bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Competing Effects of Mountain Uplift and Landslide Erosion Over Earthquake Cycles
Authors: Li Gen , West A. Joshua , Qiu Hongrui
Published: April 2019

Large earthquakes can construct mountainous topography by inducing rock uplift but also erode mountains by causing landslides. Observations following the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake show that landslide volumes in some cases match seismically induced uplift, raising questions about how the actions of individual earthquakes accumulate to build topography. Here we model the two‐dimensional surface displacement field generated over a full earthquake cycle accounting for coseismic deformation, postseismic relaxation, landslide erosion, and erosion‐induced isostatic compensation. We explore the related volume balance across different seismotectonic and topographic conditions and revisit the Wenchuan case in this context. The ratio (Ω) between landslide erosion and uplift is most sensitive to parameters determining landslide volumes (particularly earthquake magnitudeMw, seismic energy source depth, and failure susceptibility, as well as the seismological factor responsible for triggering landslides), and is moderately sensitive to the effective elastic thickness of lithosphere,Te. For a specified magnitude, more erosive events (higher Ω) tend to occur at shallower depth, in thicker‐Telithosphere, and in steeper, more landslide‐prone landscapes. For given landscape and seismotectonic conditions, the volumes of both landslides and uplift to first order positively scale withMwand seismic momentMo. However, higherMwearthquakes generate lower landslide and uplift volumes per unitMo, suggesting lower efficiency in the use of seismic energy to drive topographic change. With our model, we calculate the long‐term average seismic volume balance for the eastern Tibetan region and find that the net topographic effect of earthquakes in this region tends to be constructive rather than erosive. Overall, destructive events are rare when considering processes over the full earthquake cycle, although they are more likely if only considering the coseismic volume budget (as was the case for the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake where landsliding substantially offset coseismic uplift). Irrespective of the net budget, our results suggest that the erosive power of earthquakes plays an important role in mountain belt evolution, including by influencing structures and spatial patterns of deformation, for example affecting the wavelength of topography.
Mechanisms of Ocean Heat Anomalies in the Norwegian Sea
Authors: Asbjørnsen Helene , Årthun Marius , Skagseth Øystein , Eldevik Tor
Published: April 2019

Ocean heat content in the Norwegian Sea exhibits pronounced variability on interannual to decadal time scales. These ocean heat anomalies are known to influence Arctic sea ice extent, marine ecosystems, and continental climate. It nevertheless remains unknown to what extent such heat anomalies are produced locally within the Norwegian Sea, and to what extent the region is more of a passive receiver of anomalies formed elsewhere. A main practical challenge has been the lack of closed heat budget diagnostics. In order to address this issue, a regional heat budget is calculated for the Norwegian Sea using the ECCOv4 ocean state estimate—a dynamically and kinematically consistent model framework fitted to ocean observations for the period 1992–2015. The depth‐integrated Norwegian Sea heat budget shows that both ocean advection and air‐sea heat fluxes play an active role in the formation of interannual heat content anomalies. A spatial analysis of the individual heat budget terms shows that ocean advection is the primary contributor to heat content variability in the Atlantic domain of the Norwegian Sea. Anomalous heat advection furthermore depends on the strength of the Atlantic water inflow, which is related to large‐scale circulation changes in the subpolar North Atlantic. This result suggests a potential for predicting Norwegian Sea heat content based on upstream conditions. However, local surface forcing (air‐sea heat fluxes and Ekman forcing) within the Norwegian Sea substantially modifies the phase and amplitude of ocean heat anomalies along their poleward pathway, and, hence, acts to limit predictability.
How Will a Warming Climate Affect the Benguela Coastal Low‐Level Wind Jet?
Authors: Lima Daniela C. A. , Soares Pedro M. M. , Semedo Alvaro , Cardoso Rita M. , Cabos William , Sein Dmitry V.
Published: April 2019

The strong coastal upwelling associated to the Benguela eastern boundary upwelling system makes the ocean along coast of this current one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. The Benguela Coastal Low‐Level Jet (BCLLJ) is one of the most important mesoscale feature that shape the climate of this region. The main synoptic forcing of the BCLLJ is the Angola thermal low over land and the St. Helen anticyclone over the ocean, resulting in southwesterly winds along the coast. This study investigates how the BCLLJ might change due to climate warming, with the help of uncoupled and coupled simulations from a 25‐km horizontal resolution regional climate model (ROM). In general, the coupled simulation displays the best performance in representing the present time near‐surface wind speed, with a decrease on the known warm bias of sea surface temperature in the Benguela eastern boundary upwelling system region. The analysis of the projected changes of the BCLLJ climate toward the end of the 21st century (2070–2099), following the RCP8.5 emissions scenario, shows an increase in the frequency of the BCLLJ occurrence along the southern area with higher changes in the coupled simulation (between 6% and 8%). These changes are related to a southerly shift of the St. Helen High, which intensifies the flow offshore the west coast of South Africa and causes a sharpening of the land‐sea thermal contrasts. However, during spring, associated with the decrease in near‐surface wind speed due to higher sea surface temperatures, the future frequency and intensity of the BCLLJ are lower.
The Deposition and Alteration History of the Northeast Syrtis Major Layered Sulfates
Authors: Quinn D. P. , Ehlmann B. L.
Published: April 2019

