bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What is geriatric rehabilitation and how should it be organized? A Delphi study aimed at reaching European consensus
Authors: van Balen Romke , Gordon Adam L. , Schols Jos M. G. A. , Drewes Yvonne M. , Achterberg Wilco P.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Many European countries have developed services to rehabilitate the increasing number of older people who experience an acute or subacute decrease in function after a medical event such as a hip fracture or stroke. However, there are important differences between countries regarding patient selection, organization of services, length of stay, and content of the rehabilitation process. The lack of consensus around, and quality criteria for, geriatric rehabilitation limits opportunities for exchange of best practice and scientific research.

Methods

33 experts, mostly geriatricians with experience in geriatric rehabilitation, from 18 European countries were invited to participate in a modified Delphi study. They were asked to react to 68 statements using a five-point Likert scale. The statements were formulated on the basis of literature review and practice experience, and were initially piloted among Dutch elderly care physicians. Consensus was defined beforehand as an Interquartile Range (IQR) of </= 1 for each statement.

Results

Consensus was reached on 61 (90%) statements after two rounds. The resulting consensus covers: the need for a multidisciplinary approach to Geriatric Rehabilitation after CGA; inclusion of patients with temporary confusion or cognitive decline; use of structured goal-oriented rehabilitation plans; the necessity of an early start of rehabilitation; preference for ambulatory rehabilitation or Geriatric Rehabilitation at home; the advantage of protocolled treatment programs; the need for consensus on patient outcome assessment instruments; and education and training in Geriatric Rehabilitation for healthcare professionals.

Conclusion

These consensus statements provide a first step towards more coherent organization and delivery of geriatric rehabilitation across Europe.
Promotion and tenure policies for team science at colleges/schools of medicine
Authors: McHale Susan M. , Ranwala Damayanthi (Dayan) , DiazGranados Deborah , Bagshaw Dee , Schienke Erich , Blank Arthur E.
Published: October 2019

Introduction:

Advancing understanding of human health promotion and disease prevention and treatment often requires teamwork. To evaluate academic medical institutions’ support for team science in the context of researchers’ career development, we measured the value placed on team science and specificity of guidance provided for documenting team science contributions in the promotion and tenure (P&T) documents of Colleges/Schools of Medicine (CoMs) in the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences’ Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program.

Method:

We reviewed complete P&T documents from 57 of 63 CTSA CoMs to identify career paths defined by three dimensions: academic rank (associate versus full professor), tenure eligibility (tenure track versus not), and role (research, clinical, education, and administrative), and we rated team science value and documentation guidance for each path. Multilevel models were estimated to compare team science value and documentation guidance as a function of the three career path dimensions while accounting for the clustered data (N = 357 career paths within 57 CoMs).

Results:

Team science value was greater for associate than full professors, non-tenure-eligible versus tenure-eligible positions, and roles prioritizing clinical, education, and administrative responsibilities versus those prioritizing research. Guidance for documenting team science achievements was more explicit for roles that prioritized research.

Discussion:

Although P&T policies at most CTSA institutions express value for team science, inconsistent within-institutional patterns of recognition and reward across career paths may have implications for researchers’ involvement in team science. We discuss the implications of our findings for research and for P&T policies that promote team science.
CALDERÓN’S INVERSE PROBLEM WITH A FINITE NUMBER OF MEASUREMENTS
Authors: ALBERTI GIOVANNI S. , SANTACESARIA MATTEO
Published: October 2019

We prove that an$L^{\infty }$potential in the Schrödinger equation in three and higher dimensions can be uniquely determined from a finite number of boundary measurements, provided it belongs to a known finite dimensional subspace${\mathcal{W}}$. As a corollary, we obtain a similar result for Calderón’s inverse conductivity problem. Lipschitz stability estimates and a globally convergent nonlinear reconstruction algorithm for both inverse problems are also presented. These are the first results on global uniqueness, stability and reconstruction for nonlinear inverse boundary value problems with finitely many measurements. We also discuss a few relevant examples of finite dimensional subspaces${\mathcal{W}}$, including bandlimited and piecewise constant potentials, and explicitly compute the number of required measurements as a function of$\dim {\mathcal{W}}$.
Anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions associated with the insertion of peripherally inserted central catheters: A multiyear comparative retrospective cohort study
Authors: Thornton Christina S. , Dumanski Jody , Margherit Cherylanne , Vaz-Gonsalves Sandra , McDiarmid Sheryl , Parkins Michael D. , Conly John M.
Published: October 2019

Objective:

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are a mainstay of nonpermanent vascular access devices. In this study, we assessed patients displaying anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reactions to the PowerPICC SOLO and Groshong PICC (Bard Access Systems) using the Sherlock tip locating system (TLS).

Methods:

Patients from 2 tertiary-care hospitals were systematically monitored over 4 years for adverse events following the insertion of a PICC using the Sherlock TLS. Insertion data were also collected using the BioFlo PICC (Angiodynamics)from a third hospital site and from The Ottawa Hospital over 4 years as an additional comparator. Three definitions of anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions were utilized, and the Cohen κ was used to assess interrater agreement. Analysis of reactions among the patient cohorts was performed using the χ2 test with Yates correction or the Fisher exact test as appropriate.

