bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ice extent in sub-arctic fjords and coastal areas from 2001 to 2019 analyzed from MODIS imagery
Authors: O'Sadnick Megan , Petrich Chris , Brekke Camilla , Skarðhamar Jofrid
Published: June 2020

Results examining variations in the ice extent along the Norwegian coastline based on the analysis of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images from 2001 to 2019, February through May, are presented. A total of 386 fjords and coastal areas were outlined and grouped into ten regions to assess seasonal and long-term trends in ice extent. In addition, three fjords were examined to investigate how ice extent may vary over short distances (<100 km). Of the 386 outlined, 47 fjords/coastal areas held >5 km2 of ice at least once between 2001 and 2019. Over this span of time, no statistically significant trend in ice extent is found for all ten regions; however, variations between regions and years are evident. Ice extent is assessed through comparison to three weather variables – freezing degree days (FDD), daily new snowfall and daily freshwater supply from rainfall plus snowmelt. Six out of ten regions are significantly positively correlated (p < 0.05) to FDD. In addition, ice in two regions is significantly positively correlated to daily new snowfall, and in one region negatively correlated to rainfall plus snowmelt. The importance of fjord geometry and bathymetry as well as other weather variables including wind is discussed.
Onset and Severity of Spousal Violence Among Chinese Migrant Families: A Zero-Inflated Poisson Model
Authors: Chen Xuan , Xia Yiwei
Published: June 2020

Analyzing 1268 stratified random samples from one of the biggest cities in China’s Pearl River Delta with the zero-inflated Poisson model, this study identifies the factors associated with the onset and severity of spousal violence by males and females separately under the social exchange perspective. The results indicate that spousal violence follows gender symmetry in migrant families, and violence against men is mainly reflected in psychological violence. The new pattern of “cradle snatching” makes men fully protected in family relationships. However, women’s education level and economic independence do not represent a protective factor against violence from husbands. Patriarchal cognition is deeply rooted in migrant families, even though the family pattern has been changed and women’s status has improved in China. Young couples should contribute to the family according to their own abilities, and should not make either one feel wronged.
Advancing a Social Identity Model of System Attitudes
Authors: Blount-Hill Kwan-Lamar
Published: June 2020

The connection between social identity and attitudes toward the criminal justice system (CJS) is an area of interest among criminologists and legitimacy scholars. Previous work has proposed a social identity theory of legitimation, positing that individuals categorize CJS officials as either in-group (i.e. legitimate authority) or out-group (i.e. illegitimate enforcer). Subsequently, how individuals perceive their CJS – including the sincerity of its commitment to the rule of law – is tied to this relationship. Those viewing the government as an out-group oppressor are less likely to accept its legitimacy. This article explores this thesis. From the perspective of system justification theory, how the CJS is categorized should depend on how strongly an individual identifies as belonging to a group disadvantaged by the CJS. System justification theorists hypothesize that system justification (including acceptance of system legitimacy) is more likely when members of disadvantaged groups believe that group interests are less important. Alternative models that explain attitudes toward the system by using social identity theory suggest the opposite: Those who identify more strongly with disadvantaged groups and hold their interests to be more important nonetheless justify oppositional systems and view them legitimately. The present study uses a sample of Black Americans (a disadvantaged group in the American CJS) to determine whether group identification predicts system justification.
Laparotomy Due to War-Related Penetrating Abdominal Trauma in Civilians: Experience From Syria 2011-2017
Authors: Alsaid Bayan , Alhimyar Maryam , Alnweilaty Ahmad , Alhasan Ehab , Shalhoum Zein Al Abidin , Bathich Mustafa , Ahmad Ahmad Mustafa , Ahmad Tareq , Turkmani Khaled , Sara Samer
Published: June 2020

Objectives:

Penetrating abdominal trauma is one of the injuries that could affect civilians in wartime. This retrospective study investigates the commonly injured abdominal organs, and the impact of multiple injured organs on mortality.

Methods:

We reviewed the operating room (OR) logs of patients who presented to the surgical emergency department (SED) at Al-Mouwasat University Hospital with war-related abdominal penetrating trauma requiring exploratory laparotomy between April 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017.

Results:

Of 7826 patients with traumatic injuries, 898 patients (11.5%) required exploratory laparotomy. Of all patients who had an exploratory laparotomy (n = 898), 58 patients (6.5%) died in the perioperative period. Regarding complete laparotomies (n = 873 patients), small intestines, large intestines, and liver were the most commonly affected organs (36.4%, 33%, 22.9%, respectively). A total of 92 patients (10.2%) had negative laparotomy in which all the abdominal organs were not injured. The perioperative mortality rate (POMR) increased when more organs/organ systems were injured per patient reaching a peak at 3 organs/organ systems injuries with a POMR of 8.3%. POMR was highest in patients with musculoskeletal injuries (18.2%), followed by vascular injuries (11.8%), and liver injuries (7%).

