bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How divine solidarity liberates
Authors: Ashworth Justin
Published: September 2019

Many people have argued that God experiences the suffering of the oppressed, but does divine solidarity liberate? This article answers this question with incarnation-focused sketches of the doctrines of salvation, atonement and mission: God gives life and communion with God and neighbour (salvation) by living and communing with us in Jesus Christ (atonement); and God continues to give life and restore communion as the Spirit sent by the Father joins us to God and each other in Jesus Christ (mission). These doctrines are made explicitly liberationist by emphasising the sociopolitical dimensions and imperatives of life and communion with God and neighbour.
DYNAMIC INTERPLAY BETWEEN PRACTICE TYPE AND PRACTICE SCHEDULE IN A SECOND LANGUAGE
Authors: Suzuki Yuichi , Sunada Midori
Published: September 2019

To investigate the skill transfer and the effects of practice schedules in the learning of second language syntax, 129 intermediate-level English learners were divided into six groups, based on practice format (input vs. output practice) and practice schedule (blocked vs. interleaved vs. hybrid [blocked + interleaved]). Analyses revealed that the learners tested on the skill they had practiced outperformed those who were tested on the nonpracticed skill. This pattern was particularly pronounced in comprehension processing speed and production accuracy. Moreover, hybrid practice facilitated skill development more than blocked or interleaved practice alone. Furthermore, a dynamic interplay was detected among practice format, schedule, and learners’ prior knowledge. Hybrid practice led to the least transfer from receptive skills (gained through input practice) to productive skills. Unlike interleaved practice effects, the effects of blocked practice on comprehension speed were more susceptible to learners’ prior processing speed.
Lyon's Wagnerian Diva: Louise Janssen (1863–1938)
Authors: Ellis Katharine
Published: September 2019

It seems historiographically implausible to ascribe the reputation of fin-de-siècle Lyon as France's Bayreuth to the impact of a single middle-ranking soprano, but the Danish singer Louise Janssen's long-term presence, galvanic musical influence and box-office value suggest precisely that conclusion. Part of the explanation lies with the diva-worship of her supporters (‘Janssenistes’), who curated her image both during her career and in her retirement to create an adopted musical heroine whose memory remains guarded by Lyon council policy. That image, selectively constructed from among her Wagner roles, also typecast her as a singer who had much in common with Symbolist art – a potential Mélisande that Lyon never saw. This article brings together archival and press materials to explain how a foreign-born singer's agency and mythification contributed to a double French naturalisation – her own, and that of Wagner(ism).
Deferent Daisies: Caroline Miolan Carvalho, Christine Nilsson and Marguerite, 1869
Authors: Rowden Clair
Published: September 2019

This article explores a slice of the careers of two ‘rival’ coloratura singers – the Swedish soprano Christine Nilsson and the French soprano Caroline Miolan Carvalho – during the period 1867 to 1870, and considers the internationalisation of singing careers, women's choices and negotiation of their career paths, and fortunes made and lost. With both singers employed at the Paris Opéra from November 1868 onwards as Gounod's Faust went into rehearsal, the focus falls on the ‘Battle of the Marguerites’ in the Parisian press in spring 1869, which raised heated questions of dramatic and vocal interpretation and style, often linked to cultural stereotypes, as well as artistic legitimacy and stature. Through examination of previously overlooked archival financial and legal records, this article also reveals for the first time that Miolan Carvalho was indentured to the director of the Opéra Emile Perrin during this period.
Fanny Tacchinardi-Persiani, Carlo Balocchino and Italian Opera Business in Vienna, Paris and London (1837–1845)
Authors: Vellutini Claudio
Published: September 2019

This article addresses several historiographical questions about narratives of nineteenth-century Italian opera by discussing the international career of prima donna Fanny Tacchinardi-Persiani during the 1830s and 1840s. A number of hitherto overlooked letters between the singer and Carlo Balocchino, impresario of the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna, provide important insights into Tacchinardi-Persiani's strategies of self-representation in the context of a dynamic operatic network that included the Italian States, Vienna, Paris and London. By revealing shifting power dynamics between opera impresarios, performers and composers, these letters, read in parallel with reviews and other writings of the time, offer a fresh look at the economic, ideological and artistic factors that contributed to the shifting geography of the European operatic landscape in the first half of the nineteenth century.
Elective left pulmonary artery embolisation for pulmonary arteriovenous malformations secondary to cavopulmonary anastomoses not responsive to heart transplantation: a case report
Authors: Bebawy Caroline M. , Gordon Brent M. , Bock Matthew J.
Published: September 2019

A 10-year-old female with heterotaxy-asplenia and complex CHD developed pulmonary arteriovenous malformations with associated cyanosis after Fontan completion. She underwent orthotopic heart transplantation, but her pulmonary arteriovenous malformations persisted with progressive worsening cyanosis. Elective transcatheter left pulmonary artery embolisation was performed 2 years post-transplant, which successfully normalised her oxygen saturation without a significant increase in pulmonary artery pressure.
Nutrient composition of Australian fast-food and fast-casual children’s meals available in 2016 and changes in fast-food meals between 2010 and 2016
Authors: Wellard-Cole Lyndal , Hooper Astrid , Watson Wendy L , Hughes Clare
Published: September 2019

Objective:

A quarter of Australian children are overweight or obese. Research conducted in 2010 found that fast-food children’s meals were energy-dense and nutrient-poor. Since then, menu labelling and self-regulation of marketing have been introduced in Australia. The present study aimed to: (i) investigate the nutrient composition of children’s meals offered at fast-food chains; (ii) compare these with children’s daily requirements and recommendations and the food industry’s own criteria for healthier children’s meals; and (iii) determine whether results have changed since last investigated in 2010.

