bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imaging of plant current pathways for non-invasive root Phenotyping using a newly developed electrical current source density approach
Authors: Peruzzo Luca , Chou Chunwei , Wu Yuxin , Schmutz Myriam , Mary Benjamin , Wagner Florian M. , Petrov Petr , Newman Gregory , Blancaflor Elison B. , Liu Xiuwei , Ma Xuefeng , Hubbard Susan
Published: April 2020

Aims

The flow of electric current in the root-soil system relates to the pathways of water and solutes, its characterization provides information on the root architecture and functioning. We developed a current source density approach with the goal of non-invasively image the current pathways in the root-soil system.

Methods

A current flow is applied from the plant stem to the soil, the proposed geoelectrical approach images the resulting distribution and intensity of the electric current in the root-soil system. The numerical inversion procedure underlying the approach was tested in numerical simulations and laboratory experiments with artificial metallic roots. We validated the method using rhizotron laboratory experiments on maize and cotton plants.

Results

Results from numerical and laboratory tests showed that our inversion approach was capable of imaging root-like distributions of the current source. In maize and cotton, roots acted as “leaky conductors”, resulting in successful imaging of the root crowns and negligible contribution of distal roots to the current flow. In contrast, the electrical insulating behavior of the cotton stems in dry soil supports the hypothesis that suberin layers can affect the mobility of ions and water.

Conclusions

The proposed approach with rhizotrons studies provides the first direct and concurrent characterization of the root-soil current pathways and their relationship with root functioning and architecture. This approach fills a major gap toward non-destructive imaging of roots in their natural soil environment.
Bureaucrats or Markets in Innovation Policy? – a critique of the entrepreneurial state
Authors: Karlson Nils , Sandström Christian , Wennberg Karl
Published: April 2020

This paper takes stock of recent suggestions that the state apparatus is a central and underappreciated actor in the generation, diffusion and exploitation of innovations enhancing growth and social welfare. We contrast such a view of “the entrepreneurial state” with theories and empirical evidence of the microeconomic processes of innovation in the modern economy which focus on well-functioning markets, free entry and competition among firms, and independent entrepreneurship as central mechanisms in the creation and dissemination of innovations. In doing so, we identify several deficiencies in the notion of an entrepreneurial state by showing that (i) there is weak empirical support in the many hundreds empirical studies and related meta analyses evaluating the effectiveness of active industrial and innovative policies, that (ii) these policies do not take account of the presence of information and incentive problems which together explain why attempts to address purported market failures often result in policy failures, and that (iii) the exclusive focus on knowledge creation through R&D and different forms of firm subsidies ignores the equally important mechanisms of knowledge dissemination and creation through commercial exploitation in markets. We discuss how a more theoretically well-founded focus on the state as investing in knowledge generation and securing the conditions of free and competitive markets will lead to a more innovative economy.
Simplicity of what? A case study from generative linguistics
Authors: Terzian Giulia , Corbalán María Inés
Published: April 2020

The Minimalist Program in generative linguistics is predicated on the idea that simplicity is a defining property of the human language faculty, on the one hand; on the other, a central aim of linguistic theorising. Worryingly, however, justifications for either claim are hard to come by in the literature. We sketch a proposal that would allow for both shortcomings to be addressed, and that furthermore honours the program’s declared commitment to naturalism. We begin by teasing apart and clarifying the different conceptions of simplicity underlying generative inquiry, in both ontological and theoretical capacities. We then trace a path towards a more robust justification for each type of simplicity principle, drawing on recent work in cognitive science and in philosophy of science, respectively. The resulting proposal hinges on the idea that simplicity is an evolved, virtuous cognitive bias—one that is a condition of our scientific understanding and, ultimately, of successful scientific practice. Finally, we make a case for why minimalists should take this proposal seriously, on the one hand; and for why generative linguistics would make for an interesting case study for philosophy of science, on the other.
LAA-Okkluder versus orale Antikoagulation bei nonvalvulärem Vorhofflimmern in klinischen Studien: Wie ist die Evidenz?
Authors: Barth U.
Published: April 2020

Hintergrund

Die LAAO („left atrial appendage occluder“) haben bislang gemäß europäischer Leitlinie nur eine Klasse-IIb-B-Empfehlung zur Prophylaxe zerebraler Insulte bei nichtvalvulärem Vorhofflimmern z. B. bei Patienten mit Kontraindikationen für eine Langzeitgabe von oralen Antikoagulanzien, die der Goldstandard zur Thromboembolieprophylaxe bei Vorhofflimmern mit einer Präferenz von NOAC („novel oral anticoagulants“) sind. Die Studie vergleicht die Sicherheit und Effektivität der LAA-Okkluder mit oralen Antikoagulanzien in klinischen Studien.

Methoden

Die Komplikationsraten (z. B. Blutungen, ischämischer Insult) in klinischen Studien mit LAAO bzw. oralen Antikoagulanzien wurden anhand einer Literaturanalyse (2010–19) und der BfArM-Datenbank (SAE-Meldungen) beurteilt.

