bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predisposing and precipitating risk factors for delirium in palliative care patients
Authors: Seiler Annina , Schubert Maria , Hertler Caroline , Schettle Markus , Blum David , Guckenberger Matthias , Weller Michael , Ernst Jutta , von Känel Roland , Boettger Soenke
Published: November 2019

Objective

Delirium is a common complication in palliative care patients, especially in the terminal phase of the illness. To date, evidence regarding risk factors and prognostic outcomes of delirium in this vulnerable population remains sparse.

Method

In this prospective observational cohort study at a tertiary care center, 410 palliative care patients were included. Simple and multiple logistic regression models were used to identify associations between predisposing and precipitating factors and delirium in palliative care patients.

Results

The prevalence of delirium in this palliative care cohort was 55.9% and reached 93% in the terminally ill. Delirium was associated with prolonged hospitalization (p < 0.001), increased care requirements (p < 0.001) and health care costs (p < 0.001), requirement for institutionalization (OR 0.11; CI 0.069–0.171; p < 0.001), and increased mortality (OR 18.29; CI 8.918–37.530; p < 0.001). Predisposing factors for delirium were male gender (OR 2.19; CI 1.251–3.841; p < 0.01), frailty (OR 15.28; CI 5.885–39.665; p < 0.001), hearing (OR 3.52; CI 1.721–7.210; p < 0.001), visual impairment (OR 3.15; CI 1.765–5.607; p < 0.001), and neoplastic brain disease (OR 3.63; CI 1.033–12.771; p < 0.05). Precipitating factors for delirium were acute renal failure (OR 6.79; CI 1.062–43.405; p < 0.05) and pressure sores (OR 3.66; CI 1.102–12.149; p < 0.05).

Significance of results

Our study identified several predisposing and precipitating risk factors for delirium in palliative care patients, some of which can be targeted early and modified to reduce symptom burden.
The Self-Report Symptom Inventory as an Instrument for Detecting	Symptom Over-Reporting
Authors: Boskovic Irena , Merckelbach Harald , Merten Thomas , Hope Lorraine , Jelicic Marko
Published: November 2019

Abstract. The recently developed Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SRSI) intends to provide an alternative approach to the detection of symptom over-reporting. Unlike other measures, the SRSI includes both non-existent symptoms (i.e., pseudosymptoms) and genuine symptoms. Previous research using the German SRSI showed that people who exaggerate their complaints over-endorse both types of symptoms. In the current simulation experiment, we tested whether the Dutch and English SRSI are effective in identifying over-reporting by comparing SRSI scores of an honest group ( n = 51) with those of two experimental simulator groups (pain, n = 54; anxiety, n = 53). The pain and anxiety simulators endorsed significantly more genuine symptoms and pseudosymptoms than honest participants (ηp2 = .50 and ηp2 = .30, respectively). Furthermore, pain and anxiety over-reporters specifically over-endorsed symptoms corresponding to their simulation instructions (Cohen’s ds > 0.77). Using the recommended cut-off score, the SRSI detected 48% of pain over-reporters and 73% of anxiety over-reporters, with areas under the curve (AUC) ranging from .88 to .91. These results indicate that the SRSI is a promising tool for identifying over-reporting, but further research with clinical samples is needed.
New England Winters Are “Losing the Cold”
Authors: Katz Cheryl
Published: November 2019

As extreme cold days wane, the northeastern United States has experienced an increase in mud days.
High‐Pressure Fluid‐Rock Interaction and Mass Transfer During Exhumation of Deeply Subducted Rocks: Insights From an Eclogite‐Vein System in the Ultrahigh‐Pressure Terrane of the Dabie Shan, China
Authors: Liu Penglei , Massonne Hans‐Joachim , Harlov Daniel E. , Jin Zhenmin
Published: November 2019

A petrological study was performed on an eclogite‐vein system from the Dabie ultrahigh‐pressure terrane by focusing on high‐pressure (HP) fluid‐rock interaction and mass transfer during exhumation. The veins comprise mainly garnet and quartz and resulted from a HP leaching process along fractures in the eclogite during exhumation. Relict peak garnet, phengite, and apatite in this rock system were altered by HP fluids forming characteristic compositional zonings. Zoned garnet in the eclogite records an isothermal exhumation from 3.3 GPa and 665–680 °C. Partial dissolution of garnet and a back incorporation of Mn‐heavy rare earth element (REE)‐Y increased the content of these elements in the altered garnet zone in the veins. Altered phengite is characterized by a Ba‐rich rim. Fluid‐aided alteration reduced the light REE (LREE) contents and produced oriented monazite, calcite, and pyrrhotite inclusions within apatite, reflecting mobilization and redistribution of LREEs, CO32−, Fe, and S between these minerals. The active HP fluid is proposed to have been a Si‐Al‐Na‐Ba‐rich aqueous fluid, as indicated by sodic plagioclase rims around various eclogitic minerals and by the altered phengite composition. Mass balance calculations reveal that LREEs, middle REEs, and Zr‐Hf‐Th‐U were added to and Li, large ion lithophile elements, and Ti‐Nb were removed from the quartz‐garnet veins, requiring a high fluid flux. These findings shed new light on the nature and behavior of HP fluids and highlight their key role in resetting mineral chemistry and mass transfer in subduction zone metamorphic environments.
Insight Into Campi Flegrei Caldera Unrest Through Seismic Tremor Measurements at Pisciarelli Fumarolic Field
Authors: Giudicepietro F. , Chiodini G. , Caliro S. , De Cesare W. , Esposito A. M. , Galluzzo D. , Lo Bascio D. , Macedonio G. , Orazi M. , Ricciolino P. , Vandemeulebrouck J.
Published: November 2019

