bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘I have been obliged to Send Nassaw’: an enslaved healer’s medical labour and skill in eighteenth-century Virginia
Authors: Blakley Christopher M.
Published: March 2021

This article examines the medical career of an enslaved physician in Virginia named Nassaw from the mid eighteenth-century until the period of the American Revolution. I develop a taxonomy of Nassaw’s labours as a nurse caring for the sick, a healer administering medicines at the behest of his enslaver and as a doctor in his own right making medical judgements as he treated his patients. Nassaw is in some ways comparable to other enslaved healers of African descent in the Atlantic world, including well-known Mohanes and ritual specialists in Brazil and Latin America. However, due to his role as a physician employed by his slaveholder to principally heal other enslaved people, Nassaw struggled to find satisfaction in his labours as a healer as other enslaved people rightly perceived him as an agent of their enslaver whose medical work healed their bodies while extending their oppression. I argue that Nassaw became frustrated and depressed, and turned to drinking because of his inability to pursue or experience what Sharla M. Fett terms a ‘relational vision of health’ in the Chesapeake. Moreover, I interpret his drinking as a rebuke to the racist pretensions of his enslaver – who instructed him in pharmacy and surgery – who aimed to transform Nassaw into an Enlightened ‘black exhibit’ by training him to be a doctor. I conclude by returning to how precisely different Nassaw was from other enslaved healers in the Chesapeake like Tom of Nomini Hall or Romeo, and make the case that Nassaw deserves a place in histories of slavery and medicine precisely because he was an enslaved plantation doctor rather than a popular healer or conjuror.
Attending the birth: competition for obstetrical training by medical students and midwives in nineteenth-century France
Authors: Martin Morag
Published: March 2021

Though male doctors gained prominence at the bedsides of pregnant mothers in nineteenth-century Europe, the clinical training they received in medical academies remained cursory. In France, to supplement the medical faculties, the government set up schools for both health officers and midwives which were meant to teach practical obstetrics. This paper focusses on the city of Arras, where these two groups of students competed for the limited numbers of pregnant patients on which to practice their future professions. Like many in their field, two prominent instructors in Arras at each end of the century promoted male obstetrical education over female, arguing that practical education for health officers would lead to safer births for mothers and infants. By the 1870s, the obstetrics instructor adopted germ theory, tying improved hygiene and thus mortality rates to male students’ access to hospitalised patients. Despite their arguments, in Arras, the male students never gained priority in clinical obstetrical training, which midwifery students kept. To keep male students out of maternity wards, local administrators used fears that gender mixing would lead to immoral acts or thoughts. In doing so, they protected the traditional system of midwifery rather than invest in more costly male medical education. Championing midwifery students’ rights to the spaces and bodies needed for their education, however, delayed adoption of hygiene and antiseptic practices that led to lower maternal mortality. Unable to adapt to changing requirements by the state, the medical school closed in 1883, while the midwifery programme thrived until the 1960s.
POWERS OF BINOMIAL EDGE IDEALS WITH QUADRATIC GRÖBNER BASES
Authors: ENE VIVIANA , RINALDO GIANCARLO , TERAI NAOKI
Published: March 2021

We study powers of binomial edge ideals associated with closed and block graphs.
Cwyzhy Abkhaz
Authors: Andersson Samuel , Vaux Bert , Pysipa (Şener) Zihni
Published: March 2021

In this Illustration we describe the Cwyzhy (also Tswydzhy) dialect of Abkhaz, the native language of the third author. In Cwyzhy, the language Abkhaz is called /арʰsаʃʷа/ [ˈаpʰsæʃᶣæ] аҧсашəа. Abkhaz (ISO-639-3 abk) belongs to the Northwest Caucasian family of languages, and the Abkhaz dialects are related as shown in (1) (adapted from Chirikba 2012: 36):
Voluntary use of automated writing evaluation by content course students
Authors: Saricaoglu Aysel , Bilki Zeynep
Published: March 2021

Automated writing evaluation (AWE) technologies are common supplementary tools for helping students improve their language accuracy using automated feedback. In most existing studies, AWE has been implemented as a class activity or an assignment requirement in English or academic writing classes. The potential of AWE as a voluntary language learning tool is unknown. This study reports on the voluntary use of Criterion by English as a foreign language students in two content courses for two assignments. We investigated (a) to what extent students used Criterion and (b) to what extent their revisions based on automated feedback increased the accuracy of their writing from the first submitted draft to the last in both assignments. We analyzed students’ performance summary reports from Criterion using descriptive statistics and non-parametric statistical tests. The findings showed that not all students used Criterion or resubmitted a revised draft. However, the findings also showed that engagement with automated feedback significantly reduced users’ errors from the first draft to the last in 11 error categories in total for the two assignments.
What makes a good-quality language MOOC? An empirical study of criteria to evaluate the quality of online language courses from learners’ perspectives
Authors: Luo Rong , Ye Zixuan
Published: March 2021

This paper focuses on quality assurance in language massive open online courses (LMOOCs). It is a qualitative study that adopts the grounded theory method and analyses evaluative comments on the quality of LMOOCs from learners’ perspectives. With the data collected from 1,000 evaluations from English as a second language (ESL) learners on China’s biggest MOOC platform “iCourse”, this study examines what has influenced learners’ perceptions of LMOOCs and identifies the specific quality criteria of five types of them, including ESL courses for speaking, reading, writing, cultural studies, and integrated skills. The results of the study will lay a foundation for the establishment of a quality criteria framework for LMOOCs and provide insights into design principles for effective online language courses tailored to the diverse needs of a massive number of language learners.
Perceived Fatigue Impact and Cognitive Variability in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Riegler Kaitlin E. , Cadden Margaret , Guty Erin T. , Bruce Jared M. , Arnett Peter A.
Published: March 2021

Objective:

People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) and healthy controls (HCs) were evaluated on cognitive variability indices and we examined the relationship between fatigue and cognitive variability between these groups. Intraindividual variability (IIV) on a neuropsychological test battery was hypothesized to mediate the group differences expected in fatigue.

