bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antenatal detection of fetal growth restriction and risk of stillbirth: population‐based case–control study
Authors: Ego A. , Monier I. , Skaare K. , Zeitlin J.
Published: July 2019

Objectives

Antenatal surveillance of intrauterine growth aims to detect growth‐restricted fetuses (FGR), which face increased risk of stillbirth. Improving their detection could be an effective strategy for prevention of stillbirth. The French REPERE study was conducted to estimate the association between antenatal detection of FGR and risk of stillbirth.

Methods

REPERE is a case–control study performed in three French districts with a combined total of approximately 30 000 births annually. Cases were singleton small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) stillbirths ≥ 24 weeks' gestation and without severe congenital anomaly, between 2012 and 2014, identified using a population‐based stillbirth registry; controls were live births fulfilling the same inclusion criteria over a 9‐week period from 7 April to 8 June 2014. Data were extracted by trained investigators from medical records and ultrasound reports. SGA was defined as birth weight < 10th percentile of French customized standards. FGR was defined by the presence of at least one of seven predefined parameters (suspected FGR mentioned in medical records or in ultrasound report, suspected faltering growth mentioned in an ultrasound report, documented abdominal circumference or estimated fetal weight < 10th percentile, referral for additional ultrasound examination to monitor growth or abnormal umbilical artery Doppler). We used logistic regression to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the association between detection of FGR and risk of stillbirth. Included covariables were parity, maternal medical history, vascular complications during pregnancy and birth‐weight percentile, which are known to be associated with risk of detection of FGR and of stillbirth.

Results

During the study period, there were 92 182 births ≥ 22 weeks' gestation, including 669 stillbirths, of which 79 were singleton SGA stillbirths ≥ 24 weeks and without severe congenital anomaly. Of these cases, 44.3% (35/79) had FGR detected, compared with a detection rate of 36.2% in controls (154/426). The crude OR expressing the association between detection of FGR and risk of stillbirth was 1.4 (95% CI, 0.9–2.3) and the OR adjusted for parity, presence of risk factors for FGR, presence of vascular disorder and birth‐weight percentile was 0.6 (95% CI, 0.3–1.0). Among deliveries ≥ 28 weeks, detection rates were 38.3% vs 36.0% for cases and controls, with an adjusted OR of 0.5 (95% CI, 0.2–1.0).

Conclusion

Antenatal detection of FGR was protective against stillbirth, but over 40% of stillbirths among SGA fetuses occurred despite detection of FGR, pointing to the need to improve management following detection. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
MRI in systems medicine
Authors: Liu Thomas T.
Published: July 2019

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the primary medical imaging modalities and a key component of the standard of care in modern healthcare systems. One of the factors that distinguishes MRI from other imaging methods is the ability to program the MRI system to reveal a wide range of imaging contrasts, where each type of contrast offers unique information about the biological sample of interest. This ability stems from the fact that both the amplitude and phase of the magnetization of the underlying tissue can be manipulated to highlight different biological phenomenon. The flexibility and capabilities offered by modern MRI systems have enabled the development of a myriad of techniques for characterizing anatomy, physiology, and function. These include methods to characterize gross anatomy, tissue microstructure, bulk blood flow, tissue perfusion, and functional changes in blood oxygenation.

This article is categorized under:

Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Imaging

Translational, Genomic, and Systems Medicine > Diagnostic Methods
When is It Safe to Start VTE Prophylaxis After Blunt Solid Organ Injury? A Prospective Study from a Level I Trauma Center
Authors: Schellenberg Morgan , Inaba Kenji , Biswas Subarna , Heindel Patrick , Benjamin Elizabeth , Strumwasser Aaron , Matsushima Kazuhide , Lam Lydia , Demetriades Demetrios
Published: July 2019

Background

The optimal timing of VTE prophylaxis initiation after blunt solid organ injury is controversial. Retrospective studies suggest initiation ≤48 h is safe. This prospective study examined the safety and efficacy of early VTE prophylaxis initiation after nonoperative blunt solid organ injury.

Methods

All patients >15 years of age presenting after blunt trauma (12/01/16–11/30/17) were prospectively screened. Patients were included if solid organ injury (liver, spleen, kidney) was diagnosed on admission CT scan and nonoperative management was planned. ED deaths, transfers, patients with pre‐existing bleeding disorders or home antiplatelet/anticoagulant medications, and those who did not receive VTE prophylaxis were excluded. Demographics, injury/clinical data, type/timing of VTE prophylaxis initiation, and outcomes were collected. Patients were dichotomized into study groups based on VTE prophylaxis initiation time: Early (≤48 h) vs Late (>48 h after admission). Prophylaxis initiation was at the discretion of the attending trauma surgeon. The primary study outcome was VTE event rate. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, need for and volume of post‐prophylaxis blood transfusion, need for delayed (post‐prophylaxis) interventional radiology (IR) or operative intervention, failure of nonoperative management, and mortality. Outcomes were compared with univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis with logistic regression determined independent predictors of late VTE prophylaxis initiation.

