bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fine‐Mapping of SNCA in Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder and Overt Synucleinopathies
Authors: Krohn Lynne , Wu Richard Y. J. , Heilbron Karl , Ruskey Jennifer A. , Laurent Sandra B. , Blauwendraat Cornelis , Alam Armaghan , Arnulf Isabelle , Hu Michele T. M. , Dauvilliers Yves , Högl Birgit , Toft Mathias , Bjørnarå Kari Anne , Stefani Ambra , Holzknecht Evi , Monaca Christelle Charley , Abril Beatriz , Plazzi Giuseppe , Antelmi Elena , Ferini‐Strambi Luigi , Young Peter , Heidbreder Anna , Cochen De Cock Valérie , Mollenhauer Brit , Sixel‐Döring Friederike , Trenkwalder Claudia , Sonka Karel , Kemlink David , Figorilli Michela , Puligheddu Monica , Dijkstra Femke , Viaene Mineke , Oertel Wolfang , Toffoli Marco , Gigli Gian Luigi , Valente Mariarosaria , Gagnon Jean‐François , Nalls Mike A. , Singleton Andrew B. ,   23andMe Research Team, Desautels Alex , Montplaisir Jacques Y. , Cannon Paul , Ross Owen A. , Boeve Bradley F. , Dupré Nicolas , Fon Edward A. , Postuma Ronald B. , Pihlstrøm Lasse , Rouleau Guy A. , Gan‐Or Ziv
Published: January 2020

Objective

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a prodromal synucleinopathy, as >80% will eventually convert to overt synucleinopathy. We performed an in‐depth analysis of the SNCA locus to identify RBD‐specific risk variants.

Methods

Full sequencing and genotyping of SNCA was performed in isolated/idiopathic RBD (iRBD, n = 1,076), Parkinson disease (PD, n = 1,013), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB, n = 415), and control subjects (n = 6,155). The iRBD cases were diagnosed with RBD prior to neurodegeneration, although some have since converted. A replication cohort from 23andMe of PD patients with probable RBD (pRBD) was also analyzed (n = 1,782 cases; n = 131,250 controls). Adjusted logistic regression models and meta‐analyses were performed. Effects on conversion rate were analyzed in 432 RBD patients with available data using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis.

Results

A 5′‐region SNCA variant (rs10005233) was associated with iRBD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43, p = 1.1E‐08), which was replicated in pRBD. This variant is in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with other 5′ risk variants across the different synucleinopathies. An independent iRBD‐specific suggestive association (rs11732740) was detected at the 3′ of SNCA (OR = 1.32, p = 4.7E‐04, not statistically significant after Bonferroni correction). Homozygous carriers of both iRBD‐specific SNPs were at highly increased risk for iRBD (OR = 5.74, p = 2E‐06). The known top PD‐associated variant (3′ variant rs356182) had an opposite direction of effect in iRBD compared to PD.

Interpretation

There is a distinct pattern of association at the SNCA locus in RBD as compared to PD, with an opposite direction of effect at the 3′ of SNCA. Several 5′ SNCA variants are associated with iRBD and with pRBD in overt synucleinopathies. ANN NEUROL 2020;87:584–598
Mixed Polyanionic Compounds as Positive Electrodes for Low‐Cost Electrochemical Energy Storage
Authors: Lan Yuanqi , Yao Wenjiao , He Xiaolong , Song Tianyi , Tang Yongbing
Published: January 2020

Low‐cost electrochemical energy storage systems (EESSs) are urgently needed to promote the application of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy. In analogy to lithium‐ion batteries, the cost of EESSs depends mainly on charge‐carrier ions and redox centers in electrodes, and their performance is limited by positive electrodes. In this context, this Minireview evaluates several EESS candidates and summarizes the known mixed polyanionic compounds (MPCs)—a family with robust frameworks and large channels for ion storage and migration. After comprehensive analysis, it is pointed out that a deeper exploration of MPCs may generate numerous novel crystallographically interesting compounds and excellent cathode materials for low‐cost energy storage applications.
Immobilized Pd on a NHC functionalized metal–organic framework MIL‐101(Cr): an efficient heterogeneous catalyst in Suzuki−Miyaura coupling reaction in water
Authors: Niknam Esmaeil , Panahi Farhad , Khalafi‐Nezhad Ali
Published: January 2020

A novel Pd−NHC functionalized metal–organic framework (MOF) based on MIL‐101(Cr) was synthesized and used as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst in the C‐C bond formation reactions. Using this heterogeneous Pd catalyst system, the Suzuki−Miyaura coupling reaction was accomplished well in water, and coupling products were obtained in good to excellent yields in short reaction time. The Pd−NHC−MIL‐101(Cr) was characterized using some different techniques, including Fourier transform‐infrared, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma and elemental analysis. The microscopic techniques showed the discrete octahedron structure of MIL‐101(Cr), which is also stable after chemical modification process to prepare the catalyst system. The TEM images of the catalyst showed the existence of palladium nanoparticles immobilized in the structure of the catalyst, while no reducing agent was used. It seems that the NHC groups and imidazolium moieties in the structure of the MOF can reduce Pd (II) to Pd (0) species. This modified MOF substrate can also prevent aggregation of Pd nanoparticles, resulting in high stability of them in organic transformation. The Pd−NHC−MIL‐101(Cr) catalyst system could be simply extracted from the reaction mixture, providing an efficient synthetic method for the synthesis of biaryls derivatives using the aforementioned coupling reaction. The Pd−NHC−MIL‐101(Cr) catalyst could be recycled in this organic reaction with almost consistent catalytic efficiency.
Impact of metalloporphyrin‐based porous coordination polymers on catalytic activities for the oxidation of alkylbenzene
Authors: Lü Xiang‐fei , Du Yan xia , Mele Giuseppe , Li Jun , Ni Wan‐kui , Zhao Yong‐guo
Published: January 2020

