bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal variations of ambient air pollutants and meteorological influences on their concentrations in Tehran during 2012–2017
Authors: Yousefian Fatemeh , Faridi Sasan , Azimi Faramarz , Aghaei Mina , Shamsipour Mansour , Yaghmaeian Kamyar , Hassanvand Mohammad Sadegh
Published: January 2020

We investigated temporal variations of ambient air pollutants and the influences of meteorological parameters on their concentrations using a robust method; convergent cross mapping; in Tehran (2012–2017). Tehran citizens were consistently exposed to annual PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 approximately 3.0–4.5, 3.5–4.5 and 1.5–2.5 times higher than the World Health Organization air quality guideline levels during the period. Except for O3, all air pollutants demonstrated the lowest and highest concentrations in summertime and wintertime, respectively. The highest O3 concentrations were found on weekend (weekend effect), whereas other ambient air pollutants had statistically significant (P < 0.05) daily variations in which higher concentrations were observed on weekdays compared to weekend (holiday effect). Hourly O3 concentration reached its peak at 3.00 p.m., though other air pollutants displayed two peaks; morning and late night. Approximately 45% to 65% of AQI values were in the subcategory of unhealthy for sensitive groups and PM2.5 was the responsible air pollutant in Tehran. Amongst meteorological factors, temperature was the key influencing factor for PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, while nebulosity and solar radiation exerted major influences on ambient SO2 and O3 concentrations. Additionally, there is a moderate coupling between wind speed and NO2 and CO concentrations.
Alterations in glucose metabolism in Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 El Tor biotype strains
Authors: Lee Donghyun , Kim Eun Jin , Baek Yeongjun , Lee Jiwon , Yoon Youngbae , Nair G. B. , Yoon Sang Sun , Kim Dong Wook
Published: January 2020

The 2 biotypes of Vibrio cholerae O1 serogroup strains—classical and El Tor—use glucose in distinct ways. Classical biotype strains perform organic acid-producing fermentation and eventually lose viability due to the self-induced creation of an acidic environment, whereas El Tor biotype strains use an alternative neutral fermentation pathway, which confers them with survival advantages. However, we report that the neutral fermentation pathway has only been recruited in prototype Wave 1 El Tor biotype strains, which have not been isolated since the mid-1990s. Current Wave 2 and Wave 3 atypical El Tor strains contain a single-base deletion in a gene that directs bacteria toward neutral fermentation, resulting in the loss of neutral fermentation and an appearance that is similar to classical biotype strains. Moreover, when sufficient glucose was supplied, Wave 1 El Tor strains maintained their use of acid-producing fermentation, in parallel with neutral fermentation, and thus lost viability in the late stationary phase. The global replacement of Wave 1 El Tor strains by Wave 2 and 3 atypical El Tor strains implies that the acidic fermentation pathway may not be disadvantageous to V. cholerae. The characteristics that we have reported might improve oral rehydration in the treatment of cholera.
Muscle deoxygenation and neuromuscular activation in synergistic muscles during intermittent exercise under hypoxic conditions
Authors: Yoshiko Akito , Katayama Keisho , Ishida Koji , Ando Ryosuke , Koike Teruhiko , Oshida Yoshiharu , Akima Hiroshi
Published: January 2020

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of hypoxia on deoxygenation and neuromuscular activation in synergistic quadriceps femoris (QF) muscles (i.e., the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and vastus lateralis) during submaximal intermittent knee extension. Ten healthy men performed isometric intermittent knee extension exercises with the right leg at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction for 3 min while inhaling a normoxic [inspired oxygen (O2) fraction = 0.21] or hypoxic (inspired O2 fraction = 0.10–0.12) gas mixture. Muscle deoxygenation was measured by tissue O2 saturation (StO2), and neuromuscular activation by root mean square (RMS) of the surface electromyographic signals, from individual muscles of the QF using near-infrared spectroscopy and surface electromyography. StO2 was decreased more in hypoxia than normoxia during the exercises, and there was a greater increase in RMS during intermittent knee extension in hypoxia than normoxia in individual muscles of the QF. There were no differences in the ratios of StO2 and RMS in hypoxia compared with normoxia between individual muscles of the QF. These findings suggest that submaximal, isometric, and intermittent exercises in hypoxic conditions enhanced muscle oxygen consumption and muscle activity similarly for synergistic muscles.
Stent-assisted coiling of broad-necked intracranial aneurysms with a new braided microstent (Accero): procedural results and long-term follow-up
Authors: Beuing Oliver , Lenz Anja , Donitza Aneta , Becker Mathias , Serowy Steffen , Skalej Martin
Published: January 2020

Intracranial stents have expanded endovascular therapy options for intracranial aneurysms. The braided Accero stent is available for clinical use since May 2015. To date, no clinical reports on the stent are available. Purpose of this study was the evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the Accero stent in stent-assisted coiling. All patients, in whom implantation of the stent was performed, were included. Primary endpoints were good clinical outcome (mRS ≤ 2) and aneurysm occlusion grades 1 and 2 (Raymond Roy Occlusion Classification). Secondary endpoints were procedural and device-related complications with permanent disability or death, complications in the course, and the recanalization rate. Between September 2015 and August 2018, thirty-four aneurysms were treated with stent-assisted coiling using the Accero. Sixteen aneurysms were untreated, four of these were ruptured. Mild neurological complications occurred in 2/34 (5.9%) treatments. Two stent occlusions occurred during follow-up. No patient had a poor procedure- or device-related outcome. After an average of 15 months of follow-up, 28/30 aneurysms were completely or near-completely occluded. The Accero stent proved to be safe and effective in the treatment of broad-based intracranial aneurysms. The complication rate and the rate of successful aneurysm occlusions are similar to those of other stents.
Pre-treatment T-cell subsets associate with fingolimod treatment responsiveness in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Ghadiri Mahtab , Rezk Ayman , Li Rui , Evans Ashley , Giacomini Paul S. , Barnett Michael H. , Antel Jack , Bar-Or Amit
Published: January 2020

