bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and construction of a bespoke system for the detection of buried, iron-rich meteorites in Antarctica
Authors: Wilson John W. , Marsh Liam A. , Van Verre Wouter , Rose Michael C. , Evatt Geoffrey , Smedley Andrew R.D. , Peyton Anthony J.
Published: January 2020

Iron-rich meteorites are significantly underrepresented in collection statistics from Antarctica. This has led to a hypothesis that there is a sparse layer of iron-rich meteorites hidden below the surface of the ice, thereby explaining the apparent shortfall. As standard Antarctic meteorite collecting techniques rely upon a visual surface search approach, the need has thus arisen to develop a system that can detect iron objects under a few tens of centimetres of ice, where the expected number density is of the order one per square kilometre. To help answer this hypothesis, a large-scale pulse induction metal detector array has been constructed for deployment in Antarctica. The metal detector array is 6 m wide, able to travel at 15 km h-1 and can scan 1 km2 in ~11 hours. This paper details the construction of the metal detector system with respect to design criteria, notably the ruggedization of the system for Antarctic deployment. Some preliminary results from UK and Antarctic testing are presented. We show that the system performs as specified and should reach the pre-agreed target of the detection of a 100 g iron meteorite at 300 mm when deployed in Antarctica.
Mixed method study of quality of life for children with trisomy 18 and 13 after cardiac surgery
Authors: Weaver Meaghann S. , Birge Nicole , Hsu Howard , Woell Christine , Robinson Jacob E. , Wichman Christopher , Hammel James
Published: January 2020

Background and Objectives:

Cardiac surgical interventions for children with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 remain controversial, despite growing evidence that definitive cardiac repair prolongs survival. Understanding quality of life for survivors and their families therefore becomes crucial. Study objective was to generate a descriptive summary of parental perspectives on quality of life, family impact, functional status, and hopes for children with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 who have undergone heart surgery.

Methods:

A concurrent mixed method approach utilising PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Parent Report for Toddlers or the PedsQL™ Infant Scale, PedsQL™ 2.0 Family Impact Module, Functional Status Scale, quality of life visual analogue scale, and narrative responses for 10 children whose families travelled out of state to access cardiac surgery denied to them in their home state due to genetic diagnoses.

Results:

Parents rated their child’s quality of life as 80/100, and their own quality of life as 78/100 using validated scales. Functional status was rated 11 by parents and 11.6 by providers (correlation 0.89). On quality of life visual analogue scale, all parents rated their child’s quality of life as “high” with mean response 92.7/100. Parental hopes were informed by realistic perspective on prognosis while striving to ensure their children had access to reaching their full potential. Qualitative analysis revealed a profound sense of the child’s relationality and valued life meaning.

Conclusion:

Understanding parental motivations and perceptions on the child’s quality of life has potential to inform care teams in considering cardiac interventions for children with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13.
Are children with protein-losing enteropathy after the Fontan operation at increased risk of cytomegalovirus enteropathy? A report of two cases
Authors: Bauer Christoph , Tulzer Gerald
Published: January 2020

Introduction:

Aetiology of protein-losing enteropathy in single-ventricle type CHD is multi-factorial.

Report:

We describe two Fontan patients with protein-losing enteropathy who presented with cytomegalovirus-associated colitis.

Discussion:

Fontan patients display risk factors for cytomegalovirus-induced gastroenteropathy that may affect lymph angiogenesis, disease development, and progression.

Conclusion:

Cytomegalovirus enteropathy may be common among Fontan patients who suffer from protein-losing enteropathy. Polymerase chain reaction is important for detection.
INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF MONEY IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF MONETARY POLICY BEHAVIOR: A BAYESIAN DSGE PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Li Bing , Liu Qing , Pei Pei
Published: January 2020

This paper estimates an enriched version of the mainstream medium-scale dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model, which features nonseparability between consumption and real money balances in utility and a systematic response of the policy rate to money growth. Estimation results show that money is a significant factor in the monetary policy rule. As a consequence, econometric analysis that omits money from Taylor rules may lead to biased estimates of the model parameters. In contrast to earlier studies that rely on small-scale models, the paper stresses the merits of using a sufficiently rich model. First, it delivers different results, such as the role of nonseparability between consumption and money in utility. Second, the rich dynamics embedded in the model allow us to explore the responses of a larger set of macroeconomic variables, making the model more informative on the effects of shocks and more useful for understanding the sources of business cycles. Third and most importantly, it reveals the possible pitfalls of relying on small-scale models when studying money’s role in business cycles.
WOMEN IN FRONTIER ARKANSAS
Authors: Elman Cheryl , Wittman Barbara , Feltey Kathryn M. , Stevens Corey , Hartsough Molly
Published: January 2020

