bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iron intake with the risk of breast cancer among Chinese women: a case–control study
Authors: Liu Kai-Yan , Feng Xiao-Li , Mo Xiong-Fei , Lin Fang-Yu , Zhang Xin , Huang Chu-Yi , Abulimiti Alinuer , Li Lei , Zhang Cai-Xia
Published: February 2021

Objective:

The current study evaluated the associations between different forms and sources of Fe and breast cancer risk in Southern Chinese women.

Design:

Case–control study. We collected data on the consumption of Fe from different forms and food sources by using a validated FFQ. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was used to reveal potential associations between Fe intake and breast cancer risk.

Setting:

A case-control study of women at three major hospitals in Guangzhou, China.

Participants:

From June 2007 to March 2019, 1591 breast cancer cases and 1622 age-matched controls were recruited.

Results:

In quartile analyses, Fe from plants and Fe from white meat intake were inversely associated with breast cancer risk, with OR of 0·65 (95 % CI 0·47, 0·89, Ptrend = 0·006) and 0·76 (95 % CI 0·61, 0·96, Ptrend = 0·014), respectively, comparing the highest with the lowest quartile. No associations were observed between total dietary Fe, heme or non-heme Fe, Fe from meat or red meat and breast cancer risk. RCS analysis demonstrated J-shaped associations between total dietary Fe, non-heme Fe and breast cancer, and reverse L-shaped associations between heme Fe, Fe from meat and Fe from red meat and breast cancer.

Conclusion:

Fe from plants and white meat were inversely associated with breast cancer risk. Significant non-linear J-shaped associations were found between total dietary Fe, non-heme Fe and breast cancer risk, and reverse L-shaped associations were found between heme Fe, Fe from meat or red meat and breast cancer risk.
Musical Entanglements: Ely Haimowitz and Orchestral Music under the US Army Military Government in Korea, 1945–1948
Authors: PARK HYE-JUNG
Published: February 2021

Shortly after Japan's surrender to Allied forces, the Soviet Union occupied the northern part of Korea, and the United States moved into the south, where it established the US Army Military Government in Southern Korea (USAMGIK, 1945–1948). In the American zone, music played a unique role in forging US hegemony over Korea. Young American pianist Ely Haimowitz (1920–2010) was the central figure in shaping that policy. Associated with “highbrow” culture, Western orchestral music helped restore Koreans’ ethnic pride damaged by Japanese colonial rule, while countering the Soviet emphasis on indigenous music. By fostering Western orchestral music in Korea, and supporting many individual musicians, Haimowitz succeeded in gaining widespread admiration and trust among Korean musicians. Based on unique access to Haimowitz's private archival collection, as well as diverse historical records from Korea, this article develops a complex picture of Haimowitz not merely as a cold-blooded US military officer and propagandist but also as an individual musician who shared friendships with Korean musicians, suffered ethical dilemmas, and often supported Korean voices against the USAMGIK. The relationships he forged provide indispensable context in understanding USAMGIK music policy, Korean musicians’ responses to it, and the post–World War II Korean reception of Western orchestral music overall.
A Preliminary Investigation of ERP Components of Attentional Bias in Anxious Adults Using Temporospatial Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Gupta Resh S. , Kujawa Autumn , Vago David R.
Published: February 2021

Abstract. Threat-related attention bias is thought to contribute to the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Dot-probe studies using event-related potentials (ERPs) have indicated that several early ERP components are modulated by threatening and emotional stimuli in anxious populations, suggesting enhanced allocation of attention to threat and emotion at earlier stages of processing. However, ERP components selected for examination and analysis in these studies vary widely and remain inconsistent. The present study used temporospatial principal component analysis (PCA) to systematically identify ERP components elicited to face pair cues and probes in a dot-probe task in anxious adults. Cue-locked components sensitive to emotion included an early occipital C1 component enhanced for happy versus angry face pair cues and an early parieto-occipital P1 component enhanced for happy versus angry face pair cues. Probe-locked components sensitive to congruency included a parieto-occipital P2 component enhanced for incongruent probes (probes replacing neutral faces) versus congruent probes (probes replacing emotional faces). Split-half correlations indicated that the mean value around the PCA-derived peaks was reliably measured in the ERP waveforms. These results highlight promising neurophysiological markers for attentional bias research that can be extended to designs comparing anxious and healthy comparison groups. Results from a secondary exploratory PCA analysis investigating the effects of emotional face position and analyses on behavioral reaction time data are also presented.
Analysis and Prediction of Significant Wave Height in the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea
Authors: Wang Huan , Fu Dongyang , Liu Dazhao , Xiao Xiuchun , He Xianqiang , Liu Bei
Published: February 2021

A series of 40‐year significant wave height (SWH) data were extracted from the ERA‐Interim data set of the European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), for the Beibu Gulf and its adjacent waters in the South China Sea from 1979 to 2018. After that, data were first aggregated to annual and monthly average data. Through the analysis, the annual SWH had grown since 1984, reached a significant level in 1995, and reached a maximum 1.068 m in 2011. The monthly SWH values between April and September were lower than those of other months. Additionally, the corresponding analysis on wind speed data demonstrated that variation in wind speed was consistent with SWH from 1979 to 2018, but the overall trend of SWH increased while wind speed decreased. The decrease of wind speed could be attributed to the weakening of the East Asian monsoon, and the westward swell induced by the gales that occurred in the northeast of the South China Sea resulted in the increase of SWH in the study area. Finally, a multiple sine function decomposition neural network (MSFDNN) was employed to forecast monthly SWH over the next 10 years. The predicted results revealed that the MSFDNN was well‐performing for forecasting monthly SWH.
The Influence of Hygroscopic Flare Seeding on Drop Size Distribution Over Southeast Queensland
Authors: Tessendorf Sarah A. , Chen Sisi , Weeks Courtney , Bruintjes Roelof , Rasmussen Roy M. , Xue Lulin
Published: February 2021