Biomarkers predicting fingolimod (FTY) treatment response in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are lacking. Here, we performed extensive functional immunophenotyping using multiparametric flow cytometry to examine peripheral immune changes under FTY treatment and explore biomarkers of FTY treatment response. From among 135 RRMS patients who initiated FTY in a 2-year multicentre observational study, 36 were classified as ‘Active’ or ‘Stable’ based on clinical and/or radiological activity on-treatment. Flow cytometric analysis of immune cell subsets was performed on pre- and on-treatment peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) samples. Decreased absolute counts of B cells and most T-cell subsets were seen on-treatment. Senescent CD8 + T cells, CD56 + T cells, CD56dim natural killer cells, monocytes and dendritic cells were not reduced in number and hence relatively increased in frequency on-treatment. An unbiased multiparametric and traditional manual analysis of T-cell subsets suggested a higher pre-treatment frequency of CD4 + central memory T cells (TCM) in patients who were subsequently Active versus Stable on-treatment. Lower pre-treatment terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) cell frequencies were also seen in the subsequently Active cohort. Together, our data highlight differential effects of FTY on peripheral immune cell subsets and suggest that pre-treatment T-cell subset frequencies may have value in predicting FTY treatment response.
Exploring Pavlova pinguis chemical diversity: a potentially novel source of high value compounds
Authors: Fernandes Tomásia , Martel Antera , Cordeiro Nereida
Published: January 2020

To uncover the potential of Pavlova pinguis J.C. Green as a natural source of value added compounds, its lipophilic extracts were studied before and after alkaline hydrolysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS analysis of the lipophilic extracts showed a wide chemical diversity including 72 compounds distributed by fatty acids (29), sterols (14), fatty alcohols (13) and other lipophilic compounds (16). Fatty acids represented the main class of identified compounds presenting myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic and eicosapentaenoic acids as its main components. Through the ∑ω6/∑ω3 ratio (0.25) and sterol composition it was possible to observe that P. pinguis is a valuable source of ω3 fatty acids and stigmasterol (up to 43% of total sterols). After alkaline hydrolysis, fatty acids and fatty alcohols content increased by 32 and 14% respectively, in contrast to, monoglycerides which decreased by 84%. The long chain alcohols content enables the exploitation of this microalga as a source of these bioactive compounds. Smaller amounts of sugars and other compounds were also detected. The present study is a valuable reference to the metabolite characterization of P. pinguis and shows the potential of this microalga for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.
A Risk Stratification for Patients with Cervical Cancer in Stage IIIC1 of the 2018 FIGO Staging System
Authors: Liu Xiaoliang , Wang Weiping , Hu Ke , Zhang Fuquan , Hou Xiaorong , Yan Junfang , Meng Qingyu , Zhou Ziqi , Miao Zheng , Guan Hui , Ma Jiabin , Shen Jing , Zhen Hongnan , Wang Wenhui
Published: January 2020

This retrospective study was designed to investigate the heterogeneity of patients with cervical cancer in stage IIIC1 (the 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system, FIGO) and conduct a risk stratification for this group of patients. We reviewed clinical records of 325 patients with stage IIIC1 treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy in our institute between January 2008 and December 2014. The median follow-up duration was 28.4 months (range: 1.9–114.2 months). The 3-year DFS for the 325 eligible patients was 66.3%. Tumor size of ≥4 cm and number of pelvic lymph node metastasis ≥2 were identified as adverse prognostic factors for disease free survival (DFS) in cervical cancer patients with stage IIIC1 (2018). A risk stratification based on the number of identified prognostic factors for DFS was performed. The 3-year DFS for patients in low-risk (without prognostic factor), intermediate-risk (with one prognostic factor) and high-risk group (with two prognostic factors) was 92.1%, 70.0%, and 51.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). Our study confirms the heterogeneity of patients with cervical cancer in FIGO stage IIIC1 (the 2018 FIGO staging system). Tumor size and number of pelvic lymph node metastasis (PLNM) are significant prognostic factors for DFS in patients with FIGO stage IIIC1. The next revision of FIGO staging system for cervical cancer, especially for stage IIIC1, should focus on tumor size and number of pelvic lymph node metastasis.
Role of innate lymphoid cells in chronic colitis during anti-IL-17A therapy
Authors: Park Chan Hyuk , Lee A-reum , Ahn Sang Bong , Eun Chang Soo , Han Dong Soo
Published: January 2020

