bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low-frequency selectivity in flat-plate boundary layer with elliptic leading edge
Authors: Wang Bofu , Mao Xuerui , Zaki Tamer A.
Published: March 2019

Linear perturbation analyses of zero-pressure-gradient boundary layers at subcritical Reynolds numbers predict that transient disturbance amplification can take place due to the lift-up mechanism. Upstream, streamwise-elongated vortices yield the largest response per unit of inflow disturbance energy, which takes the form of streamwise-elongated streaks. In this work, we compute the linear and also nonlinear inflow disturbances that generate the largest response inside the boundary layer, for flow over a thin flat plate with a slender leading edge. In order to compare our results with earlier linear analyses, we constrain the inlet disturbance to be monochromatic in time, or a single frequency. The boundary layer effectively filters high frequencies, and only low-frequency perturbations induce a strong response downstream. The low-frequency optimal inflow disturbance has a spanwise wavenumber that scales with $\sqrt{Re}$, and it consists of streamwise and normal vorticity components: the latter is tilted around the leading edge into the streamwise direction and, further downstream, generates streaks. While none of the computed monochromatic disturbances alone can lead to breakdown to turbulence, secondary instability analyses demonstrate that the streaky base state is unstable. Nonlinear simulations where the inflow disturbance is supplemented with additional white noise undergo secondary instability and breakdown to turbulence.
Perceived organizational support, psychological entitlement, and extra-role behavior: The mediating role of knowledge hiding behavior
Authors: Alnaimi Ayman Mousa Mahmoud , Rjoub Husam
Published: March 2019

Research on the knowledge sharing has exploded over the past decades due to trends and integration of knowledge and talent management in modern workplace. However, knowledge hiding has been left unexplored; moreover, efforts to foster knowledge sharing remain because employees are unwilling to share their knowledge for several reasons. Drawing on psychological ownership and social exchange theory, this article investigated the nexus between perceived organizational support, psychological entitlement, knowledge hiding behavior, and extra-role behavior, and the mediating role of knowledge hiding behavior. Utilizing survey data collected from 375 employees in Jordanian commercial banks, a structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the data. Results from structural equation modeling show that (1) perceived organizational support has a positive impact on extra-role behavior, (2) knowledge hiding behavior has a negative impact on extra-role behavior, (3) psychological entitlement has a positive impact on knowledge hiding behavior, and (4) knowledge hiding behavior mediated the relationship between psychological entitlement and extra-role behavior. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Projected effects of temperature changes on the Italian Western Tauri glaciers (Eastern Alps)
Authors: SERANDREI-BARBERO ROSSANA , DONNICI SANDRA , ZECCHETTO STEFANO
Published: March 2019

A linear model was used to investigate the behaviour of the Italian Western Tauri glaciers as a result of temperature changes projected for the 21st century. The model estimates the temperature variations once the glacier snout length variations are known and vice versa: it estimates the glacier snout length variations once the air temperature variations are known or predicted. The 46 glaciers of the Italian Western Tauri, 35 (76%) of which have areas smaller than 0.5 km2 and only 7 (15%) larger than 1 km2, are mostly mountain type glaciers and only three are presently valley glaciers. The model has been forced by the air temperature projections of the A1B emission scenario, which indicates an increase in temperature of 2.7°C from 2015 to 2100. The results show a shortening of more than 35% for mountain glaciers by 2100 with a surface loss of more than 60% and smaller reductions for valley glaciers. The consequent fragmentation into smaller units would lead to the extinction of 95% of the existing glaciers by the end of the century, possibly leaving only the valley glaciers surviving.
Mass Repression and Political Loyalty: Evidence from Stalin’s ‘Terror by Hunger’
Authors: ROZENAS ARTURAS , ZHUKOV YURI M.
Published: March 2019

States use repression to enforce obedience, but repression—especially if it is violent, massive, and indiscriminate—often incites opposition. Why does repression have such disparate effects? We address this question by studying the political legacy of Stalin’s coercive agricultural policy and collective punishment campaign in Ukraine, which led to the death by starvation of over three million people in 1932–34. Using rich micro-level data on eight decades of local political behavior, we find that communities exposed to Stalin’s “terror by hunger” behaved more loyally toward Moscow when the regime could credibly threaten retribution in response to opposition. In times when this threat of retribution abated, the famine-ridden communities showed more opposition to Moscow, both short- and long-term. Thus, repression can both deter and inflame opposition, depending on the political opportunity structure in which post-repression behavior unfolds.
A REMARK ON THE CHOW RING OF KÜCHLE FOURFOLDS OF TYPE
Authors: LATERVEER ROBERT
Published: March 2019

We prove that a Küchle fourfold$X$of type d3 has a multiplicative Chow–Künneth decomposition. We present some consequences for the Chow ring of$X$.
Development of consumer probiotics for the US market
Authors: Sanders Mary E.
Published: March 2019

