bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does Co-occurred Cerebral Palsy Change the Prognosis of West Syndrome?
Authors: Nagy Eszter , Farkas Nelli , Hollódy Katalin
Published: October 2019

Aim We aimed to examine the occurrence of cerebral palsy (CP) in children with West syndrome (WS), to estimate the possible causative factors by analyzing the neuroimaging examinations of patients, to evaluate their cognitive/motor function and epileptic status and to compare the prognosis of children with double pathology of WS and CP and of those without CP.

Methods The clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of 62 patients with West syndrome were evaluated. A total of 39 of 62 patients (63%) suffered from CP (CP group). The non-CP group included 23 patients.

Results Abnormal MRI was found in 55/62 (89%) patients. Main anomalies were: brain malformation (21), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (13), cerebrovascular insult (8), infection (7), and other anomalies (6). In the CP group, the most common MRI abnormalities included pre/perinatal hypoxia/ischemia, brain malformation, cerebrovascular insult, and infection. In the non-CP group, brain malformations were the most frequent. Significantly more negative MRIs were found in the non-CP group. More than 60% of the patients were severely cognitively impaired, almost 90% of them had CP. Not only the occurrence of intellectual disability was lower in the non-CP group, but its severity was milder as well. A total of 78% of the children with CP had a very severe motor disability. Fifty-four percent in the CP and 67% in the non-CP group had therapy-resistant epilepsy.

Conclusion WS has an especially unfavorable prognosis: cerebral anomaly was confirmed in 89% of our patients. CP was present in almost two-thirds of the children with WS, most of them had severe cognitive and motor deficits.
Peri- and Postoperative Pain Management in Multiple Ligament Knee Surgery in the Hospital and Ambulatory Surgery Center Setting
Authors: Fanelli David Gregory , Vu To-Nhu
Published: October 2019

The multiligament knee injury presents as a complex injury pattern that has substantial potential to cause long-term disability. Patients who sustain this injury pattern experience significant pain not only immediately following injury but also throughout the perioperative and postoperative period. Treating pain with major orthopaedic procedures is challenging but technical success of a surgical repair becomes trivial when pain is not effectively managed. This article will (1) provide an outline of the types of pain most often sustained in the multiligament knee injury, (2) outline the phases of pain management for this injury, and (3) provide an overview of persistent postoperative pain. The principles of multimodal analgesia in combination with effective regional anesthesia and attentive intraoperative management can position patients for successful rehabilitation and recovery.
Epidemiology and Management of Children with Hypertensive Crisis: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Lim Alicia May , Chong Siew Le , Ng Yong Hong , Chan Yoke Hwee , Lee Jan Hau
Published: October 2019

Most children who present with hypertensive crisis have a secondary cause for hypertension. This study describes the epidemiology and management of children with hypertensive crisis. A retrospective cohort study was done in a tertiary pediatric hospital from 2009 to 2015. Thirty-seven patients were treated for hypertensive crisis. Twelve (32.4%) patients were treated for hypertensive emergency. The majority of our patients (33 [89.1%]) had a secondary cause of hypertension. The most common identifiable cause of hypertension was a renal pathology (18/37 [48.6%]). Oral nifedipine (23 [62.1%]) was the most frequently used antihypertensive, followed by intravenous labetalol (8 [21.6%]). There were no mortalities or morbidities. Hypertensive crisis in children is likely secondary in nature. Oral nifedipine and intravenous labetalol are both effective treatments.
Comparison of Patient Demographics and Utilization Trends of Robotic-Assisted and Non-Robotic-Assisted Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Vakharia Rushabh M. , Sodhi Nipun , Cohen-Levy Wayne B. , Vakharia Ajit M. , Mont Michael A. , Roche Martin W.
Published: October 2019

Robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (RAUKA) is an emerging area of interest. The purpose of this study was to compare (1) different patient demographic profiles; (2) annual primary and revision utilization rates; (3) risk factors for revision procedures; and (4) survivorship between RAUKA and manual UKA (MUKA). Using the PearlDiver database, patients who underwent RAUKA or MUKA between 2005 and 2014 within the Medicare database were identified, yielding a total of 35,061 patients (RAUKA = 13,617; manual = 21,444). Patient demographics (age, gender, comorbidities, Charlson-Comorbidity Index, and geographic region) were compared between cohorts. Annual primary and revision utilization rates as well as risk factors for revision procedures were also compared. Kaplan–Meier survivorship was also calculated. The Pearson χ2 test was used to test for significance in patient demographics, whereas the Welch t-test was used to compare the incidence of revisions as well as the revision burden (proportion of revisions to total sum of primary and revision procedures). Multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to compare risk factors for revision procedures. There were statistically significant differences in RAUKA versus MUKA patients with respect to age (p < 0.001), gender (p < 0.001), and region (p < 0.001). RAUKA procedures performed increased over 12-fold compared with manual, which increased only 4.5-fold. RAUKA procedures had significantly lower revision incidence (0.99 vs. 4.24%, p = 0.003) and revision burden (0.91 vs. 4.23%, p = 0.005) compared with manuals. For patients undergoing RAUKA, normal (19–24 kg/m2) and obese (30–39 kg/m2) body mass index (p < 0.05), congestive heart failure (p = 0.004), hypothyroidism (p < 0.001), opioid dependency (p = 0.002), and rheumatoid arthritis (p < 0.001) were risk factors for a revision procedure. Kaplan–Meier survival curve 3 years following the index procedure to all-cause revisions demonstrated that RAUKA patients maintained nearly 100% survivorship compared with manual patients who had 97.5% survivorship. The data demonstrate increased utilization of RAUKA in the United States. The current data indicated that RAUKA has significantly lower revision rates and improved survivorship compared with patients undergoing non-RAUKA within Medicare patients.
Robot-Assisted Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: Increasing Surgical Accuracy? A Cadaveric Study
Authors: Iñiguez Magaly , Negrín Roberto , Duboy Jaime , Reyes Nicolás O. , Díaz Rodrigo
Published: October 2019

