bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal polycystic ovary syndrome and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders in offspring: prenatal androgen exposure or genetic confounding?
Authors: Cesta Carolyn E. , Öberg Anna S. , Ibrahimson Abraham , Yusuf Ikram , Larsson Henrik , Almqvist Catarina , D'Onofrio Brian M. , Bulik Cynthia M. , Fernández de la Cruz Lorena , Mataix-Cols David , Landén Mikael , Rosenqvist Mina A.
Published: March 2019

Background

Maternal polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been proposed as a model for investigating the role of prenatal androgen exposure in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, women with PCOS are at higher risk of developing psychiatric conditions and previous studies are likely confounded by genetic influences.

Methods

A Swedish nationwide register-based cohort study was conducted to disentangle the influence of prenatal androgen exposure from familial confounding in the association between maternal PCOS and offspring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and Tourette's disorder and chronic tic disorders (TD/CTD). PCOS-exposed offspring (n = 21 280) were compared with unrelated PCOS-unexposed offspring (n = 200 816) and PCOS-unexposed cousins (n = 17 295). Associations were estimated with stratified Cox regression models.

Results

PCOS-exposed offspring had increased risk of being diagnosed with ADHD, ASD, and TD/CTD compared with unrelated PCOS-unexposed offspring. Associations were stronger in girls for ADHD and ASD but not TD/CTD [ADHD: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.61 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31–1.99), ASD: aHR = 2.02 (95% CI 1.45–2.82)] than boys [ADHD: aHR = 1.37 (95% CI 1.19–1.57), ASD: aHR = 1.46 (95% CI 1.21–1.76)]. For ADHD and ASD, aHRs for girls were stronger when compared with PCOS-unexposed cousins, but slightly attenuated for boys.

Conclusions

Estimates were similar when accounting for familial confounding (i.e. genetics and environmental factors shared by cousins) and stronger in girls for ADHD and ASD, potentially indicating a differential influence of prenatal androgen exposure v. genetic factors. These results strengthen evidence for a potential causal influence of prenatal androgen exposure on the development of male-predominant neuropsychiatric disorders in female offspring of women with PCOS.
A review of generalized planning
Authors: Jiménez Sergio , Segovia-Aguas Javier , Jonsson Anders
Published: March 2019

Generalized planningstudies the representation, computation and evaluation of solutions that are valid for multiple planning instances. These are topics studied since the early days of AI. However, in recent years, we are experiencing the appearance of novel formalisms to compactly represent generalized planning tasks, the solutions to these tasks (calledgeneralized plans) and efficient algorithms to compute generalized plans. The paper reviews recent advances in generalized planning and relates them to existing planning formalisms, such asplanning with domain control knowledgeand approaches forplanning under uncertainty, that also aim at generality.
Acquiring diminutive allomorphs: taking item-specific characteristics into account
Authors: BOERSMA Tiffany , RISPENS Judith , WEERMAN Fred , BAKER Anne
Published: March 2019

Phonological characteristics and frequencies of stems and allomorphs have been explored as possible factors causing differences in production accuracies between allomorphic forms. However, previous findings are not consistent and the relative contributions of these factors are unclear. This study investigated target and erroneous productions of the Dutch diminutive, which has five allomorphs with varying type frequencies and of which the selection depends on the phonological characteristics of the stems. Typically developing children (N = 115, 5;1–10;3) were tested on their production of real and nonce diminutives. Linear mixed effects modelling was used to analyse the data taking nonverbal IQ into account. Type frequencies of the allomorphs and differences in phonological characteristics of the stems were found to be related to differences in production accuracies between the allomorphs. However, phonological characteristics of the stems appeared to have a bigger impact, mainly due to the phonological complexity of these characteristics.
Online Political Participation in China: Local Government and Differentiated Response
Authors: Cai Yongshun , Zhou Titi
Published: March 2019

Chinese citizens commonly take to the internet to voice complaints concerning their daily lives. The political hierarchy in China dictates that local governments are primarily responsible for addressing such grievances. This study investigates how local governments deal with online complaints and finds that they respond in a variety of ways and that their choice of a particular form of response is shaped by the pressure generated by the complaint and the cost of resolving it. This study contributes to the understanding of government responsiveness in China by directly assessing the quality of governmental responses and by measuring the pressure and costs faced by the government when dealing with online complaints. It also explains how the Chinese government, without having to rely on censorship, shields regime legitimacy from media exposure.
Transactional associations of maternal depressive symptoms with child externalizing behaviors are small after age 3
Authors: Dora Begum , Baydar Nazli
Published: March 2019

A large and growing body of research suggests that maternal depressive symptoms and child externalizing behaviors are strongly associated. Theoretical arguments supported by these findings led to the question of whether maternal depressive symptoms are transactionally associated with child externalizing behaviors. Using 5-year nationally representative longitudinal data from Turkey (N= 1,052), we estimated a transactional bivariate autoregressive latent trajectory model addressing this question. This model disaggregated the association of the two processes into two components: (a) the association of the interindividual differences in the trajectories; and (b) the intradyad association of the changes in maternal depressive symptoms with the changes in child externalizing behaviors. Although maternal depressive symptoms were robustly associated with child externalizing behaviors at age 3, the transactional associations of the two processes were small prior to age 5 and absent at ages 5 to 7. Furthermore, maternal harsh parenting did not have a mediating role in the limited transactional association of maternal depressive symptoms with child externalizing behaviors.
19 Real World Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Pharmacogenomic Testing
Authors: Rigby Nichole , Ma Jennifer , Boland Joseh , Van Dorm Danile , Dowd Daniel , Krause David
Published: March 2019

Background

The use of pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing has the potential to accelerate response to psychopharmacologic therapy (Rx) and improve outcomes; accordingly PGx use to select appropriate Rx is increasing. One such commercially available test is the Genecept Assay (the Assay [Genomind]) which measures variants of 18 genes (12 pharmacodynamic and 6 CYP450) for which response, tolerability or exposure to various Rx has been reported. Recent interest in genetics has led patients (pts) to be stewards of their own genetic data. In 2017 we launched a Patient Gateway to allow pts to retrieve their genetic results, have access to mental health information, and record outcomes following use of the Assay.

