bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bottom‐up world climate policies: Preserving fossil fuel deposits vs. capping fuel consumption
Authors: Eichner Thomas , Pethig Rüdiger
Published: August 2019

The policy of purchasing fossil fuel deposits for preservation is an alternative to the demand‐side climate policies that predominate in practice and in professional studies. This paper analyzes the deposit purchase approach and compares it to the standard demand‐side policy in a model with international trade and non‐cooperative governments that account for the effects of their policies on equilibrium prices. We investigate how the two regimes differ with respect to their equilibrium allocations and, in particular, with respect to the countries’ mitigation effort and welfare. If countries are symmetric, mitigation is stronger in the demand‐side than in the supply‐side regime and the transition from the latter to the former is welfare enhancing for all countries. If countries have different endowments of deposits in a two‐country economy, the country with higher extraction costs does not purchase deposits for preservation, and the country with lower extraction costs is better off with the supply‐side than with the demand‐side policy. Finally, we consider the case of combined policies and find surprisingly that no equilibrium in pure strategies exists, when heterogeneous countries apply both policy instruments.
Distributional effects of social security reforms: The case of France
Authors: Fonseca Raquel , Sopraseuth Thepthida
Published: August 2019

This paper assesses the impact of two social security reforms using a calibrated, dynamic life cycle model. It quantifies the long‐run distributional impact of two sets of reforms in France: (1) the 2013 reform of Prime Minister Ayrault, which modified the parameters of a defined benefit (DB) plan, and (2) a hypothetical reform that changes the system to a notional defined contribution (NDC) plan, similar to that in Italy. First, on aggregate welfare, the Ayrault reform and the hypothetical switch to NDC yield contrasting results. The Ayrault reform improves aggregate welfare, which is not the case for the NDC reform. Welfare comparisons are made with respect to the “benchmark economy,” where increases in life expectancy occur and are dealt with only through a higher contribution rate. Second, both reforms yield unequal distributions of welfare changes, with low‐skill workers on the losing end. Under the Ayrault reform, low‐skill workers delay retirement by two years, to age 62. Under NDC reform, pensions for low‐skill workers fall substantially as inequalities during the work life translate directly into inequalities in pensions. The switch to an NDC scheme leads to a more unequal society in terms of asset and welfare distribution.
Novel single‐chain variant of antibody against mesothelin established by phage library
Authors: Yakushiji Hiromasa , Kobayashi Kazuko , Takenaka Fumiaki , Kishi Yoshiro , Shinohara Midori , Akehi Masaru , Sasaki Takanori , Ohno Eiji , Matsuura Eiji
Published: August 2019

Mesothelin (MSLN) shows increased expression in various cancer cells. For clinical application of antibodies as a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging reagent, a human shortened antibody is essential both for avoiding redundant immune responses and for providing rapid imaging. Therefore, we cloned a single‐chain fragment of variable regions (scFv) from a human‐derived gene sequence. This was achieved through the construction of a naïve phage library derived from human tonsil lymphocytes. Using a column with human recombinant MSLN, we carried out bio‐panning of phage‐variants by colony formation. We first obtained 120 clones that were subjected to selection in an ELISA using human recombinant MSLN as a solid phase antigen, and 15 phage clones of scFv with a different sequence were selected and investigated by flow cytometry (FCM). Then, six variants were selected and the individual scFv gene was synthesized in the VL and VH domains and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Mammalian cell‐derived human‐origin scFv clones were analyzed by FCM again, and one MSLN highly specific scFv clone was established. PET imaging by 89Zr‐labeled scFv was done in mice bearing xenografts with MSLN‐expressing cancer cells, and tumor legions were successfully visualized. The scFv variant established in the present study may be potentially useful for cancer diagnosis by PET imaging.
Microstructure Control in 3D Printing with Digital Light Processing
Authors: Luongo A. , Falster V. , Doest M. B. , Ribo M. M. , Eiriksson E. R. , Pedersen D. B. , Frisvad J. R.
Published: August 2019

Digital light processing stereolithography is a promising technique for 3D printing. However, it offers little control over the surface appearance of the printed object. The printing process is typically layered, which leads to aliasing artefacts that affect surface appearance. An antialiasing option is to use greyscale pixel values in the layer images that we supply to the printer. This enables a kind of subvoxel growth control. We explore this concept and use it for editing surface microstructure. In other words, we modify the surface appearance of a printed object by applying a greyscale pattern to the surface voxels before sending the cross‐sectional layer images to the printer. We find that a smooth noise function is an excellent tool for varying surface roughness and for breaking the regularities that lead to aliasing. Conversely, we also present examples that introduce regularities to produce controlled anisotropic surface appearance. Our hope is that subvoxel growth control in stereolithography can lead 3D printing towards customizable surface appearance. The printing process adds what we call ground noise to the printed result. We suggest a way of modelling this ground noise to provide users with a tool for estimating a printer's ability to control surface reflectance.
Exploring the genetics underpinning dynamic laryngeal collapse associated with poll flexion in Norwegian‐Swedish Coldblooded Trotter racehorses
Authors: Velie B. D. , Smith P. M. , Fjordbakk C. T. , Solé M. , Jäderkvist Fegraeus K. , Rosengren M. K. , Røed K. H. , Ihler C. F. , Lindgren G. , Strand E.
Published: August 2019

Background

Dynamic laryngeal collapse (DLC) associated with poll flexion is the most common disorder of the upper respiratory tract (URT) in the Norwegian‐Swedish Coldblooded Trotter (NSCT). The disorder, which has also been diagnosed in other breeds of trotters and gaited horses, appears to be related to anatomic phenotypes and only occurs during poll flexion when the horse is exercised ‘on the bit’.

