bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental Adaptive Management: Application on Submarine Mine Tailings Disposal
Authors: Jensen Tor , Hylland Ketil
Published: February 2019

Marine tailings disposal from mineral production is expected to have an environmental impact. In this case study we use a discharge of limestone processing tailings to a Norwegian fjord to describe an adaptive management process. The aim of the paper is to describe the development of an environmental adaptive management system (EAMS), contrasted with management simply based on the quantity of the discharge. The main driver for developing a new management system for the submarine tailings deposits was a desire to establish a system based on what was perceived as important to all stakeholders, that is, environmental impact. Involvement of stakeholders is essential, and a resource group with members from fisheries, local interest organizations, scientists, independent experts, and managers from the mining company jointly defined common sets of acceptance criteria to evaluate impact. Introduction of an EAMS has resulted in a change in the company's view of the impact their activity has on the environment and in an increased willingness to initiate monitoring and research to reduce knowledge gaps and uncertainty and impact on the marine environment. Environmental adaptive management has facilitated the development of a more ecologically relevant, integrated, and focused submarine tailings deposits management. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;15:575–583. © 2019 SETAC
Collaborating With Teacher Librarians to Support Adolescents’ Literacy and Literature Learning
Authors: Merga Margaret Kristin
Published: February 2019

The author explores teacher librarians’ ideas about teacher collaborations around literacy and literature learning, roles in collaborations, and the characteristics of good collaborations. Productive and strong collaborations between librarians in schools and their teacher colleagues can enhance students’ learning experiences and outcomes. Semistructured interview data were collected from teacher librarians at 25 schools. The author reports on teacher librarians’ identification of a range of barriers to collaboration in contemporary literacy‐learning contexts and explores the multiple roles that teacher librarians may adopt in collaborative relationships, identifying 11 characteristics of strong collaborations as identified by teacher librarians, which encompass diverse interpersonal qualities and professional activities. Findings offer ideas to enhance the quality of teacher–librarian collaboration, improving literacy outcomes for adolescent students.
microRNA‐510‐5p promotes thyroid cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through suppressing SNHG15
Authors: Liu Yongcun , Li Junli , Li Meng , Li Feng , Shao Yuan , Wu Liping
Published: February 2019

SNHG15 has been suggested to be correlated with clinical progression and prognosis, and function as tumor suppressive long noncoding RNA in thyroid cancer at our previous study. SNHG15 was proposed to be a potential target for miR‐510‐5p at LncBase Predicted database. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between miR‐510‐5p and SNHG15 in thyroid cancer, and the clinical significance of miR‐510‐5p in patients with thyroid cancer. In our results, levels of miR‐510‐5p expression were increased in thyroid cancer tissues and cell lines compared with adjacent normal thyroid tissues and normal thyroid cell line, respectively. There was a statistically negative correlation between SNHG15 expression and miR‐510‐5p expression in thyroid cancer tissues. Moreover, miR‐510‐5p directly bound to SNHG15, and negatively regulated SNHG15 expression in thyroid cancer cells. Furthermore, miR‐510‐5p promoted thyroid cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through suppressing SNHG15. Finally, high miR‐510‐5p expression was observed in tumor tissues with advanced clinical stage or lymph node metastasis. In conclusion, we provide evidence to support a pivotal role for miR‐510‐5p in regulating thyroid cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
Introduction of cell‐free DNA screening is associated with changes in prenatal genetic counseling indications
Authors: Stevens Blair K. , Noblin Sarah J. , Chen Han‐Yang , Czerwinski Jennifer , Friel Lara A. , Wagner Chelsea
Published: February 2019

The introduction of cell‐free DNA screening, or non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), for chromosome abnormalities has greatly impacted prenatal care since its introduction in late 2011. We aimed to evaluate the association between the introduction of cell‐free DNA screening and indication and referral patterns for genetic counseling at a large US academic medical center by comparing the percentage of each counseling indication between the time period prior to the introduction of cell‐free DNA screening (2006–2011) and following its introduction (2012–2016) using multivariable Poisson regression models. Genetic counseling indications for positive carrier screens, average risk patients, abnormal ultrasound findings, and family history indications were significantly higher following the introduction of NIPT while advanced maternal age and abnormal maternal serum screening indications dropped significantly. We also showed that the uptake of amniocentesis dropped significantly after the introduction of cell‐free DNA screening, while chorionic villus sampling uptake increased. These results provide evidence that the introduction of new genetic screening technologies is associated with a shift in genetic counseling referral indications and an increased uptake in genetic screening. Additional research is needed to explore the impact of expanded testing options on the need for genetic counseling services.
Facile Synthesis of Novel Functionalized Pyridine Annulated Oxirane Methyl Coumarins
Authors: Jayaprakash Rao Yerrabelly , Dalal Shailendara , Hemasri Yerrabelly , Krupadanam G. L. David
Published: February 2019

