bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Deltas in the Anthropocene
Authors: Nicholls Robert J. , Adger W. Neil , Hutton Craig W. , Hanson Susan E. , Lázár Attila N. , Vincent Katharine , Allan Andrew , Tompkins Emma L. , Arto Iñaki , Rahman Md. Munsur , Hazra Sugata , Codjoe Samuel Nii Ardey
Published: August 2019

What are the possible trajectories of delta development over the coming decades? Trajectories will be determined by the interactions of biophysical trends such as changing sediment supplies, subsidence due to compaction of sediment and climate change, along with key socio-economic trends of migration and urbanisation, agricultural intensification, demographic transition, economic growth and structural change of the economy. Knowledge and understanding of plausible trajectories can inform management choices for deltas in the Anthropocene, including new policy perspectives and innovative adaptation. The emergence of visionary delta management plans in some large deltas, such as the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, is an important and necessary component. This chapter synthesises the state of knowledge and highlights key elements of science that will inform decisions on future management of deltas.
Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta, Bangladesh and India: A Transnational Mega-Delta
Authors: Rahman Md. Munsur , Ghosh Tuhin , Salehin Mashfiqus , Ghosh Amit , Haque Anisul , Hossain Mohammed Abed , Das Shouvik , Hazra Somnath , Islam Nabiul , Sarker Maminul Haque , Nicholls Robert J. , Hutton Craig W.
Published: August 2019

The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) Delta and its catchment area are shared between five countries which means that the delta is strongly influenced by neighbouring country’s water and sediment management decisions in addition to climatic, environmental and internal management. Delta administration is also shared between Bangladesh and India, including the unique Sundarbans mangrove forest. An overview of delta-building and socio-ecological processes from Holocene to Anthropocene are outlined providing a background for current issues. These include discussion on emerging opportunities and challenges, growth of settlements/land use, vulnerability mapping and options for adaptation including migration. Preliminary social vulnerability maps for the Joint GBM Delta are presented. These could facilitate the engagement of policymakers of all countries to create opportunities for co-learning to resolve delta level issues.
The Mahanadi Delta: A Rapidly Developing Delta in India
Authors: Hazra Sugata , Das Shouvik , Ghosh Amit , Raju Pokkuluri Venkat , Patel Amrita
Published: August 2019

The Mahanadi Delta in the Anthropocene is characterised by a reduction in sediment supply and coastal retreat, both related to human interventions. Land loss is accompanied by population growth, extreme pollution, growth of urban centres and aquaculture, at the expense of pristine mangrove forest and agricultural land. Along with increasing incidences of climatic hazards, these changes have led to low levels of socio-economic development and high out-migration from coastal districts. A rise in female-headed households also emerges as a characteristic feature of the Anthropocene. The delta has a record of planned relocation of coastal communities as well as government-aided skill development programme supporting migration. Planned and autonomous adaptation activities have varying degrees of success, but are currently inadequate to meet people’s requirements.
Where People Live and Move in Deltas
Authors: Safra de Campos Ricardo , Codjoe Samuel Nii Ardey , Adger W. Neil , Mortreux Colette , Hazra Sugata , Siddiqui Tasneem , Das Shouvik , Atiglo D. Yaw , Bhuiyan Mohammad Rashed Alam , Rocky Mahmudol Hasan , Abu Mumuni
Published: August 2019

Deltas exemplify trends of great acceleration in the Anthropocene, including the shape of demographic and mobility transitions. The human core of the Anthropocene involves three principal phenomena: Increased human health evident at the population scale; movement of people to urban settlements; and growth in aggregate populations. Based on this research, it is argued that continued evolution is central for successful pathways towards a sustainable Anthropocene. Human settlement, movement and migration as a response to accelerating economic and environmental challenges are considered. There is evidence that environmental change is an important driver of where people live and move within deltas. Consequently, governments have much agency in the allocation of resources towards responses to current and future challenges and will therefore have a strong influence on future sustainability.
Adapting to Change: People and Policies
Authors: Tompkins Emma L. , Vincent Katharine , Suckall Natalie , Rahman Rezaur , Ghosh Tuhin , Mensah Adelina , Anderson Kirk , Chapman Alexander , Prati Giorgia , Hutton Craig W. , Day Sophie , Price Victoria
Published: August 2019

This chapter examines the societal response to diverse environmental and social dynamics within deltas during the Anthropocene era and the challenges for future adaptation. It illustrates these dynamics through unique data on the diversity and success of the range of adaptive actions undertaken by contemporary populations as well as perceptions of environmental change. There is a lived reality and social distribution of vulnerability across dimensions such as gender, age and class: different groups have different capacities to adapt, incentives to adapt, and are included or excluded from strategies of adaptation. There are options and interventions for adaptation to environmental change that already being undertaken across deltas.
Analyzing Accessibility Barriers Using Cost-Benefit Analysis to Design Reliable Navigation Services for Wheelchair Users
Authors: Tannert Benjamin , Kirkham Reuben , Schöning Johannes
Published: August 2019