Conclusions:

The management of civilians’ abdominal injuries remains a challenge for general and trauma surgeons, especially the civilian trauma team. The number and type of injured organs and their correlation with mortality should be considered during surgical management of penetrating abdominal injuries.
Big mapping class groups and rigidity of the simple circle
Authors: CALEGARI DANNY , CHEN LVZHOU
Published: June 2020

Let $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$ denote the mapping class group of the plane minus a Cantor set. We show that every action of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$ on the circle is either trivial or semiconjugate to a unique minimal action on the so-called simple circle.
Politics without bureaucrats? Western European NGO campaigns in the state and the market
Authors: Colli Francesca
Published: June 2020

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play an important role in the representation of citizens' interests towards policymakers. However, they increasingly run their campaigns not only against policymakers, but also against corporations. While the choice among strategies has been examined either in the state (targeting policymakers) or in the market (targeting companies), the choice between the two remains unexamined. Moreover, conventional studies of advocacy have failed to comparatively assess how groups combine strategies. This study fills these gaps, examining when NGOs target their campaigns at (a) the market, (b) the state and (c) both. It examines 24 NGO campaigns in the UK and Italy using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Three main findings emerge. First, structural factors – especially the openness of the market – are most important in determining which target an NGO chooses. Second, campaigns that combine strategies tend to be either market- or state-oriented. Finally, high resources are the factor that pushes NGOs to combine strategies across the market and the state.
Writing intervention: A comprehensive program for primary school children
Authors: Iniesta Antonio , Serrano Francisca
Published: June 2020

This article describes an intervention program to improve writing skills, intended to be a useful tool for everyday remedial work in primary school. The design was based on an initial review of the approaches most often used for writing intervention and identification of the main concerns for such intervention; namely, the use of direct and explicit instructions, the importance of feedback, recommended levels of intervention, the main content to consider, and use of motivating activities to get the student engaged or even to enjoy the intervention. All these considerations guided decision making about the appropriate features that would ensure an effective intervention in children with general and specific writing difficulties. The intervention program follows evidence-based practice strategies and may be useful for educational professionals in primary school, acknowledging that the program needs to be experimentally evaluated.
Viscous and elastic buoyancy stresses as drivers of ice-shelf calving
Authors: Mosbeux Cyrille , Wagner Till J. W. , Becker Maya K. , Fricker Helen A.
Published: June 2020

The Antarctic Ice Sheet loses mass via its ice shelves predominantly through two processes: basal melting and iceberg calving. Iceberg calving is episodic and infrequent, and not well parameterized in ice-sheet models. Here, we investigate the impact of hydrostatic forces on calving. We develop two-dimensional elastic and viscous numerical frameworks to model the ‘footloose’ calving mechanism. This mechanism is triggered by submerged ice protrusions at the ice front, which induce unbalanced buoyancy forces that can lead to fracturing. We compare the results to identify the different roles that viscous and elastic deformations play in setting the rate and magnitude of calving events. Our results show that, although the bending stresses in both frameworks share some characteristics, their differences have important implications for modeling the calving process. In particular, the elastic model predicts that maximum stresses arise farther from the ice front than in the viscous model, leading to larger calving events. We also find that the elastic model would likely lead to more frequent events than the viscous one. Our work provides a theoretical framework for the development of a better understanding of the physical processes that govern glacier and ice-shelf calving cycles.
Corticolous lichen species as indicators of disturbed/undisturbed vegetation types in the central mountains of Sri Lanka
Authors: Weerakoon Gothamie , Wolseley Patricia , Will-Wolf Susan , Wijeyaratne Chandrani
Published: June 2020

Corticolous lichens in the central mountains of Sri Lanka differ with vegetation type, disturbance and climate. All growth forms of lichens were studied in 42 plots (six plots × seven vegetation types), yielding 124 species. Lichen species diversity varied with number of tree species per plot (correlations) and differed with disturbance group, vegetation type and climate zone (general linear models). Lichen community composition (estimated cover of 74 species each at ≥ 3 plots) varied along two ordination gradients secondarily correlated with disturbance (nonmetric multidimensional scaling, NMS). Undisturbed and disturbed plots (mostly grouped by vegetation type) were divided along NMS axis 1, correlating with distance to undisturbed forest. Longest-disturbed plots differed from all others along NMS axis 2 and were correlated with canopy cover. Climate was weakly reflected on the ordination as the proximity of two plot clusters in montane vegetation types. Indicator species analyses (ISA) of lichen cover by plot identified 60 strong indicator species (indicator value ≥ 50%,P < 0.015). Fifty-seven species were indicators for individual vegetation types (28 of them for undisturbed types); three were for a disturbance group only; 11 were also for a disturbance group or climate zone. Most species strongly driving ordination patterns were also ISA indicators. Most lichens were crustose (39, with 24 in theGraphidaceae). Each vegetation type had at least one indicator with trentepohliod algae (increasing for undisturbed plots) and one with chlorococcoid algae. Two visually distinct indicator species, three genera and two multi-genus groups will be useful to parataxonomists in forest evaluation.
Re-greening of agrosystems in the Burkina Faso Sahel: greater drought resilience but falling woody plant diversity
Authors: Zida Wendpouiré Arnaud , Bationo Babou André , Waaub Jean-Philippe
Published: June 2020

