bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does quality of life feedback promote seeking help for undiagnosed cancer?
Authors: Skevington Suzanne M. , Long Hannah , Gartland Nicola
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Diagnosing cancer early is an imperative, as help-seeking delays affect survival. Quality of life (QoL) deteriorates after diagnosis, but decline may start when cancer is suspected at the earliest stage of the pathway to treatment. This study examined whether offering guided feedback about personal QoL to adults with potential cancer symptoms, living in deprived communities, changes QoL and promotes help-seeking in primary care.

Methods

Visitors to a CRUK mobile cancer roadshow were recruited in 43 sites. A prospective longitudinal (2 × 2) repeated-measures design was applied. Where they presented a potential cancer symptom, and were ‘signposted’ to a GP, they were allocated to a symptom condition, or a lifestyle condition, if seeking cancer risk advice. Randomisation was to an Intervention group, who received feedback about personal QoL results (WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL importance measures), or a Control group who assessed QoL without feedback. Depression was screened.

Results

Of 107 participants, the mean age was 53; 50% were women, 57% were without tertiary education, 66% were unemployed and 45% were currently ill. Over 10 weeks, 54% of all those with symptoms sought help from a medical source and 42% specifically from a GP. Thirty-one completed all three assessments. With symptoms present, psychological, social and environmental QoL were poor, becoming poorer over time. When the symptoms group received feedback, psychological QoL increased, but GP visits were unaffected. However, feedback increased help-seeking from informal social contacts. Lifestyle groups reported consistently good psychological and social QoL.

Conclusion

This early cancer research offers practical and theoretical implications for QoL interventions in deprived communities.
Increasing validity through replication: an illustrative TDD case
Authors: Santos Adrian , Vegas Sira , Uyaguari Fernando , Dieste Oscar , Turhan Burak , Juristo Natalia
Published: March 2020

Software engineering (SE) experiments suffer from threats to validity that may impact their results. Replication allows researchers building on top of previous experiments’ weaknesses and increasing the reliability of the findings. Illustrating the benefits of replication to increase the reliability of the findings and uncover moderator variables. We replicate an experiment on test-driven development (TDD) and address some of its threats to validity and those of a previous replication. We compare the replications’ results and hypothesize on plausible moderators impacting results. Differences across TDD replications’ results might be due to the operationalization of the response variables, the allocation of subjects to treatments, the allowance to work outside the laboratory, the provision of stubs, or the task. Replications allow examining the robustness of the findings, hypothesizing on plausible moderators influencing results, and strengthening the evidence obtained.
Composition, identity and plural ontology
Authors: Loss Roberto
Published: March 2020

According to ‘Strong Composition as Identity’ (SCAI), if an entity is composed of a plurality of entities, it is identical to them. As it has been argued in the literature, SCAI appears to give rise to some serious problems which seem to suggest that SCAI-theorists should take their plural quantifier to be governed by some ‘weak’ plural comprehension principle and, thus, ‘exclude’ some kinds of pluralities from their plural ontology. The aim of this paper is to argue that, contrary to what may appear at first sight, the assumption of a weak plural comprehension principle is perfectly compatible with plural logic and the common uses of plural quantification. As I aim to show, SCAI-theorists can simply claim that their theory must be understood as formulated by means of the most ‘joint-carving’ plural quantifier, thus leaving open the possibility of other, less joint-carving, ‘unrestricted’ plural quantifiers. In the final part of the paper I will also suggest that SCAI-theorists should not only allow for singular quantification over pluralities of entities, but also for plural quantification over ‘super-pluralities’ of entities.
On Complete Information Dispositionalism
Authors: Nyquist Mons
Published: March 2020

In a trio of recent articles, Johnson and Nado (2014, 2016,Philosophia, 45, 717–734, 2017) defend a form of metasemantic dispositionalism, arguing for a novel approach to the “error”-problem, based on speakers’ dispositional states under what they call a state of “full information”. In this article, I argue that their brand of dispositionalism fails to solve the “error”-problem, because of what I think of as counterexamples to it. In the final sections, I propose a way to amend the theory to shield it from some of the counterexamples, based on the idea that what determines meaning is not only dispositions to apply words under full information, but also dispositions to evaluate one’s prior usage, under full information.
Einblicke in die Entstehung von Mikrotubuli
Authors: Pfeffer Stefan , Schiebel Elmar
Published: March 2020

Microtubules are part of the cytoskeleton and promote various essential cellular functions. Microtubules are dynamic polymers composed of heterodimeric α/ß-tubulin subunits and can assemble de novo in a ‘structural templating’ mechanism assisted by ring-like complexes containing the protein γ-tubulin. Recent cryo-electron microscopy structures of such γ-tubulin ring complexes from vertebrates propelled our understanding of their architecture, assembly and activation mechanism.
Plasmazellüberleben wird durch extrinsische Signale reguliert
Authors: Cornelis Rebecca , Radbruch Andreas , Chang Hyun-Dong
Published: March 2020

Secreted antibodies form the basis for protective vaccination, the most effective method of disease control to date. Plasma cells are the main producers of antibodies. A single plasma cell can secrete thousands of antibodies per second and thus forms the basis of humoral immunity of the body. While this function plays an important role to protect the body from recurring pathogens, autoreactive plasma cells secreting autoantibodies can lead to severe organ damage in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Kultivierung und Analyse von Biofilmen durch automatisierte Mikrosysteme
Authors: Lemke Phillip , Klein Edina , Gescher Johannes , Niemeyer Christof M.
Published: March 2020

