bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motor and sensory Schwann cell phenotype commitment is diminished by extracorporeal shockwave treatment in vitro
Authors: Hercher David , Redl Heinz , Schuh Christina M.A.P.
Published: January 2020

The gold standard for peripheral nerve regeneration uses a sensory autograft to bridge a motor/sensory defect site. For motor nerves to regenerate, Schwann cells (SC) myelinate the newly grown axon. Sensory SCs have a reduced ability to produce myelin, partially explaining low success rates of autografts. This issue is masked in pre‐clinical research by the excessive use of the rat sciatic nerve defect model, utilizing a mixed nerve with motor and sensory SCs. Aim of this study was to utilize extracorporeal shockwave treatment as a novel tool to influence SC phenotype. SCs were isolated from motor, sensory and mixed rat nerves and in vitro differences between them were assessed concerning initial cell number, proliferation rate, neurite outgrowth as well as ability to express myelin. We verified the inferior capacity of sensory SCs to promote neurite outgrowth and express myelin‐associated proteins. Motor Schwann cells demonstrated low proliferation rates, but strongly reacted to pro‐myelination stimuli. It is noteworthy for pre‐clinical research that sciatic SCs are a strongly mixed culture, not representing one or the other. Extracorporeal shockwave treatment (ESWT), induced in motor SCs an increased proliferation profile, while sensory SCs gained the ability to promote neurite outgrowth and express myelin‐associated markers. We demonstrate a strong phenotype commitment of sciatic, motor, and sensory SCs in vitro, proposing the experimental use of SCs from pure cultures to better mimic clinical situations. Furthermore we provide arguments for using ESWT on autografts to improve the regenerative capacity of sensory SCs.
Corporate Control around the World
Authors: AMINADAV GUR , PAPAIOANNOU ELIAS
Published: January 2020

We study corporate control tracing controlling shareholders for thousands of listed firms from 127 countries over 2004 to 2012. Government and family control is pervasive in civil‐law countries. Blocks are commonplace, but less so in common‐law countries. These patterns apply to large, medium, and small firms. In contrast, the development‐control nexus is heterogeneous; strong for large but absent for small firms. Control correlates strongly with shareholder protection, the stringency of employment contracts and unions power. Conversely, the correlations with creditor rights, legal formalism, and entry regulation appear weak. These patterns support both legal origin and political theories of financial development.
Actors and Actorhood in Institutional Theory
Authors: Patriotta Gerardo
Published: January 2020

Concepts of actors and actorhood, and different interpretations of these concepts, underlie many debates in institutional research. The three Point‐Counterpoint articles presented here seek to reflect on what actorhood means in institutional theory. They offer thought‐provoking perspectives on the relationship between human agency and the normative arrangements underpinning institutional behaviour.
Inhabited Actors: Internalizing Institutions through Communication and Actorhood Models
Authors: Bitektine Alex , Haack Patrick , Bothello Joel , Mair Johanna
Published: January 2020

We argue that accounts of relationships among actors, actorhood and institutions are predominantly based on a spatial metaphor of actors operating within institutions. We outline how an inversion of this metaphor – i.e., the perspective that institutions inhabit actors – may prove generative for theory, particularly with respect to recent discussions about the microfoundations of institutions. We outline how communication and actorhood models function as transmission mechanisms of institutions from one actor to another. We conclude with a discussion of how the inverted metaphor of institutions inhabiting actors can be useful for future theoretical developments.
Quality of life and sexuality after bilateral sacrospinous fixation with vaginal hysterectomy for treatment of primary pelvic organ prolapse
Authors: Yalcin Yakup , Demir Caltekin Melike , Eris Yalcin Serenat
Published: January 2020

Objective

To investigate the quality of life (QoL) and sexuality in women affected by pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and treated by bilateral sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) with vaginal hysterectomy.

Methods

This is a prospective observational study carried out at Isparta City Hospital from July 2017 to December 2018. A total of 26 sexually active women with symptomatic uterine prolapse POP‐Q (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification) stage II or higher requiring surgery were included in the study. Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36) was used preoperatively and at 6 months to examine the impacts of vaginal reconstruction on QoL. To assess sexual functioning, the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ‐12) was used preoperatively and at 6 months.

Results

A significant improvement of POP‐Q landmarks was found between pre‐ and posttreatment at 6 months of follow‐up. The patients reported QoL improvement at the follow‐up for all the categories of physical functioning, bodily pain, physical health, general health, vitality, social activity, emotional state, and mental health with respect to the baseline values (P < .001). The results of PISQ‐12 demonstrated a significant improvement for all the three fields: behavioral emotive factor, physical factor, and partner‐related factor, and the total score at 6 months after surgery (P < .001).

