bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) of the human kidney
Authors: Bechler Eric , Stabinska Julia , Thiel Thomas , Jasse Jonas , Zukovs Romans , Valentin Birte , Wittsack Hans-Jörg , Ljimani Alexandra
Published: November 2020

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility of in-vivo quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) of the human kidney.

Methods

An axial single-breath-hold 3D multi-echo sequence (acquisition time 33 s) was completed on a 3 T-MRI-scanner (Magnetom Prisma, Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany) in 19 healthy volunteers. Graph-cut-based unwrapping combined with the T2*-IDEAL approach was performed to remove the chemical shift of fat and to quantify QSM of the upper abdomen. Mean susceptibility values of the entire, renal cortex and medulla in both kidneys and the liver were determined and compared. Five subjects were measured twice to examine the reproducibility. One patient with severe renal fibrosis was included in the study to evaluate the potential clinical relevance of QSM.

Results

QSM was successful in 17 volunteers and the patient with renal fibrosis. Anatomical structures in the abdomen were clearly distinguishable by QSM and the susceptibility values obtained in the liver were comparable to those found in the literature. The results showed a good reproducibility. Besides, the mean renal QSM values obtained in healthy volunteers (0.04 ± 0.07 ppm for the right and − 0.06 ± 0.19 ppm for the left kidney) were substantially higher than that measured in the investigated fibrotic kidney (− 0.43 ± − 0.02 ppm).

Conclusion

QSM of the human kidney could be a promising approach for the assessment of information about microscopic renal tissue structure. Therefore, it might further improve functional renal MR imaging.
Geochemical focusing and sequestration of manganese during eutrophication of Lake Stechlin (NE Germany)
Authors: Scholtysik Grzegorz , Dellwig Olaf , Roeser Patricia , Arz Helge Wolfgang , Casper Peter , Herzog Christiane , Goldhammer Tobias , Hupfer Michael
Published: November 2020

Significant sedimentation of manganese (Mn) in form of manganese oxides (MnOx) and the subsequent formation of authigenic calcium-rich rhodochrosite (Mn(Ca)CO3) were observed in the seasonally stratified hard water Lake Stechlin in north-eastern Germany. This manganese enrichment was assumed to be associated with recent eutrophication of the formerly oligotrophic lake. The mechanisms and processes involved were examined by analysing: (i) short sediment cores obtained from seven locations along a depth transect ranging from 69.5 m (the deepest point) to 38 m; (ii) sediment traps located at 20 m and 60 m water depths; (iii) water column profiles; and (iv) porewater profiles at 69.5 m and 58 m depths. Sedimentary Mn enrichment was observed at water depths below 56 m and increased to more than 25 wt% at the deepest site. Between 2010 and 2017, Mn accumulation at the deepest site was 815 g Mn m−2. Transfer of Mn from the shallower towards the deepest parts of the lake was initiated by reductive dissolution of MnOx and diffusion of dissolved Mn from the sediment to the overlying water column. Manganese was then dissipated via turbulent mixing and subsequently oxidised to MnOx before being transported towards the deepest zone. Transformation of the redeposited MnOx to Mn(Ca)CO3 favoured the final burial of Mn. We show that eutrophication and the areal spreading of anoxic conditions may intensify diagenetic processes and cause the spatial redistribution of Mn as well as its effective burial. Contrary to many previous findings, we show that increases of Mn and Mn/Fe can also be used as indicators for increasing anoxic conditions in previously oligotrophic lakes.
Maternal and paternal carriage of the annexin A5 M2 haplotype: a possible risk factor for recurrent implantation failure (RIF)
Authors: Rogenhofer Nina , Markoff Arseni , Ennerst Xenia , Bogdanova Nadja , Thaler Christian
Published: November 2020

Objective

This study was carried out to determine the potential role of the M2/ANXA5 haplotype as a risk factor for recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Carriage of the M2/ANXA5 haplotype that induces prothrombotic changes has been implicated in failure of early pregnancies and placenta-mediated complications (preeclampsia, IUGR, preterm birth).

Material and methods

In the present case control study, 63 couples (females and males) with RIF presenting for IVF/ICSI to the Fertility Center of [masked] were analyzed. RIF was defined as ≥ 4 consecutive failed ART-transfers of ≥ 4 blastocysts or ≥ 8 cleavage-stage embryos of optimal quality and maternal age ≤ 41. Fertile female controls (n = 90) were recruited from the same center. Population controls (n = 533) were drafted from the PopGen biobank, UKSH Kiel.

