bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ARPM‐net: A novel CNN‐based adversarial method with Markov random field enhancement for prostate and organs at risk segmentation in pelvic CT images
Authors: Zhang Zhuangzhuang , Zhao Tianyu , Gay Hiram , Zhang Weixiong , Sun Baozhou
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The research is to develop a novel CNN‐based adversarial deep learning method to improve and expedite the multi‐organ semantic segmentation of CT images and to generate accurate contours on pelvic CT images.

Methods

Planning CT and structure datasets for 120 patients with intact prostate cancer were retrospectively selected and divided for tenfold cross‐validation. The proposed adversarial multi‐residual multi‐scale pooling Markov random field (MRF) enhanced network (ARPM‐net) implements an adversarial training scheme. A segmentation network and a discriminator network were trained jointly, and only the segmentation network was used for prediction. The segmentation network integrates a newly designed MRF block into a variation of multi‐residual U‐net. The discriminator takes the product of the original CT and the prediction/ground‐truth as input and classifies the input into fake/real. The segmentation network and discriminator network can be trained jointly as a whole, or the discriminator can be used for fine‐tuning after the segmentation network is coarsely trained. Multi‐scale pooling layers were introduced to preserve spatial resolution during pooling using less memory compared to atrous convolution layers. An adaptive loss function was proposed to enhance the training on small or low contrast organs. The accuracy of modeled contours was measured with the dice similarity coefficient (DSC), average Hausdorff distance (AHD), average surface Hausdorff distance (ASHD), and relative volume difference (VD) using clinical contours as references to the ground‐truth. The proposed ARPM‐net method was compared to several state‐of‐the‐art deep learning methods.

Results

ARPM‐net outperformed several existing deep learning approaches and MRF methods and achieved state‐of‐the‐art performance on a testing dataset. On the test set with 20 cases, the average DSC on the prostate, bladder, rectum, left femur, and right femur were 0.88 (0.11), 0.97 (0.07), 0.86 (0.12), 0.97 (0.01), and 0.97 (0.01), respectively. The average HD (mm) on these organs were 1.58 ( 1.77), 1.91 (1.29), 3.14 (2.39), 1.76 (1.57), and 1.92 (1.01). The average surface HD (mm) on these organs are 2.11 (2.03), 2.36 (2.43), 3.05 (2.11), 1.99 (1.66), and 2.00 (2.07).

Conclusion

ARPM‐net was designed for the automatic segmentation of pelvic CT images. With adversarial fine‐tuning, ARPM‐net produces state‐of‐the‐art accurate contouring of multiple organs on CT images and has the potential to facilitate routine pelvic cancer radiation therapy planning process.
What Are Isolation Valves, and How Do They Work?
Authors: White Robb
Published: November 2020

Most valves installed in a water system are intended to start and stop flow. Designed to be either fully open or fully closed under normal conditions, these valves are commonly referred to as isolation valves.
Frontotemporal dementia‐linked P112H mutation of TDP‐43 induces protein structural change and impairs its RNA binding function
Authors: Agrawal Sashank , Jain Monika , Yang Wei‐Zen , Yuan Hanna S.
Published: November 2020

TDP‐43 forms the primary constituents of the cytoplasmic inclusions contributing to various neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Over 60 TDP‐43 mutations have been identified in patients suffering from these two diseases, but most variations are located in the protein's disordered C‐terminal glycine‐rich region. P112H mutation of TDP‐43 has been uniquely linked to FTD, and is located in the first RNA recognition motif (RRM1). This mutation is thought to be pathogenic, but its impact on TDP‐43 at the protein level remains unclear. Here, we compare the biochemical and biophysical properties of TDP‐43 truncated proteins with or without P112H mutation. We show that P112H‐mutated TDP‐43 proteins exhibit higher thermal stability, impaired RNA‐binding activity, and a reduced tendency to aggregate relative to wild‐type proteins. Near‐UV CD, 2D‐nuclear‐magnetic resonance, and intrinsic fluorescence spectrometry further reveal that the P112H mutation in RRM1 generates local conformational changes surrounding the mutational site that disrupt the stacking interactions of the W113 side chain with nucleic acids. Together, these results support the notion that P112H mutation of TDP‐43 contributes to FTD through functional impairment of RNA metabolism and/or structural changes that curtail protein clearance.
Investigation of Thermal Stability Effects of Thick Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Precursor Layers for Liquid‐Phase Crystallized Silicon
Authors: Bosan Hassan Ali , Beyer Wolfhard , Breuer Uwe , Finger Friedhelm , Hambach Nelli , Nuys Maurice , Pennartz Frank , Amkreutz Daniel , Haas Stefan
Published: November 2020

The thermal stability of thick (≈4 μm) plasma‐grown hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) layers on glass upon application of a rather rapid annealing step is investigated. Such films are of interest as precursor layers for laser liquid‐phase crystallized silicon solar cells. However, at least half‐day annealing at T ≈550 °C is considered to be necessary so far to reduce the hydrogen (H) content and thus avoid blistering and peeling during the crystallization process due to H. By varying the deposition conditions of a‐Si:H, layers of rather different thermal stability are fabricated. Changes in the surface morphology of these a‐Si:H layers are investigated using scanning electron microscopy and profilometry measurements. Hydrogen effusion, secondary‐ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) depth profiling, and Raman spectroscopy measurements are also carried out. In summary, amorphous silicon precursor layers are fabricated that can be heated within 30 min to a temperature of 550 °C without peeling and major surface morphological changes. Successful laser liquid‐phase crystallization of such material is demonstrated. The physical nature of a‐Si:H material stability/instability upon application of rapid heating is studied.
Evidence of the presence of minor tautomeric forms in selected nitroanilines
Authors: Colasurdo Diego D. , Pila Matías N. , Laurella Sergio L. , Allegretti Patricia E. , Ruiz Danila L.
Published: November 2020