Results

After exclusions, 118 patients were identified. Median ISS was 22 [IQR 14–26]. Median AAST grade of injury was 2 [IQR 2–3] for liver, 2 [IQR 1–3] for spleen, and 3 [IQR 2–3] for kidney. Compared to late prophylaxis patients (n = 57, 48%), early prophylaxis patients (n = 61, 52%) had significantly fewer DVTs (n = 0, 0% vs n = 5, 9%, p = 0.024) but similar rates of PE (n = 2, 3% vs n = 3, 5%, p = 0.672). TBI was the only significant risk factor for late prophylaxis (OR 0.22, p = 0.015). No patient in either group required delayed intervention (operative or IR) for bleeding. There was no difference in volume of post‐prophylaxis blood transfusion.

Conclusions

In this prospective study of patients with nonoperative blunt solid organ injuries, early (≤48 h) initiation of VTE prophylaxis resulted in a lower incidence of DVTs without an associated increase in bleeding or need for intervention. Early initiation of VTE prophylaxis is likely to be safe and beneficial for patients with blunt solid organ injury.
Understanding trust on social networking sites among tertiary students: An empirical study in Ghana
Authors: Koranteng Felix Nti , Wiafe Isaac , Katsriku Ferdinand Apietu , Apau Richard
Published: July 2019

User trust in social networking sites (SNS) has become an important issue in SNS discussions. This is because of its impact on knowledge sharing, social commerce, social interaction, among many others. However, information systems researchers have primarily explored the benefits of trust with little attention to its antecedents. In an attempt to address this knowledge gap, this study proposed a model that investigated the factors that promote trust among SNS users. Data was gathered from voluntary respondents using a questionnaire. A PLS-SEM analysis of 912 valid responses suggested that Norm of Reciprocity, Social Interaction Ties and Identification are significant factors that encourage Trust among SNS users. Shared Language was also identified to have impact on Norm of Reciprocity, Social Interaction Ties and Identification. The results of the study provide significant theoretical and practical contributions. They bridge the knowledge gap regarding the formation of Trust on SNS. The model evaluated explains 49.6% of the variance in Trust and thus suitable for analyzing the antecedents of Trust on SNS. Furthermore, with the significance of Identification, Social Interaction Ties and Norm of Reciprocity on Trust, SNS developers are tasked to offer SNS features that proliferate the formation of these factors as well as shared interpretations.
Life satisfaction trajectories of junior high school students in poverty: Exploring the role of self‐efficacy and social support
Authors: Jhang Fang‐Hua
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Adolescents’ evaluation of overall life in response to adverse life circumstances may depend on the features of events as well as the resources of the youngsters, but there is a lack of research examining whether these factors relate to life satisfaction trajectories from early adolescence to late adolescence (ranging from age 12 to 19). This study analyzes whether controllable negative life events, internal resources, (e.g., self‐efficacy) and external resources, (e.g., three sources of social support) predict life satisfaction trajectories, and whether these resources moderate the negative impacts of controllable events on life satisfaction trajectories.

Methods

Multilevel growth modeling was used to analyze a three‐wave, nationally representative sample consisting of 818 adolescents from poor families in Taiwan. At time T1, participants were junior high school students (mean age = 13.52, SD=.83).

Results

The results revealed that controllable negative events reduced the initial state of life satisfaction, whereas self‐efficacy and family support enhanced the initial life satisfaction. In addition, instead of providing a buffering effect, self‐efficacy strengthened the link between baseline controllable events and changes in life satisfaction.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that peer support, rather than family and teacher support, moderates the impact of controllable negative events on life satisfaction over time.
IGUSA’S CONJECTURE FOR EXPONENTIAL SUMS: OPTIMAL ESTIMATES FOR NONRATIONAL SINGULARITIES
Authors: CLUCKERS RAF , MUSTAŢĂ MIRCEA , NGUYEN KIEN HUU
Published: July 2019

We prove an upper bound on the log canonical threshold of a hypersurface that satisfies a certain power condition and use it to prove several generalizations of Igusa’s conjecture on exponential sums, with the log canonical threshold in the exponent of the estimates. We show that this covers optimally all situations of the conjectures for nonrational singularities by comparing the log canonical threshold with a local notion of the motivic oscillation index.
HIGHER GENUS GROMOV–WITTEN THEORY OF AND ASSOCIATED TO LOCAL CURVES
Authors: PANDHARIPANDE RAHUL , TSENG HSIAN-HUA
Published: July 2019

