bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of pressure gradient on stability and drag reduction of superhydrophobic surfaces
Authors: Choi Woorak , Byeon Hyeokjun , Park Joo Young , Kim In Cheol , Lee Sang Joon
Published: March 2019

Air layers in microstructures of submerged superhydrophobic (SHPo) surfaces enable liquids to slip over these surfaces, thereby inducing drag reduction. However, the instability of entrapped air hinders the utilization of such surfaces in practical applications. Pressurization, air diffusion, and condensation have been regarded as the main mechanisms of the instability. Here, the pressure gradient is proposed as another mechanism that has to be considered for application in marine vehicles and channel surfaces. SHPo surfaces with differently sized ridges are fabricated, and partitioned structures are adopted for the ridges to regulate their length. The pressure gradient condition results in the deformation of air–water meniscus in the transparent ridge structures until air in these structures has been depleted. The critical pressure gradient for air depletion is measured according to the ridge size. Ridges with small widths and lengths sustains air entrapment even at high pressure gradient conditions, and they enhance the drag reduction efficiency by suppressing the deformation of air–water meniscus. Theoretical models are also derived to demonstrate the stability condition and the performance of drag reduction based on the structural sizes of ridges.
Metallization and positive pressure dependency of bandgap in solid neon
Authors: Tang Jun , Ao Bingyun , Huang Li , Ye Xiaoqiu , Gu Yunjun , Chen Qifeng
Published: March 2019

The metallization of neon remains a controversial problem as there is no consensus in theoretical simulations and no experimental verification. In this work, the insulator-to-metal transition in fcc solid neon at high pressure was revisited with a coupling of the all-electron full-potential linear augmented-plane wave (FP-LAPW) method and the GW correction to avoid the potential unreliability of pseudopotential under high pressure and correct the inaccurate energy gaps caused by local density or generalized gradient approximation of the exchange-correlation. This FP-LAPW + GW calculation predicts that the bandgap closes at a density of 88.3 g/cm3 and a pressure of 208.4 TPa. Moreover, the reported positive pressure dependency of energy gap (increases with increasing density) for solid neon in 1.5–10.0 g/cm3 was confirmed with our FP-LAPW calculations, and the underlying mechanism was first revealed based upon analysis of the charge density distribution and the electron localization function. The results of this research will provide a valuable reference for future high pressure experiments and shed new insight into the planetary interiors.
Why the particle-in-cell method captures instability enhanced collisions
Authors: Scheiner Brett , Adrian Patrick J.
Published: March 2019

While the particle-in-cell (PIC) method has been the subject of years of theoretical study, the common misconception that PIC approximates the collisionless Vlasov-Maxwell system of equations, or the Vlasov-Poisson system for the electrostatic case, is widely cited. In this paper, a PIC-relevant generalization of the instability enhanced Lenard-Balescu collision operator is derived. The analysis of this collision operator demonstrates that while coulomb collisions are truncated by the electric field grid resolution, longer range collisions that arise from imperfect shielding in the presence of instabilities persist. These instability enhanced collisions are completely captured by PIC as long as there is sufficient grid resolution to resolve the wavenumber of the unstable modes of the instability. The inclusion of this behavior is akin to particle wave interactions in the Vlasov based quasilinear theory but with one important difference. Quasilinear theory requires an initial spectral energy density which cannot be supplied self-consistently from within the theory because its initial value is determined by non-Vlasov collisional effects. With the proper electric field grid resolution, the initial spectral energy density is included self-consistently, along with the generation of plasma waves originating from discrete particle motion. Predictions of the grid resolution effect are found to be in agreement with PIC simulations at varying grid resolutions.
The electronic properties of Au and Pt metal contacts on quasi-one-dimensional layered TiS3(001)
Authors: Gilbert Simeon J. , Lipatov Alexey , Yost Andrew J. , Loes Michael J. , Sinitskii Alexander , Dowben Peter A.
Published: March 2019

The interfaces of layered trichalcogenide TiS3(001), with metals Au and Pt, were examined using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. In spite of the fact that both Au and Pt are large work function metals, no evidence of Schottky barrier formation was found with this n-type semiconductor. Two- and four-terminal field-effect transistor measurements performed on exfoliated few-nm-thick TiS3 crystals using pure Au contacts indicate that Au forms an Ohmic contact on TiS3(001), with negligible contact resistance. The absence of appreciable Schottky barrier formation is attributed to strong interactions with sulfur at the metal-semiconductor interface.
Transcriptome-wide profiling of multiple RNA modifications simultaneously at single-base resolution
Authors: Khoddami Vahid , Yerra Archana , Mosbruger Timothy L. , Fleming Aaron M. , Burrows Cynthia J. , Cairns Bradley R.
Published: March 2019