This study presents measurements of the initial cloud‐base droplet spectra of seeded and unseeded clouds observed during the Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program field campaign. The measurements were stratified by the aerosol regime that the cloud formed within, and then analyzed statistically as well as compared to parcel model simulations. Initial droplet spectra were obtained within 300–600 m of cloud base to identify the spectra resulting from nucleation and to avoid effects from collision‐coalescence broadening processes. The goal of this study is to assess the impact of hygroscopic flare seeding on cloud‐droplet growth as a first step toward understanding the effect of hygroscopic seeding on rainfall. Results indicate that initial droplet spectra are altered by seeding, such that the mean diameter and tail of drops larger than 20 µm increased in seeded clouds within a given aerosol regime. This effect is most pronounced in the continental‐influenced aerosol regime, that generally lacked coarse mode aerosols, but was also observed to occur in the maritime‐influenced regime. To further investigate if the observational results were supported by theory, a parcel model was used to improve the process‐level understanding of the seeding impact on the initial evolution of the droplet spectra. The simulated results qualitatively agree with the observations that noted the seeding effect is more prominent in the continental‐influenced regime.
Amateur Radio Operators Help Fill Earthquake Donut Holes
Authors: Wald David , Quitoriano Vincent , Dully Oliver
Published: February 2021

Ham radio networks gear up to provide real-time, on-the-ground information about earthquake shaking and damage when other communication pathways are knocked out of commission.
Continent-wide tree fecundity driven by indirect climate effects
Authors: Clark James S. , Andrus Robert , Aubry-Kientz Melaine , Bergeron Yves , Bogdziewicz Michal , Bragg Don C. , Brockway Dale , Cleavitt Natalie L. , Cohen Susan , Courbaud Benoit , Daley Robert , Das Adrian J. , Dietze Michael , Fahey Timothy J. , Fer Istem , Franklin Jerry F. , Gehring Catherine A. , Gilbert Gregory S. , Greenberg Cathryn H. , Guo Qinfeng , HilleRisLambers Janneke , Ibanez Ines , Johnstone Jill , Kilner Christopher L. , Knops Johannes , Koenig Walter D. , Kunstler Georges , LaMontagne Jalene M. , Legg Kristin L. , Luongo Jordan , Lutz James A. , Macias Diana , McIntire Eliot J. B. , Messaoud Yassine , Moore Christopher M. , Moran Emily , Myers Jonathan A. , Myers Orrin B. , Nunez Chase , Parmenter Robert , Pearse Sam , Pearson Scott , Poulton-Kamakura Renata , Ready Ethan , Redmond Miranda D. , Reid Chantal D. , Rodman Kyle C. , Scher C. Lane , Schlesinger William H. , Schwantes Amanda M. , Shanahan Erin , Sharma Shubhi , Steele Michael A. , Stephenson Nathan L. , Sutton Samantha , Swenson Jennifer J. , Swift Margaret , Veblen Thomas T. , Whipple Amy V. , Whitham Thomas G. , Wion Andreas P. , Zhu Kai , Zlotin Roman
Published: February 2021

Indirect climate effects on tree fecundity that come through variation in size and growth (climate-condition interactions) are not currently part of models used to predict future forests. Trends in species abundances predicted from meta-analyses and species distribution models will be misleading if they depend on the conditions of individuals. Here we find from a synthesis of tree species in North America that climate-condition interactions dominate responses through two pathways, i) effects of growth that depend on climate, and ii) effects of climate that depend on tree size. Because tree fecundity first increases and then declines with size, climate change that stimulates growth promotes a shift of small trees to more fecund sizes, but the opposite can be true for large sizes. Change the depresses growth also affects fecundity. We find a biogeographic divide, with these interactions reducing fecundity in the West and increasing it in the East. Continental-scale responses of these forests are thus driven largely by indirect effects, recommending management for climate change that considers multiple demographic rates.
Automated discovery of a robust interatomic potential for aluminum
Authors: Smith Justin S. , Nebgen Benjamin , Mathew Nithin , Chen Jie , Lubbers Nicholas , Burakovsky Leonid , Tretiak Sergei , Nam Hai Ah , Germann Timothy , Fensin Saryu , Barros Kipton
Published: February 2021

