bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic Myomectomy
Authors: Andou Masaaki , Yanai Shiori , Shirane Akira , Kanno Kiyoshi
Published: March 2020

Laparoscopic myomectomy is minimally invasive treatment for patients suffering from fibroids, especially those wishing to maintain their fertility sparing potential. While this surgery requires intensive training in surgical skills such as intracorporeal suturing and specimen extraction, patients can also expect less adhesion and a quick return to normal activity. This surgery can be broken into three stages, each presenting its own specific and unique challenges—enucleation, reapproximation of the myoma bed, and specimen extraction. To prepare for the broad spectrum of cases where the size and number of fibroids can differ greatly, we have mastered several techniques for each stage of the procedure. To keep the surgery safe, we train for unexpected scenarios by practicing minimally invasive repair and reconstruction techniques. By following basic tenets and understanding the laparoscopic anatomy, we define the targets and boundaries of our dissection to ensure completeness. In this paper, techniques for the enucleation, reapproximation, and extraction will be presented in detail.
Knowledge of Women on Early Symptoms of Cancer in Rural and Urban Areas of Mangalore
Authors: Jacob Sonia , D'Silva Fatima
Published: March 2020

A descriptive cross sectional survey design was adopted for the study to assess and compare the level of knowledge of women on early symptoms of cancer. The sample consisted of 200 women, 100 from urban area of Jeppu and 100 from rural area of Natekal PHC. Stratified Sampling technique was used for selection of the samples. The data was collected by a demographic pro forma and a knowledge questionnaire which consisted of 23 multiple choice and 11 dichotomous (Yes/No) questions.Reliability of the tool was assessed using split half method and the reliability coefficient was found to be 0.9.

Though the overall knowledge score of urban women was comparatively higher (38.26) than their rural counterparts (34.79), It was encouraging to note that rural women (53.6%) had better knowledge regarding risk factors and etiology of cancer when compared to urban women (51.02%).

In India cancer related mortality is very high due to lack of awareness of the early symptoms leading to delayed screening and increased exposure rate of the risk factors. Nurses play a significant role in the disease prevention and health promotion of patients with cancer. Educational programs on healthful living with cost effective and motivating teaching strategies can be undertaken for the community so as to curb the mortality and morbidity associated with cancer
The Range of Pollex-Index Approximations in Opposition
Authors: Kumar Arunachalam
Published: March 2020

Pinch gripping is an evolved hominid attribute: the modification of the first carpo-metacarpal articulation into a sellar type enables an opposable thumb; The pinch, preferentially performed by approximation of the pollex-index fingertip pulps shows variation in range of purchase between these digits depending on the power of grip. This brief report analyzes the area of surface contact between the pollex and index tip in both, light and tight pinch-grip.

The possible role of index anatomy in enhancing the level of efficiency of pinch-grip in opposition is discussed.
Low Birth Weight and Prematurity Are Associated with Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy in Later Life: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japan
Authors: Kurabayashi Takumi , Mizunuma Hideki , Kubota Toshiro , Nagai Kazue , Hayashi Kunihiko
Published: March 2020

Objective We previously reported that hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) was a risk factor for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in later life. Additionally, the age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of HDP was 2.72 for Japanese women whose mothers had a history of HDP versus those whose mothers did not. This study aimed to clarify the association of HDP with birth weight and gestational age.

Study Design A self-administered baseline survey of the Japanese Nurses' Health Study (JNHS) cohort was conducted from 2001 to 2007. Data on 17,278 parous female nurses who knew their own birth weights were extracted from the JNHS baseline survey (n = 49,927) and subjected to cross-sectional, retrospective analysis. Data on weeks of gestation, birth weight, and history of HDP were collected.

Results The age-adjusted ORs for HDP were 1.62 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20–2.19) for birth weight <2,000 g, 1.24 (CI: 1.04–1.48) for 2,000 to 2,499 g, 1.11 (CI: 1.00–1.23) for 2,500 to 2,999 g, and 1.08 (CI: 0.94–1.24) for ≥3,500 g compared with 3,000 to 3,499 g. The age-adjusted ORs for HDP were 1.27 (95% CI: 1.04–1.54) for a gestational age < 37 weeks and 0.93 (0.70–1.23) for ≥42 weeks compared with 37–41 weeks. The age-adjusted OR of the birth weight score for HDP in later life was 0.98 (CI: 0.94–1.03; Cochran–Armitage trend test: z = 0.401, p = 0.688).

