bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiac Arrest and Mortality Related to Intubation Procedure in Critically Ill Adult Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study
Authors: De Jong Audrey , Rolle Amélie , Molinari Nicolas , Paugam-Burtz Catherine , Constantin Jean-Michel , Lefrant Jean-Yves , Asehnoune Karim , Jung Boris , Futier Emmanuel , Chanques Gérald , Azoulay Elie , Jaber Samir
Published: December 2017

Objectives:

To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for cardiac arrest during intubation in ICU, as well as the association of ICU intubation–related cardiac arrest with 28-day mortality.

Design:

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Setting:

Sixty-four French ICUs.

Patients:

Critically ill patients requiring intubation in the ICU.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

During the 1,847 intubation procedures included, 49 cardiac arrests (2.7%) occurred, including 14 without return of spontaneous circulation (28.6%) and 35 with return of spontaneous circulation (71.4%). In multivariate analysis, the main predictors of intubation-related cardiac arrest were arterial hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg) prior to intubation (odds ratio = 3.406 [1.797–6.454]; p = 0.0002), hypoxemia prior to intubation (odds ratio = 3.991 [2.101–7.583]; p < 0.0001), absence of preoxygenation (odds ratio = 3.584 [1.287–9.985]; p = 0.0146), overweight/obesity (body mass index > 25 kg/m2; odds ratio = 2.005 [1.017–3.951]; p = 0.0445), and age more than 75 years old (odds ratio = 2.251 [1.080–4.678]; p = 0.0297). Overall 28-day mortality rate was 31.2% (577/1,847) and was significantly higher in patients who experienced intubation-related cardiac arrest than in noncardiac arrest patients (73.5% vs 30.1%; p < 0.001). After multivariate analysis, intubation-related cardiac arrest was an independent risk factor for 28-day mortality (hazard ratio = 3.9 [2.4–6.3]; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

ICU intubation–related cardiac arrest occurs in one of 40 procedures with high immediate and 28-day mortality. We identified five independent risk factors for cardiac arrest, three of which are modifiable, possibly to decrease intubation-related cardiac arrest prevalence and 28-day ICU mortality.
Long-Term Return to Functional Baseline After Mechanical Ventilation in the ICU*
Authors: Wilson Michael E. , Barwise Amelia , Heise Katherine J. , Loftsgard Theodore O. , Dziadzko Mikhail , Cheville Andrea , Majzoub Abdul , Novotny Paul J. , Gajic Ognjen , Biehl Michelle
Published: December 2017

Objective:

Predictors of long-term functional impairment in acute respiratory failure of all causes are poorly understood. Our objective was to assess the frequency and predictors of long-term functional impairment or death after invasive mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure of all causes.

Design:

Population-based, observational cohort study.

Setting:

Eight adult ICUs of a single center.

Patients:

All adult patients from Olmsted County, Minnesota, without baseline functional impairment who received mechanical ventilation in ICUs for acute respiratory failure of all causes from 2005 through 2009.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

In total, 743 patients without baseline functional impairment received mechanical ventilation in the ICU. At 1- and 5-year follow-up, the rates of survival with return to baseline functional ability were 61% (366/597) and 53% (356/669). Among 71 patients with new functional impairment at 1 year, 55% (39/71) had recovered and were alive without functional impairment at 5 years. Factors predictive of new functional impairment or death at 1 year were age, comorbidities, discharge to other than home, mechanical ventilation of 7 days or longer, and stroke. Of factors known at the time of intubation, the following are predictive of new functional impairment or death: age, comorbidities, nonsurgical condition, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score, stroke, and sepsis. Post hoc sensitivity analyses revealed no significant change in predictor variables in patient populations when stroke was excluded or who received more than 48 hours of mechanical ventilation.

Conclusions:

At 1- and 5-year follow-up, many patients who received mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure from all causes are no longer alive or have new moderate-to-severe functional impairment. Functional recovery between year 1 and year 5 is possible and common. Sepsis, stroke, illness severity, age, and comorbidities predict long-term functional outcome at intubation.
Intra-articular Triamcinolone Versus Hyaluronate Injections for Low Back Pain With Symptoms Suggestive of Lumbar Zygapophyseal Joint Arthropathy
Authors: Annaswamy Thiru M. , Armstead Corey , Carlson Luke , Elkins Nicholas J. , Kocak Denizen , Bierner Samuel M.
Published: December 2017

Objective

The aim of the study was to compare hyaluronate with triamcinolone injections in treating chronic low back pain suggestive of lumbar zygopophyseal joint arthropathy.

Design

This was a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Thirty subjects were randomly assigned to receive bilateral L3-S1 lumbar zygopophyseal joint injections with triamcinolone (KA) or Synvisc-One (HA). Pain (visual analog scale) and Pain Disability Questionnaire scores at 1, 3, and 6 mos were evaluated.

