bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SIMBIO-SYS/STC stereo camera calibration: Geometrical distortion
Authors: Simioni Emanuele , Da Deppo Vania , Re Cristina , Slemer Alessandra , Capria Maria Teresa , Ficai Veltroni Iacopo , Borrelli Donato , Dami Michele , Tommasi Leonardo , Mugnuolo Raffaele , Amoroso Marilena , Longo Francesco , Cremonese Gabriele
Published: April 2019

The STereo imaging Channel (STC) is the first push-frame stereo camera on board an European Space Agency (ESA) satellite, i.e., the ESA-Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency mission BepiColombo. It was launched in October 2018, and it will reach its target, Mercury, in 2025. The STC main aim is to provide the global three-dimensional reconstruction of the Mercury surface. STC, the stereo channel of spectrometer and imagers for Mercury Planetary Orbiter BepiColombo-Integrated Observatory System, is based on an original optical design that incorporates the advantages of a compact unique detector instrument and the convenience of a double direction acquisition system. In fact, STC operates in a push-frame imaging mode and its two optical sub-channels will converge the incoming light on a single focal plane assembly allowing to minimize mass and volume. The focal plane of the instrument is housing six different filters: two panchromatic filters in the range 600-800 nm and four broadband filters with central wavelengths in the range 420-920 nm. In this paper, the geometrical calibration of the instrument, including the optical setups used, will be described. The methods used to derive the focal lengths, the boresights, and the reference systems of the different filter models are presented, and the related distortion results are discussed. The STC off-axis configuration forced to develop a distortion map model based on the RFM (rational function model). In contrast to other existing models, which allow linear estimates, the RFM is not referred to specific lens geometry, but it is sufficiently general to model a variety of distortion types, as it will be demonstrated in this particular case.
A new method to suppress the Rayleigh–Taylor instability in a linear device
Authors: Zhu Guanghui , Shi Peiyun , Yang Zhida , Zheng Jian , Luo Ming , Ying Jiacheng , Sun Xuan
Published: April 2019

Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI) is a primary hurdle for many different fusion approaches, most of which rely on external pressure to stabilize the plasma by impeding plasma displacement. In this paper, we report a novel method that utilizes a rotating magnetic field (RMF) to drive an azimuthal electron current to reduce the charge separation caused by RTI. The fluctuation measured in the central cell of the mirror device, approximately half a device length away from the RMF, is identified as the m=1 mode and is suppressed by the RMF in the plug cell. The azimuthal electric fields of the fluctuation are found to decrease to almost zero, and the radial confinement is improved by more than a factor of ten. The separation of the RMF region from the central cell makes this stabilization method unique because the RMF, which can complicate the local magnetic field lines, has little influence on the magnetic field configuration in the central cell. This study may shed light on the use of resonant magnetic perturbations in tokamaks as well as on stabilization methods for many other fusion experiments.
Characterisation of thermionic emission current with a laser-heated system
Authors: Dominguez-Andrade Hugo , Croot Alex , Wan Gary , Smith James A. , Fox Neil A.
Published: April 2019

Thermionic emitting materials are relevant for several technological applications like electron guns, X-ray sources, or thermionic energy converters. As new materials and surface functionalisations that enable thermionic emission are developed, it is essential to be able to test them in a repeatable and reliable manner. Here, we present a CO2 laser-heated system for thermionic tests that can be used to test the thermionic emission current of different materials regardless of the optical properties or form factor. Our system can reach sample temperatures of T ≈ 1000 °C and can follow pre-programmed heating profiles. Additionally, a double thermo-electrical decoupling provides a very low electrical noise environment while keeping the sample heat loss to a minimum. Experimental data on sample temperature and thermionic current from a hydrogen terminated single crystal diamond are presented and discussed.
Ultra-flexible and high-performance electromagnetic wave shielding film based on CNTF/liquid metal composite films
Authors: Ou Meilian , Qiu Wangkang , Huang Kaiyuan , Chu Sheng
Published: April 2019

A thin, lightweight, and flexible composite of carbon nanotube film (CNTF) with gallium indium tin (GaInSn) liquid metal (LM), denominated as CNTF/GaInSn, was fabricated for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material. Scanning electron microscopy shows that CNTs with an average diameter of 2 nm are randomly distributed. Electric conductivity of CNTF is 396 S cm−1, which is much smaller than that of copper, nickel, GaInSn, etc. The measured EMI shielding efficiency (SE) of a CNTF/GaInSn composite film of sandwich structure (bilayer CNTF and single layer GaInSn) is around 55 dB in an X band (8.2–12.4 GHz), which is higher than that of bilayer CNTFs by 20 dB, indicating that the presence of the embedding GaInSn LM layer greatly improves the EMI SE of CNTF. EMI SE also increases with increasing the number of CNTF layers, but the increased EMI SE by adding the number of the CNTF layer is not comparable to that of by embedding the GaInSn layer between two layers of CNTFs. The contribution of reflection to total EMI SE also increases after the presence of GaInSn LM.
A flexible exchange-biased spin valve for sensing strain direction
Authors: Matsumoto H. , Ota S. , Ando A. , Chiba D.
Published: April 2019

