bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ACTIVITY OF 137CS IN HUMAN BODY OF INHABITANTS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Authors: Malátová Irena , Fojtík Pavel
Published: September 2019

The time course of 137Cs activity in general population of the Czech Republic has been systematically followed since the Chernobyl accident in 1986. Either whole body counting or the determination of 137Cs content in 24-hour urine samples were used as a method of determination of body activity. Environmental and effective half-lives were calculated from the data. In the time period from 1986 to 1990 the effective half-life was 1.3 years; since 1990 up to present the half-life is 15 years. The older data on whole body activity of 137Cs from 1965 to 1985 were compiled and are presented as well. Apart from the general population, a group of people who have special dietary habits in terms of increased game meat consumption, namely wild boar meat, has been monitored since 2000. In this group, the body content of 137Cs is about two orders of magnitude higher than in the general population.
SIMULATION OF DOSE DISTRIBUTION IN VICINITY OF CLOUD OF CONTAMINATED AIR LEAKAGE FROM SEVERE NPP ACCIDENT
Authors: Klusoň Jaroslav , Urban Tomáš
Published: September 2019

Method of Monte Carlo simulation of gamma radiation fields in the vicinity of the cloud of air contaminated by the radionuclides from emergency leakage from nuclear power plant was designed and tested. Air kerma rates distributions as well as gamma field spectral distributions were calculated for the Gaussian cloud model, different atmospherical conditions and emergency scenarios source terms. Based on this model, the radiation doses in the aerial vehicle (helicopter) and its shielding properties in the radiation fields in cloud vicinity were evaluated with an aim to prepare a method providing data for planning adequate radiation protection of the personnel during airborne monitoring/interventions.
Macroevolutionary Analyses Suggest That Environmental Factors, Not Venom Apparatus, Play Key Role in Terebridae Marine Snail Diversification
Authors: Modica Maria Vittoria , Gorson Juliette , Fedosov Alexander E , Malcolm Gavin , Terryn Yves , Puillandre Nicolas , Holford Mandë
Published: September 2019

How species diversification occurs remains an unanswered question in predatory marine invertebrates, such as sea snails of the family Terebridae. However, the anatomical disparity found throughput the Terebridae provides a unique perspective for investigating diversification patterns in venomous predators. In this study, a new dated molecular phylogeny of the Terebridae is used as a framework for investigating diversification of the family through time, and for testing the putative role of intrinsic and extrinsic traits, such as shell size, larval ecology, bathymetric distribution, and anatomical features of the venom apparatus, as drivers of terebrid species diversification. Macroevolutionary analysis revealed that when diversification rates do not vary across Terebridae clades, the whole family has been increasing its global diversification rate since 25 Ma. We recovered evidence for a concurrent increase in diversification of depth ranges, while shell size appeared to have undergone a fast divergence early in terebrid evolutionary history. Our data also confirm that planktotrophy is the ancestral larval ecology in terebrids, and evolutionary modeling highlighted that shell size is linked to larval ecology of the Terebridae, with species with long-living pelagic larvae tending to be larger and have a broader size range than lecithotrophic species. Although we recovered patterns of size and depth trait diversification through time and across clades, the presence or absence of a venom gland (VG) did not appear to have impacted Terebridae diversification. Terebrids have lost their venom apparatus several times and we confirm that the loss of a VG happened in phylogenetically clustered terminal taxa and that reversal is extremely unlikely. Our findings suggest that environmental factors, and not venom, have had more influence on terebrid evolution.
Adoptive cell therapies for posttransplant infections
Authors: Sutrave Gaurav , Gottlieb David J.
Published: September 2019

Purpose of review

Viral and fungal infections cause significant morbidity and mortality following hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT), primarily due to the prolonged and complex immunodeficient state that results from conditioning chemo-radiotherapy and subsequent prophylaxis of graft vs. host disease. Although currently available antimicrobial pharmacotherapies have demonstrated short-term efficacy, their toxicities often preclude long-term use, and cessation if frequently associated with recurrent infection. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) offers the potential to more rapidly reconstitute antimicrobial immune responses in the posttransplant setting.

Recent findings

Traditional approaches to manufacture of adoptive T-cell therapies are time consuming and limited to single pathogen specificity. Recent advances in the understanding of immunogenic epitopes, improved methods for pathogen-specific T-cell isolation and cultureware technologies is allowing for rapid generation of ACTs for clinical use.

The current review summarizes the potential infectious targets and manufacturing methodologies for ACTs and contrasts their clinical efficacy and safety to currently available pharmacotherapies for patients recovering after HSCT.
Automation of the I-PASS Tool to Improve Transitions of Care
Authors: Skaret Michael M. , Weaver Travis D. , Humes Ross J. , Carbone Thomas V. , Grasso Ian A. , Kumar Harjinder
Published: September 2019

Introduction:

Errors in communication during handoffs are a significant source of medical error and put patients at risk. The I-PASS system was designed to systematically communicate information to the oncoming healthcare provider and has been shown to decrease the risk of communication errors. The objective of this observational quality improvement study was to determine whether the addition of a partially automated, electronic handoff tool would further decrease errors in communication during transitions of care for inpatient medical teams.