Objectives

Identify genomic regions associated with DLC in the NSCT by combining a rigorous phenotyping protocol with genomic data from a high‐density equine genotyping array.

Study design

Prospective case/control study.

Methods

High‐speed treadmill endoscopy was used to phenotype horses (n = 61) for DLC, distinguishing between cases and controls. Genome‐wide association (GWA) analysis of DLC status was then performed using a principal component approach (PCA) with haplotype analyses subsequently performed for regions containing single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) above the suggestive genome‐wide significance (GWS) threshold (P<1.0 × 10−5).

Results

One region containing 10 SNPs (Equus caballus chromosome [ECA] 7: 89,601,935–94,647,192) was above the suggestive GWS threshold. Two inferred haplotypes in this region demonstrated significant differences (P<0.001) between cases and controls, with the most frequent haplotype resulting in a significantly increased risk of DLC.

Main limitations

Small sample size as a result of stringent phenotyping protocols.

Conclusions

The current study highlights a candidate genomic region on ECA7 as potentially important with regard to the manifestation of DLC. Further exploration of this region and the genes included within it will bring veterinarians and researchers closer to fully understanding the biological mechanisms underlying DLC in horses.
The natural phytochemical trans‐communic acid inhibits cellular senescence and pigmentation through FoxO3a activation
Authors: Kim Juewon , Kang Young‐Gyu , Choi Dong‐hwa , Cho Young‐uk , Cho Si‐young , Choi Hyunjung , Kim Hyoung‐June
Published: August 2019

Ageing is characterized by the accumulation of chronic and irreversible oxidative damage, chronic inflammation and organ dysfunction. To attenuate these ageing‐related changes, various natural phytochemicals are often applied. Trans‐communic acid (TCA), an active component of brown pine leaf extract, has antimicrobial and cancer chemopreventive activity and inhibits ultraviolet B (UVB)‐induced MMP‐1 expression. To determine whether the phytochemical TCA could affect the lifespan of an ageing model, Caenorhabditis elegans prevent ageing‐related phenotypes of the skin. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) wild‐type N2 and mutant strains were used in this study to explore the lifespan extension effect of TCA and its mechanism. We estimated lipofuscin accumulation and melanin levels, which are closely associated with skin senescence. Moreover, we explored the mechanism of action associated with ageing attenuation. We performed oxidative stress resistance and thermotolerance assays in C. elegans and surface plasmon resonance analysis of TCA binding with the forkhead box‐O3a (FoxO3a) protein. TCA, which is the active component in Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora), attenuated ageing‐related changes in skin cells. TCA lowered lipofuscin accumulation in fibroblasts and decreased melanin levels in melanocytes. These protective effects were mediated by activation of the representative longevity gene FoxO3a, which was induced by direct binding with TCA. Interestingly, TCA extended the lifespan of C. elegans, although it did not affect stress resistance, oxidative stress or thermotolerance. These results strongly suggest that TCA prevents the senescent phenotype of model organisms and exhibits beneficial effects on ageing‐related skin phenotypes through direct FoxO3a activation.
The impact of multilateral trading facilities on price discovery: Further evidence from the European markets
Authors: Buckle Mike , Chen Jing , Guo Qian , Li Xiaoxi
Published: August 2019

This study examines relative price discovery for three major European indices, FTSE, CAC, and DAX, their futures and exchange traded funds (ETFs) using the data on 5‐minute intraday transaction prices over a four‐year period. We computed both Hasbrouck (1995) information share with error bounds and Gonzalo and Granger's (1995) common factor weights approach. Gonzalo and Granger's (1995) common factor weights suggest the index futures contracts play a dominant role in price discovery in the CAC market: the CAC 40 index futures lead the price discovery and Lyxor CAC 40 ETFs serving the second resort for information transmission. This could be due to the less frequent trading of ETFs. More importantly, CAC40 under the Gonzalo & Granger (1995) test shows upper and lower error bounds in good range may be the main reason to drive for the meaningful results. In contrast, the upper and lower bounds estimated from the Hasbrouck (1995) are far distant for most cases. Finally, FTSE and DAX markets offer compelling evidence to show that ETFs lead price discovery and spots and futures follows.
Effect of land‐use and land‐cover change on mangrove blue carbon: A systematic review
Authors: Sasmito Sigit D. , Taillardat Pierre , Clendenning Jessica N. , Cameron Clint , Friess Daniel A. , Murdiyarso Daniel , Hutley Lindsay B.
Published: August 2019