Seven metalloporphyrin‐based porous coordination polymers: Feш (TZP)Poly (CP1), CoII (TZP)Poly (CP2), NiII (TZP)Poly (CP3), CuII (TZP)Poly (CP4), ZnII (TZP)Poly (CP5), MnII (TZP)Poly (CP6), PbII (TZP)Poly (CP7) (TZP = 5,10,15,20‐ tetrakis[4‐(2,3,4,5‐tetrazolylphenyl)] porphyrin) were prepared and characterized. CP1−CP7 are amorphous aggregation supported with lower crystallinity by scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer−Emmett−Teller and powder X‐ray diffraction. These coordination polymers exhibit effective dye scavenging and catalytic activities toward the oxidation of alkylbenzene to ketones and can be reused by filtration with a slight decreasing of catalytic activities. Metal atoms metalloporphyrin polymers have a great influence on the catalytic activities of metalloporphyrin polymers.
Activated Kaolin Minerals as Bleaching Clays for Prolonging the Useful Life of Palm Oil in Industrial Frying Operations
Authors: Worasith Niramon , Goodman Bernard A.
Published: January 2020

During frying operations, vegetable oils break down and compounds with undesirable flavors are produced. Various procedures have been developed to extend the useful life of frying oils, including treatment with bleaching clays. In this article, we describe the activation of kaolin minerals by a combination of grinding and chemical treatments, and report their performance in removing breakdown products generated in palm oil that had been used for 20 hours continuous frying. There was little influence of the original kaolin mineral form on the ability to reduce the free fatty acid (FFA) contents, and grinding only changed FFA reduction from ∼32% to ∼36%. However, much greater FFA reductions were obtained after chemical treatment of the ground clays, and the best performing kaolin product gave similar FFA reduction to a commercial bleaching clay (∼76% and ∼77%, respectively). This activated kaolin also produced a reduction in viscosity at 40 °C from ∼73 to 48.4 cSt (compared to 45.5 cSt in the unused oil), and in the peroxide value from 30.0 to 22.0 meq/kg (compared to 10.0 meq/kg in the initial oil). Thus, activated kaolin samples represent a cheap and convenient alternative to conventional bleaching clay for improving common quality parameters in used palm oil, although we also found that the optimum kaolin preparation conditions were different from those that have been reported for raw rice bran oil refining.
Cellulose‐based monoliths with enhanced surface area and porosity
Authors: Parajuli Prakash , Acharya Sanjit , Hu Yang , Abidi Noureddine
Published: January 2020

This study reports on a strategy of using sol–gel and supercritical drying techniques to prepare aerocellulose monoliths with enhanced specific surface area and porosity by adding NaCl particles into the cellulose solution. The addition of 5 wt% of NaCl particles led to increased specific surface area of aerocellulose monoliths (from 114 m2/g to 205 m2/g), as well as their porosity (by ~5%). The aerocellulose monoliths prepared by adding NaCl particles achieved improved porous characteristics, lightweight, lower crystallinity, and better thermal stability, as compared to the control. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of NaCl particles to tune the surface area and the pore characteristics, which provides a facile route to achieve enhanced surface area and improved pore characteristics of aerocellulose monoliths.
An Efficient Exogenous Gene Insertion Site in CHO Cells with High Transcription Level to Enhance AID‐Induced Mutation
Authors: Fan Yingjun , Jiang Wei , Ran Fanlei , Luo Ruiqi , An Lili , Hang Haiying
Published: January 2020

Antibodies have been extensively used for the purpose of scientific research, clinical diagnosis, and therapy. Combination of in vitro somatic hypermutation and mammalian cell surface display has been an efficient technology for antibody or other proteins optimization, in which the efficiency of activation‐induced cytidine deaminase (AID) mutations in genes is one of the most important key factors. Gene transcriptional level has been found to be positively proportional to AID‐induced mutation frequency. Thus, construction of the cell clone bearing a gene of interest (GOI) with high transcription level can increase AID‐induced mutations. In this study, a retargetable gene cassette is inserted onto predetermined chromosome site (ywhae gene site) which is among the genes with the highest as well as stable transcription, and is found that one subsite is suitable to be retargeted for efficient protein display in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The resultant cell clone (T31) has higher and more stable transcription/expression than CHO‐puro clone which was previously established through the strategy of random insertion followed by a high‐throughput selection. It also possesses a significantly higher mutation frequency to GOI than CHO‐puro cells; thus, it is a better clone for the in vitro improvement of antibody affinity, and probably other properties.
Risk factors for conversion in laparoscopic and robotic rectal cancer surgery
Authors: Crippa J , Grass F , Achilli P , Mathis K L , Kelley S R , Merchea A , Colibaseanu D T , Larson D W
Published: January 2020

Background

The aim of this study was to review risk factors for conversion in a cohort of patients with rectal cancer undergoing minimally invasive abdominal surgery.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed of consecutive patients operated on from February 2005 to April 2018. Adult patients undergoing low anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection for primary rectal adenocarcinoma by a minimally invasive approach were included. Exclusion criteria were lack of research authorization, stage IV or recurrent rectal cancer, and emergency surgery. Risk factors for conversion were investigated using logistic regression. A subgroup analysis of obese patients (BMI 30 kg/m2 or more) was performed.