Conclusion

This study clearly demonstrates that bilateral SSLF is able to significantly improve both QoL and sexual function in patients with POP. Improvement in sexuality and QoL after surgery may be explained by correction of avoidance of sexual intercourse due to prolapse and physical recovery.
A Design Thinking Model Based on Quantitative Electroencephalography in Social Emotional Learning for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Chatthong Winai , Khemthong Supalak , Wongsawat Yodchanan
Published: January 2020

To design a social and emotional learning (SEL) skills training program for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Quantitative electroencephalography was analyzed, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses in the brain mapping performance (BMP) of children. A total of 305 participants with and without ADHD were recruited. Theta relative power was analyzed using stepwise multiple regression. Twelve brain locations were further predicted using a design thinking model to develop a reasonable prototype via crossover methods. Both strengths and weaknesses were found at the T5 and F7 brain regions in the ADHD group. The Fz region was a well‐defined predictor in both groups. The co‐predictors of both groups were F3 and F4. No comparison was suggested to enhance positive performance in either group of children. The SEL program could be designed based on a good‐fit model of the BMP of these subcomponents of primary brain functions.
Computer vision‐based recognition of 3D relationship between construction entities for monitoring struck‐by accidents
Authors: Yan Xuzhong , Zhang Hong , Li Heng
Published: January 2020

Struck‐by accidents often cause serious injuries in construction. Monitoring of the struck‐by hazards in terms of spatial relationship between a worker and a heavy vehicle is crucial to prevent such accidents. The computer vision‐based technique has been put forward for monitoring the struck‐by hazards but there exists shortages such as spatial relationship distortion due to two‐dimensional (2D) image pixels‐based estimation and self‐occlusion of heavy vehicles. This study is aimed to address these problems, including the detection of workers and heavy vehicles, three‐dimensional (3D) bounding box reconstruction for the detected objects, depth and range estimation in the monocular 2D vision, and 3D spatial relationship recognition. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the proposed method. The proposed method is expected to estimate 3D spatial relationship between construction worker and heavy vehicle in a real‐time and view‐invariant manner, thus enhancing struck‐by hazards monitoring at the construction site.
Seasonal acoustic occurrence, diel‐vocalizing patterns and bioduck call‐type composition of Antarctic minke whales off the west coast of South Africa and the Maud Rise, Antarctica
Authors: Shabangu Fannie W. , Findlay Ken , Stafford Kathleen M.
Published: January 2020

Seasonal occurrence, diel‐vocalizing patterns, and call‐types of Antarctic minke whales are described using bio‐acoustic recordings from the west coast of South Africa and the Maud Rise, Antarctica. In Antarctica, minke whale bioduck calls were detected in seven of nine months of hydrophone deployment (peaking in May and September) while downsweeps were only detected in June. Bioduck calls were sporadically detected in South African waters with peak calling in September/October, and no bioducks were detected from March through August. Bioduck call occurrence was high during daytime in Antarctica but there was no diel‐vocalizing pattern in South African waters. We split bioduck B call‐type into two subtypes: B1 with 13 ± 1 pulses (Dominello & Širović, 2016) and B2 with 9 ± 1 pulses (this study). Bioduck B2 was detected both in Antarctic and South African waters, with harmonics up to 2 kHz. Similar bioduck call‐types were detected in Antarctic and South African waters, with bioduck A2 being the most common. Month of the year was the most important predictor of bioduck occurrence both in Antarctic and South African waters. This is the first study to describe the seasonal occurrence, diel‐vocalizing behavior and call‐types of Antarctic minke whales off the South African west coast and eastern Weddell Sea.
Medicago truncatula Phytoglobin 1.1 controls symbiotic nodulation and nitrogen fixation via the regulation of nitric oxide concentration
Authors: Berger Antoine , Guinand Sophie , Boscari Alexandre , Puppo Alain , Brouquisse Renaud
Published: January 2020

In legumes, phytoglobins (Phytogbs) are known to regulate nitric oxide (NO) during early phase of the nitrogen‐fixing symbiosis and to buffer oxygen in functioning nodules. However, their expression profile and respective role in NO control at each stage of the symbiosis remain little‐known.

We first surveyed the Phytogb genes occurring in Medicago truncatula genome. We analyzed their expression pattern and NO production from inoculation with Sinorhizobium meliloti up to 8 wk post‐inoculation. Finally, using overexpression and silencing strategy, we addressed the role of the Phytogb1.1‐NO couple in the symbiosis.

Three peaks of Phytogb expression and NO production were detected during the symbiotic process. NO upregulates Phytogbs1 expression and downregulates Lbs and Phytogbs3 ones. Phytogb1.1 silencing and overexpression experiments reveal that Phytogb1.1‐NO couple controls the progression of the symbiosis: high NO concentration promotes defense responses and nodular organogenesis, whereas low NO promotes the infection process and nodular development. Both NO excess and deficiency provoke a 30% inhibition of nodule establishment. In mature nodules, Phytogb1.1 regulates NO to limit its toxic effects while allowing the functioning of Phytogb‐NO respiration to maintain the energetic state.

This work highlights the regulatory role played by Phytogb1.1–NO couple in the successive stages of symbiosis.
Access to public transport and childhood obesity: A systematic review
Authors: Xu Fei , Jin Lingling , Qin Zhenzhen , Chen Xiang , Xu Zhen , He Jing , Wang Zhiyong , Ji Wen , Ren Fu , Du Qingyun , Xiong Yaqing , Jia Peng
Published: January 2020

