bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pelvic Ring Fracture During a Professional Surfing Event at the Banzai Pipeline
Authors: Rogich Jerome John , Kim Reeo Yeop , Chang Spencer , Kaneshige Jason , Dao Leland
Published: January 2020

We present a case of a 32-y-old male professional surfer who sustained an isolated pelvic ring fracture after wiping out on a large wave and striking the ocean floor during a world championship tour surfing competition in Hawaii. The surfer was rescued by the water patrol lifeguards, evaluated by onsite medical staff, and stabilized for transfer and subsequent surgical management. As surfing and surfing competitions become increasingly popular, medical staff and event organizers must be aware of the possibility for severe, life-threatening injuries during surfing events. Although infrequent, staff must be prepared to manage these injuries, including immediate resuscitation, stabilization, analgesia, and transfer to definitive care. We hope this case encourages not only surf event organizers and medical staff, but also staff of all professional and recreational water sports, to increase their preparedness to stabilize and treat both life-threatening and minor injuries. Expeditious and appropriate treatment of an injured athlete has the potential to decrease morbidity and mortality while maximizing the athletes’ functional outcome after injury.
Philosophy of Immunology
Authors: Pradeu Thomas
Published: January 2020

Immunology is central to contemporary biology and medicine, but it also provides novel philosophical insights. Its most significant contribution to philosophy concerns the understanding of biological individuality: what a biological individual is, what makes it unique, how its boundaries are established and what ensures its identity through time. Immunology also offers answers to some of the most interesting philosophical questions. What is the definition of life? How are bodily systems delineated? How do the mind and the body interact? In this Element, Thomas Pradeu considers the ways in which immunology can shed light on these and other important philosophical issues. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Russia—Measures Concerning Traffic in Transit
Authors: Voon Tania
Published: January 2020

This dispute, brought by Ukraine against Russia, provides the first discussion in a World Trade Organization (WTO) Panel or Appellate Body Report of the security exception in Article XXI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT). Unusually for a WTO dispute, the Panel (chaired by former WTO Appellate Body Member Georges Abi-Saab) found that Russia had not acted inconsistently with any of the claimed obligations under the GATT or Russia's Accession Protocol. Central to that conclusion was the Panel's understanding of the GATT security exception and the circumstances surrounding the imposition of the challenged measures, which related to trade in transit by road and rail through Russian territory. The Panel found that, since 2014, an emergency in international relations existed between Russia and Ukraine within the meaning of GATT Article XXI(b)(iii) and that the challenged measures fell within this exception. If the exception had not applied, according to the Panel, Ukraine would have established a prima facie case of violation of the provisions on freedom of transit in GATT Article V:2 and equivalent provisions in Russia's Accession Protocol. The decision, which neither party chose to appeal, has significant implications for other disputes in which the security exception has been invoked.
To change banks or bankers? Systemic political (in)action and post-crisis banking reform in the UK and the Netherlands
Authors: Ganderson Joseph
Published: January 2020

After the subprime financial crisis, the countries who were worst affected set about reforming legacy financial regulations. Given multiple similarities in the way they experienced the crisis and the similar complexions of their post-crisis economies and politics, the contrast between the UK and the Netherlands' approaches to breaking up their largest banks presents a puzzle for prevailing theories in the politics of financial regulation. Both countries explored a range of reform options using similar expert committees, but while UK policymakers determined that commercial and investment operations should be ring-fenced in the largest British banks, the Dutch reform program centered on the banks’ own recommendations to change banking culture from the bottom up by developing a code of conduct and banker's oath. The paper traces this divergence to two related effects produced by the countries’ contrasting majoritarian and consensus party systems: power sharing and coalition formation. Under conditions of high issue salience, both worked to encourage British policymakers to prioritize reform, while in the Netherlands each factor reduced party political responsiveness and de-emphasized alternatives to the banks’ own reform prescriptions. The paper ultimately suggests that institutional democratic variables are worthy of greater recognition among scholars of business power and financial regulation.
One British Thing: A History of Embodiment: Ann Purvis, ca.1793–1849
Authors: Harvey Karen
Published: January 2020

Taking a material culture approach to the body poses challenges to our research practices and approaches to studying past experience. This piece considers what can be learned from using human remains in the study of the British past, arguing that integrating the material body into our methods aligns well with historical emphasis on the constructed nature of the body.
FILIATION AND ADOPTION AMONG MUSLIMS IN INDIA: THE QUAGMIRES OF A RELIGIOUS MINORITY LAW
Authors: Dequen Jean-Philippe
Published: January 2020