IL-17A is an important cytokine in intestinal inflammation. However, anti-IL-17A therapy does not improve clinical outcomes in patients with Crohn’s disease. We aimed to evaluate the role of RORγt+ innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in murine colitis models in the absence of IL-17A. An acute colitis model was induced with either dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) or trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) and a chronic colitis model was induced by CD4+CD45RBhi T cell transfer from either wild-type C57BL/6 or Il17a−/− mice. An anti-IL-17A antibody, secukinumab, was also used to inhibit IL-17A function in the colitis model. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the population of RORγt+ ILCs in the colonic lamina propria of mice with chronic colitis. Acute intestinal inflammation due to DSS and TNBS was attenuated in IL-17A knockout mice, whereas chronic colitis was not relieved by T cell transfer from Il17a−/− mice (% of original body weight: wild-type mice vs. Il17a−/− mice, 81.9% vs. 82.2%; P = 0.922). However, the mean proportion of Lin-RORγt+ lymphocytes was higher after T cell transfer from Il17a−/− mice than that after T cell transfer from wild-type mice (28.8% vs. 18.5%). The proportion of Lin-RORγt+ was also increased in Rag2−/− mice that received T cell transfer from wild-type mice when anti-IL-17A antibody was administered (31.7%). Additionally, Il6 and Il22 tended to be highly expressed after T cell transfer from Il17a−/− mice. In conclusion, RORγt+ ILCs may have an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic colitis in the absence of IL-17A. Blocking the function of IL-17A may upregulate Il6 and recruit RORγt+ ILCs in chronic colitis, thereby upregulating IL-22 and worsening the clinical outcomes of patients with Crohn’s disease.
A methodology for the design of an effective air quality monitoring network in port areas
Authors: Mocerino Luigia , Murena Fabio , Quaranta Franco , Toscano Domenico
Published: January 2020

The assessment of the impact of ship emissions is generally realised by a network of receptors at ground level inside the port area or in the nearby urban canopy. Another possibility is the use of dispersion models capable of providing maps of concentrations to the ground taking into account ship emissions and weather conditions. In this work traffic data of passengers ships in the port of Naples were used to estimate pollutant emissions starting from EMEP/EEA (European Environment Agency/European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme) methodology and real data of power engines. In this way, a hourly file of emission rates was produced and input to CALPUFF together with meteorological data. Then SO2concentrations at different heights (0–60 m) in correspondence of selected points within the port area were evaluated. Results are compared with data measured at ground level in monitoring campaigns showing how is possible to better identify and quantify the air pollution from ships in port by positioning the receptors inside the port area at different heights from ground-level. The results obtained give useful information for designing an optimum on-site air quality monitoring network able to quantify the emissions of pollutants due to naval traffic and to individuate the contribution of single ships or ships’ categories.
Discharge of deeply rooted fluids from submarine mud volcanism in the Taiwan accretionary prism
Authors: Chen Nai-Chen , Yang Tsanyao Frank , Hong Wei-Li , Yu Tsai-Luen , Lin In-Tian , Wang Pei-Ling , Lin Saulwood , Su Chih-Chieh , Shen Chuan-Chou , Wang Yunshuen , Lin Li-Hung
Published: January 2020

Qualitative and quantitative assessments of fluid cycling are essential to address the role and transport of deeply sourced fluids in subduction systems. In this study, sediment cores distributed across a submarine mud volcano (SMV) offshore southwestern Taiwan were investigated to determine the characteristics of fluids generated through the convergence between the Eurasian and Phillippine Sea Plates. The low dissolved chloride concentration combined with the enrichment of 18O, and depletion of 2H of pore fluids suggest the discharge of deep freshwater formed by smectite dehydration at an equilibrium temperature of 100 to 150 °C. The upward fluid velocities, decreasing from 2.0 to 5.0 cm yr−1 at the center to a negligible value at margin sites, varied with the rate and efficiency of anaerobic methanotrophy, demonstrating the impact of fluid migration on biogeochemical processes and carbon cycling. By extrapolating the velocity pattern, the flux of fluids exported from 13 SMVs into seawater amounted up to 1.3–2.5 × 107 kg yr−1, a quantity accounting for 1.1–28.6% of the smectite-bound water originally stored in the incoming sediments. Our results imply that SMVs could act as a conduit to channel the fluids produced from great depth/temperature into seafloor environments in a subduction system of the western Pacific Ocean.
Benefits of re-do surgery for recurrent intracranial meningiomas
Authors: Lemée Jean-Michel , Corniola Marco V. , Meling Torstein R.
Published: January 2020

Meningiomas are the most common intracranial extra-axial tumor. While the literature is abundant on the therapeutic management of meningioma recurrence after the initial surgery, the natural history of repeated recurrences is poorly described, as well as and their respective management. A partly retrospective, partly prospective review was conducted in a Norwegian cohort of 1469 consecutive cases of meningioma surgically treated, totaling 11 414 patient-years of follow-up. 114 recurrences (7.7%) were treated surgically with a risk a surgical retreatment of 1% per patient-year of follow-up. 36 patients were operated on 3 times or more. The time-to-retreatment (TTR) decreased significantly and steadily between surgeries, from 4.3 ± 4 years after the first surgery to 2.4 ± 2.9 years after the third surgery. The primary driver for recurrence was the WHO grade (OR 7.13 [4.40;11.55], p < 0.001 for the first recurrence and OR 4.13 [1.49;12.15], p 0.008 for the second), the second predictive factor being a skull base location (OR 2.76 [1.95;3.99] p < 0.001 and OR 0.24 [0.09;0.65], p0.006 respectively). The rates of postoperative hematomas and infections were not influenced by the number of surgeries, whereas the rate of postoperative neurological worsening increased from 3.9% to 16.6% and 13.9%, respectively, after the first, second, and third surgeries. We observed that the TTR decreased significantly between surgeries in patients requiring repeated resections, indicating that surgical treatment of recurrences does not reset the clock but is indeed a “race against time”. This should be considered when assessing the benefit-to-risk ratio of patients undergoing repeated surgeries for a recurrent meningioma.
Indoor air formaldehyde (HCHO) pollution of urban coach cabins
Authors: Qin Daocong , Guo Bing , Zhou Jian , Cheng Heming , Chen Xiaokai
Published: January 2020