Results

A total of 600 patients were included in the analysis. The overall conversion rate was 9·2 per cent. Multivariable analysis showed a 72 per cent lower risk of conversion when patients had robotic surgery (odds ratio (OR) 0·28, 95 per cent c.i. 0·15 to 0·52). Obese patients experienced a threefold higher risk of conversion compared with non-obese patients (47 versus 24·4 per cent respectively; P < 0·001). Robotic surgery was associated with a reduced risk of conversion in obese patients (OR 0·22, 0·07 to 0·71).

Conclusion

Robotic surgery was associated with a lower risk of conversion in patients undergoing minimally invasive rectal cancer surgery, in both obese and non-obese patients.
Role of bariatric surgery in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis
Authors: Almazeedi S , El-Abd R , Al-Khamis A , Albatineh A N , Al-Sabah S
Published: January 2020

Background

Obesity increases the risk of multiple co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and most cancers, including colorectal cancer. Currently, the literature presents conflicting results regarding the protective effects of bariatric surgery on the incidence of colorectal cancer. This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of bariatric surgery on the risk of developing colorectal cancer in obese individuals.

Methods

Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL and Web of Science were searched for relevant articles. Articles published by the end of December 2018 were retrieved; data were extracted according to evidence-based PICO (population, intervention, control, outcome) model and analysed using a random-effects model to estimate the pooled relative risk (RR) and its 95 per cent confidence interval. The heterogeneity of studies was tested and quantified using Cochran's Q and I2 statistics. Meta-regression was used to investigate the association of year of study, region, mean length of follow-up and sample size with RR.

Results

Seven articles, involving a total of 1 213 727 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled estimate of the RR was 0·64 (95 per cent c.i. 0·42 to 0·98). The test of asymmetry found no significant publication bias. Meta-regression showed that sample size was a statistically significant factor (P = 0·037), but year of publication, region and mean duration of follow-up were not significant.

Conclusion

Patients who underwent bariatric surgery had a greater than 35 per cent reduction in the risk of developing colorectal cancer compared with obese individuals who had no surgery.
Sexualised video games, sexist attitudes and empathy towards victims of rape: Correlational evidence for a relationship is minimal in an online study
Authors: Ferguson Christopher J. , Colwell John
Published: January 2020

Background

There is continued debate about whether sexualisation in games can influence sexist attitudes and reduced empathy towards women in real life. There is research evidence both supporting and refuting the possibility.

Aims

Our aim was to examine the relationship between sexualised content in video games and players' sexist attitudes and empathy. Our research question was, do any such relationships exist once other factors including gender and trait aggression are controlled?

Methods

An online sample of 125 participants were recruited and asked to rate their video game playing experience, complete a trait aggression scale and record responses to a vignette about rape. Scores were first correlated, and then hierarchical multiple regression was employed followed by PROCESS examination of interactions between sexualised game content and trait aggression.

Results

Exposure to sexualised content in video games was neither correlated with higher sexist attitude ratings nor with lower empathy scores. Sexualised content in games was associated with slightly lower sexist belief scores for those with higher scores on trait aggression (the 12.8% of our current sample at one standard deviation above the mean). No effects were observed for those low in trait aggression.

Conclusions and Implications

While it is natural to be concerned about the impact of potentially arousing video games, actual effects may be counterintuitive, so if seeking to regulate, it is important to act from actual information. Further research with groups of particular concern will be important.
Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Primary Amines Using Geobacillus stearothermophilus Amine Dehydrogenase Variant
Authors: Tseliou Vasilis , Knaus Tanja , Vilím Jan , Masman Marcelo F. , Mutti Francesco G.
Published: January 2020

A NADH‐dependent engineered amine dehydrogenase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus (LE‐AmDH‐v1) was applied together with a NADH‐oxidase from Streptococcus mutans (NOx) for the kinetic resolution of pharmaceutically relevant racemic α‐chiral primary amines. The reaction conditions (e. g., pH, temperature, type of buffer) were optimised to yield S‐configured amines with up to >99 % ee.
Development of an Intelligent Photosensitive Antibacterial Wound Dressing: Simultaneous Detection and Treatment of Bacterial Infection for Accelerated Wound Healing
Authors: Zhou Qian , Wang Jing , Liang Yuehui , Yang Hao , Li Qunliang , Li Qingyun , Liao Dankui , Liu Youyan , Liu Hai‐Bo
Published: January 2020

Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (APDT) is an encouraging therapy modality for bacterial infection. In this work, trithiophene aldehyde (3T‐CHO) as a new photosensitizers was isolated from Herba Ecliptae, and tryptophan (Trp) modified 3T‐CHO improve water solubility and reduced phototoxicity. The photosensitizer‐loaded vesicles were incorporated into a gel scaffold to obtain a wound dressing with detection and antibacterial function. Detection of the presence of pathogenic bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, based on the fluorescence signals was highly efficient and sensitive. The cytotoxin produced by the pathogenic bacteria to induce vesicle lysis, thereby the photosensitive antibacterial agent was released from the vesicle to realize the simultaneous intelligent detection and treatment of pathogenic bacteria. Compared with traditional dressings coated with antibiotics, the synthesized dressing avoids the drawback of pathogenic bacteria developing drug resistance. The proposed microbiologically responsive wound dressing could be used as a general methodology for the design and fabrication of bacterium‐responsive functional biomaterials.
Lighting Up DNA with the Environment‐Sensitive Bright Adenine Analogue qAN4
Authors: Füchtbauer Anders F. , Wranne Moa S. , Sarangamath Sangamesh , Bood Mattias , El‐Sagheer Afaf H. , Brown Tom , Gradén Henrik , Grøtli Morten , Wilhelmsson L. Marcus
Published: January 2020

The fluorescent adenine analogue qAN4 was recently shown to possess promising photophysical properties, including a high brightness as a monomer. Here we report the synthesis of the phosphoramidite of qAN4 and its successful incorporation into DNA oligonucleotides using standard solid‐phase synthesis. Circular dichroism and thermal melting studies indicate that the qAN4‐modification has a stabilizing effect on the B‐form of DNA. Moreover, qAN4 base‐pairs selectively with thymine with mismatch penalties similar to those of mismatches of adenine. The low energy absorption band of qAN4 inside DNA has its peak around 358 nm and the emission in duplex DNA is partly quenched and blue‐shifted (ca. 410 nm), compared to the monomeric form. The spectral properties of the fluorophore also show sensitivity to pH; a property that may find biological applications. Quantum yields in single‐stranded DNA range from 1–29 % and in duplex DNA from 1–7 %. In combination with the absorptive properties, this gives an average brightness inside duplex DNA of 275 M−1 cm−1, more than five times higher than the most used environment‐sensitive fluorescent base analogue, 2‐aminopurine. Finally, we show that qAN4 can be used to advantage as a donor for interbase FRET applications in combination with adenine analogue qAnitro as an acceptor.
Mitigating bribery risks to strengthen the corporate social responsibility in accordance with the ISO 37001
Authors: Veselovská Lenka , Závadský Ján , Závadská Zuzana
Published: January 2020

The main aim of this research is to develop an innovative Bribery Risk Index (BRI) to measure organization's level of bribery risk in accordance with the ISO 37001 to strengthen the corporate social responsibility and to verify it under the conditions of selected enterprises. The value of this paper is mainly in providing a possible tool to handle the problem of bribery that has not been successfully solved. The ISO 37001 provides general areas where bribery risks could originate in organization, but it does not provide a specific list of risk factors. It is up to companies to create such risk factors, and this paper provides a possible solution to this challenge by creating a complex list of bribery risk factors and incorporating them into one indicator—the BRI. As such, the proposed BRI is an original approach to assessing an organization's level of bribery risk. The results were achieved through four case studies. The first step was risk management application for bribery risk analysis according to ISO 37001. Findings were used to create a list of criteria with specific importance and consequently the creation of a BRI. The proposed index can also serve to compare organizations' levels of bribery risk regardless of their size and serve in bribery prevention because it identifies the areas in the enterprise where the risk of bribery can be significant and can affect the ability of the organization to perform its functions for its stakeholders.
Combining contention‐based access and dynamic service period allocation for performance improvement in IEEE 802.11ad mmWave WLAN
Authors: Rajan M. N. Upama , Babu A. V.
Published: January 2020

In IEEE 802.11ad millimeter wave wireless LANs, the directional multi‐giga bit stations (DMGSTAs) use contention‐based access periods (CBAPs) and scheduled service periods (SPs) for medium access. The STAs carrying non‐QoS traffic use CBAPs, while SPs are allocated for STAs carrying high QoS applications. During CBAP, the STAs use enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) scheme. Further, 802.11ad advocates dynamic allocation of SP for guaranteed data transmission based on a centralized polling scheme. The standard advocates that the coverage area around the access point can be divided into several sectors, and the total CBAP shall be divided among the sectors on a time sharing basis. The STAs residing within a sector simultaneously contend during the CBAP fraction of that sector. However, such STAs have to defer their transmission attempts and wait for the designated CBAP fraction of the succeeding beacon interval (BI), if the residual time in the current CBAP fraction is not sufficient for a frame transmission. This leads to very high delay and reduced throughput. The objective of this paper is to propose an efficient hybrid medium access control scheme, where the deferred STAs during CBAP are scheduled again by utilizing the unallocated slots in the SP of the same BI. We describe an analytical model for the throughput and the average frame delay, under the proposed scheme, and compare the performance against the legacy scheme, where the STAs use CBAP alone for channel access. The analytical and simulation results establish that the proposed scheme significantly improves the throughput and reduces the average frame delay.
Geochemistry of the Late Cretaceous Pandan Formation in Cebu Island, Central Philippines: Sediment contributions from the Australian plate margin during the Mesozoic
Authors: Rodrigo Jerali D. , Gabo‐Ratio Jillian Aira S. , Queaño Karlo L. , Fernando Allan Gil S. , de Silva Leopoldo P. , Yonezu Kotaro , Zhang Yu
Published: January 2020

