bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urine and plasma concentrations of amino acids and plasma vitamin status differ, and are differently affected by salmon intake, in obese Zucker fa/fa rats with impaired kidney function and in Long-Evans rats with healthy kidneys
Authors: Drotningsvik Aslaug , Midttun Øivind , Vikøren Linn Anja , McCann Adrian , Ueland Per Magne , Mellgren Gunnar , Gudbrandsen Oddrun Anita
Published: August 2019

Kidney function affects amino acid metabolism and vitamin status. The aims of the present study were to investigate urine and plasma concentrations of amino acids as well as plasma vitamin status in rats with impaired renal function (Zucker fa/fa rats) and in rats with normal kidney function (Long-Evans rats), and to explore the effects of salmon intake on these parameters and potential biomarkers of salmon intake in both rat strains. Male rats were fed diets with casein as sole protein source (control diet) or 25 % protein from baked salmon and 75 % casein for 4 weeks. Urine concentrations of markers of renal function and most amino acids and plasma concentrations of most vitamins were higher, and plasma concentrations of several amino acids including arginine, total glutathione and most tryptophan metabolites were lower in Zucker fa/fa rats compared with Long-Evans rats fed the control diet. Concentrations of kidney function markers were lower after salmon intake only in Zucker fa/fa rats. A trend towards lower urine concentrations of amino acids was seen in both rat strains fed the salmon diet, but this was more pronounced in Long-Evans rats and did not reflect the dietary amino acid content. Urine 1-methylhistidine, 3-methylhistidine, trimethylamineoxide and creatine concentrations, and plasma 1-methylhistidine and creatine concentrations were higher after salmon intake in both rat strains. To conclude, concentrations of amino acids in urine and plasma as well as vitamin status were different in Zucker fa/fa and Long-Evans rats, and the effects of salmon intake differed by rat strain for some of these parameters.
The protective effect of selenium from heat stress-induced porcine small intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) injury is associated with regulation expression of selenoproteins
Authors: Tang Jiayong , Cao Lei , Jia Gang , Liu Guangmang , Chen Xiaoling , Tian Gang , Cai Jingyi , Shang Haiying , Zhao Hua
Published: August 2019

The present study compared the protective effect of sodium selenite (SS) and selenomethionine (SeMet) on heat stress (HS)-invoked porcine IPEC-J2 cellular damage and integrate potential roles of corresponding selenoprotein. Cells were cultured at 37°C until 80 % confluence and then subjected to four different conditions for 24 h: at 37°C (control), 41·5°C (HS), 41·5°C supplied with 0·42 µmol Se/L SS (SS), or SeMet (SeMet). HS significantly decreased cell viability, up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of tight junction-related proteins (claudin-1 (CLDN-1) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1)). HS-induced cell injury was associated with the up-regulation (P < 0·05) of six inflammation-related genes and fourteen selenoprotein encoding genes and down-regulation (P < 0·05) of two inflammation-related genes and five selenoprotein encoding genes. Compared with the HS group, SS and SeMet supplementation resulted in an increase (P < 0·05) in cell viability, decreased (P < 0·05) mRNA expression of HSP70 and six inflammation-related genes and rescue (P < 0·05) of mRNA and protein levels of CLDN-1 and ZO-1. SS and SeMet supplementation changes the expressions of nineteen selenoprotein encoding genes in cells affected by HS. Both Se supplementation significantly recovered the protein level of glutathione peroxidase-1 and increased selenoprotein P in the IPEC-J2 cells under HS, respectively. In summary, Se supplementation alleviated the negative impact of HS on IPEC-J2 cells, and their cellular protective effect was associated with regulation expression of selenoproteins, and SeMet exhibited a better protective effect.
Do Public and Private Firms Behave Differently? An Examination of Investment in the Chemical Industry
Authors: Sheen Albert
Published: August 2019

I compare the U.S. capacity expansion decisions of public and private producers of 7 commodity chemicals from 1989 to 2006. I find that private firms invest differently than public firms. Private firms are more likely than public firms to increase capacity prior to a positive demand shock (an increase in price and quantity) and less likely to increase capacity before a negative demand shock. Potential mechanisms include public firm overextrapolation of past demand shocks and agency problems arising from greater separation between ownership and control.
Do Underwriters Price Up IPOs to Prevent Withdrawal?
Authors: Busaba Walid Y. , Liu Zheng , Restrepo Felipe
Published: August 2019

