bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oncogenic BRAF and KRAS mutations in endosalpingiosis
Authors: Chui Michael Herman , Shih Ie‐Ming
Published: October 2019

Endosalpingiosis, a microscopic lesion composed of ectopic Fallopian tube epithelium, frequently involves the peritoneum and lymph nodes in patients with ovarian serous borderline tumour or low‐grade serous carcinoma, but its pathogenic significance remains unclear. Using laser‐capture microdissection and droplet digital PCR, we investigated whether endosalpingiosis harbours the driver mutations in BRAF and KRAS that characterise ovarian low‐grade serous neoplasms. Somatic mutations were detected in 14 (33%) of 43 endosalpingiotic lesions analysed. Of 21 women with endosalpingiosis associated with a synchronous or metachronous ovarian low‐grade serous tumour, mutations were identified in endosalpingiotic lesions from 11 (52%) women, with most cases (10/11, 91%) demonstrating identical mutations in both tumour and endosalpingiosis. In contrast, of 13 cases of endosalpingiosis not associated with an ovarian tumour, only one harboured a KRAS mutation. The proliferative activity as assessed by Ki‐67 immunohistochemistry was lower in endosalpingiosis than in low‐grade serous tumours, and endosalpingiosis with either a BRAF or KRAS mutation had a significantly lower Ki‐67 index than those without. Ectopic expression of KRASG12V in Fallopian tube epithelial cells led to ERK phosphorylation, p21 induction, growth arrest and cellular senescence. In conclusion, we demonstrate that endosalpingiosis represents an interesting example of cancer driver mutations in deceptively normal‐appearing cells, which may be prone to neoplastic transformation upon bypass of endogenous oncosuppressive mechanisms. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On Efficient Synthesis, X‐Ray Analysis and DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity of Pyrazolone‐Based trans‐Chalcones
Authors: Chaudhry Faryal , Asif Nadia , Naureen Sadia , Munawar Munawar Ali , Khan Misbahul Ain
Published: October 2019

The present work highlights the facile and substantially streamlined microwave assisted synthesis of chalcones 3(a–m) from acetylpyrazolone 1 a and aldehyde 2(a–m) in piperidine‐ethanolic medium. The organocatalytic action of piperidine has been proposed in a mechanism. Different physical and analytical methods have been used to characterize the synthesized chalcones. Single Crystal XRD analyses of compounds 3 e and 3 f also supported proposed interpretation of the structural arrangements of these molecules. Further the synthesized compounds were evaluated for DPPH activity and results were compared with standard quercetin. Following compounds; 3 h, 3 i, 3 j and 3 d articulated excellent antioxidant activity.
Computational Study on the Mechanisms and Pathways of the Atmospheric NH2 + BrO Reaction
Authors: Zhang Yunju , He Bing , Sun Yuxi
Published: October 2019

The NH2 radical reaction with BrO was characterized by combining the second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) with a 6–311++G(d,p) basis set, followed by kinetic analyses using the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) theory and transition‐state (TST) theory to forecast the product distribution and thermal rate coefficients. Addition/elimination and H‐abstraction mechanisms are observed, and three products are identified: P1 (HBr + HNO), P2 (NBr + H2O) and P3 (3NH + HOBr). At atmospheric pressure, P1 (HBr + HNO), generated by the association/elimination channel, represents the primary products between 200–500 K; the direct H‐abstraction leading to P3 (3NH + HOBr) plays a significant role above 500 K. However, at the high‐pressure limit, IM1 [BrONH2] generated by collisional stabilization is dominant between 200–500 K; the direct H‐abstraction leading to P3 (3NH + HOBr) was the major channel at high‐temperature. Moreover, the total rate constants are pressure independent; however the individual rate constants are sensitive to pressure.
Mono‐ and Bimetallic Au(Core)‐Ag(Shell) Nanoparticles Mediated by Ulva reticulata Extracts
Authors: Ashokkumar Thirunavukkarasu , Vijayaraghavan Kuppusamy
Published: October 2019

This research reports the fabrication of silver, gold and gold‐silver bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) using aqueous extracts of green marine alga Ulva reticulata. Analysis by UV‐Vis spectrometry, X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the biosynthesis of NPs by the seaweed extract. Surface plasmon resonances (SPR) were recorded at 439, 539 and 528 nm for silver (AgNPs), gold (AuNPs) and bimetal (Au core‐Ag shell) NPs, respectively. AgNPs and AuNPs were mostly spherical in shape with size range of 7 to 36 and 19 to 32 nm, respectively, whereas Au−Ag NPs showed core‐shell formation with star like structure shaped nanoparticles with size range of 57 to 230 nm. The results confirmed that Au ions reduced faster than Ag and the resultant bimetallic nanoparticles arrangement were found to be Au core and Ag shell. Chemical constituents such as ulvan and other polysaccharides of the green seaweed extract were identified as reducing and stabilizing agents for nanoparticles formation.
Dual‐Additive Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition for the Growth of Mn‐Doped 2D MoS2 with Tunable Electronic Properties
Authors: Cai Zhengyang , Shen Tianze , Zhu Qi , Feng Simin , Yu Qiangmin , Liu Jiaman , Tang Lei , Zhao Yue , Wang Jiangwei , Liu Bilu , Cheng Hui‐Ming
Published: October 2019

