bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual-, maternal- and household-level factors associated with stunting among children aged 0–23 months in Bangladesh
Authors: Mistry Sabuj Kanti , Hossain Md. Belal , Khanam Fouzia , Akter Fahmida , Parvez Mahmood , Yunus Fakir Md , Afsana Kaosar , Rahman Mahfuzar
Published: November 2018

Objective

Childhood stunting remains a major public health concern in Bangladesh. To accelerate the reduction rate of stunting, special focus is required during the first 23 months of a child’s life when the bulk of growth takes place. Therefore the present study explored individual-, maternal- and household-level factors associated with stunting among children under 2 years of age in Bangladesh.

Design

Data were collected through a nationwide cross-sectional survey conducted between October 2015 and January 2016. A two-stage cluster random sampling procedure was applied to select 11 428 households. In the first stage, 210 enumerations areas (EA) were selected with probability proportional to EA size (180 EA from rural areas, thirty EA from urban slums). In the second stage, an average of fifty-four households were selected from each EA through systematic random sampling.

Setting

Rural areas and urban slums of Bangladesh.

Participants

A total of 6539 children aged 0–23 months.

Results

Overall, 29·9 % of the children were stunted. After adjusting for all potential confounders in the modified Poisson regression model, child’s gender, birth weight (individual level), maternal education, age at first pregnancy, nutrition (maternal level), administrative division, place of residence, socio-economic status, food security status, access to sanitary latrine and toilet hygiene condition (household level) were significantly associated with stunting.

Conclusions

The study identified a number of potentially addressable multilevel risk factors for stunting among young children in Bangladesh that should be addressed through comprehensive multicomponent interventions.
Material distributive topology design of UWB antenna using parallel computation of improved BPSO with FDTD
Authors: Thilaga Shri Chandra A. P. , Senthilkumar L. , Meenakshi M.
Published: November 2018

In this article, the material distributive topology-based design optimization of ultra-wide band (UWB) antenna is proposed by using improved binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) with finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. In the improved BPSO implementation, the velocity of each particle is calculated based on complete set of bits of particle position vector. The V-shaped transfer function is employed to transform all real values of velocities to values in the interval [0,1]. The fitness function of all the particles in BPSO algorithm are computed parallely by using FDTD simulation. The usage of FDTD and the parallel computation helps in analyzing the broadband frequency characteristics of the antenna with a single simulation run. The return loss of the optimized UWB antenna obtained from FDTD, Computer Simulation Technology (CST) simulation and practical measurement are in good agreement and show good impedance matching.
A Global Environmental Constitution for the Anthropocene?
Authors: Kotzé Louis
Published: November 2018

International environmental law (IEL) has been unable to respond effectively to the Anthropocene’s global socio-ecological crisis, which is critically existential and requires radical interventions and regulatory reform. This article explores the potential of the recent United Nations (UN)-backed initiative to adopt a Global Pact for the Environment as an opportunity to reform IEL. It does so by (i) reflecting on the Anthropocene’s demands for a constitutionalized form of IEL through the lens of global environmental constitutionalism; (ii) investigating the extent to which the Global Pact could contribute to such a vision; and (iii) suggesting ways in which to strengthen the constitutional potential of the Global Pact in this endeavour. To this end, the article revisits the World Charter for Nature of 1982, which seems to have slipped off the radar in academic as well as policy circles. A case is made for renewed support of the Charter – which already enjoys the backing of the majority of UN General Assembly member states, and which has constitutional qualities – to serve as a ‘best-practice’ example during the ensuing negotiation of the Global Pact.
Auditory Sensory Gating and the Big Five Personality Factors
Authors: Yadon Carly A. , Daugherty Timothy K.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Sensory gating allows an individual to filter out irrelevant sensory information from the environment, potentially freeing attentional resources for more complex tasks. Some work has demonstrated a relationship between auditory sensory gating and cognitive skills such as executive function, although the functional significance is not well understood. The relationship between sensory gating and personality dimensions has not been adequately explored. Participants completed a paired-tone sensory gating event-related potential (ERP) paradigm and the Big Five Inventory to assess personality characteristics. Participants with more robust P50 sensory gating reported a significantly greater degree of conscientiousness; conscientiousness (but not the other Big Five factors) predicted sensory gating ability. Longer ERP latencies were associated with participants being more conscientious (P50 component), more agreeable, and less neurotic (N100 component). A better understanding of the behavioral correlates of sensory gating will help elucidate the functional consequences of reduced sensory gating both in typical adults and clinical groups.
An Optimization‐Based Approach for Source Term Estimations of Atmospheric Releases
Authors: Turbelin Grégory , Singh Sarvesh , Ngae Pierre , Kumar Pramod
Published: November 2018

This article highlights an optimization‐based approach to estimate the main characteristics (i.e., location and intensity) that describe the source of a release of a hazardous material (e.g., a chemical or biological agent) in the atmosphere. The method, which uses, as input data, concentration measurements provided by a network of sensors (and some additional meteorological data), is first formalized in the general framework of parametric source term estimation inverse problems. Some simple and new geometric interpretations of the method are proposed. Next, it is shown that the approach can also provide a realistic understanding of the uncertainties in the estimation of the characteristics of the source. Then, a strategy for an optimal deployment of mobile sensors in hazardous materials operations is proposed. To conclude, the source estimation approach and the network design strategy are evaluated with data from a wind tunnel experiment conducted at the Environmental Flow Research Center at the University of Surrey, UK.
Impact of Assimilating the FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC and FORMOSAT‐7/COSMIC‐2 RO Data on the Midlatitude and Low‐Latitude Ionospheric Specification
Authors: Hsu C.‐T. , Matsuo T. , Liu J.‐Y.
Published: November 2018