We examine whether underwriters price up weakly demanded initial public offerings (IPOs) to prevent withdrawal. Our empirical strategy exploits a discontinuity in the distribution of IPO prices around the low boundary of the filing range. Offerings with a high ex ante withdrawal probability that are priced at this boundary are likely priced up to meet issuers’ reservation prices. We compare the aftermarket returns of these IPOs to the returns of other weakly demanded offerings where issuers’ reservation prices were likely not binding, and we identify a negative 8.4-percentage-point differential attributable to the aggressive pricing inherent in setting the price at the low boundary when withdrawal risk is high.
Model Comparison with Sharpe Ratios
Authors: Barillas Francisco , Kan Raymond , Robotti Cesare , Shanken Jay
Published: August 2019

We show how to conduct asymptotically valid tests of model comparison when the extent of model mispricing is gauged by the squared Sharpe ratio improvement measure. This is equivalent to ranking models on their maximum Sharpe ratios, effectively extending the Gibbons, Ross, and Shanken (1989) test to accommodate the comparison of nonnested models. Mimicking portfolios can be substituted for any nontraded model factors, and estimation error in the portfolio weights is taken into account in the statistical inference. A variant of the Fama and French (2018) 6-factor model, with a monthly updated version of the usual value spread, emerges as the dominant model.
Genetic variation within the genus Macropostrongyloides (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) from Australian macropodid and vombatid marsupials
Authors: Sukee Tanapan , Beveridge Ian , Chilton Neil B. , Jabbar Abdul
Published: August 2019

The genetic variation and taxonomic status of the four morphologically-defined species of Macropostrongyloides in Australian macropodid and vombatid marsupials were examined using sequence data of the ITS+ region (=first and second internal transcribed spacers, and the 5.8S rRNA gene) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. The results of the phylogenetic analyses revealed that Ma. baylisi was a species complex consisting of four genetically distinct groups, some of which are host-specific. In addition, Ma. lasiorhini in the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) did not form a monophyletic clade with Ma. lasiorhini from the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons), suggesting the possibility of cryptic (genetically distinct but morphologically similar) species. There was also some genetic divergence between Ma. dissimilis in swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor) from different geographical regions. In contrast, there was no genetic divergence among specimens of Ma. yamagutii across its broad geographical range or between host species (i.e. Macropus fuliginosus and M. giganteus). Macropostrongyloides dissimilis represented the sister taxon to Ma. baylisi, Ma. yamagutii and Ma. lasiorhini. Further morphological and molecular studies are required to assess the species complex of Ma. baylisi.
Immunodiagnosis and molecular validation ofToxoplasma gondiiinfection among patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing haemodialysis
Authors: Arab-Mazar Zahra , Fallahi Shirzad , Yadegarynia Davood , Javadi Mamaghani Amirreza , Seyyed Tabaei Seyyed Javad , Rajaeian Simin , Rahmati Roodsari Sara
Published: August 2019

Infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease, especially who were under dialysis due to their depressed immunity.Toxoplasma gondiiis a ubiquitous parasite that causes severe manifestations in immunocompromised patients. This case-control study was conducted to the immunodiagnosis and molecular validation ofT. gondiiinfection among patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing haemodialysis. The study population consisted of 260 haemodialysis patients and 259 healthy controls referred to the main dialysis centres of Tehran, Iran during 2016. Anti-T. gondiiimmunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. As well, theT. gondiigenomic DNA in whole blood samples of IgM-positive patients and healthy controls was evaluated using GRA6-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and SAG1-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays. The anti-T. gondiiIgG and IgM antibodies were detected in 175 (67.3%) and 18 (7%) of haemodialysis patients and 122 (47%) and 4 (1.5%) of controls, respectively. Two of the 18 blood samples from IgM-positive patients and none of the IgM-positive control subjects were positive by GRA6-PCR. Whereas, nine and two blood samples of IgM-positive patients and controls were positive forToxoplasmaDNA by a SAG1-LAMP technique respectively. The seropositivity of theToxoplasmaIgM antibody was significantly different between haemodialysis patients and healthy controls which was confirmed by PCR and LAMP. The higher prevalence ofT. gondiiinfection in haemodialysis patients compared with the controls proposes that these patients can be a group at risk for toxoplasmosis and screening for toxoplasmosis before dialysis is necessary for the patients.
Let's go swimming: mermithid-infected earwigs exhibit positive hydrotaxis
Authors: Herbison Ryan Edward Harper , Evans Steven , Doherty Jean-François , Poulin Robert
Published: August 2019