Conclusion Among women in Japan, a history of low birth weight and prematurity are risk factors for HDP in later life. The risk of HDP among women born with low birth weight and/or premature deserves attention.
Copper-Mediated Synthesis of Aryl α-Keto Amides from Epoxide Derivatives
Authors: Xu Heng , Liu Fenghua , Cui Yunjian , Dong Yi
Published: March 2020

A novel CuII-mediated synthesis of aryl α-keto amides from epoxide derivatives is reported. This transformation was conducted by using O2 as a green oxidant that meets the requirements of sustainable chemistry.
A high-efficiency relativistic magnetron with a novel all-cavity extraction structure
Authors: Liu Zeyang , Fan Yuwei , Wang Xiaoyu , Shi Difu , Li Ankun , Yu Yuanqiang
Published: March 2020

Relativistic magnetrons (RMs) are one of the most promising high power microwave devices. A high-efficiency relativistic magnetron (HERM) with a novel all-cavity extraction structure is presented and investigated theoretically and numerically in this paper. Compared with conventional RMs with an all-cavity extraction structure, the HERM has three improved features. First, a single stair is introduced into the HERM. Second, the angular width of the extraction structure is bigger than that of the anode slow-wave structure. Third, the extraction port is set behind the anode vanes in the axial direction instead of being set between two anode vanes. These improved features can enhance the extraction efficiency of the HERM. The typical simulation results are as follows: high-power microwaves of the transverse electromagnetic mode are generated with a peak power of 1.65 GW, a frequency of 1.61 GHz, and a power efficiency of 67.6%, when the voltage is 586 kV and the current is 4.19 kA. The simulation results verify the validity of the novel all-cavity extraction structure.
Aperiodically intermittent control for exponential bipartite synchronization of delayed signed networks with multi-links
Authors: Wang Mengxin , Zheng Rulin , Feng Jiqiang , Qin Sitian , Li Wenxue
Published: March 2020

This paper investigates the exponential bipartite synchronization of a general class of delayed signed networks with multi-links by using an aperiodically intermittent control strategy. The main result is a set of sufficient conditions for bipartite synchronization that depend on the network’s topology, control gain, and the maximum proportion of rest time. An application to Chua’s circuits is then considered, and some numerical simulation results are presented.
Influence of extraction grid on ion beam characteristics
Authors: Alekseev Nikolai , Balabaev Alexander , Khrisanov Igor , Kulevoy Timur , Losev Anton , Satov Yuri , Shumshurov Alexander , Vasilyev Andrey
Published: March 2020

This work is a part of the development of a laser ion source (LIS) for multiply charged ion injectors. This experiment is devoted to the investigation of the effect of a metal grid on the extracted ion characteristics. The energy spectra of the ions in the plasma expanding into a drift tube with and without a grid have been compared. Plasmas of two different target materials, carbon and tungsten, were generated by the CO2 laser pulses with the focal power density on the target of about 1011 W/cm2. The time-of-flight method with an electrostatic energy analyzer installed just behind the grid is used to measure the charge states and energy distributions of ions. A significant effect of the grid on the ion energy distributions has been observed. This effect depends strongly on the ion mass and should be taken into account when designing a LIS, especially in the case of heavy ions.
GaN-on-diamond technology platform: Bonding-free membrane manufacturing process
Authors: Smith Matthew D. , Cuenca Jerome A. , Field Daniel E. , Fu Yen-chun , Yuan Chao , Massabuau Fabien , Mandal Soumen , Pomeroy James W. , Oliver Rachel A. , Uren Michael J. , Elgaid Khaled , Williams Oliver A. , Thayne Iain , Kuball Martin
Published: March 2020

GaN-on-diamond samples were demonstrated using a membrane-based technology. This was achieved by selective area Si substrate removal of areas of up to 1 cm × 1 cm from a GaN-on-Si wafer, followed by direct growth of a polycrystalline diamond using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition on etch exposed N-polar AlN epitaxial nucleation layers. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to confirm the formation of high quality, void-free AlN/diamond interfaces. The bond between the III-nitride layers and the diamond was validated by strain measurements of the GaN buffer layer. Demonstration of this technology platform is an important step forward for the creation of next generation high power electronic devices.
The experimental investigation of the hohlraum energetics of two-entrance holes spherical hohlraum at the 100 kJ level laser facility
Authors: Yan Ji , Chen Yaohua , Chen Zhongjing , Jiang Shao'en , Ren Guoli , Zhang Xing , Jiang Wei , Hao Liang , Che Xingsen , Xu Tao , Chen Li , Sun Chuankui , Dong Yunsong , Yu Bo , Pu Yudong , Wang Lifeng , He Xiantu
Published: March 2020

The two-laser entrance hole (LEHs) spherical hohlraum energetic experiments with all 48 laser beams and two laser pulse shapes at the 100 kJ level laser facility were investigated. In this work, the time-resolved radiation temperature measured by multi-angle x-ray diodes agreed well with LARED simulations, and the peak radiation temperature was up to 260 eV with the laser power of 45 TW. Meanwhile, the backscattered laser energy fraction was less than 5% in the majority of shots, which proposed a low level of laser–plasma interaction (LPI) effect in the spherical hohlraum. However, in the shaped pulse shots with capsules, the stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) of smaller incident angle lasers was significantly increased to 15%. The measured SRS spectrum and LARED simulations showed that the increase in the LPI effects caused by the ablated CH plasma was around 0.1Nc (Nc is the critical density). In summary, according to the experimental results, the x-ray conversion efficiency of the vacuum spherical hohlraum was 85%–88% in 3 ns square pulses and 89%–93% in 3.6 ns shaped pulses. It was closer to that of the two-LEH cylindrical hohlraum at the Shen-Guang and NIF facilities.
Study of induced current of 3D-open-shell-electrode detector
Authors: Nie Qian , Liao Chuan , Liu Manwen , Li Zheng
Published: March 2020