We have demonstrated that the strain direction can be detected sensitively using an exchange-biased spin valve (SV) formed on a flexible substrate. The flexible giant magnetoresistive SV used here contains a strain-sensitive Co free layer and a strain-insensitive exchange-biased NiFe pinned layer. The exchange bias is imparted from an antiferromagnetic FeMn layer stacked on the NiFe layer. When the strain is applied in a direction deviating from the exchange bias field, the free layer magnetization rotates along this directly only, resulting in a resistance change. Compared to the previously reported flexible pseudo SV, the present device allows strain direction sensing at a much smaller strain magnitude because no external magnetic field assistance is needed to fix the pinned layer magnetization, which hampers the rotation of the free layer magnetization. The robustness of the exchange bias to the strain in the simple NiFe/FeMn bilayer structure is also discussed.
Epidermal growth factor receptor is a host-entry cofactor triggering hepatitis B virus internalization
Authors: Iwamoto Masashi , Saso Wakana , Sugiyama Ryuichi , Ishii Koji , Ohki Mio , Nagamori Shushi , Suzuki Ryosuke , Aizaki Hideki , Ryo Akihide , Yun Ji-Hye , Park Sam-Yong , Ohtani Naoko , Muramatsu Masamichi , Iwami Shingo , Tanaka Yasuhito , Sureau Camille , Wakita Takaji , Watashi Koichi
Published: April 2019

Significance

For achieving efficient entry into host cells, viruses utilize multiple host factors for mediating the stepwise entry process. Sole expression of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), a cellular receptor for hepatitis B virus (HBV), is not sufficient for the efficient viral internalization into hepatocytes. Here, we identify epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a host factor that interacts with NTCP and mediates HBV internalization. Dissociation of the NTCP–EGFR interaction or functional depletion of EGFR attenuated the viral internalization to NTCP-expressing cells and infection. Our data suggest that HBV enters human hepatocytes using an intrinsic NTCP–EGFR complex as a driving force. EGFR is thus an entry cofactor required for HBV infection of the human liver.
Imaging the Renner–Teller effect using laser-induced electron diffraction
Authors: Amini Kasra , Sclafani Michele , Steinle Tobias , Le Anh-Thu , Sanchez Aurelien , Müller Carolin , Steinmetzer Johannes , Yue Lun , Martínez Saavedra José Ramón , Hemmer Michaël , Lewenstein Maciej , Moshammer Robert , Pfeifer Thomas , Pullen Michael G. , Ullrich Joachim , Wolter Benjamin , Moszynski Robert , García de Abajo F. Javier , Lin C. D. , Gräfe Stefanie , Biegert Jens
Published: April 2019

Significance

Laser-induced electron diffraction is a molecular-scale electron microscopy that captures clean snapshots of a molecule’s geometry with subatomic picometer and attosecond spatiotemporal resolution. We induce and unambiguously identify the stretching and bending of a linear triatomic molecule following the excitation of the molecule to an excited electronic state with a bent and stretched geometry. We show that we can directly retrieve the structure of electronically excited molecules that is otherwise possible through indirect retrieval methods such as pump–probe and rotational spectroscopy measurements.
The VocabLab tests
Authors: Peters Elke , Velghe Tom , Van Rompaey Tinne
Published: April 2019

This study describes the development of an English and French multiple choice vocabulary test – the
VocabLab tests – that measure learners’ knowledge at four frequency levels up to the most frequent 5,000
words: the 2,000-level, 3,000-level, 4,000-level, and the 5,000-level. The two tests aimed to address some of the limitations of
tests currently in use. First, they are sampled from recent frequency lists. Second, they are geared towards Dutch-speaking
learners of English and French in Flanders. Third, they attempt to minimize guessing by including an “I don’t know”-option. The
findings showed that the tests are internally consistent. Mean scores decreased when the words were less frequent, lending
evidence to the tests’ construct validity. Additionally, the tests seem to be able to discriminate between different proficiency
levels. As both tests were developed according to the same principles, they can be used to compare learners’ English and French
vocabulary knowledge.
The development of dynamicity in the acquisition of Spanish by Chinese learners
Authors: Sun Yuliang , Díaz Lourdes , Taulé Mariona
Published: April 2019

The acquisition of aspect in L2 is influenced by the properties of the lexical-aspectual class, coercion at the
syntactic-pragmatic interface and grounding information (foreground and background) in discourse. This paper addresses how these
linguistic functions influence the acquisition of Spanish aspectual past tenses (pretérito indefinido and pretérito imperfecto) by
Mandarin Chinese learners. The results show that activities and accomplishments are more problematic for learners to acquire and
that dynamicity, rather than telicity, plays a determinant role for Chinese learners. Moreover, factors concerning coercion – a
pragmatic and discourse mechanismremain difficult to master at C1. Our results also support the Discourse Hypothesis, though
showing different patterns of association (lexical and grammatical aspect) across levels. We conclude that an integrative
perspective gives a better account of the acquisition process of Spanish aspectual tenses
The acquisition of V-V compounds in Japanese
Authors: Isobe Miwa , Okabe Reiko
Published: April 2019

Japanese verbal compounds (V-V compounds) are known to consist of two verbs where a first verb in the preverbal form is adjoined to a second verb. Theoretical studies have demonstrated that there are two types of V-V compounds in Japanese: lexical and syntactic V-V compounds. Although the two classes of V-V compounds are superficially similar, they are notably distinct in many syntactic and semantic aspects and thus a question arises as to how children come to distinguish these two types of compounds. This study examines whether Japanese-speaking children aged 4–5 can differentiate the two types of Japanese V-V compounds. Our experiment revealed that there is a developmental stage in which children have acquired lexical V-V compounds but not syntactic ones.
Interpretation of count and mass NPs by L2-learners from generalized classifier L1s
Authors: Choi Sea Hee , Zhu Yeqiu , Ionin Tania
Published: April 2019