Biofilms are the most abundant growth form of microorganisms in nature. To exploit these living systems for applications in biotechnology, we have developed a microfluidic cultivation platform with an integrated automatic sampling robot that enables the characterization of biofilms with high spatiotemporal resolution. Moreover, in situ imaging and anoxic or gas-consumption based cultivation can be applied. Biocatalytic productivity can be assessed using a spectrum of analytical technologies.
Yin und Yang beim Lernen im jungen Gehirn: Balance von PSD-95 und PSD-93
Authors: Löwel Siegrid
Published: March 2020

During development, there are restricted time windows (critical periods) in which the juvenile brain is particularly plastic and gets optimized in an activity-dependent way. The balance between two signalling scaffold proteins of excitatory synapses with opposing functions is essential for both synapse maturation and the timing of critical periods. We hope that our new results will help to develop strategies for rehabilitation after brain lesions and for treating neurodevelopmental disorders.
Untersuchung von miRNAs mithilfe getrockneter Blutstropfen
Authors: Diener Caroline , Keller Andreas , Meese Eckart
Published: March 2020

Due to their connection to a great diversity of diseases and their prevalence in blood, microRNAs (miRNAs) are envisaged as biomarkers in liquid biopsy diagnostics. Utilizing dried blood spots (DBS) for the isolation of miRNAs greatly facilitates both the sample collection and the storage in comparison to liquid blood. MiRNAs isolated from DBS can be used for the analysis of individual miRNAs and for high-throughput analyses of the entire miRNome.
Facilitating Episodic Simulation in Anxiety: Role of Sensory Scaffolding and Scenario Modality
Authors: Ji Julie L. , Meyer M. Joseph , Teachman Bethany A.
Published: March 2020

Cognitive bias modification of interpretation style (CBM-I) is a family of cognitive training programs that seek to reduce anxious thinking by training people to assign relatively more positive meanings to ambiguous situations. CBM-I’s effects may be enhanced by encouraging more vivid imagery-based episodic simulation of events and by increasing engagement with the training materials. This study investigated the role of sensory scaffolding (whether pictures, or pictures + sound were added) and verbal scenario modality (whether scenarios were delivered visually or aurally) on episodic simulation (Vivid; Plausible; Changing Perspective ratings) and user engagement (Relatable, Comprehensible, Enjoyable ratings). Amazon Mechanical Turk workers (N = 187) with varied anxiety symptom severity read or listened to brief scenarios that varied by sensory scaffolding and verbal scenario modality. Results were somewhat mixed. Generally, picture scaffolding tended to facilitate both episodic simulation and user engagement (relative to no scaffolding), irrespective of scenario modality and anxiety level.
National survey of emergency physicians on the risk stratification and acceptable miss rate of acute aortic syndrome
Authors: Ohle Robert , McIsaac Sarah , Yan Justin , Yadav Krishan , Eagles Debra , Perry Jeffrey J.
Published: March 2020

Objectives

One in four cases of acute aortic syndrome are missed. This national survey examined Canadian Emergency physicians’ opinion on risk stratification, the need for a clinical decision aid to risk stratify patients, and the required sensitivity of such a tool.

Methods

We surveyed 1,556 members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. We used a modified Dillman technique with a prenotification email and up to three survey attempts using electronic mail. Physicians were asked 21 questions about demographics, importance of certain high-risk features, investigation options, threshold for investigation, and if a clinical decision tool is required

Results

We had a response rate of 32%. Respondents were 66% male, and 49% practicing >10 years, with 59% in an academic teaching hospital. A total of 93% reported a need for a clinical decision aid to risk stratify for acute aortic syndrome. A total of 99.6% of physicians were pragmatic accepting a non-zero miss-rate, two-thirds accepting <1%, and the remaining accepting a higher miss-rate.

Conclusions

Our national survey determined that emergency physicians would use a highly sensitive clinical decision aid to determine which patients are at low, medium, or high-risk for acute aortic syndrome. The majority of clinicians have a low threshold (<1%) for investigating for acute aortic syndrome, but accept that a zero miss-rate is not feasible.
Reducing unnecessary testing in the emergency department: The case for INR and aPTT
Authors: Tawadrous Davy , Detombe Sarah , Thompson Drew , Columbus Melanie , Van Aarsen Kristine , Skoretz Terry
Published: March 2020

Objective

Routine coagulation testing is rarely indicated in the emergency department. Our goal is to determine the combined effects of uncoupling routine coagulation testing (i.e., international normalized ratio [INR]; activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT]), disseminating an educational module, and implementing a clinical decision support system (CDSS) on coagulation testing rates in two academic emergency departments.

Methods

A prospective pre-post study of INR-aPTT uncoupling, educational module distribution, and CDSS implementation in two academic emergency departments. All patients ages 18 years and older undergoing evaluation and treatment during the period of August 1, 2015, to November 30, 2017, were included. Primary outcome was coagulation testing utilization during the emergency department encounter. Secondary outcomes included associated costs, frequency of downstream testing, and frequency of blood transfusions.