The breadth and importance of RNA modifications are growing rapidly as modified ribonucleotides can impact the sequence, structure, function, stability, and fate of RNAs and their interactions with other molecules. Therefore, knowing cellular RNA modifications at single-base resolution could provide important information regarding cell status and fate. A current major limitation is the lack of methods that allow the reproducible profiling of multiple modifications simultaneously, transcriptome-wide and at single-base resolution. Here we developed RBS-Seq, a modification of RNA bisulfite sequencing that enables the sensitive and simultaneous detection of m
5
C, Ψ, and m
1
A at single-base resolution transcriptome-wide. With RBS-Seq, m
5
C and m
1
A are accurately detected based on known signature base mismatches and are detected here simultaneously along with Ψ sites that show a 1–2 base deletion. Structural analyses revealed the mechanism underlying the deletion signature, which involves Ψ-monobisulfite adduction, heat-induced ribose ring opening, and Mg
2+
-assisted reorientation, causing base-skipping during cDNA synthesis. Detection of each of these modifications through a unique chemistry allows high-precision mapping of all three modifications within the same RNA molecule, enabling covariation studies. Application of RBS-Seq on HeLa RNA revealed almost all known m
5
C, m
1
A, and ψ sites in tRNAs and rRNAs and provided hundreds of new m
5
C and Ψ sites in noncoding RNAs and mRNAs. However, our results diverge greatly from earlier work, suggesting ∼10-fold fewer m
5
C sites in noncoding and coding RNAs and the absence of substantial m
1
A in mRNAs. Taken together, the approaches and refined datasets in this work will greatly enable future epitranscriptome studies.
Singlet oxygen mediated iron-based Fenton-like catalysis under nanoconfinement
Authors: Yang Zhichao , Qian Jieshu , Yu Anqing , Pan Bingcai
Published: March 2019

Significance

In the bulk phase, hydroxyl radical from the one-electron transfer and high-valent iron-oxo species from the O-atom transfer compete to be the reactive intermediates in the Fenton and related reactions. In the confined space at a nanoscale, however, the behavior of the Fenton reaction is elusive. Herein, we report an unprecedented singlet oxygen mediated Fenton’s reaction occurred inside carbon nanotube with inner diameter of ∼7 nm, showing exotic catalytic activities, unforeseen adsorption-dependent selectivity, and pH stability for the oxidation of organic compounds. Our results suggest the use of Fenton’s reaction in more scenarios than ever explored.
Principles of plastid reductive evolution illuminated by nonphotosynthetic chrysophytes
Authors: Dorrell Richard G. , Azuma Tomonori , Nomura Mami , Audren de Kerdrel Guillemette , Paoli Lucas , Yang Shanshan , Bowler Chris , Ishii Ken-ichiro , Miyashita Hideaki , Gile Gillian H. , Kamikawa Ryoma
Published: March 2019

The division of life into producers and consumers is blurred by evolution. For example, eukaryotic phototrophs can lose the capacity to photosynthesize, although they may retain vestigial plastids that perform other essential cellular functions. Chrysophyte algae have undergone a particularly large number of photosynthesis losses. Here, we present a plastid genome sequence from a nonphotosynthetic chrysophyte, “Spumella” sp. NIES-1846, and show that it has retained a nearly identical set of plastid-encoded functions as apicomplexan parasites. Our transcriptomic analysis of 12 different photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic chrysophyte lineages reveals remarkable convergence in the functions of these nonphotosynthetic plastids, along with informative lineage-specific retentions and losses. At one extreme,Cornospumella fuschlensisretains many photosynthesis-associated proteins, although it appears to have lost the reductive pentose phosphate pathway and most plastid amino acid metabolism pathways. At the other extreme,Paraphysomonaslacks plastid-targeted proteins associated with gene expression and all metabolic pathways that require plastid-encoded partners, indicating a complete loss of plastid DNA in this genus. Intriguingly, some of the nucleus-encoded proteins that once functioned in the expression of theParaphysomonasplastid genome have been retained. These proteins were likely to have been dual targeted to the plastid and mitochondria of the chrysophyte ancestor, and are uniquely targeted to the mitochondria inParaphysomonas. Our comparative analyses provide insights into the process of functional reduction in nonphotosynthetic plastids.
Food loss and nutrition security: reviewing pre-consumer loss in Australian sheep meat value chains using a planetary health framework.
Authors: Wingett K. , Allman-Farinelli M. , Alders R.
Published: March 2019

Minimizing pre-consumer losses in agri-food value chains is crucial for planetary health and for reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This action stands to benefit animal, human and environmental health. Comprehensive, quantified-feedback systems along agri-food value chains are needed to achieve this goal. The Australian sheep meat value chain is the second largest in the world and produces lamb meat, mutton meat and offal, in parallel with fine wool. Mutton and lamb meat and sheep offal are nutrient-dense foods. The Australian sheep meat value chain has seen significant gains in monitoring losses in recent decades. The value chain is working towards a more complete feedback system at the producer and processing levels. At an individual level, this will enable producers to predict the economic benefits of managing diseases on-farm. Public benefits may be the redirection of nutrient-dense food into Australian diets, improving the micronutrient status of the population, and conservation of vulnerable rangeland due to increased yield per head of sheep.
New horizons in frailty: the contingent, the existential and the clinical
Authors: Pickard Susan , Cluley Victoria , Danely Jason , Laceulle Hanne , Leon-Salas Jorge , Vanhoutte Bram , Romero-Ortuno Roman
Published: March 2019