Design:

An audit of nutrition information for fast-food children’s meals was conducted. Meals were compared with 30 % (recommended contribution for a meal) and 100 % of children’s daily recommendations and requirements. A comparative analysis was conducted to determine if the proportion of meals that exceeded meal requirements and recommendations, and compliance with the food industry’s own criteria, changed between 2010 and 2016.

Setting:

Large Australian fast-food chains.

Participants:

All possible children’s meal combinations.

Results:

Overall, 289 children’s meals were included. Most exceeded 30 % of daily recommendations and requirements for a 4-year-old’s energy, saturated fat, sugars and Na. Results were also substantial for 8- and 13-year-olds, particularly for Na. When compared with mean energy and nutrient contents from 2010, there were minimal changes overall.

Conclusions:

Children’s meals can provide excess energy, saturated fat, sugar and Na to children’s diets. Systematic reformulation of energy, saturated fat, sugars and Na would improve the nutrient composition of the meals.
Is Chicago Water Pollution Halting a Silver Carp Invasion?
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: September 2019

Pollution is definitely not the solution to stopping invasive silver carp, researchers assert. But cleaner waters could affect the invasion front.
Altered Forecasts, Unmonitored Volcanoes, and Other Good Reads
Authors:   AGU
Published: September 2019

What Earth and space science stories are we recommending this week?
Remote Thermodynamic Impact of the Kuroshio Current on a Developing Tropical Cyclone Over the Western North Pacific in Boreal Fall
Authors: Fujiwara Keita , Kawamura Ryuichi , Kawano Tetsuya
Published: September 2019

To examine the remote linkage between tropical cyclone (TC) development and moisture transport from the Kuroshio Current toward the TC, we conducted sensitivity experiments that modified the surface latent heat flux (LHF) over the Kuroshio, applying a cloud‐resolving regional model and Lagrangian diagnostics to Typhoon Chaba as it approached Japan in October 2010. The synoptic environment was characterized by a combination of an anticyclone of continental origin around Japan and the northward‐migrating TC, bringing about low‐level northeasterlies over the Kuroshio through an enhanced meridional pressure gradient. When the LHF over the Kuroshio was artificially reduced or removed under this environmental flow, the intensity of the TC, which was fully away from the domain in which the LHF is modified, appreciably attenuated during its developing stage, implying the importance of moisture influx due to the environmental flow in TC development. Since dry air of midlatitude origin could receive little of the moisture supply from the Kuroshio in the sensitivity experiments, the values of equivalent potential temperature within the inflow layer tend to decrease, thus facilitating the weakening of convective updrafts and downdrafts around the eyewall of the TC. It is suggested that such changes act as an inhibitory factor for TC development. The Kuroshio has the potential to remotely influence the TC intensity over the western North Pacific if favorable synoptic conditions are satisfied.
Petrogenesis and Shock Metamorphism of Basaltic Lunar Meteorites Northwest Africa 4734 and 10597
Authors: Chen J. , Jolliff B. L. , Wang A. , Korotev R. L. , Wang K. , Carpenter P. K. , Chen H. , Ling Z. , Fu X. , Ni Y. , Cao H. , Huang Y.
Published: September 2019

We present comprehensive compositional and mineralogical results on two basaltic lunar meteorites Northwest Africa (NWA) 4734 and NWA 10597 to constrain their igneous mineralogy and metamorphic characteristics, and examine the potential pairing relationship among them and other meteorites (e.g., basaltic lunar meteorites collected from LaPaz Icefield, Antarctica (LAPs)). NWA 4734 and NWA 10597 are low‐Ti (3.2–3.5 wt.% TiO2), low‐Al (10–12 wt.% Al2O3), low‐K (880–1,300 ppm K) mare basalts derived from evolved parental magma (Mg# (molar Mg/[Mg + Fe] × 100) = 33.6–38.3) and are mostly composed of pyroxene (52.7–55.5 vol.%), plagioclase/maskelynite (27.5–29.3 vol.%), olivine (6.7–7.6 vol.%), and late‐formed components (i.e., mesostasis). Pyroxene and olivine in these two meteorites exhibit a multimodal compositional distribution, indicating multiple generations of these mafic minerals, which correspond to different evolution phases (e.g., magma chamber, ascending, and eruption) during the solidification of the basaltic parental magma. Immiscibility played an important role in the evolution of the late‐stage melts, inducing fractionation involving Fe‐rich and Si, K‐rich melts within mesostasis. Considering the extensive partial transformation of plagioclase to maskelynite across the sections, the average shock pressure endured by NWA 4734 and NWA 10597 is probably 23–29 GPa, which is consistent with the pressure condition (below 29.8 GPa) recorded by quartz. Similar textures, bulk composition, modal mineral proportions, and mineral compositions indicate that NWA 4734, NWA 10597, and the LAPs most likely originated from the same region of the Moon and both experienced intensive shock events.
Ubiquitination of RIPK1 suppresses programmed cell death by regulating RIPK1 kinase activation during embryogenesis
Authors: Zhang Xixi , Zhang Haiwei , Xu Chengxian , Li Xiaoming , Li Ming , Wu Xiaoxia , Pu Wenjuan , Zhou Bin , Wang Haikun , Li Dali , Ding Qiurong , Ying Hao , Wang Hui , Zhang Haibing
Published: September 2019