We study the higher genus equivariant Gromov–Witten theory of the Hilbert scheme of$n$points of$\mathbb{C}^{2}$. Since the equivariant quantum cohomology, computed by Okounkov and Pandharipande [Invent. Math. 179(2010), 523–557], is semisimple, the higher genus theory is determined by an$\mathsf{R}$-matrix via the Givental–Teleman classification of Cohomological Field Theories (CohFTs). We uniquely specify the required$\mathsf{R}$-matrix by explicit data in degree$0$. As a consequence, we lift the basic triangle of equivalences relating the equivariant quantum cohomology of the Hilbert scheme$\mathsf{Hilb}^{n}(\mathbb{C}^{2})$and the Gromov–Witten/Donaldson–Thomas correspondence for 3-fold theories of local curves to a triangle of equivalences in all higher genera. The proof uses the analytic continuation of the fundamental solution of the QDE of the Hilbert scheme of points determined by Okounkov and Pandharipande [Transform. Groups 15(2010), 965–982]. The GW/DT edge of the triangle in higher genus concerns new CohFTs defined by varying the 3-fold local curve in the moduli space of stable curves. The equivariant orbifold Gromov–Witten theory of the symmetric product$\mathsf{Sym}^{n}(\mathbb{C}^{2})$is also shown to be equivalent to the theories of the triangle in all genera. The result establishes a complete case of the crepant resolution conjecture [Bryan and Graber,Algebraic Geometry–Seattle 2005, Part 1, Proceedings of Symposia in Pure Mathematics, 80 (American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI, 2009), 23–42; Coateset al.,Geom. Topol. 13(2009), 2675–2744; Coates & Ruan,Ann. Inst. Fourier (Grenoble) 63(2013), 431–478].
Tuning heat transport via boundary layer topographies
Authors: Xia Ke-Qing
Published: July 2019

A primary objective in turbulent thermal convection research is to understand and control the heat transport scaling behaviour. Previous studies have shown that the heat transport can be tuned by manipulating the boundary layer topographies with monoscale roughness elements. Now, Zhu et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 869, 2019, R4) have demonstrated that with multiscale wall roughness, the heat transport law with an exponent of $1/2$ can be achieved for an extended range of the Rayleigh number, providing a new way to manipulate heat transport by tuning boundary topographies in turbulent flows.
The menstrual cycle may not be limited to the endometrium but also may impact gut permeability
Authors: Roomruangwong Chutima , Carvalho André F. , Geffard Michel , Maes Michael
Published: July 2019

Objective:

To examine associations between IgA responses to Gram-negative gut commensal bacteria and peri-menstrual symptoms and sex hormone levels during the menstrual cycle in women with and without premenstrual symptoms.

Methods:

Forty women aged 18–45 years completed the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) during all 28 consecutive days of the menstrual cycle. We assayed, in plasma, IgA responses to six Gram-negative bacteria, that is,Hafnei alvei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Morganella morganii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas putidaandCitobacter koseri, progesterone and oestradiol at days 7, 14, 21 and 28 of the menstrual cycle.

Results:

Significant changes in Δ (actual − 1 week earlier) IgA to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of the six Gram-negative bacteria during the menstrual cycle were observed with peak IgA levels at T4 (day 28) and lows at T1 or T2 (day 7 or 14). The ΔIgA changes inH. alvei,M. Morganii, P. putidaduring the menstrual cycle were significantly and positively associated with changes in the total DRSP score, and severity of physio-somatic, anxiety and breast-craving, but not depressive, symptoms. The changes in IgA responses to LPS were largely predicted by changes in progesterone and steady-state levels of progesterone averaged over the luteal phase.

Discussion:

Menstrual cycle-associated changes in IgA directed against LPS and by inference bacterial translocation may be driven by the effects of progesterone on transcellular, paracellular and vascular pathways (leaky gut) thereby contributing to the severity of physio-somatic and anxiety symptoms as well as fatigue, breast swelling and food cravings.
A critical evaluation of results from genome-wide association studies of micronutrient status and their utility in the practice of precision nutrition
Authors: Dib Marie-Joe , Elliott Ruan , Ahmadi Kourosh R.
Published: July 2019

Rapid advances in ‘omics’ technologies have paved the way forward to an era where more ‘precise’ approaches – ‘precision’ nutrition – which leverage data on genetic variability alongside the traditional indices, have been put forth as the state-of-the-art solution to redress the effects of malnutrition across the life course. We purport that this inference is premature and that it is imperative to first review and critique the existing evidence from large-scale epidemiological findings. We set out to provide a critical evaluation of findings from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the roadmap to precision nutrition, focusing on GWAS of micronutrient disposition. We found that a large number of loci associated with biomarkers of micronutrient status have been identified. Mean estimates of heritability of micronutrient status ranged between 20 and 35 % for minerals, 56–59 % for water-soluble and 30–70 % for fat-soluble vitamins. With some exceptions, the majority of the identified genetic variants explained little of the overall variance in status for each micronutrient, ranging between 1·3 and 8 % (minerals), <0·1–12 % (water-soluble) and 1·7–2·3 % for (fat-soluble) vitamins. However, GWAS have provided some novel insight into mechanisms that underpin variability in micronutrient status. Our findings highlight obvious gaps that need to be addressed if the full scope of precision nutrition is ever to be realised, including research aimed at (i) dissecting the genetic basis of micronutrient deficiencies or ‘response’ to intake/supplementation (ii) identifying trans-ethnic and ethnic-specific effects (iii) identifying gene–nutrient interactions for the purpose of unravelling molecular ‘behaviour’ in a range of environmental contexts.
Collisionless energy transfer in kinetic turbulence: field–particle correlations in Fourier space
Authors: Li Tak Chu , Howes Gregory G. , Klein Kristopher G. , Liu Yi-Hsin , TenBarge Jason M.
Published: July 2019