Certain species of parasites have the apparent ability to alter the behaviour of their host in order to facilitate the completion of their own life cycle. While documented in hairworms (phylum Nematomorpha), the ability for mermithid parasites (from the sister phylum Nematoda) to force hosts to enter water remains more enigmatic. Here, we present the first experimental evidence in a laboratory setting that an insect which normally never enters open water (the European earwig Forficula auricularia) will readily enter the water when infected with a mermithid nematode (Mermis nigrescens). Only adult mermithids appear capable of inducing this polarising shift in behaviour, with mermithid length being a very strong predictor of whether their host enters water. However, mermithid length was only weakly associated with how long it took an earwig to enter water following the beginning of a trial. Considering the evidence presented here and its alignment with a proteomic investigation on the same host–parasite system, this study provides strong evidence for adaptive behavioural manipulation and a foundational system for further behavioural and mechanistic exploration.
Crossing of a different kind
Authors: Rampton Ben , Charalambous Constadina , Charalambous Panayiota
Published: August 2019

This study of language crossing moves away from the scenes of multi-ethnic heteroglossia that have dominated the research, and turns instead to a setting affected by major conflict where the language of the traditional enemy has been introduced to secondary schools as part of a reconciliation initiative. This generates a radically different view of crossing and the environment in which it emerges: schooling counts more than popular culture; inter-generational links matter as much as peer relations; and ‘technical redoing’ is a more important key for crossing than ‘make believe’, ‘contests’, or ‘ceremonials’ (Goffman 1974). With a very different profile of this kind, crossing retains and extends its significance, pointing to a sociolinguistic practice that also occurs in official sites struggling with a legacy of violence and acute division. (Crossing, conflict legacy, language learning, classrooms, keying)*
No evidence for a loss of genetic diversity despite a strong decline in size of a European population of the CorncrakeCrex crex
Authors: FOURCADE YOAN , RICHARDSON DAVID S , SECONDI JEAN
Published: August 2019

The preservation of genetic diversity is an important aspect of conservation biology. Low genetic diversity within a population can lead to inbreeding depression and a reduction in adaptive potential, which may increase extinction risk. Here we report changes in genetic diversity over 12 years in a declining population of the CorncrakeCrex crex, a grassland bird species of high conservation concern throughout Europe. Despite a twofold demographic decline during the same period, we found no evidence for a reduction of genetic diversity. The gradual genetic differentiation observed among populations of Corncrake across Europe suggests that genetic diversity is maintained in western populations by constant gene flow from the larger and more productive populations in eastern Europe and Asia. The maintenance of genetic diversity in this species is an opportunity that may help the implementation of effective conservation actions across the Corncrake’s European range.
Modern or traditional health care? Understanding the role of insurance in health-seeking behaviours among older Ghanaians
Authors: Amegbor Prince M. , Kuuire Vincent Z. , Bisung Elijah , Braimah Joseph A.
Published: August 2019

Aim:

This paper examined the association between wealth and health insurance status and the use of traditional medicine (TM) among older persons in Ghana.

Background:

There have been considerable efforts by sub-Saharan African countries to improve access to primary health care services, partly through the implementation of risk-pooling community or national health insurance schemes. The use of TM, which is often not covered under these insurance schemes, remains common in many countries, including Ghana. Understanding how health insurance and wealth influence the use of TM, or otherwise, is essential to the development of equitable health care policies.

Methods:

The study used data from the first wave of the World Health Organisation’s Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health conducted in Ghana in 2008. Descriptive statistics and negative loglog regression models were fitted to the data to examine the influence of insurance and wealth status on the use of TM, controlling for theoretically relevant factors.

Findings:

Seniors who had health insurance coverage were also 17% less likely to frequently seek treatment from a TM healer relative to the uninsured. For older persons in the poorest income quintile, the odds of frequently seeking treatment from TM increased by 61% when compared to those in the richest quintile. This figure was 46%, 62% and 40% for older persons in poorer, middle and richer income quintiles, respectively, compared to their counterparts in the richest income quintile.

