bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stumbling over History:Stolpersteineand the Performance of Memory in Spain's Streets
Authors: HERNÀNDEZ-GRANDE ALÍCIA
Published: February 2020

TheStolpersteine(‘stumbling stones’) memorial project commemorates victims of Nazi violence and the Holocaust through an individual marker installed outside the last willing residence before deportation and execution. TheStolpersteineproject has spread throughout Europe, providing an urban topography of sites where traumatic events occurred. BecauseStolpersteineare placed in public streets, they create performance possibilities, inviting passing pedestrians to engage in past history and trauma. As the project grows throughout Europe, however, the universality of the stones abuts with the specificity of local history and memory. This article considers theStolpersteineinstalled in the Catalan city of Manresa. These stones, representing twenty-eight Spanish Republicans who were interned at the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp, are framed by a Catalan-language audio guide that directly points to the collaboration of the Francisco Franco dictatorship with Nazi Germany. In so doing, the stones in Spain also stand for violence meted out during the Spanish Civil War and the Franco dictatorship.
Improved Fault Detection Method Based on Robust Estimation and Sliding Window Test for INS/GNSS Integration
Authors: Zhang Chuang , Zhao Xiubin , Pang Chunlei , Wang Yong , Zhang Liang , Feng Bo
Published: February 2020

Real-time and accurate fault detection and isolation is very important to ensure the reliability and precision of integrated inertial navigation and global navigation satellite systems. In this paper, the detection performance of a residual chi-square method is analysed, and on this basis an improved method of fault detection is proposed. The local test based on a standardised residual is introduced to detect and identify faulty measurements directly. Differing from the traditional method, two appropriate thresholds are selected to calculate the weight factor of each measurement, and the gain matrix is adjusted adaptively to reduce the influence of the undetected faulty measurement. The sliding window test, which uses past measurements, is also added to further improve the fault detection performance for small faults when the local test based on current measurements cannot judge whether a fault has occurred or not. Several simulations are conducted to evaluate the proposed method. The results show that the improved method has better fault detection performance than the traditional detection method, especially for small faults, and can improve the reliability and precision of the navigation system effectively.
Toward Active Reflexivity: Positionality and Practice in the Production of Knowledge
Authors: Soedirgo Jessica , Glas Aarie
Published: February 2020

How should scholars recognize and respond to the complexities of positionality during the research process? Although there has been much theorizing on the intersectional and context-dependent nature of positionality, there remains a disjuncture between how positionality is understood theoretically and how it is applied. Ignoring the dynamism of positionality in practice has implications for the research process. This article theorizes one means of recognizing and responding to positionality in practice: a posture of “active reflexivity.” It outlines how we can become actively reflexive by adopting a disposition toward both ongoing reflection about our own social location and ongoing reflection on our assumptions regarding others’ perceptions. We then articulate four strategies for doing active reflexivity: recording assumptions around positionality; routinizing and systemizing reflexivity; bringing other actors into the process; and “showing our work” in the publication process.
The “Math Prefresher” and the Collective Future of Political Science Graduate Training
Authors: King Gary , Kuriwaki Shiro , Park Yon Soo
Published: February 2020

The political science math prefresher arose a quarter-century ago and has now spread to many of our discipline’s PhD programs. Incoming students arrive for graduate school a few weeks early for ungraded instruction in math, statistics, and computer science as they relate to political science. The prefresher’s benefits, however, go beyond its technical content: it opens pathways to mastering methods necessary for political science research, facilitates connections among peers, and—perhaps most important—eases the transition to the increasingly collaborative nature of graduate work. The prefresher also shows how faculty across a highly diverse discipline have worked together to train the next generation. We review this program and advance its collaborative aspects by building infrastructure to share teaching content across universities so that separate programs can build on one another’s work and improve all of our programs.
Structural and Geochemical Interactions Between Magma and Sedimentary Host Rock: The Hovedøya Case, Oslo Rift, Norway
Authors: Poppe S. , Galland O. , de Winter N. J. , Goderis S. , Claeys P. , Debaille V. , Boulvais P. , Kervyn M.
Published: February 2020

Two end‐member conceptual models are used to describe deformation of the Earth's crust induced by magma intrusion. “Mode I” fracturing assumes tensile or opening‐mode, elastic deformation, while “Mode II” fracturing assumes plastic shear‐mode deformation around a viscous indenter. Field observations of both mechanisms exist, but it remains unclear which mechanism dominates in which conditions. We describe intrusion geometries, host rock deformation, and geochemical magma‐host rock interactions around 53 exceptionally preserved, tephrite‐basanite Permian dike segments of 0.5‐ to 30‐cm thickness. These thin dikes, that is, “dikelets,” intruded Late‐Ordovician carbonate‐rich sedimentary rocks on Hovedøya island, Oslo Rift, Norway. Dikelets emplaced in preexisting fractures dominantly created cavities ahead of their narrow, tapering tips and are associated with bent host rock, broken bridges, and stepped segmented geometries. Other tips are blunt with dense brittle fracturing around them. Also, cross‐sectional intrusion segment opening profiles deviate from parabola‐shaped profiles typical for elastic media. The observations demonstrate that dominant opening‐mode host rock deformation can coexist with shear‐mode deformation locally. Alignment of most dikelet segments along the dominant host rock fracture directions highlights the control of local structural orientations on magma emplacement. Analysis of bulk major and trace element compositions, in situ micro‐XRF sample analysis and carbon and oxygen stable isotope compositions, suggests that thermochemical interactions between magma and the carbonate‐rich host rock produced a low‐viscosity mixture of magma, pore water, and gas. We propose that such low‐viscosity hybrid fluid may assist in the intrusion of magma in sedimentary rocks by filling the cavity ahead of propagating sheet intrusion tips.
Plasma Waves in Space: The Importance of Properly Accounting for the Measuring Device
Authors: Meyer‐Vernet Nicole , Moncuquet Michel
Published: February 2020