Method:

Fifty-nine PwMS and 51 HCs completed a psychosocial interview and battery of neuropsychological tests and questionnaires during a 1-day visit. Fatigue in this study was measured with the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), a self-report multidimensional measure of fatigue. IIV was operationalized using two different measures, a maximum discrepancy score (MDS) and intraindividual standard deviation (ISD), in two cognitive domains, memory and attention/processing speed. Two mediation analyses with group (PwMS or HCs) as the independent variable, variability composite (memory or attention/processing speed) measures as the mediators, total residual fatigue (after accounting for age) as the outcome, and depression as a covariate were conducted. The Baron and Kenny approach to testing mediation and the PROCESS macro for testing the strength of the indirect effect were used.

Results:

Results of a mediation analysis using 5000 bootstrap samples indicated that IIV in domains of both attention/processing speed and memory significantly mediated the effect of patient status on total residual fatigue.

Conclusion:

IIV is an objective performance measure that is related to differences in fatigue impact between PwMS and HCs. PwMS experience more variability across tests of attention/processing speed and memory and this experience of variable performance may increase the impact of fatigue.
Pre-Analysis Plans: An Early Stocktaking
Authors: Ofosu George K. , Posner Daniel N.
Published: March 2021

Pre-analysis plans (PAPs) have been championed as a solution to the problem of research credibility, but without any evidence that PAPs actually bolster the credibility of research. We analyze a representative sample of 195 PAPs registered on the Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP) and American Economic Association (AEA) registration platforms to assess whether PAPs registered in the early days of pre-registration (2011–2016) were sufficiently clear, precise, and comprehensive to achieve their objective of preventing “fishing” and reducing the scope for post-hoc adjustment of research hypotheses. We also analyze a subset of ninety-three PAPs from projects that resulted in publicly available papers to ascertain how faithfully they adhere to their pre-registered specifications and hypotheses. We find significant variation in the extent to which PAPs registered during this period accomplished the goals they were designed to achieve. We discuss these findings in light of both the costs and benefits of pre-registration, showing how our results speak to the various arguments that have been made in support of and against PAPs. We also highlight the norms and institutions that will need to be strengthened to augment the power of PAPs to improve research credibility and to create incentives for researchers to invest in both producing and policing them.
Curiosity in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Tanaś Łukasz
Published: March 2021

Abstract. This research presents data on the Polish adaptation of the Need for Cognition Scale for Children and Adolescents ( Keller et al., 2016 ; Preckel & Strobel, 2017 ). Two samples of children, mostly from Grade 6 of primary school, were recruited ( N1 > 1,001, N2 > 433), as well as one sample of 130 child–parent pairs. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the nested factor structure suggested in previous studies ( Keller et al., 2016 ) is also replicated in the Polish sample. Scalar measurement invariance with regard to gender has been demonstrated. Scale scores show convergent and discriminant validity with learning/performance goals as well as traits from the Big Five Questionnaire for Children ( Cieciuch et al., 2016 ). Criterion-related validity with measures of leisure time interests in popular science, identification with science, and objectified cultural family capital is shown. Data confirm that the Polish version of the scale is suitable for use; nonetheless, some possible revisions of the scale are also discussed.
Controls on Organic Carbon Burial in the Eastern China Marginal Seas: A Regional Synthesis
Authors: Zhao B. , Yao P. , Bianchi T. S. , Yu Z. G.
Published: March 2021

A regional synthesis of organic carbon (OC) burial was conducted using a comprehensive data set to reveal some of the key drivers and human multi‐stressors controlling OC burial and transport in the Eastern China Marginal Seas (ECMS). Both OC and Δ14C values of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the Changjiang River, were significantly higher than estuarine mobile‐muds, suggesting selective decay of more labile younger OC from both marine and terrestrial sources and the accumulation of more recalcitrant older OC. Some of this decay is likely to be associated with iron‐redox cycling in mobile‐muds. In contrast, OC, δ13C, and Δ14C values increased along the Yellow River sediment dispersal pathway, indicating adding of young marine OC and less decay of terrestrial OC. OC burial efficiency in mud areas in the Bohai Sea (∼43%) was significantly higher than those in the Yellow (∼11%) and East China Seas (∼16%), owing to rapid deposition. Burial flux of biospheric OC in mud areas of the ECMS is 7.00 ± 0.79 Mt yr−1, corresponding to atmospheric CO2 drawdown by silicate weathering in major river drainage basins of mainland China. The burial flux of petrogenic OC was estimated to be 0.81 ± 0.25 Mt yr−1, accounting for >1.9% of total burial in the global ocean. While the ECMS is an important OC sink, river damming has greatly reduced OC burial. Thus, the overall impact on anthropogenically altered river‐dominated marginal seas remains an important and rapidly changing component of the coastal ocean carbon budget.
Marine Electromagnetic Imaging and Volumetric Estimation of Freshwater Plumes Offshore Hawai'i
Authors: Attias Eric , Constable Steven , Sherman Dallas , Ismail Khaira , Shuler Christopher , Dulai Henrietta
Published: March 2021

