bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artifact Properties of Dental Ceramic and Titanium Implants in MRI
Authors: Geibel Margit-Ann , Gelißen Benjamin , Bracher Anna-Katinka , Rasche Volker
Published: November 2018

Aim Assessment of the visualization of titanium and ceramic dental implants using various isotropic three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods.

Materials and Methods 21 dental implants (7 ceramic, 14 titanium) were scanned in vitro with a spatially isotropically resolved three-dimensional gradient echo (FFE), a turbo spin echo (SE) and an ultra-short-echo time (UTE) imaging technique. The resulting absolute volumes of the implants were quantified and the relative error to the theoretical volume was calculated.

Results Ceramic implants and their periphery could be displayed well in all cases. The observed mean relative error results were 5.4 ± 2.3 % (UTE) to 6.5 ± 4.3 % (FFE). No significant difference was observed between the investigated MRI methods. The transition between implant and surrounding agarose could be shown in all cases without artifacts. Titanium implants resulted in mean relative errors between 1314 ± 350 % (FFE) and 2157 ± 810 % (SE). Here, significant differences were observed between the FFE and the SE and between the UTE and the SE sequence. The periphery of the implants could not be displayed in any case.

Conclusion Use of the MRI technique for the diagnosis of peri-implantitis, the assessment of anatomical structures and planning of dental implantation is currently very limited but could be used more frequently, provided there are no disturbing or imaging-disturbing materials in the region of interest. MRI technology is not suitable in case of titanium implants. When using ceramic implants, MRI technology is an option.

Key points 

Citation Format
Synthesis of Poly(heteroarylenevinylene) Derivatives via Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydroarylation of Alkynes
Authors: Schipper Derek , Selmani Serxho , Vanderzwet Luke , Kukor Andrew
Published: November 2018

Organic electronics has developed into a significant field of research and industry in the last decade. The progress has been enabled by the many advancements made in synthetic technologies, which allow for the design of a plethora of interesting material candidates. Poly(p-phenylenevinylene) derivatives (PPVs) are a particularly interesting class of polymers that were among the first to garner attention. However, due to their demanding syntheses, limited scope, and relative intolerance to heterocycles, PPVs have fallen out of popularity. New synthetic methods, such as direct C–H bond activation, have emerged that allow for the creation of polyheteroaromatics through the use of simpler starting materials than those used in traditional cross-coupling strategies. Here, we report an extension of a hydroarylation reaction to the synthesis of poly(heteroarylenevinylene) derivatives (PHAVs) containing various desirable heterocycles with Mn
values ranging from 8 to 23 kDa without producing stoichiometric amounts of waste.
Infección Urinaria en Pacientes con Lesión Medular
Authors: Ospina-Galeano Irma , Duran Albert
Published: November 2018

La micción es un proceso complejo, que requiere la coordinación entre el sistema nervioso central y periférico. La alteración en ése, aumenta el riesgo para que se produzcan infecciones complicadas y a largo plazo, daño renal. La alteración en el vaciado de la vejiga, obliga a que muchos de esos pacientes, realicen cateterismos intermitentes o sonda vesical permanente, aumentando el riesgo de infecciones polimicrobianas o por gérmenes multiresistentes. Algunos factores implicados en el desarrollo de las infecciones de esos pacientes, son el residuo postmiccional elevado, estasis urinario, litiasis vesical, uso de catéteres, además de las alteraciones en el sistema inmune y las capas de recubrimiento en la mucosa vesical. El diagnóstico de infección se realiza al encontrar: piuria y bacteriuria, según método de vaciado vesical, y un síntoma general que sugiera infección. Conclusión: Las infecciones urinarias en pacientes con lesión medular, deben ser tratadas de acuerdo a sensibilidades de la zona, siempre con la toma previa de un urocultivo y con un diagnóstico adecuado de infección urinaria, teniendo en cuenta las diferentes maniobras de evacuación de la vejiga. No están recomendados los tratamientos cortos ni el tratamiento de las bacteriurias asintomáticas. Una de las formas de prevenir las infecciones, está en evitar situaciones de riesgo como el estasis vesical, las presiones intravesicales elevadas y los vaciamientos incompletos. En la actualidad existen múltiples medicamentos para prevenir las infecciones urinarias, pero faltan estudios con evidencia de más peso y en pacientes con lesión medular, para que puedan ser recomendados.
Psychological Well-Being of Carers of Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Comparison with Carers of Children without a Chronic Condition
Authors: Thomson Francesca , Bergman Philip , Hay Margaret
Published: November 2018

Context Caring for a child with a chronic illness requires additional responsibilities and burdens.

Aims This research examined psychological well-being of carers of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). A comparison group of carers of children without a chronic condition was included to determine the specific influence T1DM has on carer well-being.

Methods This cross-sectional correlational study included a sample of 93 carers of children with T1DM, and 84 comparison carers. Participants were administered the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS21), and the Parenting Stress Index Short Form 4th edition via an online questionnaire.

Results Multivariate analysis revealed no significant differences between carer groups; additional univariate analyses, however, indicated that carers of children with T1DM scored significantly higher on depression and stress subscales on the DASS21, and recorded elevated anxiety scores.