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio Occultation (RO) missions, such as the Formosa Satellite‐3/Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC) and the upcoming FORMOSAT‐7/COSMIC‐2, provide valuable profiling of the ionized atmosphere for the monitoring of space weather. This study shows that the FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC and FORMOSAT‐7/COSMIC‐2 missions' ability to monitor highly variable ionospheric weather can be considerably extended with the help of data assimilation. The Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) Ionosphere is a new data assimilation system designed specifically for the low‐latitude and midlatitude ionosphere. The capability of the GSI Ionosphere is first demonstrated with actual FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC RO total electron content (TEC) data for January 2013. Features of the ionospheric equatorial ionization anomaly in a coupled plasmasphere ionosphere thermosphere model become more consistent with the TEC maps created with independent ground‐based GPS data. The consistency has improved by assimilation of FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC RO data up to about 50% in comparison to the control simulation case without data assimilation. To evaluate the impact of future RO missions on ionospheric weather specification, comparative Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) are carried out with synthetic RO TEC data. An OSSE of FORMOSAT‐7/COSMIC‐2 shows that the GSI Ionosphere can improve the ionospheric specification within ±30° geomagnetic latitude by 67% over the control case, which is comparable to the improvement yielded by FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC for 2009 (61%). These results indicate a great potential for improving the monitoring of realistic ionospheric weather with the help of FORMOSAT‐7/COSMIC‐2 RO TEC data.
A Study on Data Processing Services for the Operation of Geo‐Analysis Models in the Open Web Environment
Authors: Wang Jin , Chen Min , Lü Guonian , Yue Songshan , Chen Kun , Wen Yongning
Published: November 2018

With the development of network technology, integrated modeling frameworks based on web services are becoming a key topic with regard to solving complex geographic problems. Currently, large numbers of geo‐analysis models and massive data resources are available on the open web. Accessing, acquiring or invoking individual resources transparently is relatively straightforward; but combining these models and data resources for comprehensive simulations remains challenging due to their heterogeneity and diversity. Data resources are the driving force of model execution and can serve as an intermediate linkage medium for model integration, yet in most cases, the data resources cannot be directly used to drive or link models. Data processing services that can prepare and process data are urgently needed in the web environment to enable the convenient coupling of models and data resources through the web, thus reducing the difficulty of preparing data and avoiding repetitive data processing work. Three types of data processing methods that can achieve mapping, refactoring, and visualization are designed in this article based on the proposed Universal Data eXchange (UDX) model. These methods can be published as data processing services to facilitate the operation of geo‐analysis models through the web environment. The applicability of the proposed data processing services is examined through two cases: the processing service is applied in model integration through the web in the first case, and data preparation with processing services for the Taihu Water Pollution Diffusion Model (TWPDM) is carried out in the second case. The results demonstrate that the proposed processing services can bridge the gap between geo‐analysis models and data resources hosted on networks.
Stressing Rates and Seismicity on the Major Faults in Eastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Luo Gang , Liu Mian
Published: November 2018

Intensive studies following the 2008 Wenchuan and 2013 Lushan earthquakes have shown that these two events have changed stresses on major faults in eastern Tibetan Plateau. However, these stress changes are small perturbations to total stresses on these faults. To evaluate full stress evolution on faults and the associated earthquake hazard, we need to consider the effects of all regional large earthquakes and tectonic stressing on faults. Here we use a three‐dimensional viscoelastoplastic finite element model to investigate stress evolution and long‐term temporal patterns of seismicity on major faults in eastern Tibet. We first simulate stress changes due to coseismic slips and postseismic viscoelastic stress relaxation by regional 28 big earthquakes since 1327 and find that nine events, including the Wenchuan earthquake, occurred where Coulomb stress was decreased by the preceding events. We then evaluate interseismic stressing rates using the geodynamic model and GPS data and find the highest rate on Xianshuihe fault (~1,000–4,950 Pa/yr) and the lowest rate on Longmenshan fault (~150–1,133 Pa/yr). Including interseismic stressing in stress evolution shows that the Wenchuan earthquake ruptured where Coulomb stress had increased since 1327 and stresses on southern Xianshuihe and central Anninghe faults would have reached prerupture stress levels of their preceding ruptures. Finally, we analyze synthetic seismicity on faults and find that earthquakes on each fault tend to occur in clusters, separated by quiescent periods whose lengths are inversely related with fault slip rates. The time spans of earthquake clusters are affected by fault slip rates, fault configuration, and rheology.
Seismic Imprints of Plume‐Lithosphere Interaction Beneath the Northwestern Deccan Volcanic Province
Authors: Sharma Jyoti , Kumar M. Ravi , Roy Ketan Singha , Roy P. N. S.
Published: November 2018