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) represents 10% of knee arthroplasties. Advantages are better functional results, quicker recovery, shorter hospitalization time, and lower blood loss, among others. However, revision rates are larger than total knee arthroplasty. Among the most important factors that explain this are the implant position and alignment, and the correct surgical indication. Greater accuracy in the implant placement may improve clinical results and increase the rate of implant survival. The objective of this study is to evaluate the precision of the Navio robot-assisted system in the position and alignment of medial UKA compared with the conventional technique. This is an experimental pilot study. Twenty-six cadaveric models were randomized into 2 groups: Robot-Assisted surgery (R) and Conventional Surgery (C). Radiological study was performed pre- and post-surgery, evaluating the medial distal femoral angle (MDFA), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), tibial slope, tibiofemoral angle (TFA), sagittal femoral angle (SFA), and size of the femoral and tibial components. The main result measurement was the change in postoperative angulation. The results of this study are MDFA median of 1.07° (0.19–4.5) for group R and 0.12° (0.03–10.4) with a significant difference in variances; a Welch t-test of p = 0.013; and an MPTA of 1.28° (0.05–5.87) for R and 1.3°(0.08–14.1) for C with significantly different variances (p = 0.0064). Size of the femoral component has a difference of p < 0.05 between groups. No differences for dispersion of TFA nor for the size of the tibial component were observed. In conclusion, using robot-assisted UKA allows for greater accuracy in the positioning of the implants and in the prediction of the size of the femoral component.
Left Far Lateral Craniotomy for Clipping of a Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm
Authors: Zhao Xiaochun , Wicks Robert T. , Mulholland Celene B. , Ducruet Andrew F. , Nakaji Peter
Published: October 2019

Objectives The complex anatomical relationships of neurovascular structures at the craniovertebral junction make the clipping of a posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysm surgically challenging. We demonstrate the clipping of a PICA aneurysm in the video.

Design, Setting, and Participant A 65-year-old woman presented with a nonsymptomatic unruptured left PICA aneurysm; follow-up angiography showed an increase in its size. Preoperative angiography demonstrated a PICA aneurysm with the neck close to the origin of the PICA. A daughter sac of the aneurysm was also noted. A left far lateral approach was performed. The vagoaccessory triangle was exposed after opening the arachnoid membrane. The origin of the PICA and the aneurysm were revealed after exploration. The aneurysm neck was identified both proximally and distally. Two fenestrated clips were applied; subsequent indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography demonstrated that the PICA was obstructed. One clip was adjusted, and repeated ICG videoangiography showed the PICA was patent. An endoscope was used before and after the clip application to better understand the anatomy of the aneurysm and inspect clip positions (Fig. 1).

Outcome The patient was neurologically intact postoperatively and was discharged on postoperative day 4.

Conclusion PICA aneurysms require careful treatment. Impingement of adjacent structures can cause severe complications. Lower cranial nerve damage can cause dysphagia, and compromised vertebral/PICA circulation can cause brainstem symptoms, such as Wallenberg's syndrome. Intraoperative ICG videoangiography should be used to evaluate vessel patency, and the endoscope should be used to fully inspect the aneurysm and evaluate the clip application.

The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/dKxFQTRA89g.
Far Lateral Craniotomy for Resection of Foramen Magnum Meningioma
Authors: Wicks Robert T. , Zhao Xiaochun , Mulholland Celene B. , Nakaji Peter
Published: October 2019

Objective Foramen magnum meningiomas present a formidable challenge to resection due to frequent involvement of the lower cranial nerves and vertebrobasilar circulation. The video shows the use of a far lateral craniotomy to resect a foramen magnum meningioma.

Design, Setting, and Participant A 49-year-old woman presented with neck pain and was found to have a large foramen magnum meningioma (Fig. 1A, B). Drilling of the posterior occipital condyle was required to gain access to the lateral aspect of the brain stem. The amount of occipital condyle resection varies by patient and pathology.

Outcome/Result Maximal total resection of the tumor was achieved (Fig. 1B, C), and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 4 with no neurologic deficits. The technique for tumor microdissection (Fig. 2) is shown in the video.

Conclusion Given the close proximity of foramen magnum meningiomas to vital structures at the craniocervical junction, surgical resection with careful microdissection and preservation of the overlying dura to prevent postoperative pseudomeningocele is necessary to successfully manage this pathology in those patients who are surgical candidates.