Results

Uncoupling INR-aPTT testing combined with educational module distribution and CDSS implementation resulted in significantly decreased coupled INR-aPTT testing, with significantly increased selective INR and aPTT testing. Overall, the aggregate rate of coagulation testing declined for both INR and aPTT testing (48 tests/100 patients/day to 26 tests/100 patients/day). There was a significant decrease in associated daily costs (median cost per day: $1048.32 v. $601.68), realizing estimated annual savings of $163,023 Canadian dollars (CAD). There was no signal of increased downstream testing or patient blood product requirements.

Conclusion

Compared to baseline practice patterns, our multimodal initiative significantly decreased coagulation testing, with meaningful cost savings and without evidence of patient harm. Clinicians and administrators now have a growing toolkit to target the plethora of low-value tests and treatments in emergency medicine.
The barking dogs: junior coalition partners and military operations abroad in Italy
Authors: Vignoli Valerio
Published: March 2020

Various studies explored under which conditions junior coalition partners are able to have an impact on foreign policy outcomes. However, these parties do not always manage to get what they want. In this situation, they face a dilemma: defecting or staying? In the Italian context, as far as Military Operations Abroad (MOA) are concerned, the latter option has invariably prevailed. In particular, Italy's involvement in Operation Allied Force in Kosovo (1999) and Operation Unified Protector in Libya (2011) raised considerable contestation from junior partners that did not result in the termination of the respective cabinets. Employing extensive qualitative data, including a set of original interviews with relevant policymakers, this article aims to understand why junior partners did not defect in these two cases. The empirical findings highlight a variation in parties' motivations according to their ideological leaning: while extreme-left parties were afraid of being punished by their own voters for leaving the cabinet because of the participation in the operation in Kosovo, the far-right and autonomist Lega Nord did not consider opposition to the military intervention in Libya as a salient issue. Therefore, the article has considerable implications for the research agendas on the party politics of military interventions and government termination.
Effects of gut microbiota on leptin expression and body weight are lessened by high-fat diet in mice
Authors: Yao Hongyang , Fan Chaonan , Fan Xiuqin , Lu Yuanyuan , Wang Yuanyuan , Wang Rui , Tang Tiantian , Qi Kemin
Published: March 2020

Aberration in leptin expression is one of the most frequent features in the onset and progression of obesity, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear and need to be clarified. This study investigated the effects of the absence of gut microbiota on body weight and the expression and promoter methylation of the leptin. Male C57 BL/6 J germ-free (GF) and conventional (CV) mice (aged 4–5 weeks) were fed either a normal-fat diet (NFD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. Six to eight mice from each group, at 15 weeks, were administered exogenous leptin for 7 d. Leptin expression and body weight gain in GF mice were increased by NFD with more CpG sites hypermethylated at the leptin promoter, whereas there was no change with HFD, compared with CV mice. Adipose or hepatic expression of genes associated with fat synthesis (Acc1, Fas and Srebp-1c), hydrolysis and oxidation (Atgl, Cpt1a, Cpt1c, Ppar-α and Pgc-1α) was lower, and hypothalamus expression of Pomc and Socs3 was higher in GF mice than levels in CV mice, particularly with NFD feeding. Exogenous leptin reduced body weight in both types of mice, with a greater effect on CV mice with NFD. Adipose Lep-R expression was up-regulated, and hepatic Fas and hypothalamic Socs3 were down-regulated in both types of mice. Expression of fat hydrolysis and oxidative genes (Atgl, Hsl, Cpt1a, Cpt1c, Ppar-α and Pgc-1α) was up-regulated in CV mice. Therefore, the effects of gut microbiota on the leptin expression and body weight were affected by dietary fat intake.
Emotional eating and obesity in adults: the role of depression, sleep and genes
Authors: Konttinen Hanna
Published: March 2020

Stress and other negative emotions, such as depression and anxiety, can lead to both decreased and increased food intake. The term ‘emotional eating’ has been widely used to refer to the latter response: a tendency to eat in response to negative emotions with the chosen foods being primarily energy-dense and palatable ones. Emotional eating can be caused by various mechanisms, such as using eating to cope with negative emotions or confusing internal states of hunger and satiety with physiological changes related to emotions. An increasing number of prospective studies have shown that emotional eating predicts subsequent weight gain in adults. This review discusses particularly three lines of research on emotional eating and obesity in adults. First, studies implying that emotional eating may be one behavioural mechanism linking depression and development of obesity. Secondly, studies highlighting the relevance of night sleep duration by showing that adults with a combination of shorter sleep and higher emotional eating may be especially vulnerable to weight gain. Thirdly, an emerging literature suggesting that genes may influence body weight partly through emotional eating and other eating behaviour dimensions. The review concludes by discussing what kind of implications these three avenues of research offer for obesity prevention and treatment interventions.
Gutes Verpflegungskonzept nötig
Authors: Andrea Nussbaum-Weber Sandra
Published: March 2020

Zusammenfassung. An die Verpflegung in der Psychiatrie sind hohe Anforderungen gestellt. Verschiedene Bedürfnisse aufgrund der differenzierten Patientengruppe müssen beachtet werden. Es variieren Alter, kulturelle Herkunft, Diagnose (psychiatrische und somatische) und damit verbundene Ernährungsprobleme, aber auch die Einnahme der Medikamente.
Ein angemessenes Milieu aufbauen
Authors: Neuhaus Björn , Benz Jutta
Published: March 2020