Interactions between neighboring cells often occur in a semiconductor silicon detector array. That is, there are high-energy particles incident on one cell of the detector that generate an electric signal for the cell, while weak signals are also generated in other neighboring cells. Therefore, isolation of the detector cells is an important factor in the performance of the detector, particularly for its energy resolution. To eliminate the dead space in the 3D-trench-electrode detector proposed by Brookhaven National Laboratory, a novel three-dimensional (3D) detector, the 3D-Open-Shell-Electrode Detector (3DOSED), was proposed in 2018, in which good isolation between cells was achieved. To verify this and determine the optimal structure design, a Silvaco technology computer-aided design simulation tool was used to simulate the electrical characteristics of the detector in 3D. The distributions of the electric field and the weighting field of 3DOSEDs were obtained with different opening gap angles. A single minimum ionizing particle was used that was incident vertically on the middle of the central collection electrode and peripheral trench electrode of the detector cell, according to the Ramo theorem of the principle of induced-current generation, and the mathematical software matlab was employed to calculate the induced current and carrier drift time. The interference current between the neighboring cells of a 3DOSED was obtained. Good isolation was found between neighboring cells in the 3DOSED.
Characterizing magnetized plasmas with dynamic mode decomposition
Authors: Kaptanoglu A. A. , Morgan K. D. , Hansen C. J. , Brunton S. L.
Published: March 2020

Accurate and efficient plasma models are essential to understand and control experimental devices. Existing magnetohydrodynamic or kinetic models are nonlinear and computationally intensive and can be difficult to interpret, while often only approximating the true dynamics. In this work, data-driven techniques recently developed in the field of fluid dynamics are leveraged to develop interpretable reduced-order models of plasmas that strike a balance between accuracy and efficiency. In particular, dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) is used to extract spatio-temporal magnetic coherent structures from the experimental and simulation datasets of the helicity injected torus with steady inductive (HIT-SI) experiment. Three-dimensional magnetic surface probes from the HIT-SI experiment are analyzed, along with companion simulations with synthetic internal magnetic probes. A number of leading variants of the DMD algorithm are compared, including the sparsity-promoting and optimized DMD. Optimized DMD results in the highest overall prediction accuracy, while sparsity-promoting DMD yields physically interpretable models that avoid overfitting. These DMD algorithms uncover several coherent magnetic modes that provide new physical insights into the inner plasma structure. These modes were subsequently used to discover a previously unobserved three-dimensional structure in the simulation, rotating at the second injector harmonic. Finally, using data from probes at experimentally accessible locations, DMD identifies a resistive kink mode, a ubiquitous instability seen in magnetized plasmas.
Robust diffraction-limited near-infrared-to-near-ultraviolet wide-field imaging from stratospheric balloon-borne platforms—Super-pressure Balloon-borne Imaging Telescope performance
Authors: Romualdez L. Javier , Benton Steven J. , Brown Anthony M. , Clark Paul , Damaren Christopher J. , Eifler Tim , Fraisse Aurelien A. , Galloway Mathew N. , Gill Ajay , Hartley John W. , Holder Bradley , Huff Eric M. , Jauzac Mathilde , Jones William C. , Lagattuta David , Leung Jason S.-Y. , Li Lun , Luu Thuy Vy T. , Massey Richard J. , McCleary Jacqueline , Mullaney James , Nagy Johanna M. , Netterfield C. Barth , Redmond Susan , Rhodes Jason D. , Schmoll Jürgen , Shaaban Mohamed M. , Sirks Ellen , Tam Sut-Ieng
Published: March 2020

At a fraction of the total cost of an equivalent orbital mission, scientific balloon-borne platforms, operating above 99.7% of the Earth’s atmosphere, offer attractive, competitive, and effective observational capabilities—namely, space-like seeing, transmission, and backgrounds—which are well suited for modern astronomy and cosmology. The Super-pressure Balloon-borne Imaging Telescope (SUPERBIT) is a diffraction-limited, wide-field, 0.5 m telescope capable of exploiting these observing conditions in order to provide exquisite imaging throughout the near-infrared to near-ultraviolet. It utilizes a robust active stabilization system that has consistently demonstrated a 48 mas 1σ sky-fixed pointing stability over multiple 1 h observations at float. This is achieved by actively tracking compound pendulations via a three-axis gimballed platform, which provides sky-fixed telescope stability at < 500 mas and corrects for field rotation, while employing high-bandwidth tip/tilt optics to remove residual disturbances across the science imaging focal plane. SUPERBIT’s performance during the 2019 commissioning flight benefited from a customized high-fidelity science-capable telescope designed with an exceptional thermo- and opto-mechanical stability as well as a tightly constrained static and dynamic coupling between high-rate sensors and telescope optics. At the currently demonstrated level of flight performance, SUPERBIT capabilities now surpass the science requirements for a wide variety of experiments in cosmology, astrophysics, and stellar dynamics.
Free and steady forced vibration characteristics of elastic metamaterial beam
Authors: Mu Di , Shu Haisheng , An Shuowei , Zhao Lei
Published: March 2020