This paper explores ‘A to B’ routing tools designed to chart accessible routes for wheelchair users. We develop and present a novel measurement framework based upon cost-benefit analysis in order to evaluate the real-world utility of routing systems for wheelchair users. Using this framework, we compare proposed routes generated by accessibility tools with the pedestrian routes generated by Google Maps by means of conducting expert assessments of the situation on the ground. Relative to tools aimed at pedestrians, we find that these tools are not significantly more likely to produce an accessible route, and more often than not, they present longer routes that arise from imaginary barriers that do not exist in the real world. This analysis indicates how future routing tools for wheelchair users should be designed to ensure that they genuinely ameliorate the effects of accessibility barriers in the built environment.
Gaugino mediation scenarios for muon g − 2 and dark matter
Authors: Cox Peter , Han Chengcheng , Yanagida Tsutomu T. , Yokozaki Norimi
Published: August 2019

Abstract

We explore the possibility that the muon g − 2 anomaly and the nature of dark matter can be simultaneously explained within the framework of gaugino mediation, focusing on bino-like dark matter where the observed abundance is obtained via co-annihilations. The minimal model with non-universal gaugino masses is excluded by stau vacuum instability, although this constraint can be somewhat relaxed via the addition of a universal soft scalar mass (or B − L gaugino mediation). A more promising alternative is gaugino+Higgs mediation, which significantly raises the soft masses of the third generation sfermions leading to a split spectrum. In this framework, the muon g − 2 can be easily explained and the dark matter abundance obtained through either bino-wino or bino-slepton co-annihilations.
Prospective associations between trauma, placement disruption, and ethnic‐racial identity among newly emancipated foster youth
Authors: Tyrell Fanita A. , Marcelo Ana K. , Trang Duyen T. , Yates Tuppett M.
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Ethnic‐racial identity (ERI) is an important developmental process for ethnic‐racial minority youth. However, little is known about how adverse life experiences may be related to ERI development. Thus, the current study evaluated prospective associations of emancipated foster youth's histories of childhood maltreatment and foster placement disruption with ERI centrality and ERI private regard, as well as the adaptive implications of ERI.

Method

Participants were 144 emancipated foster youth (69.4% female) from ethnic‐racial minority backgrounds (27.8% Black, 32.6% Latinx, 39.6% multiracial) who participated in a longitudinal study of youth's adaptation to aging out of the US child welfare system. Youth reported on their childhood maltreatment severity and child welfare placement history at wave 1 (Mage_w1 = 19.62, SD = 1.11), and on their ERI centrality, ERI private regard, and socioemotional adjustment (i.e., social support, self‐esteem, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction) five years later (Mage_w2 = 24.15).

Results

Path analyses revealed that childhood maltreatment severity and placement disruption were associated with lower ERI private regard, but not ERI centrality. Moreover, private regard was associated with better socioemotional adjustment (i.e., higher levels of self‐esteem and social support), whereas centrality was related to poorer adjustment (i.e., lower levels of self‐esteem and life satisfaction, and higher rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms), and these relations varied by ethnicity‐race.

Conclusions

The current findings suggest that efforts to promote positive feelings toward one's ethnic‐racial group membership can support ethnic‐racial minority foster youth's capacity to negotiate developmental challenges in and beyond the child welfare system.
Is Sociability or Interactivity more Effective for Enhancing Performance? Findings from a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game
Authors: Wang Dianwen , Yang Zhilin , Ding Zhihua
Published: August 2019

The essential issue currently challenging marketing managers in the virtual world is: How can a virtual world feature be designed to elevate consumers’ purchase of virtual items and usage in the virtual world? Previous scholars have investigated the issue and have published their predictions on the individual level. Yet, they have done so without specifically addressing endogeneity or carryover effect among users and their activities. To alleviate this omission and potential methodological bias, we probe the impact of virtual world technological features on two performance criteria at the platform level. In addition, we differentiate two types of users (new vs returning users) and probe their distinct impact on purchase of virtual items and usage patterns in the virtual world. When using data from one virtual world and applying the vector auto regression model, results show that virtual world managers can elevate performance through promotion of both types of users’ activities. The effects of these activities, however, are varied. Specifically, for returning users, interactivity leads to a more significant impact on consumers’ purchase of virtual goods than sociability, while the opposite effect is applicable to usage in the virtual world. For new users, interactivity is more efficient for promotion of users’ purchase of virtual goods than sociability, while the results are the opposite for usage in the virtual world.
Epistemic Existentialism
Authors: Callahan Laura Frances
Published: August 2019

Subjectivist permissivism is aprima facieattractive view. That is, it's plausible to think that what's rational for people to believe on the basis of their evidence can vary if they have different frameworks or sets of epistemic standards. In this paper, I introduce an epistemic existentialist form of subjectivist permissivism, which I argue can better address “the arbitrariness objection” to subjectivist permissivism in general. According to the epistemic existentialist, it's not just that what's rational to believe on the basis of evidence can vary according to agents’ frameworks, understood as passive aspects of individuals’ psychologies. Rather, what's rational to believe on the basis of evidence is sensitive to agents’ choices and active commitments (as are frameworks themselves). Here I draw on Chang's work on commitment and voluntarist reasons. The epistemic existentialist maintains that what's rational for us to believe on the basis of evidence is, at least in part,up to us. It can vary not only across individuals but for a single individual, over time, as she makes differing epistemic commitments.
Adenovirus pseudo-outbreak associated with bronchoscopy
Authors: Hellinger Walter C. , Parth Heather C. , Smith Brenda T. , Bickley Lisa L. , Bednarik Michael A. , Reger Elma B. , Jane Hata D. , Burke Anne-Carol
Published: August 2019