Mangroves shift from carbon sinks to sources when affected by anthropogenic land‐use and land‐cover change (LULCC). Yet, the magnitude and temporal scale of these impacts are largely unknown. We undertook a systematic review to examine the influence of LULCC on mangrove carbon stocks and soil greenhouse gas (GHG) effluxes. A search of 478 data points from the peer‐reviewed literature revealed a substantial reduction of biomass (82% ± 35%) and soil (54% ± 13%) carbon stocks due to LULCC. The relative loss depended on LULCC type, time since LULCC and geographical and climatic conditions of sites. We also observed that the loss of soil carbon stocks was linked to the decreased soil carbon content and increased soil bulk density over the first 100 cm depth. We found no significant effect of LULCC on soil GHG effluxes. Regeneration efforts (i.e. restoration, rehabilitation and afforestation) led to biomass recovery after ~40 years. However, we found no clear patterns of mangrove soil carbon stock re‐establishment following biomass recovery. Our findings suggest that regeneration may help restore carbon stocks back to pre‐disturbed levels over decadal to century time scales only, with a faster rate for biomass recovery than for soil carbon stocks. Therefore, improved mangrove ecosystem management by preventing further LULCC and promoting rehabilitation is fundamental for effective climate change mitigation policy.
How eddy covariance flux measurements have contributed to our understanding of Global Change Biology
Authors: Baldocchi Dennis D.
Published: August 2019

A global network of long‐term carbon and water flux measurements has existed since the late 1990s. With its representative sampling of the terrestrial biosphere's climate and ecological spaces, this network is providing background information and direct measurements on how ecosystem metabolism responds to environmental and biological forcings and how they may be changing in a warmer world with more carbon dioxide. In this review, I explore how carbon and water fluxes of the world's ecosystem are responding to a suite of covarying environmental factors, like sunlight, temperature, soil moisture, and carbon dioxide. I also report on how coupled carbon and water fluxes are modulated by biological and ecological factors such as phenology and a suite of structural and functional properties. And, I investigate whether long‐term trends in carbon and water fluxes are emerging in various ecological and climate spaces and the degree to which they may be driven by physical and biological forcings. As a growing number of time series extend up to 20 years in duration, we are at the verge of capturing ecosystem scale trends in the breathing of a changing biosphere. Consequently, flux measurements need to continue to report on future conditions and responses and assess the efficacy of natural climate solutions.
Species' range model metadata standards: RMMS
Authors: Merow Cory , Maitner Brian S. , Owens Hannah L. , Kass Jamie M. , Enquist Brian J. , Jetz Walter , Guralnick Rob
Published: August 2019

Aim

The geographic range and ecological niche of species are widely used concepts in ecology, evolution and conservation and many modelling approaches have been developed to quantify each. Niche and distribution modelling methods require a litany of design choices; differences among subdisciplines have created communication barriers that increase isolation of scientific advances. As a result, understanding and reproducing the work of others is difficult, if not impossible. It is often challenging to evaluate whether a model has been built appropriately for its intended application or subsequent reuse. Here, we propose a standardized model metadata framework that enables researchers to understand and evaluate modelling decisions while making models fully citable and reproducible. Such reproducibility is critical for both scientific and policy reports, while international standardization enables better comparison between different scenarios and research groups.

Innovation

Range modelling metadata (RMMS) address three challenges: they (a) are designed for convenience to encourage use, (b) accommodate a wide variety of applications, and (c) are extensible to allow the research community to steer them as needed. RMMS are based on a metadata dictionary that specifies a hierarchical structure to catalogue different aspects of the range modelling process. The dictionary balances a constrained, minimalist vocabulary to improve standardization with flexibility for users to modify and extend. To facilitate use, we have developed an R package, rangeModelMetaData, to build templates, automatically fill values from common modelling objects, check for inconsistencies with standards, and suggest values.

Main conclusions

Range Modelling Metadata tools foster cross‐disciplinary advances in biogeography, conservation and allied disciplines by improving evaluation, model sharing, model searching, comparisons and reproducibility among studies. Our initially proposed standards here are designed to be modified and extended to evolve with research trends and needs.
TGFBIp mediates lymphatic sprouting in corneal lymphangiogenesis
Authors: Lin Tong , Zhang Xiaozhao , Lu Yang , Gong Lan
Published: August 2019

Corneal lymphangiogenesis plays a key role in diverse pathological conditions of the eye. Here, we demonstrate that a versatile extracellular matrix protein, transforming growth factor‐β induced protein (TGFBIp), promotes lymphatic sprouting in corneal lymphangiogenesis. TGFBIp is highly up‐regulated in inflamed mouse corneas. Immunolocalization of TGFBIp is detected in infiltrating macrophages in inflamed mouse corneas. Subconjunctival injection of liposomal clodronate can significantly reduce macrophage infiltration in inflamed mouse cornea, and decrease the expression of TGFBIp and areas of corneal lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis after corneal suture placement. In brief, these results indicate that the up‐regulation of TGFBIp in sutured cornea correlates with macrophage infiltration. Although TGFBIp alone cannot significantly stimulate corneal lymph vessel ingrowth in vivo, it can enhance the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor‐C in promoting corneal lymphangiogenesis. The in vitro results show that TGFBIp promotes migration, tube formation and adhesion of human lymphatic endothelial cells (HLECs), but it has no effect on HLECs' proliferation. We also find that the in vitro effect of TGFBIp is mediated by the integrin α5β1‐FAK pathway. Additionally, integrin α5β1 blockade can significantly inhibit lymphatic sprouting induced by TGFBIp. Taken together, these findings reveal a new molecular mechanism of lymphangiogenesis in which the TGFBIp‐integrin pathways plays a pivotal role in lymphatic sprouting.
Aeromonas salmonicida infects Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) erythrocytes
Authors: Valderrama Katherinne , Soto‐Dávila Manuel , Segovia Cristopher , Vásquez Ignacio , Dang My , Santander Javier
Published: August 2019

Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida (hereafter A. salmonicida) is the aetiological agent of furunculosis in marine and freshwater fish. Once A. salmonicida invade the fish host through skin, gut or gills, it spreads and colonizes the head kidney, liver, spleen and brain. A. salmonicida infects leucocytes and exhibits an extracellular phase in the blood of the host; however, it is unknown whether A. salmonicida have an intraerythrocytic phase. Here, we evaluate whether A. salmonicida infects Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) erythrocytes in vitro and in vivo. A. salmonicida did not kill primary S. salar erythrocytes, even in the presence of high bacterial loads, but A. salmonicida invaded the S. salar erythrocytes in the absence of evident haemolysis. Naïve Atlantic salmon smolts intraperitoneally infected with A. salmonicida showed bacteraemia 5 days post‐infection and the presence of intraerythrocytic A. salmonicida. Our results reveal a novel intraerythrocytic phase during A. salmonicida infection.
Prevalence and molecular characterization of Enterococcus faecalis from spring water
Authors: Xie Tengfei , Wu Gang , He Xujun , Lai Zengzhe , Zhang Huatong , Zhao Jing
Published: August 2019

Spring water is an important direct drinking water resource. Enterococcus faecalis is a significant opportunistic pathogen from environment that causes human neonatal sepsis and urinary tract infections. Our study investigated the prevalence, virulence genes, antimicrobial resistance, and molecular characterization of E. faecalis from spring water in Guangdong, China. A total of 285 spring water samples were collected from January 2017 to January 2018, in which 47 (16.49%) samples were contaminated by E. faecalis. Antimicrobial susceptibility result showed that many isolates were resistant to tetracycline (93.6%), gentamicin (29.8%), and ciprofloxacin (25.5%). The virulence gene test revealed the positive rate of gelE, asa1, ace, and cylA were 100, 82.3, 76.6, and 70.2%, respectively. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus‐polymerase chain reaction and multilocus sequence typing classified 47 isolates into 12 and 5 clusters, respectively, which revealed the genetic relatedness and diversity. This finding illustrated the presence of virulence genes and provided understanding on the spread of antibiotic‐resistant and genetic diversity isolates. It can help us gradually increase our knowledge of microbiological risk management in E. faecalis from spring water.

Practical applications

Investigating the prevalence of Enterococcus faecalis isolates from spring water could increase this microbial safety ondrinking water. In our research, antibiotic susceptibility, virulence genes, serotypingand molecular characteristic were selected to thorough comparison among Enterococcus faecalis isolates. Spring water is common in China as drinking water, then understanding the dissemination and monitoring the prevalence of this microorganism is necessary to improve the drinking water safety.
Ethics approval for health professions education research: are we going too far down the barrel?
Authors: Schuwirth Lambert W T , Durning Steven J
Published: August 2019

Ethics review is important, but can be overly onerous for it purpose. The authors propose that adoption of a utilitarian view, aligning purpose and goal, can enable a leaner process.
A dramatic increase in serum CK levels after switching from oral to intravenous administration of LEV
Authors: Takemoto Mami , Yunoki Taijun , Sato Kota , Hishikawa Nozomi , Yamashita Toru , Ohta Yasuyuki , Shang Jingwei , Abe Koji
Published: August 2019

The authors report on a 22‐year‐old Japanese woman who started oral administration of 1000 mg levetiracetam (LEV) for her epilepsy after the second convulsive seizure. She was free from seizures for the subsequent 111 days, but a third tonic‐clonic seizure happened and she was transferred to our hospital (Day 1). Her consciousness state was drowsy and 1000 mg LEV continued for two days, but intravenously. Although her state became clear, her serum creatine kinase (CK), myoglobin (Mb), and creatine (Cre) levels were significantly elevated (18 179 IU/L, 2783 ng/mL, and 0.8 mg/mL) with a peak at Day 5 of CK 26, 189 IU/L. After stopping intravenous injection of LEV, serum CK returned to its normal level promptly. The present case suggests that we should take more care in monitoring for rhabdomyolysis on switching from oral to intravenous administration of LEV.
Abscisic acid positively regulates l‐arabinose metabolism to inhibit seed germination through ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE4‐mediated transcriptional promotions of MUR4 in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Yan Jingwei , Fang Lin , Yang Lan , He Huan , Huang Yun , Liu Ya , Zhang Aying
Published: August 2019

l‐Arabinose (l‐Ara) is a major monosaccharide in plant polysaccharides and glycoproteins, and functions in plant growth and development. However, the potential role of l‐Ara during abscisic acid (ABA)‐mediated seed germination has been largely ignored. Here, our results showed a function of l‐Ara during ABA‐mediated seed germination.

ABA slowed down the reduction of l‐Ara in seed cell wall, and exogenous l‐Ara aggravated the inhibition of ABA on germination. We further found that MUR4, encoding URIDINE 5′‐DIPHOSPHATE‐d‐XYLOSE 4‐EPIMERASE 1, played a vital role in ABA‐mediated germination. MUR4 was highly expressed in embryo and induced by ABA in both seeds and seedlings. Overexpression of MUR4 conferred hypersensitive seed germination and early postgermination growth to ABA.