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of Rx recommendations following use of the Assay, as reported on a purpose-built patient portal.

Method

Pts receiving the Assay were invited to visit an online, interactive portal. Pts providing informed consent (IC) were asked to record their baseline overall health using a 4- point modified patient global index (m-PGI) of severity. Pts also recorded their conditions, medications, and supplements, and various symptoms. Pts were invited to visit the portal ad libitum and re-rate their overall health using the m-PGI. These data were then combined with the pts’ genetic results using custom scripts in Python (v 3.6.4) and R (v 3.5.1). All identifying data were removed. Pts included in this analysis responded (at least) twice to the health questionnaire. New medications were subsequently scored as concordant, discordant, or indeterminate with the Assay’s recommendations, using predetermined criteria. We report the initial results for this subgroup herein.

Results

Since launch 9,401 unique patient profiles were created on the Gateway; 5,207 (55%) of these provided IC. Of these, 410 provided at least 2 m-PGI scores. Seventy-three (73) of these pts reported scores at least 4weeks apart and started 222 medications in the interim. 69.4% of pts identified as female; 70.8% had a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, while 50.0% and 31.9% had diagnoses of major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, respectively. 60.2% of pts reported improvement on the m-PGI of ≥1 unit; 20% had a ≥2-unit improvement. Pts reporting improvement were more likely (77% vs 66%); to have been placed on medication that were concordant with the assay than those who were not improved, although this difference did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

In this naturalistic, virtual trial of a PGx assay to guide pharmacotherapy in individuals with mental health illness, most users reported improvement in overall health. More pts whose medication was reported as concordant with the Assay reported improvement than those with discordant medications. Data collection is ongoing and updated data will be provided.

Funding Acknowledgements: Genomind
57 Pareidolia as a Manifestation of Folie á Deux
Authors: Khokhar Monica , Hirsch Allan Richard
Published: March 2019

Introduction

The spreading of pareidolia, the visualization of one image inside another image, from one member of a couple to another one is seen in a subtype of folie á deux called folie imposée.

Case study

A 27 year old right handed male started having delusions two years prior to presentation. He experienced marked hallucinations in which he saw faces imbedded in clothing and demon-like faces that would appear in curtain shades. During his visual hallucinations, “demonic-like angles would tell me how to get to heaven.” His pareidolia would be such that he would be looking at shadows on the walls or folds in clothing and see images within another. His fiancé, whom which he had been with for six years, also began to have pareidolia where she would be able to see facial images in furniture; for example, a chair would have an evil face or folds of material would have a jagged, folded distortion. These persisted more prevalently when she was with him.

Results

General physical examination: Hypopigmented skin. Mental Status Examination: Feelings of unreality, blunted affect, disorganized and pressured speech, flight of ideas. Thought process: abnormal with circumstantiality. Cranial Nerve Examination: Cranial Nerve 2: Visual acuity 20/70 OD, 20/50 OS. Retinal freckles OS. Cranial Nerve 3, 4, 6: bilateral tortuosity. Cranial Nerve 9, 10: deviated to right. Motor Examination: Drift test: right abductor digiti minimi sign. Cerebellar Examination: decrease amplitude to move left upper extremity. Finger to nose with dysmetria bilaterally. Reflexes: Brachioradialis: right 1+, left 3+. Biceps: right 1+, left 2+. Triceps: 2+ bilaterally. Knee Jerk: right: 2+ and pendular. Ankle Jerk: 3+ bilaterally.

Discussion

Healthy pareidolia where images inside clouds or images of constellations and star formations is a zeitgeist of imagination which is more intense in some cultures than others. Folie á deux is a shared delusional disorder and folie imposée is a subtype when the dominant or principal person forms a delusion and imposes it onto the secondary or associate person. If folie imposée pareidolia is spread from one member of a couple to the other, it suggests that the second individual may be overly empathic to the first due to the dominating nature of the principal individual; the associate individual may be passive and submissive and thus accepting these visual perceptions more willingly. Alternatively, the associate individual could already have pareidolia of visual images which subliminally influenced the principal individual to have them, and can be misinterpreted as the opposite. In this patient, the dominant person had a multitude of different delusions but the delusion of pareidolia was the one which transferred to the associate. It is unclear as to why it was this that transferred as opposed to the other delusions and further investigation in this realm is warranted.
67 Effects of Long-term Valbenazine on Psychiatric Status in Patients with Tardive Dyskinesia and a Primary Mood Disorder
Authors: McIntyre Roger S. , Remington Gary , Correll Christoph U. , Weber Rachel , Farahmand Khodayar , Lundt Leslie , Burke Joshua , Siegert Scott
Published: March 2019

Objective

Valbenazine is approved for tardive dyskinesia (TD) in adults based on clinical trials that included patients with mood disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder). In two long-termphase 3 trials, KINECT 3 (NCT02274558) and KINECT 4 (NCT02405091), sustained TD improvements were found in participants who received once-daily treatment with valbenazine (40 or 80mg). Data from these studies were analyzed post hoc to evaluate changes in psychiatric status of patients with a primary mood disorder.

