bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
5,7‐Dimethoxyflavone induces apoptotic cell death in human endometriosis cell lines by activating the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway
Authors: Park Wonhyoung , Park Min Young , Song Gwonhwa , Lim Whasun
Published: March 2020

Endometriosis is a reproductive disorder characterized by the dislocation of endometrial tissues. Approximately 5–20% of women at their reproductive age are diagnosed with endometriosis, which causes chronic pain and infertility. Here, we demonstrated that the bioactive flavonoid, 5,7‐dimethoxyflavone (DMF), exhibited antiproliferative and apoptotic effects in VK2/E6E7 and End1/E6E7 cells which were established from vaginal and endocervical tissue taken from a premenopausal woman undergoing hysterectomy for endometriosis. DMF treatment significantly elevated DNA fragmentation resulting in apoptotic cell death in both cell lines. Furthermore, DMF induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, dysregulation of intracellular calcium level, and ROS production, which accelerate apoptosis. Additionally, DMF modulated the expression of the signaling molecules related to cell survival and endoplasmic reticulum stress in VK2/E6E7 and End1/E6E7 cells. Overall, DMF may ameliorate endometriosis and can be a potential alternative to hormonal and surgical therapy for endometriosis treatment.
Vertical diffusion and cloud scheme coupling to the Charney–Phillips vertical grid in GRAPES global forecast system
Authors: Chen Jiong , Ma Zhanshan , Li Zhe , Shen Xueshun , Su Yong , Chen Qiying , Liu Yongzhu
Published: March 2020

Spatial aspects of the physics–dynamics coupling in the Global and Regional Assimilation and Prediction System (GRAPES) for global medium‐range numerical weather prediction (GRAPES_GFS) are studied. As a Charney–Philips (CP) grid is used for the dynamics but all physical processes are calculated on a Lorenz grid in GRAPES_GFS V2.2 and its previous versions, interpolation has to be used for potential temperature and moisture between full and half levels in the physics–dynamics coupling. Besides interpolation error, a computational mode appears in the solutions of the vertical heat diffusion equations. An idealised test using a simple one‐dimensional heat conduction equation shows definitively that inconsistency of vertical grid in the dynamics–physics coupling and an improper boundary condition can together produce the computational mode. Based on 1st‐order K‐closure, a modified parametrization scheme for implementation of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme on the CP grid (PBL_CP) has been developed, together with a cloud scheme implementation on the CP grid (CLOUD_CP), such that there is no need for interpolation for both the PBL and cloud scheme coupling to the dynamics. By using the PBL_CP scheme in a case‐study, the computational mode in potential temperature and moisture predictions is shown to have been successfully eliminated and the corresponding vertical profiles appear to be reasonably smooth. Because of the improvements in potential and absolute temperature and moisture predictions, the prediction of low‐level cloud water has also been improved greatly. Meanwhile, the prediction of water vapour at high levels is more reasonable with CLOUD_CP. Consistent with these improvements in a case‐study, an overall and significant enhancement is found in 8‐day forecasts of absolute temperature, moisture, vector wind and stratocumulus with the revised model in a 4D‐Var (four‐dimensional variational) cycle experiment over a period of 3 months.

Key points

A revised PBL scheme called PBL_CP was developed on a Charney–Phillips grid in the GRAPES_GFS model to avoid interpolation in the coupling of vertical heat diffusion to the dynamical equations.

Implementation of the PBL_CP scheme in GRAPES_GFS eliminates the computational mode in potential temperature and moisture prediction in the PBL.

The revised model containing PBL_CP and cloud implementation on the CP grid has improved the GRAPES_GFS forecasts of absolute temperature, moisture, vector winds and stratocumuli significantly.
Sub‐seasonal to seasonal prediction of rainfall extremes in Australia
Authors: King Andrew D. , Hudson Debra , Lim Eun‐Pa , Marshall Andrew G. , Hendon Harry H. , Lane Todd P. , Alves Oscar
Published: March 2020

Seasonal climate prediction to date has largely focussed on probabilistic forecasts for above‐ and below‐average conditions in climate means. Here, we examine the possibility of making sub‐seasonal to seasonal outlooks for daily‐scale precipitation extremes in Australia. We first use observational data to show that significant relationships exist between climate modes, such as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, and indices representing rainfall extremes across much of Australia. The strong observed teleconnections between climate modes and daily rainfall extremes suggest the potential for predictability on seasonal scales. The current Australian Bureau of Meteorology seasonal prediction system (ACCESS‐S1) is examined for performance in predicting rainfall extreme indices using a range of measures. Ensemble hindcasts, consisting of 11 members initialised every month during 1990–2012, perform well for some extreme rainfall indices on short lead‐times (up to 1 month). We note that at short lead‐times, forecasts are aided by skilful weather prediction, so forecast performance drops at lead‐times of a week or more. Forecast performance is lower in austral summer than other seasons and greater in the north and interior of the continent, particularly in the dry season, than elsewhere. The ACCESS‐S1 ensemble is overconfident but exhibits some reliability in probabilistic forecasts of above‐ or below‐average number of wet days and intensity of the highest daily maximum precipitation, especially in northern Australia. ACCESS‐S1 captures the broad pattern of relationships between climate modes and rainfall extremes that are observed. For two case‐studies of unusually extreme precipitation, ACCESS‐S exhibits contrasting performance for forecasts of extreme rainfall anomalies beyond the first month. These results suggest that ACCESS‐S1 may be used to produce outlooks for some rainfall indices, such as the number of wet days and the intensity of the wettest day, for the month ahead.
Evaluation of the effect of piezo‐intracytoplasmic sperm injection on the laboratory, clinical, and neonatal outcomes
Authors: Fujii Yoshitaka , Endo Yuji , Mitsuhata Shingo , Hayashi Momoko , Motoyama Hiroaki
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Limited research has been published on the effect of piezo‐assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (P‐ICSI). We evaluated the effect of P‐ICSI on the laboratory, clinical, and neonatal outcomes.