The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/Mds9N1x2zE0.
Fisher zeros and correlation decay in the Ising model
Authors: Liu Jingcheng , Sinclair Alistair , Srivastava Piyush
Published: October 2019

We study the complex zeros of the partition function of the Ising model, viewed as a polynomial in the “interaction parameter”; these are known as Fisher zeros in light of their introduction by Fisher in 1965 [Fisher, M. E., “The nature of critical points,” in Lecture notes in Theoretical Physics, edited by Brittin, W. E. (University of Colorado Press, 1965), Vol. 7c]. While the zeros of the partition function as a polynomial in the “field” parameter have been extensively studied since the classical work of Lee and Yang, comparatively little is known about Fisher zeros for general graphs. Our main result shows that the zero-field Ising model has no Fisher zeros in a complex neighborhood of the entire region of parameters where the model exhibits correlation decay. In addition to shedding light on Fisher zeros themselves, this result also establishes a formal connection between two distinct notions of phase transition for the Ising model: the absence of complex zeros (analyticity of the free energy density or the normalized logarithm of the partition function) and decay of correlations with distance. We also discuss the consequences of our result for efficient deterministic approximation of the partition function. Our proof relies heavily on algorithmic techniques, notably Weitz’s self-avoiding walk tree, and as such belongs to a growing body of work that uses algorithmic methods to resolve classical questions in statistical physics.
Tissue-engineering of vascular grafts containing endothelium and smooth-muscle using triple-coaxial cell printing
Authors: Gao Ge , Kim Hyeok , Kim Byoung Soo , Kong Jeong Sik , Lee Jae Yeon , Park Bong Woo , Chae Suhun , Kim Jisoo , Ban Kiwon , Jang Jinah , Park Hun-Jun , Cho Dong-Woo
Published: October 2019

Tissue engineering has emerged as a promising approach to viable small-diameter vascular grafts that may be used to treat cardiovascular diseases. One challenge in constructing such blood vessels is proper localization of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, as well as promotion of their cellular functions to generate functional tissues. Thus far, construction of small-diameter vascular substitutes with both endothelial and muscular tissues, which is essential for the grafts to acquire antithrombosis function and sufficient strength to avoid thrombus formation as well as to withstand blood pressure, has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, we engineer small-diameter blood vessel grafts containing both functional endothelial and muscular cell layers, which has been demonstrated in vivo in a living rat model. Our construction of the blood vessel grafts uses vascular-tissue-derived extracellular matrix bioinks and a reservoir-assisted triple-coaxial cell printing technique. The prematured vessel was implanted for three weeks as a graft of rat abdominal aorta in a proof-of-concept study where all implants showed great patency, intact endothelium, remodeled smooth muscle, and integration with host tissues at the end of the study. These outcomes suggest that our approach to tissue-engineered biomimetic blood vessels provides a promising route for the construction of durable small-diameter vascular grafts that may be used in future treatments of cardiovascular diseases.
Understanding and predicting damage and failure at grain boundaries in BCC Ta
Authors: Chen J. , Hahn E. N. , Dongare A. M. , Fensin S. J.
Published: October 2019

Understanding the effect of grain boundaries (GBs) on the deformation and spall behavior is critical to designing materials with tailored failure responses under dynamic loading. This understanding is hampered by the lack of in situ imaging capability with the optimum spatial and temporal resolution during dynamic experiments, as well as by the scarcity of a systematic data set that correlates boundary structure to failure, especially in BCC metals. To fill in this gap in the current understanding, molecular dynamics simulations are performed on a set of 74 bi-crystals in Ta with a [110] symmetric tilt axis. Our results show a correlation between GB misorientation angle and spall strength and also highlight the importance of GB structure itself in determining the spall strength. Specifically, we find a direct correlation between the ability of the GB to plasticity deform through slip/twinning and its spall strength. Additionally, a change in the deformation mechanism from dislocation-meditated to twinning-dominated plasticity is observed as a function of misorientation angles, which results in lowered spall strengths for high-angle GBs.
Force spectroscopy using a quartz length-extension resonator
Authors: Sugimoto Yoshiaki , Onoda Jo
Published: October 2019

Frequency modulation atomic force microscopy detects the interaction force between the tip and the sample by measuring the change in the resonance frequency of an oscillating force sensor. Short-range interaction force can be selectively detected by a small oscillation amplitude. A quartz length-extension resonator (LER) offers the advantage of small-amplitude operation by virtue of its ultrahigh stiffness. Here, we demonstrate that an LER can accurately measure the short-range interaction force at cryogenic temperature even under a high magnetic field. We derive a formula for calculating the effective stiffness of an oscillating LER by using the theory of elasticity. The obtained dynamic stiffness is 1.23 times greater than the static stiffness, and this difference significantly affects the estimation of the interaction force. Using a properly calibrated LER, force curves are measured on Si(111)-(7 × 7) surfaces. The maximum attractive short-range forces above Si adatoms using several tip apex states are in the ranges of the values previously obtained by Si cantilevers.
Ferroelectricity and magnetoelectric coupling in hexagonal Lu0.5In0.5FeO3 ceramics
Authors: Liu Mei Ying , Gao Ting Ting , Zhu Xiao Li , Chen Xiang Ming
Published: October 2019