Filiation among Muslims in India is governed by Muslim personal law, a largely uncodified corpus of key Islamic legal treatises that has subsequently been interpreted and applied through the Common Law frame of British colonial courts and the post-Independence Indian judicial system by virtue of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act 1937. Muslim personal law recognizes only legitimate filiation resulting from a valid or irregular marriage, barring illegitimate children from maintenance and intestate succession and prohibiting adoption. However, a number of legislative enactments have modified key aspects of the law of filiation among Muslims: shifting the presumption of legitimacy arising from a valid marriage to the time of the wedding, rather than the time of conception; invalidating the doctrine of dormant fetus; and lifting certain disabilities incurred from illegitimacy. Further, although adoption based on customary law is somewhat common in India and has been recognized by courts, its effect among Muslims has tended only to lift the bar to paternal succession and seldom creates filiation with the adoptive family. Notwithstanding, following the enactment of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 and its subsequent amendments, an optional secular legal framework for adoption is now available to Muslim prospective parents. The procedure set forth by the Act is nonetheless unwieldly and implementation faces the very practical difficulties of the state in managing and protecting the vast number of destitute and abandoned children in India, for the most part with an unknown filiation.
Dynamic Analysis and Reliability Evaluation for an Eccentric Speed Reducer Based on Fem
Authors: Tsai Y. T. , Lin K. H.
Published: January 2020

This paper reported the designed approaches of cycloidal mechanisms, studied its dynamic forces and failure characteristics using finite element methods (FEM). A simplified cycloidal mechanism (CM) is constructed to fulfill dynamic analysis and reliability evaluation. The studied results show that the loads of the mechanism are shared mainly by a half of the outer rollers and the inner pins. The possible failures of the mechanism will occur at the inner pins caused by the bending stress, and at the cycloid disc induced by the contacting stress. The failure of the inner pins will dominate the damage of the mechanism. A method of evaluating stress variation is proposed for fulfilling reliability design. The stress variations are derived according to the data in dynamic analysis by regression analysis. The methods of design modification are reported for improve the reliabilities. The allowable loads of the CM can be decided accordingly based on the analyzed information.
Examining the variability in network populations and its role in generative models
Authors: Arora Viplove , Guo Dali , Dunbar Katherine D. , Ventresca Mario
Published: January 2020

A principled approach to understand networks is to formulate generative models and infer their parameters from given network data. Due to the scarcity of data in the form of multiple networks that have evolved from the same process, generative models are typically formulated to learn parameters from a single network observation, hence ignoring the natural variability of the “true” process. In this paper, we highlight the importance of variability in evaluating generative models and present two ways of quantifying the variability for a finite set of networks. The first evaluation scheme compares the statistical properties of networks in a dissimilarity space, while the other relies on data-driven entropy measures to compute variability in network populations. Using these measures, we evaluate the ability of four generative models to synthesize networks that capture the variability of the “true” process. Our empirical analysis suggests that generative models fitted for a single network observation fail to capture the variability in the network population. Our work highlights the need for rethinking the way we evaluate the goodness-of-fit of new and existing network models and devising models that are capable of matching the variability of network populations when available.
A Method to Audit the Assignment of Registered Voters to Districts and Precincts
Authors: Amos Brian , McDonald Michael P.
Published: January 2020

Electoral boundaries are an integral part of election administration. District boundaries delineate which legislative election voters are eligible to participate in, and precinct boundaries identify, in many localities, where voters cast in-person ballots on Election Day. Election officials are tasked with resolving a tremendously large number of intersections of registered voters with overlapping electoral boundaries. Any large-scale data project is susceptible to errors, and this task is no exception. In two recent close elections, these errors were consequential to the outcome. To address this problem, we describe a method to audit the assignment of registered voters to districts. We apply the methodology to Florida’s voter registration file to identify thousands of registered voters assigned to the wrong state House district, many of which local election officials have verified and rectified. We discuss how election officials can best use this technique to detect registered voters assigned to the wrong electoral boundary.
Will I Get Paid? Employee Stock Options and Mergers and Acquisitions
Authors: Babenko Ilona , Du Fangfang , Tserlukevich Yuri
Published: January 2020

We analyze how employee compensation contracts of target firms affect merger terms and outcomes. Using unique data from merger agreements, we document that in 80.0% of all merger and acquisition (M&A) deals, at least some of the target’s employee stock options (ESOs) are canceled by the acquirer and not replaced by new equity-based grants. Contract modifications reduce the value of ESOs by 38.4% in the average M&A deal. Further, the combined merger returns are larger when employees experience greater losses. Overall, our results indicate that the benefits of reducing the number of ESOs outweigh the potential negative effects on firm value.
Weibel instability oscillation in a dusty plasma with counter-streaming electrons
Authors: Kaur Daljeet , Sharma Suresh C. , Pandey R.S. , Gupta Ruby
Published: January 2020

We investigate the Weibel instability (WI) in a dusty plasma which is driven to oscillation by the addition of dust grains in the plasma. Our analysis predicts the existence of three modes in a dusty plasma. There is a high-frequency electromagnetic mode, whose frequency increases with an increase in the relative number density of dust grains and which approaches instability due to the presence of dust grains. The second mode is a damping mode which exists due to dust charge fluctuations in plasma. The third mode is the oscillating WI mode. The dispersion relation and the growth rate of various modes in the dusty plasma are derived using the first-order perturbation theory. The effect of dust grain parameters on frequency and growth rate is also studied and reported.
Diversity metrics of spider communities associated with an understorey plant in tropical rain forest fragments
Authors: Benítez-Malvido Julieta , Martínez-Falcón Ana Paola , Durán-Barrón César G.
Published: January 2020