Machine learning, trained on quantum mechanics (QM) calculations, is a powerful tool for modeling potential energy surfaces. A critical factor is the quality and diversity of the training dataset. Here we present a highly automated approach to dataset construction and demonstrate the method by building a potential for elemental aluminum (ANI-Al). In our active learning scheme, the ML potential under development is used to drive non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations with time-varying applied temperatures. Whenever a configuration is reached for which the ML uncertainty is large, new QM data is collected. The ML model is periodically retrained on all available QM data. The final ANI-Al potential makes very accurate predictions of radial distribution function in melt, liquid-solid coexistence curve, and crystal properties such as defect energies and barriers. We perform a 1.3M atom shock simulation and show that ANI-Al force predictions shine in their agreement with new reference DFT calculations.
Whole genome sequencing in the Middle Eastern Qatari population identifies genetic associations with 45 clinically relevant traits
Authors: Thareja Gaurav , Al-Sarraj Yasser , Belkadi Aziz , Almotawa Maryam ,   The Qatar Genome Program Research (QGPR) Consortium,   Qatar Genome Project Management, Ismail Said , Al-Muftah Wadha , Badji Radja , Mbarek Hamdi , Darwish Dima , Fadl Tasnim , Yasin Heba , Ennaifar Maryem , Abdellatif Rania , Alkuwari Fatima , Alvi Muhammad , Al-Sarraj Yasser , Saad Chadi , Althani Asmaa ,   Biobank and Sample Preparation, Fethnou Eleni , Qafoud Fatima , Alkhayat Eiman , Afifi Nahla ,   Sequencing and Genotyping group, Tomei Sara , Liu Wei , Lorenz Stephan ,   Applied Bioinformatics Core, Syed Najeeb , Almabrazi Hakeem , Vempalli Fazulur Rehaman , Temanni Ramzi ,   Data Management and Computing Infrastructure group, Saqri Tariq Abu , Khatib Mohammedhusen , Hamza Mehshad , Zaid Tariq Abu , El Khouly Ahmed , Pathare Tushar , Poolat Shafeeq , Al-Ali Rashid ,   Consortium Lead Principal Investigators, Albagha Omar , Al-Khodor Souhaila , Alshafai Mashael , Badii Ramin , Chouchane Lotfi , Estivill Xavier , Fakhro Khalid , Mokrab Younes , Puthen Jithesh , Tatari Zohreh , Suhre Karsten , Albagha Omar M. E.
Published: February 2021

Clinical laboratory tests play a pivotal role in medical decision making, but little is known about their genetic variability between populations. We report a genome-wide association study with 45 clinically relevant traits from the population of Qatar using a whole genome sequencing approach in a discovery set of 6218 individuals and replication in 7768 subjects. Trait heritability is more similar between Qatari and European populations (r = 0.81) than with Africans (r = 0.44). We identify 281 distinct variant-trait-associations at genome wide significance that replicate known associations. Allele frequencies for replicated loci show higher correlations with European (r = 0.94) than with African (r = 0.85) or Japanese (r = 0.80) populations. We find differences in linkage disequilibrium patterns and in effect sizes of the replicated loci compared to previous reports. We also report 17 novel and Qatari-predominate signals providing insights into the biological pathways regulating these traits. We observe that European-derived polygenic scores (PGS) have reduced predictive performance in the Qatari population which could have implications for the translation of PGS between populations and their future application in precision medicine.
Phase-enabled metal-organic framework homojunction for highly selective CO2 photoreduction
Authors: Liu Yannan , Chen Chuanshuang , Valdez Jesus , Motta Meira Debora , He Wanting , Wang Yong , Harnagea Catalin , Lu Qiongqiong , Guner Tugrul , Wang Hao , Liu Cheng-Hao , Zhang Qingzhe , Huang Shengyun , Yurtsever Aycan , Chaker Mohamed , Ma Dongling
Published: February 2021

Conversion of clean solar energy to chemical fuels is one of the promising and up-and-coming applications of metal–organic frameworks. However, fast recombination of photogenerated charge carriers in these frameworks remains the most significant limitation for their photocatalytic application. Although the construction of homojunctions is a promising solution, it remains very challenging to synthesize them. Herein, we report a well-defined hierarchical homojunction based on metal–organic frameworks via a facile one-pot synthesis route directed by hollow transition metal nanoparticles. The homojunction is enabled by two concentric stacked nanoplates with slightly different crystal phases. The enhanced charge separation in the homojunction was visualized by in-situ surface photovoltage microscopy. Moreover, the as-prepared nanostacks displayed a visible-light-driven carbon dioxide reduction with very high carbon monooxide selectivity, and excellent stability. Our work provides a powerful platform to synthesize capable metal–organic framework complexes and sheds light on the hierarchical structure-function relationships of metal–organic frameworks.
Single-cell multiomics sequencing reveals the functional regulatory landscape of early embryos
Authors: Wang Yang , Yuan Peng , Yan Zhiqiang , Yang Ming , Huo Ying , Nie Yanli , Zhu Xiaohui , Qiao Jie , Yan Liying
Published: February 2021

Extensive epigenetic reprogramming occurs during preimplantation embryo development. However, it remains largely unclear how the drastic epigenetic reprogramming contributes to transcriptional regulatory network during this period. Here, we develop a single-cell multiomics sequencing technology (scNOMeRe-seq) that enables profiling of genome-wide chromatin accessibility, DNA methylation and RNA expression in the same individual cell. We apply this method to depict a single-cell multiomics map of mouse preimplantation development. We find that genome-wide DNA methylation remodeling facilitates the reconstruction of genetic lineages in early embryos. Further, we construct a zygotic genome activation (ZGA)-associated regulatory network and reveal coordination among multiple epigenetic layers, transcription factors and repeat elements that instruct proper ZGA. Cell fates associated cis-regulatory elements are activated stepwise in post-ZGA stages. Trophectoderm (TE)-specific transcription factors play dual roles in promoting the TE program while repressing the inner cell mass (ICM) program during the ICM/TE separation.
Extreme isotopic heterogeneity in Samoan clinopyroxenes constrains sediment recycling
Authors: Adams Jenna V. , Jackson Matthew G. , Spera Frank J. , Price Allison A. , Byerly Benjamin L. , Seward Gareth , Cottle John M.
Published: February 2021