Introduction and regular application of multiplex polymerase chain reaction analysis of bronchoalveolar specimens for community-acquired respiratory viruses in January 2017 led to the identification of adenovirus in multiple patients in a surgical intensive unit in July 2017, which was attributed to a pseudo-outbreak.
The Drug Kingpin Decapitation Strategy in Guatemala: Successes and Shortcomings
Authors: Brockett Charles D.
Published: August 2019

This study analyzes whether Guatemalan success with the kingpin decapitation strategy of bringing major drug traffickers to justice has accomplished its greater objectives of reducing cocaine trafficking and drug-related violence. The analysis finds little evidence of success for the first objective in Guatemala but notable success for the second. One of the few studies to examine the application of this strategy outside Mexico and Colombia, its findings are interpreted in light of their contrasting experiences. The article provides an overview of drug trafficking in Guatemala and concise studies of two of its most important organizations targeted by the kingpin strategy.
First occurrence of the Cambrian arthropodSidneyiaWalcott, 1911 outside of Laurentia
Authors: Sun Zhixin , Zeng Han , Zhao Fangchen
Published: August 2019

The arthropodSidneyiaWalcott, 1911 is a remarkable animal of the Burgess Shale biota (Cambrian Miaolingian, Wuliuan; British Columbia, Canada), which has not been confidently reported from other Cambrian Konservat-Lagerstätten. Here we report the discovery ofSidneyiacf.inexpectansfrom the Wuliuan Mantou Formation of North China, which substantially expands the known palaeogeographical distribution of this genus. Our discovery suggests thatSidneyiahad much greater dispersal ability than hitherto thought. It also confirms the presence of exceptionally preserved fossils in the Wuliuan Mantou Formation, one of the rare Burgess Shale-type deposits of North China.
Effects of different extracts of threeAnnonaspecies on egg-hatching processes ofHaemonchus contortus
Authors: Castañeda-Ramírez G.S. , Torres-Acosta J.F.J. , Mendoza-de-Gives P. , Tun-Garrido J. , Rosado-Aguilar J.A. , Chan-Pérez J.I. , Hernández-Bolio G.I. , Ventura-Cordero J. , Acosta-Viana K.Y. , Jímenez-Coello M.
Published: August 2019

This study assessed thein vitroanthelmintic (AH) activity of methanol and acetone:water leaf extracts fromAnnona squamosa,A. muricataandA. reticulataagainstHaemonchus contortuseggs. The egg hatch test was used to determine the effective concentrations required to inhibit 50% of eggs hatching (EC50). The role of polyphenols on AH activity was measured through bioassays with and without polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP). Methanolic extracts mainly caused the death of eggs at the morula stage (ovicidal activity). Meanwhile, acetone:water extracts caused egg-hatching failure of developed larvae (larvae failing eclosion (LFE) activity). The lowest EC50values againstH. contortuseggs were observed for the methanolic extracts fromA. reticulataandA. muricata(274.2 and 382.9 µg/ml, respectively). From the six extracts evaluated, the methanolic extracts ofA. muricata,A. reticulataandA. squamosashowed the highest ovicidal activity, resulting in 98.9%, 92.8% and 95.1% egg mortality, respectively. When the methanolic extract ofA. squamosawas incubated with PVPP, its AH activity increased. Similarly, when acetone:water extracts ofA. muriataandA. reticulatawere incubated with PVPP, their LFE activity increased. Alkaloids were only evident in methanolic extracts, irrespective of PVPP incubation. The presence of acetogenins was not observed. In conclusion, methanolic extracts obtained from leaves ofA. muricata,A. reticulataandA. squamosashowed ovicidal activity affecting the morula ofH. contortuseggs, with minor LFE activity. Meanwhile, acetone:water extracts showed mostly LFE activity, with a lower proportion of ovicidal activity.
Clustered or dispersed: testing the effect of sampling strategy to census burrow-nesting petrels with varied distributions at sub-Antarctic Marion Island
Authors: Dilley Ben J. , Hedding David W. , Henry Dominic A.W. , Rexer-Huber Kalinka , Parker Graham C. , Schoombie Stefan , Osborne Alexis , Ryan Peter G.
Published: August 2019

We compared systematic and random survey techniques to estimate breeding population sizes of burrow-nesting petrel species on Marion Island. White-chinned (Procellaria aequinoctialis) and blue (Halobaena caerulea) petrel population sizes were estimated in systematic surveys (which attempt to count every colony) in 2009 and 2012, respectively. In 2015, we counted burrows of white-chinned, blue and great-winged (Pterodroma macroptera) petrels within 52 randomized strip transects (25 m wide, total 144 km). Burrow densities were extrapolated by Geographic Information System-derived habitat attributes (geology, vegetation, slope, elevation, aspect) to generate island-wide burrow estimates. Great-winged petrel burrows were found singly or in small groups at low densities (2 burrows ha−1); white-chinned petrel burrows were in loose clusters at moderate densities (3 burrows ha−1); and blue petrel burrows were in tight clusters at high densities (13 burrows ha−1). The random survey estimated 58% more white-chinned petrels but 42% fewer blue petrels than the systematic surveys. The results suggest that random transects are best suited for species that are widely distributed at low densities, but become increasingly poor for estimating population sizes of species with clustered distributions. Repeated fixed transects provide a robust way to monitor changes in colony density and area, but might fail to detect the formation/disappearance of new colonies.
Maternal depression symptoms, child behavior problems, and their transactional relations: Probing the role of formal childcare
Authors: Paquin Chantal , Castellanos-Ryan Natalie , Vitaro Frank , Côté Sylvana M. , Tremblay Richard E. , Séguin Jean R. , Boivin Michel , Herba Catherine M.
Published: August 2019