Doping of bulk silicon and III–V materials has paved the foundation of the current semiconductor industry. Controlled doping of 2D semiconductors, which can also be used to tune their bandgap and type of carrier thus changing their electronic, optical, and catalytic properties, remains challenging. Here the substitutional doping of nonlike element dopant (Mn) at the Mo sites of 2D MoS2 is reported to tune its electronic and catalytic properties. The key for the successful incorporation of Mn into the MoS2 lattice stems from the development of a new growth technology called dual‐additive chemical vapor deposition. First, the addition of a MnO2 additive to the MoS2 growth process reshapes the morphology and increases lateral size of Mn‐doped MoS2. Second, a NaCl additive helps in promoting the substitutional doping and increases the concentration of Mn dopant to 1.7 at%. Because Mn has more valance electrons than Mo, its doping into MoS2 shifts the Fermi level toward the conduction band, resulting in improved electrical contact in field effect transistors. Mn doping also increases the hydrogen evolution activity of MoS2 electrocatalysts. This work provides a growth method for doping nonlike elements into 2D MoS2 and potentially many other 2D materials to modify their properties.
Broken Interaction Rituals, Struggles for Membership, and Violence among Young Children in Two Danish Schools
Authors: Jensen Sidsel Vive , Vitus Kathrine
Published: October 2019

Children's conflicts, understood as disagreements involving negative emotional energy, constitute a particularly intense type of social interaction. In this paper, we show that children's conflictual interactions in school differ with regard to interactional dynamics and levels of confrontational tension, which together potentially lead to violence. We discuss how these differences relate to issues of inclusion and exclusion, to levels of interactional resources, and to neighborhood differences. Our conclusions are based on analysis of fieldwork data on children aged five to eight in two Danish schools. The analysis applies Goffman's and Collins's perspectives on interaction rituals and violence and the concept of emotional capital based on Bourdieu's theory of practice.
Non-standard neutrino interactions and low energy experiments
Authors: Altmannshofer Wolfgang , Tammaro Michele , Zupan Jure
Published: October 2019

Abstract

We formulate an Effective Field Theory (EFT) for Non Standard neutrino Interactions (NSI) in elastic scattering with light quarks, leptons, gluons and photons, including all possible operators of dimension 5, 6 and 7. We provide the expressions for the cross sections in coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering and in deep inelastic scattering. Assuming single operator dominance we constrain the respective Wilson coefficient using the measurements by the COHERENT and CHARM collaborations. We also point out the constraining power of future elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering experiments. Finally, we explore the implications of the bounds for SMEFT operators above the electroweak breaking scale.
A numerical evaluation of planar two-loop helicity amplitudes for a W-boson plus four partons
Authors: Hartanto Heribertus Bayu , Badger Simon , Brønnum-Hansen Christian , Peraro Tiziano
Published: October 2019

Abstract

We present the first numerical results for the two-loop helicity amplitudes for the scattering of four partons and a W-boson in QCD. We use a finite field sampling method to reduce directly from Feynman diagrams to the coefficients of a set of master integrals after applying integration-by-parts identities. Since the basis of master integrals is not yet fully known analytically, we identify a set of master integrals with a simple divergence structure using local numerator insertions. This allows for accurate numerical evaluation of the amplitude using sector decomposition methods.
Holocene vegetation history and human impact in the eastern Italian Alps: a multi-proxy study on the Coltrondo peat bog, Comelico Superiore, Italy
Authors: Segnana Michela , Oeggl Klaus , Poto Luisa , Gabrieli Jacopo , Festi Daniela , Kofler Werner , Cesco Frare Piergiorgio , Zaccone Claudio , Barbante Carlo
Published: October 2019

The present study aims to reconstruct vegetation development, climate changes and human impact using an ombrotrophic peat core from the Coltrondo bog in the eastern Italian Alps. Evidence from pollen, micro-charcoal, major and trace elements, and lead isotopes from this 7,900 years old peat deposit has been combined, and several climatic oscillations and phases of human impact detected. In particular, human presence was recorded in this area of the Alps from about 650 cal bc, with periods of increased activity at the end of the Middle Ages and also at the end of the 19th century, as evidenced by both human-related pollen and the increase in micro-charcoal particles. The enrichment factor of lead (EFPb) increased since the Roman period and the Middle Ages, suggesting mainly mining activities, whereas the advent of industrialization in the 20th century is marked by the highest EFPb values in the whole core. The EFPb data are strongly supported by the 206Pb/207Pb values and these are in general agreement with the historical information available. Therefore, the multi-proxy approach used here has allowed detection of climatic events and human impact patterns in the Comelico area starting from the Iron Age, giving new insights into the palaeoecology as well as the course of the interaction among humans, climate and ecosystems in this part of the eastern Italian Alps.
Assessment in the context of problem-based learning
Authors: van der Vleuten Cees P. M. , Schuwirth Lambert W. T.
Published: October 2019