Electric fields are generally measured or calculated using two intuitive assumptions: (1) the electric field equals the voltage divided by the antenna length when the antenna is electromagnetically short (2) the antenna responds best to electric field along its length. Both assumptions are often incorrect for electrostatic fields because they scale as the Debye length or as the electron gyroradius, which may be smaller than the antenna length. Taking into account this little‐known fact enables us to complete or correct several recent papers on plasma spontaneous fluctuations in various solar system environments.
On Whistler Mode Wave Relation to Electron Field‐Aligned Plateau Populations
Authors: Artemyev A. V. , Mourenas D.
Published: February 2020

Whistler mode waves are among the most intense electromagnetic emissions and play an important role in the energy redistribution between electron populations in the Earth inner magnetosphere through wave‐particle resonant interactions. Usually generated by transversely anisotropic plasma sheet electron populations (
10–30 keV) through cyclotron resonance, whistler mode waves can effectively accelerate a small fraction of the seed population of energetic electrons (
100 keV) up to relativistic energies. However, these waves can be efficiently damped through simultaneous interactions with much more numerous suprathermal electrons (
0.1–1 keV) via Landau resonance. Recent observations indeed show that electron distributions accompanied by intense whistler mode emissions often contain a plateau‐like electron population at energies close to the energy of Landau resonance with the waves. However, simultaneous observations of these waves and of the related plateau population does not prove a causal relationship. Here, we test the hypothesis that such a plateau population may have been formed by whistler mode waves generated earlier, or by other types of waves. Combining analytical estimates and spacecraft observations, we show that this plateau population is often unlikely to be formed by whistler mode waves alone. We suggest three alternative scenarios that can lead to the formation of plateau populations and test these scenarios based on spacecraft observations. We show that a plateau population can be formed by ultralow frequency electric fields (carried by kinetic Alfven waves or time domain structures) often accompanying injections of plasma sheet electrons—the energy source for whistler mode waves. We also discuss the possible role of ionospheric secondary electrons.
Fast Stokes Flow Simulations for Geophysical‐Geodynamic Inverse Problems and Sensitivity Analyses Based On Reduced Order Modeling
Authors: Ortega‐Gelabert O. , Zlotnik S. , Afonso J. C. , Díez P.
Published: February 2020

Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods have become standard in Bayesian inference and multi‐observable inversions in almost every discipline of the Earth sciences. In the case of geodynamic and/or coupled geophysical‐geodynamic inverse problems, however, the computational cost associated with the solution of large‐scale 3‐D Stokes forward problems has rendered probabilistic formulations impractical. Here we present a novel and extremely efficient method to produce ultrafast solutions of the 3‐D Stokes problem for MCMC simulations. Our approach combines the individual benefits of Reduced Basis techniques, goal‐oriented error formulations, and MCMC algorithms to produce an accurate and computationally efficient surrogate for the forward problem. Importantly, the surrogate adapts itself during the MCMC simulation according to the history of the chain and the goals of the inversion. This maximizes the efficiency of the forward problem and removes the need for preinversion off‐line computations to build a surrogate. We demonstrate the benefits and limitations of the method with several numerical examples and show that in all cases the computational cost is of the order of <1% compared to a traditional MCMC approach. The method is general enough to be applied to a range of problems, including uncertainty quantification/propagation, adjoint‐based geodynamic inversions, sensitivity analyses in mantle convection problems, and in the creating surrogate models for complex forward problems (e.g., heat transfer, seismic tomography, and magnetotellurics).
Evaluation of Simulated Drop Size Distributions and Microphysical Processes Using Polarimetric Radar Observations for Landfalling Typhoon Matmo (2014)
Authors: Wang Mingjun , Zhao Kun , Pan Yujie , Xue Ming
Published: February 2020