Results

Couples carrying the M2/ANXA5 haplotype turned out to have a significantly increased relative risk (RR) for RIF. Compared with female fertile controls, RR was 1.81 with p = 0.037 (OR 2.1, 95%CI 1.0–4.3) and RR was 1.70, with p = 0.004 (OR 2.0, 95%CI 1.2–3.1) compared with population controls (15.4% M2 carriers). Male partners were comparable with RIF females for M2/ANXA5 haplotypes (28.6% vs. 23.8%, p = 0.54). RIF females compared with population controls had a RR of 1.55 (p = 0.09) and RIF males compared with population controls had a RR of 1.9 (p = 0.01). Couples with ≥ 7 failed transfers showed a RR of 1.82 (p = 0.02) compared with population controls.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that maternal as well as paternal M2/ANXA5 haplotype carriages are risk factors for RIF. These results allow new insights into the pathogenesis of RIF and might help to identify relevant risk groups.
Implications of the principle of effective stress
Authors: Gudehus Gerd
Published: November 2020

While Terzaghi justified his principle of effective stress for water-saturated soil empirically, it can be derived by means of the neutrality of the mineral with respect to changes of the pore water pressure $$p_w$$

p
w

. This principle works also with dilating shear bands arising beyond critical points of saturated grain fabrics, and with patterns of shear bands as relics of critical phenomena. The shear strength of over-consolidated clay is explained without effective cohesion, which results also from swelling up to decay, while rapid shearing of water-saturated clay can lead to a cavitation of pore water. The $$p_w$$

p
w

-neutrality is also confirmed by triaxial tests with sandstone samples, while Biot’s relation with a reduction factor for $$p_w$$

p
w

is contestable. An effective stress tensor is heuristically legitimate also for soil and rock with relics of critical phenomena, particularly for critical points with a Mohr–Coulomb condition. Therein, the $$p_w$$

p
w

-neutrality of the solid mineral determines the interaction of solid fabric and pore water, but numerical models are questionable due to fractal features.
Long Non-coding RNAs as Promising Therapeutic Approach in Ischemic Stroke: a Comprehensive Review
Authors: Wolska Marta , Jarosz-Popek Joanna , Junger Eva , Wicik Zofia , Porshoor Tahmina , Sharif Lucia , Czajka Pamela , Postula Marek , Mirowska-Guzel Dagmara , Czlonkowska Anna , Eyileten Ceren
Published: November 2020

In recent years, ischemic stroke (IS) has been one of the major causes of disability and mortality worldwide. The general mechanism of IS is based on reduced blood supply to neuronal tissue, resulting in neuronal cell damage by various pathological reactions. One of the main techniques for acute IS treatment entails advanced surgical approaches for restoration of cerebral blood supply but this is often associated with secondary brain injury, also known as ischemic reperfusion injury (I/R injury). Many researches have come to emphasize the significant role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in IS, especially in I/R injury and their potential as therapeutic approaches. LncRNAs are non-protein transcripts that are able to regulate cellular processes and gene expression. Further, lncRNAs have been shown to be involved in neuronal signaling pathways. Several lncRNAs are recognized as key factors in the physiological and pathological processes of IS. In this review, we discuss the role of lncRNAs in neuronal injury mechanisms and their association with brain neuroprotection. Moreover, we identify the lncRNAs that show the greatest potential as novel therapeutic approaches in IS, which therefore merit further investigation in preclinical research.
CARE: Context-awareness for elderly care
Authors: Klakegg Simon , Opoku Asare Kennedy , van Berkel Niels , Visuri Aku , Ferreira Eija , Hosio Simo , Goncalves Jorge , Huttunen Hanna-Leena , Ferreira Denzil
Published: November 2020

We present CARE, a context-aware tool for nurses in nursing homes. The system utilises a sensors infrastructure to quantify the behaviour and wellbeing (e.g.,activity, mood, social and nurse interactions) of elderly residents. The sensor data is offloaded, processed and analysed in the cloud, to generate daily and long-term summaries of residents’ health. These insights are then presented to nurses via an Android tablet application. We aim to create a tool that can assist nurses and increase their awareness to residents’ needs. We deployed CARE in a local nursing home for two months and evaluated the system through apost-hocexploratory analysis and interviews with the nurses. The results indicate that CARE can reveal essential insights on the wellbeing of elderly residents and improve the care service. In the discussion, we reflect on our understanding and potential impact of future integrated technology in elderly care environments.
Investigation of the sooting propensity of aviation fuel mixtures
Authors: Richter S. , Kathrotia T. , Naumann C. , Scheuermann S. , Riedel U.
Published: November 2020

Aromatic compounds occurring naturally in jet fuels are precursors for the formation of soot in the exhaust gas of jet engines. Directly emitted in cruising altitude, soot particles lead to the formation of contrails and clouds influencing the radiation balance of the atmosphere. Hence, a detailed knowledge on the effect of aromatics on the sooting behavior is of great importance, especially for the development of alternative synthetic jet fuels. Investigations on the sooting propensity influenced by the molecular structure and concentration of diverse aromatic compounds contained in synthetic and fossil aviation fuels as well as blends of synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) with aromatic compounds (SKA) were carried out experimentally. Using a predefined SPK fuel, five different blends—each containing a single aromatic compound—were prepared in addition to one blend with a typical composition consisting of all these aromatic compounds. In subsequent measurements, the concentration of the aromatics was increased from initially 8.0 vol%, to about 16.5, and 25.0 vol%. The aromatics added were toluene,n­-propylbenzene, indane, 1­methylnaphthalene, and biphenyl. The studied jet fuels include fossil-based Jet A-1 as well as different synthetic jet fuels (with and without aromatics). Furthermore, the experimental results of the sooting propensity are compared with the results of the hydrogen deficiency model being a measure for the amount of cyclic and unsaturated molecular structures occurring in a hydrocarbon fuel. This study shows the hydrogen deficiency as a useful tool to make predictions about the sooting behavior of different fuels compared to a reference fuel at a specified condition. Additionally, it is observed from the measured sooting propensities as well as from the model predictions of hydrogen deficiency that the structure of aromatic compounds presents greater influence on the soot formation than the aromatic concentration.
Police Power in the Italian Communes, 1228–1326
Authors: Roberts Gregory
Published: November 2020