Recently, hexagonal rare earth ferrites (h-RFeO3) have attracted much scientific attention due to their room-temperature multiferroicity. The primary issue for h-RFeO3 is how to manipulate from nonpolar orthorhombic (Pbnm) structure to polar hexagonal (P63cm) structure, and this could be realized by the wet-chemical method, epitaxial stain engineering, or introducing chemical pressure. Another key issue for h-RFeO3 is the experimental determination of its macroferroelectricity and magnetoelectric (ME) coupling because the semiconducting nature seriously obstructs the experimental characterization. In the present work, owing to the suppressed leakage current density with decreasing temperature, saturated electrical hysteresis loops were observed in A-site substituted h-Lu0.5In0.5FeO3 ceramics at 198 K, directly demonstrating the presence of the macroferroelectricity. Room-temperature switchable ferroelectric polarization was further confirmed by the piezoresponse force microscopy. Furthermore, noticeable ME coupling with a linear ME voltage coefficient of 0.67 mV/cm Oe was observed at room temperature.
Machine-learning assisted steady-state profile predictions using global optimization techniques
Authors: Honda M. , Narita E.
Published: October 2019

Predicting plasma profiles with a stiff turbulent transport model is important for experimental analysis and development of operation scenarios. Due to the sensitivity of turbulent fluxes to profile gradients, robust predictions are still arduous with a stiff model incorporated in a conventional transport code. With global optimization techniques employed, the new steady-state transport code, global optimization version of the transport equation stable solver, has been developed to overcome these difficulties. It enables us to attain smooth profiles of diffusivity and temperature even though jagged profiles thereof are inclined to emerge in simulations with a stiff model. A neural-network-based surrogate model of a transport model is developed to compensate slow computation inherent to global optimization. Hyperparameter optimization realizes the surrogate model with very good accuracy.
Comparative study of topological Hall effect and skyrmions in NiMnIn and NiMnGa
Authors: Zhang Wenyong , Balasubramanian Balamurugan , Ullah Ahsan , Pahari Rabindra , Li Xingzhong , Yue Lanping , Valloppilly Shah R. , Sokolov Andrei , Skomski Ralph , Sellmyer David J.
Published: October 2019

A nonequilibrium rapid-quenching method has been used to fabricate NiMnIn and NiMnGa alloys that are chemically and morphologically similar but crystallographically and physically very different. NiMnGa crystallizes in a Ni2In-type hexagonal structure, whereas NiMnIn is a cubic Heusler alloy. Both alloys yield a topological Hall effect contribution corresponding to bubble-type skyrmion spin structures, but it occurs in much lower magnetic fields in NiMnIn as compared to NiMnGa. The effect is unrelated to net Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions, which are absent in both alloys due to their inversion-symmetric crystal structures. Based on magnetic-force microscopy, we explain the difference between the two alloys by magnetocrystalline anisotropy and uniaxial and cubic anisotropies yielding full-fledged and reduced topological Hall effects, respectively. Since NiMnIn involves small magnetic fields (0.02–0.3 kOe) at and above room temperature, it is of potential interest in spin electronics.
Ensemble first-principles molecular dynamics simulations of water using the SCAN meta-GGA density functional
Authors: LaCount Michael D. , Gygi François
Published: October 2019

We present an ensemble of 16 independent first-principles molecular dynamics simulations of water performed using the Strongly Constrained and Appropriately Normed (SCAN) meta-generalized gradient approximation exchange-correlation functional. These simulations were used to compute the structural and electronic properties of liquid water, as well as polarizabilities, Raman and infrared spectra. Overall, we find that the SCAN functional used at a simulation temperature of 330 K provides an accurate description of the structural and electronic properties of water while incurring a moderate computational cost. The availability of an ensemble of independent simulations provides a quantitative estimate of the uncertainty in computed structural and electronic properties. Results are also compared with a similar dataset generated using the Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof exchange-correlation functional at a temperature of 400 K. All simulation data and trajectories are available at http://quantum-simulation.org.
Thermoelectric measurements of high-resistance Janus monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenide
Authors: Mehta Devika , Zhang Jing , Smith Brandon , Lou Jun , Shi Li
Published: October 2019

The broken reflection symmetry exhibited by the recently reported two-dimensional Janus SMoSe monolayers can lead to unique electronic, thermal, and thermoelectric properties. Thermoelectric measurements of these and other semiconducting materials are often complicated by a loading error associated with a high sample resistance. Here, we report a thermoelectric measurement of a monolayer SMoSe sample with a resistance exceeding 40 MΩ. The loading error associated with the high sample resistance and other contaminations is removed with the use of high-impedance electronics, discrete modulated heating, and Fourier transform analysis of the measured thermoelectric voltage. Under a 20 V gate voltage, the measured Seebeck coefficient of the Janus monolayer changes from −200 µV/K at 350 K to −220 µV/K at 425 K. These results are consistent with an n-type semiconductor behavior of the Janus monolayer sample and demonstrate the effectiveness of this method for thermoelectric measurements of high-resistance semiconductor samples.
Numerical modeling of solid-cluster evolution applied to the nanosecond solidification of water near the metastable limit
Authors: Sterbentz Dane M. , Myint Philip C. , Delplanque Jean-Pierre , Belof Jonathan L.
Published: October 2019