The Late Cretaceous Pandan Formation in Cebu Island is one of the oldest sedimentary units in the Central Philippines. The inconsistencies in geological descriptions and interpretation of the depositional environment of the Pandan Formation complicated efforts to determine the origin and tectonic history of the basement of Cebu Island. This study therefore looks into the petrological and geochemical characteristics of the Pandan Formation and their implications for the tectonic development of the Philippine Arc during the late Mesozoic. Petrographic analyses indicate significant contribution from mafic sources with additional inputs from felsic rocks, siliciclastics and metamorphic sources. Enrichment of detrital quartz from felsic volcanic and plutonic rocks, as well as from siliciclastic and metamorphic sources, has shifted the SiO2 composition of the Pandan clastics from a mafic to a more intermediate source. Whole‐rock geochemical analyses revealed low SiO2/Al2O3 = 4.21, low K2O/Na2O = 1.16, low Th/Sc = 0.13, low Th/U = 2.78, high La/Th = 4.51, significantly low REEs = ca 76.45 ppm and low LaN/YbN = 4.28. A slight negative chondrite‐normalized Eu/Eu* (0.91) anomaly and significantly high PAAS‐normalized positive Eu/Eu* (1.39) values are consistent with derivation from a young undissected magmatic arc terrane. Tectonic discrimination diagrams suggest formation in an oceanic island arc to active margin/collision zone modelled to be located at the oceanic leading edge of Australia. Rapid uplift and erosion of the magmatic arc and older allochthonous blocks gave way to the rapid deposition of the Pandan Formation in the Late Cretaceous at the subequatorial region.
Total ecosystem carbon stocks of mangroves across broad global environmental and physical gradients
Authors: Kauffman J. Boone , Adame Maria Fernanda , Arifanti Virni Budi , Schile‐Beers Lisa M. , Bernardino Angelo F. , Bhomia Rupesh K. , Donato Daniel C. , Feller Ilka C. , Ferreira Tiago O. , Jesus Garcia Maria del Carmen , MacKenzie Richard A. , Megonigal J. Patrick , Murdiyarso Daniel , Simpson Lorae , Hernández Trejo Humberto
Published: January 2020

Mangroves sequester large quantities of carbon (C) that become significant sources of greenhouse gases when disturbed through land‐use change. Thus, they are of great value to incorporate into climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. In response, a global network of mangrove plots was established to provide policy‐relevant ecological data relating to interactions of mangrove C stocks with climatic, tidal, plant community, and geomorphic factors. Mangroves from 190 sites were sampled across five continents encompassing large biological, physical, and climatic gradients using consistent methodologies for the quantification of total ecosystem C stocks (TECS). Carbon stock data were collected along with vegetation, physical, and climatic data to explore potential predictive relationships. There was a 28‐fold range in TECS (79–2,208 Mg C/ha) with a mean of 856 ± 32 Mg C/ha. Belowground C comprised an average 85% of the TECS. Mean soil depth was 216 cm, ranging from 22 to >300 cm, with 68 sites (35%) exceeding a depth of 300 cm. TECS were weakly correlated with metrics of forest structure, suggesting that aboveground forest structure alone cannot accurately predict TECS. Similarly, precipitation was not a strong predictor of TECS. Reasonable estimates of TECS were derived via multiple regression analysis using precipitation, soil depth, tree mass, and latitude (R2 = 0.54) as variables. Soil carbon to a 1 m depth averaged 44% of the TECS. Limiting analyses of soil C stocks to the top 1 m of soils result in large underestimates of TECS as well as in the greenhouse gas emissions that would arise from their conversion to other land uses. The current IPCC Tier 1 default TECS value for mangroves is 511 Mg C/ha, which is only 60% of our calculated global mean. This study improves current assessments of mangrove C stocks providing a foundation necessary for C valuation related to climate change mitigation. We estimate mangroves globally store about 11.7 Pg C: an aboveground carbon stock of 1.6 Pg C and a belowground carbon stock of 10.2 Pg C). The differences in the estimates of total ecosystem carbon stocks based on climate, salinity, forest structure, geomorphology, or geopolitical boundaries are not as much of an influence as the choice of soil depth included in the estimate. Choosing to limit soils to a 1 m depth resulted in estimates of <5 Pg whereas those that included the soil profile >1 m depth resulted in global carbon stock estimates that exceeded 11.2 Pg C.
Low fibre intake is associated with gut microbiota alterations in chronic heart failure
Authors: Mayerhofer Cristiane C.K. , Kummen Martin , Holm Kristian , Broch Kaspar , Awoyemi Ayodeji , Vestad Beate , Storm‐Larsen Christopher , Seljeflot Ingebjørg , Ueland Thor , Bohov Pavol , Berge Rolf K. , Svardal Asbjørn , Gullestad Lars , Yndestad Arne , Aukrust Pål , Hov Johannes R. , Trøseid Marius
Published: January 2020

Aims

Recent reports have suggested that patients with heart failure (HF) have an altered gut microbiota composition; however, associations with diet remain largely uninvestigated. We aimed to explore differences in the gut microbiota between patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction and healthy controls, focusing on associations with diet and disease severity.