Ergebnisse

In der Literaturanalyse sind die besonderen Risiken der LAAO (z. B. Perikarderguss) sichtbar.

In einigen Watchman-Studien bestand ein reduziertes Risiko zerebraler Insulte vergleichbar mit Warfarin. Die Auswertung der BfArM-Datenbank (Watchman-Register mit beendetem 5‑Jahres-Follow-up) zeigt z. B. einen Anteil der Patienten mit Medizinprodukt(MP)-Thrombus von 2,6 % für das Register (n = 1 dieser Patienten mit konsekutivem zerebralem Insult, mittlere Follow-up-Dauer des Registers 50,1 Monate). Der Anteil der Patienten mit ischämischem Insult bezogen auf die eingeschlossenen Patienten beträgt im Register 5,3 % (Ereignisrate 1,30 pro 100 Patientenjahre), mit hämorrhagischem Insult 0,7 % (Ereignisrate 0,17 pro 100 Patientenjahre), die kardiovaskuläre und ungeklärte Mortalität 7,1 % (Ereignisrate 1,69 pro 100 Patientenjahre), und die gesamte Mortalität 17,8 % (Ereignisrate 4,27 pro 100 Patientenjahre).

Diskussion

Die LAAO bieten den Vorteil, dass nach ihrer Endothelialisierung z. T. auf Gerinnungshemmer verzichtet werden und dadurch ein Einsatz bei Patienten mit erhöhten Blutungsrisiken erfolgen kann. Die Studienbetrachtung (Analyse der BfArM-Datenbank und wissenschaftlichen Literatur) bestätigt die klinische Evidenz hinsichtlich einer insgesamt sicheren Anwendung des Watchman MP in klinischen Studien.
Aortic Stiffness and Heart Failure in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Gawor Monika , Puntmann Valentina O.
Published: April 2020

Purpose of Review

To provide an update on the recent findings in the field of aortic stiffness and heart failure in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Recent Findings

Stratification of cardiovascular risk in CKD remains an open question. Recent reports suggest that aortic stiffness, an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in many patient populations, is also an important prognostic factor in CKD. Also, novel measures of myocardial tissue characterization, native T1 and T2 mapping techniques, have potential as diagnostic and prognostic factors in CKD.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance has the ability to thoroughly evaluate novel imaging markers: aortic stiffness, native T1, and native T2. Novel imaging markers can be used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes as well as potential therapeutic targets in CKD population.
Unbehauste – Herausforderungen Sozialer Arbeit in Zeiten des Rechtspopulismus
Authors: Haase Katrin
Published: April 2020

Unter dem Begriff „Unbehauste“ werden die konfliktbehafteten, verängstigten Subjekte, die sich rechtspopulistischen Bewegungen anschließen, gefasst. Er wird für die Auseinandersetzung mit Rechtspopulismus und den Herausforderungen Sozialer Arbeit produktiv genutzt. Basierend auf der ausgehend von Pegida vorgenommenen Problematisierung diskutiert der Beitrag Möglichkeiten von Gegenstrategien und zur Stärkung demokratisch-emanzipatorischer Gesellschaften.
Chromosome instabilities in resynthesized Brassica napus revealed by FISH
Authors: Sosnowska Katarzyna , Majka Maciej , Majka Joanna , Bocianowski Jan , Kasprowicz Marta , Książczyk Tomasz , Szała Laurencja , Cegielska-Taras Teresa
Published: April 2020

Brassica napusis an allopolyploid plant, derived from spontaneous hybridization betweenBrassica rapaandBrassica oleracea. Intensive breeding has led to a significant reduction in genetic and phenotypic diversity within this species. Newly resynthesized hybrids from progenitor species may restore some diversity inB. napus, but they often are chromosomally and phenotypically unstable. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we tested chromosome constitutions in a range of new allopolyploids resynthesized from various parental species. A majority of these allopolyploids were euploid, with the expected chromosome numbers and constitutions, but deviations were also identified. We detected a low level of intergenomic rearrangements in analyzed hybrids and a high level of changes in rDNA loci. Our study revealed a significant effect of maternal cross combination on loss of 35S rDNA loci, especially whenB. rapawas the maternal parent. The studied lines were characterized by diversified of pollen viability. In the analyzed hybrids, the erucic acid level in the seed oil ranged from 0 to 43.4% and total glucosinolate content in seeds ranged from 24.3 to 119.2 μmol g−1. Our study shows that cytogenetic analysis ofB. napusresynthesized hybrids would be useful in breeding for the selection of lines with important agricultural characters and genetically stable stock seed production.
London and the Modernist Bookshop
Authors: Chambers Matthew
Published: April 2020