Human activities change the biodiversity of ecological communities in at least three dimensions: ecologically, taxonomically and functionally. Gathering information on these three dimensions allows the improvement of biodiversity assessments and the increased understanding of anthropogenic impact on natural communities. In this study, we analysed the spider community associated with the tropical plantHeliconia aurantiacain two contrasting habitat types: continuous forest and forest fragments in south-eastern Mexico. We examined the foliage, stems and bracts ofH. aurantiacaindividuals in both habitats. We categorized each spider species according to its behavioural and functional traits. We analysed ecological diversity using Hill numbers, taxonomic distinctness and functional diversity using the FRic index. Overall, we collected a total of 110 spiders, of which 44 individuals from 29 species were found in continuous forests, with 66 individuals from 36 species in forest fragments. We found greater ecological diversity in continuous forest than in fragments. In contrast, we found lower functional diversity in continuous forest than in fragments. Taxonomic diversity showed no significant difference between habitats. Forest fragmentation affected the biodiversity of spiders by disrupting species composition and function, which may lead to other ecological changes such as predator–prey interactions and other aspects of ecosystem functioning.
POLITICAL CONFLICT AND BARGAINING IN A NEW KEYNESIAN MODEL OF FISCAL STABILIZATION
Authors: Flamini Francesca , Leith Campbell
Published: January 2020

Recent work on optimal monetary and fiscal policy in New Keynesian models has tended to focus on policy set by an infinitely lived benevolent policy maker, often with access to a commitment technology. In this paper, we explore deviations from this ideal, by allowing (time-consistent) policy to be set by a process of bargaining between two political players with different weights on elements of the social welfare function. We characterize the (linear) Markov perfect equilibrium and, in a series of numerical examples, we explore the resultant policy response to shocks which cannot be perfectly offset with the available instruments due to their fiscal consequences. We find that, even although the players, on average, have the socially desirable objective function, the process of bargaining implies an outcome which deviates from the time-consistent policy chosen by the benevolent policy maker. Moreover, the range of instruments available mean that policy makers will bargain across the entire policy mix, sometimes implying outcomes which are quite different from those that would be chosen by a single policy maker. These policy outcomes depend crucially on the nature of the conflict and also the level of government debt.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and hypertension in premenopausal and postmenopausal women: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2007–2010
Authors: Kwak Jung Hyun , Hong Yun-Chul , Choi Yoon-Hyeong
Published: January 2020

Objective:

A recent meta-analysis suggested that the association between vitamin D and risk of hypertension was markedly stronger in women aged <55 years in observational data, while the association became null in women aged ≥55 years. We therefore hypothesized that this difference in associations might potentially be caused by the change in oestrogen around menopause. Our objective was to investigate associations between vitamin D status and hypertension risk and to evaluate those associations as they may differ according to menopausal status.

Design:

A cross-sectional population survey conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.

Setting:

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2007–2010 formed the setting for the present study.

Participants:

We analysed data from 2098 premenopausal women and 2298 postmenopausal women.

Results:

After adjustment for sociodemographic, behavioural and dietary factors, higher concentrations both of serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D3) revealed significant dose-dependent trends with lower risk of hypertension (Ptrend= 0·005 and 0·014, respectively) in premenopausal women. In those women, 25(OH)D ≥ 50 nmol/l (sufficient; in contrast to deficient, vitamin D < 30 nmol/l) appeared to have a protective effect against hypertension (OR = 0·64, 95 % CI 0·39, 1·02 for total 25(OH)D and OR = 0·60, 95 % CI 0·36, 1·00 for 25(OH)D3). Neither association with hypertension was observed in postmenopausal women.

Conclusions:

Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with lower risk of hypertension in premenopausal women, but not in postmenopausal women.
TIR approach and stress tolerance indices to identify donor for high-temperature stress tolerance in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
Authors: Mishra Smaranika , Laxman R. H. , Reddy K. Madhavi , Venugopalan R.
Published: January 2020

Bell pepper or sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum) is highly susceptible to high-temperature stress (HT). Hence, search for donor across C. annuum for HT tolerance was undertaken by following Temperature Induction Response (TIR) technique. The induction and challenging temperature requirement for TIR screening were standardized in 1 d-old Capsicum seedlings. Forty Capsicum genotypes were evaluated based on the recovery growth (RG) and per cent reduction in recovery growth (%RRG) of the seedlings. The genotypes Punjab Guchhedar and Ajeet 1 were found to have maximum cellular level tolerance (CLT) to HT with higher RG and lower %RRG compared to the non-induced seedlings and HDC 75 was found to have minimum CLT. In order to confirm the findings, another experiment was conducted under managed stress and control conditions. Absolute yield obtained from both the environments were used to calculate stress tolerance indices such as heat susceptibility index, tolerance index, stress tolerance index, mean productivity, geometric mean productivity and yield stability index. Based on these tolerance indices, Punjab Guchhedar and Ajeet 1 were found to be highly tolerant and HDC 75 as highly susceptible. Further, the combined result of TIR and tolerance indices also gave the same result confirming Punjab Guchhedar and Ajeet 1 can be used as a donor for the future breeding programme aimed at evolving high-temperature-tolerant bell pepper cultivars. The result also confirms the fitness of TIR technique to screen Capsicum genotypes for tolerance to HT based on variability in acquired thermotolerance.
Numerical Experiments on Variation of Freshwater Plume and Leakage Effect From Mississippi River Diversion in the Lake Pontchartrain Estuary
Authors: Huang Wei , Li Chunyan , White John R. , Bargu Sibel , Milan Brian , Bentley Sam
Published: January 2020