Methods

Data were pooled from participants with mood disorders in KINECT 3 (6-week double-blind, placebo-controlled period; 42-week double-blind extension period; 4-week drug-free washout) and KINECT 4 (48week open-label treatment; 4-week drug-free washout). At screening, patients must have had a Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total score <50. Mood changes were evaluated after long-term treatment (Week 48) and washout (Week 52) using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). For each scale, mean changes from baseline in the total score and individual item scores were analyzed descriptively.

Results

Of the 95 participants with a primary mood disorder (40mg , n=32; 80mg , n=63), 59 (62.1%) were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 32 (33.7%) with major depressive disorder, and 4 (4.2%) with another mood disorder. A majority of all mood participants received concomitant antidepressants (84.2%) and/or antipsychotics (76.8%) during treatment; other common concomitant medications included antiepileptics (47.4%), anxiolytics (38.9%), and anticholinergics (22.1%). Mean YMRS and MADRS total scores in all mood participants indicated mood symptom stability at baseline (YMRS, 2.7; MADRS, 5.9). This stability was maintained during the studies, as indicated by minimal changes from baseline in mean total scores (YMRS: Week 48, 1.0; Week 52, –1.0; MADRS: Week 48, 0.3; Week52,0.9). Changes in individual items on both scales were also small (<±0.3), indicating no clinically significant changes or worsening in specific mood symptoms or domains.

Conclusions

Mood symptom stability was maintained in patients with TD and a primary mood disorder who received up to 48 weeks of treatment with once-daily valbenazine in addition to their psychiatric medication(s).

Funding Acknowledgements: Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
Patterns and temporal precedence of symptom change during cognitive processing therapy for military sexual trauma-related posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Holder Nicholas , Holliday Ryan , Wiblin Jessica , Surís Alina
Published: March 2019

Background:

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including for veterans with military sexual trauma (MST)-related PTSD. Most CPT research to date has focused on pre- to post-treatment change in total PTSD symptoms; however, PTSD symptom criteria may not change equivalently over the course of treatment. For example, changes in re-experiencing symptoms have been shown to precede changes in other PTSD criteria during other PTSD treatments (i.e. virtual reality exposure therapy, venlafaxine ER). An improved understanding of the mechanism of change in PTSD symptoms during CPT may assist in optimizing treatment.

Aims:

The purpose of this study was to identify the pattern and temporal precedence of change in PTSD symptom criteria during and after CPT using cross-lagged panel analyses.

Method:

Data from veterans (n = 32) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of CPT for MST-related PTSD were utilized for this secondary analysis. Using hierarchical linear modelling, each symptom criterion was entered as a predictor of subsequent change in the other PTSD symptom criteria.

Results:

All symptom criteria followed a logarithmic pattern of change. Hyperarousal symptoms were found to both predict and temporally precede change in avoidance symptoms, but not re-experiencing symptoms. Re-experiencing and avoidance symptoms did not predict change in other PTSD symptom criteria.

Conclusions:

These findings provide initial support that targeting and reducing hyperarousal symptoms may be a key component of PTSD intervention with CPT. Additional research is needed to identify factors that predict change in PTSD-related re-experiencing symptoms.
Food consumption and related messages in animated comic series addressed to children and adolescents
Authors: Tzoutzou Milia , Bathrellou Eirini , Matalas Antonia-Leda
Published: March 2019

Objective

To analyse the food content in animated comic series addressed to young audiences both in terms of the kinds of foods presented and the cues accompanying them.

Design

One hundred episodes of ten animated cartoon series with high television audience viewing (based on Average Minute Rating %) were reviewed and food items were classified into ten categories. In each episode, food cues (i.e. every mention of food, visual, oral or referring to foods consumed) was noted down and characterized as positive, negative or neutral. The rate of overall consumption and the food categories shown to be consumed were also recorded.

Setting

Greece.

Results

In ninety-four episodes one or more food cues were recorded; the total number of cues was 361, of which 209 referred to cues where food was shown or discussed and 152 referred to food items consumed. Out of the positive cues measured, almost half referred to sweets and snacks (sixty-one out of 125). Nevertheless, the majority of cues were of neutral character (n 213). Snacks, sweets and soft drinks were seen to be consumed in more episodes compared with other food categories. Moreover, in episodes where a higher frequency of food consumption was recorded, then consumption of sweets, snacks and soft drinks was significantly higher, with consumption of soft drinks often occurring in conjunction with that of snacks.

Conclusions

Food cues are present in children’s series, with an emphasis on sweets and snacks, which are projected in an attractive way, whether depicted, discussed or consumed, between cartoon characters.
Nutrition transition profiles and obesity burden in Argentina
Authors: Tumas Natalia , Rodríguez Junyent Constanza , Aballay Laura Rosana , Scruzzi Graciela Fabiana , Pou Sonia Alejandra
Published: March 2019

Objective

The present study aimed to identify nutrition transition (NT) profiles in Argentina (2005–2013) and assess their association with obesity in the adult population.