Results

No significant intergroup differences (P > 0.05) in outcomes were noted in the 30 recruited subjects. For KA/HA (baseline; 1 mo; 3 mos; 6 mos), visual analog scale scores were the following: 70 (15)/74 (10); 58 (29)/45 (25); 58 (29)/56 (25); and 59 (28)/63 (24), respectively. Pain Disability Questionnaire scores were the following: 100 (23)/102 (28); 77 (30)/74 (34); 87 (26)/74 (36); and 96 (25)/79 (25). Overall percent improvement at 6 mos for KA was 51 (35) and for HA was 42 (33) (P = 0.51). Synvisc-One group visual analog scale scores improved significantly (70 [20]–45 [25] at 1 mo, P = 0.008). Pain Disability Questionnaire scores improved at 1 mo (100 [23]–77 [30], P = 0.009) in the KA group and at all time points in the HA group (102 [28]–74 [34] at 1 mo, P = 0.002; 74 [36] at 3 mos, P = 0.037; 79 at 6 mos [median = 52–99.5], P < 0.001). Medians and quartiles were used in statistical analysis when data did not pass normality.

Conclusions

Patients with chronic low back pain suggestive of lumbar lumbar zygopophyseal joint arthropathy responded similarly to triamcinolone or hyaluronate injections. Synvisc-One group showed significant short- and long-term functional improvement and short-term pain improvement; KA group showed only significant short-term functional benefit and no significant short- or long-term pain improvement.
Diabetic Retinopathy and Dementia in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Rodill Liora G. , Exalto Lieza G. , Gilsanz Paola , Biessels Geert Jan , Quesenberry Charles P. , Whitmer Rachel A.
Published: December 2017

Objective:

Retinopathy impacts over one-third of those with diabetes mellitus and is associated with impaired cognitive performance and cerebrovascular lesions in middle-aged adults with type 1 diabetes. However, the association between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and risk of dementia in type 1 diabetes is unknown. We investigated the association between DR and incident dementia in a large, elderly population with type 1 diabetes.

Methods:

A cohort of 3742 patients with type 1 diabetes aged 50 years and above was followed from January 1, 1996 to September 30, 2015 for incident dementia. DR diagnoses were identified from electronic medical records. Age as timescale Cox proportional hazard models evaluated associations between time-updated DR and dementia risk. Models were adjusted for demographics, severe glycemic events, glycosylated hemoglobin, and vascular comorbidities.

Results:

Among 3742 patients with type 1 diabetes (47% female, 21% nonwhite), 182 (5%) were diagnosed with dementia during a mean follow-up of 6.2 years. No significant association was found between DR and incident dementia in the main analyses [adjusted Hazard Ratio=1.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-1.54), nor among subgroup restricted to those aged 60 years and above or 70 years and above.

Conclusions:

DR was not associated with risk of dementia, suggesting that pathophysiological processes underlying dementia may be different in type 1 versus type 2 diabetes.
Genetics redraws pelagic biogeography ofCalanus
Authors: Choquet Marvin , Hatlebakk Maja , Dhanasiri Anusha K. S. , Kosobokova Ksenia , Smolina Irina , Søreide Janne E. , Svensen Camilla , Melle Webjørn , Kwaśniewski Sławomir , Eiane Ketil , Daase Malin , Tverberg Vigdis , Skreslet Stig , Bucklin Ann , Hoarau Galice
Published: December 2017

Planktonic copepods of the genusCalanusplay a central role in North Atlantic/Arctic marine food webs. Here, using molecular markers, we redrew the distributional ranges ofCalanusspecies inhabiting the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and revealed much wider and more broadly overlapping distributions than previously described. The Arctic shelf species,C. glacialis, dominated the zooplankton assemblage of many Norwegian fjords, where onlyC. finmarchicushas been reported previously. In these fjords, high occurrences of the Arctic speciesC. hyperboreuswere also found. Molecular markers revealed that the most common method of species identification, prosome length, cannot reliably discriminate the species in Norwegian fjords. Differences in degree of genetic differentiation among fjord populations of the two species suggested thatC. glacialisis a more permanent resident of the fjords thanC. finmarchicus. We found no evidence of hybridization between the species. Our results indicate a critical need for the wider use of molecular markers to reliably identify and discriminate these morphologically similar copepod species, which serve as important indicators of climate responses.
Temperate phages as self-replicating weapons in bacterial competition
Authors: Li Xiang-Yi , Lachnit Tim , Fraune Sebastian , Bosch Thomas C. G. , Traulsen Arne , Sieber Michael
Published: December 2017

Microbial communities are accompanied by a diverse array of viruses. Through infections of abundant microbes, these viruses have the potential to mediate competition within the community, effectively weakening competitive interactions and promoting coexistence. This is of particular relevance for host-associated microbial communities, because the diversity of the microbiota has been linked to host health and functioning. Here, we study the interaction between two key members of the microbiota of the freshwater metazoanHydra vulgaris. The two commensal bacteriaCurvibactersp. andDuganellasp. protect their host from fungal infections, but only if both of them are present. Coexistence of the two bacteria is thus beneficial forHydra. Intriguingly,Duganellasp. appears to be the superior competitorin vitrodue to its higher growth rate when both bacteria are grown separately, but in co-culture the outcome of competition depends on the relative initial abundances of the two species. The presence of an inducible prophage in theCurvibactersp. genome, which is able to lytically infectDuganellasp., led us to hypothesize that the phage modulates the interaction between these two key members of theHydramicrobiota. Using a mathematical model, we show that the interplay of the lysogenic life cycle of theCurvibacterphage and the lytic life cycle onDuganellasp. can explain the observed complex competitive interaction between the two bacteria. Our results highlight the importance of taking lysogeny into account for understanding microbe–virus interactions and show the complex role phages can play in promoting coexistence of their bacterial hosts.
A combined three-dimensional
in vitro–in silico
approach to modelling bubble dynamics in decompression sickness
Authors: Walsh C. , Stride E. , Cheema U. , Ovenden N.
Published: December 2017