Results:

Among 8,257 insertions using the TLS PICCs, 37 potential reactions (0.45%) were recorded. Using specific definitions for anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reactions, 54.1%–91.9% met criteria. Comparator populations using data from Calgary (n = 491) and Ottawa (n = 7,889) using the BioFlo PICC insertion found no reactions. Anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reactions were significantly associated with the PowerPICC SOLO and Groshong PICC with the TLS compared to the BioFlo PICC (P < .0001) across all definitions. The largest subset of patients experiencing adverse reactions had cystic fibrosis (CF) (n = 4, 10.8%).

Conclusion:

Our study results demonstrate significant adverse events associated with the PowerPICC SOLO and Groshong PICC using the Sherlock TLS inserted across a range of patient populations. The incidence rate of anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reactions in the CF population at our center is significantly higher than in non-CF patients (P < .001).
Collision Detection on Industrial Robots in Repetitive Tasks Using Modified Dynamic Time Warping
Authors: Gordić Zaviša , Jovanović Kosta
Published: October 2019

This paper presents a non-model-based collision detection algorithm for robots without external sensors and with closed control architecture. A reference signal of repetitive motion is recorded from the robot operation. To detect collisions, the reference is compared with measurements from the robot. One of the key contributions is a novel approach to optimal matching of compared signals, which is ensured by the newly developed modified Dynamic Time Warping (mDTW) method presented in this paper. One of the main improvements of the mDTW is that it enables comparing a signal with the most similar section of the other signal. Partial matching also enables online application of time warping principles and reduces the time and computation resources needed to perform matching. In addition to mDTW, two complementary decision rules are developed to identify collisions. The first rule, based on the absolute difference between compared matched samples, uses statistically determined thresholds to perform rapid detection of unambiguous collisions. The second rule is based on Eigen values of the covariance matrix of matched samples, and it employs its higher sensitivity to detect collisions with lower intensity. Results from experimental validation of the proposed collision algorithm on two industrial robots are shown.
Orchestral Theatre and the Concert as a Performance Laboratory
Authors: Curtin Adrian
Published: October 2019

In the past decade the National Theatre has presented two restagings of earlier productions, now featuring an onstage orchestra (the Southbank Sinfonia) that has been choreographed and made a key part of the spectacle: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, by Tom Stoppard, with a musical score by André Previn, performed in 2009 and 2010, and Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus, performed in 2016 and 2018. Contemporaneously, a vanguard of British orchestras has begun to explore how concerts can be presented in ways that are more theatrically sophisticated than the standard concert format. Here Adrian Curtin investigates ‘orchestral theatre’ as an aesthetic proposition by examining the collaborations between the Southbank Sinfonia and the National Theatre, and their legacy in a series of experimental concerts staged by the Southbank Sinfonia entitled #ConcertLab. He aims to identify the artistic and cultural significance of these collaborations and #ConcertLab so as to better understand contemporary efforts to present orchestras (and, more broadly, classical music) in a theatrically innovative manner. Adrian Curtin is a senior lecturer in the Drama Department at the University of Exeter. He is the author of Avant-Garde Theatre Sound: Staging Sonic Modernity (Palgrave, 2014) and Death in Modern Theatre: Stages of Mortality (Manchester University Press, 2019), and principal investigator of the AHRC research network ‘Representing “Classical Music” in the Twenty-First Century’.
Multimodality cardiovascular imaging in the diagnosis and management of prosthetic valve infective endocarditis in children report of two cases and brief review of the literature
Authors: Chau Ariya , Renella Pierangelo , Arrieta Antonio
Published: October 2019

Diagnosing prosthetic valve infective endocarditis in children is challenging. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography can yield false-negative results. Data are lacking in paediatric multimodality imaging in prosthetic valve infective endocarditis. We present two children with repaired CHD where initial echocardiogram was non-diagnostic, while CT angiogram and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in combination with CT angiography, respectively, confirmed the diagnosis of endocarditis affecting clinical management.
Towards a theory of the transformation of the developmental state: political elites, social actors and state policy constraints in South Korea and Taiwan
Authors: He Tian
Published: October 2019

The institutional changes to the developmental states in South Korea and Taiwan have been well-documented. This paper offers a theory to recount the states' actual transformation processes in these two cases. Advancing existing insight that the state's transformation process is shaped by the emergence of either concentrated or dispersed economic interests, I argue that a crucial process behind the transformation of the developmental state is a democratic transition of a country motivated by ruling elites' strategic choices. Specifically, a democratic transition in a developmental state is shaped by two consecutive elite decisions: (1) the decision to initiate democratic transition in response to the democratic mobilisation of the middle class; (2) the decision to introduce democratic elections in response to an electoral threat from opposition elites. This process of democratic transition facilitates the emergence of state policy constraints by transforming the political foundation of the state.
Trading privileges for support: the strategic co-optation of emerging powers into international institutions
Authors: Kruck Andreas , Zangl Bernhard
Published: October 2019