Medieval states are widely assumed to have lacked police forces. Yet in the Italian city-republics, soldiers patrolled the streets daily in search of lawbreakers. Police Power in the Italian Communes, 1228–1326 is the first book to examine the emergence of urban policing in medieval Italy and its impact on city life. Focusing on Bologna in the thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, Gregory Roberts shows how police forces gave teeth to the communes' many statutes through a range of patrol activities. Whether seeking outlaws in the countryside or nighttime serenaders in the streets, urban police forces pursued lawbreakers energetically and effectively. They charged hundreds of individuals each year with arms-bearing, gambling, and curfew violations, convicting many of them in the process. Roberts draws on a trove of unpublished evidence from judicial archives, rich with witness testimony, to paint a vivid picture of policing in daily life and the capacity of urban governments to coerce. Breaking new ground in the study of violence, justice, and state formation in the Middle Ages, Police Power in the Italian Communes sheds fresh light on the question of how ostensibly modern institutions emerge from premodern social orders.
The Role of Self-Criticism and Shame in Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviour Symptoms
Authors: Houazene S. , Aardema F. , Leclerc J. B. , O'Connor K.
Published: November 2020

Body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs), such as hair-pulling, skin-picking, and nail-biting, are non-functional habits associated with difficulties in emotion regulation. Although several models have been developed to explain the difficulties experienced by people suffering from BFRBs, a number of cognitive and emotional processes have yet to be explored. This study sought to investigate the psychological characteristics involved in the development and maintenance of BFRB symptoms. In particular, we aimed to evaluate the relationship of self-criticism, shame, and maladaptive cognitive emotion strategies with symptoms and examine if the relationship between perfectionism and symptoms was mediated by self-criticism and shame. Seventy-six participants from a community sample completed a number of self-report measures. Findings from our multivariate linear regression model supported that shame and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies significantly predicted BFRB symptoms. Results of our mediational analyses revealed that shame significantly mediated the relationship between perfectionism and BFRB symptoms. Interventions that target shame may be beneficial for treating these conditions. Future studies should replicate these findings with clinical populations and other BFRB subtypes.
Motivated reasoning and policy information: politicians are more resistant to debiasing interventions than the general public
Authors: CHRISTENSEN JULIAN , MOYNIHAN DONALD P.
Published: November 2020

A growing body of evidence shows that politicians use motivated reasoning to fit evidence with prior beliefs. In this, they are not unlike other people. We use survey experiments to reaffirm prior work showing that politicians, like the public they represent, engage in motivated reasoning. However, we also show that politicians are more resistant to debiasing interventions than others. When required to justify their evaluations, politicians rely more on prior political attitudes and less on policy information, increasing the probability of erroneous decisions. The results raise the troubling implication that the specialized role of elected officials makes them more immune to the correction of biases, and in this way less representative of the voters they serve when they process policy information.
An investigation of the possibility of non-Laurentide ice stream contributions to Heinrich event 3
Authors: Velay-Vitow Jesse , Peltier W. Richard , Stuhne Gordan R.
Published: November 2020

The ocean floor sedimentological signature of Heinrich event 3 (H3) is markedly different from that of other Heinrich events that are known to have originated in Hudson Strait. It has therefore been suggested that the H3 contribution to iceberg flux may have been delivered by ice streams located in the eastern sector of the North Atlantic, from the Fennoscandian or British Isles ice sheets. To investigate this possibility and whether the instability involved may have been tidally induced, as seems to have been the case for H1, we consider several eastern Atlantic sector possibilities: a hypothetical Barents Sea ice stream, the Norwegian ice stream, and the Irish Sea ice stream. We find that the extremely high amplitude of the M2 tidal constituent in the western North Atlantic that appears to have forced H1 did not exist in the northeastern Atlantic. This suggests that, with one possible exception, if destabilized ice streams in this region did contribute to H3, tidal forcing was most probably not the cause. The single exception to this general conclusion may be the Irish Sea ice stream, and we comment on the probability of a contribution to H3 from this source.
More Accurate, But No Less Polarized: Comparing the Factual Beliefs of Government Officials and the Public
Authors: Lee Nathan , Nyhan Brendan , Reifler Jason , Flynn D. J.
Published: November 2020

Studies of the American public demonstrate that partisans often diverge not only on questions of opinion but also on matters of fact. However, little is known about partisan divergence in factual beliefs among the government officials who make real policy decisions, or how it compares to belief polarization among the public. This letter describes the first systematic comparison of factual belief polarization between the public and government officials, which we conducted using a paired survey approach. The results indicate that political elites are consistently more accurately informed than the public across a wide range of politically contentious facts. However, this increase in accuracy does not translate into reduced factual belief polarization. These findings demonstrate that a more informed political elite does not necessarily mitigate partisan factual disagreement in policy making.
DISTINCTION, CENTRALITY AND CULTURAL APPROPRIATION IN PRE-ALEXANDRIAN COURT POETRY: THE CASE OF LYCIA
Authors: Evans Brett
Published: November 2020