Droughts and land degradation result in biodiversity and ecosystem service losses with serious implications for human wellbeing. The Sahel region has seen increased plant cover since the end of 1970s–1980s droughts, but understanding the nature and implications of this change remains a priority. This study aimed to assess changes in the woody floristic composition of re-greened agrosystems since the droughts in Burkina Faso. In 148 vegetation survey plots distributed across areas with increasing woody plant cover and those to some extent protected from exploitation, a total of 71 species from 51 genera and 23 families were identified. Compared to pre-drought flora, our measurements show a decline in the diversity and density of woody species. Combretaceae species and thorny species of the genera Acacia and Balanites, which are more tolerant of drought, were the most dominant, indicating a post-drought woody vegetation that is more resistant to water stress. The increased presence of food-producing species in agroforestry parks (cultivated fields with woody plants) seems to reflect the growing needs of the human population.
Epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients in convalescence period
Authors: Liu B. M. , Yang Q. Q. , Zhao L. Y. , Xie W. , Si X. Y.
Published: June 2020

This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and to analyse the epidemiological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients during convalescence. In this study, we enrolled 71 confirmed cases of COVID-19 who were discharged from hospital and transferred to isolation wards from 6 February to 26 March 2020. They were all employees of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University or their family members of which three cases were <18 years of age. Clinical data were collected and analysed statistically. Forty-one cases (41/71, 57.7%) comprised medical faculty, young and middle-aged patients (aged ⩽60 years) accounted for 81.7% (58/71). The average isolation time period for all adult patients was 13.8 ± 6.1 days. During convalescence, RNA detection results of 35.2% patients (25/71) turned from negative to positive. The longest RNA reversed phase time was 7 days. In all, 52.9% of adult patients (36/68) had no obvious clinical symptoms, and the remaining ones had mild and non-specific clinical symptoms (e.g. cough, sputum, sore throat, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract etc.). Chest CT signs in 89.7% of adult patients (61/68) gradually improved, and in the others, the lesions were eventually absorbed and improved after short-term repeated progression. The main chest CT manifestations of adult patients were normal, GGO or fibre streak shadow, and six patients (8.8%) had extrapulmonary manifestations, but there was no significant correlation with RNA detection results (r = −0.008, P > 0.05). The drug treatment was mainly symptomatic support therapy, and antibiotics and antiviral drugs were ineffective. It is necessary to re-evaluate the isolation time and standard to terminate isolation for discharged COVID-19 patients.
STUDIES IN THE FLORA OF ARABIA: XXXIV. SIXTY NEW RECORDS FROM THE SULTANATE OF OMAN
Authors: Patzelt A. , Al Hatmi S. , Al Hinai A. , Al Qassabi Z. , Knees S. G.
Published: June 2020

Sixty new or updated records of plants species are reported from the Sultanate of Oman, as a result of fieldwork and research undertaken. Five taxa represent new records for Arabia, twenty-seven taxa are new records for Oman, and twenty-eight records represent an extended distribution within Oman. Some previously doubtful records are confirmed. Brief comments are given on the phytogeography, taxonomy and ecology of the taxa. Most new records have been collected in mountainous areas, either in southern Oman or in northern Oman, mainly in areas that previously were botanically poorly known.
The trans-imperial biography of César Falliet: a life between global cities
Authors: Flannery Kristie Patricia
Published: June 2020

César Falliet's trans-imperial biography sheds light on the dynamics of belonging in early modern Manila, a city that was both a cosmopolitan centre of trade and a stronghold of Spanish colonial power. Falliet's integration into Manila's social world depended on his ability to convince elites that he was Catholic, loyal to the Spanish king and useful to his empire; attributes that he proved by fighting Islamic and Protestant pirates. These credentials were ultimately tested in five theatres: Manila, Batavia, India, the Americas and the Sulu Zone. Manila's inter-Asian and transpacific ties profoundly shaped foreigners’ lives in the city.
Up from the farm: a global microhistory of rural Americans and Africans in the First World War
Authors: Page Melvin E.
Published: June 2020

Were the effects of First World War truly similar globally? A comparison of how the conflict was perceived by two extremely different groups of rural people – southern Americans of the Jackson Purchase region of far western Kentucky and Africans in the small British Protectorate of Nyasaland in south central Africa – makes their microhistories significant rather than trivial by placing them a global context. In the early twentieth century, both groups were not only rural, but removed, decidedly disconnected from each other. Yet, drawing on documentary evidence, especially interviews with the last generation of First World War survivors in both regions, offers a significant perspective on how similar their experiences actually became in the crucible of a global war. The call to arms, their recruitment and resistance to service, combat adversities and cultural experiences, post-war disillusionments and triumphs, and especially the economic consequences of their war provide penetrating insights into the wide-ranging ordeals and opportunities that this first truly global event offered peoples worldwide.
From alternative dispute resolution to pluralist dispute resolution: towards an integrated dispute-resolution mechanism in China
Authors: Wang Zhiqiong June , Chen Jianfu
Published: June 2020

Since 1978, we have observed the steady development of institutions, mechanisms and processes of dispute resolution in China. In the last ten years or so, we then noted frequent issuance of new rules and measures as well as revision of existing laws, the promotion of mediation as the preferred method for resolving disputes and, more recently, the promotion of an integrated dispute-resolution system as a national strategy for comprehensive social control (as well as for resolving disputes), in the name of reforming and strengthening ‘the Mechanism for Pluralist Dispute Resolution’. Careful examination of these latest developments suggests that fundamental changes are taking place that may potentially alter the course of the development of the Chinese dispute-resolution system. These developments are the focus of this paper with an aim to ascertain the nature of the developments and their future direction or directions.
Die Opioid Krise – was nun?
Authors: Ruppen Wilhelm , Schneider Tobias
Published: June 2020