Urban coach cabin is an important indoor environment for long journey, formaldehyde (HCHO) is a carcinogenic gas and damages indoor air quality of cabins. In order to control the HCHO pollution, the air samples inside cabins were analysed with a thermally desorbed gas chromatograph, and the HCHO diffusion was simulated with a methodology of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Results show that through the experimental monitoring, the HCHO pollution level range from 33.6 to 142.3 μg/m3, decrease quickly with time, and the attenuation trendline is univariate cubic equation. Through the CFD simulation, the indoor temperature and HCHO level of cabin front and rear ends are higher than ones of other areas for the insufficient air supply and the unreasonable arrangement of air exhaust outlet. Moreover, through the CFD simulation, the HCHO level decreases with height growth of breathing zone and increasing air supply speed, and fresh air lead to diffusion of HCHO pollution from cabin seat area to the surrounding area. Through the CFD simulation, the HCHO pollution under the wind speeds of 3~5 m/s is higher than the HCHO limit level from indoor air standard of China vehicles, which shows that the HCHO emission of cabin seat has an important impact on airborne HCHO pollution inside vehicle cabins.
Recombinant human thrombomodulin attenuated sepsis severity in a non-surgical preterm mouse model
Authors: Ashina Mariko , Fujioka Kazumichi , Nishida Kosuke , Okubo Saki , Ikuta Toshihiko , Shinohara Masakazu , Iijima Kazumoto
Published: January 2020

Neonatal sepsis is characterised by dysregulated immune responses. Lipid mediators (LMs) are involved in the regulation of inflammation. Human recombinant thrombomodulin (rhTM), an anticoagulant, has anti-inflammatory effects and might be useful for sepsis treatment. A stock caecal slurry (CS) solution was prepared from adult caeca. To induce sepsis, 1.5 mg/g of CS was administered intraperitoneally to 4 d-old wild-type FVB mouse pups. Saline (Veh-CS) or rhTM (3 or 10 mg/kg; rhTM3-CS or rhTM10-CS) was administered subcutaneously 6 h prior to sepsis induction, and liver LM profiles at 3 and 6 h post-sepsis induction and survival up to 7 days were examined. Mortality was significantly lower (47%) in the rhTM3-CS group and significantly higher (100%) in the rhTM10-CS group, compared with the Veh-CS group (79%, p < 0.05). Eleven LMs (12-HEPE, EPA, 14-HDHA, DHA, PD1, PGD2, 15d-PGJ2, 12S-HHT, lipoxin B4, 12-HETE, AA) were significantly increased at 3 h, and five LMs (5-HEPE, 15-HEPE, 18-HEPE, 17-HDHA, PD1) were significantly increased at 6 h post-sepsis induction. Increased EPA, DHA, 12S-HHT, lipoxin B4, and AA were significantly suppressed by rhTM pre-treatment. rhTM was protective against neonatal sepsis. This protective effect might be mediated via LM modulation. Further post-sepsis studies are needed to determine clinical plausibility.
Improvement of conjunctival cytological grade and tear production in Ankylosing Spondylitis patients under TNF inhibitors: a long-term follow-up
Authors: Usuba Fany Solange , Saad Carla Gonçalves Schahin , Aikawa Nadia Emi , Novaes Priscila , Moraes Julio Cesar Bertacini , Santo Ruth Miyuki , Carvalho Jozelio Freire , Bonfá Eloisa , Alves Milton Ruiz
Published: January 2020

Dry eye disease can compromise the patient’s quality of life. Few studies assessed the ocular surface (OS) in Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) patients. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and cytological findings of the OS in patients with AS, classify dry eye disease (DED) severity grade and conjunctival impression cytology (IC), and the effects of TNF inhibitors (TNFi) in a one-year follow-up. A baseline (BL) evaluation included 36 AS patients and 39 healthy controls. They fulfilled the Ocular Surface Index Disease questionnaire and underwent the Schirmer I test, break-up time, vital staining, and conjunctival IC. A DED severity grade, as well as IC rating, was applied. Fourteen of these patients received TNFi and analysis of ocular and systemic AS disease parameters occurred at BL and three months (3 M), and 12 months (12 M) after treatment. The AS patients presented a higher frequency of DED (p = 0.01), a worse score of severity (p = 0.001), and a higher frequency of altered IC (p = 0.007) when compared to controls. The 14 patients under TNFi presented an improvement in all the clinical disease activity parameters throughout the one-year treatment (p < 0.05) even as a concomitant increase in the Schirmer test (p = 0.04), and a significant amelioration in the altered IC to a normal IC (p = 0.006). DED is a frequent and under-diagnosed ocular disease in AS patients. The long-term parallel improvement of disease activity and OS parameters in AS patients receiving TNFi suggests that the OS can be an additional target of systemic inflammation in AS.
Uncoupled phytoplankton-bacterioplankton relationship by multiple drivers interacting at different temporal scales in a high-mountain Mediterranean lake
Authors: Durán-Romero Cristina , Medina-Sánchez Juan Manuel , Carrillo Presentación
Published: January 2020