A one‐pot synthesis of series of new ethyl‐7‐oxirane methyl‐2‐methyl‐5‐oxo‐5H‐benzopyrano[3,4‐c]pyridine‐1‐carboxylates (6a–e) from 3‐allyl‐2‐hydroxy acetophenones (1a–e) via key intermediate 8‐allyl‐4‐chloro‐3‐formyl coumarins (2a–e) is described. The reaction involves Michael addition of 8‐allyl‐4‐chloro‐3‐formyl coumarins with ethyl 3‐amino crotonoate followed by cyclization, and per acid epoxidation proceeds under mild conditions and gives products in good‐to‐excellent yields.
Aqueous extracts of Syzygium brazzavillense can inhibit the infection with coxsackievirus B4 in vitro
Authors: Badia‐Boungou Francis , Sane Famara , Alidjinou Enagnon Kazali , Hennebelle Thierry , Roumy Vincent , Ngakegni‐Limbili Adolphe Christian , Nguimbi Etienne , Moukassa Donatien , Abena Ange Antoine , Hober Didier
Published: February 2019

Traditional practitioners commonly use plant crude extracts to treat various diseases in patients with symptoms that can be seen during enterovirus infections. In this study, the antienteroviral activity of medicinal plants from the Republic of Congo has been evaluated in vitro. Through an ethnopharmacological approach, seven plants grouped into six families were identified. Aqueous and organic extracts of various organs from these plants were prepared. The organic extracts at subcytotoxic concentrations did not inhibit the cytopathic effect (CPE) induced by coxsackievirus (CV)B1‐5, CVA6, poliovirus type 1, and enterovirus 71. The aqueous extract of Syzygium brazzavillense, but not those of other plants, inhibited the CPE induced by CVB3 and CVB4 at 30 µg/mL (CC50; 2800 µg/mL, IC50; 0.8 µg/mL) and by CVB2 and poliovirus type 1 at higher concentrations. When aqueous extract of this plant was mixed with CVB4, the replication of the virus was inhibited. In conclusion, aqueous extracts of Syzygium brazzavillense can inhibit the infection with CVB4 and other enteroviruses in vitro. The present ethnopharmacological investigation helped to identify a plant with potential properties useful to combat enterovirus infections.
On/off resonance Raman optical activity of human serum transferrin
Authors: Bogaerts Jonathan , Johannessen Christian
Published: February 2019

The transferrin proteins exhibit two high affinity Fe(III) binding pockets and are responsible for the iron transport into cells of higher order organisms. Previously, transferrins have been studied as possible transporter molecules for drugs delivery. In this study, Raman optical activity (ROA) was employed to investigate human serum transferrin. Due to the presence of Fe(III) in the holo form of the protein, it is in resonance with the the laser excitation wavelength (of 532 nm) used in the experiments. Consequently, resonance enhanced ROA bands were observed in the spectrum of the holo form. Nevertheless, far from resonance bands, arising from the protein backbone, could simultaneously be observed in the ROA spectrum of the holo form. This implies that ROA can be used to provide simultaneously information on the metal binding pocket as well as on the secondary structure of the protein. Furthermore, it was found that the amount of observed resonance enhanced ROA signals can be tuned by partially removing the iron present in the protein. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) was employed to verify the Raman/ROA results.
New sights into lipid metabolism regulation by low temperature in harvested Torreya grandis nuts
Authors: Zhou Minying , Song Lili , Ye Shan , Zeng Wei , Hännien Heikki , Yu Weiwu , Suo Jinwei , Hu Yuanyuan , Wu Jiasheng
Published: February 2019

BACKGROUND

Torreya grandis, a large evergreen coniferous tree with oil‐rich nuts, undergoes a crucial ripening stage after harvest that results in oil accumulation, finally giving rise to the nut that is edible in roasted form. To understand lipid metabolism in T. grandis nuts during the post‐harvest ripening period, the effects of low temperature on lipid content, fatty acid composition, lipid biosynthesis and degradation were investigated.

RESULTS

The lipid content increased during ripening at room temperature and a low temperature slowed down this increase. Linoleic acid content increased at low temperature, which was accompanied by an increase in the microsomal oleate desaturase (FAD2) activity and FAD2 expression. Furthermore, a low temperature attenuated lipid peroxidation as indicated by lower contents of malondialdehyde, hydroperoxide and total free fatty acid in T. grandis nuts during the ripening stage, as well as the down‐regulation of gene expression of lipid degradation‐related enzymes such as phospholipase D and lipoxygenases.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study indicate that a low temperature increased polyunsaturated fatty acid contents by increasing FAD2 biosynthesis and decreasing lipid peroxidation, thereby improving the oil yield in T. grandis nuts during the post‐harvest ripening period. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Spatial regularity of semigroups generated by Lévy type operators
Authors: Liang Mingjie , Wang Jian
Published: February 2019

We apply the probabilistic coupling approach to establish spatial regularity of semigroups associated with Lévy type operators, by assuming that the corresponding martingale problem is well posed. In particular, we can prove the Lipschitz continuity of the associated semigroups, when the coefficients are Hölder continuous but the corresponding Lévy kernel may be singular.
Targeted next generation sequencing identified novel loss‐of‐function mutations in MERTK gene in Chinese patients with retinitis pigmentosa
Authors: Liu Song , Bi Jian Gang , Hu Yunlong , Tang Donge , Li Bo , Zhu Peng , Peng Wujian , Du Dong , He Huiyan , Zeng Jun , Dai Yong
Published: February 2019

Background

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is one of the major types of hereditary retinal dystrophies with extreme genotypic heterogeneity. To date, more than 80 genes have been identified to be associated with RP in human.

