bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychotic experiences, psychiatric comorbidity and mental health need in the general population: a cross-sectional and cohort study in Southeast London
Authors: Bhavsar Vishal , Dorrington Sarah , Morgan Craig , Hatch Stephani L. , McGuire Philip , Fusar-Poli Paolo , Mills John , MacCabe James H. , Hotopf Matthew
Published: November 2019

Background

Co-occurrence of common mental disorders (CMD) with psychotic experiences is well-known. There is little research on the public mental health relevance of concurrent psychotic experiences for service use, suicidality, and poor physical health. We aim to: (1) describe the distribution of psychotic experiences co-occurring with a range of non-psychotic psychiatric disorders [CMD, depressive episode, anxiety disorder, probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and personality dysfunction], and (2) examine associations of concurrent psychotic experiences with secondary mental healthcare use, psychological treatment use for CMD, lifetime suicide attempts, and poor self-rated health.

Methods

We linked a prospective cross-sectional community health survey with a mental healthcare provider database. For each non-psychotic psychiatric disorder, patients with concurrent psychotic experiences were compared to those without psychotic experiences on use of secondary mental healthcare, psychological treatment for CMD, suicide attempt, physical functioning, and a composite multimorbidity score, using logistic regression and Cox regressions.

Results

In all disorders except for anxiety disorder, concurrent psychotic experiences were accompanied by a greater odds of all outcomes (odds ratios) for a unit change in composite multimorbidity score ranged between 2.21 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49–3.27] and 3.46 (95% CI 1.52–7.85). Hazard ratios for secondary mental health service use for non-psychotic disorders with concurrent psychotic experiences, ranged from 0.53 (95% CI 0.15–1.86) for anxiety disorders with psychotic experiences to 4.99 (95% CI 1.22–20.44) among those with PTSD with psychotic experiences.

Conclusions

Co-occurring psychotic experiences indicate greater public mental health burden, suggesting psychotic experiences could be a marker for future preventive strategies improving public mental health.
Asymmetrical assumption: Why Lutheran christology does not lead to kenoticism or divine passibility
Authors: Holmes Stephen R.
Published: November 2019

It has been commonplace for over a century to argue that the distinctively Lutheran form of thecommunicatio idiomatumleads naturally to kenotic christology, divine passibility, or both. Although this argument has been generally accepted as a historical claim, has also been advanced repeatedly as a criticism of ‘classical theism’ and has featured significantly in almost all recent defences of divine passibility, I argue that it does not work: the Lutheran scholastics had ample resources drawn from nothing more than ecumenical trinitarian and christological dogma to defend their denial of thegenus tapeinoticum. I argue further that this defence, if right, undermines a remarkably wide series of proposals in contemporary systematic theology.
Chronotopic representations as an effect of individuation: The case of the European migrant crisis
Authors: Procházka Ondřej
Published: November 2019

This article discusses internet memes in their capacity to prompt affective responses on social media in the aftermath of the migrant crisis. The focus is on Facebook pages devoted to geopolitical satire meme-comics known as countryballs and their uptake with regard to the proposed migrant relocation mechanisms. Engagement with internet memes reveals a multilayered complexity behind what is often simplistically portrayed as pro- or anti-migrant sentiment. In order to account for this complexity, the paper combines Gilbert Simondon's theory of individuation with Mikhail Bakhtin's notion of the chronotope currently developed in interactional sociolinguistics along the lines of symbolic interactionism. Finally, this article shows that memes are not a mere product of participatory culture, but rather a powerful instigator of technosocial and often heteroglossic practices that co-organize social life in the new polycentric collectivities appearing on social media. (Chronotope, individuation, internet memes, countryballs, Facebook, identity)*
Shaping society and urban fabric in Crusader Jerusalem
Authors: Gutgarts Anna
Published: November 2019

This study addresses the interplay between the formation of civic society and urban development in the Latin East, particularly in the city of Jerusalem. It argues that while the municipal mechanisms that were formed in Jerusalem during the first half of the twelfth century drew on Western European models, they were adapted to meet the challenges of the young capital of the Latin Kingdom. The process revolves around the pivotal role of the patriarch and the clergy of the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem's most important religious institution at the time, in the moulding of the urban fabric. This was realized through a close collaboration with the local burgess class, followed by the rise of new religious institutions that spurred the transition to a new urban balance. These processes demonstrate the reciprocity between spatial, social and economic factors in the shaping of the cityscape and urban dynamics in Frankish Jerusalem.
Charles A. Beard's Vision of Government: Rethinking American Democracy in the Machine Age
Authors: Cázares Lira Víctor Manuel
Published: November 2019

Charles A. Beard's trajectory as a political scientist and expert on municipal government has not yet been fully examined. Based on a close analysis of his teaching at Columbia University and his contributions to city government in New York and Tokyo, this article outlines the development of Beard's vision of American democracy. It argues that, unlike most progressives, Beard refrained from endorsing direct democracy measures as a blueprint for reform, focusing instead on streamlining the American system of government to incorporate, in a transparent fashion, both political parties and interest groups. This article showcases Beard's conception of politics and explains how pluralism and functionalism underpinned his proposals for efficient government.
Increased Absorption and Translocation Contribute to Improved Efficacy of Dicamba to Control Early Growth Stage Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri)
Authors: Cuvaca Ivan , Currie Randall , Roozeboom Kraig , Fry Jack , Jugulam Mithila
Published: November 2019