The modernist bookshop, best exemplified by Sylvia Beach's Shakespeare & Co. and Harold Monro's Poetry Bookshop, has received scant attention outside these more prominent examples. This writing will review how bookshops like David Archer's on Parton Street (London) in the 1930s were sites of distribution, publication, and networking. Parton Street, which also housed Lawrence & Wishart publishers and a briefly vibrant literary scene, will be approached from several contexts as a way of situating the modernist bookshop within both the book trade and the literary communities which it interacted with and made possible.
Management of COVID-19 Outbreak in Argentina: The Beginning
Authors: Gemelli Nicolás Alejandro
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had in Argentina during its initial stage, identify the measures taken to try to mitigate its impact, and briefly compare it with the influenza A H1N1 pandemic in 2009. This is a descriptive study. Pandemics constitute a serious problem to global health with a major impact on the affected countries’ populations. The recent COVID-19 outbreak represents one of the most important viral pandemics lately. It reached Argentina 64 days after the first case was identified in China. Since then, several measures were taken by the Argentinian government to try to mitigate its impact in this initial stage. An updated report of the current situation and its management in different countries is of vital importance regarding global health issues and may serve for feedback and decision-making.
Consumer Taxes on Alcohol: An International Comparison over Time
Authors: Anderson Kym
Published: April 2020

Rates of alcohol taxation, and the types of tax instruments used, vary enormously between countries and have tended to rise in recent times. Within each country, they also vary between beverages and often between qualities and styles of each beverage. This article computes consumer tax equivalents in U.S. dollars per litre of alcohol and as percentages of wholesale prices of representative beverages for 42 high- and middle-income countries. That allows comparisons across countries of taxes not just for each product on its own, but also relative to those for other alcoholic beverages. The wide dispersion of rates and differences in tax instruments across countries and products suggest differing strengths of health and welfare lobbyists and industry groups in influencing government decision-making. (JEL Classifications: D12, D62, E62, H23, I18, P46)
A case study of the coconut crab Birgus latro on Zanzibar highlights global threats and conservation solutions
Authors: Caro Tim , Hamad Haji , Rashid Rashid Suleiman , Kloiber Ulrike , Morgan Victoria M. , Nokelainen Ossi , Caro Barnabas , Pretelli Ilaria , Cumberlidge Neil , Borgerhoff Mulder Monique
Published: April 2020

The coconut crab Birgus latro, the largest terrestrial decapod, is under threat in most parts of its geographical range. Its life cycle involves two biomes (restricted terrestrial habitats near the coast, and salt water currents of the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans). Its dependence on coastal habitat means it is highly vulnerable to the habitat destruction that typically accompanies human population expansion along coastlines. Additionally, it has a slow reproductive rate and can reach large adult body sizes that, together with its slow movement when on land, make it highly susceptible to overharvesting. We studied the distribution and population changes of coconut crabs at 15 island sites in coastal Tanzania on the western edge of the species' geographical range. Our aim was to provide the data required for reassessment of the extinction risk status of this species, which, despite indications of sharp declines in many places, is currently categorized on the IUCN Red List as Data Deficient. Pemba Island, Zanzibar, in Tanzania, is an important refuge for B. latro but subpopulations are fragmented and exploited by children and fishers. We discovered that larger subpopulations are found in the presence of crops and farther away from people, whereas the largest adult coconut crabs are found on more remote island reserves and where crabs are not exploited. Remoteness and protection still offer hope for this species but there are also opportunities for protection through local communities capitalizing on tourist revenue, a conservation solution that could be applied more generally across the species' range.
Evidence for an interrelated cluster of Hallucinatory experiences in the general population: an incidence study
Authors: Moriyama Tais S. , Drukker Marjan , Guloksuz Sinan , ten Have Magreet , de Graaf Ron , van Dorsselaer Saskia , Gunther Nicole , Bak Maarten , van Os Jim
Published: April 2020

Background

Although hallucinations have been studied in terms of prevalence and its associations with psychopathology and functional impairment, very little is known about sensory modalities other than auditory (i.e. haptic, visual and olfactory), as well the incidence of hallucinations, factors predicting incidence and subsequent course.

Methods

We examined the incidence, course and risk factors of hallucinatory experiences across different modalities in two unique prospective general population cohorts in the same country using similar methodology and with three interview waves, one over the period 1996–1999 (NEMESIS) and one over the period 2007–2015 (NEMESIS-2).

Results

In NEMESIS-2, the yearly incidence of self-reported visual hallucinations was highest (0.33%), followed by haptic hallucinations (0.31%), auditory hallucinations (0.26%) and olfactory hallucinations (0.23%). Rates in NEMESIS-1 were similar (respectively: 0.35%, 0.26%, 0.23%, 0.22%). The incidence of clinician-confirmed hallucinations was approximately 60% of the self-reported rate. The persistence rate of incident hallucinations was around 20–30%, increasing to 40–50% for prevalent hallucinations. Incident hallucinations in one modality were very strongly associated with occurrence in another modality (median OR = 59) and all modalities were strongly associated with delusional ideation (median OR = 21). Modalities were approximately equally strongly associated with the presence of any mental disorder (median OR = 4), functioning, indicators of help-seeking and established environmental risk factors for psychotic disorder.