In the past decade, frailty research has focused on refinement of biomedical tools and operationalisations, potentially introducing a reductionist approach. This article suggests that a new horizon in frailty lies in a more holistic approach to health and illness in old age. This would build on approaches that view healthy ageing in terms of functionality, in the sense of intrinsic capacity in interplay with social environment, whilst also emphasising positive attributes. Within this framework, frailty is conceptualised as originating as much in the social as in the biological domain; as co-existing with positive attributes and resilience, and as situated on a continuum with health and illness. Relatedly, social science-based studies involving interviews with, and observations of, frail, older people indicate that the social and biographical context in which frailty arises might be more impactful on the subsequent frailty trajectory than the health crisis which precipitates it. For these reasons, the article suggests that interpretive methodologies, derived from the social sciences and humanities, will be of particular use to the geriatrician in understanding health, illness and frailty from the perspective of the older person. These may be included in a toolkit with the purpose of identifying how biological and social factors jointly underpin the fluctuations of frailty and in designing interventions accordingly. Such an approach will bring clinical approaches closer to the views and experiences of older people who live with frailty, as well as to the holistic traditions of geriatric medicine itself.
Noninvasive Assessment of Myocardial Perfusion in Different Blood Pressure Phenotypes and Its Association With Arterial Stiffness Indices
Authors: Anyfanti Panagiota , Gkaliagkousi Eugenia , Triantafyllou Areti , Dipla Konstantina , Zarifis Hippocrates , Arseniou Polyvios , Lazaridis Antonios , Douma Stella
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

We investigated for the first time whether patients with recent-onset, uncomplicated hypertension and different hypertension phenotypes exhibit altered values of subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), a surrogate measure of myocardial perfusion that correlates with the ratio of subendocardial to subepicardial blood flow. We additionally explored whether SEVR correlates with arterial stiffness in a population free from the long-term effects of essential hypertension.

METHODS

Nontreated individuals free from any known health problems were classified as true hypertensives (THs), white-coat hypertensives (WCHs), masked hypertensives (MHs), and normotensives. SEVR was noninvasively calculated with applanation tonometry in the radial artery. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, central and peripheral pulse pressure (PP), augmentation index, and central systolic/diastolic blood pressure (BP) were assessed with applanation tonometry. Total arterial compliance index was calculated with impedance cardiography.

RESULTS

In a total of 150 participants, normotensive individuals exhibited the highest values of SEVR (162.9 ± 25.3%), whereas SEVR appeared to be similar in MHs (150.2 ± 22.1%), WCHs (148.1 ± 20.4%), and THs (149.9 ± 24.8%) (P = 0.017). In the univariate analysis, SEVR significantly correlated with central systolic BP, peripheral PP, and total arterial compliance index. The association between SEVR and both central (P = 0.017) and peripheral PP (P = 0.003) remained significant after adjustment for heart rate and other parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

SEVR, an alternative tool to the invasive assessment of microvascular coronary perfusion, presents different values across patients with divergent BP phenotypes and correlated with arterial stiffness, even in the absence of overt cardiovascular disease. Future studies need to address the potential utility of this easily implementable marker as a screening test for myocardial ischemia.
Free Recall of Bound Information Held in Short-Term Memory is Unimpaired by Age and Education
Authors: Yassuda Mônica Sanches , Carthery-Goulart Maria Teresa , Cecchini Mario Amore , Cassimiro Luciana , Fernandes Katarina Duarte , Baradel Roberta Roque , Garcia Ricardo Basso , Nitrini Ricardo , Della Sala Sergio , Parra Mario Alfredo
Published: March 2019

Objectives

It has been challenging to identify cognitive markers to differentiate healthy brain aging from neurodegeneration due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that are not affected by age and education. The Short-Term Memory Binding (STMB) showed not to be affected by age or education when using the change detection paradigm. However, no previous study has tested the effect of age and education using the free recall paradigm of the STMB. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate age and education effects on the free recall version of the STMB test under different memory loads.

Methods

126 healthy volunteers completed the free recall STMB test. The sample was divided into five age bands and into five education bands for comparisons. The STMB test assessed free recall of two (or three) common objects and two (or three) primary colors presented as individual features (unbound) or integrated into unified objects (bound).

Results

The binding condition and the larger set size generated lower free recall scores. Performance was lower in older and less educated participants. Critically, neither age nor education modified these effects when compared across experimental conditions (unbound v. bound features).