Within a general volcanic unrest in the densely urbanized area of Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy) an increase in the activity of Pisciarelli hydrothermal area is occurring. The seismic amplitude of Pisciarelli fumarolic tremor is a proxy for the fluid emission rate of the entire Solfatara‐Pisciarelli hydrothermal system. The long‐term analysis indicates a significant increase, by a factor of ~3 of the fumarolic tremor amplitude since May 2017. This increment matches with the trend of geochemical and seismic parameters observed in Campi Flegrei, therefore highlighting that Pisciarelli is a key site to monitor the volcanic unrest underway in this high‐risk caldera. The analysis of data from three closely spaced seismic stations provided new clues about the source mechanism of the tremor. Analyzing the fumarolic tremor amplitude we could also identify an episode of enlargement of the emission area close to the main fumarole of Pisciarelli. We propose a monitoring system based on the fumarolic tremor analysis, which provides real‐time information on the Pisciarelli hydrothermal activity and therefore on the current unrest in Campi Flegrei caldera.
Scaling and Variability of Interacting Repeating Earthquake Sequences Controlled by Asperity Density
Authors: Dublanchet P.
Published: November 2019

The period Tr of repeating earthquakes scales as
being the creep rate of the fault and M0 the seismic moment of the events. Models consisting of a single asperity embedded in a creeping fault capture this scaling but fail to explain the variability in recurrence time observed during natural sequences. Here I show by a statistical analysis of repeating earthquakes generated in a rate‐and‐state fault model, that the observed scaling and variability in Tr are reproduced if a population of asperities is considered. For that, the density of asperities needs to be smaller than a critical threshold allowing system‐size ruptures. Creep mediated stress transfers control the variability in Tr in this regime, which increases with asperity density. Beyond that density, the seismicity is highly clustered leading to moment‐independent recurrence. The dynamics of repeating earthquakes could therefore be an indicator of the amount of seismogenic asperities on creeping faults.
Cloud Ice Processes Enhance Spatial Scales of Organization in Arctic Stratocumulus
Authors: Eirund Gesa K. , Lohmann Ulrike , Possner Anna
Published: November 2019

Stratocumulus clouds around the globe tend to organize into cellular patterns, a phenomenon that has been primarily studied for the subtropical trade wind region. However, stratocumulus are also prevalent in high latitudes, where they often occur as mixed‐phase clouds. Yet little research has been conducted regarding mechanisms of cloud organization in the mixed‐phase regime. In cloud‐resolving model simulations we investigate the processes driving organization in open‐cell mixed‐phase stratocumuli. Similar to warm‐phase clouds, mixed‐phase clouds develop a subcloud circulation of evaporated/sublimated precipitation, cold pool formation, and consecutive updrafts driving new convective cells. For a larger ice to liquid water ratio, we find locally stronger precipitation and larger cloud cells. Hence, a higher concentration of ice nucleating particles can induce a breakup of the stratocumulus organization, with implications for the radiative balance at the surface. A decrease in cloud condensation nuclei concentration is also found to intensify precipitation and impact cloud organization.
Hydraulic Fracture Injection Strategy Influences the Probability of Earthquakes in the Eagle Ford Shale Play of South Texas
Authors: Fasola Shannon L. , Brudzinski Michael R. , Skoumal Robert J. , Langenkamp Teresa , Currie Brian S. , Smart Kevin J.
Published: November 2019

Seismicity in the Eagle Ford play grew to 33 times the background rate in 2018. We identified how hydraulic fracturing (HF) contributed to seismicity since 2014 by comparing times and locations of HF with a catalog of seismicity extended with template matching. We found 94 ML ≥ 2.0 earthquakes spatiotemporally correlated to 211 HF well laterals. Injected volume and number of laterals on a pad influence the probability of seismicity, but effective injection rate has the strongest effect. Simultaneous stimulation of multiple laterals tripled the probability of seismicity relative to a single, isolated lateral. The 1 May 2018 MW 4.0 earthquake may have been the largest HF‐induced earthquake in the United States. It occurred ~10 km from a MW 4.8 earthquake in 2011 and was thought to be induced by fluid extraction. Thus, faults in this area are capable of producing felt and potentially damaging earthquakes due to operational activities.
Hydrologic Change in New Zealand During the Last Deglaciation Linked to Reorganization of the Southern Hemisphere Westerly Winds
Authors: Hinojosa Jessica L. , Moy Christopher M. , Vandergoes Marcus , Feakins Sarah J. , Sessions Alex L.
Published: November 2019