A Finite Volume Community Ocean Model is used to investigate how wind impacts the circulation and evolution of a freshwater plume from Mississippi River diversion in the Lake Pontchartrain Estuary. Results show that northerly and southerly winds tend to stretch the plume in the east‐west directions, while easterly and westerly winds constrain the plume in the north‐south directions. Increasing wind magnitude tends to increase the total salt content of the estuary except under weak westerly wind (<6 m/s) during which salt content decreases. A no‐motion middepth interface is found (by the model and verified by the data), separating the top layer downwind flow and bottom layer upwind flow. Increasing wind magnitude can enhance the two‐layered flows and lower the no‐motion plane between the two opposite flows. Apparent small leakage of the river water through the diversion structure prior to its opening is found to impact the vertical structure of flows and salinity: Mixing is facilitated by the large amount of freshwater leaked into the lake prior to the opening of the diversion; wind‐driven gyres are diminished; the average potential energy demand, a quantity used to measure the vertical stratification, is reduced to very low values; more deviation from the quasi‐steady state balance tends to occur; and a total of 3.7 × 108 kg of salt is reduced during the opening period of the Bonnet Carré Spillway. The Lake Pontchartrain Estuary is completely dominated by the river water within about 25 days, when salinity drops from an average value of 4 g/kg to essentially zero.
Mercury Accumulation in Tree Rings: Observed Trends in Quantity and Isotopic Composition in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Authors: Scanlon T. M. , Riscassi A. L. , Demers J. D. , Camper T. D. , Lee T. R. , Druckenbrod D. L.
Published: January 2020

Recent studies have shown that mercury (Hg) concentrations in tree rings have the potential to archive historical Hg exposure from local, regional, and global sources. The southeastern United States has received elevated Hg deposition, yet no studies have evaluated tree ring Hg in this region. Here, we quantify Hg accumulation and isotopic composition in tree rings collected in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Cores were collected from three individuals of three tree species—white oak (Quercus alba), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), and pitch pine (Pinus rigida)—within the northern, central, and southern areas of the Park (n = 27 cores). The cores were analyzed for Hg content in 10‐year increments, with some cores dating back to the early 1800s. Overall, tree ring Hg concentrations (ranging from below detection to 4.4 ng/g) were similar to other studies and varied between species, with pitch pine having higher concentrations than the deciduous species. The most notable feature of the tree ring Hg time series was a peak that occurred during the 1930s through 1950s, coinciding with the use of Hg at a local industrial facility. Atmospheric modeling indicates that potential emissions from the plant likely had a stronger impact on the southern region of the Park, consistent with the latitudinal gradient in tree ring Hg concentrations. Mass‐dependent and mass‐independent fractionation of Hg isotopes suggests contributions from both regional anthropogenic and local industrial sources during this period. This study demonstrates the potential usefulness of tree ring dendrochemistry for identifying historical sources of atmospheric Hg exposure.
Using regulatory variants to detect gene–gene interactions identifies networks of genes linked to cell immortalisation
Authors: Wragg D. , Liu Q. , Lin Z. , Riggio V. , Pugh C. A. , Beveridge A. J. , Brown H. , Hume D. A. , Harris S. E. , Deary I. J. , Tenesa A. , Prendergast J. G. D.
Published: January 2020

The extent to which the impact of regulatory genetic variants may depend on other factors, such as the expression levels of upstream transcription factors, remains poorly understood. Here we report a framework in which regulatory variants are first aggregated into sets, and using these as estimates of the total cis-genetic effects on a gene we model their non-additive interactions with the expression of other genes in the genome. Using 1220 lymphoblastoid cell lines across platforms and independent datasets we identify 74 genes where the impact of their regulatory variant-set is linked to the expression levels of networks of distal genes. We show that these networks are predominantly associated with tumourigenesis pathways, through which immortalised cells are able to rapidly proliferate. We consequently present an approach to define gene interaction networks underlying important cellular pathways such as cell immortalisation.
Plasmon–emitter interactions at the nanoscale
Authors: Gonçalves P. A. D. , Christensen Thomas , Rivera Nicholas , Jauho Antti-Pekka , Mortensen N. Asger , Soljačić Marin
Published: January 2020