The Morrison (Morr), Thompson (Thom), Thompson aerosol‐aware (ThomA), and WRF double‐moment 6‐class (WDM6) microphysics schemes within the WRF model are used to simulate landfalling Typhoon Matmo (2014) and evaluated against polarimetric radar observations in terms of raindrop size distribution (RSD) and microphysical processes. Focus is placed on the inner rainband convection. Only ThomA is able to reproduce observed RSD characteristics having even smaller mean raindrop sizes and larger number concentrations than those of typical maritime convection, when measured in terms of mass‐weighted mean diameter and normalized RSD intercept parameter. The diagnoses of microphysical transfer terms show that warm rain processes are dominant in all experiments. The accretion and autoconversion processes dominate the production of rainwater content and raindrop number concentration, respectively. Examinations of vertical profiles of hydrometeor masses and number concentrations as well as rainwater‐related microphysical transfer rates suggest that raindrop total number concentration NTr near the freezing level, mainly produced by the autoconversion process, plays an important role in determining the near‐surface RSD characteristics. Morr and Thom assume fixed values of cloud droplet number concentration NTc that are much larger than those predicted by ThomA, leading to much smaller NTr near the freezing level produced by the autoconversion process. Sensitivity experiments using much reduced NTc substantially increase predicted NTr, mainly through invigoration of autoconversion. These results indicate that adequately predicting NTc is very important for capturing the right RSD characteristics for landfalling typhoons over East China where Typhoon Matmo is one of the representative examples.
Selective Adsorption of Terrestrial Dissolved Organic Matter to Inorganic Surfaces Along a Boreal Inland Water Continuum
Authors: Groeneveld Marloes , Catalán Núria , Attermeyer Katrin , Hawkes Jeffrey , Einarsdóttir Karólína , Kothawala Dolly , Bergquist Jonas , Tranvik Lars
Published: February 2020

Different processes contribute to the loss or transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and change DOM concentration and composition systematically along the inland water continuum. Substantial efforts have been made to estimate the importance of microbial and photochemical degradation for DOM concentration and composition and, to some extent, also DOM losses by flocculation, whereas the significance of DOM adsorption to inorganic surfaces has received less attention. Hence, knowledge on the possible extent of adsorption, its effect on DOM loads and composition and on where along the aquatic continuum it might be important, is currently limited or lacking altogether. Here we experimentally determine DOM adsorption onto mineral particles in freshwater ecosystems covering a water residence time gradient in boreal landscape Sweden. We hypothesized that adsorption would gradually decrease with increasing water residence time but actually found that DOM is highly susceptible to adsorption throughout the aquatic continuum. Mass spectrometry and fluorescence analysis on DOM suggest that freshly produced aquatic DOM is less susceptible to adsorption than more terrestrial material. Moreover, the percentage DOM adsorbed in the experiments greatly exceeds the actual adsorption taking place in boreal inland waters across all studied systems. These results illustrate the potential impact of mineral erosion, for example, as a result of agriculture, mining or forestry practices, on the availability, transport, and composition of organic carbon in inland waters.
Hypoxia and the hypoxia inducible factor 1α activate protein kinase A by repressing RII beta subunit transcription
Authors: Lucia Kristin , Wu Yonghe , Garcia Jose Monteserin , Barlier Anne , Buchfelder Michael , Saeger Wolfgang , Renner Ulrich , Stalla Günter K. , Theodoropoulou Marily
Published: February 2020

Overactivation of the cAMP signal transduction pathway plays a central role in the pathogenesis of endocrine tumors. Genetic aberrations leading to increased intracellular cAMP or directly affecting PKA subunit expression have been identified in inherited and sporadic endocrine tumors, but are rare indicating the presence of nongenomic pathological PKA activation. In the present study, we examined the impact of hypoxia on PKA activation using human growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumors as a model of an endocrine disease displaying PKA-CREB overactivation. We show that hypoxia activates PKA and enhances CREB transcriptional activity and subsequently GH oversecretion. This is due to a previously uncharacterized ability of HIF-1α to suppress the transcription of the PKA regulatory subunit 2B (PRKAR2B) by sequestering Sp1 from the PRKAR2B promoter. The present study reveals a novel mechanism through which the transcription factor HIF-1α transduces environmental signals directly onto PKA activity, without affecting intracellular cAMP concentrations. By identifying a point of interaction between the cellular microenvironment and intracellular enzyme activation, neoplastic, and nonneoplastic diseases involving overactivated PKA pathway may be more efficiently targeted.
Retraction Note: Targeted suicide gene therapy for glioma using human embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cells genetically modified by baculoviral vectors
Authors: Zhao Y. , Lam D. H. , Yang J. , Lin J. , Tham C. K. , Ng W. H. , Wang S.
Published: February 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
In vitro ribosome synthesis and evolution through ribosome display
Authors: Hammerling Michael J. , Fritz Brian R. , Yoesep Danielle J. , Kim Do Soon , Carlson Erik D. , Jewett Michael C.
Published: February 2020

Directed evolution of the ribosome for expanded substrate incorporation and novel functions is challenging because the requirement of cell viability limits the mutations that can be made. Here we address this challenge by combining cell-free synthesis and assembly of translationally competent ribosomes with ribosome display to develop a fully in vitro methodology for ribosome synthesis and evolution (called RISE). We validate the RISE method by selecting active genotypes from a ~1.7 × 107 member library of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) variants, as well as identifying mutant ribosomes resistant to the antibiotic clindamycin from a library of ~4 × 103 rRNA variants. We further demonstrate the prevalence of positive epistasis in resistant genotypes, highlighting the importance of such interactions in selecting for new function. We anticipate that RISE will facilitate understanding of molecular translation and enable selection of ribosomes with altered properties.
Megahertz-rate shock-wave distortion cancellation via phase conjugate digital in-line holography
Authors: Mazumdar Yi Chen , Smyser Michael E. , Heyborne Jeffery D. , Slipchenko Mikhail N. , Guildenbecher Daniel R.
Published: February 2020