Among children exposed to elevated maternal depression symptoms (MDS), recent studies have demonstrated reduced internalizing and externalizing problems for those who have attended formal childcare (i.e., center-based, family-based childcare). However, these studies did not consider whether childcare attendance is associated with benefits for the child only or also with reduced MDS. Using a four-wave longitudinal cross-lagged model, we evaluated whether formal childcare attendance was associated with MDS or child behavior problems and whether it moderated longitudinal associations between MDS and child behavior problems and between child behavior problems and MDS. The sample was drawn from a population-based cohort study and consisted of 908 biologically related mother–child dyads, followed from 5 months to 5 years. Attending formal childcare was not associated with MDS or child behavior problems but moderated the association between MDS at 3.5 years and child internalizing and externalizing problems at 5 years as well as between girls’ externalizing problems at 3.5 years and MDS at 5 years. No other moderation of formal childcare was found. Findings suggest that attending formal childcare reduces the risks of behavior problems in the context of MDS but also the risk of MDS in the context of girls’ externalizing problems.
Bubbles and Dust: Experimental Results of Dissolution Rates of Metal Salts and Glasses From Volcanic Ash Deposits in Terms of Surface Area, Chemistry, and Human Health Impacts
Authors: Wygel C. M. , Peters S. C. , McDermott J. M. , Sahagian D. L.
Published: August 2019

Explosive volcanic eruptions lead to ash deposition and subsequent leaching of contaminants into soils or surface water, impacting flora and fauna, including human health. This study determined the control of ash surface area and chemical composition on ash dissolution rates. Fresh, unhydrated ash samples from four contrasting volcanoes were analyzed in the laboratory. Column leachate tests were used to compare leaching rates over a range of basaltic to andesitic ashes as a function of time and surface area, to analyze the effects of ash deposition. It was found that surface area, measured both geometrically and by multipoint Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller analysis, generally increases for a short time, gradually decreases, then increases over the rest of the leaching experiment, due to area to mass ratio fluctuations. After the column leachate tests, postleaching water analyses for elemental compositions were conducted by inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry and ion chromatography. Steady state dissolution rates initially decayed rapidly due to the smallest size fraction of ash (dust), which provides a large area of fresh leachable surfaces as well as the rapid dissolution of highly soluble metal salts. Some of the dissolved concentrations of elements relevant to human and ecosystem health such as F, Cd, Se, As, and Cr rose above World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards within an hour of experimental leaching. In nature, however, safe consumption standards are further dependent upon bioaccumulation and chronic exposure. As such, individual and recurring ash deposition events have applications to emergency response and preparedness in volcanic regions.
Sensitivity of Surface Temperature to Land Use and Land Cover Change‐Induced Biophysical Changes: The Scale Issue
Authors: Li Dan , Wang Liang
Published: August 2019

While the signs of the sensitivities of surface temperature (Ts) to land use and land cover change‐induced biophysical changes are relatively well understood, their exact magnitude and how their magnitude depends on the scale characterizing the size of the change remain elusive. In this study, we compare the sensitivities of surface temperature to changes in surface albedo and surface water availability from three analytical/semianalytical models, which are designed for small (<1 km), intermediate (from ∼1 to ∼10 km), and large (>10–20 km) scales. Results suggest that the sensitivities of surface temperature to biophysical changes are scale dependent due to atmospheric feedbacks. Our results demonstrate that it is important to consider the scale and the associated atmospheric feedbacks when quantifying the sensitivities of surface temperature to biophysical changes.
An Improved ENSO Ensemble Forecasting Strategy Based on Multiple Coupled Model Initialization Parameters
Authors: Wang Yanfeng , Huang Ping , Wang Lei , Wang Pengfei , Wei Ke , Zhang Zhihua , Yan Bangliang
Published: August 2019

Accurate prediction of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) at relatively long timescales is propitious to forecasting other climate variables and meteorological disasters. Here, we use a coupled general circulation model, ICMv2, to investigate the influence of an initialization parameter, sea surface temperature (SST)‐nudging strength, on ENSO prediction skill in the model's 1981–2010 hindcast experiments and suggest a multiple initialization parameter ensemble (MIPE) forecast as a new ensemble forecasting strategy to improve ENSO prediction skill. Different SST‐nudging strengths produce different ENSO prediction skill via the generated various initial values. Selecting initial values closest to the observed SST (represented by reanalysis data) and increasing the ensemble size is inefficient in improving the skill of single initialization parameter ensemble (SIPE) forecasts. With ensemble members from different SST‐nudging strength groups, the MIPE forecasts are significantly more skillful than the SIPE forecasts at 1‐ to 10‐month lead time. More than 96% of 20,000 MIPE experiments generated by a Monte Carlo approach have larger anomaly correlation coefficient than SIPE at 1‐ to 9‐month lead time. Our findings suggest that MIPE forecasting is another efficient strategy that can improve ENSO prediction skill besides multimodel and multimember ensembles using different initial values with random disturbances.
Non-invasive determination of murine placental and foetal functional parameters with multispectral optoacoustic tomography
Authors: Basak Kausik , Luís Deán-Ben Xosé , Gottschalk Sven , Reiss Michael , Razansky Daniel
Published: August 2019

