bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbapenem-sparing strategy: carbapenemase, treatment, and stewardship
Authors: Corcione Silvia , Lupia Tommaso , Maraolo Alberto Enrico , Mornese Pinna Simone , Gentile Ivan , De Rosa Francesco G.
Published: October 2019

Purpose of review

describing the current role of carbapenems and carbapenem-sparing strategies in the setting of antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Recent findings

sparing carbapenems with other drugs appears to be an interesting perspective for a variety of reasons in the current context of the multidrug-resistant (MDR) pandemic. Specific algorithms should also be precisely investigated to define better how to spare carbapenems within empiric and targeted regimens, with combination treatment or monotherapies, aiming at the best use of the new drugs and improving de-escalation as soon as possible for most of the patients.

stewardship programs may be useful in reducing probable misuse and overuse of antibiotics, which has probably contributed to the emergence of carbapenem-resistant bacteria worldwide. The proposal of carbapenem-sparing strategies has then generated substantial scientific debate and, overall, the concept of sparing these drugs is well advocated together with judicious use of novel drugs, appropriate measures of infection control and prevention as well as in stewardship programs to curb the spread of MDR and XDR-strains in healthcare facilities.
Barriers to Pursuing a Career in Surgery
Authors: Giantini Larsen Alexandra M. , Pories Susan , Parangi Sareh , Robertson Faith C.
Published: October 2019

Objective:

This study aimed to elucidate current medical student perceptions on barriers to a career in surgery, with a particular focus on gender-specific differences.

Summary Background Data:

Although gender parity in medical school composition has been reached, women continue to be underrepresented in the field of surgery.

Methods:

An anonymous, single-institution, internet-based survey conducted at Harvard Medical School.

Results:

Approximately 720 medical students were surveyed and 261 completed the questionnaire (36.3%; 58.6% women, 41% men, 0.4% transgender). Overall, there was no significant gender difference in intention to pursue surgery (27% of men, 22% of women; P = 0.38). Sixty-nine percent of all students and 75% of those pursuing surgery reported verbal discouragement from pursuing a surgical career. Women were significantly more likely to perceive that the verbal discouragement was based on gender (P < 0.0001), age (P < 0.0001), and family aspirations (P = 0.043) compared to men. Surgical work hours and time for outside interests were the greatest deterrents for both genders. Significantly more women reported concerns about time to date or marry (P = 0.042), time to spend with family (P = 0.015), finding time during residency to have a child (P < 0.0001), taking maternity/paternity leave during residency (P < 0.0001), and being too old after residency to have a child (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

Both men and women reported high rates of verbal discouragement, but more women perceived that the discouragement was gender-based. Concerns about marriage and childbearing/rearing significantly deterred more women than men. Family aspirations were also a significant factor for men to choose an alternative career path. Additional support within the surgical field is needed to mitigate these concerns and support trainees in both their career and familial aspirations.
Reciprocal Learning Between Military and Civilian Surgeons
Authors: Agarwal Divyansh , Barker Clyde F. , Naji Ali , Schwab C. William
Published: October 2019

Numerous surgical advances have resulted from exchanges between military and civilian surgeons. As part of the U.S. National Library of Medicine Michael E. DeBakey Fellowship in the History of Medicine, we conducted archival research to shed light on the lessons that civilian surgery has learned from the military system and vice-versa. Several historical case studies highlight the need for immersive programs where surgeons from the military and civilian sectors can gain exposure to the techniques, expertise, and institutional knowledge the other domain provides. Our findings demonstrate the benefits and promise of structured programs to promote reciprocal learning between military and civilian surgery.
Assessment of Restored Kidney Transplantation Including the Use of Wider Criteria for Accepting Renal Donors After Cancer Excision
Authors: Sprott Philip , Hibberd Adrian D. , Heer Munish K. , Trevillian Paul R. , Clark David A. , Johnson David W. , Oldmeadow Christopher , Chiu Simon , Attia John R.
Published: October 2019

Background.

The transplantation of kidneys after cancer excision (restored kidney transplantation, RKT) warrants further evaluation as a source of kidneys for transplantation. We determined whether larger cancers can be safely transplanted, the risks of adverse events from RKT, and whether RKT confers a survival advantage for patients waiting for transplantation.

Methods.

In a retrospective cohort study, 23 dialysis patients awaiting transplant underwent RKT at John Hunter Hospital, Australia between 2008 and 2015. Patients were >60 years old and accepted onto the National Organ Matching Service. This RKT Group was divided into donor renal cancers ≤30 mm and >30–≤50 mm. Adverse event profiles for RKT recipients were compared with 22 standard live donor recipients using logistic regression analyses. Recipient and transplant survivals for RKT were compared with 2050 controls from Australian New Zealand Dialysis Transplant Registry using Cox regression models. To increase statistical power for survival analyses, data from 25 RKT recipients from Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane were added, thus creating 48 RKT recipients.

Results.