The growth of bubbles within the body is widely believed to be the cause of decompression sickness (DCS). Dive computer algorithms that aim to prevent DCS by mathematically modelling bubble dynamics and tissue gas kinetics are challenging to validate. This is due to lack of understanding regarding the mechanism(s) leading from bubble formation to DCS. In this work, a biomimetic
in vitro
tissue phantom and a three-dimensional computational model, comprising a hyperelastic strain-energy density function to model tissue elasticity, were combined to investigate key areas of bubble dynamics. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the diffusion coefficient was the most influential material parameter. Comparison of computational and experimental data revealed the bubble surface's diffusion coefficient to be 30 times smaller than that in the bulk tissue and dependent on the bubble's surface area. The initial size, size distribution and proximity of bubbles within the tissue phantom were also shown to influence their subsequent dynamics highlighting the importance of modelling bubble nucleation and bubble–bubble interactions in order to develop more accurate dive algorithms.
Ascorbic acid may not be involved in cryptochrome-based magnetoreception
Authors: Nielsen Claus , Kattnig Daniel R. , Sjulstok Emil , Hore P. J. , Solov'yov Ilia A.
Published: December 2017

Seventeen years after it was originally suggested, the photoreceptor protein cryptochrome remains the most probable host for the radical pair intermediates that are thought to be the sensors in the avian magnetic compass. Although evidence in favour of this hypothesis is accumulating, the intracellular interaction partners of the sensory protein are still unknown. It has been suggested that ascorbate ions could interact with surface-exposed tryptophan radicals in photoactivated cryptochromes, and so lead to the formation of a radical pair comprised of the reduced form of the flavin adenine dinucleotide cofactor, FAD
•
−
, and the ascorbate radical, Asc
•
−
. This species could provide a more sensitive compass than a FAD–tryptophan radical pair. In this study of
Drosophila melanogaster
cryptochrome and
Erithacus rubecula
(European robin) cryptochrome 1a, we use molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the transient encounters of ascorbate ions with tryptophan radicals in cryptochrome in order to assess the likelihood of the [FAD
•
−
Asc
•
−
]-pathway. It is shown that ascorbate ions are expected to bind near the tryptophan radicals for periods of a few nanoseconds. The rate at which these encounters happen is low, and it is therefore concluded that ascorbate ions are unlikely to be involved in magnetoreception if the ascorbate concentration is only of the order of 1 mM or less.
Deciphering pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance islands in methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
genomes
Authors: Jani Mehul , Sengupta Soham , Hu Kelsey , Azad Rajeev K.
Published: December 2017

Staphylococcus aureus
is a versatile pathogen that is capable of causing infections in both humans and animals. It can cause furuncles, septicaemia, pneumonia and endocarditis. Adaptation of
S. aureus
to the modern hospital environment has been facilitated, in part, by the horizontal acquisition of drug resistance genes, such as
mecA
gene that imparts resistance to methicillin. Horizontal acquisitions of islands of genes harbouring virulence and antibiotic resistance genes have made
S. aureus
resistant to commonly used antibiotics. To decipher genomic islands (GIs) in 22 hospital- and 9 community-associated methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
strains and classify a subset of GIs carrying virulence and resistance genes as pathogenicity and resistance islands respectively, we applied a host of methods for localizing genomic islands in prokaryotic genomes. Surprisingly,
none
of the frequently used GI prediction methods could perform well in delineating the resistance islands in the
S. aureus
genomes. Rather, a gene clustering procedure exploiting biases in codon usage for identifying horizontally transferred genes outperformed the current methods for GI detection, in particular in identifying the known islands in
S. aureus
including the SCC
mec
island that harbours the
mecA
resistance gene. The gene clustering approach also identified novel, as yet unreported islands, with many of these found to harbour virulence and/or resistance genes. These as yet unexplored islands may provide valuable information on the evolution of drug resistance in
S. aureus
.
Cyclic nucleotide signalling in malaria parasites
Authors: Baker David A. , Drought Laura G. , Flueck Christian , Nofal Stephanie D. , Patel Avnish , Penzo Maria , Walker Eloise M.
Published: December 2017

The cyclic nucleotides 3′, 5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and 3′, 5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are intracellular messengers found in most animal cell types. They usually mediate an extracellular stimulus to drive a change in cell function through activation of their respective cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, PKA and PKG. The enzymatic components of the malaria parasite cyclic nucleotide signalling pathways have been identified, and the genetic and biochemical studies of these enzymes carried out to date are reviewed herein. What has become very clear is that cyclic nucleotides play vital roles in controlling every stage of the complex malaria parasite life cycle. Our understanding of the involvement of cyclic nucleotide signalling in orchestrating the complex biology of malaria parasites is still in its infancy, but the recent advances in our genetic tools and the increasing interest in signalling will deliver more rapid progress in the coming years.
Autocrine, paracrine and necrotic NMDA receptor signalling in mouse pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour cells
Authors: Robinson Hugh P. C. , Li Leanne
Published: December 2017