Further analysis revealed that ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE4 (ABI4) positively modulated the MUR4 expression by directly binding the Coupling Element1 motif of MUR4 promoter. Consistently, abi4‐1 mutant had a lower l‐Ara content in seed cell wall, while a higher l‐Ara content in seed cell wall was observed in ABI4 overexpressors. Genetic analysis suggested that overexpression of MUR4 in abi4‐1 partly restored the ABA sensitivity of abi4‐1.

We established the link between ABA and l‐Ara during ABA‐mediated seed germination and cotyledon greening in Arabidopsis and revealed the potential molecular mechanism.
Cyclic tensile strain promotes the ECM synthesis of cranial base synchondrosis chondrocytes by upregulating miR‐140‐5p
Authors: Cheng Mingjia , Chu Fengting , Feng Qiping , Shen Gang
Published: August 2019

Objective

This study aimed to explore the role of miR‐140‐5p in cranial base synchondrosis chondrocytes (CBSCs) under cyclic tensile strain (CTS).

Setting and Sample Population

A total of 25 1‐week‐old Sprague Dawley rats from Shanghai Laboratory Animal Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, were used.

Material and Methods

The second passage of CBSCs was applied with CTS at 10% elongation (1 Hz) for 24 hours. MiR‐140‐5p levels in CBSCs were detected by qRT‐PCR. The role of miR‐140‐5p in CBSCs was evaluated by transfection of mimics and inhibitor. RNA sequencing and online search of miRNA databases (TargetScan, miRDB and miRanda) were used in prediction of miR‐140‐5p targets. A luciferase reporter assay was applied to identify the target gene of miR‐140‐5p.

Results

Compared with the control, the expression of Col2a1 and Sox9 was significantly higher after CTS (P < .05). Also, CBSCs demonstrated higher expression of miR‐140‐5p after CTS loading for 24 hours (P < .05). Overexpression of miR‐140‐5p promoted ECM synthesis under CTS loading environment, while suppression of miR‐140‐5p inhibited the effect. Bloc1s2 was a putative target gene of miR‐140‐5p.

Conclusions

The expression of ECM in CBSCs could be promoted by CTS and miR‐140‐5p might play a role in this process through targeting Bloc1s2.
The relevance and reliability of performance information for accountability: A survey experiment exploring citizens' views
Authors: Mizrahi Shlomo , Minchuk Yizhaq
Published: August 2019

This study explores the impact of the configuration of performance information on citizens' perceptions regarding the impact of the information on their lives and the reliability they assign to it. We conducted a survey experiment among a representative sample of the Israeli population. The treatment included the object being measured, the identity of those who manage the performance management mechanism, and the trend of the results. We also compared the education and police sectors. Our findings indicate that, overall, citizens feel that performance information has only a low‐to‐medium effect on their lives, and assign a similar level of reliability to that information. The configuration of performance information helps explain this perceived impact only to a limited extent. These findings question the usefulness of performance reporting mechanisms as a major tool for strengthening accountability and raise serious doubts about the possible ways to improve these mechanisms and make them more effective.
Expanding the theoretical boundaries of active representation: Clients' deservedness of service in the 911 emergency system
Authors: Zamboni Lucila M.
Published: August 2019

The objective of this study was to explore how emergency responders' experience, beliefs and organizational context influence their decision‐making processes and their interaction with their clients. The study includes 27 interviews with 911 emergency responders to unveil the underlying factors which lead responders to act in favour of some of their clients, that is, actively represent them, while limiting their representation of others. The study is situated at the intersection between the street‐level bureaucracy and representative bureaucracy literatures. Building on symbolic representation, this study argues that active representation is shaped by factors beyond mere socio‐demographic characteristics and organizational or group identities. By focusing the analysis on the attitudes of the bureaucrats themselves, this study provides initial evidence to support Meier's recent hypotheses in his micro‐theory of representative bureaucracy.
The Pneumatron: An automated pneumatic apparatus for estimating xylem vulnerability to embolism at high temporal resolution
Authors: Pereira Luciano , Bittencourt Paulo R.L. , Pacheco Vinícius S. , Miranda Marcela T. , Zhang Ya , Oliveira Rafael S. , Groenendijk Peter , Machado Eduardo C. , Tyree Melvin T. , Jansen Steven , Rowland Lucy , Ribeiro Rafael V.
Published: August 2019

Xylem vulnerability to embolism represents an important trait to determine species distribution patterns and drought resistance. However, estimating embolism resistance frequently requires time‐consuming and ambiguous hydraulic lab measurements. Based on a recently developed pneumatic method, we present and test the “Pneumatron”, a device that generates high time‐resolution and fully automated vulnerability curves. Embolism resistance is estimated by applying a partial vacuum to extract air from an excised xylem sample, while monitoring the pressure change over time. Although the amount of gas extracted is strongly correlated with the percentage loss of xylem conductivity, validation of the Pneumatron was performed by comparison with the optical method for Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves. The Pneumatron improved the precision of the pneumatic method considerably, facilitating the detection of small differences in the (percentage of air discharged [PAD] < 0.47%). Hence, the Pneumatron can directly measure the 50% PAD without any fitting of vulnerability curves. PAD and embolism frequency based on the optical method were strongly correlated (r2 = 0.93) for E. camaldulensis. By providing an open source platform, the Pneumatron represents an easy, low‐cost, and powerful tool for field measurements, which can significantly improve our understanding of plant–water relations and the mechanisms behind embolism.
A soil archaeal community responds to a decade of ecological restoration
Authors: Yan DongFeng , Gellie Nicholas J. C. , Mills Jacob G. , Connell Gemma , Bissett Andrew , Lowe Andrew J. , Breed Martin F.
Published: August 2019