Methods

This retrospective study was based on the data collected between April 2011 and October 2016. Total 1348 mature oocytes from 145 patients were analyzed. Laboratory, clinical, and neonatal outcomes of those given conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection (C‐ICSI) and those administered P‐ICSI were examined.

Results

P‐ICSI showed significantly more favorable results, with a survival rate of 97.0% (C‐ICSI: 94.1%, P < .010) and a fertilization rate of 83.5% (C‐ICSI: 70.6%, P < .001). There were no differences in the blastocyst development rate, implantation rate, miscarriage rate, live birth rate, gestational age, birth weight, proportion of male neonates, cesarean section rate, and congenital abnormalities between the two patient groups.

Conclusions

Our comparison of P‐ICSI with C‐ICSI showed that P‐ICSI significantly improved the survival and fertilization.
Influence of dams on river water‐quality signatures at event and seasonal scales: The Sélune River (France) case study
Authors: Fovet Ophelie , Ndom Mamadou , Crave Alain , Pannard Alexandrine
Published: March 2020

Dams and reservoirs are known to disturb river‐water composition, among other impacts, with potential implications for downstream river ecosystems and water uses. Existing studies have emphasized the variable influence of dams on water composition according to the element, its speciation (dissolved vs. particulate), reservoir properties (residence times), reservoir functions (e.g., hydropower, irrigation), and management (water releases). A now common approach to analyzing hydrological, geochemical, and biological controls on element export from unregulated rivers is to study hydrochemical signatures such as concentration‐flow relationships. We investigated a case study to analyze hydrochemical signatures of a regulated river (Sélune River, western France) upstream and downstream of a chain of two hydropower dams, assuming that the dams disturbed the river's signatures, and that those disturbances would provide information about processes occurring in the reservoirs. Both seasonal and event‐scale signatures were analyzed over two contrasting hydrological years and a range of storm events. The dams induced a chemostatic downstream response to storm events whenever elements were diluted or concentrated upstream. Dams did not disturb the seasonality of major anions but did modify silica and phosphorus concentration‐flow relationships, especially during low flow. Such changes in dynamics of river‐water composition may affect downstream biological communities. This study presents an initial state of the hydrochemical signature of the downstream river, before the removal of the two dams.
Theorizing Vitality in the Literacy Classroom
Authors: Boldt Gail
Published: March 2020

The author introduces the concept of vitality and its relation to affect. Stern defined vitality as the feeling of flow and aliveness. The author drew on research from literacy, curriculum theory, and the work of Stern to argue for the value of the concept of vitality for thinking about how literacy comes to feel vital. The author argues that researchers and teachers need to attend to students’ embodied expressions of vitality. These forms of vitality communicate the energy of a given classroom event. The author highlights Stern’s conceptualization of affect attunement—the ability of one party to share the subjective state of the other party transmitted through polymodal matching of vitality forms—as giving rise to and carrying vitality. Central to Stern’s work is that most affect attunement occurs out of conscious awareness, as the body is affected through multiple registers, in its psychobiological rhythms, in multisensory dynamic flow, and in the dynamic shifts and patterns of the body in movement in and out of constantly emergent assemblages. The author argues that in literacy research and teaching, conscious, language‐based learning has been overvalued. Contending that students’ embodied identities create differences in how their expressions of vitality are received in classrooms, the author concludes by arguing for vitality rights: the basic rights of all students to experience themselves as vital members of a classroom community.
A Self‐Assembled Planar Chemical Garden in a 3D Solution
Authors: Angelis Georgios , Pampalakis Georgios
Published: March 2020

Addition of calcium chloride solution in sodium phosphate results in the formation of a closed chemobrionic bubble. Subsequent addition of sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate results in the formation of radially growing fingers that finally yield new types of quasi‐2D chemical gardens that resemble waterlilies and trees.
DNA Origami‐Enabled Engineering of Ligand–Drug Conjugates for Targeted Drug Delivery
Authors: Ge Zhilei , Guo Linjie , Wu Guangqi , Li Jiang , Sun Yunlong , Hou Yingqin , Shi Jiye , Song Shiping , Wang Lihua , Fan Chunhai , Lu Hua , Li Qian
Published: March 2020

