bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peripheral Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor: Challenge for Multimodal Treatment
Authors: Zimmermann Thomas , Blütters‐Sawatzki Renate , Flechsenhar Klaus , Padberg Winfried M.
Published: December 2019

The primitive neuroectodermal tumor
(PNET) is an extremely aggressive soft tissue neoplasm that occurs in children and adolescents. We retrospectively reviewed our therapeutic experience with a multidisciplinary approach, combining surgery,
chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Treatment of PNET was carried out in compliance with the soft tissue protocol (CWS) from the German Society of Pediatric Oncology. Biopsy‐proven diagnosis was followed by chemotherapy, which in all cases led to partial remission, allowing excision of the remainder of the tumor without mutilation. After excision, irradiation of the tumor site and two further sequences of chemotherapy were performed. When PNET of the paravertebral region caused symptoms of paralysis and immediate surgery was required,
postoperative chemotherapy, a second‐look operation, and irradiation were undertaken. Between 1986 and 1998 we treated 13 patients (median age 15 years). In five patients the PNET originated from the chest wall and in eight patients from the paravertebral and retroperitoneal region. Five patients died after 20 months on average, and the remaining eight patients are in full remission after 7, 16, 46, 55, 70,
74, 75, and 115 months, respectively. Close cooperation between surgeons and their pediatric and radiotherapy colleagues is obligatory when treating PNET. Chemotherapy as the first stage is mandatory to avoid a mutilating surgical procedure and intraoperative tumor cell dissemination.
Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the First Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Resection
Authors: Cervantes Jorge
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Fifty years ago, on March 29, 1951, Charles Dubost in France performed the first successful resection of an abdominal aortic aneurysm and replaced it with a cadaver homograft, thereby initiating the modern era of surgical correction of a common entity. This article offers a summary of the events leading to that milestone in vascular surgery.
War Injuries of Major Extremity Arteries
Authors: Nanobashvili Joseph , Kopadze Teimuraz , Tvaladze Merab , Buachidze Teimuraz , Nazvlishvili Georgi
Published: December 2019

Abstract

During the period 1991–1994, 99 patients (all males, median age 35 years) with combat‐related injuries of major limb arteries were managed. Mechanism: mine fragments (40%), high‐velocity projectiles (35%), and shotgun pellets (25%). Patients were admitted 1 hour to 16 hours (median 8 hours) after injury; 39% were in severe hemorrhagic shock. Arterial injury was diagnosed by clinical findings. Preoperative angiography was usually not necessary. Of 99 injured patients, 50 (51%) showed signs of distal ischemia and required arterial reconstruction. No primary amputation was performed. Reconstruction was always necessary in cases of injury of axillary or popliteal arteries, but not of superficial femoral or brachial arteries. Ligation of injured single forearm or crural arteries was well tolerated. End‐to‐end anastomosis by reconstruction was possible only in 38% of cases. In 56% of patients, autologous venous bypass was performed. Uncontrolled wound infection developed in 22% of cases, leading to a secondary hemorrhage compelling arterial ligature (8%), and thrombosis (6%). The secondary amputation rate after arterial reconstruction was 10%. Injury of major vessels was associated with limb bone fractures, nerve damage, or major vein injuries in 68% of cases, frequently on the forearm, the popliteal region, and the crural region. When limb ischemia was present, vascular reconstruction had priority over orthopedic immobilization. Arterial injury was almost always associated with the venous damage in the forearm, the popliteal region, and the crural region. Injured veins of the upper limb were ligated; venous repair was more often indicated in lower limb injury (52%). The method of choice was lateral suture/patch. Gunshot damage to peripheral nerves was rarely treated with primary repair.
Limited Surgery and Tamoxifen in the Treatment of Elderly Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Odendaal J. de V. , Apffelstaedt J.P.
Published: December 2019

