetotelluric impedance tensors used to compute the induced electric field are obtained using a conductivity model that takes into account general features of the local lithology and the proximity to the sea. The first GIC simulations for Portugal are presented, using data from the national high voltage power network. Starting with an a priori standard uniform electric field to compute electromotive forces, we first assess the susceptibility of the power system network given only its topology and resistance parameters. For real storms, we report (i) the clustering of the horizontal geomagnetic time variation around the northwest‐southeast direction, (ii) the simulation of the effect of the western and southern coastlines of the territory over the induced electric field, and (iii) the spotting of the substations most sensitive to storms in the studied region.
Application of the Verified Neutron Monitor Yield Function for an Extended Analysis of the GLE # 71 on 17 May 2012
Authors: Mishev A. L. , Koldobskiy S. A. , Usoskin I. G. , Kocharov L. G. , Kovaltsov G. A.
Published: November 2020

Intense solar activity was observed in May 2012. A notable ground level enhancement (GLE) was registered on 17 May 2012 by several space‐borne instruments as well as on ground by neutron monitors (NMs). This event is known as GLE # 71. Here, we derived the spectral and angular characteristics, and apparent source position of the solar protons during the GLE # 71, employing verified newly computed NM yield function and sophisticated unfolding procedure. We considerably improved the previously derived information about the spectra and angular distribution, namely, the precision, time span, and time resolution of the derived characteristics, specifically during the event onset and late phase. A comparison with direct measurements, with the Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light‐nuclei Astrophysics (PAMELA) experiment, of the particle fluence was performed, and good agreement between NM and direct space‐borne data analysis was achieved. Subsequently, we computed the effective dose rates in the polar region at several altitudes during the event using the derived rigidity spectra of the solar protons as a reliable input for the corresponding radiation model. The contribution of the galactic cosmic rays and solar protons to the exposure is explicitly considered. We computed the integrated exposure during the event and discussed the exposure of crew members/passengers to radiation at several altitudes.
New Timing Constraints for the Onset of Laramide Deformation in Southwest Montana Challenge our Understanding of the Development of a Thick‐Skinned Structural Style During Flat‐Slab Subduction
Authors: Orme Devon A.
Published: November 2020

In the Rocky Mountain region of the western United States, Laramide‐style reverse faulting involving Proterozoic‐Archean basement is interpreted to be a result of flat‐slab subduction of oceanic lithosphere beneath the continent. Garber et al. (2020, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019TC005944) present new provenance data from the Upper Cretaceous Beaverhead Group in southwest Montana, which suggest the basement‐cored Blacktail‐Snowcrest uplift to be active earlier than previous estimates. Combined with other studies from the region, an earlier age for onset of Laramide‐style deformation requires reevaluation of how the interior of the upper plate deforms during subduction.
The role of m6A modification in physiology and disease
Authors: Yang Chuan , Hu Yiyang , Zhou Bo , Bao Yulu , Li Zhibin , Gong Chunli , Yang Huan , Wang Sumin , Xiao Yufeng
Published: November 2020