Conclusions Carers of children with T1DM appear to manage parenting stress; however, they may be at increased risk of depression, general stress, and anxiety.
Sinonasal Quality of Life Outcomes After Extended Endonasal Approaches to the Skull Base
Authors: Choi Kevin J. , Ackall Feras Y. , Truong Tracy , Cheng Tracy Z. , Kuchibhatla Maragatha , Zomorodi Ali R. , Codd Patrick J. , Fecci Peter E. , Hachem Ralph Abi , Jang David W.
Published: November 2018

Introduction Endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery (EESBS) leads to significant alterations in sinonasal anatomy and physiology. However, there is limited data available on quality of life (QOL) outcomes following EESBS.

Methods A retrospective review of patients undergoing EESBS from January 2014 to April 2017 was performed. Records were reviewed for clinical history, operative details, and 22-item Sinonasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22) scores. Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models were utilized to compare change in SNOT-22 scores from baseline in patients who underwent a simple sella approach (SA) or an extended beyond sella approach (BSA).

Results A total of 108 patients were in the SA group, while 61 patients were in the BSA group. SNOT-22 scores were available at baseline and 3 months for 84 patients, while 6-month scores were available for 49 patients. SNOT-22 scores for all patients were not significantly different at 3 months (p = 0.40) or at 6 months (p = 0.58). Unadjusted linear regression model did not show an association between the type of approach and change in SNOT-22 score at 3 months (p = 0.07) and 6 months (p = 0.28). Adjusted regression model showed a significant decrease in SNOT-22 scores at 3 months (p = 0.04) for the BSA group, but there was no significant change in SNOT-22 score at 6 months (p = 0.22).

Conclusion Patients undergoing EESBS had no significant change in outcomes at 3 and 6 months. A more extensive BSA was not associated with worse QOL outcomes as measured by SNOT-22.
Lévy path integrals of particle on circle and some applications
Authors: Dong Jianping , Geng Han
Published: November 2018

Fractional quantum mechanics in the non-relativistic case is described by the space-fractional Schrödinger equation containing the fractional Riesz operator, which is a non-local operator. The non-locality makes it difficult to solve the fractional Schrödinger equation in the local potentials. In this paper, we study the solution of the fractional Schrödinger equation of a free particle moving on a circle by use of the Lévy path integrals approach. We present the Lévy path integrals propagator of a particle on circle and then use it to get the wave functions and energy eigenvalues of the free particle case. In addition, the Laplace transform, energy-time transform, and momentum representation of the free particle kernel are also obtained. The results of this paper contain the ones in standard quantum mechanics as special cases. The problem of a particle on circle is a fundamental problem of path integrals with topological constraints in quantum systems, and the method of Lévy path integrals can be generalized to study more complex local potentials.
Dissipative particle dynamics simulations of tri-block co-polymer and water: Phase diagram validation and microstructure identification
Authors: Droghetti Hermes , Pagonabarraga Ignacio , Carbone Paola , Asinari Pietro , Marchisio Daniele
Published: November 2018

In this study, the phase diagram of Pluronic L64 and water is simulated via dissipative particle dynamics (DPD). The peculiar structures that form when the concentration varies from dilute to dense (i.e., spherical and rod-like micelles, hexagonal and lamellar phases, as well as reverse micelles) are recognized, and predictions are found to be in good agreement with experiments. A novel clustering algorithm is used to identify the structures formed, characterize them in terms of radius of gyration and aggregation number and cluster mass distributions. Non-equilibrium simulations are also performed, in order to predict how structures are affected by shear, both via qualitative and quantitative analyses. Despite the well-known scaling problem that results in unrealistic shear rates in real units, results show that non-Newtonian behaviors can be predicted by DPD and associated with variations of the observed microstructures.
Tracking ultrafast dynamics of intense shock generation and breakout at target rear
Authors: Shaikh Moniruzzaman , Jana Kamalesh , Lad Amit D. , Dey Indranuj , Roy Sudipta L. , Sarkar Deep , Ved Yash M. , Robinson Alex P. L. , Pasley John , Ravindra Kumar G.
Published: November 2018

We report upon the picosecond plasma dynamics at the rear surface of a thin aluminium foil (of either 5.5 μm or 12 μm thickness) excited by high contrast (picosecond intensity contrast of 10−10), 800 nm, femtosecond pulses at an intensity of 3 × 1019 W/cm2. We employ ultrafast pump-probe reflectometry using a second harmonic probe (400 nm) interacting with the rear surface of the target. A rise in the probe reflectivity 30 ps after the pump pulse interaction reveals the breakout of a shock wave at the target rear surface which reflects the 400 nm probe pulse. Simulations using the ZEPHYROS hybrid particle-in-cell code were performed to understand the heating of the target under the influence of the high intensity laser pulse, and the temperature profile was then passed to the radiation-hydrodynamic simulation code HYADES in order to model the shock wave propagation in the target. A good agreement was found between the calculations and experimental results.
Plastic deformation of a permanently bonded network: Stress relaxation by pleats
Authors: Ganguly Saswati , Das Debankur , Horbach Jürgen , Sollich Peter , Karmakar Smarajit , Sengupta Surajit
Published: November 2018