Zusammenfassung. In akuten Schmerzsituationen können Opioide wirkungsvoll und zusammen mit Co-Analgetika indiziert sein. Dabei ist es besonders wichtig, jeden Patienten individuell bezüglich Indikation und Dosierung zu beurteilen. Deshalb sind professioneller Umgang und medizinische Betreuung, um Missbrauch und Abhängigkeit von Opioiden zu verhindern, von grosser Wichtigkeit. Dazu gehören Indikationen und Wirksamkeit der Analgesie für den Patienten regelmässig und kritisch zu überprüfen und unwirksame Analgetika auszuschleichen und abzusetzen. Eine Opioidtherapie soll zudem stets zeitlich begrenzt sein. Ebenfalls zentral ist die Frage nach alternativen Schmerztherapieformen, sowohl medikamentös wie auch nicht-medikamentös. Der nachfolgende Text soll Hilfestellungen zum gezielten Umgang mit Opioiden in verschiedenen Schmerztherapie-Situationen bieten.
Grain‐Size Control on Detrital Zircon Cycloprovenance in the Late Paleozoic Paradox and Eagle Basins, USA
Authors: Leary Ryan J. , Smith M. Elliot , Umhoefer Paul
Published: June 2020

Detrital zircon U‐Pb data are routinely used to assess provenance in sedimentary systems. However, recent studies have suggested that zircon provenance interpretation may be biased by grain‐size‐dependent selective transport and deposition. In this study, we present zircon grain‐size and U‐Pb data from 11 sandstone and 11 mudstone samples from the late Paleozoic Eagle and Paradox basins to test whether apparent provenance changes between sandstone and mudstone samples can be explained by changes in zircon grain‐size alone. The Eagle and Paradox basins formed in association with the Ancestral Rocky Mountains (ARM). These basins provide an excellent system to test grain‐size/provenance relationships because they are filled with cyclic stratigraphy that records, via grain size and facies changes, flooding/exposure driven by interglacial/glacial cycles. These cycles are interpreted to have substantially altered sediment transport pathways and provenance of ARM‐related sedimentary rocks. Data presented here suggest that although zircon grain size does correlate to sample grain size in most samples, age spectra appear to be independent of grain size. As such, differences in age spectra between sandstone and mudstone samples appear to be the result of changes in relative inputs of two endmember sources: (1) grains eroded from adjacent basement‐cored ARM uplifts and (2) far‐traveled sediment sourced from outside the ARM system. The data presented in this study also provide a successful proof‐of‐concept test for a manual method of determining zircon grain size. This method is simple and straightforward and can be applied to any sample analyzed using the Chromium off‐line targeting software.
U.K. Community Earth System Modeling for CMIP6
Authors: Senior Catherine A. , Jones Colin G. , Wood Richard A. , Sellar Alistair , Belcher Stephen , Klein‐Tank Albert , Sutton Rowan , Walton Jeremy , Lawrence Bryan , Andrews Timothy , Mulcahy Jane P.
Published: June 2020

We describe the approach taken to develop the United Kingdom's first community Earth system model, UKESM1. This is a joint effort involving the Met Office and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), representing the U.K. academic community. We document our model development procedure and the subsequent U.K. submission to CMIP6, based on a traceable hierarchy of coupled physical and Earth system models. UKESM1 builds on the well‐established, world‐leading HadGEM models of the physical climate system and incorporates cutting‐edge new representations of aerosols, atmospheric chemistry, terrestrial carbon, and nitrogen cycles and an advanced model of ocean biogeochemistry. A high‐level metric of overall performance shows that both models, HadGEM3‐GC3.1 and UKESM1, perform better than most other CMIP6 models so far submitted for a broad range of variables. We point to much more extensive evaluation performed in other papers in this special issue. The merits of not using any forced climate change simulations within our model development process are discussed. First results from HadGEM3‐GC3.1 and UKESM1 include the emergent climate sensitivity (5.5 and 5.4 K, respectively) which is high relative to the current range of CMIP5 models. The role of cloud microphysics and cloud‐aerosol interactions in driving the climate sensitivity, and the systematic approach taken to understand this role, is highlighted in other papers in this special issue. We place our findings within the broader modeling landscape indicating how our understanding of key processes driving higher sensitivity in the two U.K. models seems to align with results from a number of other CMIP6 models.
The Future of Big Data May Lie in Tiny Magnets
Authors: Sima Richard
Published: June 2020

New research in the field of neuromorphic computing uses tiny magnets and their magnetic fields to optimize computing algorithms.
Melt inclusion vapour bubbles: the hidden reservoir for major and volatile elements
Authors: Venugopal Swetha , Schiavi Federica , Moune Severine , Bolfan-Casanova Nathalie , Druitt Timothy , Williams-Jones Glyn
Published: June 2020