This study investigates whether L2-learners from generalized classifier (GC) languages (Korean and Chinese) can acquire the count/mass distinction of English, in the domain of singular NP interpretation. We hypothesize that L1-Korean/Chinese L2-English learners transfer the properties of NP interpretation from their L1 to their L2. This hypothesis was tested using a Picture-Matching Task (PMT). To confirm the L1-transfer effect, Korean and Chinese versions of the experiment were also administered. The results of the English study show that L1-Korean/Chinese L2-English learners were target-like with count NPs, but allowed object-readings of mass NPs more than English NSs. The results of the Korean and Chinese experiment versions provide possible evidence that the pattern of results obtained for L2-English is due to L1-transfer from Korean/Chinese.
Kinship metaphors in the Chinese construction A shi B zhi fu/mu
Authors: Zhu Lin
Published: April 2019

This corpus-driven study focuses on two metaphorically used kinship terms in Modern Chinese, 父 fu ‘father’ and 母 mu ‘mother’. Under investigation are two constructions [A shi B zhi fu] ‘A is the father of B’ and [A shi B zhi mu] ‘A is the mother of B’. It is found that the figurative meanings expressed by mu (mother) are more conventionalized than those expressed by fu. The study shows that mu has higher metaphoricity, and I argue that the degree of metaphoricity of the two kinship terms in Chinese is a function both of the experiential basis of cognition in terms of universal biological phenomenon and of cultural constraints, especially Confucian thoughts, on conceptualization.
The fuzzy interface between censorship and self-censorship in translation
Authors: Tan Zaixi
Published: April 2019

The present research explores how the self-censoring mechanism is established in the translator’s mind and how
this internal mechanism interfaces with external, institutional censorial policies to affect both the process and the outcome of a
translation. The paper begins with a discussion of the ubiquitous nature of censorship and how the translator internalizes various
coercive censorial forces. Based on detailed case studies of three well-known censorship/ self-censorship-affected Chinese
translations – those of Lolita, Animal Farm, and Deng Xiaoping – this research finds that when
certain values, ideologies, cultural practices and moral presuppositions become internalized by translators, their censorial
behavior is no longer a coerced option but an active choice of their own, and also that there is often no clear dividing line
between what is coerced (censoring) and what is one’s own (self-censoring) action in contexts where ‘politically/ culturally
sensitive’ source texts are bound to be scrutinized by the censor’s/ self-censor’s eye before they enter the translations
market.
ATG2 transports lipids to promote autophagosome biogenesis
Authors: Valverde Diana P. , Yu Shenliang , Boggavarapu Venkata , Kumar Nikit , Lees Joshua A. , Walz Thomas , Reinisch Karin M. , Melia Thomas J.
Published: April 2019

During macroautophagic stress, autophagosomes can be produced continuously and in high numbers. Many different organelles have been reported as potential donor membranes for this sustained autophagosome growth, but specific machinery to support the delivery of lipid to the growing autophagosome membrane has remained unknown. Here we show that the autophagy protein, ATG2, without a clear function since its discovery over 20 yr ago, is in fact a lipid-transfer protein likely operating at the ER–autophagosome interface. ATG2A can bind tens of glycerophospholipids at once and transfers lipids robustly in vitro. An N-terminal fragment of ATG2A that supports lipid transfer in vitro is both necessary and fully sufficient to rescue blocked autophagosome biogenesis in ATG2A/ATG2B KO cells, implying that regulation of lipid homeostasis is the major autophagy-dependent activity of this protein and, by extension, that protein-mediated lipid transfer across contact sites is a principal contributor to autophagosome formation.
Habitat Management for Pest Management: Limitations and Prospects
Authors: González-Chang Mauricio , Tiwari Sundar , Sharma Sheela , Wratten Steve D
Published: April 2019

Habitat management is an important strategy for pest control in integrated pest management (IPM). Various categories of habitat management such as trap cropping, intercropping, natural enemy refuges such as ‘beetle banks’, and floral resources for parasitoids and predators, have been used in applied insect ecology for many years. In a broader sense, two mechanisms, the ‘enemies hypothesis’ and the ‘resource concentration hypothesis’ have been identified as acting independently or combined in pest population dynamics. The ‘enemies hypothesis’ directly supports the conservation and enhancement of natural enemies, floral resources such as shelter, nectar, alternative food sources, and pollen (SNAP) to improve conservation biological control. The ‘resource concentration hypothesis’ emphasizes how the host selection behavior of herbivores in a diverse habitat can reduce pest colonization in crops. This review emphasizes the potential of these approaches, as well as possible dis-services, and includes limitations and considerations needed to boost the efficacy of these strategies worldwide.
Scaling Up Hepatitis C Prevention and Treatment Interventions for Achieving Elimination in the United States: A Rural and Urban Comparison
Authors: Fraser Hannah , Vellozzi Claudia , Hoerger Thomas J , Evans Jennifer L , Kral Alex H , Havens Jennifer , Young April M , Stone Jack , Handanagic Senad , Hariri Susan , Barbosa Carolina , Hickman Matthew , Leib Alyssa , Martin Natasha K , Nerlander Lina , Raymond Henry F , Page Kimberly , Zibbell Jon , Ward John W , Vickerman Peter
Published: April 2019