This article examines allusions to Greek poetry in two Greek verse inscriptions carved on public monuments for Lycian dynasts of the late fifth and early fourth centuriesb.c.(CEG177, 888). Scholarship on these epigrams celebrating the rule, achievements and outstanding qualities of the dynasts Gergis (LycianKheriga) and Arbinas (Erbinna) has largely focussed on the evidence they provide for Lycian history, dynastic ideology and Lycia's relationship to Greece. Less attention has been paid to the possible significance of their long-noted echoes of Greek poetry. Literary analysis of these epigrams has been sidelined, it seems, owing to a prevailing assumption that they were composed and inscribed primarily for Greeks visiting or resident in Xanthus, the Lycian ‘capital’ where they were inscribed, and so their literariness, unheard by Lycian ears, cannot add to our understanding of Lycia and Lycians. Yet, a recent observation of Peter Thonemann suggests that the appropriation and manipulation of Greek poetry is in fact central to the dynastic intent of the epigrams: to assert Lycia's non-Greek, ‘Asiatic’ identity.
Temporal variation in the recruitment of calcareous sponges (Porifera, Calcarea) in Todos os Santos Bay, tropical Brazilian coast
Authors: Chagas C. , Barros F. , Cavalcanti F. F.
Published: November 2020

Recruitment is related to the occupation of the substrate by fouling organisms. It plays an important role in the maintenance and distribution of benthic populations, being under the influence of biotic and abiotic factors. In the present work, the recruitment of calcareous sponges was monitored over two years in a marina at Todos os Santos Bay, a large bay in the tropical portion of the Brazilian coast. Artificial plates were immersed, being replaced bimonthly and the potential influence of the seawater temperature, photoperiod and precipitation on the number of sponge recruits was tested. The results showed that the number of calcareous sponge recruits had significant temporal variation. Nevertheless, different species showed different patterns over time. Significant differences were observed forSycon avus,Syconsp. andLeucandra serrata, and the periods with the highest number of recruits were different amongst them.Sycon bellum,Paraleucilla incomposita,Leucillasp. andHeteropia glomerosadid not show significant variation in the number of recruits over time. None of the three tested environmental factors were correlated with the number of recruits, but results indicatedS. avusrecruitment might be driven by seawater temperature. Our results contribute to improve the current knowledge on the dynamics of each species found on the plates and reinforce the general view that the pattern of recruitment varies greatly in Calcarea, even amongst sympatric species.
Individual crop size increases predispersal predation by beetles in a tropical palm
Authors: Bruno Morgana Maria Arcanjo , Massi Klécia Gili , Christianini Alexander V. , Hay John du Vall
Published: November 2020

Predispersal seed predation is one of the main causes of seed mortality in plant populations, contributing to decreased plant recruitment. Seed loss has previously been found to be related to crop size. Thus, we examined the influence of individual crop size on predispersal seed predation by beetles in the palm Syagrus flexuosa in the Brazilian savanna. The study was carried out in three tropical woodland savanna sites, where we sampled the total seed crop of 46 fruiting palms and checked the presence of beetle larvae inside all seeds per plant. We observed predispersal seed predation of S. flexuosa from all sites and a high variation in the number of seeds preyed on per individual palm. Crop size had a positive influence on the number of seeds lost to predispersal seed predators. Variations in levels of predispersal seed predation may also be accounted for by the reproductive phenology of S. flexuosa. If fruits are not available at the same time, less resource is available for predators and therefore a high proportion of seeds may be preyed on. Thus, our study demonstrates that an individual plant trait, crop size, is an important predictor of beetle seed damage per palm and a driver of the number of seeds lost to predispersal seed predators.
Autonomous Minisubmarine Measures Seawater Conditions
Authors: Cook Terri
Published: November 2020

Forecasts of carbonate chemistry in coastal ecosystems determined from seasonal robotic measurements can improve fisheries management and help mitigate short-term ocean acidification events.
Seasonal Dependent Impact of Ice Cloud Longwave Scattering on the Polar Climate
Authors: Chen Yi‐Hsuan , Huang Xianglei , Yang Ping , Kuo Chia‐Pang , Chen Xiuhong
Published: November 2020