Arkansas was a demographic frontier after the U.S. Civil War. Despite marked agricultural land deforestation and development after the 1870s, it remained agrarian well into the twentieth century. We fuse life course and racial state frameworks to examine Black and White women’s settlement in Arkansas over the post-Civil War period (1880-1910). A racial state empowers residents and enacts policies based on race rather than equal citizenship rights. We highlight three institutional domains shaped by racial state policies:productive economies(subsistence, mixed commercialism, and plantation production);stratificationon an agricultural ladder (from sharecropping to forms of tenancy to farm ownership); andrules of raced (and gendered) social control. We examine women’s settlement patterns and related outcomes in an institutional context at different life course stages using mixed methods: women’s oral histories and Census data analysis. We find that by 1880 White women and families, less attracted by forces of marketization, had largely migrated to subsistence and mixed commercial subregions. Black women and families, generally desiring to rise on the agricultural ladder to farm ownership, largely migrated to the rich lands found in plantation production counties. Black women in Arkansas could rise but, by 1910, new racial state (Jim Crow) policies more severely limited travel, material resources, and education for tenant farm families, predominantly Black, in the plantation subregion. Commensurate with this, Black women in the plantation subregion had experienced less status mobility on the agricultural ladder, with reduced living standards, by later life.
Lean Leadership
Authors: Meyer Philipp , Cyrol Steven , Gemperle Rebekka
Published: January 2020

Zusammenfassung. Der ökonomische Druck in den Schweizer Spitälern nimmt zu. Spitalaufenthalte sollen effizienter werden. Gleichzeitig steigen die Erwartungen der informierten Patientinnen und Patienten an die Behandlungs- und Servicequalität. Die Institutionen sind gefordert, in ihr humanistisches Behandlungsverständnis neben steigender wirtschaftlicher Verantwortung auch eine gesteigerte Nutzerorientierung, Mit-Unternehmertum und „Standard Work“ zu integrieren. Trotz der Bedeutung von Führung für den Erfolg von „Lean“ haben nur wenige die Frage nach den idealen Führungseigenschaften erforscht, um Lean-Denken im Gesundheitswesen zu entwickeln.
Around Buzzards Bay to a World of Ocean Science: A Personal Perspective
Authors: Farrington John W.
Published: January 2020

Reading books, a chemistry set, living by the sea, and a chance attendance by John Farrington at a seminar led to doctor of philosophy studies in ocean sciences at the Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, with a focus on organic chemicals in estuarine ecosystems. An unexpected discovery of a chronic oil pollution problem during these studies set a course for a career of research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution focused on the biogeochemistry of biogenic organic chemicals and organic chemicals of environmental concern such as oil chemicals and polychlorinated biphenyls. This involved cruises to deep open ocean, continental margin, and coastal ecosystems. Several times, the research was influenced by unexpected observations opening important avenues of inquiry. Details of portions of the ocean carbon cycle, especially water column particles and surface sediments, were unraveled. Environmental quality‐related research led to activities at the science‐policy interface. These laboratory group efforts have been recognized by my election as a fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, among other recognitions.
Oxygen Isotopes in Authigenic Clay Minerals: Toward Building a Reliable Salinity Proxy
Authors: Gebregiorgis D. , Deocampo D. M. , Longstaffe F. J. , Simpson A. , Ashley G. M. , Beverly E. J. , Delaney J. S. , Cuadros J.
Published: January 2020

Most clay minerals in sedimentary environments have traditionally been considered to be of detrital origin, but under certain conditions, authigenic clay minerals can form at low temperature through the transformation of precursor clays or as direct precipitates from lake water. Such clay minerals can hold important information about the prevailing climatic conditions during the time of deposition. We present the first quantitative reconstruction of salinity in paleolake Olduvai based on the oxygen‐isotope composition of authigenic clay minerals. We provide a framework illustrating that the isotopic signature of authigenic lacustrine clay minerals is related to the isotopic composition of paleo‐waters, and hence to paleosalinity. This new paleosalinity proxy shows that the early Pleistocene East African monsoon was driven by combinations of precession and obliquity forcing and subsequent changes in tropical sea surface temperatures. Such quantitative lacustrine paleosalinity estimates provide a new direction of research for modeling ecosystem change based on an ecologically relevant parameter.
Global Coupled Climate Response to Polar Sea Ice Loss: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Different Ice‐Constraining Approaches
Authors: Sun Lantao , Deser Clara , Tomas Robert A. , Alexander Michael
Published: January 2020

Coupled ocean‐atmosphere models have been utilized to investigate the global climate response to polar sea ice loss using different approaches to constrain ice concentration and thickness. The goal of this study is to compare two commonly used methods within a single model framework: ice albedo reduction, which is energy conserving, and ice‐flux nudging, which is not energy conserving. The two approaches generate virtually identical equilibrium global climate responses to the same seasonal cycle of sea ice loss. However, while ice‐flux nudging is able to control the sea ice state year‐round, albedo reduction is most effective during summer and lessens the effects of climate change in winter due to the underestimation of sea ice loss. These evaluations have implications for the Polar Amplification Model Intercomparison Project (PAMIP), which proposes a set of coordinated coupled model experiments but without a defined protocol on how to constrain sea ice.
Direct Radiative Effect by Mineral Dust Aerosols Constrained by New Microphysical and Spectral Optical Data
Authors: Di Biagio C. , Balkanski Y. , Albani S. , Boucher O. , Formenti P.
Published: January 2020