Zusammenfassung. Seit dem Jahr 2013 werden auf der Station A04 der LWL Universitätsklinik Hamm jugendliche Mädchen und Jungen mit einer Essstörung primär behandelt. Hierunter fallen die Anorexia nervosa, die Bulimia nervosa und das Binge Eating. Die Essbegleitung stellt eine zentrale Aufgabe und Herausforderung für den Pflege- und Erziehungsdienst (PED) dar. Dieser Beitrag gibt einen komprimierten Eindruck seit der Konzeptentwicklung im Jahr 2013 und berichtet von den strukturellen und menschlichen Herausforderungen. Die Vor- und Nachteile des beschriebenen Vorgehens werden reflektiert.
In Appreciation of Our 2019 Peer Reviewers
Authors: Montési Laurent G. J. , Hauck Steven A. , Baratoux David , Määttänen Anni , Rogers A. Deanne , Stanley Sabine
Published: March 2020

Science is at its best when shared widely both within the scientific community and to the broader public. To maintain trust in science while simultaneously maximizing openness, it is important that every paper is carefully vetted. For this we rely on many volunteers, especially our peer reviewers. Their work is key for maintaining the integrity of scientific journals and to ensure the highest standards of scientific rigor. Reviewers verify that the assumptions, the methods, and the inferences made in our papers are sound. Many spend hours going over derivations, analyses, and evaluating the novelty and significance of the submitted manuscript. In 2019, JGR Planets benefited from 901 reviews provided by 584 unique reviewers. On behalf of the entire editorial board of JGR Planets and the entire planetary science community, we want to express here our most heartfelt gratitude to all of you. Thank you!
Diagnostic and predictive value of Doppler ultrasound for evaluation of the brain circulation in preterm infants: a systematic review
Authors:   eurUS.brain group, Camfferman Fleur A. , de Goederen Robbin , Govaert Paul , Dudink Jeroen , van Bel Frank , Pellicer Adelina , Cools Filip
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Very and extremely preterm infants frequently have brain injury-related long-term neurodevelopmental problems. Altered perfusion, for example, seen in the context of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), has been linked to injury of the immature brain. However, a direct relation with outcome has not been reviewed systematically.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted to provide an overview of the value of different cerebral arterial blood flow parameters assessed by Doppler ultrasound, in relation to brain injury, to predict long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants.

Results

In total, 23 studies were included. Because of heterogeneity of studies, a meta-analysis of results was not possible. All included studies on resistance index (RI) showed significantly higher values in subjects with a hemodynamically significant PDA. However, absolute differences in RI values were small. Studies using Doppler parameters to predict brain injury and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome were inconsistent.

Discussion

There is no clear evidence to support the routine determination of RI or other Doppler parameters in the cerebral arteries to predict brain injury and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in the preterm infant. However, there is evidence that elevated RI can point to the presence of a hemodynamically significant PDA.
The globus pallidus orchestrates abnormal network dynamics in a model of Parkinsonism
Authors: Crompe Brice de la , Aristieta Asier , Leblois Arthur , Elsherbiny Salma , Boraud Thomas , Mallet Nicolas P.
Published: March 2020

The dynamical properties of cortico-basal ganglia (CBG) circuits are dramatically altered following the loss of dopamine in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The neural circuit dysfunctions associated with PD include spike-rate alteration concomitant with excessive oscillatory spike-synchronization in the beta frequency range (12–30 Hz). Which neuronal circuits orchestrate and propagate these abnormal neural dynamics in CBG remains unknown. In this work, we combine in vivo electrophysiological recordings with advanced optogenetic manipulations in normal and 6-OHDA rats to shed light on the mechanistic principle underlying circuit dysfunction in PD. Our results show that abnormal neural dynamics present in a rat model of PD do not rely on cortical or subthalamic nucleus activity but critically dependent on globus pallidus (GP) integrity. Our findings highlight the pivotal role played by the GP which operates as a hub nucleus capable of orchestrating firing rate and synchronization changes across CBG circuits both in normal and pathological conditions.
Vascularized cardiac tissue construction with orientation by layer-by-layer method and 3D printer
Authors: Tsukamoto Yoshinari , Akagi Takami , Akashi Mitsuru
Published: March 2020

Herein, we report the fabrication of native organ-like three-dimensional (3D) cardiac tissue with an oriented structure and vascular network using a layer-by-layer (LbL), cell accumulation and 3D printing technique for regenerative medicine and pharmaceutical applications. We firstly evaluated the 3D shaping ability of hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC), a thermoresponsive polymer, by using a robotic dispensing 3D printer. Next, we tried to fabricate orientation-controlled 3D cardiac tissue using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) and normal human cardiac fibroblasts (NHCF) coated with extracellular matrix (ECM) nanofilms by layer-by-layer technique. These cells were seeded in the fabricated rectangular shape HBC gel frame. After cultivation of the fabricated tissue, fluorescence staining of the cytoskeleton revealed that hiPSC-CM and NHCF were aligned in one direction. Moreover, we were able to measure its contractile behavior using a video image analysis system. These results indicate that orientation-controlled cardiac tissue has more remarkable contractile function than uncontrolled cardiac tissue. Finally, co-culture with human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC) successfully provided a vascular network in orientation-controlled 3D cardiac tissue. The constructed 3D cardiac tissue with an oriented structure and vascular network would be a useful tool for regenerative medicine and pharmaceutical applications.
Synergistic and Antagonistic Effects of Aromatics on the Agglomeration of Gas Hydrates
Authors: Bui Tai , Monteiro Deepak , Vo Loan , Striolo Alberto
Published: March 2020