Method

Here, we presented a clinical genetic study of three Chinese man manifested with night vision blindness and complete loss of midperipheral visual field. All of these three probands have been identified with loss of both central vision and far peripheral visual field. Gradual loss of rod cells followed by subsequent loss of cone cells have been identified in these probands. Targeted next generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing have been performed to understand the pathogenic variants underlying the disease phenotype in these three unrelated Chinese probands.

Results

Targeted next generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing identified three homozygous novel mutations (c.1880C>A; c.1459_1460delGA, and c.392G>A) in the MERTK gene in these three unrelated Chinese proband. In the first proband, the identified mutation (c.1880C>A) leads to the formation of a premature stop codon followed by the formation of a truncated mer‐tyrosine kinase (MERTK) protein (p.Ser627*) product which predicted to be disease causing. In the second proband, the identified deletion (c.1459_1460delGA) leads to the formation of a frameshift which also finally results in the formation of a truncated MERTK protein (p.Asp487Leufs*57) product which also predicted to be disease causing. In the third proband, the identified mutation (c.392G>A) leads to the formation of a premature stop codon followed by the formation of a truncated MERTK protein (p.Trp131*) product which also predicted to be disease causing. Hence, these three mutations are loss‐of‐function mutations. These three mutations were absent in unaffected family members and in 100 normal healthy controls.

Conclusion

Our present study also demonstrates the significance of targeted next generation sequencing in determining the genetic basis of RP.
Young adult patients’ experience of living with mechanical circulatory support: A phenomenological hermeneutical study
Authors: Lachonius Maria , Hederstedt Karl , Axelsson Åsa B.
Published: February 2019

Aim

To describe young adult patients’ experiences of living with a mechanical circulatory support (MSC) as a bridge to heart transplantation and impact of self‐efficacy.

Design

A qualitative and explorative interview study.

Methods

Eight interviews with adult participants were conducted and analysed using the phenomenological hermeneutical method.

Results

An overall theme, “Navigating from helplessness to feeling strong in the new reality,” and three themes were identified: “Feeling homeless in a changed reality” describes the experience of suddenly falling ill and the loneliness caused by the disease; “Finding my own inner resources” shows that the interviewees found the strength to fight for their lives and began to regain control of their situation; and “Adapting to my new reality” describes the importance of finding strength from others and being able to see MCS as a friend providing respite from the disease. Self‐efficacy beliefs play a significant role in the process that the participants went through.
Anticipating the effects of restricting high‐dose preparations of strong opioids in Australia: A population‐based analysis to inform the current policy debate
Authors: Zheng Danni , Narayan Sujita W. , Zoega Helga , Litchfield Melisa , Buckley Nicholas A. , Pearson Sallie‐Anne , Schaffer Andrea L.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Countries worldwide are developing a variety of strategies to combat the opioid epidemic, such as restricting access to high‐strength opioid formulations. We aimed to examine the dispensing patterns of strong opioids by dose units (DUs), age, and sex.

Methods

We used Australian population‐level dispensing data from January 2003 to December 2015 and categorised strong opioids by DU: very low, low, moderate, and high, corresponding to total daily doses of less than or equal to 25, 26 to 50, 51 to 100, and greater than 100 morphine milligramme equivalents, respectively. We measured trends in strong opioid use as dispensings/1000 population/year and stratified dispensing in 2015 by patient age and sex.

Results

From 2003 to 2015, strong opioid dispensing of very low, low, moderate, and high DU increased 6.7‐, 6.2‐, 2.2‐, and 1.8‐fold, respectively. The increase in very low and low DU dispensing was driven primarily by oxycodone (5, 10, and 15 mg tablets and capsules) and buprenorphine transdermal patches. In 2015, the number of dispensings/1000 population for very low, low, moderate, and high DU were 180.3, 77.0, 52.7, and 34.8, respectively. Females aged greater than or equal to 85 years had the highest opioid use, ranging from 157.1 dispensings/1000 population for high DU to 2104.5 dispensings/1000 population for very low DU. In contrast, the high DU dispensings in males aged 25 to 64 years exceeded their female counterparts by approximately 1.3‐fold.

Conclusion

Relative to moderate and high DU strong opioids, dispensing of very low and low DU strong opioids increased dramatically during the study period in Australia. Future studies investigating opioids use and harms in elderly females and males between 25 to 64 years are warranted.
Proteomic and Post‐Translational Modification Profiling of Exosome‐Mimetic Nanovesicles Compared to Exosomes
Authors: Nasiri Kenari Amirmohammad , Kastaniegaard Kenneth , Greening David W. , Shambrook Mitch , Stensballe Allan , Cheng Lesley , Hill Andrew F.
Published: February 2019