Turbulence is commonly observed in nearly collisionless heliospheric plasmas, including the solar wind and corona and the Earth’s magnetosphere. Understanding the collisionless mechanisms responsible for the energy transfer from the turbulent fluctuations to the particles is a frontier in kinetic turbulence research. Collisionless energy transfer from the turbulence to the particles can take place reversibly, resulting in non-thermal energy in the particle velocity distribution functions (VDFs) before eventual collisional thermalization is realized. Exploiting the information contained in the fluctuations in the VDFs is valuable. Here we apply a recently developed method based on VDFs, the field–particle correlation technique, to a

$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}=1$

, solar-wind-like, low-frequency Alfvénic turbulence simulation with well-resolved phase space to identify the field–particle energy transfer in velocity space. The field–particle correlations reveal that the energy transfer, mediated by the parallel electric field, results in significant structuring of the VDF in the direction parallel to the magnetic field. Fourier modes representing the length scales between the ion and electron gyroradii show that energy transfer is resonant in nature, localized in velocity space to the Landau resonances for each Fourier mode. The energy transfer closely follows the Landau resonant velocities with varying perpendicular wavenumber

$k_{\bot }$

and plasma

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. This resonant signature, consistent with Landau damping, is observed in all diagnosed Fourier modes that cover the dissipation range of the simulation.
Neural embeddings: accurate and readable inferences based on semantic kernels
Authors: Croce Danilo , Rossini Daniele , Basili Roberto
Published: July 2019

Sentence embeddings are the suitable input vectors for the neural learning of a number of inferences about content and meaning. Similarity estimation, classification, emotional characterization of sentences as well as pragmatic tasks, such as question answering or dialogue, have largely demonstrated the effectiveness of vector embeddings to model semantics. Unfortunately, most of the above decisions are epistemologically opaque as for the limited interpretability of the acquired neural models based on the involved embeddings. We think that any effective approach to meaning representation should be at least epistemologically coherent. In this paper, we concentrate on thereadabilityof neural models, as a core property of any embedding technique consistent and effective in representing sentence meaning. In this perspective, this paper discusses a novel embedding technique (the Nyström methodology) that corresponds to the reconstruction of a sentence in a kernel space, inspired by rich semantic similarity metrics (a semantic kernel) rather than by a language model. In addition to being based on a kernel that captures grammatical and lexical semantic information, the proposed embedding can be used as the input vector of an effective neural learning architecture, calledKernel-based deep architectures(KDA). Finally, it also characterizesby designthe KDA explanatory capability, as the proposed embedding is derived from examples that are both human readable and labeled. This property is obtained by the integration of KDAs with an explanation methodology, calledlayer-wise relevance propagation (LRP), already proposed in image processing. The Nyström embeddings support here the automatic compilation of argumentations in favor or against a KDA inference, in form of an explanation: each decision can in fact be linked through LRP back to the real examples, that is, the landmarks linguistically related to the input instance. The KDA network output is explained via the analogy with the activated landmarks. Quantitative evaluation of the explanations shows that richer explanations based on semantic and syntagmatic structures characterize convincing arguments, as they effectively help the user in assessing whether or not to trust the machine decisions in different tasks, for example, Question Classification or Semantic Role Labeling. This confirms the epistemological benefit that Nyström embeddings may bring, as linguistically rich and meaningful representations for a variety of inference tasks.
Analyzing and interpreting neural networks for NLP: A report on the first BlackboxNLP workshop
Authors: Alishahi Afra , Chrupała Grzegorz , Linzen Tal
Published: July 2019

The Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing (EMNLP) 2018 workshop BlackboxNLP was dedicated to resources and techniques specifically developed for analyzing and understanding the inner-workings and representations acquired by neural models of language. Approaches included: systematic manipulation of input to neural networks and investigating the impact on their performance, testing whether interpretable knowledge can be decoded from intermediate representations acquired by neural networks, proposing modifications to neural network architectures to make their knowledge state or generated output more explainable, and examining the performance of networks on simplified or formal languages. Here we review a number of representative studies in each category.
The unified protocol for anxiety and depression with comorbid borderline personality disorder: a single case design clinical series
Authors: Lopez Michelle E. , Thorp Steven R. , Dekker Matthew , Noorollah Andrew , Zerbi Giovanna , Payne Laura A. , Meier Emily , Stoddard Jill A.
Published: July 2019

This study used a single case experimental design to investigate the use of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) among a sample of individuals with depression and anxiety who also presented with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Eight women received individual treatment with the UP over the course of 14–16 treatment sessions, and were assessed for anxiety and depression severity on a weekly basis over a 2–6 week baseline period and throughout treatment. Three of the eight participants demonstrated reliable pre- to post-treatment clinical improvements on depression and stress scales, and one participant demonstrated a reliable reduction on an anxiety scale. Two participants demonstrated a reliable improvement in overall anxiety. The results indicate that the UP applied to individuals diagnosed with primary BPD may lead to clinical improvement in depression, stress and anxiety for some individuals. However, the majority of individuals with BPD in our sample did not show strong improvement, and this suggests the need for additional sessions of UP or an intervention that focuses on the symptoms of BPD specifically for some women.