We show that a flat two dimensional network of connected vertices, when stretched, may deform plastically by producing “pleats”, system spanning linear structures with width comparable to the lattice spacing, where the network overlaps on itself. To understand the pleating process, we introduce an external field that couples to local non-affine displacements, i.e., those displacements of neighbouring vertices that cannot be represented as a local affine strain. We obtain both zero and finite temperature phase diagrams in the strain–field plane. Pleats occur here as a result of an equilibrium first-order transition from the homogeneous network to a heterogeneous phase where stress is localised within pleats and eliminated elsewhere. We show that in the thermodynamic limit, the un-pleated state is always metastable at vanishing field for infinitesimal strain. Plastic deformation of the initially homogeneous network is akin to the decay of a metastable phase via a dynamical transition. We make predictions concerning local stress distributions and thermal effects associated with pleats which may be observable in suitable experimental systems.
Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model inspired acoustic interface states and edge states
Authors: Li Xin , Meng Yan , Wu Xiaoxiao , Yan Sheng , Huang Yingzhou , Wang Shuxia , Wen Weijia
Published: November 2018

If a full bandgap closes and then reopens when we continuously deform a periodic system while keeping its symmetry, a topological phase transition usually occurs. A common model demonstrating such a topological phase transition in condensed matter physics is the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model. As is well known, two distinct topological phases emerge when the intracell hopping is tuned from smaller to larger with respect to the intercell hopping in the model. The former case is topologically trivial, while the latter case is topologically non-trivial. Here, we design a 1D periodic acoustic system in exact analogy with the SSH model. The unit cell of the acoustic system is composed of two resonators and two junction tubes connecting them. We show that the topological phase transition happens in our acoustic analog when we tune the radii of the junction tubes which control the intercell and intracell hoppings. The topological phase transition is characterized by the abrupt change in the geometric Zak phase. The topological interface states between non-trivial and trivial phases of our acoustic analog are experimentally measured, and the results agree very well with the numerical values. Furthermore, we show that topologically non-trivial phases of our acoustic analog of the SSH model can support edge states, on which the discussion is absent in previous works about topological acoustics. The edge states are robust against localized defects and perturbations.
Numerical and theoretical investigation of jet formation in elastic-plastic solids
Authors: He An-Min , Liu Jun , Liu Chao , Wang Pei
Published: November 2018

Hydrostatic simulations are performed to study Richtmyer-Meshkov instability and jet formation in elastic-plastic Pb under shock wave loading. The effects of yield strength and surface perturbation on perturbation growth and jet formation are investigated. An algebraic relationship between the upper limit of ejecta mass and bubble saturation amplitude for the elastic-plastic solid is revealed, and an analytic expression for the maximum ejecta mass varying with material strength, surface perturbation, and shock conditions is presented based on Richtmyer-Meshkov instability theories for the elastic-plastic medium.
Macroscopic symmetry breaking and piezoelectricity in relaxor ferroelectric lead magnesium niobate
Authors: Aktas Oktay , Salje Ekhard K. H.
Published: November 2018

The piezoelectricity and electrostriction of a single crystal of the archetypical relaxor, lead magnesium niobate, (PbMg1∕3Nb2∕3O3, PMN), have been investigated by resonant piezoelectric spectroscopy (RPS) and resonant electrostriction spectroscopy (RES). RPS and RES measurements detect the piezoelectric effect and electrostriction up to ∼730 K and ∼810 K, respectively, with the former being ∼110 K above the Burns temperature TB. The observation of the piezoelectric effect above TB indicates that PNRs exist at such high temperatures and they lead to a non-zero time averaged polarization under the strain gradients induced by chemically ordered regions with Fm3¯m symmetry. Finally, coupled RES and RPS measurements may be a convenient approach to investigate mesoscopic and macroscopic polarity simultaneously, allowing to correlate the former with the latter.
Femtosecond laser structuring of Janus foam: Water spontaneous antigravity unidirectional penetration and pumping
Authors: Yang Shuai , Yin Kai , Chu Dongkai , He Jun , Duan Ji-An
Published: November 2018

In this letter, we report a Janus foam that is fabricated by the femtosecond laser structuring of copper foam. Each side of the Janus foam possesses different wettabilities: one is superhydrophilic while the other is hydrophobic. On the Janus foam, water can spontaneously antigravity transport from the lower hydrophobic side to the upper superhydrophilic side without an input of external energy, but cannot pass through in the opposite direction. The Janus foam can be considered to have “water diode” characteristics, and it enables the continuous antigravity transport of water without requiring any external forces. The Janus foam is then used to design a “water pump”. These findings will aid the design and development of fluid delivery technologies.
Spontaneous SU2(C) symmetry breaking in the ground states of quantum spin chain
Authors: Mohari Anilesh
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we have proved that there exists no translation invariant pure state of M=⊗k∈Z Md(k)(C) that is real, lattice symmetric with a certain twist and SU2(C) invariant for any even integer d ≥ 2. In particular, this result also shows that the Heisenberg iso-spin anti-ferromagnetic model with 12-odd integer spin degrees of freedom does not admit a unique ground state.
Macroalgal resource use differences across age and size classes in the dominant temperate herbivorous fish Aplodactylus lophodon (Aplodactylidae)
Authors: Yiu B. A. , Booth D. J. , Fowler A. M. , Feary D. A.
Published: November 2018