Effective drug delivery systems that can systematically and selectively transport payloads to disease cells remain a challenge. Here, a targeting ligand‐modified DNA origami nanostructure (DON) as an antibody–drug conjugate (ADC)‐like carrier for targeted prostate cancer therapy is reported. Specifically, DON of six helical bundles is modified with a ligand 2‐[3‐(1,3‐dicarboxy propyl)‐ureido] pentanedioic acid (DUPA) against prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA), to serve as the antibody for drug conjugation in ADC. Doxorubicin (Dox) is then loaded to DON through intercalation to dsDNA. This platform features in spatially controllable organization of targeting ligands and high drug loading capacity. With this nanocomposite, selective delivery of Dox to the PSMA+ cancer cell line LNCaP is readily achieved. The consequent therapeutic efficacy is critically dependent on the numbers of targeting ligand assembled on DON. This target‐specific and biocompatible drug delivery platform with high maximum tolerated doses shows immense potential for developing novel nanomedicine.
Self‐Therapeutic Nanoparticle That Alters Tau Protein and Ameliorates Tauopathy Toward a Functional Nanomedicine to Tackle Alzheimer's
Authors: Vimal Sunil Kumar , Zuo Hua , Wang Zhengwu , Wang Hongrun , Long Zhiliang , Bhattacharyya Sanjib
Published: March 2020

Tauopathy is a complex disorder associated at the junction of several other pathologies. Intrinsically disordered tau protein remains therapeutically challenging due to its undruggable nature and is a possible reason for monumental failure of several tau‐based therapies. Herein, nanogold remodeled tau is reported as a pseudo‐nanochaperon and shows therapeutic benefit by passive targeting in transgenic tau P301L mutant mice. Treatment with nanogold polyethylene glycol (Au‐PEG) conjugate moderately improves the learning ability of the tau P301L mice that corroborates with diminished phosphorylated tau burden. Circulating total tau level that acts in a prion fashion is significantly reduced upon Au‐PEG treatment. Similarly, a high level of tau is found in macaque monkey serum and Au‐PEG inhibits amyloidosis of Alzheimer's patients and primate's serum samples ex vivo. Addtionally, brain MRI of an old aged macaque monkey shows the decrease of grey matter, which correlates with mutual loss of grey matter upon progressive dementia as reported. Au‐PEG tunes tau and other circulating pro‐dementia factors that are present in human AD serum, by remodeling the protein and repairing aberrant proteostasis. Alteration of proteotoxic tau function by nanogold as a kinetic stablizer holds translational potential to combat socially challenging dementia.
A new confinement scheme for reinforced concrete columns using stainless steel or glass fiber reinforced plastic
Authors: Lee Do Hyung , Kim WooSeok , Kim Dong Joo , Kim Jeongho
Published: March 2020

A new lateral confining method is proposed for reinforced concrete columns in this study. The new scheme incorporates additional lateral confinements that are placed outside conventional lateral reinforcements within cross section of a column. Stainless steel wires or glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) rings have been employed as the additional confinement. A total of seven reinforced concrete column specimens have been tested to validate the proposed new scheme. Primary parameters in the test are vertical spacing and volumetric ratio of the additional confinements amongst others. Lateral hysteretic response shows that specimens with the newly proposed scheme exhibit no strength degradation up to 6% of drift ratio, the specimen without such scheme displays somewhat sudden degradation at 5% of drift ratio. Experimental results also indicate that displacement ductility and energy dissipation of specimens confined by the additional confinements are greater than those of specimen without such confinements. Margin of safety with reference to the code‐specified ductility is 1.6, 2.2, and 2.1 for specimen with no confinements, stainless steel wires, and GFRP rings, respectively. In addition, energy dissipation ability reveals that specimens with the confinements show up to 50% higher than the specimen without confinements. In all, experimental observation confirms that the present approach is promising to provide an additional confinement and ductility. It is thus expected that the suggested scheme can be applied to reinforced concrete columns and be particularly effective for those members with relatively large vertical spacing of conventional lateral reinforcements.
Betulin inhibits mTOR and induces autophagy to promote apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cell lines
Authors: Lin Yung‐Chi , Chen Hsuan‐Ying , Hsieh Cheng‐Pu , Huang Yi‐Fu , Chang Ing‐Lin
Published: March 2020

Betulin is a lupane type pentacyclic triterpenoid, and commonly found in the bark of birch trees. It displays various pharmacological properties, such as antibacterial, anti‐inflammation, antitumor, and antiviral. In this report, we attempted to investigate the anti‐proliferative and pro‐apoptotic effects of betulin on osteosarcoma cell lines. Our results revealed that betulin significantly decreased cell viability and colony formation in osteosarcoma cell lines. Dose‐dependent induction of Annexin V positive cells, activated caspase 8, activated caspase 9, activated caspase 3, and the cleavage of poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase were observed after the treatment with betulin, indicating betulin induces apoptosis in osteosarcoma cell lines. mTOR has been identified as a key modulator of autophagy in response to different stresses. In this study, we found that the treatment with betulin suppressed the activation of mTOR, and increased the level of LC 3‐II, the autophagy marker, in osteosarcoma cell lines. Co‐administration of the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine significantly rescued the cell viability and the clonogenic activity in betulin‐treated osteosarcoma cell lines. Our data showed that betulin induced autophagy, and the up‐regulated autophagy positively contributed to the apoptosis. Taken together, our findings suggested that betulin may serve as a promising anti‐proliferative agent for treating osteosarcoma.
Dominance and G×E interaction effects improve genomic prediction and genetic gain in intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium)
Authors: Bajgain Prabin , Zhang Xiaofei , Anderson James A.
Published: March 2020