Conclusion:

The findings indicate that TM was primarily used by the poor and persons who were not enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme. TM continues to be a vital health care resource for the poor and uninsured older adults in Ghana.
Action-Centered Information Retrieval
Authors: BALDUCCINI MARCELLO , LEBLANC EMILY C.
Published: August 2019

Information retrieval (IR) aims at retrieving documents that are most relevant to a query provided by a user. Traditional techniques rely mostly on syntactic methods. In some cases, however, links at a deeper semantic level must be considered. In this paper, we explore a type of IR task in which documents describe sequences of events, and queries are about the state of the world after such events. In this context, successfully matching documents and query requires considering the events’ possibly implicit uncertain effects and side effects. We begin by analyzing the problem, then propose an action language-based formalization, and finally automate the corresponding IR task using answer set programming.
Agricultural soft budget constraints in new European Union member states
Authors: Fertő Imre , Bojnec Štefan , Fogarasi József , Viira Ants Hannes
Published: August 2019

This article investigates farm investment behaviour and the presence of soft budget constraints in the agricultural sectors of three Central and Eastern European countries – Estonia, Hungary and Slovenia – using individual farm accountancy panel data for the 2007–2015 period. Gross farm investment is positively associated with gross farm investment for the previous year, growth in real sales and public investment subsidies. Mixed results for debt square and cash flow variables imply that the different investment behaviour of farms pertains to different structures of investment sources among the countries under analysis. A particularly significant negative cash flow coefficient implies strong soft budget constraints for Estonian farms, while insignificant cash flow coefficients imply weak soft budget constraints for Hungarian and Slovenian farms.
A review of the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and threat appraisal in anxiety
Authors: Milne S. , Lomax C. , Freeston M. H.
Published: August 2019

The development and conceptual relationship of the constructs of threat appraisal (TA) and intolerance of uncertainty (IU) are explored in the context of anxiety disorders. A narrative review tracking the development of these constructs and their relationship is undertaken. There is some evidence to suggest that the interaction between the components of threat appraisal (probability × cost) may partially account for or provide a theoretical framework which explains presenting levels of anxiety. Furthermore, research suggested that IU is a construct which contributes to a broad range of anxiety disorders. It was concluded that distinctive cognitive biases linked with IU – such as interpreting ambiguous and uncertain (both positive and negative) information as highly concerning – suggests that IU is interpreted negatively independent of threat appraisal. These findings mean a number of issues remain unclear, including whether IU in anxiety-provoking situations is sufficient in itself – independent of threat appraisal – in eliciting high levels of anxiety. Additionally, it is unclear whether threat appraisal and IU act as independent constructs, or more in an interactive manner in anxiety. To achieve further clarity on these issues, methodological recommendations for future research are made.

Key learning aims

(1)

To understand the conceptual foundations of TA and IU in the cognitive model of anxiety.

(2)

To understand the empirical evidence supporting the role of both TA and IU in anxiety.

(3)

To appreciate the potential relationship between these concepts in anxiety.
Budget Analyses of a Record‐Breaking Rainfall Event in the Coastal Metropolitan City of Guangzhou, China
Authors: Huang Yongjie , Liu Yubao , Liu Yuewei , Knievel Jason C.
Published: August 2019

To investigate the mechanisms for the record‐breaking rainfall in the coastal metropolitan city of Guangzhou, China during 6–7 May 2017, budget analyses of advection and source/sink terms of the water vapor, potential temperature, and vertical momentum equations were conducted using the model output of a nested very large eddy simulation with the Weather Research and Forecasting model. Results show that the warm and moist air flows from the south and east onshore in the lower troposphere provided the main moisture source for the heavy rainfall. The structure of vertical velocity and hydrometeors (low‐echo centroid structure), in which the heavy rainfall was separated from the low‐level updraft, was favorable for the formation and maintenance of a heavy precipitation rate. The removal of the heat due to the advection (cooling tendency) in the upper troposphere increased the convective available potential energy of parcels rising from the lower troposphere, maintaining the development of updrafts. Although the total buoyancy forcing was the main contribution term for maintaining the updrafts, total dynamic acceleration played an important role in the vertical acceleration below the maximum vertical velocity core. In particular, the nonlinear dynamic perturbation pressure gradient force in the lower troposphere induced by the rotations aloft maintained the strong updrafts.
Global Bathymetry and Topography at 15 Arc Sec: SRTM15+
Authors: Tozer B. , Sandwell D. T. , Smith W. H. F. , Olson C. , Beale J. R. , Wessel P.
Published: August 2019