Herbivorous fishes comprise a substantial proportion of temperate fish communities, although there is little understanding of their trophic resource use and whether this changes throughout post-settlement ontogeny. With increasing loss of macroalgal forests, understanding how temperate fishes use macroalgae will be vital in predicting future effects on temperate fish biodiversity. The Australian rock cale (Aplodactylus lophodon) is one of the most abundant herbivorous fish inhabiting shallow temperate south-eastern Australian reefs. We examined gastrointestinal contents throughout ontogeny and demonstrated that this species maintains a herbivorous diet through all life stages. Differences in algal taxa consumed were apparent through ontogeny, with the juvenile diet dominated by filamentous red and green algae and the adult diet dominated by brown and calcareous red algae. Relative gut length increased through ontogeny, potentially facilitating dietary transition to less digestible algae, but no concurrent increase in jaw power was observed. The results highlight the diversity of trophic resource use in a temperate marine herbivore, but the near-complete dominance of dietary algae throughout ontogeny indicates the reliance on primary producers across all life stages. Given the importance of fucoid resources in the adult diet, any loss of macroalgal forests within south-eastern Australia may affect foraging success and persistence.
Comparative serum proteome analysis reveals potential early pregnancy-specific protein biomarkers in pigs
Authors: De Ankan , Ali Mohammad Ayub , Chutia Tukheswar , Onteru Suneel Kumar , Behera Parthasarathi , Kalita Girin , Kumar Sudarshan , Gali Jagan Mohanarao
Published: November 2018

In this study, the comparative serum proteome profile of Day 5, 12 and 16 of gestation, representing three early embryonic events, namely formation, elongation and implantation of blastocysts, and non-pregnant control were explored by a label-free quantitation-based mass spectrometric approach to identify early pregnancy biomarkers in pigs. A total of 131 proteins were identified with respect to different groups, out of which 105 were found to be differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Among the DEPs, 54 and 66 proteins were found to be up and downregulated respectively in early pregnancy groups (fold change >2) and the maximum number of upregulated proteins was observed in the Day 12 pregnancy stage. Functional classification and pathway analysis of the DEPs revealed involvement of most of the proteins in complement and coagulation cascades, metabolic processes and immune and inflammatory responses. Proteins such as glutathione peroxidise (GPX), pregnancy zone protein (PZP), thrombospondin-1 (THBS1), α-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and mannose-binding lectin C (MBLC) were differentially expressed during early pregnancy and actively involved in different pregnancy-related activities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on comparative serum protein profiling of different early pregnancy stages in pigs and our results provide a set of proteins that can be used as potential biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis in pigs.
Training in cognitive strategies reduces eating and improves food choice
Authors: Boswell Rebecca G. , Sun Wendy , Suzuki Shosuke , Kober Hedy
Published: November 2018

Obesity rates continue to rise alarmingly, with dire health implications. One contributing factor is that individuals frequently forgo healthy foods in favor of inexpensive, high-calorie, unhealthy foods. One important mechanism underlying these choices is food craving: Craving increases with exposure to unhealthy foods (and food cues, such as advertisements) and prospectively predicts eating and weight. Prior work has shown that cognitive regulation strategies that emphasize the negative consequences of unhealthy foods reduce craving. In Studies 1 and 2, we show that cognitive strategies also increase craving for healthy foods by emphasizing their positive benefits, and change food valuation (willingness to pay) for both healthy and unhealthy foods. In Studies 3 and 4, we demonstrate that brief training in cognitive strategies (“Regulation of Craving Training”; ROC-T) increases subsequent healthy (vs. unhealthy) food choices. This was striking because this change in food choices generalized to nontrained items. Importantly, in Study 5, we show that brief training in cognitive strategies also reduces food consumption by 93–121 calories. Consumed calories correlated with changes in food choice. Finally, in Study 6, we show that the training component of ROC-T is necessary, above and beyond any effect of framing. Across all studies (N
TOTAL
= 1,528), we find that cognitive strategies substantially change craving and food valuation, and that training in cognitive strategies improves food choices by 5.4–11.2% and reduces unhealthy eating, including in obese individuals. Thus, these findings have important theoretical, public health, and clinical implications for obesity prevention and treatment.
Ant–plant interactions evolved through increasing interdependence
Authors: Nelsen Matthew P. , Ree Richard H. , Moreau Corrie S.
Published: November 2018