There were no significant differences in mortality, transplant failure nor AEs between the 2 cancer Groups. RKT increased the risks of Adverse event profiles (odds ratio: 6.48 [2.92–15.44]; P < 0.001). RKT reduced mortality risk by 30% (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.70 [0.36–1.07]; P = 0.299) compared with those continuing on the transplant list who may or may not be transplanted. RKT significantly reduced mortality risk for those remaining on dialysis (HR: 2.86 [1.43–5.72]; P = 0.003). Transplant survival for RKT was reduced compared with control deceased donor (HR: 0.42 [0.21–0.83]; P = 0.013) and live donor transplants (HR: 0.33 [0.02–0.86]; P =0.023).

Conclusions.

The use of larger carefully selected cancer-resected kidneys for transplantation appears safe and effective. RKT confers a possible survival advantage compared with waiting for transplantation, an increased survival compared with those remaining on dialysis but reduced transplant survival.
Living alone, loneliness and lack of emotional support as predictors of suicide and self-harm: a nine-year follow up of the UK Biobank cohort
Authors: Shaw Richard J. , Cullen Breda , Graham Nicholas , Lyall Donald M. , Mackay Daniel , Okolie Chukwudi , Pearsall Robert , Ward Joey , John Ann , Smith Daniel J.
Published: October 2019

Background

The association between loneliness and suicide is poorly understood. We investigated how living alone, loneliness and emotional support were related to suicide and self-harm in a longitudinal design.

Methods

Between 2006 and 2010 UK Biobank recruited and assessed in detail over 0.5 million people in middle age. Data were linked to prospective hospital admission and mortality records. Adjusted Cox regression models were used to investigate relationships between living arrangements, loneliness and emotional support, and both suicide and self-harm as outcomes.

Results

For men, both living alone (Hazard Ratio (HR) 2.16, 95%CI 1.51-3.09) and living with non-partners (HR 1.80, 95%CI 1.08-3.00) were associated with death by suicide, independently of loneliness, which had a modest relationship with suicide (HR 1.43, 95%CI 0.1.01-2.03). For women, there was no evidence that living arrangements, loneliness or emotional support were associated with death by suicide. Associations between living alone and self-harm were explained by health for women, and by health, loneliness and emotional support for men. In fully adjusted models, loneliness was associated with hospital admissions for self-harm in both women (HR 1.89, 95%CI 1.57-2.28) and men (HR 1.74, 95%CI 1.40-2.16).

Limitations

Loneliness and emotional support were operationalized using single item measures.

Conclusions

For men - but not for women - living alone or living with a non-partner increased the risk of suicide, a finding not explained by subjective loneliness. Overall, loneliness may be more important as a risk factor for self-harm than for suicide. Loneliness also appears to lessen the protective associations of cohabitation.

Highlights

First cohort study to investigate loneliness’s relationship with deaths by suicide

Loneliness is associated with a modest increased risk of death by suicide for men

For men, living with a partner reduces the risk of death by suicide

Loneliness increases the risk of hospitalization for self-harm for men and women
Spatial suppression and sensitivity for motion in schizophrenia
Authors: Linares Daniel , Amoretti Silvia , Marin-Campos Rafael , Sousa André , Prades Laia , Dalmau Josep , Bernardo Miquel , Compte Albert
Published: October 2019

Perceptual spatial suppression is a phenomenon in which the perceived strength of a stimulus in some region of the space is reduced when the stimulus is surrounded by other stimuli. For contrast perception, several studies suggest that spatial suppression is reduced in patients with schizophrenia. For motion perception, only one study has been conducted in a cohort of 16 patients, suggesting that spatial suppression is reduced. It is unknown, however, whether this reduction is related to the lower IQ that schizophrenic patients usually show; as there is evidence that spatial suppression for motion increases with IQ in healthy individuals. Here, we sought to determine the spatial suppression for motion in a larger cohort of 33 patients with schizophrenia controlling for IQ. We found a weakened spatial suppression in patients with schizophrenia, consistent with the previous study (g = 0.47, CI = [0.055, 0.88], combining the previous and our study). For comparison, we performed a meta-analysis on spatial suppression for contrast and found a similar effect size. We found that patients had a lower IQ than controls, but this difference did not explain their weaker spatial suppression. Further, we found that spatial suppression of patients, but not controls increased with their IQ and decreased with age in both groups. Finally, as we estimated lapses of attention, we could estimate motion sensitivity and found that it was decreased in patients. We speculate about possible alterations in neurotransmission that might explain the reduced spatial suppression and sensitivity that we found.
Genetic encoding of targeted MRI contrast agents for in vivo tumor imaging
Authors: Schuerle Simone , Furubayashi Maiko , Soleimany Ava P. , Gwisai Tinotenda , Huang Wei , Voigt Christopher , Bhatia Sangeeta N.
Published: October 2019