The ubiquitination status of RIPK1 is considered to be critical for cell fate determination. However, the in vivo role for RIPK1 ubiquitination remains undefined. Here we show that mice expressing RIPK1K376R which is defective in RIPK1 ubiquitination die during embryogenesis. This lethality is fully rescued by concomitant deletion of Fadd and Ripk3 or Mlkl. Mechanistically, cells expressing RIPK1K376R are more susceptible to TNF-α induced apoptosis and necroptosis with more complex II formation and increased RIPK1 activation, which is consistent with the observation that Ripk1K376R/K376R lethality is effectively prevented by treatment of RIPK1 kinase inhibitor and is rescued by deletion of Tnfr1. However, Tnfr1−/−Ripk1K376R/K376R mice display systemic inflammation and die within 2 weeks. Significantly, this lethal inflammation is rescued by deletion of Ripk3. Taken together, these findings reveal a critical role of Lys376-mediated ubiquitination of RIPK1 in suppressing RIPK1 kinase activity–dependent lethal pathways during embryogenesis and RIPK3-dependent inflammation postnatally.
Dynamic changes of muscle insulin sensitivity after metabolic surgery
Authors: Gancheva Sofiya , Ouni Meriem , Jelenik Tomas , Koliaki Chrysi , Szendroedi Julia , Toledo Frederico G. S. , Markgraf Daniel F. , Pesta Dominik H. , Mastrototaro Lucia , De Filippo Elisabetta , Herder Christian , Jähnert Markus , Weiss Jürgen , Strassburger Klaus , Schlensak Matthias , Schürmann Annette , Roden Michael
Published: September 2019

The mechanisms underlying improved insulin sensitivity after surgically-induced weight loss are still unclear. We monitored skeletal muscle metabolism in obese individuals before and over 52 weeks after metabolic surgery. Initial weight loss occurs in parallel with a decrease in muscle oxidative capacity and respiratory control ratio. Persistent elevation of intramyocellular lipid intermediates, likely resulting from unrestrained adipose tissue lipolysis, accompanies the lack of rapid changes in insulin sensitivity. Simultaneously, alterations in skeletal muscle expression of genes involved in calcium/lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function associate with subsequent distinct DNA methylation patterns at 52 weeks after surgery. Thus, initial unfavorable metabolic changes including insulin resistance of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle precede epigenetic modifications of genes involved in muscle energy metabolism and the long-term improvement of insulin sensitivity.
B cells sustain inflammation and predict response to immune checkpoint blockade in human melanoma
Authors: Griss Johannes , Bauer Wolfgang , Wagner Christine , Simon Martin , Chen Minyi , Grabmeier-Pfistershammer Katharina , Maurer-Granofszky Margarita , Roka Florian , Penz Thomas , Bock Christoph , Zhang Gao , Herlyn Meenhard , Glatz Katharina , Läubli Heinz , Mertz Kirsten D. , Petzelbauer Peter , Wiesner Thomas , Hartl Markus , Pickl Winfried F. , Somasundaram Rajasekharan , Steinberger Peter , Wagner Stephan N.
Published: September 2019

Tumor associated inflammation predicts response to immune checkpoint blockade in human melanoma. Current theories on regulation of inflammation center on anti-tumor T cell responses. Here we show that tumor associated B cells are vital to melanoma associated inflammation. Human B cells express pro- and anti-inflammatory factors and differentiate into plasmablast-like cells when exposed to autologous melanoma secretomes in vitro. This plasmablast-like phenotype can be reconciled in human melanomas where plasmablast-like cells also express T cell-recruiting chemokines CCL3, CCL4, CCL5. Depletion of B cells in melanoma patients by anti-CD20 immunotherapy decreases tumor associated inflammation and CD8+ T cell numbers. Plasmablast-like cells also increase PD-1+ T cell activation through anti-PD-1 blockade in vitro and their frequency in pretherapy melanomas predicts response and survival to immune checkpoint blockade. Tumor associated B cells therefore orchestrate and sustain melanoma inflammation and may represent a predictor for survival and response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
Revealing exciton masses and dielectric properties of monolayer semiconductors with high magnetic fields
Authors: Goryca M. , Li J. , Stier A. V. , Taniguchi T. , Watanabe K. , Courtade E. , Shree S. , Robert C. , Urbaszek B. , Marie X. , Crooker S. A.
Published: September 2019