The interaction of the Indian continental lithosphere with the Reunion plume resulted in massive outpouring of basalts manifested in the Deccan Volcanic Province. Although it is postulated that preexisting weak rift zones facilitated the eruption, deeper signatures of the plume remain contentious. In this study, we investigate the shear wave velocity (Vs) structure of the crust and upper mantle by inverting regionalized group velocity dispersion data in the period range of 6 to 100 s, down to 220 km depth, using the genetic algorithm technique. We used 1,286 dispersion curves derived from waveforms of 77 regional earthquakes recorded at 38 broadband stations. Our results reveal distinct intracrustal layers, Moho, mantle lid, and asthenospheric low‐velocity layer. Signatures of magmatic underplating are recognized in terms of high Vs and a thick crust beneath the Kutch seismic zone and Western Ghats. The lithospheric thickness varies from 80 to 124 km, being thinnest at the junction of Cambay and Narmada rifts, which could be the source zone of volcanic eruption. A thin lithosphere has also been observed beneath the Kutch seismic zone. A low‐velocity zone at depths ~80 km can be related with upwarping of the asthenosphere and/or presence of partial melts. A predominant low‐velocity zone beneath the Cambay, Saurashtra, and adjoining regions may be due to the effect of a residual thermal anomaly. A thin lithosphere beneath northwestern Deccan Volcanic Province could be the result of weakening due to plume‐lithosphere interaction, which facilitated volcanism through preexisting rift zones.
Connectivity of the Aleutian North Slope Current and Bering Sea Basin Waters at the Level of the Subsurface Temperature Maximum: A Modeling Study
Authors: Mauch M. , Durski S. M. , Kurapov A. L.
Published: November 2018

A 2‐km resolution ocean circulation model for the Eastern Bering Sea is utilized to understand whether and where slope‐interior exchange along the path of the Aleutian North Slope Current helps maintain the subsurface temperature maximum on the 26.8‐kg/m3 isopycnal surface in the Bering Sea Basin, at approximately 300–400‐m depths. A simulation for June–October 2009 shows warmer water advecting westward on this isopycnal along the southern slope of the Aleutian Islands, through Amchitka Pass (180°W), and then eastward along the northern slope as the season progresses, reaching the Bering Canyon. However, Lagrangian particle tracking on this surface shows that very few floats released over the slope south of Amukta Pass (172°W) will end up in the Aleutian North Slope Current. The warming in the Aleutian North Slope Current at the depth of the 26.8‐kg/m3 isopycnal can be explained as resulting from a tidally enhanced downward vertical turbulent flux of warmer water which has been advected eastward in faster flowing waters at shallower depths. This hypothesis is confirmed by the heat equation term balance analysis and Lagrangian particle tracking on the 26.8‐kg/m3 surface and a shallower, 26.4‐kg/m3 surface. The model shows that the warm slope current separates into the basin near several topographical features, particularly at 178°W (just east of Amchitka Pass) and 174°W (Atka Island). North of Amukta Pass, the warmer pattern is strongly modulated at the tidal and fortnightly time scales and is associated with mixing in and transport through the pass.
Revisiting the Basis of Sensitivity Analysis for Dynamical Earth System Models
Authors: Gupta Hoshin V. , Razavi Saman
Published: November 2018

This paper investigates the problem of global sensitivity analysis (GSA) of Dynamical Earth System Models and proposes a basis for how such analyses should be performed. We argue that (a) performance metric‐based approaches to parameter GSA are actually identifiability analyses, (b) the use of a performance metric to assess sensitivity unavoidably distorts the information provided by the model about relative parameter importance, and (c) it is a serious conceptual flaw to interpret the results of such an analysis as being consistent and accurate indications of the sensitivity of the model response to parameter perturbations. Further, because such approaches depend on availability of system state/output observational data, the analysis they provide is necessarily incomplete. Here we frame the GSA problem from first principles, using trajectories of the partial derivatives of model outputs with respect to controlling factors as the theoretical basis for sensitivity, and construct a global sensitivity matrix from which statistical indices of total period time‐aggregateparameter importance, and time series of time‐varying parameter importance, can be inferred. We demonstrate this framework using theHBV‐SASKconceptual hydrologic model applied to the Oldman basin in Canada and show that it disagrees with performance metric‐based methods regarding which parameters exert the strongest controls on model behavior. Further, it is highly efficient, requiring less than 1,000 base samples to obtain stable and robust parameter importance assessments for our 10‐parameter example.
Sofosbuvir-Based Therapy in Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Cancer Patients: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Torres Harrys A. , Economides Minas P. , Angelidakis Georgios , Hosry Jeff , Kyvernitakis Andreas , Mahale Parag , Jiang Ying , Miller Ethan , Blechacz Boris , Naing Aung , Samaniego Felipe , Kaseb Ahmed , Raad Issam I. , Granwehr Bruno P.
Published: November 2018

BACKGROUND:

Data are sparse on treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in cancer patients. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir-based therapy (SOFBT) in cancer patients.

METHODS:

Patients treated with SOFBT at our center during 2014–2017 were included in a prospective observational study. Efficacy [sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12)], cancer-related outcomes and adverse events (AEs) were assessed.