Plasmon–emitter interactions are of central importance in modern nanoplasmonics and are generally maximal at short emitter–surface separations. However, when the separation falls below 10–20 nm, the classical theory deteriorates progressively due to its neglect of quantum effects such as nonlocality, electronic spill-out, and Landau damping. Here we show how this neglect can be remedied in a unified theoretical treatment of mesoscopic electrodynamics incorporating Feibelman $$d$$
d
-parameters. Our approach incorporates nonclassical resonance shifts and surface-enabled Landau damping—a nonlocal damping effect—which have a dramatic impact on the amplitude and spectral distribution of plasmon–emitter interactions. We consider a broad array of plasmon–emitter interactions ranging from dipolar and multipolar spontaneous emission enhancement, to plasmon-assisted energy transfer and enhancement of two-photon transitions. The formalism gives a complete account of both plasmons and plasmon–emitter interactions at the nanoscale, constituting a simple yet rigorous platform to include nonclassical effects in plasmon-enabled nanophotonic phenomena.
Self-assembled single-atom nanozyme for enhanced photodynamic therapy treatment of tumor
Authors: Wang Dongdong , Wu Huihui , Phua Soo Zeng Fiona , Yang Guangbao , Qi Lim Wei , Gu Long , Qian Cheng , Wang Haibao , Guo Zhen , Chen Hongzhong , Zhao Yanli
Published: January 2020

Hypoxia of solid tumor compromises the therapeutic outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) that relies on localized O2 molecules to produce highly cytotoxic singlet oxygen (1O2) species. Herein, we present a safe and versatile self-assembled PDT nanoagent, i.e., OxgeMCC-r single-atom enzyme (SAE), consisting of single-atom ruthenium as the active catalytic site anchored in a metal-organic framework Mn3[Co(CN)6]2 with encapsulated chlorin e6 (Ce6), which serves as a catalase-like nanozyme for oxygen generation. Coordination-driven self-assembly of organic linkers and metal ions in the presence of a biocompatible polymer generates a nanoscale network that adaptively encapsulates Ce6. The resulted OxgeMCC-r SAE possesses well-defined morphology, uniform size distribution and high loading capacity. When conducting the in situ O2 generation through the reaction between endogenous H2O2 and single-atom Ru species of OxgeMCC-r SAE, the hypoxia in tumor microenvironment is relieved. Our study demonstrates a promising self-assembled nanozyme with highly efficient single-atom catalytic sites for cancer treatment.
The shift of phosphorus transfers in global fisheries and aquaculture
Authors: Huang Yuanyuan , Ciais Phillipe , Goll Daniel S. , Sardans Jordi , Peñuelas Josep , Cresto-Aleina Fabio , Zhang Haicheng
Published: January 2020

Global fish production (capture and aquaculture) has increased quickly, which has altered global flows of phosphorus (P). Here we show that in 2016, $$2.04_{1.59}^{3.09}$$
2.0

4

1.59

3.09

Tg P yr−1 (mean and interquartile range) was applied in aquaculture to increase fish production; while $$1.10_{1.04}^{1.14}$$
1.1

0

1.04

1.14

Tg P yr−1 was removed from aquatic systems by fish harvesting. Between 1950 and 1986, P from fish production went from aquatic towards the land-human systems. This landward P peaked at 0.54 Tg P yr−1, representing a large but overlooked P flux that might benefit land activities under P scarcity. After 1986, the landward P flux decreased significantly, and became negative around 2004, meaning that humans spend more P to produce fish than harvest P in fish capture. An idealized pathway to return to the balanced anthropogenic P flow would require the mean phosphorus use efficiency (the ratio of harvested to input P) of aquaculture to be increased from a current value of 20% to at least 48% by 2050 — a big challenge.
Cryo-EM structure of the respiratory syncytial virus RNA polymerase
Authors: Cao Dongdong , Gao Yunrong , Roesler Claire , Rice Samantha , D’Cunha Paul , Zhuang Lisa , Slack Julia , Domke Mason , Antonova Anna , Romanelli Sarah , Keating Shayon , Forero Gabriela , Juneja Puneet , Liang Bo
Published: January 2020

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) RNA polymerase, constituted of a 250 kDa large (L) protein and tetrameric phosphoprotein (P), catalyzes three distinct enzymatic activities — nucleotide polymerization, cap addition, and cap methylation. How RSV L and P coordinate these activities is poorly understood. Here, we present a 3.67 Å cryo-EM structure of the RSV polymerase (L:P) complex. The structure reveals that the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and capping (Cap) domains of L interact with the oligomerization domain (POD) and C-terminal domain (PCTD) of a tetramer of P. The density of the methyltransferase (MT) domain of L and the N-terminal domain of P (PNTD) is missing. Further analysis and comparison with other RNA polymerases at different stages suggest the structure we obtained is likely to be at an elongation-compatible stage. Together, these data provide enriched insights into the interrelationship, the inhibitors, and the evolutionary implications of the RSV polymerase.
The origins of acoustic communication in vertebrates
Authors: Chen Zhuo , Wiens John J.
Published: January 2020