Rapid growth of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) poses a challenge for timely management of this weed. Dose response studies were conducted in 2017 and 2018 under field and greenhouse conditions near Garden City and Manhattan, KS, respectively, to evaluate the efficacy of dicamba to control ≤10 cm, 15 cm, and 30 cm tall-Palmer amaranth that mimics three herbicide application timing: on time application (Day 0), and 1 (Day 1) and 4 days (Day 4) delay. Visual injury rating and reduction in shoot biomass (% of non-treated), and mortality were assessed at four weeks after treatment using a three- and four-parameter log-logistic model, in R software program. Increasing dicamba doses increased A. palmeri control regardless of plant height both in the field and greenhouse studies. The results suggest that delaying application one (15 cm) and four days (30 cm), resulted in a two- and 27-fold increase in the effective dose of dicamba on A. palmeri, respectively, under field conditions. However, in the greenhouse, for the same level of A. palmeri control, more than one- and two-fold increase in dicamba dose, respectively was required. Similarly, the effective dose of dicamba required for 50% reduction in A. palmeri shoot biomass (GR50) increased more than four- and eight-fold or more than one- and two-fold when dicamba application was delayed by one (15 cm) and four days (30 cm), in the field or in the greenhouse, respectively. To understand the basis of increased efficacy of dicamba in controlling early growth stage of A. palmeri, dicamba absorption and translocation studies were conducted. Results indicate a significant reduction in dicamba absorption (7%) and translocation (15%) with increase in A. palmeri height. Therefore, increased absorption and translocation of dicamba results in increased efficacy in improving A. palmeri control at early growth stage.
Consecutive Experimental Determination of Stress‐Dependent Fluid Flow Properties of Berea Sandstone and Implications for Two‐Phase Flow Modeling
Authors: Haghi Amir H. , Talman Stephen , Chalaturnyk Richard
Published: November 2019

In this study, changes in the hydrodynamic properties of Berea sandstone at a constant temperature of 40 °C are reported as effective confining stress is increased to 30 MPa. Through a novel consecutive approach, porosity, absolute permeability, drainage relative permeability, and drainage capillary pressure were shown to systematically change with effective stress. The relative permeability measurements were taken using a steady‐state method for the N2/water fluid pair. A second method, in which a saturated core with the wetting phase was flushed with the non‐wetting phase at an increasing flow rate, was used to determine the drainage capillary pressure. Core saturation was determined using a gas separation unit and mass‐balance considerations. This study revealed a decrease in porosity and absolute permeability, from 13.16% and 58 mD to 12.24% and 36 mD, respectively, with the increase in effective confining stress. In terms of relative permeability curves, this study showed a systematic decrease in irreducible wetting phase saturation from 0.44 to 0.24 as effective stress increased; this could be interpreted in core‐scale as a progressive tendency of the initially water‐wet Berea sandstone to the gas phase. The capillary pressure curve also presented an upward shift in response to increased effective stress. These changes in the hydrodynamic rock properties with stress suggest that scaling flow parameters of porous media under effective stress conditions may be required to accurately predict flow behavior under conditions of changing stress.
Lower Mantle Dynamics Perceived With 50 Years of Hindsight From Plate Tectonics
Authors: Molnar Peter
Published: November 2019

Continually improving resolution of lower mantle structure and understanding of mantle dynamics suggest that, as in the plate‐tectonics era, the upper and lower mantle may undergo little exchange. Although the phase transition at ~660 km forms the sharpest seismologically mapped boundary within the mantle, another at 1,000 (±100) km might be more important for geodynamics. Contrasts in density and viscosity may limit penetration of upper and lower mantle through this boundary. Strong evidence, if still not definitive, calls for chemical heterogeneity of the lower mantle that manifests itself in a few energetic plumes rising from near the core mantle boundary and slowly evolving, larger piles or blobs of chemically distinct material. Those blobs or piles may deform little on billion‐year timescales. Convection in the lower mantle might dictate some aspects of flow in the upper mantle, such as the positions of plumes and hot spots and the breakup of supercontinents, but its contribution to the speeds and directions that plates move might be negligible. The improved understanding of mantle convection has not overturned the simple, 50‐year‐old image that plates “drive themselves,” with forces per unit length pushing them apart at spreading centers, excess mass in downgoing slabs pulling them down, and viscous drag on their bases (and tops at subduction zones) retarding movement. Remaining challenges include determining how convection in the lower mantle affects geologic history and using that history to constrain lower mantle dynamics.
Multistep Parametric Inversion of Scanning Magnetic Microscopy Data for Modeling Magnetization of Multidomain Magnetite
Authors: Pastore Z. , Church N.S. , McEnroe S.A.
Published: November 2019