The lack of access to public transport is generally considered to be a risk factor for childhood obesity by discouraging active transport and thus physical activity. To explore the association between access to public transport and childhood obesity, we have conducted a systematic literature search in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science for studies published before January 1, 2019. A total of 25 cross‐sectional and two longitudinal studies conducted in 10 countries were identified. Inconsistent findings were identified arising from a great variety of sample characteristics, definitions of exposure (ie, access to public transport), and outcome variables (eg, obesity), and analysis methods. While over half of the studies showed null associations between access to public transport and childhood obesity, we have observed more positive than negative associations among the rest of the studies. These observations suggest that an increased level of access to public transport may have a health‐promoting effect and hence prevent the development of childhood obesity. However, this conclusion needs to be further corroborated in future research on the basis of large‐sample health surveys, in situ observations, and comparative analyses among different study areas.
Transactivation of Sus1 and Sus2 by Opaque2 is an essential supplement to sucrose synthase‐mediated endosperm filling in maize
Authors: Deng Yiting , Wang Jiechen , Zhang Zhiyong , Wu Yongrui
Published: January 2020

The endosperm‐specific transcription factor Opaque2 (O2) acts as a central regulator for endosperm filling, but its functions have not been fully defined. Regular o2 mutants exhibit a non‐vitreous phenotype, so we used its vitreous variety Quality Protein Maize to create EMS‐mutagenesis mutants for screening o2 enhancers (oen). A mutant (oen1) restored non‐vitreousness and produced a large cavity in the seed due to severely depleted endosperm filling. When oen1 was introgressed into inbred W64A with a normal O2 gene, the seeds appeared vitreous but had a shrunken crown. oen1 was determined to encode Shrunken1 (Sh1), a sucrose synthase (SUS, EC 2.4.1.13). Maize contains three SUS‐encoding genes (Sh1, Sus1, and Sus2) with Sh1 contributing predominantly to the endosperm. We determined SUS activity and found a major and minor reduction in oen1 and o2, respectively. In o2;oen1-1, SUS activity was further decreased. We found all Sus gene promoters contain at least one O2 binding element that can be specifically recognized and be transactivated by O2. Sus1 and Sus2 promoters had a much stronger O2 transactivation than Sh1, consistent with their transcript reduction in o2 endosperm. Although sus1 and sus2 alone or in combination had no perceptible phenotype, either of them could dramatically enhance seed opacity and cavity in sh1, indicating that transactivation of Sus1 and Sus2 by O2 supplements SUS‐mediated endosperm filling in maize. Our findings demonstrate that O2 transcriptionally regulates the metabolic source entry for protein and starch synthesis during endosperm filling.
Survey of Neonates in Pomerania (SNiP): Study design and cohort update
Authors: Kantorczyk Elisa , Domanski Grzegorz , Lange Anja Erika , Ittermann Till , Allenberg Heike , Zygmunt Marek , Heckmann Matthias
Published: January 2020

Background

The health status of newborns is a major concern for parents and medical personnel. Recent studies have provided increasing evidence that factors from the foetal and perinatal periods of life influence health later in life. The “Follow‐up of the Survey of Neonates in Pomerania” (SNiP‐I‐Follow‐up) is the first follow‐up of the population‐based birth cohort study, SNiP‐I, established in north‐east Germany.

Objectives

The primary aim of SNiP‐I‐Follow‐up study was the collection of longitudinal data on children and adolescents. The associations will be analysed between risk factors in pregnancy and the perinatal period and health status in infancy and later childhood.

Population

The population‐based cohort study SNiP‐I was conducted in Pomerania in north‐east Germany between February 2002 and November 2008. All mothers from the SNiP‐I birth cohort were recontacted when their children were from 9 to 15 years of age.

Design

The SNiP‐I‐Follow‐up study was carried out between December 2016 and August 2017 and is a questionnaire‐based survey.

Methods

Physical development, health status, and social behaviour (school and leisure behaviour) of children were analysed using a questionnaire comprising medical, epidemiological, and socio‐economic data, associated health care risk factors, and life circumstances of newborns, children, and their parents.

Preliminary results

Out of 5725 children invited to participate in the SNiP‐I‐Follow‐up study between December 2016 and August 2017, 29% (n = 1665) children participated in the SNiP‐I‐Follow‐up study, providing data on 1665 mothers‐child dyads. Responders had higher socio‐economic status, especially in relation to maternal education status.

Conclusion

As a longitudinal birth cohort from rural Germany, the SNiP cohort will be a resource to address urgent research needs and contribute to overall population health.
Empires built on sand: On the fundamental implausibility of reactor safety assessments and the implications for nuclear regulation
Authors: Downer John , Ramana M. V.
Published: January 2020

This paper explores the nature of expert knowledge‐claims made about catastrophic reactor accidents and the processes through which they are produced. Using the contested approval of the AP1000 reactor by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as a case study and drawing on insights from the Science and Technology Studies (STS) literature, it finds that the epistemological foundations of safety assessments are counterintuitively distinct from most engineering endeavors. As a result, it argues, those assessments (and thus their authority) are widely misconstrued by publics and policymakers. This misconstrual, it concludes, has far‐reaching implications for nuclear policy, and it outlines how scholars, policymakers, and others might build on a revised understanding of expert reactor assessments to differently frame, and address, a range of questions pertaining to the risks and governance of atomic energy.
Lesional skin in vitiligo exhibits delayed in vivo reepithelialization compared to the nonlesional skin
Authors: Gupta Aayush , Chauhan Aparna , Priya Anshu , Mantri Bhanu , Wadhokar Meenakshi , Dalave Kalyan , Shah Bhavika , Gokhale Rajesh S. , Batra Vineeta V. , Singh Archana
Published: January 2020