Similar to DNA epigenetic modifications, multiple reversible chemical modifications on RNAs have been uncovered in a new layer of epigenetic modification. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a modification that occurs in ~30% transcripts, is dynamically regulated by writer complex (methylase) and eraser (RNA demethylase) proteins, and is recognized by reader (m6A-binding) proteins. The effects of m6A modification are reflected in the functional modulation of mRNA splicing, export, localization, translation, and stability by regulating RNA structure and interactions between RNA and RNA-binding proteins. This modulation is involved in a variety of physiological behaviors, including neurodevelopment, immunoregulation, and cellular differentiation. The disruption of m6A modulations impairs gene expression and cellular function and ultimately leads to diseases such as cancer, psychiatric disorders, and metabolic disease. This review focuses on the mechanisms and functions of m6A modification in a variety of physiological behaviors and diseases.
Initial whole-genome sequencing and analysis of the host genetic contribution to COVID-19 severity and susceptibility
Authors: Wang Fang , Huang Shujia , Gao Rongsui , Zhou Yuwen , Lai Changxiang , Li Zhichao , Xian Wenjie , Qian Xiaobo , Li Zhiyu , Huang Yushan , Tang Qiyuan , Liu Panhong , Chen Ruikun , Liu Rong , Li Xuan , Tong Xin , Zhou Xuan , Bai Yong , Duan Gang , Zhang Tao , Xu Xun , Wang Jian , Yang Huanming , Liu Siyang , He Qing , Jin Xin , Liu Lei
Published: November 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has accounted for millions of infections and hundreds of thousand deaths worldwide in a short-time period. The patients demonstrate a great diversity in clinical and laboratory manifestations and disease severity. Nonetheless, little is known about the host genetic contribution to the observed interindividual phenotypic variability. Here, we report the first host genetic study in the Chinese population by deeply sequencing and analyzing 332 COVID-19 patients categorized by varying levels of severity from the Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital. Upon a total of 22.2 million genetic variants, we conducted both single-variant and gene-based association tests among five severity groups including asymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe, and critical ill patients after the correction of potential confounding factors. Pedigree analysis suggested a potential monogenic effect of loss of function variants in GOLGA3 and DPP7 for critically ill and asymptomatic disease demonstration. Genome-wide association study suggests the most significant gene locus associated with severity were located in TMEM189–UBE2V1 that involved in the IL-1 signaling pathway. The p.Val197Met missense variant that affects the stability of the TMPRSS2 protein displays a decreasing allele frequency among the severe patients compared to the mild and the general population. We identified that the HLA-A*11:01, B*51:01, and C*14:02 alleles significantly predispose the worst outcome of the patients. This initial genomic study of Chinese patients provides genetic insights into the phenotypic difference among the COVID-19 patient groups and highlighted genes and variants that may help guide targeted efforts in containing the outbreak. Limitations and advantages of the study were also reviewed to guide future international efforts on elucidating the genetic architecture of host–pathogen interaction for COVID-19 and other infectious and complex diseases.
Redox-informed models of global biogeochemical cycles
Authors: Zakem Emily J. , Polz Martin F. , Follows Michael J.
Published: November 2020

Microbial activity mediates the fluxes of greenhouse gases. However, in the global models of the marine and terrestrial biospheres used for climate change projections, typically only photosynthetic microbial activity is resolved mechanistically. To move forward, we argue that global biogeochemical models need a theoretically grounded framework with which to constrain parameterizations of diverse microbial metabolisms. Here, we explain how the key redox chemistry underlying metabolisms provides a path towards this goal. Using this first-principles approach, the presence or absence of metabolic functional types emerges dynamically from ecological interactions, expanding model applicability to unobserved environments.

“Nothing is less real than realism. It is only by selection, by elimination, by emphasis, that we get at the real meaning of things.” –Georgia O’Keefe
Understanding the metal-to-insulator transition in La1−xSrxCoO3−δ and its applications for neuromorphic computing
Authors: Zhang Shenli , Galli Giulia
Published: November 2020

Transition metal oxides that exhibit a metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) as a function of oxygen vacancy concentration are promising systems to realize energy-efficient platforms for neuromorphic computing. However, the current lack of understanding of the microscopic mechanism driving the MIT hinders the realization of effective and stable devices. Here we investigate defective cobaltites and we unravel the structural, electronic, and magnetic changes responsible for the MIT when oxygen vacancies are introduced in the material. We show that, contrary to accepted views, cooperative structural distortions instead of local bonding changes are responsible for the MIT, and we describe the subtle interdependence of structural and magnetic transitions. Finally, we present a model, based on first principles, to predict the required electric bias to drive the transition, showing good agreement with available measurements and providing a paradigm to establish design rules for low-energy cost devices.
Observing photo-induced chiral edge states of graphene nanoribbons in pump-probe spectroscopies
Authors: Chen Yuan , Wang Yao , Claassen Martin , Moritz Brian , Devereaux Thomas P.
Published: November 2020

Photo-induced edge states in low-dimensional materials have attracted considerable attention due to the tunability of topological properties and dispersion. Specifically, graphene nanoribbons have been predicted to host chiral edge modes upon irradiation with circularly polarized light. Here, we present numerical calculations of time-resolved angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy and trRIXS of a graphene nanoribbon. We characterize pump-probe spectroscopic signatures of photo-induced edge states, illustrate the origin of distinct spectral features that arise from Floquet topological edge modes, and investigate the roles of incoming photon energies and finite core–hole lifetime in RIXS. With momentum, energy, and time resolution, pump-probe spectroscopies can play an important role in understanding the behavior of photo-induced topological states of matter.
Mitochondria interaction networks show altered topological patterns in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Zanin Massimiliano , Santos Bruno F. R. , Antony Paul M. A. , Berenguer-Escuder Clara , Larsen Simone B. , Hanss Zoé , Barbuti Peter A. , Baumuratov Aidos S. , Grossmann Dajana , Capelle Christophe M. , Weber Joseph , Balling Rudi , Ollert Markus , Krüger Rejko , Diederich Nico J. , He Feng Q.
Published: November 2020

Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, individual mitochondria-based analyses do not show a uniform feature in PD patients. Since mitochondria interact with each other, we hypothesize that PD-related features might exist in topological patterns of mitochondria interaction networks (MINs). Here we show that MINs formed nonclassical scale-free supernetworks in colonic ganglia both from healthy controls and PD patients; however, altered network topological patterns were observed in PD patients. These patterns were highly correlated with PD clinical scores and a machine-learning approach based on the MIN features alone accurately distinguished between patients and controls with an area-under-curve value of 0.989. The MINs of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mDANs) derived from several genetic PD patients also displayed specific changes. CRISPR/CAS9-based genome correction of alpha-synuclein point mutations reversed the changes in MINs of mDANs. Our organelle-interaction network analysis opens another critical dimension for a deeper characterization of various complex diseases with mitochondrial dysregulation.
Curing piglets from diarrhea and preparation of a healthy microbiome with Bacillus treatment for industrial animal breeding
Authors: Yue Shousong , Li Zhentian , Hu Fuli , Picimbon Jean-François
Published: November 2020

High-throughput farming of animals for an essential purpose such as large scale health and production of hogs is a challenge for the food industry in the modern world. The problem is that the breeding of livestock for fast growth or high yields of meat is often associated with illness and microbial infection that develop under the breeding conditions. Piglet diarrhea is most common pig disease, leading to heavy mortality and thereby economic loss. We proved that chemical drugs can relieve the symptoms of diarrhea in ill piglets, but they do not treat the underlying cause, i.e. significantly altered bacterial gut flora. Using Illumina sequencing of fecal DNA, we showed that the bacterial gut flora of piglets treated with antibiotics remain close to the ill conditions. However, using Illumina sequencing of fecal DNA from piglets treated with a specific Bacillus (Bacillus subtilis Y-15, B. amyloliquefaciens DN6502 and B. licheniformis SDZD02) demonstrated the efficiency of natural bioproducts not only on curing diarrhea, but also on beneficial bacteria to re-establish in the piglet gut. We therefore propose a new natural “medicine” to be explored by the world farm animal agriculture industry, particularly for sustainable improvement of swine livestock production and health.
First sequencing of ancient coral skeletal proteins
Authors: Drake Jeana L. , Whitelegge Julian P. , Jacobs David K.
Published: November 2020

Here we report the first recovery, sequencing, and identification of fossil biomineral proteins from a Pleistocene fossil invertebrate, the stony coral Orbicella annularis. This fossil retains total hydrolysable amino acids of a roughly similar composition to extracts from modern O. annularis skeletons, with the amino acid data rich in Asx (Asp + Asn) and Glx (Glu + Gln) typical of invertebrate skeletal proteins. It also retains several proteins, including a highly acidic protein, also known from modern coral skeletal proteomes that we sequenced by LC–MS/MS over multiple trials in the best-preserved fossil coral specimen. A combination of degradation or amino acid racemization inhibition of trypsin digestion appears to limit greater recovery. Nevertheless, our workflow determines optimal samples for effective sequencing of fossil coral proteins, allowing comparison of modern and fossil invertebrate protein sequences, and will likely lead to further improvements of the methods. Sequencing of endogenous organic molecules in fossil invertebrate biominerals provides an ancient record of composition, potentially clarifying evolutionary changes and biotic responses to paleoenvironments.
Mir142 loss unlocks IDH2R140-dependent leukemogenesis through antagonistic regulation of HOX genes
Authors: Marshall A. , Kasturiarachchi J. , Datta P. , Guo Y. , Deltcheva E. , James C. , Brown J. , May G. , Anandagoda N. , Jackson I. , Howard J. K. , Ghazaly E. , Brooks S. , Khwaja A. , Araki M. , Araki K. , Linch D. , Lord G. M. , Enver T. , Nimmo R.
Published: November 2020

AML is a genetically heterogeneous disease and understanding how different co-occurring mutations cooperate to drive leukemogenesis will be crucial for improving diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients. MIR142 mutations have been recurrently detected in IDH-mutated AML samples. Here, we have used a mouse model to investigate the interaction between these two mutations and demonstrate a striking synergy between Mir142 loss-of-function and IDH2R140Q, with only recipients of double mutant cells succumbing to leukemia. Transcriptomic analysis of the non-leukemic single and leukemic double mutant progenitors, isolated from these mice, suggested a novel mechanism of cooperation whereby Mir142 loss-of-function counteracts aberrant silencing of Hoxa cluster genes by IDH2R140Q. Our analysis suggests that IDH2R140Q is an incoherent oncogene, with both positive and negative impacts on leukemogenesis, which requires the action of cooperating mutations to alleviate repression of Hoxa genes in order to advance to leukemia. This model, therefore, provides a compelling rationale for understanding how different mutations cooperate to drive leukemogenesis and the context-dependent effects of oncogenic mutations.
Genome-wide association study uncovers genomic regions associated with grain iron, zinc and protein content in pearl millet
Authors: Pujar Mahesh , Gangaprasad S. , Govindaraj Mahalingam , Gangurde Sunil S. , Kanatti A. , Kudapa Himabindu
Published: November 2020