Conclusions

Binding in short-term memory carries a cost in performance. Age and education do not affect such a binding cost within a memory recall paradigm. These findings suggest that this paradigm is a suitable cognitive marker to differentiate healthy brain aging from age-related disease such as AD.
Fibroblasts Derived From Human Adipose Stem Cells Produce More Effective Extracellular Matrix and Migrate Faster Compared to Primary Dermal Fibroblasts
Authors: Gersch Robert P , Raum Jeffrey C , Calvert Catherine , Percec Ivona
Published: March 2019

Background

The efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to improve wound healing has been extensively investigated. Unfortunately, no consistent reports have described significant improvements in healing time or outcomes in large-scale clinical trials utilizing human ASCs. Primarily, these studies examined undifferentiated ASCs as opposed to specific cells differentiated from ASCs.

Objectives

The authors sought to examine the properties of fibroblasts differentiated from human ASCs (dFib cells) compared with those of primary dermal fibroblasts.

Methods

ASCs were isolated from healthy female patients, differentiated into dFib cells, and compared with intra-patient primary dermal fibroblasts for morphology, extracellular matrix (ECM) marker expression, and cell migration employing qPCR, western blot, and scratch test assays.

Results

De novo differentiated fibroblasts produce higher levels of the healthy ECM markers Elastin, Fibronectin, and Collagen 1 compared with primary fibroblasts. In contrast, dFib cells have reduced expression of the scar tissue markers αSMA, Collagen 3, and MMP-1. Further, dFib cells close scratch defects more quickly than primary dermal fibroblasts (32 ± 12.85 hours vs 64 ± 13.85 hours, P < 0.01) in a scratch test assay.

Conclusions

These data suggest that fibroblasts newly differentiated from human ASCs migrate well and produce a robust ECM, the combination of which may contribute to improved wound healing, and thus should be further investigated.
Antiretroviral Adherence, Elevated Viral Load, and Drug Resistance Mutations in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–infected Women Initiating Treatment in Pregnancy: A Nested Case-control Study
Authors: Myer Landon , Redd Andrew D , Mukonda Elton , Lynch Briana A , Phillips Tamsin K , Eisenberg Anna , Hsiao Nei-Yuan , Capoferri Adam , Zerbe Alison , Clarke William , Lesosky Maia , Breaud Autumn , McIntyre James , Bruno Daniel , Martens Craig , Abrams Elaine J , Reynolds Steven J
Published: March 2019

Background

Elevated viral load (VL) early after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation appears frequently in pregnant and postpartum women living with human immunodeficiency virus; however the relative contributions of pre-ART drug resistance mutations (DRMs) vs nonadherence in the etiology of elevated VL are unknown.

Methods

Within a cohort of women initiating ART during pregnancy in Cape Town, South Africa, we compared women with elevated VL after initial suppression (cases, n = 80) incidence-density matched to women who maintained suppression over time (controls, n = 87). Groups were compared on pre-ART DRMs and detection of antiretrovirals in stored plasma.

Results

The prevalence of pre-ART DRMs was 10% in cases and 5% in controls (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.53 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .4–5.9]); all mutations were to nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. At the time of elevated VL, 19% of cases had antiretrovirals detected in plasma, compared with 87% of controls who were suppressed at a matched time point (aOR, 131.43 [95% CI, 32.8–527.4]). Based on these findings, we estimate that <10% of all elevated VL in the cohort may be attributable to pre-ART DRMs vs >90% attributable to ART nonadherence.

Conclusions

DRMs account for a small proportion of all elevated VL among women occurring in the 12 months after ART initiation during pregnancy in this setting, with nonadherence appearing to drive most episodes of elevated VL. Alongside the drive for access to more robust antiretroviral agents in resource-limited settings, there is an ongoing need for effective strategies to support ART adherence in this patient population.
Maternal Vaccination in Argentina: Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Effectiveness During Pregnancy in Preventing Pertussis in Infants <2 Months of Age
Authors: Romanin Viviana , Acosta Anna M , Juarez Maria del Valle , Briere Elizabeth , Sanchez Stella Maris , Cordoba Beatriz Lopez , Sevilla Maria Eugenia , Lucion Maria Florencia , Urrutia Anahi , Sagradini Sandra , Skoff Tami H , Vizzotti Carla
Published: March 2019

Background

In 2011, Argentina experienced its highest pertussis incidence and mortality rates of the last decade; 60% of deaths were among infants aged <2 months. In response, a dose of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine was recommended for all pregnant women at ≥20 weeks of gestation. Although recent studies suggest that maternal Tdap vaccination is effective at preventing infant disease, no data have come from low- or middle-income countries, nor from ones using whole-cell pertussis vaccines for primary immunization.

Methods

We conducted a matched case-control evaluation to assess the effectiveness of maternal Tdap vaccination in preventing pertussis among infants aged <2 months in Argentina. Pertussis case patients identified from September 2012 to March 2016 at 6 hospital sites and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction testing were included. Five randomly selected controls were matched to each case patient by hospital site and mother’s health district. We used multivariable conditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs). Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was estimated as (1 – OR) × 100%.