Genomic selection (GS) based recurrent selection methods were developed to accelerate the domestication of intermediate wheatgrass [IWG, Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey]. A subset of the breeding population phenotyped at multiple environments is used to train GS models and then predict trait values of the breeding population. In this study, we implemented several GS models that investigated the use of additive and dominance effects and G×E interaction effects to understand how they affected trait predictions in intermediate wheatgrass. We evaluated 451 genotypes from the University of Minnesota IWG breeding program for nine agronomic and domestication traits at two Minnesota locations during 2017–2018. Genet‐mean based heritabilities for these traits ranged from 0.34 to 0.77. Using four‐fold cross validation, we observed the highest predictive abilities (correlation of 0.67) in models that considered G×E effects. When G×E effects were fitted in GS models, trait predictions improved by 18%, 15%, 20%, and 23% for yield, spike weight, spike length, and free threshing, respectively. Genomic selection models with dominance effects showed only modest increases of up to 3% and were trait‐dependent. Cross‐environment predictions were better for high heritability traits such as spike length, shatter resistance, free threshing, grain weight, and seed length than traits with low heritability and large environmental variance such as spike weight, grain yield, and seed width. Our results confirm that GS can accelerate IWG domestication by increasing genetic gain per breeding cycle and assist in selection of genotypes with promise of better performance in diverse environments.
Evolutionary diversification of Japanese Stomaphis aphids (Aphididae, Lachninae) in relation to their host plant use and ant association
Authors: Yamamoto Tetsuya , Hattori Mitsuru , Matsumoto Yoshiyuki , Ueda Shouhei , Itino Takao
Published: March 2020

Phytophagous insects are among the most diverse of the earth’s organisms, and their diversification patterns and the driving forces behind these have attracted considerable research interest. Host shifting to closely related plant species is thought to play an important role in phytophagous insect diversification, but the extent to which other interactions such as mutualistic associations affect diversification is not yet known. In this study, we reconstructed the molecular phylogeny of JapaneseStomaphisaphids and determined whether host shifting or mutualistic association with different ant species could explain diversification in this aphid genus. We analyzed 12 species ofStomaphisand grouped them into ten well-supported DNA lineages. Species in each lineage used a single or a few host plant species, but were mutualistically associated with many ant species of the genusLasius. This result suggests thatStomaphisevolutionarily diversified primarily through host plant shifts. Interestingly, the reconstructed phylogeny suggests thatStomaphishost shifts occasionally occurred between very distantly related host plant taxa (spanning up to five plant orders). The dependence ofStomaphison long-lastingLasiusant colonies situated in temperate deciduous forests whereLasiusis the dominant ant genus may have led the aphids to shift to distantly related but spatially adjacent host tree species.
Boundary and Eisenstein cohomology of $$\mathrm {SL}_3({\mathbb {Z}})$$
Authors: Bajpai Jitendra , Harder Günter , Horozov Ivan , Moya Giusti Matias Victor
Published: March 2020

In this article, several cohomology spaces associated to the arithmetic groups $$\mathrm {SL}_3({\mathbb {Z}})$$SL3(Z) and $$\mathrm {GL}_3({\mathbb {Z}})$$GL3(Z) with coefficients in any highest weight representation $${\mathcal {M}}_\lambda $$Mλ have been computed, where $$\lambda $$λ denotes their highest weight. Consequently, we obtain detailed information of their Eisenstein cohomology with coefficients in $${\mathcal {M}}_\lambda $$Mλ. When $${\mathcal {M}}_\lambda $$Mλ is not self dual, the Eisenstein cohomology coincides with the cohomology of the underlying arithmetic group with coefficients in $${\mathcal {M}}_\lambda $$Mλ. In particular, for such a large class of representations we can explicitly describe the cohomology of these two arithmetic groups. We accomplish this by studying the cohomology of the boundary of the Borel–Serre compactification and their Euler characteristic with coefficients in $${\mathcal {M}}_\lambda $$Mλ. At the end, we employ our study to discuss the existence of ghost classes.
Do sounds near the hand facilitate tactile reaction times? Four experiments and a meta-analysis provide mixed support and suggest a small effect size
Authors: Holmes Nicholas Paul , Martin Dennis , Mitchell William , Noorani Zeeshan , Thorne Amber
Published: March 2020