In semiconductor physics, many essential optoelectronic material parameters can be experimentally revealed via optical spectroscopy in sufficiently large magnetic fields. For monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenide semiconductors, this field scale is substantial—tens of teslas or more—due to heavy carrier masses and huge exciton binding energies. Here we report absorption spectroscopy of monolayer$${{\rm{MoS}}}_{2},{{\rm{MoSe}}}_{2},{{\rm{MoTe}}}_{2}$$MoS2,MoSe2,MoTe2, and$${{\rm{WS}}}_{2}$$WS2in very high magnetic fields to 91 T. We follow the diamagnetic shifts and valley Zeeman splittings of not only the exciton’s$$1s$$1sground state but also its excited$$2s,3s,\ldots ,ns$$2s,3s,…,nsRydberg states. This provides a direct experimental measure of the effective (reduced) exciton masses and dielectric properties. Exciton binding energies, exciton radii, and free-particle bandgaps are also determined. The measured exciton masses are heavier than theoretically predicted, especially for Mo-based monolayers. These results provide essential and quantitative parameters for the rational design of opto-electronic van der Waals heterostructures incorporating 2D semiconductors.
Impact of free cancer predisposition cascade genetic testing on uptake in Singapore
Authors: Courtney Eliza , Chok Amanda Kay-Lyn , Ting Ang Zoe Li , Shaw Tarryn , Li Shao-Tzu , Yuen Jeanette , Ngeow Joanne
Published: September 2019

Cascade testing for cancer predisposition offers a highly efficient and cost-effective method for identifying individuals at increased risk for cancer, in whom targeted interventions can often improve survival. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of free cascade testing on uptake and identify other associated factors. Demographic and clinical data were gathered prospectively for 183 probands found to have a pathogenic variant associated with cancer predisposition and their 826 first-degree relatives (FDRs). The provision of free cascade testing was significantly associated with uptake (21.6% vs 6.1%; χ2, P < 0.001). Relationship type between FDR and proband and FDR age also demonstrated significant associations, suggesting greater engagement amongst younger generations. Overall, 29.0% (53/183) of families had at least 1 FDR who underwent cascade testing. Of these families, 67.9% (36/53) had an uptake rate of at least 40.0%. Cost is a significant barrier to cascade testing uptake in Singapore. Tailored interventions targeting underrepresented groups and genetic counseling approaches supporting family communication and decision-making are necessary.
Tumour-specific Causal Inference Discovers Distinct Disease Mechanisms Underlying Cancer Subtypes
Authors: Xue Yifan , Cooper Gregory , Cai Chunhui , Lu Songjian , Hu Baoli , Ma Xiaojun , Lu Xinghua
Published: September 2019

Cancer is a disease mainly caused by somatic genome alterations (SGAs) that perturb cellular signalling systems. Furthermore, the combination of pathway aberrations in a tumour defines its disease mechanism, and distinct disease mechanisms underlie the inter-tumour heterogeneity in terms of disease progression and responses to therapies. Discovering common disease mechanisms shared by tumours would provide guidance for precision oncology but remains a challenge. Here, we present a novel computational framework for revealing distinct combinations of aberrant signalling pathways in tumours. Specifically, we applied the tumour-specific causal inference algorithm (TCI) to identify causal relationships between SGAs and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) within tumours from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) study. Based on these causal inferences, we adopted a network-based method to identify modules of DEGs, such that the member DEGs within a module tend to be co-regulated by a common pathway. Using the expression status of genes in a module as a surrogate measure of the activation status of the corresponding pathways, we divided breast cancers (BRCAs) into five subgroups and glioblastoma multiformes (GBMs) into six subgroups with distinct combinations of pathway aberrations. The patient groups exhibited significantly different survival patterns, indicating that our approach can identify clinically relevant disease subtypes.
Retraction Note: Doubled haploid production in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) through isolated microspore culture
Authors: Yi Dengxia , Sun Jifeng , Su Yanbin , Tong Zongyong , Zhang Tiejun , Wang Zan
Published: September 2019

This paper has been retracted.
Controlling spin supercurrents via nonequilibrium spin injection
Authors: Ouassou Jabir Ali , Robinson Jason W. A. , Linder Jacob
Published: September 2019

We propose a mechanism whereby spin supercurrents can be manipulated in superconductor/ferromagnet proximity systems via nonequilibrium spin injection. We find that if a spin supercurrent exists in equilibrium, a nonequilibrium spin accumulation will exert a torque on the spins transported by this current. This interaction causes a new spin supercurrent contribution to manifest out of equilibrium, which is proportional to and polarized perpendicularly to both the injected spins and the equilibrium spin current. This is interesting for several reasons: as a fundamental physical effect; due to possible applications as a way to control spin supercurrents; and timeliness in light of recent experiments on spin injection in proximitized superconductors.
Generation of c-MycERTAM-transduced human late-adherent olfactory mucosa cells for potential regenerative applications
Authors: Santiago-Toledo Gerardo , Georgiou Melanie , dos Reis Joana , Roberton Victoria H. , Valinhas Ana , Wood Rachael C. , Phillips James B. , Mason Chris , Li Daqing , Li Ying , Sinden John D. , Choi David , Jat Parmjit S. , Wall Ivan B.
Published: September 2019