Development in instrumentation and technology now allows for mapping of magnetic anomalies, caused by spatial variations in magnetization in the source material, from the mineral to the crustal anomalies scale. High‐resolution magnetic mapping techniques allow for accurate investigation of the magnetization in natural rock samples and particularly of their remanence carriers, which can record geologically meaningful information. Multidomain magnetic grains are expected to retain a remanence that is susceptible to change by exposure to magnetic fields or by changes in temperature. Although this makes multidomain grains less reliable remanence carriers for paleomagnetic studies, their magnetization contributes to rocks bulk magnetization and to induced anomalies in the Earth crust. Here, we investigate the fine‐scale magnetization of a sample that exhibits a multidomain behavior. We used a scanning magnetic microscope, equipped with a room temperature magnetic tunnel junction sensor, to map the magnetic field over a petrographic thin section of the sample containing large magnetite grains (>100 μm) surrounded by serpentine and carbonate. We modeled the fine‐scale remanent magnetization of the magnetite by inverting the magnetic scans data acquired in near‐field‐free conditions. We applied a multistep inversion, a priori tested on a synthetic model, with a controlled range on the intensity of the magnetization. Modeling results on the study sample suggest homogenously magnetized regions within the magnetite grains with variable remanent magnetization intensities and directions coherent with the multidomain behavior inferred from bulk measurements.
Importance of Spatial Resolution in Ground Motion Simulations With 3‐D Basins: An Example Using the Tangshan Earthquake
Authors: Zhang Wenqiang , Zhang Zhenguo , Fu Haohuan , Li Zhengbo , Chen Xiaofei
Published: November 2019

Resonances within a sedimentary basin result in complex local seismograms. To accurately calculate complex seismograms in numerical simulations, a fine grid discretization of the basin is required. However, due to the corresponding computational expense, high‐resolution simulations of realistic earthquakes with a sedimentary basin are scarce. Here, with the China's most powerful supercomputer, Sunway TaihuLight, we simulate the strong ground motion of the 1976 Tangshan earthquake with a 3‐D sedimentary basin at different spatial resolutions. We find that simulations with a coarse grid not only lose high‐frequency information but also distort low‐frequency waveforms in locations characterized by a complex basin geometry and conflict with the traditional viewpoint that coarse‐grid simulations can resolve low‐frequency information. Our work emphasizes the importance of large‐scale, high‐resolution seismic wave simulations in complex situations.
Numerical Simulation of Simultaneous Hydraulic Fracture Growth Within a Rock Layer: Implications for Stimulation of Low‐Permeability Reservoirs
Authors: Chen Xiyu , Zhao Jinzhou , Li Yongming , Yan Wenyi , Zhang Xi
Published: November 2019

Multistage multicluster hydraulic fracturing is currently the most effective method to stimulate low‐permeability hydrocarbon reservoirs. The desired result of this stimulation technique is highly uniform growth of multiple closely spaced hydraulic fractures. In order to deepen our understanding on the competitive growth of these fractures, we have investigated the growth behaviors of multiple hydraulic fractures under different conditions. A fully coupled model with a 3‐D influence coefficient is presented for fracture growth in a rock layer, based on a combination of boundary element method and finite volume method. It is validated against classic solutions and lab experiments. The parametric analyses of dimensionless arguments to quantify the uniformity of fracture growth are performed, with varying fracture geometries and geotechnical conditions including preexisting natural fractures. The results demonstrate that fracture competition is controlled by the dimensionless toughness, the initial fracture geometric settings, and the ratio of fracture spacing to height. A higher fluid viscosity, a smaller initial length offset, and a larger spacing benefit simultaneous fracture growth for conventional bi‐wing hydraulic fractures. By contrast, single wing ones exhibit a remarkably better performance in long‐time simultaneous fracture growth at a small separation, especially at low dimensionless toughness. Under certain conditions, the closely spaced single‐wing fractures are prone to grow simultaneously and uniformly in less energy consumption. The simultaneous growth is found to be insensitive to the interference from small‐scale natural fractures. The uniform single‐wing fracture growth from the perspective of geomechanics will provide a new insight for both reservoir stimulation and formation of vein and dike swarms.
Properties of the Body of a Turbidity Current at Near‐Normal Conditions: 2. Effect of Settling
Authors: Salinas Jorge S. , Cantero M. I. , Shringarpure M. , Balachandar S.
Published: November 2019

Turbidity currents are sediment‐laden flows that move over a sloping surface. These flows are driven by the density difference between the sediment‐laden current and the clear ambient fluid above. Here we focus on studying the process of ambient fluid entrainment at the interface between the current and the sediment‐free ambient fluid and obtain a closure model for the entrainment coefficient. In particular, we extend the classical dependence of entrainment coefficient on the bulk Richardson number, by including the effect of sediment settling velocity. We focus our attention to turbidity currents under normal flow condition, where the depth‐averaged streamwise velocity U is nearly a constant. We employ direct numerical simulations of temporally evolving turbidity currents. Similarly, we study the dependence of basal drag distribution on Richardson number and settling velocity. In addition, we study the turbulence structures of the flow and its relation to turbulence production.
Increased Lateral Transfer of Soil Organic Carbon Induced by Climate and Vegetation Changes Over the Southeast Coastal Region of China
Authors: Liu Yuyan , Wang Xiaoyuan , Wang Yawen , Tong Chuan , Yuan Wenping
Published: November 2019