Methods:

We created an electronic tool to incorporate user-generated patient information in the I-PASS format with automatically compiled data derived from the electronic medical record. Numbers of errors in the printed handoff document were recorded before and after intervention.

Results:

The first implementation cycle demonstrated an absolute risk reduction for written errors of 45.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 39.2–51.2%) and a number needed to treat (NNT) of three patients. The second cycle showed an absolute risk reduction of 53.3% (95% CI 39.8–63.9%; NNT 2). Aggregate data showed an absolute risk reduction of 46.6% (95% CI 41.0–51.7%, NNT 3).

Conclusions:

Improving the routine task of patient handoff through the thoughtful application of technology can yield benefits in terms of decreasing documentation errors and streamlining workflow before patient handoff.
Can molecular markers of oxygen homeostasis and the measurement of tissue oxygen be leveraged to optimize red blood cell transfusions?
Authors: Baek Jin Hyen , Buehler Paul W.
Published: September 2019

Purpose of review

The clinical indication for transfusing red blood cells (RBCs) is to restore or maintain adequate oxygenation of respiring tissue. Oxygen (O2) transport, delivery, and utilization following transfusion are impacted by perfusion, hemoglobin (Hb) allosteric saturation/desaturation, and the concentration of tissue O2. Bioavailable O2maintains tissue utilization and homeostasis; therefore, measuring imbalances in supply and demand could be valuable to assessing blood quality and transfusion effectiveness. O2homeostasis is critically intertwined with erythropoietic response in blood loss and anemia and the hormones that modulate iron mobilization and RBC production (e.g., erythropoietin, erythroferrone, and hepcidin) are intriguing markers for the monitoring of transfusion effectiveness in acute and chronic settings. The evaluation of RBC donor unit quality and the determination of RBC transfusion needs are emerging areas for biomarker development and minimally invasive O2measurements.

Recent findings

Novel methods for assessing circulatory and tissue compartment biomarkers of transfusion effectiveness are suggested. In addition, monitoring of tissue oxygenation by indirect and direct measurements of O2is available and applied in experimental settings.

Herein, we discuss tissue O2homeostasis, related aspects of erythropoiesis, molecular markers and measurements of tissue oxygenation, all aimed at optimizing transfusion and assessing blood quality.
Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in sickle cell disease
Authors: Galal Ahmed , Asslan Mona
Published: September 2019

Purpose of review

Discussing the currently available HSCT options for Hb SS patients highlighting advantages and disadvantages of each modality in the light of recently published data.

Recent findings

When MSD is available, myeloablative regimen is the preferred approach for otherwise healthy children whereas the nonmyeloablative (NMA) regimen is of choice for adults as well as children with SCD-associated morbidities. Mixed chimerism is common especially with NMA conditioning and is usually enough for cure. Alternative donor HSCT outcomes are progressively improving especially with posttransplant cyclophosphamide for GVHD prophylaxis.

Recent studies comparing HSCT and chronic transfusion in Hb SS patients increasingly come in favor of HSCT arm. Advances in HSCT field led to donor pool expansion and better tolerated regimens. It is easier now to tailor a personalized transplantation plan for almost every patient. A successful management plan should be sufficiently comprehensive addressing patients’ and families’ social and psychological concerns to ensure compliance and improve outcome.
Advances in aeroallergen immunotherapy
Authors: Chan Sanny K.
Published: September 2019

Purpose of review

Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is the most common manifestation of allergic disease. This break in the normal natural function of the immune system to ignore harmless molecules such as pollen and pet dander to now aggressively react has lead to a substantial disease burden that is not always recognized and adequately treated.

Recent findings

Individual molecular component testing may increase the predictive value of blood sIgE and clinical symptoms. Defining the most symptoms inducing allergenic protein has led to advances in peptide-based allergen immunotherapy. There have been steady consistent reports that allergy immunotherapy for children with symptomatic allergic rhinitis prevents the onset of asthma.

Allergy immunotherapy is an effective disease-modulating treatment that alters the underlying immune dysfunction which is a currently underutilized therapy especially as it is likely effective in preventing the onset of asthma in children, at least in the short term.
Recent advances in our understanding of neurodevelopmental outcomes in congenital heart disease
Authors: White Brian R. , Rogers Lindsay S. , Kirschen Matthew P.
Published: September 2019

Purpose of review

Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) suffer from a pattern of neurodevelopmental abnormalities including deficits in language and executive function. In this review, we summarize recent studies that examine these outcomes, their risk factors, possible biomarkers, and attempts to develop therapeutic interventions.

Recent findings

The latest literature has highlighted the role of genetics in determining neurologic prognosis, as we have increased our understanding of potentially modifiable perioperative risk factors. The role of potentially neurotoxic medical therapies has become more salient. One recent focus has been how neurodevelopment affects quality of life and leads to a high prevalence of mental illness. Neuroimaging advances have provided new insights into the pathogenesis of deficits.

