bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climatic changes cause synchronous population dynamics and adaptive strategies among coastal hunter-gatherers in Holocene northern Europe
Authors: Jørgensen Erlend Kirkeng , Pesonen Petro , Tallavaara Miikka
Published: March 2020

Synchronized demographic and behavioral patterns among distinct populations is a well-known, natural phenomenon. Intriguingly, similar patterns of synchrony occur among prehistoric human populations. However, the drivers of synchronous human ecodynamics are not well understood. Addressing this issue, we review the role of environmental variability in causing human demographic and adaptive responses. As a case study, we explore human ecodynamics of coastal hunter-gatherers in Holocene northern Europe, comparing population, economic, and environmental dynamics in two separate areas (northern Norway and western Finland). Population trends are reconstructed using temporal frequency distributions of radiocarbon-dated and shoreline-dated archaeological sites. These are correlated to regional environmental proxies and proxies for maritime resource use. The results demonstrate remarkably synchronous patterns across population trajectories, marine resource exploitation, settlement pattern, and technological responses. Crucially, the population dynamics strongly correspond to significant environmental changes. We evaluate competing hypotheses and suggest that the synchrony stems from similar responses to shared environmental variability. We take this to be a prehistoric human example of the “Moran effect,” positing similar responses of geographically distinct populations to shared environmental drivers. The results imply that intensified economies and social interaction networks have limited impact on long-term hunter-gatherer population trajectories beyond what is already proscribed by environmental drivers.
ON -UNFAVOURABLE SPACES
Authors: WANG HANFENG , HE WEI , ZHANG JING
Published: March 2020

To study when a paratopological group becomes a topological group, Arhangel’skii et al. [‘Topological games and topologies on groups’, Math. Maced. 8 (2010), 1–19] introduced the class of $(\,\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD},G_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F1}})$-unfavourable spaces. We show that every $\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}$-complete (or normal) $(\,\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD},G_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F1}})$-unfavourable semitopological group is a topological group. We prove that the product of a $(\,\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD},G_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F1}})$-unfavourable space and a strongly Fréchet $(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC},G_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F1}})$-favourable space is $(\,\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD},G_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F1}})$-unfavourable. We also show that continuous closed irreducible mappings preserve the $(\,\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD},G_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F1}})$-unfavourableness in both directions.
Comparison between type A and type B early adiposity rebound in predicting overweight and obesity in children: a longitudinal study
Authors: Roche Johanna , Quinart Sylvain , Thivel David , Pasteur Stéphanie , Mauny Frédéric , Mougin Fabienne , Godogo Sandrine , Rose Mélaine , Marchal Florence , Bertrand Anne-Marie , Puyraveau Marc , Nègre Véronique
Published: March 2020

Early adiposity rebound (EAR) predicts paediatric overweight/obesity, but current approaches do not consider both the starting point of EAR and the BMI trajectory. We compared the clinical characteristics at birth, age 3–5 and 6–8 years of children, according to the EAR and to its type (type A/type B-EAR). We assessed the childrenʼs odds of being classified as overweight/obese at age 6–8 years, according to the type of EAR as defined at age 3–5 years. As part of this two-wave observational study, 1055 children were recruited and examined at age 3–5 years. Antenatal and postnatal information was collected through interviews with parents, and weight and height from the health records. Type A and type B-EAR were defined in wave 1 according to the BMI nadir and the variation of BMIz-score between the starting point of the adiposity rebound and the last point on the curve. At 6–8 years (wave 2), 867 children were followed up; 426 (40·4 %) children demonstrated EAR. Among them, 172 had type A-EAR, higher rates of parental obesity (P< 0·05) and greater birth weight compared with other children (P< 0·001). Odds for overweight/obesity at 6–8 years, when adjusting for antenatal and postnatal factors, was 21·35 (95 % CI 10·94, 41·66) in type A-EAR children and not significant in type B-EAR children (OR 1·76; 95 % CI 0·84, 3·68) compared with children without EAR. Classification of EAR into two subtypes provides physicians with a reliable approach to identify children at risk for overweight/obesity before the age of 5 years.
Post-rhinoplasty outcomes in an Indian population assessed using the FACE-Q appraisal scales: a prospective observational study
Authors: Soni K , Patro S K , Aneja J , Kaushal D , Goyal A , Shakrawal N
Published: March 2020

Objectives

The primary goal of rhinoplasty is patient satisfaction and improved quality of life. The present study was conducted to assess patient satisfaction with face and nose appearance, and quality of life after rhinoplasty.

Methods

Patients presenting for rhinoplasty completed the FACE-Q survey. This is a new instrument that measures patient-reported outcomes in those undergoing aesthetic procedures. The FACE-Q scales include satisfaction with facial appearance overall, satisfaction with the nose, psychological well-being, psychosocial distress and social function.

Results

Sixty-five patients completed the FACE-Q at pre-operative and at post-operative follow-up visits. Post-operative scores increased significantly in terms of: satisfaction with facial appearance (p < 0.0001, t = 15.639, degrees of freedom = 64); social function (p < 0.0001, t = 12.208, degrees of freedom = 64); psychosocial distress (p < 0.0001, t = 13.864, degrees of freedom = 64); psychological function (p < 0.0001, t = 12.681, degrees of freedom = 64); and satisfaction with nose (p < 0.0001, t = 16.421, degrees of freedom = 64). Most patients reported more than 79 per cent satisfaction with the post-operative outcome.