Surfactants are often used to stabilize aqueous dispersions. For example, surfactants can be used to prevent hydrate particles from forming large plugs that can clog, and sometimes rupture pipelines. Changes in oil composition, however dramatically affect the performance of said surfactants. In this work we demonstrate that aromatic compounds, dissolved in the hydrocarbon phase, can have both synergistic and antagonistic effects, depending on their molecular structure, with respect to surfactants developed to prevent hydrate agglomerations. While monocyclic aromatics such as benzene were found to disrupt the structure of surfactant films at low surfactant density, they are expelled from the interfacial film at high surfactant density. On the other hand, polycyclic aromatics, in particular pyrene, are found to induce order and stabilize the surfactant films both at low and high surfactant density. Based on our simulation results, polycyclic aromatics could behave as natural anti-agglomerants and enhance the performance of the specific surfactants considered here, while monocyclic aromatics could, in some cases, negatively affect performance. Although limited to the conditions chosen for the present simulations, the results, explained in terms of molecular features, could be valuable for better understanding synergistic and antagonistic effects relevant for stabilizing aqueous dispersions used in diverse applications, ranging from foodstuff to processing of nanomaterials and advanced manufacturing.
Multimodal Phenotyping of Alzheimer’s Disease with Longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Cognitive Function Data
Authors: Kim Yejin , Jiang Xiaoqian , Giancardo Luca , Pena Danilo , Bukhbinder Avram S. , Amran Albert Y. , Schulz Paul E. ,   Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: March 2020

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) varies a great deal cognitively regarding symptoms, test findings, the rate of progression, and neuroradiologically in terms of atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We hypothesized that an unbiased analysis of the progression of AD, regarding clinical and MRI features, will reveal a number of AD phenotypes. Our objective is to develop and use a computational method for multi-modal analysis of changes in cognitive scores and MRI volumes to test for there being multiple AD phenotypes. In this retrospective cohort study with a total of 857 subjects from the AD (n = 213), MCI (n = 322), and control (CN, n = 322) groups, we used structural MRI data and neuropsychological assessments to develop a novel computational phenotyping method that groups brain regions from MRI and subsets of neuropsychological assessments in a non-biased fashion. The phenotyping method was built based on coupled nonnegative matrix factorization (C-NMF). As a result, the computational phenotyping method found four phenotypes with different combination and progression of neuropsychologic and neuroradiologic features. Identifying distinct AD phenotypes here could help explain why only a subset of AD patients typically respond to any single treatment. This, in turn, will help us target treatments more specifically to certain responsive phenotypes.
Using questionnaires and task-related EEG signals to reveal hindered reappraisal and biased suppression in individuals with high schizotypal traits
Authors: Pan Dong-ni , Hoid Delhii , Wang Zhen-hao , Wang Yi , Li Xuebing
Published: March 2020

Although impaired ability to regulate emotion is commonly reported in schizophrenic patients, the exact pattern of regulation of negative emotions in high-risk individuals remains unclear. In the current study, 26 high-schizotypy individuals paired with 26 controls completed an emotion regulation questionnaire (ERQ) and a laboratory emotion regulation task with electroencephalogram (EEG) recording. Two emotion regulation strategies, namely, reappraisal and expression suppression, were concurrently examined. The late positive potential (LPP) and frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) were selected as two independent neural indicators of the emotion regulation effect. In the ERQ questionnaire, individuals in the high schizotypy group reported higher habitual use of suppression than the controls. During the emotion regulation task, the high  schizotypy group showed no early LPP reduction in reappraisal compared with the control group and exhibited a general negative FAA pattern (left-biased alpha). In conclusion, we found that individuals with high schizotypy exhibited maladaptive regulation of negative emotions, manifested in hindered reappraisal and biased suppression; this may exacerbate the negative affect of such emotions and further serve as a risk factor for psychosis conversion. Early interventions targeting the regulation of negative emotions may be beneficial for individuals with high schizotypal traits.
Interlayer excitons in van der Waals heterostructures: Binding energy, Stark shift, and field-induced dissociation
Authors: Kamban Høgni C. , Pedersen Thomas G.
Published: March 2020

Photoexcited intralayer excitons in van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) with type-II band alignment have been observed to tunnel into interlayer excitons on ultrafast timescales. Such interlayer excitons have sufficiently long lifetimes that inducing dissociation with external in-plane electric fields becomes an attractive option of improving efficiency of photocurrent devices. In the present paper, we calculate interlayer exciton binding energies, Stark shifts, and dissociation rates for six different transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) vdWHs using a numerical procedure based on exterior complex scaling (ECS). We utilize an analytical bilayer Keldysh potential describing the interaction between the electron-hole pair, and validate its accuracy by comparing to the full multilayer Poisson equation. Based on this model, we obtain an analytical weak-field expression for the exciton dissociation rate. The heterostructures analysed are MoS2/MoSe2, MoS2/WS2, MoS2/WSe2, MoSe2/WSe2, WS2/MoSe2, and WS2/WSe2 in various dielectric environments. For weak electric fields, we find that WS2/WSe2 supports the fastest dissociation rates among the six structures. We, furthermore, observe that exciton dissociation rates in vdWHs are significantly larger than in their monolayer counterparts.
Synergistic effects of depression and NR3C1 methylation on prognosis of acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Kang Hee-Ju , Stewart Robert , Kim Ju-Wan , Kim Sung-Wan , Shin Il-Seon , Kim Min-Chul , Hong Young Joon , Ahn Youngkeun , Shin Myung-Geun , Jeong Myung Ho , Yoon Jin-Sang , Kim Jae-Min
Published: March 2020