Rationale

Nitroanilines can exist in several tautomeric forms: nitro‐amino, nitro‐imino, and aci‐imino. The importance of evaluating minor tautomeric species comes from the fact that even less abundant tautomers have been proved to play important roles in reaction mechanisms.

Methods

Electron ionization mass spectra of the pesticide Pendimethalin and four related nitroanilines were recorded at 70 eV to find information about the presence of minor tautomeric forms in the gas phase. The existence of the possible tautomers was evaluated by studying specific fragmentation pathways, which were confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments. Further supporting information was obtained by studying the structures of some intermediate compounds by theoretical calculations at the B3LYP 6‐311++G(d,p) level.

Results

The mass spectrum of Pendimethalin suggests the coexistence of the nitro‐amine tautomer (the most stable form) with four possible less stable tautomers in equilibrium. The fragmentation routes were used to explain analogous peaks in two related compounds. However, the spectra of two other related compounds that cannot follow the proposed route of fragmentation for nitro‐imine tautomers do not show the analogous peak. Theoretical calculations were used to correlate the precursor cation with the proposed fragmentation pathway.

Conclusions

By the study of mass spectra and proposed fragmentation pathways it can be concluded that, although the nitro‐amine is the most abundant species within the system, minor tautomers (nitro‐imine and aci‐imine) coexist in the gas phase.
Effect of Reduction Degree on Characteristics of Slag Formed by Melting Hydrogen‐Reduced DRI and Partitions of P and V between Slag and Metal
Authors: Vickerfält Amanda , Martinsson Johan , Sichen Du
Published: November 2020

Self‐fluxing hematite pellets are reduced by hydrogen to different degrees. The reduced pellets are melted in closed MgO crucibles at 1873 K to study the effect of reduction degree on the characteristics of slag formed. The results reveal that the phosphorus content in the metallic phase can be brought down to 130 ppm merely by the self‐fluxing slag, even though the slag weighs only about 8% of the metal. It shows a great potential in reducing the amount of slag formers in the steelmaking process. The slag compositions obtained by melting the reduced pellets are used to prepare small synthetic slag samples for identifying the phases after melting. The use of the small samples is to ensure efficient quenching. Microscopic examination reveals that all the self‐fluxing slags contain mainly three phases, namely, magnesiowüstite, spinel, and a liquid phase. Most of vanadium is found to be in the spinel and magnesiowüstite phases. The liquid phase only contains 1–2 wt% V2O3. Decreased FeO content of the slag increases the vanadium oxide contents in the spinel and magnesiowüstite phases. The fact that vanadium concentrates in the solid oxide phases provides essential information for sustainable extraction of vanadium from the steelmaking slag.
Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors and interstitial lung disease in the FDA adverse event reporting system: a pharmacovigilance assessment
Authors: Raschi Emanuel , Fusaroli Michele , Ardizzoni Andrea , Poluzzi Elisabetta , De Ponti Fabrizio
Published: November 2020

Purpose

We assessed pulmonary toxicity of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/6 inhibitors by analyzing the publicly available FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

Methods

Reports of interstitial lung disease (ILD) were characterized in terms of demographic information, including daily dose, latency, concomitant drugs known to be associated with ILD, and causality assessment (adapted WHO system). Disproportionality analyses were carried out by calculating reporting odds ratios (RORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI), accounting for major confounders, including notoriety and competition biases.

Results

ILD reports (N = 161) represented 2.1% and 0.3% of all reports for abemaciclib and palbocilcib/ribociclib, respectively, with negligible proportion of concomitant pneumotoxic drugs. Increased reporting was found for CDK4/6 inhibitors when compared to other drugs (ROR = 1.50; 95%CI = 1.28–1.74), and abemaciclib vs other anticancer agents (4.70; 3.62–5.98). Sensitivity analyses confirmed a strong and consistent disproportionality for abemaciclib. Higher-than-expected reporting emerged for palbociclib (1.38; 1.07–1.77) and ribociclib (2.39; 1.34–3.92) only when removing Japan reports. ILD occurred at recommended daily doses, with median latency ranging from 50 (abemaciclib) to 253 (ribociclib) days. Causality was highly probable in 55% of abemaciclib cases, probable in 68% of palbociclib cases.