As emerging powers rise and established powers decline, international institutions come under pressure to adjust to new power realities. When and how do international institutions adapt to underlying global power shifts? We propose an (institutionalist) theory of strategic co-optation that differs from both (realist) accommodationist and (liberal) integrationist theories. Drawing on isolated treatments of strategic co-optation from other domains – domestic and international, autocratic and democratic, past and present – we develop a theory of strategic co-optation as a mode of institutional adaption to shifts in the global distribution of power. The theory specifies the concept, the conditions and the (unintended) consequences of strategic co-optation. We conceptualize co-optation as a specific form of adaptation where established powers trade institutional privileges for emerging powers' institutional support. We theorize the conditions under which emerging and established powers are (more or less) likely to strike a co-optation deal. In addition, we identify endogenous dynamics that may render co-optation precarious and thus subject to instabilities. While the ambition of this paper is primarily theoretical, we provide various empirical illustrations of how strategic co-optation is used to adapt international institutions to contemporary shifts in the global distribution of power.
Wildfires Affect Water Resources Long After the Smoke Clears
Authors: Sever Megan
Published: October 2019

Wildfires affect watersheds in myriad ways, from reducing evapotranspiration to changing soil repellencies, but new research suggests impacts on snowpack and runoff are the most significant.
Maternal inflammation has a profound effect on cortical interneuron development in a stage and subtype-specific manner
Authors: Vasistha Navneet A. , Pardo-Navarro Maria , Gasthaus Janina , Weijers Dilys , Müller Michaela K. , García-González Diego , Malwade Susmita , Korshunova Irina , Pfisterer Ulrich , von Engelhardt Jakob , Hougaard Karin S. , Khodosevich Konstantin
Published: October 2019

Severe infections during pregnancy are one of the major risk factors for cognitive impairment in the offspring. It has been suggested that maternal inflammation leads to dysfunction of cortical GABAergic interneurons that in turn underlies cognitive impairment of the affected offspring. However, the evidence comes largely from studies of adult or mature brains and how the impairment of inhibitory circuits arises upon maternal inflammation is unknown. Here we show that maternal inflammation affects multiple steps of cortical GABAergic interneuron development, i.e., proliferation of precursor cells, migration and positioning of neuroblasts, as well as neuronal maturation. Importantly, the development of distinct subtypes of cortical GABAergic interneurons was discretely impaired as a result of maternal inflammation. This translated into a reduction in cell numbers, redistribution across cortical regions and layers, and changes in morphology and cellular properties. Furthermore, selective vulnerability of GABAergic interneuron subtypes was associated with the stage of brain development. Thus, we propose that maternally derived insults have developmental stage-dependent effects, which contribute to the complex etiology of cognitive impairment in the affected offspring.
Topological kink plasmons on magnetic-domain boundaries
Authors: Jin Dafei , Xia Yang , Christensen Thomas , Freeman Matthew , Wang Siqi , Fong King Yan , Gardner Geoffrey C. , Fallahi Saeed , Hu Qing , Wang Yuan , Engel Lloyd , Xiao Zhi-Li , Manfra Michael J. , Fang Nicholas X. , Zhang Xiang
Published: October 2019

Two-dimensional topological materials bearing time reversal-breaking magnetic fields support protected one-way edge modes. Normally, these edge modes adhere to physical edges where material properties change abruptly. However, even in homogeneous materials, topology still permits a unique form of edge modes – kink modes – residing at the domain boundaries of magnetic fields within the materials. This scenario, despite being predicted in theory, has rarely been demonstrated experimentally. Here, we report our observation of topologically-protected high-frequency kink modes – kink magnetoplasmons (KMPs) – in a GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) system. These KMPs arise at a domain boundary projected from an externally-patterned magnetic field onto a uniform 2DEG. They propagate unidirectionally along the boundary, protected by a difference of gap Chern numbers ($$\pm1$$
±
1
) in the two domains. They exhibit large tunability under an applied magnetic field or gate voltage, and clear signatures of nonreciprocity even under weak-coupling to evanescent photons.
Molecular mechanism of azoxy bond formation for azoxymycins biosynthesis
Authors: Guo Yuan-Yang , Li Zhen-Hua , Xia Tian-Yu , Du Yi-Ling , Mao Xu-Ming , Li Yong-Quan
Published: October 2019

Azoxy bond is an important chemical bond and plays a crucial role in high energy density materials. However, the biosynthetic mechanism of azoxy bond remains enigmatic. Here we report that the azoxy bond biosynthesis of azoxymycins is an enzymatic and non-enzymatic coupling cascade reaction. In the first step, nonheme diiron N-oxygenase AzoC catalyzes the oxidization of amine to its nitroso analogue. Redox coenzyme pairs then facilitate the mutual conversion between nitroso group and hydroxylamine via the radical transient intermediates, which efficiently dimerize to azoxy bond. The deficiency of nucleophilic reactivity in AzoC is proposed to account for the enzyme’s non-canonical oxidization of amine to nitroso product. Free nitrogen radicals induced by coenzyme pairs are proposed to be responsible for the efficient non-enzymatic azoxy bond formation. This mechanism study will provide molecular basis for the biosynthesis of azoxy high energy density materials and other valuable azoxy chemicals.
Transient hysteresis and inherent stochasticity in gene regulatory networks
Authors: Pájaro M. , Otero-Muras I. , Vázquez C. , Alonso A. A.
Published: October 2019