Abstract

A conservative approach to treating breast cancer patients was adopted for those more than 70 years of age with T1‐3 and small localized T4b N0‐1 lesions. It consists of tumor excision or simple mastectomy with adjuvant tamoxifen. From the prospective breast cancer database, patients 70 years or older at the time of diagnosis were identified for the period January 1990 to December 1996. Demographic, clinical, pathological, and oncologic data were retrieved. A total of 236 patients were identified. Ninety‐seven patients (41%) were treated according to the conservative protocol. Of these, 74 had a tumor excision and 23 had a simple mastectomy. Their mean age was 79 years. TNM staging was stage I in 18 patients, stage II in 66 patients, and stage III in 13 patients. There was no 30‐day mortality. Eleven patients were not compliant with tamoxifen use. Two patients were lost to follow‐up. The mean follow‐up is 51 months (range 4 to 109 months). The cumulative incidence of local and regional recurrence at 8 years is 5% and 7%, respectively. Locoregional recurrences were controlled with excision, mastectomy, or axillary dissection. The cumulative disease‐specific, overall, and disease‐free survival at 5 years is 86%, 64% and 46%, respectively. Tumor excision or simple mastectomy with tamoxifen offers sufficient tumor control for elderly patients. Axillary dissection and breast or chest wall radiotherapy can safely be omitted, thereby greatly reducing health care resource utilization.
Snakebites in the Rainforests of Ecuador
Authors: Praba‐Egge Anita D. , Cone Stephen W. , Araim Omar , Freire L. Isabel , Paida V. Galo , Escalante T. Johnny , Carrera M. Favio , Chavez R. Mirian , Merrell Ronald C.
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Epidemiologic information about snakebites in Ecuador is scarce. Snakebites are more common in the lowlands east of the Andes, in the Amazon basin. In the present study, a retrospective review of all (n = 142) snakebite admissions to Hospital Pio XII, a regional health center/hospital in the canton of Sucúa, Morona Santiago, Ecuador was carried out between the years of 1996 and 2000. Bites occurred more frequently during the months of March to May. The largest group of patients were in the 15‐ to 49‐year‐old range (52.5%), and agricultural workers were the most affected of all patients by occupation (> 40%). In most cases of snakebite, patients could not identify the type of snake that had bitten them. A small number of patients (n = 60, 42.3%) received some type of treatment prior to arrival at the hospital. Bites occurred most frequently on the left lower extremity (31.7%). Typical symptoms included pain and local edema at the snakebite site; generalized symptoms such as fever, nausea, and vomiting were less frequent. Most patients (almost 90%) received antivenin during hospitalization in addition to supportive care. The mean hospital stay was 4.3 days. More than 90% of all 142 patients recovered, about 8% with local abscesses. Mortality was 2.9% and occurred as a result of complications, including renal failure, respiratory failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Impact of Seasonal and Temperature-Dependent Variation in Root Defense Metabolites on Herbivore Preference in Taraxacum officinale
Authors: Huang Wei , Bont Zoe , Hervé Maxime R. , Robert Christelle A. M. , Erb Matthias
Published: December 2019

Plants experience seasonal fluctuations in abiotic and biotic factors such as herbivore attack rates. If and how root defense expression co-varies with seasonal fluctuations in abiotic factors and root herbivore attack rates is not well understood. Here, we evaluated seasonal changes in defensive root latex chemistry ofTaraxacum officinaleplants in the field and correlated the changes with seasonal fluctuations in abiotic factors and damage potential byMelolontha melolontha, a major natural enemy ofT. officinale. We then explored the causality and consequences of these relationships under controlled conditions. The concentration of the defensive sesquiterpene lactone taraxinic acid β-D glucopyranosyl ester (TA-G) varied substantially over the year and was most strongly correlated to mean monthly temperature. Both temperature and TA-G levels were correlated with annual fluctuations in potentialM. melolonthadamage. Under controlled conditions, plants grown under high temperature produced more TA-G and were less attractive forM. melolontha. However, temperature-dependentM. melolonthafeeding preferences were not significantly altered in TA-G deficient transgenic lines. Our results suggest that fluctuations in temperature leads to variation in the production of a root defensive metabolites that co-varies with expected attack of a major root herbivore. Temperature-dependent herbivore preference, however, is likely to be modulated by other phenotypic alterations.
Situations, alternatives, and the semantics of ‘cases’
Authors: Moltmann Friederike
Published: December 2019

This paper argues that NPs withcaseas head noun stand for situations in their role as truthmakers within a sentential or epistemic case space. The paper develops a unified semantic analysis ofcase-constructions of the various sorts within a truthmaker-based version of alternative semantics.
Occurrence of anticancer drugs in the aquatic environment: a systematic review
Authors: Nassour Carla , Barton Stephen J. , Nabhani-Gebara Shereen , Saab Yolande , Barker James
Published: December 2019

Water contamination with pharmaceutical products is a well-studied problem. Numerous studies have demonstrated the presence of anticancer drugs in different water resources that failed to be eliminated by conventional wastewater treatment plants. The purpose of this report was to conduct a systematic review of anticancer drugs in the aquatic environment. The methodology adopted was carried out in compliance with the PRISMA guidelines. From the 75 studies that met the specific requirements for inclusion, data extracted showed that the most common anticancer drugs studied are cyclophosphamide, tamoxifen, ifosfamide and methotrexate with concentrations measured ranging between 0.01 and 86,200 ng/L. There was significant variation in the methodologies employed due to lack of available guidelines to address sampling techniques, seasonal variability and analytical strategy. The most routinely used technique for quantitative determination was found to be solid-phase extraction followed by LC-MS analysis. The lowest reported recovery percentage was 11%, and the highest limit of detection was 1700 ng/L. This indicated the inadequacy of some methods to analyse anticancer drugs and the failure to obtain reliable results. The significant heterogeneity within methodologies made it difficult to compare results and draw conclusions, nevertheless, this study aids in the extrapolation of proposed recommendations to guide future studies and reviews.
Adding Fuel to the Flames? Politicisation of EU Policy Evaluation in National Parliaments
Authors: Hoerner Julian M.
Published: December 2019