Ancient stratigraphy on Isidis Basin's western margin records the history of water on early Mars. Noachian units are overlain by layered, basaltic composition sedimentary rocks that are enriched in polyhydrated sulfates and capped by more resistant units. The layered sulfates—uniquely exposed at northeast Syrtis Major—comprise a sedimentary sequence up to 600 m thick that has undergone a multistage history of deposition, alteration, and erosion. Siliciclastic sediments enriched in polyhydrated sulfates are bedded at meter scale and were deposited on slopes up to 10°, embaying and thinning against preexisting Noachian highlands around the Isidis Basin rim. The layered sulfates were modified by volume loss fracturing during diagenesis. Resultant fractures hosted channelized flow and jarosite mineral precipitation to form resistant ridges upon erosion. The structural form of the layered sulfates is consistent with packages of sediment fallen from either atmospheric or aqueous suspension; coupling with substantial diagenetic volume loss may favor deepwater basin sedimentation. After formation, the layered sulfates were capped by a “smooth capping unit” and then eroded to form paleovalleys. Hesperian Syrtis Major lavas were channelized by this paleotopography, capping it in some places and filling it in others. Later fluvial features and phyllosilicate‐bearing lacustrine deposits, sharing a regional base level of ∼−2,300 m, were superimposed on the sulfate‐lava stratigraphy. The layered sulfates suggest surface bodies of water and active groundwater upwelling during the Noachian‐Hesperian transition. The northeast Syrtis Major stratigraphy records at least four distinct phases of surface and subsurface aqueous activity spanning from late Noachian to early Amazonian time.
Factors Controlling Storage, Sources, and Diagenetic State of Organic Carbon in a Prograding Subaerial Delta: Wax Lake Delta, Louisiana
Authors: Shields Michael R. , Bianchi Thomas S. , Kolker Alexander S. , Kenney William F. , Mohrig David , Osborne Todd Z. , Curtis Jason H.
Published: April 2019

Wax Lake Delta, southern Louisiana, is a coastal delta that formed following the dredging of a river channel in 1941 and is a field model for investigating the geomorphology, ecology, carbon dynamics, and carbon storage capacity in young prograding deltas. However, it is unknown how the transition from subaqueous to subaerial sediments affects the sources and quality of the sequestered carbon. We investigated these variations within the sediments of Wax Lake Delta using amino acid, lignin, and stable carbon isotope compositions of the organic matter (OM). A principal component analysis of these proxies highlighted variability in organic carbon (OC) composition with changes in elevation. The transition from subaqueous to subaerial sediments at 0‐cm mean lower low water is an important component of the OM composition. In addition to the changes observed for OM source and quality, the OC loadings (OC/SA; mg C/m2) also increase as the delta aggrades and accumulates sediments with loadings typical of delta topsets and mobile mud banks (OC/SA < 0.4) to riverine sediments (0.5 < OC/SA < 1) and eventually to highly productive regions (OC/SA > 1). Linking this multiproxy approach with environmental variables such as elevation provides a path for incorporating OM dynamics into geomorphic models.
Anthropogenic Methane Emission and Its Partitioning for the Yangtze River Delta Region of China
Authors: Hu Cheng , Griffis Timothy J. , Liu Shoudong , Xiao Wei , Hu Ning , Huang Wenjing , Yang Dong , Lee Xuhui
Published: April 2019

Urban areas are global methane (CH4) hotspots. Yet large uncertainties still remain for the CH4 budget of these domains. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China, is one of the world's most densely populated regions where a large number of cities are located. To estimate anthropogenic CH4 emissions in YRD, we conducted simultaneous atmospheric CH4 and CO2 mixing ratio measurements from June 2010 to April 2011. By combining these measurements with the Weather Research and Forecasting and Stochastic Time‐Inverted Lagrangian Transport models and a priori Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research emission inventories, we applied three “top‐down” approaches to constrain anthropogenic CH4 emissions. These three approaches included multiplicative scaling factors, flux ratio, and scale factor Bayesian inversion. The posteriori CH4 flux density estimated from the three approaches showed high consistency and were 36.32 (±9.17), 35.66 (±2.92), and 36.03(±14.25) nmol·m−2·s−1, respectively, for the duration of the study period (November 2010 to April 2011). The total annual anthropogenic CH4 emission was 6.52(±1.59) Tg for the YRD region based on the average of these three approaches. Our emission estimates were 30.2(±17.6)%, 31.5 (±5.6)%, and 30.8 (±27.4)% lower than the a priori Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research v432 emission inventory estimate. The scale factor Bayesian inversion results indicate that the overestimate was mainly caused by two source categories including fuel exploitation and agricultural soil emissions (rice cultivation). The posteriori flux densities for agricultural soil and fuel exploitation were 10.68 and 6.34 nmol·m−2·s−1, respectively, and were 47.8% and 29.2% lower than the a priori inventory. Agricultural soil was the largest source contribution and accounted for 29.6% of the YRD CH4 budget during the study period.
Fast EVP Solutions in a High‐Resolution Sea Ice Model
Authors: Koldunov Nikolay V. , Danilov Sergey , Sidorenko Dmitry , Hutter Nils , Losch Martin , Goessling Helge , Rakowsky Natalja , Scholz Patrick , Sein Dmitry , Wang Qiang , Jung Thomas
Published: April 2019