In the United States, hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission is rising among people who inject drugs (PWID). Many regions have insufficient prevention intervention coverage. Using modeling, we investigated the impact of scaling up prevention and treatment interventions on HCV transmission among PWID in Perry County, Kentucky, and San Francisco, California, where HCV seroprevalence among PWID is >50%. A greater proportion of PWID access medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or syringe service programs (SSP) in urban San Francisco (established community) than in rural Perry County (young, expanding community). We modeled the proportion of HCV-infected PWID needing HCV treatment annually to reduce HCV incidence by 90% by 2030, with and without MAT scale-up (50% coverage, both settings) and SSP scale-up (Perry County only) from 2017. With current MAT and SSP coverage during 2017–2030, HCV incidence would increase in Perry County (from 21.3 to 22.6 per 100 person-years) and decrease in San Francisco (from 12.9 to 11.9 per 100 person-years). With concurrent MAT and SSP scale-up, 5% per year of HCV-infected PWID would need HCV treatment in Perry County to achieve incidence targets—13% per year without MAT and SSP scale-up. In San Francisco, a similar proportion would need HCV treatment (10% per year) irrespective of MAT scale-up. Reaching the same impact by 2025 would require increases in treatment rates of 45%–82%. Achievable provision of HCV treatment, alongside MAT and SSP scale-up (Perry County) and MAT scale-up (San Francisco), could reduce HCV incidence.
Telemonitoring of 24-Hour Blood Pressure in Local Pharmacies and Blood Pressure Control in the Community: The Templar Project
Authors: Omboni Stefano , Mancinelli Antonio , Rizzi Franco , Parati Gianfranco ,   TEMPLAR (TEleMonitoring of blood Pressure in Local phARmacies) Project Group
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND

The analysis of ambulatory blood pressure monitorings (ABPMs) performed in 639 Italian pharmacies in the context of a telehealth-based service allowed to evaluate the level of blood pressure (BP) control in the community.

METHODS

Twenty-four-hour ABPMs were performed by a clinically validated, automated, upper-arm BP monitor. Recordings were uploaded on a certified web-based telemedicine platform (www.tholomeus.net) and remote medical reporting provided. In each subject, an automatic BP measurement was obtained in the pharmacy and clinical information collected before starting the ABPM.

RESULTS

A total of 20,773 subjects (mean age 57 ± 15 years; 54% females; 28% receiving antihypertensive medications, 31% with any cardiovascular [CV] risk factor) provided valid ABPMs. BP control was poor, but better in ambulatory conditions (24-hour BP <130/80 mm Hg 54% vs. pharmacy BP < 140/90 mm Hg 43%; P < 0.0001) and in drug-treated subjects. Sustained normotension was reported in only 28% subjects. Isolated nocturnal hypertension (16%; nighttime BP ≥120/70 mm Hg with normal daytime BP) was more common (P < 0.0001) than isolated daytime hypertension (9%; daytime BP ≥ 135/85 mm Hg with normal nighttime BP). Sustained hypertension (43%) was more common in younger males at the lowest CV risk, with daytime hypertension. White-coat hypertension (14%) was more common in females. Masked hypertension was not uncommon (15%) and more often observed in older males with an elevated nocturnal BP.

CONCLUSIONS

A telemedicine-based service provided to community pharmacies may facilitate access to ABPM, thus favoring a more accurate hypertension screening and detection. It may also help describe the occurrence of different 24-hour BP phenotypes and personalize the physician’s intervention.
A benefit to providing information? Flower size cues, plant attractiveness, and plant visit length
Authors: Essenberg Carla J , Guevarra Paige E , Moreau Hadley M , Jordan Cody J , Zisman Talia
Published: April 2019

In many plant species, flower size is correlated with the production of floral rewards such as nectar and pollen and, therefore, provides information to pollinators about flower quality. However, how relationships between flower size and rewards influence plant fitness is not well understood. In particular, it is unclear whether indicating to pollinators which flowers are unrewarding harms or benefits plants. We used a laboratory system with artificial flowers to examine bumblebees’ (Bombus impatiens) responses to plants that had flower size as an informative cue (with large flowers rewarding and small flowers unrewarding) as compared with “deceptive” plants that had a mixture of rewarding and unrewarding large flowers and plants with only large, rewarding flowers. Bees had previously foraged in a context in which only large flowers provided rewards. Small flowers were visited less often than large flowers. In comparing plants with different numbers of flowers, we found that small flowers, although they added less to a plant’s attractiveness than large flowers, did increase a plant’s attractiveness if present in sufficient number. Furthermore, plants with informative cues received substantially fewer flower visits per plant visit in comparison with deceptive plants, even when the plants with informative cues had a larger number of flowers. Cues identifying unrewarding flowers could, therefore, reduce rates of within-plant pollen movement, increasing the plant’s fitness gains per flower visit. Their contribution to whole-plant attractiveness and avoidance of inbreeding could help explain why many plants produce small, relatively unrewarding flowers even though pollinators avoid visiting them.
Development and Delivery of Species Distribution Models to Inform Decision-Making
Authors: Sofaer Helen R , Jarnevich Catherine S , Pearse Ian S , Smyth Regan L , Auer Stephanie , Cook Gericke L , Edwards Thomas C , Guala Gerald F , Howard Timothy G , Morisette Jeffrey T , Hamilton Healy
Published: April 2019