Conclusions

Increased reporting of ILD with CDK4/6 inhibitors calls for further comparative population-based studies to characterize and quantify the actual risk, taking into account drug- and patient-related risk factors. These findings strengthen the role of (a) timely pharmacovigilance to detect post-marketing signals through FAERS and other real-world data, (b) clinicians to assess early, on a case-by-case basis, the potential responsibility of CDK4/6 inhibitors when diagnosing a lung injury.
An Accidental Discovery of Tracheobronchomegaly: a Case Report
Authors: Ma Weijiang , Liu Aihua , Liu Xin , Bao Fukai
Published: November 2020

Tracheobronchomegaly is a rare disease with congenital abnormal change in respiratory tract; its image features are also very special. In this case, we described a 57-year-old male with cough, expectoration, chest pain, and dyspnea. In our institution, the result of chest CT scan is highly extraordinary, which showed obvious dilation of the trachea and main bronchi, emphysema, and a number of pulmonary bullae, and there was a big bulla with air-fluid level on the lower lobe of the right lung. Fortunately, after wedge resection for the big bulla on the lower lobe of right lung under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, this patient’s symptoms were significantly relieved. The clinical manifestations of tracheobronchomegaly lack specificity; this disease has freakish image features. At present, there are no effective treatments for tracheobronchomegaly, which just was an accidental discovery in this patient; we just mainly take surgical measures to treat the big bulla for relieving symptoms.
Professionelle Wahrnehmung der Sportlehrkräfte
Authors: Schiller Daniel
Published: November 2020

In Hinblick auf die Qualität von Sportunterricht wird der visuellen Dimension des Sportlehrer*innenhandelns große Bedeutung zugewiesen. Professionelle Wahrnehmung wird handlungstheoretisch üblicherweise intentional und akteurszentriert konzeptualisiert: Eine Lehrkraft handelt dann kompetent, wenn sie Unterrichtsereignisse selektiv erfassen, das Wahrgenommene pädagogisch und fachdidaktisch deuten und schließlich begründet Handlungsentscheidungen treffen kann. Praxeologische Handlungskonzeptionen nehmen nun stärker geteilte praktische Wissensbestände in den Blick, die an unterrichtlichen Interaktionen konstitutiv beteiligt sind. Bezogen auf die visuelle Dimension von Lehrer*innenhandeln spannt dieses Wissen Wahrnehmbarkeitsräume auf, welche ein intentionales Sehgeschehen permanent und hintergründig rahmen. In diesem Beitrag werden in Anlehnung an eine eigene Forschungsarbeit strukturelle Facetten einer praktischen Sichtweise im Sportunterricht illustriert und Impulse praxeologischer Perspektivierungen für den Diskurs zur professionellen Wahrnehmung diskutiert.
Positive Shifts in Emotion Evaluation Following Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in Remitted Depressed Participants
Authors: Williams Kate , Elliott Rebecca , Barnhofer Thorsten , Zahn Roland , Anderson Ian M.
Published: November 2020

Objectives

A combination of negatively biased information processing and a reduced ability to experience positive emotions can persist into remission from major depression (rMDD). Studies have shown that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) can increase self-reported positive emotions in rMDD participants; similar changes using neuropsychological tasks have not been shown. In this study, we investigated neuropsychological change in emotional processing following MBCT in rMDD participants.

Methods

Seventy-three rMDD participants, 40 of whom received MBCT and 33 of whom continued with treatment as usual (TAU), and 42 never depressed participants took part; neither the TAU nor never depressed participants received MBCT. All were assessed at baseline and immediately following MBCT or after an 8-week gap for those without active intervention. Participants completed emotion evaluation and face emotion recognition tasks with self-report measures (mood, mindfulness) at each session.

Results

Results showed an MBCT-specific shift in ratings from less negative to more positive emotion evaluations, which correlated with mindfulness practice and self-report mindfulness change. Both the MBCT and TAU groups showed a small increase in overall face emotion recognition accuracy compared with no change in never depressed participants.

Conclusions

These findings support a specific role for MBCT in encouraging more positive evaluations of life situations in those with previous depression rather than influencing lower-level processing of emotions. Results should be interpreted cautiously given that this was a non-randomised, preference choice trial.

Trial Registration

NCT02226042
Human microRNAs in host–parasite interaction: a review
Authors: Paul Sujay , Ruiz-Manriquez Luis M. , Serrano-Cano Francisco I. , Estrada-Meza Carolina , Solorio-Diaz Karla A. , Srivastava Aashish
Published: November 2020

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small noncoding RNA molecules with significant capacity to regulate the gene expression at the post-transcriptional level in a sequence-specific manner either through translation repression or mRNA degradation triggering a fine-tuning biological impact. They have been implicated in several processes, including cell growth and development, signal transduction, cell proliferation and differentiation, metabolism, apoptosis, inflammation, and immune response modulation. However, over the last few years, extensive studies have shown the relevance of miRNAs in human pathophysiology. Common human parasitic diseases, such as Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Amoebiasis, Chagas disease, Schistosomiasis, Toxoplasmosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Clonorchiasis, and Echinococcosis are the leading cause of death worldwide. Thus, identifying and characterizing parasite-specific miRNAs and their host targets, as well as host-related miRNAs, are important for a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of parasite-specific diseases at the molecular level. In this review, we have demonstrated the impact of human microRNAs during host−parasite interaction as well as their potential to be used for diagnosis and prognosis purposes.
Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)-21-epi-Eburnamonine Via a Photocatalytic Radical Cascade Reaction
Authors: Huang Yuan , Xue Fanglin , Liu Hengmao , Xue Fei , Liu Xiao-Yu , Song Hao , Qin Yong
Published: November 2020

An asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-21-epi-eburnamonine has been achieved. Key features of the synthesis include a visible-light photocatalytic intra-/intramolecular radical cascade reaction to assemble the tetracyclic ABCD ring system, and a highly diastereoselective Johnson-Claisen rearrangement to establish the C20 all-carbon quaternary stereocenter.