Sea ice dynamics determine the drift and deformation of sea ice. Nonlinear physics, usually expressed in a viscous‐plastic rheology, makes the sea ice momentum equations notoriously difficult to solve. At increasing sea ice model resolution the nonlinearities become stronger as linear kinematic features (leads) appear in the solutions. Even the standard elastic‐viscous‐plastic (EVP) solver for sea ice dynamics, which was introduced for computational efficiency, becomes computationally very expensive, when accurate solutions are required, because the numerical stability requires very short, and hence more, subcycling time steps at high resolution. Simple modifications to the EVP solver have been shown to remove the influence of the number of subcycles on the numerical stability. At low resolution appropriate solutions can be obtained with only partial convergence based on a significantly reduced number of subcycles as long as the numerical procedure is kept stable. This previous result is extended to high resolution where linear kinematic features start to appear. The computational cost can be strongly reduced in Arctic Ocean simulations with a grid spacing of 4.5 km by using modified and adaptive EVP versions because fewer subcycles are required to simulate sea ice fields with the same characteristics as with the standard EVP.
Utilizing the Impact of Earth and Atmospheric Tides on Groundwater Systems: A Review Reveals the Future Potential
Authors: McMillan Timothy C. , Rau Gabriel C. , Timms Wendy A. , Andersen Martin S.
Published: April 2019

Groundwater extraction is increasing rapidly in many areas of the world, causing serious impacts such as falling water tables, ground surface subsidence, water quality degradation, and reduction of stream baseflow on which many ecosystems depend. Methods for understanding and predicting the impacts of groundwater extraction generally lack detailed spatial and temporal knowledge of the subsurface hydrogeomechanical properties. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of Earth and atmospheric tides and their impact on subsurface pore pressure. First, we evaluate the global occurrence of Earth and atmospheric tides. Then, we illustrate their impact on the groundwater response and connect this with the theory of poroelasticity, which underpins quantitative analyses. Finally, we review methods that utilize these impacts to characterize groundwater systems and to quantify their hydrogeomechanical properties. We conclude by highlighting their potential as passive and low‐cost investigation techniques and by outlining the research and developments required to progress and make analyses readily available. Thus, hydrogeomechanical properties of subsurface systems could be obtained at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution, adding additional value to commonly acquired groundwater and atmospheric pressure data.
The 2016 M7 Kumamoto, Japan, Earthquake Slip Field Derived From a Joint Inversion of Differential Lidar Topography, Optical Correlation, and InSAR Surface Displacements
Authors: Scott Chelsea , Champenois Johann , Klinger Yann , Nissen Edwin , Maruyama Tadashi , Chiba Tatsuro , Arrowsmith Ramon
Published: April 2019

Observations of surface deformation within 1–2 km of a surface rupture contain invaluable information about the coseismic behavior of the shallow crust. We investigate the oblique strike‐slip 2016 M7 Kumamoto, Japan, earthquake, which ruptured the Futagawa‐Hinagu Fault. We solve for variable fault slip in an inversion of differential lidar topography, satellite optical image correlation, and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR)‐derived surface displacements. The near‐fault differential lidar pose several challenges. The model fault geometry must follow the surface trace at the sub‐kilometer scale. Integration of displacement datasets with different sensitivities to the 3D deformation field and varying spatial distribution permits additional complexity in the inferred slip but introduces ambiguity that requires careful selection of the regularization. We infer a Mw
earthquake. The maximum slip of 6.9 m occurred at 4.5‐km depth, suggesting an on‐fault slip deficit in the upper several kilometers of the crust that likely reflects distributed and inelastic deformation within the shallow fault zone.
Emerging ultra-narrow-band cyan-emitting phosphor for white LEDs with enhanced color rendition
Authors: Zhao Ming , Liao Hongxu , Molokeev Maxim S. , Zhou Yayun , Zhang Qinyuan , Liu Quanlin , Xia Zhiguo
Published: April 2019

Phosphor-converted white LEDs rely on combining a blue-emitting InGaN chip with yellow and red-emitting luminescent materials. The discovery of cyan-emitting (470–500 nm) phosphors is a challenge to compensate for the spectral gap and produce full-spectrum white light. Na0.5K0.5Li3SiO4:Eu2+ (NKLSO:Eu2+) phosphor was developed with impressive properties, providing cyan emission at 486 nm with a narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM) of only 20.7 nm, and good thermal stability with an integrated emission loss of only 7% at 150 °C. The ultra-narrow-band cyan emission results from the high-symmetry cation sites, leading to almost ideal cubic coordination for UCr4C4-type compounds. NKLSO:Eu2+ phosphor allows the valley between the blue and yellow emission peaks in the white LED device to be filled, and the color-rendering index can be enhanced from 86 to 95.2, suggesting great applications in full-spectrum white LEDs.
Lung cancer deficient in the tumor suppressor GATA4 is sensitive to TGFBR1 inhibition
Authors: Gao Lei , Hu Yong , Tian Yahui , Fan Zhenzhen , Wang Kun , Li Hongdan , Zhou Qian , Zeng Guandi , Hu Xin , Yu Lei , Zhou Shiyu , Tong Xinyuan , Huang Hsinyi , Chen Haiquan , Liu Qingsong , Liu Wanting , Zhang Gong , Zeng Musheng , Zhou Guangbiao , He Qingyu , Ji Hongbin , Chen Liang
Published: April 2019