High levels of methylation in the GR gene (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1; NR3C1) have been associated with depression and cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to investigate whether NR3C1 methylation status was associated with the long-term prognosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) considering depression and cardiovascular status at the early phase of ACS. A total of 969 patients with recent ACS were recruited at a tertiary university hospital in Korea. Baseline evaluations were made from 2007 to 2012, including DSM-IV depressive disorder, NR3C1 methylation, and various demographic and clinical characteristics such as cardiovascular risk markers. Over a 5~12 year follow-up after the index ACS, time to major adverse cardiac event (MACE) was investigated using Cox regression models. Higher NR3C1 methylation status was associated with depression and several cardiovascular risk markers at baseline. NR3C1 hypermethylation predicted worse long-term prognosis of ACS only in the presence of depressive disorder with significant synergistic interaction terms and independent of potential confounding factors. Synergistic effects of depressive disorder and NR3C1 hypermethylation on long-term cardiac outcomes in ACS were found. NR3C1 methylation status represents a candidate prognostic biomarker for ACS in combination with a diagnosis of depressive disorder. Further research is needed to ascertain the generalisability of these findings.
Hydrothermal synthesis and methylene blue adsorption performance of novel 3D hierarchical Li2Si2O5 hydrate particles
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wang Jinxiao , Yang Jianfeng
Published: March 2020

Li2Si2O5 are generally obtained in form of granules with unavoidable impurities including Li2SiO3 and SiO2. Here, we demonstrated a facile hydrothermal route to synthesize novel 3D hierarchical Li2Si2O5 hydrate hollow flower-like microstructures assembled by rod subunits with high purity. The crystal growth was accomplished by complete transformation from poorly crystallized metastable phases formed in the initial stage including Li2SiO3, SiO2 and various Li2Si2O5 hydrate species to Li2Si2O5 hydrate rods. The transformation over many times gave a sustainable high chemical potential to direct the anisotropic growth of Li2Si2O5 hydrate rods with large aspect ratios. Besides, the variation of Li/Si molar ratios confirmed that Li2Si2O5 hydrate rods were obtained only at Li/Si = 1. The perfection and aspect ratio of the rods could be controlled very well by adjusting the hydrothermal temperatures and precursor concentrations. Some new points about obtaining pure phase and anisotropic morphology were discussed, including careful selection of precursors and synthetic method. The obtained novel 3D Li2Si2O5 hydrate structures exhibited a characteristic of mesoporous material and had an excellent adsorption capability of methylene blue with high adsorption amount of 49.42 mg·g−1 and color removal of 98.85%, indicating the potential use in wastewater treatment.
Nanosecond laser-induced surface damage and its mechanism of CaF2 optical window at 248 nm KrF excimer laser
Authors: Li Xin , Dou Xian-an , Zhu Hong , Hu Yue , Wang Xi
Published: March 2020

Calcium fluoride (CaF2) crystals is a kind of important optical material for ultraviolet (UV) and deep-ultraviolet (DUV) lithography and high-power laser-related applications. However, its laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) directly affects the laser power, so that the above-mentioned applications could be limited. Therefore, the research on the damage characteristics and laser damage resistance of CaF2 crystals is urgent. A 3D Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method with Maxwell spinor equation is used, and the results show that the electric field intensity of rear surface is larger than that of front surface, which causes a lower threshold and is consistent with the experimental observations. And a thermo-mechanical coupled finite element model (FEM) of CaF2 with Ce2O3 impurities, which are introduced by polishing process, has semiquantitatively described the damage mechanism of CaF2 by 248 nm-excimer laser.
Milk microbial composition of Brazilian dairy cows entering the dry period and genomic comparison between Staphylococcus aureus strains susceptible to the bacteriophage vB_SauM-UFV_DC4
Authors: da Silva Duarte Vinícius , Treu Laura , Sartori Cristina , Dias Roberto Sousa , da Silva Paes Isabela , Vieira Marcella Silva , Santana Gabriele Rocha , Marcondes Marcos Inácio , Giacomini Alessio , Corich Viviana , Campanaro Stefano , da Silva Cynthia Canedo , de Paula Sérgio Oliveira
Published: March 2020