Although many risk factors in CHD are not modifiable, there is promise for interventions to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients with CHD. Biomarkers are needed to better understand the timing and prognosis of injury and to direct therapy. Research into psychosocial interventions is urgently needed to benefit the many survivors with CHD.
National surveillance of food-borne botulism in Iran during 2011–2015
Authors: Montazer Khorasan Mohammad Reza , Rahbar Mohammad , Zahedi Bialvaei Abed , Gouya Mohammad Mehdi , Shahcheraghi Fereshte , Eshrati Babak
Published: September 2019

Food-borne botulism, a potentially lethal neuroparalytic disease, is also a health challenge with a variable prevalence rate in Iran. This work presents the results of a 5-year surveillance of botulism in Iran, with the distribution of the cases by regions and by vehicle of transmission. This descriptive-retrospective study was done on food-borne botulism poisoning cases reported to the Iran's Ministry of Health during 2011–2015. Data was collected by interview, examination and questionnaires. All the relevant and confirmed botulism outbreaks that occurred in the period under consideration are described. During these 5 years, 1743 cases of suspected botulism were reported from different clinical sources. A total of 99 (5.6%) cases confirmed as food-borne botulism of which the most occurred in West Azarbaijan, Guilan and Golestan provinces, respectively. The main causes of the food-borne botulism were consumption of nonpasteurized dairy products, spawn (a kind of caviar) and smoked fish. Twenty-six (26.2%) laboratory-confirmed incidents were caused by toxin type A, 21 (21.2%) by toxin type B and 15 (15.1%) by toxin type E. Among all confirmed patients, a total of 32 (32.3%) deaths were reported and the case-fatality rate ranged from 4% (in 2014) to 12% (in 2011). Though a relatively rare disease, botulism can be a serious problem of public health, particularly when connected with the consumption of traditional food products; moreover, in the last years, the shortage of specific antitoxin has caused some concern in the Public Health Authorities.
Improving Retention of Home Health Nurses
Authors: Pennington Gwen , Driscoll Amy
Published: September 2019

Home healthcare plays an increasingly vital role in contemporary postacute healthcare. Staffing instability and lack of perceived organizational support is a stimulus for nursing attrition from the organization with far-reaching impact on staff morale, patient care, agency budgets, and relationships with other healthcare settings. The purpose of this article is to describe a redesign of an agency's nursing orientation and the development of a mentorship program for newly hired home healthcare nurses within a large Midwestern integrated health system. During this time frame, 154 nurses completed the newly designed orientation program and, of those, 91 participated in the mentorship program. In this article, we evaluate 1-year new-hire nursing retention rates over a 4-year period, examine new-hire job satisfaction and perceptions of preceptors and mentors during their first year, and discuss issues of outcome sustainability. Agency-wide turnover rates for all home healthcare nurses decreased from 15.4% in 2016 to 10.1% in 2018, demonstrating the associated impact of these initiatives on staffing stabilization.
Development of an Interprofessional Home Healthcare Management Service
Authors: Shurson Lauren , Pilon Bonnie , Ketel Christian , Anthamatten Angelina
Published: September 2019

In response to the need for increased access to primary care services for a low-income, at-risk community, two local universities partnered with a nonprofit Housing and Urban Development affiliated provider of affordable housing to launch a primary care clinic within an urban public housing community. Although the establishment of this clinic represented progress in meeting many healthcare needs of the target population, an interprofessional team also identified a need for the initiation of a new home-based service line. The goal of this project was to establish an innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective healthcare delivery method that would improve the health of this population. The project focused on a literature review, needs-assessment, and development of a comprehensive medical home visit program to serve the homebound, frail elderly, and other at-risk adults with complex medical conditions who reside in this community. The medical needs of potential recipients were assessed by conducting interviews with key support staff including a health service coordinator, health advocates, and housing provider service coordinators. Residents were also interviewed using a newly developed health perception and information survey. The data derived from the needs-assessment and pertinent literature were used to draft an initial program guideline. Because the needs-assessment indicated this population would not derive maximum benefit from a traditional house calls program, the project team developed a Home Healthcare Management service with an expanded scope to provide enhanced care coordination, house visits (medical and nonmedical), and community outreach.
An intriguing relationship between teleost
Rex3
retroelement and environmental temperature
Authors: Carducci Federica , Biscotti Maria Assunta , Forconi Mariko , Barucca Marco , Canapa Adriana
Published: September 2019