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Tumor suppressor genes remain to be systemically identified for lung cancer. Through the genome-wide screening of tumor-suppressive transcription factors, we demonstrate here that GATA4 functions as an essential tumor suppressor in lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. Ectopic GATA4 expression results in lung cancer cell senescence. Mechanistically, GATA4 upregulates multiple miRNAs targeting TGFB2 mRNA and causes ensuing WNT7B downregulation and eventually triggers cell senescence. Decreased GATA4 level in clinical specimens negatively correlates with WNT7B or TGF-β2 level and is significantly associated with poor prognosis. TGFBR1 inhibitors show synergy with existing therapeutics in treating GATA4-deficient lung cancers in genetically engineered mouse model as well as patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models. Collectively, our work demonstrates that GATA4 functions as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer and targeting the TGF-β signaling provides a potential way for the treatment of GATA4-deficient lung cancer.
Ultra-fast photodetectors based on high-mobility indium gallium antimonide nanowires
Authors: Li Dapan , Lan Changyong , Manikandan Arumugam , Yip SenPo , Zhou Ziyao , Liang Xiaoguang , Shu Lei , Chueh Yu-Lun , Han Ning , Ho Johnny C.
Published: April 2019

Because of tunable bandgap and high carrier mobility, ternary III-V nanowires (NWs) have demonstrated enormous potential for advanced applications. However, the synthesis of large-scale and highly-crystalline InxGa1−xSb NWs is still a challenge. Here, we achieve high-density and crystalline stoichiometric InxGa1−xSb (0.09 < x < 0.28) NWs on amorphous substrates with the uniform phase-purity and <110 >-orientation via chemical vapor deposition. The as-prepared NWs show excellent electrical and optoelectronic characteristics, including the high hole mobility (i.e. 463 cm2 V−1 s−1 for In0.09Ga0.91Sb NWs) as well as broadband and ultrafast photoresponse over the visible and infrared optical communication region (1550 nm). Specifically, the In0.28Ga0.72Sb NW device yields efficient rise and decay times down to 38 and 53 μs, respectively, along with the responsivity of 6000 A W−1 and external quantum efficiency of 4.8 × 106 % towards 1550 nm regime. High-performance NW parallel-arrayed devices can also be fabricated to illustrate their large-scale device integrability for next-generation, ultrafast, high-responsivity and broadband photodetectors.
Dimensional crossover in a layered ferromagnet detected by spin correlation driven distortions
Authors: Ron A. , Zoghlin E. , Balents L. , Wilson S. D. , Hsieh D.
Published: April 2019

Magneto-elastic distortions are commonly detected across magnetic long-range ordering (LRO) transitions. In principle, they are also induced by the magnetic short-range ordering (SRO) that precedes a LRO transition, which contains information about short-range correlations and energetics that are essential for understanding how LRO is established. However these distortions are difficult to resolve because the associated atomic displacements are exceedingly small and do not break symmetry. Here we demonstrate high-multipole nonlinear optical polarimetry as a sensitive and mode selective probe of SRO induced distortions using CrSiTe3 as a testbed. This compound is composed of weakly bonded sheets of nearly isotropic ferromagnetically interacting spins that, in the Heisenberg limit, would individually be impeded from LRO by the Mermin-Wagner theorem. Our results show that CrSiTe3 evades this law via a two-step crossover from two- to three-dimensional magnetic SRO, manifested through two successive and previously undetected totally symmetric distortions above its Curie temperature.
Versatile electrification of two-dimensional nanomaterials in water
Authors: Grosjean Benoît , Bocquet Marie-Laure , Vuilleumier Rodolphe
Published: April 2019

The recent emergence of nanofluidics has highlighted the exceptional properties of graphene and its boron-nitride counterpart as confining nanomaterials for water and ion transport. Surprisingly, ionic transport experiments have unveiled a consequent electrification of the water/carbon surfaces, with a contrasting response for its water/boron-nitride homologue. In this paper, we report free energy calculations based on ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of hydroxide OH− ions in water near graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) layers. Our results disclose that both surfaces get charged through hydroxide adsorption, but two strongly different mechanisms are evidenced. The hydroxide species shows weak physisorption on the graphene surface while it exhibits also strong chemisorption on the h-BN surface. Interestingly OH− is shown to keep very fast lateral dynamics and interfacial mobility within the physisorbed layer on graphene. Taking into account the large ionic surface conductivity, an analytic transport model allows to reproduce quantitatively the experimental data.
Building dementia knowledge globally through the Understanding Dementia Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)
Authors: Eccleston Claire , Doherty Kathleen , Bindoff Aidan , Robinson Andrew , Vickers James , McInerney Fran
Published: April 2019