RESULTS:

We included 153 patients. Most were men (109; 71%), white (92; 60%), non-cirrhotic (105; 69%), and with HCV genotype 1 (110; 72%). The most common cancers were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (27; 18%) and multiple myeloma (14; 9%). The overall SVR12 rate was 91% (128/141). SVR12 was 100% in patients treated with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for 8 weeks. Of the 32 patients initially excluded from cancer clinical trials because of HCV, 27 (84%) were granted cancer therapy access after starting SOFBT. Six patients with indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) received SOFBT without cancer treatment. Two achieved complete remission, one had partial remission, and two had stable cancer. Within 6 months after SOFBT, 5% (6/121) of patients in remission or with stable cancer, had progression or recurrence (two with HCC and one each with esophageal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, NHL, and tonsillar cancer). No de novo HCCs occurred. AEs were most commonly grade 1–2 (90%).

CONCLUSIONS:

SOFBT in HCV-infected cancer patients is effective and safe, may permit access to investigational cancer therapy expanding treatment options, may induce remission of NHL, and may be used for 8 weeks.
Exosomes play a role in multiple myeloma bone disease and tumor development by targeting osteoclasts and osteoblasts
Authors: Faict Sylvia , Muller Joséphine , De Veirman Kim , De Bruyne Elke , Maes Ken , Vrancken Louise , Heusschen Roy , De Raeve Hendrik , Schots Rik , Vanderkerken Karin , Caers Jo , Menu Eline
Published: November 2018

Progression of multiple myeloma (MM) is largely dependent on the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment wherein communication through different factors including extracellular vesicles takes place. This cross-talk not only leads to drug resistance but also to the development of osteolysis. Targeting vesicle secretion could therefore simultaneously ameliorate drug response and bone disease. In this paper, we examined the effects of MM exosomes on different aspects of osteolysis using the 5TGM1 murine model. We found that 5TGM1 sEVs, or ‘exosomes’, not only enhanced osteoclast activity, they also blocked osteoblast differentiation and functionality in vitro. Mechanistically, we could demonstrate that transfer of DKK-1 led to a reduction in Runx2, Osterix, and Collagen 1A1 in osteoblasts. In vivo, we uncovered that 5TGM1 exosomes could induce osteolysis in a similar pattern as the MM cells themselves. Blocking exosome secretion using the sphingomyelinase inhibitor GW4869 not only increased cortical bone volume, but also it sensitized the myeloma cells to bortezomib, leading to a strong anti-tumor response when GW4869 and bortezomib were combined. Altogether, our results indicate an important role for exosomes in the BM microenvironment and suggest a novel therapeutic target for anti-myeloma therapy.
miR-146b promotes cell proliferation and increases chemosensitivity, but attenuates cell migration and invasion via FBXL10 in ovarian cancer
Authors: Yan Meina , Yang Xinxin , Shen Rong , Wu Chengjiang , Wang Hui , Ye Qing , Yang Peifang , Zhang Lubin , Chen Miao , Wan Bing , Zhang Qinqin , Xia Sheng , Lu Xiaodong , Shao Genbao , Zhou Xiaoming , Yu Jun , Shao Qixiang
Published: November 2018

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. However, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we found that miR-146b was downregulated in EOC and its expression level was negatively correlated with the pathological staging. Follow-up functional experiments illustrated that overexpression of miR-146b significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion, and increased cell proliferation, but it also improved the response to chemotherapeutic agents. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that miR-146b exerted its function mainly through inhibiting F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 10 (FBXL10), and upregulated the Cyclin D1, vimentin (VIM), and zona-occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression in EOC. These findings indicate that miR-146b–FBXL10 axis is an important epigenetic regulation pathway in EOC. Low miR-146b may contribute to cancer progression from primary stage to advanced stage, and may be the promising therapeutic target of EOC.
Presenilin-mediated cleavage of APP regulates synaptotagmin-7 and presynaptic plasticity
Authors: Barthet Gaël , Jordà-Siquier Tomàs , Rumi-Masante Julie , Bernadou Fanny , Müller Ulrike , Mulle Christophe
Published: November 2018

Mutations of the intramembrane protease presenilin (PS) or of its main substrate, the amyloid precursor protein (APP), cause early-onset form of Alzheimer disease. PS and APP interact with proteins of the neurotransmitter release machinery without identified functional consequences. Here we report that genetic deletion of PS markedly decreases the presynaptic levels of the Ca2+sensor synaptotagmin-7 (Syt7) leading to impaired synaptic facilitation and replenishment of synaptic vesicles. The regulation of Syt7 expression by PS occurs post-transcriptionally and depends on γ-secretase proteolytic activity. It requires the substrate APP as revealed by the combined genetic invalidation of APP and PS1, and in particular the APP-Cterminal fragments which interact with Syt7 and accumulate in synaptic terminals under pharmacological or genetic inhibition of γ-secretase. Thus, we uncover a role of PS in presynaptic mechanisms, through APP cleavage and regulation of Syt7, that highlights aberrant synaptic vesicle processing as a possible new pathway in AD.
Conformational ensemble of the human TRPV3 ion channel
Authors: Zubcevic Lejla , Herzik Mark A. , Wu Mengyu , Borschel William F. , Hirschi Marscha , Song Albert S. , Lander Gabriel C. , Lee Seok-Yong
Published: November 2018