Design

A large cross-sectional study was performed considering data sets of nationally representative surveys. A multiple correspondence analysis coupled with hierarchical clustering was conducted to detect geographical clusters of association among sociodemographic and NT indicators. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to assess the effect of NT profile (proxy variable of contextual order) on obesity occurrence.

Setting

First, we used geographically aggregated data about the adult and child populations in Argentina. Second, we defined the population of adults who participated in the National Survey of Chronic Disease Risk Factors (2013) as the study population.

Participants

Twenty-four geographical units that make up the territory of Argentina and 32 365 individuals over 18 years old living in towns of at least 5000 people.

Results

Three NT profiles were identified: ‘Socionutritional lag’ (characterized by undernutrition and socio-economically disadvantaged conditions; profile 1); ‘Double burden of malnutrition’ (undernutrition and overweight in highly urbanized scenarios; profile 2); and ‘Incipient socionutritional improvement’ (low prevalence of malnutrition and more favourable poverty indicator values; profile 3). Profiles 1 and 2 were significantly associated (OR; 95 % CI) with a higher risk of obesity occurrence in adults (1·17; 1·02, 1·32 and 1·44; 1·26, 1·64, respectively) compared with profile 3.

Conclusions

Argentina is facing different NT processes, where sociodemographic factors play a major role in shaping diverse NT profiles. Most of the identified profiles were linked to obesity burden in adults.
Androgenic and estrogenic indices in human newborns and infants: the MIREC-ID study
Authors: Nguyen T-V. , Monnier P. , Muckle G. , Sathyanarayana S. , Ouellet E. , Velez M. P. , Dodds L. , Arbuckle T. E.
Published: March 2019

Prenatal sex steroid exposure plays an important role in determining child development. Yet, measurement of prenatal hormonal exposure has been limited by the paucity of newborn/infant data and the invasiveness of fetal hormonal sampling. Here we provide descriptive data from the MIREC-ID study (n=173 girls; 162 boys) on a range of minimally invasive physical indices thought to reflect prenatal exposure to androgens [anogenital distances (AGDs); penile length/width, scrotal/vulvar pigmentation], to estrogens [vaginal maturation index (VMI) – the degree of maturation of vaginal wall cells] or to both androgens/estrogens [2nd-to-4th digit ratio (2D:4D); areolar pigmentation, triceps/sub-scapular skinfold thickness, arm circumference]. VMI was found to be associated with triceps skinfold thickness (β=0.265, P=0.005), suggesting that this marker may be sensitive to estrogen levels produced by adipose tissue in girls. Both estrogenic and androgenic markers (VMI: β=0.338, P=0.031; 2D:4D – right: β=−0.207, P=0.040; left: β=−0.276, P=0.006; AGD-fourchette − β=0.253, P=0.036) were associated with areolar pigmentation in girls, supporting a role for the latter as an index of both androgen and estrogen exposure. We also found AGD-penis (distance from the anus to the penis) to be associated with scrotal pigmentation (β=0.290, P=0.048), as well as right arm circumference (β=0.462, P<0.0001), supporting the notion that these indices may be used together as markers of androgen exposure in boys. In sum, these findings support the use of several physical indices at birth to convey a more comprehensive picture of prenatal exposure to sex hormones.
Seasonal Variations in Crustal Seismicity in San‐in District, Southwest Japan
Authors: Ueda T. , Kato A.
Published: March 2019

A growing body of evidence suggests that seismicity is seasonally modulated in a variety of tectonic environments. Identifying cyclic variations in seismicity improves our understanding of the physics of earthquake triggering. We explored seasonal modulation of crustal seismicity in San‐in district, southwest Japan, using a new method that adopts uncertainties derived from a probability‐based declustering procedure. We determined that semiannual variation in background seismicity rate, which increases in spring and autumn, is statistically significant from 1980 to 2017. The frequency distribution of large historic and modern earthquakes shows a similar pattern to recent background seismicity, suggesting that seismicity in San‐in district has shown seasonal variations for over 150 years. These observations can be explained by increasing pore pressure within fault zones, caused by precipitation in autumn and decreasing surface mass due to snow melting in spring.
A Generalized H‐κ Method With Harmonic Corrections on Ps and Its Crustal Multiples in Receiver Functions
Authors: Li Jiangtao , Song Xiaodong , Wang Pan , Zhu Lupei
Published: March 2019

The H‐κ method (Zhu & Kanamori, 2000, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JB900322) has been widely used to estimate the crustal thickness (H) and the ratio of P to S velocities (VP/VS ratio, κ) with receiver functions. However, in regions where the crustal structure is complicated, the method may produce biased results, arising particularly from dipping Moho and/or crustal anisotropy. H‐κ stacking in case of azimuthal or radial anisotropy with flat Moho has been proposed but not for cases with plunging anisotropy and dipping Moho. Here we propose a generalized H‐κ method called H‐κ‐c, which corrects for these effects first before stacking. We consider rather general cases, including plunging anisotropy and dipping interfaces of multiple layers, and use harmonic functions to correct for arrival time variations of Ps and its crustal multiples with back azimuth (θ). Systematic synthetic tests show that the arrival time variations can be well fitted by cosθ and cos2θ functions even for very complex crustal structures. Correcting for the back azimuthal variations significantly enhances H‐κ stacking. We verify the feasibility of the H‐κ‐c method by applying it to 40 permanent stations in various geological setting across the Mainland China. The results show clear improvement after the harmonic corrections, with clearer multiples and stronger stacking energy, as well as more reliable H‐κ values. Large differences in H (up to 5.0 km) and κ (up to 0.09) between the new and traditional methods occur mostly in mountainous regions, where the crustal structure tends to be more complex. We caution in particular about systematic bias when the traditional method is used in the presence of dipping interfaces. The modified method is simple and applicable anywhere in the world.
Long‐Term Variability of Aerosol Optical Depth in the Tatra Mountain Region of Central Europe
Authors: Markowicz K. M. , Zawadzka O. , Posyniak M. , Uscka‐Kowalkowska J.
Published: March 2019