Key learning aims

(1)

To describe the applicability of the Unified Protocol in the treatment of individuals with borderline personality and co-occurring anxiety or depression.

(2)

To understand the value of utilizing a transdiagnostic approach as an alternative to diagnosis-specific approaches to treatment.

(3)

To identify the four core modules of the Unified Protocol and describe the general format for individual treatment.
Pattern and frequency reconfigurable antenna with diode loaded ELC resonator
Authors: Singh Ghanshyam , Kanaujia Binod K. , Pandey Vijay K. , Gangwar Deepak , Kumar Sachin
Published: July 2019

In this work, a new compact, low profile, frequency, and end-fire pattern reconfigurable antenna is presented. The proposed antenna consists of four parasitic elements and an electric-inductive-capacitive (ELC) resonator enclosed with a closed ring resonator (CRR). The reconfigurability in the proposed antenna is achieved with the help of five PIN diodes (D1–D5) embedded on the top surface of the substrate. The diode (D1) is implanted between ELC and CRR resonators for frequency reconfigurability. The other four diodes (D2–D5) are implanted between the ground plane and four parasitic elements to control the electrical length of the ground plane to achieve pattern diversity. The ground plane and parasitic elements steer the primary omni-directional beam to bi-directional and uni-directional end-fire radiation at multiple frequencies. The proposed antenna exhibits multiband operation and end-fire pattern diversity depending upon the different states of PIN diodes. The overall size of the proposed antenna is 0.20λ0× 0.17λ0× 0.009λ0, where λ0 is calculated at the lowest resonance frequency. The impedance bandwidth of the antenna ranges from 1.45 to 26.22%, while peak gain varies from 0.86 to 3.86 dBi depending upon the state of operation. The measured results are in agreement with the simulated results, which confirm the frequency and pattern diversity performance of the antenna. The proposed antenna can be used in back-to-back repeater systems.
Effects of Anisotropy and Saturation on Geomechanical Behavior of Mudstone
Authors: DeReuil A. A. , Birgenheier L. P. , McLennan J.
Published: July 2019

The abundance of mudstone in Earth's crust and its academic and industry applications has led to advancements in the understanding of mudstone deposition and preservation. However, there are few quantitative geomechanical studies on mudstone. To test correlations between anisotropy, fluid saturation levels, and deformability and strength parameters in mudstone, a suite of indirect tensile and unconfined and triaxial compression tests was completed on samples from the Mancos Shale and the Agrio Formation. Discs or plugs were tested with axial loading parallel or perpendicular to bedding, at various confining pressures, and at saturation levels from 0 to 17%. Tensile strength, compressive strength, Young's Modulus, Secant Modulus, stress drop, and energy released exhibit mechanical anisotropy and decrease due to saturation. Tensile strength anisotropy revealed the weakness of heterolithic bedding in mudstone, as tensile fractures commonly propagated along bedding interfaces. Saturation increased mechanical anisotropy for tensile and compressive strength. A compressive strength reduction of 39% to 75% was observed between dry and partially saturated plugs. Lithofacies were used to classify lithologic variations in different types of mudstone. When partially saturated, sandstone‐bearing facies revealed a greater reduction in strength and moduli than clay‐rich mudstone facies. Empirical relationships between partially saturated and dry sample strength and moduli are proposed, to allow for estimation of deformation and failure behavior under in‐situ conditions. The effects that saturation, orientation, and lithofacies have on mechanical behavior are of interest in numerous engineering and academic applications, including fault behavior, induced fracturing of hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs, and nuclear waste disposal.
The Molecular Basis for Understanding the Impacts of Ocean Warming
Authors: Brewer Peter G.
Published: July 2019

A grand challenge for ocean chemists in the years ahead lies in the need to tackle the chemical consequences of ocean warming with the same rigor and intensity that has been brought to bear on the physical chemistry of ocean acidification. For over 50 years ocean chemistry has been dominated by the study of pH‐dependent processes, but to address the biogeochemical impacts of ocean warming, we will need to rapidly advance the discipline of ocean chemical physics where temperature is the master variable and the basic unit is the Joule. Just as it would be impossible to understand the ocean CO2 system without awareness of the essential pH‐dependent CO2‐HCO3‐CO3 equilibria, so too is it impossible to describe ocean chemical physics without knowledge of the bimolecular structure of water. Water, and water in sea water, is composed of a complex of dominant hydrogen bonded forms, and the singlet molecular H2O species, in temperature‐controlled equilibrium and the ratio of these forms, can now be precisely determined. The physical properties of sea water are traditionally described by fitting an ad hoc collection of coefficients to experimental data. They are more accurately described as temperature and pressure perturbations of the underlying molecular equilibrium state. Ocean oxygen consumption rates are accurately described as an Arrhenius function, and not as an exponential function of depth as has been the tradition for over 50 years. We do not now have good correlation between ocean models and observed warming and oxygen declines, and full anoxia with the emergence of hydrogen sulfide over large regions of the ocean is possible. The parallel ocean invasions of heat and fossil fuel CO2 must be combined to estimate their full impact.
How Old is the Water from the Tree Canopy to Groundwater?
Authors: Sprenger Matthias , Stumpp Christine , Weiler Markus
Published: July 2019