Transient receptor potential vanilloid channel 3 (TRPV3), a member of the thermosensitive TRP (thermoTRPV) channels, is activated by warm temperatures and serves as a key regulator of normal skin physiology through the release of pro-inflammatory messengers. Mutations in trpv3 have been identified as the cause of the congenital skin disorder, Olmsted syndrome. Unlike other members of the thermoTRPV channel family, TRPV3 sensitizes upon repeated stimulation, yet a lack of structural information about the channel precludes a molecular-level understanding of TRPV3 sensitization and gating. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structures of apo and sensitized human TRPV3, as well as several structures of TRPV3 in the presence of the common thermoTRPV agonist 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB). Our results show α-to-π-helix transitions in the S6 during sensitization, and suggest a critical role for the S4-S5 linker π-helix during ligand-dependent gating.
ΦCrAss001 represents the most abundant bacteriophage family in the human gut and infects Bacteroides intestinalis
Authors: Shkoporov Andrey N. , Khokhlova Ekaterina V. , Fitzgerald C. Brian , Stockdale Stephen R. , Draper Lorraine A. , Ross R. Paul , Hill Colin
Published: November 2018

CrAssphages are an extensive and ubiquitous family of tailed bacteriophages, predicted to infect bacteria of the order Bacteroidales. Despite being found in ~50% of individuals and representing up to 90% of human gut viromes, members of this viral family have never been isolated in culture and remain understudied. Here, we report the isolation of a CrAssphage (ΦCrAss001) from human faecal material. This bacteriophage infects the human gut symbiont Bacteroides intestinalis, confirming previous in silico predictions of the likely host. DNA sequencing demonstrates that the bacteriophage genome is circular, 102 kb in size, and has unusual structural traits. In addition, electron microscopy confirms that ΦcrAss001 has a podovirus-like morphology. Despite the absence of obvious lysogeny genes, ΦcrAss001 replicates in a way that does not disrupt proliferation of the host bacterium, and is able to maintain itself in continuous host culture during several weeks.
Two-step self-assembly of a spider silk molecular clamp
Authors: Rat Charlotte , Heiby Julia C. , Bunz Jessica P. , Neuweiler Hannes
Published: November 2018

Web spiders synthesize silk fibers of unique strength and extensibility through the controlled self-assembly of protein building blocks, so-called spidroins. The spidroin C-terminal domain is highly conserved and connects two polypeptide chains through formation of an all-helical, intertwined dimer. Here we use contact-induced fluorescence self-quenching and resonance energy transfer in combination with far-UV circular dichroism spectroscopy as three orthogonal structural probes to dissect the mechanism of folding and dimerization of a spidroin C-terminal domain from the major ampullate gland of the nursery web spider Euprosthenops australis. We show that helices forming the dimer core assemble very rapidly and fold on association. Subsequently, peripheral helices fold and dock slowly onto the preformed core. Lability of outer helices facilitates formation of a highly expanded, partially folded dimer. The high end-to-end distance of chain termini in the partially folded dimer suggests an extensibility module that contributes to elasticity of spider silk.
Superconductivity in a 122-type Fe-based compound (La,Na,K)Fe2As2
Authors: Kawashima Kenji , Ishida Shigeyuki , Fujihisa Hiroshi , Gotoh Yoshito , Yoshida Yoshiyuki , Eisaki Hiroshi , Ogino Hiraku , Iyo Akira
Published: November 2018

We synthesized a Fe-based superconductor (FeSC), (La,Na,K)Fe2As2, and characterized its superconducting properties. It was found that (La,Na,K)Fe2As2 has a 122-type (ThCr2Si2-type) structure with a space group I4/mmm (No. 139), identical to (Ba,K)Fe2As2 and (La,Na)Fe2As2 but distinct from so-called 1144-type FeSCs such as CaKFe4As4 and (La,Na)CsFe4As4. The results demonstrate that the formation of the 1144-type phase necessitates the large ionic radius mismatch among the so-called A-site constituent elements of the AFe2As2 formula. The lattice constants are a = 3.850(1) Å and c = 13.21(1) Å. The La, Na, and K ions occupy the same atomic site of Wyckoff position 1a. Electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility show the superconducting transition at 22.5 K. The transition temperature (Tc) of (La,Na,K)Fe2As2 is comparable with that of 122-type (La,Na)Fe2As2 and 1144-type (La,Na)AFe4As4 (A = Rb, Cs), while being more than 10 K lower than those of typical 122- and 1144-type FeSCs. The results suggest that the random distribution of La3+ and Na+ ions is the main reason for lower Tc in the AE = (La,Na) 122-type and 1144-type FeSCs.
Elevated ADAMTS13 Activity is Associated with Poor Postoperative Outcome in Patients Undergoing Liver Resection
Authors: Haegele Stefanie , Fuxsteiner Jennifer , Pereyra David , Koeditz Christoph , Rumpf Benedikt , Schuetz Clara , Schwarz Christian , Brostjan Christine , Gruenberger Thomas , Starlinger Patrick
Published: November 2018