Olivine-hosted melt inclusions (MIs) provide samples of magmatic liquids and their dissolved volatiles from deep within the plumbing system. Inevitable post-entrapment modifications can lead to significant compositional changes in the glass and/or any contained bubbles. Re-heating is a common technique to reverse MI crystallisation; however, its effect on volatile contents has been assumed to be minor. We test this assumption using crystallised and glassy basaltic MIs, combined with Raman spectroscopy and 3D imaging, to investigate the changes in fluid and solid phases in the bubbles before and after re-heating. Before re-heating, the bubble contains CO2gas and anhydrite (CaSO4) crystallites. The rapid diffusion of major and volatile elements from the melt during re-heating creates new phases within the bubble: SO2, gypsum, Fe-sulphides. Vapour bubbles hosted in naturally glassy MIs similarly contain a plethora of solid phases (carbonates, sulphates, and sulphides) that account for up to 84% of the total MI sulphur, 80% of CO2, and 14% of FeO. In both re-heated and naturally glassy MIs, bubbles sequester major and volatile elements that are components of the total magmatic budget and represent a “loss” from the glass. Analyses of the glass alone significantly underestimates the original magma composition and storage parameters.
Differential miRNAs expression pattern of irradiated breast cancer cell lines is correlated with radiation sensitivity
Authors: Masoudi-Khoram Nastaran , Abdolmaleki Parviz , Hosseinkhan Nazanin , Nikoofar Alireza , Mowla Seyed Javad , Monfared Hamideh , Baldassarre Gustavo
Published: June 2020

Radiotherapy is a fundamental step in the treatment of breast cancer patients. The treatment efficiency is however reduced by the possible onset of radiation resistance. In order to develop the effective treatment approach, it is important to understand molecular basis of radiosensitivity in breast cancer. The purpose of the present study was to investigate different radiation response of breast cancer cell lines, and find out if this response may be related to change in the microRNAs expression profile. MDA-MB-231 and T47D cells were subjected to different doses of radiation, then MTT and clonogenic assays were performed to assess radiation sensitivity. Cytofluorometric and western blot analysis were performed to gain insight into cell cycle distribution and protein expression. MicroRNA sequencing and bioinformatics prediction methods were used to identify the difference in microRNAs expression between two breast cancer cells and the related genes and pathways. T47D cells were more sensitive to radiation respect to MDA-MB-231 cells as demonstrated by a remarkable G2 cell cycle arrest followed by a greater reduction in cell viability and colony forming ability. Accordingly, T47D cells showed higher increase in the phosphorylation of ATM, TP53 and CDK1 (markers of radiation response) and faster and more pronounced increase in RAD51 and γH2AX expression (markers of DNA damage), when compared to MDA-MB-231 cells. The two cell lines had different microRNAs expression profiles with a confirmed significant differential expression of miR-16-5p, which targets cell cycle related genes and predicts longer overall survival of breast cancer patients, as determined by bioinformatics analysis. These results suggest a possible role for miR-16-5p as radiation sensitizing microRNA and as prognostic/predictive biomarker in breast cancer.
Characterization of the wheat cultivars against Tilletia controversa Kühn, causal agent of wheat dwarf bunt
Authors: Muhae-Ud-Din Ghulam , Chen Delai , Liu Taiguo , Chen Wanquan , Gao Li
Published: June 2020

Wheat is one of the most important staple crops. Tilletia controversa Kühn is the causal agent of wheat dwarf bunt. In this study, a resistant wheat cultivar displayed significantly higher expression of pathogenesis-related genes than a susceptible cultivar at 7 days post inoculation (DPI) with T. controversa. Similarly, the expression was high in the resistant cultivar after exogenous application of phytohormones, including salicylic acid. The expression of pathogenesis-related genes, especially chitinase 4, was high in the resistant cultivar, while LPT-1 was down regulated after T. controversa infection. Callose deposition was greater in the resistant cultivar than in the susceptible cultivar at 10 DPI. Confocal microscopy was used to track the fungal hyphae in both cultivars in anther and ovary cells. The anthers and ovaries of the susceptible cultivar were infected by T. controversa at 7 and 15 DPI. There were no fungal hyphae in anther and ovary cells in the resistant cultivar until 10 and 23 DPI, respectively. Moreover, anther length and width were negatively influenced by T. controversa at 16 DPI. The plant height was also affected by fungal infection. Ultimately, resistance to T. controversa was achieved in cultivars via the regulation of the expression of defense-related and pathogenesis-related genes.
Novel Echocardiography-Derived Left Ventricular Stiffness Index in Low-Flow Versus Normal-Flow Severe Aortic Stenosis with Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Authors: Ngiam Jinghao Nicholas , Chew Nicholas WS , Tan Benjamin Yong-Qiang , Sim Hui Wen , Kong William K. F. , Yeo Tiong-Cheng , Chowdhury Shahryar M. , Poh Kian-Keong
Published: June 2020

Background Paradoxical low-flow (LF) severe aortic stenosis (AS) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) may have poorer prognosis than normal-flow (NF) AS, though its pathophysiology remained unclear. In particular, LV stiffness has not been compared between LF vs NF. We used a novel echocardiography-derived index of LV stiffness to compare between these groups. Consecutive patients with medically-managed isolated severe AS (aortic valve area < 1 cm2) and preserved LVEF (>50%) were studied. Echocardiographic LV stiffness index was measured by a method previously validated against cardiac catheterization. We compared LF (stroke volume index, SVI < 35 ml/m2) and NF severe AS. Of the 352 patients, 121 (34%) were LF. Both LF and NF groups had similar demographics, valve areas and indices. Compared to NF, LF severe AS had higher LV stiffness indices (>0.11 ml−1 OR 3.067, 95% CI 1.825–5.128, p < 0.001). Increased LV stiffness was associated with concentric remodelling and more severe diastolic dysfunction, especially in LF AS. An LV stiffness index of > 0.11 ml−1 was independently associated with increased mortality, after adjusting for age, clinical and echocardiographic parameters (HR 2.283 95% CI 1.318–3.968, p = 0.003). Non-invasive echocardiographic-derived index of LV stiffness may be important in LF AS. Increased LV stiffness was related to LV concentric remodelling and diastolic dysfunction, and associated with poorer clinical outcomes in medically-managed AS.
The challenge of ionisation chamber dosimetry in ultra-short pulsed high dose-rate Very High Energy Electron beams
Authors: McManus M. , Romano F. , Lee N. D. , Farabolini W. , Gilardi A. , Royle G. , Palmans H. , Subiel A.
Published: June 2020