Large‐scale restoration efforts are underway globally to mitigate the impact of decades of land degradation by returning functional and biodiverse ecosystems. Revegetation is a heavily relied upon restoration intervention, and one that is expected to result in associated biodiversity returns. However, the outcome of such restoration interventions rarely considers recovery to the soil microbiome, a mega‐diverse and functionally important ecosystem component. Here we examine the archaeal component of the soil microbiome and track community change after a decade of eucalypt woodland restoration in southern Australia. We employed DNA metabarcoding to show that archaeal community composition, richness, and diversity shifted significantly, and towards a restored state 10 years after the restoration intervention. Changes in soil pH and nitrate associated with changes to the archaeal community, potentially relating to the pH responsive properties and close relationship with the nitrogen cycle of some archaea. Our study helps shed light on archaeal community dynamics, as no other study has used DNA metabarcoding to study archaeal responses across a restoration chronosequence. Our results provide great promise for the development of molecular monitoring of the soil microbiome as a future restoration monitoring tool.
Motivating the unemployed: A full‐range model of motivational strategies that caseworkers use to activate clients
Authors: Grandia Jolien , La Grouw Yvonne M. , Kruyen Peter M.
Published: August 2019

Governments use activation policies to stimulate unemployed citizens in finding work. Caseworkers are, as front‐line workers, responsible for concrete activation trajectories based on these activation policies. Little is known about how caseworkers try to get clients to participate in these activation trajectories. In a qualitative, inductive study (consisting of observations and reflective interviews) in two welfare agencies, we identified 10 motivational strategies that caseworkers employed. The full‐range leadership model appeared to be an appropriate perspective to understand, systematize, and reflect on these strategies, in particular as our analyses show that these motivational strategies can be placed on a continuum ranging from laissez‐faire to transactional and transformational strategies. We found that caseworkers matched their motivational strategy to the situation and client but preferred transformational strategies. Our findings implicate chances but also challenges for activation in practice and literature on front‐line workers.
The limit of large mass monopoles
Authors: Fadel Daniel , Oliveira Goncalo
Published: August 2019

In this paper, we consider monopoles on an asymptotically conical, oriented, Riemannian 3‐manifold with one end. The connected components of the moduli space of monopoles in this setting are labeled by an integer called the charge. We analyze the limiting behavior of sequences of monopoles with fixed charge, and whose sequence of Yang–Mills–Higgs energies is unbounded. We prove that the limiting behavior of such monopoles is characterized by energy concentration along a certain set, which we call the blow‐up set. Our work shows that this set is finite, and using a bubbling analysis obtains effective bounds on its cardinality, with such bounds depending solely on the charge of the monopole. Moreover, for such sequences of monopoles there is another naturally associated set, the zero set, which consists of the set at which the zeros of the Higgs fields accumulate. Regarding this, our results show that for such sequences of monopoles, the zero set and the blow‐up set coincide. In particular, proving that in this ‘large mass’ limit, the zero set is a finite set of points.

Some of our work extends for sequences of finite mass critical points of the Yang–Mills–Higgs functional for which the Yang–Mills–Higgs energies are as , where are the masses of the configurations.
Hypervelocity impacts as a source of deceiving surface signatures on iron-rich asteroids
Authors: Libourel Guy , Nakamura Akiko M. , Beck Pierre , Potin Sandra , Ganino Clément , Jacomet Suzanne , Ogawa Ryo , Hasegawa Sunao , Michel Patrick
Published: August 2019

Hypervelocity impacts produce unexpected signatures such as glassy coating and hydrated features on metal-rich asteroid surfaces.
A biomimetic pancreatic cancer on-chip reveals endothelial ablation via ALK7 signaling
Authors: Nguyen Duc-Huy T. , Lee Esak , Alimperti Styliani , Norgard Robert J. , Wong Alec , Lee Jake June-Koo , Eyckmans Jeroen , Stanger Ben Z. , Chen Christopher S.
Published: August 2019

3D biomimetic pancreatic cancer on a chip reveals endothelial ablation via activin-ALK7, a mechanism for tumor hypovascularity.
Calcium isotopic patterns in enamel reflect different nursing behaviors among South African early hominins
Authors: Tacail Théo , Martin Jeremy E. , Arnaud-Godet Florent , Thackeray J. Francis , Cerling Thure E. , Braga José , Balter Vincent
Published: August 2019

Calcium isotopic ratios in dental enamel of South African hominins reveal taxon-dependent nursing behaviors.
Ferromagnetic soft continuum robots
Authors: Kim Yoonho , Parada German A. , Liu Shengduo , Zhao Xuanhe
Published: August 2019

A submillimeter-scale, soft continuum robot navigates through highly constrained environments by steering based on magnetic actuation.
Inhaled corticosteroid suppression of cathelicidin drives dysbiosis and bacterial infection in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Singanayagam Aran , Glanville Nicholas , Cuthbertson Leah , Bartlett Nathan W. , Finney Lydia J. , Turek Elena , Bakhsoliani Eteri , Calderazzo Maria Adelaide , Trujillo-Torralbo Maria-Belen , Footitt Joseph , James Phillip L. , Fenwick Peter , Kemp Samuel V. , Clarke Thomas B. , Wedzicha Jadwiga A. , Edwards Michael R. , Moffatt Miriam , Cookson William O. , Mallia Patrick , Johnston Sebastian L.
Published: August 2019