This paper presents the results of long‐term observations (1964–2010) of direct solar flux at two stations in the Tatra Mountains in Poland (Central Europe). The measurements obtained from a Linke‐Feussner actinometers are used to estimate broadband (0.29–2.9 μm) and wideband (0.53–0.63 μm) aerosol optical depth (BAOD and WAOD, respectively). Both BAOD and WAOD at Mount Kasprowy Wierch (1,991 m a.s.l.) and in Zakopane (851 m a.s.l.) show similar annual cycles with peaks during spring and summer. Coincidence of actinometer observation at the top of the Tatra Mountains and in Zakopane valley allows determination of AOD in the column between 851 and 1,991 m a.s.l. Annual variabilities of both BAOD and WAOD for this layer are similar to PM10 concentration measurements in Zakopane. Conversely, BAOD and WAOD obtained at both stations show opposing annual variability, which is consistent with the Aerosol Robotic Network and model results in Central Europe. Long‐term data show significant reduction of both BAOD and WAOD in Zakopane (−0.018 ± 0.003 and −0.023 ± 0.003, respectively, per decade) and lower reductions at Mt. Kasprowy Wierch (−0.005 ± 0.002 and −0.009 ± 0.002, respectively, per decade). Trends for BAOD and WAOD defined between 851 and 1,991 m a.s.l. are the same (−0.013 ± 0.004 per decade), which corresponds to the reduction of WAOD and BAOD by about 60% between 1964 and 2010. Conversely, emission data for the Zakopane region obtained from Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research inventories shows reduction of SO2 by a factor of 3 and of NOx and PM10 by about 40% between 1988 and 2010.
Cumulative Effects of Climatic Factors on Terrestrial Vegetation Growth
Authors: Wen Youyue , Liu Xiaoping , Xin Qinchuan , Wu Jin , Xu Xiaocong , Pei Fengsong , Li Xia , Du Guoming , Cai Yiling , Lin Kui , Yang Jian , Wang Yunpeng
Published: March 2019

Extensive studies have focused on instantaneous and time‐lag impacts of climatic factors on vegetation growth; however, the chronical and accumulative indirect impacts of antecedent climatic factors carrying over for a period of time on vegetation growth, defined as cumulative effects, are less investigated. Here we aimed to disentangle the cumulative effects of climatic factors on vegetation growth by using vegetation indexes and accumulated meteorological data. First, we investigated the explanation and fit of climate changes on vegetation variations by applying stepwise multiple linear regression with Akaike information criterion. Then, we obtained the correlation coefficients and lagged time of climatic factors on vegetation growth whereby partial correlation and time‐lag effect analyses. Results showed that (i) consideration of cumulative climate effects increased the explanation and fit of climate changes on vegetation dynamics for more than 77% of vegetated surface with an average global explanation of 68.33%, which was approximately 3.35% higher than the scenario when only time‐lag effects were considered; (ii) big differences exhibited in the correlation coefficients and lagged times under the scenarios with cumulative climate effects considered or not; and (iii) positive accumulated temperature (accumulated solar radiation) effects with zero (three‐month) time lag dominates most mid‐high latitude ecosystems, and negative accumulated temperature effects with three‐month delay dominates the temperate arid and semiarid regions and tropical dry ecosystems. By comparison, accumulated precipitation had relatively complex cumulative effects on vegetation growth. We concluded that climatic factors had significant cumulative effects on vegetation growth; consideration of the cumulative effects helps us better understand the climate‐vegetation interactions.
Redistribution of Soil Organic Carbon Induced by Soil Erosion in the Nine River Basins of China
Authors: Wang Xiaoyuan , Quine Timothy A. , Zhang Haicheng , Tian Guangjin , Yuan Wenping
Published: March 2019

Global soil erosion redistributes a large amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) and is potential to significantly change the terrestrial carbon budget. However, there are large uncertainties in the redistribution of SOC within the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Based on two national survey data sets on soil erosion and sediment measurements from hydrological stations, this study estimated the redistribution of sediment and SOC in the nine river basins of China during 1995–1996 and 2010–2012. Over these two periods, 3.55–4.50 Pg of soil and 68.42–77.32 Tg C of SOC were eroded each year. For the SOC budget, on average 57% and 47% of the eroded SOC was deposited over land, 25% and 44% was deposited in the channel, and 18% and 8% was delivered into the sea during 1995–1996 and 2010–2012, respectively. Compared with the corresponding magnitudes during 1995–1996, the eroded SOC, the SOC deposited over land, and the SOC discharged into the sea decreased during 2010–2012, and only the SOC deposited into the river channel increased (from 19.5 to 30.1 Tg C yr−1). The changes in SOC deposition in the channel of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River basins demonstrate that the influence of human activities is extensive. Our results show that the erosion‐induced redistribution of SOC alters the carbon budget of China.
Reconstruction of Subduction and Back‐Arc Spreading in the NW Pacific and Aleutian Basin: Clues to Causes of Cretaceous and Eocene Plate Reorganizations
Authors: Vaes Bram , van Hinsbergen Douwe J. J. , Boschman Lydian M.
Published: March 2019