Curiosity about probiotic bacteria is high. This is not surprising given the rapid growth of the natural products market in the USA, which was 22% in 1995 (New Hope Natural Media, Boulder, CO). Although probiotic cultures are only one component of that market, this trend shows that consumers in the USA are increasingly taking a pro-active stance towards their health and are purchasing products not only to eliminate what is perceived as dietary negatives but to increase the levels of dietary positives (Wrick, 1995). This shift in consumer attitude bodes well for the development of the American probiotic market. This article describes the composition, promotion and labelling of probiotic-containing products, discusses attributes of commercial probiotic bacteria, and estimates the size of the probiotic market in the USA. This market information was obtained from several published (Anon, 1996a,b)and unpublished but commercially available (SPINS Information Services, San Francisco, CA and New Hope Natural Media, Boulder, CO) sources.
Prevention of colon cancer by pre- and probiotics: evidence from laboratory studies
Authors: Reddy Bandaru S.
Published: March 2019

Oligofructose and inulin, selective fermentable chicory fructans, have been shown to stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria which are regarded as beneficial strains in the colon. Studies were designed to evaluate inulin (Raftiline) and oligofructose (Raftilose), for their potential inhibitory properties against aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation in the colon of rats. ACF are putative preneoplastic lesions from which adenomas and carcinomas may develop. The results of this study demonstrate that dietary administration of oligofructose and inulin inhibits the formation of preneoplastic lesions in the colon suggesting the potential colon tumour inhibitory properties of chicory fructans. Since these prebiotics selectively stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria, tumour inhibitory activity of lyophilized cultures of Bifidobacterium longum (BL) against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats and modulating effect of these cultures on colonic tumour cell proliferation, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, and ras-p21 oncoprotein expression were investigated. Dietary administration of lyophilized cultures of BL strongly suppressed AOM-induced colon tumour development. Inhibition of colon carcinogenesis was associated with a decrease in colonic mucosal cell proliferation and colonic mucosal and tumour ODC and ras-p21 activities.
Misperceptions of Chinese Investments in Canada and Their Correction: Evidence from a Survey Experiment
Authors: Li Xiaojun , Kuang Yingqiu , Zhang Linting
Published: March 2019

Foreign direct investment (FDI) from China has recently met with increasing public opposition in many host nations. Why does the public respond less favourably to Chinese FDI than to FDI from other countries? We explore this question by conducting a series of survey experiments in Canada, where the majority of the public holds a negative opinion of Chinese investment. We find that the bias can be attributed to innumeracy about the relative size of China's FDI and misinformation about investment rules that govern FDI projects in Canada. Correcting both misperceptions substantially reduces the bias of respondents against FDI projects from China. These results suggest that corrective information can lead to positive change in public attitudes, a finding that has important policy implications for Canadian leaders hoping to expand the country's business ties with China.
Who are the Asset-Poor in China: A Comprehensive Description and Policy Implications
Authors: YANG YUANYUAN , CHEN JUN-HONG , JIN MINCHAO
Published: March 2019

There is a large body of literature asserting that household asset holdings play a critical role in prospects of economic and social well-being. This study examines asset-poverty rates in China using the 2013 survey data from the Chinese Household Income Project (CHIP). The results indicate that asset-poverty rates in urban China were lower than those of developed countries, whereas rural and migrant households experienced more serious asset poverty than their counterparts in urban China. In addition, the asset-poverty rates were at least twice the income-poverty rates in China according to the different poverty lines used in the study. Several demographic characteristics were found associated with asset poverty. To assist the Chinese government in reaching its goal of eradicating absolute poverty by 2020 through targeted poverty alleviation, this study suggests including assets in the description and alleviation of poverty.
Functional disorders can also be explained through a non-reductionist application of network theory
Authors: Hyland Michael E.
Published: March 2019

A network structure explains why reductionism is not possible for mental illness, but the same argument applies for the somatic symptoms of functional disorders. Because the covariation of symptoms of functional disorders cannot be explained in terms of symptom-to-symptom causality, explanation requires a network of biological mechanisms having emergent properties that cannot be reduced to biology.
Network models can help focus research on the role of culture and context in psychopathology, but don't discount latent variable models
Authors: Jayawickreme Nuwan , Rasmussen Andrew , Karasz Alison , Verkuilen Jay , Jayawickreme Eranda
Published: March 2019

Borsboom et al. correctly note that the use of latent variable models in cross-cultural research has resulted in a futile search for universal, biological causes of psychopathology; however, this is not an inevitable outcome of such models. While network analytic approaches require further development, network models have the potential to better elucidate the role of cultural and contextual variables related to psychopathology.
The network takeover reaches psychopathology
Authors: McNally Richard J.
Published: March 2019

Borsboom et al. have written a trenchant critique of biological reductionism in psychopathology. After commenting on recent controversies concerning the network perspective, I discuss ways of integrating biology into the network enterprise.
Beyond trait reductionism: Implications of network structures for dimensional models of psychopathology
Authors: Bornstein Robert F.
Published: March 2019

Borsboom et al. discuss the implications of network structures for neurobiology-based reductionism, but inherent in the network approach is that dimensional models of psychopathology are untenable as well. Insofar as mental disorders are complex dynamic constellations of symptoms, the “trait reductionism” of dimensional psychopathology frameworks suffers from the same limitations as neurobiological reductionism.
Reductionism in retreat
Authors: Borsboom Denny , Cramer Angélique O. J. , Kalis Annemarie
Published: March 2019