Lavas erupted at hotspot volcanoes provide evidence of mantle heterogeneity. Samoan Island lavas with high 87Sr/86Sr (>0.706) typify a mantle source incorporating ancient subducted sediments. To further characterize this source, we target a single high 87Sr/86Sr lava from Savai’i Island, Samoa for detailed analyses of 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd isotopes and major and trace elements on individual magmatic clinopyroxenes. We show the clinopyroxenes exhibit a remarkable range of 87Sr/86Sr—including the highest observed in an oceanic hotspot lava—encompassing ~30% of the oceanic mantle’s total variability. These new isotopic data, data from other Samoan lavas, and magma mixing calculations are consistent with clinopyroxene 87Sr/86Sr variability resulting from magma mixing between a high silica, high 87Sr/86Sr (up to 0.7316) magma, and a low silica, low 87Sr/86Sr magma. Results provide insight into the composition of magmas derived from a sediment-infiltrated mantle source and document the fate of sediment recycled into Earth’s mantle.
Labrador Sea freshening linked to Beaufort Gyre freshwater release
Authors: Zhang Jiaxu , Weijer Wilbert , Steele Michael , Cheng Wei , Verma Tarun , Veneziani Milena
Published: February 2021

The Beaufort Gyre (BG), the largest Arctic Ocean freshwater reservoir, has drastically increased its liquid freshwater content by 40% in the past two decades. If released within a short period, the excess freshwater could potentially impact the large-scale ocean circulation by freshening the upper subpolar North Atlantic. Here, we track BG-sourced freshwater using passive tracers in a global ocean sea-ice model and show that this freshwater exited the Arctic mostly through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, rather than Fram Strait, during an historical release event in 1983–1995. The Labrador Sea is the most affected region in the subpolar North Atlantic, with a freshening of 0.2 psu on the western shelves and 0.4 psu in the Labrador Current. Given that the present BG freshwater content anomaly is twice the historical analog studied here, the impact of a future rapid release on Labrador Sea salinity could be significant, easily exceeding similar fluxes from Greenland meltwater.
Percolation of heterogeneous flows uncovers the bottlenecks of infrastructure networks
Authors: Hamedmoghadam Homayoun , Jalili Mahdi , Vu Hai L. , Stone Lewi
Published: February 2021

Whether it be the passengers’ mobility demand in transportation systems, or the consumers’ energy demand in power grids, the primary purpose of many infrastructure networks is to best serve this flow demand. In reality, the volume of flow demand fluctuates unevenly across complex networks while simultaneously being hindered by some form of congestion or overload. Nevertheless, there is little known about how the heterogeneity of flow demand influences the network flow dynamics under congestion. To explore this, we introduce a percolation-based network analysis framework underpinned by flow heterogeneity. Thereby, we theoretically identify bottleneck links with guaranteed decisive impact on how flows are passed through the network. The effectiveness of the framework is demonstrated on large-scale real transportation networks, where mitigating the congestion on a small fraction of the links identified as bottlenecks results in a significant network improvement.
A stable cathode-solid electrolyte composite for high-voltage, long-cycle-life solid-state sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Wu Erik A. , Banerjee Swastika , Tang Hanmei , Richardson Peter M. , Doux Jean-Marie , Qi Ji , Zhu Zhuoying , Grenier Antonin , Li Yixuan , Zhao Enyue , Deysher Grayson , Sebti Elias , Nguyen Han , Stephens Ryan , Verbist Guy , Chapman Karena W. , Clément Raphaële J. , Banerjee Abhik , Meng Ying Shirley , Ong Shyue Ping
Published: February 2021

Rechargeable solid-state sodium-ion batteries (SSSBs) hold great promise for safer and more energy-dense energy storage. However, the poor electrochemical stability between current sulfide-based solid electrolytes and high-voltage oxide cathodes has limited their long-term cycling performance and practicality. Here, we report the discovery of the ion conductor Na3-xY1-xZrxCl6 (NYZC) that is both electrochemically stable (up to 3.8 V vs. Na/Na+) and chemically compatible with oxide cathodes. Its high ionic conductivity of 6.6 × 10−5 S cm−1 at ambient temperature, several orders of magnitude higher than oxide coatings, is attributed to abundant Na vacancies and cooperative MCl6 rotation, resulting in an extremely low interfacial impedance. A SSSB comprising a NaCrO2 + NYZC composite cathode, Na3PS4 electrolyte, and Na-Sn anode exhibits an exceptional first-cycle Coulombic efficiency of 97.1% at room temperature and can cycle over 1000 cycles with 89.3% capacity retention at 40 °C. These findings highlight the immense potential of halides for SSSB applications.
Flavivirus maturation leads to the formation of an occupied lipid pocket in the surface glycoproteins
Authors: Renner Max , Dejnirattisai Wanwisa , Carrique Loïc , Martin Itziar Serna , Karia Dimple , Ilca Serban L. , Ho Shu F. , Kotecha Abhay , Keown Jeremy R. , Mongkolsapaya Juthathip , Screaton Gavin R. , Grimes Jonathan M.
Published: February 2021