Under which conditions does national parliamentary discourse politicise European Union (EU) policy evaluation? In times of multiple crises and uncertainty, the alleged ‘democratic deficitʼ of the EU, defined as an apparent lack of legitimacy, has regained scholarly and popular attention. The European Commission and academic commentators consider policy evaluation a specialised and targeted tool to improve the ‘output legitimacyʼ of the EU by assessing policy effectiveness and efficiency. While evaluation can strengthen output legitimacy directly via learning, evaluation can be particularly effective when it becomes part of the national communicative discourse on the EU. This discourse is most likely to take place in national parliaments, as they are the forums in which the government can be held to account. This paper relies on an automated content analysis of the share of keywords related to EU policy evaluation in debates in six national parliaments, covering a period of 20 years. The findings show that the combination of popular and party Euroscepticism is crucial in determining parliamentary debate on EU policy evaluation. Pro-European parties generally do not refer to policy evaluation. However, if political parties are critical of European integration, EU policy evaluation is mentioned more frequently. Under these conditions, members of parliaments also refer more frequently to EU policy evaluation as the public becomes more Eurosceptic. These findings suggest that EU policy evaluation is used as a tool for domestic political contestation, with potential negative normative implications for the output legitimacy of the EU and for evaluation as a tool for learning.
The (in)Significance of the Addiction Debate
Authors: Goldberg Anna E.
Published: December 2019

Substance addiction affects millions of individuals worldwide and yet there is no consensus regarding its conceptualisation. Recent neuroscientific developments fuel the view that addiction can be classified as a brain disease, whereas a different body of scholars disagrees by claiming that addictive behaviour is a choice. These two models, the Brain Disease Model and the Choice Model, seem to oppose each other directly. This article contends the belief that the two models in the addiction debate are polar opposites. It shows that it is not the large amount of addiction research in itself what sets the models apart, but rather their extrapolated conclusions. Moreover, some of the most fiercely debated aspects - for instance, whether or not addiction should be classified as a disease or disorder - are irrelevant for the conceptualisation of addiction. Instead, the real disagreement is shown to revolve around capacities. Discussing addiction-related capacities, especially regarding impaired control, rather than the assumed juxtaposition of the two models can be considered the true addiction debate. More insight into the extent to which the capacities of the addicted individual were affected would be highly useful in various other areas, especially legal responsibility.
Correction to: Pharmacology of natural radioprotectors
Authors: Mun Gil-Im , Kim Seoyoung , Choi Eun , Kim Cha Soon , Lee Yun-Sil
Published: December 2019

We apologize that there are some errors in the references for three sentences and Table 2.
Reduced graphene oxide-intercalated graphene oxide nano-hybrid for enhanced photoelectrochemical water reduction
Authors: Aragaw Belete Asefa
Published: December 2019

This paper reports on the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-intercataled graphene oxide (GO) nano-hybrid and investigates its application in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water reduction. The optical, structural, and morphological properties of RGO-intercalated GO (RGO/GO) nano-hybrid were studied using UV–Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The reduction of GO to RGO was studied using FTIR spectroscopy. The XRD and FTIR investigation shows the strong π–π stacking interactions between the layered GO host–RGO guest sheets. An improvement in PEC water reduction activity was exhibited by RGO/GO nano-hybrid photoelectrode, with a maximum photocurrent of − 61.35 μA/cm2 for RGO 1 wt% in GO versus − 42.80 μA/cm2 for pristine GO photoelectrode (43% improvement). The mechanism for photocurrent enhancement was studied by electrochemical impedance analysis. The PEC performance enhancement of RGO/RO nano-hybrid photoelectrode is attributed to the strong π–π stacking interactions between RGO and GO, leading to superior electron collection and transportation by RGO and hence reduced charge carrier recombination. In addition, the UV–Visible absorption and Taut plot analysis showed the higher light harvesting efficiency of the RGO/GO compared to GO, displaying a band gap of 2.58 eV and 3.11 eV for RGO/GO and GO, respectively. The findings of this work show the potential of a strongly coupled layered host–guest nano-hybrids for high-performance optoelectronic materials.

Graphic abstract
The path to electrical energy using laser fusion
Authors: Bodner Stephen E.
Published: December 2019

Direct-drive laser fusion has one potential advantage over all other approaches to fusion energy. The hot plasma can be kept near or below the various plasma instability thresholds, if one uses purely spherical targets, with a short wavelength, large bandwidth and optically smoothed excimer laser. Instead of trying to manage laser–plasma instabilities, one avoids them. There is a path to complete the evaluation and development of this energy option, with moderate costs and a moderate time scale. Glass lasers, with their longer wavelength and narrower bandwidth, are no longer useful to evaluate fusion targets.
TWO NEW SERIES OF PRINCIPLES IN THE INTERPRETABILITY LOGIC OF ALL REASONABLE ARITHMETICAL THEORIES
Authors: GORIS EVAN , JOOSTEN JOOST J.
Published: December 2019

The provability logic of a theory T captures the structural behavior of formalized provability in T as provable in T itself. Like provability, one can formalize the notion of relative interpretability giving rise to interpretability logics. Where provability logics are the same for all moderately sound theories of some minimal strength, interpretability logics do show variations.