Arguably, constructive alignment has been the major challenge for assessment in the context of problem-based learning (PBL). PBL focuses on promoting abilities such as clinical reasoning, team skills and metacognition. PBL also aims to foster self-directed learning and deep learning as opposed to rote learning. This has incentivized researchers in assessment to find possible solutions. Originally, these solutions were sought in developing the right instruments to measure these PBL-related skills. The search for these instruments has been accelerated by the emergence of competency-based education. With competency-based education assessment moved away from purely standardized testing, relying more heavily on professional judgment of complex skills. Valuable lessons have been learned that are directly relevant for assessment in PBL. Later, solutions were sought in the development of new assessment strategies, initially again with individual instruments such as progress testing, but later through a more holistic approach to the assessment program as a whole. Programmatic assessment is such an integral approach to assessment. It focuses on optimizing learning through assessment, while at the same gathering rich information that can be used for rigorous decision-making about learner progression. Programmatic assessment comes very close to achieving the desired constructive alignment with PBL, but its wide adoption—just like PBL—will take many years ahead of us.
Utilisation of methylcellulose as a shaping agent in the fabrication of Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3 proton-conducting ceramic membranes via the gelcasting method
Authors: Dudek Magdalena , Lis Bartłomiej , Kocyło Elwira , Rapacz-Kmita Alicja , Mosiałek Michał , Gajek Marcin , Lach Radosław , Presto Sabrina , Viviani Massimo , Carpanese Maria Paola , Barbucci Antonio , Majda Dorota
Published: October 2019

The gelcasting method was used to form gastight Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3samples proposed for use as proton-conducting electrolytes in solid oxide fuel cells. Methylcellulose was used as an environmentally friendly shaping agent for Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3powder in an ethanol solution. Samples of Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3were also prepared from the same powder via traditional isostatic pressing, as a reference for cast samples, and sintered in the same conditions. Comparative studies of the physicochemical properties of Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3electrolytes, formed by means of these two methods and then sintered at 1550 °C for 2.5 h, were presented and discussed. Using the X-ray diffraction method, only the pure orthorhombic phase of BaCe0.9Y0.1O3was detected in the Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3powder, as well as in the Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3sintered pellets formed via both gelcasting (A) and isostatic pressing (B). Thermal effects occurring during heating of methylcellulose, as well as ceramic Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3powder, dried cast samples obtained from the prepared slurry, and sintered Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3samples, were examined by differential scanning calorimetry, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and evolved gas analysis of volatile products using a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The measurements were performed within the temperature range of 20–1200 °C in air. Based on dilatometric tests, it was found that the Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3cast samples exhibited slightly higher degree of sinterability than the 5CBCY samples obtained by isostatic pressing. In comparison with pressed pellets, higher values of total electrical conductivity in air or in a gas mixture of 5% H2in Ar were also attained for Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3cast samples. The Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3samples were used to construct oxygen–hydrogen electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells. The results of the electrochemical performance of solid oxide fuel cells with Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3electrolytes were comparable to the data in the literature on BaCe0.9Y0.1O3electrolytes. An electrochemical study of a Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ|Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3interface was also performed. Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δappears to be a suitable cathode material for a Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3electrolyte.
Journal Peer Review and Editorial Evaluation: Cautious Innovator or Sleepy Giant?
Authors: Horbach Serge P. J. M. , Halffman Willem
Published: October 2019

Peer review of journal submissions has become one of the most important pillars of quality management in academic publishing. Because of growing concerns with the quality and effectiveness of the system, a host of enthusiastic innovators has proposed and experimented with new procedures and technologies. However, little is known about whether these innovations manage to convince other journal editors. This paper will address open questions regarding the implementation of new review procedures, the occurrence rate of various peer review procedures and their distribution over scientific disciplines or academic publishers, as well as the motivations for editors or publishers to engage in novel review procedures. It shows that in spite of enthusiastic innovation, the adoption of new peer review procedures is in fact very slow, with the exception of text similarity scanners. For now, peer review innovations appear to be restricted to specific niches in academic publishing. Analysing these niches, the article concludes with a reflection on the circumstances in which innovations might be more widely implemented.
Suspension Plasma-Sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings for Light-Duty Diesel Engines
Authors: Uczak de Goes Wellington , Somhorst Joop , Markocsan Nicolaie , Gupta Mohit , Illkova Kseniya
Published: October 2019

Demands for improved fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions of diesel engines have been the driving force for car industry in the past decades. One way to achieve this would be by using thermal spraying to apply a thermal insulation layer on parts of the engine’s combustion chamber. A candidate thermal spray process to give coatings with appropriate properties is suspension plasma spray (SPS). SPS, which uses a liquid feedstock for the deposition of finely structured columnar ceramic coatings, was investigated in this work for application in light-duty diesel engines. In this work, different spray processes and materials were explored to achieve coatings with optimized microstructure on the head of aluminum pistons used in diesel engine cars. The functional properties of the coatings were evaluated in single-cylinder engine experiments. The influence of thermo-physical properties of the coatings on their functional properties has been discussed. The influence of different spray processes on coating formation on the complex piston head profiles has been also discussed. The results show that SPS can be a promising technique for producing coatings on parts of the combustion chamber, which can possibly lead to higher engine efficiency in light-duty diesel engines.
‘Low & plain stile’: poetry and piety in English Benedictine convents, 1600–1800
Authors: Goodrich Jaime
Published: October 2019