Results

Seventy-one case patients and 300 controls were included in the analysis. Forty-nine percent of case patients and 78% of controls had mothers who were vaccinated during pregnancy. Overall Tdap VE was estimated at 80.7% (95% confidence interval, 52.1%–92.2%). We found similar VE whether Tdap was administered during the second or third trimester.

Conclusions

Tdap vaccination during pregnancy is effective in preventing pertussis in infants aged <2 months in Argentina, with similar effectiveness whether administered during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
“The Rage of the Fanatics”: Religious Fanaticism and the Making of Revolutionary Violence
Authors: Clarke Joseph
Published: March 2019

Fanaticism, along with its offshoots, fanatic, fanatical and fanaticized, was one of the French Revolution’s favourite terms of abuse. This article traces fanaticism’s evolution from its initial emergence in the religious polemics of the early modern period to its everyday use in Revolutionary politics and assesses the idea’s implications for the nature of the violence the new regime was willing to deploy against its enemies. While Revolutionary political culture classified many different kinds of enemy throughout the 1790s, the attribution of fanaticism to an adversary was especially significant because it defined the enemy as irrational, intractable, almost inhuman. In the context of the counter-insurgency campaigns the new regime fought at home and abroad, this definition of enmity and the dehumanization of resistance that it implied served to justify the recourse to extremes of violence that would have been unthinkable in other contexts and against other types of adversary.
Relationship of Early-Life Residence and Educational Experience to Level and Change in Cognitive Functioning: Results of the Minority Aging Research Study
Authors: Lamar Melissa , Lerner Alan J , James Bryan D , Yu Lei , Glover Crystal M , Wilson Robert S , Barnes Lisa L
Published: March 2019

Objective

Investigate associations of early-life residence and school segregation with cognitive change in the Minority Aging Research Study.

Methods

Four hundred ninety-eight blacks (age ~ 73.5; 75% = women) without dementia at baseline self-reported State of birth, residence at age 12, and school segregation status. Census Bureau definitions of South and Northeast/Midwest were used to categorize early-life residence. We evaluated global cognition and five cognitive domains at baseline and annually for ~7.5 years. Linear mixed effects models examined the associations of region of birth and residence at age 12 with baseline level and longitudinal change in cognition. Additional models examined school segregation experience.

Results

~65% of Southern-born participants still lived in the South at age 12. Southern birth was associated with lower baseline global cognition and all cognitive domains (p-values ≤ .02) compared to Northern birth, but not cognitive change. A similar profile was seen for Southern residence at age 12. Segregation experience significantly modified associations of residence at age 12 on levels of cognition. Participants residing in the South attending a legally desegregated school demonstrated lower baseline levels of cognition (global, semantic, and working memory) than their Northeast/Midwest counterparts attending a legally desegregated or segregated school as well as their Southern counterparts attending a legally segregated school. This profile for participants attending a desegregated school in the South held for processing speed and visuospatial ability in comparisons to Northeast/Midwest counterparts, particularly those attending a legally desegregated school.

Conclusion

Baseline cognition was poorer in individuals born and residing in the South, particularly those attending desegregated schools at age 12.
Symptomatic or aneurysmal aberrant subclavian arteries: results of surgical and hybrid repair
Authors: Weiss Salome , Haligür Didem , Jungi Silvan , Schönhoff Florian S , Carrel Thierry , Schmidli Jürg , Wyss Thomas R
Published: March 2019

OBJECTIVES

Indications and techniques of repair for symptomatic or aneurysmal aberrant subclavian arteries (ASA) are controversial. This study analyses presentation, treatment and outcome of patients with symptomatic and/or aneurysmal ASA.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of consecutive adult patients undergoing symptomatic and/or aneurysmal ASA repair between January 2000 and June 2016.

RESULTS

Of 12 patients (4 females) with a median age of 66 years (range 24–75), 10 had right ASA and 2 had left ASA originating from a right aortic arch. Six patients (50%) had Kommerell’s diverticulum and 6 patients had aneurysmal dilatation of the ASA itself. Six patients presented with symptoms (dysphagia n = 4, chest pain n = 1, recurrent aspiration n = 1). Nine patients (75%) were treated by open ASA resection/ligation with or without aortic repair. Three patients (25%) underwent hybrid repair using thoracic endovascular aortic repair to exclude the aberrant artery. ASA revascularization was achieved by subclavian–carotid transposition (n = 7), carotid–subclavian bypass (n = 1), aorto-subclavian bypass (n = 3) or reimplantation after aortic graft replacement (n = 1). Thirty-day mortality was 8% (n = 1). The median follow-up duration was 44 months (range 24–151). Symptoms were relieved in 4 and persisted partially in 1, while symptom relief remained unknown in 1 patient who died during follow-up. Imaging after a median of 34 months (range 2–134) after the operation showed patent ASA revascularization in all patients and no endoleaks in the hybrid group.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical and hybrid repair allows satisfying results in patients with symptomatic and/or aneurysmal ASA. The optimal procedure has to be defined on an individual patient basis. Further studies, preferably with a multicentre approach, are required to answer more specific questions on the management of these patients and especially to assess long-term results following hybrid repair.
Reintegration of Amnestied LRA Ex-Combatants and Survivors’ Resistance Acts in Acholiland, Northern Uganda
Authors: Akello Grace
Published: March 2019