Despite the importance of placental function in embryonic development, it remains poorly understood and challenging to characterize, primarily due to the lack of non-invasive imaging tools capable of monitoring placental and foetal oxygenation and perfusion parameters during pregnancy. We developed an optoacoustic tomography approach for real-time imaging through entire ~4 cm cross-sections of pregnant mice. Functional changes in both maternal and embryo regions were studied at different gestation days when subjected to an oxygen breathing challenge and perfusion with indocyanine green. Structural phenotyping of the cross-sectional scans highlighted different internal organs, whereas multi-wavelength acquisitions enabled non-invasive label-free spectroscopic assessment of blood-oxygenation parameters in foeto-placental regions, rendering a strong correlation with the amount of oxygen administered. Likewise, the placental function in protecting the embryo from extrinsically administered agents was substantiated. The proposed methodology may potentially further serve as a probing mechanism to appraise embryo development during pregnancy in the clinical setting.
Enzyme-treated orange pomace alters acute glycemic response to orange juice
Authors: Huang Yancui , Park Eunyoung , Replogle Rebecca , Boileau Thomas , Shin Jin-E. , Burton-Freeman Britt M. , Edirisinghe Indika
Published: August 2019

The goal of the present study was to determine the impact of the addition of enzyme-treated orange pomace to orange juice on postprandial glycemic response. Ten healthy subjects (aged 27.9 ± 7.7 years, body mass index 22.1 ± 1.1 kg m−2) participated in a randomized, 2-arm, cross-over clinical trial to test the glycemic response to 100% orange juice (OJ) or 100% orange juice with 5 g of enzyme-treated orange pomace fiber (OPF). Blood samples were collected and glucose and insulin concentrations were measured at fasting (0 min) and every 15 min for 2 h after consuming the study juice products. Analysis of the 2 h incremental area under the curve (iAUC0–2h) indicated a significant reduction in blood glucose after ingesting the OPF juice compared to the OJ, p = 0.02. Peak glucose concentrations were also lowered after the OPF juice compared to the OJ, p < 0.05. No significant difference was observed in insulin responses between treatments, p > 0.05. Overall, this study demonstrated that adding 5 g of fiber from orange pomace into a serving of OJ attenuated the postprandial glucose response.
Mekong delta much lower than previously assumed in sea-level rise impact assessments
Authors: Minderhoud P. S. J. , Coumou L. , Erkens G. , Middelkoop H. , Stouthamer E.
Published: August 2019

Deltas are low-relief landforms that are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. Impact assessments of relative sea-level rise in deltas primarily depend on elevation data accuracy and how well the vertical datum matches local sea level. Unfortunately, many major deltas are located in data-sparse regions, forcing researchers and policy makers to use low-resolution, global elevation data obtained from satellite platforms. Using a new, high-accuracy elevation model of the Vietnamese Mekong delta, we show that quality of global elevation data is insufficient and underscore the cruciality to convert to local tidal datum, which is often neglected. The novel elevation model shows that the Mekong delta has an extremely low mean elevation of ~0.8 m above sea level, dramatically lower than the earlier assumed ~2.6 m. Our results imply major uncertainties in sea-level rise impact assessments for the Mekong delta and deltas worldwide, with errors potentially larger than a century of sea-level rise.
Blood–brain barrier permeable nano immunoconjugates induce local immune responses for glioma therapy
Authors: Galstyan Anna , Markman Janet L. , Shatalova Ekaterina S. , Chiechi Antonella , Korman Alan J. , Patil Rameshwar , Klymyshyn Dmytro , Tourtellotte Warren G. , Israel Liron L. , Braubach Oliver , Ljubimov Vladimir A. , Mashouf Leila A. , Ramesh Arshia , Grodzinski Zachary B. , Penichet Manuel L. , Black Keith L. , Holler Eggehard , Sun Tao , Ding Hui , Ljubimov Alexander V. , Ljubimova Julia Y.
Published: August 2019

Brain glioma treatment with checkpoint inhibitor antibodies to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (a-CTLA-4) and programmed cell death-1 (a-PD-1) was largely unsuccessful due to their inability to cross blood–brain barrier (BBB). Here we describe targeted nanoscale immunoconjugates (NICs) on natural biopolymer scaffold, poly(β-L-malic acid), with covalently attached a-CTLA-4 or a-PD-1 for systemic delivery across the BBB and activation of local brain anti-tumor immune response. NIC treatment of mice bearing intracranial GL261 glioblastoma (GBM) results in an increase of CD8+ T cells, NK cells and macrophages with a decrease of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the brain tumor area. Survival of GBM-bearing mice treated with NIC combination is significantly longer compared to animals treated with single checkpoint inhibitor-bearing NICs or free a-CTLA-4 and a-PD-1. Our study demonstrates trans-BBB delivery of tumor-targeted polymer-conjugated checkpoint inhibitors as an effective GBM treatment via activation of both systemic and local privileged brain tumor immune response.
Ultra-long coherence times amongst room-temperature solid-state spins
Authors: Herbschleb E. D. , Kato H. , Maruyama Y. , Danjo T. , Makino T. , Yamasaki S. , Ohki I. , Hayashi K. , Morishita H. , Fujiwara M. , Mizuochi N.
Published: August 2019