Tumor-selective contrast agents have the potential to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer using noninvasive imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Such contrast agents can consist of magnetic nanoparticles incorporating functionalities that respond to cues specific to tumor environments. Genetically engineering magnetotactic bacteria to display peptides has been investigated as a means to produce contrast agents that combine the robust image contrast effects of magnetosomes with transgenic targeting peptides displayed on their surface. This work reports the first use of magnetic nanoparticles that display genetically-encoded pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP), a long peptide intended to enhance MRI contrast by targeting the extracellular acidity associated with the tumors. To demonstrate the modularity of this versatile platform to incorporate diverse targeting ligands by genetic engineering, we also incorporated the cyclic αv integrin-binding peptide iRGD into separate magnetosomes. Specifically, we investigate their potential for enhanced binding and tumor imaging both in vitro and in vivo. Our experiments indicate that these tailored magnetosomes retain their magnetic properties, making them well-suited as T2 contrast agents, while exhibiting increased binding compared to wild-type magnetosomes.
Major changes in plastid protein import and the origin of the Chloroplastida
Authors: Knopp Michael , Garg Sriram G. , Handrich Maria , Gould Sven B.
Published: October 2019

While core components of plastid protein import (Toc and Tic) and the principle of using N-terminal targeting sequences (NTS) are conserved, lineage-specific differences are known. Rhodophytes and glaucophytes carry a conserved NTS motif, which was lost in the green lineage that also added novel proteins to Toc and Tic. Here we compare the components of plastid protein import and generated RNA-Seq, pigment profile and trans-electron microscopy data based on high-light stress from representatives of the three archaeplastidal groups. In light of plastid protein targeting, we compare the response to high-light stress of archaeplastidal representatives based on RNA-Seq, pigment profile and trans-electron microscopy data. Like land plants, the chlorophyte Chlamydomonas reinhardtii displays a broad respond to high-light stress, not observed to the same degree in the glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa or the rhodophyte Porphyridium purpureum. We find that only the green lineage encodes a conserved duplicate of the outer plastid membrane protein channel Oep80, namely Toc75 and suggest that the ability to respond to high-light stress entailed evolutionary changes in protein import, including the departure from phenylalanine-based targeting and the introduction of a green-specific Toc75 next to other import components unique to Chloroplastida. One consequence of relaxed NTS specificity was the origin of dual-targeting of plastid derived proteins to mitochondria and vice versa, using a single ambiguous NTS. Changes in the plastid protein import enabled the green lineage to import proteins at a more efficient rate, including those required for high-light stress response, a prerequisite for the colonization of land.

High-lights

Loss of Phe-based N-terminal targeting sequences (NTS) triggered the origin of dual-targeting using a single ambiguous NTS

The Chloroplastida evolved a green-specific Toc75 for high throughput import, next to a universal and ancient Omp85 present in all Archaeplastida

A broad response to high-light stress appears unique to Chloroplastida

Relaxation of functional constraints allowed a broader modification of the green Toc/Tic machinery

Critical changes in plastid targeting enabled the origin and success of the Chloroplastida and their later conquer of land
Joint Universal Modular Plasmids (JUMP): A flexible and comprehensive platform for synthetic biology
Authors: Valenzuela-Ortega Marcos , French Christopher
Published: October 2019

Complex multi-gene plasmids can be built from basic DNA parts in a reliable and automation friendly way using modular cloning standards, based on Golden Gate cloning. However, each toolkit or standard is limited to one or a few different vectors, which has led to an overabundance of toolkits with varying degrees of compatibility. Here, we present the Joint Universal Modular Plasmids (JUMP), a vector design that overcomes the limitations of current toolkits by expanding the paradigm of modular cloning: all vectors can be modified using modular cloning in an orthogonal way using multiple cloning sites. This allows researchers to introduce any feature into any JUMP vector and simplifies the Design-Build-Test cycle of synthetic biology. JUMP vectors are compatible with PhytoBrick basic parts, BioBricks and the Registry of Standard Biological Parts, and the Standard European Vector Architecture (SEVA). Due to their flexible design, JUMP vectors have the potential to be a universal platform for synthetic biology regardless of host and application. A collection of JUMP backbones and microbial PhytoBrick basic parts are available for distribution.
Gliotransmission orchestrates neuronal type-specific axon regeneration
Authors: Wang Fei , Ruppell Kendra Takle , Zhou Songlin , Qu Yun , Gong Jiaxin , Shang Ye , Li Yi , Xiang Yang
Published: October 2019

Why closely related neuronal types differ in their axon regenerative abilities remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate gliotransmission determines such a difference in Drosophila larval sensory neurons. Axotomy activates ensheathing glia, which signal to regenerative neurons through the gliotransmitter adenosine, to mount regenerative programs including neuronal activity and Ras. Surprisingly, ensheathing glia do not signal to non-regenerative neurons. Such neuronal type-specific responses to gliotransmission result from specific expression of adenosine receptors in regenerative neurons. Disrupting gliotransmission impedes regeneration of regenerative neurons. Strikingly, reconstitution of gliotransmission in non-regenerative neurons enables them to regenerate. Furthermore, activation of an adenosine receptor ortholog in adult mice promotes both regeneration and survival of retinal ganglion cells, uncovering a conserved pro-regenerative role of adenosine receptors. Our studies demonstrate gliotransmission as a novel mechanism by which glia instruct axon regeneration, with neuronal type-specificity, and suggest targeting purinergic signaling as a new strategy for mammalian central nervous system repair.