Issues associated with upscaling exosome production for therapeutic use may be overcome through utilizing artificial exosomes. Cell‐derived mimetic nanovesicles (M‐NVs) are a potentially promising alternative to exosomes for clinical applicability, demonstrating higher yield without incumbent production and isolation issues. Although several studies have shown that M‐NVs have similar morphology, size and therapeutic potential compared to exosomes, comprehensive characterization and to what extent M‐NVs components mimic exosomes remain elusive. M‐NVs were generated through the extrusion of cells and proteomic profiling demonstrated an enrichment of proteins associated with membrane and cytosolic components. The proteomic data herein reveal a subset of proteins that are highly abundant in M‐NVs in comparison to exosomes. M‐NVs contain proteins that largely represent the parental cell proteome, whereas the profile of exosomal proteins highlight their endosomally derived origin. This advantage of M‐NVs alleviates the necessity of endosomal sorting of endogenous therapeutic proteins or RNA into exosomes. This study also highlights differences in protein post‐translational modifications among M‐NVs, as distinct from exosomes. Overall this study provides key insights into defining the proteome composition of M‐NVs as a distinct from exosomes, and the potential advantage of M‐NVs as an alternative nanocarrier when spontaneous endosomal sorting of therapeutics are limited.
Inspecting fluctuation and coordination around chromophore inside green fluorescent protein from water to nonpolar solvent
Authors: Dai Liqiang , Zhang Bo , Cui Shuxun , Yu Jin
Published: February 2019

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a widely used biomarker that demands systematical rational approaches to its structure function redesign. In this work, we mainly utilized atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to inspect and visualize internal fluctuation and coordination around chromophore inside GFP, from water to nonpolar octane solvent. We found that GFP not only maintains its β‐barrel structure well into the octane, but also sustains internal residue and water coordination to position the chromophore stably while suppress dihedral fluctuations of the chromophore, so that functional robustness of GFP is achieved. Our accompanied fluorescence microscope measurements accordingly confirmed the GFP functioning into the octane. Furthermore, we identified that crucial water sites inside GFP along with permeable pores on the β‐barrel of the protein are largely preserved from the water to the octane solvent, which allows sufficiently fast exchanges of internal water with the bulk or with the water layer kept on the surface of the protein. By additionally pulling GFP from bulk water to octane, we suggest that the GFP function can be well maintained into the nonpolar solvent as long as, first, the protein does not denature in the nonpolar solvent nor across the polar‐nonpolar solvent interface; second, a minimal set of water molecules are in accompany with the protein; third, the nonpolar solvent molecules may need to be large enough to be nonpermeable via the water pores on the β‐barrel.
High Resolution Surface Metrology Using Microsphere‐Assisted Interference Microscopy
Authors: Montgomery Paul C. , Lecler Sylvain , Leong‐Hoï Audrey , Perrin Stéphane
Published: February 2019

The authors review some of the latest results of a new high resolution optical metrology technique using small glass microspheres placed on the sample to enhance the lateral resolution in optical microscopy. Experimental results are shown of high resolution 2D images of gratings and microelectronic structures. The results of simulations and experimental measurements for 2D imaging through glass microspheres show an increase in magnification of 3–5 times and a lateral resolution as small as 100 nm in air. Experimental results are also shown of 3D measurements of different nanostructures using microspheres that have successfully been incorporated into Mirau and Linnik type interferometers. Results are shown on grooves in Blu‐Ray discs, narrow etched gratings in Si, nanotextured stainless steel surfaces, and on Ag nanodots. Measurements using SEM and AFM are given for comparison. Some of the artefacts and sources of errors in the microsphere‐assisted measurements are presented and discussed. The authors thus demonstrate that microsphere‐assisted interference microscopy is a promising new optical tool for nanometrology.
High Pressure Driven Isostructural Electronic Phase Separation in 2D BiOI
Authors: Xu Zhongfei , Li Hui , Hu Shuxian , Zhuang Jincheng , Du Yi , Hao Weichang
Published: February 2019

The crystal structures of BiOI under different pressures are predicted, in which the phase transformation from tetragonal BiOI into orthorhombic BiOI is observed at 100 GPa due to the appearance of Bi–I bonds (Bi‐6s2 lone pair and I‐pz obital) between interlayer Bi and I atoms. Most interestingly, for orthorhombic BiOI, an isostructural electronic phase separation is observed at 160 GPa. The electronic structure of BiOI separates into semiconductor state (contributed by intralayer O–Bi–O) and metal state, which originate from the interlayer I–I bonds. More specifically, conversion from interlayer Bi–I interaction to interlayer I–I interaction under higher pressure, results in the continuous decline of the energy band, which then crosses the Fermi‐level. In comparison, the O–Bi–O layer shows almost no change, owing to its strong covalent bonds. These results demonstrate that the dramatic variation of the interaction between the van der Waals layers can lead to the metallic iodine character in BiOI.
Volumetric 3D‐Printed Antennas, Manufactured via Selective Polymer Metallization
Authors: Filonov Dmitry , Kolen Sergey , Shmidt Andrey , Shacham‐Diamand Yosi , Boag Amir , Ginzburg Pavel
Published: February 2019