Recently, von-Willebrand-Factor (vWF) has been shown to correlate with postoperative liver dysfunction (LD). Accordingly, “disintegrin-like metalloprotease with thrombospondin type1 motif” (ADAMTS13) is known to cleave vWF in less active fragments. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of ADAMTS13-activity (ADAMTS13-AC) to identify patients with postoperative LD after hepatectomy. Accordingly 37 patients undergoing hepatectomy for different neoplastic entities were included in this study. Plasma ADAMTS13-AC and vWF-Ag were measured 1 day prior to (preOP), 1 and 5 days (POD1/5) after hepatectomy. In accordance to the ISGLS-criteria LD was prospectively recorded. In this context, perioperative ADAMTS13-AC- and vWF-Ag/ADAMTS13-AC-ratio- levels revealed a significant increase after hepatectomy. Accordingly, elevated vWF-Ag/ADAMTS13-AC-ratio significantly predicted LD (preOP AUC: 0.75, p = 0.02; POD1 AUC: 0.80, p = 0.03). Patients who fulfilled our perioperative vWF-Ag/ADAMTS13-AC-ratio cut-off-levels (preOP: ≥116, POD1: ≥165) suffered from significantly higher incidences of LD (preOP: 70% vs. 30%, p = 0.01; POD1: 83% vs. 17%, p = 0.001). In conclusion, perioperative ADAMTS13-AC measurement may serve as a useful parameter to early detect high-risk patients developing postoperative LD prior to liver resection in patients suffering from hepatic malignancies. Indeed, further investigations have to be performed to consolidate its role as a predictive marker for LD.
Integrated Population Modeling Provides the First Empirical Estimates of Vital Rates and Abundance for Polar Bears in the Chukchi Sea
Authors: Regehr Eric V. , Hostetter Nathan J. , Wilson Ryan R. , Rode Karyn D. , Martin Michelle St. , Converse Sarah J.
Published: November 2018

Large carnivores are imperiled globally, and characteristics making them vulnerable to extinction (e.g., low densities and expansive ranges) also make it difficult to estimate demographic parameters needed for management. Here we develop an integrated population model to analyze capture-recapture, radiotelemetry, and count data for the Chukchi Sea subpopulation of polar bears (Ursus maritimus), 2008–2016. Our model addressed several challenges in capture-recapture studies for polar bears by including a multievent structure reflecting location and life history states, while accommodating state uncertainty. Female breeding probability was 0.83 (95% credible interval [CRI] = 0.71–0.90), with litter sizes of 2.18 (95% CRI = 1.71–2.82) for age-zero and 1.61 (95% CRI = 1.46–1.80) for age-one cubs. Total adult survival was 0.90 (95% CRI = 0.86–0.92) for females and 0.89 (95% CRI = 0.83–0.93) for males. Spring on-ice densities west of Alaska were 0.0030 bears/km2(95% CRI = 0.0016–0.0060), similar to 1980s-era density estimates although methodological differences complicate comparison. Abundance of the Chukchi Sea subpopulation, derived by extrapolating density from the study area using a spatially-explicit habitat metric, was 2,937 bears (95% CRI = 1,552–5,944). Our findings are consistent with other lines of evidence suggesting the Chukchi Sea subpopulation has been productive in recent years, although it is uncertain how long this will continue given sea-ice loss due to climate change.
Improving visualization and quantitative assessment of choriocapillaris with swept source OCTA through registration and averaging applicable to clinical systems
Authors: Chu Zhongdi , Zhou Hao , Cheng Yuxuan , Zhang Qinqin , Wang Ruikang K.
Published: November 2018

Choriocapillaris (CC) visualization and quantification remains challenging. We propose an innovative three-step registration and averaging approach using repeated swept source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) scans to conduct automatic quantitative assessment on CC. Six subjects were enrolled, each imaged at several locations with SS-OCTA from macular to equatorial regions using 3 mm × 3 mm scanning pattern. Five repeated volumes were collected for each subject. The complex optical microangiography (OMAG) algorithm was applied to identify blood flow in CC slab. An automatic three-step registration of translation, affine and B-Spline was applied to en face OCTA images of CC, followed with averaging. A fuzzy clustering approach was used to segment vasculature and flow deficits from the averaged images. The improvement in visualization of CC was evaluated and the average intercapillary distance was estimated by calculating the averaged capillary lumen spacing. A series of quantitative indices of flow deficit density, number, size, complexity index and aspect ratio index (FDD, FDN, FDS, FDCI and FDARI) were designed and validated with the increase of repeated scan numbers for averaging. Quantitative assessment was applied and compared on CC in macular and equatorial regions. The intercapillary distance was observed to be around 24 µm at macula and increased toward equatorial regions. All five quantitative indices (FDD, FDN, FDS, FDCI and FDARI) showed significant changes with multiple averaging and tend to become stable with repeated number of 4. Our proposed registration and averaging algorithm significantly improved the visualization of CC with SS-OCTA. The designed five indices for CC provide more options in the quantitative assessment of CC and are of great potentials in assisting the understanding of disease pathology, early diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
Radiation-induced premature cellular senescence involved in glomerular diseases in rats
Authors: Aratani Sae , Tagawa Masako , Nagasaka Shinya , Sakai Yukinao , Shimizu Akira , Tsuruoka Shuichi
Published: November 2018