Cell fate determination, the process through which cells commit to differentiated states is commonly mediated by gene regulatory motifs with mutually exclusive expression states. The classical deterministic picture for cell fate determination includes bistability and hysteresis, which enables the persistence of the acquired cellular state after withdrawal of the stimulus, ensuring a robust cellular response. However, stochasticity inherent to gene expression dynamics is not compatible with hysteresis, since the stationary solution of the governing Chemical Master Equation does not depend on the initial conditions. We provide a quantitative description of a transient hysteresis phenomenon reconciling experimental evidence of hysteretic behaviour in gene regulatory networks with inherent stochasticity: under sufficiently slow dynamics hysteresis is transient. We quantify this with an estimate of the convergence rate to the equilibrium and introduce a natural landscape capturing system’s evolution that, unlike traditional cell fate potential landscapes, is compatible with coexistence at the microscopic level.
A universal ligand mediated method for large scale synthesis of transition metal single atom catalysts
Authors: Yang Hongzhou , Shang Lu , Zhang Qinghua , Shi Run , Waterhouse Geoffrey I. N. , Gu Lin , Zhang Tierui
Published: October 2019

There is interest in metal single atom catalysts due to their remarkable activity and stability. However, the synthesis of metal single atom catalysts remains somewhat ad hoc, with no universal strategy yet reported that allows their generic synthesis. Herein, we report a universal synthetic strategy that allows the synthesis of transition metal single atom catalysts containing Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ru, Pt or combinations thereof. Aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy confirm that the transition metal atoms are uniformly dispersed over a carbon black support. The introduced synthetic method allows the production of carbon-supported metal single atom catalysts in large quantities (>1 kg scale) with high metal loadings. A Ni single atom catalyst exhibits outstanding activity for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, achieving a 98.9% Faradaic efficiency at −1.2 V.
ClimCKmap, a spatially, temporally and climatically explicit distribution database for the Italian fauna
Authors: Marta Silvio , Brunetti Michele , Ficetola Gentile Francesco , Stoch Fabio , Amori Giovanni , Cesaroni Donatella , Sbordoni Valerio , Provenzale Antonello
Published: October 2019

Understanding and counteracting biodiversity losses requires quantitative knowledge on species distribution and abundance across space and time, as well as integrated and interoperable information on climate conditions and climatic changes. In this paper we developed a new biodiversity-climate database for Italy, ClimCKmap, based on the critical analysis, quality estimation and subsequent integration of the CKmap database with several high-resolution climate datasets. The original database was quality-checked for errors in toponym, species name and dating; the retained records were georeferenced and their distribution polygonised via Voronoi tessellation. We then integrated the species distribution information with several high-resolution climatic datasets: average monthly minimum and maximum temperature and total monthly precipitation were reconstructed for each Voronoi cell and year. The resulting database contains 268,977 occurrence records from 8,445 binomials and 16,332 localities, dating between 1680 and 2006 CE. This dataset, fully available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7906739.v4 and http://hdl.handle.net/21.11125/a91f85cb-befd-4e14-8e83-24f17c4a0491, represents the largest, fully quality-checked, spatially, temporally and climatically explicit distribution database ever assembled for the Italian fauna, now ready for scientific exploitation.
SLE Plasma Profiling Identifies Unique Signatures of Lupus Nephritis and Discoid Lupus
Authors: Smith Michael A. , Henault Jill , Karnell Jodi L. , Parker Melissa L. , Riggs Jeffrey M. , Sinibaldi Dominic , Taylor Devon K. , Ettinger Rachel , Grant Ethan P. , Sanjuan Miguel A. , Kolbeck Roland , Petri Michelle A. , Casey Kerry A.
Published: October 2019

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) impacts multiple organ systems, although the causes of many individual SLE pathologies are poorly understood. This study was designed to elucidate organ-specific inflammation by identifying proteins that correlate with SLE organ involvement and to evaluate established biomarkers of disease activity across a diverse patient cohort. Plasma proteins and autoantibodies were measured across seven SLE manifestations. Comparative analyses between pathologies and correlation with the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) were used to identify proteins associated with organ-specific and composite disease activity. Established biomarkers of composite disease activity, SLE-associated antibodies, type I interferon (IFN), and complement C3, correlated with composite SLEDAI, but did not significantly associate with many individual SLE pathologies. Two clusters of proteins were associated with renal disease in lupus nephritis samples. One cluster included markers of infiltrating leukocytes and the second cluster included markers of tissue remodelling. In patients with discoid lupus, a distinct signature consisting of elevated immunoglobulin A autoantibodies and interleukin-23 was observed. Our findings indicate that proteins from blood samples can be used to identify protein signatures that are distinct from established SLE biomarkers and SLEDAI and could be used to conveniently monitor multiple inflammatory pathways present in different organ systems.
Development of the equine gut microbiota
Authors: Lindenberg F. , Krych L. , Kot W. , Fielden J. , Frøkiær H. , van Galen G. , Nielsen D. S. , Hansen A. K.
Published: October 2019