Vitiligo, a common skin disorder, is characterized by the loss of functional melanocytes resulting in the depigmentation of skin. Previous studies have demonstrated molecular and architectural alterations in the epidermal keratinocytes upon loss of melanocytes. The physiological implications of these “altered” keratinocytes are yet not known. We investigated the wound healing efficiency of lesional vs nonlesional skin in 12 subjects with stable nonsegmental vitiligo using histological and ultrastructural evaluation of partial‐thickness wounds. The wounds were examined 12 days postinjury, coinciding with the reepithelialization phase of healing marked primarily by keratinocyte migration and proliferation. This study demonstrated a significant difference in the reepithelialization potential between the lesional and nonlesional skin. While all 12 nonlesional wounds demonstrated considerable neoepidermis formation on the 12th day post wound, only four of the corresponding lesional samples showed comparable reepithelialization; the rest remaining in the inflammatory phase. Ultrastructural studies using transmission electron microscopy as well as immunohistochemical staining revealed a reduced number of desmosomes, shorter keratin tonofilaments and an increase in myofibroblast population in the dermis of lesional reepithelialized tissue compared to the nonlesional reepithelialized samples. This study implicates gross functional perturbations in the lesional skin during physiological wound healing in vitiligo, suggesting that the breakdown of keratinocyte‐melanocyte network results in delayed wound repair kinetics in the lesional skin when compared to patient‐matched nonlesional skin.
Symplectic quotients have symplectic singularities
Authors: Herbig Hans-Christian , Schwarz Gerald W. , Seaton Christopher
Published: January 2020

Let$K$be a compact Lie group with complexification$G$, and let$V$be a unitary$K$-module. We consider the real symplectic quotient$M_{0}$at level zero of the homogeneous quadratic moment map as well as the complex symplectic quotient, defined here as the complexification of$M_{0}$. We show that if$(V,G)$is$3$-large, a condition that holds generically, then the complex symplectic quotient has symplectic singularities and is graded Gorenstein. This implies in particular that the real symplectic quotient is graded Gorenstein. In case$K$is a torus or$\operatorname{SU}_{2}$, we show that these results hold without the hypothesis that$(V,G)$is$3$-large.
Maximum cut problem: new models
Authors: Kutucu Hakan , Sharifov Firdovsi
Published: January 2020

In the paper, we present the maximum cut problem as maximization of a non-smooth convex function over polytope which is the convex hull of bases of the polymatroid associated with a submodular function defined on the subsets of node set of a given graph. We also formulate other new models for this problem and give necessary and enough conditions on an optimal solution in terms of network flow.
Melissa officinalis L. hydro‐alcoholic extract inhibits anxiety and depression through prevention of central oxidative stress and apoptosis
Authors: Ghazizadeh Javid , Hamedeyazdan Sanaz , Torbati Mohammadali , Farajdokht Fereshteh , Fakhari Ali , Mahmoudi Javad , Araj‐khodaei Mostafa , Sadigh‐Eteghad Saeed
Published: January 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

How does an extract of Melissa officinalis L. ameliorate anxiety‐ and depressive‐like behaviour of mice?

What is the main finding and its importance?

An extract of Melissa officinalis L. possessed anxiolytic and anti‐depressant effects, which could mainly be mediated through its antioxidant and anti‐apoptotic properties.

This study evaluated the effects of a hydro‐alcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis (HAEMO) on anxiety‐ and depressive‐like behaviours, oxidative stress and apoptosis markers in restraint stress‐exposed mice. In order to induce a depression‐like model, mice were subjected to restraint stress (3 h day−1 for 14 days) and received normal saline or HAEMO (50, 75 and 150 mg kg−1 day−1) for 14 days. The administered doses of HAEMO were designated based on the concentration of one of the main phenolic compounds present in the extract, rosmarinic acid (2.55 mg kg−1 at lowest dose); other phytochemical analyses including assays for antioxidant activity, total phenols and flavonoids were also carried out. The behavioural changes in an open field task, elevated plus maze, tail suspension and forced swimming tests were evaluated. Also, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity were assessed in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, levels of Bcl‐2, Bax and caspase 3 in the brain as well as serum concentration of corticosterone were evaluated. HAEMO (75 and 150 mg kg−1) significantly reversed anxiety‐ and depressive‐like behaviours. Also, HAEMO reduced MDA levels, enhanced enzymatic antioxidant activities and restored serum levels of corticosterone. An immunoblotting analysis also demonstrated that HAEMO decreased levels of pro‐apoptotic markers and increased anti‐apoptotic protein levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of restraint stress‐exposed mice. Our findings suggested that HAEMO reduced inflammation and had anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in mice.
Vertical Temperature Profiles and Cooling Load in Large Spaces Ventilated by Stratified Air-Conditioning Systems: Scale-Model Experiment and Nodal Modeling
Authors: Xu Yukun , Wang Xin , Shi Chenlu , Huai Xiaoqiang , Wang Fei
Published: January 2020