N
-Methyl-
d
-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activation is implicated in the malignant progression of many cancer types, as previously shown by the growth-inhibitory effects of NMDAR antagonists. NMDAR-mediated calcium influx and its downstream signalling depend critically, however, on the dynamics of membrane potential and ambient glutamate concentration, which are poorly characterized in cancer cells. Here, we have used low-noise whole-cell patch-clamp recording to investigate the electrophysiology of glutamate signalling in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (PanNET) cells derived from a genetically-engineered mouse model (GEMM) of PanNET, in which NMDAR signalling is known to promote cancer progression. Activating NMDARs caused excitation and intracellular calcium elevation, and intracellular perfusion with physiological levels of glutamate led to VGLUT-dependent autocrine NMDAR activation. Necrotic cells, which are often present in rapidly-growing tumours, were shown to release endogenous cytoplasmic glutamate, and necrosis induced by mechanical rupture of the plasma membrane produced intense NMDAR activation in nearby cells. Computational modelling, based on these results, predicts that NMDARs in cancer cells can be strongly activated in the tumour microenvironment by both autocrine glutamate release and necrosis.
Effect of polyamide 6 on the morphology and electrical conductivity of carbon black-filled polypropylene composites
Authors: Zhang Xuewei , Liu Jiang , Wang Yi , Wu Wei
Published: December 2017

Carbon black (CB)-filled polypropylene (PP) with surface resistivity between 10
6
and 10
9
 Ω sq
−1
is the ideal antistatic plastic material in the electronics and electric industry. However, a large amount of CB may have an adverse effect on the mechanical properties and processing performance of the material, thus an improved ternary system is developed. Blends of CB-filled PP and polyamide 6 (PA6) have been prepared by melt blending in order to obtain electrically conductive polymer composites with a low electrical percolation threshold based on the concept of double percolation. The morphological developments of these composites were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that CB particles were selectively dispersed in PA6 phases due to the good interaction and interfacial adhesion between CB and PA6. At the same CB loadings, the surface resistivity of PP/PA6/CB composite was smaller than that of PP/CB composite system, which indicated the better conductivity in the former composite. The increasing amount of PA6 in the composites changed the morphology from a typical sea–island morphology to a co-continuous morphology. What is more, with 8 wt% of CB and PP/PA6 phase ratio of 70/30 in which the PP and PA6 phases formed a co-continuous structure, the electrical conductivity of the composite peaked at 2.01 × 10
5
 Ω sq
−1
.
Enhancing the efficiency of planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells via interfacial engineering with 3-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane hydrolysate
Authors: Wang Ya-Qiong , Xu Shou-Bin , Deng Jian-Guo , Gao Li-Zhen
Published: December 2017

The interfacial compatibility between compact TiO
2
and perovskite layers is critical for the performance of planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells (PSCs). A compact TiO
2
film employed as an electron-transport layer (ETL) was modified using 3-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane (APMS) hydrolysate. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs composed of an APMS-hydrolysate-modified TiO
2
layer increased from 13.45 to 15.79%, which was associated with a significant enhancement in the fill factor (FF) from 62.23 to 68.04%. The results indicate that APMS hydrolysate can enhance the wettability of γ-butyrolactone (GBL) on the TiO
2
surface, form a perfect CH
3
NH
3
PbI
3
film, and increase the recombination resistance at the interface. This work demonstrates a simple but efficient method to improve the TiO
2
/perovskite interface that can be greatly beneficial for developing high-performance PSCs.
Three-dimensional Co3O4@MWNTs nanocomposite with enhanced electrochemical performance for nonenzymatic glucose biosensors and biofuel cells
Authors: Jiao Kailong , Jiang Yu , Kang Zepeng , Peng Ruiyun , Jiao Shuqiang , Hu Zongqian
Published: December 2017

Three-dimensional nanoarchitectures of Co3O4@multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Co3O4@MWNTs) were synthesized via a one-step process with hydrothermal growth of Co3O4nanoparticles onto MWNTs. The structure and morphology of the Co3O4@MWNTs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The electrocatalytic mechanism of the Co3O4@MWNTs was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Co3O4@MWNTs exhibited high electrocatalytic activity towards glucose oxidation in alkaline medium and could be used in nonenzymatic electrochemical devices for glucose oxidation. The open circuit voltage of the nonenzymatic glucose/O2fuel cell was 0.68 V, with a maximum power density of 0.22 mW cm−2at 0.30 V. The excellent electrochemical properties, low cost, and facile preparation of Co3O4@MWNTs demonstrate the potential of strongly coupled oxide/nanocarbon hybrid as effective electrocatalyst in glucose fuel cells and biosensors.
Construction of a junction DNA nanostructure and modulation of the junction switching to quadruplexes
Authors: Cao Yanwei , Xiang Xiaoxuan , Pei Renjun , Li Yang , Yan Yuting , Guo Xinhua
Published: December 2017

A junction DNA nanostructure has been successfully built in lithium acetate buffer solution at a near-neutral pH value through the connection of two slipped junction structures that are formed by G-rich and C-rich strands. The GC-rich duplex junctions in the nanostructure can be switched to G-quadruplexes and i-motifs in weakly acidic potassium acetate solution, which leads to the assembly of DNA nanostructures composed of alternating quadruplex and duplex DNA structures. The transformation between different DNA nanoarchitectures may be applied to the operation of ‘DNA nanomachines’.
Hydrothermally synthesized PZT film grown in highly concentrated KOH solution with large electromechanical coupling coefficient for resonator
Authors: Feng Guo-Hua , Lee Kuan-Yi
Published: December 2017