The movement and accumulation of transposable elements (TEs) exert a great influence on the host genome, e.g. determining architecture and genome size, providing a substrate for homologous recombination and DNA rearrangements. TEs are also known to be responsive and susceptible to environmental changes. However, the correlation between environmental conditions and the sequence evolution of TEs is still an unexplored field of research. Among vertebrates, teleosts represent a successful group of animals adapted to a wide range of different environments and their genome is constituted by a rich repertoire of TEs. The
Rex3
retroelement is a lineage-specific non-LTR retrotransposon and thus represents a valid candidate for performing comparative sequence analyses between species adapted to diverse temperature conditions. Partial reverse transcriptase sequences of the
Rex3
retroelement belonging to 39 species of teleosts were investigated through phylogenetic analysis to evaluate whether the species' adaptation to different environments led to the evolution of different
Rex3
temperature-related variants. Our findings highlight an intriguing behaviour of the analysed sequences, showing clustering of
Rex3
sequences isolated from species living in cold waters (Arctic and Antarctic regions and cold waters of temperate regions) compared with those isolated from species living in warm waters. This is the first evidence to our knowledge of a correlation between environmental temperature and
Rex3
retroelement evolution.
Complete genomes of two extinct New Zealand passerines show responses to climate fluctuations but no evidence for genomic erosion prior to extinction
Authors: Dussex Nicolas , von Seth Johanna , Knapp Michael , Kardailsky Olga , Robertson Bruce C. , Dalén Love
Published: September 2019

Human intervention, pre-human climate change (or a combination of both), as well as genetic effects, contribute to species extinctions. While many species from oceanic islands have gone extinct due to direct human impacts, the effects of pre-human climate change and human settlement on the genomic diversity of insular species and the role that loss of genomic diversity played in their extinctions remains largely unexplored. To address this question, we sequenced whole genomes of two extinct New Zealand passerines, the huia (
Heteralocha acutirostris
) and South Island kōkako (
Callaeas cinereus
). Both species showed similar demographic trajectories throughout the Pleistocene. However, the South Island kōkako continued to decline after the last glaciation, while the huia experienced some recovery. Moreover, there was no indication of inbreeding resulting from recent mating among closely related individuals in either species. This latter result indicates that population fragmentation associated with forest clearing by Maōri may not have been strong enough to lead to an increase in inbreeding and exposure to genomic erosion. While genomic erosion may not have directly contributed to their extinctions, further habitat fragmentation and the introduction of mammalian predators by Europeans may have been an important driver of extinction in huia and South Island kōkako.
Hepatitis C virus modelled as an indirectly transmitted infection highlights the centrality of injection drug equipment in disease dynamics
Authors: Miller-Dickson Miles D. , Meszaros Victor A. , Almagro-Moreno Salvador , Brandon Ogbunugafor C.
Published: September 2019

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic often occurs through the persistence of injection drug use. Mathematical models have been useful in understanding various aspects of the HCV epidemic, and especially, the importance of new treatment measures. Until now, however, few models have attempted to understand HCV in terms of an interaction between the various actors in an HCV outbreak—hosts, viruses and the needle injection equipment. In this study, we apply perspectives from the ecology of infectious diseases to model the transmission of HCV among a population of injection drug users. The products of our model suggest that modelling HCV as an indirectly transmitted infection—where the injection equipment serves as an environmental reservoir for infection—facilitates a more nuanced understanding of disease dynamics, by animating the underappreciated actors and interactions that frame disease. This lens may allow us to understand how certain public health interventions (e.g. needle exchange programmes) influence HCV epidemics. Lastly, we argue that this model is of particular importance in the light of the modern opioid epidemic, which has already been associated with outbreaks of viral diseases.
Population genomics reveals possible genetic evidence for parallel evolution of
Sebastiscus marmoratus
in the northwestern Pacific Ocean
Authors: Xu Shengyong , Yanagimoto Takashi , Song Na , Cai Shanshan , Gao Tianxiang , Zhang Xiumei
Published: September 2019

Understanding patterns of population diversity and structuring among marine populations is of great importance for evolutionary biology, and can also directly inform fisheries management and conservation. In this study, genotyping-by-sequencing was used to assess population genetic diversity and connectivity of
Sebastiscus marmoratus
. Based on 130 individuals sampled from 10 locations in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, we identified and genotyped 17 653 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. The patterns of genetic diversity and population differentiation suggested that the Okinawa Trough might be the ancestral centre of
S. marmoratus
after the Last Glacial Maximum. A shallow genetic structure was observed among sampled populations based on the implemented structuring approaches. Surprisingly, we detected genetic homogeneity in two population pairs (i.e. Xiamen–Niigata and Zhuhai–Iki Island), in which populations have large geographical and latitudinal intervals. Population structure and allele frequency distribution based on outlier loci also mirrored the observed genetic homogeneity in the above-mentioned population pairs. Integrated with biological, environmental and genomic data, our results provide possible genetic evidence for parallel evolution. Our study also provides new perspectives on the population structure of
S. marmoratus
, which could have important implications for sound management and conservation of this fishery species.
RETRACTED: Long non-coding RNA LINC00467 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma progression by modulating miR-9-5p/PPARA expression
Authors: Cai Kerui , Li Tieling , Guo Ling , Guo Haifeng , Zhu Wei , Yan Lei , Li Fujuan
Published: September 2019