Graphic Abstract
Apperzeption
Authors: Stöckmann Ingo
Published: November 2020

Der Beitrag rekonstruiert erstmals den 1869 erschienenen Aufsatz »Die dichterische Phantasie und der Mechanismus des Bewußtseins« des Neukantianers Hermann Cohen. Der in der Fachgeschichte der Literaturwissenschaft unbekannte Text stammt aus Cohens vor-neukantianischer Phase und orientiert sich an der Philosophie Johann Friedrich Herbarts. Unter Rückgriff auf Herbarts Apperzeptionsbegriff, die Mythentheorie Jacob Grimms und das völkerpsychologische Konzept der ›Verdichtung‹ (Moritz Lazarus) entwirft Cohen mit Blick auf die »formalen Elemente«, die der Mythos in der Moderne freisetzt, ein Wissenschaftsprogramm der Literaturwissenschaft, das sich von der philologisch, nationalliterarisch und geistesgeschichtlich orientierten Germanistik des 19. Jahrhunderts distanziert – was den Text in die Genealogie der formalistischen Grundorientierungen des 20. Jahrhunderts einreiht.
Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning Explains Task Interleaving Behavior
Authors: Gebhardt Christoph , Oulasvirta Antti , Hilliges Otmar
Published: November 2020

How do people decide how long to continue in a task, when to switch, and to which other task? It is known that task interleaving adapts situationally, showing sensitivity to changes in expected rewards, costs, and task boundaries. However, the mechanisms that underpin the decision to stay in a task versus switch away are not thoroughly understood. Previous work has explained task interleaving by greedy heuristics and a policy that maximizes the marginal rate of return. However, it is unclear how such a strategy would allow for adaptation to environments that offer multiple tasks with complex switch costs and delayed rewards. Here, we develop a hierarchical model of supervisory control driven by reinforcement learning (RL). The core assumption is that the supervisory level learns to switch using task-specific approximate utility estimates, which are computed on the lower level. We show that a hierarchically optimal value function decomposition can be learned from experience, even in conditions with multiple tasks and arbitrary and uncertain reward and cost structures. The model also reproduces well-known key phenomena of task interleaving, such as the sensitivity to costs of resumption and immediate as well as delayed in-task rewards. In a demanding task interleaving study with 211 human participants and realistic tasks (reading, mathematics, question-answering, recognition), the model yielded better predictions of individual-level data than a flat (non-hierarchical) RL model and an omniscient-myopic baseline. Corroborating emerging evidence from cognitive neuroscience, our results suggest hierarchical RL as a plausible model of supervisory control in task interleaving.
Post-truth Politics, Performatives and the Force
Authors: Fridlund Patrik
Published: November 2020

This paper on post-truth politics argues that to the extent that one wants to understand political discourses generally (post-truth political discourses in particular), it is crucial to see them as circulating talk that performs rather than reports. This implies a shift in focus. Many react strongly to ‘post-truth’ assertions by appealing to evidence, objectivity, facts and truth. In this paper, it is suggested that, when analysing political discourses, there is no point asking, ‘Is it true?’ One should rather ask, ‘What happens as a result?’ Understanding political discourses as performative demands that the resulting doing, transforming and changing may transcend established parameters and known patterns. That also means problematising the types of argument allowed, or discourse considered appropriate, in a given situation. What, then, is the force within the performative discourse driving transformation? What role does intention play? And who—if anybody—can be designated as the master of the discourse? One way of answering these questions is to broaden the perspective of what happens in verbal exchanges. The hearer-speaker relation is fundamental, one in which meaning is shaped and the performative force is formed. A political discourse in general, and a post-truth political discourse in particular, cannot do and perform—cannot function—in a vacuum. This evokes serious questions about accountability and responsibility and also about human action and freedom.
Microplastic contamination of salt intended for human consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Danopoulos Evangelos , Jenner Lauren , Twiddy Maureen , Rotchell Jeanette M.
Published: November 2020

Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging contaminant ubiquitous in the environment. There is growing concern regarding potential human health effects, a major human exposure route being dietary uptake. We have undertaken a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis to identify all relevant research on MP contamination of salt intended for human consumption. Three thousand nine hundred and nineteen papers were identified, with ten fitting the inclusion criteria. A search of the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science, from launch date to September 2020, was conducted. MP contamination of salt varied significantly between four origins, sea salt 0–1674 MPs/kg, lake salt 8–462 MPs/kg, rock and well salt 0–204 MPs/kg. The majority of samples were found to be contaminated by MPs. Corresponding potential human exposures are estimated to be 0–6110 MPs per year (for all origins), confirming salt as a carrier of MPs. A bespoke risk of bias (RoB) assessment tool was used to appraise the quality of the studies, with studies demonstrating moderate to low RoB. These results suggest that a series of recurring issues need to be addressed in future research regarding sampling, analysis and reporting to improve confidence in research findings.
Developing a Case for Special Provisions During Examinations
Authors: Griffin Lara , Evans David
Published: November 2020