Most climate models neglect cloud longwave (LW) scattering because scattering is considered negligible compared to strong LW absorption by clouds and greenhouse gases. While this rationale is valid for simulating extrapolar regions, it is questionable for the polar regions, where the atmosphere is dry and hence has weak absorption, and ice clouds that have strong scattering capability frequently occur. Using the slab‐ocean Community Earth System Model, we show that ice cloud LW scattering can warm winter surface air temperature by 0.8–1.8 K in the Arctic and 1.3–1.9 K in the Antarctic, while this warming becomes much weaker in polar summer. Such scattering effect cannot be correctly assessed when sea surface temperature and sea ice are prescribed as this effect is manifested through a surface‐atmosphere coupling. Cloud LW scattering is a necessity for the correct simulation of polar climate and surface radiation budget, especially in the winter.
High Temporal Resolution Satellite Observations of Fire Radiative Power Reveal Link Between Fire Behavior and Aerosol and Gas Emissions
Authors: Wiggins Elizabeth B. , Soja Amber J. , Gargulinski Emily , Halliday Hannah S. , Pierce R. Bradley , Schmidt Christopher C. , Nowak John B. , DiGangi Joshua P. , Diskin Glenn S. , Katich Joseph M. , Perring Anne E. , Schwarz Joshua P. , Anderson Bruce E. , Chen Gao , Crosbie Ewan C. , Jordan Carolyn , Robinson Claire E. , Sanchez Kevin J. , Shingler Taylor J. , Shook Michael , Thornhill Kenneth L. , Winstead Edward L. , Ziemba Luke D. , Moore Richard H.
Published: November 2020

Wildfire smoke influences on air quality and atmospheric chemistry have been underscored by the increasing fire prevalence in recent years, and yet, the connection between fire, smoke emissions, and the subsequent transformation of this smoke in the atmosphere remains poorly constrained. Toward improving these linkages, we present a new method for coupling high time‐resolution satellite observations of fire radiative power with in situ observations of smoke aerosols and trace gases. We apply this technique to 13 fire plumes comprehensively characterized during the recent FIREX‐AQ mission and show that changes in fire radiative power directly translate into changes in conserved smoke tracers (CO2, CO, and black carbon aerosol) observed in the downwind smoke plume. The correlation is particularly strong for CO2 (mean r > 0.9). This method is important for untangling the competing effects of changing fire behavior versus the influence of dilution and atmospheric processing on the downwind evolution of measured smoke properties.
Ntrk1 mutation co-segregating with bipolar disorder and inherited kidney disease in a multiplex family causes defects in neuronal growth and depression-like behavior in mice
Authors: Nakajima Kazuo , Miranda Alannah , Craig David W. , Shekhtman Tatyana , Kmoch Stanislav , Bleyer Anthony , Szelinger Szabolcs , Kato Tadafumi , Kelsoe John R.
Published: November 2020

Previously, we reported a family in which bipolar disorder (BD) co-segregates with a Mendelian kidney disorder linked to 1q22. The causative renal gene was later identified as MUC1. Genome-wide linkage analysis of BD in the family yielded a peak at 1q22 that encompassed the NTRK1 and MUC1 genes. NTRK1 codes for TrkA (Tropomyosin-related kinase A) which is essential for development of the cholinergic nervous system. Whole genome sequencing of the proband identified a damaging missense mutation, E492K, in NTRK1. Induced pluripotent stem cells were generated from family members, and then differentiated to neural stem cells (NSCs). E492K NSCs had reduced neurite outgrowth. A conditional knock-in mouse line, harboring the point mutation in the brain, showed depression-like behavior in the tail suspension test following challenge by physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor. These results are consistent with the cholinergic hypothesis of depression. They imply that the NTRK1 E492K mutation, impairs cholinergic neurotransmission, and may convey susceptibility to bipolar disorder.
Novel polygenic risk score as a translational tool linking depression-related changes in the corticolimbic transcriptome with neural face processing and anhedonic symptoms
Authors: Mareckova Klara , Hawco Colin , Dos Santos Fernanda C. , Bakht Arin , Calarco Navona , Miles Amy E. , Voineskos Aristotle N. , Sibille Etienne , Hariri Ahmad R. , Nikolova Yuliya S.
Published: November 2020

Convergent data from imaging and postmortem brain transcriptome studies implicate corticolimbic circuit (CLC) dysregulation in the pathophysiology of depression. To more directly bridge these lines of work, we generated a novel transcriptome-based polygenic risk score (T-PRS), capturing subtle shifts toward depression-like gene expression patterns in key CLC regions, and mapped this T-PRS onto brain function and related depressive symptoms in a nonclinical sample of 478 young adults (225 men; age 19.79 +/− 1.24) from the Duke Neurogenetics Study. First, T-PRS was generated based on common functional SNPs shifting CLC gene expression toward a depression-like state. Next, we used multivariate partial least squares regression to map T-PRS onto whole-brain activity patterns during perceptual processing of social stimuli (i.e., human faces). For validation, we conducted a comparative analysis with a PRS summarizing depression risk variants identified by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC-PRS). Sex was modeled as moderating factor. We showed that T-PRS was associated with widespread reductions in neural response to neutral faces in women and increases in neural response to emotional faces and shapes in men (multivariate p < 0.01). This female-specific reductions in neural response to neutral faces was also associated with PGC-PRS (multivariate p < 0.03). Reduced reactivity to neutral faces was further associated with increased self-reported anhedonia. We conclude that women with functional alleles mimicking the postmortem transcriptomic CLC signature of depression have blunted neural activity to social stimuli, which may be expressed as higher anhedonia.
Influence of social isolation caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the psychological characteristics of hospitalized schizophrenia patients: a case-control study
Authors: Ma Jun , Hua Tingting , Zeng Kuan , Zhong Baoliang , Wang Gang , Liu Xuebing
Published: November 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been classified as a pandemic, and mental hospitals located in epidemic centers have been affected. Social isolation is an important and irreplaceable measure to control the spread of the epidemic. In this study, schizophrenic patients who were subjected to social isolation after close contact with COVID-19 patients were used as participants to explore the impact of social isolation on common inflammatory indicators and psychological characteristics. A total of 30 patients with schizophrenia were recruited from Wuhan Mental Health Center. In addition, 30 ordinary schizophrenic patients were matched with the isolation group and were recruited from another branch of Wuhan Mental Health Center as controls. We compared the differences in common inflammatory indicators and psychological characteristics between the isolated group and the control group, and longitudinal comparison of the differences in the above indicators before and after isolation among the isolation group. The Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) score, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score of the isolation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p = 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, respectively). The C-reactive protein (CRP) level, CPSS score, HAMA score and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score of the isolation group were significantly higher after isolation (p = 0.01, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, respectively). Inpatients of schizophrenia suffered from social isolation due to COVID-19 have a severe psychological burden. Social isolation caused patients to develop a weak inflammatory state and led to worse anxiety and sleep quality.
LncRNA lncLy6C induced by microbiota metabolite butyrate promotes differentiation of Ly6Chigh to Ly6Cint/neg macrophages through lncLy6C/C/EBPβ/Nr4A1 axis
Authors: Gao Yunhuan , Zhou Jiang , Qi Houbao , Wei Jianmei , Yang Yazheng , Yue Jianmei , Liu Xinqi , Zhang Yuan , Yang Rongcun
Published: November 2020