Conclusions

Hallucinations across different modalities are a clinically relevant feature of non-psychotic disorders and need to be studied in relation to each other and in relation to delusional ideation, as all appear to have a common underlying mechanism.
Hot and cold cognitive disturbances in antidepressant-free patients with major depressive disorder: a NeuroPharm study
Authors: Dam V. H. , Stenbæk D. S. , Köhler-Forsberg K. , Ip C. , Ozenne B. , Sahakian B. J. , Knudsen G. M. , Jørgensen M. B. , Frokjaer V. G.
Published: April 2020

Background

Cognitive disturbances are common and disabling features of major depressive disorder (MDD). Previous studies provide limited insight into the co-occurrence of hot (emotion-dependent) and cold (emotion-independent) cognitive disturbances in MDD. Therefore, we here map both hot and cold cognition in depressed patients compared to healthy individuals.

Methods

We collected neuropsychological data from 92 antidepressant-free MDD patients and 103 healthy controls. All participants completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery assessing hot cognition including emotion processing, affective verbal memory and social cognition as well as cold cognition including verbal and working memory and reaction time.

Results

The depressed patients showed small to moderate negative affective biases on emotion processing outcomes, moderate increases in ratings of guilt and shame and moderate deficits in verbal and working memory as well as moderately slowed reaction time compared to healthy controls. We observed no correlations between individual cognitive tasks and depression severity in the depressed patients. Lastly, an exploratory cluster analysis suggested the presence of three cognitive profiles in MDD: one characterised predominantly by disturbed hot cognitive functions, one characterised predominantly by disturbed cold cognitive functions and one characterised by global impairment across all cognitive domains. Notably, the three cognitive profiles differed in depression severity.

Conclusion

We identified a pattern of small to moderate disturbances in both hot and cold cognition in MDD. While none of the individual cognitive outcomes mapped onto depression severity, cognitive profile clusters did. Overall cognition-based stratification tools may be useful in precision medicine approaches to MDD.
What's it worth? Value and valuation of late-life creativity
Authors: Gallistl Vera
Published: April 2020

New interest in late-life creativity has arisen in gerontology. To date, such research has mainly focused on the positive impact creativity has on older adults, but has scarcely contextualised older adults’ creative engagement. Drawing on the sociology of valuation, this article aims to contextualise late-life creativity by critically exploring how creativity gains, stabilises and loses its value and how these processes are related to perceptions, images and discourses addressing old age. Data from 13 interviews with older (60+) adults involved in creative practices in Austria are used to explore these topics. Interviews examined perceptions of creative production, everyday routines and personal attitudes towards ageing. Interviews transcripts were analysed using the documentary method. The analysis revealed three registers of valuation in late-life creativity: economic value, in which valuable creativity was given away at a high revenue; field value, where valuable creativity was appreciated by institutions or other artists in the field; and lifecourse value, in which doing a creative activity for a long time meant being able to produce a creative product that was high in value. This article emphasises late-life creativity as a process of value production that is structured by the making and evaluating of creative products and adds to the current critique that the narrow view of late-life creativity in its associations with wellbeing present a reductionist picture of the capacities that the arts and creativity have for older adults. The results demonstrate the potential for valuation studies in gerontology as they highlight the circumstances and practices by which the activities of older adults are (de)valued. For policy and practice, this article suggests imagining arts-based interventions for older adults beyond the realm of health and wellbeing, and encourages thinking about how valuable artistic experiences can be supported in later life.
The fourth edition of the European Network for Health Technology Assessment Forum: highlights and outcomes
Authors: Tafuri Giovanni , Bélorgey Chantal , Favaretti Carlo , Frénoy Edith , Giorgio Flora , Guardian Marcus , Hebborn Ansgar , Houÿez François , Imbert Jessica , Lacombe Denis , Garcia Jordi Llinares , Garrett Zoe , Petelos Elena , Saeterdal Ingvil , Schuurman Ad , Skjöldebrand Anna Lefevre , Strammiello Valentina , Widmer Daniel , Willemsen Anne , Hedberg Niklas
Published: April 2020

The European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) organizes an annual Forum with stakeholders to receive feedback on its activities, processes, and outputs produced. The fourth edition of the EUnetHTA Forum brought together representatives of HTA bodies, patient organizations, healthcare professionals (HCPs), academia, payers, regulators, and industry. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the highlights presented at the 2019 EUnetHTA Forum, reporting the main items and themes discussed in the plenary panel and breakout sessions. The leading topic was the concept of unmet medical need seen from different stakeholders' perspectives. Breakout sessions covered the joint production of assessment reports and engagement with payers, patients, and HCPs. Synergies, pragmatism, and inclusiveness across Member States and stakeholders were emphasized as leading factors to put in place a collaboration that serves the interest of patients and public health in a truly European spirit.
PROMOTING GRAMMATICAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CAPTIONS AND TEXTUAL ENHANCEMENT IN MULTIMODAL INPUT-BASED TASKS
Authors: Lee Minjin , Révész Andrea
Published: April 2020