Acoustic communication is crucial to humans and many other tetrapods, including birds, frogs, crocodilians, and mammals. However, large-scale patterns in its evolution are largely unstudied. Here, we address several fundamental questions about the origins of acoustic communication in terrestrial vertebrates (tetrapods), using phylogenetic methods. We show that origins of acoustic communication are significantly associated with nocturnal activity. We find that acoustic communication does not increase diversification rates, a surprising result given the many speciation-focused studies of frog calls and bird songs. We also demonstrate that the presence of acoustic communication is strongly conserved over time. Finally, we find that acoustic communication evolved independently in most major tetrapod groups, often with remarkably ancient origins (~100–200 million years ago). Overall, we show that the role of ecology in shaping signal evolution applies to surprisingly deep timescales, whereas the role of signal evolution in diversification may not.
Unfolding the complexity of phonon quasi-particle physics in disordered materials
Authors: Mu Sai , Olsen Raina J. , Dutta Biswanath , Lindsay Lucas , Samolyuk German D. , Berlijn Tom , Specht Eliot D. , Jin Ke , Bei Hongbin , Hickel Tilmann , Larson Bennet C. , Stocks George M.
Published: January 2020

The concept of quasi-particles forms the theoretical basis of our microscopic understanding of emergent phenomena associated with quantum-mechanical many-body interactions. However, the quasi-particle theory in disordered materials has proven difficult, resulting in the predominance of mean-field solutions. Here, we report first-principles phonon calculations and inelastic X-ray and neutron-scattering measurements on equiatomic alloys (NiCo, NiFe, AgPd, and NiFeCo) with force-constant dominant disorder—confronting a key 50-year-old assumption in the Hamiltonian of all mean-field quasi-particle solutions for off-diagonal disorder. Our results have revealed the presence of a large, and heretofore unrecognized, impact of local chemical environments on the distribution of the species-pair-resolved force-constant disorder that can dominate phonon scattering. This discovery not only identifies a critical analysis issue that has broad implications for other elementary excitations, such as magnons and skyrmions in magnetic alloys, but also provides an important tool for the design of materials with ultralow thermal conductivities.
Releasing the hidden shift current in the TTF-CA organic molecular solid via symmetry lowering
Authors: Kim Bumseop , Kim Jeongwoo , Shin Dongbin , Choi Min , Lee Junhee , Park Noejung
Published: January 2020

Bulk photovoltaic effect, characterized by an excitation-driven unbiased spontaneous photocurrent, has attracted substantial attention mainly due to its potential for harvesting solar energy. Here, we investigate the photovoltaic characteristics of organic molecular solids and focus on the association between the photocurrent and the crystal symmetry in the exemplary case of tetrathiafulvalene-p-chloranil. We perform comprehensive first-principles calculations, including direct evaluations of the excited-state current via real-time propagations of the time-dependent density functional theory. We find that the charge shifting in the low-temperature phase is mainly driven by the intrachain ferroelectricity, which gives rise to a photocurrent not only in the visible-light range but also near the band-edge infrared region. The shift current that is locked in the symmetry of the high-temperature phase can be released by introducing a potential asymmetry. We suggest that organic molecular solids can be exploited via appropriate engineering to lower the symmetry, aiming at room-temperature photovoltaics.
Quantum inverse iteration algorithm for programmable quantum simulators
Authors: Kyriienko Oleksandr
Published: January 2020

We propose a quantum inverse iteration algorithm, which can be used to estimate ground state properties of a programmable quantum device. The method relies on the inverse power iteration technique, where the sequential application of the Hamiltonian inverse to an initial state prepares the approximate ground state. To apply the inverse Hamiltonian operation, we write it as a sum of unitary evolution operators using the Fourier approximation approach. This allows to reformulate the protocol as separate measurements for the overlap of initial and propagated wavefunction. The algorithm thus crucially depends on the ability to run Hamiltonian dynamics with an available quantum device, and can be used for analog quantum simulators. We benchmark the performance using paradigmatic examples of quantum chemistry, corresponding to molecular hydrogen and beryllium hydride. Finally, we show its use for studying the ground state properties of relevant material science models, which can be simulated with existing devices, considering an example of the Bose-Hubbard atomic simulator.
Doping evolution of the charge excitations and electron correlations in electron-doped superconducting La2−xCexCuO4
Authors: Lin Jiaqi , Yuan Jie , Jin Kui , Yin Zhiping , Li Gang , Zhou Ke-Jin , Lu Xingye , Dantz Marcus , Schmitt Thorsten , Ding Hong , Guo Haizhong , Dean Mark P. M. , Liu Xuerong
Published: January 2020

Electron correlations play a dominant role in the charge dynamics of the cuprates. We use resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) to track the doping dependence of the collective charge excitations in electron doped La$${}_{2-x}$$

2
−
x

Ce$${}_{x}$$

x

CuO$${}_{4}$$

4

(LCCO). From the resonant energy dependence and the out-of-plane momentum dependence, the charge excitations are identified as three-dimensional (3D) plasmons, which reflect the nature of the electronic structure and Coulomb repulsion on both short and long lengthscales. With increasing electron doping, the plasmon excitations increase monotonically in energy, a consequence of the electron correlation effect on electron structure near the Fermi surface (FS). Importantly, the plasmon excitations evolve from a broad feature into a well-defined peak with much increased life time, revealing the evolution of the electrons from incoherent states to coherent quasi-particles near the FS. Such evolution marks the reduction of the short-range electronic correlation, and thus the softening of the Mottness of the system with increasing electron doping.
Spatial Network Connectivity and Spatial Reasoning Ability in Children with Nonverbal Learning Disability
Authors: Banker Sarah M. , Ramphal Bruce , Pagliaccio David , Thomas Lauren , Rosen Elizabeth , Sigel Anika N. , Zeffiro Thomas , Marsh Rachel , Margolis Amy E.
Published: January 2020

Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD) is characterized by deficits in visual-spatial, but not verbal, reasoning. Nevertheless, the functioning of the neural circuits supporting spatial processing have yet to be assessed in children with NVLD. We compared the resting state functional connectivity of a spatial brain network among children with NVLD, children with reading disorder (RD), and typically developing (TD) children. Seventy-five participants (7–15 years old) were included in the study (20 TD, 24 NVLD, and 31 RD). Group differences in global efficiency and functional connectivity among 12 regions comprising a previously defined spatial network were evaluated. Associations with behavior were explored. Global efficiency of the spatial network associated positively with spatial ability and inversely with socioemotional problems. Within the spatial network, associations between left posterior cingulate (PCC) and right retrosplenial cortical activity were reduced in children with NVLD relative to those without spatial deficits (RD and TD). Connectivity between left PCC and right posterior cerebellum (Crus I and II) was reduced in both groups of children with learning disabilities (NVLD and RD) relative to TD children. Functional connectivity of the spatial network was atypically associated with cognitive and socioemotional performance in children with NVLD. Identifying a neurobiological substrate for NVLD provides evidence that it is a discrete clinical entity and suggests targets for treatment.
Ultrastructure of Ediacaran cloudinids suggests diverse taphonomic histories and affinities with non-biomineralized annelids
Authors: Yang Ben , Steiner Michael , Schiffbauer James D. , Selly Tara , Wu Xuwen , Zhang Cong , Liu Pengju
Published: January 2020

Cloudinids have long been considered the earliest biomineralizing metazoans, but their affinities have remained contentious and undetermined. Based on well-preserved ultrastructures of two taxa, we here propose new interpretations regarding both their extent of original biomineralization and their phylogenetic affinity. One of these taxa is a new cloudinid from Mongolia, Zuunia chimidtsereni gen. et sp. nov., which exhibits key characteristics of submicrometric kerogenous lamellae, plastic tube-wall deformation, and tube-wall delamination. Multiple carbonaceous lamellae are also discovered in Cloudina from Namibia and Paraguay, which we interpret to have originated from chitinous or collagenous fabrics. We deduce that these cloudinids were predominantly originally organic (chitinous or collagenous), and postmortem decay and taphonomic mineralization resulted in the formation of aragonite and/or calcite. Further, based on our ultrastructural characterization and other morphological similarities, we suggest that the cloudinids should most parsimoniously be assigned to annelids with originally organic tubes.
The diversity of recent trends for chondrichthyans in the Mediterranean reflects fishing exploitation and a potential evolutionary pressure towards early maturation
Authors: Ramírez-Amaro Sergio , Ordines Francesc , Esteban Antonio , García Cristina , Guijarro Beatriz , Salmerón Francisca , Terrasa Bàrbara , Massutí Enric
Published: January 2020

Chondrichthyans are a vulnerable group that has been overexploited for almost half a century in the Mediterranean. Since in this area most chondrichthyans are rarely incorporated into international statistics, the impact of fishing on their populations is difficult to assess. Here, we evaluate temporal trends in order to understand the recent history of chondrichthyans in the western Mediterranean. Fishery-independent data were obtained from scientific surveys carried out from 1994 to 2015 in three geographical sub-areas. Our results reflect fairly stable populations in terms of diversity, with some increase in density and standardized biomass of some species dwelling on the continental shelf, and even for some species dwelling on the slope. In contrast, decreasing trends were observed in some deep-water species. This can be explained by the reduction of the trawling effort on the continental shelf over the last few decades, and the shift of the fleet towards deep waters, along with the greater resilience displayed by some species. Furthermore, a decreasing trend in maturity ofScyliorhinus caniculawas detected, suggesting an evolutionary response to overfishing. These results improve scientific knowledge for developing true adaptive management in the Mediterranean that will implement measures to strengthen or initiate the recovery of chondrichthyans.
Using virtual reality to define the mechanisms linking symptoms with cognitive deficits in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Mangalmurti Aman , Kistler William D. , Quarrie Barrington , Sharp Wendy , Persky Susan , Shaw Philip
Published: January 2020