The logic IL (All) is defined as the collection of modal principles that are provable in any moderately sound theory of some minimal strength. In this article we raise the previously known lower bound of IL (All) by exhibiting two series of principles which are shown to be provable in any such theory. Moreover, we compute the collection of frame conditions for both series.
Animals are not cognitively stuck in time
Authors: Viera Gerardo , Margolis Eric
Published: December 2019

We argue that animals are not cognitively stuck in time. Evidence pertaining to multisensory temporal order perception strongly suggests that animals can represent at least some temporal relations of perceived events.
What time words teach us about children's acquisition of the temporal reasoning system
Authors: Tillman Katharine A.
Published: December 2019

Here I consider the possible role of the temporal updating system in the development of the temporal reasoning system. Using evidence from children's acquisition of time words, I argue that abstract temporal concepts are not built from primitive representations of time. Instead, I propose that language and cultural learning provide the primary sources of the temporal reasoning system.
Two challenges for a dual system approach to temporal cognition
Authors: De Brigard Felipe , O'Neill Kevin
Published: December 2019

Hoerl & McCormack (H&M) propose a two-system account of temporal cognition. We suggest that, following other classic proposals where cognitive systems are putatively independent, H&M's two-system hypothesis should, at a minimum, involve (1) a difference in the nature of the representations upon which each system operates, and (2) a difference in the computations they carry out. In this comment we offer two challenges aimed at showing that H&M's proposal does not meet the minimal requirements (1) and (2).
A Dance of Resistance from Recife, Brazil: Carnivalesque Improvisation in Frevo
Authors: Spanos Kathleen A.
Published: December 2019

Frevo is an energetic dance from Recife, the capital of Brazil's northeastern state of Pernambuco. Frevo is a dance of resistance because it narrates complex notions of identity that contribute to social empowerment through strategic processes of liberation for marginalized groups. The dance originates from the Brazilian martial art of capoeira and it is carnivalesque because it is performed in crowded, often violent streets during carnival, when power hierarchies are disrupted. Through this ethnographic research, I consider how frevo practitioners engage in cultural resistance using a practice that I call “carnivalesque improvisation.”
Blood purity and scientific independence: blood science and postcolonial struggles in Korea, 1926–1975
Authors: Hyun Jaehwan
Published: December 2019

Argument

After World War II, blood groups became a symbol of anti-racial science. This paper aims to shed new light on the post-WWII history of blood groups and race, illuminating the postcolonial revitalization of racial serology in South Korea. In the prewar period, Japanese serologists developed a serological anthropology of Koreans in tandem with Japanese colonialism. The pioneering Korean hematologist Yi Samyŏl (1926–2015), inspired by decolonization movements during the 1960s, excavated and appropriated colonial serological anthropology to prove Koreans as biologically independent from the Japanese. However, his racial serology of Koreans shared colonial racism with Japanese anthropology, despite his anti-colonial nationalism.
Defining and Operationalizing Disaster Preparedness in Hospitals: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Verheul Marlous LMI , Dückers Michel LA
Published: December 2019

Introduction:

Societies invest substantial amounts of resources on disaster preparedness of hospitals. However, the concept is not clearly defined nor operationalized in the international literature.

Aim:

This review aims to systematically assess definitions and operationalizations of disaster preparedness in hospitals, and to develop an all-encompassing model, incorporating different perspectives on the subject.

Methods:

A systematic search was conducted in five databases: Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Disaster Information Management Research Centre, and SafetyLit. Peer-reviewed articles containing definitions and operationalizations of disaster preparedness in hospitals were included. Articles published in languages other than English, or without available full-text, were excluded, as were articles on prehospital care. The findings from literature were used to build a model for hospital disaster preparedness.

Results:

In the included publications, 13 unique definitions of disaster preparedness in hospitals and 22 different operationalizations of the concept were found. Although the definitions differed in emphasis and width, they also reflected similar elements. Based on an analysis of the operationalizations, nine different components could be identified that generally were not studied in relation to each other. Moreover, publications primarily focused on structure and process aspects of disaster preparedness. The aim of preparedness was described in seven articles.

Discussion/Conclusion:

This review points at an absence of consensus on the definition and operationalization of disaster preparedness in hospitals. By combining elements of definitions and components operationalized, disaster preparedness could be conceptualized in a more comprehensive and complete way than before. The model presented can guide future disaster preparedness activities and research.
A NOTE ON THE SECTORAL COMPOSITION OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING, PROGRESSIVE TAXATION AND AGGREGATE (IN)STABILITY
Authors: Jiang Dou
Published: December 2019

This paper analyzes the effect of the sectoral composition of government spending on the stability properties of a two-sector economy with a progressive tax structure. The results suggest that indeterminacy is more likely to occur if the fraction of government spending on consumption goods increases. This study also finds that, under progressive taxation, a sufficiently high public-consumption share is needed to generate indeterminacy. It is shown that, with the benchmark parameterization, a higher fraction of government spending on consumption goods needs to be implemented with a more progressive tax scheme to stabilize the economy. Moreover, it is emphasized that belief-driven economic fluctuations may indeed be a feature of the U.S. economy.
Visual and Autonomous Survey of Hydrothermal Vents Using a Hovering‐Type AUV: Launching Hobalin Into the Western Offshore of Kumejima Island
Authors: Okamoto Akihiro , Seta Takahiro , Sasano Masahiko , Inoue Shunji , Ura Tamaki
Published: December 2019