The brain represents the space immediately surrounding the body differently to more distant parts of space. Direct evidence for this ‘peripersonal space’ representation comes from neurophysiological studies in monkeys, which show distance-dependent responses to visual stimuli in neurons with spatially coincident tactile responses. Most evidence for peripersonal space in humans is indirect: spatial- and distance-dependent modulations of reaction times and error rates in behavioural tasks. In one task often used to assess peripersonal space, sounds near the body have been argued to speed reactions to tactile stimuli. We conducted four experiments attempting to measure this distance-dependent audiotactile interaction. We found no distance-dependent enhancement of tactile processing in error rates or task performance, but found some evidence for a general speeding of reaction times by 9.5 ms when sounds were presented near the hand. A systematic review revealed an overestimation of reported effect sizes, lack of control conditions, a wide variety of methods, post hoc removal of data, and flexible methods of data analysis. After correcting for the speed of sound, removing biased or inconclusive studies, correcting for temporal expectancy, and using the trim-and-fill method to correct for publication bias, meta-analysis revealed an overall benefit of 15.2 ms when tactile stimuli are accompanied by near sounds compared to sounds further away. While this effect may be due to peripersonal space, response probability and the number of trials per condition explained significant proportions of variance in this near versus far benefit. These confounds need to be addressed, and alternative explanations ruled out by future, ideally pre-registered, studies.
Characterisation of four hotdog-fold thioesterases for their implementation in a novel organic acid production system
Authors: Hickman T. W. P. , Baud D. , Benhamou L. , Hailes H. C. , Ward J. M.
Published: March 2020

With increasing interest in the diverse properties of organic acids and their application in synthetic pathways, developing biological tools for producing known and novel organic acids would be very valuable. In such a system, organic acids may be activated as coenzyme A (CoA) esters, then modified by CoA-dependent enzymes, followed by CoA liberation by a broad-acting thioesterase. This study has focused on the identification of suitable thioesterases (TE) for utilisation in such a pathway. Four recombinant hotdog-fold TEs were screened with a range of CoA esters in order to identify a highly active, broad spectrum TE. The TesB-like TE, RpaL, from Rhodopseudomonas palustris was found to be able to use aromatic, alicyclic and both long and short aliphatic CoA esters. Size exclusion chromatography, revealed RpaL to be a monomer of fused hotdog domains, in contrast to the complex quaternary structures found with similar TesB-like TEs. Nonetheless, sequence alignments showed a conserved catalytic triad despite the variation in quaternary arrangement. Kinetic analysis revealed a preference towards short-branched chain CoA esters with the highest specificity towards DL-β-hydroxybutyryl CoA (1.6 × 104 M−1 s−1), which was found to decrease as the acyl chain became longer and more functionalised. Substrate inhibition was observed with the fatty acyl n-heptadecanoyl CoA at concentrations exceeding 0.3 mM; however, this was attributed to its micellar aggregation properties. As a result of the broad activity observed with RpaL, it is a strong candidate for implementation in CoA ester pathways to generate modified or novel organic acids.
Arthroscopic assisted treatment of distal radius fractures and concomitant injuries
Authors: Kastenberger Tobias , Kaiser Peter , Schmidle Gernot , Schwendinger Peter , Gabl Markus , Arora Rohit
Published: March 2020

Wrist arthroscopy is mainly used to assist fracture reduction and fixation and to diagnose and treat concomitant injuries mainly to the scapholunate (SL), lunotriquetral (LT) ligament and the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC). Arthroscopy is beneficial in improving anatomical reduction of fracture steps and gaps in intra-articular distal radius fractures (DRFs). Yet, the literature that the functional outcome correlates with the use of arthroscopy, is limited. Non-surgical treatment and immobilization is recommended for Geissler grade I–III Sl-ligament injuries, while open reduction, ligament suture and/or K-wire pinning is mandatory for complete ligament tears according to Geissler grade IV. This manuscript describes the current literature and gives insight into the authors’ opinions and practice.
Biomechanical considerations on a CT-based treatment-oriented classification in radius fractures
Authors: Hintringer W. , Rosenauer R. , Pezzei Ch. , Quadlbauer S. , Jurkowitsch J. , Keuchel T. , Hausner T. , Leixnering M. , Krimmer H.
Published: March 2020

A wide range of different classifications exist for distal radius fractures (DRF). Most of them are based on plane X-rays and do not give us any information on how to treat these fractures. A biomechanical understanding of the mechanical forces underlying each fracture type is important to treat each injury specifically and ensure the optimal choice for stabilization. The main cause of DRFs are forces acting on the carpus and the radius as well as the position of the wrist in relation to the radius. Reconstructing the mechanism of the injury gives insight into which structures are involved, such as ruptured ligaments, bone fragments as well as the dislocated osteoligamentous units. This article attempts to define certain key fragments, which seem crucial to reduce and stabilize each type of DRF. Once the definition is established, an ideal implant can be selected to sufficiently maintain reduction of these key fragments. Additionally, the perfect approach is selected. By applying the following principles, the surgeon may be assisted in choosing the ideal form of treatment approach and implant selection.
Pleuropulmonary blastoma type I might arise in congenital pulmonary airway malformation type 4 by acquiring a Dicer 1 mutation
Authors: Brcic Luka , Fakler Fabian , Eidenhammer Sylvia , Thueringer Andrea , Kashofer Karl , Kulka Janina , Popper Helmut
Published: March 2020

Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) occurs most commonly in infants. It is divided into 5 types. The most common types 1 and 2 are cystic, type 0 presents as bronchial buds without alveolar tissue, most likely corresponding to alveolar dysgenesis, while type 3 is composed of branching bronchioles and appears as a solid lesion. A defect in the epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk might be the underlying mechanism for all. Type 4 is a peripheral cystic lesion with a thin cyst wall covered by pneumocytes. CPAM 4 has been mixed up with pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) type I and some authors question its existence. We investigated five cases of CPAM type 4 for the presence or absence of rhabdomyoblasts, and for markers associated with CPAM development. In addition, all cases were evaluated for mutations within the Dicer gene and for mutations of the RAS family of oncogenes. All five cases showed smooth muscle actin and desmin-positive cells; however, only one case showed a few cells positive for MyoD. The same case showed a mutation of Dicer 1. All cases were negative for mutations of the RAS family of genes. Fibroblast growth factor 10 was similarly expressed in all cases, and thus cannot be used to differentiate CPAM4 from PPB-I. Low expression of the proliferation marker Ki67 was seen in our CPAM 4 cases and the probable PPB-I case. YingYang-1 protein seems to play an active role in the development of PPB-I. CPAM 4 can be separated from PPB-I based on the presence of rhabdomyoblasts and mutations in Dicer 1 gene. These cells might not be numerous; therefore, all available tissue has to be evaluated. As CPAM 4 morphologically looks very similar to PPB-I, it might be speculated, that there exists a potential for progression from CPAM 4 to PPB-I, by acquiring somatic mutations in Dicer 1.
Towards advance care planning in pediatrics: a qualitative study on envisioning the future as parents of a seriously ill child
Authors: Fahner Jurrianne C. , Thölking Thessa W. , Rietjens Judith A. C. , van der Heide Agnes , van Delden Johannes J. M. , Kars Marijke C.
Published: March 2020

Advance care planning enables parents to discuss goals and preferences for future care and treatment of their seriously ill child. Although clinicians report parental factors as common barriers for advance care planning, parental views on reflecting on their child’s future have had limited exploration. A clear understanding of their perspectives might help clinicians to implement advance care planning tailored to parental needs. This interpretive qualitative study using thematic analysis aims to identify how parents envision the future when caring for their seriously ill child. Single interviews and two focus groups were attended by 20 parents of 17 seriously ill children. Parents reported to focus on the near future of their child. However, their actions and deeper thoughts showed perspectives towards a further future. Future perspectives initial focused on practical, disease-related themes, but more existential elaborations, reflecting underlying life values, were also identified. Parents needed acknowledgement of their challenging situation, care tasks, and expertise as a precondition for sharing their deepest thoughts regarding the future of their child.

Conclusion: When envisioning the future of their seriously ill child, parents tend to stay in the near future, whereas they value the opportunity to share further thoughts within a compassionate relationship with clinicians.

What is Known:• Parents prefer open and honest information about their child’s illness and prognosis and they value the concept of advance care planning, while they emphasize the need for an individualized approach.• Health care professionals see parental factors like unease and emotional burden as key barriers for advance care planning.

What is New:• When envisioning the future of their seriously ill child, parents tended to stay close to the near future initially, with a focus on disease-related, practical themes. Ongoing conversations uncovered deeper, value-based elaborations towards the future. To engage parents in advance care planning, the future needs to be discussed in relation to the present and the past.• There is “no sharing without caring”. Parents who felt cared for and acknowledged in their challenging context by clinicians, were open to share their perspectives on the future of their seriously ill child. To share deeper motives and values underlying goals and preferences for future care and treatment, parents need a stimulating attitude of listening and encouragement from clinicians to express their feelings.
Biological evaluation of novel thiomaltol-based organometallic complexes as topoisomerase IIα inhibitors
Authors: Legina Maria S. , Nogueira Juan J. , Kandioller Wolfgang , Jakupec Michael A. , González Leticia , Keppler Bernhard K.
Published: March 2020

Topoisomerase IIα (topo2α) is an essential nuclear enzyme involved in DNA replication, transcription, recombination, chromosome condensation, and highly expressed in many tumors. Thus, topo2α-targeting has become a very efficient and well-established anticancer strategy. Herein, we investigate the cytotoxic and DNA-damaging activity of thiomaltol-containing ruthenium-, osmium-, rhodium- and iridium-based organometallic complexes in human mammary carcinoma cell lines by means of several biological assays, including knockdown of topo2α expression levels by RNA interference. Results suggest that inhibition of topo2α is a key process in the cytotoxic mechanism for some of the compounds, whereas direct induction of DNA double-strand breaks or other DNA damage is mostly rather minor. In addition, molecular modeling studies performed for two of the compounds (with Ru(II) as the metal center) evinces that these complexes are able to access the DNA-binding pocket of the enzyme, where the hydrophilic environment favors the interaction with highly polar complexes. These findings substantiate the potential of these compounds for application as antitumor metallopharmaceuticals.