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an important phenomenon that governs hydrological cycles at the land‐to‐ocean transition zone. SGD manifests as cold and buoyant freshwaters influx from the seafloor to the water column that contains carbon, nutrients, metals, and greenhouse gases, altering coastal areas' oceanographical and biochemical properties. Here, we present electromagnetic imaging of large‐scale freshwater plumes in high‐resolution, offshore west Hawai'i. Electrical resistivity models detect multiple vertical freshwater plumes extending from the seafloor to the ocean surface. Additionally, our models image extensive spatially distributed surface freshwater. The resistivity of these plumes and surface freshwater ranges from ∼1 to 30 Ωm. Resistivity‐to‐salinity calculation indicates a plume‐scale salinity range of ∼0.3–9.9, containing up to 87% of freshwater. Our results imply that substantial volumes of freshwater occupy water column plumes in Hawai'i. This study offers a new and effective method to elucidate hydrogeologic and ocean processes affecting biogeochemical cycles in coastal waters worldwide.
Enhanced Carbonate Dissolution Associated With Deglacial Dysoxic Events in the Subpolar North Pacific
Authors: Payne Calie R. , Belanger Christina L.
Published: March 2021

Here we use volume density (ρV) measurements as a metric of size‐normalized weights for Neogloboquadrina pachyderma, a planktonic foraminifer, from upper OMZ and abyssal depth sites in the Gulf of Alaska over the past ∼20,000 years to test for covariation between carbonate preservation and OMZ intensity. We find that dissolution of N. pachyderma is most intense at the upper OMZ site where oxygenation is generally lower than at the abyssal site. We also examine Uvigerina peregrina, a benthic foraminifer, at the upper OMZ site and find that the lowest ρV measurements in both taxa occur during deglacial and early Holocene dysoxic events. We use computed tomography images to confirm that changes in ρV are related to shell thickness, observe dissolution features, and test for growth influences on ρV. Further, we use stepwise selection of multiple regression models in which coregistered environmental proxies are potential predictors of ρV and find that the best supported models retain negative associations between ρV and the concentration of redox‐sensitive metals and the relative abundance of dysoxia‐tolerant and opportunistic benthic foraminifera, indicating that low ρV is associated with low‐oxygen conditions and pulsed availability of organic matter at the seafloor. Taken together, our results suggest the primary driver of carbonate dissolution here is related to organic carbon respiration at the seafloor. This highlights the importance of metabolic dissolution in understanding the inorganic carbon cycle and the role regions with high‐organic carbon export, such as OMZs, can have as CO2 sources as metabolic dissolution intensifies.
Sulfoquinovose is a select nutrient of prominent bacteria and a source of hydrogen sulfide in the human gut
Authors: Hanson Buck T , Dimitri Kits K , Löffler Jessica , Burrichter Anna G , Fiedler Alexander , Denger Karin , Frommeyer Benjamin , Herbold Craig W , Rattei Thomas , Karcher Nicolai , Segata Nicola , Schleheck David , Loy Alexander
Published: March 2021

Responses of the microbiota to diet are highly personalized but mechanistically not well understood because many metabolic capabilities and interactions of human gut microorganisms are unknown. Here we show that sulfoquinovose (SQ), a sulfonated monosaccharide omnipresent in green vegetables, is a selective yet relevant substrate for few but ubiquitous bacteria in the human gut. In human feces and in defined co-culture, Eubacterium rectale and Bilophila wadsworthia used recently identified pathways to cooperatively catabolize SQ with 2,3-dihydroxypropane-1-sulfonate as a transient intermediate to hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a key intestinal metabolite with disparate effects on host health. SQ-degradation capability is encoded in almost half of E. rectale genomes but otherwise sparsely distributed among microbial species in the human intestine. However, re-analysis of fecal metatranscriptome datasets of four human cohorts showed that SQ degradation (mostly from E. rectale and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii) and H2S production (mostly from B. wadsworthia) pathways were expressed abundantly across various health states, demonstrating that these microbial functions are core attributes of the human gut. The discovery of green-diet-derived SQ as an exclusive microbial nutrient and an additional source of H2S in the human gut highlights the role of individual dietary compounds and organosulfur metabolism on microbial activity and has implications for precision editing of the gut microbiota by dietary and prebiotic interventions.
Author Correction: Improving the accuracy of medical diagnosis with causal machine learning
Authors: Richens Jonathan G. , Lee Ciarán M. , Johri Saurabh
Published: March 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21494-9
Sulfate formation is dominated by manganese-catalyzed oxidation of SO2 on aerosol surfaces during haze events
Authors: Wang Weigang , Liu Mingyuan , Wang Tiantian , Song Yu , Zhou Li , Cao Junji , Hu Jingnan , Tang Guigang , Chen Zhe , Li Zhijie , Xu Zhenying , Peng Chao , Lian Chaofan , Chen Yan , Pan Yuepeng , Zhang Yunhong , Sun Yele , Li Weijun , Zhu Tong , Tian Hezhong , Ge Maofa
Published: March 2021