This article examines the functional nature of English Benedictine poetry in order to understand the bespoke literary systems that flourished within convent settings. Even as form has emerged as a primary concern within scholarship on early modern women writers, so too are literary critics starting to show interest in the early modern convent as a site of literary production. Uniting these two scholarly strands, this article explores the formal implications of texts written by and for the six English Benedictine convents founded on the Continent during the early modern period. This analysis of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Benedictine poetics reveals that English cloisters on the Continent actively cultivated alternative approaches to textual production, developing monastic modes at odds with the secular literary system of the time. Poetry provides an ideal case study for this discussion of convent style due to its relatively high status among literary forms. By considering Benedictine theories of speech as well as the formal qualities of the verse that nuns read and wrote, this essay will outline how the English Benedictine convents on the Continent developed a distinctive literary system that rejected secular modes in favour of a poetics aligned with monastic humility.
Depressive symptoms among women in Raqqa Governorate, Syria: associations with intimate partner violence, food insecurity, and perceived needs
Authors: Falb K. L. , Blackwell A. , Stennes J. , Hussein M. , Annan J.
Published: October 2019

Background.

Raqqa Governorate, Syria has recently been affected by overlapping conflicts related to the Syrian Civil war and occupation by ISIS, resulting in widespread displacement and disruption of economic livelihoods. However, little information is currently known about mental health needs and risk factors among women. Therefore, this study sought to examine potential risk factors for depressive symptoms among married women living in northern Syria.

Methods.

Data were collected between March and April 2018 as part of an evaluation of an International Rescue Committee cash transfer program targeted toward vulnerable households. Using cross-sectional data from 214 married women participating in the program, linear regression models were generated to explore the associations between depressive symptoms [nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)] and its potential risk factors, including food insecurity, perceived deprivation of basic needs [the Humanitarian Emergency Settings Perceived Needs Scale (HESPER) scale], and past-3-month intimate partner violence (IPV).

Results.

The average depressive symptom score was 10.5 (s.d.: 4.9; range: 2–27). In the final adjusted model, any form of recent IPV (β = 2.25; 95% CI 0.92–3.57; p = 0.001), severe food insecurity (β = 1.62; 95% CI 0.27–2.96; p = 0.02) and perceived needs (β = 0.38; 95% CI 0.18–0.57; p = 0.0002) were associated with an increase in depressive symptoms.

Conclusion.

Study findings point to the need to address the mental health needs of women in conflict-affected areas of Syria. Programming to address risk factors for depression, including IPV and other factors associated with daily stressors such as food insecurity and deprivation of basic needs, may be effective in reducing depression in this population.
The Role of Internal Third-Party Interveners in Civil Resistance Campaigns: The Case of Israeli-Jewish Anti-Occupation Activists
Authors: Fleischmann Leonie
Published: October 2019

When a non-violent resistance campaign does not have leverage to challenge powerful opponents, third-party intervention has been shown to assist. While the role of external third-party interveners – foreign activists – has been documented, less attention has been given to intervention from members of the dominant population. Drawing from the literature on civil resistance and through the study of Israeli Jews who intervene in Palestinian resistance campaigns against the Israeli military occupation, I argue that intervention from members of the dominant population is strategically desirable. Through an analysis of three Palestinian campaigns, this article identifies that the physical presence of Israeli Jews was needed to ensure the Palestinians could maintain their resistance efforts and presence on the land, despite the repression they faced. Furthermore, the skills and knowledge of the Israelis were needed to help the Palestinians achieve some of their goals, at least in the short term.
THE FINITE BASIS PROBLEM FOR INVOLUTION SEMIGROUPS OF TRIANGULAR MATRICES
Authors: ZHANG WEN TING , LUO YAN FENG
Published: October 2019

Let $T_{n}(\mathbb{F})$ be the semigroup of all upper triangular $n\times n$ matrices over a field $\mathbb{F}$. Let $UT_{n}(\mathbb{F})$ and $UT_{n}^{\pm 1}(\mathbb{F})$ be subsemigroups of $T_{n}(\mathbb{F})$, respectively, having $0$s and/or $1$s on the main diagonal and $0$s and/or $\pm 1$s on the main diagonal. We give some sufficient conditions under which an involution semigroup is nonfinitely based. As an application, we show that $UT_{2}(\mathbb{F}),UT_{2}^{\pm 1}(\mathbb{F})$ and $T_{2}(\mathbb{F})$ as involution semigroups under the skew transposition are nonfinitely based for any field $\mathbb{F}$.
DIVISION SUDOKUS: INVARIANTS, ENUMERATION, AND MULTIPLE PARTITIONS
Authors: DRÁPAL ALEŠ , VOJTĚCHOVSKÝ PETR
Published: October 2019

A division sudoku is a latin square whose all six conjugates are sudoku squares. We enumerate division sudokus up to a suitable equivalence, introduce powerful invariants of division sudokus, and also study latin squares that are division sudokus with respect to multiple partitions at the same time. We use nearfields and affine geometry to construct division sudokus of prime power rank that are rich in sudoku partitions.
HOW TO WRITE ABOUT INFLUENCE: ASSESSING EDMUND BURKE'S CONSERVATIVE LEGACIES
Authors: ARCENAS CLAIRE RYDELL
Published: October 2019