Education is a human right of every child and adolescent. The impact of a disability such as cerebral palsy should not pose barriers to this right because of structures within education environments (e.g., rigid examination conditions). Students within Australia with a disability are supported by legislation that ensures they can participate in education, like assessments, on the same basis as their peers without disability. This case study provides an applied example of how one school addressed the barriers posed by examination processes, and ensured that this student, with specific needs due to the impact of cerebral palsy, could access examinations on the same basis as her peers without disability.
Bounds for finite semiprimitive permutation groups: order, base size, and minimal degree
Authors: Morgan Luke , Praeger Cheryl E. , Rosa Kyle
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we study finite semiprimitive permutation groups, that is, groups in which each normal subgroup is transitive or semiregular. These groups have recently been investigated in terms of their abstract structure, in a similar way to the O'Nan–Scott Theorem for primitive groups. Our goal here is to explore aspects of such groups which may be useful in place of precise structural information. We give bounds on the order, base size, minimal degree, fixed point ratio, and chief length of an arbitrary finite semiprimitive group in terms of its degree. To establish these bounds, we study the structure of a finite semiprimitive group that induces the alternating or symmetric group on the set of orbits of an intransitive minimal normal subgroup.
Importance of involving patients and public in health research in Bangladesh and Nepal
Authors: Simkhada Bibha , van Teijlingen Edwin , Naheed Aliya , Warren Angela , Green Sue
Published: November 2020

Patient and public involvement/engagement (PPI/E) in public health research and health technology assessment (HTA) in high-income countries (HICs) have significantly increased over the past decade. PPI/E helps to improve research and HTA, ultimately benefitting patients and service users. PPI/E is a very new concept in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper considers the importance of PPI in public health research and HTA in the development and implementation of technology in the health sector in South Asia. Currently, in this region, health technology is frequently adopted from HICs without local research and HTA. It also discusses the importance of local co-creation of technology to reflect the needs of users within a culturally appropriate setting. It is important for LMIC-based researchers to understand the potential of PPI/E and how it can contribute to it to improve health care and research, especially perhaps in the era of COVID-19.
Peter Browne on the Metaphysics of Knowledge
Authors: Pearce Kenneth L.
Published: November 2020

The central unifying element in the philosophy of Peter Browne (d. 1735) is his theory of analogy. Although Browne's theory was originally developed to deal with some problems about religious language, Browne regards analogy as a general purpose cognitive mechanism whereby we substitute an idea we have to stand for an object of which we, strictly speaking, have no idea. According to Browne, all of our ideas are ideas of sense, and ideas of sense are ideas of material things. Hence we can conceive of spiritual things – including even our own spirit – only by analogy. One interesting application Browne makes of his theory is an account of how concepts such as knowledge can be correctly applied to beings that have no intrinsic properties in common, such as non-human animals, humans, angels, and God. I argue that this is best understood as what, in the contemporary literature, is known as a ‘multiple realizability’ problem and that Browne's solution to this problem has important similarities to functionalist theories in recent philosophy of mind.
Understanding Volumetric Water Storage in Monsoonal Wetlands of Northeastern Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmad Shahryar Khalique , Hossain Faisal , Pavelsky Tamlin , Parkins Grant M. , Yelton Sarah , Rodgers Megan , Little Sarina , Haldar Debolina , Ghafoor Sheikh , Khan Raihanul Haque , Shawn Nazmul Ahsan , Haque Aminul , Biswas Robin Kumar
Published: November 2020

The volume of water stored in seasonal wetlands is a fundamental but difficult to measure variable for developing a physical understanding of wetland behavior. For seasonal wetlands that are a major source of water for rice and fish production, this physical understanding is key to planning for water‐food security and ecosystem services. This study quantified variations in volumetric storage for the numerous seasonal wetlands of northeastern Bangladesh, locally known as “haors.” These haors receive transboundary runoff from densely vegetated and mountainous terrain in India and face persistent monsoonal cloud cover as they become full. We estimated volumetric storage for 13 haors by using extensive remote sensing data on water surface extent and elevation that was complemented with citizen‐contributed gauge data. Assuming a trapezoidal bathymetry, an area‐volume relationship was developed for selected haors. This relationship was assumed to be valid for extrapolating volumetric estimations over all the haors in the region. Results suggested that as haors get filled with the onset of monsoon rains, total estimated storage relative to the lowest observable level varied from 6.5 (±0.4) km3 in May to 30.9 (±2.0) km3 in July (peak of monsoon). Choosing a rectangular bathymetry can lead to 47% higher estimates compared to trapezoidal cross section. Estimating this intra‐annual/interannual increase in storage is important for the region to plan water management policies that balance the human and ecosystem needs. Our analytical approach has potential for application to wetlands worldwide in light of the upcoming Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission.
Full function of exon junction complex factor, Rbm8a, is critical for interneuron development
Authors: McSweeney Colleen , Dong Fengping , Chen Miranda , Vitale Jessica , Xu Li , Crowley Nicole , Luscher Bernhard , Zou Donghua , Mao Yingwei
Published: November 2020