This paper presents a study of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films hydrothermally grown on a dome-shaped titanium diaphragm. Few articles in the literature address the implementation of hydrothermal PZT films on curved-diaphragm substrates for resonators. In this study, a 50-μm-thick titanium sheet is embossed using balls of designed dimensions to shape a dome-shaped cavity array. Through single-process hydrothermal synthesis, PZT films are grown on both sides of the processed titanium diaphragm with good adhesion and uniformity. The hydrothermal synthesis process involves a high concentration of potassium hydroxide solution and excess amounts of lead acetate and zirconium oxychloride octahydrate. Varied deposition times and temperatures of PZT films are investigated. The grown films are characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The 10-μm-thick PZT dome-shaped resonators with 60- and 20-μm-thick supporting layers are implemented and further tested. Results for both resonators indicate that large electromechanical coupling coefficients and a series resonance of 95 MHz from 14 MHz can be attained. The device is connected to a complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor integrated circuit for analysis of oscillator applications. The oscillator reaches a
Q
value of 6300 in air. The resonator exhibits a better sensing stability when loaded with water when compared with air.
From two-dimensional graphene oxide to three-dimensional honeycomb-like Ni
3
S
2
@graphene oxide composite: insight into structure and electrocatalytic properties
Authors: Wei Xinting , Li Yueqiang , Xu Wenli , Zhang Kaixuan , Yin Jie , Shi Shaozhen , Wei Jiazhen , Di Fangfang , Guo Junxue , Wang Can , Chu Chaofan , Sui Ning , Chen Baoli , Zhang Yingtian , Hao Hongguo , Zhang Xianxi , Zhao Jinsheng , Zhou Huawei , Wang Shuhao
Published: December 2017

Three-dimensional (3D) graphene composites have drawn increasing attention in energy storage/conversion applications due to their unique structures and properties. Herein, we synthesized 3D honeycomb-like Ni
3
S
2
@graphene oxide composite (3D honeycomb-like Ni
3
S
2
@GO) by a one-pot hydrothermal method. We found that positive charges of Ni
2+
and negative charges of NO
3
−
in Ni(NO
3
)
2
induced a transformation of graphene oxide with smooth surface into graphene oxide with wrinkled surface (w-GO). The w-GO in the mixing solution of Ni(NO
3
)
2
/thioacetamide/H
2
O evolved into 3D honeycomb-like Ni
3
S
2
@GO in solvothermal process. The GO effectively inhibited the aggregation of Ni
3
S
2
nanoparticles. Photoelectrochemical cells based on 3D Ni
3
S
2
@GO synthesized at 60 mM l
−1
Ni(NO
3
)
2
exhibited the best energy conversion efficiency. 3D Ni
3
S
2
@GO had smaller charge transfer resistance and larger exchange current density than pure Ni
3
S
2
for iodine reduction reaction. The cyclic stability of 3D honeycomb-like Ni
3
S
2
@GO was good in the iodine electrolyte. Results are of great interest for fundamental research and practical applications of 3D GO and its composites in solar water-splitting, artificial photoelectrochemical cells, electrocatalysts and Li-S or Na-S batteries.
TiO
2
nanowire-templated hierarchical nanowire network as water-repelling coating
Authors: Hang Tian , Chen Hui-Jiuan , Xiao Shuai , Yang Chengduan , Chen Meiwan , Tao Jun , Shieh Han-ping , Yang Bo-ru , Liu Chuan , Xie Xi
Published: December 2017

Extraordinary water-repelling properties of superhydrophobic surfaces make them novel candidates for a great variety of potential applications. A general approach to achieve superhydrophobicity requires low-energy coating on the surface and roughness on nano- and micrometre scale. However, typical construction of superhydrophobic surfaces with micro-nano structure through top-down fabrication is restricted by sophisticated fabrication techniques and limited choices of substrate materials. Micro-nanoscale topographies templated by conventional microparticles through surface coating may produce large variations in roughness and uncontrollable defects, resulting in poorly controlled surface morphology and wettability. In this work, micro-nanoscale hierarchical nanowire network was fabricated to construct self-cleaning coating using one-dimensional TiO
2
nanowires as microscale templates. Hierarchical structure with homogeneous morphology was achieved by branching ZnO nanowires on the TiO
2
nanowire backbones through hydrothermal reaction. The hierarchical nanowire network displayed homogeneous micro/nano-topography, in contrast to hierarchical structure templated by traditional microparticles. This hierarchical nanowire network film exhibited high repellency to both water and cell culture medium after functionalization with fluorinated organic molecules. The hierarchical structure templated by TiO
2
nanowire coating significantly increased the surface superhydrophobicity compared to vertical ZnO nanowires with nanotopography alone. Our results demonstrated a promising strategy of using nanowires as microscale templates for the rational design of hierarchical coatings with desired superhydrophobicity that can also be applied to various substrate materials.
Ecological and evolutionary significance of a lack of capacity for extended developmental arrest in crocodilian eggs
Authors: Williamson Sean A. , Evans Roger G. , Manolis S. Charlie , Webb Grahame J. , Reina Richard D.
Published: December 2017