Significance

Flowering plants are thought to have facilitated ant diversification by providing novel sources of food and habitat, and ants to have facilitated plant diversification by providing defense and dispersal. We test these hypotheses by inferring when and how interactions between ants and plants evolved, and examine their macroevolutionary consequences in ants. Although plants with ant-associated traits have been shown to have higher diversification rates, here we demonstrate that living and feeding on plants does not affect ant diversification. Ants used plants as food and nesting sources substantially before the evolution of ant-associated structures. Arboreal foraging preceded use of plant-derived food sources. Arboreal nesting then largely evolved from arboreally foraging ancestors. Finally, omnivory served as an evolutionary link between predation and herbivory.
Subspecialization within default mode nodes characterized in 10,000 UK Biobank participants
Authors: Kernbach Julius M. , Yeo B. T. Thomas , Smallwood Jonathan , Margulies Daniel S. , Thiebaut de Schotten Michel , Walter Henrik , Sabuncu Mert R. , Holmes Avram J. , Gramfort Alexandre , Varoquaux Gaël , Thirion Bertrand , Bzdok Danilo
Published: November 2018

Significance

The default mode network (DMN) encompasses supramodal association areas involved in higher-order cognition. One speculation is that this neural system is important for brain-wide information flow. We tested this account by exploring whether DMN patterns are informative about functional coupling or structural associations in the rest of the brain. Our multimodal pattern analysis findings highlight how the DMN nodes are fractionated: In specific subnodes, gray-matter morphology was linked to fiber tracts from the hippocampus in the medial temporal limbic system. In adjacent subnodes, fluctuations in neural activity were linked to between-network connectivity shifts. Such a mosaic architecture may be a prerequisite for many of the roles the DMN may play in advanced cognitive processes.
Ancient DNA of the extinct Jamaican monkey
Xenothrix
reveals extreme insular change within a morphologically conservative radiation
Authors: Woods Roseina , Turvey Samuel T. , Brace Selina , MacPhee Ross D. E. , Barnes Ian
Published: November 2018

The insular Caribbean until recently contained a diverse mammal fauna including four endemic platyrrhine primate species, all of which died out during the Holocene. Previous morphological studies have attempted to establish how these primates are related to fossil and extant platyrrhines, whether they represent ancient or recent colonists, and whether they constitute a monophyletic group. These efforts have generated multiple conflicting hypotheses, from close sister-taxon relationships with several different extant platyrrhines to derivation from a stem platyrrhine lineage outside the extant Neotropical radiation. This diversity of opinion reflects the fact that Caribbean primates were morphologically extremely unusual, displaying numerous autapomorphies and apparently derived conditions present across different platyrrhine clades. Here we report ancient DNA data for an extinct Caribbean primate: a limited-coverage entire mitochondrial genome and seven regions of nuclear genome for the most morphologically derived taxon, the Jamaican monkey
Xenothrix mcgregori
. We demonstrate that
Xenothrix
is part of the existing platyrrhine radiation rather than a late-surviving stem platyrrhine, despite its unusual adaptations, and falls within the species-rich but morphologically conservative titi monkey clade (Callicebinae) as sister to the newly recognized genus
Cheracebus
. These results are not congruent with previous morphology-based hypotheses and suggest that even morphologically conservative lineages can exhibit phenetic plasticity in novel environments like those found on islands.
Xenothrix
and
Cheracebus
diverged
ca.
11 Ma, but primates have been present in the Caribbean since 17.5–18.5 Ma, indicating that Caribbean primate diversity was generated by multiple over-water colonizations.
Biomechanics of a moth scale at ultrasonic frequencies
Authors: Shen Zhiyuan , Neil Thomas R. , Robert Daniel , Drinkwater Bruce W. , Holderied Marc W.
Published: November 2018

Significance

Ultrathin sound absorbers offer lightweight solutions from building acoustics to sonar cloaking. The scales on moth wings have evolved to reduce the echo returning to bats, and we investigate their resonant sound-absorber functionality. Resonant absorbers are most efficient at resonance, and laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) revealed that an individual moth scale’s three resonance modes indeed span the biosonar frequencies of bats. The porous anisotropic nanostructure of such scales was parameterized and its effective stiffness properties calculated. Modal analysis on a 3D model accurately predicts resonance modes and frequencies found by LDV, and confirms absorption performance-matching measurements. Our ability to model the absorbers contributing to evolved biosonar camouflage has implications for developing bioinspired thin and lightweight resonant sound absorbers.
Roles of mucus adhesion and cohesion in cough clearance
Authors: Button Brian , Goodell Henry P. , Atieh Eyad , Chen Yu-Cheng , Williams Robert , Shenoy Siddharth , Lackey Elijah , Shenkute Nathan T. , Cai Li-Heng , Dennis Robert G. , Boucher Richard C. , Rubinstein Michael
Published: November 2018

Significance

Mucoobstructive lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and cystic fibrosis, are characterized by intrapulmonary accumulations of hyperconcentrated mucus. Ultimately, mucus accumulation in disease reflects the failure of the major rescue mucus clearance pathway, i.e., cough. Studies were performed to understand how abnormal mucus and its interactions with the cell surface produce a failure of cough clearance. These studies identified mucus concentration-dependent cohesive and adhesive properties, governed by mucus viscous energy dissipation, as rate limiting for the efficiency of cough clearance. Parallel studies designed to restore mucus cough clearability identified reduction of mucus concentration (rehydration) and use of mucolytics as additive and promising therapeutic strategies.
Mutations in
Plasmodium falciparum
actin-binding protein coronin confer reduced artemisinin susceptibility
Authors: Demas Allison R. , Sharma Aabha I. , Wong Wesley , Early Angela M. , Redmond Seth , Bopp Selina , Neafsey Daniel E. , Volkman Sarah K. , Hartl Daniel L. , Wirth Dyann F.
Published: November 2018