Millennial‐scale climate anomalies punctuating the last deglaciation were expressed differently in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. While changes in oceanic meridional overturning circulation have been invoked to explain these disparities, the nearly synchronous onset of such events requires atmospheric mediation. Yet the extent and structure of atmospheric reorganization on millennial timescales remains unclear. In particular, the role of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds and associated storm tracks is poorly constrained, largely due to the paucity of accessible archives of wind behavior. Here we present a new paleohydrologic record from a Lake Hayes, New Zealand (45°S), sediment core from ~17–9 ka. Using two independent proxies for lake hydrology (Ca/Ti in sediments and δD values of aquatic plant biomarkers), we find evidence for a wetter Antarctic Cold Reversal (14.7–13.0 ka) and a drying trend during the Younger Dryas (12.9–11.6 ka) and early Holocene (11.7 ka onward in this record). Comparisons of the Lake Hayes record with other Southern Hemisphere sites indicate coherent atmospheric shifts during the Antarctic Cold Reversal and Younger Dryas, whereby the former is wetter/cooler and the latter is drier/warmer. The wet/cool phase is associated with a northward shift and/or strengthening of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds, whereas the drier/warmer phase indicates weaker midlatitude winds. These climatic trends are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. There is a decoupling of climatic trends between Southern Hemisphere low‐latitude and midlatitude climates in the early Holocene, which could be explained by several mechanisms, such as the retreat of Antarctic sea ice.
Circular RNA cESRP1 sensitises small cell lung cancer cells to chemotherapy by sponging miR-93-5p to inhibit TGF-β signalling
Authors: Huang Weimei , Yang Yunchu , Wu Jingfang , Niu Yuchun , Yao Yao , Zhang Jian , Huang Xiaoxian , Liang Shumei , Chen Rui , Chen Size , Guo Linlang
Published: November 2019

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel RNA molecules that play important roles in chemoresistance in different cancers, including breast and gastric cancers. However, whether circRNAs are involved in the response to chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains largely unknown. In this study, we observed that cESRP1 (circular RNA epithelial splicing regulatory protein-1) expression was significantly downregulated in the chemoresistant cells compared with the parental chemosensitive cells. cESRP1 enhanced drug sensitivity by repressing miR-93-5p in SCLC. Cytoplasmic cESRP1 could directly bind to miR-93-5p and inhibit the posttranscriptional repression mediated by miR-93-5p, thereby upregulating the expression of the miR-93-5p downstream targets Smad7/p21(CDKN1A) and forming a negative feedback loop to regulate transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, cESRP1 overexpression and TGF-β pathway inhibition both altered tumour responsiveness to chemotherapy in an acquired chemoresistant patient-derived xenograft model. Importantly, cESRP1 expression was downregulated in SCLC patient tissues and was associated with survival. Our findings reveal, for the first time, that cESRP1 plays crucial a role in SCLC chemosensitivity by sponging miR-93-5p to inhibit the TGF-β pathway, suggesting that cESRP1 may serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in SCLC patients.
Mitochondrial damage by α-synuclein causes cell death in human dopaminergic neurons
Authors: Ganjam Goutham K. , Bolte Kathrin , Matschke Lina A. , Neitemeier Sandra , Dolga Amalia M. , Höllerhage Matthias , Höglinger Günter U. , Adamczyk Agata , Decher Niels , Oertel Wolfgang H. , Culmsee Carsten
Published: November 2019

Evolving concepts on Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathology suggest that α-synuclein (aSYN) promote dopaminergic neuron dysfunction and death through accumulating in the mitochondria. However, the consequence of mitochondrial aSYN localisation on mitochondrial structure and bioenergetic functions in neuronal cells are poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated deleterious effects of mitochondria-targeted aSYN in differentiated human dopaminergic neurons in comparison with wild-type (WT) aSYN overexpression and corresponding EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein)-expressing controls. Mitochondria-targeted aSYN enhanced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, reduced ATP levels and showed severely disrupted structure and function of the dendritic neural network, preceding neuronal death. Transmission electron microscopy illustrated distorted cristae and many fragmented mitochondria in response to WT-aSYN overexpression, and a complete loss of cristae structure and massively swollen mitochondria in neurons expressing mitochondria-targeted aSYN. Further, the analysis of mitochondrial bioenergetics in differentiated dopaminergic neurons, expressing WT or mitochondria-targeted aSYN, elicited a pronounced impairment of mitochondrial respiration. In a pharmacological compound screening, we found that the pan-caspase inhibitors QVD and zVAD-FMK, and a specific caspase-1 inhibitor significantly prevented aSYN-induced cell death. In addition, the caspase inhibitor QVD preserved mitochondrial function and neuronal network activity in the human dopaminergic neurons overexpressing aSYN. Overall, our findings indicated therapeutic effects by caspase-1 inhibition despite aSYN-mediated alterations in mitochondrial morphology and function.
A neural network for information seeking
Authors: White J. Kael , Bromberg-Martin Ethan S. , Heilbronner Sarah R. , Zhang Kaining , Pai Julia , Haber Suzanne N. , Monosov Ilya E.
Published: November 2019

Humans and other animals often show a strong desire to know the uncertain rewards their future has in store, even when they cannot use this information to influence the outcome. However, it is unknown how the brain predicts opportunities to gain information and motivates this information-seeking behavior. Here we show that neurons in a network of interconnected subregions of primate anterior cingulate cortex and basal ganglia predict the moment of gaining information about uncertain rewards. Spontaneous increases in their information prediction signals are followed by gaze shifts toward objects associated with resolving uncertainty, and pharmacologically disrupting this network reduces the motivation to seek information. These findings demonstrate a cortico-basal ganglia mechanism responsible for motivating actions to resolve uncertainty by seeking knowledge about the future.
A comparative study using state-of-the-art electronic structure theories on solid hydrogen phases under high pressures
Authors: Liao Ke , Li Xin-Zheng , Alavi Ali , Grüneis Andreas
Published: November 2019