Edmund Burke is difficult to classify. Born in Ireland in 1730, he entered parliament in 1765 having already achieved literary distinction for several philosophical works, includingOn the origins of the sublime and beautiful(1757). His subsequent career as a Whig statesman, politician, and reformer spanned the tumultuous decades of the late eighteenth century and culminated, less than a decade before his death, in his famous polemic against the French Revolution,Reflections on the revolution in France(1790). Over the course of his life, Burke opined with such frequency on so many topics that the nature of his ‘philosophy’ remains an open question, and scholars continue to offer strikingly different interpretations of his life and legacies. ‘Burke's legacy to history’, historian Richard Bourke summarized, ‘has been a complicated affair’.
Research Creativity and Productivity in Political Science: A Research Agenda for Understanding Alternative Career Paths and Attitudes Toward Professional Work in the Profession
Authors: Hill Kim Quaile
Published: October 2019

A growing body of research investigates the factors that enhance the research productivity and creativity of political scientists. This work provides a foundation for future research, but it has not addressed some of the most promising causal hypotheses in the general scientific literature on this topic. This article explicates the latter hypotheses, a typology of scientific career paths that distinguishes how scientific careers vary over time with respect to creative ambitions and achievements, and a research agenda based on the preceding components for investigation of the publication success of political scientists.
Disciplines, Serendipity, Case Studies
Authors: Ginzburg Carlo
Published: October 2019

In this article I will share some reflections on my own experience as a historian. However, I will refrain from proposing my own case as a model. I dislike preaching; moreover, I regard ego-centred preaching as a ridiculous posture. So please: note what I will say, and then follow a completely different path.
THE THICKNESS OF SCHUBERT CELLS AS INCIDENCE STRUCTURES
Authors: BAMBERG JOHN , RAM ARUN , XU JON
Published: October 2019

This paper explores the possible use of Schubert cells and Schubert varieties in finite geometry, particularly in regard to the question of whether these objects might be a source of understanding of ovoids or provide new examples. The main result provides a characterization of those Schubert cells for finite Chevalley groups which have the first property (thinness) of ovoids. More importantly, perhaps this short paper can help to bridge the modern language barrier between finite geometry and representation theory. For this purpose, this paper includes very brief surveys of the powerful lattice theory point of view from finite geometry and the powerful method of indexing points of flag varieties by Chevalley generators from representation theory.
Broccoli, cabbage, squash and watermelon response to halosulfuron preplant over plastic mulch
Authors: Randell Taylor M. , Vance Jenna C. , Culpepper A. Stanley
Published: October 2019

Nutsedge species are problematic in plastic-mulched vegetable production because of the weed’s rapid reproduction and ability to penetrate the mulch. Vegetable growers rely heavily on halosulfuron to manage nutsedge species; however, the herbicide cannot be applied over mulch before vegetable transplanting due to potential crop injury. This can be problematic when multiple crops are produced on a single mulch installation. Field experiments were conducted to determine the response of broccoli, cabbage, squash, and watermelon to halosulfuron applied on top of mulch prior to transplanting. Halosulfuron at 80 g ai ha−1 was applied 21, 14, 7, and 1 d before planting (DBP), and 160 g ai ha−1 was applied 21 DBP. In all experiments, extending the interval between halosulfuron application and planting reduced crop injury. For squash and watermelon, visual injury, plant diameters/vine runner lengths, marketable fruit weights, and postharvest plant biomass resulted in similar values when applying 80 g ha−1 21 DBP and with the nontreated weed-free control. Reducing this interval increased injury for both crops. Visual crop injury and yield reductions up to 40% occurred, with halosulfuron applied 14, 7, or 1 DBP in squash and 1 DBP in watermelon. Broccoli and cabbage showed greater sensitivity, with injury and plant diameter reductions greater than 15%, even with halosulfuron applied at 80 g ha−1 21 DBP. Experimental results confirm that halosulfuron binds to plastic mulch, remains active, and is slowly released from the mulch over a substantial period, during rainfall or overhead irrigation events. Extending the plant-back interval to at least 21 d before transplanting did overcome squash and watermelon injury concerns with halosulfuron at 80 g ha−1, but not broccoli and cabbage. Applying halosulfuron over mulch to control emerged nutsedge before planting squash and watermelon would be beneficial if adequate rainfall or irrigation and appropriate intervals between application and planting are implemented.
Funktionelle Körperbeschwerden
Authors: Egloff Niklaus , Schwegler Kyrill , Grosse Holtforth Martin
Published: October 2019