HIGHLIGHTS

Ensheathing glia differentially interact with Drosophila sensory neuron types through gliotransmission

Gliotransmission mounts axon regenerative programs in selective neuronal types

Neuronal firing pattern but not overall excitability dictates axon regeneration outcome

Adenosine receptor activation in adult mice promotes both regeneration and survival of RGCs
An endogenous glucocorticoid-cytokine signaling circuit promotes CD8+T cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Acharya Nandini , Madi Asaf , Zhang Huiyuan , Klapholz Max , Christian Elena , Dixon Karen O. , Fell Geoffrey , Tooley Katherine , Mangani Davide , Xia Junrong , Singer Meromit , Neuberg Donna , Rozenblatt-Rosen Orit , Regev Aviv , Kuchroo Vijay K. , Anderson Ana C.
Published: October 2019

Identifying signals in the tumor microenvironment (TME) that promote CD8+T cell dysfunction can inform improved therapeutic approaches for cancer. Here, we identify thatNr3c1, the gene encoding the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), is highly expressed in dysfunctional CD8+tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). The GR transactivates expression of multiple checkpoint receptors and loss of GR in CD8+T cells limits dysfunctional phenotype in CD8+TILs resulting in improved tumor growth control. We show that glucocorticoids can be produced in the TME and that they co-operate with the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-27 to promote the dysfunction gene program in CD8+T cells. The presence of the glucocorticoid + IL27 signature in CD8+TILs correlates with failure to respond to checkpoint blockade in melanoma patients, highlighting the relevance of this immunoregulatory glucocorticoid-cytokine circuit in tumor tissue.
Estrogen Receptor α Regulates Ethanol Excitation of Ventral Tegmental Area Neurons and Binge Drinking in Female Mice
Authors: Vandegrift Bertha J. , Hilderbrand Elisa R. , Satta Rosalba , Tai Rex , He Donghong , You Chang , Coles Cassandre , Chen Hu , Brodie Mark S. , Lasek Amy W.
Published: October 2019

Elevations in estrogen (17β-estradiol, E2) are associated with increased alcohol drinking by women and experimentally in rodents. E2 alters the activity of the dopamine system, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and its projection targets, which plays an important role in binge drinking. A previous study demonstrated that during high E2 states, VTA dopamine neurons in female mice are more sensitive to ethanol excitation. However, the mechanisms responsible for the ability of E2 to enhance ethanol sensitivity of VTA dopamine neurons have not been investigated. In this study, we used selective agonists and antagonists to examine the role of estrogen receptor subtypes (ERα and ERβ) in regulating the ethanol sensitivity of VTA dopamine neurons and found that ERα promotes the enhanced ethanol response of VTA dopamine neurons. We also demonstrated that the E2-induced increase in ethanol excitation requires the activity of the metabotropic glutamate receptor, mGluR1, which is known to couple with ERα at the plasma membrane. To investigate the behavioral relevance of these findings, we administered lentivirus expressing short hairpin RNAs targeting either ERα or ERβ into the VTA and found that knockdown of each receptor in the VTA reduced binge-like ethanol drinking in female, but not male, mice. Reducing ERα in the VTA had a more dramatic effect on binge-like drinking than reducing ERβ, consistent with the ability of ERα to alter ethanol sensitivity of dopamine neurons. These results provide important insight into sex-specific mechanisms that drive excessive alcohol drinking.

Significance Statement

Estrogen has potent effects on the dopamine system and increases the vulnerability of females to develop addiction to substances such as cocaine and alcohol. We investigated the mechanisms by which estrogen increases the response of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area to ethanol. We found that activation of the estrogen receptor, ERα, increased the ethanol-induced excitation of dopamine neurons and that this required the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR1. We also demonstrated that estrogen receptors in the ventral tegmental area regulate binge-like alcohol drinking by female, but not male, mice. The influence of estrogen receptors on binge drinking in female mice suggests that treatments for alcohol use disorder in women may need to account for this sex difference.
Inference of Single-Cell Phylogenies from Lineage Tracing Data
Authors: Jones Matthew G. , Khodaverdian Alex , Quinn Jeffrey J. , Chan Michelle M. , Hussmann Jeffrey A. , Wang Robert , Xu Chenling , Weissman Jonathan S. , Yosef Nir
Published: October 2019