Soil erosion and the subsequent lateral movement of soil carbon profoundly affect the spatial pattern of carbon sources and sinks in terrestrial ecosystems. The eight river basins of Fujian Province considered in this study are an important part of the southeastern coastal river basin of the ninth largest river system in China. In recent years, the erosion of soil and soil organic carbon in the southeast coastal region of China is not ideal owing to the high and concentrated rainfall, natural vegetation destruction, and other reasons. In this study, the soil organic carbon erosion and deposition rates related to erosion in the eight river basins of Fujian Province are quantified, and their spatial distribution characteristics are extracted. Based on the soil erosion rate from two national soil erosion surveys and topsoil carbon content from the Harmonized World Soil Database, we estimated that the lateral soil organic carbon erosion increased from 7.53 to 26.75 g C m−2 yr−1 in eight river basins of Fujian Province from 1995–1996 to 2010–2012. The soil organic carbon erosion rate in the eight river basins increased by 2.6 times, while the soil organic carbon erosion rate for the whole of China decreased by 44% during the same period. The increase in torrential rain and decrease in vegetation cover in the southeastern coastal areas largely contributed to the erosion of soil and soil organic carbon. The lateral transfer rate of soil organic carbon may be further exacerbated by the increase of torrential rain in the southeastern coastal areas of China.
Impact of a Multi‐Layer Snow Scheme on Near‐Surface Weather Forecasts
Authors: Arduini Gabriele , Balsamo Gianpaolo , Dutra Emanuel , Day Jonathan J. , Sandu Irina , Boussetta Souhail , Haiden Thomas
Published: November 2019

Snow cover properties have a large impact on the partitioning of surface energy fluxes and thereby on near‐surface weather parameters. Snow schemes of intermediate complexity have been widely used for hydrological and climate studies, whereas their impact on typical weather forecast time scales has received less attention. A new multilayer snow scheme is implemented in the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts Integrated Forecasting System and its impact on snow and 2‐m temperature forecasts is evaluated. The new snow scheme is evaluated offline at well‐instrumented field sites and compared to the current single‐layer scheme. The new scheme largely improves the representation of snow depth for most of the sites considered, reducing the root‐mean‐square error averaged over all sites by more than 30%. The improvements are due to a better description of snow density in thick and cold snowpacks, but also due to an improved representation of sporadic melting episodes because of the inclusion of a thin top snow layer with a low thermal inertia. The evaluation of coupled 10‐day weather forecasts shows an improved representation of snow depth at all lead times, demonstrating a positive impact at the global scale. Regarding the impact on weather parameters, the multilayer snow scheme improves the simulated minimum 2‐m temperature, by decreasing the positive bias and improving the amplitude of the diurnal cycle over snow‐covered regions. However, the increased variability of the 2‐m temperature can have a detrimental impact in regions characterized by preexisting errors in the daily mean temperature, associated with errors in cloud processes or surface albedo.
Methylation-related metabolic effects of D4 dopamine receptor expression and activation
Authors: Hodgson Nathaniel W. , Waly Mostafa I. , Trivedi Malav S. , Power-Charnitsky Verna-Ann , Deth Richard C.
Published: November 2019

D4 dopamine receptor (D4R) activation uniquely promotes methylation of plasma membrane phospholipids, utilizing folate-derived methyl groups provided by methionine synthase (MS). We evaluated the impact of D4R expression on folate-dependent phospholipid methylation (PLM) and MS activity, as well as cellular redox and methylation status, in transfected CHO cells expressing human D4R variants containing 2, 4, or 7 exon III repeats (D4.2R, D4.4R, D4.7R). Dopamine had no effect in non-transfected CHO cells, but increased PLM to a similar extent for both D4.2R- and D4.4R-expressing cells, while the maximal increase was for D4.7R was significantly lower. D4R expression in CHO cells decreased basal MS activity for all receptor subtypes and conferred dopamine-sensitive MS activity, which was greater with a higher number of repeats. Consistent with decreased MS activity, D4R expression decreased basal levels of methylation cycle intermediates methionine, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), as well as cysteine and glutathione (GSH). Conversely, dopamine stimulation increased GSH, SAM, and the SAM/SAH ratio, which was associated with a more than 2-fold increase in global DNA methylation. Our findings illustrate a profound influence of D4R expression and activation on MS activity, coupled with the ability of dopamine to modulate cellular redox and methylation status. These previously unrecognized signaling activities of the D4R provide a unique link between neurotransmission and metabolism.
Acute anxiety and autonomic arousal induced by CO2 inhalation impairs prefrontal executive functions in healthy humans
Authors: Savulich George , Hezemans Frank H. , van Ghesel Grothe Sophia , Dafflon Jessica , Schulten Norah , Brühl Annette B. , Sahakian Barbara J. , Robbins Trevor W.
Published: November 2019