We address the commentaries on our target article in terms of four major themes. First, we note that virtually all commentators agree that mental disorders are not brain disorders in the common interpretation of these terms, and establish the consensus that explanatory reductionism is not a viable thesis. Second, we address criticisms to the effect that our article was misdirected or aimed at a straw man; we argue that this is unlikely, given the widespread communication of reductionist slogans in psychopathology research and society. Third, we tackle the question of whether intentionality, extended systems, and multiple realizability are as problematic as claimed in the target article, and we present a number of nuances and extensions with respect to our article. Fourth, we discuss the question of how the network approach should incorporate biological factors, given that wholesale reductionism is an unlikely option.
Seven-year itch: the UK Government’s difficult relationship with the food and drink industry since Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Call to Action on Obesity in England (2011)
Authors: Flint Stuart W , Oliver Emily J
Published: March 2019

Objective

Unhealthy food and drink consumption is associated with a range of physical and mental health concerns. In response, public health policies have been developed targeting a reduction in obesity in particular. In the present commentary we argue that government–industry partnerships have reduced the effectiveness of resultant policies and explore why.

Design

Perspectives of authors.

Setting

UK.

Participants

Populations in the UK; UK Government.

Results

Industry involvement has presented three interrelated challenges for the UK Government: (i) balancing collaboration while maintaining appropriate distance from industry stakeholders; (ii) resultant production of ‘watertight’ and effective legislation or intervention; and (iii) actual or perceived limited sanctioning or bargaining power.

Conclusions

Industry involvement in public health policy making has led to weak action. Support with policy implementation (rather than development) and genuine ‘buy-in’ from industry could accelerate the pace of public health improvement.
Mental health during the Syrian crisis: How Syrians are dealing with the psychological effects
Authors: Hedar Mazen
Published: March 2019

Looking at the physical damage caused by the Syrian war, one can begin to imagine the scale of the psychological toll that eight years of crisis have taken on the Syrian people. In a country where mental health was still considered an emerging field before the war, Syrians are working to address and manage the mental health and psychological effects of war. Despite this disastrous situation, there appears to have been significant progress in the field of mental health during the crisis. This article explores the mental health situation in Syria prior to 2011, the effects of the crisis on Syrians, and how these have been managed in recent years. It concludes by citing some examples of progress that have been made in mental health care in Syria and discussing some of the challenges that remain to be addressed.
Individualisierte Medizin, elektronisches Patientendossier und Weiterverwendung von Gesundheitsdaten
Authors: Baur Isabel
Published: March 2019

Zusammenfassung. Der vorliegende Beitrag widmet sich den beiden Themenbereichen «Individualisierte Medizin» und «elektronisches Patientendossier». Sowohl die individualisierte Medizin wie auch das elektronische Patientendossier generieren zahlreiche unterschiedliche Gesundheitsdaten. Der Beitrag fokussiert auf den Wert der Gesundheitsdaten für die Humanforschung und diskutiert die Weiterverwendung der Daten gemäss dem Humanforschungsgesetz. Aktuell sieht weder das Bundesgesetz über das elektronische Patientendossier noch das Humanforschungsgesetz eine Möglichkeit vor, die Daten aus dem elektronischen Patientendossier für die Forschung zugänglich zu machen. Allerdings gibt es Bestrebungen, diese Gesetzeslage zu ändern, um zugunsten der (künftigen) Patienten die Daten aus dem Patientendossier in die Humanforschung einfliessen lassen zu können.
Lightning Effects on the Grain Size Distribution of Volcanic Ash
Authors: Genareau K. , Wallace K. L. , Gharghabi P. , Gafford J.
Published: March 2019

Natural volcanic ashfall samples were examined, and high‐current (~100 kA) electrical impulse experiments were conducted to reveal the changes in grain size that can occur during lightning discharge. Experiments on pseudo ash samples manufactured from volcanic deposits of both rhyolitic and basaltic composition show that aggregates of very fine grained ash particles (<32 μm) melt and degas to form vesiculated pumice fragments >100 μm in size. In some cases, bubbles <5 μm in diameter expand and detach from the outer surface of the pumice to form hollow spheres of glass, one type of lightning‐induced volcanic spherule, while other bubbles fragment. Volcanic ashfall from the 2009 Redoubt eruption and the 2016 Pavlof eruption contains both pumiceous grains and individual spherules. Results of this study reveal that volcanic lightning will alter the grain size distribution of ash through melting, vesiculation, and fragmentation of individual particles or ash aggregates.
The Effect of Mixed Wettability on Pore‐Scale Flow Regimes Based on a Flooding Experiment in Ketton Limestone
Authors: Rücker M. , Bartels W.‐B. , Singh K. , Brussee N. , Coorn A. , van der Linde H. A. , Bonnin A. , Ott H. , Hassanizadeh S. M. , Blunt M. J. , Mahani H. , Georgiadis A. , Berg S.
Published: March 2019

Darcy‐scale multiphase flow in geological formations is significantly influenced by the wettability of the fluid‐solid system. So far it has not been understood how wettability impacts the pore‐scale flow regimes within rocks, which were in most cases regarded as an alteration from the base case of strongly water‐wet conditions by adjustment of contact angles. In this study, we directly image the pore‐scale flow regime in a carbonate altered to a mixed‐wet condition by aging with crude oil to represent the natural configuration in an oil reservoir with fast synchrotron‐based X‐ray computed tomography. We find that the pore‐scale flow regime is dominated by ganglion dynamics in which the pore space is intermittently filled with oil and brine. The frequency and size of these fluctuations are greater than in water‐wet rock such that their impact on the overall flow and relative permeability cannot be neglected in modeling approaches.
Liquid Iron Equation of State to the Terapascal Regime From Ab Initio Simulations
Authors: Wagle Fabian , Steinle‐Neumann Gerd
Published: March 2019