Understanding the “age” of water in different times and places offers insights into how water moves through the hydrological cycle.
Magnesium Isotopic Composition of Tests of Large Benthic Foraminifers: Implications for Biomineralization
Authors: Maeda Ayumi , Yoshimura Toshihiro , Araoka Daisuke , Suzuki Atsushi , Tamenori Yusuke , Fujita Kazuhiko , Toyofuku Takashi , Ohkouchi Naohiko , Kawahata Hodaka
Published: July 2019

The Mg isotopic composition in biogenic CaCO3 is expected to reflect oceanic Mg cycles, yet its practical application for paleoenvironmental reconstruction is complicated by the influences of seawater temperature and biologically mediated isotope fractionation. In this study, we investigated the relationship between water temperature, growth rate, and the Mg isotope ratio (δ26Mg) of the biogenic high‐Mg calcite that forms the tests of large benthic foraminifers. We cultured asexually reproduced large benthic foraminifers (Amphisorus kudakajimensis and Calcarina gaudichaudii) at 21–30 °C. We measured Mg/Ca ratios, chemical Mg speciation, and δ26Mg for both species. Mg/Ca ratios showed significant temperature dependence for both species, while the δ26Mg values for different populations of C. gaudichaudii exhibited increasing discrimination of heavy isotope with increasing temperature. X‐ray absorption of near‐edge structure spectra of the foraminiferal tests showed Mg speciation to be consistent with that of inorganic calcite, indicating ideal substitution of Mg for Ca in the crystal lattice. The δ26Mg values for both species were close to those of inorganic calcite and other marine organisms that precipitate high‐Mg calcite. These results suggest that precipitation of high‐Mg calcite tests for both species is similar to that of inorganic calcite and that Mg isotope fractionation for both species is only slightly influenced by individual physiological processes related to growth temperature. The ∆26Mgcarb‐sol values of multiple field samples fell within the ∆26Mgcarb‐sol range for inorganic calcite, providing preliminary evidence that the effects of intraspecific differences in δ26Mg values can be averaged out by careful choice of samples for analysis.
Increasing trend of scientists to switch between topics
Authors: Zeng An , Shen Zhesi , Zhou Jianlin , Fan Ying , Di Zengru , Wang Yougui , Stanley H. Eugene , Havlin Shlomo
Published: July 2019

Despite persistent efforts in understanding the creativity of scientists over different career stages, little is known about the underlying dynamics of research topic switching that drives innovation. Here, we analyze the publication records of individual scientists, aiming to quantify their topic switching dynamics and its influence. We find that the co-citing network of papers of a scientist exhibits a clear community structure where each major community represents a research topic. Our analysis suggests that scientists have a narrow distribution of number of topics. However, researchers nowadays switch more frequently between topics than those in the early days. We also find that high switching probability in early career is associated with low overall productivity, yet with high overall productivity in latter career. Interestingly, the average citation per paper, however, is in all career stages negatively correlated with the switching probability. We propose a model that can explain the main observed features.
Cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking for quantifying right ventricular deformation in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
Authors: Hu Bi-yue , Wang Jin , Yang Zhi-gang , Ren Yan , Jiang Li , Xie Lin-jun , Liu Xi , Gao Yue , Shen Meng-ting , Xu Hua-yan , Shi Ke , Li Zhen-lin , Xia Chun-chao , Peng Wan-lin , Deng Ming-yan , Li Hong , Guo Ying-kun
Published: July 2019

To determine the feasibility of deformation analysis in the right ventricle (RV) using cardiovascular magnetic resonance myocardial feature tracking (CMR-FT) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. We enrolled 104 T2DM patients, including 14 with impaired right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and 90 with preserved RVEF, and 26 healthy controls in this prospective study. CMR was used to determine RV feature-tracking parameters. RV strain parameters were compared among the controls, patients with preserved and reduced RVEF. Binary logistic regression was used to predict RV dysfunction. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to assess the diagnostic accuracy. The agreement was tested by Bland–Altman analysis. Compared with controls, longitudinal and circumferential global peak strain (PS) and PS at mid-ventricular, apical slices were significantly decreased in T2DM patients with or without reduced RVEF (p < 0.05). Within the T2DM patients, the global longitudinal PS (GLPS) and the longitudinal PS at mid-ventricular segments were significantly reduced in the reduced RVEF group than in preserved RVEF groups (p < 0.05). GLPS was an independent predictor of RV dysfunction (odds ratio: 1.246, 95% CI: 1.037–1.496; p = 0.019). The GLPS demonstrated greater diagnostic accuracy (area under curve: 0.716) to predict RV dysfunction. On Bland-Altman analysis, global circumferential PS and GLPS had the best intra- and inter-observer agreement, respectively. In T2DM patients, CMR-FT could quantify RV deformation and identify subclinical RV dysfunction in those with normal RVEF. Further, RV strain parameters are potential predictors for RV dysfunction in T2DM patients.
LEI: A Novel Allele Frequency-Based Feature Selection Method for Multi-ancestry Admixed Populations
Authors: Wathen Michael J. , Gautam Yadu , Ghandikota Sudhir , Rao Marepalli B. , Mersha Tesfaye B.
Published: July 2019