The pairing of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing with massively parallel single-cell readouts now enables large-scale lineage tracing. However, the rapid growth in complexity of data from these assays has outpaced our ability to accurately infer phylogenetic relationships. To address this, we provide three resources. First, we introduce Cassiopeia - a suite of scalable and theoretically grounded maximum parsimony approaches for tree reconstruction. Second, we provide a simulation framework for evaluating algorithms and exploring lineage tracer design principles. Finally, we generate the most complex experimental lineage tracing dataset to date - consisting of 34,557 human cells continuously traced over 15 generations, 71% of which are uniquely marked - and use it for benchmarking phylogenetic inference approaches. We show that Cassiopeia outperforms traditional methods by several metrics and under a wide variety of parameter regimes, and provide insight into the principles for the design of improved Cas9-enabled recorders. Together these should broadly enable large-scale mammalian lineage tracing efforts. Cassiopeia and its benchmarking resources are publicly available at www.github.com/YosefLab/Cassiopeia.
Large X-linked palindromes undergo arm-to-arm gene conversion across Mus lineages
Authors: Swanepoel Callie M. , Gerlinger Emma R. , Mueller Jacob L.
Published: October 2019

Large (>10kb), nearly-identical (>99% nucleotide identity), palindromic sequences are enriched on mammalian sex chromosomes. Primate Y-palindromes undergo high rates of arm-to-arm gene conversion, a proposed mechanism for maintaining their sequence integrity in the absence of X-Y recombination. It is unclear whether X-palindromes, which can freely recombine in females, undergo arm-to-arm gene conversion and, if so, at what rate. We generated high-quality sequence assemblies of Mus molossinus and Mus spretus X-palindromic regions and compared them to orthologous Mus musculus X-palindromes. Our evolutionary sequence comparisons found evidence of X-palindrome arm-to-arm gene conversion at rates comparable to rates of autosomal allelic gene conversion in mice. Mus X-palindrome genes also exhibit higher than expected sequence diversification, indicating gene conversion may facilitate the rapid evolution of palindrome-associated genes. We conclude that in addition to maintaining genes’ sequence integrity via sequence homogenization, arm-to-arm gene conversion can also rapidly drive genetic evolution via sequence diversification.
Transcriptomic signatures predict regulators of drug synergy and clinical regimen efficacy against Tuberculosis
Authors: Ma Shuyi , Jaipalli Suraj , Larkins-Ford Jonah , Lohmiller Jenny , Aldridge Bree B. , Sherman David R. , Chandrasekaran Sriram
Published: October 2019

The rapid spread of multi-drug resistant strains has created a pressing need for new drug regimens to treat tuberculosis (TB), which kills 1.8 million people each year. Identifying new regimens has been challenging due to the slow growth of the pathogen M. tuberculosis (MTB), coupled with large number of possible drug combinations. Here we present a computational model (INDIGO-MTB) that identified synergistic regimens featuring existing and emerging anti-TB drugs after screening in silico over 1 million potential drug combinations using MTB drug transcriptomic profiles. INDIGO-MTB further predicted the gene Rv1353c as a key transcriptional regulator of multiple drug interactions, and we confirmed experimentally that Rv1353c up-regulation reduces the antagonism of the bedaquiline-streptomycin combination. Retrospective analysis of 57 clinical trials of TB regimens using INDIGO-MTB revealed that synergistic combinations were significantly more efficacious than antagonistic combinations (p-value = 1 × 10−4) based on the percentage of patients with negative sputum cultures after 8 weeks of treatment. Our study establishes a framework for rapid assessment of TB drug combinations and is also applicable to other bacterial pathogens.

IMPORTANCE

Multi-drug combination therapy is an important strategy for treating tuberculosis, the world’s deadliest bacterial infection. Long treatment durations and growing rates of drug resistance have created an urgent need for new approaches to prioritize effective drug regimens. Hence, we developed a computational model called INDIGO-MTB, which identifies synergistic drug regimens from an immense set of possible drug combinations using pathogen response transcriptome elicited by individual drugs. Although the underlying input data for INDIGO-MTB was generated under in vitro broth culture conditions, the predictions from INDIGO-MTB correlated significantly with in vivo drug regimen efficacy from clinical trials. INDIGO-MTB also identified the transcription factor Rv1353c as a regulator of multiple drug interaction outcomes, which could be targeted for rationally enhancing drug synergy.
An enlightening procedure to explain the extreme power of synchrotron radiation
Authors: Margaritondo Giorgio
Published: October 2019

A simple approach exploits quantum properties to justify the dependence on γ4of the total synchrotron emitted power. It also clarifies some apparent puzzles and brings to light the underlying, multiple relativistic phenomena.
X-ray mirror figure correction by differential deposition and off-line metrology
Authors: Morawe Christian , Labouré Sylvain , Peffen Jean-Christophe , Perrin François , Vivo Amparo , Barrett Raymond
Published: October 2019