Identifying the atomic structure and properties of solid hydrogen under high pressures is a long-standing problem of high-pressure physics with far-reaching significance in planetary and materials science. Determining the pressure-temperature phase diagram of hydrogen is challenging for experiment and theory due to the extreme conditions and the required accuracy in the quantum mechanical treatment of the constituent electrons and nuclei, respectively. Here, we demonstrate explicitly that coupled cluster theory can serve as a computationally efficient theoretical tool to predict solid hydrogen phases with high accuracy. We present a first principles study of solid hydrogen phases at pressures ranging from 100 to 450 GPa. The computed static lattice enthalpies are compared to state-of-the-art diffusion Monte Carlo results and density functional theory calculations. Our coupled cluster theory results for the most stable phases including C2/c-24 and P2$${}_{1}$$1/c-24 are in good agreement with those obtained using diffusion Monte Carlo, with the exception of Cmca-4, which is predicted to be significantly less stable. We discuss the scope of the employed methods and how they can contribute as efficient and complementary theoretical tools to solve the long-standing puzzle of understanding solid hydrogen phases at high pressures.
A high-N00N output of harmonically driven cavity QED
Authors: Maleki Yusef , Zheltikov Aleksei M.
Published: November 2019

A harmonically driven cavity QED system consisting of two cavities and a two-level qubit is shown to enable the generation of a vast class of maximally entangled states suitable for measurements with a Heisenberg-limit precision. As one of its modalities, this system can serve as a quantum beam splitter, converting an |N〉 ⊗ |0〉 input into a maximally entangled N00N state (|N〉 ⊗ |0〉  +  |0〉 ⊗ |N〉)/$$\sqrt{{\bf{2}}}$$2 at its output. A network of such quantum beam splitters is shown to provide a source of multimode N00N-type entanglement.
The Effect of Visual Function on the Batting Performance of Professional Baseball Players
Authors: Laby Daniel M. , Kirschen David G. , Govindarajulu Usha , DeLand Paul
Published: November 2019

This report evaluates the role of the combined visual abilities of acuity, contrast sensitivity and presentation time on plate discipline and baseball batting performance. A visual function test (EVTS) was performed on 585 professional baseball players. The results were compared to several common plate-discipline measures. The EVTS test provides a single measure combining target size, contrast and presentation time. Correlations (statistically significant) were found between this measure and several plate discipline metrics (InzoneSwingPct, inzoneFbSwingPct, ChasePct, FbChasePct, BBperPa). Years of major league service did not appear to be related to visual ability. When comparing the best and worst 20% groups based on visual ability, statistically significant improvements ranging from 11.6% in BBperPa to 3.5% in inzoneSwingPct were noted in the better visual function group. Effect sizes ranged from 0.278 to 0.387. These results demonstrate the relationship between basic visual function and batting performance. These are the first results, on a large group at the professional level, to demonstrate this relationship statistically. These results may aid player selection, indicating that batters with better visual function are more likely to be successful when batting and more productive for their team.
A new method to reliably determine elastic strain of various crystal structures from atomic-resolution images
Authors: Chen J. S. , Liu Y. , Zhai Y. , Fan T. X.
Published: November 2019

Elastic strain engineering is an important strategy to design material properties in semiconductor and emerging advanced manufacturing industries. Recently, peak-pair method has drawn great attention compared to geometric phase analysis, owing to its precise determination of atom position at real space. Most current strain characterization methods estimate the local strain by comparing it with the related information from unstrained areas as reference. However, peak-pair method generated large errors in some cases because of the complexity of lower symmetric crystal structures, such as hexagonal structure. In this study, we introduce a new algorithm to overcome this limitation by directly comparing the atom positions with multiple references with different lattice symmetries. Furthermore, this new method is validated through several complicated crystal systems such as hexagonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, and tetragonal structure, and returns expected values. This finding is essential to reliably determine the localized elastic strain with various crystal structures.
Identification and characterization of abundant repetitive sequences in Allium cepa
Authors: Fu Jiaping , Zhang Hao , Guo Fengling , Ma Lu , Wu Jinping , Yue Mengxia , Zheng Xueke , Qiu Zhengming , Li Lijia
Published: November 2019

Species of the genus Allium are well known for their large genomes. Allium cepa is of great economic significance. Among vegetables, it ranks second after tomato in terms of the global production value. However, there is limited genomics information available on A. cepa. In this study, we sequenced the A. cepa genome at low-coverage and annotated repetitive sequences by using a combination of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics tools. Nearly 92% of 16 Gb haploid onion genome were defined as repetitive sequences, organized in 162 clusters of at least 0.01 percent of the genome. Of these, a proportion representing 40.5% of the genome were further analyzed in detail to obtain an overview of representative repetitive elements present in the A. cepa genome. Few representative satellite repeats were studied by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and southern blotting. These results provided a basis for evolutionary cytogenomics within the Allium genus.
Free Energy Principle in Human Postural Control System: Skin Stretch Feedback Reduces the Entropy
Authors: Hur Pilwon , Pan Yi-Tsen , DeBuys Christian
Published: November 2019