Information on where species occur is an important component of conservation and management decisions, but knowledge of distributions is often coarse or incomplete. Species distribution models provide a tool for mapping habitat and can produce credible, defensible, and repeatable information with which to inform decisions. However, these models are sensitive to data inputs and methodological choices, making it important to assess the reliability and utility of model predictions. We provide a rubric that model developers can use to communicate a model's attributes and its appropriate uses. We emphasize the importance of tailoring model development and delivery to the species of interest and the intended use and the advantages of iterative modeling and validation. We highlight how species distribution models have been used to design surveys for new populations, inform spatial prioritization decisions for management actions, and support regulatory decision-making and compliance, tying these examples back to our model assessment rubric.
The functional false discovery rate with applications to genomics
Authors: Chen Xiongzhi , Robinson David G , Storey John D
Published: April 2019

The false discovery rate (FDR) measures the proportion of false discoveries among a set of hypothesis tests called significant. This quantity is typically estimated based on p-values or test statistics. In some scenarios, there is additional information available that may be used to more accurately estimate the FDR. We develop a new framework for formulating and estimating FDRs and q-values when an additional piece of information, which we call an “informative variable”, is available. For a given test, the informative variable provides information about the prior probability a null hypothesis is true or the power of that particular test. The FDR is then treated as a function of this informative variable. We consider two applications in genomics. Our first application is a genetics of gene expression (eQTL) experiment in yeast where every genetic marker and gene expression trait pair are tested for associations. The informative variable in this case is the distance between each genetic marker and gene. Our second application is to detect differentially expressed genes in an RNA-seq study carried out in mice. The informative variable in this study is the per-gene read depth. The framework we develop is quite general, and it should be useful in a broad range of scientific applications.
Prescriber Behavior in Clostridioides difficile Testing: A 3-Hospital Diagnostic Stewardship Intervention
Authors: Mizusawa Masako , Small Bryce A , Hsu Yea-Jen , Sharara Sima L , Advic Edina , Kauffman Christopher , Milstone Aaron M , Feldman Leonard , Pahwa Amit K , Trivedi Julie B , Landrum Mark B , Maragakis Lisa L , Carroll Karen C , Cosgrove Sara E , Rock Clare
Published: April 2019

Computerized clinical decision support (CCDS) significantly reduced Clostridioides difficile testing at 3 hospitals; from 12.6 to 9.5, from 10.1 to 6.4, and from 14.0 to 9.6 average weekly tests per 1000 inpatient days. There were no related adverse events. Senior providers were more likely than interns or residents to follow CCDS.
Efficient Certificateless Signcryption in the Standard Model: Revisiting Luo and Wan’s Scheme from Wireless Personal Communications (2018)
Authors: Rastegari Parvin , Susilo Willy , Dakhlalian Mohammad
Published: April 2019

Certificateless public key cryptography (CL-PKC) promises a practical resolution in establishing practical schemes, since it addresses two fundamental issues, namely the necessity of requiring certificate managements in traditional public key infrastructure (PKI) and the key escrow problem in identity-based (ID-based) setting concurrently. Signcryption is an important primitive that provides the goals of both encryption and signature schemes as it is more efficient than encrypting and signing messages consecutively. Since the concept of certificateless signcryption (CL-SC) scheme was put forth by Barbosa and Farshim in 2008, many schemes have been proposed where most of them are provable in the random oracle model (ROM) and only a few number of them are provable in the standard model. Very recently, Luo and Wan (Wireless Personal Communication, 2018) proposed a very efficient CL-SC scheme in the standard model. Furthermore, they claimed that their scheme is not only more efficient than the previously proposed schemes in the standard model, but also it is the only scheme which benefits from known session-specific temporary information security (KSSTIS). Therefore, this scheme would indeed be very practical. The contributions of this paper are 2-fold. First, in contrast to the claim made by Luo and Wan, we show that unfortunately Luo and Wan made a significant error in the construction of their proposed scheme. While their main intention is indeed interesting and useful, the failure of their construction has indeed left a gap in the research literature. Hence, the second contribution of this paper is to fill this gap by proposing a CL-SC scheme with KSSTIS, which is provably secure in the standard model.
Cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with acute decompensated heart failure randomized to sacubitril-valsartan or enalapril in the PIONEER-HF trial
Authors: Morrow David A , Velazquez Eric J , DeVore Adam D , Prescott Margaret F , Duffy Carol I , Gurmu Yared , McCague Kevin , Rocha Ricardo , Braunwald Eugene
Published: April 2019

Aims

Circulating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hsTn) and soluble ST2 (sST2) reflect myocardial stress in patients with heart failure (HF). Production of cyclic guanosine 3′5′ monophosphate (cGMP) in response to activation of natriuretic peptide receptors reduces cardiac afterload and preload. We assessed the effects of sacubitril/valsartan on these biomarkers in patients with reduced ejection fraction and acute decompensated HF (ADHF).