Abstract∞

This article examines the social dynamics among survivors and amnestied Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) ex-combatants living together in Acholiland, asking how and if Acholi survivors have forgiven Acholi LRA returnees, forgotten past violence and moved on, as stated in northern Uganda’s amnesty framework. The amnestied LRA ex-combatants interviewed stated that they wanted and needed to reintegrate among Acholi survivors. Yet, after two decades of amnesty, the magnitude of the brutality of the war remains etched in survivors’ minds. My ethnographic findings suggest feigned compliance as well as resistance to amnesty by-laws. Many practise what I call survivors’ acts of resistance, which includes name calling, attributing misfortune to the presence of ex-combatants, stigmatization and stealing. In short, survivors make returnees’ lives unbearable. My analysis is framed in reference to and critique of conventional transitional justice mechanisms and I underscore the importance of memory in the cessation of war violence and the restoration of peace.
Assessing the collective utility of multiple analyses on clinical alcohol use disorder data
Authors: Kummerfeld Erich , Rix Alexander , Anker Justin J , Kushner Matt G
Published: March 2019

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the potential of combining graph learning methods with latent variable estimation methods for mining clinically useful information from observational clinical data sets.

Materials and Methods

The data set contained self-reported measures of psychopathology symptoms from a clinical sample receiving treatment for alcohol use disorder. We used the traditional graph learning methods: Graphical Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator, and Friedman's hill climbing algorithm; traditional latent variable estimation method factor analysis; recently developed graph learning method Greedy Fast Causal Inference; and recently developed latent variable estimation method Find One Factor Clusters. Methods were assessed qualitatively by the content of their findings.

Results

Recently developed graphical methods identified potential latent variables (ie, not represented in the model) influencing particular scores. Recently developed latent effect estimation methods identified plausible cross-score loadings that were not found with factor analysis. A graphical analysis of individual items identified a mistake in wording on 1 questionnaire and provided further evidence that certain scores are not reflective of indirectly measured common causes.

Discussion and Conclusion

Our findings suggest that a combination of Greedy Fast Causal Inference and Find One Factor Clusters can enhance the evidence-based information yield from psychopathological constructs and questionnaires. Traditional methods provided some of the same information but missed other important findings. These conclusions point the way toward more informative interrogations of existing and future data sets than are commonly employed at present.
Poecilus lucublandus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and Pterostichus mutus Do Not Feed on Hair Fescue, Red Sorrel, and Poverty Oatgrass Seeds
Authors: Loureiro Alexandre M M C , Cutler G Christopher , Nams Vilis O , White Scott N
Published: March 2019

Poecilus lucublandus (Say), Pterostichus mutus (Say), and Harpalus rufipes (De Geer) are abundant Carabidae in lowbush blueberry fields and may contribute to weed seed predation. We used laboratory no-choice test experiments to determine if these beetles feed on seeds of hair fescue (Festuca filiformis Pourr., Poales: Poaceae), poverty oatgrass (Danthonia spicata L.), and red sorrel (Rumex acetosella L., Caryophyllales: Polygonaceae), which are common weeds in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., Ericales: Ericaceae) fields. Poecilus lucublandus and P. mutus did not feed on seeds of the test weed species, but H. rufipes consumed on average over 30 seeds of each species. There are other weed seeds in blueberry fields that could be palatable to P. lucublandus and P. mutus, which warrants further research on the granivory potential of these important carabid species.
Work and Employment
Authors: Bantekas Ilias , Pennilas Facundo , Trömel Stefan
Published: March 2019

This chapter examines Article 27 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which is devoted to the right to work and employment. The right to work and employment in the disability context requires that disabled persons are not discriminated on the basis of their disability and that the workplace and conditions of work are such that allow disabled workers to offer their full potential. Accessibility and non-discrimination are therefore key elements in the implementation of Article 27.
National Implementation and Monitoring
Authors: Aichele Valentin
Published: March 2019

This chapter examines Article 33 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The overarching objective of Article 33 is to provide the CRPD with a means of review, further develop existing structures relating to the implementation of the CRPD by states parties, and further establish a framework structure for monitoring national implementation. These provisions spell out the existing obligations of a state party under the CRPD by introducing the essential elements of such frameworks (minimum standard). Article 33 sets forth stand-alone, positive obligations that relate to institutional and procedural prerequisites intended to ensure effective implementation and arrangements aimed at making it possible to address any deficits in implementation that may arise.
Cooperation between States Parties and the Committee
Authors: Gledhill Kris
Published: March 2019