Holography is a powerful tool for three-dimensional imaging. However, in explosive, supersonic, hypersonic, cavitating, or ionizing environments, shock-waves and density gradients impart phase distortions that obscure objects in the field-of-view. Capturing time-resolved information in these environments also requires ultra-high-speed acquisition. To reduce phase distortions and increase imaging rates, we introduce an ultra-high-speed phase conjugate digital in-line holography (PCDIH) technique. In this concept, a coherent beam passes through the shock-wave distortion, reflects off a phase conjugate mirror, and propagates back through the shock-wave, thereby minimizing imaging distortions from phase delays. By implementing the method using a pulse-burst laser setup at up to 5 million-frames-per-second, time-resolved holograms of ultra-fast events are now possible. This technique is applied for holographic imaging through laser-spark plasma-generated shock-waves and to enable three-dimensional tracking of explosively generated hypersonic fragments. Simulations further advance our understanding of physical processes and experiments demonstrate ultra-high-speed PCDIH techniques for capturing dynamics.
Kosterlitz-Thouless melting of magnetic order in the triangular quantum Ising material TmMgGaO4
Authors: Li Han , Liao Yuan Da , Chen Bin-Bin , Zeng Xu-Tao , Sheng Xian-Lei , Qi Yang , Meng Zi Yang , Li Wei
Published: February 2020

Frustrated magnets hold the promise of material realizations of exotic phases of quantum matter, but direct comparisons of unbiased model calculations with experimental measurements remain very challenging. Here we design and implement a protocol of employing many-body computation methodologies for accurate model calculations—of both equilibrium and dynamical properties—for a frustrated rare-earth magnet TmMgGaO4 (TMGO), which explains the corresponding experimental findings. Our results confirm TMGO is an ideal realization of triangular-lattice Ising model with an intrinsic transverse field. The magnetic order of TMGO is predicted to melt through two successive Kosterlitz–Thouless (KT) phase transitions, with a floating KT phase in between. The dynamical spectra calculated suggest remnant images of a vanishing magnetic stripe order that represent vortex–antivortex pairs, resembling rotons in a superfluid helium film. TMGO therefore constitutes a rare quantum magnet for realizing KT physics, and we further propose experimental detection of its intriguing properties.
Chemotaxis-driven delivery of nano-pathogenoids for complete eradication of tumors post-phototherapy
Authors: Li Min , Li Shuya , Zhou Han , Tang Xinfeng , Wu Yi , Jiang Wei , Tian Zhigang , Zhou Xuechang , Yang Xianzhu , Wang Yucai
Published: February 2020

The efficacy of nano-mediated drug delivery has been impeded by multiple biological barriers such as the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), as well as vascular and interstitial barriers. To overcome the abovementioned obstacles, we report a nano-pathogenoid (NPN) system that can in situ hitchhike circulating neutrophils and supplement photothermal therapy (PTT). Cloaked with bacteria-secreted outer membrane vesicles inheriting pathogen-associated molecular patterns of native bacteria, NPNs are effectively recognized and internalized by neutrophils. The neutrophils migrate towards inflamed tumors, extravasate across the blood vessels, and penetrate through the tumors. Then NPNs are rapidly released from neutrophils in response to inflammatory stimuli and subsequently taken up by tumor cells to exert anticancer effects. Strikingly, due to the excellent targeting efficacy, cisplatin-loaded NPNs combined with PTT completely eradicate tumors in all treated mice. Such a nano-platform represents an efficient and generalizable strategy towards in situ cell hitchhiking as well as enhanced tumor targeted delivery.
A CRISPR-Cas9-based reporter system for single-cell detection of extracellular vesicle-mediated functional transfer of RNA
Authors: de Jong Olivier G. , Murphy Daniel E. , Mäger Imre , Willms Eduard , Garcia-Guerra Antonio , Gitz-Francois Jerney J. , Lefferts Juliet , Gupta Dhanu , Steenbeek Sander C. , van Rheenen Jacco , El Andaloussi Samir , Schiffelers Raymond M. , Wood Matthew J. A. , Vader Pieter
Published: February 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) form an endogenous transport system for intercellular transfer of biological cargo, including RNA, that plays a pivotal role in physiological and pathological processes. Unfortunately, whereas biological effects of EV-mediated RNA transfer are abundantly studied, regulatory pathways and mechanisms remain poorly defined due to a lack of suitable readout systems. Here, we describe a highly-sensitive CRISPR-Cas9-based reporter system that allows direct functional study of EV-mediated transfer of small non-coding RNA molecules at single-cell resolution. Using this CRISPR operated stoplight system for functional intercellular RNA exchange (CROSS-FIRE) we uncover various genes involved in EV subtype biogenesis that play a regulatory role in RNA transfer. Moreover we identify multiple genes involved in endocytosis and intracellular membrane trafficking that strongly regulate EV-mediated functional RNA delivery. Altogether, this approach allows the elucidation of regulatory mechanisms in EV-mediated RNA transfer at the level of EV biogenesis, endocytosis, intracellular trafficking, and RNA delivery.
Reactant friendly hydrogen evolution interface based on di-anionic MoS2 surface
Authors: Luo Zhaoyan , Zhang Hao , Yang Yuqi , Wang Xian , Li Yang , Jin Zhao , Jiang Zheng , Liu Changpeng , Xing Wei , Ge Junjie
Published: February 2020