Drug resistance is an obstacle to global malaria control, as evidenced by the recent emergence and rapid spread of delayed artemisinin (ART) clearance by mutant forms of the
Pf
Kelch13 protein in Southeast Asia. Identifying genetic determinants of ART resistance in African-derived parasites is important for surveillance and for understanding the mechanism of resistance. In this study, we carried out long-term in vitro selection of two recently isolated West African parasites (from Pikine and Thiès, Senegal) with increasing concentrations of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), the biologically active form of ART, over a 4-y period. We isolated two parasite clones, one from each original isolate, that exhibited enhanced survival to DHA in the ring-stage survival assay. Whole-genome sequence analysis identified 10 mutations in seven different genes. We chose to focus on the gene encoding
Pf
Coronin, a member of the WD40-propeller domain protein family, because mutations in this gene occurred in both independent selections, and the protein shares the β-propeller motif with
Pf
Kelch13 protein. For functional validation, when
pfcoronin
mutations were introduced into the parental parasites by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, these mutations were sufficient to reduce ART susceptibility in the parental lines. The discovery of a second gene for ART resistance may yield insights into the molecular mechanisms of resistance. It also suggests that
pfcoronin
mutants could emerge as a non
kelch13
type of resistance to ART in natural settings.
A long-term survey unveils strong seasonal patterns in the airborne microbiome coupled to general and regional atmospheric circulations
Authors: Cáliz Joan , Triadó-Margarit Xavier , Camarero Lluís , Casamayor Emilio O.
Published: November 2018

Airborne microbes (bacteria, archaea, protists, and fungi) were surveyed over a 7-y period via high-throughput massive sequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA genes in rain and snow samples collected fortnightly at a high-elevation mountain Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network site (LTER-Aigüestortes, Central Pyrenees, Spain). This survey constitutes the most comprehensive mountain-top aerobiology study reported to date. The air mass origins were tracked through modeled back-trajectories and analysis of rain water chemical composition. Consistent microbial seasonal patterns were observed with highly divergent summer and winter communities recurrent in time. Indicative microbial taxa were unveiled as a forensic signature, and ubiquitous taxa were observed as common atmosphere inhabitants, highlighting aerosols as a potentially successful mechanism for global microbial dispersal. Source-tracking analyses identified freshwater, cropland, and urban biomes as the most important sources for airborne bacteria in summer, while marine and forest biomes prevailed in winter, in agreement with air mass retrotrajectories and the prevailing general and regional atmospheric circulation.
OsDRE2 contributes to chitin-triggered response through its interaction with OsRLCK185
Authors: Yamaguchi Koji , Yoshimura Yuya , Nakagawa Shinya , Mezaki Hirokazu , Yoshimura Satomi , Kawasaki Tsutomu
Published: November 2018

The rice receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase 185 (OsRLCK185) interacts with the chitin receptor complex OsCERK1/CEBiP and positively regulates chitin-induced immune responses including MAP kinase activation, ROS production and defense gene expression. To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of OsRLCK185-mediated immunity, we searched for interactors of OsRLCK185. OsDRE2a, rice homologs of the yeast Dre2 protein, were identified as novel interactors of OsRLCK185. OsDRE2a interacted with OsRLCK185 at plasma membrane. The conserved cysteine residues in CIAPIN1 domain of OsDRE2a were essential for tight interaction of OsRLCK185. OsDRE2a was phosphorylated by OsRLCK185. The expression of OsDRE2a and OsDRE2b was induced after chitin treatment. Reduction of OsDRE2a and OsDRE2b mRNA levels by RNA interference resulted in the decreased chitin-induced ROS production. Thus, it is likely that OsDRE2 regulates OsRLCK185-mediated immune responses.
A Faraday effect magnetic stripe scanner
Authors: Egger J , Michlmayr S , Piepgras R , Espina-Hernández J H , Zagar B
Published: November 2018

We report on the realization of a Faraday magnetometer to characterize the magnetization of a magnetic foil during its production process at full speed of 3 m/s. The system is designed towards attaining a spatial resolution both in feeding direction and transverse to it of approximately 60 μm and is able to acquire in excess of 60.000 scan lines per second obtained from a line-scan camera with 128 pixels. We further report on the resolution of this system regarding the magnitude of the magnetization of the stripe and contrast this to the attainable noise figure determined by the optical properties of the used crystal, the illumination system and the camera.
Revolutions of Taste: Mon Odyssée and the Aesthetic Inheritance of Saint-Domingue
Authors: Zehnder Madeline L
Published: November 2018