The formation of the nervous system requires a balance between proliferation, differentiation, and migration of neural progenitors (NPs). Mutations in genes regulating development impede neurogenesis and lead to neuropsychiatric diseases, including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia (SZ). Recently, mutations in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay genes have been associated with ASDs, intellectual disability (ID), and SZ. Here, we examine the function of a gene in the exon junction complex, Rbm8a, in the cortical development. When Rbm8a is selectively knocked out in neural stem cells, the resulting mice exhibit microcephaly, early postnatal lethality, and altered distribution of excitatory neurons in the neocortex. Moreover, Rbm8a haploinsufficiency in the central nervous system decreases cell proliferation in the ganglionic eminences. Parvalbumin+ and neuropeptide Y+ interneurons in the cortex are significantly reduced, and distribution of interneurons are altered. Consistently, neurons in the cortex of conditional knockout (cKO) mice show a significant decrease in GABA frequency. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differentially expressed genes enriched in telencephalon development and mitosis. To further investigate the role of Rbm8a in interneuron differentiation, conditional KO of Rbm8a in NKX2.1 interneuron progenitor cells reduces progenitor proliferation and alters interneuron distributions. Taken together, these data reveal a critical role of Rbm8a in interneuron development, and establish that perturbation of this gene leads to profound cortical deficits.
Nonmuscle myosin IIB regulates Parkin-mediated mitophagy associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked TDP-43
Authors: Jun Mi-Hee , Jang Jae-Woo , Jeon Pureum , Lee Soo-Kyung , Lee Sang-Hoon , Choi Ha-Eun , Lee You-Kyung , Choi Haneul , Park Sang-Won , Kim Jeongyeon , Jang Deok-Jin , Lee Jin-A.
Published: November 2020

C-terminal fragments of Tar DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) have been identified as the major pathological protein in several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, how they affect cellular toxicity and neurodegeneration, including the modulation process remains unknown. This study revealed that the C-terminal fragment of TDP-43 (TDP-25) was localized primarily to mitochondria and caused abnormal mitochondrial morphology, inducing Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Also, we discovered that the knockdown of selective autophagy receptors, such as TAX1BP, Optineurin, or NDP52 caused TDP-25 accumulation, indicating that TDP-25 was degraded by mitophagy. Interestingly, myosin IIB, a nonmuscle type of myosin and actin-based motor protein, is mostly colocalized to TDP-25 associated with abnormal mitochondria. In addition, myosin IIB inhibition by siRNA or blebbistatin induced mitochondrial accumulation of insoluble TDP-25 and Tom20, and reduced neuronal cell viability. Our results suggest a novel role of myosin IIB in mitochondrial degradation of toxic TDP-25. Therefore, we proposed that regulating myosin IIB activity might be a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases associated with TDP-43 pathology.
Priming with FLO8-deficient Candida albicans induces Th1-biased protective immunity against lethal polymicrobial sepsis
Authors: Lv Quan-Zhen , Li De-Dong , Han Hua , Yang Yi-Heng , Duan Jie-Lin , Ma Hui-Hui , Yu Yao , Chen Jiang-Ye , Jiang Yuan-Ying , Jia Xin-Ming
Published: November 2020

The morphological switch between yeast and hyphae of Candida albicans is essential for its interaction with the host defense system. However, the lack of understanding of host–pathogen interactions during C. albicans infection greatly hampers the development of effective immunotherapies. Here, we found that priming with the C. albicans FLO8-deficient (flo8) mutant, locked in yeast form, protected mice from subsequent lethal C. albicans infection. Deficiency of Dectin-2, a fungus-derived α-mannan recognition receptor, completely blocked flo8 mutant-induced protection. Mechanistically, the flo8 mutant-induced Dectin-2/CARD9-mediated IL-10 production in DCs and macrophages to block thymus atrophy by inhibiting the C. albicans-induced apoptosis of thymic T cells, which facilitated the continuous output of naive T cells from the thymus to the spleen. Continuous recruitment of naive T cells to the spleen enhanced Th1-biased antifungal immune responses. Consequently, depletion of CD4+ T cells or blockade of IL-10 receptor function using specific antibodies in mice completely blocked the protective effects of flo8 mutant priming against C. albicans infection. Moreover, mannans exposed on the surface of the flo8 mutant were responsible for eliciting protective immunity by inhibiting the C. albicans-induced apoptosis of thymic T cells to sustain the number of naive T cells in the spleen. Importantly, priming with the flo8 mutant extensively protected mice from polymicrobial infection caused by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) by enhancing Th1-biased immune responses. Together, our findings imply that targeting FLO8 in C. albicans elicits protective immune responses against polymicrobial infections and that mannans extracted from the flo8 mutant are potential immunotherapeutic candidate(s) for controlling infectious diseases.
Navigating the landscape of multiplayer games
Authors: Omidshafiei Shayegan , Tuyls Karl , Czarnecki Wojciech M. , Santos Francisco C. , Rowland Mark , Connor Jerome , Hennes Daniel , Muller Paul , Pérolat Julien , Vylder Bart De , Gruslys Audrunas , Munos Rémi
Published: November 2020

Multiplayer games have long been used as testbeds in artificial intelligence research, aptly referred to as the Drosophila of artificial intelligence. Traditionally, researchers have focused on using well-known games to build strong agents. This progress, however, can be better informed by characterizing games and their topological landscape. Tackling this latter question can facilitate understanding of agents and help determine what game an agent should target next as part of its training. Here, we show how network measures applied to response graphs of large-scale games enable the creation of a landscape of games, quantifying relationships between games of varying sizes and characteristics. We illustrate our findings in domains ranging from canonical games to complex empirical games capturing the performance of trained agents pitted against one another. Our results culminate in a demonstration leveraging this information to generate new and interesting games, including mixtures of empirical games synthesized from real world games.
α-proteobacteria synthesize biotin precursor pimeloyl-ACP using BioZ 3-ketoacyl-ACP synthase and lysine catabolism
Authors: Hu Yuanyuan , Cronan John E.
Published: November 2020