We present a thermodynamic model for liquid iron, based on ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, which is applicable to 2 TPa and beyond 10000 K, conditions that are relevant in the cores of super‐Earths. We combine ab initio results for V‐T‐P‐E with a correction scheme to match experimental properties at ambient pressure, where ab initio results show poor agreement. We explore the performance of our thermodynamic potential and various previously published models for liquid iron over a wide range of conditions: (i) at ambient pressure as a function of temperature, (ii) along the melting curve of Fe to 40 GPa, relevant for the cores of smaller terrestrial bodies in our solar system, (iii) along isentropes in the Earth's outer core, and (iv) for the core of super‐Earth Kepler‐36b. The correction term significantly improves the agreement of computed properties with experiments and other thermodynamic models that are based on an assessment of the phase diagram at ambient and moderate pressure, showing how ab initio molecular dynamics simulations can be used at par with other thermodynamic techniques. For the Earth's core, densities from the various models are similar, but higher‐order derivatives (acoustic velocities and Grüneisen parameter) show significant differences. Evaluated along a core‐temperature profile in Kepler‐36b, differences in density from various models are negligible, for core mass they do not exceed 2%, showing robust extrapolation of all equation of state models.
Transport of Radium and Nutrients Through Eastern South African Beaches
Authors: Moore Willard S. , Humphries Marc S. , Benitez‐Nelson Claudia R. , Pillay Letitia , Higgs Caldin
Published: March 2019

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) plays a critical role in coastal and ocean biogeochemistry. Elucidating spatially and temporally heterogeneous SGD fluxes is difficult. Here we use radium isotopes to explore the external sources and mixing regime along the eastern coast of South Africa. We demonstrate that the long‐lived radium isotope compositions are controlled by low inputs of low‐ and high‐salinity terrestrial groundwater. While activities of 228Ra and 226Ra in beach porewaters are similar to coastal waters, 224Ra is enriched by inputs of 228Th from coastal seawater. Porewater ages, based on the production of 224Ra from 228Th, range from 0.3 to 2.3 days, indicating rapid flushing of the beach system. Unlike radium, however, nutrients follow a more complex pathway. We hypothesize that high total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and phosphorus concentrations in beach porewaters (TDN ranges from 1 to >700 μM) and the coastal ocean (TDN ranges from 1 to >40 μM) are derived from a source not enriched in radium. We speculate that this source is terrestrial water flowing below the dune barrier at depths exceeding our beach sampling depths. This water likely flows upward through breaches in the confining layer into the beach or enters the ocean directly through paleochannels. The presence of high nutrient concentrations in the coastal ocean unaccompanied by high 228Ra activities leads to the hypothesis of this additional nutrient source. These combined inputs may be of considerable importance to the coastal ecology of southeastern Africa, an oligotrophic ecosystem dominated by the nutrient‐poor Agulhas Current.
Temporally Constant Quaternary Uplift Rates and Their Relationship With Extensional Upper‐Plate Faults in South Crete (Greece), Constrained With36Cl Cosmogenic Exposure Dating
Authors: Robertson J. , Meschis M. , Roberts G. P. , Ganas A. , Gheorghiu D. M.
Published: March 2019

Preserved sets of marine terraces and palaeoshorelines above subduction zones provide an opportunity to explore the long‐term deformation that occurs as a result of upper‐plate extension. We investigate uplifted palaeoshorelines along the South Central Crete Fault and over its western tip, located above the Hellenic Subduction Zone, in order to derive uplift rates and examine the role that known extensional faults contribute to observed coastal uplift. We have mapped palaeoshorelines and successfully dated four Late‐Quaternary wave‐cut platforms using in situ36Cl exposure dating. These absolute ages are used to guide a correlation of palaeoshorelines with Quaternary sea level highstands from 76.5 to ~900 ka; the results of which suggest that uplift rates vary along fault strikes but have been constant for up to 600 ka in places. Correlation of palaeoshorelines across the South Central Crete Fault results in a throw‐rate of 0.41 mm/year and, assuming repetition of 1.1‐m slip events, a fault‐specific earthquake recurrence interval of approximately 2,700 years. Elastic‐half‐space modeling implies that coastal uplift is related to offshore upper‐plate extensional faults. These faults may be responsible for perturbing the uplift rate signals in the south central Crete area. Our findings suggest that where uplifted marine terraces are used to make inferences about the mechanisms responsible for uplift throughout the Hellenic Subduction Zone, and other subduction zones worldwide, the impact of upper‐plate extensional faults over multiple seismic cycles should also be considered.
How Much Water Is Evaporated Across California? A Multiyear Assessment Using a Biophysical Model Forced With Satellite Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Baldocchi Dennis , Dralle David , Jiang Chongya , Ryu Youngryel
Published: March 2019