Shortly after birth the mammalian gut is colonized, by a transient microbiota, highly susceptible to environment and diet, that eventually stabilizes and becomes the resident gut microbiota. In a window of opportunity during the colonization, oral tolerance is established towards resident bacteria. In this study, the development of the equine gut microbiota was investigated in ten foals from parturition until post weaning. We found great differences in the core species of the gut microbiota composition between time-matched samples on Day 7 and 20 post-partum. Between day 20 and Day 50 post-partum, we saw the gut microbiota became increasingly dominated by fiber fermenting species. After Day 50, no significant changes in species abundance were observed. Gene expression analysis of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood revealed no significant changes before and after weaning. In summary, relative stability of the gut microbiota was reached within 50 days post-partum and, weaning did not have a major impact on the microbial composition.
Mathematical model for volcanic harmonic tremors
Authors: Montegrossi Giordano , Farina Angiolo , Fusi Lorenzo , De Biase Antonietta
Published: October 2019

Harmonic tremors consist in the release of infrasonic energy associated with volcanic activity. The typical frequency range of harmonic tremors is 0.1–12 Hz. We suppose that the harmonic tremors are due to the formation of bubbles entrapped in cavities that oscillate converting thermal energy into mechanic energy. Reproducing the natural phenomenon through an experimental apparatus, we propose here a mathematical model to describe the oscillatory mechanism and to detect the frequency as a function of the main physical parameters. We show that the frequency obtained through the model is in agreement with the one obtained through experimental measurements and with the data available from the literature, proving the consistency of the proposed model.
Upper limb joint kinematics using wearable magnetic and inertial measurement units: an anatomical calibration procedure based on bony landmark identification
Authors: Picerno Pietro , Caliandro Pietro , Iacovelli Chiara , Simbolotti Chiara , Crabolu Michele , Pani Danilo , Vannozzi Giuseppe , Reale Giuseppe , Rossini Paolo Maria , Padua Luca , Cereatti Andrea
Published: October 2019

The estimate of a consistent and clinically meaningful joint kinematics using wearable inertial and magnetic sensors requires a sensor-to-segment coordinate system calibration. State-of-the-art calibration procedures for the upper limb are based on functional movements and/or pre-determined postures, which are difficult to implement in subjects that have impaired mobility or are bedridden in acute units. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an alternative calibration procedure based on the direct identification of palpable anatomical landmarks (ALs) for an inertial and magnetic sensor-based upper limb movement analysis protocol. The proposed calibration procedure provides an estimate of three-dimensional shoulder/elbow angular kinematics and the linear trajectory of the wrist according to the standards proposed by the International Society of Biomechanics. The validity of the method was assessed against a camera-based optoelectronic system during uniaxial joint rotations and a reach-to-grasp task. Joint angular kinematics was found as characterised by a low-biased range of motion (<−2.6°), a low root mean square deviation (RMSD) (<4.4°) and a high waveform similarity coefficient (R2 > 0.995) with respect to the gold standard. Except for the cranio–caudal direction, the linear trajectory of the wrist was characterised by a low-biased range of motion (<11 mm) together with a low RMSD (8 mm) and high waveform similarity (R2 > 0.968). The proposed method enabled the estimation of reliable joint kinematics without requiring any active involvement of the patient during the calibration procedure, complying with the metrological standards and requirements of clinical movement analysis.
Basal Sodium-Dependent Vitamin C Transporter 2 polarization in choroid plexus explant cells in normal or scorbutic conditions
Authors: Ulloa Viviana , Saldivia Natalia , Ferrada Luciano , Salazar Katterine , Martínez Fernando , Silva-Alvarez Carmen , Magdalena Rocio , Oviedo María José , Montecinos Hernán , Torres-Vergara Pablo , Cifuentes Manuel , Nualart Francisco
Published: October 2019