The aim of this study was to analyse the expression pattern and elucidate the mechanistic involvement of long non-coding RNA LINC00467 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The relative expression of LINC00467 and microRNA (miR)-9-5p was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The cell proliferation was analysed by cell counting. Cell migration and invasion were monitored by Transwell assay. The luciferase reporter assay was employed to investigate the regulatory effect of miR-9-5p on LINC00467 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARA). The endogenous PPARA protein was quantified by western blotting. It was found that LINC00467 was aberrantly decreased in HCC. The ectopic expression of LINC00467 significantly suppressed cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion. LINC00467 functioned as a sponge for miR-9-5a and negatively regulated miR-9-5p expression. We also identified PPARA as the direct target of miR-9-5p. siRNA-mediated knockdown of PPARA in LINC00467-proficient cells promoted cell viability, migration and invasion. Our data indicate the critical involvement of LINC00467/miR-9-5p/PPARA signalling in the incidence and progression of HCC.
RETRACTED: MALAT1 promotes gastric adenocarcinoma through the MALAT1/miR-181a-5p/AKT3 axis
Authors: Lu Zhengmao , Luo Tianhang , Pang Tao , Du Zongxin , Yin Xiaoyi , Cui Hangtian , Fang Guoen , Xue Xuchao
Published: September 2019

Gastric adenocarcinoma, which originates from the gastric mucosal epithelium, has the highest incidence among various malignant tumours in China. As a crucial long non-coding RNA, metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) has been suggested to play an important role in many tumours. Here, we aimed to investigate the role and underlying mechanism of MALAT1 in gastric adenocarcinoma. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was applied to determine the expression levels of MALAT1 in serum and cell lines. A CCK-8 assay and a clonogenic survival assay were used to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis. The protein level of RAC-γ serine/threonine-specific protein kinase (AKT3) was determined by western blot. Our results showed that MALAT1 was highly expressed in the serum of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and in cell lines. Downregulating MALAT1 inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of MGC-803 cells. In addition, MALAT1 directly targeted and decreased the expression of miR-181a-5p, which in turn upregulated the expression of AKT3. Further, overexpressing miR-181a-5p or directly inhibiting the AKT pathway with the inhibitor ipatasertib exhibited similar effects to MALAT1 knockdown. Our research proposes a novel mechanism where the role of MALAT1 is dependent on the MALAT1/miR-181a-5p/AKT3 axis. MALAT1 competes with AKT3 for miR-181a-5p binding, thereby upregulating the AKT3 protein level and ultimately promoting the growth of gastric adenocarcinoma.
Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of new resveratrol analogues as potential anti-cancer agents
Authors: Yang Lifang , Qin Xuemei , Liu Hongcun , Wei Yanye , Zhu Hailiang , Jiang Mingguo
Published: September 2019

A series of novel resveratrol derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as anti-cancer agents. Most of the compounds showed significant anti-proliferative activities against three human cancer cell lines (HepG2, A549 and Hela). Among these compounds, compound
r
displayed the most potent inhibitory activity and showed low cytotoxic activity. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle assays demonstrated that compound
r
significantly induced apoptosis (
p
< 0.001) and arrested cell cycle at S phase. Immunofluorescence microscopy analysis showed compound
r
disrupted the tubulin network. Docking simulations supported the pharmacological results of compound
r
. It is believed that this work would be very useful for designing a new series of tubulin inhibitors.
Repeatable glucocorticoid expression is associated with behavioural syndromes in males but not females in a wild primate
Authors: Tkaczynski P. J. , Ross C. , Lehmann J. , Mouna M. , Majolo B. , MacLarnon A.
Published: September 2019

Behavioural syndromes are a well-established phenomenon in human and non-human animal behavioural ecology. However, the mechanisms that lead to correlations among behaviours and individual consistency in their expression at the apparent expense of behavioural plasticity remain unclear. The ‘state-dependent' hypothesis posits that inter-individual variation in behaviour arises from inter-individual variation in state and that the relative stability of these states within an individual leads to consistency of behaviour. The endocrine stress response, in part mediated by glucocorticoids (GCs), is a proposed behavioural syndrome-associated state as GC levels are linked to an individual's behavioural responses to stressors. In this study, in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus), consistent inter-individual differences were observed in both sexes for GC activity (faecal glucocorticoid, fGC concentrations), but not GC variation (coefficient of variation in fGC concentrations). The expression of the behavioural syndrome ‘Excitability' (characterized by the frequencies of brief affiliation or aggressive interactions) was related to GC activity in males but not in females; more ‘excitable' males had lower GC activity. There was no relationship in females between any of the behavioural syndromes and GC activity, nor in either sex with GC variation. The negative relationship between GC activity and Excitability in males provides some support for GC expression as a behavioural syndrome-generating state under the state-dependent framework. The absence of this relationship in females highlights that state-behavioural syndrome associations may not be generalizable within a species and that broader sex differences in state need to be considered for understanding the emergence and maintenance of behavioural syndromes.
Ecomorphological diversification of the Late Palaeozoic Palaeodictyopterida reveals different larval strategies and amphibious lifestyle in adults
Authors: Prokop Jakub , Krzemińska Ewa , Krzemiński Wiesław , Rosová Kateřina , Pecharová Martina , Nel André , Engel Michael S.
Published: September 2019