Inhaled corticosteroids promote bacterial infection in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by suppressing the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin.
A vaccine-induced gene expression signature correlates with protection against SIV and HIV in multiple trials
Authors: Ehrenberg Philip K. , Shangguan Shida , Issac Biju , Alter Galit , Geretz Aviva , Izumi Taisuke , Bryant Christopher , Eller Michael A. , Wegmann Frank , Apps Richard , Creegan Matthew , Bolton Diane L. , Sekaly Rafick P. , Robb Merlin L. , Gramzinski Robert A. , Pau Maria G. , Schuitemaker Hanneke , Barouch Dan H. , Michael Nelson L. , Thomas Rasmi
Published: August 2019

A gene signature in B cells associates with protective efficacy of different vaccine regimens against SIV and HIV infection.
Therapeutic Challenges of Non-
Aspergillus
Invasive Mold Infections in Immunosuppressed Patients
Authors: Lamoth Frederic , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P.
Published: August 2019

While
Aspergillus
spp. remain the major cause of invasive mold infections in hematologic cancer patients and transplant recipients, other opportunistic molds, such as
Mucorales
,
Fusarium
, and
Scedosporium
spp. are increasingly encountered in an expanding population of patients with severe and prolonged immunosuppression. High potential for tissue invasion and dissemination, resistance to multiple antifungals and high mortality rates are hallmarks of these non-
Aspergillus
invasive mold infections (NAIMIs).
Streptococcus pyogenes Transcriptome Changes in the Inflammatory Environment of Necrotizing Fasciitis
Authors: Hirose Yujiro , Yamaguchi Masaya , Okuzaki Daisuke , Motooka Daisuke , Hamamoto Hiroshi , Hanada Tomoki , Sumitomo Tomoko , Nakata Masanobu , Kawabata Shigetada
Published: August 2019

Necrotizing fasciitis, a life-threatening subcutaneous soft-tissue infection, is principally caused byS. pyogenes. The inflammatory environment at the site of infection causes global gene expression changes for survival of the bacterium and pathogenesis. However, no known study regarding transcriptomic profiling ofS. pyogenesin cases of necrotizing fasciitis has been presented. We identified 483 bacterial genes whose expression was consistently altered during infection. Our results showed thatS. pyogenesinfection induces drastic upregulation of the expression of virulence-associated genes and shifts metabolic pathway usage. In particular, high-level expression of toxins, such as cytolysins, proteases, and nucleases, was observed at infection sites. In addition, genes identified as consistently enriched included those related to metabolism of arginine and histidine as well as carbohydrate uptake and utilization. Conversely, genes associated with the oxidative stress response and cell division were consistently downregulated during infection. The present findings provide useful information for establishing novel treatment strategies.
Genome Sequence of Bacillus subtilis natto VK161, a Novel Strain That Produces Vitamin K
2
Authors: Parks Dylan , Chung In-Hwa , Lee In kyu , Kim Eui-Joong , Niraula Sarbjeet , Chang Woo-Suk
Published: August 2019

Bacillus subtilis
strain natto VK161 was selected for its high production of vitamin K
2
. Its genome was sequenced and annotated in the Department of Energy-Joint Genome Institute (DOE-JGI) annotation pipeline. It resulted in a chromosome of 4,073,396 bp, which is composed of 4,332 protein-coding genes, 23 rRNA genes, and 77 tRNA genes.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Dicyma pulvinata
Strain 414-3, a Mycoparasite of
Cladosporium fulvum
, Causal Agent of Tomato Leaf Mold
Authors: Sushida Hirotoshi , Sumita Takuya , Higashi Yumiko , Iida Yuichiro
Published: August 2019

Dicyma pulvinata
strain 414-3, isolated from the surface of a tomato leaf, is a mycoparasitic fungus of
Cladosporium fulvum
, which causes leaf mold of tomato. We report here the draft genome sequence of strain 414-3, which will contribute to elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in the mycoparasitism.
Draft Genome Sequence of a
Chitinimonas
Species from Hudson Valley Waterways That Expresses Violacein Pigment
Authors: Jude Brooke A.
Published: August 2019

Chitinimonas
spp. are Gram-negative bacilli that are observed in freshwater and soil sources. A number of
Chitinimonas
species have been characterized, including the green-pigmented
Chitinimonas viridis
. The isolate described here, BJB300, was obtained from a freshwater source in the Hudson Valley, NY. BJB300 is the first
Chitinimonas
isolate expressing violacein, a pigment with biotherapeutic potential.
The Dutch Parelsnoer Institute Cerebrovascular Disease Initiative: a retrospective study of the effects of integrating clinical care and research on costs and quality of care in patients with ischaemic stroke
Authors: Mensing Liselore A , Kappelle Jaap , Buijs Julie E , Luijckx Gert-Jan , Koffijberg Hendrik , Zielhuis Gerhard A , Ruigrok Ynte M
Published: August 2019

Introduction

The Dutch Parelsnoer Institute (PSI) is a collaboration between all university medical centres in which clinical data, imaging and biomaterials are prospectively and uniformly collected for research purposes. The PSI has the ambition to integrate data collected in the context of clinical care with data collected primarily for research purposes. We aimed to evaluate the effects of such integrated registration on costs, efficiency and quality of care.