Additive manufacturing paves new ways to the efficient exploration of the third space dimension, providing advantages over conventional planar architectures. In particular, volumetric electromagnetic antennas can demonstrate superior characteristics, outperforming their planar counterparts. Here a new approach to the fabrication of electromagnetic devices is developed and applied to antennas, implemented on curved surfaces. Highly directive and broadband antennas are 3D‐printed on hemispherical supports. The antenna skeleton and the support are simultaneously printed with different polymer materials – PLA mixed with graphene flakes and pure PLA, respectively. Weakly DC‐conductive graphene PLA‐based skeleton is post‐processed and high‐quality conductive copper layer is selectively electrochemically deposited on it. The antenna devices are found to demonstrate radiation performance, similar to that achievable with conventional fabrication approaches. However, additive manufacturing of RF antennas provides superior capabilities of constructing tailor‐made devices with properties, pre‐defined by non‐standardized end users.
On return period and probability of failure in hydrology
Authors: Volpi Elena
Published: February 2019

The return period measures the rareness of extreme events such as floods and droughts that might cause huge damages to the society and the environment; hence, it lies at the heart of hydraulic design and risk assessment problems. Indeed, return period is a commonly applied probabilistic concept in the hydrologic literature, which has attracted renewed interest stimulated by the need of efficiently dealing with complex processes in a changing environment. In this study, the concept of return period and the related risk of failure are presented by making use of a general mathematical framework. It helps for a better understanding of the return period and risk of failure formulations that are commonly adopted in practical engineering applications. The framework can be further applied under more general conditions. In particular, the extension of the return period concept to nonstationary and time‐dependent cases is discussed herein, by relaxing the hypotheses commonly (and sometimes implicitly) assumed that allows to derive simple analytic formulations.

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Planning Water

Engineering Water > Methods

Science of Water > Methods
Non-global and clustering effects for groomed multi-prong jet shapes
Authors: Neill Duff
Published: February 2019

Abstract

We present a resummation of the non-global and clustering effects in groomed (with modified mass drop tagger) multi-pronged observables, valid to next-to leading logarithmic accuracy in the D
2 distribution (all single logarithmic terms), focusing on the non-global and clustering effects which cannot be removed by normalizing the cross-section. These effects are universal in the sense that they depend only on the flavor structure of the 1 → 2 splitting forming the multi-pronged subjets and the opening angle of the splitting, being insensitive to the underlying hard process or underlying event. The differential spectra with and without the non-global and clustering effects are presented, and the change in the spectra is found to be small.
Bayes Factors for Evaluating Latent Monotonicity in Polytomous Item Response Theory Models
Authors: Tijmstra Jesper , Bolsinova Maria
Published: February 2019

The assumption of latent monotonicity is made by all common parametric and nonparametric polytomous item response theory models and is crucial for establishing an ordinal level of measurement of the item score. Three forms of latent monotonicity can be distinguished: monotonicity of the cumulative probabilities, of the continuation ratios, and of the adjacent-category ratios. Observable consequences of these different forms of latent monotonicity are derived, and Bayes factor methods for testing these consequences are proposed. These methods allow for the quantification of the evidence both in favor and against the tested property. Both item-level and category-level Bayes factors are considered, and their performance is evaluated using a simulation study. The methods are applied to an empirical example consisting of a 10-item Likert scale to investigate whether a polytomous item scoring rule results in item scores that are of ordinal level measurement.
Description of Tylodelphys darbyi n. sp. (Trematoda: Diplostomidae) from the threatened Australasian crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus australis, Gould 1844) and linking of its life-cycle stages
Authors: Presswell B. , Blasco-Costa I.
Published: February 2019

Species of the genus Tylodelphys (Diplostomidae) have a cosmopolitan distribution. Metacercariae of these species infect the eye, brain, pericardial sac or body cavity of fish second intermediate hosts, and the adults are found in piscivorous birds of many orders. An unnamed species of Tylodelphys from the eyes of bullies (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) was characterized molecularly and morphologically as a metacercaria in a previous study, in which it was predicted that the adult of this species would be found in the Australasian crested grebe. Two specimens of this bird became available and specimens of the unnamed Tylodelphys species were, indeed, found in them, confirmed by identity of genetic sequence data. Found to differ morphologically from its congeners, the new species is here described as Tylodelphys darbyi n. sp. Three species are closest to the new species in morphology: Tylodelphys glossoides, T. immer and T. podicipina robrauschi. Compared with T. darbyi n. sp. these three species are slightly larger and possess longer eggs. Tylodelphys glossoides also differs in having a wider oral sucker and T. podicipina robrauschi in having comma- or kidney-shaped pseudosuckers and an ovary that reaches a larger size, along with higher upper limits for body width, hind body and sucker width, holdfast and oesophagus length, and pharynx, pseudosucker and testes length and width. Tylodelphys immer also differs from T. darbyi n. sp. in having a shorter ventral sucker and the largest pseudosuckers of any Tylodelphys species.
Phonetics of Southern Ute vowels
Authors: Kharlamov Viktor , Oberly Stacey
Published: February 2019

This paper presents an acoustic study of the vowel system of Southern Ute, a Southern Numic Uto-Aztecan language spoken in southwestern Colorado. Previous auditory accounts proposed an inventory of five vowel phonemes that participate in three allophonic processes and contrast in length and stress. We investigate how the vowels are realized at the phonetic level by analyzing F1, F2, duration, spectral emphasis and f0 in over 6000 vowel tokens produced by eight fluent speakers (four female and four male). Our findings provide new phonetic detail for the earlier non-instrumental descriptions of the language, including both expected and previously unreported effects. We confirm the existence of five distinct phonemic categories but show that their prototypical phonetic realizations and positional allophones do not always match the earlier descriptions. We also describe how phonemic length and stress are marked in Southern Ute.
Stable and unstable choices
Authors: Herlitz Anders
Published: February 2019