Classical nucleation theory (CNT) is a promising way to predictively model the submicrosecond kinetics of phase transitions that occur under dynamic compression, such as the suite of experiments performed over the past two decades on the solidification of liquid water to the high-pressure ice VII phase. Myint et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 155701 (2018)] presented the first CNT-based model for these types of rapid phase transitions, but relied on an empirical scaling parameter in their transient induction model to simulate the lag time that occurs prior to the onset of significant formation of ice VII clusters in the system. To build on that study, we model the liquid water–ice VII phase transformation using a numerical discretization scheme to solve the Zel’dovich–Frenkel partial differential equation, which is a fundamental CNT-based kinetic equation that describes the statistical time-dependent behavior of solid cluster formation. The Zel’dovich–Frenkel equation inherently accounts for transience in the nucleation kinetics and eliminates the need for the empirical scaling factor used by Myint et al. One major result of this research is that transience is found to play a relatively small role in the nucleation process for the dynamic-compression time scales of the liquid water–ice VII experiments being simulated. Instead, we show that it is possible to properly model the lag time using steady-state CNT by making small refinements to the interfacial free energy value. We have also developed a new dimensionless parameter that may be applied a priori to predict whether or not transient nucleation will be important in a given dynamic-compression experiment.
Escaping scaling relationships for water dissociation at interfacial sites of zirconia-supported Rh and Pt clusters
Authors: Kauppinen Minttu M. , Korpelin Ville , Verma Anand Mohan , Melander Marko M. , Honkala Karoliina
Published: October 2019

Water dissociation is an important reaction involved in many industrial processes. In this computational study, the dissociation of water is used as a model reaction for probing the activity of interfacial sites of globally optimized ZrO2 supported Pt and Rh clusters under the framework of density functional theory. Our findings demonstrate that the perimeter sites of these small clusters can activate water, but the dissociation behavior varies considerably between sites. It is shown that the studied clusters break scaling relationships for water dissociation, suggesting that these catalysts may achieve activities beyond the maximum imposed by such relations. Furthermore, we observed large differences in the thermodynamics of the water dissociation reaction between global minimum and near-global minimum isomers of the clusters. Overall, our results highlight the uniqueness of interfacial sites in catalytic reactions and the need for developing new concepts and tools to deal with the associated complexity.
Integrated multi-operand electro-optic logic gates for optical computing
Authors: Ying Zhoufeng , Feng Chenghao , Zhao Zheng , Soref Richard , Pan David , Chen Ray T.
Published: October 2019

Integrated optical computing has the potential to enhance the computation abilities in terms of computing speed and power consumption during the post-Moore's law era. As one of the widely investigated approaches, electro-optic logic uses electro-optic switches as the building blocks to achieve complex functions. In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a multioperand electro-optic logic gate that contains multiple active regions in a single gate to further increase the versatility of gates. Thus, one gate can be controlled by several electrical inputs simultaneously. The ability of multioperand logic gates is thoroughly explored. The detailed comparison shows that the proposed gate can largely improve the circuit performance in terms of the area, latency, power, and insertion loss. We believe the multioperand logic gate has the potential to contribute to a more compact and power-efficient integrated optical computing system.
An assessment of radio telemetry for monitoring shorebird chick survival and causes of mortality
Authors: Lees Daniel , Schmidt Tom , Sherman Craig D. H. , Maguire Grainne S. , Dann Peter , Ehmke Glenn , Weston Michael A.
Published: October 2019

Abstract
ContextMonitoring survival of free-living precocial avian young is critical for population management, but difficult to achieve. Perhaps the most promising technique available to track survival is the deployment of devices such as radio-transmitters or data loggers, which allow for tracking of the individuals.
AimsTo understand if the deployment of radio-transmitters or the process of radio-tracking negatively impact chick survival by analysing survival of tagged chicks.
MethodsFifty masked lapwing (Vanellus miles), 42 red-capped plover (Charadrius ruficapillus) and 27 hooded plover (Thinornis cucullatus) chicks were radio-tracked. Mortality between tagged and untagged chicks within broods was compared to examine whether radio-telemetry influenced chick survival.
Key resultsThere was no statistically significant difference in survival between chicks with and without radio-transmitters. Radio-transmitters enabled the determination of cause of death for 0–28% of radio-tagged chicks.
ConclusionThe survival of shorebird chicks does not appear to be affected by attachment of transmitters.
ImplicationsRadio-tracking remains a promising way of studying the movement and survival of shorebird chicks, and is helpful but not reliable for assigning the cause of mortality.
Captive husbandry and veterinary care of seabirds during the MV Rena oil spill response
Authors: Gartrell B. D. , Battley P. F. , Clumpner C. , Dwyer W. , Hunter S. , Jensen M. , McConnell H. M. , Michael S. , Morgan K. J. , Nijman P. , Ward J. M. , White B. J. , Ziccardi M. H.
Published: October 2019