Human olfactory mucosa cells (hOMCs) have been transplanted to the damaged spinal cord both pre-clinically and clinically. To date mainly autologous cells have been tested. However, inter-patient variability in cell recovery and quality, and the fact that the neuroprotective olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC) subset is difficult to isolate, means an allogeneic hOMC therapy would be an attractive “off-the-shelf” alternative. The aim of this study was to generate a candidate cell line from late-adherent hOMCs, thought to contain the OEC subset. Primary late-adherent hOMCs were transduced with a c-MycERTAMgene that enables cell proliferation in the presence of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT). Two c-MycERTAM-derived polyclonal populations, PA5 and PA7, were generated and expanded. PA5 cells had a normal human karyotype (46, XY) and exhibited faster growth kinetics than PA7, and were therefore selected for further characterisation. PA5 hOMCs express glial markers (p75NTR, S100ß, GFAP and oligodendrocyte marker O4), neuronal markers (nestin and ß-III-tubulin) and fibroblast-associated markers (CD90/Thy1 and fibronectin). Co-culture of PA5 cells with a neuronal cell line (NG108-15) and with primary dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons resulted in significant neurite outgrowth after 5 days. Therefore, c-MycERTAM-derived PA5 hOMCs have potential as a regenerative therapy for neural cells.
Evaluation of the postoperative stability of a counter-clockwise rotation technique for skeletal class II patients by using a novel three- dimensional position-posture method
Authors: Wan Zhuqing , Shen Steve Guofang , Gui Haijun , Zhang Peng , Shen Shunyao
Published: September 2019

The aim of this study is to evaluate the postsurgical stability of skeletal class II patients after performing a counter-clockwise rotational (CCWR) procedure for the maxilla-mandibular complex (MMC) by using a novel Three-dimensional (3D) Position-Posture(P-P) measuring method. Twenty-five patients (5 males and 20 females) were included in this study. The postoperative CT scans of the skull were taken before surgery(T0), 3–7 days (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) after surgery. Specific anatomic landmarks were chosen to determine the position of the segments, while three equally perpendicular planes were created to describe their posture. The results show that the linear relapse of maxillary landmarks during the follow-up were acceptable (≤0.5 mm). The relapse of maxillary pitch plane at 6-months follow-up is 1.52°, which is acceptable. There was a significant pitch plane relapse of the mandibular-body segment with an average of 1.86° between T1 and T2 models, 3.28° between T1 and T3 models. There was no significant difference between roll and yaw planes during the follow-up. We therefore conclude that the P-P method could be used to accurately analyze the postsurgical stability of skeletal class II orthognathic surgery cases. For CCWR procedures, it was also shown that the there is a tendency for recurrence most specially on the body of the mandible.
A small gene sequencing panel realises a high diagnostic rate in patients with congenital nystagmus following basic phenotyping
Authors: O’Gorman Luke , Norman Chelsea S. , Michaels Luke , Newall Tutte , Crosby Andrew H. , Mattocks Christopher , Cree Angela J. , Lotery Andrew J. , Baple Emma L. , Ratnayaka J. Arjuna , Baralle Diana , Lee Helena , Osborne Daniel , Shawkat Fatima , Gibson Jane , Ennis Sarah , Self Jay E.
Published: September 2019

Nystagmus is a disorder of uncontrolled eye movement and can occur as an isolated trait (idiopathic INS, IINS) or as part of multisystem disorders such as albinism, significant visual disorders or neurological disease. Eighty-one unrelated patients with nystagmus underwent routine ocular phenotyping using commonly available phenotyping methods and were grouped into four sub-cohorts according to the level of phenotyping information gained and their findings. DNA was extracted and sequenced using a broad utility next generation sequencing (NGS) gene panel. A clinical subpanel of genes for nystagmus/albinism was utilised and likely causal variants were prioritised according to methods currently employed by clinical diagnostic laboratories. We determine the likely underlying genetic cause for 43.2% of participants with similar yields regardless of prior phenotyping. This study demonstrates that a diagnostic workflow combining basic ocular phenotyping and a clinically available targeted NGS panel, can provide a high diagnostic yield for patients with infantile nystagmus, enabling access to disease specific management at a young age and reducing the need for multiple costly, often invasive tests. By describing diagnostic yield for groups of patients with incomplete phenotyping data, it also permits the subsequent design of ‘real-world’ diagnostic workflows and illustrates the changing role of genetic testing in modern diagnostic workflows for heterogeneous ophthalmic disorders.
A mantidfly in Cretaceous Spanish amber provides insights into the evolution of integumentary specialisations on the raptorial foreleg
Authors: Pérez-de la Fuente Ricardo , Peñalver Enrique
Published: September 2019

Multiple predatory insect lineages have developed a raptorial lifestyle by which they strike and hold prey using modified forelegs armed with spine-like structures and other integumentary specialisations. However, how structures enabling the raptorial function evolved in insects remains largely hypothetical or inferred through phylogeny due to the rarity of meaningful fossils. This is particularly true for mantidflies (Neuroptera: Mantispidae), which have a scarce fossil record mostly based on rock compressions, namely isolated wings. Here,Aragomantispa laceratagen. et sp. nov. is described from ca. 105-million-year-old San Just amber (Spain), representing the oldest and one of the few mantidflies hitherto described from amber. The fossil shows exquisitely preserved forefemoral spine-like structures composed of integumentary processes each bearing a modified seta, and prostrate setae on foretibiae and foretarsi. The fine morphology of these structures was unknown in fossil mantidflies. An assessment of integumentary specialisations from raptorial forelegs across mantispoid lacewings is provided. The present finding reveals how the specialised foreleg armature associated to the raptorial lifestyle in extant mantidflies was present yet not fully established by the Early Cretaceous, at least in some lineages, and provides palaeontological evidence supporting certain evolutionary patterns of acquisition of integumentary specialisations related to the raptorial function in the group.
Technical considerations of multi-parametric tissue outcome prediction methods in acute ischemic stroke patients
Authors: Winder Anthony J. , Siemonsen Susanne , Flottmann Fabian , Thomalla Götz , Fiehler Jens , Forkert Nils D.
Published: September 2019