Next-generation sequencing technologies now make it possible to sequence and genotype hundreds of thousands of genetic markers across the human genome. Selection of informative markers for the comprehensive characterization of individual genomic makeup using a high dimensional genomics dataset has become a common practice in evolutionary biology and human genetics. Although several feature selection approaches exist to determine the ancestry proportion in two-way admixed populations including African Americans, there are limited statistical tools developed for the feature selection approaches in three-way admixed populations (including Latino populations). Herein, we present a new likelihood-based feature selection method called Lancaster Estimator of Independence (LEI) that utilizes allele frequency information to prioritize the most informative features useful to determine ancestry proportion from multiple ancestral populations in admixed individuals. The ability of LEI to leverage summary-level statistics from allele frequency data, thereby avoiding the many restrictions (and big data issues) that can accompany access to individual-level genotype data, is appealing to minimize the computation and time-consuming ancestry inference in an admixed population. We compared our allele-frequency based approach with genotype-based approach in estimating admixed proportions in three-way admixed population scenarios. Our results showed ancestry estimates using the top-ranked features from LEI were comparable with the estimates using features from genotype-based methods in three-way admixed population. We provide an easy-to-use R code to assist researchers in using the LEI tool to develop allele frequency-based informative features to conduct admixture mapping studies from mixed samples of multiple ancestry origin.
Deep Cytometry: Deep learning with Real-time Inference in Cell Sorting and Flow Cytometry
Authors: Li Yueqin , Mahjoubfar Ata , Chen Claire Lifan , Niazi Kayvan Reza , Pei Li , Jalali Bahram
Published: July 2019

Deep learning has achieved spectacular performance in image and speech recognition and synthesis. It outperforms other machine learning algorithms in problems where large amounts of data are available. In the area of measurement technology, instruments based on the photonic time stretch have established record real-time measurement throughput in spectroscopy, optical coherence tomography, and imaging flow cytometry. These extreme-throughput instruments generate approximately 1 Tbit/s of continuous measurement data and have led to the discovery of rare phenomena in nonlinear and complex systems as well as new types of biomedical instruments. Owing to the abundance of data they generate, time-stretch instruments are a natural fit to deep learning classification. Previously we had shown that high-throughput label-free cell classification with high accuracy can be achieved through a combination of time-stretch microscopy, image processing and feature extraction, followed by deep learning for finding cancer cells in the blood. Such a technology holds promise for early detection of primary cancer or metastasis. Here we describe a new deep learning pipeline, which entirely avoids the slow and computationally costly signal processing and feature extraction steps by a convolutional neural network that directly operates on the measured signals. The improvement in computational efficiency enables low-latency inference and makes this pipeline suitable for cell sorting via deep learning. Our neural network takes less than a few milliseconds to classify the cells, fast enough to provide a decision to a cell sorter for real-time separation of individual target cells. We demonstrate the applicability of our new method in the classification of OT-II white blood cells and SW-480 epithelial cancer cells with more than 95% accuracy in a label-free fashion.
Role of the kidneys in the redistribution of heme-derived iron during neonatal hemolysis in mice
Authors: Bednarz Aleksandra , Lipiński Paweł , Starzyński Rafał R. , Tomczyk Mateusz , Nowak Witold , Mucha Olga , Ogórek Mateusz , Pierzchała Olga , Jończy Aneta , Staroń Robert , Śmierzchalska Julia , Rajfur Zenon , Baster Zbigniew , Józkowicz Alicja , Lenartowicz Małgorzata
Published: July 2019

Moderate intravascular hemolysis is a common condition in newborns. It is followed by the accumulation of bilirubin, which is a secondary product of the activity of heme oxygenase-1, an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of heme released from disrupted erythrocytes and taken up by hepatic macrophages. Although these cells are a major site of enzymatic heme breakdown in adults, we show here that epithelial cells of proximal tubules in the kidneys perform the functions of both heme uptake and catabolism in mouse neonates. A time-course study examining mouse pups during the neonatal period showed a gradual recovery from hemolysis, and concomitant decreases in the expression of heme-related genes and non-heme iron transporters in the proximal tubules. By adjusting the expression of iron-handling proteins in response to the disappearance of hemolysis in mouse neonates, the kidneys may play a role in the detoxification of iron and contribute to its recirculation from the primary urine to the blood.
Advanced numerical investigation of the heat flux in an array of microbolometers
Authors: Stocchi Matteo , Mencarelli Davide , Pierantoni Luca , Göritz Alexander , Kaynak Canan Baristiran , Wietstruck Matthias , Kaynak Mehmet
Published: July 2019