This study assessed the extent to which captions, textually unenhanced and enhanced, can draw learners’ attention to and promote the acquisition of a second language (L2) grammatical construction. A pretest–posttest–delayed posttest experimental design was employed. Seventy-two Korean learners of English were randomly assigned to an enhanced captions group, an unenhanced captions group, and a no captions group. Each group completed a series of treatment tasks, during which they watched news clips under their respective captioning condition. The target L2 construction was the use of the present perfect versus the past simple in reporting news. For the enhanced captions group, the present perfect and past simple forms were typographically enhanced using a different color. Eye-movement indices were obtained to examine attentional allocation during the treatment, and oral and written productive tests and a fill-in-the-blank test were used to assess participants’ gains. A series of mixed-effects models found both captioning and textual enhancement effective in drawing learners’ attention to and facilitating development in the use of the target construction. In addition, positive links were identified between attention to captions and learners’ gains.
Meat Eating and Moral Responsibility: Exploring the Moral Distinctions between Meat Eaters and Puppy Torturers
Authors: Abbate C. E.
Published: April 2020

In his influential article on the ethics of eating animals, Alastair Norcross argues that consumers of factory raised meat and puppy torturers are equally condemnable because both knowingly cause serious harm to sentient creatures just for trivial pleasures. Against this claim, I argue that those who buy and consume factory raised meat, even those who do so knowing that they cause harm, have a partial excuse for their wrongdoings. Meat eaters act undersocial duress, which causesvolitional impairment, and they often act from deeply ingrained habits, which causes epistemic impairment. But puppy torturers act against cultural norms and habits, consciously choosing to perform wrongful acts. Consequently, the average consumer of factory raised meat has, while puppy torturers lack, acultural excuse. But although consumers of factory raised meat aren't blameworthy, they are partially morally responsible for their harmful behavior – and for this, they should feel regret, remorse, and shame.
A cognitive behavioural group therapy for bipolar disorder using daily mood monitoring
Authors: Henken H.T. , Kupka R.W. , Draisma S. , Lobbestael J. , van den Berg K. , Demacker S.M.A. , Regeer E.J.
Published: April 2020

Background and aim:

This study investigated the effects of group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for patients with bipolar disorder. The development of CBT for this disorder is relatively under-explored.

Method:

Participants with bipolar I or II disorder were treated with group CBT in addition to treatment as usual. The effectiveness of the protocol was explored through sequence analysis of daily mood monitoring prior to, during and after the intervention. Also, a repeated measures design was used assessing symptomatology, dysfunctional attitudes, sense of mastery, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life at start and end of intervention, and at follow-up 2 and 12 months later.

Results:

The results indicate that variation in mood states diminished over the course of the intervention. Also, there was a change from depressive states to more euthymic states. Greater number of reported lifetime depressive episodes was associated with greater diversity of mood states. There was an increase in overall psychosocial functioning and self-reported psychological health following the intervention. Improvement continued after treatment ended until follow-up at 2 months, and measured 1 year later, for outcomes representing depression, general psychosocial functioning and self-reported psychological health. Due to small sample size and the lack of a control group the results are preliminary.

Conclusions:

The results of this pilot study suggest that both offering CBT in group interventions and sequence analysis of time series data are helpful routes to further explore when improving standard CBT interventions for patients suffering from bipolar disorder.
UNSECURED CREDIT, PRODUCT VARIETY, AND UNEMPLOYMENT DYNAMICS
Authors: Silva Mario Rafael
Published: April 2020

Revolving credit is the prime determinant of short-run household liquidity and comoves positively with product variety and negatively with unemployment. I develop a theory of feedback between revolving credit and product development and examine its ability to explain labor market volatility. Extending the Mortensen–Pissarides model with an endogenous borrowing constraint and free entry of monopolistically competitive firms reproduces stylized facts in the data and amplifies both productivity and financial shocks through mutual causality. Higher debt limits encourage firm entry and raise product variety (the entry channel), and greater variety makes default more costly and thereby raises the equilibrium debt level (the consumption value channel). Though productivity shocks are sufficient to generate higher volatility, financial shocks are essential in approximating the time series patterns of unemployment, vacancies, and revolving credit in the data, and reproduce the rise in unemployment during the Great Recession.
Do Existing Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithms Use a Sufficient Number of Operators? An Empirical Investigation for Water Distribution Design Problems
Authors: Wang Peng , Zecchin Aaron C. , Maier Holger R. , Zheng Feifei , Newman Jeffrey P.
Published: April 2020

Multiobjective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) have been used extensively to solve water resources problems. Their success is dependent on how well the operators that control an algorithm's search behavior are able to identify near‐optimal solutions. As commonly used MOEAs contain a relatively small number of operators (generally between 2 and 7), this study investigates whether the performance of MOEAs could potentially be improved by increasing their operator set size. This is done via a series of controlled computational experiments isolating the influence of the size of the operator set (i.e., how many operators are used, ranging from 2 to 12), the composition of the operator set (i.e., which operators are used, given a set number of operators), the search strategy used (e.g., parent selection and survivor selection), and increasing the operator set size of an existing MOEA. These experiments are performed on six benchmark water distribution optimization problems. Results of the 3,150 optimization runs indicate that operator set size is the dominant factor affecting algorithm performance, having a significantly greater influence than operator set composition and other factors affecting algorithm search behavior. In addition, increasing the operator set size of the state‐of‐the‐art MOEA GALAXY, which has been designed specifically for solving water distribution optimization problems, from its currently used value of 6 to 12 increased its performance significantly. These results suggest there is value in investigating the potential of increasing operator set size for a range of algorithms and problem types.
Are Cosmic Rays a Key to Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions?
Authors: Johnson-Groh Mara
Published: April 2020