Global-change stressors act under different timing, implying complexity and uncertainty in the study of interactive effects of multiple factors on planktonic communities. We manipulated three types of stressors acting in different time frames in anin situexperiment: ultraviolet radiation (UVR); phosphorus (P) concentration; temperature (T) in an oligotrophic Mediterranean high-mountain lake. The aim was to examine how the sensitivity of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton to UVR and their trophic relationship change under nutrient acclimation and abrupt temperature shifts. Phytoplankton and bacteria showed a common pattern of metabolic response to UVR × P addition interaction, with an increase in their production rates, although evidencing an inhibitory UVR effect on primary production (PP) but stimulatory on bacterial production (HBP). An abrupt T shift in plankton acclimated to UVR and P addition decreased the values of PP, evidencing an inhibitory UVR effect, whereas warming increased HBP and eliminated the UVR effect. The weakening of commensalistic and predatory relationship between phyto- and bacterioplankton under all experimental conditions denotes the negative effects of present and future global-change conditions on planktonic food webs towards impairing C flux within the microbial loop.
Rumor Propagation is Amplified by Echo Chambers in Social Media
Authors: Choi Daejin , Chun Selin , Oh Hyunchul , Han Jinyoung , Kwon Ted “Taekyoung”
Published: January 2020

Spreading rumors on the Internet has become increasingly pervasive due to the proliferation of online social media. This paper investigates how rumors are amplified by a group of users who share similar interests or views, dubbed as an echo chamber. To this end, we identify and analyze ‘rumor’ echo chambers, each of which is a group of users who have participated in propagating common rumors. By collecting and analyzing 125 recent rumors from six popular fact-checking sites, and their associated 289,202 tweets/retweets generated by 176,362 users, we find that the rumors that are spread by rumor echo chamber members tend to be more viral and quickly propagated than those that are not spread by echo chamber members. We propose the notion of an echo chamber network that represents relations among rumor echo chambers. By identifying the hub rumor echo chambers (in terms of connectivity to other rumor echo chambers) in the echo chamber network, we show that the top 10% of hub rumor echo chambers contribute to propagation of 24% rumors by eliciting more than 36% of retweets, implying that core rumor echo chambers significantly contribute to rumor spreads.
The response of glyphosate-resistant and glyphosate-susceptible biotypes of Echinochloa colona to carbon dioxide, soil moisture and glyphosate
Authors: Mollaee Mahboobeh , Mobli Ahmadreza , Chauhan Bhagirath Singh
Published: January 2020

Physiological and growth responses of two AustralianEchinochloa colonabiotypes (glyphosate-resistant and susceptible, produced from a single population) to different concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) (ambient ~450 ppm and elevated ~750 ppm) and soil moisture (well-watered and water-stressed) were analyzed. Elevated CO2and well-watered conditions resulted inE. colonaplants with greater biomass, height and numbers of tillers and leaves in both biotypes; however, no significant response was observed for seed production or the amount of photosynthesis pigments with increasing CO2at both soil moisture levels. In addition, water availability was more influential for growth than CO2concentration. The mean shoot biomass of the susceptible biotype under elevated CO2and well-watered conditions was significantly greater than the resistant biotype. Although the susceptible biotype showed more vegetative and reproductive growth than the resistant biotype, no significant difference was observed for seed production between the biotypes in the water-stressed condition. In a second experiment, different doses of glyphosate (0, 180, 360, 720 and 1440 g a.e ha−1) were applied to both biotypes grown at two soil moisture levels (well-watered and water-stressed). In the water-stressed condition, glyphosate efficacy was decreased in both biotypes. The resistant biotype in the well-watered condition had only 19% survival at 1440 g ha−1glyphosate (double the recommended rate), but this value increased in the water-stressed condition by 62%. Our study suggests that future climate change can affect the physiological and growth processes of weeds and their responses to herbicides. Knowledge of their adapting behaviors will be critical to weed management strategies.
Combined spatiotemporal and frequency-dependent shear wave elastography enables detection of vulnerable carotid plaques as validated by MRI
Authors: Marlevi David , Mulvagh Sharon L. , Huang Runqing , DeMarco J. Kevin , Ota Hideki , Huston John , Winter Reidar , Macedo Thanila A. , Abdelmoneim Sahar S. , Larsson Matilda , Pellikka Patricia A. , Urban Matthew W.
Published: January 2020

Fatal cerebrovascular events are often caused by rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. However, rupture-prone plaques are often distinguished by their internal composition rather than degree of luminal narrowing, and conventional imaging techniques might thus fail to detect such culprit lesions. In this feasibility study, we investigate the potential of ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) to detect vulnerable carotid plaques, evaluating group velocity and frequency-dependent phase velocities as novel biomarkers for plaque vulnerability. In total, 27 carotid plaques from 20 patients were scanned by ultrasound SWE and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). SWE output was quantified as group velocity and frequency-dependent phase velocities, respectively, with results correlated to intraplaque constituents identified by MRI. Overall, vulnerable lesions graded as American Heart Association (AHA) type VI showed significantly higher group and phase velocity compared to any other AHA type. A selection of correlations with intraplaque components could also be identified with group and phase velocity (lipid-rich necrotic core content, fibrous cap structure, intraplaque hemorrhage), complementing the clinical lesion classification. In conclusion, we demonstrate the ability to detect vulnerable carotid plaques using combined SWE, with group velocity and frequency-dependent phase velocity providing potentially complementary information on plaque characteristics. With such, the method represents a promising non-invasive approach for refined atherosclerotic risk prediction.
Effect of Audiovisual Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Feedback Device on Improving Chest Compression Quality
Authors: Lin Chia-Ying , Hsia Shao-Hsuan , Lee En-Pei , Chan Oi-Wa , Lin Jainn-Jim , Wu Han-Ping
Published: January 2020