Engineering the reaction interface to preferentially attract reactants to inner Helmholtz plane is highly desirable for kinetic advancement of most electro-catalysis processes, including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This, however, has rarely been achieved due to the inherent complexity for precise surface manipulation down to molecule level. Here, we build a MoS2 di-anionic surface with controlled molecular substitution of S sites by –OH. We confirm the –OH group endows the interface with reactant dragging functionality, through forming strong non-covalent hydrogen bonding to the reactants (hydronium ions or water). The well-conditioned surface, in conjunction with activated sulfur atoms (by heteroatom metal doping) as active sites, giving rise to up-to-date the lowest over potential and highest intrinsic activity among all the MoS2 based catalysts. The di-anion surface created in this study, with atomic mixing of active sites and reactant dragging functionalities, represents a effective di-functional interface for boosted kinetic performance.
Nrf2 positively regulates autophagy antioxidant response in human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to diesel exhaust particles
Authors: Frias Daniela Perroni , Gomes Raquel Labiapari Nunes , Yoshizaki Kelly , Carvalho-Oliveira Regiani , Matsuda Monique , Junqueira Mara de Souza , Teodoro Walcy Rosolia , Vasconcellos Pérola de Castro , Pereira Daniela Cristina de Almeida , Conceição Paulo Roberto da , Saldiva Paulo Hilário Nascimento , Mauad Thais , Macchione Mariangela
Published: February 2020

Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are known to generate reactive oxygen species in the respiratory system, triggering cells to activate antioxidant defence mechanisms, such as Keap1-Nrf2 signalling and autophagy. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the Keap1-Nrf2 signalling and autophagy pathways after DEP exposure. BEAS-2B cells were transfected with silencing RNA (siRNA) specific to Nrf2 and exposed to DEP. The relative levels of mRNA for Nrf2, NQO1, HO-1, LC3B, p62 and Atg5 were determined using RT-PCR, while the levels of LCB3, Nrf2, and p62 protein were determined using Western blotting. The autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin caused a significant decrease in the production of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 compared to DEPs treatment, whereas the Nrf2 activator sulforaphane increased the LC3B (p = 0.020) levels. BEAS-2B cells exposed to DEP at a concentration of 50 μg/mL for 2 h showed a significant increase in the expression of LC3B (p = 0.001), p62 (p = 0.008), Nrf2 (p = 0.003), HO-1 (p = 0.001) and NQO1 (p = 0.015) genes compared to control. In siRNA-transfected cells, the LC3B (p < 0.001), p62 (p = 0.001) and Atg5 (p = 0.024) mRNA levels and the p62 and LC3II protein levels were decreased, indicating that Nrf2 modulated the expression of autophagy markers (R < 1). These results imply that, in bronchial cells exposed to DEP, the Nrf2 system positively regulates autophagy to maintain cellular homeostasis.
Geoarchaeological evidence of the AD 1642 Yellow River flood that destroyed Kaifeng, a former capital of dynastic China
Authors: Storozum Michael , Lu Peng , Wang Sanying , Chen Panpan , Yang Ruixia , Ge Qifeng , Cao Jinping , Wan Junwei , Wang Hui , Qin Zhen , Liu Haiwang , Park Edward
Published: February 2020

Rising global temperatures will increase the number of extreme weather events, creating new challenges for cities around the world. Archaeological research on the destruction and subsequent reoccupation of ancient cities has the potential to reveal geological and social dynamics that have historically contributed to making urban settings resilient to these extreme weather events. Using a combination of archaeological and geological methods, we examine how extreme flood events at Kaifeng, a former capital of dynastic China, have shaped the city’s urban resilience. Specifically, we focus on an extreme Yellow River flood event in AD 1642 that historical records suggest killed around 300,000 people living in Kaifeng. Our recent archaeological excavations have discovered compelling geological and archaeological evidence that corroborates these documents, revealing that the AD 1642 Yellow River flood destroyed Kaifeng’s inner city, entombing the city and its inhabitants within meters of silt and clay. We argue that the AD 1642 flood was extraordinarily catastrophic because Kaifeng’s city walls only partly collapsed, entrapping most of the flood waters within the city. Both the geology of the Yellow River floods as well as the socio-political context of Kaifeng shaped the city’s resilience to extreme flood events.
Benchmarking seeding strategies for spreading processes in social networks: an interplay between influencers, topologies and sizes
Authors: Montes Felipe , Jaramillo Ana María , Meisel Jose D. , Diaz-Guilera Albert , Valdivia Juan A. , Sarmiento Olga L. , Zarama Roberto
Published: February 2020