White creoles who fled Saint-Domingue for the US following the Haitian Revolution transported habits of their hierarchical, luxury-oriented culture to elite white members of the early republic. This essay recovers a francophone memoir by one such exile, Jean-Paul Pillet, to demonstrate the influence of colonial understandings of taste on the early republican US, arguing that creole values coincide with emergent US desires for exceptionalism. Pillet’s memoir reveals how white Americans’ fascination with Saint-Domingue shaped their understanding of what it means to be an exceptional nation. Throughout his memoir, he exalts creole consumption and taste, developing an aesthetic language that he uses to promote Saint-Domingue’s unique status within the colonial world, as well as to denounce the destruction wrought by the Haitian revolution. Upon arriving in the US as an exile, he exports this discourse of taste—and its encoded aesthetic and racial hierarchies—to a white US elite eager to appear more exceptional on a global stage. By framing the cultivation of taste as a gateway to global power, Pillet offers Americans a mode of exceptionalism that depends on luxury rather than equality, thereby demonstrating how the colonial Caribbean continued to shape the young republic during its so-called nationalist moment.
Estimating c-level partial correlation graphs with application to brain imaging
Authors: Qiu Yumou , Zhou Xiao-Hua
Published: November 2018

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that changes the functional connectivity of the brain. The alteration of the strong connections between different brain regions is of particular interest to researchers. In this article, we use partial correlations to model the brain connectivity network and propose a data-driven procedure to recover a $c$-level partial correlation graph based on PET data, which is the graph of the absolute partial correlations larger than a pre-specified constant $c$. The proposed procedure is adaptive to the “large p, small n” scenario commonly seen in whole brain studies, and it incorporates the variation of the estimated partial correlations, which results in higher power compared to the existing methods. A case study on the FDG-PET images from AD and normal control (NC) subjects discovers new brain regions, Sup Frontal and Mid Frontal in the frontal lobe, which have different brain functional connectivity between AD and NC.
The Cerebral Cortex is Bisectionally Segregated into Two Fundamentally Different Functional Units of Gyri and Sulci
Authors: Liu Huan , Zhang Shu , Jiang Xi , Zhang Tuo , Huang Heng , Ge Fangfei , Zhao Lin , Li Xiao , Hu Xintao , Han Junwei , Guo Lei , Liu Tianming
Published: November 2018

The human cerebral cortex is highly folded into diverse gyri and sulci. Accumulating evidences suggest that gyri and sulci exhibit anatomical, morphological, and connectional differences. Inspired by these evidences, we performed a series of experiments to explore the frequency-specific differences between gyral and sulcal neural activities from resting-state and task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. Specifically, we designed a convolutional neural network (CNN) based classifier, which can differentiate gyral and sulcal fMRI signals with reasonable accuracies. Further investigations of learned CNN models imply that sulcal fMRI signals are more diverse and more high frequency than gyral signals, suggesting that gyri and sulci truly play different functional roles. These differences are significantly associated with axonal fiber wiring and cortical thickness patterns, suggesting that these differences might be deeply rooted in their structural and cellular underpinnings. Further wavelet entropy analyses demonstrated the validity of CNN-based findings. In general, our collective observations support a new concept that the cerebral cortex is bisectionally segregated into 2 functionally different units of gyri and sulci.
Direct and Collateral Alterations of Functional Cortical Circuits in a Rat Model of Subcortical Band Heterotopia
Authors: Plantier Vanessa , Watrin Françoise , Buhler Emmanuelle , Martineau Fanny Sandrine , Sahu Surajit , Manent Jean-Bernard , Bureau Ingrid , Represa Alfonso
Published: November 2018

Subcortical band heterotopia (SBH), also known as double-cortex syndrome, is a neuronal migration disorder characterized by an accumulation of neurons in a heterotopic band below the normotopic cortex. The majority of patients with SBH have mild to moderate intellectual disability and intractable epilepsy. However, it is still not clear how cortical networks are organized in SBH patients and how this abnormal organization contributes to improper brain function. In this study, cortical networks were investigated in the barrel cortex in an animal model of SBH induced by in utero knockdown of Dcx, main causative gene of this condition in human patients. When the SBH was localized below the Barrel Field (BF), layer (L) four projection to correctly positioned L2/3 pyramidal cells was weakened due to lower connectivity. Conversely, when the SBH was below an adjacent cortical region, the excitatory L4 to L2/3 projection was stronger due to increased L4 neuron excitability, synaptic strength and excitation/inhibition ratio of L4 to L2/3 connection. We propose that these developmental alterations contribute to the spectrum of clinical dysfunctions reported in patients with SBH.
Prediction of obstructive coronary artery disease and prognosis in patients with suspected stable angina
Authors: Reeh Jacob , Therming Christina Bachmann , Heitmann Merete , Højberg Søren , Sørum Charlotte , Bech Jan , Husum Dorte , Dominguez Helena , Sehestedt Thomas , Hermann Thomas , Hansen Kim Wadt , Simonsen Lene , Galatius Søren , Prescott Eva
Published: November 2018

Aims

We hypothesized that the modified Diamond–Forrester (D-F) prediction model overestimates probability of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to update the prediction model based on pre-test information and assess the model’s performance in predicting prognosis in an unselected, contemporary population suspected of angina.