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have become promising tools for marine geological surveys to collect information such as the topography of the seafloor and the location of hydrothermal plumes. Visual surveys and sampling are mainly conducted using human‐occupied vehicles or remotely operated vehicles. To obtain detailed visual data more efficiently, a hovering‐type AUV (Hobalin), which has the novel ability to autonomously navigate within a vent field, was developed to explore hydrothermal deposits. This vehicle was deployed in an active hydrothermal vent field located in the western offshore of Kumejima Island at a depth of approximately 1,400 m. Visual observations were performed with submillimeter image resolution via low‐altitude navigation using still cameras. Moreover, a height estimation method for chimney structures was proposed utilizing an obstacle avoidance system composed of a sheet laser and a forward‐looking camera with hovering maneuver capability. It was determined that hovering‐type AUVs can facilitate the effective survey of hydrothermal vents and the acquired data can be utilized for subsequent sampling by human‐occupied vehicles and remotely operated vehicles.
Using Rigid Microplate Motions to Detect the Stress Buildup Preceding Large Earthquakes: A Feasibility Test Based on Synthetic Models
Authors: Martin de Blas Juan , Iaffaldano Giampiero
Published: December 2019

Assessing the temporal evolution of stresses along seismogenic faults is typically done by combining geodetic observations collected near the locations of previous large earthquakes with modeling of the interseismic, coseismic, and postseismic deformation. Here we explore whether it is feasible to link the charge phase of large earthquakes to rigid microplate motions, which can be inferred from geodetic observations that are instead collected further away from crustal faults. We use numerical simulations of the dynamics and associated kinematics of an idealized, rigid microplate subject to stress buildups and drop‐offs from a series of earthquakes. Simulations span the charging cycle of a single
earthquake. Several
earthquakes distributed according to the Gutenberg‐Richter law occur meanwhile. We use large ensembles of simulations featuring randomly‐generated earthquake hypocenters and make statistical assessments of the fraction of model time needed for the microplate motions to depart from the initial one to a degree that is larger than typical geodetic uncertainties and for at least 90% of the remaining time before the large earthquake occurs. We find such a fraction (i) to be only one tenth in simulations that do feature a large earthquake, (ii) to be longer in simulations that do not, and (iii) to remain small for realistic microplate geometries and asthenosphere viscosity/thickness values. Our inferences hold also when we simulate geodetic time series shorter than the large earthquake cycle and even when we assume that only half of the stress buildup affects the microplate rigid motion.
Relative Sea‐Level Changes Over the Past Centuries in the Central Ryukyu Arc Inferred From Coral Microatolls
Authors: Weil‐Accardo J. , Feuillet N. , Satake K. , Goto T. , Goto K. , Harada T. , Kayanne H. , Nakamura M. , Ramos N. , Saurel J.‐M. , Sowa K. , Liu S.‐C. , Yu T.‐L. , Shen C.‐C.
Published: December 2019

This study focuses on Okinawa and Yoron islands, in order to better understand tectonics in the Ryukyu Arc related to the subduction zone. We used coral microatolls—known for their centimetric accuracy in the record of relative sea‐level (RSL) changes—to reconstruct RSL changes over the last century from living microatolls. A fossil microatoll in Yoron was used to discuss possible RSL changes beyond the last century. The signal consists of emergence whose rate varies through time, interrupted by decadal to multidecadal periods of sudden and/or gradual submergence and by interannual sea‐level falls. Comparison with other existing RSL records in the arc highlights RSL variability along the arc. This pattern contrasts with the homogeneous and linear absolute regional sea‐level rise, implying that this latter signal cannot fully explain our observations and that an additional process is required. We suggest the subduction zone as a possible source for generating centimetric scale RSL changes observed in coral microatolls. We tested how the Ryukyu megathrust could explain our observations with elastic dislocation modeling. The emergence trend could be explained by interseismic loading on the plate interface with a minimum coupling rate of 25%, which is higher than previous estimates based on short instrumental records. As for the submergence events that occurred regularly in the coral record, we show that they could be explained by slow slip events on the shallower part of the megathrust or in the transition zone. Such process could accommodate a significant part of the total convergence.
Radar Reflectivity of Lightning Flashes in Stratiform Regions of Mesoscale Convective Systems
Authors: Wang Fei , Liu Hengyi , Dong Wansheng , Zhang Yijun , Yao Wen , Zheng Dong
Published: December 2019

A total of 254 flashes observed in 14 mesoscale convective systems in Chongqing, China, during the summers of 2014–2015 was used to investigate the characteristics of lightning flashes in stratiform regions (stratiform lightning flashes). The data were analyzed and combined with data from an S‐band Doppler radar system. The results show that the reflectivity characteristics of stratiform lightning flashes are different from those of convective lightning flashes. More than 90% of the stratiform lightning flashes had close spatial relationship with the areas in which bright bands were identified in the vertical direction. The reflectivity at the first detected veryhighfrequency sources of most stratiform lightning flashes decreased with increasing core reflectivity within the lightning extension area. Further investigations showed that only a small proportion (≤10%) of the stratiform lightning flashes were directly initiated by the charge corresponding to the reflectivity cores. It suggests that the reflectivity cores (mostly bright bands) and stratiform lightning flashes are close in space, but different in causality. Some in situ electrifications in stratiform regions, such as nonriming noninductive electrification and melting electrification, are inferred to cause this relationship. The stratiform lightning flashes initiated from lower altitudes tended to have a lower maximum reflectivity within their lightning areas, but a higher maximum reflectivity in the vertical direction of their initiation locations than flashes initiated at higher altitudes.
The Impact of Turbulent Diffusion Driven by Fog‐Top Cooling on Sea Fog Development
Authors: Yang Yue , Gao Shanhong
Published: December 2019