The formation mechanism of aerosol sulfate during wintertime haze events in China is still largely unknown. As companions, SO2 and transition metals are mainly emitted from coal combustion. Here, we argue that the transition metal-catalyzed oxidation of SO2 on aerosol surfaces could be the dominant sulfate formation pathway and investigate this hypothesis by integrating chamber experiments, numerical simulations and in-field observations. Our analysis shows that the contribution of the manganese-catalyzed oxidation of SO2 on aerosol surfaces is approximately one to two orders of magnitude larger than previously known routes, and contributes 69.2% ± 5.0% of the particulate sulfur production during haze events. This formation pathway could explain the missing source of sulfate and improve the understanding of atmospheric chemistry and climate change.
Real-space observation of ferroelectrically induced magnetic spin crystal in SrRuO3
Authors: Seddon S. D. , Dogaru D. E. , Holt S. J. R. , Rusu D. , Peters J. J. P. , Sanchez A. M. , Alexe M.
Published: March 2021

Unusual features in the Hall Resistivity of thin film systems are frequently associated with whirling spin textures such as Skyrmions. A host of recent investigations of Hall Hysteresis loops in SrRuO3 heterostructures have provided conflicting evidence for different causes for such features. We have constructed an SrRuO3-PbTiO3 (Ferromagnetic – Ferroelectric) bilayer that exhibits features in the Hall Hysteresis previously attributed to a Topological Hall Effect, and Skyrmions. Here we show field dependent Magnetic Force Microscopy measurements throughout the key fields where the ‘THE’ presents, revealing the emergence to two periodic, chiral spin textures. The zero-field cycloidal phase, which then transforms into a ‘double-q’ incommensurate spin crystal appears over the appearance of the ‘Topological-like’ Hall effect region, and develop into a ferromagnetic switching regime as the sample reaches saturation, and the ‘Topological-like’ response diminishes. Scanning Tunnelling Electron Microscopy and Density Functional Theory is used to observe and analyse surface inversion symmetry breaking and confirm the role of an interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction at the heart of the system.
Multicentric tracking of multiple agents by anterior cingulate cortex during pursuit and evasion
Authors: Yoo Seng Bum Michael , Tu Jiaxin Cindy , Hayden Benjamin Yost
Published: March 2021

Successful pursuit and evasion require rapid and precise coordination of navigation with adaptive motor control. We hypothesize that the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), which communicates bidirectionally with both the hippocampal complex and premotor/motor areas, would serve a mapping role in this process. We recorded responses of dACC ensembles in two macaques performing a joystick-controlled continuous pursuit/evasion task. We find that dACC carries two sets of signals, (1) world-centric variables that together form a representation of the position and velocity of all relevant agents (self, prey, and predator) in the virtual world, and (2) avatar-centric variables, i.e. self-prey distance and angle. Both sets of variables are multiplexed within an overlapping set of neurons. Our results suggest that dACC may contribute to pursuit and evasion by computing and continuously updating a multicentric representation of the unfolding task state, and support the hypothesis that it plays a high-level abstract role in the control of behavior.
Market-oriented job skill valuation with cooperative composition neural network
Authors: Sun Ying , Zhuang Fuzhen , Zhu Hengshu , Zhang Qi , He Qing , Xiong Hui
Published: March 2021

The value assessment of job skills is important for companies to select and retain the right talent. However, there are few quantitative ways available for this assessment. Therefore, we propose a data-driven solution to assess skill value from a market-oriented perspective. Specifically, we formulate the task of job skill value assessment as a Salary-Skill Value Composition Problem, where each job position is regarded as the composition of a set of required skills attached with the contextual information of jobs, and the job salary is assumed to be jointly influenced by the context-aware value of these skills. Then, we propose an enhanced neural network with cooperative structure, namely Salary-Skill Composition Network (SSCN), to separate the job skills and measure their value based on the massive job postings. Experiments show that SSCN can not only assign meaningful value to job skills, but also outperforms benchmark models for job salary prediction.
Magnetic domains and domain wall pinning in atomically thin CrBr3 revealed by nanoscale imaging
Authors: Sun Qi-Chao , Song Tiancheng , Anderson Eric , Brunner Andreas , Förster Johannes , Shalomayeva Tetyana , Taniguchi Takashi , Watanabe Kenji , Gräfe Joachim , Stöhr Rainer , Xu Xiaodong , Wrachtrup Jörg
Published: March 2021

The emergence of atomically thin van der Waals magnets provides a new platform for the studies of two-dimensional magnetism and its applications. However, the widely used measurement methods in recent studies cannot provide quantitative information of the magnetization nor achieve nanoscale spatial resolution. These capabilities are essential to explore the rich properties of magnetic domains and spin textures. Here, we employ cryogenic scanning magnetometry using a single-electron spin of a nitrogen-vacancy center in a diamond probe to unambiguously prove the existence of magnetic domains and study their dynamics in atomically thin CrBr3. By controlling the magnetic domain evolution as a function of magnetic field, we find that the pinning effect is a dominant coercivity mechanism and determine the magnetization of a CrBr3 bilayer to be about 26 Bohr magnetons per square nanometer. The high spatial resolution of this technique enables imaging of magnetic domains and allows to locate the sites of defects that pin the domain walls and nucleate the reverse domains. Our work highlights scanning nitrogen-vacancy center magnetometry as a quantitative probe to explore nanoscale features in two-dimensional magnets.
Raw biomass electroreforming coupled to green hydrogen generation
Authors: Zhao Hu , Lu Dan , Wang Jiarui , Tu Wenguang , Wu Dan , Koh See Wee , Gao Pingqi , Xu Zhichuan J. , Deng Sili , Zhou Yan , You Bo , Li Hong
Published: March 2021