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Committee oversees the implementation of the CRPD by its states parties through an assessment of periodic reports and by hearing disputes submitted under the CRPD’s Optional Protocol. Article 37 CRPD contains two distinct obligations: that owed by the signatory states of cooperation with the Committee (article 37(1)), and that of the Committee to bear in mind the need to augment domestic capacities to give effect to the CRPD (article 37(2)). An understanding of the import of this turns on the ‘ordinary meaning’ of the words used ‘in their context’ and bearing in mind their ‘object and purpose’. Accordingly, this chapter examines various relevant features and looks at the practice of the Committee to date in order to suggest the meaning of these obligations.
Relationship of the Committee with Other Bodies
Authors: Bantekas Ilias
Published: March 2019

This chapter examines Article 38 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which aims to foster cooperation between the Committee and a wide range of entities—inter-governmental, governmental, or private—with a view towards enhancing its work in the field of disability rights and protection. Unlike the past, recent practice within the UN has effectively abolished most barriers that prevented human rights treaty bodies from openly and officially communicating with external actors, at least in respect of country reports and general interaction in issues of common interest. In some cases, treaty bodies have proceeded to initiate a confidential inquiry on the basis of information received by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Article 38 not only allows the Committee to receive information, expert advice, and reports from other UN bodies, national human rights institutions, NGOs, but also renders such representation by specialized agencies and UN organs an entitlement.
Regional Integration Organizations
Authors: Cogan Jacob Katz
Published: March 2019

This chapter examines Article 44 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). For decades, international organizations have been permitted to become parties to certain multilateral treaties. No human rights treaty, however, had done the same until the CRPD, which in its Articles 42 and 43 for the first time provided such opportunities to ‘regional integration organizations’ (RIOs). The inclusion of a RIO clause in the CRPD allows international organizations for the first time to consent to be bound by a treaty in the area of human rights. Article 44 defines a RIO; clarifies that RIOs are to be considered ‘states parties’ for purposes of the Convention within the limits of their competence, excludes a RIO’s accession from having any consequence under the entry into force provisions of Articles 45 and 47; and establishes voting rules in the Conference of States Parties for RIOs and any of their member states that are also Convention parties.
Sounding stellar cycles with Kepler – III. Comparative analysis of chromospheric, photometric, and asteroseismic variability
Authors: Karoff C , Metcalfe T S , Montet B T , Jannsen N E , Santos A R G , Nielsen M B , Chaplin W J
Published: March 2019

By combining ground-based spectrographic observations of variability in the chromospheric emission from Sun-like stars with the variability seen in their eigenmode frequencies, it is possible to relate the changes observed at the surfaces of these stars to the changes taking place in the interior. By further comparing this variability to changes in the relative flux from the stars, one can obtain an expression for how these activity indicators relate to the energy output from the stars. Such studies become very pertinent when the variability can be related to stellar cycles as they can then be used to improve our understanding of the solar cycle and its effect on the energy output from the Sun. Here, we present observations of chromospheric emission in 20 Sun-like stars obtained over the course of the nominal 4 yr Kepler mission. Even though 4 yr is too short to detect stellar equivalents of the 11 yr solar cycle, observations from the Kepler mission can still be used to analyse the variability of the different activity indicators thereby obtaining information of the physical mechanism generating the variability. The analysis reveals no strong correlation between the different activity indicators, except in very few cases. We suggest that this is due to the sparse sampling of our ground-based observations on the one hand and that we are likely not tracing cyclic variability on the other hand. We also discuss how to improve the situation.
Renal handling of zinc in chronic kidney disease patients and the role of circulating zinc levels in renal function decline
Authors: Damianaki Katerina , Lourenco Joao Miguel , Braconnier Philippe , Ghobril Jean-Pierre , Devuyst Olivier , Burnier Michel , Lenglet Sebastien , Augsburger Marc , Thomas Aurelien , Pruijm Menno
Published: March 2019

Background

Zinc deficiency is commonly encountered in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aims of this study were to assess whether zinc deficiency was related to increased renal excretion of zinc and to the progression of CKD.

Methods

Plasma and 24-h urinary zinc levels, urinary electrolytes and uromodulin were measured in 108 CKD patients and 81 individuals without CKD. Serum creatinine values were collected for 3 years to calculate the yearly change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Multivariable regression analysis was performed to assess the association between baseline zinc levels and yearly change in eGFR.

Results

CKD patients had lower circulating zinc levels and higher 24-h urinary zinc excretion than non-CKD participants (612.4 ± 425.9 versus 479.2 ± 293.0 µg/day; P = 0.02). Fractional excretion (FE) of zinc was higher and it significantly increased at more advanced CKD stages. Zinc FE was correlated negatively with 24-h urinary uromodulin excretion (r=−0.29; P < 0.01). Lower baseline plasma zinc levels were associated with a faster yearly decline of renal function in age, gender, diabetes and hypertension adjusted models, but this relationship was no longer significant when baseline eGFR or proteinuria were included.