The surface figure error of a hard X-ray mirror was improved by combining differential deposition and off-line metrology tools. Thin Cr layers were deposited on flat substrates by DC magnetron sputtering. The substrates were moved in front of a beam-defining aperture. The required velocity profile was calculated using a deconvolution algorithm. The Cr thickness profiles were measured directly using hard X-ray reflectivity data. The surface figure was characterized using conventional visible-light metrology instrumentation (long trace profiler) before and after the deposition. The method converges quickly, and after two iterations the mirror surface figure had improved by a factor of 7. The surface roughness evolves with increasing Cr thickness and deteriorates the quality of subsequent multilayer coatings. The mirror curvature can change upon coating, which complicates the interpretation of the surface metrology data. In this context, the role of layer stress is discussed. Potential improvements of the process are also proposed.
Investigation of (micro-)meteoritic materials at the new hard X-ray imaging PUMA beamline for heritage sciences
Authors: Tack Pieter , Bazi Benjamin , Vekemans Bart , Okbinoglu Tulin , Van Maldeghem Flore , Goderis Steven , Schöder Sebastian , Vincze Laszlo
Published: October 2019

At the French synchrotron facility SOLEIL, a new X-ray imaging facility PUMA (Photons Utilisés pour les Matériaux Anciens) has been made available to scientific communities studying materials from cultural heritage. This new instrument aims to achieve 2D and 3D imaging with microscopic resolution, applying different analytical techniques including X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray diffraction and phase-contrast imaging. In order to discover its capabilities a detailed analytical characterization of this beamline as an analytical and imaging tool is deemed necessary. In this work, (confocal) XRF and XAS analyses are demonstrated using the Seymchan pallasite meteorite and an Antarctic unmelted micrometeorite as case studies. The obtained spatial resolution (2 µm × 3 µm) and sensitivity (detection limits <10 p.p.m. for 1 s acquisition at 18 keV) show that PUMA is a competitive state-of-the-art beamline, providing several high-profile and high-in-demand analytical methods while maintaining applicability towards a wide range of heritage-oriented sciences.
Reconsidering school improvement through the community equity literacy leadership assessment (CELLA) for principals
Authors: Green Terrance , Castro Andrene J. , Lowe Tracie , Sikes Chloe , Gururaj Suchitra , Mba Chioma
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reconsider school improvement from the perspectives of community leaders who support urban schools in equitable ways.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs the Delphi method to elicit feedback from community leaders.

Findings

Findings highlight how the community equity literacy leadership assessment’s (CELLA) constructs can be expanded to include essential knowledge and practices that improve schooling conditions for students.

Originality/value

This study extends the existing research on school improvement in two ways. First, this study reconsiders school improvement from the perspectives of community leaders who support urban schools in equitable ways. Second, and in doing so, this study examines how a panel of 16 “expert community leaders” offered feedback on the CELLA for principals, an emerging survey instrument to help educational leaders improve school and community conditions.
Implementing experiential action learning in the MBA: use of an international consulting experience
Authors: Schaupp Ludwig Christian , Vitullo Elizabeth A.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Experiential learning projects require students to go further than the typical theoretical and conceptual MBA coursework requiring them to draw on their previously acquired skills to solve actual business problems from a real-world client. The purpose of this paper is to offer a detailed overview of an experiential learning global consulting project and its potential benefits, along with practical classroom recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes a global consulting project embedded in an MBA international consulting course involving a German manufacturing company operating a single production facility in the USA.

Findings

Findings suggest that in post-class assessments students were quite supportive, touting is as one of the most beneficial to their MBA education and their job placement upon graduation.

Research limitations/implications

This experiential project has largely been assessed through qualitative feedback from both the students and the client. Future research efforts should assess the project in a more robust fashion. Going forward, the use of survey assessments on the project as a whole would provide more objective feedback. Obtaining feedback from graduates 1 to 5 years post-graduation would provide a valuable perspective on the project’s overall effectiveness.

Practical implications

The global consulting project described in this manuscript provided students with a vehicle to mimic a consulting engagement with an actual client in a real-world context.

Social implications

The global consulting project described in this manuscript provided students with an opportunity to develop further their global and cultural competence. In addition, it provides an opportunity for students to fully develop the critical thinking skills, business acumen and the soft skills required of them to be successful in their future careers.

Originality/value

The combination of an international context and high degree of client engagement on this project make it a unique learning opportunity. This project is different as it provides a comprehensive, step-by-step, integrated approach that begins with an extensive interview process to secure a spot on the team with limited openings, then client discussions to identify the problem and determine the scope of engagement, which includes a client contract that outlines the objective and the deliverable of the engagement, followed by personal skill assessment to draw upon meta-competences necessary for the project’s success. Immersing the students in the client engagement, wherever it may take them both intellectually as well as physically (i.e. domestic and international locations) creates a template from which they can draw upon periodically as they progress in their professional.
Understanding acquisition and processing error in microseismic data: An example from Pouce Coupe Field, Canada
Authors: Bray Matthew , White Isabel
Published: October 2019