Methods and results

PIONEER-HF was a randomized, double-blind trial of sacubitril/valsartan vs. enalapril in hospitalized patients with ADHF following haemodynamic stabilization. We measured circulating hsTnT, sST2, and urinary cGMP at baseline, 1, 2 (sST2, cGMP), 4, and 8 weeks (n = 694 with all baseline biomarkers). Ratios of geometric means (timepoint/baseline) were determined and compared as a ratio for sacubitril/valsartan vs. enalapril. Compared with enalapril, sacubitril/valsartan led to a significantly greater decline in hsTnT and sST2. This effect emerged as early as 1 week for sST2 and was significant for both at 4 weeks with a 16% greater reduction in hsTnT (P < 0.001) and 9% greater reduction in sST2 (P = 0.0033). Serial urinary cGMP increased with sacubitril/valsartan compared with enalapril (P < 0.001, 1 week). The significant differences between treatment groups for each biomarker were sustained at 8 weeks. In an exploratory multivariable-adjusted analysis of cardiovascular death or HF-rehospitalization, the concentrations of hsTnT, sST2 at week 1 were significantly associated with subsequent outcome.

Conclusion

Biomarkers of myocardial stress are elevated in patients with ADHF and associated with outcome. Compared with enalapril, sacubitril/valsartan reduces myocardial injury and haemodynamic stress as reflected by biomarkers, with an onset that is apparent within 1–4 weeks.

Clinical trials registration

NCT 02554890 clinical.trials.gov
A validation study of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines for risk stratification of sudden cardiac death in childhood hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Norrish Gabrielle , Ding Tao , Field Ella , McLeod Karen , Ilina Maria , Stuart Graham , Bhole Vinay , Uzun Orhan , Brown Elspeth , Daubeney Piers E F , Lota Amrit , Linter Katie , Mathur Sujeev , Bharucha Tara , Kok Khoon Li , Adwani Satish , Jones Caroline B , Reinhardt Zdenka , Omar Rumana Z , Kaski Juan Pablo
Published: April 2019

Aims

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most common cause of death in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommends consideration of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) if two or more clinical risk factors (RFs) are present, but this approach to risk stratification has not been formally validated.

Methods and results

Four hundred and eleven paediatric HCM patients were assessed for four clinical RFs in accordance with current ESC recommendations: severe left ventricular hypertrophy, unexplained syncope, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, and family history of SCD. The primary endpoint was a composite outcome of SCD or an equivalent event (aborted cardiac arrest, appropriate ICD therapy, or sustained ventricular tachycardia), defined as a major arrhythmic cardiac event (MACE). Over a follow-up period of 2890 patient years (median 5.5 years), MACE occurred in 21 patients (7.5%) with 0 RFs, 19 (16.8%) with 1 RFs, and 3 (18.8%) with 2 or more RFs. Corresponding incidence rates were 1.13 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7–1.73], 2.07 (95% CI 1.25–3.23), and 2.52 (95% CI 0.53–7.35) per 100 patient years at risk. Patients with two or more RFs did not have a higher incidence of MACE (log-rank test P = 0.34), with a positive and negative predictive value of 19% and 90%, respectively. The C-statistic was 0.62 (95% CI 0.52–0.72) at 5 years.

Conclusions

The incidence of MACE is higher for patients with increasing numbers of clinical RFs. However, the current ESC guidelines have a low ability to discriminate between high- and low-risk individuals.
Complementary energy acquisition via aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis and carbon monoxide oxidation by Planktomarina temperata of the Roseobacter group
Authors: Giebel Helge-Ansgar , Wolterink Mathias , Brinkhoff Thorsten , Simon Meinhard
Published: April 2019

In marine pelagic ecosystems energy is often the limiting factor for growth of heterotrophic bacteria. Aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis (AAP) and oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) are modes to acquire complementary energy, but their significance in abundant and characteristic pelagic marine bacteria has not been well studied. In long-term batch culture experiments we found that Planktomarina temperata RCA23, representing the largest and most prominent subcluster of the Roseobacter group, maintains 2–3-fold higher cell numbers in the stationary and declining phase when grown in a light-dark cycle relative to dark conditions. Light enables P. temperata to continue to replicate its DNA during the stationary phase relative to a dark control such that when reinoculated into fresh medium growth resumed two days earlier than in control cultures. In cultures grown in the dark and supplemented with CO, cell numbers in the stationary phase remained significantly higher than in an unsupplemented control. Furthermore, repeated spiking with CO until day 372 resulted in significant CO consumption relative to an unsupplemented control. P. temperata represents a prominent marine pelagic bacterium for which AAP and CO consumption, to acquire complementary energy, have been documented.
Tropicalized Quartics and Canonical Embeddings for Tropical Curves of Genus 3
Authors: Hahn Marvin Anas , Markwig Hannah , Ren Yue , Tyomkin Ilya
Published: April 2019

In [8], it was shown that not all abstract non-hyperelliptic tropical curves of genus $3$ can be realized as a tropicalization of a quartic in $\mathbb R^2$. In this paper, we focus on the interior of the maximal cones in the moduli space and classify all curves, which can be realized as a faithful tropicalization in a tropical plane. Reflecting the algebro-geometric world, we show that these are all curves but the tropicalizations of realizably hyperelliptic algebraic curves. Our approach is constructive: for a curve that is not the tropicalization of a hyperelliptic algebraic curve, we explicitly construct a realizable model of the tropical plane in $\mathbb{R}^n$ and a faithfully tropicalized quartic in it. These constructions rely on modifications resp. tropical refinements. Conversely, we prove that the tropicalizations of hyperelliptic algebraic curves cannot be embedded in such a fashion. For that, we rely on the theory of tropical divisors and embeddings from linear systems [3, 21] and recent advances in the realizability of sections of the tropical canonical divisor [30].
Mental health, subjectivity and the city: an ethnography of migrant stress in Shanghai
Authors: Richaud Lisa , Amin Ash
Published: April 2019