The Late Palaeozoic insect superorder Palaeodictyopterida exhibits a remarkable disparity of larval ecomorphotypes, enabling these animals to occupy diverse ecological niches. The widely accepted hypothesis presumed that their immature stages only occupied terrestrial habitats, although authors more than a century ago hypothesized they had specializations for amphibious or even aquatic life histories. Here, we show that different species had a disparity of semiaquatic or aquatic specializations in larvae and even the supposed retention of abdominal tracheal gills by some adults. While a majority of mature larvae in Palaeodictyoptera lack unambiguous lateral tracheal gills, some recently discovered early instars had terminal appendages with prominent lateral lamellae like in living damselflies, allowing support in locomotion along with respiratory function. These results demonstrate that some species of Palaeodictyopterida had aquatic or semiaquatic larvae during at least a brief period of their post-embryonic development. The retention of functional gills or gill sockets by adults indicates their amphibious lifestyle and habitats tightly connected with a water environment as is analogously known for some modern Ephemeroptera or Plecoptera. Our study refutes an entirely terrestrial lifestyle for all representatives of the early diverging pterygote group of Palaeodictyopterida, a greatly varied and diverse lineage which probably encompassed many different biologies and life histories.
Gender and societies: a grassroots approach to women in science
Authors: James Alex , Chisnall Rose , Plank Michael J.
Published: September 2019

Women are under-represented in science. We show that the extent of the gender gap varies depending on the status of the position in question and there are simple steps that can be taken to improve diversity. We analyse data on the activities of over 30 science societies spanning four countries and five distinct discipline areas. Our results show that women tend to be equally represented in lower status roles and awards, e.g. student prizes and editorships, but under-represented in higher status roles, e.g. late-career awards and chief editorships. We develop a simple mathematical model to explore the role of homophily in decision making and quantify the effect of simple steps that can be taken to improve diversity. We conclude that, when the stakes are low, efforts to tackle historic gender bias towards men have been at least partially successful, but when the stakes are higher male dominance is often still the norm.
Preparation of pod-shaped TiO
2
and Ag@TiO
2
nano burst tubes and their photocatalytic activity
Authors: Wang Shang , Han Zhaolian , Di Tingting , Li Rui , Liu Siyuan , Cheng Zhiqiang
Published: September 2019

The pod-shaped TiO
2
nano burst tubes (TiO
2
NBTs) were prepared by the combination of electrospinning and impregnation calcination with oxalic acid (H
2
C
2
O
4
), polystyrene (PS) and tetrabutyl titanate. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were loaded onto the surface of TiO
2
NBTs by ultraviolet light reduction method to prepare pod-shaped Ag@TiO
2
NBTs. In this work, we analysed the effect of the amount of oxalic acid on the cracking degree of TiO
2
NBTs; the effect of the concentration of AgNO
3
solution on the particle size and loading of AgNPs on the surface of TiO
2
NBTs. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy investigated the surface morphology of samples. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterized the structure and composition of samples. Rhodamine B (RhB) solution was used to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of pod-shaped TiO
2
NBTs and Ag@TiO
2
NBTs. The results showed that TiO
2
NBTs degraded 91.0% of RhB under ultraviolet light, Ag@TiO
2
NBTs degraded 95.5% under visible light for 75 and 60 min, respectively. The degradation process of both samples was consistent with the Langmuir–Hinshelwood first-order kinetic equation. Therefore, the catalytic performance of the sample is: Ag@TiO
2
NBTs > TiO
2
NBTs > TiO
2
nanotubes.
Maleic, glycolic and acetoacetic acids-leaching for recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries: leaching parameters, thermodynamics and kinetics
Authors: Liu Borui , Huang Qing , Su Yuefeng , Sun Liuye , Wu Tong , Wang Guange , Kelly Ryan M. , Wu Feng
Published: September 2019

Environmentally friendly acid-leaching processes with three organic acids (maleic, glycolic and acetoacetic) were developed to recover valuable metals from the cathodic material of spent lithium-ion batteries (LiCoO
2
). The leaching efficiencies of Li and Co by the maleic acid were 99.58% and 98.77%, respectively. The leaching efficiencies of Li and Co by the glycolic acid were 98.54% and 97.83%, while those by the acetoacetic acid were 98.62% and 97.99%, respectively. The optimal acid concentration for the maleic acid-, glycolic acid- and acetoacetic acid-leaching processes were 1, 2 and 1.5 mol l
–1
, respectively, while their optimal H
2
O
2
concentrations were 1.5, 2 and 1.5 vol%, respectively. The optimal solid/liquid ratio, temperature and reaction time for the leaching process of the three organic acids was the same (10 g l
−1
, 70°C, 60 min). The thermodynamic formation energy of the leaching products and the Gibbs free energy of the leaching reactions were calculated, and the kinetic study showed that the leaching processes fit well with the shrinking-core model. Based on the comparison in the leaching parameters, the efficacy and availability of the three acids is as follows: maleic acid > acetoacetic acid > glycolic acid.
Koopman wavefunctions and classical–quantum correlation dynamics
Authors: Bondar Denys I. , Gay-Balmaz François , Tronci Cesare
Published: September 2019