Currently, cellular senescence has emerged as a fundamental contributor to chronic organ diseases. Radiation is one of the stress factors that induce cellular senescence. Although the kidney is known as a radiosensitive organ, whether and how radiation-induced cellular senescence is associated with kidney diseases remains unclear. In this study, we performed experiments on 7–8-week-old male rats that received a single dose of 18-Gy radiation in the unilateral kidney. The irradiated kidneys showed hallmarks of cellular senescence, including increased SA-β-gal activity, upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (p53, p21, and p16), and absence of DNA proliferation marker (Ki-67). Furthermore, combined with in-vitro experiments, we demonstrated that radiation-induced senescent glomerular endothelial cells acquired altered gene expression, namely, senescence-associated secretory phenotype (particularly, IL-6), which might be triggered by NF-kB signaling pathway. Pathological analysis suggested severe glomerular endothelial cell injury, as evidenced by thrombotic microangiopathy, collapsing glomeruli, and reduced endothelial cell numbers. We suggested that glomerular endothelial cells were more susceptible to radiation-induced cellular senescence. In conclusion, the current study is the first to identify the important role of radiation-induced cellular senescence, mainly derived from glomerular endothelial cells, for the development of glomerular injury.
Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism is an “old school” reliable technique for swift microbial community screening in anaerobic digestion
Authors: De Vrieze Jo , Ijaz Umer Z. , Saunders Aaron M. , Theuerl Susanne
Published: November 2018

The microbial community in anaerobic digestion has been analysed through microbial fingerprinting techniques, such as terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP), for decades. In the last decade, high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing has replaced these techniques, but the time-consuming and complex nature of high-throughput techniques is a potential bottleneck for full-scale anaerobic digestion application, when monitoring community dynamics. Here, the bacterial and archaeal TRFLP profiles were compared with 16S rRNA gene amplicon profiles (Illumina platform) of 25 full-scale anaerobic digestion plants. The α-diversity analysis revealed a higher richness based on Illumina data, compared with the TRFLP data. This coincided with a clear difference in community organisation, Pareto distribution, and co-occurrence network statistics, i.e., betweenness centrality and normalised degree. The β-diversity analysis showed a similar clustering profile for the Illumina, bacterial TRFLP and archaeal TRFLP data, based on different distance measures and independent of phylogenetic identification, with pH and temperature as the two key operational parameters determining microbial community composition. The combined knowledge of temporal dynamics and projected clustering in the β-diversity profile, based on the TRFLP data, distinctly showed that TRFLP is a reliable technique for swift microbial community dynamics screening in full-scale anaerobic digestion plants.
Sub-micron level investigation reveals the inaccessibility of stabilized carbon in soil microaggregates
Authors: Arachchige Pavithra S. Pitumpe , Hettiarachchi Ganga M. , Rice Charles W. , Dynes James J. , Maurmann Leila , Wang Jian , Karunakaran Chithra , Kilcoyne A. L. David , Attanayake Chammi P. , Amado Telmo J. C. , Fiorin Jackson E.
Published: November 2018

Direct evidence-based approaches are vital to evaluating newly proposed theories on the persistence of soil organic carbon and establishing the contributions of abiotic and biotic controls. Our primary goal was to directly identify the mechanisms of organic carbon stabilization in native-state, free soil microaggregates without disrupting the aggregate microstructure using scanning transmission x-ray microscopy coupled with near edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM-NEXAFS). The influence of soil management practices on microaggregate associated-carbon was also assessed. Free, stable soil microaggregates were collected from a tropical agro-ecosystem in Cruz Alta, Brazil. The long-term experimental plots (>25 years) comparing two tillage systems: no-till and till with a complex crop rotation. Based on simultaneously collected multi-elemental associations and speciation, STXM-NEXAFS successfully provided submicron level information on organo-mineral associations. Simple organic carbon sources were found preserved within microaggregates; some still possessing original morphology, suggesting that their stabilization was not entirely governed by the substrate chemistry. Bulk analysis showed higher and younger organic carbon in microaggregates from no-till systems than tilled systems. These results provide direct submicron level evidence that the surrounding environment is involved in stabilizing organic carbon, thus favoring newly proposed concepts on the persistence of soil organic carbon.
Evidence for mitigation of coral bleaching by manganese
Authors: Biscéré Tom , Ferrier-Pagès Christine , Gilbert Antoine , Pichler Thomas , Houlbrèque Fanny
Published: November 2018

Unprecedented mass coral bleaching events due to global warming and overall seawater pollution have been observed worldwide over the last decades. Although metals are often considered as toxic substances for corals, some are essential at nanomolar concentrations for physiological processes such as photosynthesis and antioxidant defenses. This study was designed to elucidate, the individual and combined effects of nanomolar seawater enrichment in manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe), on the main physiological traits of Stylophora pistillata, maintained under normal growth and thermal stress conditions. We provide, for the first time, evidence that Mn is a key trace element for coral symbionts, enhancing cellular chlorophyll concentrations, photosynthetic efficiency and gross photosynthetic rates at ambient temperature. Our experiment also highlights the key role of Mn in increasing coral resistance to heat stress-induced bleaching. While Mn-enriched corals did not bleach and did not reduce their rates of photosynthesis and calcification, control corals experienced significant bleaching. On the contrary to Mn, Fe enrichment not only impaired calcification but induced significant bleaching. Such information is an important step towards a better understanding of the response of corals to seawater enrichment in metals. It can also explain, to some extent, species susceptibility to environmental stress.
NTG-101: A Novel Molecular Therapy that Halts the Progression of Degenerative Disc Disease
Authors: Matta Ajay , Karim Muhammad Zia , Gerami Hoda , Jun Peter , Funabashi Martha , Kawchuk Greg , Goldstein Alyssa , Foltz Warren , Sussman Marshall , Eek Bjorn C. , Erwin W. Mark
Published: November 2018