Macrophages are mainly divided into two populations, which play a different role in physiological and pathological conditions. The differentiation of these cells may be regulated by transcription factors. However, it is unclear how to modulate these transcription factors to affect differentiation of these cells. Here, we found that lncLy6C, a novel ultraconserved lncRNA, promotes differentiation of Ly6Chigh inflammatory monocytes into Ly6Clow/neg resident macrophages. We demonstrate that gut microbiota metabolites butyrate upregulates the expression of lncLy6C. LncLy6C deficient mice had markedly increased Ly6Chigh pro-inflammatory monocytes and reduced Ly6Cneg resident macrophages. LncLy6C not only bound with transcription factor C/EBPβ but also bound with multiple lysine methyltransferases of H3K4me3 to specifically promote the enrichment of C/EBPβ and H3K4me3 marks on the promoter region of Nr4A1, which can promote Ly6Chigh into Ly6Cneg macrophages. As a result, lncLy6C causes the upregulation of Nr4A1 to promote Ly6Chigh inflammatory monocytes to differentiate into Ly6Cint/neg resident macrophages.
Prospects and challenges for squeezing-enhanced optical atomic clocks
Authors: Schulte Marius , Lisdat Christian , Schmidt Piet O. , Sterr Uwe , Hammerer Klemens
Published: November 2020

Optical atomic clocks are a driving force for precision measurements due to the high accuracy and stability demonstrated in recent years. While further improvements to the stability have been envisioned by using entangled atoms, squeezing the quantum mechanical projection noise, evaluating the overall gain must incorporate essential features of an atomic clock. Here, we investigate the benefits of spin squeezed states for clocks operated with typical Brownian frequency noise-limited laser sources. Based on an analytic model of the closed servo-loop of an optical atomic clock, we report here quantitative predictions on the optimal clock stability for a given dead time and laser noise. Our analytic predictions are in good agreement with numerical simulations of the closed servo-loop. We find that for usual cyclic Ramsey interrogation of single atomic ensembles with dead time, even with the current most stable lasers spin squeezing can only improve the clock stability for ensembles below a critical atom number of about one thousand in an optical Sr lattice clock. Even with a future improvement of the laser performance by one order of magnitude the critical atom number still remains below 100,000. In contrast, clocks based on smaller, non-scalable ensembles, such as ion clocks, can already benefit from squeezed states with current clock lasers.
Sub-wavelength lateral detection of tissue-approximating masses using an ultrasonic metamaterial lens
Authors: Walker Ezekiel L. , Jin Yuqi , Reyes Delfino , Neogi Arup
Published: November 2020

Practically applied techniques for ultrasonic biomedical imaging employ delay-and-sum (DAS) beamforming which can resolve two objects down to 2.1λ within the acoustic Fresnel zone. Here, we demonstrate a phononic metamaterial lens (ML) for detection of laterally subwavelength object features in tissue-like phantoms beyond the phononic crystal evanescent zone and Fresnel zone of the emitter. The ML produces metamaterial collimation that spreads 8x less than the emitting transducer. Utilizing collimation, 3.6x greater lateral resolution beyond the Fresnel zone limit was achieved. Both hard objects and tissue approximating masses were examined in gelatin tissue phantoms near the Fresnel zone limit. Lateral dimensions and separation were resolved down to 0.50λ for hard objects, with tissue approximating masses slightly higher at 0.73λ. The work represents the application of a metamaterial for spatial characterization, and subwavelength resolution in a biosystem beyond the Fresnel zone limit.
Molecular basis of EphA2 recognition by gHgL from gammaherpesviruses
Authors: Su Chao , Wu Lili , Chai Yan , Qi Jianxun , Tan Shuguang , Gao George F. , Song Hao , Yan Jinghua
Published: November 2020