Acute anxiety impacts cognitive performance. Inhalation of air enriched with carbon dioxide (CO2) in healthy humans provides a novel experimental model of generalised anxiety, but has not previously been used to assess cognition. We used inhalation of 7.5% CO2to induce acute anxiety and autonomic arousal in healthy volunteers during neuropsychological tasks of cognitive flexibility, emotional processing and spatial working memory in a single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover, within-subjects study. In Experiment 1 (n = 44), participants made significantly more extra-dimensional shift errors on the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift task under CO2inhalation compared with ‘normal’ air. Participants also had slower latencies when responding to positive words and made significantly more omission errors for negative words on the CANTAB Affective Go/No-go task. In Experiment 2 (n = 28), participants made significantly more total errors and had poorer heuristic search strategy on the CANTAB Spatial Working Memory task. In both experiments, CO2inhalation significantly increased negative affect; state anxiety and fear; symptoms of panic; and systolic blood pressure/heart rate. Overall, CO2inhalation produced robust anxiogenic effects and impaired fronto-executive functions of cognitive flexibility and working memory. Effects on emotional processing suggested a mood-congruent slowing in processing speed in the absence of a negative attentional bias. State-dependent effects of anxiety on cognitive-emotional interactions in the prefrontal cortex warrant further investigation.
Prognostic impact of peripheral blood WT1-mRNA expression in patients with MDS
Authors: Rautenberg Christina , Germing Ulrich , Pechtel Sabrina , Lamers Marius , Fischermanns Carolin , Jäger Paul , Geyh Stefanie , Haas Rainer , Kobbe Guido , Schroeder Thomas
Published: November 2019

Few reports suggested a prognostic impact of Wilms‘Tumor-1 (WT1)-mRNA overexpression in MDS, but translation into clinical routine was hampered by limited patients numbers, differing sample sources, non-standardized methods/cut-offs. To evaluate whether WT1-mRNA expression yields additional prognostic information, we measured peripheral blood (PB) WT1-mRNA expression in 94 MDS using a standardized assay offering a validated cut-off to discriminate between normal and WT1-mRNA overexpression. Overall, 54 patients (57%) showed WT1-mRNA overexpression, while 40 patients (43%) had normal WT1-mRNA expression. This enabled discrimination between MDS and both healthy controls and non-MDS cytopenias. Furthermore, WT1-mRNA expression correlated with WHO 2016 subcategories and IPSS-R as indicated by mean WT1-mRNA expression and frequency of WT1-mRNA overexpressing patients within respective subgroups. Regarding the entire group, PB WT1-mRNA expression was associated with prognosis, as those patients showing WT1-mRNA overexpression had higher risk for disease progression and AML transformation and accordingly shorter progression-free, leukemia-free and overall survival in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, prognostic impact of PB WT1-mRNA expression status was independent of IPSS-R and enabled more precise prediction of PFS, but not OS, within IPSS-R very low/low and intermediate risk groups. Overall, measuring PB WT1-mRNA appears valuable to support diagnostics and refine prognostication provided by the IPSS-R.
Current translational potential and underlying molecular mechanisms of necroptosis
Authors: Molnár Tamás , Mázló Anett , Tslaf Vera , Szöllősi Attila Gábor , Emri Gabriella , Koncz Gábor
Published: November 2019

Cell death has a fundamental impact on the evolution of degenerative disorders, autoimmune processes, inflammatory diseases, tumor formation and immune surveillance. Over the past couple of decades extensive studies have uncovered novel cell death pathways, which are independent of apoptosis. Among these is necroptosis, a tightly regulated, inflammatory form of cell death. Necroptosis contribute to the pathogenesis of many diseases and in this review, we will focus exclusively on necroptosis in humans. Necroptosis is considered a backup mechanism of apoptosis, but the in vivo appearance of necroptosis indicates that both caspase-mediated and caspase-independent mechanisms control necroptosis. Necroptosis is regulated on multiple levels, from the transcription, to the stability and posttranslational modifications of the necrosome components, to the availability of molecular interaction partners and the localization of receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). Accordingly, we classified the role of more than seventy molecules in necroptotic signaling based on consistent in vitro or in vivo evidence to understand the molecular background of necroptosis and to find opportunities where regulating the intensity and the modality of cell death could be exploited in clinical interventions. Necroptosis specific inhibitors are under development, but >20 drugs, already used in the treatment of various diseases, have the potential to regulate necroptosis. By listing necroptosis-modulated human diseases and cataloging the currently available drug-repertoire to modify necroptosis intensity, we hope to kick-start approaches with immediate translational potential. We also indicate where necroptosis regulating capacity should be considered in the current applications of these drugs.
Unassisted solar lignin valorisation using a compartmented photo-electro-biochemical cell
Authors: Ko Myohwa , Pham Le Thanh Mai , Sa Young Jin , Woo Jinwoo , Nguyen Trang Vu Thien , Kim Jae Hyung , Oh Dongrak , Sharma Pankaj , Ryu Jungki , Shin Tae Joo , Joo Sang Hoon , Kim Yong Hwan , Jang Ji-Wook
Published: November 2019