Decisions regarding acute stroke treatment rely heavily on imaging, but interpretation can be difficult for physicians. Machine learning methods can assist clinicians by providing tissue outcome predictions for different treatment approaches based on acute multi-parametric imaging. To produce such clinically viable machine learning models, factors such as classifier choice, data normalization, and data balancing must be considered. This study gives comprehensive consideration to these factors by comparing the agreement of voxel-based tissue outcome predictions using acute imaging and clinical parameters with manual lesion segmentations derived from follow-up imaging. This study considers random decision forest, generalized linear model, and k-nearest-neighbor machine learning classifiers in conjunction with three data normalization approaches (non-normalized, relative to contralateral hemisphere, and relative to contralateral VOI), and two data balancing strategies (full dataset and stratified subsampling). These classifier settings were evaluated based on 90 MRI datasets from acute ischemic stroke patients. Distinction was made between patients recanalized using intraarterial and intravenous methods, as well as those without successful recanalization. For primary quantitative comparison, the Dice metric was computed for each voxel-based tissue outcome prediction and its corresponding follow-up lesion segmentation. It was found that the random forest classifier outperformed the generalized linear model and the k-nearest-neighbor classifier, that normalization did not improve the Dice score of the lesion outcome predictions, and that the models generated lesion outcome predictions with higher Dice scores when trained with balanced datasets. No significant difference was found between the treatment groups (intraarterial vs intravenous) regarding the Dice score of the tissue outcome predictions.
Silk physico-chemical variability and mechanical robustness facilitates intercontinental invasibility of a spider
Authors: Viera Carmen , Garcia Luis F. , Lacava Mariángeles , Fang Jian , Wang Xungai , Kasumovic Michael M. , Blamires Sean J.
Published: September 2019

There are substantive problems associated with invasive species, including threats to endemic organisms and biodiversity. Understanding the mechanisms driving invasions is thus critical. Variable extended phenotypes may enable animals to invade into novel environments. We explored here the proposition that silk variability is a facilitator of invasive success for the highly invasive Australian house spider,Badumna longinqua. We compared the physico-chemical and mechanical properties and underlying gene expressions of its major ampullate (MA) silk between a native Sydney population and an invasive counterpart from Montevideo, Uruguay. We found that while differential gene expressions might explain the differences in silk amino acid compositions and protein nanostructures, we did not find any significant differences in silk mechanical properties across the populations. Our results accordingly suggest thatB.longinqua’s silk remains functionally robust despite underlying physico-chemical and genetic variability as the spider expands its range across continents. They also imply that a combination of silk physico-chemical plasticity combined with mechanical robustness might contribute more broadly to spider invasibilities.
Hand size underestimation grows during childhood
Authors: Cardinali Lucilla , Serino Andrea , Gori Monica
Published: September 2019

Cortical body size representations are distorted in the adult, from low-level motor and sensory maps to higher levels multisensory and cognitive representations. Little is known about how such representations are built and evolve during infancy and childhood. Here we investigated how hand size is represented in typically developing children aged 6 to 10. Participants were asked to estimate their hand size using two different sensory modalities (visual or haptic). We found a distortion (underestimation) already present in the youngest children. Crucially, such distortion increases with age and regardless of the sensory modality used to access the representation. Finally, underestimation is specific for the body as no bias was found for object estimation. This study suggests that the brain does not keep up with the natural body growth. However, since motor behavior nor perception were impaired, the distortion seems functional and/or compensated for, for proper interaction with the external environment.
Nanomotor tracking experiments at the edge of reproducibility
Authors: Novotný Filip , Pumera Martin
Published: September 2019

The emerging field of self-propelling micro/nanorobots is teeming with a wide variety of novel micro/nanostructures, which are tested here for self-propulsion in a liquid environment. As the size of these microscopic movers diminishes into the fully nanosized region, the ballistic paths of an active micromotor become a random walk of colloidal particles. To test such colloidal samples for self-propulsion, the commonly adopted “golden rule” is to refer to the mean squared displacement (MSD) function of the measured particle tracks. The practical significance of the result strongly depends on the amount of collected particle data and the sampling rate of the particle track. Because micro/nanomotor preparation methods are mostly low-yield, the amount of used experimental data in published results is often on the edge of reproducibility. To address the situation, we perform MSD analysis on an experimental as well as simulated dataset. These data are used to explore the effects of MSD analysis on limited data and several situations where the lack of data can lead to insignificant results.
Bayesian Random Effect Modeling for analyzing spatial clustering of differential time trends of diarrhea incidences
Authors: Osei Frank Badu , Stein Alfred
Published: September 2019