Methods and results

The microbiota composition of two cross‐sectional cohorts (discovery, n = 40 and validation, n = 44) of patients with systolic HF and healthy controls (n = 266) was characterized by sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The overall microbial community (beta diversity) differed between patients with HF and healthy controls in both cohorts (P < 0.05). Patients with HF had shifts in the major bacterial phyla, resulting in a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio than controls (P = 0.005). Patients reaching a clinical endpoint (listing for heart transplant or death) had lower bacterial richness and lower F/B ratio than controls (P < 0.01). Circulating levels of trimethylamine‐N‐oxide were associated with meat intake (P = 0.016), but not with gut microbiota alterations in HF. Low bacterial richness and low abundance of several genera in the Firmicutes phylum were associated with low fibre intake.

Conclusions

The gut microbiota in HF was characterized by decreased F/B ratio and reduced bacterial diversity associated with clinical outcome. The gut microbiota alterations in HF were partly related to low fibre intake, emphasizing the importance of diet as a covariate in future studies. Our data could provide a rationale for targeting the gut microbiota in HF with high‐fibre diet.
Anti‐inflammatory diet and risk of heart failure: two prospective cohort studies
Authors: Kaluza Joanna , Levitan Emily B. , Michaëlsson Karl , Wolk Alicja
Published: January 2020

Aim

The impact of the anti‐inflammatory potential of diet on risk of heart failure (HF) and the potential modification of this association by smoking, a trigger of systemic inflammation, has not been previously investigated. We examined the association between anti‐inflammatory potential of diet and risk of HF taking into account smoking status.

Methods and results

The study population included the Cohort of Swedish Men (40 514 men) and the Swedish Mammography Cohort (34 809 women), age 45–83 years, without HF, ischaemic heart disease, or cancer at baseline. Anti‐inflammatory potential of diet was estimated using an anti‐inflammatory diet index (AIDI; 0–16 scores). Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for HF risk factors. Over a mean follow‐up of 14.9 years (1 119 110 person‐years, 1998–2014), 8161 new HF diagnoses (4443 in men, 3718 in women) were identified. Compared to the lowest quintile of the AIDI (scores ≤4), the HRs for men and women in the highest quintile (scores ≥8) were 0.92 (95% CI 0.84–1.02; P‐trend = 0.02) and 0.86 (95% CI 0.78–0.96; P‐trend = 0.001), respectively. An inverse association between the AIDI and HF incidence was observed in current and ex‐smokers but not in never‐smokers (P‐interaction = 0.046). Comparing extreme quintiles, the HRs were 0.86 (95% CI 0.74–1.00; P‐trend = 0.007) in current smokers, 0.81 (95% CI 0.71–0.92; P‐trend = 0.001) in ex‐smokers, and 0.95 (95% CI 0.86–1.06; P‐trend = 0.10) in never‐smokers.

Conclusion

These results suggest that adherence to a diet with high anti‐inflammatory potential may be associated with lower HF incidence in current and ex‐smokers.
Associations between Oil Yield and Profile of Fatty Acids, Sterols, Squalene, Carotenoids, and Tocopherols in Seed Oil of Selected Japanese Quince Genotypes during Fruit Development
Authors: Mišina Inga , Sipeniece Elise , Rudzińska Magdalena , Grygier Anna , Radzimirska‐Graczyk Monika , Kaufmane Edīte , Segliņa Dalija , Lācis Gunārs , Górnaś Paweł
Published: January 2020

Tocopherols, phytosterols, carotenoids, and squalene are present in mature seeds of Japanese quince. Yet, little is known about the relationship between these compounds and oil yield during fruit and seed development. The profile change of lipophilic compounds during fruit and seed development in Japanese quince cultivars “Darius,” “Rondo,” and “Rasa” is investigated. It is shown here that during fruit and seed development, there is a significant reduction, three‐ to over tenfold, in the concentration of minor bioactive compounds in seed oil. It is recorded that delay between synthesis of tocopherols and oil in Japanese quince seeds during the fruit development results in a logarithmic relationship between the oil content and tocopherols concentration in the seed oil (R2 = 0.980). Similar trends are observed between oil yield and phytosterols, and carotenoids (R2 = 0.927 and R2 = 0.959, respectively). The profile of fatty acids during the development of the seeds significantly is changed. The reduction of linoleic, palmitic, and gondoic acids levels and increment of oleic acid is noted. The oil content, profile of fatty acids, and concentration of bioactive compounds in all three genotypes of Japanese quince do not change significantly statistically during the last month of fruit development.