Human upright standing involves an integration of multiple sensory inputs such as vision, vestibular and somatosensory systems. It has been known that sensory deficits worsen the standing balance. However, how the modulation of sensory information contributes to postural stabilization still remains an open question for researchers. The purpose of this work was to formulate the human standing postural control system in the framework of the free-energy principle, and to investigate the efficacy of the skin stretch feedback in enhancing the human standing balance. Previously, we have shown that sensory augmentation by skin stretch feedback at the fingertip could modulate the standing balance of the people with simulated sensory deficits. In this study, subjects underwent ten 30-second trials of quiet standing balance with and without skin stretch feedback. Visual and vestibular sensory deficits were simulated by having each subject close their eyes and tilt their head back. We found that sensory augmentation by velocity-based skin stretch feedback at the fingertip reduced the entropy of the standing postural sway of the people with simulated sensory deficits. This result aligns with the framework of the free energy principle which states that a self-organizing biological system at its equilibrium state tries to minimize its free energy either by updating the internal state or by correcting body movement with appropriate actions. The velocity-based skin stretch feedback at the fingertip may increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensory signals, which in turn enhances the accuracy of the internal states in the central nervous system. With more accurate internal states, the human postural control system can further adjust the standing posture to minimize the entropy, and thus the free energy.
Limnological effects of a large Amazonian run-of-river dam on the main river and drowned tributary valleys
Authors: Almeida Rafael M. , Hamilton Stephen K. , Rosi Emma J. , Arantes João Durval , Barros Nathan , Boemer Gina , Gripp Anderson , Huszar Vera L. M. , Junger Pedro C. , Lima Michele , Pacheco Felipe , Carvalho Dario , Reisinger Alexander J. , Silva Lúcia H. S. , Roland Fábio
Published: November 2019

Run-of-river dams are often considered to have lower environmental impacts than storage dams due to their smaller reservoirs and low potential for flow alteration. However, this has been questioned for projects recently built on large rivers around the world. Two of the world’s largest run-of-river dams—Santo Antônio and Jirau—were recently constructed on the Madeira River, a major tributary to the Amazon River in Brazil. Here we evaluate the effects of the creation of the Santo Antônio dam on the water chemistry and thermal structure of the Madeira River mainstem and back-flooded valleys of tributaries within the reservoir inundated area. In contrast to the mainstem river, some back-flooded tributaries periodically developed thermal stratification, which is associated with higher water residence times. Additionally, biochemical oxygen demand, partial pressure of CO2, and organic carbon all increased in the tributary valleys inundated by the reservoir, possibly due to increased input of allochthonous organic matter and its subsequent mineralization upon back-flooding—a common feature of newly flooded impoundments. The mainstem did not show detectable dam-related changes in water chemistry and thermal structure. Although the majority of the reservoir area maintained riverine conditions, the lateral valleys formed upon back-flooding—corresponding to ~30% of the Santo Antônio reservoir area—developed lake-like conditions akin to a typical reservoir of a storage dam.
3D Dental Subsurface Imaging Using Enhanced Truncated Correlation-Photothermal Coherence Tomography
Authors: Roointan Sohrab , Tavakolian Pantea , Sivagurunathan Koneswaran S. , Floryan Marie , Mandelis Andreas , Abrams Stephen H.
Published: November 2019

Development of accurate and sensitive dental imaging technologies is a top priority in the pursuit of high-quality dental care. However, while early dental caries detection and routine monitoring of treatment progress are crucial for effective long-term results, current radiographic technologies fall short of this objective due to low sensitivity for small lesions and use of ionizing radiation which is unsuitable for frequent monitoring. Here we demonstrate the first application of enhanced Truncated Correlation-Photothermal Coherence Tomography (eTC-PCT) to dental imaging. eTC-PCT is non-invasive and non-ionizing, operates well below the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) limit, and features 3D subsurface imaging capability with operator controlled axial resolution. We explore the potential of this method for dental applications and demonstrate its capability for depth-resolved tomographic 3D reconstructions of the details and subsurface extent of a variety of dental defects. To this end, in this proof-of-concept study, dental eTC-PCT imaging results, and its sensitivity to dental caries, are discussed in comparison with visual examination, x-rays and micro-CT imaging.
Limit cycle dynamics can guide the evolution of gene regulatory networks towards point attractors
Authors: Wilson Stuart P. , James Sebastian S. , Whiteley Daniel J. , Krubitzer Leah A.
Published: November 2019

Developmental dynamics in Boolean models of gene networks self-organize, either into point attractors (stable repeating patterns of gene expression) or limit cycles (stable repeating sequences of patterns), depending on the network interactions specified by a genome of evolvable bits. Genome specifications for dynamics that can map specific gene expression patterns in early development onto specific point attractor patterns in later development are essentially impossible to discover by chance mutation alone, even for small networks. We show that selection for approximate mappings, dynamically maintained in the states comprising limit cycles, can accelerate evolution by at least an order of magnitude. These results suggest that self-organizing dynamics that occur within lifetimes can, in principle, guide natural selection across lifetimes.
Temporal and Spatial Evolution of Vegetation Coverage in the Mianyuan River Basin Influenced by Strong Earthquake Disturbance
Authors: Gan Bin-rui , Yang Xing-guo , Zhang Wen , Zhou Jia-wen
Published: November 2019