An improved heat balance nodal model is proposed to predict the inner wall temperature profiles and calculate the stratified air-conditioning load in large spaces. The model aims to weaken the correlation between load calculation methods and indoor airflow patterns, and to ensure the synchronization of each heat transfer process, so as to be closer to actual situations. The scale-model experiments were conducted in an enthalpy different laboratory in University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST) in Shanghai, China. This paper took the air distribution of nozzle air supply system as an example to calculate the inner wall temperatures and the stratified air-conditioning load by the nodal model and verified by the scale-model experiments. The results showed the maximum deviations of the experimental and theoretical values for the inner wall temperatures, the heat transfer load from the nonair-conditioned (NAC) area and the stratified air-conditioning load were all within 5%. The effects of the air temperature in the NAC area on the heat transfer load from the NAC area and the stratified air-conditioning load were analyzed, and the load nomogram was produced. It was found the heat transfer load from the NAC area accounted for 10–30% of the stratified air-conditioning load. The load nomogram compared two methods for determining the air temperature in the NAC area and gave the recommended one. The findings in this paper can be used to further develop load calculation models for non-uniform thermal environments.
Polystyrene-block-polyethylene oxide thin films: In vitro cytocompatibility and protein adsorption testing
Authors: Monteiro A. Isabela , Kollmetz Tarek , Musson David S. , McGlashan Sue R. , Malmström Jenny
Published: January 2020

Polystyrene-block-polyethylene oxide (PS-b-PEO) coated surfaces have been explored as cell culture substrates in the past decade. However, their cytocompatibility has not been extensively assessed. In this study, the in vitro cytocompatibility of PS-b-PEO was investigated. Cellular morphology, metabolic activity, and viability were evaluated at 1, 3, and 5 days after cell seeding. Viability was greater than 90% throughout the 5 days culture, with abundant cell spreading evident by the formation of prominent F-actin stress fibres. The cytocompatibility study was complemented by the analysis of adsorption of a range of extracellular matrix proteins on PS-b-PEO thin films by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation. Protein adsorption tests revealed that there was no significant difference in protein adhesion between surfaces with a PEO domain coverage of ≈28%, compared to the homogeneous polystyrene control. The findings demonstrate that PS-b-PEO thin films are cytocompatible and are a favourable surface coating for cell culture studies.
Sound transmission loss of multi-layered infinite micro-perforated plates
Authors: Kim Hyun-Sil , Kim Sang-Ryul , Kim Bong-Ki , Ma Pyung-Sik , Seo Yun-Ho
Published: January 2020

In this paper, the sound transmission loss (STL) of multi-layered infinite micro-perforated plates (MPPs) is studied. A prediction model for the STL of the multi-layered infinite MPPs is developed, where each MPP may or may not have a perforation, and the number of MPPs is arbitrary. When the frequency of interest is well below the critical frequency of the plate such that the effect of flexural vibration can be neglected compared to that of the inertia term, the mass is replaced by an equivalent complex mass. For numerical examples, single-, double- and triple-layered MPPs are studied. As the perforation ratio increases, the magnitude of the equivalent complex mass decreases rapidly, which in turn results in a decrease of the STL. It is observed that for very small perforation ratios, the mass-spring resonance frequencies in double- and triple-layered MPPs move toward a higher frequency as the perforation ratios increase. In addition, the dips at the resonance frequencies become blunt with increases in the perforation ratios due to the artificial damping induced by micro-perforations. It is also found that at a high frequency, the STL shows dips regardless of the perforation ratios when the wavenumber and air gap depths satisfy certain conditions.
Screen for childhood trauma triggers debate
Authors: Underwood Emily
Published: January 2020

Testing across California could have unexpected downsides, critics say.
Endoplasmic reticulum contact sites regulate the dynamics of membraneless organelles
Authors: Lee Jason E. , Cathey Peter I. , Wu Haoxi , Parker Roy , Voeltz Gia K.
Published: January 2020

ER regulates stress granule fission

A hallmark of eukaryotic cells is the ability to compartmentalize essential reactions into membrane-bound and membraneless organelles. Membrane-bound organelles form networks through transport vesicles and interorganellar contact sites. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has emerged as a network hub and forms physical connections with nearly every membrane-bound organelle. Lee
et al.
now identify another class of ER contact sites that appear to help regulate the biogenesis and fission of membraneless ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules (see the Perspective by Kornmann and Weis). Live-cell fluorescence microscopy of human cells revealed that ER tubule dynamics are spatially and temporally coupled to the fission site of two types of RNP granules, processing bodies (P-bodies) and stress granules.

Science
, this issue p.
eaay7108
; see also p.
507
Unpicking the proteome in single cells
Authors: Slavov Nikolai
Published: January 2020

Single-cell mass spectrometry will help reveal mechanisms that underpin health and disease
Structure of nucleosome-bound human BAF complex
Authors: He Shuang , Wu Zihan , Tian Yuan , Yu Zishuo , Yu Jiali , Wang Xinxin , Li Jie , Liu Bijun , Xu Yanhui
Published: January 2020

Architecture of human BAF complex

The SWI/SNF family chromatin remodelers regulate chromatin and transcription. The protein complexes BAF and PBAF are mammalian SWI/SNF remodelers that play essential functions in diverse developmental and physiological processes. He
et al.
determined the structure of the human BAF complex, which contains three modules that bind the nucleosome on the top, bottom, and side, making this nucleosome-recognition pattern distinct from other chromatin remodelers. Mutations in BAF that are frequently associated with human cancer cluster into a nucleosome-interacting region. This structure provides a framework for understanding the BAF-mediated chromatin remodeling mechanism and its dysregulation in cancer.