Hypoxia within the oviducts maintains embryonic arrest in turtles at the pre-ovipositional stage, which expands the timeframe over which nesting can occur without compromising embryo survival. The arrest can be extended post-oviposition through incubation of eggs in hypoxia. We determined whether crocodilian embryos have this same capacity. We also tested whether increased oxygen availability during incubation alters hatching success. We incubated freshly laid saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) eggs (N = 83) at 32°C in one of five treatments; control (normoxia; 21% O2), 3-day and 6-day hypoxia (1% O2), or 3-day and 6-day hyperoxia (42% O2). Incubation (approx. 82 days) was then completed in normoxia. There was a significant effect of treatment on survival of embryos through to hatching (p < 0.001). The hypoxic treatments resulted in almost no hatching (6.7% and 0% survival for the 3- and 6-day treatments, respectively), while the hyperoxic and control treatments resulted in normal to high hatching success (86.6%, 100% and 64.2% for the control, 3- and 6-day hyperoxic treatments, respectively). Unlike turtles, hypoxic incubation of crocodile eggs failed to delay development. Our results provide the first experimental evidence that, unlike turtles, crocodiles do not exhibit embryonic arrest when incubated under hypoxic conditions immediately following oviposition. An absence of embryonic arrest is of ecological and evolutionary significance, as it implies that crocodilians lack an ability to avoid adverse environmental conditions through delayed nesting and that, unlike turtles, embryonic arrest may not be a potential explanation for the lack of viviparity in the orderCrocodylia.
Deepest and hottest hydrothermal activity in the Okinawa Trough: the Yokosuka site at Yaeyama Knoll
Authors: Miyazaki Junichi , Kawagucci Shinsuke , Makabe Akiko , Takahashi Ayu , Kitada Kazuya , Torimoto Junji , Matsui Yohei , Tasumi Eiji , Shibuya Takazo , Nakamura Kentaro , Horai Shunsuke , Sato Shun , Ishibashi Jun-ichiro , Kanzaki Hayato , Nakagawa Satoshi , Hirai Miho , Takaki Yoshihiro , Okino Kyoko , Watanabe Hiromi Kayama , Kumagai Hidenori , Chen Chong
Published: December 2017

Since the initial discovery of hydrothermal vents in 1977, these ‘extreme’ chemosynthetic systems have been a focus of interdisciplinary research. The Okinawa Trough (OT), located in the semi-enclosed East China Sea between the Eurasian continent and the Ryukyu arc, hosts more than 20 known vent sites but all within a relatively narrow depth range (600–1880 m). Depth is a significant factor in determining fluid temperature and chemistry, as well as biological composition. However, due to the narrow depth range of known sites, the actual influence of depth here has been poorly resolved. Here, the Yokosuka site (2190 m), the first OT vent exceeding 2000 m depth is reported. A highly active hydrothermal vent site centred around four active vent chimneys reaching 364°C in temperature, it is the hottest in the OT. Notable Cl depletion (130 mM) and both high H
2
and CH
4
concentrations (approx. 10 mM) probably result from subcritical phase separation and thermal decomposition of sedimentary organic matter. Microbiota and fauna were generally similar to other sites in the OT, although with some different characteristics. In terms of microbiota, the H
2
-rich vent fluids in Neuschwanstein chimney resulted in the dominance of hydrogenotrophic chemolithoautotrophs such as
Thioreductor
and
Desulfobacterium
. For fauna, the dominance of the deep-sea mussel
Bathymodiolus aduloides
is surprising given other nearby vent sites are usually dominated by
B. platifrons
and/or
B. japonicus
, and a sponge field in the periphery dominated by Poecilosclerida is unusual for OT vents. Our insights from the Yokosuka site implies that although the distribution of animal species may be linked to depth, the constraint is perhaps not water pressure and resulting chemical properties of the vent fluid but instead physical properties of the surrounding seawater. The potential significance of these preliminary results and prospect for future research on this unique site are discussed.
Social class and wise reasoning about interpersonal conflicts across regions, persons and situations
Authors: Brienza Justin P. , Grossmann Igor
Published: December 2017

We propose that class is inversely related to a propensity for using wise reasoning (recognizing limits of their knowledge, consider world in flux and change, acknowledges and integrate different perspectives) in interpersonal situations, contrary to established class advantage in abstract cognition. Two studies—an online survey from regions differing in economic affluence (
n
= 2 145) and a representative in-lab study with stratified sampling of adults from working and middle-class backgrounds (
n
= 299)—tested this proposition, indicating that higher social class consistently related to lower levels of wise reasoning across different levels of analysis, including regional and individual differences, and subjective construal of specific situations. The results held across personal and standardized hypothetical situations, across self-reported and observed wise reasoning, and when controlling for fluid and crystallized cognitive abilities. Consistent with an ecological framework, class differences in wise reasoning were specific to interpersonal (versus societal) conflicts. These findings suggest that higher social class weighs individuals down by providing the ecological constraints that undermine wise reasoning about interpersonal affairs.
Spontaneous dormancy protects Trypanosoma cruzi during extended drug exposure
Authors: Sánchez-Valdéz Fernando J. , Padilla Angel , Wang Wei , Orr Dylan , Tarleton Rick
Published: December 2017