Vitamin C is incorporated into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through choroid plexus cells. While the transfer of vitamin C from the blood to the brain has been studied functionally, the vitamin C transporter, SVCT2, has not been detected in the basolateral membrane of choroid plexus cells. Furthermore, it is unknown how its expression is induced in the developing brain and modulated in scurvy conditions. We concluded that SVCT2 is intensely expressed in the second half of embryonic brain development and postnatal stages. In postnatal and adult brain, SVCT2 is highly expressed in all choroidal plexus epithelial cells, shown by colocalization with GLUT1 in the basolateral membranes and without MCT1 colocalization, which is expressed in the apical membrane. We confirmed that choroid plexus explant cells (in vitro) form a sealed epithelial structure, which polarized basolaterally, endogenous or overexpressed SVCT2. These results are reproduced in vivo by injecting hSVCT2wt-EYFP lentivirus into the CSF. Overexpressed SVCT2 incorporates AA (intraperitoneally injected) from the blood to the CSF. Finally, we observed in Guinea pig brain under scorbutic condition, that normal distribution of SVCT2 in choroid plexus may be regulated by peripheral concentrations of vitamin C. Additionally, we observed that SVCT2 polarization also depends on the metabolic stage of the choroid plexus cells.
Author Correction: MicroRNA-125b-5p regulates IL-1β induced inflammatory genes via targeting TRAF6-mediated MAPKs and NF-κB signaling in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes
Authors: Rasheed Zafar , Rasheed Naila , Abdulmonem Waleed Al , Khan Muhammad Ismail
Published: October 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Radiomics and MGMT promoter methylation for prognostication of newly diagnosed glioblastoma
Authors: Sasaki Takahiro , Kinoshita Manabu , Fujita Koji , Fukai Junya , Hayashi Nobuhide , Uematsu Yuji , Okita Yoshiko , Nonaka Masahiro , Moriuchi Shusuke , Uda Takehiro , Tsuyuguchi Naohiro , Arita Hideyuki , Mori Kanji , Ishibashi Kenichi , Takano Koji , Nishida Namiko , Shofuda Tomoko , Yoshioka Ema , Kanematsu Daisuke , Kodama Yoshinori , Mano Masayuki , Nakao Naoyuki , Kanemura Yonehiro
Published: October 2019

We attempted to establish a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomic model for stratifying prognostic subgroups of newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) patients and predicting O (6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promotor methylation (pMGMT-met) status of the tumor. Preoperative MRI scans from 201 newly diagnosed GBM patients were included in this study. A total of 489 texture features including the first-order feature, second-order features from 162 datasets, and location data from 182 datasets were collected. Supervised principal component analysis was used for prognostication and predictive modeling for pMGMT-met status was performed based on least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. 22 radiomic features that were correlated with prognosis were used to successfully stratify patients into high-risk and low-risk groups (p = 0.004, Log-rank test). The radiomic high- and low-risk stratification and pMGMT status were independent prognostic factors. As a matter of fact, predictive accuracy of the pMGMT methylation status was 67% when modeled by two significant radiomic features. A significant survival difference was observed among the combined high-risk group, combined intermediate-risk group (this group consists of radiomic low risk and pMGMT-unmet or radiomic high risk and pMGMT-met), and combined low-risk group (p = 0.0003, Log-rank test). Radiomics can be used to build a prognostic score for stratifying high- and low-risk GBM, which was an independent prognostic factor from pMGMT methylation status. On the other hand, predictive accuracy of the pMGMT methylation status by radiomic analysis was insufficient for practical use.
Airway epithelial cell isolation techniques affect DNA methylation profiles with consequences for analysis of asthma related perturbations to DNA methylation
Authors: Clifford Rachel L. , Patel Jamie , MacIsaac Julia L. , McEwen Lisa M. , Johnson Simon R. , Shaw Dominick , Knox Alan J. , Hackett Tillie-Louise , Kobor Michael S.
Published: October 2019

The airway epithelium forms the interface between the inhaled environment and the lung. The airway epithelium is dysfunctional in asthma and epigenetic mechanisms are considered a contributory factor. We hypothesised that the DNA methylation profiles of cultured primary airway epithelial cells (AECs) would differ between cells isolated from individuals with asthma (n = 17) versus those without asthma (n = 16). AECs were isolated from patients by two different isolation techniques; pronase digestion (9 non-asthmatic, 8 asthmatic) and bronchial brushings (7 non-asthmatic and 9 asthmatic). DNA methylation was assessed using an Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array. DNA methylation of AECs clustered by isolation technique and linear regression identified 111 CpG sites differentially methylated between isolation techniques in healthy individuals. As a consequence, the effect of asthmatic status on DNA methylation was assessed within AEC samples isolated using the same technique. In pronase isolated AECs, 15 DNA regions were differentially methylated between asthmatics and non-asthmatics. In bronchial brush isolated AECs, 849 differentially methylated DNA regions were identified with no overlap to pronase regions. In conclusion, regardless of cell isolation technique, differential DNA methylation was associated with asthmatic status in AECs, providing further evidence for aberrant DNA methylation as a signature of epithelial dysfunction in asthma.
Improved gene co-expression network quality through expression dataset down-sampling and network aggregation
Authors: Liesecke Franziska , De Craene Johan-Owen , Besseau Sébastien , Courdavault Vincent , Clastre Marc , Vergès Valentin , Papon Nicolas , Giglioli-Guivarc’h Nathalie , Glévarec Gaëlle , Pichon Olivier , Dugé de Bernonville Thomas
Published: October 2019