The propagation of elastic waves in infinite elastic metamaterials (EMs) is studied by using the effective medium theory (EMT). However, when EMs are applied in engineering practice, finite EM structures should obviously be the most cases, in which the propagation of elastic waves corresponds to the problem of vibration. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a reasonable vibration analysis method for typical EM waveguides and investigate their unique modal characteristics and related vibration characteristics. At present, the relevant exploration is relatively limited, especially analytical analysis. As one typical EM finite structure, an EM beam was chosen to be investigated in this study. Based on the EMT, the Euler beam theory is extended to the analysis of EM finite beams, and the analysis process of free and steady forced vibration is established, the particular characteristics are revealed, including the gathering of natural frequencies in the vicinity of band edges, the absence of natural frequencies within bandgap (BG), and the particular modal correspondence before and after BG. Then, the formation mechanisms of the characteristics are explained from the perspective of standing waves. The obtained results may give insights into the vibration analysis of other finite EM structures, such as EM rods, shafts, plates, and shells.
The relation between molecular dynamics and configurational entropy in room temperature ionic liquids: Test of Adam–Gibbs model
Authors: Cheng S. , Musiał M. , Wojnarowska Z. , Paluch M.
Published: March 2020

In this communication, the Adam–Gibbs model connecting molecular dynamics with configurational entropy is tested for the first time for ionic liquids. For this purpose, we investigate simultaneously the shear viscosity η and configurational entropy Sc of an aprotic ionic liquid: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMIm TFSI). Comparing the Sc data obtained by the combination of Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann and Adam–Gibbs equations to the Sc points determined directly from the calorimetric experiment, good agreement is found in the entire supercooled liquid region. These results indicate the validity of the Adam–Gibbs model in materials with electrostatic interactions being dominated. These important findings not only generalize the applications of the Adam–Gibbs theory but also provide an opportunity to gain insight into the relationship between thermodynamics and molecular dynamics in ionic liquids.
Measurement of quadrupolar asymmetry in prototype rod-type radio frequency quadrupole linac for protons
Authors: Das Chiranjib , Dechoudhury Siddhartha , Mandi Tapan , Roy Suvadeep , Pandey Hemendra , Naik Vaishali , Chakrabarti Alok
Published: March 2020

An analytical and cold model study of a prototype extended vane rod-type RFQ (radio frequency quadrupole linac) is presented. The bead-pull measurement allowed us to experimentally determine the effect of shaping of the vane-supporting posts and, most interestingly, the size of the vacuum enclosure in the dipolar and quadrupolar field asymmetry. Disk shaped beads of BaTiO3 have been tailor made for this purpose. The special shape of the beads has allowed precise measurements of frequency shifts all along the length of the RFQ. The measured quadrupolar asymmetry and dipole component at a radial distance of 7 mm from the beam axis are within ±1% for the optimized structure. Particle tracking of a 10 mA proton beam with a simulated 3D field for the optimized full scale RFQ with modulated vanes has been carried out. Simulation shows vertical and horizontal shifts of only 0.01 mm and 0.03 mm, respectively, for the accelerated beam at the exit of RFQ. The percentage of accelerated particles lying within an energy width of ±40 keV about 800 keV is increased from 86% for the original enclosure to 88% for the reduced enclosure, whereas the transmission efficiency is 100% for both the cases.
Interspecies fractional collisions
Authors: Araki S. J. , Martin R. S.
Published: March 2020

Relaxing the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method to be compatible with variable particle weights has significant advantages when applied to simulations with a large density variation, as the statistical noise in the low density region can be controlled. The stochastic weighted particle method [S. Rjasanow and W. Wagner, J. Comput. Phys. 124, 243–253 (1996)] enables the control of particle weight but has never been applied to a multicomponent gas mixture or plasma. This paper focuses on charge-exchange collisions, but the method is applicable to any interspecies collision reactions including ionization and excitation collisions, providing the correct collision rate between different species with different weights in the context of no-time-counter scheme, which can easily be extended to other DSMC schemes. The method is first verified through two test cases observing the depletion of high-energy ions as impacting background neutral particles and looking at the spatial variation and temporal evolution of different species. Then, the method is applied to a simple electric propulsion plume simulation, demonstrating the controllability of species ratio and capability in reducing statistical noise for the charge-exchange ions.
Probing the concept of line tension down to the nanoscale
Authors: Bey Romain , Coasne Benoit , Picard Cyril
Published: March 2020

A novel mechanical approach is developed to explore by means of atom-scale simulation the concept of line tension at a solid–liquid–vapor contact line as well as its dependence on temperature, confinement, and solid/fluid interactions. More precisely, by estimating the stresses exerted along and normal to a straight contact line formed within a partially wet pore, the line tension can be estimated while avoiding the pitfalls inherent to the geometrical scaling methodology based on hemispherical drops. The line tension for Lennard–Jones fluids is found to follow a generic behavior with temperature and chemical potential effects that are all included in a simple contact angle parameterization. Former discrepancies between theoretical modeling and molecular simulation are resolved, and the line tension concept is shown to be robust down to molecular confinements. The same qualitative behavior is observed for water, but the line tension at the wetting transition diverges or converges toward a finite value depending on the range of solid/fluid interactions at play.
Oscillation-like diffusion of two-dimensional liquid dusty plasmas on one-dimensional periodic substrates with varied widths
Authors: Li W. , Reichhardt C. , Reichhardt C. J. O. , Murillo M. S. , Feng Yan
Published: March 2020