High dose-rate radiotherapy, known as FLASH, has been shown to increase the differential response between healthy and tumour tissue. Moreover, Very High Energy Electrons (VHEEs) provide more favourable dose distributions than conventional radiotherapy electron and photon beams. Plane-parallel ionisation chambers are the recommended secondary standard systems for clinical reference dosimetry of electrons, therefore chamber response to these high energy and high dose-per-pulse beams must be well understood. Graphite calorimetry, the UK primary standard, has been employed to measure the dose delivered from a 200 MeV pulsed electron beam. This was compared to the charge measurements of a plane-parallel ionisation chamber to determine the absolute collection efficiency and infer the ion recombination factor. The dose-per-pulse measured by the calorimeter ranged between 0.03 Gy/pulse and 5.26 Gy/pulse, corresponding to collection efficiencies between 97% and 4%, respectively. Multiple recombination models currently available have been compared with experimental results. This work is directly applicable to the development of standard dosimetry protocols for VHEE radiotherapy, FLASH radiotherapy and other high dose-rate modalities. However, the use of secondary standard ionisation chambers for the dosimetry of high dose-per-pulse VHEEs has been shown to require large corrections for charge collection inefficiency.
Preparation of ELISA and Lateral Flow Kits for rapid Diagnosis of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in Poultry
Authors: Elyazeed Heidy Abo , Al-Atfeehy Nayera M. , Abotaleb Rasha , Sayed Rafik , Marouf Sherif
Published: June 2020

Avian mycoplasmas were mainly the cause of poultry industry economic losses; reduced meat and egg production and increases the antibiotic treatment cost.Mycoplasma gallisepticum(MG) infection is designated as infectious sinusitis of turkeys and chronic respiratory disease of chickens (gasping, depression, semi closed eyes, infraorbital sinuses edema and decrease in egg production). This study aimed to prepare, evaluate and Compare in-house ELISA kits and lateral flow assay (LFA) from a local strain of MG with commercial ELISA kits and PCR consequently. A total of 54 samples (27 tracheal swabs, 10 trachea and 17 lung) and 50 serum samples collected from birds suffering from chronic respiratory disease were tested by prepared in-house ELISA, commercial ELISA kits, PCR and LFA; a high correlation coefficient between in-house ELISA using whole antigen or sonicated antigen and commercial kit was recorded. Lateral Flow assay (LFA) performance indicate a low sensitivity (77.5%) but maintain a high specificity (92%) compared to PCR. The in-house ELISA kits and LFA prepared could be used as a fast diagnostic technique for detection of MG in Egypt. According to the available knowledge the prepared LFA for diagnosis of MG infection in chickens was developed for the first time in Egypt.
Applying Serum Proteins and MicroRNA as Novel Biomarkers for Early-Stage Cervical Cancer Detection
Authors: Du Shengye , Zhao Yinghui , Lv Changyu , Wei Meiling , Gao Zheng , Meng Xianhua
Published: June 2020

Recently, we have been seeing emerging applications of non-invasive approaches using serum biomarkers including miRNA and proteins in detection of multiple cancers. Currently, majority of these methods only use solitary type of biomarkers, which often lead to non-satisfactory sensitivity and specificity in clinical applications. To this end, we established a unique biomarker panel in this study, which determined both squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC Ag) degree and miRNA-29a, miRNA-25, miRNA-486-5p levels in blood for detection of early-stage cervical cancer. We designed our study with two phases: a biomarker discovery phase, followed by an independent validation phase. In total of 140 early-stage cervical cancer patients (i.e., AJCC stage I and II) and 140 healthy controls recruited in the biomarker discovery phase, we achieved sensitivity of 88.6% and specificity of 92.9%. To further assess the predictive power of our panel, we used it to an independent patient cohort that consisted of 60 early-stage cervical cancer individuals as well as 60 healthy controls, and successfully achieved both high sensitivity (80.0%) and high specificity (96.7%). Our study indicated combining analyses of multiple serum biomarkers could improve the accuracy of non-invasive detection of early-stage cervical cancer, and potentially serve as a new liquid biopsy approach for detecting early-stage cervical cancer.
Soluble programmed death-ligand 1 rather than PD-L1 on tumor cells effectively predicts metastasis and prognosis in soft tissue sarcomas
Authors: Asanuma Kunihiro , Nakamura Tomoki , Hayashi Akinobu , Okamoto Takayuki , Iino Takahiro , Asanuma Yumiko , Hagi Tomohito , Kita Kouji , Nakamura Kouichi , Sudo Akihiro
Published: June 2020