Lignin is a major component of lignocellulosic biomass. Although it is highly recalcitrant to break down, it is a very abundant natural source of valuable aromatic carbons. Thus, the effective valorisation of lignin is crucial for realising a sustainable biorefinery chain. Here, we report a compartmented photo-electro-biochemical system for unassisted, selective, and stable lignin valorisation, in which a TiO2 photocatalyst, an atomically dispersed Co-based electrocatalyst, and a biocatalyst (lignin peroxidase isozyme H8, horseradish peroxidase) are integrated, such that each system is separated using Nafion and cellulose membranes. This cell design enables lignin valorisation upon irradiation with sunlight without the need for any additional bias or sacrificial agent and allows the protection of the biocatalyst from enzyme-damaging elements, such as reactive radicals, gas bubbles, and light. The photo-electro-biochemical system is able to catalyse lignin depolymerisation with a 98.7% selectivity and polymerisation with a 73.3% yield using coniferyl alcohol, a lignin monomer.
Next steps of quantum transport in Majorana nanowire devices
Authors: Zhang Hao , Liu Dong E. , Wimmer Michael , Kouwenhoven Leo P.
Published: November 2019

Majorana zero modes are localized quasiparticles that obey non-Abelian exchange statistics. Braiding Majorana zero modes forms the basis of topologically protected quantum operations which could, in principle, significantly reduce qubit decoherence and gate control errors at the device level. Therefore, searching for Majorana zero modes in various solid state systems is a major topic in condensed matter physics and quantum computer science. Since the first experimental signature observed in hybrid superconductor-semiconductor nanowire devices, this field has witnessed a dramatic expansion in material science, transport experiments and theory. While making the first topological qubit based on these Majorana nanowires is currently an ongoing effort, several related important transport experiments are still being pursued in the near term. These will not only serve as intermediate steps but also show Majorana physics in a more fundamental aspect. In this perspective, we summarize these key Majorana experiments and the potential challenges.
Optical and magneto-optical properties of GdxFe(100-x) thin films close to the compensation point
Authors: Jesenská Eva , Ishibashi Takayuki , Beran Lukáš , Pavelka Martin , Hamrle Jaroslav , Antoš Roman , Zázvorka Jakub , Veis Martin
Published: November 2019

Unlike ferromagnetic materials, ferrimagnetic metals have recently received considerable attention due to their bulk perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, low net magnetization and tunable magnetic properties. This makes them perfect candidates for the research of recently discovered spin-torque related phenomena. Among other ferrimagnetic metals, GdFe has an advantage in relatively large magnetic moments in both sublattices and tunability of compensation point above the room temperature by small changes in its composition. We present a systematic study of optical and magneto-optical properties of amorphous GdxFe(100-x) thin films of various compositions (x = 18.3, 20.0, 24.7, 26.7) prepared by DC sputtering on thermally oxidized SiO2 substrates. A combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry and magneto-optical spectroscopy in the photon energy range from 1.5 to 5.5 eV with advanced theoretical models allowed us to deduce the spectral dependence of complete permittivity tensors across the compensation point. Such information is important for further optical detection of spin related phenomena driven by vicinity of compensation point in nanostructures containing GdFe.
Spinal gastrin releasing peptide receptor expressing interneurons are controlled by local phasic and tonic inhibition
Authors: Freitag Fabio B. , Ahemaiti Aikeremu , Jakobsson Jon E. T. , Weman Hannah M. , Lagerström Malin C.
Published: November 2019

Dorsal horn gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) neurons have a central role in itch transmission. Itch signaling has been suggested to be controlled by an inhibitory network in the spinal dorsal horn, as increased scratching behavior can be induced by pharmacological disinhibition or ablation of inhibitory interneurons, but the direct influence of the inhibitory tone on the GRPR neurons in the itch pathway have not been explored. Here we have investigated spinal GRPR neurons through in vitro and bioinformatical analysis. Electrophysiological recordings revealed that GRPR neurons receive local spontaneous excitatory inputs transmitted by glutamate and inhibitory inputs by glycine and GABA, which were transmitted either by separate glycinergic and GABAergic synapses or by glycine and GABA co-releasing synapses. Additionally, all GRPR neurons received both glycine- and GABA-induced tonic currents. The findings show a complex inhibitory network, composed of synaptic and tonic currents that gates the excitability of GRPR neurons, which provides direct evidence for the existence of an inhibitory tone controlling spontaneous discharge in an itch-related neuronal network in the spinal cord. Finally, calcium imaging revealed increased levels of neuronal activity in Grpr-Cre neurons upon application of somatostatin, which provides direct in vitro evidence for disinhibition of these dorsal horn interneurons.
Deciphering the unique cellulose degradation mechanism of the ruminal bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes S85
Authors: Raut Mahendra P. , Couto Narciso , Karunakaran Esther , Biggs Catherine A. , Wright Phillip C.
Published: November 2019

Fibrobacter succinogenes S85, isolated from the rumen of herbivores, is capable of robust lignocellulose degradation. However, the mechanism by which it achieves this is not fully elucidated. In this study, we have undertaken the most comprehensive quantitative proteomic analysis, to date, of the changes in the cell envelope protein profile of F. succinogenes S85 in response to growth on cellulose. Our results indicate that the cell envelope proteome undergoes extensive rearrangements to accommodate the cellulolytic degradation machinery, as well as associated proteins involved in adhesion to cellulose and transport and metabolism of cellulolytic products. Molecular features of the lignocellulolytic enzymes suggest that the Type IX secretion system is involved in the translocation of these enzymes to the cell envelope. Finally, we demonstrate, for the first time, that cyclic-di-GMP may play a role in mediating catabolite repression, thereby facilitating the expression of proteins involved in the adhesion to lignocellulose and subsequent lignocellulose degradation and utilisation. Understanding the fundamental aspects of lignocellulose degradation in F. succinogenes will aid the development of advanced lignocellulosic biofuels.
Isotopic paleoecology of Northern Great Plains bison during the Holocene
Authors: Davies Gaimi , McCann Blake , Sturdevant Jay , Swenson Fern , Ovchinnikov Igor V.
Published: November 2019