We revise the direct radiative effect (DRE) of mineral dust aerosols in the shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) based on global model simulations that include coarse dust particles (>20 μm) and a new LW complex refractive index data set representative of major global sources. Simulations are constrained against observed dust size distributions and optical depth. Scattering of LW radiation is accounted for in the analysis. The extension of the dust size beyond 20 μm causes a reduction in the SW DRE compared to current model estimates, while the LW DRE remains within published values due to compensating effects between changing size distribution, complex refractive index, and accounting for dust scattering. The dust direct radiative effect efficiency from model simulations reproduces well field observations close to sources and after transport. The global mean net effect of dust is −0.03 Wm−2 as a result of cooling over oceans and warming over land.
On the Statistical Significance of Foreshock Sequences in Southern California
Authors: van den Ende M. P. A. , Ampuero J.‐P.
Published: January 2020

Earthquake foreshocks may provide information that is critical to short‐term earthquake forecasting. However, foreshocks are far from ubiquitously observed, which makes the interpretation of ongoing seismic sequences problematic. Based on a statistical analysis, Trugman and Ross (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083725) suggested that as much as 72% of all mainshocks in Southern California is preceded by foreshock sequences. In this study, we reassess the analysis of Trugman and Ross (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083725), and we evaluate the impact of the assumptions made by these authors. Using an alternative statistical approach, we find that only 15 out of 46 mainshocks (33%) are preceded by significantly elevated seismicity rates. When accounting for temporal fluctuations in the background seismicity, only 18% of the analyzed foreshock sequences remain unexplained by the background seismicity. These results imply that even in a highly complete earthquake catalog, the majority of earthquakes do not exhibit detectable foreshock sequences.
Tracer Measurements in Growing Sea Ice Support Convective Gravity Drainage Parameterizations
Authors: Thomas M. , Vancoppenolle M. , France J. L. , Sturges W. T. , Bakker D. C. E. , Kaiser J. , von Glasow R.
Published: January 2020

Gravity drainage is the dominant process redistributing solutes in growing sea ice. Modeling gravity drainage is therefore necessary to predict physical and biogeochemical variables in sea ice. We evaluate seven gravity drainage parameterizations, spanning the range of approaches in the literature, using tracer measurements in a sea ice growth experiment. Artificial sea ice is grown to around 17 cm thickness in a new experimental facility, the Roland von Glasow air‐sea‐ice chamber. We use NaCl (present in the water initially) and rhodamine (injected into the water after 10 cm of sea ice growth) as independent tracers of brine dynamics. We measure vertical profiles of bulk salinity in situ, as well as bulk salinity and rhodamine in discrete samples taken at the end of the experiment. Convective parameterizations that diagnose gravity drainage using Rayleigh numbers outperform a simpler convective parameterization and diffusive parameterizations when compared to observations. This study is the first to numerically model solutes decoupled from salinity using convective gravity drainage parameterizations. Our results show that (1) convective, Rayleigh number‐based parameterizations are our most accurate and precise tool for predicting sea ice bulk salinity; and (2) these parameterizations can be generalized to brine dynamics parameterizations, and hence can predict the dynamics of any solute in growing sea ice.
Vertical Distributions of Raindrops and Z‐R Relationships Using Microrain Radar and 2‐D‐Video Distrometer Measurements During the Integrative Monsoon Frontal Rainfall Experiment (IMFRE)
Authors: Zhou Lingli , Dong Xiquan , Fu Zhikang , Wang Bin , Leng Liang , Xi Baike , Cui Chunguang
Published: January 2020

The vertical characteristics of raindrop size distributions (DSD) and Z‐R relationships for monsoon frontal rainfall have been investigated using the co‐located two‐dimensional video disdrometer and micro rain radar at the Xianning surface site, and the S‐band weather radar at the Wuhan radar site during the Integrative Monsoon Frontal Rainfall Experiment (IMFRE). In this study, a total of 1,896 rain samples (1‐min resolution) were collected and classified into three categories of convective rain (CR), stratiform rain (SR), and light rain (LR), and their corresponding rain microphysical properties were explored. The LR category is dominated by the evaporation of smaller raindrops and the break‐up processes of larger raindrops, resulting in decreasing trends in radar reflectivity and rain rate as the raindrops fall. The SR category undergoes a competition of break‐up and coalescence processes, with weak increases in radar reflectivity and rain rate. Whereas, for the CR category, the coalescence process is dominant on the falling path of raindrops, especially below 1 km, leading to sharp increases in radar reflectivity and rain rate. The microrain radar data at height of 200 m is quantitatively compared with the two‐dimensional video disdrometer data, and a good agreement is found between them. Further, the number concentrations of raindrops are negatively correlated with the diameters of raindrops and discrepant significantly at different heights among the three rain categories. The height‐dependent Z‐R relationships found for LR, SR, and CR categories will provide insightful information for improving radar rainfall estimate of monsoon frontal rainfall over central China in the future.
Detection of acute 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) effects across protocols using automated natural language processing
Authors: Agurto Carla , Cecchi Guillermo A. , Norel Raquel , Ostrand Rachel , Kirkpatrick Matthew , Baggott Matthew J. , Wardle Margaret C. , Wit Harriet de , Bedi Gillinder
Published: January 2020