The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake caused significant economic losses and degradation of regional ecosystems, including the terrestrial vegetation. Since the vegetation root system can enhance the soil’s anti-erosion capacity and therefore mitigate the occurrence of slope instabilities, it is beneficial to study the spatial and temporal evolution of vegetation for a long-term assessment of co-seismic secondary disasters. The Mianyuan River Basin, an uninhabited area passing through an active fault located in the earthquake-affected region, was selected as the study area. The Normal Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated using remote sensing images from 1994 to 2017 to analyze the process of vegetation growth, loss, fluctuation and recovery. Statistical results suggest that the area in the middle and lower reaches, near the river network, and with a slope of 30 to 40 degrees were variable regions, showing more significant vegetation destruction during the earthquake and faster repair after the seismic event. Besides, vegetation near the fault was damaged more severely after the earthquake, but the active fault did not play an essential role in the vegetation recovery period. In the Mianyuan River Basin, vegetation experienced a volatility period (5 plus or minus one year) before entering the recovery period. In 8 to 9 years after the earthquake, the surficial vegetation could recover to the state before the earthquake.
Success rates in isolating mesenchymal stem cells from permanent and deciduous teeth
Authors: Nakajima Kengo , Kunimatsu Ryo , Ando Kazuyo , Hiraki Tomoka , Rikitake Kodai , Tsuka Yuji , Abe Takaharu , Tanimoto Kotaro
Published: November 2019

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) and human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) have emerged as attractive cell sources for bone regeneration. However, the specific teeth and the conditions most suitable for stem cell isolation remain unclear. Therefore, the success rate of SHED and hDPSCs isolation, the patient age and remaining root length in deciduous teeth were evaluated. Successful isolation was defined as when the cell culture was maintained up to the third passage without any contamination or other issues. Remaining tooth length was calculated using the root-to-crown ratio from patient X-rays and compared to the norm value from the literature. The overall successful isolation rate of SHED and hDPSCs was 82% and 70%. The average patient ages at extraction of the deciduous teeth and permanent teeth were 11 years and 9 months, and 22 years and 10 months respectively. In the successful SHED group, the average remaining root length of the anterior deciduous teeth was 71.4%, and that of the deciduous molars was 61.4%. Successful isolation appears to be associated with patient age, length of the remaining root, and also mechanical stress and other factors. Tooth selection criteria need to be identified to improve the success rate.
Upregulation of caveolin-1 and its colocalization with cytokine receptors contributes to beta cell apoptosis
Authors: Bae Gong Deuk , Park Eun-Young , Kim Kyong , Jang Se-Eun , Jun Hee-Sook , Oh Yoon Sin
Published: November 2019

Caveolin-1 (cav-1), the principal structural and signalling protein of caveolae, is implicated in various signalling events, including apoptotic cell death in type 2 diabetes. However, the precise role of beta cells in apoptosis has not been clearly defined. In this study, we investigated the involvement of cav-1 in cytokine-induced beta cell apoptosis and its underlying mechanisms in the rat beta cell line, INS-1 and isolated islets. Treatment of cytokine mixture (CM, TNFα + IL-1β) significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of cav-1, and resulting in increased formation of caveolae. We found that IL-1 receptor 1 and TNF receptor localized to plasma membrane lipid rafts in the control cells and CM treatment recruited these receptors to the caveolae domain. After cav-1 siRNA transfection, CM-dependent NF-κB activation was reduced and consequently downregulated the mRNA expression of iNOS and IL-1β. Finally, decreased cell viability by CM treatment was ameliorated in both INS-1 cells and isolated islets treated with cav-1 siRNA. These results suggest that increased cav-1 expression and recruitment of cytokine receptors into caveolae contribute to CM-induced beta cell apoptosis.
A pore-occluding phenylalanine gate prevents ion slippage through plant ammonium transporters
Authors: Ganz Pascal , Mink Robin , Ijato Toyosi , Porras-Murillo Romano , Ludewig Uwe , Neuhäuser Benjamin
Published: November 2019

Throughout all kingdoms of life, highly conserved transport proteins mediate the passage of ammonium across membranes. These transporters share a high homology and a common pore structure. Whether NH3, NH4+ or NH3 + H+ is the molecularly transported substrate, still remains unclear for distinct proteins. High-resolution protein structures of several ammonium transporters suggested two conserved pore domains, an external NH4+ recruitment site and a pore-occluding twin phenylalanine gate, to take over a crucial role in substrate determination and selectivity. Here, we show that while the external recruitment site seems essential for AtAMT1;2 function, single mutants of the double phenylalanine gate were not reduced in their ammonium transport capacity. Despite an unchanged ammonium transport rate, a single mutant of the inner phenylalanine showed reduced N-isotope selection that was proposed to be associated with ammonium deprotonation during transport. Even though ammonium might pass the mutant AMT pore in the ionic form, the transporter still excluded potassium ions from being transported. Our results, highlight the importance of the twin phenylalanine gate in blocking uncontrolled ammonium ion flux.
Guideline-Based Critical Care Pathway Improves Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Hai Jo-Jo , Wong Chun-Ka , Un Ka-Chun , Wong Ka-Lam , Zhang Zhe-Yu , Chan Pak-Hei , Lam Yui-Ming , Chan Wing-Sze , Lam Cheung-Chi , Tam Chor-Cheung , Wong Yiu-Tung , Yung See-Yue , Chan Ki-Wan , Siu Chung-Wah , Lau Chu-Pak , Tse Hung-Fat
Published: November 2019