Conclusion

The FACE-Q is an adequate instrument for determining successful aesthetic surgery based on patient satisfaction.
Mining voids: Extraction and emotion at the Australian coal frontier
Authors: Askland Hedda Haugen
Published: March 2020

Wollar is a small village located in the Mid-Western Region in New South Wales, Australia. Geographically removed, climatically different and culturally distinct from the Arctic, it might seem as a distant case for the exploration of Arctic Uchranotopias and resource extraction; the topic of this Special Issue. Yet, the affective and temporal dimensions of mining are not necessarily restricted to distinct regions, and there are theoretical opportunities for cooperative analysis across diverse regions. By bringing forward this case study, I aim to illustrate how the concepts of mining emotions and Uchranotopia have applicability beyond the polar region and how a broader theory of mining emotions may be advanced. Through the notion of “mining voids,” I investigate how discourses of extraction as prosperity clash with lived experiences at the coal face. Mining voids—both present and future—have become markers for physical and social landscapes and, as a metaphor, it embeds the contradiction between utopian narratives of a coal-sponsored future and dystopian imaginings at the coal face. Through analysis of the discourses of mining voids and how, as the voids materialise, emotions are mined, I will tie this case study to the debate of Arctic resource extraction and community making, affect and temporality.
Evaluation of electron temperature and electron density of laser-ablated Zr plasma by Langmuir probe characterization and its correlation with surface modifications
Authors: Irfan Zulaikha , Bashir Shazia , Butt Shariqa Hassan , Hayat Asma , Ayub Rana , Mahmood Khaliq , Akram Mahreen , Batool Amna
Published: March 2020

The plasma parameters of laser-ablated Zirconium (Zr) using a Langmuir probe technique have been investigated by employing a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (532 nm, 6 ns) at various irradiances ranging from 8.6 to 15.5 GW/cm2. All the measurements have been performed under an ultra-high vacuum condition while keeping the probe at a fixed distance of 4 mm from the target. By varying the biasing voltages from 1 to 75 V, the corresponding values of electric currents are measured by the probe on the oscilloscope. Laser-induced Zr plasma parameters such as electron temperature, electron number density, plasma potential, Debye length, and thermal velocity have been evaluated from I–V characteristic curves of Langmuir probe data. It is found that both the electron temperature and thermal velocity of Zr plasma reveal an increasing trend from 18 to 41 eV and 2.8 × 108 to 4.3 × 108 cm/s, respectively, with increasing laser irradiance which is attributed to more energy deposition and enhanced ablation rate. However, the electron number density of Zr plasma exhibits a non-significant increase from 6.5 × 1014 to 6.7 × 1014 cm−3 with increasing irradiance from 8.6 to 10.9 GW/cm2. A further increase in irradiance from 12 to 15.5 GW/cm2 causes a reduction in the number density of Zr plasma from 6.1 × 1014 to 5.6 × 1014 cm−3 which is attributed to the formation of thick sheath, ambipolar electric field, and laser-supported detonation waves (Shock front). Scanning electron microscope analysis has been performed to reveal the surface morphology of irradiated Zr. It reveals the formation of cracks, ridges, cones, and grains. It was observed at high irradiances the ridges are vanished, whereas cones and cracks are dominant features. By controlling plasma parameters, surface structuring of materials can be controlled, which has a vast range of applications in the industry and medicine.
Two polarised K3 surfaces associated to the same cubic fourfold
Authors: BRAKKEE EMMA
Published: March 2020

For infinitely many d, Hassett showed that special cubic fourfolds of discriminant d are related to polarised K3 surfaces of degree d via their Hodge structures. For half of the d, each associated K3 surface (S, L) canonically yields another one, (Sτ, Lτ). We prove that Sτ is isomorphic to the moduli space of stable coherent sheaves on S with Mukai vector (3, L, d/6). We also explain for which d the Hilbert schemes Hilbn (S) and Hilbn (Sτ) are birational.
Remote characterization of photosynthetic communities in the Fryxell basin of Taylor Valley, Antarctica
Authors: Salvatore Mark R. , Borges Schuyler R. , Barrett John E. , Sokol Eric R. , Stanish Lee F. , Power Sarah N. , Morin Paul
Published: March 2020

We investigate the spatial distribution, spectral properties and temporal variability of primary producers (e.g. communities of microbial mats and mosses) throughout the Fryxell basin of Taylor Valley, Antarctica, using high-resolution multispectral remote-sensing data. Our results suggest that photosynthetic communities can be readily detected throughout the Fryxell basin based on their unique near-infrared spectral signatures. Observed intra- and inter-annual variability in spectral signatures are consistent with short-term variations in mat distribution, hydration and photosynthetic activity. Spectral unmixing is also implemented in order to estimate mat abundance, with the most densely vegetated regions observed from orbit correlating spatially with some of the most productive regions of the Fryxell basin. Our work establishes remote sensing as a valuable tool in the study of these ecological communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys and demonstrates how future scientific investigations and the management of specially protected areas could benefit from these tools and techniques.
Nutraceutical support in heart failure: a position paper of the International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP)
Authors: Cicero Arrigo F. G. , Colletti Alessandro , von Haehling Stephan , Vinereanu Dragos , Bielecka-Dabrowa Agata , Sahebkar Amirhossein , Toth Peter P. , Reiner Željko , Wong Nathan D. , Mikhailidis Dimitri P. , Ferri Claudio , Banach Maciej
Published: March 2020