Zusammenfassung. Funktionelle Störungen entziehen sich definitionsgemäss einer biomorphologischen Befundsicherung auf Organebene, denn sie entstehen im Rahmen übergeordneter Wahrnehmungs- und Steuerungsprozesse. Jeder vegetativ regulierte Organismus zeigt unter Belastung funktionelle Symptome. So kommen stressinduzierte Störungen auch in der Tiermedizin vor. Die «Inkongruenz» zwischen Organ-Befund und Symptom-Empfinden ist eine diagnostische Herausforderung, stellt aufgrund der Häufigkeit von funktionellen Störungen aber eine Art Normalität dar. Deshalb ist ein für den Patienten gut verständliches Erklärungsmodell eine wichtige Voraussetzung für den Vertrauensaufbau und die Therapiemotivation. Die neuen S3-Leitlinien «Funktionelle Körperbeschwerden» sind eine konstruktiv-pragmatische Wegleitung für den Umgang mit diesen häufigen Leiden.
Liar at First Sight?
Authors: Wingate Timothy G. , Bourdage Joshua S.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Research suggests that early impressions influence employment interview outcomes. A highly controlled experiment examined the effects of pre-interview qualifications information and early applicant impression management behavior on interviewers’ early impressions and, in turn, applicant outcomes. Mock interviewers ( N = 247) judged the same applicant with a poorer pre-interview qualification ranking to be a poorer performer, but also perceived the applicant to have faked (deceived) more, and considered the applicant less likeable, less competent, less dedicated, and more conceited. Early applicant impression management behavior did not consistently contribute to interviewers’ early impressions, or to perceptions and judgments. Overall, these findings suggest that early applicant information can affect interviewer cognitions and judgments through the formation of early impressions.
Louise Kellogg: Geoscientist, Mentor, Science Communicator
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: October 2019

The geoscientist, who studied Earth’s mantle and believed strongly in the power of mentoring, passed away in April.
Filamentation initiated by Cas2 and its association with the acquisition process in cells
Authors: Wang Lei , Yu Xin , Li Mengjie , Sun Guiqin , Zou Lin , Li Tiansheng , Hou Linlin , Guo Yameng , Shen Danfeng , Qu Di , Cheng Xunjia , Chen Li
Published: October 2019

Cas1-and-Cas2-mediated new spacer acquisition is an essential process for bacterial adaptive immunity. The process is critical for the ecology of the oral microflora and oral health. Although molecular mechanisms for spacer acquisition are known, it has never been established if this process is associated with the morphological changes of bacteria. In this study, we demonstrated a novel Cas2-induced filamentation phenotype in E. coli that was regulated by co-expression of the Cas1 protein. A 30 amino acid motif at the carboxyl terminus of Cas2 is necessary for this function. By imaging analysis, we provided evidence to argue that Cas-induced filamentation is a step coupled with new spacer acquisition during which filaments are characterised by polyploidy with asymmetric cell division. This work may open new opportunities to investigate the adaptive immune response and microbial balance for oral health.
Towards precision medicine: interrogating the human genome to identify drug pathways associated with potentially functional, population-differentiated polymorphisms
Authors: Bachtiar Maulana , Ooi Brandon Nick Sern , Wang Jingbo , Jin Yu , Tan Tin Wee , Chong Samuel S. , Lee Caroline G. L.
Published: October 2019

Drug response variations amongst different individuals/populations are influenced by several factors including allele frequency differences of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that functionally affect drug-response genes. Here, we aim to identify drugs that potentially exhibit population differences in response using SNP data mining and analytics. Ninety-one pairwise-comparisons of >22,000,000 SNPs from the 1000 Genomes Project, across 14 different populations, were performed to identify ‘population-differentiated’ SNPs (pdSNPs). Potentially-functional pdSNPs (pf-pdSNPs) were then selected, mapped into genes, and integrated with drug–gene databases to identify ‘population-differentiated’ drugs enriched with genes carrying pf-pdSNPs. 1191 clinically-approved drugs were found to be significantly enriched (Z > 2.58) with genes carrying SNPs that were differentiated in one or more population-pair comparisons. Thirteen drugs were found to be enriched with such differentiated genes across all 91 population-pairs. Notably, 82% of drugs, which were previously reported in the literature to exhibit population differences in response were also found by this method to contain a significant enrichment of population specific differentiated SNPs. Furthermore, drugs with genetic testing labels, or those suspected to cause adverse reactions, contained a significantly larger number (P < 0.01) of population-pairs with enriched pf-pdSNPs compared with those without these labels. This pioneering effort at harnessing big-data pharmacogenomics to identify ‘population differentiated’ drugs could help to facilitate data-driven decision-making for a more personalized medicine.
Nearly unbiased estimator of contemporary effective mother size using within-cohort maternal sibling pairs incorporating parental and nonparental reproductive variations
Authors: Akita Tetsuya
Published: October 2019

In this study, we developed a nearly unbiased estimator of contemporary effective mother size in a population, which is based on a known maternal half-sibling relationship found within the same cohort. Our method allows for variance of the average number of offspring per mother (i.e., parental variation, such as age-specific fecundity) and variance of the number of offspring among mothers with identical reproductive potential (i.e., nonparental variation, such as family-correlated survivorship). We also developed estimators of the variance and coefficient of variation of contemporary effective mother size and qualitatively evaluated the performance of the estimators by running an individual-based model. Our results provide guidance for (i) a sample size to ensure the required accuracy and precision when the order of effective mother size is available and (ii) a degree of uncertainty regarding the estimated effective mother size when information about the size is unavailable. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the derivation of a nearly unbiased estimator of effective population size; however, its current application is limited to effective mother size and situations, in which the sample size is not particularly small and maternal half-sibling relationships can be detected without error. The results of this study demonstrate the usefulness of a sibship assignment method for estimating effective population size; in addition, they have the potential to greatly widen the scope of genetic monitoring, especially in the situation of small sample size.
Lifespan-increasing drug nordihydroguaiaretic acid inhibits p300 and activates autophagy
Authors: Tezil Tugsan , Chamoli Manish , Ng Che-Ping , Simon Roman P. , Butler Victoria J. , Jung Manfred , Andersen Julie , Kao Aimee W. , Verdin Eric
Published: October 2019