Pearl millet hybrids biofortified with iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) promise to be part of a long-term strategy to combat micronutrient malnutrition in the arid and semi-arid tropical (SAT) regions of the world. Biofortification through molecular breeding is the way forward to achieving a rapid trait-based breeding strategy. This genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to identify significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) for Fe, Zn, and protein content (PC) for enhanced biofortification breeding. A diverse panel of 281 advanced inbred lines was evaluated for Fe, Zn, and PC over two seasons. Phenotypic evaluation revealed high variability (Fe: 32–120 mg kg−1, Zn: 19–87 mg kg−1, PC: 8–16%), heritability (hbs2 ≥ 90%) and significantly positive correlation among Fe, Zn and PC (P = 0.01), implying concurrent improvement. Based on the Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) seq assay, 58,719 highly informative SNPs were filtered for association mapping. Population structure analysis showed six major genetic groups (K = 6). A total of 78 MTAs were identified, of which 18 were associated with Fe, 43 with Zn, and 17 with PC. Four SNPs viz., Pgl04_64673688, Pgl05_135500493, Pgl05_144482656, and Pgl07_101483782 located on chromosomes Pgl04 (1), Pgl05 (2) and Pgl07 (1), respectively were co-segregated for Fe and Zn. Promising genes, ‘Late embryogenesis abundant protein’, ‘Myb domain’, ‘pentatricopeptide repeat’, and ‘iron ion binding’ coded by 8 SNPs were identified. The SNPs/genes identified in the present study presents prospects for genomics assisted biofortification breeding in pearl millet.
Modeling and forecasting the early evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil
Authors: Bastos Saulo B. , Cajueiro Daniel O.
Published: November 2020

We model and forecast the early evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil using Brazilian recent data from February 25, 2020 to March 30, 2020. This early period accounts for unawareness of the epidemiological characteristics of the disease in a new territory, sub-notification of the real numbers of infected people and the timely introduction of social distancing policies to flatten the spread of the disease. We use two variations of the SIR model and we include a parameter that comprises the effects of social distancing measures. Short and long term forecasts show that the social distancing policy imposed by the government is able to flatten the pattern of infection of the COVID-19. However, our results also show that if this policy does not last enough time, it is only able to shift the peak of infection into the future keeping the value of the peak in almost the same value. Furthermore, our long term simulations forecast the optimal date to end the policy. Finally, we show that the proportion of asymptomatic individuals affects the amplitude of the peak of symptomatic infected, suggesting that it is important to test the population.
The influence of induction speed on the frontal (processed) EEG
Authors: Obert D. P. , Sepúlveda P. , Kratzer S. , Schneider G. , Kreuzer M.
Published: November 2020

The intravenous injection of the anaesthetic propofol is clinical routine to induce loss of responsiveness (LOR). However, there are only a few studies investigating the influence of the injection rate on the frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) during LOR. Therefore, we focused on changes of the frontal EEG especially during this period. We included 18 patients which were randomly assigned to a slow or fast induction group and recorded the frontal EEG. Based on this data, we calculated the power spectral density, the band powers and band ratios. To analyse the behaviour of processed EEG parameters we calculated the beta ratio, the spectral entropy, and the spectral edge frequency. Due to the prolonged induction period in the slow injection group we were able to distinguish loss of responsiveness to verbal command (LOvR) from loss of responsiveness to painful stimulus (LOpR) whereas in the fast induction group we could not. At LOpR, we observed a higher relative alpha and beta power in the slow induction group while the relative power in the delta range was lower than in the fast induction group. When concentrating on the slow induction group the increase in relative alpha power pre-LOpR and even before LOvR indicated that frontal EEG patterns, which have been suggested as an indicator of unconsciousness, can develop before LOR. Further, LOvR was best reflected by an increase of the alpha to delta ratio, and LOpR was indicated by a decrease of the beta to alpha ratio. These findings highlight the different spectral properties of the EEG at various levels of responsiveness and underline the influence of the propofol injection rate on the frontal EEG during induction of general anesthesia.
Survival rate dependent variations in retinopathy of prematurity treatment rates in very low birth weight infants
Authors: Park Jae Hyun , Hwang Jong Hee , Chang Yun Sil , Lee Myung Hee , Park Won Soon
Published: November 2020