The Eocene (~50–45 Ma) major absolute plate motion change of the Pacific plate forming the Hawaii‐Emperor bend is thought to result from inception of Pacific plate subduction along one of its modern western trenches. Subduction is suggested to have started either spontaneously, or result from subduction of the Izanagi‐Pacific mid‐ocean ridge, or from subduction polarity reversal after collision of the Olyutorsky arc that was built on the Pacific plate with NE Asia. Here we provide a detailed plate‐kinematic reconstruction of back‐arc basins and accreted terranes in the northwest Pacific region, from Japan to the Bering Sea, since the Late Cretaceous. We present a new tectonic reconstruction of the intraoceanic Olyutorsky and Kronotsky arcs, which formed above two adjacent, oppositely dipping subduction zones at ~85 Ma within the north Pacific region, during another Pacific‐wide plate reorganization. We use our reconstruction to explain the formation of the submarine Shirshov and Bowers Ridges and show that if marine magnetic anomalies reported from the Aleutian Basin represent magnetic polarity reversals, its crust most likely formed in an ~85‐ to 60‐Ma back‐arc basin behind the Olyutorsky arc. The Olyutorsky arc was then separated from the Pacific plate by a spreading ridge, so that the ~55‐ to 50‐Ma subduction polarity reversal that followed upon Olyutorsky‐NE Asia collision initiated subduction of a plate that was not the Pacific. Hence, this polarity reversal may not be a straightforward driver of the Eocene Pacific plate motion change, whose causes remain enigmatic.
Influences of Atmospheric Pollution on the Contributions of Major Oxidation Pathways to PM2.5 Nitrate Formation in Beijing
Authors: Wang Yan‐Li , Song Wei , Yang Wen , Sun Xin‐Chao , Tong Yin‐Dong , Wang Xue‐Mei , Liu Cong‐Qiang , Bai Zhi‐Peng , Liu Xue‐Yan
Published: March 2019

Nitrate (NO3−), which is mainly oxidized from NO2 by the OH radical (OH·) and O3 in the atmosphere, is a major component of inorganic aerosols. However, the contributions of the OH· and O3 pathways to NO3− in urban aerosols and the influence of air pollution to both pathways remain unclear. Oxygen isotopes of NO3− were measured for PM2.5 in Beijing in 2014. The Δ17O‐NO3− values (17.0–32.8‰) were significantly higher in winter (27.2 ± 3.6‰) than in summer (24.2 ± 1.3‰). By estimating contributions of O3 to the NOx cycle, the Δ17O values of NO3− endmembers produced via the NO2 + OH· (P1), NO3· + DMS/HC (P2), and N2O5 hydrolysis (P3) pathways were calculated for each observation. The contributions of the three pathways (P1: 32 ± 10%, P2: 34 ± 10%, and P3: 34 ± 20% annually) were calculated using the Stable Isotope Analysis in R model. We found that NO3− formation was dominated by the O3 oxidation pathways (P2 + P3; 68 ± 23% annually, 73 ± 21% in spring, 59 ± 23% in summer, 75 ± 20% in autumn, and 69 ± 22% in winter). Moreover, PM2.5, NO2, and NO3− pollution decreased the importance of the OH· pathway relative to the O3 pathways for NO3− production. However, O3 pollution increased the importance of the OH· pathway relative to the O3 pathways for NO3− production. These results provided a comprehensive analysis on the oxygen isotope records in particulate NO3− for understanding the relative importance of major oxidation pathways of NO2. Atmospheric pollution substantially influenced the pathways of NO2 oxidation to NO3− in city environments.
Alcohol-responsive genes identified in human iPSC-derived neural cultures
Authors: Jensen Kevin P. , Lieberman Richard , Kranzler Henry R. , Gelernter Joel , Clinton Kaitlin , Covault Jonathan
Published: March 2019