The detection of changes in mental states such as those caused by psychoactive drugs relies on clinical assessments that are inherently subjective. Automated speech analysis may represent a novel method to detect objective markers, which could help improve the characterization of these mental states. In this study, we employed computer-extracted speech features from multiple domains (acoustic, semantic, and psycholinguistic) to assess mental states after controlled administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and intranasal oxytocin. The training/validation set comprised within-participants data from 31 healthy adults who, over four sessions, were administered MDMA (0.75, 1.5 mg/kg), oxytocin (20 IU), and placebo in randomized, double-blind fashion. Participants completed two 5-min speech tasks during peak drug effects. Analyses included group-level comparisons of drug conditions and estimation of classification at the individual level within this dataset and on two independent datasets. Promising classification results were obtained to detect drug conditions, achieving cross-validated accuracies of up to 87% in training/validation and 92% in the independent datasets, suggesting that the detected patterns of speech variability are associated with drug consumption. Specifically, we found that oxytocin seems to be mostly driven by changes in emotion and prosody, which are mainly captured by acoustic features. In contrast, mental states driven by MDMA consumption appear to manifest in multiple domains of speech. Furthermore, we find that the experimental task has an effect on the speech response within these mental states, which can be attributed to presence or absence of an interaction with another individual. These results represent a proof-of-concept application of the potential of speech to provide an objective measurement of mental states elicited during intoxication.
Processing supramolecular framework for free interconvertible liquid separation
Authors: Zhang Guohua , Li Bingyu , Zhou Yan , Chen Xiaofei , Li Bao , Lu Zhong-Yuan , Wu Lixin
Published: January 2020

Nanoporous structures constructed by small molecular components exhibited vigorous materials potentials. While maintianing uniform porosity and functional properties, more applicable processing methods for the solid powders need to be considered and the improvement of binding interactions represents a preferable approach for structural flexibility. Here, by combining ionic interaction and host-guest inclusion, we constructed flexible supramolecular frameworks composing of inorganic polyanionic clusters, cationic organic hosts, and a bridging guest. The formed layer framework structure assemblies grew into nano-fibers and then supramolecular gels, donating highly convenient processability to porous materials. A simple spin-coating generated a new type of liquid separation membranes which showed structural stability for many liquids. The surface properties can be facilely modulated via filling a joystick liquid and then a hydrophilic/hydrophobic liquid into the porous frameworks, providing in-situ consecutive switchings for cutting liquids. This strategy extends the potential of flexible supramolecular frameworks for responsive materials in the laboratory and in industry.
Observation of quantum depletion in a non-equilibrium exciton–polariton condensate
Authors: Pieczarka Maciej , Estrecho Eliezer , Boozarjmehr Maryam , Bleu Olivier , Steger Mark , West Kenneth , Pfeiffer Loren N. , Snoke David W. , Levinsen Jesper , Parish Meera M. , Truscott Andrew G. , Ostrovskaya Elena A.
Published: January 2020

Superfluidity, first discovered in liquid 4He, is closely related to Bose–Einstein condensation (BEC) phenomenon. However, even at zero temperature, a fraction of the quantum liquid is excited out of the condensate into higher momentum states via interaction-induced fluctuations—the phenomenon of quantum depletion. Quantum depletion of atomic BECs in thermal equilibrium is well understood theoretically but is difficult to measure. This measurement is even more challenging in driven-dissipative exciton–polariton condensates, since their non-equilibrium nature is predicted to suppress quantum depletion. Here, we observe quantum depletion of a high-density exciton–polariton condensate by detecting the spectral branch of elementary excitations populated by this process. Analysis of this excitation branch shows that quantum depletion of exciton–polariton condensates can closely follow or strongly deviate from the equilibrium Bogoliubov theory, depending on the exciton fraction in an exciton polariton. Our results reveal beyond mean-field effects of exciton–polariton interactions and call for a deeper understanding of the relationship between equilibrium and non-equilibrium BECs.
Attosecond optoelectronic field measurement in solids
Authors: Sederberg Shawn , Zimin Dmitry , Keiber Sabine , Siegrist Florian , Wismer Michael S. , Yakovlev Vladislav S. , Floss Isabella , Lemell Christoph , Burgdörfer Joachim , Schultze Martin , Krausz Ferenc , Karpowicz Nicholas
Published: January 2020

The sub-cycle interaction of light and matter is one of the key frontiers of inquiry made accessible by attosecond science. Here, we show that when light excites a pair of charge carriers inside of a solid, the transition probability is strongly localized to instants slightly after the extrema of the electric field. The extreme temporal localization is utilized in a simple electronic circuit to record the waveforms of infrared to ultraviolet light fields. This form of petahertz-bandwidth field metrology gives access to both the modulated transition probability and its temporal offset from the laser field, providing sub-fs temporal precision in reconstructing the sub-cycle electronic response of a solid state structure.
Publisher Correction: Nucleus segmentation across imaging experiments: the 2018 Data Science Bowl
Authors: Caicedo Juan C. , Goodman Allen , Karhohs Kyle W. , Cimini Beth A. , Ackerman Jeanelle , Haghighi Marzieh , Heng CherKeng , Becker Tim , Doan Minh , McQuin Claire , Rohban Mohammad , Singh Shantanu , Carpenter Anne E.
Published: January 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Biotic soil-plant interaction processes explain most of hysteretic soil CO2 efflux response to temperature in cross-factorial mesocosm experiment
Authors: Dusza Yann , Sanchez-Cañete Enrique P. , Galliard Jean-François Le , Ferrière Régis , Chollet Simon , Massol Florent , Hansart Amandine , Juarez Sabrina , Dontsova Katerina , Haren Joost van , Troch Peter , Pavao-Zuckerman Mitchell A. , Hamerlynck Erik , Barron-Gafford Greg A.
Published: January 2020