Implementation of a critical care pathway (CCP) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has been shown to improve early compliance to guideline-directed therapies and reduce early mortality. Nevertheless its long-term impact on the compliance with medications or clinical outcomes remains unknown. Between 2004 and 2015, 2023 consecutive patients were admitted to our coronary care unit with ACS. We retrospectively compared the outcomes of 628 versus 1059 patients (mean age 66.1 ± 13.3 years, 74% male) managed before and after full implementation of a CCP. Compared with standard care, implementation of the CCP significantly increased coronary revascularization and long-term compliance with guideline-directed medical therapy (both P < 0.01). After a mean follow-up of 66.5 ± 44.0 months, 46.7% and 22.2% patients admitted before and after implementation of the CCP, respectively, died. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that patients managed by CCP had better overall survival (P = 0.03) than those managed with standard care. After adjustment for clinical covariates and coronary anatomy, CCP remained independently predictive of better survival from all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 0.75, 95%confidence intervals (CI): 0.62–0.92, P < 0.01]. Stepwise multivariate cox regression model showed that both revascularization (HR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.45–0.68, P < 0.01) and compliance to statin (HR: 0.70, 95%CI: 0.58–0.85, P < 0.01) were accountable for the improved outcome.
Association of Retinal Blood Flow with Progression of Visual Field in Glaucoma
Authors: Jeon Soo Ji , Shin Da-Young , Park Hae-Young Lopilly , Park Chan Kee
Published: November 2019

In the glaucoma clinic, patients with normal intraocular pressure (IOP) can sometimes show visual field (VF) progression. Therefore, clarification of relationship between vascular status and glaucomatous VF deterioration is a focus of interest. We used optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), with the aim of evaluating the relationship between vessel density (VD) and VF progression in glaucoma patients. We included 104 eyes with open angle glaucoma who were followed up for at least 5 years in this retrospective case-control study. Superficial and deep VD of macula were assessed by OCTA. Regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were used to identify factors significantly associated with VF progression. In logistic regression analysis determining VF progression from Guided Progression Analysis (GPA) program, initial IOP and deep macular VD were significantly associated with VF progression in multivariate analysis (P = 0.019 and 0.004). Cox proportional hazards model also identified deep macular VD as significantly related to VF progression (P = 0.035). In conclusion, initial IOP and deep VD were related to VF deterioration in glaucoma. Deep VD might be used as a surrogate of glaucomatous VF progression related with vascular incompetence.
In vivo rotational three-dimensional OCTA analysis of microaneurysms in the human diabetic retina
Authors: Borrelli Enrico , Sacconi Riccardo , Brambati Maria , Bandello Francesco , Querques Giuseppe
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to explore whether rotational three-dimensional (3D) visualization of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) volume data may yield valuable information regarding diabetic retinal microaneurysm (MA) characteristics. In this retrospective, observational study, we collected data from 20 patients (20 eyes) with diabetic retinopathy. Subjects were imaged with the SS-OCTA system (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA, USA). The OCTA volume data were processed with a volume projection removal algorithm and then exported to imageJ in order to obtain a 3D visualization of the analyzed MAs. The rotational three-dimensional OCTA images were qualitatively and quantitatively investigated. A total of 52 MAs were included in the analysis. On rotational 3D OCTA images, the number of vessels associated with each MA varied between 1 and 4, and most MAs (59.6%) were associated with 2 vessels. Moreover, in 20 MAs (38.4%) these vessels seem to originate from the SCP, while 26 MAs (50.0%) had associated vessels originating from the DVC, and 6 MAs had associated vessels arising from both the SCP and DVC (11.6%). Most MAs (31/52) had a ‘saccular’ shape. The number of retinal layers occupied by each MA ranged between 1 and 3 and the inner nuclear layer was the retinal layer most frequently occupied by MAs. In conclusion, this study used an algorithm to obtain rotational three-dimensional visualization of retinal MAs. The MAs’ architecture is complex and 3D visualization may clarify the true vascular origin of these lesions, which is often mistaken using en face OCTA images.
Multi-atlas label fusion with random local binary pattern features: Application to hippocampus segmentation
Authors: Zhu Hancan , Tang Zhenyu , Cheng Hewei , Wu Yihong , Fan Yong
Published: November 2019

Automatic and reliable segmentation of the hippocampus from magnetic resonance (MR) brain images is extremely important in a variety of neuroimage studies. To improve the hippocampus segmentation performance, a local binary pattern based feature extraction method is developed for machine learning based multi-atlas hippocampus segmentation. Under the framework of multi-atlas image segmentation (MAIS), a set of selected atlases are registered to images to be segmented using a non-linear image registration algorithm. The registered atlases are then used as training data to build linear regression models for segmenting the images based on the image features, referred to as random local binary pattern (RLBP), extracted using a novel image feature extraction method. The RLBP based MAIS algorithm has been validated for segmenting hippocampus based on a data set of 135 T1 MR images which are from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database (adni.loni.usc.edu). By using manual segmentation labels produced by experienced tracers as the standard of truth, six segmentation evaluation metrics were used to evaluate the image segmentation results by comparing automatic segmentation results with the manual segmentation labels. We further computed Cohen’s d effect size to investigate the sensitivity of each segmenting method in detecting volumetric differences of the hippocampus between different groups of subjects. The evaluation results showed that our method was competitive to state-of-the-art label fusion methods in terms of accuracy. Hippocampal volumetric analysis showed that the proposed RLBP method performed well in detecting the volumetric differences of the hippocampus between groups of Alzheimer’s disease patients, mild cognitive impairment subjects, and normal controls. These results have demonstrated that the RLBP based multi-atlas image segmentation method could facilitate efficient and accurate extraction of the hippocampus and may help predict Alzheimer’s disease. The codes of the proposed method is available (https://www.nitrc.org/frs/?group_id=1242).
A novel therapeutic approach using peripheral blood mononuclear cells preconditioned by oxygen-glucose deprivation
Authors: Hatakeyama Masahiro , Kanazawa Masato , Ninomiya Itaru , Omae Kaoru , Kimura Yasuko , Takahashi Tetsuya , Onodera Osamu , Fukushima Masanori , Shimohata Takayoshi
Published: November 2019