Flaviviruses such as Dengue (DENV) or Zika virus (ZIKV) assemble into an immature form within the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER), and are then processed by furin protease in the trans-Golgi. To better grasp maturation, we carry out cryo-EM reconstructions of immature Spondweni virus (SPOV), a human flavivirus of the same serogroup as ZIKV. By employing asymmetric localised reconstruction we push the resolution to 3.8 Å, enabling us to refine an atomic model which includes the crucial furin protease recognition site and a conserved Histidine pH-sensor. For direct comparison, we also solve structures of the mature forms of SPONV and DENV to 2.6 Å and 3.1 Å, respectively. We identify an ordered lipid that is present in only the mature forms of ZIKV, SPOV, and DENV and can bind as a consequence of rearranging amphipathic stem-helices of E during maturation. We propose a structural role for the pocket and suggest it stabilizes mature E.
A synergetic effect of BARD1 mutations on tumorigenesis
Authors: Li Wenjing , Gu Xiaoyang , Liu Chunhong , Shi Yanyan , Wang Pan , Zhang Na , Wu Rui , Leng Liang , Xie Bingteng , Song Chen , Li Mo
Published: February 2021

To date, a large number of mutations have been screened from breast and ovarian cancer patients. However, most of them are classified into benign or unidentified alterations due to their undetectable phenotypes. Whether and how they could cause tumors remains unknown, and this significantly limits diagnosis and therapy. Here, in a study of a family with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, we find that two BARD1 mutations, P24S and R378S, simultaneously exist in cis in surviving cancer patients. Neither of the single mutations causes a functional change, but together they synergetically impair the DNA damage response and lead to tumors in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our report not only demonstrates that BARD1 defects account for tumorigenesis but also uncovers the potential risk of synergetic effects between the large number of cis mutations in individual genes in the human genome.
Prioritizing variants of uncertain significance for reclassification using a rule-based algorithm in inherited retinal dystrophies
Authors: Iancu Ionut-Florin , Avila-Fernandez Almudena , Arteche Ana , Trujillo-Tiebas Maria Jose , Riveiro-Alvarez Rosa , Almoguera Berta , Martin-Merida Inmaculada , Del Pozo-Valero Marta , Perea-Romero Irene , Corton Marta , Minguez Pablo , Ayuso Carmen
Published: February 2021

Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD) are a highly heterogeneous group of rare diseases with a molecular diagnostic rate of >50%. Reclassification of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) poses a challenge for IRD diagnosis. We collected 668 IRD cases analyzed by our geneticists using two different clinical exome-sequencing tests. We identified 114 unsolved cases pending reclassification of 125 VUS and studied their genomic, functional, and laboratory-specific features, comparing them to pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants from the same cohort (N = 390). While the clinical exome used did not show differences in diagnostic rate, the more IRD-experienced geneticist reported more VUS (p = 4.07e-04). Significantly fewer VUS were reported in recessive cases (p = 2.14e-04) compared to other inheritance patterns, and of all the genes analyzed, ABCA4 and IMPG2 had the lowest and highest VUS frequencies, respectively (p = 3.89e-04, p = 6.93e-03). Moreover, few frameshift and stop-gain variants were found to be informed VUS (p = 6.73e-08 and p = 2.93e-06). Last, we applied five pathogenicity predictors and found there is a significant proof of deleteriousness when all score for pathogenicity in missense variants. Altogether, these results provided input for a set of rules that correctly reclassified ~70% of VUS as pathogenic in validation datasets. Disease- and setting-specific features influence VUS reporting. Comparison with pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants can prioritize VUS more likely to be reclassified as causal.
Inter-body coupling in electro-quasistatic human body communication: theory and analysis of security and interference properties
Authors: Nath Mayukh , Maity Shovan , Avlani Shitij , Weigand Scott , Sen Shreyas
Published: February 2021

Radiative communication using electromagnetic fields is the backbone of today’s wirelessly connected world, which implies that the physical signals are available for malicious interceptors to snoop within a 5–10 m distance, also increasing interference and reducing channel capacity. Recently, Electro-quasistatic Human Body Communication (EQS-HBC) was demonstrated which utilizes the human body’s conductive properties to communicate without radiating the signals outside the body. Previous experiments showed that an attack with an antenna was unsuccessful at a distance more than 1 cm from the body surface and 15 cm from an EQS-HBC device. However, since this is a new communication modality, it calls for an investigation of new attack modalities—that can potentially exploit the physics utilized in EQS-HBC to break the system. In this study, we present a novel attack method for EQS-HBC devices, using the body of the attacker itself as a coupling surface and capacitive inter-body coupling between the user and the attacker. We develop theoretical understanding backed by experimental results for inter-body coupling, as a function of distance between the subjects. We utilize this newly developed understanding to design EQS-HBC transmitters that minimizes the attack distance through inter-body coupling, as well as the interference among multiple EQS-HBC users due to inter-body coupling. This understanding will allow us to develop more secure and robust EQS-HBC based body area networks in the future.
Twenty-first century droughts have not increasingly exacerbated fire season severity in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Libonati R. , Pereira J. M. C. , Da Camara C. C. , Peres L. F. , Oom D. , Rodrigues J. A. , Santos F. L. M. , Trigo R. M. , Gouveia C. M. P. , Machado-Silva F. , Enrich-Prast A. , Silva J. M. N.
Published: February 2021