Pimelic acid, a seven carbon α,ω-dicarboxylic acid (heptanedioic acid), is known to provide seven of the ten biotin carbon atoms including all those of the valeryl side chain. Distinct pimelate synthesis pathways were recently elucidated in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis where fatty acid synthesis plus dedicated biotin enzymes produce the pimelate moiety. In contrast, the α-proteobacteria which include important plant and mammalian pathogens plus plant symbionts, lack all of the known pimelate synthesis genes and instead encode bioZ genes. Here we report a pathway in which BioZ proteins catalyze a 3-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase III-like reaction to produce pimeloyl-ACP with five of the seven pimelate carbon atoms being derived from glutaryl-CoA, an intermediate in lysine degradation. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains either deleted for bioZ or which encode a BioZ active site mutant are biotin auxotrophs, as are strains defective in CaiB which catalyzes glutaryl-CoA synthesis from glutarate and succinyl-CoA.
Intraspecific host variation plays a key role in virus community assembly
Authors: Sallinen Suvi , Norberg Anna , Susi Hanna , Laine Anna-Liisa
Published: November 2020

Infection by multiple pathogens of the same host is ubiquitous in both natural and managed habitats. While intraspecific variation in disease resistance is known to affect pathogen occurrence, how differences among host genotypes affect the assembly of pathogen communities remains untested. In our experiment using cloned replicates of naivePlantago lanceolataplants as sentinels during a seasonal virus epidemic, we find non-random co-occurrence patterns of five focal viruses. Using joint species distribution modelling, we attribute the non-random virus occurrence patterns primarily to differences among host genotypes and local population context. Our results show that intraspecific variation among host genotypes may play a large, previously unquantified role in pathogen community structure.
Long-lived and disorder-free charge transfer states enable endothermic charge separation in efficient non-fullerene organic solar cells
Authors: Hinrichsen Ture F. , Chan Christopher C. S. , Ma Chao , Paleček David , Gillett Alexander , Chen Shangshang , Zou Xinhui , Zhang Guichuan , Yip Hin-Lap , Wong Kam Sing , Friend Richard H. , Yan He , Rao Akshay , Chow Philip C. Y.
Published: November 2020

Organic solar cells based on non-fullerene acceptors can show high charge generation yields despite near-zero donor–acceptor energy offsets to drive charge separation and overcome the mutual Coulomb attraction between electron and hole. Here, we use time-resolved optical spectroscopy to show that free charges in these systems are generated by thermally activated dissociation of interfacial charge-transfer states that occurs over hundreds of picoseconds at room temperature, three orders of magnitude slower than comparable fullerene-based systems. Upon free electron–hole encounters at later times, both charge-transfer states and emissive excitons are regenerated, thus setting up an equilibrium between excitons, charge-transfer states and free charges. Our results suggest that the formation of long-lived and disorder-free charge-transfer states in these systems enables them to operate closely to quasi-thermodynamic conditions with no requirement for energy offsets to drive interfacial charge separation and achieve suppressed non-radiative recombination.
A circular RNA generated from an intron of the insulin gene controls insulin secretion
Authors: Stoll Lisa , Rodríguez-Trejo Adriana , Guay Claudiane , Brozzi Flora , Bayazit Mustafa Bilal , Gattesco Sonia , Menoud Véronique , Sobel Jonathan , Marques Ana Claudia , Venø Morten Trillingsgaard , Esguerra Jonathan Lou S. , Barghouth Mohammad , Suleiman Mara , Marselli Lorella , Kjems Jørgen , Eliasson Lena , Renström Erik , Bouzakri Karim , Pinget Michel , Marchetti Piero , Regazzi Romano
Published: November 2020

Fine-tuning of insulin release from pancreatic β-cells is essential to maintain blood glucose homeostasis. Here, we report that insulin secretion is regulated by a circular RNA containing the lariat sequence of the second intron of the insulin gene. Silencing of this intronic circular RNA in pancreatic islets leads to a decrease in the expression of key components of the secretory machinery of β-cells, resulting in impaired glucose- or KCl-induced insulin release and calcium signaling. The effect of the circular RNA is exerted at the transcriptional level and involves an interaction with the RNA-binding protein TAR DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43). The level of this circularized intron is reduced in the islets of rodent diabetes models and of type 2 diabetic patients, possibly explaining their impaired secretory capacity. The study of this and other circular RNAs helps understanding β-cell dysfunction under diabetes conditions, and the etiology of this common metabolic disorder.
Biocatalytic nanoparticles for the stabilization of degassed single electron transfer-living radical pickering emulsion polymerizations
Authors: Moreno Adrian , Sipponen Mika H.
Published: November 2020