Ecosystem carbon flux partitioning is strongly influenced by poorly constrained soil CO2efflux (Fsoil). Simple model applications (Arrhenius and Q10) do not account for observed diel hysteresis betweenFsoiland soil temperature. How this hysteresis emerges and how it will respond to variation in vegetation or soil moisture remains unknown. We used an ecosystem-level experimental system to independently control potential abiotic and biotic drivers of the Fsoil-T hysteresis. We hypothesized a principally biological cause for the hysteresis. Alternatively,Fsoilhysteresis is primarily driven by thermal convection through the soil profile. We conducted experiments under normal, fluctuating diurnal soil temperatures and under conditions where we held soil temperature near constant. We found (i) significant and nearly equal amplitudes of hysteresis regardless of soil temperature regime, and (ii) the amplitude of hysteresis was most closely tied to baseline rates ofFsoil, which were mostly driven by photosynthetic rates. Together, these findings suggest a more biologically-driven mechanism associated with photosynthate transport in yielding the observed patterns of soil CO2efflux being out of sync with soil temperature. These findings should be considered on future partitioning models of ecosystem respiration.
Discovery of Afifi, the shallowest and southernmost brine pool reported in the Red Sea
Authors: Duarte Carlos M. , Røstad Anders , Michoud Grégoire , Barozzi Alan , Merlino Giuseppe , Delgado-Huertas Antonio , Hession Brian C. , Mallon Francis L. , Afifi Abdulakader M. , Daffonchio Daniele
Published: January 2020

The previously uncharted Afifi brine pool was discovered in the eastern shelf of the southern Red Sea. It is the shallowest brine basin yet reported in the Red Sea (depth range: 353.0 to 400.5 m). It presents a highly saline (228 g/L), thalassohaline, cold (23.3 °C), anoxic brine, inhabited by the bacterial classes KB1, Bacteroidia and Clostridia and the archaeal classes Methanobacteria and Deep Sea Euryarcheota Group. Functional assignments deduced from the taxonomy indicate methanogenesis and sulfur respiration to be important metabolic processes in this environment. The Afifi brine was remarkably enriched in dissolved inorganic carbon due to microbial respiration and in dissolved nitrogen, derived from anammox processes and denitrification, according to high δ15N values (+6.88‰, AIR). The Afifi brine show a linear increase in δ18O and δD relative to seawater that differs from the others Red Sea brine pools, indicating a non-hydrothermal origin, compatible with enrichment in evaporitic environments. Afifi brine was probably formed by venting of fossil connate waters from the evaporitic sediments beneath the seafloor, with a possible contribution from the dehydration of gypsum to anhydrite. Such origin is unique among the known Red Sea brine pools.
A Common Practice of Widespread Antimicrobial Use in Horse Production Promotes Multi-Drug Resistance
Authors: Álvarez–Narváez S. , Berghaus L. J. , Morris E. R. A. , Willingham-Lane J. M. , Slovis N. M. , Giguere S. , Cohen N. D.
Published: January 2020

The practice of prophylactic administration of a macrolide antimicrobial with rifampin (MaR) to apparently healthy foals with pulmonary lesions identified by thoracic ultrasonography (i.e., subclinically pneumonic foals) is common in the United States. The practice has been associated epidemiologically with emergence of R. equi resistant to MaR. Here, we report direct evidence of multi-drug resistance among foals treated with MaR. In silico and in vitro analysis of the fecal microbiome and resistome of 38 subclinically pneumonic foals treated with either MaR (n = 19) or gallium maltolate (GaM; n = 19) and 19 untreated controls was performed. Treatment with MaR, but not GaM, significantly decreased fecal microbiota abundance and diversity, and expanded the abundance and diversity of antimicrobial resistance genes in feces. Soil plots experimentally infected with Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) and treated with MaR selected for MaR-resistant R. equi, whereas MaR-susceptible R. equi out-competed resistant isolates in GaM-treated or untreated plots. Our results indicate that MaR use promotes multi-drug resistance in R. equi and commensals that are shed into their environment where they can persist and potentially infect or colonize horses and other animals.
Clinical and serological evaluation of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) successively exposed to an Amblyomma sculptum-derived strain of Rickettsia rickettsii
Authors: Ramírez-Hernández Alejandro , Uchoa Francisco , de Azevedo Serpa Maria Carolina , Binder Lina C. , Rodrigues Alessandra Castro , Szabó Matias P. J. , Fogaça Andrea , Souza Celso Eduardo , Labruna Marcelo B.
Published: January 2020

Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, is the most lethal tick-borne disease in the western hemisphere. In Brazil, Amblyomma sculptum ticks are the main vector. Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), the largest living rodents of the world (adults weighing up to 100 Kg), have been recognized as amplifying hosts of R. rickettsii for A. sculptum in BSF-endemic areas; i.e., once primarily infected, capybaras develop bacteremia for a few days, when feeding ticks acquire rickettsial infection. We conducted experimental infections of five capybaras with an A. sculptum-derived strain of R. rickettsii and performed clinical and bacteremia evaluation during primary and subsequent infections. Bacteremia was detected in all capybaras during primary infection, but not in subsequent infections. All animals seroconverted to R. rickettsii (titres range: 64–32,768), and remained seropositive throughout the study. Primary infection resulted in clinical spotted fever illness in four capybaras, of which two had a fatal outcome. Subsequent infections in seropositive capybaras resulted in no clinical signs. Capybaras developed a sustained immune response that prevented a second bacteremia. This condition may imply a high reproduction rate of capybaras in BSF-endemic areas, in order to continuously generate capybaras susceptible to bacteremia during primary infection.
Mainland and island populations of Mussaenda kwangtungensis differ in their phyllosphere fungal community composition and network structure
Authors: Qian Xin , Li Shengchun , Wu Binwei , Wang Yonglong , Ji Niuniu , Yao Hui , Cai Hongyue , Shi Miaomiao , Zhang Dianxiang
Published: January 2020

We compared community composition and co-occurrence patterns of phyllosphere fungi between island and mainland populations within a single plant species (Mussaenda kwangtungensis) using high-throughput sequencing technology. We then used 11 microsatellite loci for host genotyping. The island populations differed significantly from their mainland counterparts in phyllosphere fungal community structure. Topological features of co-occurrence network showed geographic patterns wherein fungal assemblages were less complex, but more modular in island regions than mainland ones. Moreover, fungal interactions and community composition were strongly influenced by the genetic differentiation of host plants. This study may advance our understanding of assembly principles and ecological interactions of phyllosphere fungal communities, as well as improve our ability to optimize fungal utilization for the benefit of people.
A comparative analysis using flowmeter, laser-Doppler spectrophotometry, and indocyanine green-videoangiography for detection of vascular stenosis in free flaps
Authors: Mücke Thomas , Hapfelmeier Alexander , Schmidt Leonard H. , Fichter Andreas M. , Kanatas Anastasios , Wolff Klaus-Dietrich , Ritschl Lucas M.
Published: January 2020

The effects of gradual vascular occlusion on the blood supply of perfused areas are poorly described. Information relating to the comparison of flap monitoring techniques is lacking. Varying stenotic conditions (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) were generated on purpose at the A. and V. femoralis in the rat model. Analyses included flowmeter, simultaneous laser-Doppler flowmetry and tissue spectrophotometry (O2C) and indocyanine green- (ICG-) videoangiography with integrated FLOW 800 tool. A Random Forests prediction model was used to analyse the importance of each method to diagnose the stenotic conditions. The ability to discriminate and to accurately estimate the probability of stenosis was assessed by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration plots. Blood flow changes for all modalities were described in detail. Flowmeter displayed earliest a linear decrease as a result of increasing stenosis. A stenosis of 50% degrees was most difficult to detect correctly. The combination of flowmeter and ICG-videoangiography showed high diagnostic power for each stenotic situation (area under the ROC > 0.79). Flowmeter and ICG-videoangiography showed to be most relevant in detection of varying stenotic conditions and may change the clinical outcome. The O2C showed less effect on varying stenotic situations as the only surface monitoring device.
Alterations in the innate immune system due to exhausting exercise in intensively trained rats
Authors: Estruel-Amades Sheila , Camps-Bossacoma Mariona , Massot-Cladera Malén , Pérez-Cano Francisco J. , Castell Margarida
Published: January 2020

It is known that intensive physical activity alters the immune system’s functionality. However, the influence of the intensity and duration of exercise needs to be studied in more depth. We aimed to establish the changes in the innate immune response induced by two programmes of intensive training in rats compared to sedentary rats. A short training programme included 2 weeks of intensive training, ending with an exhaustion test (short training with exhaustion, S-TE). A second training programme comprised 5-week training including two exhaustion tests and three trainings per week. In this case, immune status was assessed before (T), immediately after (TE) and 24 h after (TE24) an additional final exhaustion test. Biomarkers such as phagocytic activity, macrophage cytokine and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and natural killer (NK) cell activity were quantified. S-TE was not enough to induce changes in the assessed innate immunity biomarkers. However, the second training was accompanied by a decrease in the phagocytic activity, changes in the pattern of cytokine secretion and ROS production by macrophages and reduced NK cell proportion but increased NK cytotoxic activity. In conclusion, a 5-week intense training programme, but not a shorter training, induced alterations in the innate immune system functionality.
Analysis of Terpene Synthase Family Genes in Camellia sinensis with an Emphasis on Abiotic Stress Conditions
Authors: Zhou Han-Chen , Shamala Lubobi Ferdinand , Yi Xing-Kai , Yan Zhen , Wei Shu
Published: January 2020

For a better understanding terpenoid volatile production in Camellia sinensis, global terpenoid synthase gene (TPS) transcription analysis was conducted based on transcriptomic data combined with terpenoid metabolic profiling under different abiotic stress conditions. Totally 80 TPS-like genes were identified. Twenty-three CsTPS genes possessed a complete coding sequence and most likely were functional. The remaining 57 in the currently available database lack essential gene structure or full-length transcripts. Distinct tempo-spatial expression patterns of CsTPS genes were found in tea plants. 17 genes were substantially expressed in all the tested organs with a few exceptions. The other 17 were predominantly expressed in leaves whereas additional eight were primarily expressed in flowers. Under the treatments of cold acclimation, salt and polyethylene glycol, CsTPS67, -69 and -71 were all suppressed and the inhibited expression of many others were found in multiple stress treatments. However, methyl jasmonate resulted in the enhanced expression of the majority of CsTPS genes. These transcription data were largely validated using qPCR. Moreover, volatile terpenoid profiling with leaves, flowers and stress-treated plants revealed a general association between the abundances of mono- and sesqui-terpenoids and some CsTPS genes. These results provide vital information for future studies on CsTPS regulation of terpenoid biosynthesis.
3D printed mold leachates in PDMS microfluidic devices
Authors: de Almeida Monteiro Melo Ferraz Marcia , Nagashima Jennifer Beth , Venzac Bastien , Le Gac Séverine , Songsasen Nucharin
Published: January 2020