The explosion of network science has permitted an understanding of how the structure of social networks affects the dynamics of social contagion. In community-based interventions with spill-over effects, identifying influential spreaders may be harnessed to increase the spreading efficiency of social contagion, in terms of time needed to spread all the largest connected component of the network. Several strategies have been proved to be efficient using only data and simulation-based models in specific network topologies without a consensus of an overall result. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to benchmark the spreading efficiency of seeding strategies related to network structural properties and sizes. We simulate spreading processes on empirical and simulated social networks within a wide range of densities, clustering coefficients, and sizes. We also propose three new decentralized seeding strategies that are structurally different from well-known strategies: community hubs, ambassadors, and random hubs. We observe that the efficiency ranking of strategies varies with the network structure. In general, for sparse networks with community structure, decentralized influencers are suitable for increasing the spreading efficiency. By contrast, when the networks are denser, centralized influencers outperform. These results provide a framework for selecting efficient strategies according to different contexts in which social networks emerge.
Spatial epidemiological patterns suggest mechanisms of land-sea transmission for Sarcocystis neurona in a coastal marine mammal
Authors: Burgess Tristan L. , Tinker M. Tim , Miller Melissa A. , Smith Woutrina A. , Bodkin James L. , Murray Michael J. , Nichol Linda M. , Saarinen Justin A. , Larson Shawn , Tomoleoni Joseph A. , Conrad Patricia A. , Johnson Christine K.
Published: February 2020

Sarcocystis neurona was recognised as an important cause of mortality in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) after an outbreak in April 2004 and has since been detected in many marine mammal species in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. Risk of S. neurona exposure in sea otters is associated with consumption of clams and soft-sediment prey and is temporally associated with runoff events. We examined the spatial distribution of S. neurona exposure risk based on serum antibody testing and assessed risk factors for exposure in animals from California, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. Significant spatial clustering of seropositive animals was observed in California and Washington, compared with British Columbia and Alaska. Adult males were at greatest risk for exposure to S. neurona, and there were strong associations with terrestrial features (wetlands, cropland, high human housing-unit density). In California, habitats containing soft sediment exhibited greater risk than hard substrate or kelp beds. Consuming a diet rich in clams was also associated with increased exposure risk. These findings suggest a transmission pathway analogous to that described for Toxoplasma gondii, with infectious stages traveling in freshwater runoff and being concentrated in particular locations by marine habitat features, ocean physical processes, and invertebrate bioconcentration.
Association between subjective symptoms and obesity and postoperative recurrence in differentiated thyroid cancer: a matched-pair analysis
Authors: Wu Yu-Ying , Cheng Shih-Ping , Chiou Piao-Yi , Liu Chieh-Yu
Published: February 2020

Several patients with thyroid cancer experience symptom distress after diagnosis and surgery. Data on the association between symptomatology and disease recurrence are limited. A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed, and 57 patients who had recurrence after operation of differentiated thyroid cancer were identified. Controlling for age, sex, surgery, and tumour stage, 114 patients without recurrent disease were selected by case-control matching. Subjective symptoms at follow-up visits were extracted from medical records and classified into three symptom clusters: pharyngolaryngeal, psychoneurological, and gastrointestinal. Compared to the control group, patients with recurrence had higher symptom totals in the pharyngolaryngeal (P < 0.001) and psychoneurological clusters (P = 0.005). Symptom score >3 yielded a sensitivity of 61.4% and a specificity of 80.7% to predict recurrence. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that high symptom score (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.184), family history of thyroid cancer (HR = 2.463), and obesity (HR = 1.981) were independently associated with disease recurrence. Taken together, the likelihood of postoperative recurrence seemed to increase with high self-perceived symptom burden, family history, and obesity in patients with thyroid cancer. The results could be applied to the recurrence surveillance and symptomatic management of thyroid cancer post-operation.
Examining sterically demanding lysine analogs for histone lysine methyltransferase catalysis
Authors: Temimi Abbas H. K. Al , Tran Vu , Teeuwen Ruben S. , Altunc Arthur J. , Amatdjais-Groenen Helene I. V. , White Paul B. , Lenstra Danny C. , Proietti Giordano , Wang Yali , Wegert Anita , Blaauw Richard H. , Qian Ping , Ren Wansheng , Guo Hong , Mecinović Jasmin
Published: February 2020

Methylation of lysine residues in histone proteins is catalyzed by S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs), a genuinely important class of epigenetic enzymes of biomedical interest. Here we report synthetic, mass spectrometric, NMR spectroscopic and quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) molecular dynamics studies on KMT-catalyzed methylation of histone peptides that contain lysine and its sterically demanding analogs. Our synergistic experimental and computational work demonstrates that human KMTs have a capacity to catalyze methylation of slightly bulkier lysine analogs, but lack the activity for analogs that possess larger aromatic side chains. Overall, this study provides an important chemical insight into molecular requirements that contribute to efficient KMT catalysis and expands the substrate scope of KMT-catalyzed methylation reactions.
In situ molecular imaging of adsorbed protein films in water indicating hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity
Authors: Yu Jiachao , Zhou Yufan , Engelhard Mark , Zhang Yuchen , Son Jiyoung , Liu Songqin , Zhu Zihua , Yu Xiao-Ying
Published: February 2020