The prevalence of dementia is escalating world-wide and knowledge deficits remain a barrier to community inclusiveness and quality care. The need for quality, comprehensive education has been identified as a key priority for global action plans on dementia. The Understanding Dementia Massive Open Online Course (UDMOOC) offers the potential to improve dementia knowledge globally. Completion rates for the UDMOOC (2016–2017) were on average 42% of enrolments, and 69% of participants care or have cared for people with dementia. The current study shows baseline dementia knowledge was positively related to previous learning about dementia from various types of exposure to the condition including having family members and/or working with people with the condition, and having undertaken dementia education. However, knowledge of all participant groups showed substantial improvements after completion of the UDMOOC. This was shown regardless of educational background and previous experience of dementia, and group differences after completing the UDMOOC were minimised. The UDMOOC is therefore an effective knowledge translation strategy to improve dementia knowledge for a diverse, international learner group.
An Equation Based on Fuzzy Mathematics to Assess the Timing of Haemodialysis Initiation
Authors: Liu Ying , Wang Degang , Chen Xiangmei , Sun Xuefeng , Song Wenyan , Jiang Hongli , Shi Wei , Liu Wenhu , Fu Ping , Ding Xiaoqiang , Chang Ming , Yu Xueqing , Cao Ning , Chen Menghua , Ni Zhaohui , Cheng Jing , Sun Shiren , Wang Huimin , Wang Yunyan , Gao Bihu , Wang Jianqin , Hao Lirong , Li Suhua , He Qiang , Liu Hongmei , Shao Fengmin , Li Wei , Wang Yang , Szczech Lynda , Lv Qiuxia , Han Xianfeng , Wang Luping , Fang Ming , Odeh Zach , Sun Ximing , Lin Hongli
Published: April 2019

In order to develop an equation that integrates multiple clinical factors including signs and symptoms associated with uraemia to assess the initiation of dialysis, we conducted a retrospective cohort study including 25 haemodialysis centres in Mainland China. Patients with ESRD (n = 1281) who commenced haemodialysis from 2008 to 2011 were enrolled in the development cohort, whereas 504 patients who began haemodialysis between 2012 and 2013 were enrolled in the validation cohort comprised. An artificial neural network model was used to select variables, and a fuzzy neural network model was then constructed using factors affecting haemodialysis initiation as input variables and 3-year survival as the output variable. A logistic model was set up using the same variables. The equation’s performance was compared with that of the logistic model and conventional eGFR-based assessment. The area under the bootstrap-corrected receiver-operating characteristic curve of the equation was 0.70, and that of two conventional eGFR-based assessments were 0.57 and 0.54. In conclusion, the new equation based on Fuzzy mathematics, covering laboratory and clinical variables, is more suitable for assessing the timing of dialysis initiation in a Chinese ESRD population than eGFR, and may be a helpful tool to quantitatively evaluate the initiation of haemodialysis.
Author Correction: Systematic in vivo evaluation of the time-dependent inflammatory response to steel and Teflon insulin infusion catheters
Authors: Hauzenberger Jasmin R. , Münzker Julia , Kotzbeck Petra , Asslaber Martin , Bubalo Vladimir , Joseph Jeffrey I. , Pieber Thomas R.
Published: April 2019

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Female novelty and male status dynamically modulate ejaculate expenditure and seminal fluid proteome over successive matings in red junglefowl
Authors: Alvarez-Fernandez Aitor , Borziak Kirill , McDonald Grant C. , Dorus Steve , Pizzari Tommaso
Published: April 2019

Theory predicts that males will strategically invest in ejaculates according to the value of mating opportunities. While strategic sperm allocation has been studied extensively, little is known about concomitant changes in seminal fluid (SF) and its molecular composition, despite increasing evidence that SF proteins (SFPs) are fundamental in fertility and sperm competition. Here, we show that in male red junglefowl, Gallus gallus, along with changes in sperm numbers and SF investment, SF composition changed dynamically over successive matings with a first female, immediately followed by mating with a second, sexually novel female. The SF proteome exhibited a pattern of both protein depletion and enrichment over successive matings, including progressive increases in immunity and plasma proteins. Ejaculates allocated to the second female had distinct proteomic profiles, where depletion of many SFPs was compensated by increased investment in others. This response was partly modulated by male social status: when mating with the second, novel female, subdominants (but not dominants) preferentially invested in SFPs associated with sperm composition, which may reflect status-specific differences in mating rates, sperm maturation and sperm competition. Global proteomic SF analysis thus reveals that successive matings trigger rapid, dynamic SFP changes driven by a combination of depletion and strategic allocation.
Publisher Correction: Coupling Multi Angle Light Scattering to Ion Exchange chromatography (IEX-MALS) for protein characterization
Authors: Amartely Hadar , Avraham Orly , Friedler Assaf , Livnah Oded , Lebendiker Mario
Published: April 2019

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper
Author Correction: Tibio-Femoral Contact Force Distribution is Not the Only Factor Governing Pivot Location after Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Trepczynski A. , Kutzner I. , Schütz P. , Dymke J. , List R. , von Roth P. , Moewis P. , Bergmann G. , Taylor W. R. , Duda G. N.
Published: April 2019

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Neural anti-inflammatory action mediated by two types of acetylcholine receptors in the small intestine
Authors: Kimura Hitomi , Imura Yu-ki , Tomiyasu Hirotaka , Mihara Taiki , Kaji Noriyuki , Ohno Koichi , Unno Toshihiro , Tanahashi Yasuyuki , Jan Tong-Rong , Tsubone Hirokazu , Ozaki Hiroshi , Hori Masatoshi
Published: April 2019