The investigation of the thermal properties of an array of microbolometers has been carried out by mean of two independent numerical analysis, respectively the Direct-Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) and the classic diffusive approach of the Fourier’s equation. In particular, the thermal dissipation of a hot membrane placed in a low-pressure cavity has been studied for different values of the temperature of the hot body and for different values of the pressure of the environment. The results for the heat flux derived from the two approaches have then been compared and discussed.
Simulating Tsunami Inundation and Soil Response in a Large Centrifuge
Authors: Exton M. , Harry S. , Kutter B. , Mason H. B. , Yeh H.
Published: July 2019

Tsunamis are rare, extreme events and cause significant damage to coastal infrastructure, which is often exacerbated by soil instability surrounding the structures. Simulating tsunamis in a laboratory setting is important to further understand soil instability induced by tsunami inundation processes. Laboratory simulations are difficult because the scale of such processes is very large, hence dynamic similitude cannot be achieved for small-scale models in traditional water-wave-tank facilities. The ability to control the body force in a centrifuge environment considerably reduces the mismatch in dynamic similitude. We review dynamic similitudes under a centrifuge condition for a fluid domain and a soil domain. A novel centrifuge apparatus specifically designed for exploring the physics of a tsunami-like flow on a soil bed is used to perform experiments. The present 1:40 model represents the equivalent geometric scale of a prototype soil field of 9.6 m deep, 21 m long, and 14.6 m wide. A laboratory facility capable of creating such conditions under the normal gravitational condition does not exist. With the use of a centrifuge, we are now able to simulate and measure tsunami-like loading with sufficiently high water pressure and flow velocities. The pressures and flow velocities in the model are identical to those of the prototype yielding realistic conditions of flow-soil interaction.
Neuroprotection mediated by cystatin C-loaded extracellular vesicles
Authors: Pérez-González Rocío , Sahoo Susmita , Gauthier Sebastien A. , Kim Yohan , Li Meihua , Kumar Asok , Pawlik Monika , Benussi Luisa , Ghidoni Roberta , Levy Efrat
Published: July 2019

Cystatin C (CysC) is implicated in neuroprotection and repair in the nervous system in response to diverse neurotoxic conditions. In addition to being secreted from cells in a soluble form, CysC is released by cells in association with extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes. We demonstrate that EVs containing CysC protect cultured cells from starvation-induced death. Moreover, while EVs secreted by CysC-deficient cells were not protective, EVs secreted by CysC-deficient cells treated with exogenous human CysC significantly enhanced the survival of the cells. CysC also plays a role in modulating the secretion of EVs, enhancing secretion of EVs by primary cortical neurons and primary cortical smooth muscle cells. Confirming these in vitro findings, higher EV levels were observed in the brain extracellular space of transgenic mice expressing human CysC as compared to littermate controls. Regulation of cell-secreted EV levels and content in the brain is likely to be essential to maintaining normal brain function. We propose that enhanced EV release could rescue the deleterious effects of dysfunction of the endosomal-lysosomal system in neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, a higher level of CysC-loaded EVs released from cells in the central nervous system has important protective functions, representing a potential therapeutic tool for disorders of the central nervous system.
Facile Hydrophobication of Glutathione-Protected Gold Nanoclusters and Encapsulation into Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) Nanocarriers
Authors: Alkilany Alaaldin M. , Alsotari Shrouq , Alkawareek Mahmoud Y. , Abulateefeh Samer R.
Published: July 2019

We report a simple surface functionalization of glutathione-capped gold nanoclusters by hydrophobic ion pairing with alkylamine followed by a complete phase transfer to various organic solvents with maintained colloidal stability and photoluminescence properties. The described surface hydrophobication enables efficient encapsulation of gold nanoclusters into PLGA nanocarriers allowing their visualization inside cultured cells using confocal fluorescent microscopy. The simplicity and efficiency of the described protocols should extend the biomedical applications of these metallic nanoclusters as a fluorescent platform to label hydrophobic polymeric nanocarriers beyond conventional organic dyes.
Prognostic value of serum creatine level in patients with vulvar cancer
Authors: Schwameis Richard , Postl Magdalena , Bekos Christine , Hefler Lukas , Reinthaller Alexander , Seebacher Veronika , Grimm Christoph , Polterauer Stephan , Helmy-Bader Samir
Published: July 2019

Vulvar cancer is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis that generally occurs in elderly patients. The individual prognosis is difficult to assess. Serum creatinine levels are frequently elevated in elderly patients. Recent evidence have shown shown that - besides indicating kidney impairment - serum creatinine levels may be used to predict the survival in cancer patients. Several studies observed an association between elevated serum creatinine levels and poor prognosis in patients with solid tumors. In this retrospective cohort study, serum creatinine levels were evaluated in 170 patients with invasive vulvar cancer. Serum creatinine levels were correlated to established clinicopathologic factors. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis were performed. Elevated serum creatinine levels (>1.2 mg/dl) were significantly associated with both poor disease specific and overall survival. Three year overall survival rates were 74.8% and 32.5% for patients with serum creatinine levels of ≤ and >1.2 mg/dl, respectively. In a multivariate survival model, serum creatinine levels were significantly associated with overall survival independent of tumor stage and patients’ age. In conclusion, pretherapeutic serum creatinine levels may be useful as an independent prognostic parameter in patients with vulvar cancer.