Bison (Bison bison) are one of the few terrestrial megafauna to survive the transition into the Holocene and provide a unique opportunity to study a species on a broad spatiotemporal scale. Today, bison are primarily managed in small and isolated herds with little known about their ancestral ecology. We studied the carbon and nitrogen isotopes of Northern Great Plains bison from the terminal Pleistocene and throughout the Holocene to gain insight into their paleoecology. This time span is contemporary with the first population bottleneck experienced by bison at the end of the Pleistocene and includes the second bottleneck which occurred in the late 19th century. Results were compared with modern bison herd isotopic values from Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). Patterns of isotopic variation found in bison over time indicate significant (δ13C p = 0.0008, δ15N p = 0.002) differences in diet composition and correlate with climate throughout the Holocene. Isotopic relationships described here reveal the plasticity of ancient bison in unrestricted rangelands during periods of climatic fluctuations. Managers at TRNP and elsewhere should pursue opportunities to expand bison range to maximize forage opportunities for the species in the face of future environmental change.
Computational design and characterization of nanobody-derived peptides that stabilize the active conformation of the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR)
Authors: Sencanski Milan , Glisic Sanja , Šnajder Marko , Veljkovic Nevena , Poklar Ulrih Nataša , Mavri Janez , Vrecl Milka
Published: November 2019

This study aimed to design and functionally characterize peptide mimetics of the nanobody (Nb) related to the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) (nanobody-derived peptide, NDP). We postulated that the computationally derived and optimized complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) of Nb is sufficient for its interaction with receptor. Sequence-related Nb-families preferring the agonist-bound active conformation of β2-AR were analysed using the informational spectrum method (ISM) and β2-AR:NDP complexes studied using protein-peptide docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in conjunction with metadynamics calculations of free energy binding. The selected NDP of Nb71, designated P3, was 17 amino acids long and included CDR3. Metadynamics calculations yielded a binding free energy for the β2-AR:P3 complex of ΔG = (−7.23 ± 0.04) kcal/mol, or a Kd of (7.9 ± 0.5) μM, for T = 310 K.In vitrocircular dichroism (CD) spectropolarimetry and microscale thermophoresis (MST) data provided additional evidence for P3 interaction with agonist-activated β2-AR, which displayed ~10-fold higher affinity for P3 than the unstimulated receptor (MST-derived EC50of 3.57 µMvs. 58.22 µM), while its ability to inhibit the agonist-induced interaction of β2-AR with β-arrestin 2 was less evident. In summary, theoretical and experimental evidence indicated that P3 preferentially binds agonist-activated β2-AR.
Association of dietary patterns and endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy in an adult Chinese population
Authors: Lin Song , Gao Tao , Sun Chongxiu , Jia Mengru , Liu Chengxia , Ma Xingbin , Ma Aiguo
Published: November 2019

Atrophy gastritis harbor a high risk for the development of dysplasia and gastric cancer. The study investigated the relationships of specific dietary patterns and endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 574 consecutive outpatients who were diagnosed as chronic gastritis according to endoscopic examination. Dietary intakes of study individuals was assessed using the semi-quantitative food group frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy adjusted for potential confounders. A total of 574 participants were included, 286 with endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy. Three dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis. “Alcohol and fish” (tertile 1 vs. tertile 3: adjusted odds ratio = 1.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.06–3.22) and “coarse cereals” (tertile 1 vs. tertile 3: adjusted odds ratio = 2.05, 95% confidence interval: 1.24–3.39) were associated with an increased risk for endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy but a “traditional” pattern was not. Dietary pattern was not associated with gastric mucosal atrophy in women or in participants with H. pylori infection. A high adherence to both “Alcohol and Fish” and “Coarse cereals” dietary patterns seem to be associated with higher odds of endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy in men and in patients without H. pylori infection. Further prospective cohort studies needed to confirm these findings.
Physiological and developmental traits associated with the grain yield of winter wheat as affected by phosphorus fertilizer management
Authors: Chen Xiu-Xiu , Zhang Wei , Liang Xiao-Yuan , Liu Yu-Min , Xu Shi-Jie , Zhao Qing-Yue , Du Yun-Fei , Zhang Ling , Chen Xin-Ping , Zou Chun-Qin
Published: November 2019