Science
, this issue p.
875
Bread Feeding Is a Robust and More Physiological Enteropathogen Administration Method Compared to Oral Gavage
Authors: Derbise Anne , Echenique-Rivera Hebert , Garcia-Lopez Marta , Beau Rémi , Mattei Myriam , Varet Hugo , Dersch Petra , Pizarro-Cerdá Javier
Published: January 2020

Oral administration is a preferred model for studying infection by bacterial enteropathogens such as
Yersinia
spp. In the mouse model, the most frequent method for oral infection consists of oral gavage with a feeding needle directly introduced in the animal stomach via the esophagus. In this study, we compared needle gavage to bread feeding as an alternative mode of bacterial administration. Using bioluminescence-expressing strains of
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
and
Yersinia enterocolitica
, we detected very early upon needle gavage a bioluminescent signal in the neck area together with a signal in the abdominal region, highlighting the presence of two independent sites of bacterial colonization and multiplication.
The MexE/MexF/AmeC Efflux Pump of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Its Role in Ti Plasmid Virulence Gene Expression
Authors: Binns Andrew N. , Zhao Jinlei
Published: January 2020

Expression of genes controlling the virulence activities of a bacterial pathogen is expected to occur preferentially at host sites vulnerable to that pathogen. Host-derived molecules that induce such activities in the plant pathogen
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
are found in the soil, as well as in the plant. Here, we tested the hypothesis that mechanisms exist to suppress the sensitivity of
Agrobacterium
species to a virulence gene-inducing molecule by selecting for mutant bacteria that are hypersensitive to its inducing activity. The mutant genes identified encode an efflux pump whose proposed activity increases the concentration of the inducer necessary for
vir
gene expression; this pump is also involved in antibiotic resistance, demonstrating a relationship between cellular defense activities and the control of virulence in
Agrobacterium
.
Polymorphisms in Human Cytomegalovirus Glycoprotein O (gO) Exert Epistatic Influences on Cell-Free and Cell-to-Cell Spread and Antibody Neutralization on gH Epitopes
Authors: Day Le Zhang , Stegmann Cora , Schultz Eric P. , Lanchy Jean-Marc , Yu Qin , Ryckman Brent J.
Published: January 2020

Advances in HCMV population genetics have greatly outpaced understanding of the links between genetic diversity and phenotypic variation. Moreover, recombination between genotypes may shuffle variable loci into various combinations with unknown outcomes. UL74(gO) is an important determinant of HCMV infectivity and one of the most diverse loci in the viral genome. By analyzing interstrain heterologous UL74(gO) recombinants, we showed that gO diversity can have dramatic impacts on cell-free and cell-to-cell spread as well as on antibody neutralization and that the manifestation of these impacts can be subject to epistatic influences of the global genetic background. These results highlight the potential limitations of laboratory studies of HCMV biology that use single, isolated genotypes or strains.
Early Mississippian ocean anoxia triggered organic carbon burial and late Paleozoic cooling: Evidence from uranium isotopes recorded in marine limestone
Authors: Cheng Keyi , Elrick Maya , Romaniello Stephen J.
Published: January 2020

The Early Mississippian (Tournaisian) positive δ13C excursion (mid-Tournaisian carbon isotope excursion [TICE]) was one of the largest in the Phanerozoic, and the organic carbon (OC) burial associated with its development is hypothesized to have enhanced late Paleozoic cooling and glaciation. We tested the hypothesis that expanded ocean anoxia drove widespread OC burial using uranium isotopes (δ238U) of Lower Mississippian marine limestone as a global seawater redox proxy. The δ238U trends record a large Tournaisian negative excursion lasting ∼1 m.y. The lack of covariation between δ238U values and facies changes and proxies for local depositional and diagenetic influences suggests that the δ238U trends represent a global seawater redox signal. The negative δ238U excursion is coincident with the first TICE positive excursion, supporting the hypothesis that an expanded ocean anoxic event controlled OC burial. These results provide the first evidence from a global seawater redox proxy that an ocean anoxic event drove Tournaisian OC burial and controlled Early Mississippian cooling and glaciation. Uranium and carbon modeling results indicate that (1) there was an ∼6× increase in euxinic seafloor area, (2) OC burial was initially driven by expanded euxinia followed by expanded anoxic/suboxic conditions, and (3) OC burial mass was ∼4–17× larger than that sequestered during other major ocean anoxic events.
Non-inferiority and cost-effectiveness trial of isolated biceps tenotomy versus tenotomy with rotator cuff repair in patients with stage 2–3 Goutallier fatty degenerative cuff lesions (TenCuRe study): protocol of a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Hollman Freek , Wolterbeek Nienke , Auw Yang Gie
Published: January 2020

Introduction

For patients who are diagnosed with lesions of the rotator cuff that present advanced levels of fatty degeneration, arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff remains controversial. This controversy can be attributed to the frequently reported high failure rate of the tendon fixation and the fact that it remains unclear why repair for these tears results in significant clinical improvement independent of the occurrence of such a re-tear. Recent publications have reported comparable clinical improvements when merely a tenotomy of the long head of the biceps tendon was performed and the rotator cuff tear was left untreated. These observations raise questions on the value of performing the more extensive cuff repairs in degenerative cuff tears. Even more, rehabilitation after an isolated tenotomy is much less cumbersome as compared with rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair and, therefore, might result in improved patient satisfaction. The goal of this trial is to study function and quality-of-life of patients undergoing arthroscopic biceps tenotomy with or without an additional cuff repair and to include an economic evaluation.