Alcohol use contributes to numerous diseases and injuries. The nervous system is affected by alcohol in diverse ways, though the molecular mechanisms of these effects are not clearly understood. Using human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we developed a neural cell culture model to identify the mechanisms of alcohol’s effects. iPSCs were generated from fibroblasts and differentiated into forebrain neural cells cultures that were treated with 50 mM alcohol or sham conditions (same media lacking alcohol) for 7 days. We analyzed gene expression using total RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) for 34 samples derived from 10 subjects and for 10 samples from 5 subjects in an independent experiment that had intermittent exposure to the same dose of alcohol. We also analyzed genetic effects on gene expression and conducted a weighted correlation network analysis. We found that differentiated neural cell cultures have the capacity to recapitulate gene regulatory effects previously observed in specific primary neural tissues and identified 226 genes that were differentially expressed (FDR < 0.1) after alcohol treatment. The effects on expression included decreases inINSIG1andLDLR, two genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis. We also identified a module of 58 co-expressed genes that were uniformly decreased following alcohol exposure. The majority of these effects were supported in independent alcohol exposure experiments. Enrichment analysis linked the alcohol responsive genes to cell cycle, notch signaling, and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways, which are disrupted in several neurological disorders. Our findings suggest that there is convergence between these disorders and the effects of alcohol exposure.
Dynamic molecular changes during the first week of human life follow a robust developmental trajectory
Authors: Lee Amy H. , Shannon Casey P. , Amenyogbe Nelly , Bennike Tue B. , Diray-Arce Joann , Idoko Olubukola T. , Gill Erin E. , Ben-Othman Rym , Pomat William S. , van Haren Simon D. , Cao Kim-Anh Lê , Cox Momoudou , Darboe Alansana , Falsafi Reza , Ferrari Davide , Harbeson Daniel J. , He Daniel , Bing Cai , Hinshaw Samuel J. , Ndure Jorjoh , Njie-Jobe Jainaba , Pettengill Matthew A. , Richmond Peter C. , Ford Rebecca , Saleu Gerard , Masiria Geraldine , Matlam John Paul , Kirarock Wendy , Roberts Elishia , Malek Mehrnoush , Sanchez-Schmitz Guzmán , Singh Amrit , Angelidou Asimenia , Smolen Kinga K. ,   The EPIC Consortium, Vo Diana , Kraft Ken , McEnaney Kerry , Vignolo Sofia , Marchant Arnaud , Brinkman Ryan R. , Ozonoff Al , Hancock Robert E. W. , van den Biggelaar Anita H. J. , Steen Hanno , Tebbutt Scott J. , Kampmann Beate , Levy Ofer , Kollmann Tobias R.
Published: March 2019

Systems biology can unravel complex biology but has not been extensively applied to human newborns, a group highly vulnerable to a wide range of diseases. We optimized methods to extract transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, cytokine/chemokine, and single cell immune phenotyping data from <1 ml of blood, a volume readily obtained from newborns. Indexing to baseline and applying innovative integrative computational methods reveals dramatic changes along a remarkably stable developmental trajectory over the first week of life. This is most evident in changes of interferon and complement pathways, as well as neutrophil-associated signaling. Validated across two independent cohorts of newborns from West Africa and Australasia, a robust and common trajectory emerges, suggesting a purposeful rather than random developmental path. Systems biology and innovative data integration can provide fresh insights into the molecular ontogeny of the first week of life, a dynamic developmental phase that is key for health and disease.
Emerging roles of eraser enzymes in the dynamic control of protein ADP-ribosylation
Authors: O’Sullivan Julia , Tedim Ferreira Maria , Gagné Jean-Philippe , Sharma Ajit K. , Hendzel Michael J. , Masson Jean-Yves , Poirier Guy G.
Published: March 2019

Protein ADP-ribosylation is essential for the regulation of several cellular pathways, enabling dynamic responses to diverse pathophysiological conditions. It is modulated through a dynamic interplay between ADP-ribose readers, writers and erasers. While ADP-ribose synthesis has been studied and reviewed extensively, ADP-ribose processing by erasing enzymes has received comparably less attention. However, major progress in the mass spectrometric identification of ADP-ribosylated residues and the biochemical characterization of ADP-ribose erasers has substantially expanded our knowledge of ADP-ribosylation dynamics. Herein, we describe recent insights into the biology of ADP-ribose erasers and discuss the intricately orchestrated cellular processes to switch off ADP-ribose-dependent mechanisms.
Structural basis for assembly of vertical single β-barrel viruses
Authors: Santos-Pérez Isaac , Charro Diego , Gil-Carton David , Azkargorta Mikel , Elortza Felix , Bamford Dennis H. , Oksanen Hanna M. , Abrescia Nicola G. A.
Published: March 2019

The vertical double β-barrel major capsid protein (MCP) fold, fingerprint of the PRD1-adeno viral lineage, is widespread in many viruses infecting organisms across the three domains of life. The discovery of PRD1-like viruses with two MCPs challenged the known assembly principles. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the archaeal, halophilic, internal membrane-containing Haloarcula californiae icosahedral virus 1 (HCIV-1) and Haloarcula hispanica icosahedral virus 2 (HHIV-2) at 3.7 and 3.8 Å resolution, respectively. Our structures reveal proteins located beneath the morphologically distinct two- and three-tower capsomers and homopentameric membrane proteins at the vertices that orchestrate the positioning of pre-formed vertical single β-barrel MCP heterodimers. The cryo-EM based structures together with the proteomics data provide insights into the assembly mechanism of this type of viruses and into those with membrane-less double β-barrel MCPs.
Enhanced antibiotic resistance development from fluoroquinolone persisters after a single exposure to antibiotic
Authors: Barrett Theresa C. , Mok Wendy W. K. , Murawski Allison M. , Brynildsen Mark P.
Published: March 2019

Bacterial persisters are able to tolerate high levels of antibiotics and give rise to new populations. Persister tolerance is generally attributed to minimally active cellular processes that prevent antibiotic-induced damage, which has led to the supposition that persister offspring give rise to antibiotic-resistant mutants at comparable rates to normal cells. Using time-lapse microscopy to monitor Escherichia coli populations following ofloxacin treatment, we find that persisters filament extensively and induce impressive SOS responses before returning to a normal appearance. Further, populations derived from fluoroquinolone persisters contain significantly greater quantities of antibiotic-resistant mutants than those from untreated controls. We confirm that resistance is heritable and that the enhancement requires RecA, SOS induction, an opportunity to recover from treatment, and the involvement of error-prone DNA polymerase V (UmuDC). These findings show that fluoroquinolones damage DNA in persisters and that the ensuing SOS response accelerates the development of antibiotic resistance from these survivors.
Electrochemical conversion of methane to ethylene in a solid oxide electrolyzer
Authors: Zhu Changli , Hou Shisheng , Hu Xiuli , Lu Jinhai , Chen Fanglin , Xie Kui
Published: March 2019