A combination of relativistic particles and artificial intelligence may provide a new way to forecast when a volcano could erupt.
The interdependence of mammary-specific super-enhancers and their native promoters facilitates gene activation during pregnancy
Authors: Zeng Xianke , Lee Hye Kyung , Wang Chaochen , Achikeh Precious , Liu Chengyu , Hennighausen Lothar
Published: April 2020

Lineage-specific genetic programs rely on cell-restricted super-enhancers, which are platforms for high-density transcription factor occupation. It is not known whether super-enhancers synergize specifically with their native promoters or provide autonomous and independent regulatory platforms. Here, we investigated the ability of the mammary Wap super-enhancer to activate the promoter of the juxtaposed and ubiquitously expressed Tbrg4 gene in the mouse mammary gland. The Wap super-enhancer was fused, alone or in combination with the Wap promoter, to the Tbrg4 gene. While the super-enhancer increased the expression of the Tbrg4 promoter five-fold, the combination of the super-enhancer and promoter resulted in 80-fold gene upregulation, demonstrating lineage-specific promoter–enhancer synergy. Employing ChIP-seq profiling to determine transcription factor binding and identify activating histone marks, we uncovered a chromatin platform that enables the high-level expression of the native promoter–enhancer but not the heterologous promoter. Taken together, our data reveal that lineage-specific enhancer–promoter synergy is critical for mammary gene regulation during pregnancy and lactation.
Profiling of subcellular EGFR interactome reveals hnRNP A3 modulates nuclear EGFR localization
Authors: Wang Tong-Hong , Wu Chih-Ching , Huang Kuo-Yen , Chuang Wen-Yu , Hsueh Chuen , Li Hsin-Jung , Chen Chi-Yuan
Published: April 2020

The aberrant subcellular translocation and distribution of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) represent a major yet currently underappreciated cancer development mechanism in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we investigated the subcellular interactome of EGFR by using a spectral counting-based approach combined with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to understand the associated protein networks involved in the tumorigenesis of NSCLC. A total of 54, 77, and 63 EGFR-interacting proteins were identified specifically in the cytosolic, mitochondrial, and nuclear fractions from a NSCLC cell line, respectively. Pathway analyses of these proteins using the KEGG database shown that the EGFR-interacting proteins of the cytosol and nucleus are involved in the ribosome and spliceosome pathways, respectively, while those of the mitochondria are involved in metabolizing propanoate, fatty acid, valine, leucine, and isoleucine. A selected nuclear EGFR-interacting protein, hnRNP A3, was found to modulate the accumulation of nuclear EGFR. Downregulation of hnRNP A3 reduced the nuclear accumulation of EGFR, and this was accompanied by reduced tumor growth ability in vitro and in vivo. These results indicate that variations in the subcellular translocation and distribution of EGFR within NSCLC cells could affect tumor progression.
Lgr5+ telocytes are a signaling source at the intestinal villus tip
Authors: Bahar Halpern Keren , Massalha Hassan , Zwick Rachel K. , Moor Andreas E. , Castillo-Azofeifa David , Rozenberg Milena , Farack Lydia , Egozi Adi , Miller Dan R. , Averbukh Inna , Harnik Yotam , Weinberg-Corem Noa , de Sauvage Frederic J. , Amit Ido , Klein Ophir D. , Shoshkes-Carmel Michal , Itzkovitz Shalev
Published: April 2020

The intestinal epithelium is a structured organ composed of crypts harboring Lgr5+ stem cells, and villi harboring differentiated cells. Spatial transcriptomics have demonstrated profound zonation of epithelial gene expression along the villus axis, but the mechanisms shaping this spatial variability are unknown. Here, we combine laser capture micro-dissection and single cell RNA sequencing to uncover spatially zonated populations of mesenchymal cells along the crypt-villus axis. These include villus tip telocytes (VTTs) that express Lgr5, a gene previously considered a specific crypt epithelial stem cell marker. VTTs are elongated cells that line the villus tip epithelium and signal through Bmp morphogens and the non-canonical Wnt5a ligand. Their ablation is associated with perturbed zonation of enterocyte genes induced at the villus tip. Our study provides a spatially-resolved cell atlas of the small intestinal stroma and exposes Lgr5+ villus tip telocytes as regulators of the epithelial spatial expression programs along the villus axis.
A non-anhydrous, minimally basic protocol for the simplification of nucleophilic 18F-fluorination chemistry
Authors: Inkster J. A. H. , Akurathi V. , Sromek A. W. , Chen Y. , Neumeyer J. L. , Packard A. B.
Published: April 2020