As increased oxidative stress causes increased mortality and morbidities like bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs), the conundrum of improved survival but increased ROP observed with the high oxygen saturation target range of 91–95% is difficult to explain. To determine the survival rate-dependent variation in ROP treatment rate, 6292 surviving eligible VLBWIs registered in the Korean Neonatal Network were arbitrarily grouped according to the survival rate of infants at 23–24 weeks’ gestation as group I (> 70%, n = 1626), group II (40–70%, n = 2984) and group III (< 40%, n = 1682). Despite significantly higher survival and lower BPD rates in group I than in groups II and III, the ROP treatment rate was higher in group I than in groups II and III. However, the adjusted odds ratios for ROP treatment were not significantly different between the study groups, and the ROP treatment rate in the infants at 23–24 weeks’ gestation was 21-fold higher than the infants at ≥ 27 weeks’ gestation. The controversial association between improved survival and reduced BPD reflecting quality improvement of neonatal intensive care but increased ROP treatment rate might be primarily attributed to the improved survival of the most immature infants.
Improving single pixel imaging performance in high noise condition by under-sampling
Authors: Sha Fangyuan , Sahoo Sujit Kumar , Lam Huy Quoc , Ng Beng Koon , Dang Cuong
Published: November 2020

Single-pixel imaging could be a superior solution for imaging applications where the detector array is very expensive or not even available. Sampling order, sampling ratio, noise and type of transforms affect the quality of the reconstructed image. Here, we compare the performance of single pixel imaging (SPI) with Hadamard transform (HT) and discrete cosine transform (DCT) in the presence of noise. The trade-off between adding image information and adding noise in each coefficient measurement results in an optimum number of measurements for reconstruction image quality. In addition, DCT shows higher image quality with fewer measurements than HT does. We then demonstrate our SPI with optimum sampling strategy for a large set of images and lab experiments and finally put forward a quality control technique, which is corroborated by the practical experiments. Our results suggest a practical approach for SPI to improve the speed and achieve the highest possible image quality.
Pyuria, urinary tract infection and renal outcome in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 3–5
Authors: Kuo I-Ching , Lee Jia-Jung , Hwang Daw-Yang , Lim Lee-Moay , Lin Hugo You-Hsien , Hwang Shang-Jyh , Chen Hung-Chun , Hung Chi-Chih
Published: November 2020

Pyuria is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD), which could be due to either urinary tract infection (UTI) or renal parenchymal inflammation. Only little is known regarding the association of pyuria or UTI with renal outcomes. We investigated 3226 patients with stage 3–5 CKD. Pyuria was defined as ≥ 50 WBC per high-power field (hpf) and was correlated to old age, female, diabetes, hypoalbuminemia, lower eGFR, and higher inflammation status. In Cox regression, patients with more than one episode of pyuria in the first year (11.8%) had increased risks for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) [hazard ratio (95% CI): 1.90 (1.58–2.28); p < 0.001], rapid renal function progression [odds ratio (95% CI): 1.49 (1.13–1.95); p = 0.001], and all-cause mortality [hazard ratio: 1.63 (1.29–2.05); p < 0.001], compared to those without pyuria. In a subgroup analysis, the risk of pyuria for ESRD was modified by CKD stages. We investigated the effects of UTI (urinary symptoms and treated by antibiotics) and pyuria without UTI (urine WBC < 50 to ≥ 10/hpf without any episodes of ≥ 50 WBC/hpf or UTI), while both groups were associated with clinical outcomes. In conclusion, CKD stage 3–5 patients with frequent pyuria or UTI episodes have increased risks of renal outcomes.
The origins of binding specificity of a lanthanide ion binding peptide
Authors: Hatanaka Takaaki , Kikkawa Nobuaki , Matsugami Akimasa , Hosokawa Yoichi , Hayashi Fumiaki , Ishida Nobuhiro
Published: November 2020