An updated global bathymetry and topography grid is presented using a spatial sampling interval of 15 arc sec. The bathymetry is produced using a combination of shipboard soundings and depths predicted using satellite altimetry. New data consists of >33.6 million multibeam and singlebeam measurements collated by several institutions, namely, the National Geospatial‐Intelligence Agency, Japan Agency for Marine‐Earth Science and Technology, Geoscience Australia, Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. New altimetry data consists of 48, 14, and 12 months of retracked range measurements from Cryosat‐2, SARAL/AltiKa, and Jason‐2, respectively. With respect to SRTM15_PLUS (Olson et al.,), the inclusion of these new data results in a ∼1.4‐km improvement in the minimum wavelength recovered for sea surface free‐air gravity anomalies, a small increase in the accuracy of altimetrically derived predicted depths, and a 1.24% increase, from 9.60% to 10.84%, in the total area of ocean floor that is constrained by shipboard soundings at 15‐arc sec resolution. Bathymetric grid cells constrained by satellite altimetry have estimated uncertainties of ±150 m in the deep oceans and ±180 m between coastlines and the continental rise. Onshore, topography data are sourced from previously published digital elevation models, predominately SRTM‐CGIAR V4.1 between 60°N and 60°S. ArcticDEM is used above 60°N, while Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica is used below 62°S. Auxiliary grids illustrating shipboard data coverage, marine free‐air gravity anomalies, and vertical gradient gradients are also provided in common data formats.
Contrasting Ice Algae and Snow‐Dependent Irradiance Relationships Between First‐Year and Multiyear Sea Ice
Authors: Lange Benjamin A. , Haas Christian , Charette Joannie , Katlein Christian , Campbell Karley , Duerksen Steve , Coupel Pierre , Anhaus Philipp , Jutila Arttu , Tremblay Pascal O. G. , Carlyle Cody G. , Michel Christine
Published: August 2019

During the 2018 Multidisciplinary Arctic Program‐Last Ice in the Lincoln Sea, we sampled 45 multiyear ice (MYI) and 34 first‐year ice (FYI) cores, combined with snow depth, ice thickness, and transmittance surveys from adjacent level FYI and undeformed MYI. FYI sites show a decoupling between bottom‐ice chlorophyll a (chl a) and snow depth; however, MYI showed a significant correlation between ice‐algal chl a biomass and snow depth. Topographic control of the snow cover resulted in greater spatiotemporal variability of the snow over the level FYI, and consequently transmittance, compared to MYI with an undulating surface. The coupled patterns of snow depth, transmittance, and chl a indicate that MYI provides an environment with more stable light conditions for ice algal growth. The importance of sea ice surface topography for ice algal habitat underpins the potential ecological changes associated with projected increased ice dynamics and deformation.
Relationships Between Tropical Ascent and High Cloud Fraction Changes With Warming Revealed by Perturbation Physics Experiments in CAM5
Authors: Schiro Kathleen A. , Su Hui , Wang Yuan , Langenbrunner Baird , Jiang Jonathan H. , Neelin J. David
Published: August 2019

Tropical ascent area (Aa) and high cloud fraction (HCF) are projected to decrease with surface warming in most Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) models. Perturbing deep convective parameters in the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM5) results in a similar spread and correlation between HCF and Aa responses to interannual warming compared to the CMIP5 ensemble, with a narrower Aa corresponding to greater HCF reduction. Perturbing cloud physics parameters produces a comparatively smaller range of Aa responses to warming and a dissimilar HCF‐Aa relation to that in CMIP5; a narrower Aa corresponds to less HCF reduction, likely due to cloud radiative effects. A narrowing of Aa corresponds to a regime shift toward stronger precipitation in both experiments. We infer that model differences in deep convection parameterization likely play a greater role than differing cloud physics in determining the diverse responses of Aa and HCF to warming in CMIP5.
Surface Kinetic Energy Distributions in the Global Oceans From a High‐Resolution Numerical Model and Surface Drifter Observations
Authors: Yu Xiaolong , Ponte Aurélien L. , Elipot Shane , Menemenlis Dimitris , Zaron Edward D. , Abernathey Ryan
Published: August 2019