Biomass burning in the Brazilian Amazon is modulated by climate factors, such as droughts, and by human factors, such as deforestation, and land management activities. The increase in forest fires during drought years has led to the hypothesis that fire activity decoupled from deforestation during the twenty-first century. However, assessment of the hypothesis relied on an incorrect active fire dataset, which led to an underestimation of the decreasing trend in fire activity and to an inflated rank for year 2015 in terms of active fire counts. The recent correction of that database warrants a reassessment of the relationships between deforestation and fire. Contrasting with earlier findings, we show that the exacerbating effect of drought on fire season severity did not increase from 2003 to 2015 and that the record-breaking dry conditions of 2015 had the least impact on fire season of all twenty-first century severe droughts. Overall, our results for the same period used in the study that originated the fire-deforestation decoupling hypothesis (2003–2015) show that decoupling was clearly weaker than initially proposed. Extension of the study period up to 2019, and novel analysis of trends in fire types and fire intensity strengthened this conclusion. Therefore, the role of deforestation as a driver of fire activity in the region should not be underestimated and must be taken into account when implementing measures to protect the Amazon forest.
A surfactant polymer wound dressing protects human keratinocytes from inducible necroptosis
Authors: Khandelwal Puneet , Das Amitava , Sen Chandan K. , Srinivas Sangly P. , Roy Sashwati , Khanna Savita
Published: February 2021

Chronic wounds show necroptosis from which keratinocytes must be protected to enable appropriate wound re-epithelialization and closure. Poloxamers, a class of synthetic triblock copolymers, are known to be effective against plasma membrane damage (PMD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a specific poloxamer, surfactant polymer dressing (SPD), which is currently used clinically as wound care dressing, against PMD in keratinocytes. Triton X-100 (TX100) at sub-lytic concentrations caused PMD as demonstrated by the efflux of calcein and by the influx of propidium iodide and FM1-43. TX100, an inducer of necroptosis, led to mitochondrial fragmentation, depletion of nuclear HMGB1, and activation of signaling complex associated with necroptosis (i.e., activation of RIP3 and phosphorylation of MLKL). All responses following exposure of human keratinocytes to TX100 were attenuated by pre- or co-treatment with SPD (100 mg/ml). The activation and translocation of phospho-MLKL to the plasma membrane, taken together with depletion of nuclear HMGB1, characterized the observed cell death as necroptosis. Thus, our findings show that TX100-induced plasma membrane damage and death by necroptosis were both attenuated by SPD, allowing keratinocyte survival. The significance of such protective effects of SPD on keratinocytes in wound re-epithelialization and closure warrant further studies.
No consistent startle modulation by reward
Authors: Schutte Iris , Baas Johanna M. P. , Heitland Ivo , Kenemans J. Leon
Published: February 2021

Previous studies have not clearly demonstrated whether motivational tendencies during reward feedback are mainly characterized by appetitive responses to a gain or mainly by aversive consequences of reward omission. In the current study this issue was addressed employing a passive head or tails game and using the startle reflex as an index of the appetitive-aversive continuum. A second aim of the current study was to use startle-reflex modulation as a means to compare the subjective value of monetary rewards of varying magnitude. Startle responses after receiving feedback that a potential reward was won or not won were compared with a baseline condition without a potential gain. Furthermore, startle responses during anticipation of no versus potential gain were compared. Consistent with previous studies, startle-reflex magnitudes were significantly potentiated when participants anticipated a reward compared to no reward, which may reflect anticipatory arousal. Specifically for the largest reward (20-cents) startle magnitudes were potentiated when a reward was at stake but not won, compared to a neutral baseline without potential gain. In contrast, startle was not inhibited relative to baseline when a reward was won. This suggests that startle modulation during feedback is better characterized in terms of potentiation when missing out on reward rather than in terms of inhibition as a result of winning. However, neither of these effects were replicated in a more targeted second experiment. The discrepancy between these experiments may be due to differences in motivation to obtain rewards or differences in task engagement. From these experiments it may be concluded that the nature of the processing of reward feedback and reward cues is very sensitive to experimental parameters and settings. These studies show how apparently modest changes in these parameters and settings may lead to quite different modulations of appetitive/aversive motivation. A future experiment may shed more light on the question whether startle-reflex modulation after feedback is indeed mainly characterized by the aversive consequences of reward omission for relatively large rewards.
High-efficiency, flexibility and lead-free X-ray shielding multilayered polymer composites: layered structure design and shielding mechanism
Authors: Li Zefeng , Zhou Wei , Zhang Xianlong , Gao Yue , Guo Shaoyun
Published: February 2021

To overcome the severe toxicity and blind absorption zone of conventional lead-based shielding materials for X-rays in the 70–90 keV range, the lead-free multilayered polymer composites were designed and fabricated. The effects of the direction of incidence of the X-rays and number of layers as well as layer thickness ratio of the (tungsten/ethylene-octene copolymer)/(bismuth/ethylene-octene copolymer) layered composites on their shielding efficiency were studied systematically. Compared to the traditional polymer blending, the multilayered polymer composites exhibited the improved photon attenuation. The multilayered polymer composites (layer thickness ratio was 3:7) with 6 layers had the best X-ray shielding ability. Moreover, the X-ray shielding provided by the multi-layered interfaces and the multiple complementary effect of the absorption within the multilayered structure were firstly proposed based on computer simulations. The multilayered structural design effectively weakened the probability of the X-ray penetration. Therefore, the X-ray shielding capability can be effectively enhanced through increasing number of layers and the synergistic effect of multi-layered interfaces. The experimental results of this study can serve as guidelines for the fabrication of flexibility, lead-free, lightweight and high-efficiency X-ray shielding materials.
Running barefoot leads to lower running stability compared to shod running - results from a randomized controlled study
Authors: Hollander Karsten , Hamacher Daniel , Zech Astrid
Published: February 2021