Despite the tremendous progress of coupling organic electrooxidation with hydrogen generation in a hybrid electrolysis, electroreforming of raw biomass coupled to green hydrogen generation has not been reported yet due to the rigid polymeric structures of raw biomass. Herein, we electrooxidize the most abundant natural amino biopolymer chitin to acetate with over 90% yield in hybrid electrolysis. The overall energy consumption of electrolysis can be reduced by 15% due to the thermodynamically and kinetically more favorable chitin oxidation over water oxidation. In obvious contrast to small organics as the anodic reactant, the abundance of chitin endows the new oxidation reaction excellent scalability. A solar-driven electroreforming of chitin and chitin-containing shrimp shell waste is coupled to safe green hydrogen production thanks to the liquid anodic product and suppression of oxygen evolution. Our work thus demonstrates a scalable and safe process for resource upcycling and green hydrogen production for a sustainable energy future.
Bi-directional regulation of cognitive control by distinct prefrontal cortical output neurons to thalamus and striatum
Authors: de Kloet Sybren F. , Bruinsma Bastiaan , Terra Huub , Heistek Tim S. , Passchier Emma M. J. , van den Berg Alexandra R. , Luchicchi Antonio , Min Rogier , Pattij Tommy , Mansvelder Huibert D.
Published: March 2021

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) steers goal-directed actions and withholds inappropriate behavior. Dorsal and ventral mPFC (dmPFC/vmPFC) circuits have distinct roles in cognitive control, but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we use neuroanatomical tracing techniques, in vitro electrophysiology, chemogenetics and fiber photometry in rats engaged in a 5-choice serial reaction time task to characterize dmPFC and vmPFC outputs to distinct thalamic and striatal subdomains. We identify four spatially segregated projection neuron populations in the mPFC. Using fiber photometry we show that these projections distinctly encode behavior. Postsynaptic striatal and thalamic neurons differentially process synaptic inputs from dmPFC and vmPFC, highlighting mechanisms that potentially amplify distinct pathways underlying cognitive control of behavior. Chemogenetic silencing of dmPFC and vmPFC projections to lateral and medial mediodorsal thalamus subregions oppositely regulate cognitive control. In addition, dmPFC neurons projecting to striatum and thalamus divergently regulate cognitive control. Collectively, we show that mPFC output pathways targeting anatomically and functionally distinct striatal and thalamic subregions encode bi-directional command of cognitive control.
Landscapes of cellular phenotypic diversity in breast cancer xenografts and their impact on drug response
Authors: Georgopoulou Dimitra , Callari Maurizio , Rueda Oscar M. , Shea Abigail , Martin Alistair , Giovannetti Agnese , Qosaj Fatime , Dariush Ali , Chin Suet-Feung , Carnevalli Larissa S. , Provenzano Elena , Greenwood Wendy , Lerda Giulia , Esmaeilishirazifard Elham , O’Reilly Martin , Serra Violeta , Bressan Dario ,   IMAXT Consortium, Ali H. R. , Al Sa’d M. , Alon S. , Aparicio S. , Battistoni G. , Balasubramanian S. , Becker R. , Bodenmiller B. , Boyden E. S. , Bressan D. , Bruna A. , Burger Marcel , Caldas C. , Callari M. , Cannell I. G. , Casbolt H. , Chornay N. , Cui Y. , Dariush A. , Dinh K. , Emenari A. , Eyal-Lubling Y. , Fan J. , Fatemi A. , Fisher E. , González-Solares E. A. , González-Fernández C. , Goodwin D. , Greenwood W. , Grimaldi F. , Hannon G. J. , Harris O. , Harris S. , Jauset C. , Joyce J. A. , Karagiannis E. D. , Kovačević T. , Kuett L. , Kunes R. , Küpcü Yoldaş A. , Lai D. , Laks E. , Lee H. , Lee M. , Lerda G. , Li Y. , McPherson A. , Millar N. , Mulvey C. M. , Nugent F. , O’Flanagan C. H. , Paez-Ribes M. , Pearsall I. , Qosaj F. , Roth A. J. , Rueda O. M. , Ruiz T. , Sawicka K. , Sepúlveda L. A. , Shah S. P. , Shea A. , Sinha A. , Smith A. , Tavaré S. , Tietscher S. , Vázquez-García I. , Vogl S. L. , Walton N. A. , Wassie A. T. , Watson S. S. , Weselak J. , Wild S. A. , Williams E. , Windhager J. , Whitmarsh T. , Xia C. , Zheng P. , Zhuang X. , Mills Gordon B. , Ali H. Raza , Cosulich Sabina S. , Hannon Gregory J. , Bruna Alejandra , Caldas Carlos
Published: March 2021