This paper introduces a condition for rational choice that states that accepting decision methods and normative theories that sometimes entail that the act of choosing a maximal alternative renders this alternative non-maximal is irrational. The paper illustrates how certain distributive theories that ascribe importance to what the status quo is violate this condition and argues that they thereby should be rejected.
Intergenerational response of steroidogenesis-related genes to maternal malnutrition
Authors: Harrath Abdel Halim , Alrezaki Abdulkarem , Alwasel Saleh H. , Semlali Abdelhabib
Published: February 2019

We sought to examine whether rat maternal food restriction (MFR) affects the expression of steroidogenesis-related genes Cyp19, Cyp17a1, Insl3 and Gdf-9 in the ovaries of offspring from the first (FRG1) and second (FRG2) generations at pre-pubertal age (week 4) and during adulthood (week 8). At week 4, MFR significantly increased the expression of RNAs for all analyzed genes in both FRG1 and FRG2 females, which may indicate that MFR affects the onset of the reproductive lifespan, by inducing early pubertal onset. At week 8, the Cyp19 gene was still upregulated in MRF-subjected animals (Cyp19: P=0.0049 and P=0.0508 in FRG1 and FRG2, respectively), but MFR induced a significant decrease in Cyp17 and Gdf-9 gene expression in the offspring of both FRG1 and FRG2 females when compared with the controls (Cyp17: P=0.0018 and P=0.0016, respectively; Gdf-9: P=0.0047 and P=0.0023, respectively). This suggests that females at week 8, which should normally be in their optimal reproductive capacity, experience premature ovarian aging. At week 4, the activation of Cyp19 and Cyp17 was higher in the FRG1 ovaries than in the FRG2 ovaries, whereas the extent of Insl3 and Gdf-9 activation was lower in the FRG1 ovaries. This may indicate that FRG2 females were more vulnerable to MFR than their mothers (FRG1) and grandmothers, which is consistent with the ‘predictive adaptive response’ hypothesis. Our findings reveal that MFR may induce intergenerational ovarian changes as an adaptive response to ensure reproductive success before death.
Imagining Change, Imaginary Futures: “Conditions of Possibility” in Pre-Independence Southern Rhodesia, 1959–1963
Authors: Pilossof Rory , Rivett Gary
Published: February 2019

This article invites historians to think more critically about the language, narratives, and tropes historians use to identify, describe, and explain processes of change. By doing so, we raise questions about the possibility of historicizing ideas and experiences of change. The suitability of historians’ descriptive and explanatory tools and frameworks for understanding one of the most important aims of historical scholarship is often very limited. We ponder the extent to which historians’ identification of historical change correlates with how historical actors imagined, experienced, and identified change. Starting from the perspective of the latter enables us to examine how far “change” exists prior to its embedding in the (sometimes conflicting) narratives, discourses, and practices of contemporaries. This article seeks to develop the concepts of “critical junctures” and “discursive thresholds.” While both concepts are used in social science research and literary studies, they have rarely been paired together. We combine them because they help relate the importance of events to change and the discourses surrounding them. As a case study, this article looks at a magazine titled Property and Finance, which was published in Southern Rhodesia (1956–77) and edited by Wilfred Brooks. Brooks’s editorials and political commentary offer an opportunity to consider broad questions of change, imagined futures, and discursive engagements with the political and social developments underway.
Grassroots Group Commended for Work on Flooding by Virginia House
Authors: Wilkins Sarah
Published: February 2019

Stop the Flooding NOW was founded by Virginia Beach residents who wanted to take action to address the chronic flooding in their community.
Deaf Students Feel the Universe’s Vibrations in New Workshop
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: February 2019

Students experienced the vibrations of Earth’s auroras, the Sun’s flares, Jupiter’s bow shock, and Saturn’s rings in an outreach activity designed specifically for their community.
Hypoxia-inducible factor 2α is a negative regulator of osteoblastogenesis and bone mass accrual
Authors: Merceron Christophe , Ranganathan Kavitha , Wang Elizabeth , Tata Zachary , Makkapati Shreya , Khan Mohd Parvez , Mangiavini Laura , Yao Angela Qing , Castellini Laura , Levi Benjamin , Giaccia Amato J. , Schipani Ernestina
Published: February 2019

Osteoblasts, which are the bone-forming cells, operate in a hypoxic environment. The transcription factors hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1) and HIF2 are key mediators of the cellular response to hypoxia. Both are expressed in osteoblasts. HIF1 is known to be a positive regulator of bone formation. Conversely, the role of HIF2 in the control osteoblast biology is still poorly understood. In this study, we used mouse genetics to demonstrate that HIF2 is an inhibitor of osteoblastogenesis and bone mass accrual. Moreover, we provided evidence that HIF2 impairs osteoblast differentiation at least in part, by upregulating the transcription factor Sox9. Our findings constitute a paradigm shift, as activation of the hypoxia-signaling pathway has traditionally been associated with increased bone formation through HIF1. Inhibiting HIF2 could thus represent a therapeutic approach for the treatment of the low bone mass observed in chronic diseases, osteoporosis, or aging.
Promoting electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to formate via sulfur-boosting water activation on indium surfaces
Authors: Ma Wenchao , Xie Shunji , Zhang Xia-Guang , Sun Fanfei , Kang Jincan , Jiang Zheng , Zhang Qinghong , Wu De-Yin , Wang Ye
Published: February 2019