Lanthanide ions (Ln3+) show similar physicochemical properties in aqueous solutions, wherein they exist as + 3 cations and exhibit ionic radii differences of less than 0.26 Å. A flexible linear peptide lanthanide binding tag (LBT), which recognizes a series of 15 Ln3+, shows an interesting characteristic in binding specificity, i.e., binding affinity biphasically changes with an increase in the atomic number, and shows a greater than 60-fold affinity difference between the highest and lowest values. Herein, by combining experimental and computational investigations, we gain deep insight into the reaction mechanism underlying the specificity of LBT3, an LBT mutant, toward Ln3+. Our results clearly show that LBT3-Ln3+ binding can be divided into three, and the large affinity difference is based on the ability of Ln3+ in a complex to be directly coordinated with a water molecule. When the LBT3 recognizes a Ln3+ with a larger ionic radius (La3+ to  Sm3+), a water molecule can interact with Ln3+ directly. This extra water molecule infiltrates the complex and induces dissociation of the Asn5 sidechain (one of the coordinates) from Ln3+, resulting in a destabilizing complex and low affinity. Conversely, with recognition of smaller Ln3+ (Sm3+ to Yb3+), the LBT3 completely surrounds the ions and constructs a stable high affinity complex. Moreover, when the LBT3 recognizes the smallest Ln3+, namely Lu3+, although it completely surrounds Lu3+, an entropically unfavorable phenomenon specifically occurs, resulting in lower affinity than that of Yb3+. Our findings will be useful for the design of molecules that enable the distinction of sub-angstrom size differences.
High incidence of asymptomatic leptospirosis among urban sanitation workers from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
Authors: Jeffree Mohammad Saffree , Mori Daisuke , Yusof Nur Athirah , Atil Azman Bin , Lukman Khamisah Awang , Othman Rafidah , Hassan Mohd Rohaizat , Suut Lela , Ahmed Kamruddin
Published: November 2020

Leptospirosis is a public health challenge in Sabah State of Malaysian Borneo. Rapid urbanization, rural-to-urban migration, and undocumented immigration in Sabah have increased the pressure on the urban garbage disposal system. Rodents and other small animals thrive under these conditions. We hypothesized that urban sanitation workers would be at risk of developing leptospirosis. In total, 303 urban sanitation workers with a mean age of 42.6 years were enrolled in this study. The serum samples collected from these workers were subjected to the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), PCR and nucleotide sequencing of the amplicons to confirm the presence of Leptospira. The phylogenetic analysis using the neighbor joining method was performed to assess whether they were pathogenic. In this study 43.8% (133/303) of the samples were MAT-seropositive and among them, 29 (21.8%) were positive by PCR. Nucleotide sequencing of the amplicons confirmed the presence of Leptospira. Phylogenetic analysis showed that our strains belonged to the pathogenic group of Leptospira. A high proportion of urban sanitation workers were seropositive for leptospirosis, and a considerable number were PCR positive for Leptospira, thereby indicating asymptomatic infections. Further research is needed to confirm whether this is a transient phenomenon or antibiotic therapy is required.
Mutual mate choice and its benefits for both sexes
Authors: Reyes-Ramírez Alicia , Sandoval-García Iván Antonio , Rocha-Ortega Maya , Córdoba-Aguilar Alex
Published: November 2020

In mating interactions, it is common in nature for both sexes to choose simultaneously. However, this mutual mate choice and its consequences for progeny has received relatively little study; an approach where both male and female condition is manipulated is thus desirable. We compared both sexes’ preferences in Tenebrio molitor beetles when individual condition varied (healthy vs infected with a fungus), and observed the direct benefits of those preferences. We predicted that: (a) females and males in good condition would prefer high quality mates; (b) preferences would be weaker when the choosing individual is in poor condition (and thus less selective given, for example, time and energetic constrains); and, (c) high quality mates would lay a larger number of total eggs and/or viable eggs than low quality mates. We found that both males and females in good condition were not more likely to choose mates that were also in good condition. However, poor-condition animals were more likely to prefer similar quality animals, while high-condition animals did not necessarily prefer mates of similar condition. Choosing sick males or females had a negative impact on egg number and viability. Our results suggest a non-adaptive mate choice in this species. Possibly, a deteriorated condition may drive individuals to invest more in attracting mates, because their chances of surviving the infection are very low. However, we do not discount the possibility that the fungus is manipulating individuals to increase its transmission during mating.
Comprehensive profiling of extracellular RNA in HPV-induced cancers using an improved pipeline for small RNA-seq analysis
Authors: Tong Fangjia , Andress Arlise , Tang Gongyu , Liu Ping , Wang Xiaowei
Published: November 2020

Extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) have attracted great attention due to their essential role in cell-to-cell communication as well as their potential as non-invasive disease biomarkers. However, at present, there is no consensus on the best method to profile exRNA expression, which leads to significant variability across studies. To address this issue, we established an experimental pipeline for comprehensive profiling of small exRNAs isolated from cell culture. By evaluating six RNA extraction protocols, we developed an improved method for robust recovery of vesicle-bound exRNAs. With this method, we performed small RNA sequencing of exosomes (EXOs), microvesicles (MVs) and source cells from 14 cancer cell lines. Compared to cells, EXOs and MVs were similarly enriched in tRNAs and rRNAs, but depleted in snoRNAs. By miRNA profiling analysis, we identified a subset of miRNAs, most noticeably miR-122-5p, that were significantly over-represented in EXOs and MVs across all 14 cell lines. In addition, we also identified a subset of EXO miRNAs associated with cancer type or human papillomavirus (HPV) status, suggesting their potential roles in HPV-induced cancers. In summary, our work has laid a solid foundation for further standardization on exRNA analysis across various cellular systems.
Body mass index and body weight change during adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer patients: results from the AVANT trial
Authors: Lee Dae-Won , Cho Sooyoung , Shin Aesun , Han Sae-Won , Kim Tae-You
Published: November 2020

While obesity increases colorectal cancer incidence, there are inconsistent results in the prognostic role of obesity or body weight change on survival. This study investigated the prognostic impact of body weight and weight change in stage III or high risk stage II colon cancer patients. We used data from patients enrolled in the phase III AVANT trial. The AVANT trial investigated the efficacy of adding bevacizumab to standard adjuvant chemotherapy (FOFOX or XELOX). Weight change during the first 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy was measured. Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the prognostic influence of body weight and weight change. Among 3451 intention-to-treat population, body weight and weight change was measured in 3449 (99.9%) and 2455 (71.1%) patients, respectively. Among 2455 patients, 651 (26.5%) had weight gain over 5 kg and 179 (7.3%) had weight loss over 5 kg. Weight gain was more frequently observed in Asian and male. Neither baseline BMI nor weight change affected recurrence or survival in the Cox proportional hazard model.
Author Correction: Female mouse tears contain an anti-aggression pheromone
Authors: Cavaliere Rosa Maria , Silvotti Lucia , Percudani Riccardo , Tirindelli Roberto
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Publisher Correction: A century of high elevation ecosystem change in the Canadian Rocky Mountains
Authors: Trant Andrew , Higgs Eric , Starzomski Brian M.
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Indicator displacement assays (IDAs): the past, present and future
Authors: Sedgwick Adam C. , Brewster James T. , Wu Tianhong , Feng Xing , Bull Steven D. , Qian Xuhong , Sessler Jonathan L. , James Tony D. , Anslyn Eric V. , Sun Xiaolong
Published: November 2020

Indicator displacement assays (IDAs) offer a unique and innovative approach to molecular sensing. This Tutorial review discusses the basic concepts of each IDA strategy and illustrates their use in sensing applications.
From tissue engineering to engineering tissues: the role and application of in vitro models
Authors: Peneda Pacheco Daniela , Suárez Vargas Natalia , Visentin Sonja , Petrini Paola
Published: November 2020

This review defines and explores the engineering process and the multifaceted potential and limitations of models within the biomedical field.
Emission color-tunable oxazol(in)yl-substituted excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)-based luminophores
Authors: Göbel Dominik , Rusch Pascal , Duvinage Daniel , Bigall Nadja C. , Nachtsheim Boris J.
Published: November 2020

Oxazolinyl- and arylchalcogenazolyl-substituted hydroxyfluorenes exhibiting excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) are described as potent and highly modular luminophores.
High dual-state blue emission of a functionalized pyrazoline derivative for picric acid detection
Authors: Guo Shengmei , Zhang Yuyang , Huang Jianyan , Kong Lin , Yang Jiaxiang
Published: November 2020

High dual-state blue emission of a functionalized pyrazoline derivative for picric acid detection.
Unusual intrinsic thermoluminescence in LiMgPO4:Er
Authors: Kellerman D. G. , Kalinkin M. O. , Abashev R. M. , Medvedeva N. I. , Surdo A. I. , Tyutyunnik A. P.
Published: November 2020

Enhancement of stimulated luminescence in LiMgPO4due to energy transfer from Er3+to the optical matrix.
In situprobing of Pt/TiO2activity in low-temperature ammonia oxidation
Authors: Kibis Lidiya S. , Svintsitskiy Dmitry A. , Stadnichenko Andrey I. , Slavinskaya Elena M. , Romanenko Anatoly V. , Fedorova Elizaveta A. , Stonkus Olga A. , Svetlichnyi Valery A. , Fakhrutdinova Elena D. , Vorokhta Mykhailo , Šmíd Břetislav , Doronkin Dmitry E. , Marchuk Vasyl , Grunwaldt Jan-Dierk , Boronin Andrei I.
Published: November 2020