In situ molecular imaging of protein films adsorbed on a solid surface in water was realized by using a vacuum compatible microfluidic interface and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Amino acid fragments from such hydrated protein films are observed and identified in the positive ion mode and the results are in agreement with reported works on dry protein films. Moreover, water clusters from the hydrated protein films have been observed and identified in both the positive and negative ion mode for a series protein films. Thus, the detailed composition of amino acids and water molecules in the hydrated protein films can be characterized, and the protein water microstructures can be revealed by the distinct three-dimensional spatial distribution reconstructed from in situ liquid ToF-SIMS molecular imaging. Furthermore, spectral principal component analysis of amino acid fragment peaks and water cluster peaks provides unique insights into the water cluster distribution, hydrophilicity, and hydrophobicity of hydrated adsorbed protein films in water.
The GEF Cytohesin-2/ARNO Mediates Resistin induced Phenotypic Switching in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Heun Yvonn , Gräff Pascal , Lagara Aikaterini , Schelhorn Romina , Mettler Ramona , Pohl Ulrich , Mannell Hanna
Published: February 2020

The pro-inflammatory adipokine resistin induces a phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), a process decisive for atherosclerosis, including morphological changes, increased synthetic activity, proliferation and migration. The guanine-exchange factor ARNO (Cytohesin-2) has been shown to be important for morphological changes and migration of other cell types. In this study we dissected the role of ARNO in resistin induced VSMC phenotypic switching and signalling. Firstly, treatment with the cytohesin inhibitor Secin H3 prevented the resistin mediated induction of morphological changes in VSMC. Secondly, Secin H3 treatment as well as expression of an inactive ARNO (EK) reduced resistin induced VSMC synthetic activity, as assessed by matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) expression, as well as the migration into a wound in vitro compared to ARNO WT expression. Thirdly, we found ARNO to influence MMP-2 expression and migration via activation of p38 MAPK and the JNK/AP-1 pathway. Interestingly, these processes were shown to be dependent on the binding of PIP3, as mutation of the ARNO PH-domain inhibited VSMC migration, MMP-2 expression as well as p38 MAPK and JNK signalling. Thus, we demonstrate that ARNO is an important link in resistin dependent cell signalling leading to morphological changes, MMP-2 production and migration of VSMC.
Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge plasma: a suitable measure against fungal plant pathogens
Authors: Ambrico Paolo F. , Šimek Milan , Rotolo Caterina , Morano Massimo , Minafra Angelantonio , Ambrico Marianna , Pollastro Stefania , Gerin Donato , Faretra Francesco , De Miccolis Angelini Rita M.
Published: February 2020

Fungal diseases seriously affect agricultural production and the food industry. Crop protection is usually achieved by synthetic fungicides, therefore more sustainable and innovative technologies are increasingly required. The atmospheric pressure low-temperature plasma is a novel suitable measure. We report on the effect of plasma treatment on phytopathogenic fungi causing quantitative and qualitative losses of products both in the field and postharvest. We focus our attention on thein vitrodirect inhibitory effect of non-contact Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge on conidia germination ofBotrytis cinerea,Monilinia fructicola,Aspergillus carbonariusandAlternaria alternata. A few minutes of treatment was required to completely inactivate the fungi on an artificial medium. Morphological analysis of spores by Scanning Electron Microscopy suggests that the main mechanism is plasma etching due to Reactive Oxygen Species or UV radiation. Spectroscopic analysis of plasma generated in humid air gives the hint that the rotational temperature of gas should not play a relevant role being very close to room temperature.In vivoexperiments on artificially inoculated cherry fruits demonstrated that inactivation of fungal spores by the direct inhibitory effect of plasma extend their shelf life. Pre-treatment of fruits before inoculation improve the resistance to infections maybe by activating defense responses in plant tissues.
Quantification of the content of cannabidiol in commercially available e-liquids and studies on their thermal and photo-stability
Authors: Mazzetti Carlo , Ferri Emanuele , Pozzi Monica , Labra Massimo
Published: February 2020

Cannabidiol (CBD) has become a buzzword in many products that have bloomed on the market. The scientific community and some authorities have recently raised concerns on the quality of these products. In particular, the discrepancy between the labelled and the real content of cannabidiol in liquids for e-cigarettes seems to be emerging as a major issue. Furthermore, to-date no studies have been carried out on the chemical stability upon storage of these type of products. The aim of this work was to investigate the accuracy in labelling of thirteen commercially e-liquids containing CBD and the effects of different storage conditions on their quality. The results showed that only 38% of samples were labelled within a ±10% variance from their labels. Stability tests showed a maximum degradation of CBD when samples were stored at 37 °C for 30 days with average values up to 20%. The effect of light was lower but still significant with averages values up to 15% degradation after 30 days. In conclusion, we believe that health authorities should regulate and control this market more stringently to protect customers and their health. Furthermore, our stability tests have shown that if clear indications are provided on the best storage conditions, the quality of these products can be mostly preserved.
Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of inflammasomes reduces the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in macrophages
Authors: Subbarao Sathyavani , Sanchez-Garrido Julia , Krishnan Nitya , Shenoy Avinash R. , Robertson Brian D.
Published: February 2020