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to fuels and chemicals is one of the most attractive routes for CO2 utilization. Current catalysts suffer from low faradaic efficiency of a CO2-reduction product at high current density (or reaction rate). Here, we report that a sulfur-doped indium catalyst exhibits high faradaic efficiency of formate (>85%) in a broad range of current density (25–100 mA cm−2) for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction in aqueous media. The formation rate of formate reaches 1449 μmol h−1 cm−2 with 93% faradaic efficiency, the highest value reported to date. Our studies suggest that sulfur accelerates CO2 reduction by a unique mechanism. Sulfur enhances the activation of water, forming hydrogen species that can readily react with CO2 to produce formate. The promoting effect of chalcogen modifiers can be extended to other metal catalysts. This work offers a simple and useful strategy for designing both active and selective electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction.
A platform for glycoengineering a polyvalent pneumococcal bioconjugate vaccine using E. coli as a host
Authors: Harding Christian M. , Nasr Mohamed A. , Scott Nichollas E. , Goyette-Desjardins Guillaume , Nothaft Harald , Mayer Anne E. , Chavez Sthefany M. , Huynh Jeremy P. , Kinsella Rachel L. , Szymanski Christine M. , Stallings Christina L. , Segura Mariela , Feldman Mario F.
Published: February 2019

Chemical synthesis of conjugate vaccines, consisting of a polysaccharide linked to a protein, can be technically challenging, and in vivo bacterial conjugations (bioconjugations) have emerged as manufacturing alternatives. Bioconjugation relies upon an oligosaccharyltransferase to attach polysaccharides to proteins, but currently employed enzymes are not suitable for the generation of conjugate vaccines when the polysaccharides contain glucose at the reducing end, which is the case for ~75% of Streptococcus pneumoniae capsules. Here, we use an O-linking oligosaccharyltransferase to generate a polyvalent pneumococcal bioconjugate vaccine with polysaccharides containing glucose at their reducing end. In addition, we show that different vaccine carrier proteins can be glycosylated using this system. Pneumococcal bioconjugates are immunogenic, protective and rapidly produced within E. coli using recombinant techniques. These proof-of-principle experiments establish a platform to overcome limitations of other conjugating enzymes enabling the development of bioconjugate vaccines for many important human and animal pathogens.
Combined surgery and chondrocyte cell-sheet transplantation improves clinical and structural outcomes in knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Sato Masato , Yamato Masayuki , Mitani Genya , Takagaki Tomonori , Hamahashi Kosuke , Nakamura Yoshihiko , Ishihara Miya , Matoba Ryo , Kobayashi Hiroyuki , Okano Teruo , Mochida Joji , Watanabe Masahiko
Published: February 2019

Current cartilage regenerative therapies are not fully effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK). We have developed chondrocyte sheets for autologous transplantation and tested these in in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies, and have reported that the transplantation of chondrocyte sheets promoted hyaline cartilage repair in rat, rabbit, and minipig models. However, autologous transplantation of chondrocyte sheets has yet to be reported in humans. Here, we report our combination therapy in which conventional surgical treatment for OAK, is followed by autologous chondrocyte sheet transplantation for cartilage repair. Eight patients with OAK and cartilage defects categorized arthroscopically as Outerbridge grade III or IV receive the therapy. Patients are thoroughly assessed by preoperative and postoperative X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), arthroscopy, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Lysholm Knee Score (LKS), and a laser-induced photoacoustic method to assess cartilage viscoelasticity. Arthroscopic biopsies of all patients are performed 12 months after transplantation for histological evaluation. The properties of the chondrocyte sheets are evaluated using gene expression analysis to investigate the ability to predict the clinical and structural outcomes of the therapy. For this small initial longitudinal series, combination therapy is effective, as assessed by MRI, arthroscopy, viscoelasticity, histology, and the clinical outcomes of KOOS and LKS. Gene marker sets identified in autologous chondrocyte sheets may be predictive of the overall KOOS, LKS, and histological scores after therapy. These predictive gene sets may be potential alternative markers for evaluating OAK treatment.
Cilioretinal Arteries and Cilioretinal Veins in Eyes with Pathologic Myopia
Authors: Watanabe Takashi , Kasahara Kaori , Futagami Soh , Fang Yuxin , Du Ran , Moriyama Muka , Uramoto Kengo , Yokoi Tae , Onishi Yuka , Yoshida Takeshi , Kamoi Koju , Jonas Jost B. , Ohno-Matsui Kyoko
Published: February 2019