The heterogeneity of breast cancer plays a major role in drug response and resistance and has been extensively characterized at the genomic level. Here, a single-cell breast cancer mass cytometry (BCMC) panel is optimized to identify cell phenotypes and their oncogenic signalling states in a biobank of patient-derived tumour xenograft (PDTX) models representing the diversity of human breast cancer. The BCMC panel identifies 13 cellular phenotypes (11 human and 2 murine), associated with both breast cancer subtypes and specific genomic features. Pre-treatment cellular phenotypic composition is a determinant of response to anticancer therapies. Single-cell profiling also reveals drug-induced cellular phenotypic dynamics, unravelling previously unnoticed intra-tumour response diversity. The comprehensive view of the landscapes of cellular phenotypic heterogeneity in PDTXs uncovered by the BCMC panel, which is mirrored in primary human tumours, has profound implications for understanding and predicting therapy response and resistance.
Author Correction: Determinants of genome-wide distribution and evolution of uORFs in eukaryotes
Authors: Zhang Hong , Wang Yirong , Wu Xinkai , Tang Xiaolu , Wu Changcheng , Lu Jian
Published: March 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22435-2
Spin dynamics and Griffiths singularity in the random quantum Ising magnet PrTiNbO6
Authors: Li Yuesheng , Li Qiao-Yi , Li Wei , Liu Tao , Voneshen David J. , Biswas Pabitra K. , Adroja Devashibhai
Published: March 2021

In crystalline magnets, interaction randomness is usually thought as a negative factor preventing interesting quantum phenomena to occur. However, intriguing interplay between randomness and quantumness can also leads to unique phenomena in the strongly correlated materials. Among others, the random transverse-field Ising spin chain (RTIC) hosts a renowned quantum Griffiths phase. Although the RTIC model has been regarded as a toy model for long, here we materialize this model with the compound PrTiNbO6, which has a disordered ground state with pronounced quantum fluctuations and continuous spin excitations. The observed anomalous spin dynamics of PrTiNbO6 can be accounted by the RTIC model with a consistent set of parameters determined from fitting the thermodynamic data, and it is ascribed to the quantum Griffiths rare regions in the system. Our results provide a concrete example of quantum Griffiths magnet, and offer an ideal experimental platform for investigating the dynamical properties of random many-body system.
A multidisciplinary study unveils the nature of a Roman ink of the I century AD
Authors: Sibilia Mirta , Stani Chiaramaria , Gigli Lara , Pollastri Simone , Migliori Alessandro , D’Amico Francesco , Schmid Chiara , Licen Sabina , Crosera Matteo , Adami Gianpiero , Barbieri Pierluigi , Plaisier Jasper R. , Aquilanti Giuliana , Vaccari Lisa , Buson Stefano , Gonzato Federica
Published: March 2021

A multi-instrumental approach combining highly sensitive Synchrotron Radiation-based techniques was used to provide information on the real composition of a dry black ink powder found in a bronze inkwell of the first century AD. The presence of Pb, Cu and Fe in the powder, revealed by XRF and ICP-OES data, leads to raise several hypotheses on their origin. The inkpot and its lid were also investigated by Hand-Held XRF, revealing a bronze alloy (Cu-Sn) with a certain amount of Fe and Pb. The lid was found to be particularly enriched in lead. XRPD, XAS and FTIR measurements showed a substantial presence of silicates and common clay minerals in the ink along with cerussite and malachite, Pb and Cu bearing-carbonates, respectively. These evidences support the hypothesis of an important contamination of the ink sample by the burial environment (soil) and the presence of degradation products of the bronze inkpot. The combined use of IR, Raman, and GC-MS evidenced that the black ink is mainly composed of amorphous carbon deriving from the combustion of organic material mixed with a natural binding agent, Arabic gum.
A short humorous intervention protects against subsequent psychological stress and attenuates cortisol levels without affecting attention
Authors: Froehlich Eva , Madipakkam Apoorva Rajiv , Craffonara Barbara , Bolte Christina , Muth Anne-Katrin , Park Soyoung Q.
Published: March 2021

Presentation of humor simultaneously with a stressful event has been shown to dampen the psychological and physiological responses of stress. However, whether a relatively short humorous intervention can be utilized to prevent the subsequent stress processing is still underinvestigated. Furthermore, it is unknown, whether such a humor intervention changes stress processing at a cost of cognitive functioning. According to the broaden-and-build theory inducing positive emotions may subsequently impact cognitive performance. Here, we investigated whether humor protects against subsequent stressors by attenuating both, psychological and physiological stress levels and whether this affects cognitive performance. Participants watched either a humorous or a neutral movie, underwent stress induction and performed in a visual search task. Compared to the control group, psychological stress levels and salivary cortisol levels were lower in the humor group, yet no differences were found in response times and accuracy rates for the visual search task. Our results demonstrate that a short humorous intervention shields against subsequent psychological stress leaving cognitive performance intact, thus making it highly applicable to improve mental and physical health in everyday life situations.
Impact of land cover and landfills on the breeding effect and nest occupancy of the white stork in Poland
Authors: Bialas Joanna T. , Dylewski Łukasz , Dylik Andrzej , Janiszewski Tomasz , Kaługa Ireneusz , Królak Tomek , Kruszyk Robert , Pawlukojć Krzysztof , Pestka Zuzanna , Polakowski Michał , Zbyryt Adam , Tobolka Marcin
Published: March 2021