Turbulent mixing driven by cloud/fog‐top radiative and evaporative cooling (hereafter top‐driven diffusion), including top‐down mixing and top‐cooling entrainment, is critical for the development of cloud/fog. Previous work mainly focused on impacts of top‐driven diffusion on stratocumulus‐topped planetary boundary layer (PBL) and radiation fog over land. However, its exact role in sea fog process is yet unclear. Using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with the updated Yonsei University (YSU) PBL scheme, in which the ysu_topdown_pblmix option is responsible for the parameterization of the top‐driven diffusion, the present study investigates respective effects of the top‐cooling entrainment and top‐down mixing on an advection fog event over the Yellow Sea that occurred on 20–21 May 2014. Evaluation of the modeling results confirms that the top‐driven diffusion significantly improves the sea fog simulation. The top‐cooling entrainment allows more relatively quiescent air above the fog top to mix into the sea fog layer, leading to a higher mixed layer with increased temperature and decreased humidity. With the enhancement of buoyant turbulence, the warming and dehumidifying moderately lift the sea fog bottom and reduce the false fog area. The top‐down mixing performs quite well in reproducing a stable structure near the fog top, which results from the added turbulent mixing determined by a revised K profile. Note that the effect of top‐driven diffusion shows high sensitivities to shortwave radiation and vertical resolution. Besides the fog‐top cooling, the fog‐droplet sedimentation is necessary to be included in the top‐cooling entrainment.
Paleomagnetism and Geochronology of the Early Cretaceous Dipilto Batholith (NW Nicaragua): Chortís Block Large Rotation With Respect to SW North America
Authors: García‐Amador Bernardo I. , Alva‐Valdivia Luis M. , Palacios‐García N. Betania , Pompa‐Mera Valerie
Published: December 2019

The Dipilto Batholith is one of the largest plutonic complexes (~1,200 km2) of the Chortís block. It is located at northwestern Nicaragua in Central America. We present paleomagnetic, rock magnetic, and petrographic results from 34 sites (269 samples) of this batholith and some associated dikes. Four U‐Pb (zircon) isotopic ages were obtained from samples collected through the intrusive body in order to gain insight into the timing of silicic magmatism in the southern Chortís block and its possible tectonic and paleogeographic connections with the southwestern North America Plate during the Early Cretaceous. The paleomagnetic analyses of 16 selected sites indicate a large counterclockwise rotation (~101°), with a related paleolatitude of 28.7°N, and isotopic ages ranging from 119.08 ± 0.37 to 112.69 ± 0.44 Ma. Our results imply an updated tectonic model resulted from an inherited peri‐Gondwanan position and open the discussion of at least three possible tectonic scenarios for the Chortís block during the Early Cretaceous: (1) Chortís block with an angle of ~45° with respect to the southwestern margin of North America. This would imply the removal of an in‐between continental or oceanic crust segment by subduction or subduction erosion; (2) Chortís block immediately juxtaposed to the southwestern margin of North America, being part of extension‐compression events of the Guerrero Terrane‐Arperos basin; or (3) Chortís block juxtaposed to North America, but with intraplate deformation resulting in overestimated counterclockwise rotation for a tectonic decoupled block, called herein the “Dipilto block.”
A Nonlinear Version of the Reynolds Equation for Flow in Rock Fractures With Complex Void Geometries
Authors: Wang Zhihe , Xu Chaoshui , Dowd Peter , Xiong Feng , Wang Hang
Published: December 2019

This study presents a nonlinear Reynolds equation (NRE) for single‐phase flow through rock fractures. The fracture void geometry is formed by connected wedge‐shaped cells at pore scale, based on the measured aperture field. An approximate analytical solution to two‐dimensional Navier‐Stokes equations is derived using the perturbation method to account for flow nonlinearity for wedge‐shaped geometries. The derived perturbation solution shows that the main contributors to the determination of general flow behaviors in local wedges are the degree of aperture variation relative to mean aperture, the ratio of aperture variation to wedge length, the Reynolds number, and the degree of wedge asymmetry. The transmissivity of the entire fracture is then solved with a field of local cell transmissivity that varies along both longitude and latitude directions on the fracture plane. The performance of the proposed NRE is tested against flow experiments and flow simulations by solving numerically the three‐dimensional Navier‐Stokes equations for three cases of rock fractures with different void geometries. Results from the proposed model are in close agreement with those obtained from simulations and experiments. As the Reynolds number increases, the pressure difference obtained from the NRE demonstrates the same nonlinear behavior as that obtained from the simulations. Overall, the mean discrepancy between the proposed model and flow simulations is 5.7% for Reynolds number ranging from 0.1 to 20, indicating that the proposed NRE can capture the flow nonlinearity in rock fractures.
A recurrent missense variant in HARS2 results in variable sensorineural hearing loss in three unrelated families
Authors: Demain Leigh A. M. , Gerkes Erica. H. , Smith Richard J. H. , Molina-Ramirez Leslie P. , O’Keefe Raymond T. , Newman William G.
Published: December 2019