We investigated the clinical characteristics of cilioretinal arteries (CAs) and cilioretinal veins (CVs) in eyes with pathologic myopia. Ninety-five eyes with pathologic myopia and CAs were studied. The retrobulbar vessels from which the CAs originated were identified by indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). The results showed that 114 CAs were identified in the 95 eyes. ICGA showed that 60% of the CAs branched directly off the short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCAs) and 40% originated from the Zinn-Haller arterial circle (ZHAC). The SPCA-derived CAs tended to be located superiorly and served a large retinal area whereas the ZHAC-associated CAs tended to be located temporally and served mainly the macular area. In 15% of the 95 eyes, the CVs were observed to run parallel to the CAs. The CVs exited the eye at the same point where the CAs entered the eye. This study showed that CAs in eyes with pathologic myopia can be divided into those that are SPCA-derived and tend to emerge in the superior optic disc sector, and those that are ZHAC-associated and usually emerge temporally. An elongating peripapillary scleral flange in eyes with progressive axial myopia may lead to a change of chorioretinal vascular system.
Exploring the suitability of RanBP2-type Zinc Fingers for RNA-binding protein design
Authors: De Franco Simona , Vandenameele Julie , Brans Alain , Verlaine Olivier , Bendak Katerina , Damblon Christian , Matagne André , Segal David J. , Galleni Moreno , Mackay Joel P. , Vandevenne Marylène
Published: February 2019

Transcriptomes consist of several classes of RNA that have wide-ranging but often poorly described functions and the deregulation of which leads to numerous diseases. Engineering of functionalized RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) could therefore have many applications. Our previous studies suggested that the RanBP2-type Zinc Finger (ZF) domain is a suitable scaffold to investigate the design of single-stranded RBPs. In the present work, we have analyzed the natural sequence specificity of various members of the RanBP2-type ZF family and characterized the interaction with their target RNA. Surprisingly, our data showed that natural RanBP2-type ZFs with different RNA-binding residues exhibit a similar sequence specificity and therefore no simple recognition code can be established. Despite this finding, different discriminative abilities were observed within the family. In addition, in order to target a long RNA sequence and therefore gain in specificity, we generated a 6-ZF array by combining ZFs from the RanBP2-type family but also from different families, in an effort to achieve a wider target sequence repertoire. We showed that this chimeric protein recognizes its target sequence (20 nucleotides), both in vitro and in living cells. Altogether, our results indicate that the use of ZFs in RBP design remains attractive even though engineering of specificity changes is challenging.
Chromosome transmission in BC4 progenies of intergeneric hybrids between Saccharum spp. and Erianthus arundinaceus (Retz.) Jeswiet
Authors: Yang Shan , Zeng Kai , Chen Ke , Wu Jiayun , Wang Qinnan , Li Xueting , Deng Zuhu , Huang Yongji , Huang Fei , Chen Rukai , Zhang Muqing
Published: February 2019

Intergeneric hybrids between Saccharum spp. and Erianthus arundinaceus and clones derived from these hybrids and backcrosses to Saccharum spp. were used to study the transmission of E. arundinaceus chromosomes by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). True hybrid progenies were precisely identified using PCR with a primer pair, AGRP52/53. The results showed that AGRP52/53 was an E. arundinaceus-specific primer pair and could be used as molecular marker to assist breeding. EaHN92, a 364 bp E. arundinaceus-specific tandem repeat satellite DNA sequence, was cloned from the E. arundinaceus clone HN92–105 with AGRP52/53, and was localized on sub-telomeric regions of all E. arundinaceus chromosomes. YCE06–61, a BC3 progeny, had 7 E. arundinaceus chromosomes and its progenies had approximately 1–6 E. arundinaceus chromosomes. The number of E. arundinaceus chromosomes in true hybrids appeared as Gaussian distribution in 3 cross combinations. In addition, GISH detected intergeneric chromosome translocation in a few progenies. Hence, screening clones containing approximately 1–2 E. arundinaceus chromosomes without translocation could be used for sorting and sequencing E. arundinaceus chromosomes. This study provides a method for breeders to select true hybrid progenies between Saccharum spp. and E. arundinaceus, which will accelerate this intergeneric hybridization breeding.
A climate-driven and field data-assimilated population dynamics model of sand flies
Authors: Erguler Kamil , Pontiki Irene , Zittis George , Proestos Yiannis , Christodoulou Vasiliki , Tsirigotakis Nikolaos , Antoniou Maria , Kasap Ozge Erisoz , Alten Bulent , Lelieveld Jos
Published: February 2019

Sand flies are responsible for the transmission of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease claiming more than 50,000 lives annually. Leishmaniasis is an emerging health risk in tropical and Mediterranean countries as well as temperate regions in North America and Europe. There is an increasing demand for predicting population dynamics and spreading of sand flies to support management and control, yet phenotypic diversity and complex environmental dependence hamper model development. Here, we present the principles for developing predictive species-specific population dynamics models for important disease vectors. Based on these principles, we developed a sand fly population dynamics model with a generic structure where model parameters are inferred using a surveillance dataset collected from Greece and Cyprus. The model incorporates distinct life stages and explicit dependence on a carefully selected set of environmental variables. The model successfully replicates the observations and demonstrates high predictive capacity on the validation dataset from Turkey. The surveillance datasets inform about biological processes, even in the absence of laboratory experiments. Our findings suggest that the methodology can be applied to other vector species to predict abundance, control dispersion, and help to manage the global burden of vector-borne diseases.