The tremendous cost, pain and disability associated with degenerative disc disease (DDD) makes the development of a biological agent that can mitigate the course of DDD, a critical unmet need. We have identified and reported that a single injection of a combination of recombinant human (rh) Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) proteins into the injured intervertebral disc (IVD) nucleus pulposus (NP) can mediate DDD in a pre-clinical rodent model. In this study, we developed and evaluated the efficacy of a novel molecular therapy (NTG-101) containing rhTGF-β1 and rhCTGF proteins suspended in an excipient solution usingin vivomodels of DDD including rat-tail and chondrodystrophic (CD) canines. Needle puncture injury in CD-canine NPs resulted in loss of hydration, disc height and showed radiographic evidence of DDD like humans. However, NTG-101-injected IVDs maintained disc height and demonstrated retention of viscoelastic properties as compared to IVDs injected with phosphate buffer saline (PBS, 1X, pH = 7.2). In addition, a single intra-discal injection of NTG-101 into the injured IVD-NPs resulted in sustained expression of healthy extra-cellular matrix (ECM) proteins (aggrecan, collagen 2A1) and reduced expression of inflammation associated proteins and molecules (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-13, Cox-2 and PGE2) as compared to vehicle controls. In conclusion, we demonstrated that a single intra-discal injection of the novel formulation, NTG-101 confers a robust anti-inflammatory, anti-catabolic and pro-anabolic effects in pre-clinical models of DDD thereby restoring homeostasis. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of NTG-101 for clinical use.
Revised role for Hfq bacterial regulator on DNA topology
Authors: Malabirade Antoine , Partouche David , El Hamoui Omar , Turbant Florian , Geinguenaud Frédéric , Recouvreux Pierre , Bizien Thomas , Busi Florent , Wien Frank , Arluison Véronique
Published: November 2018

Hfq is a pleiotropic regulator that mediates several aspects of bacterial RNA metabolism. The protein notably regulates translation efficiency and RNA decay in Gram-negative bacteria, usually via its interaction with small regulatory RNA. Besides these RNA-related functions, Hfq has also been described as one of the nucleoid associated proteins shaping the bacterial chromosome. Therefore, Hfq appears as a versatile nucleic acid-binding protein, which functions are probably even more numerous than those initially suggested. For instance, E. coli Hfq, and more precisely its C-terminal region (CTR), has been shown to induce DNA compaction into a condensed form. In this paper, we establish that DNA induces Hfq-CTR amyloidogenesis, resulting in a change of DNA local conformation. Furthermore, we clarify the effect of Hfq on DNA topology. Our results evidence that, even if the protein has a strong propensity to compact DNA thanks to its amyloid region, it does not affect overall DNA topology. We confirm however that hfq gene disruption influences plasmid supercoiling in vivo, indicating that the effect on DNA topology in former reports was indirect. Most likely, this effect is related to small regulatory sRNA-Hfq-based regulation of another protein that influences DNA supercoiling, possibly a nucleoid associated protein such as H-NS or Dps. Finally, we hypothesise that this indirect effect on DNA topology explains, at least partially, the previously reported effect of Hfq on plasmid replication efficiency.
Author Correction: Multiple Approaches Detect the Presence of Fungi in Human Breastmilk Samples from Healthy Mothers
Authors: Boix-Amorós Alba , Martinez-Costa Cecilia , Querol Amparo , Collado Maria Carmen , Mira Alex
Published: November 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Correlation between dynamic recrystallization and formation of rare earth texture in a Mg-Zn-Gd magnesium alloy during extrusion
Authors: Jiang M. G. , Xu C. , Yan H. , Lu S. H. , Nakata T. , Lao C. S. , Chen R. S. , Kamado S. , Han E. H.
Published: November 2018

The trace addition of rare earth (RE) elements in Mg alloys can modify the extrusion texture, leading to the formation of RE texture and thus improved formability. The interrupted extrusion experiment as well as electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) characterization was conducted in Mg-1.5Zn-0.5Gd (wt.%) alloy to unveil the dominant dynamic recrystallization (DRX) mechanism and its correlation with the formation of RE texture during extrusion. The results indicate that continuous DRX (CDRX) dominated the microstructural development. Fresh DRXed grains with 30° [0001] grain boundaries preferentially nucleated in unDRXed grains with [10$$\bar{{\bf{1}}}$$

1
¯

0] basal fiber orientation via CDRX, showing preferred selection of [2$$\bar{{\bf{1}}}$$

1
¯

$$\bar{{\bf{1}}}$$

1
¯

0] basal fiber orientation rather than RE texture orientation. Consequently, CDRX contributed to the weakening of [10$$\bar{{\bf{1}}}$$

1
¯

0] basal fiber texture and had a more significant effect on the formation of [2$$\bar{{\bf{1}}}$$

1
¯

$$\bar{{\bf{1}}}$$

1
¯

0] basal fiber component than that of RE texture component. Besides, the preferred growth of recrystallized grains with RE texture orientation was confirmed to occur during static annealing after extrusion, which is inferred as the key reason for the formation of RE texture in dilute Mg-RE alloys.