A challenge in microseismic monitoring is quantification of survey acquisition and processing errors, and how these errors jointly affect estimated locations. Quantifying acquisition and processing errors and uncertainty has multiple benefits, such as more accurate and precise estimation of locations, anisotropy, moment tensor inversion and, potentially, allowing for detection of 4D reservoir changes. Here, we quantify uncertainty due to acquisition, receiver orientation error, and hodogram analysis. Additionally, we illustrate the effects of signal to noise ratio variances upon event detection. We apply processing steps to a downhole microseismic dataset from Pouce Coupe, Alberta, Canada. We use a probabilistic location approach to identify the optimal bottom well location based upon known source locations. Probability density functions are utilized to quantify uncertainty and propagate it through processing, including in source location inversion to describe the three‐dimensional event location likelihood. Event locations are calculated and an amplitude stacking approach is used to reduce the error associated with first break picking and the minimization with modelled travel times. Changes in the early processing steps have allowed for understanding of location uncertainty of the mapped microseismic events.
A high‐precision time–frequency analysis for thin hydrocarbon reservoir identification based on synchroextracting generalized S‐transform
Authors: Hu Ying , Chen Hui , Qian Hongyan , Zhou Xinyue , Wang Yuanjun , Lyu Bin
Published: October 2019

Improving the seismic time–frequency resolution is a crucial step for identifying thin reservoirs. In this paper, we propose a new high‐precision time–frequency analysis algorithm, synchroextracting generalized S‐transform, which exhibits superior performance at characterizing reservoirs and detecting hydrocarbons. This method first calculates time–frequency spectra using generalized S‐transform; then, it squeezes all but the most smeared time–frequency coefficients into the instantaneous frequency trajectory and finally obtains highly accurate and energy‐concentrated time–frequency spectra. We precisely deduce the mathematical formula of the synchroextracting generalized S‐transform. Synthetic signal examples testify that this method can correctly decompose a signal and provide a better time–frequency representation. The results of a synthetic seismic signal and real seismic data demonstrate that this method can identify some reservoirs with thincknesses smaller than a quarter wavelength and can be successfully applied for hydrocarbon detection. In addition, examples of synthetic signals with different levels of Gaussian white noise show that this method can achieve better results under noisy conditions. Hence, the synchroextracting generalized S‐transform has great application prospects and merits in seismic signal processing and interpretation.
Skeleton bones in museum indoor environments offer niches for fungi and are affected by weathering and deposition of secondary minerals
Authors: Pinzari Flavia , Cornish Lorraine , Jungblut Anne D.
Published: October 2019

Large skeleton specimens are often featured as iconic open displays in Natural History Museums, for example, the blue whale ‘Hope’ at the Natural History Museum, London. A study on Hope's bone surface was performed to assess the biodeterioration potential of fungi. Fungi were isolated, and a fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) clone library survey was performed on dust and bone material. Mineral particles derived from bone and dust were analysed using energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high vacuum SEM. Results showed that bone material, although mainly mineral in nature, and therefore less susceptible than organic materials to biodeterioration phenomena in the indoor environments, offers niches for specialized fungi and is affected by unusual and yet not so well‐documented mechanisms of alteration. Areas of bone surface were covered with a dense biofilm mostly composed of fungal hyphae, which produced tunnelling and extensive deposition of calcium and iron‐containing secondary minerals. Airborne halophilic and xerophilic fungi including taxa grouping into Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, capable of displacing salts and overcome little water availability, were found to dominate the microbiome of the bone surface.
Irregularities in genetic variation and mutation rates with environmental stresses
Authors: Ferenci Thomas
Published: October 2019

The appearance of new mutations is determined by the equilibrium between DNA error formation and repair. In bacteria like Escherichia coli, stresses are thought shift this balance towards increased mutagenesis. Recent findings, however, suggest a very uneven relationship between stress and mutations. Only a subset of stressful environments increase the net rate of mutation and different forms of nutritional stress (such as oxygen, carbon or phosphorus limitations) result in markedly different mutation rates after similar reductions in growth rate. Moreover, different stresses result in altered mutational spectra, with some increasing transposition and others increasing indel formation. Single‐base substitution rates are lower with some stresses than in unstressed bacteria. Indeed, changes to the mix of mutations with stress are more widespread than a marked increase in net mutation rate. Much remains to be learned on how environments have unique mutational signatures and why some stresses are more mutagenic than others. Even beyond stress‐induced genetic variation, the fundamental unresolved question in the stress–mutation relationship is the adaptive value of different types of mutations and mutation rates; is transposition, for example, more advantageous under anaerobic conditions? It remains to be investigated whether stress‐specific genetic variation impacts on evolvability differentially in distinct environments.
What causes employees to whistle while they work? Factors affecting internal whistle‐blowing in the Australian Public Service
Authors: Taylor Jeannette
Published: October 2019