The introduction of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and soft lithography in the 90’s has revolutionized the field of microfluidics by almost eliminating the need for a clean-room environment for device fabrication. More recently, 3D printing has been introduced to fabricate molds for soft lithography, the only step for which a clean-room environment is still often necessary, to further support the rapid prototyping of PDMS microfluidic devices. However, toxicity of most of the commercial 3D printing resins has been established, and little is known regarding the potential for 3D printed molds to leak components into the PDMS that would, in turn, hamper cells and/or tissues cultured in the devices. In the present study, we investigated if 3D printed molds produced by stereolithography can leach components into PDMS, and compared 3D printed molds to their more conventional SU-8 counterparts. Different leachates were detected in aqueous solutions incubated in the resulting PDMS devices prepared from widely used PDMS pre-polymer:curing agent ratios (10:1, 15:1 and 20:1), and these leachates were identified as originating from resins and catalyst substances. Next, we explored the possibility to culture cells and tissues in these PDMS devices produced from 3D printed molds and after proper device washing and conditioning. Importantly, we demonstrated that the resulting PDMS devices supported physiological cultures of HeLa cells and ovarian tissues in vitro, with superior outcomes than static conventional cultures.
Circulating miR-330-3p in Late Pregnancy is Associated with Pregnancy Outcomes Among Lean Women with GDM
Authors: Pfeiffer Shona , Sánchez-Lechuga Begoña , Donovan Paul , Halang Luise , Prehn Jochen H. M. , Campos-Caro Antonio , Byrne Maria M. , López-Tinoco Cristina
Published: January 2020

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is characterised by insulin resistance accompanied by reduced beta-cell compensation to increased insulin demand, typically observed in the second and third trimester and associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is a need for a biomarker that can accurately monitor status and predict outcome in GDM, reducing foetal-maternal morbidity and mortality risks. To this end, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) present themselves as promising candidates, stably expressed in serum and known to play crucial roles in regulation of glucose metabolism. We analysed circulating miRNA profiles in a cohort of GDM patients (n = 31) and nondiabetic controls (n = 29) during the third trimester for miRNA associated with insulin-secretory defects and glucose homeostasis. We identified miR-330-3p as being significantly upregulated in lean women with GDM compared to nondiabetic controls. Furthermore, increased levels of miR-330-3p were associated with better response to treatment (diet vs. insulin), with lower levels associated with exogenous insulin requirement. We observed miR-330-3p to be significantly related to the percentage of caesarean deliveries, with miR-330-3p expression significantly higher in spontaneously delivered GDM patients. We report this strong novel association of circulating miR-330-3p with risk of primary caesarean delivery as a pregnancy outcome linked with poor maternal glycaemic control, strengthening the growing body of evidence for roles of diabetes-associated miRNAs in glucose homeostasis and adaptation to the complex changes related to pregnancy.
The in vivo effect of Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT) on the expression of type 2 immune response involved genes in the wound healing process
Authors: Farhadihosseinabadi Behrouz , Gholipourmalekabadi Mazaher , Salimi Maryam , Abdollahifar Mohammad-Amin , Bagheri Mohammad , Samadikuchaksaraei Ali , Ghanbarian Hossein , Mozafari Masoud , Kazemi Bahram , Niknejad Hassan
Published: January 2020

Lacto-n-neotatraose (LNnT) oligosaccharide shows properties such as anti-inflammatory, type 2 immune response induction, induced angiogenesis, and anti-bacterial effects. Here, we hypothesized that the application of LnNT in the skin full-thickness wound can accelerate the healing process through its anti-inflammatory effect as well as induction of type 2 immune responses. In this study, we evaluated the cell viability of fibroblasts in the presence of LNnT. The full-thickness wound model was created by punch biopsy. The mice were treated intradermaly with LNnT at the concentrations of 100 and 200 µg or PBS as a control group. The wounds samples were compared based on the macroscopic and histological evaluations. The amount of collagen deposition and expression of genes involved in type 2 immunity were measured by the hydroxyproline assay and real time PCR method, respectively. Our results showed that LNnT had no negative effect on the cell viability of fibroblasts. LNnT increased the wound closure rate on day 7 post-wounding. H&E stain analysis revealed that mice treated with 200 µg LNnT exhibited better healing score, follicle formation, and lower epidermal thickness index. The mice treated with LNnT exhibited a lower collagen deposition on day 21 and higher collagen content on days 7 and 14 post-treatment. The LNnT groups also exhibited a lower number of neutrophils and a higher number of basal cells and fibroblasts. The expression rate of IL-10, IL-4, and IL-13 was higher in the LNnT groups. These results showed the high potential of LNnT for use in treatment of full-thickness wounds.
Pol μ ribonucleotide insertion opposite 8-oxodG facilitates the ligation of premutagenic DNA repair intermediate
Authors: Çağlayan Melike
Published: January 2020