The one month survival rate after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the paediatric population remains low. Improving survival in paediatric OHCA by enhancing the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is important. In this study, we aimed to analyse the factors associated with CPR quality by using a real-time feedback device. Participants were prospectively divided into 4 groups: paediatric research fellows, paediatric residents, medical students (clerks), and paediatric critical care nurses. Then, the participants were asked to perform 5 cycles of CPR on a paediatric simulation manikin without prompts from feedback devices, and to repeat another 5 cycles of CPR after education with the 2015 paediatric advanced life support guidelines. A total of 75 participants were evaluated. In the overall analysis, an improvement in the percentage of participants meeting the target compression rate was observed (from 49.82% to 71.23%, P  < 0.001). The percentage of participants achieving the target compression depth improved from 73.77% to 85.63% (P = 0.005). Among the 4 groups, the residents showed the most significant improvement in both compression rate (from 48.41% to 86.57%, P < 0.001) and compression depth (from 63.50% to 95.57%, P < 0.001). Inappropriate rate was a more important factor resulting in inadequate CPR performance than inappropriate depth. An excessive compression rate was also a common problem. In conclusions, the real-time CPR feedback device may help clinical physicians and nurses in improving the quality of chest compression. Excessive CPR compression rate may be a major cause of inadequate CPR performance.
Simultaneous piezoelectric noninvasive detection of multiple vital signs
Authors: Allataifeh Areen , Al Ahmad Mahmoud
Published: January 2020

The monitoring of vital signs plays a key role in the diagnosis of several diseases. Piezoelectric sensors have been utilized to collect a corresponding representative signal from the chest surface. The subject typically needs to hold his or her breath to eliminate the respiration effect. This work further contributes to the extraction of the corresponding representative vital signs directly from the measured respiration signal. The contraction and expansion of the heart muscles, as well as the respiration activities, will induce a mechanical vibration across the chest wall. The induced vibration is then captured by the piezoelectric sensor placed at the chest surface, which produces an electrical output voltage signal conformally mapped with the respiration-cardiac activities. During breathing, the measured voltage signal is composed of the cardiac cycle activities modulated along with the respiratory cycle activity. A representative model that incorporates the cardiac and respiratory activities is developed and adopted. The piezoelectric and the convolution theories along with Fourier transformation are applied to extract the corresponding cardiac activity signal from the respiration signal. All the results were validated step by step by a conventional apparatus, with good agreement observed.
Enhancement of FAK alleviates ventilator-induced alveolar epithelial cell injury
Authors: Fang Mingxing , Liu Na , Yao Xiaoguang , Xu Tieling , Wang Zhiyong
Published: January 2020

Mechanical ventilation induces lung injury by damaging alveolar epithelial cells (AECs), but the pathogenesis remains unknown. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase that is involved in cell growth and intracellular signal transduction pathways. This study explored the potential role of FAK in AECs during lung injury induced by mechanical ventilation. High-volume mechanical ventilation (HMV) was used to create a mouse lung injury model, which was validated by analysis of lung weight, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histological investigation. The expression of FAK and Akt in AECs were evaluated. In addition, recombinant FAK was administered to mice via the tail vein, and then the extent of lung injury was assessed. Mouse AECs were cultured in vitro, and FAK expression in cells under stretch was investigated. The effects of FAK on cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis were investigated. The results showed that HMV decreased FAK expression in AECs of mice, while FAK supplementation attenuated lung injury, reduced protein levels/cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and decreased histological lung injury and oedema. The protective effect of FAK promoted AEC proliferation and migration and prevented cells from undergoing apoptosis, which restored the integrity of the alveoli through Akt pathway. Therefore, the decrease in FAK expression by HMV is essential for injury to epithelial cells and the disruption of alveolar integrity. FAK supplementation can reduce AEC injury associated with HMV.
Risk factors of adjacent segmental fractures when percutaneous vertebroplasty is performed for the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures
Authors: Liang Xinjie , Zhong Weiyang , Luo Xiaoji , Quan Zhengxue
Published: January 2020

The study aimed to analyze the radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings that might predict the risk for adjacent segmental fractures (ASFs) when percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) is used for the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures (OTFs). A total of 92 OTFs patients who underwent PV between January 2013 and January 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry-Disability Index (ODI) and radiolographic measurements were assessed. The VAS and ODI scores improved significantly at the final follow-up (FU) compared with the preoperation scores. Compared with the preoperative values, the fractured body alignment (FBA) significantly improved at the 3-month FU and the final FU, but the adjacent segment alignment (ASA) and thoracolumbar alignment (TLA) did not improve. According to the correlation analysis, the final FU TLA and the final FU ASA were correlated with the preoperative FBA, ASA, and TLA on plain radiography and were highly correlated on MRI. However, the final FU FBA was not correlated with the preoperative FBA, ASA, or TLA on plain radiography or MRI (P > 0.05). The ASFs were correlated with the 3-month FU TLA (r = 0.6044, P = 0.0037) and the final FU TLA (r = 0.5699, P = 0.007) on plain radiography, and the final TLA was more correlated with the preoperative FBA, ASA, and TLA on MRI than on plain radiography. In conclusion, the preoperative ASA and TLA on MRI were risk factors associated with ASFs in OTFs treated with PV.
A C-terminal Pfs48/45 malaria transmission-blocking vaccine candidate produced in the baculovirus expression system
Authors: Lee Shwu-Maan , Hickey John M. , Miura Kazutoyo , Joshi Sangeeta B. , Volkin David B. , King C. Richter , Plieskatt Jordan L.
Published: January 2020

The Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte surface protein, Pfs48/45, is a potential target for malaria transmission-blocking vaccines. However, due to its size and complexity, expression of the full-length protein has been difficult, leading to focus on the C-terminal six cysteine domain (6C) with the use of fusion proteins to facilitate expression and folding. In this study, we utilized the baculovirus system to evaluate the expression of three Pfs48/45 proteins including the full-length protein, the 6C domain fragment and the 6C domain mutant to prevent glycosylation. Expression of the recombinant Pfs48/45 proteins was conducted in super Sf9 cells combined with the use of tunicamycin to prevent N-glycosylation. The proteins were then evaluated as immunogens in mice to demonstrate the induction of functionally active polyclonal antibody responses as measured in the standard membrane feeding assay (SMFA). Only the 6C protein was found to exhibit significant transmission-reducing activity. Further characterization of the biologically active 6C protein demonstrated it was homogeneous in terms of size, charge, conformation, absence of glycosylation, and containing proper disulfide bond pairings. This study presents an alternative expression system, without the need of a fusion protein partner, for the Pfs48/45 6C protein fragment including further evaluation as a potential transmission-blocking vaccine candidate.
Author Correction: Multidimensional approach to formulating a specialized diet for northern corn rootworm larvae
Authors: Huynh Man P. , Hibbard Bruce E. , Lapointe Stephen L. , Niedz Randall P. , French B. Wade , Pereira Adriano E. , Finke Deborah L. , Shelby Kent S. , Coudron Thomas A.
Published: January 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Development of digital biomarkers for resting tremor and bradykinesia using a wrist-worn wearable device
Authors: Mahadevan Nikhil , Demanuele Charmaine , Zhang Hao , Volfson Dmitri , Ho Bryan , Erb Michael Kelley , Patel Shyamal
Published: January 2020

Objective assessment of Parkinson’s disease symptoms during daily life can help improve disease management and accelerate the development of new therapies. However, many current approaches require the use of multiple devices, or performance of prescribed motor activities, which makes them ill-suited for free-living conditions. Furthermore, there is a lack of open methods that have demonstrated both criterion and discriminative validity for continuous objective assessment of motor symptoms in this population. Hence, there is a need for systems that can reduce patient burden by using a minimal sensor setup while continuously capturing clinically meaningful measures of motor symptom severity under free-living conditions. We propose a method that sequentially processes epochs of raw sensor data from a single wrist-worn accelerometer by using heuristic and machine learning models in a hierarchical framework to provide continuous monitoring of tremor and bradykinesia. Results show that sensor derived continuous measures of resting tremor and bradykinesia achieve good to strong agreement with clinical assessment of symptom severity and are able to discriminate between treatment-related changes in motor states.
Structural analysis of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase bound to high density lipoprotein particles
Authors: Manthei Kelly A. , Patra Dhabaleswar , Wilson Christopher J. , Fawaz Maria V. , Piersimoni Lolita , Shenkar Jenny Capua , Yuan Wenmin , Andrews Philip C. , Engen John R. , Schwendeman Anna , Ohi Melanie D. , Tesmer John J. G.
Published: January 2020

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) catalyzes a critical step of reverse cholesterol transport by esterifying cholesterol in high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. LCAT is activated by apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), which forms a double belt around HDL, however the manner in which LCAT engages its lipidic substrates and ApoA-I in HDL is poorly understood. Here, we used negative stain electron microscopy, crosslinking, and hydrogen-deuterium exchange studies to refine the molecular details of the LCAT–HDL complex. Our data are consistent with LCAT preferentially binding to the edge of discoidal HDL near the boundary between helix 5 and 6 of ApoA-I in a manner that creates a path from the lipid bilayer to the active site of LCAT. Our results provide not only an explanation why LCAT activity diminishes as HDL particles mature, but also direct support for the anti-parallel double belt model of HDL, with LCAT binding preferentially to the helix 4/6 region.
Chemosensitization of prostate cancer stem cells in mice by angiogenin and plexin-B2 inhibitors
Authors: Li Shuping , Goncalves Kevin A. , Lyu Baiqing , Yuan Liang , Hu Guo-fu
Published: January 2020

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are an obstacle in cancer therapy and are a major cause of drug resistance, cancer recurrence, and metastasis. Available treatments, targeting proliferating cancer cells, are not effective in eliminating quiescent CSCs. Identification of CSC regulators will help design therapeutic strategies to sensitize drug-resistant CSCs for chemo-eradication. Here, we show that angiogenin and plexin-B2 regulate the stemness of prostate CSCs, and that inhibitors of angiogenin/plexin-B2 sensitize prostate CSCs to chemotherapy. Prostate CSCs capable of self-renewal, differentiation, and tumor initiation with a single cell inoculation were identified and shown to be regulated by angiogenin/plexin-B2 that promotes quiescence and self-renewal through 5S ribosomal RNA processing and generation of the bioactive 3′-end fragments of 5S ribosomal RNA, which suppress protein translation and restrict cell cycling. Monoclonal antibodies of angiogenin and plexin-B2 decrease the stemness of prostate CSCs and sensitize them to chemotherapeutic agents in vitro and in vivo.
Discovery of tumoricidal DNA oligonucleotides by response-directed in vitro evolution
Authors: Mamet Noam , Amir Yaniv , Lavi Erez , Bassali Liron , Harari Gil , Rusinek Itai , Skalka Nir , Debby Elinor , Greenberg Mor , Zamir Adva , Paz Anastasia , Reiss Neria , Loewenthal Gil , Avivi Irit , Shimoni Avichai , Neev Guy , Abu-Horowitz Almogit , Bachelet Ido
Published: January 2020