Abstract
ContextSeabirds were the most common taxa captured alive as part of the oiled wildlife response to the grounding of the container vessel MV Rena in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
AimsTo describe the management of seabirds during the spill response, to outline the common problems encountered and to make recommendations for future responses.
MethodsSeabirds were collected from 7 October 2011 to 14 January 2012. They were stabilised and underwent pretreatment, washing and rinsing procedures to remove oil, followed by swimming physiotherapy to restore waterproofing and long-term housing in outdoor aviaries. The birds were released in batches close to the original sites of capture once the wild habitat was cleaned.
Key results428 live seabirds were admitted. There were two temporal peaks in admissions associated with the ship grounding and when the ship broke up. The majority of live birds were little penguins (Eudyptula minor; 394/428, 92%). Most seabirds admitted (393/428, 91.8%) were contaminated with heavy fuel oil, with the remainder (35/428, 8.2%) found unoiled but starving and/or exhausted or with injuries. Little penguins had lower mortality during rehabilitation (28/394, 7.1%) than other seabird species combined (27/34, 79.4%). Seabirds in poorer body condition on arrival had higher mortality, and unoiled birds were also more likely to die than oiled birds. In oiled little penguins, the degree of oiling on the plumage ranged from 1 to 100%, but mortality was not significantly associated with the degree of oiling (P=0.887). Pododermatitis affected 66% of little penguins. The most common causes of death (n=45) included weakness, anaemia and hypothermia in oiled seabirds (16/45, 35.6%), and starvation and weakness in unoiled seabirds (14/45, 31.1%).
ConclusionsTotal survival to release was 87.1%, primarily influenced by the species involved and the body condition of the birds on arrival. Unoiled seabirds had higher mortality rates than oiled seabirds.
ImplicationsOiled wildlife can be rehabilitated with good success, even when heavily oiled, or to a lesser extent, when found in poor body condition. More work is needed to refine species-specific rehabilitation protocols for seabirds, especially for those being admitted in emaciated body condition.
Polymerase III transcription is necessary for T cell priming by dendritic cells
Authors: Reverendo Marisa , Argüello Rafael J. , Polte Christine , Valečka Jan , Camosseto Voahirana , Auphan-Anezin Nathalie , Ignatova Zoya , Gatti Evelina , Pierre Philippe
Published: October 2019

Significance

RNA polymerase III-dependent transcription and increased tRNA expression are necessary for MAMP-stimulated DCs to stimulate naïve T cells. Augmented Pol III-dependent transcription is as essential as the switch to glycolysis and other energetic metabolism variations that are now considered as hallmarks of immune cell activation and are all necessary to increase protein synthesis in these cells.
Rapid ocean acidification and protracted Earth system recovery followed the end-Cretaceous Chicxulub impact
Authors: Henehan Michael J. , Ridgwell Andy , Thomas Ellen , Zhang Shuang , Alegret Laia , Schmidt Daniela N. , Rae James W. B. , Witts James D. , Landman Neil H. , Greene Sarah E. , Huber Brian T. , Super James R. , Planavsky Noah J. , Hull Pincelli M.
Published: October 2019

Significance

Debate lingers over what caused the last mass extinction 66 million years ago, with intense volcanism and extraterrestrial impact the most widely supported hypotheses. However, without empirical evidence for either’s exact environmental effects, it is difficult to discern which was most important in driving extinction. It is also unclear why recovery of biodiversity and carbon cycling in the oceans was so slow after an apparently sudden extinction event. In this paper, we show (using boron isotopes and Earth system modeling) that the impact caused rapid ocean acidification, and that the resulting ecological collapse in the oceans had long-lasting effects for global carbon cycling and climate. Our data suggest that impact, not volcanism, was key in driving end-Cretaceous mass extinction.
Visual fixation patterns during economic choice reflect covert valuation processes that emerge with learning
Authors: Cavanagh Sean E. , Malalasekera W. M. Nishantha , Miranda Bruno , Hunt Laurence T. , Kennerley Steven W.
Published: October 2019

Significance

Where we direct our gaze can have a big impact on what we choose. However, where we choose to gaze during the decision process is not well-characterized, despite the important role it plays. In our study, monkeys performed a simple decision-making experiment where they were free to look around a computer screen showing choice options. They then indicated their economic choice with a joystick movement. When choice options appeared, monkeys rapidly gazed toward more valuable and novel stimuli—suggesting there is a system that orients gaze toward important information. However, despite the gaze preference for novel stimuli, subjects did not prefer to choose them. This suggests the mechanisms governing value-guided attentional capture and value-guided choice are dissociable.
Middle Paleolithic complex technology and a Neandertal tar-backed tool from the Dutch North Sea
Authors: Niekus Marcel J. L. Th. , Kozowyk Paul R. B. , Langejans Geeske H. J. , Ngan-Tillard Dominique , van Keulen Henk , van der Plicht Johannes , Cohen Kim M. , van Wingerden Willy , van Os Bertil , Smit Bjørn I. , Amkreutz Luc W. S. W. , Johansen Lykke , Verbaas Annemieke , Dusseldorp Gerrit L.
Published: October 2019