The long-time diffusion of two-dimensional dusty plasmas on a one-dimensional periodic substrate with varying widths is investigated using Langevin dynamical simulations. When the substrate is narrow and the dust particles form a single row, the diffusion is the smallest in both directions. We find that as the substrate width gradually increases to twice its initial value, the long-time diffusion of the two-dimensional dusty plasmas first increases, then decreases, and finally increases again, giving an oscillation-like diffusion with varying substrate widths. When the width increases to a specific value, the dust particles within each potential well arrange themselves in a stable zigzag pattern, greatly reducing the diffusion and leading to the observed oscillation in the diffusion with the increase in the width. In addition, the long-time oscillation-like diffusion is consistent with the number of dust particles that are hopping across the potential wells of the substrate.
Electronic predissociation in rare gas–dihalogen complexes
Authors: Zeigler Nicholas , Makarem Camille , Wei Jie , Loomis Richard A.
Published: March 2020

The role of electronic predissociation (EP) in the dissociation dynamics of rare gas⋯dihalogen complexes (Rg⋯X2) prepared in the B electronic state was probed using ion time-of-flight velocity-map imaging. Specifically, EP of complexes prepared in the T-shaped Ar⋯I2, Ne⋯I2, He⋯I2, Ar⋯Br2, Ne⋯Br2, and He⋯Br2 levels with varying amounts of X2 vibrational excitation, ν′, was investigated. The atomic I(2P3/2) or Br(2P3/2) EP fragments were probed using ion time-of-flight velocity-map imaging. Definitive evidence for EP was observed only for the Ar⋯I2 complex, and it occurs for all of the T-shaped intermolecular levels investigated, those with ν′ = 12–22, 24, and 25. The relative yields for EP in these levels measured as a function of ν′ are consistent with previously reported yields for the competing mechanism of vibrational predissociation. The anisotropies of the I+ images collected for Ar⋯I2 indicate that EP is occurring on timescales shorter than the rotational periods of the complex. The kinetic energy distributions of the departing I-atom fragments suggest that EP occurs from an asymmetric geometry rather than the rigid T-shaped geometry for many of the Ar⋯I2 levels prepared. These findings indicate that intramolecular vibrational redistribution of these initially prepared T-shaped levels to excited levels bound within a lower-energy intermolecular potential occurs prior to EP.
Diamond Brillouin lasers provide high power, low noise
Authors: Patrick Chris
Published: March 2020

Running a Brillouin laser in diamond without guided wave optics affords a wide range of output power, which could benefit a plethora of potential applications.
Heated strips can be used to mitigate turbulent flow
Authors: Bandari Anashe
Published: March 2020

Though heating typically increases drag of a system, carefully placing heated strips can have the unexpected effect of reducing local turbulence.
Free energy for inclusion of nanoparticles in solvated polymer brushes from molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Gao Hui-Min , Li Bing , Zhang Ran , Sun Zhao-Yan , Lu Zhong-Yuan
Published: March 2020

The inclusion of nanoparticles (NPs) into solvated polymer brushes (PBs) provides a path for designing novel nanocomposites and a multifunctional surface for wide applications. Despite intensive study over the years, the correlation between the structural properties of NPs (or PBs) and the NP–PB interactions is still to be well unveiled. Here, we present molecular dynamics simulations with the umbrella sampling method to systematically investigate the interaction between NPs and PBs, via calculating the free energy cost (Uins, associated with the inclusion of NPs into PBs) as a function of a series of factors, such as brush grafting density (ρg), grafted polymer chain architecture, NPs’ size, NPs’ surface properties, and NPs’ shape and surface structure, as well as the solvent quality. Our results show that at a fixed NP size, the inclusion free energy approximately scales with the osmotic pressure (Π) of PBs under good solvent conditions [Uins∼Π(ρg)∼ρg3/2], regardless of the NPs’ shape and surface properties. Once the radius of the NP (RNP) is varied, a scaling law, Uins∼RNP3, can be obtained for NPs deeply inserted in swollen PBs with a high grafting density. While for shallow inclusions, a surface tension correction of the form ∼RNP2 plays a role. Further studies reveal that Θ and poor solvents will weaken the osmotic pressure effects of PBs and reversely enhance the surface tension effects due to the increased NP–brush repulsion. Our simulation results verify previous theoretical perspectives that the Uins can be approximated by the sum of the volume and surface contributions from the osmotic pressure Π and surface tension γ (Uins∼ΠRNP3+γRNP2). Our work not only helps us to understand the applicability of previous theories on the NP–PB system but also reveals the key factors that impact the NP–PB interaction in a series of probable conditions, which may provide valuable guidelines for designing and engineering novel nanomaterials based on functional NPs and PBs.
Mapping fire regime ecoregions in California
Authors: Syphard Alexandra D. , Keeley Jon E.
Published: March 2020