Local dynamic running stability is the ability of a dynamic system to compensate for small perturbations during running. While the immediate effects of footwear on running biomechanics are frequently investigated, no research has studied the long-term effects of barefoot vs. shod running on local dynamic running stability. In this randomized single-blinded controlled trial, young adults novice to barefoot running were randomly allocated to a barefoot or a cushioned footwear running group. Over an 8-week-period, both groups performed a weekly 15-min treadmill running intervention in the allocated condition at 70% of their VO2 max velocity. During each session, an inertial measurement unit on the tibia recorded kinematic data (angular velocity) which was used to determine the short-time largest Lyapunov exponents as a measure of local dynamic running stability. One hundred running gait cycles at the beginning, middle, and end of each running session were analysed using one mixed linear multilevel random intercept model. Of the 41 included participants (48.8% females), 37 completed the study (drop-out = 9.7%). Participants in the barefoot running group exhibited lower running stability than in the shod running group (p = 0.037) with no changes during the intervention period (p = 0.997). Within a single session, running stability decreased over the course of the 15-min run (p = 0.012) without differences between both groups (p = 0.060). Changing from shod to barefoot running reduces running stability not only in the acute phase but also in the longer term. While running stability is a relatively new concept, it enables further insight into the biomechanical influence of footwear.
Dynamic and history of methane seepage in the SW Barents Sea: new insights from Leirdjupet Fault Complex
Authors: Argentino Claudio , Waghorn Kate Alyse , Vadakkepuliyambatta Sunil , Polteau Stéphane , Bünz Stefan , Panieri Giuliana
Published: February 2021

Methane emissions from Arctic continental margins are increasing due to the negative effect of global warming on ice sheet and permafrost stability, but dynamics and timescales of seafloor seepage still remain poorly constrained. Here, we examine sediment cores collected from an active seepage area located between 295 and 353 m water depth in the SW Barents Sea, at Leirdjupet Fault Complex. The geochemical composition of hydrocarbon gas in the sediment indicates a mixture of microbial and thermogenic gas, the latter being sourced from underlying Mesozoic formations. Sediment and carbonate geochemistry reveal a long history of methane emissions that started during Late Weichselian deglaciation after 14.5 cal ka BP. Methane-derived authigenic carbonates precipitated due to local gas hydrate destabilization, in turn triggered by an increasing influx of warm Atlantic water and isostatic rebound linked to the retreat of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet. This study has implications for a better understanding of the dynamic and future evolution of methane seeps in modern analogue systems in Western Antarctica, where the retreat of marine-based ice sheet induced by global warming may cause the release of large amounts of methane from hydrocarbon reservoirs and gas hydrates.
High engraftment capacity of frozen ready-to-use human fecal microbiota transplants assessed in germ-free mice
Authors: Berland Magali , Cadiou Julie , Levenez Florence , Galleron Nathalie , Quinquis Benoît , Thirion Florence , Gauthier Franck , Le Chatelier Emmanuelle , Plaza Oñate Florian , Schwintner Carole , Rabot Sylvie , Lepage Patricia , Ehrlich Dusko , Doré Joël , Juste Catherine
Published: February 2021

The number of indications for fecal microbiota transplantation is expected to rise, thus increasing the needs for production of readily available frozen or freeze-dried transplants. Using shotgun metagenomics, we investigated the capacity of two novel human fecal microbiota transplants prepared in maltodextrin-trehalose solutions (abbreviated MD and TR for maltodextrin:trehalose, 3:1, w/w, and trehalose:maltodextrin 3:1, w/w, respectively), to colonize a germ-free born mouse model. Gavage with frozen-thawed MD or TR suspensions gave the taxonomic profiles of mouse feces that best resembled those obtained with the fresh inoculum (Spearman correlations based on relative abundances of metagenomic species around 0.80 and 0.75 for MD and TR respectively), while engraftment capacity of defrosted NaCl transplants most diverged (Spearman correlations around 0.63). Engraftment of members of the family Lachnospiraceae and Ruminoccocaceae was the most challenging in all groups of mice, being improved with MD and TR transplants compared to NaCl, but still lower than with the fresh preparation. Improvement of engraftment of this important group in maintaining health represents a challenge that could benefit from further research on fecal microbiota transplant manufacturing.
Generation of reconstituted hemato-lymphoid murine embryos by placental transplantation into embryos lacking HSCs
Authors: Jeon Hyojung , Asano Keigo , Wakimoto Arata , Kulathunga Kaushalya , Tran Mai Thi Nhu , Nakamura Megumi , Yokomizo Tomomasa , Hamada Michito , Takahashi Satoru
Published: February 2021