Practical Applications: Some fruits are harvested at different degrees of maturity mainly due to a logistic issue and uneven ripening of fruits, which affects the chemical composition of whole fruit including seeds. Therefore, it would be good to know how the chemical composition is changing in plant material during development especially in the last month before harvest. Production of Japanese quince continues to rise year to year and with it the volume of generated by‐products such as seeds. This study demonstrates how it changes the oil content, profile of fatty acid, and concentration of tocopherols, squalene, phytosterols, and carotenoids in the seeds and seed oil of three Japanese quince cultivars “Rondo,” “Darius,” and “Rasa” during plant development. The provided information can be very useful for the manufactories oriented on the processing of by‐products, mainly seeds, generated by other branches of industry, for instance, fruit‐processing.
Regional increases in brain signal variability are associated with pain intensity reductions following repeated eccentric exercise bouts
Authors: Boissoneault Jeff , Sevel Landrew , Stennett Bethany , Alappattu Meryl , Bishop Mark , Robinson Michael
Published: January 2020

Background

Traditional pain interventions limit fluctuations in pain sensation, which may paradoxically impair endogenous pain modulatory systems (EPMS). However, controlled exposures to clinically relevant pain (e.g. delayed onset muscle soreness [DOMS]) may build capacity in the EPMS. Emerging evidence suggests that regional signal variability (RSV) may be an important indicator of efficiency and modulatory capacity within brain regions. This study sought to determine the role of RSV in both susceptibility to and trainability of pain response following repeated DOMS inductions.

Methods

Baseline and follow‐up resting‐state fMRI was performed on 12 healthy volunteers ~40 days apart. Between scanning visits, participants received four weekly DOMS inductions in alternating elbow flexors and were supplied seven days of post‐induction pain ratings. Voxel‐wise standard deviation of signal intensity was calculated to measure RSV. Associations among DOMS‐related pain and RSV were assessed with regression. Relationships among baseline and change measurements were probed (i.e. susceptibility to DOMS; trainability following multiple inductions).

Results

Significant association between baseline RSV in left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and right cerebellum and reductions in DOMS‐related pain unpleasantness were detected. Furthermore, increases in RSV were associated with reduced DOMS pain intensity (left lingual gyrus, right MTG, left MTG, left precuneus) and unpleasantness (left MTG, right SFG).

Discussion

Findings suggest that RSV may be an indicator of EPMS resilience and responsivity to training, as well as an indicator that is responsive to training. Involved regions underlie cognitive, affective and representation processes. Results further clarify the potential role of RSV as an indicator of pain modulation and resilience.

Significance

Regional signal variability may be an important indicator of endogenous pain modulatory system responsivity to training following repeated bouts of clinically relevant pain and may in fact be responsive to training itself.
Methyl chitosan coating for glycoform analysis of glycoproteins by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Jia Yaru , Cao Jinfeng , Zhou Jinping , Zhou Ping
Published: January 2020

CE is a promising technique for the analysis of glycosylated proteins, especially at the intact level. In the present study, the utility of CE for the separation of protein glycoforms is developed by using methyl chitosan as capillary coating. Methyl chitosan, in contrast to the polymers commonly used for coating, bears different types of amine groups, allowing for tunable charge states for various applications. The addition of methyl chitosan in background electrolyte can modulate the EOF and improve the separation performance. The methyl chitosan‐coated capillary provided good separation of acidic or basic glycosylated proteins. Five ribonuclease B glycoforms were resolved by CE in less than 18 min, and the profile was essentially in agreement with that obtained by MALDI‐TOF MS. The recombinant human erythropoietin glycoforms were well separated within 9 min. The developed method shows a great potential in protein glycoform analysis.
Capillary electrophoresis–based immunoassay and aptamer assay: A review
Authors: Nevídalová Hana , Michalcová Lenka , Glatz Zdeněk
Published: January 2020

Over the last two decades, the group of techniques called affinity probe CE has been widely used for the detection and the determination of several types of biomolecules with high sensitivity. These techniques combine the low sample consumption and high separation power of CE with the selectivity of the probe to the target molecule. The assays can be defined according to the type of probe used: CE immunoassays, with an antibody as the probe, or aptamer‐based CE, with an aptamer as the probe. Immunoassays are generally divided into homogeneous and heterogeneous groups, and homogeneous variant can be further performed in competitive or noncompetitive formats. Interacting partners are free in solution at homogeneous assay, as opposed to heterogeneous analyses, where one of them is immobilized onto a solid support. Highly sensitive fluorescence, chemiluminescence or electrochemical detections were typically used in this type of study. The use of the aptamers as probes has several advantages over antibodies such as shorter generation time, higher thermal stability, lower price, and lower variability. The aptamer‐based CE technique was in practice utilized for the determination of proteins in biological fluids and environmentally or clinically important small molecules. Both techniques were also transferred to microchip. This review is focused on theoretical principles of these techniques and a summary of their applications in research.
Electricity generation potential of sewage sludge in sediment microbial fuel cell using Ti–TiO2 electrode
Authors: Taşkan Banu , Taşkan Ergin , Hasar Halil
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study is to increase the electricity generation capacity of sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) using sewage sludge as a substrate source in anode media via an attractive electrode material. For this purpose, several electrochemical and molecular techniques have been employed to evaluate the performance of SMFC. The max power density and charge transfer resistance of SMFC running on sewage sludge were 187 mW/m2 and 84.7 Ω, respectively. The polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE) analysis indicated that bacteria in anode biofilm belonged to the Clostridia, d‐proteobacteria, g‐proteobacteria, and b‐proteobacteria. Scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence in situ hybridization observations demonstrated that a viable biofilm was formed on the anode surface and the abundance of bacteria was significantly higher than archaea. Consequently, this study showed that sewage sludge could be used as a substrate in the anode media of SMFC for producing high power density.
Reflections on the history of research on large wood in rivers
Authors: Swanson Frederick J. , Gregory Stanley V. , Iroumé Andres , Ruiz‐Villanueva Virginia , Wohl Ellen
Published: January 2020