The fire regime is a central framing concept in wildfire science and ecology and describes how a range of wildfire characteristics vary geographically over time. Understanding and mapping fire regimes is important for guiding appropriate management and risk reduction strategies and for informing research on drivers of global change and altered fire patterns. Most efforts to spatially delineate fire regimes have been conducted by identifying natural groupings of fire parameters based on available historical fire data. This can result in classes with similar fire characteristics but wide differences in ecosystem types. We took a different approach and defined fire regime ecoregions for California to better align with ecosystem types, without using fire as part of the definition. We used an unsupervised classification algorithm to segregate the state into spatial clusters based on distinctive biophysical and anthropogenic attributes that drive fire regimes – and then used historical fire data to evaluate the ecoregions. The fire regime ecoregion map corresponded well with the major land cover types of the state and provided clear separation of historical patterns in fire frequency and size, with lower variability in fire severity. This methodology could be used for mapping fire regimes in other regions with limited historical fire data or forecasting future fire regimes based on expected changes in biophysical characteristics.
In vitro selection of ribozyme ligases that use prebiotically plausible 2-aminoimidazole–activated substrates
Authors: Walton Travis , DasGupta Saurja , Duzdevich Daniel , Oh Seung Soo , Szostak Jack W.
Published: March 2020

Significance

Current models for the origin of life include an earlier period when prebiotic chemistry dictated the nonenzymatic copying of RNA polymers, followed by a period of ribozyme-catalyzed reactions using nucleoside-5′-triphosphate (NTP) substrates. Our study addresses the transition from nonenzymatic to ribozyme-catalyzed RNA template copying by determining whether ribozymes could have used substrates activated with 2-aminoimidazole, a prebiotically plausible leaving group, instead of NTPs. We identify ligase ribozymes that use RNA substrates activated with 2-aminoimidazole, thereby proving that ribozyme catalysis is compatible with the reactants of nonenzymatic template-directed ligation. This work suggests that the transition from nonenzymatic to ribozyme-catalyzed RNA replication could have involved ribozymes that utilize inherently reactive RNA substrates.
Investigations of the underlying mechanisms of HIF-1α and CITED2 binding to TAZ1
Authors: Chu Wen-Ting , Chu Xiakun , Wang Jin
Published: March 2020

The TAZ1 domain of CREB binding protein is crucial for transcriptional regulation and recognizes multiple targets. The interactions between TAZ1 and its specific targets are related to the cellular hypoxic negative feedback regulation. Previous experiments reported that one of the TAZ1 targets, CITED2, is an efficient competitor of another target, HIF-1

α

. Here, by developing the structure-based models of TAZ1 complexes, we have uncovered the underlying mechanisms of the competitions between the two intrinsic disordered proteins (IDPs) HIF-1

α

and CITED2 binding to TAZ1. Our results support the experimental hypothesis on the competition mechanisms and the apparent affinity. Furthermore, the simulations locate the dominant position of forming TAZ1–CITED2 complex in both thermodynamics and kinetics. For thermodynamics, TAZ1–CITED2 is the lowest basin located on the free energy surface of binding in the ternary system. For kinetics, the results suggest that CITED2 binds to TAZ1 faster than HIF-1

α

. In addition, the analysis of contact map and

Φ

values is important for guiding further experimental studies to understand the biomolecular functions of IDPs.
Class A PBPs have a distinct and unique role in the construction of the pneumococcal cell wall
Authors: Straume Daniel , Piechowiak Katarzyna Wiaroslawa , Olsen Silje , Stamsås Gro Anita , Berg Kari Helene , Kjos Morten , Heggenhougen Maria Victoria , Alcorlo Martín , Hermoso Juan A. , Håvarstein Leiv Sigve
Published: March 2020

Significance

Peptidoglycan, the main structural component of the bacterial cell wall, is made of glycan strands cross-linked by short peptides. It has long been assumed that class A penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) are the only enzymes capable of synthesizing glycan strands from lipid II. Recently, however, it was discovered that two non-PBP proteins, FtsW and RodA, constitute the core peptidoglycan polymerizing enzymes of the divisome and elongasome, respectively. What, then, is the role of class A PBPs in the construction of the bacterial cell wall? In contrast to previous assumptions, our results strongly suggest that class A PBPs are not an intrinsic part of the divisome and elongasome but have important autonomous roles in construction of the fully mature bacterial cell wall.
The effects of evolutionary adaptations on spreading processes in complex networks
Authors: Eletreby Rashad , Zhuang Yong , Carley Kathleen M. , Yağan Osman , Poor H. Vincent
Published: March 2020

Significance

In this article, we bridge the disconnect between how spreading processes propagate and evolve in real life and the current mathematical and simulation models that ignore evolutionary adaptations. We propose a mathematical theory that reveals the effects of evolutionary adaptations on spreading processes in complex networks and highlights the shortcomings of classical epidemic models that do not capture evolution. Our work provides substantive developments to the classical theory of network epidemics and paves the way for exploring depths and revealing insights on the emergence phenomenon.
Histone H3K27me3 demethylases regulate human Th17 cell development and effector functions by impacting on metabolism
Authors: Cribbs Adam P. , Terlecki-Zaniewicz Stefan , Philpott Martin , Baardman Jeroen , Ahern David , Lindow Morten , Obad Susanna , Oerum Henrik , Sampey Brante , Mander Palwinder K. , Penn Henry , Wordsworth Paul , Bowness Paul , de Winther Menno , Prinjha Rab K. , Feldmann Marc , Oppermann Udo
Published: March 2020