In order to increase the contribution of donor HSC cells, irradiation and DNA alkylating agents have been commonly used as experimental methods to eliminate HSCs for adult mice. But a technique of HSC deletion for mouse embryo for increase contribution of donor cells has not been published. Here, we established for the first time a procedure for placental HSC transplantation into E11.5 Runx1-deficient mice mated with G1-HRD-Runx1 transgenic mice (Runx1-/-::Tg mice) that have no HSCs in the fetal liver. Following the transplantation of fetal liver cells from mice (allogeneic) or rats (xenogeneic), high donor cell chimerism was observed in Runx1-/-::Tg embryos. Furthermore, chimerism analysis and colony assay data showed that donor fetal liver hematopoietic cells contributed to both white blood cells and red blood cells. Moreover, secondary transplantation into adult recipient mice indicated that the HSCs in rescued Runx1-/-::Tg embryos had normal abilities. These results suggest that mice lacking fetal liver HSCs are a powerful tool for hematopoiesis reconstruction during the embryonic stage and can potentially be used in basic research on HSCs or xenograft models.
Improved pentamethine cyanine nanosensors for optoacoustic imaging of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Laramie Matthew D. , Fouts Benjamin L. , MacCuaig William M. , Buabeng Emmanuel , Jones Meredith A. , Mukherjee Priyabrata , Behkam Bahareh , McNally Lacey R. , Henary Maged
Published: February 2021

Optoacoustic imaging is a new biomedical imaging technology with clear benefits over traditional optical imaging and ultrasound. While the imaging technology has improved since its initial development, the creation of dedicated contrast agents for optoacoustic imaging has been stagnant. Current exploration of contrast agents has been limited to standard commercial dyes that have already been established in optical imaging applications. While some of these compounds have demonstrated utility in optoacoustic imaging, they are far from optimal and there is a need for contrast agents with tailored optoacoustic properties. The synthesis, encapsulation within tumor targeting silica nanoparticles and applications in in vivo tumor imaging of optoacoustic contrast agents are reported.
Volume-based algorithm of lung dose optimization in novel dynamic arc radiotherapy for esophageal cancer
Authors: Lin Kuan-Heng , Hsu Chen-Xiong , Wang Shan-Ying , Mok Greta S. P. , Chang Chiu-Han , Tien Hui-Ju , Shueng Pei-Wei , Wu Tung-Hsin
Published: February 2021

This study aims to develop a volume-based algorithm (VBA) that can rapidly optimize rotating gantry arc angles and predict the lung V5 preceding the treatment planning. This phantom study was performed in the dynamic arc therapy planning systems for an esophageal cancer model. The angle of rotation of the gantry around the isocenter as defined as arc angle (θA), ranging from 360° to 80° with an interval of 20°, resulting in 15 different θA of treatment plans. The corresponding predicted lung V5 was calculated by the VBA, the mean lung dose, lung V5, lung V20, mean heart dose, heart V30, the spinal cord maximum dose and conformity index were assessed from dose–volume histogram in the treatment plan. Correlations between the predicted lung V5 and the dosimetric indices were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The results showed that the predicted lung V5 and the lung V5 in the treatment plan were positively correlated (r = 0.996, p < 0.001). As the θA decreased, lung V5, lung V20, and the mean lung dose decreased while the mean heart dose, V30 and the spinal cord maximum dose increased. The V20 and the mean lung dose also showed high correlations with the predicted lung V5 (r = 0.974, 0.999, p < 0.001). This study successfully developed an efficient VBA to rapidly calculate the θA to predict the lung V5 and reduce the lung dose, with potentials to improve the current clinical practice of dynamic arc radiotherapy.
Testing for phylogenetic signal in claws suggests great influence of ecology on Caribbean intertidal arthropods (Acari, Oribatida)
Authors: Kerschbaumer Michaela , Pfingstl Tobias
Published: February 2021

Claws are common biological attachment devices that can be found in a wide variety of animal groups. Their curvature and size are supposed to be parameters related to ecological aspects. Mites, known as very small arthropods, occupy a wide range of ecological niches and are a perfect model system to investigate correlations of claw morphology with ecology. There is only one study regarding this question in littoral mites but the phylogenetic impact, which plays an important role in the evolution of morphological traits, was not tested. We investigated claw shapes of different Caribbean populations of five species showing different substrate/habitat preferences. We used geometric morphometrics to quantify claw shape and tested for phylogenetic signal within this morphological trait. Even in closely related populations, we found clear claw shapes for hard versus soft substrate, confirming previous findings. Surprisingly, we found no phylogenetic signal within the trait, which demonstrates that ecology (different surfaces and substrates) has acted as one of the primary selective forces in the diversification of claw shapes. Considering that the basic claw design may be the same in the majority of arthropods, our results have important implications for further investigations of claw morphology and its ecological relevance within this phylum.
A biomechanical study of load carriage by two paired subjects in response to increased load mass
Authors: Fumery Guillaume , Turpin Nicolas A. , Claverie Laetitia , Fourcassié Vincent , Moretto Pierre
Published: February 2021

The biomechanics of load carriage has been studied extensively with regards to single individuals, yet not so much with regards to collective transport. We investigated the biomechanics of walking in 10 paired individuals carrying a load that represented 20%, 30%, or 40% of the aggregated body-masses. We computed the energy recovery rate at the center of mass of the system consisting of the two individuals plus the carried load in order to test to what extent the pendulum-like behavior and the economy of the gait were affected. Joint torque was also computed to investigate the intra- and inter-subject strategies occurring in response to this. The ability of the subjects to move the whole system like a pendulum appeared rendered obvious through shortened step length and lowered vertical displacements at the center of mass of the system, while energy recovery rate and total mechanical energy remained constant. In parallel, an asymmetry of joint moment vertical amplitude and coupling among individuals in all pairs suggested the emergence of a leader/follower schema. Beyond the 30% threshold of increased load mass, the constraints at the joint level were balanced among individuals leading to a degraded pendulum-like behavior.