Ethnography, with its focus on everyday experience, can yield significant insights into understanding migrant mental health in contexts where signs of severe mental distress remain largely imperceptible, and more generally, into how stresses and strains are lived through the spaces, times and affective atmospheres of the city. Migrant ethnography can help us reconsider the oft-made connection between everyday stress and mental ill health. In this contribution, drawing on field evidence in central and peripheral Shanghai, we highlight the importance of attending to the forms of spatial and temporal agency through which migrants actively manage the ways in which the city affects their subjectivity. These everyday subjective practices serve to problematize the very concept of ‘mental health’. The paper engages in a critical dialogue with sociological and epidemiological research that assesses migrant mental health states through the lens of the vulnerability or resilience of this social group, often reducing citiness to a series of environmental ‘stressors’. Distinct from methods ascertaining or arguing against the prevalence of mental disorders among urban migrants, the insight of urban ethnography is to open up a space to explore the mediations that operate dialogically between the city as lived by migrants through particular places and situations and forms of distress.
Rapid sequencing of MRSA direct from clinical plates in a routine microbiology laboratory
Authors: Blane Beth , Raven Kathy E , Leek Danielle , Brown Nicholas , Parkhill Julian , Peacock Sharon J
Published: April 2019

Background

Routine sequencing of MRSA could bring about significant improvements to outbreak detection and investigation. Sequencing is commonly performed using DNA extracted from a pure culture, but overcoming the delay associated with this step could reduce the time to infection control interventions.

Objectives

To develop and evaluate rapid sequencing of MRSA using primary clinical cultures.

Methods

Patients with samples submitted to the clinical laboratory at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from which MRSA was isolated were identified, the routine laboratory culture plates obtained and DNA extraction and sequencing performed.

Results

An evaluation of routine MRSA cultures from 30 patients demonstrated that direct sequencing from bacterial colonies picked from four different culture media was feasible. The 30 clinical MRSA isolates were sequenced on the day of plate retrieval over five runs and passed quality control metrics for sequencing depth and coverage. The maximum contamination detected using Kraken was 1.09% fragments, which were identified as Prevotella dentalis. The most common contaminants were other staphylococcal species (25 isolate sequences) and Burkholderia dolosa (11 isolate sequences). Core genome pairwise SNP analysis to identify clusters based on isolates that were ≤50 SNPs different was used to triage cases for further investigation. This identified three clusters, but more detailed genomic and epidemiological evaluation excluded an acute outbreak.

Conclusions

Rapid sequencing of MRSA from clinical culture plates is feasible and reduces the delay associated with purity culture prior to DNA extraction.
The effect of dietary vitamin D supplementation on sodium-dependent phosphate uptake and expression of NaPi-IIb in the small intestine of weanling pigs
Authors: Saddoris Kari L , Fleet James C , Radcliffe John S
Published: April 2019

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 to stimulate Na+-dependent phosphate uptake in Caco-2 cells, and the effects of dietary vitamin D supplementation to vitamin D-deficient nursery pigs on Na+-dependent nutrient uptake and mRNA expression of NaPi-IIb cotransporter and calbindin D9k in the jejunum. In Exp. 1, 250,000 Caco-2 cells were seeded on Costar 12 mm Snapwell inserts with a 0.40 µm polycarbonate filter and a seeding density of 0.25 × 106 and studied at 15 d postconfluence. Cells were treated with 10 nM of either 1,25(OH)2D3 or vehicle for 48 h and then mounted in modified Ussing chambers for transepithelial measurements. In Exp. 2, pigs (n = 32) were removed from sows at 3 d of age, placed on a vitamin D-deficient milk replacer diet and housed in a room devoid of sunlight and UV light in the range of 280 to 300 nm. On day 28, serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations were measured to verify low vitamin D status. Pigs (BW 10.10 ± 0.38 kg) were then individually housed day 28 postweaning and allotted to 1 of 2 dietary treatments. Dietary treatments consisted of corn-soybean-based diets with vitamin D supplementations of 0 or 1,500 IU/kg diet for 12 d. Blood samples were taken from the brachiocephalic vein on the initial (day 0) and final day (day 10, 11, or 12) of the study for analysis of serum 25(OH)D3, P, and Ca. Pigs were euthanized and jejunal segments were harvested and used in modified Ussing chambers and for RNA isolation and subsequent quantitative RT-PCR analysis. In Exp. 1, treating Caco-2 cells with 10 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 resulted in a 52% increase (P < 0.005) in Na+-dependent phosphate uptake compared with cells treated with a vehicle. In Exp. 2, Na+-dependent phosphate and glucose transport did not differ (P > 0.10) among treatment groups. Additionally, NaPi-IIb and calbindin D9k mRNA expression were not different (P > 0.10) between treatment groups. No differences (P > 0.10) were detected in final serum P or 25(OH)D3 concentrations between treatments. However, serum Ca linearly increased (P < 0.05) as the concentration of supplemental vitamin D increased in the diet. Overall, while 1,25(OH)2D3 stimulated Na+-dependent phosphate uptake in Caco-2 cells, supplementing diets with 1,500 IU/kg vitamin D3 from cholecalciferol did not increase jejunal Na+-dependent phosphate uptake or NaPi-IIb mRNA expression over that of pigs fed diets with no supplemental cholecalciferol.
HighResNPS.com: An Online Crowd-Sourced HR-MS Database for Suspect and Non-targeted Screening of New Psychoactive Substances
Authors: Mardal Marie , Andreasen Mette Findal , Mollerup Christian Brinch , Stockham Peter , Telving Rasmus , Thomaidis Nikolaos S , Diamanti Konstantina S , Linnet Kristian , Dalsgaard Petur Weihe
Published: April 2019