Brazil has the second-largest dairy cattle herd in the world, and bovine mastitis still can cause significant losses for dairy farmers. Despite this fact, little information is available about milk microbial composition of Brazilian dairy cows, as well as the potential use of bacteriophages in the control of S. aureus. Here, we investigated milk bacterial composition of 28 Holstein Fresian cows (109 teats), selected in the dry-off period, using 16S rRNA analysis. Furthermore, a representative S. aureus strain (UFV2030RH1) was obtained at drying-off for isolation of a bacteriophage (vB_SauM-UFV_DC4, UFV_DC4) and bacterial genomic comparison purposes. Our outcomes revealed that Staphylococcus was the third most prevalent genus and positively correlated with subclinical mastitis events. As a major finding, genomic analyses showed the presence of adhesive matrix molecules that recognize microbial surface components (MSCRAMM) in UFV2030RH1 and might indicate great biofilm formation capability. A minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay showed that resistance to ampicillin was the highest among the antibiotic tested in S. aureus 3059 and UFV2030RH1, displaying values four and sixteen times greater than MIC resistance breakpoint, respectively. Together, our results suggest that Staphylococcus is highly prevalent in dairy cows at drying-off and the use of the phage UFV_DC4 as a biocontrol agent must be investigated in future studies.
Association of PPM1G methylation with risk-taking in alcohol use disorder
Authors: Park Chun Il , Kim Hae Won , Hwang Syung Shick , Kang Jee In , Kim Se Joo
Published: March 2020

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic and relapsing disease with a substantial genetic influence. Given the recent discovery of the association of PPM1G methylation with alcohol use disorder (AUD) from a genome-wide methylation study, we sought to verify and extend the previous work of AUD-related impulsivity in a Korean population with AUD. A total of 244 men with AUD were assessed for psychological characteristics and behavioral impulsivity using stop signal task (response inhibition) and Balloon Analog Risk Task (risk-taking). Leukocyte DNA methylation at PPM1G was quantified using pyrosequencing. The effects of PPM1G methylation on severity of problematic drinking measured by Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) and multidimensional impulsivity were tested using linear regression analyses. Hypermethylation of PPM1G was significantly associated with risk-taking propensity among men with AUD. No significant association of PPM1G methylation was found to be associated with AUDIT scores and response inhibition. Our findings indicate that altered methylation of PPM1G may influence the impulsive choice of risk-taking in AUD. Further research is required in order to determine the role of PPM1G in the pathophysiology of AUD and multidimensional impulsivity.
Comparison and quantitative analysis of microstructure parameters between original loess and remoulded loess under different wetting-drying cycles
Authors: Ni Wan-kui , Yuan Kang-ze , Lü Xiang-fei , Yuan Zhi-hui
Published: March 2020

The microstructural evolution of loess had a significant impact on the collapsibility of loess during wetting-drying cycles. Based on the analysis of scanning electron microscope (SEM) images by using Image-Pro Plus, the present study quantitatively compared the microstructural parameters of original loess and remoulded loess with different moisture content before and after wetting-drying cycles in size, shape, and arrangement. In size, the average diameter of both original loess particles and remoulded loess particles increased with the increasing of initial moisture content. However, the average diameter of original loess particles was slightly larger than that of remoulded loess particles before wetting-drying cycles. In contrast, the average diameter of both original loess particles and remoulded loess particles were very close to each other after three wetting-drying cycles. In shape, before wetting-drying cycles, the average shape factor of original loess particles was higher than that of remoulded loess particles. After three wetting-drying cycles, the difference in the average shape factor of both two loess samples with 5% initial moisture content is similar to that before wetting-drying cycles. Nevertheless, the average shape factor of both original loess particles and remouled loess particles with 15% initial moisture content were very close to that with 25% initial moisture content. In the arrangement, directional frequency indicated remoulded loess appeared to be more vertically aligned than original before and after three wetting-drying cycles. Furthermore, the directed anisotropy rate of remoulded loess was higher than that of the original loess before and after three wetting-drying cycles. In summary, the size, shape, and arrangement of both original loess particles and remoulded loess particles varied in different degrees before and after three wetting-drying cycles. Combined with the water retention curve of the loess, we analyzed the microstructural evolution mechanism of two loess particles during wetting-drying cycles. It is an excellent significance to study the engineering properties of original loess and remoulded loess.
Function-based high-throughput screening for antibody antagonists and agonists against G protein-coupled receptors
Authors: Ren Huanhuan , Li Jian , Zhang Ning , Hu Liaoyuan A. , Ma Yingli , Tagari Philip , Xu Jianqing , Zhang Mei-Yun
Published: March 2020

Hybridoma and phage display are two powerful technologies for isolating target-specific monoclonal antibodies based on the binding. However, for complex membrane proteins, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), binding-based screening rarely results in functional antibodies. Here we describe a function-based high-throughput screening method for quickly identifying antibody antagonists and agonists against GPCRs by combining glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored antibody cell display with β-arrestin recruitment-based cell sorting and screening. This method links antibody genotype with phenotype and is applicable to all GPCR targets. We validated this method by identifying a panel of antibody antagonists and an antibody agonist to the human apelin receptor from an immune antibody repertoire. In contrast, we obtained only neutral binders and antibody antagonists from the same repertoire by phage display, suggesting that the new approach described here is more efficient than traditional methods in isolating functional antibodies. This new method may create a new paradigm in antibody drug discovery.
Applying the Jellium model to octacarbonyl metal complexes
Authors: Wang Kun , Xu Chang , Li Dan , Cheng Longjiu
Published: March 2020