T helper (Th) cells are CD4
+
effector T cells that play a critical role in immunity by shaping the inflammatory cytokine environment in a variety of physiological and pathological situations. Using a combined chemico-genetic approach, we identify histone H3K27 demethylases KDM6A and KDM6B as central regulators of human Th subsets. The prototypic KDM6 inhibitor GSK-J4 increases genome-wide levels of the repressive H3K27me3 chromatin mark and leads to suppression of the key transcription factor RORγt during Th17 differentiation. In mature Th17 cells, GSK-J4 induces an altered transcriptional program with a profound metabolic reprogramming and concomitant suppression of IL-17 cytokine levels and reduced proliferation. Single-cell analysis reveals a specific shift from highly inflammatory cell subsets toward a resting state upon demethylase inhibition. The root cause of the observed antiinflammatory phenotype in stimulated Th17 cells is reduced expression of key metabolic transcription factors, such as PPRC1. Overall, this leads to reduced mitochondrial biogenesis, resulting in a metabolic switch with concomitant antiinflammatory effects. These data are consistent with an effect of GSK-J4 on Th17 T cell differentiation pathways directly related to proliferation and include regulation of effector cytokine profiles. This suggests that inhibiting KDM6 demethylases may be an effective, even in the short term, therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis.
Insights from studying statistical learning
Authors: Frost Rebecca L.A. , Monaghan Padraic
Published: March 2020

Acquiring language is notoriously complex, yet for the majority of children this feat is accomplished with remarkable ease. Usage-based accounts of language acquisition suggest that this success can be largely attributed to the wealth of experience with language that children accumulate over the course of language acquisition. One field of research that is heavily underpinned by this principle of experience is statistical learning, which posits that learners can perform powerful computations over the distribution of information in a given input, which can help them to discern precisely how that input is structured, and how it operates. A growing body of work brings this notion to bear in the field of language acquisition, due to a developing understanding of the richness of the statistical information contained in speech. In this chapter we discuss the role that statistical learning plays in language acquisition, emphasising the importance of both the distribution of information within language, and the situation in which language is being learnt. First, we address the types of statistical learning that apply to a range of language learning tasks, asking whether the statistical processes purported to support language learning are the same or distinct across different tasks in language acquisition. Second, we expand the perspective on what counts as environmental input, by determining how statistical learning operates over the situated learning environment, and not just sequences of sounds in utterances. Finally, we address the role of variability in children’s input, and examine how statistical learning can accommodate (and perhaps even exploit) this during language acquisition.
The retreat from transitive-causative overgeneralization errors
Authors: Ambridge Ben , Ambridge Chloe
Published: March 2020

This chapter summarises research on how children avoid overgeneralizations of verb argument structure, focussing on the transitive-causative construction (e.g. *I’m dancing it [c.f. I’m making it dance]). It then presents some new data that bear on this issue: diary data of these types of utterances produced by the second author (from birth up until age 4;0), collected by the first author. These data are used to argue that, although errors from the point of view of the adult grammar, many of these utterances are in fact perfectly matched to the communicative needs of each situation; more so in fact than the corresponding adult forms would have been. For example, the utterances Can you jump me off?, Jump me!, Jump me down and Jump me up there do not mean ‘Do something that indirectly causes ME to instigate jumping’; the meaning implied by the periphrastic-causative construction (e.g., “Can you make me jump?”). Rather, the type of causation intended here is single-event, direct, external causation, of almost exactly the type that is typically conveyed by the transitive-causative construction (e.g., I broke a cup). The rather radical implication is that semantics must be represented not at the level of the verb but of individual events, necessitating an exemplar model under which (in principle) all witnessed utterances are stored along with some representation of the event to which they refer.
Where form meets meaning in the acquisition of grammatical constructions
Authors: Theakston Anna L.
Published: March 2020

This chapter focuses on the question of how children learn form–meaning mappings in the development of multiword utterances (i.e. the meaning associated with a specific sentence produced in a specific context). Following a theoretical overview, we examine the relationship between the input children hear and their early sentence productions through the lens of children’s grammatical errors. The goal is to determine the sources of input to which the learner is sensitive in the development of form–meaning mappings, and how these mappings may be refined over the course of development. We then consider how the semantic components of multiword utterances and the pragmatic (information-structural) contexts in which they occur impact on children’s early usage and interpretation of grammatical constructions to understand the cues children use to assign meaning. The chapter ends with a summary of outstanding questions and future directions.
Social cognitive and later language acquisition
Authors: Brandt Silke
Published: March 2020