In 2012, nearly 644,000 people died from diarrhea in sub-Saharan Africa. This is a significant obstacle towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 3 of ensuring a healthy life and promoting the wellbeing at all ages. To enhance evidence-based site-specific intervention and mitigation strategies, especially in resource-poor countries, we focused on developing differential time trend models for diarrhea. We modeled the logarithm of the unknown risk for each district as a linear function of time with spatially varying effects. We induced correlation between the random intercepts and slopes either by linear functions or bivariate conditional autoregressive (BiCAR) priors. In comparison, models which included correlation between the varying intercepts and slopes outperformed those without. The convolution model with the BiCAR correlation prior was more competitive than the others. The inclusion of correlation between the intercepts and slopes provided an epidemiological value regarding the response of diarrhea infection dynamics to environmental factors in the past and present. We found diarrhea risk to increase by 23% yearly, a rate far exceeding Ghana’s population growth rate of 2.3%. The varying time trends widely varied and clustered, with the majority of districts with at least 80% chance of their rates exceeding the previous years. These findings can be useful for active site-specific evidence-based planning and interventions for diarrhea.
ALKBH overexpression in head and neck cancer: potential target for novel anticancer therapy
Authors: Pilžys Tomaš , Marcinkowski Michał , Kukwa Wojciech , Garbicz Damian , Dylewska Małgorzata , Ferenc Karolina , Mieczkowski Adam , Kukwa Andrzej , Migacz Ewa , Wołosz Dominika , Mielecki Damian , Klungland Arne , Piwowarski Jan , Poznański Jarosław , Grzesiuk Elżbieta
Published: September 2019

The nine identified human homologues of E. coli AlkB 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenase, ALKBH1-8 and FTO, display different substrate specificities and diverse biological functions. Here we discovered the combined overexpression of members of the ALKBH family in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). We found direct correlation of ALKBH3 and FTO expression with primary HNSCC tumor size. We observed unidentified thus far cytoplasmic localization of ALKBH2 and 5 in HNSCC, suggesting abnormal role(s) of ALKBH proteins in cancer. Further, high expression of ALKBHs was observed not only in HNSCC, but also in several cancerous cell lines and silencing ALKBH expression in HeLa cancer cells resulted in dramatically decreased survival. Considering the discovered impact of high expression of ALKBH proteins on HNSCC development, we screened for ALKBH blockers among newly synthetized anthraquinone derivatives and demonstrated their potential to support standard anticancer therapy.
Strain-induced switching of heat current direction generated by magneto-thermoelectric effects
Authors: Ota Shinya , Uchida Ken-ichi , Iguchi Ryo , Thach Pham Van , Awano Hiroyuki , Chiba Daichi
Published: September 2019

Since the charge current plays a major role in information processing and Joule heating is inevitable in electronic devices, thermal management, i.e., designing heat flows, is required. Here, we report that strain application can change a direction of a heat current generated by magneto-thermoelectric effects. For demonstration, we used metallic magnets in a thin-film form, wherein the anomalous Ettingshausen effect mainly determines the direction of the heat flow. Strain application can alter the magnetization direction owing to the magnetoelastic effect. As a result, the heat current, which is in the direction of the cross product of the charge current and the magnetization vector, can be switched or rotated simply by applying a tensile strain to the metallic magnets. We demonstrate 180° switching and 90° rotation of the heat currents in an in-plane magnetized Ni sample on a rigid sapphire substrate and a perpendicularly magnetized TbFeCo film on a flexible substrate, respectively. An active thermography technique was used to capture the strain-induced change in the heat current direction. The method presented here provides a novel method for controlling thermal energy in electronic devices.
Wide-band Beam-scanning by Surface Wave Confinement on Leaky Wave Holograms
Authors: Moeini Mohammad Moein , Oraizi Homayoon , Amini Amrollah , Nayyeri Vahid
Published: September 2019

A two-dimensional (2-D) metasurface design for backward leaky wave suppression in microwave regime is proposed based on the theory of holography. The so-called Rabbit’s ears phenomenon describes that the backward mode in the reference wave plays the destructive role and makes the holography principle to behave properly mainly in an only narrow frequency interval. Here, we explore the utilization of the surface wave reflectors to suppress the backward mode to achieve wide-band holograms. Therefore, the reference wave form is manipulated by the choice of various reflector shapes and some providing forward mode dominant reference wave are analyzed and simulated. The less backward mode participates in the reference wave; the wider operation frequency range is obtained. With the canceled Rabbit’s ears phenomenon, variations in the reference wave frequency cause elevation angle scan. The results provide general insights into relation of the Rabbit’s ears phenomenon and the object wave accuracy in frequencies except the design frequency. The idea is also applied to multiple object wave holograms. The concept is verified using both electromagnetic full-wave simulations and experimental measurements.
Fatty acid transport protein 4 is required for incorporation of saturated ultralong-chain fatty acids into epidermal ceramides and monoacylglycerols
Authors: Lin Meei-Hua , Hsu Fong-Fu , Crumrine Debra , Meyer Jason , Elias Peter M. , Miner Jeffrey H.
Published: September 2019

Fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4) is an acyl-CoA synthetase that is required for normal permeability barrier in mammalian skin. FATP4 (SLC27A4) mutations cause ichthyosis prematurity syndrome, a nonlethal disorder. In contrast, Fatp4−/− mice die neonatally from a defective barrier. Here we used electron microscopy and lipidomics to characterize defects in Fatp4−/− mice. Mutants showed lamellar body, corneocyte lipid envelope, and cornified envelope abnormalities. Lipidomics identified two lipids previously speculated to be present in mouse epidermis, sphingosine β-hydroxyceramide and monoacylglycerol; mutants displayed decreased proportions of these and the two ceramide classes that carry ultralong-chain, amide-linked fatty acids (FAs) thought to be critical for barrier function, unbound ω-O-acylceramide and bound ω-hydroxyceramide, the latter constituting the major component of the corneocyte lipid envelope. Other abnormalities included elevated amounts of sphingosine α-hydroxyceramide, phytosphingosine non-hydroxyceramide, and 1-O-acylceramide. Acyl chain length alterations in ceramides also suggested roles for FATP4 in esterifying saturated non-hydroxy and β-hydroxy FAs with at least 25 carbons and saturated or unsaturated ω-hydroxy FAs with at least 30 carbons to CoA. Our lipidomic analysis is the most thorough such study of the Fatp4−/− mouse skin barrier to date, providing information about how FATP4 can contribute to barrier function by regulating fatty acyl moieties in various barrier lipids.
In-Vivo Retention of 5-Fluorouracil Using 19F Magnetic Resonance Chemical Shift Imaging in Colorectal Cancer in a Murine Model
Authors: Shepelytskyi Yurii , Fox Matthew S. , Davenport Karen , Li Tao , Albert Mitchell S. , Davenport Eric
Published: September 2019

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the most commonly used chemotherapies for treatment of solid tumours, including colorectal cancer. The efficacy of treatment is dependent on tumour type and can only be determined six weeks after beginning chemotherapy, with only 40–50% of patients responding positively to the 5-FU therapy. In this paper, we demonstrate the potential of using Magnetic Resonance (MR) Chemical Shift Imaging (CSI) for in-vivo monitoring of 5-FU tumor-retention in two different colorectal tumour types (HT-29 & H-508). Time curves for 5-FU signals from the liver and bladder were also acquired. We observed significant differences (p < 0.01) in 5-FU signal time dependencies for the HT-29 and H-508 tumours. Retention of 5-FU occurred in the H-508 tumour, whereas the HT-29 tumour is not expected to retain 5FU due to the observation of the negative b time constant indicating a decline in 5FU within the tumour. This study successfully demonstrates that CSI may be a useful tool for early identification of 5-FU responsive tumours based on observed tumour retention of the 5-FU.
Blood pressure change across pregnancy in white British and Pakistani women: analysis of data from the Born in Bradford cohort
Authors: Farrar Diane , Santorelli Gillian , Lawlor Debbie A. , Tuffnell Derek , Sheldon Trevor A. , West Jane , Macdonald-Wallis Corrie
Published: September 2019

The incidence of gestational hypertension (GH) and pre-eclampsia (PE) is increasing. Use of blood pressure (BP) change patterns may improve early detection of BP abnormalities. We used Linear spline random-effects models to estimate BP patterns across pregnancy for white British and Pakistani women. Pakistani women compared to white British women had lower BP during the first two trimesters of pregnancy, irrespective of the development of GH or PE or presence of a risk factor. Pakistani compared to white British women with GH and PE showed steeper BP increases towards the end of pregnancy. Pakistani women were half as likely to develop GH, but as likely to develop PE than white British women. To conclude; BP trajectories differ by ethnicity. Because GH developed evenly from 20 weeks gestation, and PE occurred more commonly after 36 weeks in both ethnic groups, the lower BP up to the third trimester in Pakistani women resulted in a lower GH rate, whereas PE rates, influenced by the steep third trimester BP increase were similar. Criteria for diagnosing GH and PE may benefit from considering ethnic differences in BP change across pregnancy.
Plasmon-Activated Water Reduces Amyloid Burden and Improves
Memory in Animals with Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Cheng Chia-Hsiung , Lin Kun-Ju , Hong Chien-Tai , Wu Dean , Chang Hung-Ming , Liu Cheng-Huan , Hsiao Ing-Tsung , Yang Chih-Ping , Liu Yu-Chuan , Hu Chaur-Jong
Published: September 2019

With the great extension of the human lifespan in recent times, many
aging diseases have inevitably followed. Dementia is one of the most-commom
neurodegenerative aging diseases, in which inflammation-related Alzheimer’s disease
(AD) is the most prevalent cause of dementia. Amyloid accumulation in the brain,
which occurs before any clinical presentations, might be the first and key step in
the development of AD. However, many clinical trials have attempted to remove
amyloid from brains of AD patients, but none has so far been successful. Negatively
charged plasmon-activated water (PAW) is created by resonantly illuminated gold (Au)
nanoparticles (NPs), which reduce the hydrogen-bonded (HB) structure of water. PAW
was found to possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Herein, we report
on an innovative strategy to retard the progression of AD by the daily consumption
of PAW instead of normal deionized (DI) water. APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice were
treated with PAW or DI water from the age of 5 months for the next 9 months.
Encouragingly, compared to DI water-treated mice, mice treated with PAW presented
better memory performance on a test of novel object recognition and had a
significantly lower amyloid burden according to 18F-florbetapir amyloid-PET and
phosphorylated (p)-tau burden according to Western blotting and immunohistochemistry
measurements. There were no obvious side effects in PAW-treated mice. Collectively,
our findings support that PAW was able to reduce the amyloid and p-tau burden and
improve memory in an AD mouse model. However, the protein levels of molecules
involved in amyloid metabolism and oligomeric amyloid did not change. We propose
that the effects of PAW of reducing the amyloid burden and improving memory function
cannot be attributed to synthesis/degradation of amyloid-βprotein but probably in
preventing aggregation of amyloid-β proteins or other mechanisms, including
anti-inflammation. Further applications of PAW in clinical trials to prevent the
progression of AD are being designed.