The mechanisms underpinning attentional deficits are only partially understood. Here we ask if shifts in a child’s field of view (FOV) act as a mediator between symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and associated cognitive anomalies, particularly in attentional processes. Real time measurement of shifts in FOV were obtained on 85 children (mean age 9.4 (SD 1.9) years; 45 with DSM 5-defined ADHD) as they completed the continuous performance task in a “virtual classroom”. We extracted measures reflecting focused and selective attention across the task, along with diffusion modelling of latent cognitive processes of information uptake, response conservativeness and non-decision time. Mediation analyses showed that shifts in FOV partially mediated the relationship between hyperactive impulsive symptoms and both poor focused attention and information uptake. Performance accuracy decreased and shifts in FOV increased during the task, but these changes over time did not differ by symptom severity. Employing virtual reality and mediation analysis, we implicate shifts in FOV as a mechanism linking symptoms of ADHD and deficits in focused attention and in the gathering of information to make decisions. The identification of mediating mechanisms might provide new targets for intervention.
Activation of RSK by phosphomimetic substitution in the activation loop is prevented by structural constraints
Authors: Somale Desiana , Di Nardo Giovanna , di Blasio Laura , Puliafito Alberto , Vara-Messler Marianela , Chiaverina Giulia , Palmiero Miriam , Monica Valentina , Gilardi Gianfranco , Primo Luca , Gagliardi Paolo Armando
Published: January 2020

The activation of the majority of AGC kinases is regulated by two phosphorylation events on two conserved serine/threonine residues located on the activation loop and on the hydrophobic motif, respectively. In AGC kinase family, phosphomimetic substitutions with aspartate or glutamate, leading to constitutive activation, have frequently occurred at the hydrophobic motif site. On the contrary, phosphomimetic substitutions in the activation loop are absent across the evolution of AGC kinases. This observation is explained by the failure of aspartate and glutamate to mimic phosphorylatable serine/threonine in this regulatory site. By detailed 3D structural simulations of RSK2 and further biochemical evaluation in cells, we show that the phosphomimetic residue on the activation loop fails to form a critical salt bridge with R114, necessary to reorient the αC-helix and to activate the protein. By a phylogenetic analysis, we point at a possible coevolution of a phosphorylatable activation loop and the presence of a conserved positively charged amino acid on the αC-helix. In sum, our analysis leads to the unfeasibility of phosphomimetic substitution in the activation loop of RSK and, at the same time, highlights the peculiar structural role of activation loop phosphorylation.
Measurement of Prostate Volume with MRI (A Guide for the Perplexed): Biproximate Method with Analysis of Precision and Accuracy
Authors: Wasserman Neil F. , Niendorf Eric , Spilseth Benjamin
Published: January 2020

To review the anatomic basis of prostate boundary selection on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To introduce an alternative 3D ellipsoid measuring technique that maximizes precision, report the intra- and inter-observer reliability, and to advocate it’s use for research involving multiple observers. We demonstrate prostate boundary anatomy using gross pathology and MRI examples. This provides background for selecting key boundary marks when measuring prostate volume. An alternative ellipsoid volume method is then proposed using these boundaries in an attempt to improve inter-observer precision. An IRB approved retrospective study of 140 patients with elevated serum prostate specific antigen levels and/or abnormal digital rectal examinations was done with T2-weighted MRI applying a new (Biproximate) technique. Measurements were made by 2 examiners, correlated with each other for inter-observer precision and correlated with an expert observer for accuracy. Correlation statistics, linear regression analysis, and tests of means were applied using p ≤ 0.05 as the threshold for significance. Inter-observer correlation (precision) was 0.95 between observers. Correlation between these observers and the expert (accuracy) was 0.94 and 0.97 respectively. Intra-observer correlation for the expert was 0.98. Means for inter-rater reliability and accuracy were all the same (p = 0.001). We conclude that using more precise reproducible landmarks with biproximate technique, precision and accuracy of total prostate volume is found to be demonstrated.
TLR3 agonists induce fibronectin aggregation by activated astrocytes: a role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and fibronectin splice variants
Authors: Werkman Inge , Sikkema Arend H. , Versluijs Joris B. , Qin Jing , de Boer Pascal , Baron Wia
Published: January 2020

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system which eventually results in axonal loss mainly due to failure of remyelination. Previously we have shown that the persistent presence of stable astrocyte-derived fibronectin aggregates in MS lesions impairs OPC differentiation, and thereby remyelination. Here we set out to discern whether and, if so, how inflammatory mediators as present in MS lesions trigger astrocytes to form fibronectin aggregates. Our findings revealed that in slice cultures only upon demyelination, the TLR3 agonist Poly(I:C) evoked astrocytes to form fibronectin aggregates. Consistently, pro-inflammatory cytokine-pretreated astrocytes were more susceptible to Poly(I:C)-induced fibronectin aggregation, indicating that astrocytes form fibronectin aggregates upon a double hit by inflammatory mediators. The underlying mechanism involves disrupted fibronectin fibrillogenesis at the cell surface as a result of a cytokine-induced increase in relative mRNA levels of EIIIApos-Fn over EIIIBpos-Fn and a Poly(I:C)-mediated decrease in integrin affinity. Remarkably, fibronectin aggregation is exacerbated by white matter astrocytes compared to grey matter astrocytes, which may be a reflection of higher expression levels of EIIIApos-fibronectin in white matter astrocytes. Hence, interfering with alternative fibronectin splicing and/or TLR3-mediated signaling may prevent fibronectin aggregation and overcome remyelination failure in MS lesions.