Food wastes are among the factors with the greatest effects on animal populations. The white stork is among bird species that clearly profit from feeding at landfills, at least in Western Europe and North Africa. However, the rate and the consequences of this feeding are still unknown in the Central-Eastern European population, which differs from the western population not only in terms of migration routes but also in the greater availability of suitable natural breeding habitats due to less intensified agriculture. The aim of the study was to describe the use of landfills and its consequences in terms of probability of nest occupation and breeding effects in different regions of Poland. Although the most important factors influencing nest-site selection and breeding effect are still habitat quality and weather conditions, distance to landfills is important in selection of nest sites. White storks use landfills most intensively late in the breeding season, independently of the density of breeding pairs. The results suggest that the use of landfills is not currently essential in the Central-Eastern European population of the white stork, does not affect breeding effect, and may be more frequent in non-breeders. However, this phenomenon is still developing and requires continuous monitoring.
Indirect modulation of human visual memory
Authors: Kozak Stas , Herz Noa , Bar-Haim Yair , Censor Nitzan
Published: March 2021

Conditions in which memories become maladaptive have inspired extensive research geared to modulate memory by targeting it directly and explicitly. Given limitations of direct memory modulation, we asked the following: can the target memories be modulated indirectly? To address this question, we uniquely targeted visual memories, and leveraged a paradigm utilizing instructions to either forget or remember newly encoded memories. We used a multi-domain approach, and applied the instructions to embedded verbal information presented during encoding (words), with the intention to indirectly modulate recognition of the target visual context memory itself (pictures). Accordingly, participants were presented with two lists of words, where each word was preceded and followed by pictures. Participants were instructed to either remember or forget the first list of words. As expected, the instruction to either remember or forget the words differentially influenced word memory strength. Importantly, the instruction regarding the words, indirectly modulated picture memory strength. Better memory for words resulted in reduced picture memory strength and vice versa, with the instruction to remember the words reducing picture memory strength. Together with a negative correlation between word and picture memory strength, the results suggest a competition for shared resources between memory for content and context. These findings may open new avenues to indirectly modulate maladaptive memories.
Comparison of platforms for testing antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis antigens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Togo
Authors: Gwyn Sarah , Awoussi Marcel S. , Bakhtiari Ana , Bronzan Rachel N. , Crowley Kathryn , Harding-Esch Emma M. , Kassankogno Yao , Kilangalanga Janvier N. , Makangila Felix , Mupoyi Sylvain , Ngondi Jeremiah , Ngoyi Bonaventure , Palmer Stephanie , Randall Jessica M. , Seim Anders , Solomon Anthony W. , Stewart Raymond , Togbey Kwamy , Uvon Pitchouna A. , Martin Diana L.
Published: March 2021

Trachoma, caused by repeated ocular infection withChlamydia trachomatis(Ct), is targeted for elimination as a public health problem. Serological testing for antibodies is promising for surveillance; determining useful thresholds will require collection of serological data from settings with different prevalence of the indicator trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF). Dried blood spots were collected during trachoma mapping in two districts each of Togo and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Anti-Ct antibodies were detected by multiplex bead assay (MBA) and three different lateral flow assays (LFA) and seroprevalence and seroconversion rate (SCR) were determined. By most tests, the district with > 5% TF (the elimination threshold) had five–sixfold higher seroprevalence and tenfold higher SCR than districts with < 5% TF. The agreement between LFA and MBA was improved using a black latex developing reagent. These data show optimization of antibody tests against Ct to better differentiate districts above or below trachoma elimination thresholds.
Improving hexaminolevulinate enabled cancer cell detection in liquid biopsy immunosensors
Authors: Chan Kit Man , Gleadle Jonathan , Li Jordan , Michl Thomas Danny , Vasilev Krasimir , MacGregor Melanie
Published: March 2021

Hexaminolevulinate (HAL) induced Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) fluorescence is commonly used to differentiate cancer cells from normal cells in vivo, as for instance in blue light cystoscopy for bladder cancer diagnosis. A detailed approach is here provided to use this diagnostic principle ex vivo in an immunosensor device, towards enabling non-invasive cancer diagnostic from body fluids, such as urine. Several factors susceptible to affect the applicability of HAL-assisted diagnosis in body fluids were tested. These included the cell viability and its impact on PpIX fluorescence, the storage condition and shelf life of HAL premix reagent, light exposure (360–450 nm wavelengths) and its corresponding effect on both intensity and bleaching of the PpIX fluorescence as a function of the microscopy imaging conditions. There was no significant decrease in the viability of bladder cancer cells after 6 h at 4 °C (student’s t-test: p > 0.05). The cellular PpIX fluorescence decreased in a time-dependent manner when cancer cells were kept at 4 °C for extended period of time, though this didn’t significantly reduce the fluorescence intensity contrast between cancer and non-cancer cells kept in the same condition for 6 h. HAL premix reagent kept in long term storage at 4 °C induced stronger PpIX fluorescence than reagent kept in the − 20 °C freezer. The PpIX fluorescence was negatively affected by repeated light exposure but increased with illumination intensity and exposure time. Though this applied to both healthy and cancer cell lines, and therefore did not statistically improved the differentiation between cell types. This study revealed important experimental settings that need to be carefully considered to benefit from the analytical potential of HAL induced fluorescence when used in technologies for the diagnosis of cancer from body fluids.
Phytochemical profile and rosmarinic acid purification from two Peruvian Lepechinia Willd. species (Salviinae, Mentheae, Lamiaceae)
Authors: Serrano Carlos A. , Villena Gretty K. , Rodríguez Eric F.
Published: March 2021