The surface kinetic energy of a 1/48° global ocean simulation and its distribution as a function of frequency and location are compared with the one estimated from 15,329 globally distributed surface drifter observations at hourly resolution. These distributions follow similar patterns with a dominant low‐frequency component and well‐defined tidal and near‐inertial peaks globally. Quantitative differences are identified with deficits of low‐frequency energy near the equator (factor 2) and at near‐inertial frequencies (factor 3) and an excess of energy at semidiurnal frequencies (factor 4) for the model. Owing to its hourly resolution and its near‐global spatial coverage, the array of surface drifters is an invaluable tool to evaluate the realism of tide‐resolving high‐resolution ocean simulations used in observing system simulation experiments. Sources of bias between model and drifter data are discussed, and associated leads for future work highlighted.
Voyager 2 constraints on plasmoid‐based transport at Uranus
Authors: DiBraccio Gina A. , Gershman Daniel J.
Published: August 2019

A magnetosphere controls a planet's evolution by suppressing or enhancing atmospheric loss to space. In situ measurements of Uranus' magnetosphere from the Voyager 2 flyby in 1986 provide the only direct evidence of magnetospheric transport processes responsible for this atmospheric escape at Uranus. Analysis of high‐resolution Voyager 2 magnetic field data in Uranus' magnetotail reveals the presence of a loop‐like plasmoid filled with planetary plasma traveling away from the planet. This first plasmoid observation in an Ice Giant magnetosphere elucidates that (1) both internal and external forces play a role in Uranus' magnetospheric dynamics, (2) magnetic reconnection contributes to the circulation of plasma and magnetic flux at Uranus, and (3) plasmoids may be a dominant transport mechanism for mass loss through Uranus' magnetotail.
The Significance of Long‐Period Ground Motion at Regional to Teleseismic Distances From the 610‐km Deep Mw 8.3 Sea of Okhotsk Earthquake of 24 May 2013
Authors: Furumura T. , Kennett B. L. N.
Published: August 2019

The 24 May 2013 earthquake beneath the Sea of Okhotsk (610 km, Mw 8.3) produced significant ground motion across the whole span of the Japanese islands, from 1,300‐ to 4,200‐km epicentral distance. The largest shaking was concentrated along the back‐arc side of the subduction zone, which is the opposite of the normal pattern for deep earthquakes in the Pacific slab. Observations from the dense Hi‐net and F‐net arrays across Japan show that the largest shaking in northern Japan (near 2,000‐km epicentral distance) was caused by near‐caustic S waves, with triplication of upgoing and downgoing waves from the deep source and reflected waves from the 660‐km discontinuity. Three‐dimensional finite difference method simulations confirm that the antiwaveguide effect of the high‐wave speed slab is to push the zone of larger intensity 300 km farther to south than might be expected. The S wavefront distorted by the slab has near‐critical incidence at the free surface producing large sP and generating shear‐coupled PL (s‐PL) waves with period >3 s. With increasing epicentral distance the S incident angle exceeds critical, then total sS reflection creates large ground motion at large distance (>3,000 km) and even farther (>6,000 km) with sSS. The propagation of sS, sSS linking to sS‐PL, and sSS‐PL wave trains is very efficient in continental structures with thicker crust. The felt reports at large (4,000–8000 km) distances from the 2013 Sea of Okhotsk earthquake can be explained by lengthy, long‐period ground motion in the continental environment with amplification in sedimentary basins and in tall buildings.
The Relationship Between U.S. East Coast Sea Level and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation: A Review
Authors: Little Christopher M. , Hu Aixue , Hughes Chris W. , McCarthy Gerard D. , Piecuch Christopher G. , Ponte Rui M. , Thomas Matthew D.
Published: August 2019