HARS2encodes mitochondrial histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HARS2), which links histidine to its cognate tRNA in the mitochondrial matrix. Biallelic variants inHARS2are associated with Perrault syndrome, a rare recessive condition characterized by sensorineural hearing loss in both sexes and primary ovarian insufficiency in 46,XX females. Some individuals with Perrault syndrome have a broader phenotypic spectrum with neurological features, including ataxia and peripheral neuropathy. Here, we report a recurrent variant inHARS2in association with sensorineural hearing loss. In affected individuals from three unrelated families, the variantHARS2c.1439G>A p.(Arg480His) is present as a heterozygous variant in trans to a putative pathogenic variant. The low prevalence of the alleleHARS2c.1439G>A p.(Arg480His) in the general population and its presence in three families with hearing loss, confirm the pathogenicity of this variant and illustrate the presentation of Perrault syndrome as nonsyndromic hearing loss in males and prepubertal females.
Hydroxyl-rich macromolecules enable the bio-inspired synthesis of single crystal nanocomposites
Authors: Kim Yi-Yeoun , Darkins Robert , Broad Alexander , Kulak Alexander N. , Holden Mark A. , Nahi Ouassef , Armes Steven P. , Tang Chiu C. , Thompson Rebecca F. , Marin Frederic , Duffy Dorothy M. , Meldrum Fiona C.
Published: December 2019

Acidic macromolecules are traditionally considered key to calcium carbonate biomineralisation and have long been first choice in the bio-inspired synthesis of crystalline materials. Here, we challenge this view and demonstrate that low-charge macromolecules can vastly outperform their acidic counterparts in the synthesis of nanocomposites. Using gold nanoparticles functionalised with low charge, hydroxyl-rich proteins and homopolymers as growth additives, we show that extremely high concentrations of nanoparticles can be incorporated within calcite single crystals, while maintaining the continuity of the lattice and the original rhombohedral morphologies of the crystals. The nanoparticles are perfectly dispersed within the host crystal and at high concentrations are so closely apposed that they exhibit plasmon coupling and induce an unexpected contraction of the crystal lattice. The versatility of this strategy is then demonstrated by extension to alternative host crystals. This simple and scalable occlusion approach opens the door to a novel class of single crystal nanocomposites.
Copper-catalyzed enantioselective Sonogashira-type oxidative cross-coupling of unactivated C(sp3)−H bonds with alkynes
Authors: Zhang Zhen-Hua , Dong Xiao-Yang , Du Xuan-Yi , Gu Qiang-Shuai , Li Zhong-Liang , Liu Xin-Yuan
Published: December 2019

Transition metal-catalyzed enantioselective Sonogashira-type oxidative C(sp3)—C(sp) coupling of unactivated C(sp3)−H bonds with terminal alkynes has remained a prominent challenge. The difficulties mainly stem from the regiocontrol in unactivated C(sp3)—H bond functionalization and the inhibition of readily occurring Glaser homocoupling of terminal alkynes. Here, we report a copper/chiral cinchona alkaloid-based N,N,P-ligand catalyst for asymmetric oxidative cross-coupling of unactivated C(sp3)—H bonds with terminal alkynes in a highly regio-, chemo-, and enantioselective manner. The use of N-fluoroamide as a mild oxidant is essential to site-selectively generate alkyl radical species while efficiently avoiding Glaser homocoupling. This reaction accommodates a range of (hetero)aryl and alkyl alkynes; (hetero)benzylic and propargylic C(sp3)−H bonds are all applicable. This process allows expedient access to chiral alkynyl amides/aldehydes. More importantly, it also provides a versatile tool for the construction of chiral C(sp3)—C(sp), C(sp3)—C(sp2), and C(sp3)—C(sp3) bonds when allied with follow-up transformations.
Localized Dielectric Loss Heating in Dielectrophoresis Devices
Authors: Kwak Tae Joon , Hossen Imtiaz , Bashir Rashid , Chang Woo-Jin , Lee Chung Hoon
Published: December 2019

Temperature increases during dielectrophoresis (DEP) can affect the response of biological entities, and ignoring the effect can result in misleading analysis. The heating mechanism of a DEP device is typically considered to be the result of Joule heating and is overlooked without an appropriate analysis. Our experiment and analysis indicate that the heating mechanism is due to the dielectric loss (Debye relaxation). A temperature increase between interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) has been measured with an integrated micro temperature sensor between IDEs to be as high as 70 °C at 1.5 MHz with a 30 Vpp applied voltage to our ultra-low thermal mass DEP device. Analytical and numerical analysis of the power dissipation due to the dielectric loss are in good agreement with the experiment data.
Diffusion Tensors of Arbitrary-Shaped Nanoparticles in Fluid by Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Zhang Zi-Tong , Zhao Xin , Cao Bing-Yang
Published: December 2019