Graphic abstract
Is mesh always necessary in every small umbilical hernia repair? Comparison of standardized primary sutured versus patch repair: retrospective cohort study
Authors: Mitura K. , Skolimowska-Rzewuska M. , Rzewuska A. , Wyrzykowska D.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

A retrospective analysis was carried out to compare the results of patch repair using ready-made, synthetic mesh (PR) and sutured repair (SR) based on standard protocols. The accumulated recurrence rate was accepted as the primary outcome. Pain at rest and during exercise, cosmetic effect and treatment satisfaction were chosen as the secondary endpoints.

Methods

Adult patients after elective, open surgical repair of a single, primary umbilical hernia < 2 cm in diameter were included. Patients with incarceration or strangulation, after previous umbilical hernia repair or other abdominal surgical interventions were excluded. In the SR group, single-layer sutures were placed using the short-stitch technique. In PR group, a 6.3-mm ready-made Parietene Ventral Patch (Medtronic) was used.

Results

161 patients (104 in PR and 57 in SR groups) were included in the study (22 months follow-up). Nine recurrences were observed [six in PR (5.8%) and three in SR group (5.2%)]. In PR group, three patients (2.9%) reported complaints at rest and none in SR group, while 18 patients (17.3%) in PR group reported pain during exercises and 7 (12.3%) in SR group.

Conclusion

For the smallest umbilical hernias, the use of dense fascia suturing (short-stitch technique) may be an effective alternative to patch repair techniques in patients with no additional risk factors for recurrence. The mesh patch repair method is associated with a significantly higher risk of postsurgical pain. Diastasis recti is a factor favoring umbilical hernia recurrence after both pure tissue repair and patch repair.
Pieri Type Rules and GL(2|2) Tensor Products
Authors: Heidersdorf Thorsten , Weissauer Rainer
Published: March 2020

We derive a closed formula for the tensor product of a family of mixed tensors using Deligne’s interpolating category $\underline {Rep}(GL_{0})$

R
e
p

̲

(
G

L

0

)
. We use this formula to compute the tensor product of a family of irreducible GL(n|n)-representations. This includes the tensor product of any two maximal atypical irreducible representations of GL(2|2).
From ‘Whodunit’ to ‘How’: Detective Stories and Auditability in Qualitative Business Ethics Research
Authors: Nair Lakshmi Balachandran
Published: March 2020

Ethical considerations in today’s businesses are manifold and range from human rights issues and the well-being of employees to income inequality and environmental sustainability. Regardless of the specific topic being investigated, an integral part of business ethics research consists of deeply comprehending the personal meanings, intentions, behaviors, judgements, and attitudes that people possess. To this end, researchers are often encouraged to use more qualitative methods to understand the dynamic and fuzzy field of business ethics, which involves collecting in-depth information in real time. Qualitative methods in business ethics research, however, raise the two-fold responsibility of not only conducting such investigations fairly and appropriately, but also clearly communicating the research processes and outcomes to readers. Especially leading journals in the field such asJournal of Business Ethicshave a responsibility to conduct their business (i.e., the business of high standard publishing) ethically, by making sure that their content represents clear and honest communications of research concerning a wide range of business systems. Unfortunately, the question of how to effectively facilitate transparent insight into the research process of qualitative business ethics studies is still unresolved. Both the lack of a clear communication of methods and results and the iterative nature of qualitative methods often make it difficult for the readers to properly assess a qualitative business ethics study and understand its results. We propose the use of narratives to remedy this situation. Specifically, we suggest a new classification of audits, named second-party audits, to facilitate a better understanding of research procedures ex-post for the readers. To illustrate this new narrative-based reconceptualization of audits, we use Agatha Christie’s detective novelThe Murder on the Linksas a frame of reference.
Landscape genetics of northern crested newt Triturus cristatus populations in a contrasting natural and human-impacted boreal forest
Authors: Haugen Hanne , Linløkken Arne , Østbye Kjartan , Heggenes Jan
Published: March 2020

Among vertebrates, amphibians currently have the highest proportion of threatened species worldwide, mainly through loss of habitat, leading to increased population isolation. Smaller amphibian populations may lose more genetic diversity, and become more dependent on immigration for survival. Investigations of landscape factors and patterns mediating migration and population genetic differentiation are fundamental for knowledge-based conservation. The pond-breeding northern crested newt (Triturus cristatus) populations are decreasing throughout Europe, and are a conservation concern. Using microsatellites, we studied the genetic structure of the northern crested newt in a boreal forest ecosystem containing two contrasting landscapes, one subject to recent change and habitat loss by clear-cutting and roadbuilding, and one with little anthropogenic disturbance. Newts from 12 breeding ponds were analyzed for 13 microsatellites and 7 landscape and spatial variables. With a Maximum-likelihood population-effects model we investigated important landscape factors potentially explaining genetic patterns. Results indicate that intervening landscape factors between breeding ponds, explain the genetic differentiation in addition to an isolation-by-distance effect. Geographic distance, gravel roads, and south/south-west facing slopes reduced landscape permeability and increased genetic differentiation for these newts. The effect was opposite for streams, presumably being more favorable for newt dispersal. Populations within or bordering on old growth forest had a higher allelic richness than populations in managed forest outside these areas. Old growth forest areas may be important source habitats in the conservation of northern crested newt populations.
Competition in the quality of higher education: the impact of student mobility
Authors: Demange Gabrielle , Fenge Robert , Uebelmesser Silke
Published: March 2020