Methods and analysis

This multicentre randomised controlled non-inferiority trial, including an economic evaluation, is designed to compare the short-term and long-term outcome of patients who underwent an arthroscopic tenotomy of the long head of the biceps tendon with or without a cuff repair. We will include 172 patients with stage 2–3 Goutallier fatty infiltration cuff tears and with clinical symptoms of biceps pathology. Primary outcome is the rotator cuff specific quality-of-life (Western Ontario Rotator Cuff index) on the short term (6 months postoperatively). Secondary outcomes are quality-of-life 1, 2 and 5 year postoperatively and function (Constant-Murley score, glenohumeral range of motion), recovery status, pain (visual analogue scale), economic evaluation, satisfaction of treatment on the short-term and long-term and re-tear rate at 6 months determined with an ultrasound.

Ethics and dissemination

This trial has been approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committees United (MEC-U), Nieuwegein, the Netherlands (NL54313.100.15) and will be performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki with the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO). The results of this study will be reported in peer-reviewed journals and at (inter)national conferences. Furthermore, we will share our findings with the appropriate guideline committees.

Trial registration number

The Dutch Trial Registry (NL4010).
Endovascular recanalization of chronically occluded internal carotid artery
Authors: Cagnazzo Federico , Lefevre Pierre-Henri , Derraz Imad , Dargazanli Cyril , Gascou Gregory , Riquelme Carlos , Ahmed Raed , Bonafe Alain , Costalat Vincent
Published: January 2020

Background

It is debated whether endovascular treatment is indicated for a symptomatic chronically occluded internal carotid artery (COICA).

Objective

To assess outcomes after endovascular treatment of COICA.

Methods

We performed a systematic search of three databases (PRISMA guidelines), including endovascular series of COICA. Outcomes were analyzed with random-effects models.

Results

We included 13 studies and 528 endovascularly treated patients with COICA. Successful recanalization was 72.6% (347/528, 95% CI 65.4% to 79.9%, I2=68.9%). Complications were 18% (88/516, 95% CI 12.1% to 23.8%, I2=65%), with 5% (25/480, 95% CI 2% to 7%, I2=0%) of permanent events, and 9% (43/516, 95% CI 6% to 13%, I2=34%) of thromboembolisms. Treatment-related mortality was 2% (11/516, 95% CI 0.5% to 2.6%, I2=0%). Shorter duration of the occlusion was associated with higher recanalization: 80% (11/516, 95% CI 54% to 89%, I2=0%), 63% (33/52, 95% CI 49% to 76%, I2=0%), and 51% (18/35, 95% CI to 37% to 88%, I2=40%) recanalization rates for 1, 3, and >3 months occlusions, respectively. Complications were 6% (3/50, 95% CI 3% to 21%, I2=0%), 14% (4/27, 95% CI 5% to 26%, I2=0%), and 25% (13/47, 95% CI 10% to 30%, I2=0%) for 1, 3, and >3 months occlusions, respectively. Patient aged <70 years presented higher revascularization rates (OR=3.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 10, I2=0%, p=0.05). Successful reperfusion was higher (OR=5.7, 95% CI 1.2 to 26, I2=60%, p=0.02) and complications were lower (OR=0.2, 95% CI 0.6 to 0.8, I2=0%, p=0.03) for lesions limited to the cervical internal carotid artery compared with the petrocavernous segment. Successful recanalization significantly lowered the rate of thromboembolisms (OR=0.2, 95% CI 0.8 to 0.6, I2=0%, p=0.01) and mortality (OR=0.5, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.9, I2=0%, p=0.04), compared with conservative treatment.

Conclusions

Endovascular treatment of COICA gives a 70% rate of successful recanalization, with 5% morbidity. Patients aged <70 years, lesions limited to the cervical internal carotid artery, and a shorter duration of the occlusion decreased the risk of complications. Successful recanalization of symptomatic lesions lowered by about 80% the likelihood of thromboembolisms, compared with medical management.
Physicochemical effect on shear strength characteristics of clayey soils based on ring-shear experiment
Authors: Yao Chuanqin , Chen Pan , Ma Tiantian , Xia Xiaolong , Wei Changfu
Published: January 2020

Pore fluid chemistry can significantly influence the shear strength characteristics of a clayey soil. To explore the underlying mechanisms, a series of ring shear experiments are performed on two natural clays, which represent two typical types of clayey minerals, i.e., expansive montmorillonitic clay and low-plasticity kaolinitic clay. The effects of pore solution concentrations on the shear strength of the two clays are experimentally characterized. It is shown that the shear strength of the expansive clay can be significantly influenced by the pore solution chemistry, whereas that of the low-plasticity clay proves to be relatively insensitive to it. To capture the main features of the shear strength behavior of clayey soils, the concept of intergranular stress, which is an extension of the Terzaghi’s effective stress to incorporate physicochemical effect, is introduced to interpret the experimental data. It is found that the evolution of residual shear strength can be very well characterized by using the intergranular stress, showing that the proposed intergranular stress formulation can be used alternatively to describe the stress state of clayey soils saturated with various pore solutions.
Entropy analysis of EMHD non-Newtonian fluid flow induced by Riga plate with slip and convective boundary phenomena
Authors: El-Aziz Mohamed Abd , Afify Ahmed A.
Published: January 2020