Drug discovery is challenged by ineffectiveness of drugs against variable and evolving diseases, and adverse effects due to poor selectivity. We describe a robust platform which potentially addresses these limitations. The platform enables rapid discovery of DNA oligonucleotides evolved in vitro for exerting specific and selective biological responses in target cells. The process operates without a priori target knowledge (mutations, biomarkers, etc). We report the discovery of oligonucleotides with direct, selective cytotoxicity towards cell lines, as well as patient-derived solid and hematological tumors. A specific oligonucleotide termed E8, induced selective apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Polyethylene glycol-modified E8 exhibited favorable biodistribution in animals, persisting in tumors up to 48-hours after injection. E8 inhibited tumors by 50% within 10 days of treatment in patient-derived xenograft mice, and was effective in ex vivo organ cultures from chemotherapy-resistant TNBC patients. These findings highlight a drug discovery model which is target-tailored and on-demand.
A tumor-targeted nanoplatform with stimuli-responsive cascaded activities for multiple model tumor therapy
Authors: Jin Ronghua , Xie Jirong , Yang Xiaoshan , Tian Yu , Yuan Pingyun , Bai Yongkang , Liu Shiyu , Cai Bolei , Chen Xin
Published: January 2020

A rambutan-like nanocomplex was designed to achieve low-drug-efflux chemotherapy and low-temperature photothermal therapy for effective and accurate tumor treatment.
Discovery and mechanistic investigation of Pt-catalyzed oxidative homocoupling of benzene with PhI(OAc)2
Authors: Nabavizadeh S. Masoud , Niroomand Hosseini Fatemeh , Park Chan , Wu Guang , Abu-Omar Mahdi M.
Published: January 2020

Pt-catalyzed direct coupling of benzene to biphenyl using PhI(OAc)2 as an oxidant in the absence of any acid as a co-solvent or co-catalyst was mechanistically investigated.
Transfer of naturally occurring radionuclides from soil to wild forest flora in an area with enhanced legacy and natural radioactivity in Norway
Authors: Mrdakovic Popic Jelena , Oughton Deborah H. , Salbu Brit , Skipperud Lindis
Published: January 2020

Estimation of naturally occurring radionuclide (NORM) uptake in biota is an important step in environmental impact and risk assessments.
Effects of NO2 and SO2 on the heterogeneous reaction of acetic acid on α-Al2O3 in the presence and absence of simulated irradiation
Authors: Yang Ning , Tsona Narcisse T. , Cheng Shumin , Wang Yifeng , Wu Lingyan , Ge Maofa , Du Lin
Published: January 2020

The effects of NO2 and SO2 on the atmospheric heterogeneous reaction of acetic acid on α-Al2O3 in the presence and absence of simulated irradiation were investigated by using the DRIFTS technique.
Metasurfaces-based imaging and applications: from miniaturized optical components to functional imaging platforms
Authors: Lee Dasol , Gwak Junho , Badloe Trevon , Palomba Stefano , Rho Junsuk
Published: January 2020

This review focuses on the imaging applications of metasurfaces.
Ultrahigh photo-stable all-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals and their robust random lasing
Authors: Yang Liuli , Wang Ting , Min Qiuhong , Pi Chaojie , Li Fan , Yang Xiao , Li Kongzhai , Zhou Dacheng , Qiu Jianbei , Yu Xue , Xu Xuhui
Published: January 2020

Photo-instability has prevented further commercialization of all-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) in the field of high-power optoelectronics.
Preparation and characterization of CdWO4:Cu nanorods with enhanced photocatalytic performance under sunlight irradiation
Authors: Narsimha Kura , Babu M. Shekar , Anuradha N. , Guda Swarupa , Kumar B. Kranthi , Mallesh D. , Upender G. , Reddy P. Muralidhar , Kumar B. Vijaya
Published: January 2020

The objective of this work is to convert an ultraviolet active photocatalyst to a visible active photocatalyst and investigate the effect of copper (Cu2+) doping on the morphology and photocatalytic activity of CdWO4.
A lysosome-targeted near-infrared fluorescent probe for imaging of acid phosphatase in living cells
Authors: Cai Songtao , Liu Chang , Jiao Xiaojie , He Song , Zhao Liancheng , Zeng Xianshun
Published: January 2020

A lysosome-targeted near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe SHCy-P for the detection and imaging of ACP in living cells has been designed and developed.
High thermoelectric performance for an Ag2Se-based material prepared by a wet chemical method
Authors: Li D. , Zhang J. H. , Li J. M. , Zhang J. , Qin X. Y.
Published: January 2020

Herein, a facile solution chemical route has been developed for synthesis of Ag2Se-based alloy nanocrystals and high thermoelectric figure of merit has been obtained.