California is expected to experience great spatial/temporal variations evaporation. These variations arise from strong north‐south, east‐west gradients in rainfall and vegetation, strong interannual variability in rainfall (±30%) and strong seasonal variability in the supply and demand for moisture. We used the Breathing Earth System Simulator to evaluate the rates and sums of evaporation across California, over the 2001–2017 period. Breathing Earth System Simulator is a bottom‐up, biophysical model that couples subroutines that calculate the surface energy balance, photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance. The model is forced with high‐resolution remote sensing data (1 km).The questions we address are as follows: How much water is evaporated across the natural and managed ecosystems of California? How much does evaporation vary during the booms and busts in annual rainfall? and Is evaporation increasing with time due to a warming climate? Mean annual evaporation, averaged over the 2001–2017 period, was relatively steady (393 ± 21 mm/year) given the high interannual variation in precipitation (519 ± 140 mm/year). No significant trend in evaporation at the statewide level was detected over this time period, despite a background of a warming climate. Irrigated agricultural crops and orchards, at 1‐km scale, use less water than inferred estimates for individual fields. This leaves the potential for sharing water, a scarce resource, more equitably among competing stakeholders, for example, farms, fish, people, and ecosystems.
Congress Considers Carbon Capture Options
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: March 2019

Democrats and Republicans explore areas of potential agreement in combating climate change.
Equal Representation in Scientific Honors Starts with Nominations
Authors: Jaynes Allison , MacDonald Elizabeth , Keesee Amy
Published: March 2019

This AGU section formed a task force to make visible underrepresented scientists deserving of recognition for their work.
A pediatric case of hypomagnesemia 1 (HOMG1) caused by novel compound heterozygous mutations in TRPM6
Authors: Goda Takeshi , Komatsu Hiroshi , Nozu Kandai , Nakajima Hisakazu
Published: March 2019

Hypomagnesemia 1 (HOMG1) is an extremely rare disease with autosomal recessive inheritance that is caused by mutations in the transient receptor potential melastatin 6 gene (TRPM6). Here, we describe a pediatric HOMG1 case with novel compound heterozygous mutations of TRPM6 (c.1483 C > T [p.Gln495*] and c.2715del [p.Trp905*]) in a 2-month-old boy who developed refractory seizures due to hypomagnesemia with secondary hypocalcemia.
Local unfolding of the HSP27 monomer regulates chaperone activity
Authors: Alderson T. Reid , Roche Julien , Gastall Heidi Y. , Dias David M. , Pritišanac Iva , Ying Jinfa , Bax Ad , Benesch Justin L. P. , Baldwin Andrew J.
Published: March 2019

The small heat-shock protein HSP27 is a redox-sensitive molecular chaperone that is expressed throughout the human body. Here, we describe redox-induced changes to the structure, dynamics, and function of HSP27 and its conserved α-crystallin domain (ACD). While HSP27 assembles into oligomers, we show that the monomers formed upon reduction are highly active chaperones in vitro, but are susceptible to self-aggregation. By using relaxation dispersion and high-pressure nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we observe that the pair of β-strands that mediate dimerisation partially unfold in the monomer. We note that numerous HSP27 mutations associated with inherited neuropathies cluster to this dynamic region. High levels of sequence conservation in ACDs from mammalian sHSPs suggest that the exposed, disordered interface present in free monomers or oligomeric subunits may be a general, functional feature of sHSPs.
ABHD5 blunts the sensitivity of colorectal cancer to fluorouracil via promoting autophagic uracil yield
Authors: Ou Juanjuan , Peng Yuan , Yang Weiwen , Zhang Yue , Hao Jie , Li Fu , Chen Yanrong , Zhao Yang , Xie Xiong , Wu Shuang , Zha Lin , Luo Xi , Xie Ganfeng , Wang Liting , Sun Wei , Zhou Qi , Li Jianjun , Liang Houjie
Published: March 2019

The efficacy of Fluorouracil (FU) in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) is greatly limited by drug resistance. Autophagy has been implicated in chemoresistance, but the role of selective autophagic degradation in regulating chemoresistance remains unknown. In this study, we revealed a critical role of ABHD5 in charging CRC sensitivity to FU via regulating autophagic uracil yield. We demonstrated that ABHD5 localizes to lysosome and interacts with PDIA5 to prevent PDIA5 from interacting with RNASET2 and inactivating RNASET2. ABHD5 deficiency releases PDIA5 to directly interact with RNASET2 and leave RNASET2 in an inactivate state, which impairs RNASET2-mediated autophagic uracil yield and promotes CRC cells to uptake FU as an exogenous uracil, thus increasing their sensitivity to FU. Our findings for the first time reveal a novel role of ABHD5 in regulating lysosome function, highlighting the significance of ABHD5 as a compelling biomarker predicting the sensitivity of CRCs to FU-based chemotherapy.
Ecological niche modelling does not support climatically-driven dinosaur diversity decline before the Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction
Authors: Chiarenza Alfio Alessandro , Mannion Philip D. , Lunt Daniel J. , Farnsworth Alex , Jones Lewis A. , Kelland Sarah-Jane , Allison Peter A.
Published: March 2019