We report the discovery of a 50,000-y-old birch tar-hafted flint tool found off the present-day coastline of The Netherlands. The production of adhesives and multicomponent tools is considered complex technology and has a prominent place in discussions about the evolution of human behavior. This find provides evidence on the technological capabilities of Neandertals and illuminates the currently debated conditions under which these technologies could be maintained.
14
C-accelerator mass spectrometry dating and the geological provenance of the artifact firmly associates it with a host of Middle Paleolithic stone tools and a Neandertal fossil. The find was analyzed using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, X-ray micro-computed tomography, and optical light microscopy. The object is a piece of birch tar, encompassing one-third of a flint flake. This find is from northwestern Europe and complements a small set of well-dated and chemically identified adhesives from Middle Paleolithic/Middle Stone Age contexts. Together with data from experiments and other Middle Paleolithic adhesives, it demonstrates that Neandertals mastered complex adhesive production strategies and composite tool use at the northern edge of their range. Thus, a large population size is not a necessary condition for complex behavior and technology. The mitigation of ecological risk, as demonstrated by the challenging conditions during Marine Isotope Stage 4 and 3, provides a better explanation for the transmission and maintenance of technological complexity.
A packing for A-form DNA in an icosahedral virus
Authors: Wang Fengbin , Liu Ying , Su Zhangli , Osinski Tomasz , de Oliveira Guilherme A. P. , Conway James F. , Schouten Stefan , Krupovic Mart , Prangishvili David , Egelman Edward H.
Published: October 2019

Studies on viruses infecting archaea living in the most extreme environments continue to show a remarkable diversity of structures, suggesting that the sampling continues to be very sparse. We have used electron cryo-microscopy to study at 3.7-Å resolution the structure of the
Sulfolobus
polyhedral virus 1 (SPV1), which was originally isolated from a hot, acidic spring in Beppu, Japan. The 2 capsid proteins with variant single jelly-roll folds form pentamers and hexamers which assemble into a
T
= 43 icosahedral shell. In contrast to tailed icosahedral double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses infecting bacteria and archaea, and herpesviruses infecting animals and humans, where naked DNA is packed under very high pressure due to the repulsion between adjacent layers of DNA, the circular dsDNA in SPV1 is fully covered with a viral protein forming a nucleoprotein filament with attractive interactions between layers. Most strikingly, we have been able to show that the DNA is in an A-form, as it is in the filamentous viruses infecting hyperthermophilic acidophiles. Previous studies have suggested that DNA is in the B-form in bacteriophages, and our study is a direct visualization of the structure of DNA in an icosahedral virus.
Million-fold sensitivity enhancement in proteopathic seed amplification assays for biospecimens by Hofmeister ion comparisons
Authors: Metrick Michael A. , do Carmo Ferreira Natalia , Saijo Eri , Hughson Andrew G. , Kraus Allison , Orrú Christina , Miller Michael W. , Zanusso Gianluigi , Ghetti Bernardino , Vendruscolo Michele , Caughey Byron
Published: October 2019

Significance

Detection of aggregated proteins in human tissues represents a challenging, yet proven, avenue for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases. For therapeutic advances to occur, an accurate and early diagnosis must be made, which would ideally rely on a biomarker that can track the progression of the disease. One challenging aspect to this approach is achieving enough sensitivity to detect very low (sometimes attogram, 10
−18
g) amounts of aggregates in diagnostically available tissues. Here, we show that this level of sensitivity can be achieved through optimization of the ionic environment in which these aggregates are amplified through their self-seeding ability. The use of weakly or strongly hydrated anions can enhance the seeded-polymerization-based detection of aggregates from biological tissues, thus potentially enhancing the diagnostic capability of these assays.
Dynamics of trophoblast differentiation in peri-implantation–stage human embryos
Authors: West Rachel C. , Ming Hao , Logsdon Deirdre M. , Sun Jiangwen , Rajput Sandeep K. , Kile Rebecca A. , Schoolcraft William B. , Roberts R. Michael , Krisher Rebecca L. , Jiang Zongliang , Yuan Ye
Published: October 2019

Single-cell RNA sequencing of cells from cultured human blastocysts has enabled us to define the transcriptomic landscape of placental trophoblast (TB) that surrounds the epiblast and associated embryonic tissues during the enigmatic day 8 (D8) to D12 peri-implantation period before the villous placenta forms. We analyzed the transcriptomes of 3 early placental cell types, cytoTB (CTB), syncytioTB (STB), and migratoryTB (MTB), picked manually from cultured embryos dissociated with trypsin and were able to follow sublineages that emerged from proliferating CTB at the periphery of the conceptus. A unique form of CTB with some features of STB was detectable at D8, while mature STB was at its zenith at D10. A form of MTB with a mixed MTB/CTB phenotype arose around D10. By D12, STB generation was in decline, CTB had entered a new phase of proliferation, and mature MTB cells had begun to move from the main body of the conceptus. Notably, the MTB transcriptome at D12 indicated enrichment of transcripts associated with IFN signaling, migration, and invasion and up-regulation of HLA-C, HLA-E, and HLA-G. The STB, which is distinct from the STB of later villous STB, had a phenotype consistent with intense protein export and placental hormone production, as well as migration and invasion. The studies show that TB associated with human embryos is in rapid developmental flux during peri-implantation period when it must invade, signal robustly to the mother to ensure that the pregnancy continues, and make first contact with the maternal immune system.
Host–symbiont specificity determined by microbe–microbe competition in an insect gut
Authors: Itoh Hideomi , Jang Seonghan , Takeshita Kazutaka , Ohbayashi Tsubasa , Ohnishi Naomi , Meng Xian-Ying , Mitani Yasuo , Kikuchi Yoshitomo
Published: October 2019