The soluble form of PD-L1 (sPD-L1) is related to a poor prognosis in various cancers. Comparisons of sPD-L1 and PD-L1 expressed on tumor cells in soft tissue tumor patients have not been reported. The purpose of this study was to analyze serum sPD-L1 and PD-L1 levels in soft tissue tumor patients. A total of 135 patients with primary soft tissue tumors were enrolled in this study. The sPD-L1 level was quantitatively measured by enzyme immunoassay, and PD-L1 expression on high grade sarcoma cells was analyzed immunohistologically. There were no significant differences in sPD-L1 levels between benign (48) and soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients (87). In STS, the high sPD-L1 (>44.26 pg/mL) group had significantly lower metastasis-free survival (MS) and lower overall survival (OS) than the low sPD-L1 group (≤44.26 pg/mL) at 5 years using the log-rank test. On multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, the high sPD-L1 group had significant differences in MS and OS compared to the low sPD-L1 group. Between positive and negative immunostaining groups, recurrence-free survival (RS), MS, and OS were not significantly different. No correlation was found between immunostaining and sPD-L1 with the Kappa coefficient. The sPD-L1 concentration could predict future metastasis and prognosis in STS patients. High sPD-L1 in STS patients may be a target for treatment with checkpoint inhibitors.
Micelle-stabilized Olfactory Receptors for a Bioelectronic Nose Detecting Butter Flavors in Real Fermented Alcoholic Beverages
Authors: Shin Narae , Lee Seung Hwan , Pham Ba Viet Anh , Park Tai Hyun , Hong Seunghun
Published: June 2020

A bioelectronic nose device based on micelle-stabilized olfactory receptors is developed for the selective discrimination of a butter flavor substance in commercial fermented alcoholic beverages. In this work, we have successfully overexpressed ODR-10, a type of olfactory receptor, from Caenorhabditis elegans using a bacterial expression system at a low cost and high productivity. The highly-purified ODR-10 was stabilized in micelle structures, and it was immobilized on a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor to build a bioelectronic nose for the detection of diacetyl, a butter flavor substance, via the specific interaction between diacetyl and ODR-10. The bioelectronic nose device can sensitively detect diacetyl down to 10 fM, and selectively discriminate it from other substances. In addition, this sensor could directly evaluate diacetyl levels in a variety of real fermented alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and makgeolli (fermented Korean wine), while the sensor did not respond to soju (Korean style liquor without diacetyl). In this respect, our sensor should be a powerful tool for versatile food industrial applications such as the quality control of alcoholic beverages and foods.
Fabrication of superconducting niobium nitride nanowire with high aspect ratio for X-ray photon detection
Authors: Guo Shuya , Chen Qi , Pan Danfeng , Wu Yaojun , Tu Xuecou , He Guanglong , Han Hang , Li Feiyan , Jia Xiaoqing , Zhao Qingyuan , Zhang Hengbin , Bei Xiaomin , Xie Jun , Zhang Labao , Chen Jian , Kang Lin , Wu Peiheng
Published: June 2020

The niobium nitride (NbN) nanowires fabricated with the high-quality ultra-thin NbN film with a thickness of 3 nm–6 nm were widely used for single photon detectors. These nanowires had a low aspect ratio, less than 1:20. However, increasing the thickness and the aspect ratio of highly-uniformed NbN nanowires without reducing the superconductivity is crucial for the device in detecting high-energy photons. In this paper, a high-quality superconducting nanowire with aspect ratio of 1:1 was fabricated with optimized process, which produced a superconducting critical current of 550 μA and a hysteresis of 36 μA at 2.2 K. With the optimization of the electron beam lithography process of AR-P6200.13 and the adjustion of the chamber pressure, the discharge power, as well as the auxiliary gas in the process of reactive ion etching (RIE), the meandered NbN nanowire structure with the minimum width of 80 nm, the duty cycle of 1:1 and the depth of 100 nm were finally obtained on the silicon nitride substrate. Simultaneously, the sidewall of nanowire was vertical and smooth, and the corresponding depth-width ratio was more than 1:1. The fabricated NbN nanowire will be applied to the detection of soft X-ray photon emitted from pulsars with a sub-10 ps time resolution.
Adherence to a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-style Diet in Relation to Preeclampsia: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Cao Yuan , Liu Yanhua , Zhao Xianlan , Duan Dandan , Dou Weifeng , Fu Wenjun , Chen Huanan , Bo Yacong , Qiu Yanfang , Chen Gaiyun , Lyu Quanjun
Published: June 2020

Maternal diet is an important potential factor associated with the risk of preeclampsia. However, it is unclear whether adherence to a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-style diet can reduce the development of preeclampsia. To examine the potential association, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China. A total of 449 cases with preeclampsia and 449 controls were studied. Dietary information was collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). DASH scores were calculated according to nutrients/food emphasised or minimised in the DASH diet. The calculated DASH scores ranged from 11 to 38 for all of the participants, and the DASH scores of the cases were significantly lower than those of the controls (23.48 ± 4.58 vs 24.51 ± 4.51; p = 0.001). Participants in the fourth quartile of the DASH score were 45% less likely to have preeclampsia than those in the first quartile in the crude model (Q4 vs Q1, odds ratio [OR]: 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38, 0.80; ptrend = 0.001). The relationship remained significant in the model adjusted for multiple confounders, especially for major risk factors of preeclampsia (OR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.36, 0.78; ptrend = 0.001). Our findings suggest an inverse relationship between adherence to a DASH-style diet and the odds of preeclampsia. Further larger-scale cohort studies or randomised controlled trials are warranted to confirm these relationships.
GATA2 Regulates Constitutive PD-L1 and PD-L2 Expression in Brain Tumors
Authors: Fu Yujie , Liu Connor J. , Kobayashi Dale K. , Johanns Tanner M. , Bowman-Kirigin Jay A. , Schaettler Maximilian O. , Mao Diane D. , Bender Diane , Kelley Diane G. , Uppaluri Ravindra , Bi Wenya Linda , Dunn Ian F. , Tao Yu , Luo Jingqin , Kim Albert H. , Dunn Gavin P.
Published: June 2020