Large-scale gene co-expression networks are an effective methodology to analyze sets of co-expressed genes and discover new gene functions or associations. Distances between genes are estimated according to their expression profiles and are visualized in networks that may be further partitioned to reveal communities of co-expressed genes. Creating expression profiles is now eased by the large amounts of publicly available expression data (microarrays and RNA-seq). Although many distance calculation methods have been intensively compared and reviewed in the past, it is unclear how to proceed when many samples reflecting a wide range of different conditions are available. Should as many samples as possible be integrated into network construction or be partitioned into smaller sets of more related samples? Previous studies have indicated a saturation in network performances to capture known associations once a certain number of samples is included in distance calculations. Here, we examined the influence of sample size on co-expression network construction using microarray and RNA-seq expression data from three plant species. We tested different down-sampling methods and compared network performances in recovering known gene associations to networks obtained from full datasets. We further examined how aggregating networks may help increase this performance by testing six aggregation methods.
Performance of landscape composition metrics for predicting water quality in headwater catchments
Authors: Staponites Linda R. , Barták Vojtěch , Bílý Michal , Simon Ondřej P.
Published: October 2019

Land use is a predominant threat to the ecological integrity of streams and rivers. Understanding land use-water quality interactions is essential for the development and prioritization of management strategies and, thus, the improvement of water quality. Weighting schemes for land use have recently been employed as methods to advance the predictive power of empirical models, however, their performance has seldom been explored for various water quality parameters. In this work, multiple landscape composition metrics were applied within headwater catchments of Central Europe to investigate how weighting land use with certain combinations of spatial and topographic variables, while implementing alternate distance measures and functions, can influence predictions of water quality. The predictive ability of metrics was evaluated for eleven water quality parameters using linear regression. Results indicate that stream proximity, measured with Euclidean distance, in combination with slope or log-transformed flow accumulation were dominant factors affecting the concentrations of pH, total phosphorus, nitrite and orthophosphate phosphorus, whereas the unweighted land use composition was the most effective predictor of calcium, electrical conductivity, nitrates and total suspended solids. Therefore, both metrics are recommended when examining land use-water quality relationships in small, submontane catchments and should be applied according to individual water quality parameter.
Mutational Spectrum of Spast (Spg4) and Atl1 (Spg3a) Genes In Russian Patients With Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
Authors: Kadnikova V. A. , Rudenskaya G. E. , Stepanova A. A. , Sermyagina I. G. , Ryzhkova O. P.
Published: October 2019

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) comprises a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders, it share common symptom - of progressive lower spastic paraparesis. The most common autosomal dominant (AD) forms of HSP are SPG4 (SPAST gene) and SPG3 (ATL1 gene). In the current research we investigated for the first time the distribution of pathogenic mutations in SPAST and ATL1 genes within a large cohort of Russian HSP patients (122 probands; 69 famillial cases). We determined the frequencies of genetic abnormalities using Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of targeted gene panels. As a result, SPG4 was diagnosed in 30.3% (37/122) of HSP cases, where the familial cases represented 37.7% (26/69) of SPG4. In total 31 pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants were detected in SPAST, with 14 new mutations. Among all detected SPAST variants, 29% were gross deletions and duplications. The proportion of SPG3 variants in Russian cohort was 8.2% (10/122) that were all familial cases. All 10 detected ATL1 mutations were missense substitutions, most of which were in the mutational hot spots of 4, 7, 8, 12 exons, with 2 novel mutations. This work will be helpful for the populational genetics of HSP understanding.
Cross-modal size-contrast illusion: Acoustic increases in intensity and bandwidth modulate haptic representation of object size
Authors: Uesaki Maiko , Ashida Hiroshi , Kitaoka Akiyoshi , Pasqualotto Achille
Published: October 2019

Changes in the retinal size of stationary objects provide a cue to the observer’s motion in the environment: Increases indicate the observer’s forward motion, and decreases backward motion. In this study, a series of images each comprising a pair of pine-tree figures were translated into auditory modality using sensory substitution software. Resulting auditory stimuli were presented in an ascending sequence (i.e. increasing in intensity and bandwidth compatible with forward motion), descending sequence (i.e. decreasing in intensity and bandwidth compatible with backward motion), or in a scrambled order. During the presentation of stimuli, blindfolded participants estimated the lengths of wooden sticks by haptics. Results showed that those exposed to the stimuli compatible with forward motion underestimated the lengths of the sticks. This consistent underestimation may share some aspects with visual size-contrast effects such as the Ebbinghaus illusion. In contrast, participants in the other two conditions did not show such magnitude of error in size estimation; which is consistent with the “adaptive perceptual bias” towards acoustic increases in intensity and bandwidth. In sum, we report a novel cross-modal size-contrast illusion, which reveals that auditory motion cues compatible with listeners’ forward motion modulate haptic representations of object size.
Maternal physical activity prevents the overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α and cardiorespiratory dysfunction in protein malnourished rats
Authors: Nogueira Viviane O. , Andrade Luana D. S. , Rocha-Júnior Reginaldo L. , Melo Palloma E. D. , Helvécio Elisama , Fontes Danilo A. F. , Romão Tatiany P. , Leandro Carol G. , Costa-Silva João H.
Published: October 2019