Cell therapies that invoke pleiotropic mechanisms may facilitate functional recovery in patients with stroke. Based on previous experiments using microglia preconditioned by oxygen-glucose deprivation, we hypothesized that the administration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) preconditioned by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD-PBMCs) to be a therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke. Here, OGD-PBMCs were identified to secrete remodelling factors, including the vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-βin vitro, while intra-arterial administration of OGD-PBMCs at 7 days after focal cerebral ischemia prompted expression of such factors in the brain parenchyma at 28 days following focal cerebral ischemiain vivo. Furthermore, administration of OGD-PBMCs induced an increasing number of stage-specific embryonic antigen-3-positive cells bothin vitroandin vivo. Finally, it was found to prompt angiogenesis and axonal outgrowth, and functional recovery after cerebral ischemia. In conclusion, the administration of OGD-PBMCs might be a novel therapeutic strategy against ischemic stroke.
A dual-enzyme, micro-band array biosensor based on the electrodeposition of carbon nanotubes embedded in chitosan and nanostructured Au-foams on microfabricated gold band electrodes
Authors: Juska Vuslat B. , Pemble Martyn E.
Published: November 2019

We report the development of a dual-enzyme electrochemical biosensor based on microfabricated gold band array electrodes which were first modified by gold foam (Au-foam) in order to dramatically increase the active surface area.
Oxidization increases the binding of EGCG to serum albumin revealed by kinetic data from label-free optical biosensor with reference channel
Authors: Peter Beatrix , Saftics Andras , Kovacs Boglarka , Kurunczi Sandor , Horvath Robert
Published: November 2019

Schematic illustration of the biosensor to measure the EGCG–BSA interaction and the concentration dependent bound amount of EGCG and oxidized EGCG.
A bottlebrush-architectured dextran polyprodrug as an acidity-responsive vector for enhanced chemotherapy efficiency
Authors: Zhang Tian , Wang Yajun , Ma Xianbin , Hou Cuilan , Lv Shuangyu , Jia Die , Lu Yi , Xue Peng , Kang Yuejun , Xu Zhigang
Published: November 2019

An acidity-activatable anticancer nanomedicine based bottlebrush-architectured dextran polyprodrug for enhanced chemotherapy.
Ba4(BS3S)2S4: a new thioborate with unprecedented [BS3-S] and [S4] fundamental building blocks
Authors: Li Guangmao , Li Junjie , Wu Kui , Yang Zhihua , Pan Shilie
Published: November 2019

The first BS-S group, BS3S, with π-conjugation composed of planar BS3and a non-polar covalent S–S bond.
Theoretically predicted surface morphology of FCC cobalt nanoparticles induced by Ru promoter
Authors: Liu Lili , Yu Mengting , Wang Qiang , Hou Bo , Jia Litao , Chen Congbiao , Li Debao
Published: November 2019

The addition of Ru promoter has an important role in tuning the stability of the exposed facets of FCC Co NPs, accompanied by the change of surface morphology.
Surfactant-free fabrication of porous PdSn alloy networks by self-assembly as superior freestanding electrocatalysts for formic acid oxidation
Authors: Qin Qian , Xie Jian , Dong Qizhi , Yu Gang , Chen Hong
Published: November 2019

Porous PdSn networks synthesized by self-assembly at 60 °C for the first time with high electrocatalytic performance for formic acid oxidation.
Morphological interference of two different cobalt oxides derived from a hydrothermal protocol and a single two-dimensional metal organic framework precursor to stabilize the β-phase of PVDF for flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators
Authors: Ojha Suparna , Paria Sarbaranjan , Karan Sumanta Kumar , Si Suman Kumar , Maitra Anirban , Das Amit Kumar , Halder Lopamudra , Bera Aswini , De Anurima , Khatua Bhanu Bhusan
Published: November 2019

The morphological effect of MOF derived Co3O4 NPs on the stabilization of β-phase in PVDF for piezoelectric energy harvesting applications.
Subtle chemical modification for enrichment of Fmoc-amino acid at a phospholipid interface
Authors: Argudo Pablo G. , Contreras-Montoya Rafael , Álvarez de Cienfuegos Luis , Martín-Romero María T. , Camacho Luis , Giner-Casares Juan J.
Published: November 2019

A modest chemical modification of the Fmoc-amino acids led to enhanced interaction with a model surface for biomembrane.
An invisible private 2D barcode design and implementation with tunable fluorescent nanoparticles
Authors: Jiang Kunkun , Xu Dandan , Liu Zhongyang , Zhao Weiwei , Ji Hongjun , Zhang Jiaheng , Li Mingyu , Zheng Tingting , Feng Huanhuan
Published: November 2019

The popularity of 2D barcodes is playing a key role in simplifying people's daily life activities, such as identification, quick payment, checking in and checking out,etc.