Upon revisiting the Hamiltonian structure of classical wavefunctions in Koopman–von Neumann theory, this paper addresses the long-standing problem of formulating a dynamical theory of classical–quantum coupling. The proposed model not only describes the influence of a classical system onto a quantum one, but also the reverse effect—the quantum backreaction. These interactions are described by a new Hamiltonian wave equation overcoming shortcomings of currently employed models. For example, the density matrix of the quantum subsystem is always positive definite. While the Liouville density of the classical subsystem is generally allowed to be unsigned, its sign is shown to be preserved in time for a specific infinite family of hybrid classical–quantum systems. The proposed description is illustrated and compared with previous theories using the exactly solvable model of a degenerate two-level quantum system coupled to a classical harmonic oscillator.
Solar geoengineering to reduce climate change: a review of governance proposals
Authors: Reynolds Jesse L.
Published: September 2019

Although solar geoengineering (alternatively ‘solar radiation management’ or ‘solar radiation modification’) appears to offer a potentially effective, inexpensive and technologically feasible additional response to climate change, it would pose serious physical risks and social challenges. Governance of its research, development and deployment is thus salient. This article reviews proposals for governing solar geoengineering. Its research may warrant dedicated governance to facilitate effectiveness and to reduce direct and socially mediated risks. Because states are not substantially engaging with solar geoengineering, non-state actors can play important governance roles. Although the concern that solar geoengineering would harmfully lessen abatement of greenhouse gas emissions is widespread, what can be done to reduce such displacement remains unclear. A moratorium on outdoor activities that would surpass certain scales is often endorsed, but an effective one would require resolving some critical, difficult details. In the long term, how to legitimately make decisions regarding whether, when and how solar geoengineering would be used is central, and suggestions how to do so diverge. Most proposals to govern commercial actors, who could provide goods and services for solar geoengineering, focus on intellectual property policy. Compensation for possible harm from outdoor activities could be through liability or a compensation fund. The review closes with suggested lines of future inquiry.
Delayed electromechanical instability of a viscoelastic dielectric elastomer balloon
Authors: Lv Xiongfei , Liu Liwu , Leng Jinsong , Liu Yanju , Cai Shengqiang
Published: September 2019

When a dielectric elastomer (DE) balloon is subjected to electromechanical loading, instability may happen. In recent experiments, it has been shown that the instability configuration of a DE balloon under electromechanical loading can be very different from that only subjected to mechanical load. It has also been observed in the experiments that the electromechanical instability phenomena of a DE balloon can be highly time-dependent. In this article, we adopt a nonlinear viscoelastic model for the DE membrane to investigate the time-dependent electromechanical instability of a DE balloon. Using the model, we show that under a constant electromechanical loading, a DE balloon may gradually evolve from a convex shape to a non-convex shape with bulging out in the centre, and compressive hoop stress can also gradually develop the balloon, resulting in wrinkles as observed in the experiments. We have further shown that the snap-through instability phenomenon of the DE balloon also greatly depends on the ramping rate of the applied voltage.
Nutrient scarcity strengthens soil fauna control over leaf litter decomposition in tropical rainforests
Authors: Peguero Guille , Sardans Jordi , Asensio Dolores , Fernández-Martínez Marcos , Gargallo-Garriga Albert , Grau Oriol , Llusià Joan , Margalef Olga , Márquez Laura , Ogaya Romà , Urbina Ifigenia , Courtois Elodie A. , Stahl Clément , Van Langenhove Leandro , Verryckt Lore T. , Richter Andreas , Janssens Ivan A. , Peñuelas Josep
Published: September 2019

Soil fauna is a key control of the decomposition rate of leaf litter, yet its interactions with litter quality and the soil environment remain elusive. We conducted a litter decomposition experiment across different topographic levels within the landscape replicated in two rainforest sites providing natural gradients in soil fertility to test the hypothesis that low nutrient availability in litter and soil increases the strength of fauna control over litter decomposition. We crossed these data with a large dataset of 44 variables characterizing the biotic and abiotic microenvironment of each sampling point and found that microbe-driven carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) losses from leaf litter were 10.1 and 17.9% lower, respectively, in the nutrient-poorest site, but this among-site difference was equalized when meso- and macrofauna had access to the litterbags. Further, on average, soil fauna enhanced the rate of litter decomposition by 22.6%, and this contribution consistently increased as nutrient availability in the microenvironment declined. Our results indicate that nutrient scarcity increases the importance of soil fauna on C and N cycling in tropical rainforests. Further, soil fauna is able to equalize differences in microbial decomposition potential, thus buffering to a remarkable extent nutrient shortages at an ecosystem level.
Meiotic drive reduces egg-to-adult viability in stalk-eyed flies
Authors: Finnegan Sam Ronan , White Nathan Joseph , Koh Dixon , Camus M. Florencia , Fowler Kevin , Pomiankowski Andrew
Published: September 2019