Gastrointestinal prokinetic agents function as serotonin-4 receptor (5-HT4R) agonists to activate myenteric plexus neurons to release acetylcholine (ACh), which then induce anti-inflammatory action. Details of this pathway, however, remain unknown. The aim of this study is to clarify the anti-inflammatory mechanism underlying the 5-HT4R agonist, mosapride citrate (MOS)-induced anti-inflammatory action on postoperative ileus (POI). POI models were generated from wild-type C57BL6/J (WT), 5-HT4R knock-out (S4R KO), α7 nicotinic AChR KO (α7 R KO), and M2 muscarinic ACh receptor KO (M2R KO) mice. MOS attenuated leukocyte infiltration in WT. MOS-induced anti-inflammatory action was completely abolished in both S4R KO and S4R KO mice upon wild-type bone marrow transplantation. MOS-induced anti-inflammatory action against macrophage infiltration, but not neutrophil infiltration, was attenuated in α7 R KO mice. Selective α7nAChR agonists (PNU-282987 and AR-R17779) also inhibited only macrophage infiltration in POI. MOS-mediated inhibition of neutrophil infiltration was diminished by atropine, M2AChR antagonist, methoctramine, and in M2R KO mice. Stimulation with 5-HT4R inhibits leukocyte infiltration in POI, possibly through myenteric plexus activation. Released ACh inhibited macrophage and neutrophil infiltration likely by activation of α7nAChR on macrophages and M2AChR. Thus, macrophage and neutrophil recruitment into inflamed sites is regulated by different types of AChR in the small intestine.
ab initio Energetics and Thermoelectric Profiles of Gallium Pnictide Polytypes
Authors: Gajaria Trupti K. , Dabhi Shweta D. , Jha Prafulla K.
Published: April 2019

The state-of-the-art Density Functional Theory (DFT) is utilized to investigate the structural, electronic, vibrational, thermal and thermoelectric properties of gallium pnictides GaX (X = P, As, Sb) in cubic zincblende (ZB) and hexagonal wurtzite (WZ) phases. The lattice parameters, bulk modulus, energy band nature and bandgap values, phonon, thermal and thermoelectric properties are revisited for ZB phase while for WZ phase they are predictive. Our results agree reasonably well with the experimental and theoretical data wherever they are available. The phonon dispersion curves are computed to validate the dynamic stability of these two polytypes and for further investigating the thermal and thermoelectric properties. Our computed thermoelectric figure of merit ZT gives consistent results with highest observed magnitude of 0.72 and 0.56 for GaSb compound in ZB and WZ phases respectively. The first time calculated temperature variation of lattice thermal conductivity for WZ phase shows lower value than ZB phase and hence an important factor to enhance the figure of merit of considered gallium pnictides in WZ phase. Present results validate the importance of GaX in high temperature thermoelectric applications as the figure of merit ZT shows enhancement with significant reduction in thermal conductivity at higher temperature values.
Lipid normalization and stable isotope discrimination in Pacific walrus tissues
Authors: Clark Casey T. , Horstmann Lara , Misarti Nicole
Published: April 2019

Analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) of animal tissues can provide important information about diet, physiology, and movements. Interpretation of δ13C and δ15N values, however, is influenced by factors such as sample lipid content, tissue-specific isotope discrimination, and tissue turnover rates, which are typically species- and tissue-specific. In this study, we generated lipid normalization models for δ13C and investigated the effects of chemical lipid extractions on δ13C and δ15N in Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) muscle, liver, and skin. We also evaluated tissue-specific isotope discrimination in walrus muscle, liver, skin, and bone collagen. Mean δ13Clipid-free of skin and bone collagen were similar, as were mean δ15N of muscle and liver. All other tissues differed significantly for both isotopes. Differences in δ13Clipid-free and δ15N among tissues agreed with published estimates of marine mammal tissue-specific isotope discrimination factors, with the exception of skin. The results of this work will allow researchers to gain a clearer understanding of walrus diet and the structure of Arctic food webs, while also making it possible to directly compare the results of contemporary walrus isotope research with those of historic and paleoecological studies.
Distinct Phenotypes Induced by Three Degrees of Transverse Aortic Constriction in Mice
Authors: Richards Daniel A. , Aronovitz Mark J. , Calamaras Timothy D. , Tam Kelly , Martin Gregory L. , Liu Peiwen , Bowditch Heather K. , Zhang Phyllis , Huggins Gordon S. , Blanton Robert M.
Published: April 2019

Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) is a well-established model of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and failure in mice. The degree of constriction “tightness” dictates the TAC severity and is determined by the gauge (G) of needle used. Though many reports use the TAC model, few studies have directly compared the range of resulting phenotypes. In this study adult male mice were randomized to receive TAC surgery with varying degrees of tightness: mild (25G), moderate (26G) or severe (27G) for 4 weeks, alongside sham-operated controls. Weekly echocardiography and terminal haemodynamic measurements determined cardiac remodelling and function. All TAC models induced significant, severity-dependent left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction compared to sham mice. Mice subjected to 26G TAC additionally exhibited mild systolic dysfunction and cardiac fibrosis, whereas mice in the 27G TAC group had more severe systolic and diastolic dysfunction, severe cardiac fibrosis, and were more likely to display features of heart failure, such as elevated plasma BNP. We also observed renal atrophy in 27G TAC mice, in the absence of renal structural, functional or gene expression changes. 25G, 26G and 27G TAC produced different responses in terms of cardiac structure and function. These distinct phenotypes may be useful in different preclinical settings.
The nitrogen nutrition potential of arable soils
Authors: Nendel Claas , Melzer Dennis , Thorburn Peter J.
Published: April 2019