Our paper is consecrated to show the influence of variable fluid properties in EMHD non-Newtonian power-law fluid along a moving Riga plate. Slip velocity phenomenon is considered at the surface which is convectively heated. Entropy analysis is elaborated employing thermodynamic second relation. The governing nonlinear PDEs are altered into ODEs through adequate propinquity transformations which have been solved numerically via the shooting method with the fourth-order Runge–Kutta algorithm through Mathematica software (bvp4c). Characteristics of different basic parameters on velocity, temperature, entropy generation and Bejan number are highlighted through graphs. The outcomes exhibit that the minimum entropy rate in the flow system can be obtained either with rising viscosity parameter and slip parameter or declining dimensionless parameter and thermal conductivity parameter. The entropy rate is minimal for dilatant fluid when compared to pseudo plastic fluid with the most governing parameters. Contrast behavior on the thermal field is noticed for larger values of viscosity parameter and thermal conductivity parameter.
CHINA’S OUTBOUND INVESTMENT IN ASEAN ECONOMIES IN THREE PERIODS: CHANGING PATTERNS AND TRENDS
Authors: TONG YEE-SIONG
Published: January 2020

Southeast Asian economic sentiments toward China tend to dither between competitive and cooperative instincts. Initial warmth among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members toward the China-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is slowly giving way to project-related concerns as well as fears that “China is buying the world”. This paper examines Chinese outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in global and ASEAN contexts shortly after the start of the country’s “going out” strategy. The analysis draws on country- and firm-level investment data. It shows that a handful of ASEAN economies have become more important to Chinese investors as their motivations, capabilities and needs evolve. Nonetheless, with the exception of three (Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar), ASEAN economies have not become “reliant” on Chinese investment post-BRI launch, once one considers the increased weight China carries as a foreign investor in the developing world. This is either because these countries generally do not rely on FDI, or because traditional foreign investors from industrialized economies and more advanced ASEAN member states are far more entrenched than Chinese investors in the host economies.
GROWTH SLOWDOWNS AND MIDDLE-INCOME TRAP: EVIDENCE FROM NEW UNIT ROOT FRAMEWORK
Authors: FURUOKA FUMITAKA , PUI KIEW LING , EZEOKE CHINYERE , JACOB RAY I. , YAYA OLAOLUWA S.
Published: January 2020

This paper suggests a new testing procedure to systematically examine the middle-income trap (MIT). To empirically demonstrate this procedure, one high income and 14 middle-income countries are examined using newly developed unit root tests — Fourier ADF with structural break (FADF-SB) and Seemingly Unrelated Regressions Fourier ADF (SUR-FADF). The FADF-SB test incorporates unknown nonlinearity and smooth break in the time-series, while the SUR-FADF test accounts for cross-sectional dependency. The empirical findings produced mixed results: 10 countries have a relatively high possibility of facing the MIT problem, while only one country has a relatively low possibility of facing the problem. For the remaining three countries, it is uncertain whether they will face the problem of MIT. These empirical findings have significant policy implications.
The diagonalization of generalized Vaidya spacetime
Authors: Vertogradov Vitalii
Published: January 2020

In this paper we give necessary transformation to diagonalize generalized Vaidya spacetime in the simplest cases.
Electrically-tunable magnetoresistance effect in magnetically modulated semiconductor heterostructure
Authors: Kong Yong-Hong , Liu Xu-Hui , Gong Yan-Jun , Li Ai-Hua
Published: January 2020

We report on a theoretical study of magnetoresistance (MR) effect in a magnetically modulated semiconductor heterostructure (MMSH) under an applied bias, which can be constructed on surface of [Formula: see text] heterostructure by depositing two asymmetric ferromagnetic (FM) stripes. Bias-dependent transmission and conductance are calculated numerically, on the basis of both improved transfer matrix method (ITMM) and Landauer–Büttiker conductance theory. An obvious MR effect appears because of a significant difference of transmission between parallel and antiparallel (AP) magnetization configurations. Moreover, MR ratio can be tuned by the bias. These interesting features not only provide an alternative way to manipulate MR effect, but also may lead to an electrically-controllable MR device.
A Feature Extraction Method based on Local Binary Pattern Preprocessing and Wavelet Transform
Authors: Liu Peng-Yi , Li Zhi-Ming
Published: January 2020

Face recognition has been extensively studied by many scholars in the recent decades. Local binary pattern (LBP) is one of the most popular local descriptors and has been widely applied to face recognition. Wavelet transform is also more and more active in the field of pattern recognition. In this paper, a novel feature extraction method is proposed to overcome illumination influence. First, a given face image is processed by the LBP operator, and an LBP image is obtained. Second, wavelet transform is used to extract discriminant feature from the LBP image. The experiment results on LFW, Extended YaleB and CMU-PIE face databases show that the proposed method outperforms several popular face recognition methods, and the preprocessing step plays an important role to extract effective features for classification.