Aging is characterized by the progressive loss of physiological function in all organisms. Remarkably, the aging process can be modulated by environmental modifications, including diet and small molecules. The natural compound nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) robustly increases lifespan in flies and mice, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we report that NDGA is an inhibitor of the epigenetic regulator p300. We find that NDGA inhibits p300 acetyltransferase activity in vitro and suppresses acetylation of a key p300 target in histones (i.e., H3K27) in cells. We use the cellular thermal shift assay to uniquely demonstrate NDGA binding to p300 in cells. Finally, in agreement with recent findings indicating that p300 is a potent blocker of autophagy, we show that NDGA treatment induces autophagy. These findings identify p300 as a target of NDGA and provide mechanistic insight into its role in longevity.
Obesity and survival among a cohort of breast cancer patients is partially mediated by tumor characteristics
Authors: Blair Cindy K. , Wiggins Charles L. , Nibbe Andrea M. , Storlie Curt B. , Prossnitz Eric R. , Royce Melanie , Lomo Lesley C. , Hill Deirdre A.
Published: October 2019

Obesity exerts adverse effects on breast cancer survival, but the means have not been fully elucidated. We evaluated obesity as a contributor to breast cancer survival according to tumor molecular subtypes in a population-based case–cohort study using data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program. We determined whether obese women were more likely to be diagnosed with poor prognosis tumor characteristics and quantified the contribution of obesity to survival. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated via Cox multivariate models. The effect of obesity on survival was evaluated among 859 incident breast cancers (subcohort; 15% random sample; median survival 7.8 years) and 697 deaths from breast cancer (cases; 100% sample). Obese women had a 1.7- and 1.8-fold increased risk of stage III/IV disease and grade 3/4 tumors, respectively. Obese women with Luminal A- and Luminal B-like breast cancer were 1.8 (95% CI 1.3–2.5) and 2.2 (95% CI 0.9–5.0) times more likely to die from their cancer compared to normal weight women. In mediation analyses, the proportion of excess mortality attributable to tumor characteristics was 36.1% overall and 41% and 38% for Luminal A- and Luminal B-like disease, respectively. Obesity was not associated with breast cancer-specific mortality among women who had Her2-overexpressing or triple-negative tumors. Obesity may influence hormone-positive breast cancer-specific mortality in part through fostering poor prognosis tumors. When tumor biology is considered as part of the causal pathway, the public health impact of obesity on breast cancer survival may be greater than previously estimated.
Abnormal auditory tonotopy in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Doucet Gaelle E. , Luber Maxwell J. , Balchandani Priti , Sommer Iris E. , Frangou Sophia
Published: October 2019

Auditory hallucinations are among the most prevalent and most distressing symptoms of schizophrenia. Despite significant progress, it is still unclear whether auditory hallucinations arise from abnormalities in primary sensory processing or whether they represent failures of higher-order functions. To address this knowledge gap, we capitalized on the increased spatial resolution afforded by ultra-high field imaging at 7 Tesla to investigate the tonotopic organization of the auditory cortex in patients with schizophrenia with a history of recurrent hallucinations. Tonotopy is a fundamental feature of the functional organization of the auditory cortex that is established very early in development and predates the onset of symptoms by decades. Compared to healthy participants, patients showed abnormally increased activation and altered tonotopic organization of the auditory cortex during a purely perceptual task, which involved passive listening to tones across a range of frequencies (88–8000 Hz). These findings suggest that the predisposition to auditory hallucinations is likely to be predicated on abnormalities in the functional organization of the auditory cortex and which may serve as a biomarker for the early identification of vulnerable individuals.
Sleep stage classification from heart-rate variability using long short-term memory neural networks
Authors: Radha Mustafa , Fonseca Pedro , Moreau Arnaud , Ross Marco , Cerny Andreas , Anderer Peter , Long Xi , Aarts Ronald M.
Published: October 2019