Maternal physical activity attenuates cardiorespiratory dysfunctions and transcriptional alterations presented by the carotid body (CB) of rats. Rats performed physical activity and were classified as inactive/active. During gestation and lactation, mothers received either normoprotein (NP-17% protein) or low-protein diet (LP-8% protein). In offspring, biochemical serum levels, respiratory parameters, cardiovascular parameters and the mRNA expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and purinergic receptors were evaluate. LP-inactive pups presented lower RF from 1st to 14th days old, and higher RF at 30 days than did NP-inactive and NP-active pups. LP-inactive pups presented with reduced serum protein, albumin, cholesterol and triglycerides levels and an increased fasting glucose level compared to those of NP-inactive and NP-active groups. LP and LP-inactive animals showed an increase in the cardiac variability at the Low-Frequency bands, suggesting a major influence of sympathetic nervous activity. In mRNA analyses, LP-inactive animals showed increased HIF-1α expression and similar expression of TH and purinergic receptors in the CB compared to those of NP groups. All these changes observed in LP-inactive pups were reversed in the pups of active mothers (LP-active). Maternal physical activity is able to attenuate the metabolic, cardiorespiratory and HIF-1α transcription changes induced by protein malnutrition.
Data Descriptor: Daily observations of stable isotope ratios of rainfall in the tropics
Authors: Munksgaard Niels C. , Kurita Naoyuki , Sánchez-Murillo Ricardo , Ahmed Nasir , Araguas Luis , Balachew Dagnachew L. , Bird Michael I. , Chakraborty Supriyo , Kien Chinh Nguyen , Cobb Kim M. , Ellis Shelby A. , Esquivel-Hernández Germain , Ganyaglo Samuel Y. , Gao Jing , Gastmans Didier , Kaseke Kudzai F. , Kebede Seifu , Morales Marcelo R. , Mueller Moritz , Poh Seng Chee , Santos Vinícius dos , Shaoneng He , Wang Lixin , Yacobaccio Hugo , Zwart Costijn
Published: October 2019

We present precipitation isotope data (δ2H and δ18O values) from 19 stations across the tropics collected from 2012 to 2017 under the Coordinated Research Project F31004 sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Rainfall samples were collected daily and analysed for stable isotopic ratios of oxygen and hydrogen by participating laboratories following a common analytical framework. We also calculated daily mean stratiform rainfall area fractions around each station over an area of 5° x 5° longitude/latitude based on TRMM/GPM satellite data. Isotope time series, along with information on rainfall amount and stratiform/convective proportions provide a valuable tool for rainfall characterisation and to improve the ability of isotope-enabled Global Circulation Models to predict variability and availability of inputs to fresh water resources across the tropics.
Improvement of the Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) reference genome and development of male-specific DNA markers
Authors: Suda Ayako , Nishiki Issei , Iwasaki Yuki , Matsuura Aiko , Akita Tetsuya , Suzuki Nobuaki , Fujiwara Atushi
Published: October 2019

The Pacific bluefin tuna,Thunnus orientalis, is a highly migratory species that is widely distributed in the North Pacific Ocean. Like other marine species,T. orientalishas no external sexual dimorphism; thus, identifying sex-specific variants from whole genome sequence data is a useful approach to develop an effective sex identification method. Here, we report an improved draft genome ofT. orientalisand male-specific DNA markers. Combining PacBio long reads and Illumina short reads sufficiently improved genome assembly, with a 38-fold increase in scaffold contiguity (to 444 scaffolds) compared to the first published draft genome. Through analysing re-sequence data of 15 males and 16 females, 250 male-specific SNPs were identified from more than 30 million polymorphisms. All male-specific variants were male-heterozygous, suggesting thatT. orientalishas a male heterogametic sex-determination system. The largest linkage disequilibrium block (3,174 bp on scaffold_064) contained 51 male-specific variants. PCR primers and a PCR-based sex identification assay were developed using these male-specific variants. The sex of 115 individuals (56 males and 59 females; sex was diagnosed by visual examination of the gonads) was identified with high accuracy using the assay. This easy, accurate, and practical technique facilitates the control of sex ratios in tuna farms. Furthermore, this method could be used to estimate the sex ratio and/or the sex-specific growth rate of natural populations.
A wearable and sensitive graphene-cotton based pressure sensor for human physiological signals monitoring
Authors: Li Ping , Zhao Libo , Jiang Zhuangde , Yu Mingzhi , Li Zhen , Zhou Xiangyang , Zhao Yulong
Published: October 2019

Cotton fiber is the most commonly used fabric in textiles and clothing. As compared to inorganic materials like foam, sponge and paper, cotton fibers boast higher levels of flexibility and toughness, which makes it more durable and be better integrated with clothes. In this study, a conductive cotton fiber material modified by reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was prepared, and applied in pressure sensor. The highest sensitivity of the pressure sensor constructed is 0.21 kPa−1, and the pressure range covers up to 500 kPa, which demonstrates a combination of fine sensitivity and broader pressure range. The pressure sensor developed in this study demonstrates great performance in real-time monitoring of human physiological signals like pulse, breath rate and speech recognition, boasting great application value in wearable electronics and smart clothing.