The ability of the Chagas disease agent Trypanosoma cruzi to resist extended in vivo exposure to highly effective trypanocidal compounds prompted us to explore the potential for dormancy and its contribution to failed drug treatments in this infection. We document the development of non-proliferating intracellular amastigotes in vivo and in vitro in the absence of drug treatment. Non-proliferative amastigotes ultimately converted to trypomastigotes and established infections in new host cells. Most significantly, dormant amastigotes were uniquely resistant to extended drug treatment in vivo and in vitro and could re-establish a flourishing infection after as many as 30 days of drug exposure. These results demonstrate a dormancy pathway in T. cruzi that accounts for the failure of highly cytotoxic compounds to completely resolve the infection. The ability of T. cruzi to establish dormancy throws into question current methods for identifying curative drugs but also suggests alternative therapeutic approaches.
Without quality presence-absence data, discrimination metrics such as TSS can be misleading measures of model performance
Authors: Leroy Boris , Delsol Robin , Hugueny Bernard , Meynard Christine N. , Barhoumi Chéïma , Barbet-Massin Morgane , Bellard Céline
Published: December 2017

The discriminating capacity (i.e., ability to correctly classify presences and absences) of species distribution models (SDMs) is commonly evaluated with metrics such as the Area Under the Receiving Operating Characteristic Curve, the Kappa statistic and the True Skill Statistic (TSS). AUC and Kappa have been repeatedly criticised, but the TSS has fared relatively well since its introduction, mainly because it has been considered as independent of prevalence. In addition, discrimination metrics have been contested because they should be calculated on presence-absence data, but are often used on presence-only or presence-background data. Here, we investigate the TSS and an alternative set of metrics −similarity indices, also known as F-measures. We first show that even in ideal conditions (i.e., perfectly random presence-absence sampling), TSS can be misleading because of its dependence on prevalence, whereas similarity/F-measures provide adequate estimations of model discrimination capacity. Second, we show that in real-world situations where sample prevalence is different from true species prevalence (i.e., biased sampling or presence-pseudoabsence), no discrimination capacity metric provide adequate estimations of model discrimination capacity, including metrics specifically designed for presence-pseudoabsence. Our conclusions are twofold. First, they unequivocally appeal SDM users to understand the potential shortcomings of discrimination metrics when quality presence-absence data are lacking, and we provide recommendations to obtain such data. Second, in the specific case of virtual species, which are increasingly used to develop and test SDM methodologies, we strongly recommend the use of similarity/F-measures, which were not biased by prevalence, contrary to TSS.
Host adaptation mediated by intergenic evolution in a bacterial pathogen
Authors: Hossein Khademi S. M. , Jelsbak Lars
Published: December 2017

Bacterial pathogens evolve during the course of infection as they adapt to the selective pressures that confront them inside the host. Identification of adaptive mutations and their contributions to pathogen fitness remain a central challenge. Although mutations can either target intergenic or coding regions in the pathogen genome, studies of host adaptation have focused predominantly on molecular evolution within coding regions, whereas the role of intergenic mutations remains unclear. Here, we address this issue and investigate the extent to which intergenic mutations contribute to the evolutionary response of pathogens to host environments, and whether intergenic mutations have distinct roles in host adaptation. We characterize intergenic evolution in 44 lineages of a clinically important bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as they adapt to their hosts. We identify 88 intergenic regions in which parallel evolution occurs. At the genetic level, we find that mutations in these regions under selection are located primarily within regulatory elements upstream of transcriptional start sites. At the functional level, we show that these mutations both create or destroy regulatory interactions in connection to transcriptional processes and are directly responsible for evolution of important pathogenic phenotypes including antibiotic sensitivity. Importantly, we find that intergenic mutations are more likely to be selected than coding region mutations and that intergenic mutations enable essential genes to become targets of evolution. In summary, our results highlight the evolutionary significance of intergenic mutations in creating host-adapted variants and that intergenic and coding regions have different qualitative and quantitative contributions to this process.

Significance

Pathogens adapt to their host during infection, but the contribution and function of non-coding intergenic sequences to adaptation is poorly understood. Here, genome-wide identification of adaptive mutations within intergenic regions demonstrates that these sequences constitute an important part of the genetic basis for host adaptation. We find that intergenic mutations are abundant relative to adaptive mutations within coding sequences, and can contribute directly to evolution of pathogen-relevant traits. Importantly, we find that intergenic mutations modify expression of essential genes and thus make contributions that are functionally distinct from coding mutations. These results improve our understanding of the evolutionary processes in vivo and can potentially assist in refining predictions of pathogen evolution, disease outcome and antibiotic resistance development.
Content-Aware Image Restoration: Pushing the Limits of Fluorescence Microscopy
Authors: Weigert Martin , Schmidt Uwe , Boothe Tobias , Müller Andreas , Dibrov Alexandr , Jain Akanksha , Wilhelm Benjamin , Schmidt Deborah , Broaddus Coleman , Culley Siân , Rocha-Martins Mauricio , Segovia-Miranda Fabián , Norden Caren , Henriques Ricardo , Zerial Marino , Solimena Michele , Rink Jochen , Tomancak Pavel , Royer Loic , Jug Florian , Myers Eugene W.
Published: December 2017