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome that represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Western countries. Several nutraceuticals have shown interesting clinical results in HF prevention as well as in the treatment of the early stages of the disease, alone or in combination with pharmacological therapy. The aim of the present expert opinion position paper is to summarise the available clinical evidence on the role of phytochemicals in HF prevention and/or treatment that might be considered in those patients not treated optimally as well as in those with low therapy adherence. The level of evidence and the strength of recommendation of particular HF treatment options were weighed up and graded according to predefined scales. A systematic search strategy was developed to identify trials in PubMed (January 1970 to June 2019). The terms ‘nutraceuticals’, ‘dietary supplements’, ‘herbal drug’ and ‘heart failure’ or ‘left verntricular dysfunction’ were used in the literature search. The experts discussed and agreed on the recommendation levels. Available clinical trials reported that the intake of some nutraceuticals (hawthorn, coenzyme Q10,l-carnitine,d-ribose, carnosine, vitamin D, probiotics,n-3 PUFA and beet nitrates) might be associated with improvements in self-perceived quality of life and/or functional parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume and cardiac output in HF patients, with minimal or no side effects. Those benefits tended to be greater in earlier HF stages. Available clinical evidence supports the usefulness of supplementation with some nutraceuticals to improve HF management in addition to evidence-based pharmacological therapy.
A new class of hyperbolic variational–hemivariational inequalities driven by non-linear evolution equations
Authors: MIGÓRSKI STANISŁAW , HAN WEIMIN , ZENG SHENGDA
Published: March 2020

The aim of the paper is to introduce and investigate a dynamical system which consists of a variational–hemivariational inequality of hyperbolic type combined with a non-linear evolution equation. Such a dynamical system arises in studies of complicated contact problems in mechanics. Existence, uniqueness and regularity of a global solution to the system are established. The approach is based on a new semi-discrete approximation with an application of a surjectivity result for a pseudomonotone perturbation of a maximal monotone operator. A new dynamic viscoelastic frictional contact model with adhesion is studied as an application, in which the contact boundary condition is described by a generalised normal damped response condition with unilateral constraint and a multivalued frictional contact law.
The conservation status of the Galapagos MartinProgne modesta: Assessment of historical records and results of recent surveys
Authors: ANCHUNDIA DAVID , FESSL BIRGIT
Published: March 2020

The endemic Galapagos MartinProgne modestais a rare species. Population sizes in the past are unknown, but the few reports available suggest that it has become rarer in some sites. To obtain a better understanding of its population status, a simultaneous survey was conducted in 2017 around the coastline of 14 islands and 23 islets resulting in sightings of only 26 individuals. A simultaneous survey on Sierra Negra volcano on Isabela Island added five more individuals. However, observations from early expeditions and expeditions since 2015 have shown that the volcanoes of Isabela Island are important feeding areas and probable breeding areas for the Galapagos Martin, but these were largely excluded from the survey in 2017 due to logistical reasons. Historical and recent nesting sites include Tagus Cove on Isabela Island and Daphne Major Island. During our 2017 count, three possible new nesting sites were discovered: Daphne Minor, Santiago and a small crater on Punta Cristóbal on southwestern Isabela Island. From 2015 to 2018, 15 nests were also observed on the cliff in Tagus Cove. Two accessible nests were collected and revealed the first records ofPhilornis downsiin Galapagos Martin nests. The impact of parasitism byP. downsiis unknown but potentially severe. Given the lack of general knowledge about the biology of this species and its apparent low population sizes, further studies are urgently needed.
Syntax-ignorant N-gram embeddings for dialectal Arabic sentiment analysis
Authors: Mulki Hala , Haddad Hatem , Gridach Mourad , Babaoğlu Ismail
Published: March 2020

Arabic sentiment analysis models have recently employed compositional paragraph or sentence embedding features to represent the informal Arabic dialectal content. These embeddings are mostly composed via ordered, syntax-aware composition functions and learned within deep neural network architectures. With the differences in the syntactic structure and words’ order among the Arabic dialects, a sentiment analysis system developed for one dialect might not be efficient for the others. Here we present syntax-ignorant, sentiment-specific n-gram embeddings for sentiment analysis of several Arabic dialects. The novelty of the proposed model is illustrated through its features and architecture. In the proposed model, the sentiment is expressed by embeddings, composed via the unordered additive composition function and learned within a shallow neural architecture. To evaluate the generated embeddings, they were compared with the state-of-the art word/paragraph embeddings. This involved investigating their efficiency, as expressive sentiment features, based on the visualisation maps constructed for our n-gram embeddings and word2vec/doc2vec. In addition, using several Eastern/Western Arabic datasets of single-dialect and multi-dialectal contents, the ability of our embeddings to recognise the sentiment was investigated against word/paragraph embeddings-based models. This comparison was performed within both shallow and deep neural network architectures and with two unordered composition functions employed. The results revealed that the introduced syntax-ignorant embeddings could represent single and combinations of different dialects efficiently, as our shallow sentiment analysis model, trained with the proposed n-gram embeddings, could outperform the word2vec/doc2vec models and rival deep neural architectures consuming, remarkably, less training time.
High-Efficiency Three-Dimensional Visualization of Complex Microstructures via Multidimensional STEM Acquisition and Reconstruction
Authors: Field Kevin G. , Eftink Benjamin P. , Parish Chad M. , Maloy Stuart A.
Published: March 2020