In the lead-up to the Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction, dinosaur diversity is argued to have been either in long-term decline, or thriving until their sudden demise. The latest Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian [83–66 Ma]) of North America provides the best record to address this debate, but even here diversity reconstructions are biased by uneven sampling. Here we combine fossil occurrences with climatic and environmental modelling to quantify latest Cretaceous North American dinosaur habitat. Ecological niche modelling shows a Campanian-to-Maastrichtian habitability decrease in areas with present-day rock-outcrop. However, a continent-wide projection demonstrates habitat stability, or even a Campanian-to-Maastrichtian increase, that is not preserved. This reduction of the spatial sampling window resulted from formation of the proto-Rocky Mountains and sea-level regression. We suggest that Maastrichtian North American dinosaur diversity is therefore likely to be underestimated, with the apparent decline a product of sampling bias, and not due to a climatically-driven decrease in habitability as previously hypothesised.
Etv6 activates vegfa expression through positive and negative transcriptional regulatory networks in Xenopus embryos
Authors: Li Lei , Rispoli Rossella , Patient Roger , Ciau-Uitz Aldo , Porcher Catherine
Published: March 2019

VEGFA signaling controls physiological and pathological angiogenesis and hematopoiesis. Although many context-dependent signaling pathways downstream of VEGFA have been uncovered, vegfa transcriptional regulation in vivo remains unclear. Here, we show that the ETS transcription factor, Etv6, positively regulates vegfa expression during Xenopus blood stem cell development through multiple transcriptional inputs. In agreement with its established repressive functions, Etv6 directly inhibits expression of the repressor foxo3, to prevent Foxo3 from binding to and repressing the vegfa promoter. Etv6 also directly activates expression of the activator klf4; reflecting a genome-wide paucity in ETS-binding motifs in Etv6 genomic targets, Klf4 then recruits Etv6 to the vegfa promoter to activate its expression. These two mechanisms (double negative gate and feed-forward loop) are classic features of gene regulatory networks specifying cell fates. Thus, Etv6’s dual function, as a transcriptional repressor and activator, controls a major signaling pathway involved in endothelial and blood development in vivo.
Drought and heat waves associated with climate change affect performance of the potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae
Authors: Beetge Lezel , Krüger Kerstin
Published: March 2019

The combined effect of drought and heat waves on insect-plant interactions is complex and not fully understood. Insects may indirectly benefit from water-deficit stress through increased plant nitrogen levels. Heat stress may have a direct negative effect, yet insect performance may be improved when day-time heat is followed by cooler night temperatures. We show that moderate water-deficit stress (25–30% pot capacity) and high day-night temperatures (30/20 °C) affected Macrosiphum euphorbiae on potato (Solanum tuberosum) differently than their interactions. Water stress lowered stomatal conductance, and both water and heat stress reduced leaf area. The effect of water stress on nymphal and adult survival depended on temperature. Water stress added to reduced nymphal survival at high but not current (25/15 °C) day-night temperatures. Adult survival at high temperatures was reduced only when combined with water stress. Water stress and high temperatures independently but not interactively reduced the number of daily offspring. Moderate water stress when combined with high temperatures had a negative bottom-up effect on aphid survival even though lower night temperatures aided in the recovery from direct heat stress. Our study illustrates the importance of combining multiple stressors to better understand their impact on insect-plant interactions in the context of climate change.
Rotating magnetic field as tool for enhancing enzymes properties - laccase case study
Authors: Wasak Agata , Drozd Radosław , Jankowiak Dorota , Rakoczy Rafa
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of rotating magnetic field (RMF) exposition on the fungal laccase catalytic properties. The results obtained in the study revealed that RMF may positively alter the laccase activity. A significant increase in activities of 11%, 11%, and 9% were observed at 10 Hz, 40 Hz and 50 Hz, respectively. Exposure of laccase to the rotating magnetic field resulted in its increased activity at broader pH range and a slight shift in optimum pH from 4.0 to 4.5 at RMF with frequency 20 Hz. The results show that the enzyme activity, stability, and optimum pH can be significantly altered depending on the characteristic of the applied RMF. Application of rotating magnetic field opens a new way for controlling and directions of enzyme-based bioprocessing.
Contribution to dose in healthy tissue from secondary target fragments in therapeutic proton, He and C beams measured with CR-39 plastic nuclear track detectors
Authors: Kodaira Satoshi , Kitamura Hisashi , Kurano Mieko , Kawashima Hajime , Benton Eric R.
Published: March 2019

The linear energy transfer (LET) spectrum, absorbed dose and dose equivalent from secondary particles of LET∞H2O ≥15 keV/μm deposited within the plateau of the Bragg curve in primary particle-induced nuclear target fragmentation reactions in tissue during proton and heavy ion radiotherapy were measured using CR-39 plastic nuclear track detectors and analyzed by means of atomic force microscopy. It was found that secondary target fragments contributed 20% to dose equivalent for primary protons (157 MeV), 13% for primary helium ions (145 MeV/n) and 4% for primary carbon ions (383 MeV/n), respectively. Little research has been done on the contribution from these particles to primary given dose. The smaller contribution measured for energetic carbon ion beams compared to proton beams can be considered an advantage of carbon ion radiotherapy over proton radiotherapy.
Effects of intercalated atoms on electronic structure of graphene nanoribbon/hexagonal boron nitride stacked layer
Authors: Sung Dongchul , Kim Gunn , Hong Suklyun
Published: March 2019