The phytochemical profile of Lepechinia meyenii (Walp.) Epling and Lepechina floribunda (Benth.) Epling obtained by liquid chromatography associated with high-resolution mass spectrometry is presented. Forty eight compounds were detected exhibiting a variety of salvianolic acids and abietane phenolic diterpenoids. A simple procedure by cold evaporative crystallization to purify rosmarinic acid from these botanical species was also shown.
Potentially toxic elements pollution in road deposited sediments around the active smelting industry of Korea
Authors: Jeong Hyeryeong , Choi Jin Young , Ra Kongtae
Published: March 2021

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were investigated in the different sizes of road deposited sediments (RDS) around the active smelting industry to understand their sources and to assess the pollution and ecological risk levels. The highest PTEs concentrations was shown near the raw materials import port and the smelting facilities. The fine particles of RDS showed extremely high PTEs concentrations. Zn has the highest mean concentration in the < 63 μm particle size of RDS, followed by Pb > Cu > As > Cr > Ni > Cd > Hg. The PTEs concentrations of this study were the highest values compared to the soils around the smelter and the RDS in urban and industrial areas in the world. This indicates that these PTEs pollution in RDS were mainly attributed to the transportation of raw materials for the smelting industry. According to nemerow pollution index calculation, RDS at all sampling sites with particles of less than 250 mm was seriously polluted with PTEs. The ecological risk was also found to be very high in all RDS fractions and highly toxic elements such as Cd, Pb and Hg pose extremely risk. Given the total amounts PTEs in the road surface, it is necessary to apply RDS removal management plan to reduce the PTEs pollution.
Incense smoke-induced oxidative stress disrupts tight junctions and bronchial epithelial barrier integrity and induces airway hyperresponsiveness in mouse lungs
Authors: Yamamoto Norio , Kan-o Keiko , Tatsuta Miyoko , Ishii Yumiko , Ogawa Tomohiro , Shinozaki Seiji , Fukuyama Satoru , Nakanishi Yoichi , Matsumoto Koichiro
Published: March 2021

Recent clinical studies have suggested that inhalation of incense smoke (IS) may result in impaired lung function and asthma. However, there is little experimental evidence to link IS with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and bronchial epithelial barrier function. Using mouse and cell culture models, we evaluated the effects of IS exposure on AHR, expression of multiple epithelial tight junction (TJ)- and adherens junction-associated mRNAs and proteins in the lungs, and the barrier function of bronchial epithelial cells assessed by transepithelial electronic resistance (TEER). Exposure of BALB/c mice to IS increased AHR and inflammatory macrophage recruitment to BALF; reduced claudin-1, -2, -3, -7, -10b, -12, -15, and -18, occludin, zonula occludens-1 [ZO-1], and E-cadherin mRNA expression; and caused discontinuity of claudin-2 and ZO-1 protein immunostaining in lung tissue. IS extract dose-dependently decreased TEER and increased reactive oxygen species production in bronchial epithelial cell cultures. Treatment with N-acetyl-l-cysteine, but not glucocorticosteroids or long-acting β2-agonists, prevented the detrimental effects of IS. IS exposure can be problematic for respiratory health, as evidenced by AHR, increased recruitment of inflammatory macrophages and disruption of TJ proteins in the lung, and damage to epithelial barrier function. However, antioxidants may be useful for the treatment of IS-induced airway dysfunction.
Selection and validation reference genes for qRT-PCR normalization in different cultivars during fruit ripening and softening of peach (Prunus persica)
Authors: You Shuanghong , Cao Ke , Chen Changwen , Li Yong , Wu Jinlong , Zhu Gengrui , Fang Weichao , Wang Xinwei , Wang Lirong
Published: March 2021

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) has been emerged as an effective method to explore the gene function and regulatory mechanisms. However, selecting appropriate reference gene (s) is a prerequisite for obtaining accurate qRT-PCR results. Peach is one of important fruit in Rosaceae and is widely cultivated worldwide. In this study, to explore reliable reference gene (s) in peach with different types during fruit ripening and softening (S1–S4), nine candidate reference genes (EF-1α, GAPDH, TBP, UBC, eIF-4α, TUB-A, TUB-B, ACTIN, and HIS) were selected from the whole-genome data. Then, the expression levels of the nine selected genes were detected using qRT-PCR in three peach types, including ‘Hakuho’ (melting type), ‘Xiacui’ (stony hard type), ‘Fantasia’ and ‘NJC108’ (non-melting type) cultivars were detected using qRT-PCR. Four software (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and RefFinder) were applied to evaluate the expression stability of these candidate reference genes. Gene expression was characterized in different peach types during fruit ripening and softening stages. The overall performance of each candidate in all samples was evaluated. The Actin gene (ACTIN) was a suitable reference gene and displayed excellent stability in ‘Total’ set, ‘Hakuho’ samples, S3 and S4 fruit developmental stages. Ubiquitin C gene (UBC) showed the best stability in most independent samples, including ‘Fantasia’, ‘NJC108’, S2 sets. Elongation factor-1α gene (EF-1α) was the most unstable gene across the set of all samples, ‘NJC108’ and S2 sets, while showed the highest stability in ‘Xiacui’ samples. The stability of candidate reference genes was further verified by analyzing the relative expression level of ethylene synthase gene of Prunus persica (PpACS1) in fruit ripening and softening periods of ‘Hakuho’. Taken together, the results from this study provide a basis for future research on the mining of important functional genes, expression patterns and regulatory mechanisms in peach.