Soils are an important source of nitrogen in many of the world’s cropping systems. Especially in low-input production systems, nitrogen release from soil organic matter turn-over is the major part of the crop’s nitrogen supply and research suggests that this process is significantly affected by changes in climate. The knowledge of the amount of nitrogen being accountable for crop nutrition is purely empirical in many production areas in the world and data as a foundation of global-scale climate change and food security assessments is scarce. Here we demonstrate that nitrogen mineralisation in general follows similar rules as for carbon, but with different implications for agricultural systems. We analysed 340 data sets from previously published incubation experiments for potential nitrogen mineralisation which covered a large range of soils and climate conditions. We find that under warm and all-year humid conditions the share of potentially mineralisable nitrogen in the soil’s total nitrogen is significantly smaller than in dry or temperate environments. We conclude that – despite relatively high soil nitrogen stocks – soil-borne nitrogen supply for crop production is very low in tropical and humid subtropical environments, which is a critical piece of information for global assessments of agricultural production and food security.
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) approach for detection of heat-resistant Talaromyces flavus species
Authors: Panek Jacek , Frąc Magdalena
Published: April 2019

Talaromyces flavus is a soilborne fungus that can contaminate fruits. It constitutes serious influence on heat-processed food spoilage, as T. flavus belongs to the heat-resistant fungi group, which are able to survive the pasteurization process. Moreover T. flavus has been reported to be capable of mycotoxigenicity, therefore they have a serious threat to human health. To maintain the safety of food production, sensitive method for T. flavus detection was developed. The loop mediated amplification, abbreviated LAMP, reactions were designed as specific for detection of DNA replication licensing factor gene of T. flavus. The specificity of assay was confirmed by use of 5 T. flavus strains and 35 other fungal isolates. The achieved limit of detection was 1fg of T. flavus genomic DNA and 64 ascospores in 1 g of strawberry fruits or soil samples.
Pattern Learning Electronic Density of States
Authors: Yeo Byung Chul , Kim Donghun , Kim Chansoo , Han Sang Soo
Published: April 2019

Electronic density of states (DOS) is a key factor in condensed matter physics and material science that determines the properties of metals. First-principles density-functional theory (DFT) calculations have typically been used to obtain the DOS despite the considerable computation cost. Herein, we report a fast machine learning method for predicting the DOS patterns of not only bulk structures but also surface structures in multi-component alloy systems by a principal component analysis. Within this framework, we use only four features to define the composition, atomic structure, and surfaces of alloys, which are the d-orbital occupation ratio, coordination number, mixing factor, and the inverse of miller indices. While the DFT method scales as O(N3) in which N is the number of electrons in the system size, our pattern learning method can be independent on the number of electrons. Furthermore, our method provides a pattern similarity of 91 ~ 98% compared to DFT calculations. This reveals that our learning method will be an alternative that can break the trade-off relationship between accuracy and speed that is well known in the field of electronic structure calculations.
Pathway centrality in protein interaction networks identifies putative functional mediating pathways in pulmonary disease
Authors: Park Jisoo , Hescott Benjamin J. , Slonim Donna K.
Published: April 2019

Identification of functional pathways mediating molecular responses may lead to better understanding of disease processes and suggest new therapeutic approaches. We introduce a method to detect such mediating functions using topological properties of protein-protein interaction networks. We define the concept of pathway centrality, a measure of communication between disease genes and differentially expressed genes. Using pathway centrality, we identify mediating pathways in three pulmonary diseases (asthma; bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)). We systematically evaluate the significance of all identified central pathways using genetic interactions. Mediating pathways shared by all three pulmonary disorders favor innate immune and inflammation-related processes, including toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, PDGF- and angiotensin-regulated airway remodeling, the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, and interferon gamma. Disease-specific mediators, such as neurodevelopmental processes in BPD or adhesion molecules in COPD, are also highlighted. Some of our findings implicate pathways already in development as drug targets, while others may suggest new therapeutic approaches.
Tropical forest conversion to rubber plantation affects soil micro- & mesofaunal community & diversity
Authors: Singh Dharmesh , Slik J. W. Ferry , Jeon Yoon-Seong , Tomlinson Kyle W. , Yang Xiaodong , Wang Jin , Kerfahi Dorsaf , Porazinska Dorota L. , Adams Jonathan M.
Published: April 2019