Complex material systems in which microstructure and microchemistry are nonuniformly dispersed require three-dimensional (3D) rendering(s) to provide an accurate determination of the physio-chemical nature of the system. Current scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM)-based tomography techniques enable 3D visualization but can be time-consuming, so only select systems or regions are analyzed in this manner. Here, it is presented that through high-efficiency multidimensional STEM acquisition and reconstruction, complex point cloud-like microstructural features can quickly and effectively be reconstructed in 3D. The proposed set of techniques is demonstrated, analyzed, and verified for a high-chromium steel with heterogeneously situated features induced using high-energy neutron bombardment.
Meeting Multiple Policy Imperatives: Encouraging and Discouraging People with Criminal Records to Work as Care Workers in Social Care: A Scoping Review
Authors: Norrie Caroline , Bramley Stephanie , Manthorpe Jill
Published: March 2020

Social care policy-making seeks to address longstanding staff recruitment and retention problems but also to protect vulnerable clients from harm. Internationally many states have policies requiring disclosure of conviction histories by applicants seeking work with vulnerable populations. Policies also seek to encourage rehabilitation of people with offending histories, particularly in countries with high employment. This article presents and discusses the policy implications of a scoping review conducted in 2019 to explore evidence of current practice in employing people with criminal records as care workers in social care and the potential to recruit new staff from this group. The literature contains limited evidence about the effectiveness of policies inhibiting or facilitating social care work by people with criminal records. Further research should clarify policy contradictions, identify barriers and facilitators in different parts of the care sector to employment and protection, while holistic evaluation of initiatives in this area is needed.
Constraints, the identifiability problem and the forecasting of mortality
Authors: Currie Iain D.
Published: March 2020

Models of mortality often require constraints in order that parameters may be estimated uniquely. It is not difficult to find references in the literature to the “identifiability problem”, and papers often give arguments to justify the choice of particular constraint systems designed to deal with this problem. Many of these models are generalised linear models, and it is known that the fitted values (of mortality) in such models are identifiable, i.e., invariant with respect to the choice of constraint systems. We show that for a wide class of forecasting models, namely ARIMA
$(p,\delta, q)$
models with a fitted mean and
$\delta = 1$
or 2, identifiability extends to the forecast values of mortality; this extended identifiability continues to hold when some model terms are smoothed. The results are illustrated with data on UK males from the Office for National Statistics for the age-period model, the age-period-cohort model, the age-period-cohort-improvements model of the Continuous Mortality Investigation and the Lee–Carter model.
Dynamical Coupling of Energetic Electrons and Upper‐Hybrid Thermal Fluctuations in the Earth's Radiation Belt
Authors: Yoon Peter H. , Hwang Junga
Published: March 2020

The inner magnetosphere including the radiation belt environment is replete with quasi‐electrostatic fluctuations with peak frequency in the upper‐hybrid frequency range. Some examples are demonstrated with the Van Allen Probe spacecraft data. These features have recently been explained in the framework of spontaneously emitted thermal noise theory. Such an environment is also characterized by quasi‐isotropic population of energized electrons, which naturally leads one to ask whether these electrons and the upper‐hybrid fluctuations influence each other. The present paper explores the potential causal relationship between the two features via kinetic theory. It is shown that indeed, isotropic energetic electrons and upper‐hybrid frequency thermal fluctuations can be dynamically coupled and that they could coexist in a quasi‐steady state manner.
Topographic, Hydraulic, and Vegetative Controls on Bar and Island Development in Mixed Bedrock‐Alluvial, Multichanneled, Dryland Rivers
Authors: Milan D. J. , Tooth S. , Heritage G. L.
Published: March 2020

We investigate processes of bedrock‐core bar and island development in a bedrock‐influenced anastomosed reach of the Sabie River, Kruger National Park, eastern South Africa. For sites subject to alluvial stripping during an extreme flood event (~4,470–5,630 m3 s−1) in 2012, preflood and postflood aerial photographs and LiDAR data, 2‐D morphodynamic simulations, and field observations reveal that the thickest surviving alluvial deposits tend to be located over bedrock topographic lows. At a simulated peak discharge (~4,500 m3 s−1), most sediment (sand, fine gravel) is mobile but localized deposition on bedrock topographic highs is possible. At lower simulated discharges (<1,000 m3 s−1), topographic highs are not submerged, and deposition occurs in lower elevation areas, particularly in areas disconnected from the main channels during falling stage. Field observations suggest that in addition to discharge, rainwash between floods may redistribute sediments from bedrock topographic highs to lower elevation areas, and also highlight the critical role of vegetation colonization in bar stability, and in trapping of additional sediment and organics. These findings challenge the assumptions of preferential deposition on topographic highs that underpin previous analyses of Kruger National Park river dynamics, and are synthesized in a new conceptual model that demonstrates how initial bedrock topographic lows become topographic highs (bedrock‐core bars and islands) in the latter stages of sediment accumulation. The model provides particular insight into the development of mixed bedrock‐alluvial anastomosing along the Kruger National Park rivers, but similar processes of bar/island development likely occur along numerous other bedrock‐influenced rivers across dryland southern Africa and farther afield.
The essential role of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 2 enzyme in thermal homeostasis upon cold stress
Authors: Park Hyun-Jun , Jang Hye Rim , Park Shi-Young , Kim Young-Bum , Lee Hui-Young , Choi Cheol Soo
Published: March 2020