The human γ-herpesviruses Kaposi sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are associated with many human malignancies. Viral glycoprotein H (gH) and glycoprotein L (gL) are crucial for the cell tropism by binding to specific receptors. Recently, EphA2 was identified as the specific entry receptor for both KSHV and EBV. Here, we characterized the crystal structures of KSHV gHgL or EBV gHgL in complex with the ligand binding domain (LBD) of EphA2. Both KSHV and EBV gHgL bind to the channel and peripheral regions of LBD primarily using gL. Extensive interactions with more contacts contribute to the higher affinity of KSHV gHgL to LBD than that of EBV gHgL. These binding characteristics were verified using cell-based fusion assays with mutations in key EphA2 residues. Our experiments suggest that multiple animal γ-herpesviruses could use EphA2 as an entry receptor, implying a potential threat to human health.
Global hotspots for the occurrence of compound events
Authors: Ridder Nina N. , Pitman Andy J. , Westra Seth , Ukkola Anna , Do Hong X. , Bador Margot , Hirsch Annette L. , Evans Jason P. , Di Luca Alejandro , Zscheischler Jakob
Published: November 2020

Compound events (CEs) are weather and climate events that result from multiple hazards or drivers with the potential to cause severe socio-economic impacts. Compared with isolated hazards, the multiple hazards/drivers associated with CEs can lead to higher economic losses and death tolls. Here, we provide the first analysis of multiple multivariate CEs potentially causing high-impact floods, droughts, and fires. Using observations and reanalysis data during 1980–2014, we analyse 27 hazard pairs and provide the first spatial estimates of their occurrences on the global scale. We identify hotspots of multivariate CEs including many socio-economically important regions such as North America, Russia and western Europe. We analyse the relative importance of different multivariate CEs in six continental regions to highlight CEs posing the highest risk. Our results provide initial guidance to assess the regional risk of CE events and an observationally-based dataset to aid evaluation of climate models for simulating multivariate CEs.
Shape-preserving erosion controlled by the graded microarchitecture of shark tooth enameloid
Authors: Amini Shahrouz , Razi Hajar , Seidel Ronald , Werner Daniel , White William T. , Weaver James C. , Dean Mason N. , Fratzl Peter
Published: November 2020

The teeth of all vertebrates predominantly comprise the same materials, but their lifespans vary widely: in stark contrast to mammals, shark teeth are functional only for weeks, rather than decades, making lifelong durability largely irrelevant. However, their diets are diverse and often mechanically demanding, and as such, their teeth should maintain a functional morphology, even in the face of extremely high and potentially damaging contact stresses. Here, we reconcile the dilemma between the need for an operative tooth geometry and the unavoidable damage inherent to feeding on hard foods, demonstrating that the tooth cusps of Port Jackson sharks, hard-shelled prey specialists, possess unusual microarchitecture that controls tooth erosion in a way that maintains functional cusp shape. The graded architecture in the enameloid provokes a location-specific damage response, combining chipping of outer enameloid and smooth wear of inner enameloid to preserve an efficient shape for grasping hard prey. Our discovery provides experimental support for the dominant theory that multi-layered tooth enameloid facilitated evolutionary diversification of shark ecologies.
Author Correction: Interactions with conspecific outsiders as drivers of cognitive evolution
Authors: Ashton Benjamin J. , Kennedy Patrick , Radford Andrew N.
Published: November 2020

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20090-7
Author Correction: Antibiotic susceptibility signatures identify potential antimicrobial targets in the Acinetobacter baumannii cell envelope
Authors: Geisinger Edward , Mortman Nadav J. , Dai Yunfei , Cokol Murat , Syal Sapna , Farinha Andrew , Fisher Delaney G. , Tang Amy Y. , Lazinski David W. , Wood Stephen , Anthony Jon , van Opijnen Tim , Isberg Ralph R.
Published: November 2020

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20098-z
Qtlizer: comprehensive QTL annotation of GWAS results
Authors: Munz Matthias , Wohlers Inken , Simon Eric , Reinberger Tobias , Busch Hauke , Schaefer Arne S. , Erdmann Jeanette
Published: November 2020

Exploration of genetic variant-to-gene relationships by quantitative trait loci such as expression QTLs is a frequently used tool in genome-wide association studies. However, the wide range of public QTL databases and the lack of batch annotation features complicate a comprehensive annotation of GWAS results. In this work, we introduce the tool “Qtlizer” for annotating lists of variants in human with associated changes in gene expression and protein abundance using an integrated database of published QTLs. Features include incorporation of variants in linkage disequilibrium and reverse search by gene names. Analyzing the database for base pair distances between best significant eQTLs and their affected genes suggests that the commonly used cis-distance limit of 1,000,000 base pairs might be too restrictive, implicating a substantial amount of wrongly and yet undetected eQTLs. We also ranked genes with respect to the maximum number of tissue-specific eQTL studies in which a most significant eQTL signal was consistent. For the top 100 genes we observed the strongest enrichment with housekeeping genes (P = 2 × 10–6) and with the 10% highest expressed genes (P = 0.005) after grouping eQTLs by r2 > 0.95, underlining the relevance of LD information in eQTL analyses. Qtlizer can be accessed via https://genehopper.de/qtlizer or by using the respective Bioconductor R-package (https://doi.org/10.18129/B9.bioc.Qtlizer).
Play behaviour, not tool using, relates to brain mass in a sample of birds
Authors: Kaplan Gisela
Published: November 2020