The anisotropic diffusive behavior of nanoparticles with complex shapes attracts great interest due to its potential applications in many fields ranging from bionics to aeronautic industry. Although molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used widely to investigate nanoparticle diffusion properties, universal methods to describe the diffusion process comprehensively are still lacking. Here, we address this problem by introducing diffusion tensor as it can describe translational and rotational diffusion in three dimensions both individually and their coupling. We take carbon triple sphere suspended in argon fluid as our model system. The consistency of our results and velocity autocorrelation function(VAF) method validates our simulations. The coupling between translational and rotational diffusion is observed directly from analyzing diffusion tensor, and quantified by coupling diffusion coefficient. Our simulation reveals non-trivial effect of some factors in diffusion at nanoscale, which was not considered in previous theories. In addition to introducing an effective method to calculate the diffusion tensor in MD simulations, our work also provides insights for understanding the diffusion process of arbitrary-shaped particles in nanoengineering.
Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β Inhibition with 9-ING-41 Attenuates the Progression of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Jeffers Ann , Qin Wenyi , Owens Shuzi , Koenig Kathleen B. , Komatsu Satoshi , Giles Francis J. , Schmitt Daniel M. , Idell Steven , Tucker Torry A.
Published: December 2019

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease with a median survival of 3 years after diagnosis. Although the etiology of IPF is unknown, it is characterized by extensive alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis and proliferation of myofibroblasts in the lungs. While the origins of these myofibroblast appear to be diverse, fibroblast differentiation contributes to expansion of myofibroblasts and to disease progression. We found that agents that contribute to neomatrix formation and remodeling in pulmonary fibrosis (PF); TGF-β, Factor Xa, thrombin, plasmin and uPA all induced fibroblast/myofibroblast differentiation. These same mediators enhanced GSK-3β activation via phosphorylation of tyrosine-216 (p-Y216). Inhibition of GSK-3β signaling with the novel inhibitor 9-ING-41 blocked the induction of myofibroblast markers; α-SMA and Col-1 and reduced morphological changes of myofibroblast differentiation. In in vivo studies, the progression of TGF-β and bleomycin mediated PF was significantly attenuated by 9-ING-41 administered at 7 and 14 days respectively after the establishment of injury. Specifically, 9-ING-41 treatment significantly improved lung function (compliance and lung volumes; p < 0.05) of TGF-β adenovirus treated mice compared to controls. Similar results were found in mice with bleomycin-induced PF. These studies clearly show that activation of the GSK-3β signaling pathway is critical for the induction of myofibroblast differentiation in lung fibroblasts ex vivo and pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. The results offer a strong premise supporting the continued investigation of the GSK-3β signaling pathway in the control of fibroblast-myofibroblast differentiation and fibrosing lung injury. These data provide a strong rationale for extension of clinical trials of 9-ING-41 to patients with IPF.
Plasmid-based and -free methods using CRISPR/Cas9 system for replacement of targeted genes in Colletotrichum sansevieriae
Authors: Nakamura Masayuki , Okamura Yuta , Iwai Hisashi
Published: December 2019

The CRISPR-Cas9 system has a potential for wide application in organisms that particularly present low homologous integration rates. In this study, we developed three different methods using this system to replace a gene through homology-directed repair in the plant pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum sansevieriae, which has a low recombination frequency. The gene encoding scytalone dehydratase was used as the target so that mutants can be readily distinguished owning to a lack of melanin biosynthesis. First, we performed a plasmid-based method using plasmids containing a Cas9 expression cassette and/or a single-guide RNA (sgRNA) under the control of the endogenous U6 snRNA promoter, and 67 out of 69 (97.1%) transformants exhibited a melanin-deficient phenotype with high efficiency. Second, we performed a transformation using a Cas9 protein/sgRNA complex and obtained 23 out of 28 (82.1%) transformants. Lastly, we developed a hybrid system combining a Cas9 protein and donor DNA-sgRNA expression plasmid, which yielded 75 out of 84 (89.2%) transformants. This system was also applicable to four other genes at different loci of the fungus. This is the first study to establish a CRISPR/Cas9 gene replacement system in Colletotrichum spp. and it presents a potential application for a broad range of use in other species of the genus.
Caveolin-2 deficiency induces a rapid anti-tumor immune response prior to regression of implanted murine lung carcinoma tumors
Authors: Liu Yajun , Qi Xiaoqiang , Li Guangfu , Sowa Grzegorz
Published: December 2019

Immunosuppression is critical for tumor growth and metastasis as well as obstacle to effective immunotherapy. Here, we demonstrate that host deficiency in caveolin-2, a member of caveolin protein family, increases M1-polarized tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) and CD8 T cell infiltration into subcutaneously implanted murine lung carcinoma tumors. Importantly, increase in M1 TAM-specific markers and cytokines occurs prior to increased numbers of tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells and tumor regression in caveolin-2 deficient mice, suggesting that an early increase in M1 TAMs is a novel mechanism, via which host deficiency in caveolin-2 inhibits tumor growth. Consistent with the latter, transfer and co-injection of caveolin-2 deficient bone marrow (origin of TAMs) suppresses tumor growth and increases numbers of M1-polarized TAMs in wild type mice. Collectively, our data suggest that lung cancer cells use caveolin-2 expressed in bone marrow-derived cell types including TAMs to promote tumor growth via suppressing the anti-tumor immune response and that caveolin-2 could be a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.