Dynamics and functions of large wood have become integral considerations in the science and management of river systems. Study of large wood in rivers took place as monitoring of fish response to wooden structures placed in rivers in the central United States in the early 20th century, but did not begin in earnest until the 1970s. Research has increased in intensity and thematic scope ever since. A wide range of factors has prompted these research efforts, including basic understanding of stream systems, protection and restoration of aquatic ecosystems, and environmental hazards in mountain environments. Research and management have adopted perspectives from ecology, geomorphology, and engineering, using observational, experimental, and modelling approaches. Important advances have been made where practical information needs converge with institutional and science leadership capacities to undertake multi‐pronged research programmes. Case studies include ecosystem research to inform regulations for forest management; storage and transport of large wood as a component in global carbon dynamics; and the role of wood transport in environmental hazards in mountain regions, including areas affected by severe landscape disturbances, such as volcanic eruptions. As the field of research has advanced, influences of large wood on river structures and processes have been merged with understanding of streamflow and sediment regimes, so river form and function are now viewed as involving the tripartite system of water, sediment, and wood. A growing community of researchers and river managers is extending understanding of large wood in rivers to climatic, forest, landform, and social contexts not previously investigated. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Geomorphic process signatures reshaping sub‐humid Mediterranean badlands: 2. Application to 5‐year dataset
Authors: Llena Manel , Smith Mark W. , Wheaton Joseph M. , Vericat Damià
Published: January 2020

Badland landscapes exhibit high erosion rates and represent the main source of fine sediments in some catchments. Advances in high‐resolution topographic methods allow analysis of topographic changes at high temporal and spatial scales. We apply the Mapping Geomorphic Processes in the Environment (MaGPiE) algorithm to infer the main geomorphic process signatures operating in two sub‐humid badlands with contrasting morphometric attributes located in the Southern Pyrenees. By interrogating a 5‐year dataset of seasonal and annual topographic changes, we examine the variability of geomorphic processes at multiple temporal scales. The magnitude of geomorphic processes is linked to landform attributes and meteorological variables. Morphometric differences between both adjacent badlands allow us to analyse the role of landform attributes in the main geomorphic process reshaping landscapes subjected to the same external forcing (i.e. rainfall and temperature).

The dominant geomorphic process signatures observed in both badlands are different, despite their close proximity and the same rainfall and temperature regimes. Process signatures determining surface lowering in the gently sloping south‐facing badland, characterized by lower connectivity and more vegetation cover, are driven by surface runoff‐based processes, both diffuse (causing sheet washing) and concentrated (determining cutting and filling, rilling and gullying). The steeper, more connected north‐facing slopes of the other badland are reshaped by means of gravitational processes, with mass wasting dominating topographic changes. In terms of processes determining surface raising, both mass wasting and cutting and filling are most frequently observed in both badlands. There is a clear near‐balanced feedback between both surface‐raising and ‐lowering processes that becomes unbalanced at larger temporal scales due to the thresholds overcome, as the volume associated with surface lowering becomes higher than that associated with raising‐based processes. Rainfall variables control surface flow processes, while those variables associated with low temperature have a significant relation with mass movement‐based processes and other localized processes such as regolith cohesion loss. Finally, our results point out that morphometry (slope and connectivity) together with vegetation cover are key factors determining geomorphic processes and associated topographic changes. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A sustainable food security approach: Controlled land application of sewage sludge recirculates nutrients to agricultural soils and enhances crop productivity
Authors: Eid Ebrahem M. , Alamri Saad A.M. , Shaltout Kamal H. , Galal Tarek M. , Ahmed Mohamed T. , Brima Eid I. , Sewelam Nasser
Published: January 2020

The food security in today's world is endangered by several threats, including accelerated increases in the world's population, depletion of the Earth's resources, exaggerated environmental pollution, and foreseen climatic changes. As a strategy to diminish these threats, the wise disposal of the huge amounts of sewage sludge (SS) to agricultural soils as a bio‐fertilizer represents a worthy practice for recirculating valuable nutrients to food chains via crop plants. The current study was designed to scientifically test the feasibility of SS application to agricultural soils without causing environmental or health threats. Different SS amendment doses of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 g/kg were supplied for soil‐grown barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plants. Our results show that all of the SS amendment doses improved the postharvest soil properties and enhanced barley growth, with the best results obtained at the 40 g/kg dose. At this amendment dose, the organic matter (OM) content increased to 6.7% compared with 1.4% in control soil. Analysis of the postharvest soils showed that the concentrations of the investigated heavy metals (HMs) (Co, Cu, Mo, Ni, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Pb) were within the allowable limits for agricultural soils at all of the SS amendment doses, except for Co. All of the SS amendment rates enhanced barley growth and yield parameters, including shoot and root lengths and dry weights, spike weight and number of spikes per plant. Up to the 40 g/kg amendment dose, the concentrations of the investigated HMs in the harvested plant tissues were within safe limits, with most of the absorbed HMs persisting in roots. Taking these results together, the current study suggests that controlled application of SS to agricultural soils represents an eco‐friendly SS disposal procedure, which can recycle macro‐ and micronutrients to food chains and hence provide a promising approach for sustainable food security.