A number of species are affected bySex-Ratio(SR) meiotic drive, a selfish genetic element located on the X-chromosome that causes dysfunction of Y-bearing sperm. SR is transmitted to up to 100% of offspring, causing extreme sex ratio bias. SR in several species is found in a stable polymorphism at a moderate frequency, suggesting there must be strong frequency-dependent selection resisting its spread. We investigate the effect of SR on female and male egg-to-adult viability in the Malaysian stalk-eyed fly,Teleopsis dalmanni. SR meiotic drive in this species is old, and appears to be broadly stable at a moderate (approx. 20%) frequency. We use large-scale controlled crosses to estimate the strength of selection acting against SR in female and male carriers. We find that SR reduces the egg-to-adult viability of both sexes. In females, homozygous females experience greater reduction in viability (sf= 0.242) and the deleterious effects of SR are additive (h= 0.511). The male deficit in viability (sm= 0.214) is not different from that in homozygous females. The evidence does not support the expectation that deleterious side effects of SR are recessive or sex-limited. We discuss how these reductions in egg-to-adult survival, as well as other forms of selection acting on SR, may maintain the SR polymorphism in this species.
A sheep in wolf’s clothing: levels of deceit and detection in the evolution of cue-mimicry
Authors: Zareyan Shahab , Otto Sarah P. , Hauert Christoph
Published: September 2019

In an evolutionary context, trusted signals or cues provide individuals with the opportunity to manipulate them to their advantage by deceiving others. The deceived can then respond to the deception by either ignoring the signals or cues or evolving means of deception–detection. If the latter happens, it can result in an arms race between deception and detection. Here, we formally analyse these possibilities in the context of cue-mimicry in prey–predator interactions. We demonstrate that two extrinsic parameters control whether and for how long an arms race continues: the benefits of deception, and the cost of ignoring signals and cues and having an indiscriminate response. As long as the cost of new forms of deception is less than its benefits and the cost of new forms of detection is less than the cost of an indiscriminate response, an arms race results in the perpetual evolution of better forms of detection and deception. When novel forms of deception or detection become too costly to evolve, the population settles on a polymorphic equilibrium involving multiple strategies of deception and honesty, and multiple strategies of detection and trust.
Resistance and Tolerance to Root Herbivory in Maize were Mediated by Domestication, Spread, and Breeding
Authors: Fontes-Puebla Ana A. , Bernal Julio S.
Published: September 2019

Plants may defend against herbivory and disease through various means. Plant defensive strategies against herbivores include resistance and tolerance, which may have metabolic costs that affect plant growth and reproduction. Thus, expression of these strategies may be mediated by a variety of factors, such as resource availability, herbivory pressure, and plant genetic variation, among others. Additionally, artificial selection by farmers and systematic breeding by scientists may mediate the expression of resistance and tolerance in crop plants. In this study, we tested whether maize defense against Western corn rootworm (WCR) was mediated by the crop’s domestication, spread, and modern breeding. We expected to find a trend of decreasing resistance to WCR with maize domestication, spread, and breeding, and a trend of increasing tolerance with decreasing resistance. To test our expectations, we compared resistance and tolerance among fourZeaplants spanning those processes: Balsas teosinte, Mexican landrace maize, US landrace maize, and US inbred maize. We measured performance of WCR larvae as a proxy for plant resistance, and plant growth as affected by WCR feeding as a proxy for plant tolerance. Our results showed that domestication and spread decreased maize resistance to WCR, as expected, whereas breeding increased maize resistance to WCR, contrary to expected. Our results also showed that maize resistance and tolerance to WCR are negatively correlated, as expected. We discussed our findings in relation to ecological-evolutionary hypotheses seeking to explain defense strategy evolution in the contexts of plant resistance-productivity trade-offs, plant tolerance-resistance trade-offs, and varying resource availability vis-à-vis plant physiological stress and herbivory pressure. Finally, we suggested that defense strategy evolution in maize, from domestication to the present, is predicted by those ecological-evolutionary hypotheses.
Local regulation of lipid synthesis controls ER sheet insertion into nuclear envelope holes to complete nuclear closure
Authors: Penfield Lauren , Shankar Raakhee , Szentgyörgyi Erik , Laffitte Alyssa , Mauro Michael , Audhya Anjon , Müller-Reichert Thomas , Bahmanyar Shirin
Published: September 2019

The nuclear permeability barrier depends on closure of holes in the nuclear envelope (NE). Here, we use meiotic C. elegans oocytes to demonstrate that local control of glycerophospholipid synthesis by CNEP-1/CTDNEP1 regulates the insertion of ER sheets into NE holes and functions independently of ESCRT-III to ensure NE closure. Deletion of CNEP-1 causes excess incorporation of ER membranes into NE holes and a defective NE permeability barrier. ESCRT-III components accumulate at the NE opening surrounding the meiotic spindle, and loss of NE adaptors for ESCRT-III exacerbates NE sealing defects in cnep-1 mutants. Limiting ER sheet production by restoring glycerophospholipid synthesis in cnep-1 mutants rescued NE permeability defects. 3D analysis showed that membrane sheets feed into and narrow NE holes occluded by meiotic spindle microtubules supporting a role for ER sheet insertion in NE closure. Thus, feeding of ER sheets into NE holes must be coordinated with production of ER sheets near the NE to promote NE closure.