Conversion of methane to ethylene with high yield remains a fundamental challenge due to the low ethylene selectivity, severe carbon deposition and instability of catalysts. Here we demonstrate a conceptually different process of in situ electrochemical oxidation of methane to ethylene in a solid oxide electrolyzer under ambient pressure at 850 °C. The porous electrode scaffold with an in situ-grown metal/oxide interface enhances coking resistance and catalyst stability at high temperatures. The highest C2 product selectivity of 81.2% together with the highest C2 product concentration of 16.7% in output gas (12.1% ethylene and 4.6% ethane) is achieved while the methane conversion reaches as high as 41% in the initial pass. This strategy provides an optimal performance with no obvious degradation being observed after 100 h of high temperature operation and 10 redox cycles, suggesting a reliable electrochemical process for conversion of methane into valuable chemicals.
Single-molecule trapping and spectroscopy reveals photophysical heterogeneity of phycobilisomes quenched by Orange Carotenoid Protein
Authors: Squires Allison H. , Dahlberg Peter D. , Liu Haijun , Magdaong Nikki Cecil M. , Blankenship Robert E. , Moerner W. E.
Published: March 2019

The Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) is a cytosolic photosensor that is responsible for non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of the light-harvesting process in most cyanobacteria. Upon photoactivation by blue-green light, OCP binds to the phycobilisome antenna complex, providing an excitonic trap to thermally dissipate excess energy. At present, both the binding site and NPQ mechanism of OCP are unknown. Using an Anti-Brownian ELectrokinetic (ABEL) trap, we isolate single phycobilisomes in free solution, both in the presence and absence of activated OCP, to directly determine the photophysics and heterogeneity of OCP-quenched phycobilisomes. Surprisingly, we observe two distinct OCP-quenched states, with lifetimes 0.09 ns (6% of unquenched brightness) and 0.21 ns (11% brightness). Photon-by-photon Monte Carlo simulations of exciton transfer through the phycobilisome suggest that the observed quenched states are kinetically consistent with either two or one bound OCPs, respectively, underscoring an additional mechanism for excitation control in this key photosynthetic unit.
Actomyosin contractility-dependent matrix stretch and recoil induces rapid cell migration
Authors: Wang William Y. , Davidson Christopher D. , Lin Daphne , Baker Brendon M.
Published: March 2019

Cells select from a diverse repertoire of migration strategies. Recent developments in tunable biomaterials have helped identify how extracellular matrix properties influence migration, however, many settings lack the fibrous architecture characteristic of native tissues. To investigate migration in fibrous contexts, we independently varied the alignment and stiffness of synthetic 3D fiber matrices and identified two phenotypically distinct migration modes. In contrast to stiff matrices where cells migrated continuously in a traditional mesenchymal fashion, cells in deformable matrices stretched matrix fibers to store elastic energy; subsequent adhesion failure triggered sudden matrix recoil and rapid cell translocation. Across a variety of cell types, traction force measurements revealed a relationship between cell contractility and the matrix stiffness where this migration mode occurred optimally. Given the prevalence of fibrous tissues, an understanding of how matrix structure and mechanics influences migration could improve strategies to recruit repair cells to wound sites or inhibit cancer metastasis.
Author Correction: Sculpting nanoparticle dynamics for single-bacteria-level screening and direct binding-efficiency measurement
Authors: Shi Y. Z. , Xiong S. , Zhang Y. , Chin L. K. , Chen Y.–Y. , Zhang J. B. , Zhang T. H. , Ser W. , Larsson A. , Lim S. H. , Wu J. H. , Chen T. N. , Yang Z. C. , Hao Y. L. , Liedberg B. , Yap P. H. , Wang K. , Tsai D. P. , Qiu C.-W. , Liu A. Q.
Published: March 2019

The original version of this Article omitted the author Kuan Wang, who is from the ‘College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan’ and ‘Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637141, Singapore.’

Also, the author S.H. Lim was incorrectly given as L.S. Hoi and A. Larsson was incorrectly given as A. Larson.

The “Author contributions” was amended to reflect the authorship changes. It previously read ‘Y.Z.S., C.-W.Q., and A.Q.L. jointly conceived the idea. Y.Z.S., S.X., Y.Z., J.B.Z., W.S., J.H.W., T.N.C., Z.C.Y., Y.L.H., B.L., P.H.Y., D.P.T., and C.-W.Q. performed the numerical simulations and theoretical analysis. Y.Z.S., S.X., and L.K.C. did the fabrication and experiments of particle hopping, biomolecule binding and flow cytometry. A.L. and L.S.H. did the SPR experiments. S.X., Y.Z.S., Y.Z., C.-W.Q., Y.-Y.C., L.K.C., T.H.Z., and A.Q.L. prepared the manuscript. S.X., Y.Z., C.-W.Q., and A.Q.L. supervised and coordinated all the work. All authors commented on the manuscript.’ The correct version states ‘B.L., K. W., P.H.Y.’ instead of ‘B.L., P.H.Y.’ and ‘S.H.L.’ in place of ‘L.S.H.’

This has been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.