Tropical rainforests play important roles in carbon sequestration and are hot spots for biodiversity. Tropical forests are being replaced by rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations, causing widespread concern of a crash in biodiversity. Such changes in aboveground vegetation might have stronger impacts on belowground biodiversity. We studied tropical rainforest fragments and derived rubber plantations at a network of sites in Xishuangbanna, China, hypothesizing a major decrease in diversity with conversion to plantations. We used metabarcoding of the 18S rRNA gene and recovered 2313 OTUs, with a total of 449 OTUs shared between the two land-use types. The most abundant phyla detected were Annelida (66.4% reads) followed by arthropods (15.5% reads) and nematodes (8.9% reads). Of these, only annelids were significantly more abundant in rubber plantation. Taken together, α- and β-diversity were significantly higher in forest than rubber plantation. Soil pH and spatial distance explained a significant portion of the variability in phylogenetic community structure for both land-use types. Community assembly was primarily influenced by stochastic processes. Overall it appears that forest replacement by rubber plantation results in an overall loss and extensive replacement of soil micro- and mesofaunal biodiversity, which should be regarded as an additional aspect of the impact of forest conversion.
Temporal changes in obesity and sleep habits in Hong Kong Chinese school children: a prospective study
Authors: Lim Lee-Ling , Tse Gary , Choi Kai Chow , Zhang Jihui , Luk Andrea O. Y. , Chow Elaine , Ma Ronald C. W. , Chan Michael H. M. , Wing Yun Kwok , Kong Alice P. S. , Chan Juliana C. N.
Published: April 2019

We examined the temporal changes in obesity and sleep habits and their relationship in a prospective cohort of healthy Chinese adolescents. We collected data on anthropometric and questionnaire-measured sleep parameters in 2007–2008. 516 participants returned for examinations in 2013–2015. General obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥age- and sex-specific 95th percentile or ≥25 kg/m2 for participants aged <18 or ≥18 years, respectively. Central obesity was defined as waist circumference (WC) ≥ age- and sex-specific 90th percentile or using adult cut-offs. After a mean follow-up of 6.2 ± 0.5 years, the mean BMI increased from 18.5 ± 3.1 to 20.9 ± 3.4 kg/m2. The corresponding WC were 63.7 ± 8.9 and 69.8 ± 9.7 cm. General obesity rate increased from 8.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.1–11.1) to 11.3% (8.7–14.4; p = 0.034). Central obesity rate decreased from 16.9% (13.7–20.4) to 13.5% (10.6–16.8; p = 0.034). During follow-up, more participants reported short sleep (<7 hours/day during weekday: 20.5% [17.1–24.2] vs. 15.3% [12.3–18.8]; p = 0.033) and bedtime after midnight (60.5% [56.2–64.8] vs. 16.2% [13.1–19.7]; p < 0.001) than baseline. The relative risk of overweight/obesity in participants with short sleep and late bedtime was 1.30 (0.48–3.47) and 1.46 (0.70–3.05), respectively. Despite rising rates of unhealthy sleep habits and general obesity, their associations were not significant at 6-year of follow-up.
Reconstructing recent population history while mapping rare variants using haplotypes
Authors: Yunusbaev Ural , Valeev Albert , Yunusbaeva Milyausha , Kwon Hyung Wook , Mägi Reedik , Metspalu Mait , Yunusbayev Bayazit
Published: April 2019

Haplotype-based methods are a cost-effective alternative to characterize unobserved rare variants and map disease-associated alleles. Moreover, they can be used to reconstruct recent population history, which shaped distribution of rare variants and thus can be used to guide gene mapping studies. In this study, we analysed Illumina 650 k genotyped dataset on three underrepresented populations from Eastern Europe, where ancestors of Russians came into contact with two indigenous ethnic groups, Bashkirs and Tatars. Using the IBD mapping approach, we identified two rare IBD haplotypes strongly enriched in asthma patients of distinct ethnic background. We reconstructed recent population history using haplotype-based methods to reconcile this contradictory finding. Our ChromoPainter analysis showed that these haplotypes each descend from a single ancestor coming from one of the ethnic groups studied. Next, we used DoRIS approach and showed that source populations for patients exchanged recent (<60 generations) asymmetric gene flow, which supported the ChromoPainter-based scenario that patients share haplotypes through inter-ethnic admixture. Finally, we show that these IBD haplotypes overlap with asthma-associated genomic regions ascertained in European population. This finding is consistent with the fact that the two donor populations for the rare IBD haplotypes: Russians and Tatars have European ancestry.
Effects of a brief workplace-centered consultation for employees with musculoskeletal pain on health outcomes: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Leiss Harald , Hucke Miriam , Bécède Manuel , Machold-Fabrizii Veronika , Smolen Josef S. , Machold Klaus P.
Published: April 2019

Musculoskeletal (MSK) diseases affect a substantial proportion of the population. Specialist consultations were offered at the workplace for people with musculoskeletal (MSK)-complaints. We analyzed data on pain and well-being as well as health economic data at baseline. Lasting effects of the consultation were analyzed at a follow-up-interview after 12 months. Baseline data of 344 individuals were available. Occupations were divided into physically highly demanding (HD) or less demanding. Women reported significantly higher pain levels and less QoL than men. Sick leave days were significantly more in HD-workers. Independent of workload, significantly higher percentages of women had cervical- and upper limb-pain than men, with significantly higher pain in upper limbs in HD-workers. 235 participants were available for telephone-follow-up. QoL and MSK-pain improved significantly. Yearly out-of-pocket spendings for treatments significantly increased. NSAID use significantly decreased, whereas use of non-drug musculoskeletal-medical-services was significantly higher after one year. Regarding MSK-symptoms in gainfully employed individuals, the study showed significantly different workload-dependent differences in QoL. Significant effects of a consultation by a MSK-specialist were shown in terms of improved MSK-pain and overall well-being. This workplace-centered consultation had significant effects on beneficial health-behavior such as decreased use of NSAID and increased engagement in gymnastics and physiotherapy.