Encouraging clinical results using immune checkpoint therapies to target the PD-1 axis in a variety of cancer types have paved the way for new immune therapy trials in brain tumor patients. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate expression of the PD-1 pathway ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, remain poorly understood. To address this, we explored the cell-intrinsic mechanisms of constitutive PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression in brain tumors. PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression was assessed by flow cytometry and qRT-PCR in brain tumor cell lines and patient tumor-derived brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs). Immunologic effects of PD-L2 overexpression were evaluated by IFN-γ ELISPOT. CD274 and PDCD1LG2 cis-regulatory regions were cloned from genomic DNA and assessed in full or by mutating and/or deleting regulatory elements by luciferase assays. Correlations between clinical responses and PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression status were evaluated in TCGA datasets in LGG and GBM patients. We found that a subset of brain tumor cell lines and BTICs expressed high constitutive levels of PD-L1 and PD-L2 and that PD-L2 overexpression inhibited neoantigen specific T cell IFN-γ production. Characterization of novel cis-regulatory regions in CD274 and PDCD1LG2 lead us to identify that GATA2 is sufficient to drive PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression and is necessary for PD-L2 expression. Importantly, in TCGA datasets, PD-L2 correlated with worse clinical outcomes in glioma patients.. By perturbing GATA2 biology, targeted therapies may be useful to decrease inhibitory effects of PD-L2 in the microenvironment.
CircRNA_101237 promotes NSCLC progression via the miRNA-490-3p/MAPK1 axis
Authors: Zhang Zhi-ye , Gao Xiao-hui , Ma Ming-ying , Zhao Chun-ling , Zhang Ya-li , Guo Shuang-shuang
Published: June 2020

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common type of lung cancer, characterized by a poor prognosis. In the last several years, more and more studies have demonstrated the significant roles played by circular RNAs (circRNAs) in different human tumors progression including NSCLC. The present study was to explore the mechanism of hsa_circ_101237 in regulating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Totally 303 NSCLC cases were enrolled. A549 and H1299 cells were transfected. Cells viability, migration and invasion were determined by CCK-8 assay and transwell experiment, respectively. Luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were performed. hsa_circ_101237, miR-490-3p and MAPK1 expression in tissues/cells were detected by qRT-PCR. The study found an elevation in the expression of Hsa_circRNA_101237 in both NSCLC tissues and cell line. High Hsa_circRNA_101237 expression predicted poor survival in NSCLC. Meanwhile, we found that hsa_circRNA_101237 expression sponged miR-490-3p to enhance MAPK1 expression, thus significantly promoting NSCLC cell lines proliferation, migration, and invasion. MAPK1 restoration prevented NSCLC cells proliferation, migration, and invasion to be repressed due to hsa_circRNA_101237 knockdown. To sum up, as revealed by the study, hsa_circRNA_101237 promoted the expression of MAPK1 via miRNA-490-3p sponge, thus affecting the NSCLC as an important onco-circRNA.
Effects of rainfall manipulation and nitrogen addition on plant biomass allocation in a semiarid sandy grassland
Authors: Zhang Jing , Zuo Xiaoan , Zhao Xueyong , Ma Jianxia , Medina-Roldán Eduardo
Published: June 2020

Extreme climate events and nitrogen (N) deposition are increasingly affecting the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. However, the response of plant biomass to variations to these global change drivers is still unclear in semi-arid regions, especially in degraded sandy grasslands. In this study, a manipulative field experiment run over two years (from 2017 to 2018) was conducted to examine the effect of rainfall alteration and nitrogen addition on biomass allocation of annuals and perennial plants in Horqin sandy grassland, Northern China. Our experiment simulated extreme rainfall and extreme drought (a 60% reduction or increment in the growing season rainfall with respect to a control background) and N addition (20 g/m2) during the growing seasons. We found that the sufficient rainfall during late July and August compensates for biomass losses caused by insufficient water in May and June. When rainfall distribution is relatively uniform during the growing season, extreme rainfall increased aboveground biomass (AGB) and belowground biomass (BGB) of annuals, while extreme drought reduced AGB and BGB of perennials. Rainfall alteration had no significant impacts on the root-shoot ratio (R/S) of sandy grassland plants, while N addition reduced R/S of grassland species when there was sufficient rainfall in the early growing season. The biomass of annuals was more sensitive to rainfall alteration and nitrogen addition than the biomass of perennials. Our findings emphasize the importance of monthly rainfall distribution patterns during the growing season, which not only directly affect the growth and development of grassland plants, but also affect the nitrogen availability of grassland plants.