Methods and results

We included 3903 consecutive patients free of CAD and heart failure and suspected of angina, who were referred to a single centre for assessment in 2012–15. Obstructive CAD was defined from invasive angiography as lesion requiring revascularization, >70% stenosis or fractional flow reserve <0.8. Patients were followed (mean follow-up 33 months) for myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure, stroke, and death. The updated D-F prediction model overestimated probability considerably: mean pre-test probability was 31.4%, while only 274 (7%) were diagnosed with obstructive CAD. A basic prediction model with age, gender, and symptoms demonstrated good discrimination with C-statistics of 0.86 (95% CI 0.84–0.88), while a clinical prediction model adding diabetes, family history, and dyslipidaemia slightly improved the C-statistic to 0.88 (0.86–0.90) (P for difference between models <0.0001). Quartiles of probability of CAD from the clinical prediction model provided good diagnostic and prognostic stratification: in the lowest quartiles there were no cases of obstructive CAD and cumulative risk of the composite endpoint was less than 3% at 2 years.

Conclusion

The pre-test probability model recommended in current ESC guidelines substantially overestimates likelihood of CAD when applied to a contemporary, unselected, all-comer population. We provide an updated prediction model that identifies subgroups with low likelihood of obstructive CAD and good prognosis in which non-invasive testing may safely be deferred.
Effects of local authority expenditure on childhood obesity
Authors: Liu Dan , Mason Anne , Marks Linda , Davis Howard , Hunter David J , Jehu Llinos Mary , Smithson Joanne , Visram Shelina
Published: November 2018

Background

Under the 2013 reforms introduced by the Health and Social Care Act (2012), public health responsibilities in England were transferred from the National Health Service to local authorities (LAs). Ring-fenced grants were introduced to support the new responsibilities. The aim of our study was to test whether the level of expenditure in 2013/14 affected the prevalence of childhood obesity in 2016/17.

Methods

We used National Child Measurement Programme definitions of childhood obesity and datasets. We used LA revenue returns data to derive three measures of per capita expenditure: childhood obesity (<19); physical activity (<19) and the Children’s 5–19 Public Health Programme. We ran separate negative binomial models for two age groups of children (4–5 year olds; 10–11 year olds) and conducted sensitivity analyses.

Results

With few exceptions, the level of spend in 2013/14 was not significantly associated with the level of childhood obesity in 2016/17. We identified some positive associations between spend on physical activity and the Children’s Public Health Programme at baseline (2013/14) and the level of childhood obesity in children aged 4–5 in 2016/17, but the effect was not evident in children aged 10–11. In both age groups, LA levels of childhood obesity in 2016/17 were significantly and positively associated with obesity levels in 2013/14. As these four cohorts comprise entirely different pupils, this underlines the importance of local drivers of childhood obesity.

Conclusions

Higher levels of local expenditure are unlikely to be effective in reducing childhood obesity in the short term.
Kinlessness Around the World
Authors: Verdery Ashton M , Margolis Rachel , Zhou Zhangjun , Chai Xiangnan , Rittirong Jongjit
Published: November 2018

Objectives

The first and second demographic transitions have led to profound changes in family networks. However, the timing and extent of these transitions vary widely across contexts. We examine how common it is for contemporary older adults to lack living kin and whether such individuals are uniformly disadvantaged around the world.

Methods

Using surveys from 34 countries that together contain 69.6% of the world’s population over age 50 and come from all regions of the world, we describe the prevalence and correlates of lacking immediate kin. We examine macro-level demographic indicators associated with the prevalence of kinlessness as well as micro-level associations between kinlessness and sociodemographic and health indicators.

Results

There is great variation in levels of kinlessness, from over 10% with neither a spouse nor a biological child in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland to levels below 2% in China and the Republic of Korea. There are strong macro-level relationships between kinlessness and lagged or contemporaneous fertility, mortality, and nuptiality measures and more marginal relationships with other demographic forces. Micro-level associations between kinlessness and respondent attributes are varied. The kinless are more likely to live alone than those with kin in all countries. In most countries, they have equivalent or worse self-rated health and lower education, although there are notable exceptions. There is substantial variation in the gender composition of the kinless population.

Discussion

As demographic changes affecting kinlessness continue, we expect the scale of the kinless population to grow around the world.
Informing library-based digital publishing: Selected findings from a survey of scholars' needs in a contemporary publishing environment
Authors: Senseney Megan , Bonn Maria , Maden Christoper , Swatscheno Janet , Velez LaTesha , Green Harriett , Fenlon Katrina
Published: November 2018

Library-based publishing initiatives are on the rise in a rapidly diversifying scholarly publishing ecosystem. This article presents selected results from a US-based survey on the needs of humanities scholars in a contemporary publishing environment, emphasizing survey responses that shed light on key aspects of access for scholars seeking to publish: access to support services, access to content, and access to audience. Survey responses suggest a profile of the authors for whom libraries are poised to offer attractive publishing solutions: (1) those whose scholarship is not sufficiently represented in the print medium and (2) those who place a high value on the technological affordances provided by open-access digital scholarship to reach their intended audiences. Compared to other publishing models, situating support for scholarly communication in the research library creates opportunities for addressing challenges related to access and sustainability in the digital scholarly publishing.