Fluorine-18 radiolabeling typically includes several conserved steps including elution of the [18F]fluoride from an anion exchange cartridge with a basic solution of K2CO3or KHCO3and Kryptofix 2.2.2. in mixture of acetonitrile and water followed by rigorous azeotropic drying to remove the water. In this work we describe an alternative “non-anhydrous, minimally basic” (“NAMB”) technique that simplifies the process and avoids the basic conditions that can sometimes limit the scope and efficiency of [18F]fluoride incorporation chemistry. In this approach, [18F]F−is eluted from small (10–12 mg) anion-exchange cartridges with solutions of tetraethylammonium bicarbonate, perchlorate or tosylate in polar aprotic solvents containing 10–50% water. After dilution with additional aprotic solvent, these solutions are useddirectlyin nucleophilic aromatic and aliphatic18F-fluorination reactions, obviating the need for azeotropic drying. Perchlorate and tosylate are minimally basic anions that are nevertheless suitable for removal of [18F]F-from the anion-exchange cartridge. As proof-of-principle, “NAMB” chemistry was utilized for the synthesis of the dopamine D2/D3antagonist [18F]fallypride.
Risk factors and pathological characteristics for intraductal tumor spread of submucosal gland in early esophageal squamous cell neoplasia
Authors: Wang Wen-Lun , Chang I-Wei , Hsu Ming-Hung , Chen Tzu-Haw , Tseng Chao-Ming , Tseng Cheng-Hao , Tai Chi-Ming , Wang Hsiu-Po , Lee Ching-Tai
Published: April 2020

The esophageal gland duct may serve as a pathway for the spread of early esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN) to a deeper layer. Deep intraductal tumor spreading cannot be completely eradicated by ablation therapy. However, the risk factors of ductal involvement (DI) in patients with ESCNs have yet to be investigated. We consecutively enrolled 160 early ESCNs, which were treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection. The resected specimens were reviewed for the number, morphology, resected margin, distribution and extension level of DI, which were then correlated to clinical factors. A total of 317 DIs (median:3, range 1–40 per-lesion) in 61 lesions (38.1%) were identified. Of these lesions, 14 have DIs maximally extended to the level of lamina propria mucosa, 17 to muscularis mucosae, and 30 to the submucosa. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tumors located in the upper esophagus (OR = 2.93, 95% CI, 1.02–8.42), large tumor circumferential extension (OR = 5.39, 95% CI, 1.06–27.47), deep tumor invasion depth (OR = 4.12, 95% CI, 1.81–9.33) and numerous Lugol-voiding lesions in background esophageal mucosa (OR = 2.65, 95% CI, 1.10–6.37) were risk factors for DI. The maximally extended level of ducts involved were significantly correlated with the cancer invasion depth (P < 0.05). Notably, 245 (77%) of the involved ducts were located at the central-trisection of the lesions, and 52% of them (165/317) revealed dilatation of esophageal glandular ducts. Five (1.6%) of the involved ducts revealed cancer cell invasion through the glandular structures. In conclusion, DI is not uncommon in early ESCN and may be a major limitation of endoscopic ablation therapy.
The complexity of clinically-normal sinus-rhythm ECGs is decreased in equine athletes with a diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Authors: Alexeenko Vadim , Fraser James A. , Bowen Mark , Huang Christopher L.-H. , Marr Celia M. , Jeevaratnam Kamalan
Published: April 2020

Equine athletes have a pattern of exercise which is analogous to human athletes and the cardiovascular risks in both species are similar. Both species have a propensity for atrial fibrillation (AF), which is challenging to detect by ECG analysis when in paroxysmal form. We hypothesised that the proarrhythmic background present between fibrillation episodes in paroxysmal AF (PAF) might be detectable by complexity analysis of apparently normal sinus-rhythm ECGs. In this retrospective study ECG recordings were obtained during routine clinical work from 82 healthy horses and from 10 horses with a diagnosis of PAF. Artefact-free 60-second strips of normal sinus-rhythm ECGs were converted to binary strings using threshold crossing, beat detection and a novel feature detection parsing algorithm. Complexity of the resulting binary strings was calculated using Lempel-Ziv (‘76 & ‘78) and Titchener complexity estimators. Dependence of Lempel-Ziv ‘76 and Titchener T-complexity on the heart rate in ECG strips obtained at low heart rates (25–60 bpm) and processed by the feature detection method was found to be significantly different in control animals and those diagnosed with PAF. This allows identification of horses with PAF from sinus-rhythm ECGs with high accuracy.
Studbook and molecular analyses for the endangered black-lion-tamarin; an integrative approach for assessing genetic diversity and driving management in captivity
Authors: Ayala-Burbano Paola Andrea , Galetti Junior Pedro Manoel , Wormell Dominic , Pissinatti Alcides , Marques Mara Cristina , de Freitas Patrícia Domingues
Published: April 2020