Using first-principles calculations, we investigate an atomic impurity at the interface of a van der Waals heterostructure (vdW heterostructure) consisting of a zigzag graphene nanoribbon (ZGNR) and a hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) sheet. To find effects of atomic intercalation on geometrical and electronic properties of the ZGNR on the h-BN sheet, various types of impurity atoms are considered. The embedded atoms are initially placed at the edge or the middle of the ZGNR located on the h-BN sheet. Our results demonstrate that most of the impurity atoms are more stable at the edge than at the middle in all cases we consider. Especially, a nickel atom has the smallest energy difference (~0.15 eV) between the two embedding positions, which means that the Ni atom is relatively easy to intercalate in the structure. Finally, we discuss magnetic properties for the vdW heterostructure with an intercalated atom.
Notch Signaling Mediates Astrocyte Abnormality in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Model Systems
Authors: Ohuchi Kazuki , Funato Michinori , Yoshino Yuta , Ando Shiori , Inagaki Satoshi , Sato Arisu , Kawase Chizuru , Seki Junko , Saito Toshio , Nishio Hisahide , Nakamura Shinsuke , Shimazawa Masamitsu , Kaneko Hideo , Hara Hideaki
Published: March 2019

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder characterized by the degeneration of spinal motor neurons and muscle atrophy. The disease is mainly caused by low level of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, which is coded by two genes, namely SMN1 and SMN2, but leads to selective spinal motor neuron degeneration when SMN1 gene is deleted or mutated. Previous reports have shown that SMN-protein-deficient astrocytes are abnormally abundant in the spinal cords of SMA model mice. However, the mechanism of the SMN- deficient astrocyte abnormality remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to identify the cellular signaling pathways associated with the SMN-deficient astrocyte abnormality and propose a candidate therapy tool that modulates signaling. In the present study, we found that the astrocyte density was increased around the central canal of the spinal cord in a mouse SMA model and we identified the dysregulation of Notch signaling which is a known mechanism that regulates astrocyte differentiation and proliferation, in the spinal cord in both early and late stages of SMA pathogenesis. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of Notch signaling improved the motor functional deficits in SMA model mice. These findings indicate that dysregulated Notch signaling may be an underlying cause of SMA pathology.
Microsatellite Borders and Micro-sequence Conservation in Juglans
Authors: Ebrahimi Aziz , Mathur Samarth , Lawson Shaneka S. , LaBonte Nicholas R. , Lorch Adam , Coggeshall Mark V. , Woeste Keith E.
Published: March 2019

Walnuts (Juglans spp.) are economically important nut and timber species with a worldwide distribution. Using the published Persian walnut genome as a reference for the assembly of short reads from six Juglans species and several interspecific hybrids, we identified simple sequence repeats in 12 Juglans nuclear and organellar genomes. The genome-wide distribution and polymorphisms of nuclear and organellar microsatellites (SSRs) for most Juglans genomes have not been previously studied. We compared the frequency of nuclear SSR motifs and their lengths across Juglans, and identified section-specific chloroplast SSR motifs. Primer pairs were designed for more than 60,000 SSR-containing sequences based on alignment against assembled scaffold sequences. Of the >60,000 loci, 39,000 were validated by e-PCR using unique primer pairs. We identified primers containing 100% sequence identity in multiple species. Across species, sequence identity in the SSR-flanking regions was generally low. Although SSRs are common and highly dispersed in the genome, their flanking sequences are conserved at about 90 to 95% identity within Juglans and within species. In a few rare cases, flanking sequences are identical across species of Juglans. This comprehensive report of nuclear and organellar SSRs in Juglans and the generation of validated SSR primers will be a useful resource for future genetic analyses, walnut breeding programs, high-level taxonomic evaluations, and genomic studies in Juglandaceae.
Mass Transfer of Proteins in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems
Authors: Kaplanow I. , Goerzgen F. , Merz J. , Schembecker G.
Published: March 2019

Aqueous Two-Phase Extraction is known to be a gentle separation technique for biochemical molecules where product partitioning is fast. However, the reason for the high mass transfer rates has not been investigated, yet. Many researchers claim that the low interfacial tension facilitates the formation of very small droplets and with it a large interfacial area causing a fast partitioning. However, an experimental evidence for this hypothesis has not been published yet. In this study, the mass transfer coefficients of two proteins, namely lysozyme and bromelain, were determined by providing a defined interfacial area for partitioning. Compared to low molecular weight solutes the mass transfer coefficient for the proteins investigated was small proving for the first time that the large interfacial area and not fast diffusion seems to be the reason for fast protein partitioning.
Age-related gene and miRNA expression changes in airways of healthy individuals
Authors: Ong J. , Woldhuis R. R. , Boudewijn I. M. , van den Berg A. , Kluiver J. , Kok K. , Terpstra M. M. , Guryev V. , de Vries M. , Vermeulen C. J. , Timens W. , van den Berge M. , Brandsma C. A.
Published: March 2019