In the last years, there has been a shift toward more private financing of higher education in many countries. At the same time, student mobility has substantially increased. This paper analyzes in a two-region model the impact of student mobility on region-specific higher education quality with private funding. Individuals decide whether and where to study based on their individual ability and the implemented quality. We show that mobility of students affects educational quality in very different ways depending on the probability of return migration. With full return migration, quality is optimally provided which is in stark contrast to the underprovision result in the case of tax financing. On the contrary, low return migration and thus more competition for students countervail the efficient provision of quality and result in too little differentiated levels or too high symmetric levels. This is in line with the overprovision result with tax financing.
Making Sense of Material Culture Transformation: A Critical Long-Term Perspective from Jomon- and Yayoi-Period Japan
Authors: Mizoguchi Koji
Published: March 2020

This JWPFocuspaper argues that material culture transformation can be understood as the transformation of the way human beings and material culture mutually open up their potentialities. Such opening up/becoming takes place in the domains of their encounter, which often take the form of human communications. In communication, human beings and material culture mutually mediate/intervene/transform their modes of existence as the former cope with various uncertainties and risks that the world generates and that communication differentiates. Drawing upon the theory of communication developed by the social systems theorist, Niklas Luhmann, the paper will elucidate and elaborate this perspective through an examination of the long-term transformation of the mode of such mutual opening up/becoming by human beings and the material culture of their potentialities that took place in the Jomon and the Yayoi periods of Japan between 13000 Cal BC and AD 250/300.
Correction to: Structure and Raman spectra of binary barium phosphate glasses
Authors: Hruška Branislav , Dagupati Rajesh , Chromčíková Mária , Nowicka Aleksandra , Michálková Jaroslava , Peterson Jacob A. , Liška Marek , Munoz Francisco
Published: March 2020

The article Structure and Raman spectra of binary barium phosphate glasses.
Influence of adaptive thresholding on peaks detection in audio data
Authors: Maka Tomasz
Published: March 2020

Many audio analysis systems employ peak picking procedure to produce the final decision. A typical scheme uses a thresholding function to minimise detection errors where its form depends on the structure of the input signal. The paper covers the problem of an adaptive thresholding function estimation. Using the genetic algorithm to optimise the components of the thresholding function we have determined the level of importance of individual local statistics on the final function representation. The proposed method has been used to tune the peak detection procedure to identify the change points in an audio signal. In the result of the heuristic configuration, the best accuracy of segment boundaries have been obtained for thresholding function built on top of two local statistics of the detection function and constant value. Finally, as an example, a comparison with the state–of–the–art scheme for audio segmentation was performed.
Serial and large investors in initial coin offerings
Authors: Boreiko Dmitri , Risteski Dimche
Published: March 2020

This study is the first to provide systematic evidence regarding investor behaviour in initial coin offerings (ICOs), their investment patterns and their role in the success of campaigns. Using hand-collected data on 472 public token sales over the period of 2013–2017, we advance the ICO literature by demonstrating that some contributors often invest in more than one campaign, and such serial investors contribute earlier. However, they are not more informed and fail to pick better-quality ICOs. Only large serial investors invest more in campaigns that raise more funds, attract more contributors, are more likely to reach their hard caps, and distribute tokens that are listed on crypto exchange. Our findings raise the question of whether regulatory or industry self-regulation agreements on information provision measures are needed to protect smaller retail ICO investors that exhibit naïve reinforcement learning behaviour.
IDA4D: Ionospheric Data Assimilation for the ICON Mission
Authors: Bust G. S. , Immel T. J.
Published: March 2020

The Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission makes measurements in near-Earth space that provide knowledge of the state of the ionosphere. From the vantage of 575 km altitude in a circular, 27° inclination orbit, it retrieves altitude profiles of the ionospheric density peak in both day and night, characterizing the abundance of oxygen ions in the main ionospheric F-layer. Further, it continuously measures plasma densities and velocities in the immediate vicinity of the observatory. These measurements provide key knowledge required for ICON’s investigations and will be regularly provided data products. They also represent an enhancement to a larger set of ionospheric measurements that are regularly obtained by extant networks. The benefit of this enhancement is realized by ingestion of ICON’s observations into assimilative models developed to provide a realistic state of the ionospheric plasma density as informed by disparate observations. ICON uses the Ionospheric Data Assimilation Four-Dimensional (IDA4D) model for this task and this report demonstrates the assimilation of simulated ICON ionospheric products into this model. The model captures observations in a 3-dimensional tomographic grid, with a temporal component that maintains “memory” of the observations in particular locales between updates, provided by ICON or other sources. The model therefore provides a unifying framework for viewing ICON measurements as part of an integrated whole-ionospheric assimilation.