Scientific and societal interest in the relationship between the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and U.S. East Coast sea level has intensified over the past decade, largely due to (1) projected, and potentially ongoing, enhancement of sea level rise associated with AMOC weakening and (2) the potential for observations of U.S. East Coast sea level to inform reconstructions of North Atlantic circulation and climate. These implications have inspired a wealth of model‐ and observation‐based analyses. Here, we review this research, finding consistent support in numerical models for an antiphase relationship between AMOC strength and dynamic sea level. However, simulations exhibit substantial along‐coast and intermodel differences in the amplitude of AMOC‐associated dynamic sea level variability. Observational analyses focusing on shorter (generally less than decadal) timescales show robust relationships between some components of the North Atlantic large‐scale circulation and coastal sea level variability, but the causal relationships between different observational metrics, AMOC, and sea level are often unclear. We highlight the importance of existing and future research seeking to understand relationships between AMOC and its component currents, the role of ageostrophic processes near the coast, and the interplay of local and remote forcing. Such research will help reconcile the results of different numerical simulations with each other and with observations, inform the physical origins of covariability, and reveal the sensitivity of scaling relationships to forcing, timescale, and model representation. This information will, in turn, provide a more complete characterization of uncertainty in relevant relationships, leading to more robust reconstructions and projections.
Does ERA‐5 Outperform Other Reanalysis Products for Hydrologic Applications in India?
Authors: Mahto Shanti Shwarup , Mishra Vimal
Published: August 2019

Global reanalysis products are extensively used for hydrologic applications in sparse data regions. European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts Re‐Analysis version 5 (ERA‐5), among the new‐era reanalysis products, has been significantly improved for horizontal and vertical resolutions and data assimilation. However, the new‐era reanalysis products (ERA‐5, Climate Forecast System Reanalysis, ERA‐Interim, Modern Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2, and Japanese 55‐year Reanalysis Project) have not been evaluated for the hydrologic applications in India specially to understand if ERA‐5 outperforms the other reanalysis products or not. Here we use the five new‐era reanalysis products for the monsoon (June–September) season precipitation, maximum (Tmax) and minimum (Tmin) temperatures, total runoff, evapotranspiration, and soil moisture against the observations from India Meteorological Department in India for 1980–2018. We use a well‐calibrated and evaluated hydrological model (the Variable Infiltration Capacity model) to simulate hydrologic variables using the forcing from India Meteorological Department and reanalysis products. In addition, we evaluated the reanalysis products for streamflow and annual water budget for the two basins located in the diverse climatic settings in India. Our results show that ERA‐5 outperforms the other reanalysis products for the monsoon season precipitation, Tmax, evapotranspiration, and soil moisture. However, Climate Forecast System Reanalysis performs better than ERA‐5 for the monsoon season total runoff in India. Performance for streamflow and annual water budget for ERA‐5 is either better or comparable to the other reanalysis products in the two river basins. Overall, we find that ERA‐5 performs better than the other reanalysis products and can be used for the hydrologic assessments in India.
The Uplift of the Troodos Massif, Cyprus
Authors: Ring Uwe , Pantazides Hermes
Published: August 2019

We constrain the fault pattern and the kinematics of faulting that facilitated the uplift of the Troodos Massif in Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean. The fault pattern consists of E‐W striking reverse faults, N‐S striking normal faults, and NW striking dextral and NE striking sinistral strike/oblique‐slip faults. Fault‐slip analysis reveals that this overall pattern resulted from subhorizontal NNW directed shortening and coeval, subhorizontal ENE directed extension. Dated sediments affected by faulting reveal that the N‐S striking normal faults are, at least in part, younger than 2.14 Ma. This suggests that the entire fault pattern, or at least a large part of it, resulted or was reworked during post‐2.14‐Ma deformation. Published work further shows that the uplift of the Troodos Massif was controlled by underthrusting of the Eratosthenes Seamount, which entered the Cyprus subduction zone by about 2 Ma. The alleged E‐W extent of the underthrust segment of the seamount approximately matches the size of the high‐topography area of the Troodos Mountains. We interpret this geometry to have caused spatially limited crustal thickening underneath the high‐topography area by subhorizontal N‐S shortening in front of and above the underthrusting seamount and coeval, subhorizontal E‐W extension at its flanks, and that the uplift of the high‐topography area occurred in the footwall of the N‐S striking normal faults. This model is broadly in line with seismicity and may also explain why serpentinized mantle rocks and dense gabbro are now exposed on top of the Troodos Massif.
The prion-like protein kinase Sky1 is required for efficient stress granule disassembly
Authors: Shattuck Jenifer E. , Paul Kacy R. , Cascarina Sean M. , Ross Eric D.
Published: August 2019