The recently reported octacarbonyl metal complexes M(CO)8 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) feature interesting bonding structures. In these compounds, the bond order is 7, while accommodating 8 lone pairs of ligands in forming octa-coordinated complexes or ions. Here, by comparing [Ba(CO)8]2− and metal clusters of [BaBe8]2− analogically, we demonstrate that the Jellium model can not only be applied on metal clusters, but is also a useful tool to understand the electronic structures of [M(CO)8]q (M, q = Ca, 2−; Sc, 1−; Ti, 0; V, 1+; Cr, 2+; Ba, 2−). By applying the Jellium model, we find that a 20-e model with the configuration |1S2|1P6|1D10|1F2| is an appropriate description of the valence bonding structures of M(CO)8 species, where each coordinative bond contains 7/8ths of the bonding orbitals and 1/8th non-bonding orbitals.
Elementary models of the “flux driven anti-ripening” during nanobelt growth
Authors: Gusak Andriy , Huriev Yaroslav , Malyi Oleksandr I. , Tang Yuxin
Published: March 2020

We develop phenomenological models describing the controllable growth of elongated nanostructures by a stirring hydrothermal approach.
Deciphering the near-field response with the far-field wavelength-scanned SERS spectra of 4-mercaptopyridine adsorbed on gold nanocolloidal particles entrapped in Langmuir Reverse Schaefer film of 5CB liquid crystal molecules
Authors: Das Sumit Kumar , Bhattacharya Tara Shankar , Chowdhury Joydeep
Published: March 2020

Wavelength-scanned SERS spectra of 4-mercaptopyridine molecule adsorbed on gold nanoparticles immobilised in a Langmuir Reverse Schaefer film of 5CB molecules.
Influence of nanomedicine mechanical properties on tumor targeting delivery
Authors: Li Zheng , Xiao Chen , Yong Tuying , Li Zifu , Gan Lu , Yang Xiangliang
Published: March 2020

This tutorial review summarizes the influence of nanomedicine mechanical properties on drug delivery efficiency, antitumor efficacy and safety.
Active learning a coarse-grained neural network model for bulk water from sparse training data
Authors: Loeffler Troy D. , Patra Tarak K. , Chan Henry , Sankaranarayanan Subramanian K. R. S.
Published: March 2020

Active learning scheme to train neural network potentials for molecular simulations.
Energy transfer process in an unsymmetrical crown-containing bisstyryl dye incorporated in the cavities of CB[7] and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD
Authors: Ruleva Anna Y. , Tsvetkov Vladimir B. , Fedorov Yuri V. , Chernikova Ekaterina Y. , Shepel Nikolay E. , Godovikov Ivan A. , Fedorova Olga A.
Published: March 2020

A supramolecular complex of an unsymmetrical crown-containing bisstyryl dye with CB[7] and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD can operate as an energy transfer system.
Strain-induced structural phase transition, electric polarization and unusual electric properties in photovoltaic materials CsMI3 (M = Pb, Sn)
Authors: Cheng Xiao-Rong , Kuang Xiao-Yu , Cheng Hao , Tian Hao , Yang Si-Min , Yu Miao , Dou Xi-Long , Mao Ai-Jie
Published: March 2020

The structural phase transition, ferroelectric polarization, and electric properties have been investigated for photovoltaic films CsMI3 (M = Pb, Sn) epitaxially grown along (001) direction based on the density functional theory.
ZrOCl2 as a bifunctional and in situ precursor material for catalytic hydrogen transfer of bio-based carboxides
Authors: He Jian , Xu Yufei , Yu Zhaozhuo , Li Hu , Zhao Wenfeng , Wu Hongguo , Yang Song
Published: March 2020

ZrOCl2·8H2O exhibited high activity in tandem synthesis of γ-valerolactone and the residual solid after reactions showed remarkable catalytic performance in transfer hydrogenation.
Melting scenarios of two-dimensional Hertzian spheres with a single triangular lattice
Authors: Tsiok E. N. , Gaiduk E. A. , Fomin Yu. D. , Ryzhov V. N.
Published: March 2020

We present a molecular dynamics simulation study of the phase diagram and melting scenarios of two-dimensional Hertzian spheres with exponent 7/2.
Promoting spherical epitaxial deposition of solid sulfides for high-capacity Li–S batteries
Authors: Xu Kangli , Zhu Maogen , Zhu Linqin , Li Danying , Zhang Wanqun , Huang Tao , Zhu Yongchun , Qian Yitai
Published: March 2020

Single-atom Co reconstructs the electronic structure of the solid intermediates, benefits the non-locality of electrons and octahedron–tetrahedron fields of solid intermediates, promotes the electron transfer and Li transport of longitudinal deposition.
Novel anilino quinazoline-based EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Yang Lili , Liu Shanshan , Chu Jingjing , Miao Shuang , Wang Kai , Zhang Qingwei , Wang Yingyi , Xiao Yadi , Wu Lina , Liu Yang , Yu Longjian , Yu Caihong , Liu Xiang , Ke Mingxing , Cheng Zhen , Sun Xilin
Published: March 2020

The two novel anilino quinazoline-based EGFR-TKIs have promising anti-tumor activity and limited hepatotoxicity, representing excellent candidates for combating the NSCLC.
A terbium(iii) luminescent ATCUN-based peptide sensor for selective and reversible detection of copper(ii) in biological media
Authors: Falcone Enrico , Gonzalez Paulina , Lorusso Lucie , Sénèque Olivier , Faller Peter , Raibaut Laurent
Published: March 2020

Detection of copper(ii) in biological media via time-delayed luminescence by a selective and reversible terbium(iii)-luminescent peptide sensor with pM affinity.