Breeding strategies based on molecular markers have been adopted by ex-situ conservation programs to assess alternative parameters for the genetic diversity estimates. In this work we evaluated molecular and studbook data for captive populations of black-lion-tamarin (BLT), an endangered primate endemic to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Pedigree analyses were performed using BLT studbook information collected from 1973 to 2018. We analyzed the whole captive population since its foundation; the current captive population (CCP); and all extant BLTs in the Brazilian captive population (BCP), separately. Microsatellite analyses were implemented on the BCP individuals from the eighth generation (BCP-F8) only to avoid generation overlap. The expected heterozygosity for BCP-F8, using molecular, data was 0.45, and the initial expected heterozygosity was 0.69. Kinship parameters showed high genetic relationships in both pedigree and molecular analyses. The genealogy-based endogamy evidenced a high inbreeding coefficient, while the molecular analyses suggested a non-inbreeding signature. The Mate Suitability Index showed detrimental values for the majority of potential pairs in the CCP. Nevertheless, some individuals evidenced high individual heterozygosity and allele representation, demonstrating good potential to be used as breeders. Thus, we propose the use of molecular data as a complementary parameter to evaluate mating-pairs and to aid management decision-making.
Establishment of macaque trophoblast stem cell lines derived from cynomolgus monkey blastocysts
Authors: Matsumoto Shoma , Porter Christopher J. , Ogasawara Naomi , Iwatani Chizuru , Tsuchiya Hideaki , Seita Yasunari , Chang Yu-Wei , Okamoto Ikuhiro , Saitou Mitinori , Ema Masatsugu , Perkins Theodore J. , Stanford William L. , Tanaka Satoshi
Published: April 2020

The placenta forms a maternal-fetal junction that supports many physiological functions such as the supply of nutrition and exchange of gases and wastes. Establishing an in vitro culture model of human and non-human primate trophoblast stem/progenitor cells is important for investigating the process of early placental development and trophoblast differentiation. In this study, we have established five trophoblast stem cell (TSC) lines from cynomolgus monkey blastocysts, named macTSC #1-5. Fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) enhanced proliferation of macTSCs, while other exogenous factors were not required to maintain their undifferentiated state. macTSCs showed a trophoblastic gene expression profile and trophoblast-like DNA methylation status and also exhibited differentiation capacity towards invasive trophoblast cells and multinucleated syncytia. In a xenogeneic chimera assay, these stem cells contributed to trophectoderm (TE) development in the chimeric blastocysts. macTSC are the first primate trophoblast cell lines whose proliferation is promoted by FGF4. These cell lines provide a valuable in vitro culture model to analyze the similarities and differences in placental development between human and non-human primates.
Measuring perceived self-location in virtual reality
Authors: Nakul Estelle , Orlando-Dessaints Nicolas , Lenggenhager Bigna , Lopez Christophe
Published: April 2020

Third-person perspective full-body illusions (3PP-FBI) enable the manipulation, through multisensory stimulation, of perceived self-location. Perceived self-location is classically measured by a locomotion task. Yet, as locomotion modulates various sensory signals, we developed in immersive virtual reality a measure of self-location without locomotion. Tactile stimulation was applied on the back of twenty-five participants and displayed synchronously or asynchronously on an avatar’s back seen from behind. Participants completed the locomotion task and a novel mental imagery task, in which they self-located in relation to a virtual ball approaching them. Participants self-identified with the avatar more during synchronous than asynchronous visuo-tactile stimulation in both tasks. This was accentuated for the mental imagery task, showing a larger self-relocation toward the avatar, together with higher reports of presence, bi-location and disembodiment in the synchronous condition only for the mental imagery task. In conclusion, the results suggest that avoiding multisensory updating during walking, and using a perceptual rather than a motor task, can improve measures of illusory self-location.
Brain condition may mediate the association between training and work engagement
Authors: Kokubun Keisuke , Ogata Yousuke , Koike Yasuharu , Yamakawa Yoshinori
Published: April 2020

Over the past two decades, the number of studies on work engagement has increased rapidly. Work engagement refers to a positive, affective-motivational state of high energy combined with high levels of dedication and a strong focus on work, leading to various work-related outcomes, including higher work performance. Several studies have indicated that training or coaching may increase work engagement, but other studies have shown contradicting results. These inconsistencies may be due to the indirectness between training/coaching and work engagement. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between training and brain structure as well as between brain structure and work engagement in cognitively normal participants. Brain structure was assessed using neuroimaging-derived measures, including the gray-matter brain healthcare quotient (GM-BHQ) and the fractional-anisotropy brain healthcare quotient (FA-BHQ), which are approved as the international standard (H.861.1) by ITU-T. Work engagement was assessed using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. To validate and enrich the analysis, we employed another two representative questionnaires, which are known to be close to but different from work engagement: The Social interaction Anxiety Scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey to gauge the levels of human relation ineffectiveness and burnout. The latter scale is subdivided into three variables including “Exhaustion,” “Cynicism,” and “Professional Efficacy.” The results of the present study indicate that training is associated with an increase of FA-BHQ scores, and that an increase of the FA-BHQ scores is associated with an increase in Work Engagement and a decrease in Cynicism. On the other hand, the training with coaching was associated with a decrease in Interaction Anxiety. However, no correlation was observed for training with Work Engagement or the subscales of Burnout. Likewise, no correlation was observed for FA-BHQ with Exhaustion, Professional Efficacy, and Interaction Anxiety. The results of the current research provide the possibility to use brain information to evaluate training effectiveness from the viewpoint of neuroscience.