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection causes high rates of morbidity and mortality. Host-directed therapy may enhance the immune response, reduce tissue damage and shorten treatment duration. The inflammasome is integral to innate immune responses but over-activation has been described in tuberculosis (TB) pathology and TB-immune reconstitution syndrome. Here we explore how clinical isolates differentially activate the inflammasome and how inflammasome inhibition can lead to enhanced bacterial clearance. Wild-type, Nlrp3−/−/Aim2−/−, Casp1/11−/− and Asc−/− murine bone-marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) were infected with laboratory strain M. tuberculosis H37Rv or clinical isolates from various lineages. Inflammasome activation and bacterial numbers were measured, and pharmacological inhibition of NLRP3 was achieved using MCC950. Clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis differed in their ability to activate inflammasomes. Beijing isolates had contrasting effects on IL-1β and caspase-1 activation, but all clinical isolates induced lower IL-1β release than H37Rv. Our studies suggest the involvement of NLRP3, AIM2 and an additional unknown sensor in IL-1β maturation. Pharmacological blockade of NLRP3 with MCC950 reduced bacterial survival, and combined treatment with the antimycobacterial drug rifampicin enhanced the effect. Modulating the inflammasome is an attractive adjunct to current anti-mycobacterial therapy that warrants further investigation.
Disturbance in human gut microbiota networks by parasites and its implications in the incidence of depression
Authors: Ramírez-Carrillo Elvia , Gaona Osiris , Nieto Javier , Sánchez-Quinto Andrés , Cerqueda-García Daniel , Falcón Luisa I. , Rojas-Ramos Olga A. , González-Santoyo Isaac
Published: February 2020

If you think you are in control of your behavior, think again. Evidence suggests that behavioral modifications, as development and persistence of depression, maybe the consequence of a complex network of communication between macro and micro-organisms capable of modifying the physiological axis of the host. Some parasites cause significant nutritional deficiencies for the host and impair the effectiveness of cognitive processes such as memory, teaching or non-verbal intelligence. Bacterial communities mediate the establishment of parasites and vice versa but this complexity approach remains little explored. We study the gut microbiota-parasite interactions using novel techniques of network analysis using data of individuals from two indigenous communities in Guerrero, Mexico. Our results suggest that Ascaris lumbricoides induce a gut microbiota perturbation affecting its network properties and also subnetworks of key species related to depression, translating in a loss of emergence. Studying these network properties changes is particularly important because recent research has shown that human health is characterized by a dynamic trade-off between emergence and self-organization, called criticality. Emergence allows the systems to generate novel information meanwhile self-organization is related to the system’s order and structure. In this way, the loss of emergence means a depart from criticality and ultimately loss of health.
Dung beetles response to livestock management in three different regional contexts
Authors: Guerra Alonso Celeste Beatriz , Zurita Gustavo Andrés , Bellocq M. Isabel
Published: February 2020

The response of biological communities to human disturbances depends on factors acting at local and regional scale and on the interaction between them. We compared the response of native forest dung beetle communities to cattle grazing under regional contexts differing on precipitation patterns (Atlantic forest and humid and dry Chaco). Through multivariate and GLMM analyses we contrasted richness and composition across regions and land uses and explored the role of local and regional variables accounting for those changes. We captured a total of 44101 individuals of 109 species. The interaction between local and regional variables influenced the response to livestock management. In the two wet regions (humid Chaco and Atlantic forest) diversity was similar in the native forest regardless of cattle presence but differs strongly in open pastures. In contrast, in the dry Chaco, differences between native forest and land use were not evident. Vegetation structure was a major determinant of species richness, whereas regional climate determined differences in species composition. We concluded that the response of dung beetles to livestock management cannot be generalized for all biomes. In dry ecosystems, dung beetles are probably pre-adapted to environmental conditions imposed by cattle ranching whereas in wet ecosystems the impact of cattle ranching is more significant.
Anxiolytic Drug FGIN-1-27 Ameliorates Autoimmunity by Metabolic Reprogramming of Pathogenic Th17 Cells
Authors: Singh Anju , Dashnyam Myagmarjav , Chim Bryan , Escobar Thelma M. , Dulcey Andrés E. , Hu Xin , Wilson Kelli M. , Koganti Prasanthi P. , Spinner Camille A. , Xu Xin , Jadhav Ajit , Southall Noel , Marugan Juan , Selvaraj Vimal , Lazarevic Vanja , Muljo Stefan A. , Ferrer Marc
Published: February 2020

Th17 cells are critical drivers of autoimmune diseases and immunopathology. There is an unmet need to develop therapies targeting pathogenic Th17 cells for the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Here, we report that anxiolytic FGIN-1-27 inhibits differentiation and pathogenicity of Th17 cellsin vitroandin vivousing the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of Th17 cell-driven pathology. Remarkably, we found that the effects of FGIN-1-27 were independent of translocator protein (TSPO), the reported target for this small molecule, and instead were driven by a metabolic switch in Th17 cells that led to the induction of the amino acid starvation response and altered cellular fatty acid composition. Our findings suggest that the small molecule FGIN-1-27 can be re-purposed to relieve autoimmunity by metabolic reprogramming of pathogenic Th17 cells.