A great number of studies suggest that children’s acquisition of mental-state language supports, or even facilitates, their understanding of others’ mental states and perspectives. However, based on previous research, it has often been difficult to determine which aspects of mental-state language support this so-called Theory of Mind understanding. Whereas some researchers have argued that it is the semantics of mental verbs, such as think and know, others have suggested that it is the subordinate structure of complement-clause constructions, such as She thinks that the sticker is in the red box. In English, these two aspects are often confounded: mental verbs are typically used in complement-clause constructions. However, more recent studies have turned to languages such as Chinese and German, which allow us to distinguish between verbal semantics and syntactic constructions and also look at their interaction. Overall, these studies suggest that both semantics and syntax can play a role in children’s Theory of Mind development. In this chapter I also present some findings that indicate that whether or not the semantics of mental verbs supports children’s Theory of Mind development depends on how exactly they are used in complement-clause constructions. Since these usage patterns differ across languages, we can also see cross-linguistic differences in the interaction between verbal semantics, syntactic patterns and Theory of Mind development.
The emergence of gesture during prelinguistic interaction
Authors: Cameron-Faulkner Thea
Published: March 2020

The emergence of intentional prelinguistic communication demonstrates in the most basic terms, the essence of language and the dynamic nature of communicative development. The chapter provides an overview of prelinguistic development from a dynamic perspective, beginning with a discussion of joint attention skills and patterns of triadic interaction, followed by a description of prelinguistic gesture development. The chapter presents a dynamic, interactive account of development in which infant gestures become social over time through interaction with more experienced co-participants. The chapter concludes by considering prelinguistic gestures cross-culturally and the challenges associated with studying this rich and interactive aspect of development.
From reversible to irreversible bistable switches via bifurcations in a gene regulatory network
Authors: Hao Lijie , Yang Zhuoqin , Shen Danhong , Xing Miaomiao
Published: March 2020

The interplay of small, noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs), mRNAs and proteins plays crucial roles in almost all cellular processes. MiR-124, widely known as a memory-related miRNA, can regulate LTM by binding to the mRNA of CREB1 stimulated with 5-HT. In this paper, we establish a regulatory network model of CREB1 and miR-124 stimulated by 5-HT, in which miR-124 inhibits CREB1, which in turn enhances miR-124. Our model validates three protocols based on 5-HT in experiments on the induction of LTM in Aplysia. A steady-state analysis and numerical bifurcations of the abstracted system beyond memory formation, when the fast reaction has been in the equilibrium, can facilitate more abundant dynamical behaviors such as bistability and oscillation. The original system also exhibits bistability under appropriate feedback strengths, which is relevant to the mechanism of LTM formation. Furthermore, we specifically show a change in the transition from a reversible switch to an irreversible switch via bifurcations of the negative regulation of miR-124 on CREB1, which eventually maintains a high phosphorylated CREB1 level after initially elevated by 5-HT. These findings indicate that miR-124 provides an inhibitory constraint on long-term synaptic plasticity through the regulation of CREB1.
Meticulous Imprecision: Calculating Age in Colonial Spanish American Law
Authors: Premo Bianca
Published: March 2020

It is easy to presume that age’s legal value rests in the autonomy and rights that accrue to the liberal (male, propertied) citizen who has reached the age of majority. But this is not universally so. In Spain’s American colonies, legal age talk involved multiplying privileges rather than exclusionary subtraction. Few indigenous peoples, enslaved people of African descent, or members of the free casta poor tallied the years they had lived in a manner that meets modern standards of precision. Instead, the ages that Spanish American officials set down on paper in criminal trials, censuses, and freedom suits derived from complicated cultural equations, including reconciling local ethno-numeracies with European counting systems. For all its seeming imprecision, age was of critical importance to colonial Spanish Americans, since rather than guaranteeing access to rights, age was a language that colonial subjects used to turn legal incapacities into beneficial protections.
Increased Urinary Liver-Type Fatty Acid-Binding Protein Level Predicts Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Hypertension
Authors: Okubo Yousaku , Nakano Yukiko , Tokuyama Takehito , Hironobe Naoya , Okamura Sho , Ikeuchi Yoshihiro , Miyauchi Shunsuke , Kihara Yasuki
Published: March 2020

Background

Urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) has been known as a potential biomarker for acute kidney injury. It has also been suggested to have an effective predictive value for cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes or critically ill condition. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the ability of urinary L-FABP in predicting mid-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with hypertension.

Methods

Urinary L-FABP levels in stable outpatients without diabetes who were treated with antihypertensive drugs were measured, and a 5-year follow-up was planned. The primary end-point was a combination of acute heart failure requiring hospitalization, myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death. The secondary end-point was kidney disease progression defined as a relative decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≥30% from the baseline.

Results

A total of 197 patients were recruited. Primary and secondary end-points occurred in 24 (12.2%) and 42 (21.3%) patients, respectively, during a median follow-up of 5.7 years. Patients with urinary L-FABP levels higher than the upper limit (8.4 µg/g creatinine) were more likely to reach the primary (30.43% vs. 9.77%; P = 0.003) and secondary end-points (56.52% vs. 16.67%; P < 0.001) than those with urinary L-FABP levels within the normal limits. Urinary L-FABP level was independently associated with both primary (hazard ratio (HR) 1.21; P = 0.03) and secondary end-points (HR 1.19; P = 0.02).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that increased urinary L-FABP levels may predict adverse cardiovascular events and renal dysfunction progression even among stable nondiabetic patients with hypertension.