Synthetic polymers are indispensable in many different applications, but there is a growing need for green processes and natural surfactants for emulsion polymerization. The use of solid particles to stabilize Pickering emulsions is a particularly attractive avenue, but oxygen sensitivity has remained a formidable challenge in controlled polymerization reactions. Here we show that lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) coated with chitosan and glucose oxidase (GOx) enable efficient stabilization of Pickering emulsion and in situ enzymatic degassing of single electron transfer-living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) without extraneous hydrogen peroxide scavengers. The resulting latex dispersions can be purified by aqueous extraction or used to obtain polymer nanocomposites containing uniformly dispersed LNPs. The polymers exhibit high chain-end fidelity that allows for production of a series of well-defined block copolymers as a viable route to more complex architectures.
Self-consistent kinetic model of nested electron- and ion-scale magnetic cavities in space plasmas
Authors: Li Jing-Huan , Yang Fan , Zhou Xu-Zhi , Zong Qiu-Gang , Artemyev Anton V. , Rankin Robert , Shi Quanqi , Yao Shutao , Liu Han , He Jiansen , Pu Zuyin , Xiao Chijie , Liu Ji , Pollock Craig , Le Guan , Burch James L.
Published: November 2020

NASA’s Magnetospheric Multi-Scale (MMS) mission is designed to explore the proton- and electron-gyroscale kinetics of plasma turbulence where the bulk of particle acceleration and heating takes place. Understanding the nature of cross-scale structures ubiquitous as magnetic cavities is important to assess the energy partition, cascade and conversion in the plasma universe. Here, we present theoretical insight into magnetic cavities by deriving a self-consistent, kinetic theory of these coherent structures. By taking advantage of the multipoint measurements from the MMS constellation, we demonstrate that our kinetic model can utilize magnetic cavity observations by one MMS spacecraft to predict measurements from a second/third spacecraft. The methodology of “observe and predict” validates the theory we have derived, and confirms that nested magnetic cavities are self-organized plasma structures supported by trapped proton and electron populations in analogous to the classical theta-pinches in laboratory plasmas.
Degradation of Cu nanowires in a low-reactive plasma environment
Authors: Coradini Diego S. R. , Tunes Matheus A. , Kremmer Thomas M. , Schön Claudio G. , Uggowitzer Peter J. , Pogatscher Stefan
Published: November 2020

The quest for miniaturisation of electronic devices is one of the backbones of industry 4.0 and nanomaterials are an envisaged solution capable of addressing these complex technological challenges. When subjected to synthesis and processing, nanomaterials must be able to hold pristine its initial designed properties, but occasionally, this may trigger degradation mechanisms that can impair their application by either destroying their initial morphology or deteriorating of mechanical and electrical properties. Degradation of nanomaterials under processing conditions using plasmas, ion implantation and high temperatures is up to date largely sub-notified in the literature. The degradation of single-crystal Cu nanowires when exposed to a plasma environment with residual active O is herein investigated and reported. It is shown that single-crystal Cu nanowires may degrade even in low-reactive plasma conditions by means of a vapour–solid–solid nucleation and growth mechanism.
A critical review on nanomaterials membrane bioreactor (NMs-MBR) for wastewater treatment
Authors: Pervez Md. Nahid , Balakrishnan Malini , Hasan Shadi Wajih , Choo Kwang-Ho , Zhao Yaping , Cai Yingjie , Zarra Tiziano , Belgiorno Vincenzo , Naddeo Vincenzo
Published: November 2020

The concept of nanomaterials membranes (NMs) promises to be a sustainable route to improve the membrane characteristics and enhance the performance of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) treating wastewater. This paper provided a critical review of recent studies on the use of membranes incorporating nanomaterials in membrane bioreactor (NMs-MBR) applications for wastewater treatment. Novel types of nanomaterials membranes were identified and discussed based on their structural morphologies. For each type, their design and fabrication, advances and potentialities were presented. The performance of NMs-MBR system has been summarized in terms of removal efficiencies of common pollutants and membrane fouling. The review also highlighted the sustainability and cost viability aspects of NMs-MBR technology that can enhance their widespread use in wastewater treatment applications.
Effect of V2O5 B-site substitution on the microstructure, Raman spectrum, and dielectric properties of SrBi2Ta2O9 ceramics
Authors: Wu Chia-Ching , Yang Cheng-Fu
Published: November 2020

Strontium bismuth tantalate vanadate [SrBi2(Ta2−xVx)O9, SBTV] ceramics, which are bismuth-layered perovskite ferroelectrics, were synthesized through the solid-state reaction method. The effects of different sintering temperatures and V2O5 contents on the structure of the microstructure, Raman spectrum, and dielectric properties of the SBTV ceramics were investigated. As sintered at high temperature (980–1040 °C) and different V2O5 contents (x = 0.1 − x = 0.4), only disk-like grains of the SBTV ceramics were observed in the scanning electron micrographs. Preferential orientation of the crystals of the SBTV ceramics was confirmed through X-ray diffraction studies. The higher dielectric constant and Curie temperature of the SBTV ceramics compared with those of strontium bismuth tantalite (SrBi2Ta2O9, SBT) ceramics are ascribe to the partial replace of Ta5+ ions by V5+ ions in the B sites. The Curie–Weiss law and the modified Curie–Weiss law were used to discuss the normal-type or relaxor-type ferroelectric characteristic of the SBTV ceramics. The Ta5+ ion replaced by V5+ ion site in SBT ceramics to form SBTV ceramics exerted a pronounced effect on the BO6 mode, as demonstrated by Raman spectrum results.