Knowledge on age-related miRNA changes in healthy individuals and their interaction with mRNAs is lacking. We studied age-related mRNA and miRNA expression changes and their interactions in normal airways. RNA and small RNA sequencing was performed on bronchial biopsies of 86 healthy individuals (age: 18–73) to determine age-related expression changes. Per age-related miRNA we determined the enrichment of age-related predicted targets and their correlation. We identified 285 age-related genes and 27 age-related miRNAs. Pathway enrichment showed that genes higher expressed with age were involved in synapse-related processes. Genes lower expressed with age were involved in cell cycle regulation, the immune system and DNA damage/repair. MiR-146a-5p, miR-146b-5p and miR-142-5p were lower expressed with increasing age and we found a significant enrichment for predicted targets of these miRNAs among genes that were higher expressed with age. The expression levels of the enriched predicted targets RIMS2 and IGSF1 were negatively correlated with both miR-146a-5p and miR-146b-5p. RIMS2 was present in the enriched process, i.e. positive regulation of synaptic transmission. In conclusion, genes decreased with ageing are involved in several of the ageing hallmarks. Genes higher expressed with ageing were involved in synapse-related processes, of which RIMS2 is potentially regulated by two age-related miRNAs.
Transcriptome analysis of a rice cultivar reveals the differentially expressed genes in response to wild and mutant strains of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
Authors: Wang Chunlian , Tariq Rezwan , Ji Zhiyuan , Wei Zheng , Zheng Kaili , Mishra Rukmini , Zhao Kaijun
Published: March 2019

Bacterial blight (BB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is a devastating disease in most of the rice growing regions worldwide. Among the 42 BB resistance (R) genes, Xa23 is an executor R gene, conferring broad-spectrum disease resistance to all naturally occurring biotypes of Xoo. In this study, CBB23, a rice line carrying Xa23 gene, was inoculated with wild PXO99A and its mutant, P99M2, to retrieve the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). RNA-Seq analysis retrieved 1,235 DEGs (p-value ≤ 0.05) at 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours of post inoculation (hpi). Gene ontology (GO) analysis classified the DEGs functionally into biological process, cellular component and molecular function. KEGG pathway analysis categorized the DEGs into 11 different pathways, and the ribosome is a prominent pathway followed by biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids. Gene co-expression network analysis identified the clusters of transcription factors (TFs) which may be involved in PXO99A resistance. Additionally, we retrieved 67 differentially expressed TFs and 26 peroxidase responsive genes which may be involved in disease resistance mechanism. DEGs involved in the host-pathogen interaction, e.g., signaling mechanism, cell wall and plant hormones were identified. This data would be a valuable resource for researchers to identify the candidate genes associated with Xoo resistance.
Reconstructing Taiwan’s land cover changes between 1904 and 2015 from historical maps and satellite images
Authors: Chen Yi-Ying , Huang Wei , Wang Wei-Hong , Juang Jehn-Yih , Hong Jing-Shan , Kato Tomomichi , Luyssaert Sebastiaan
Published: March 2019

A new reconstruction of changes in Taiwan’s land cover and estimated uncertainty between 1904 and 2015 is presented. The reconstruction is made by integrating geographical information from historical maps and SPOT satellite images, to obtain spatially explicit land cover maps with a resolution of 500 × 500 m and distinguishes six land cover classes: forests, grasslands, agricultural land, inland water, built-up land, and bare soil. The temporal resolution is unbalanced being derived from four historical maps describing the land cover between 1904 and 1994 and five mosaic satellite images describing the land cover between 1995 and 2015. The uncertainty of the historical maps is quantified to show the aggregation error whereas the uncertainty of the satellite images is quantified as classification error. Since 1904, Taiwan, as a developing country, has gone through a not unusual sequence of population growth and subsequent urbanization, a decoupling of the demand for agricultural land from population growth, and a transition from shrinking in forest area to forest expansion. This new land cover reconstruction is expected to contribute to future revisions of global land cover reconstructions as well as to studies of (gross) land cover changes, the carbon budget, regional climate, urban heat islands, and air and water pollution at the national and sub-national level.
Vector uncoating limits adeno-associated viral vector-mediated transduction of human dendritic cells and vector immunogenicity
Authors: Rossi Axel , Dupaty Léa , Aillot Ludovic , Zhang Liang , Gallien Célia , Hallek Michael , Odenthal Margarete , Adriouch Sahil , Salvetti Anna , Büning Hildegard
Published: March 2019

AAV vectors poorly transduce Dendritic cells (DC), a feature invoked to explain AAV’s low immunogenicity. However, the reason for this non-permissiveness remained elusive. Here, we performed an in-depth analysis using human monocyte-derived immature DC (iDC) as model. iDC internalized AAV vectors of various serotypes, but even the most efficient serotype failed to transduce iDC above background. Since AAV vectors reached the cell nucleus, we hypothesized that AAV’s intracellular processing occurs suboptimal. On this basis, we screened an AAV peptide display library for capsid variants more suitable for DC transduction and identified the I/VSS family which transduced DC with efficiencies of up to 38%. This property correlated with an improved vector uncoating. To determine the consequence of this novel feature for AAV’s in vivo performance, we engineered one of the lead candidates to express a cytoplasmic form of ovalbumin, a highly immunogenic model antigen, and assayed transduction efficiency as well as immunogenicity. The capsid variant clearly outperformed the parental serotype in muscle transduction and in inducing antigen-specific humoral and T cell responses as well as anti-capsid CD8+ T cells. Hence, vector uncoating represents a major barrier hampering AAV vector-mediated transduction of DC and impacts on its use as vaccine platform.