Fluorescence microscopy is a key driver of discoveries in the life-sciences, with observable phenomena being limited by the optics of the microscope, the chemistry of the fluorophores, and the maximum photon exposure tolerated by the sample. These limits necessitate trade-offs between imaging speed, spatial resolution, light exposure, and imaging depth. In this work we show how image restoration based on deep learning extends the range of biological phenomena observable by microscopy. On seven concrete examples we demonstrate how microscopy images can be restored even if 60-fold fewer photons are used during acquisition, how near isotropic resolution can be achieved with up to 10-fold under-sampling along the axial direction, and how tubular and granular structures smaller than the diffraction limit can be resolved at 20-times higher frame-rates compared to state-of-the-art methods. All developed image restoration methods are freely available as open source software in Python, Fiji, and Knime.
Social interactions impact on the dopaminergic system and drive individuality
Authors: Torquet N. , Marti F. , Campart C. , Tolu S. , Nguyen C. , Oberto V. , Naudé J. , Didienne S. , Jezequel S. , Le Gouestre L. , Debray N. , Mourot A. , Mariani J. , Faure P.
Published: December 2017

Individuality is a ubiquitous and well-conserved feature among animal species. The behavioral patterns of individual animals affect their respective role in the ecosystem and their prospects for survival. Even though some of the factors shaping individuality have been identified, the mechanisms underlying individuation are poorly understood and are generally considered to be genetics-based. Here we devised a large environment where mice live continuously, and observed that individuality, measured by both social and individual traits, emerged and settled within the group. Midbrain dopamine neurons underwent neurophysiological adaptations that mirrored this phenotypic divergence in individual behaviors. Strikingly, modifying the social environment resulted in a fast re-adaptation of both the animal’s personality and its dopaminergic signature. These results indicate that individuality can rapidly evolve upon social challenges, and does not just depend on the genetic or epigenetic initial status of the animal.
Foxd1 is required for terminal differentiation of anterior hypothalamic neuronal subtypes
Authors: Newman Elizabeth A. , Wan Jun , Wang Jie , Qian Jiang , Blackshaw Seth
Published: December 2017

Although the hypothalamus functions as a master homeostat for many behaviors, little is known about the transcriptional networks that control its development. To investigate this question, we analyzed mice deficient for the Forkhead domain transcription factor Foxd1. Foxd1 is selectively expressed in neuroepithelial cells of the prethalamus and hypothalamus prior to the onset of neurogenesis, and is later restricted to neural progenitors of the prethalamus and anterior hypothalamus. During early stages of neurogenesis, we observed that Foxd1-deficient mice showed reduced expression of Six3 and Vax1 in anterior hypothalamus, but overall patterning of the prethalamus and hypothalamus is unaffected. After neurogenesis is complete, however, a progressive reduction and eventual loss of expression of molecular markers of the suprachiasmatic, paraventricular and periventricular hypothalamic is observed. These findings demonstrate that Foxd1 acts in hypothalamic progenitors to allow sustained expression of a subset of genes selectively expressed in mature neurons of the anterior hypothalamus.

Highlights

Foxd1 is broadly expressed in neuroepithelial cells of the hypothalamus and prethalamus.

Foxd1 mutants show severe defects in anterior hypothalamic development, although prethalamic development is only modestly affected.

Loss of Foxd1 results does not affect initial patterning of the hypothalamus, but leads to a progressive loss of expression of markers specific to neurons of the suprachiasmatic, paraventricular and periventricular nuclei.

Foxd1 regulates expression of multiple transcription factors expressed in developing anterior hypothalamus.
The primary transcriptome, small RNAs, and regulation of antimicrobial resistance inAcinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Kröger Carsten , MacKenzie Keith D. , Al-Shabib Ebtihal Y. , Kirzinger Morgan W. B. , Suchan Danae M. , Chao Tzu-Chiao , Akulova Valentyna , Miranda-CasoLuengo Alesksandra A. , Monzon Vivian A. , Conway Tyrrell , Sivasankaran Sathesh K. , Hinton Jay C. D. , Hokamp Karsten , Cameron Andrew D. S.
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT

We present the first high-resolution determination of transcriptome architecture in the priority pathogenAcinetobacter baumannii. Pooled RNA from 16 laboratory conditions was used for differential RNA-seq (dRNA-seq) to identify 3731 transcriptional start sites (TSS) and 110 small RNAs, including the first identification inA. baumanniiof sRNAs encoded at the 3’ end of coding genes. Most sRNAs were conserved among sequencedA. baumanniigenomes, but were only weakly conserved or absent in otherAcinetobacterspecies. Single nucleotide mapping of TSS enabled prediction of −10 and −35 RNA polymerase binding sites and revealed an unprecedented base preference at position +2 that hints at an unrecognized transcriptional regulatory mechanism. To apply functional genomics to the problem of antimicrobial resistance, we dissected the transcriptional regulation of the drug efflux pump responsible for chloramphenicol resistance,craA. The twocraApromoters were both down-regulated >1000-fold when cells were shifted to nutrient limited medium. This conditional down-regulation ofcraAexpression renders cells sensitive to chloramphenicol, a highly effective antibiotic for the treatment of multidrug resistant infections. An online interface that facilitates open data access and visualization is provided as “AcinetoCom” (http://bioinf.gen.tcd.ie/acinetocom/).