Significance

How are specific host-symbiont mutualisms stabilized without vertical transmission? This is one of the fundamental questions in evolutionary biology. To ensure specificity, animals and plants have evolved sophisticated sorting mechanisms. Theoretical studies proposed another mechanism, so-called “competition-based selection,” where hosts provide a specific environment to selectively cultivate favorable symbionts and maintain symbiont quality. Although this mechanism is thought to be powerful in open systems, such as gut symbiosis where contaminants regularly invade, until now little experimental evidence has supported its importance in the evolution of symbioses. Through the inoculation of an insect host with a large panel of symbiotic and nonsymbiotic bacteria, we demonstrate that microbial competition is critical to maintain the specificity in an insect gut symbiosis.
Evolution of superconductivity in K
2−x
Fe
4+y
Se
5
: Spectroscopic studies of X-ray absorption and emission
Authors: Wang H. T. , Ghosh Anirudha , Wang C. H. , Hsieh S. H. , Shao Y. C. , Chiou J. W. , Chen C. L. , Pao C. W. , Lee J. F. , Liu Y. S. , Chuang Y. D. , Guo J. H. , Wu M. K. , Pong W. F.
Published: October 2019

Significance

We report the study using X-ray absorption and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering techniques to investigate the evolution of superconductivity in K
1.9
Fe
4.2
Se
5
, which was synthesized from its nonsuperconducting parent compound, K
2
Fe
4
Se
5
, by increasing the Fe concentration. The results provide a deeper insight into the magnetic and local electronic properties of K
1.9
Fe
4.2
Se
5
, such as a decrease in antiferromagnetic spin magnetic moment of Fe, charge transfer, and hybridization between Fe 3
d
–Se 4
p
orbitals, and increase in the local static structural disorder, to gain an understanding of the evolution of superconductivity in the compound.
Corticobasal ganglia projecting neurons are required for juvenile vocal learning but not for adult vocal plasticity in songbirds
Authors: Sánchez-Valpuesta Miguel , Suzuki Yumeno , Shibata Yukino , Toji Noriyuki , Ji Yu , Afrin Nasiba , Asogwa Chinweike Norman , Kojima Ippei , Mizuguchi Daisuke , Kojima Satoshi , Okanoya Kazuo , Okado Haruo , Kobayashi Kenta , Wada Kazuhiro
Published: October 2019

Significance

We addressed the question, “How do corticobasal ganglia projecting neurons contribute to vocal learning?” We performed specific ablation of the vocal cortical neurons projecting to the basal ganglia, HVC
(X)
neurons in a songbird, which generate temporally precise firing during singing. Specific ablation of HVC
(X)
neurons in juveniles caused deficits in learning the tutor song’s acoustics and less consistency of song sequence. In contrast, adult HVC
(X)
neuron ablation did not affect the degree of vocal fluctuations or cause alteration in song structure by auditory feedback inhibition. These results support the hypothesis that HVC
(X)
neurons are a neural substrate for transferring temporal signals, but not for regulating vocal fluctuations or conveying auditory feedback, to the basal ganglia for vocal learning and maintenance.
Sustained wood burial in the Bengal Fan over the last 19 My
Authors: Lee Hyejung , Galy Valier , Feng Xiaojuan , Ponton Camilo , Galy Albert , France-Lanord Christian , Feakins Sarah J.
Published: October 2019

The Ganges–Brahmaputra (G-B) River system transports over a billion tons of sediment every year from the Himalayan Mountains to the Bay of Bengal and has built the world’s largest active sedimentary deposit, the Bengal Fan. High sedimentation rates drive exceptional organic matter preservation that represents a long-term sink for atmospheric CO2. While much attention has been paid to organic-rich fine sediments, coarse sediments have generally been overlooked as a locus of organic carbon (OC) burial. However, International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 354 recently discovered abundant woody debris (millimeter- to centimeter-sized fragments) preserved within the coarse sediment layers of turbidite beds recovered from 6 marine drill sites along a transect across the Bengal Fan (∼8°N, ∼3,700-m water depth) with recovery spanning 19 My. Analysis of bulk wood and lignin finds mostly lowland origins of wood delivered episodically. In the last 5 My, export included C4plants, implying that coarse woody, lowland export continued after C4grassland expansion, albeit in reduced amounts. Substantial export of coarse woody debris in the last 1 My included one wood-rich deposit (∼0.05 Ma) that encompassed coniferous wood transported from the headwaters. In coarse layers, we found on average 0.16 weight % OC, which is half the typical biospheric OC content of sediments exported by the modern G-B Rivers. Wood burial estimates are hampered by poor drilling recovery of sands. However, high-magnitude, low-frequency wood export events are shown to be a key mechanism for C burial in turbidites.