DNA polymerase (pol) μ primarily inserts ribonucleotides into a single-nucleotide gapped DNA intermediate, and the ligation step plays a critical role in the joining of noncomplementary DNA ends during nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) for the repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) caused by reactive oxygen species. Here, we report that the pol μ insertion products of ribonucleotides (rATP or rCTP), instead of deoxyribonucleotides, opposite 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) are efficiently ligated and the presence of Mn2+ stimulates this coupled reaction in vitro. Moreover, our results point to a role of pol μ in mediating ligation during the mutagenic bypass of 8-oxodG, while 3′-preinserted noncanonical base pairs (3′-rA or 3′-rC) on NHEJ repair intermediates compromise the end joining by DNA ligase I or the DNA ligase IV/XRCC4 complex.
Defective transcription of ATF3 responsive genes, a marker for Cockayne Syndrome
Authors: Epanchintsev Alexey , Rauschendorf Marc-Alexander , Costanzo Federico , Calmels Nadege , Obringer Cathy , Sarasin Alain , Coin Frederic , Laugel Vincent , Egly Jean-Marc
Published: January 2020

Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations (dysfunction) in CSA and CSB. CS patients exhibit mild photosensitivity and severe neurological problems. Currently, CS diagnosis is based on the inefficiency of CS cells to recover RNA synthesis upon genotoxic (UV) stress. Indeed, upon genotoxic stress, ATF3, an immediate early gene is activated to repress up to 5000 genes encompassing its responsive element for a short period of time. On the contrary in CS cells, CSA and CSB dysfunction impairs the degradation of the chromatin-bound ATF3, leading to a permanent transcriptional arrest as observed by immunofluorescence and ChIP followed by RT-PCR. We analysed ChIP-seq of Pol II and ATF3 promoter occupation analysis and RNA sequencing-based gene expression profiling in CS cells, as well as performed immunofluorescence study of ATF3 protein stability and quantitative RT-PCR screening in 64 patient cell lines. We show that the analysis of few amount (as for example CDK5RAP2, NIPBL and NRG1) of ATF3 dependent genes, could serve as prominent molecular markers to discriminate between CS and non-CS patient’s cells. Such assay can significantly simplify the timing and the complexity of the CS diagnostic procedure in comparison to the currently available methods.
Pre-extubation functional residual capacity and risk of extubation failure among patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure
Authors: Chen Hui-Chuan , Ruan Sheng-Yuan , Huang Chun-Ta , Huang Pei-Yu , Chien Jung-Yien , Kuo Lu-Cheng , Kuo Ping-Hung , Wu Huey-Dong
Published: January 2020

Hypoxemic respiratory failure is usually accompanied with a certain extent of consolidation and alveolar derecruitment, which may still be present even after the patients have achieved the status of readiness to extubate. Functional residual capacity (FRC) is an indicator of lung aeration. This study aimed to evaluate whether pre-extubation FRC is associated with the risk of extubation failure in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure. We prospectively included 92 patients intubated for hypoxemic respiratory failure. We used a technique based on a nitrogen multiple breath washout method to measure FRC before the planned extubation. The median FRC before extubation was 25 mL/kg (Interquartile range, 20–32 mL/Kg) per predicted body weight (pBW). After extubation, 20 patients (21.7%) were reintubated within 48 hours. The median FRC was higher in the extubation success group than in the extubation failure group (27 versus 21 mL/Kg, p < 0.001). Reduced FRC was associated with higher risk of extubation failure (odds ratio, 1.14 per each decreased of 1 mL/Kg of FRC/pBW, 95% CI, 1.05–1.23, p = 0.002). In conclusion, pre-extubation FRC is associated with the risk of extubation failure. Reduced FRC may be incorporated into the traditional risk factors to identify patients at high risk for extubation failure.
Speed of sound in hydrogen isotopes derived from the experimental pvt data and an improved quantum law of corresponding state
Authors: Ma Xiaojun , Tang Xing , Wang Zongwei , Wang Qi , Gao Dangzhong
Published: January 2020

The speed of sound in hydrogen isotopes can be applied to accurately determine the density, virial coefficient and equation of state. The functional relation between the speed of sound in a real gas and the experimental PVT data is derived from the virial equation of states. Utilizing the relation, the speed of sound in n-H2 is calculated from the experimental PVT data available. The calculated results illustrate that the presented method has an accuracy of better than 0.25% within the pressure range of below 1500 atm. However, there is little experimental PVT data available for n-T2, therefore, an improved quantum law of corresponding state (IQLCS) method, which is based on the physical nature that the different virial coefficients represent the interaction between the different number of molecules, is proposed for obtaining the speed of sound in n-T2. Utilizing the IQLCS method, the speed of sound in n-T2 can be obtained from the available speed of sound data in n-H2 or n-D2 via scaling the corresponding fitting coefficients at same temperature and pressure. The simulated results demonstrate that the IQLCS method is more accurate than the classical law of corresponding state(CLCS) and the maximum deviation is about 0.52% over the pressure range of below 1500 atm.