Play behaviour and tool using in birds, two well-delineated and amply researched behaviours, have generally been associated with cognitive abilities. In this study, these behaviours were related to relative brain mass in a sample of Australian native birds. Despite suggestive research results so far between cognition and tool using, this study found no significant difference in relative brain mass or in lifespan between tool-using birds and non-tool users. By contrast, in play behaviour, subdivided into social players and non-social players, the results showed statistically very clear differences in relative brain mass between social, non-social and non-players. Social play was associated with both the largest brain mass to body mass ratios and with the longest lifespans. The results show that play behaviour is a crucial variable associated with brain enlargement, not tool using. Since many of the tool using species tested so far also play, this study suggests that false conclusions can be drawn about the connection between tool using and cognitive ability when the silent variable (play behaviour) is not taken into account.
Predictability limit of partially observed systems
Authors: Abeliuk Andrés , Huang Zhishen , Ferrara Emilio , Lerman Kristina
Published: November 2020

Applications from finance to epidemiology and cyber-security require accurate forecasts of dynamic phenomena, which are often only partially observed. We demonstrate that a system’s predictability degrades as a function of temporal sampling, regardless of the adopted forecasting model. We quantify the loss of predictability due to sampling, and show that it cannot be recovered by using external signals. We validate the generality of our theoretical findings in real-world partially observed systems representing infectious disease outbreaks, online discussions, and software development projects. On a variety of prediction tasks—forecasting new infections, the popularity of topics in online discussions, or interest in cryptocurrency projects—predictability irrecoverably decays as a function of sampling, unveiling predictability limits in partially observed systems.
Restoration of degraded grasslands, but not invasion by Prosopis juliflora, avoids trade-offs between climate change mitigation and other ecosystem services
Authors: Mbaabu Purity Rima , Olago Daniel , Gichaba Maina , Eckert Sandra , Eschen René , Oriaso Silas , Choge Simon Kosgei , Linders Theo Edmund Werner , Schaffner Urs
Published: November 2020

Grassland degradation and the concomitant loss of soil organic carbon is widespread in tropical arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Afforestation of degraded grassland, sometimes by using invasive alien trees, has been put forward as a legitimate climate change mitigation strategy. However, even in cases where tree encroachment of degraded grasslands leads to increased soil organic carbon, it may come at a high cost since the restoration of grassland-characteristic biodiversity and ecosystem services will be blocked. We assessed how invasion by Prosopis juliflora and restoration of degraded grasslands in a semi-arid region in Baringo, Kenya affected soil organic carbon, biodiversity and fodder availability. Thirty years of grassland restoration replenished soil organic carbon to 1 m depth at a rate of 1.4% per year and restored herbaceous biomass to levels of pristine grasslands, while plant biodiversity remained low. Invasion of degraded grasslands by P. juliflora increased soil organic carbon primarily in the upper 30 cm and suppressed herbaceous vegetation. We argue that, in contrast to encroachment by invasive alien trees, restoration of grasslands in tropical semi-arid regions can both serve as a measure for climate change mitigation and help restore key ecosystem services important for pastoralists and agro-pastoralist communities.
Dysfunctional muscle activities and co-contraction in the lower-limb of lumbar disc herniation patients during walking
Authors: Wang Wei , Wei Hui , Shi Runxiu , Lin Leitong , Zhang Lechi , Yue Shouwei , Zhao Qin , Jia Xiaofeng , Li Ke , Zhang Yang
Published: November 2020

This study aimed to investigate lower-limb muscle activities in gait phases and co-contraction of one gait cycle in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). This study enrolled 17 LDH patients and 17 sex- and age-matched healthy individuals. Bilateral muscle activities of the rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris long head (BL), tibialis anterior (TA), and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) during walking were recorded. The gait cycle was divided into four phases by the heel strike and top off according to the kinematics tracks. Root mean square (RMS), mean frequency (MF), and co-contraction of surface electromyography signals were calculated. The LDH patients showed enhanced BL RMS during the single support phase (SS), second double support phase, and swing phase (SW) as well as decreased MF of RF during SS and of TA and LG during SW (p < 0.05). The co-contraction of the TA-LG was increased in LDH patients than in the control group (p < 0.05). Positive correlations were observed between TA-LG co-contraction (affected side, r = 0.557, p = 0.020; contralateral side, r = 0.627, p = 0.007) and the Oswestry disability index scores in LDH patients. LDH patients have increased BL firing rate and insufficient motor unit recruitment in specific phases in the lower limbs during walking. Dysfunction in LDH patients was associated with immoderate intermuscular co-contraction of the TA-LG during walking.
Author Correction: Revealing the air pollution burden associated with internal Migration in Peru
Authors: Carrasco-Escobar Gabriel , Schwarz Lara , Miranda J. Jaime , Benmarhnia Tarik
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.