What causes employees in the Australian Public Service (APS) to internally blow the whistle on corruption in the workplace? This research examines the impact of the nature of corruption, organisational culture, and employees’ work attitudes and actions on internal whistle‐blowing in the APS. The respondents were found to internally blow the whistle for most types of corruption: fraud, conflict of interest, unlawful disclosure of government information, and perverting the course of justice. Their whistle‐blowing behaviour was, however, unaffected by observations of theft of official assets. They were also unlikely to report observations of cronyism and nepotism. Active observers of workplace bullying (those who have blown the whistle after witnessing someone else being bullied) were three times more likely to also internally report corruption than inactive observers of bullying.
A Small Population Study on Friction Skin Ridges: Differences in Ridge Widths Between Latent and Inked Fingerprints
Authors: De Alcaraz‐Fossoul Josep , Tully‐Doyle Ryan , Weber Alexis R. , Barrot Feixat Carme , Zapico Sara C. , Rivera Cardenas Natalie , Sirard Melissa J. , Graber Ryan P.
Published: October 2019

Morphological changes in the width of latent fingermark ridges occur naturally over time. This could be used to examine the aging process of latents and eventually estimate time of deposition. In a crime context, it is common practice to compare a questioned (aged) fingermark with a database of known (inked) prints. Therefore, in the absence of fresh fingermarks for aging purposes, it is of interest to reveal correlations between these two categories of fingerprints with regard to the widths of their ridges. The present study explores correlations of ridge widths between flat and rolled inked prints with latent fingermarks visualized with carbon black (CB) and titanium dioxide (TiO2)‐based powders among a small population of ten donors. Results revealed consistent differences between the ridge widths of latent and inked prints as well as flat and rolled impressions. Latent fingermarks visualized with CB and TiO2 powders showed ridges with comparable widths.
PSMD: An extensive database for pan‐species microsatellite investigation and marker development
Authors: Du Lianming , Liu Qin , Zhao Kelei , Tang Jie , Zhang Xiuyue , Yue Bisong , Fan Zhenxin
Published: October 2019

Microsatellites are widely distributed throughout nearly all genomes which have been extensively exploited as powerful genetic markers for diverse applications due to their high polymorphisms. Their length variations are involved in gene regulation and implicated in numerous genetic diseases even in cancers. Although much effort has been devoted in microsatellite database construction, the existing microsatellite databases still had some drawbacks, such as limited number of species, unfriendly export format, missing marker development, lack of compound microsatellites and absence of gene annotation, which seriously restricted researchers to perform downstream analysis. In order to overcome the above limitations, we developed PSMD (Pan‐Species Microsatellite Database, http://big.cdu.edu.cn/psmd/) as a web‐based database to facilitate researchers to easily identify microsatellites, exploit reliable molecular markers and compare microsatellite distribution pattern on genome‐wide scale. In current release, PSMD comprises 678,106,741 perfect microsatellites and 43,848,943 compound microsatellites from 18,408 organisms, which covered almost all species with available genomic data. In addition to interactive browse interface, PSMD also offers a flexible filter function for users to quickly gain desired microsatellites from large data sets. PSMD allows users to export GFF3 formatted file and CSV formatted statistical file for downstream analysis. We also implemented an online tool for analysing occurrence of microsatellites with user‐defined parameters. Furthermore, Primer3 was embedded to help users to design high‐quality primers with customizable settings. To our knowledge, PSMD is the most extensive resource which is likely to be adopted by scientists engaged in biological, medical, environmental and agricultural research.
Spider‐specific probe set for ultraconserved elements offers new perspectives on the evolutionary history of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae)
Authors: Kulkarni Siddharth , Wood Hannah , Lloyd Michael , Hormiga Gustavo
Published: October 2019

Phylogenomic methods have proven useful for resolving deep nodes and recalcitrant groups in the spider tree of life. Across arachnids, transcriptomic approaches may generate thousands of loci, and target‐capture methods, using the previously designed arachnid‐specific probe set, can target a maximum of about 1,000 loci. Here, we develop a specialized target‐capture probe set for spiders that contains over 2,000 ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and then demonstrate the utility of this probe set through sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. We designed the ‘spider‐specific’ probe set using three spider genomes (Loxosceles, Parasteatoda and Stegodyphus) and ensured that the newly designed probe set includes UCEs from the previously designed Arachnida probe set. The new ‘spider‐specific’ probes were used to sequence UCE loci in 51 specimens. The remaining samples included five spider genomes and taxa that were enriched using Arachnida probe set. The ‘spider‐specific’ probes were also used to gather loci from a total of 84 representative taxa across Araneae. On mapping these 84 taxa to the Arachnida probe set, we captured at most 710 UCE loci, while the spider‐specific probe set captured up to 1,547 UCE loci from the same taxon sample. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and coalescent methods corroborate most nodes resolved by recent transcriptomic analyses, but not all (e.g. UCE data suggest monophyly of ‘symphytognathoids’). Our preferred hypothesis based on topology tests, suggests monophyly of the ‘symphytognathoids’ (the miniature orb weavers), which in previous studies has only been supported by a combination of morphological and behavioural characters.