NAP-XPS andoperandoXAS study of Pt/TiO2catalysts shows that Pt0species stabilized on TiO2surface have the highest activity at low-temperature NH3oxidation.
Effect of disinfectant residual, pH, and temperature on microbial abundance in disinfected drinking water distribution systems
Authors: Kennedy Lauren C. , Miller Scott E. , Kantor Rose S. , Nelson Kara L.
Published: November 2020

This work demonstrates insights gained from monitoring absolute microbial abundance in full-scale disinfected drinking water distribution systems and lays a foundation for statistical approaches that could provide a basis for applying these tools.
Quantitative prediction of rare earth concentrations in salt matrices using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for application to molten salt reactors and pyroprocessing
Authors: Hull Gregory , Lambert Hugues , Haroon Kiran , Coffey Paul , Kerry Timothy , McNaghten Edward D. , Sharrad Clint A. , Martin Philip
Published: November 2020

Pyroprocessing of spent nuclear fuels is an electrochemical separation method where spent metallic fuel is dissolved in a molten salt bath to allow uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu) to be isolated from fission products (FPs) and other impurities.
Determination of the microscopic mineralogy of inclusion in an amygdaloidal pillow basalt by fs-LIMS
Authors: Tulej Marek , Lukmanov Rustam , Grimaudo Valentine , Riedo Andreas , de Koning Coenrad , Ligterink Niels F. W. , Neubeck Anna , Ivarsson Magnus , McMahon Sean , Wurz Peter
Published: November 2020

Depth profiling and atomic intensity correlation studies on mineralogical inclusion embedded in calcium carbonate phase using a miniature laser mass spectrometer are presented. The method allows the determination of complex mineralogical phases.
Distinct twist-bend nematic phase behaviors associated with the ester-linkage direction of thioether-linked liquid crystal dimers
Authors: Arakawa Yuki , Komatsu Kenta , Feng Jun , Zhu Chenhui , Tsuji Hideto
Published: November 2020

Two homologous series of thioether-linked liquid crystal dimers with oppositely directed esters,viz.CBCOOnSCB and CBOCOnSCB, exhibit largely different helical pitches in the NTBphase, which are ascribed to their molecular bend or biaxiality.
Excellent photoreduction performance of Cr(vi) over (WO4)2−-doped metal organic framework materials
Authors: Zhao Xinyun , Wu Lamei , Chen Xi , Hu Juncheng , Wu Tsung-hsueh , Li Qin , Lv Kangle
Published: November 2020

Negatively charged (WO4)2− anions doped into 2D layered metal organic frameworks bismuth terephthalate provides a valuable strategy for excellent photoreduction of Cr(vi).
Regorafenib analogues and their ferrocenic counterparts: synthesis and biological evaluation
Authors: Wilde Myron , Arzur Danielle , Baratte Blandine , Lefebvre Dorian , Robert Thomas , Roisnel Thierry , Le Jossic-Corcos Catherine , Bach Stéphane , Corcos Laurent , Erb William
Published: November 2020

New ferrocene analogues of regorafenib have been prepared and their biological activity was evaluated in kinase and cellular assays.
Synthetic strategies for mining the information-rich content of natural products for biology and medicine
Authors: Romo Daniel , Vanderwal Christopher D.
Published: November 2020

The Natural Product Reports themed collection on Synthetic Strategies for Mining the Information-Rich Content of Natural Products for Biology and Medicine is introduced by the Guest Editors, Daniel Romo and Christopher D. Vanderwal.
A study on the selective catalytic reduction of NOx by ammonia on sulphated iron-based catalysts
Authors: Liu Caixia , Wang Huijun , Bi Yalian , Zhang Ziyin
Published: November 2020

The roles of Fe3+ and SO42− are different at low and high temperatures due to their interaction. It is the appropriate contents of Fe3+ and SO42− that can result in high NH3-SCR activity at varying temperatures.
Performance evaluation of CuBTC composites for room temperature oxygen storage
Authors: Melag Leena , Sadiq M. Munir , Konstas Kristina , Zadehahmadi Farnaz , Suzuki Kiyonori , Hill Matthew R.
Published: November 2020

Oxygen is commonly separated from air using cryogenic liquefaction.
Hydrogen production via thermocatalytic decomposition of methane using carbon-based catalysts
Authors: Harun Khalida , Adhikari Sushil , Jahromi Hossein
Published: November 2020

Methane decomposition over a carbon supported Ru catalyst (Ru–AC) and activated biochar (AB) for hydrogen production.