Conclusions

Zinc levels are lower in CKD, and not compensated by reduced renal zinc excretion. The inverse association between urinary zinc excretion and uromodulin possibly points to an impaired tubular activity, which could partly account for zinc imbalance in CKD. These data suggest that zinc status is associated with renal function decline, but further studies elucidating the underlying mechanisms and the potential role of zinc supplements in CKD are needed.
CRISPR-interference-based modulation of mobile genetic elements in bacteria
Authors: Nyerges Ákos , Bálint Balázs , Cseklye Judit , Nagy István , Pál Csaba , Fehér Tamás
Published: March 2019

Spontaneous mutagenesis of synthetic genetic constructs by mobile genetic elements frequently results in the rapid loss of engineered functions. Previous efforts to minimize such mutations required the exceedingly time-consuming manipulation of bacterial chromosomes and the complete removal of insertional sequences (ISes). To this aim, we developed a single plasmid-based system (pCRIS) that applies CRISPR-interference to inhibit the transposition of bacterial ISes. pCRIS expresses multiple guide RNAs to direct inactivated Cas9 (dCas9) to simultaneously silence IS1, IS3, IS5 and IS150 at up to 38 chromosomal loci in Escherichia coli, in vivo. As a result, the transposition rate of all four targeted ISes dropped to negligible levels at both chromosomal and episomal targets. Most notably, pCRIS, while requiring only a single plasmid delivery performed within a single day, provided a reduction of IS-mobility comparable to that seen in genome-scale chromosome engineering projects. The fitness cost of multiple IS-knockdown, detectable in flask-and-shaker systems was readily outweighed by the less frequent inactivation of the transgene, as observed in green fluorescent protein (GFP)-overexpression experiments. In addition, global transcriptomics analysis revealed only minute alterations in the expression of untargeted genes. Finally, the transposition-silencing effect of pCRIS was easily transferable across multiple E. coli strains. The plasticity and robustness of our IS-silencing system make it a promising tool to stabilize bacterial genomes for synthetic biology and industrial biotechnology applications.
Enabling large-scale genome editing by reducing DNA nicking
Authors: Smith Cory J. , Castanon Oscar , Said Khaled , Volf Verena , Khoshakhlagh Parastoo , Hornick Amanda , Ferreira Raphael , Wu Chun-Ting , Güell Marc , Garg Shilpa , Myllykallio Hannu , Church George M.
Published: March 2019

To extend the frontier of genome editing and enable the radical redesign of mammalian genomes, we developed a set of dead-Cas9 base editor (dBE) variants that allow editing at tens of thousands of loci per cell by overcoming the cell death associated with DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and single-strand breaks (SSBs). We used a set of gRNAs targeting repetitive elements – ranging in target copy number from about 31 to 124,000 per cell. dBEs enabled survival after large-scale base editing, allowing targeted mutations at up to ~13,200 and ~2610 loci in 293T and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), respectively, three orders of magnitude greater than previously recorded. These dBEs can overcome current on-target mutation and toxicity barriers that prevent cell survival after large-scale genome engineering.

One Sentence Summary

Base editing with reduced DNA nicking allows for the simultaneous editing of >10,000 loci in human cells.
Genome-Wide Polygenic Risk Scores and Prediction of Gestational Diabetes in South Asian Women
Authors: Lamri Amel , Mao Shihong , Desai Dipika , Gupta Milan , Paré Guillaume , Anand Sonia S.
Published: March 2019

Gestational diabetes Mellitus (GDM) affects 1 in 7 births and is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes for both mother and child. GDM is suspected to share a large common genetic background with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The first aim of this study, was to characterize different GDM polygenic risk scores (PRSs) using data from the South Asian Birth Cohort (START). The second aim of this study was to estimate the heritability of GDM.

PRSs were derived for 832 South Asian women from START using the pruning and thresholding (P+T), LDpred, and GraBLD methods. Weights were derived from multi-ethnic (Mahajan et al., 2014) and white Caucasian (Scott et al., 2017) studies of the DIAGRAM consortium. Association with GDM was tested using logistic regression. Heritability of GDM was estimated using the GRMEL approach. Results were replicated in samples from the UK Biobank (UKB) study.

The top P+T, LDpred and GraBLD PRSs were all based on Mahajan et al. The best PRS was highly associated with GDM in START (AUC=0.62, OR=1.60 [95% CI=1.44–1.69]), and in South Asian (AUC=0.65) and white British (AUC=0.58) women from UKB. Heritability of GDM approximated 0.55±0.83 in START and 0.18±0.22 in white British women from UKB.

Our results highlight the importance of combining genome-wide genotypes and summary statistics from large multi-ethnic studies to optimize PRSs in South Asians.