Solid-state single spins are promising resources for quantum sensing, quantum-information processing and quantum networks, because they are compatible with scalable quantum-device engineering. However, the extension of their coherence times proves challenging. Although enrichment of the spin-zero 12C and 28Si isotopes drastically reduces spin-bath decoherence in diamond and silicon, the solid-state environment provides deleterious interactions between the electron spin and the remaining spins of its surrounding. Here we demonstrate, contrary to widespread belief, that an impurity-doped (phosphorus) n-type single-crystal diamond realises remarkably long spin-coherence times. Single electron spins show the longest inhomogeneous spin-dephasing time ($$T_2^ \ast \approx 1.5$$

T

2

*

≈
1.5
 ms) and Hahn-echo spin-coherence time (T2 ≈ 2.4 ms) ever observed in room-temperature solid-state systems, leading to the best sensitivities. The extension of coherence times in diamond semiconductor may allow for new applications in quantum technology.
Emerging epigenomic landscapes of pancreatic cancer in the era of precision medicine
Authors: Lomberk Gwen , Dusetti Nelson , Iovanna Juan , Urrutia Raul
Published: August 2019

Genetic studies have advanced our understanding of pancreatic cancer at a mechanistic and translational level. Genetic concepts and tools are increasingly starting to be applied to clinical practice, in particular for precision medicine efforts. However, epigenomics is rapidly emerging as a promising conceptual and methodological paradigm for advancing the knowledge of this disease. More importantly, recent studies have uncovered potentially actionable pathways, which support the prediction that future trials for pancreatic cancer will involve the vigorous testing of epigenomic therapeutics. Thus, epigenomics promises to generate a significant amount of new knowledge of both biological and medical importance.
Exposure of an occluded hemagglutinin epitope drives selection of a class of cross-protective influenza antibodies
Authors: Adachi Yu , Tonouchi Keisuke , Nithichanon Arnone , Kuraoka Masayuki , Watanabe Akiko , Shinnakasu Ryo , Asanuma Hideki , Ainai Akira , Ohmi Yusuke , Yamamoto Takuya , Ishii Ken J. , Hasegawa Hideki , Takeyama Haruko , Lertmemongkolchai Ganjana , Kurosaki Tomohiro , Ato Manabu , Kelsoe Garnett , Takahashi Yoshimasa
Published: August 2019

Germinal center (GC) B cells at viral replication sites acquire specificity to poorly immunogenic but conserved influenza hemagglutinin (HA) epitopes. Here, high-throughput epitope mapping of local GC B cells is used to identify conserved HA epitope selecting cross-reactive antibodies that mediate heterosubtypic protection. A distinct feature of this epitope is an occlusion in the naive trimeric HA structure that is exposed in the post-fusion HA structure to occur under low pH conditions during viral replication. Importantly, systemic immunization by the post-fusion HA antigen results in GC B cells targeting the occluded epitope, and induces a class of protective antibodies that have cross-group specificity and afford protection independent of virus neutralization activity. Furthermore, this class of broadly protective antibodies develops at late time points and persists. Our results identify a class of cross-protective antibodies that are selected at the viral replication site, and provide insights into vaccine strategies using the occluded epitope.
Achieving large and nonvolatile tunable magnetoresistance in organic spin valves using electronic phase separated manganites
Authors: Yang Wenting , Shi Qian , Miao Tian , Li Qiang , Cai Peng , Liu Hao , Lin Hanxuan , Bai Yu , Zhu Yinyan , Yu Yang , Deng Lina , Wang Wenbin , Yin Lifeng , Sun Dali , Zhang X.-G. , Shen Jian
Published: August 2019

Tailoring molecular spinterface between novel magnetic materials and organic semiconductors offers promise to achieve high spin injection efficiency. Yet it has been challenging to achieve simultaneously a high and nonvolatile control of magnetoresistance effect in organic spintronic devices. To date, the largest magnetoresistance (~300% at T = 10 K) has been reached in tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3)-based organic spin valves (OSVs) using La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 as a magnetic electrode. Here we demonstrate that one type of perovskite manganites, i.e., a (La2/3Pr1/3)5/8Ca3/8MnO3 thin film with pronounced electronic phase separation (EPS), can be used in Alq3-based OSVs to achieve a large magnetoresistance (MR) up to 440% at T = 10 K and a typical electrical Hanle effect as the Hallmark of the spin injection. The contactless magnetic field-controlled EPS enables us to achieve a nonvolatile tunable MR response persisting up to 120 K. Our study suggests a new route to design high performance multifunctional OSV devices using electronic phase separated manganites.
Modulation of autoimmune pathogenesis by T cell-triggered inflammatory cell death
Authors: Sasaki Katsuhiro , Himeno Ai , Nakagawa Tomoko , Sasaki Yoshiteru , Kiyonari Hiroshi , Iwai Kazuhiro
Published: August 2019