Although researchers have determined that attaining high grain yields of winter wheat depends on the spike number and the shoot biomass, a quantitative understanding of how phosphorus (P) nutrition affects spike formation, leaf expansion and photosynthesis is still lacking. A 3-year field experiment with wheat with six P application rates (0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 kg P ha−1) was conducted to investigate this issue. Stem development and mortality, photosynthetic parameters, dry matter accumulation, and P concentration in whole shoots and in single tillers were studied at key growth stages for this purpose. The results indicated that spike number contributed the most to grain yield of all the yield components in a high-yielding (>8 t/ha) winter wheat system. The main stem (MS) contributed 79% to the spike number and tiller 1 (T1) contributed 21%. The 2.7 g kg−1 tiller P concentration associated with 15 mg kg−1 soil Olsen-P at anthesis stage led to the maximal rate of productive T1s (64%). The critical shoot P concentration that resulted in an adequate product of Pn and LAI was identified as 2.1 g kg−1. The thresholds of shoot P concentration that led to the maximum productive ability of T1 and optimal canopy photosynthetic capacity at anthesis were very similar. In conclusion, the thresholds of soil available P and shoot P concentration in whole plants and in single organs (individual tillers) were established for optimal spike formation, canopy photosynthetic capacity, and dry matter accumulation. These thresholds could be useful in achieving high grain yields while avoiding excessive P fertilization.
CBX2-dependent transcriptional landscape: implications for human sex development and its defects
Authors: Sproll Patrick , Eid Wassim , Biason-Lauber Anna
Published: November 2019

Sex development, a complex and indispensable process in all vertebrates, has still not been completely elucidated, although new genes involved in sex development are constantly being discovered and characterized. Chromobox Homolog 2 (CBX2) is one of these new additions and has been identified through a 46,XY girl with double heterozygous variants on CBX2.1, causing Differences of Sex Development (DSD). The mutated CBX2.1 failed to adequately regulate downstream targets important for sex development in humans, specifically steroidogenic factor 1 (NR5A1/SF1). To better place CBX2.1 in the human sex developmental cascade, we performed siRNA and CBX2.1 overexpression experiments and created a complete CRISPR/Cas9-CBX2 knockout in Sertoli-like cells. Furthermore, we deployed Next Generation Sequencing techniques, RNA-Sequencing and DamID-Sequencing, to identify new potential CBX2.1 downstream genes. The combination of these two next generation techniques enabled us to identify genes that are both bound and regulated by CBX2.1. This allowed us not only to expand our current knowledge about the influence of CBX2.1 in human sex development, but also to advance our insight in the mechanisms governing one of the most important decisions during embryonal development, the commitment to either female or male gonads.
A citizen science supported study on seasonal diversity and monoflorality of pollen collected by honey bees in Austria
Authors: Brodschneider Robert , Gratzer Kristina , Kalcher-Sommersguter Elfriede , Heigl Helmut , Auer Waltraud , Moosbeckhofer Rudolf , Crailsheim Karl
Published: November 2019

Austrian beekeepers participated in the “C.S.I. Pollen” study as citizen scientists and collected pollen from honey bee colonies in hive mounted traps every three weeks from April to September in 2014 and 2015 to uncover the seasonal availability of pollen sources for bees. 1622 pollen samples were collected and analysed using palynological light microscopy to the lowest taxonomic level possible. For 2014 and 2015 combined, 239 pollen types from more than 85 families were detected. ‘Various unknown’ species, Taraxacum-form and Plantago spp. were the pollen types collected by the majority of colonies (occurrence), whereas the most pollen grains collected were from Trifolium repens-form, Plantago spp. and Salix spp. (abundance). In spring, trees were found to be the most abundant pollen source, whereas in summer herbs dominated. On average, a colony collected pollen from 16.8 ± 4.7 (2014) and 15.0 ± 4.4 (2015) pollen types per sampling. Those numbers, however, vary between sampling dates and indicate a seasonal pattern. This is also supported by Simpson’s diversity index, which was on median 0.668. In both years, 50.0% of analysed pollen samples were partially (>50%) and 4.2% were highly monofloral (i.e. containing >90% of one pollen type). Prevalence of monofloral pollen samples peaked at the beginning and the end of the season, when pollen diversity was the lowest.
miR-22-3p is involved in gluconeogenic pathway modulated by 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2)
Authors: Senese Rosalba , Cioffi Federica , Petito Giuseppe , de Lange Pieter , Russo Aniello , Goglia Fernando , Lanni Antonia , Potenza Nicoletta
Published: November 2019

The 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2) has emerged as an active iodothyronine and its beneficial effects on glucose metabolism including glucose tolerance and insulin resistance is well established. However, little is known about its molecular mechanisms. Given the emerging importance of microRNAs in various metabolic diseases, in this study a possible link between the effects of T2 on glucose metabolism and miRNA expression was investigated by using an in vivo model in which T2 was administered in rats receiving a high fat diet, a condition known to impair glucose homeostasis. The results showed that T2-treated rats had a better tolerance to glucose load and a better performance at the insulin tolerance test in comparison to high fat diet animals. Interestingly, in the serum of the animals treated with T2 there was a general decrease of miRNAs with miR-22a-3p, miR-34c-5p and miR-33a-3p significantly downregulated. Furthermore, miR-22a-3p had the largest variation pointing toward its preeminent role in T2 metabolic effect. In fact, in liver there was an up-regulation of its target (Transcription Factor 7) Tcf7, which had an important impact on gluconeogenesis. This study provide, for the first time, evidences that miRNAs are involved in the effects exerted by T2 on glucose homeostasis.