Skeletal muscle is a major organ for glucose disposal and thermogenesis. While hepatic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is well known as a key enzyme for gluconeogenesis, the role of muscle fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 2 (Fbp2) in glucose disposal and thermogenesis is unknown. Here, using Fbp2 knockout (KO) mice, we assessed the physiological role of Fbp2 in energy and glucose metabolism and thermogenesis. In vivo assessments of energy metabolism, glucose metabolism, and thermogenesis were performed by indirect calorimetry, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, and cold challenge studies, respectively. Under both feeding and fasting conditions, Fbp2 KO mice showed similar phenotypes regarding energy and glucose metabolism compared to wild-type (WT) mice. However, Fbp2 KO mice were severely intolerant to cold challenge under fasting conditions. Mechanistically, the cold-induced intramuscular conversion of lactate to glycogen (glyconeogenesis) is completely abolished in the KO muscle, which leads to a lack of glycogen source for thermogenesis in Fbp2 KO mice. The cold-intolerant phenotype of KO mice disappeared after feeding, and the KO mice were equally as cold tolerant as the WT mice and survived during the cold challenge for three weeks. Taken together, these data demonstrate that Fbp2 is essential for muscle thermogenesis by replenishing the intramuscular glycogen pool through glyconeogenesis when the exogenous glucose source is limited. These data imply the physiological importance of Fbp2 in thermal homeostasis and suggest a potential novel therapy targeted to increase glycogen replenishment upon cold stress.
On-chip single-mode CdS nanowire laser
Authors: Bao Qingyang , Li Weijia , Xu Peizhen , Zhang Ming , Dai Daoxin , Wang Pan , Guo Xin , Tong Limin
Published: March 2020

By integrating a free-standing cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanowire onto a silicon nitride (SiN) photonic chip, we demonstrate a highly compact on-chip single-mode CdS nanowire laser. The mode selection is realized using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) structure. When the pumping intensity exceeds the lasing threshold of 4.9 kW/cm2, on-chip single-mode lasing at ~518.9 nm is achieved with a linewidth of 0.1 nm and a side-mode suppression ratio of up to a factor of 20 (13 dB). The output of the nanowire laser is channelled into an on-chip SiN waveguide with high efficiency (up to 58%) by evanescent coupling, and the directional coupling ratio between the two output ports can be varied from 90 to 10% by predesigning the coupling length of the SiN waveguide. Our results open new opportunities for both nanowire photonic devices and on-chip light sources and may pave the way towards a new category of hybrid nanolasers for chip-integrated applications.
Prolyl hydroxylase 2 silencing enhances the paracrine effects of mesenchymal stem cells on necrotizing enterocolitis in an NF-κB-dependent mechanism
Authors: Chen Hao , Zhang Haifeng , Zheng Yue , Min Xiaohui , Luo Yujun , Zhou Weijie , Ma Faxin , Li Jinliang , Lu Quan , Zhang Chen , Cai Huihua , Sha Weihong
Published: March 2020

Treatment options for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remain inadequate. Here we examined if and how prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2) silencing enhances the paracrine effects of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on NEC. In this study, BM-MSCs were transduced with lentiviruses containing GFP (GFP-MSC) or shPHD2-GFP constructs (PHDMSC), followed by intraperitoneal injection of the PHDMSC-conditioned medium (PHDMSC-CM) or the GFP-MSC-conditioned medium (MSC-CM) into a rat pup model of NEC. Our results showed that systemic infusion of PHDMSC-CM, but not MSC-CM, significantly improved intestinal damage and survival of NEC rats. Such benefits may involve the modulation of epithelial regeneration and inflammation, as indicated by the regeneration of intestinal epithelial/stem cells, the regulation of Treg cells function and pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine balance. The mechanism for the superior paracrine efficacy of PHDMSC is related to a higher release of pivotal factor IGF-1 and TGF-β2. NF-κB activation was induced by PHD2 silencing to induce IGF-1 and TGF-β2 secretion via binding to IGF-1 and TGF-β2 gene promoter. Our work indicated that PHD2 silencing enhanced the paracrine effect of BM-MSCs on NEC via the NF-κB-dependent mechanism which may be a novel strategy for stem cell therapy on NEC.
Conformational dynamics modulate the catalytic activity of the molecular chaperone Hsp90
Authors: Mader Sophie L. , Lopez Abraham , Lawatscheck Jannis , Luo Qi , Rutz Daniel A. , Gamiz-Hernandez Ana P. , Sattler Michael , Buchner Johannes , Kaila Ville R. I.
Published: March 2020

The heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone that employs the free energy of ATP hydrolysis to control the folding and activation of several client proteins in the eukaryotic cell. To elucidate how the local ATPase reaction in the active site couples to the global conformational dynamics of Hsp90, we integrate here large-scale molecular simulations with biophysical experiments. We show that the conformational switching of conserved ion pairs between the N-terminal domain, harbouring the active site, and the middle domain strongly modulates the catalytic barrier of the ATP-hydrolysis reaction by electrostatic forces. Our combined findings provide a mechanistic model for the coupling between catalysis and protein dynamics in Hsp90, and show how long-range coupling effects can modulate enzymatic activity.
Lupus autoantibodies act as positive allosteric modulators at GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors and impair spatial memory
Authors: Chan Kelvin , Nestor Jacquelyn , Huerta Tomás S. , Certain Noele , Moody Gabrielle , Kowal Czeslawa , Huerta Patricio T. , Volpe Bruce T. , Diamond Betty , Wollmuth Lonnie P.
Published: March 2020

Patients with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience various peripheral and central nervous system manifestations including spatial memory impairment. A subset of autoantibodies (DNRAbs) cross-react with the GluN2A and GluN2B subunits of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR). We find that these DNRAbs act as positive allosteric modulators on NMDARs with GluN2A-containing NMDARs, even those containing a single GluN2A subunit, exhibiting a much greater sensitivity to DNRAbs than those with exclusively GluN2B. Accordingly, GluN2A-specific antagonists provide greater protection from DNRAb-mediated neuronal cell death than GluN2B antagonists. Using transgenic mice to perturb expression of either GluN2A or GluN2B in vivo, we find that DNRAb-mediated disruption of spatial memory characterized by early neuronal cell death and subsequent microglia-dependent pathologies requires GluN2A-containing NMDARs. Our results indicate that GluN2A-specific antagonists or negative allosteric modulators are strong candidates to treat SLE patients with nervous system dysfunction.
Author Correction: Distribution of metallic fission-product particles in the cladding liner of spent nuclear fuel
Authors: Clark Richard A. , Conroy Michele A. , Lach Timothy G. , Buck Edgar C. , Pellegrini Kristi L. , McNamara Bruce K. , Schwantes Jon M.
Published: March 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Gut microbiome diversity detected by high-coverage 16S and shotgun sequencing of paired stool and colon sample
Authors: Mas-Lloret Joan , Obón-Santacana Mireia , Ibáñez-Sanz Gemma , Guinó Elisabet , Pato Miguel L. , Rodriguez-Moranta Francisco , Mata Alfredo , García-Rodríguez Ana , Moreno Victor , Pimenoff Ville Nikolai
Published: March 2020

The gut microbiome has a fundamental role in human health and disease. However, studying the complex structure and function of the gut microbiome using next generation sequencing is challenging and prone to reproducibility problems. Here, we obtained cross-sectional colon biopsies and faecal samples from nine participants in our COLSCREEN study and sequenced them in high coverage using Illumina pair-end shotgun (for faecal samples) and IonTorrent 16S (for paired feces and colon biopsies) technologies. The metagenomes consisted of between 47 and 92 million reads per sample and the targeted sequencing covered more than 300 k reads per sample across seven hypervariable regions of the 16S gene. Our data is freely available and coupled with code for the presented metagenomic analysis using up-to-date bioinformatics algorithms. These results will add up to the informed insights into designing comprehensive microbiome analysis and also provide data for further testing for unambiguous gut microbiome analysis.
Surface Modification and Charge Injection in a Nanocomposite Of Metal Nanoparticles and Semiconductor Oxide Nanostructures
Authors: Xiao Bo , Rutherford Gugu N. , Sharma Amrit P. , Pradhan Sangram K. , Bonner Carl E. , Bahoura Messaoud J.
Published: March 2020

Combining two materials in a nanoscale level can create a composite with new functionalities and improvements in their physical and chemical properties. Here we present a high-throughput approach to produce a nanocomposite consisting of metal nanoparticles and semiconductor oxide nanostructures. Volmer-Weber growth, though unfavorable for thin films, promotes nucleation of dense and isolated metal nanoparticles on crystalline oxide nanostructures, resulting in new material properties. We demonstrate such a growth of Au nanoparticles on SnO2 nanostructures and a remarkable sensitivity of the nanocomposite for detecting traces of analytes in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Au nanoparticles with tunable size enable us to modify surface wettability and convert hydrophilic oxide surfaces into super-hydrophobic with contact angles over 150°. We also find that charge injection through electron beam exposure shows the same effect as photo-induced charge separation, providing an extra Raman enhancement up to an order of magnitude.
Enhanced, coordinated conservation efforts required to avoid extinction of critically endangered Eastern Pacific leatherback turtles
Authors:   The Laúd OPO Network, Ábrego Marino Eugenio , Acuña-Perales Nicolás , Alfaro-Shigueto Joanna , Azócar Jorge , Barragán Rocha Ana Rebeca , Baquero Andrés , Cotto Alejandro , Darquea Jodie , de Paz Nelly , Donoso Miguel , Dutton Peter H. , Fonseca Luis , Gadea Velkiss , García Débora , Genovart Meritxell , Jimenez Astrid , del Rosario Juárez María , López Sánchez Karla Cecilia , Mangel Jeffrey C. , Martínez Suzano Mayra Leticia , Miranda Cristina , Ocampo Enrique , Ordaz Becerra Ana , Ortiz-Alvarez Clara , Paladino Frank V. , Pasara-Polack Andrea , Pingo Sergio , Piedra Chacón Rotney , Quiñones Javier , Rguez-Baron Juan M. , Salas Jiménez Jorge Carlos , Salazar Heydi , Santidrián Tomillo Pilar , Sarti Martínez Adriana Laura , Spotila James R. , Tavera Alejandro , Urteaga Jose , Vallejo Felipe , Velez Elizabeth , Wallace Bryan P. , Williard Amanda S. , Zárate Patricia M.
Published: March 2020