The number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) is constantly increasing. However, although the number might be large, most NPS have a low prevalence of use, so keeping screening libraries updated with the relevant analytical targets becomes a challenge. One way to ensure sufficient screening coverage is to use shared high resolution-mass spectrometry (HR-MS) databases, such as HighResNPS.com: a free, online, spreadsheet-format, crowd-sourced HR-MS database for NPS screening. The aims of this study were (i) to present the database to the scientific community and (ii) to verify that the HighResNPS database can be utilized in suspect screening workflows for LC–HR-MS instruments and software from four different instrument vendors. A sample was spiked with 10 NPS, and participating laboratories then analyzed the sample with their respective HR-MS vendor platforms and the HighResNPS database. The HighResNPS data were obtained via a spreadsheet converted to fit the import specifications of the different vendor platforms. Suspect screening was performed using LC–HR-MS vendor platforms from Thermo Fisher, Waters, Bruker and Agilent. All 10 NPS were identified in at least three workflows used for the four different vendor platforms. Multiple users have submitted data to HighResNPS for the same NPS, which resulted in multiple true-positive identifications for these NPS. Suspect screening with LC–HR-MS can be based on diagnostic fragment ions reported by users of different vendor platforms and can support NPS identification in biological samples and/or seizure analyses when no reference standard is available in-house. The present work clearly demonstrates that HighResNPS data is compatible with instruments and screening software from at least four different vendor platforms. The database can thus serve as a useful add-on in LC–HR-MS screening workflows.
Phosphorylation of TMEM55B by Erk/MAPK regulates lysosomal positioning
Authors: Takemasu Shinya , Nigorikawa Kiyomi , Yamada Miho , Tsurumi Go , Kofuji Satoshi , Takasuga Shunsuke , Hazeki Kaoru
Published: April 2019

TMEM55B is first identified as phosphatidylinositol-4,5-P24-phosphatases (PtdIns-4,5-P24-phosphatases) that catalyse dephosphorylation of PtdIns-4,5-P2 to PtdIns-5-P. We demonstrate for the first time that TMEM55B is phosphorylated by Erk/MAPK and that this mechanism participates in regulation of lysosomal clustering. Exposure of RAW264.7 macrophages to various stimuli induces phosphorylation of TMEM55B on Ser76 and Ser169, sites corresponding to consensus sequences (PX(S/T)P) for phosphorylation by MAPK. Of these stimuli, Toll-like receptor ligands most strongly induce TMEM55B phosphorylation, and this is blocked by the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126. However, phosphorylation does not impact intrinsic phosphatase activity of TMEM55B. TMEM55B has recently been implicated in starvation induced lysosomal translocation. Amino acid starvation induces perinuclear lamp1 clustering in RAW264.7 macrophages, which was attenuated by shRNA-mediated knock-down or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-out of TMEM55B. Cells exposed to U0126 also exhibit attenuated lamp1 clustering. Overexpression of TMEM55B but not TMEM55A notably enhances lamp1 clustering, with TMEM55B mutants (lacking phosphorylation sites or mimicking the phosphorylated state) exhibiting lower and higher efficacies (respectively) than wild-type TMEM55B. Collectively, results suggest that phosphorylation of TMEM55B by Erk/MAPK impacts lysosomal dynamics.
Effects of Citrus Overwintering Predators, Host Plant Phenology and Environmental Variables on Aphid Infestation Dynamics in Clementine Citrus
Authors: Bouvet Juan Pedro Raul , Urbaneja Alberto , Monzó César
Published: April 2019

The Spirea citrus aphid, Aphis spiraecola Patch, and the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), are key pests of clementine mandarines in the Mediterranean basin. Severity of aphid infestations is determined by environmental variables, host plant phenology patterns, and the biological control exerted by their associated natural enemies. However, there is no information about the role these limiting and regulating factors play. Aphid densities, citrus phenology, and associated predators that overwinter in the crop were monitored weekly throughout two flush growth periods (February to July) in four clementine mandarin groves; relationships between these parameters and environmental variables (temperature and precipitation) were studied. Our results show exponential increase in aphid infestation levels to coincide with citrus phenological stages B3 and B4; shoots offer more space and nutritional resources for colony growth at these stages. Duration of these phenological stages, which was mediated by mean temperature, seems to importantly determine the severity of aphid infestations in the groves. Among those studied, the micro-coccinellids, mostly Scymnus species, were the only group of predators with the ability to efficiently regulate aphid populations. These natural enemies had the highest temporal and spatial demographic stability. Aphid regulation success was only achieved through early presence of natural enemies in the grove, at the aphid colonization phase. Our results suggest that conservation strategies aimed at preserving and enhancing Scymnus sp. populations may make an important contribution to the future success of the biological control of these key citrus pests.