Automated sleep stage classification using heart rate variability (HRV) may provide an ergonomic and low-cost alternative to gold standard polysomnography, creating possibilities for unobtrusive home-based sleep monitoring. Current methods however are limited in their ability to take into account long-term sleep architectural patterns. A long short-term memory (LSTM) network is proposed as a solution to model long-term cardiac sleep architecture information and validated on a comprehensive data set (292 participants, 584 nights, 541.214 annotated 30 s sleep segments) comprising a wide range of ages and pathological profiles, annotated according to the Rechtschaffen and Kales (R&K) annotation standard. It is shown that the model outperforms state-of-the-art approaches which were often limited to non-temporal or short-term recurrent classifiers. The model achieves a Cohen’s k of 0.61 ± 0.15 and accuracy of 77.00 ± 8.90% across the entire database. Further analysis revealed that the performance for individuals aged 50 years and older may decline. These results demonstrate the merit of deep temporal modelling using a diverse data set and advance the state-of-the-art for HRV-based sleep stage classification. Further research is warranted into individuals over the age of 50 as performance tends to worsen in this sub-population.
New Male Specific Markers for Hop and Application in Breeding Program
Authors: Čerenak Andreja , Kolenc Zala , Sehur Petra , Whittock Simon P. , Koutoulis Anthony , Beatson Ron , Buck Emily , Javornik Branka , Škof Suzana , Jakše Jernej
Published: October 2019

Male specific DNA sequences were selected from a Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) mapping study to evaluate their suitability for determination of the sex phenotype among young seedlings in a hop (Humulus lupulus L.) breeding program. Ten male specific DArT markers showed complete linkage with male sex phenotype in three crossing families. Following optimization, four were successfully converted into PCR markers and a multiplex PCR approach for their use was developed. Among 197 plants (97 from the world collection; 100 from three segregating families), 94–100% positive correlation with sex phenotypic data was achieved for the single PCR amplification, whereas the multiplex approach showed 100% correlation. To develop a fast and low-cost method, crude sample multiplex PCR was evaluated in 253 progenies from 14 segregating populations without losing accuracy. The study describes, for the first time, the routine application of molecular markers linked to male sex in an intensive Slovenian hop breeding program. The methods described could be employed for screening of sex at the seedling stage in other hop programs worldwide, thereby saving resources for desirable female plants.
Left Ventricular Involvement in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy Predicts Adverse Clinical Outcomes: A Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking Study
Authors: Shen Meng-ting , Yang Zhi-gang , Diao Kai-yue , Jiang Li , Zhang Yi , Liu Xi , Gao Yue , Hu Bi-yue , Huang Shan , Guo Ying-kun
Published: October 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate left ventricular (LV) global myocardial strain and LV involvement characteristics in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) and to evaluate their predictive value of adverse cardiac events. Sixty consecutive ARVD/C patients with a definite diagnosis of ARVD/C who underwent CMR examination and thirty-four healthy controls were enrolled retrospectively. The CMR images were analyzed for LV myocardial strain and the presence of LV involvement. The endpoint was defined as a composite of sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, cardiac death, resuscitated cardiac arrest, heart transplantation, and appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shock. LV global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS), and radial strain (GRS) were significantly impaired in ARVC/D patients compared to healthy controls (GLS: −13.89 ± 3.26% vs. −16.68 ± 2.74%, GCS: −15.65 ± 3.40% vs. −19.20 ± 2.23%, GRS: 34.57 ± 11.98% vs. 49.92 ± 12.59%; P < 0.001 for all). Even in ARVC/D patients with preserved LVEF, LV GLS, GCS and GRS were also significantly reduced than in controls. During a mean follow-up period of 4.10 ± 1.77 years, the endpoint was reached in 17 patients. LV GLS >−12.65% (HR, 3.58; 95%CI, 1.14 to 11.25; p = 0.029) and history of syncope (HR, 4.99; 95%CI, 1.88 to 13.24; p = 0.001) were the only independent predictors of cardiac outcomes. The LV myocardial deformation derived from FT CMR was significantly impaired in ARVD/C patients, and this alteration can occur before the impairment of LVEF. LV GLS >−12.65% and history of syncope were the only independent prognostic markers of adverse cardiac outcomes.
Influence of short-term macronutrient deprivation in maize on photosynthetic characteristics, transpiration and pigment content
Authors: Sitko Krzysztof , Gieroń Żaneta , Szopiński Michał , Zieleźnik-Rusinowska Paulina , Rusinowski Szymon , Pogrzeba Marta , Daszkowska-Golec Agata , Kalaji Hazem M. , Małkowski Eugeniusz
Published: October 2019

The aim of the research was to compare the impact of short-term deprivation of selected macronutrients (Ca, K, Mg and P) on the photosynthetic characteristics, transpiration and pigment content in maize. The strongest inhibition of photosynthesis was caused by a deprivation of Mg, which was visible as a decrease in the photosynthetic and transpiration rates, stomatal conductance, photosystem II (PSII) performance, chlorophyll and flavonol content with a simultaneously increased content of anthocyanins. In the K-deprived plants, a decrease in the photosynthetic rate was observed. However, the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance did not differ significantly compared with the control. In the K-deprived plants, a decrease in chlorophyll and an increase in the anthocyanin content were also observed. We showed that Ca starvation resulted in a decrease in the photosynthetic and transpiration rates, stomatal conductance and PSII performance, while the pigment content was not significantly different compared with the control. In the case of P-deprived plants, we observed a decrease in the photosynthetic and transpiration rates. Interestingly, the inhibition of stomatal conductance was the strongest in the P-deprived plants compared with all of the investigated elements. However, the performance of PSII was not significantly affected by P starvation compared with the control. Our results present for the first time a comprehensive analysis of the effect of short-term macronutrient deprivation on photosynthesis and transpiration in maize plants.