T cell-mediated autoimmunity encompasses diverse immunopathological outcomes; however, the mechanisms underlying this diversity are largely unknown. Dysfunction of the tripartite linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) is associated with distinct autonomous immune-related diseases. Cpdm mice lacking Sharpin, an accessory subunit of LUBAC, have innate immune cell-predominant dermatitis triggered by death of LUBAC-compromised keratinocytes. Here we show that specific gene ablation of Sharpin in mouse Treg causes phenotypes mimicking cpdm-like inflammation. Mechanistic analyses find that multiple types of programmed cell death triggered by TNF from tissue-oriented T cells initiate proinflammatory responses to implicate innate immune-mediated pathogenesis in this T cell-mediated inflammation. Moreover, additional disruption of the Hoip locus encoding the catalytic subunit of LUBAC converts cpdm-like dermatitis to T cell-predominant autoimmune lesions; however, innate immune-mediated pathogenesis still remains. These findings show that T cell-mediated killing and sequential autoinflammation are common and crucial for pathogenic diversity during T cell-mediated autoimmune responses.
Author Correction: Lineage-specific RUNX2 super-enhancer activates MYC and promotes the development of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm
Authors: Kubota Sho , Tokunaga Kenji , Umezu Tomohiro , Yokomizo-Nakano Takako , Sun Yuqi , Oshima Motohiko , Tan Kar Tong , Yang Henry , Kanai Akinori , Iwanaga Eisaku , Asou Norio , Maeda Takahiro , Nakagata Naomi , Iwama Atsushi , Ohyashiki Kazuma , Osato Motomi , Sashida Goro
Published: August 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Nobiletin fortifies mitochondrial respiration in skeletal muscle to promote healthy aging against metabolic challenge
Authors: Nohara Kazunari , Mallampalli Venkata , Nemkov Travis , Wirianto Marvin , Yang Jiah , Ye Youqiong , Sun Yuxiang , Han Leng , Esser Karyn A. , Mileykovskaya Eugenia , D’Alessandro Angelo , Green Carla B. , Takahashi Joseph S. , Dowhan William , Yoo Seung-Hee , Chen Zheng
Published: August 2019

Circadian disruption aggravates age-related decline and mortality. However, it remains unclear whether circadian enhancement can retard aging in mammals. We previously reported that the small molecule Nobiletin (NOB) activates ROR (retinoid acid receptor-related orphan receptor) nuclear receptors to potentiate circadian oscillation and protect against metabolic dysfunctions. Here we show that NOB significantly improves metabolic fitness in naturally aged mice fed with a regular diet (RD). Furthermore, NOB enhances healthy aging in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HF). In HF skeletal muscle, the NOB-ROR axis broadly activates genes for mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes (MRCs) and fortifies MRC activity and architecture, including Complex II activation and supercomplex formation. These mechanisms coordinately lead to a dichotomous mitochondrial optimization, namely increased ATP production and reduced ROS levels. Together, our study illustrates a focal mechanism by a clock-targeting pharmacological agent to optimize skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration and promote healthy aging in metabolically stressed mammals.
MAP2 immunoreactivity deficit is conserved across the cerebral cortex within individuals with schizophrenia
Authors: DeGiosio Rebecca , Kelly Ryan M. , DeDionisio Adam M. , Newman Jason T. , Fish Kenneth N. , Sampson Allan R. , Lewis David A. , Sweet Robert A.
Published: August 2019

Several postmortem studies have reported lower levels of immunoreactivity (IR) for microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) in several cortical regions of individuals with schizophrenia (SZ). However, whether this effect is conserved across multiple brain areas within an individual with SZ or if it is regionally-specific remains unclear. We characterized patterns of MAP2-IR across three cortical regions at different levels of the rostral-caudal axis within individual subjects with and without SZ. MAP2-IR levels were measured in deep layer 3 of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), lateral intraparietal cortex (LIP), and primary visual cortex (V1). Postmortem tissue containing each cortical region was derived from 20 pairs of SZ subjects and nonpsychiatric comparison (NPC) subjects matched perfectly for sex, and as closely as possible for age and postmortem interval. MAP2-IR was assessed by quantitative fluorescence microscopy. We observed significantly lower levels of MAP2-IR in SZ subjects relative to NPC subjects, without a significant region by diagnosis interaction. Logs of the within-pair ratios (SZ:NPC) of MAP2-IR were significantly correlated across the three regions. These findings demonstrate that MAP2-IR deficits in SZ are consistent across three neocortical regions within individual subjects. This pattern of MAP2-IR deficit has implications for therapeutic development and future investigations of MAP2 pathology in SZ.
Social interaction and conceptual change pave the way away from children’s misconceptions about the Earth
Authors: de la Hera Diego Pablo , Sigman Mariano , Calero Cecilia Ines
Published: August 2019

Throughout development, children undergo moments of abrupt conceptual transitions, often replacing intuitive knowledge with grounded scientific theories. This typically also creates a situation of social conflict, as different children may hold at the same time substantially different theories and explanations about the same phenomenon. The main objective of this work is to understand whether social interaction and exchange of arguments and reasoning may be a catalyzer for conceptual development. Dyads of 7-year-old children with different conceptual understanding of the Earth were asked to reach a consensus about its astronomic and geometric properties. Our results show that mere minutes of deliberation can result in substantial changes in children’s conceptual representations, and moreover, that this transition was consistently in the direction of reasoned and scientific opinions. These results provide empirical evidence and suggest specific ways in which peer interaction can be used effectively to promote conceptual change in school settings, in a knowledge domain at the center of this era’s post truth and science denial crisis.
Interrogation of a live-attenuated enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli vaccine highlights features unique to wild-type infection
Authors: Chakraborty Subhra , Randall Arlo , Vickers Tim J. , Molina Doug , Harro Clayton D. , DeNearing Barbara , Brubaker Jessica , Sack David A. , Bourgeois A. Louis , Felgner Philip L. , Liang Xiaowu , Mani Sachin , Wenzel Heather , Townsend R. Reid , Gilmore Petra E. , Darsley Michael J. , Rasko David A. , Fleckenstein James M.
Published: August 2019