Methods

We retrospectively included patients with cerebral ischaemia of the PSI Cerebrovascular Disease Consortium at two participating centres, one applying an integrated approach on registration of clinical and research data and another with a separate method of registration. We determined the effect of integrated registration on (1) costs and time efficiency using a comparative matched cohort study in 40 patients and (2) quality of the discharge letter in a retrospective cohort study of 400 patients.

Results

A shorter registration time (mean difference of −4.6 min, SD 4.7, p=0.001) and a higher quality score of discharge letters (mean difference of 856 points, SD 40.8, p<0.001) was shown for integrated registration compared with separate registration. Integrated registration of data of 300 patients per year would save around €700 salary costs per year.

Conclusion

Integrated registration of clinical and research data in patients with cerebral ischaemia is associated with some decrease in salary costs, while at the same time, increased time efficiency and quality of the discharge letter are accomplished. Thus, we recommend integrated registration of clinical and research data in centres with high-volume registration only, due to the initial investments needed to adopt the registration software.
Influence of obesity on in-hospital and postoperative outcomes of hepatic resection for malignancy: a 10-year retrospective analysis from the US National Inpatient Sample
Authors: He Jiafa , Liu Heping , Deng Li , Wei Xiangling , Chen Taiying , Xia Shangzhou , Liu Yubin
Published: August 2019

Objectives

The influence of obesity on the outcomes of curative liver resection for malignancies remains controversial. We aimed to compare the in-hospital outcomes of liver resection for malignancy between obese and non-obese patients.

Design

This was a population-based, retrospective, observational study using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), the largest all-payer US inpatient care database.

Setting

Hospitalisations of adults ≥18 years old with diagnoses of primary hepatobiliary malignancy or secondary malignant neoplasms of liver in the USA were identified from the NIS database between 2005 and 2014.

Participants

Data of 18 398 patients ≥18 years old and underwent liver resection without pancreatic resection in the NIS were extracted. All included subjects had primary hepatobiliary malignancy or secondary malignant neoplasms of the liver. Patients were divided into obese and non-obese groups. These groups were compared with respect to postoperative complications, length of hospital stay and hospital cost according to surgical extent and approach.

Interventions

Patients were undergoing lobectomy of liver or partial hepatectomy.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary endpoints of this study were postoperative complications, length of hospital stay and hospital cost.

Results

After adjustment, obese patients were significantly more likely to experience postoperative complications than were non-obese patients (adjusted OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.42), regardless of whether lobectomy or partial hepatectomy was performed. Furthermore, obesity was significantly associated with increased risk of postoperative complications in patients who underwent open liver resection, but not laparoscopic resection. No significant difference was observed in length of hospital stay or total hospital costs between obese and non-obese patients.

Conclusions

After adjustment for preoperative comorbidities and other potential confounders, obesity is significantly associated with greater risk of complications in patients undergoing open liver resection for malignancy, but not laparoscopic resection.
A pedagogical overview on 2D and 3D Toric Codes and the origin of their topological orders
Authors: Araujo de Resende M. F.
Published: August 2019

In this work, we will show how the topological order of the Toric Code appears when the lattice on which it is defined discretizes a three-dimensional torus. In order to do this, we will present a pedagogical review of the traditional two-dimensional Toric Code, with an emphasis on how its quasiparticles are conceived and transported. With that, we want to make clear not only how all these same quasiparticle conception and transportation fit into this three-dimensional model, but to make it clear how topology controls the degeneracy of ground state in this new situation.
ASEAN ELECTRICITY MARKET INTEGRATION: HOW CAN BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE BRING NEW LIFE TO IT?
Authors: YAO LIXIA , ANDREWS-SPEED PHILIP , SHI XUNPENG
Published: August 2019

This paper assesses how China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can bring investment and technology into ASEAN and its impact on ASEAN’s electricity market. With the theoretical framework of scenario analysis, this paper provides three scenarios for ASEAN electricity market integration: the Lao PDR–Thailand–Malaysia–Singapore (LTMS) arrangement, a power exchange between heterogeneous grids in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) region, and a fully competitive electricity market with a fully-developed ASEAN Power Grid (APG). Based on these scenarios, the paper examines the extent to which the BRI can assist electricity market integration in the ASEAN region. It is found that BRI can best fit with and facilitate the first scenario. Given the uncertain outlook for the electricity market integration in the GMS region, how China’s BRI can play a role in facilitating the GMS electricity market integration is not clear under the second scenario. Further, BRI may be less helpful in the third scenario in which the region’s master plan of APG would be realized. In any sense, how BRI can fit with and facilitate ASEAN’s electricity market integration would more depend on the host countries rather than the Chinese side.
A note on noncommutative Einstein–Hilbert action
Authors: Golipour Javad
Published: August 2019

We show the nonpositivity of the Einstein–Hilbert action for conformal flat Riemannian metrics on noncommutative 4-torus. In addition, we prove that this action vanishes only when the metric is constant flat. This recovers an earlier result of Fathizadeh–Khalkhali in the setting of spectral triples on noncommutative 4-torus. We also give a new proof of their result. Furthermore, computations of the gradient flow and the scalar curvature of noncommutative 4-torus are given.