Failure to improve the conservation status of endangered species is often related to inadequate allocation of conservation resources to highest priority issues. Eastern Pacific (EP) leatherbacks are perhaps the most endangered sea turtle population in the world, and continue on a path to regional extinction. To provide coherent, regional conservation targets, we developed a population viability analysis and examined hypothetical scenarios describing effects of conservation activities that either reduced mortality or increased production of hatchlings (or both). Under status quo conditions, EP leatherbacks will be extirpated in <60 yr. To ensure a positive, long-term population trajectory, conservation efforts must increase adult survivorship (i.e., reduce adult mortality) by ≥20%, largely through reduction of fisheries bycatch mortality. Positive trajectories can be accelerated by increased production of hatchlings through enhanced nest protection and treatment. We estimate that these efforts must save approximately 200–260 adult and subadult leatherbacks and produce approximately 7,000–8,000 more hatchlings annually. Critically, reductions in late-stage mortality must begin within 5 years and reach 20% overall within the next 10–15 years to ensure population stabilization and eventual increase. These outcomes require expanded, sustained, coordinated, high-priority efforts among several entities working at multiple scales. Fortunately, such efforts are underway.
New imaging modes for analyzing suspended ultra-thin membranes by double-tip scanning probe microscopy
Authors: Elibol Kenan , Hummel Stefan , Bayer Bernhard C. , Meyer Jannik C.
Published: March 2020

Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques are amongst the most important and versatile experimental methods in surface- and nanoscience. Although their measurement principles on rigid surfaces are well understood and steady progress on the instrumentation has been made, SPM imaging on suspended, flexible membranes remains difficult to interpret. Due to the interaction between the SPM tip and the flexible membrane, morphological changes caused by the tip can lead to deformations of the membrane during scanning and hence significantly influence measurement results. On the other hand, gaining control over such modifications can allow to explore unknown physical properties and functionalities of such membranes. Here, we demonstrate new types of measurements that become possible with two SPM instruments (atomic force microscopy, AFM, and scanning tunneling microscopy, STM) that are situated on opposite sides of a suspended two-dimensional (2D) material membrane and thus allow to bring both SPM tips arbitrarily close to each other. One of the probes is held stationary on one point of the membrane, within the scan area of the other probe, while the other probe is scanned. This way new imaging modes can be obtained by recording a signal on the stationary probe as a function of the position of the other tip. The first example, which we term electrical cross-talk imaging (ECT), shows the possibility of performing electrical measurements across the membrane, potentially in combination with control over the forces applied to the membrane. Using ECT, we measure the deformation of the 2D membrane around the indentation from the AFM tip. In the second example, which we term mechanical cross-talk imaging (MCT), we disentangle the mechanical influence of a scanning probe tip (e.g. AFM) on a freestanding membrane by means of independently recording the response of the opposing tip. In this way we are able to separate the tip-induced membrane deformation topography from the (material-dependent) force between the tip and the membrane. Overall, the results indicate that probing simultaneously both surfaces of ultra-thin membranes, such as suspended 2D materials, could provide novel insights into the electronic properties of the materials.
Microbial inoculation in rice regulates antioxidative reactions and defense related genes to mitigate drought stress
Authors: Singh Dhananjaya P. , Singh Vivek , Gupta Vijai K. , Shukla Renu , Prabha Ratna , Sarma Birinchi K. , Patel Jai Singh
Published: March 2020

Microbial inoculation in drought challenged rice triggered multipronged steps at enzymatic, non-enzymatic and gene expression level. These multifarious modulations in plants were related to stress tolerance mechanisms. Drought suppressed growth of rice plants but inoculation withTrichoderma,Pseudomonasand their combination minimized the impact of watering regime. InducedPALgene expression and enzyme activity due to microbial inoculation led to increased accumulation of polyphenolics in plants. Enhanced antioxidant concentration of polyphenolics from microbe inoculated and drought challenged plants showed substantially high values of DPPH, ABTS, Fe-ion reducing power and Fe-ion chelation activity, which established the role of polyphenolic extract as free radical scavengers. Activation of superoxide dismutase that catalyzes superoxide (O2−) and leads to the accumulation of H2O2was linked with the hypersensitive cell death response in leaves. Microbial inoculation in plants enhanced activity of peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzymes. This has further contributed in reducing ROS burden in plants. Genes of key metabolic pathways including phenylpropanoid (PAL), superoxide dismutation (SODs), H2O2peroxidation (APX,PO) and oxidative defense response (CAT) were over-expressed due to microbial inoculation. Enhanced expression ofOSPiPlinked to less-water permeability, drought-adaptation geneDHNand dehydration related stress inducibleDREBgene in rice inoculated with microbial inoculants after drought challenge was also reported. The impact ofPseudomonason gene expression was consistently remained the most prominent. These findings suggested that microbial inoculation directly caused over-expression of genes linked with defense processes in plants challenged with drought stress. Enhanced enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant reactions that helped in minimizing antioxidative load, were the repercussions of enhanced gene expression in microbe inoculated plants. These mechanisms contributed strongly towards stress mitigation. The study demonstrated that microbial inoculants were successful in improving intrinsic biochemical and molecular capabilities of rice plants under stress. Results encouraged us to advocate that the practice of growing plants with microbial inoculants may find strategic place in raising crops under abiotic stressed environments.
Structural and evolutionary analyses of the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter
Authors: Coppée Romain , Sabbagh Audrey , Clain Jérôme
Published: March 2020

Mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT) confer resistance to several antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine (CQ) or piperaquine (PPQ), a partner molecule in current artemisinin-based combination therapies. As a member of the Drug/Metabolite Transporter (DMT) superfamily, the vacuolar transporter PfCRT may translocate substrate molecule(s) across the membrane of the digestive vacuole (DV), a lysosome-like organelle. However, the physiological substrate(s), the transport mechanism and the functional regions of PfCRT remain to be fully characterized. Here, we hypothesized that identification of evolutionary conserved sites in a tertiary structural context could help locate putative functional regions of PfCRT. Hence, site-specific substitution rates were estimated over Plasmodium evolution at each amino acid sites, and the PfCRT tertiary structure was predicted in both inward-facing (open-to-vacuole) and occluded states through homology modeling using DMT template structures sharing <15% sequence identity with PfCRT. We found that the vacuolar-half and membrane-spanning domain (and especially the transmembrane helix 9) of PfCRT were more conserved, supporting that its physiological substrate is expelled out of the parasite DV. In the PfCRT occluded state, some evolutionary conserved sites, including positions related to drug resistance mutations, participate in a putative binding pocket located at the core of the PfCRT membrane-spanning domain. Through structural comparison with experimentally-characterized DMT transporters, we identified several conserved PfCRT amino acid sites located in this pocket as robust candidates for mediating substrate transport. Finally, in silico mutagenesis revealed that drug resistance mutations caused drastic changes in the electrostatic potential of the transporter vacuolar entry and pocket, facilitating the escape of protonated CQ and PPQ from the parasite DV.
Enterococcus durans with mosquito larvicidal toxicity against Culex quinquefasciatus, elucidated using a Proteomic and Metabolomic approach
Authors: Colvin Domnic , Dhuri Vishnu , Verma Hirday , Lokhande Rama , Kale Avinash
Published: March 2020

Various bacteria from the Bacillus species have been used as pesticides against mosquito larvae for more than a decade. The prolonged use of these bacterial species by little alteration within their genome, using various permutations and combinations of mosquito-cidal toxins, has proven unsuccessful in controlling the mosquito population. In our current study we report Enterococcus sp. to be exhibiting similar kind of mosquito-cidal toxins alike those which are present in the mainly used Bacillus strains. Three Enterococcus species were isolated on a rich media selective for gram- positive bacteria from the mid-gut of dead mosquito larvae which were collected from the wild locations within and around the city of Mumbai, India. Their surface morphologies were studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and their identity was confirmed using the standard 16S rRNA sequencing method. Upon performing several repetitive toxicity assays of these three strains on the laboratory cultured third instar stage of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae, showed differential toxicities from a minimum of 20% (LC50: 59.6 CFU/ml), intermediate 35% (LC50: 48.4 CFU/ml) and a maximum of 60% (LC50: 35.7 CFU/ml). To justify the data in all the three similar strains of Enterococcus durans, we followed the differential proteomics using LCMS 6540 UHD Accurate Mass QTOF and differential metabolomics approach using both LCMS 6540 UHD Accurate Mass QTOF and 1H-NMR. The presence and significance of the obtained toxins were studied to elucidate the plausible reason for showing differential toxicities. This work helped in identifying Enterococcus durans as a new, potential and alternative strain to the Bacillus species in terms of mosquito larvicidal toxicity against Culex quinquefasciatus.
Attention strengthens across-trial pre-stimulus phase coherence in visual cortex, enhancing stimulus processing
Authors: Zareian Behzad , Maboudi Kourosh , Daliri Mohammad Reza , Abrishami Moghaddam Hamid , Treue Stefan , Esghaei Moein
Published: March 2020

Attention selectively routes the most behaviorally relevant information from the stream of sensory inputs through the hierarchy of cortical areas. Previous studies have shown that visual attention depends on the phase of oscillatory brain activities. These studies mainly focused on the stimulus presentation period, rather than the pre-stimulus period. Here, we hypothesize that selective attention controls the phase of oscillatory neural activities to efficiently process relevant information. We document an attentional modulation of pre-stimulus inter-trial phase coherence (a measure of deviation between instantaneous phases of trials) of low frequency local field potentials (LFP) in visual area MT of macaque monkeys. Our data reveal that phase coherence increases following a spatial cue deploying attention towards the receptive field of the recorded neural population. We further show that the attentional enhancement of phase coherence is positively correlated with the modulation of the stimulus-induced firing rate, and importantly, a higher phase coherence is associated with a faster behavioral response. These results suggest a functional utilization of intrinsic neural oscillatory activities for an enhanced processing of upcoming stimuli.