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections are a common cause of severe diarrheal illness in low- and middle-income countries. The live-attenuated ACE527 ETEC vaccine, adjuvanted with double mutant heat-labile toxin (dmLT), affords clear but partial protection against ETEC challenge in human volunteers. Comparatively, initial wild-type ETEC challenge completely protects against severe diarrhea on homologous re-challenge. To investigate determinants of protection, vaccine antigen content was compared to wild-type ETEC, and proteome microarrays were used to assess immune responses following vaccination and ETEC challenge. Although molecular interrogation of the vaccine confirmed expression of targeted canonical antigens, relative to wild-type ETEC, vaccine strains were deficient in production of flagellar antigens, immotile, and lacked production of the EtpA adhesin. Similarly, vaccination ± dmLT elicited responses to targeted canonical antigens, but relative to wild-type challenge, vaccine responses to some potentially protective non-canonical antigens including EtpA and the YghJ metalloprotease were diminished or absent. These studies highlight important differences in vaccine and wild-type ETEC antigen content and call attention to distinct immunologic signatures that could inform investigation of correlates of protection, and guide vaccine antigen selection for these pathogens of global importance.
Delta-radiomics features during radiotherapy improve the prediction of late xerostomia
Authors: van Dijk Lisanne V. , Langendijk Johannes A. , Zhai Tian-Tian , Vedelaar Thea A. , Noordzij Walter , Steenbakkers Roel J. H. M. , Sijtsema Nanna M.
Published: August 2019

The response of the major salivary glands, the parotid glands, to radiation dose is patient-specific. This study was designed to investigate whether parotid gland changes seen in weekly CT during treatment, quantified by delta-radiomics features (Δfeatures), could improve the prediction of moderate-to-severe xerostomia at 12 months after radiotherapy (Xer12m). Parotid gland Δfeatures were extracted from in total 68 planning and 340 weekly CTs, representing geometric, intensity and texture characteristics. Bootstrapped forward variable selection was performed to identify the best predictors of Xer12m. The predictive contribution of the resulting Δfeatures to a pre-treatment reference model, based on contralateral parotid gland mean dose and baseline xerostomia scores (Xerbaseline) only, was evaluated. Xer12m was reported by 26 (38%) of the 68 patients included. The most predictive Δfeature was the contralateral parotid gland surface change, which was significantly associated with Xer12m for all weeks (p < 0.04), but performed best for week 3 (ΔPG-surfacew3; p < 0.001). Moreover, ∆PG-surfacew3 showed a significant predictive contribution in addition to the pre-treatment reference model (likelihood-ratio test; p = 0.003), resulting in a significantly better model performance (AUCtrain = 0.92; AUCtest = 0.93) compared to that of the pre-treatment model (AUCtrain = 0.82; AUCtest = 0.82). These results suggest that mid-treatment parotid gland changes substantially improve the prediction of late radiation-induced xerostomia.
Dietary intake influences gut microbiota development of healthy Australian children from the age of one to two years
Authors: Matsuyama Misa , Morrison Mark , Cao Kim-Anh Lê , Pruilh Solange , Davies Peter S. W. , Wall Clare , Lovell Amy , Hill Rebecca J.
Published: August 2019

Early life nutrition is a vital determinant of an individual’s life-long health and also directly influences the ecological and functional development of the gut microbiota. However, there are limited longitudinal studies examining the effect of diet on the gut microbiota development in early childhood. Here, up to seven stool samples were collected from each of 48 healthy children during their second year of life, and microbiota dynamics were assessed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Children’s dietary information was also collected during the same period using a validated food frequency questionnaire designed for this age group, over five time points. We observed significant changes in gut microbiota community, concordant with changes in the children’s dietary pattern over the 12-month period. In particular, we found differential effects on specific Firmicutes-affiliated lineages in response to frequent intake of either processed or unprocessed foods. Additionally, the consumption of fortified milk supplemented with aBifidobacteriumprobiotic and prebiotics (synbiotics) further increased the presence ofBifidobacteriumspp., highlighting the potential use of synbiotics to prolong and sustain changes in these lineages and shaping the gut microbiota community in young children.
Simultaneous growth of three-dimensional carbon nanotubes and ultrathin graphite networks on copper
Authors: Jang Lee-Woon , Shim Jaeho , Son Dong Ick , Cho Hyunjin , Zhang Luman , Zhang Jie , Menghini Mariela , Locquet Jean-Pierre , Seo Jin Won
Published: August 2019

A new way to simultaneously grow carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and ultrathin graphite on copper (Cu) foils has been investigated. This one-step growth process yields three-dimensional networks of CNTs on graphitic layers (3D CNTs/G) on Cu foils. Their synthesis conditions and growth mechanism are discussed in detail taking their structural properties into account. Individual CNTs and the 3D CNTs/G networks by means of an in-situ conductive atomic force microscope inside a scanning electron microscope are electrically characterized. Time-resolved photoluminescence demonstrated fast charge transfer and high carrier collection efficiency superior to two-dimensional ultrathin graphite only. Their facile and tunable growth and excellent electrical properties show that the 3D CNTs/G are strongly attractive for various applications such as solar cells, sensors, supercapacitors, photovoltaics, power generation, and optoelectronics.