Stress granules are membraneless protein- and mRNA-rich organelles that form in response to perturbations in environmental conditions. Stress granule formation is reversible, and persistent stress granules have been implicated in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, characterization of the factors involved in dissolving stress granules is incomplete. Many stress granule proteins contain prion-like domains (PrLDs), some of which have been linked to stress granule formation. Here, we demonstrate that the PrLD-containing yeast protein kinase Sky1 is a stress granule component. Sky1 is recruited to stress granules in part via its PrLD, and Sky1’s kinase activity regulates timely stress granule disassembly during stress recovery. This effect is mediated by phosphorylation of the stress granule component Npl3. Sky1 can compensate for defects in chaperone-mediated stress granule disassembly and vice-versa, demonstrating that cells have multiple overlapping mechanisms for re-solubilizing stress granule components.
A conserved RNA structural motif for organizing topology within picornaviral internal ribosome entry sites
Authors: Koirala Deepak , Shao Yaming , Koldobskaya Yelena , Fuller James R. , Watkins Andrew M. , Shelke Sandip A. , Pilipenko Evgeny V. , Das Rhiju , Rice Phoebe A. , Piccirilli Joseph A.
Published: August 2019

Picornaviral IRES elements are essential for initiating the cap-independent viral translation. However, three-dimensional structures of these elements remain elusive. Here, we report a 2.84-Å resolution crystal structure of hepatitis A virus IRES domain V (dV) in complex with a synthetic antibody fragment—a crystallization chaperone. The RNA adopts a three-way junction structure, topologically organized by an adenine-rich stem-loop motif. Despite no obvious sequence homology, the dV architecture shows a striking similarity to a circularly permuted form of encephalomyocarditis virus J-K domain, suggesting a conserved strategy for organizing the domain architecture. Recurrence of the motif led us to use homology modeling tools to compute a 3-dimensional structure of the corresponding domain of foot-and-mouth disease virus, revealing an analogous domain organizing motif. The topological conservation observed among these IRESs and other viral domains implicates a structured three-way junction as an architectural scaffold to pre-organize helical domains for recruiting the translation initiation machinery.
Virus lasers for biological detection
Authors: Hales John E. , Matmon Guy , Dalby Paul A. , Ward John M. , Aeppli Gabriel
Published: August 2019

The selective amplification of DNA in the polymerase chain reaction is used to exponentially increase the signal in molecular diagnostics for nucleic acids, but there are no analogous techniques for signal enhancement in clinical tests for proteins or cells. Instead, the signal from affinity-based measurements of these biomolecules depends linearly on the probe concentration. Substituting antibody-based probes tagged for fluorescent quantification with lasing detection probes would create a new platform for biomarker quantification based on optical rather than enzymatic amplification. Here, we construct a virus laser which bridges synthetic biology and laser physics, and demonstrate virus-lasing probes for biosensing. Our virus-lasing probes display an unprecedented > 10,000 times increase in signal from only a 50% increase in probe concentration, using fluorimeter-compatible optics, and can detect biomolecules at sub-100 fmol mL−1 concentrations.
Porous single-crystalline titanium dioxide at 2 cm scale delivering enhanced photoelectrochemical performance
Authors: Cheng Fangyuan , Lin Guoming , Hu Xiuli , Xi Shaobo , Xie Kui
Published: August 2019

Porous single-crystalline (P-SC) titanium dioxide in large size would significantly enhance their photoelectrochemical functionalities owing to the structural coherence and large surface area. Here we show the growth of P-SC anatase titanium dioxide on an 2 cm scale through a conceptually different lattice reconstruction strategy by direct removal of K/P from KTiOPO4 lattice leaving the open Ti-O skeleton simultaneously recrystallizing into titanium dioxide. The (101) facet dominates the growth of titanium dioxide while the relative titanium densities on different parent crystal facets control the microstructures. Crystal growth in reducing atmospheres produces P-SC TinO2n-1 (n = 7~38) in magneli phases with enhanced visible-infrared light absorption and conductivity. The P-SC TinO2n-1 shows enhanced exciton lifetime and charge mobility. The P-SC TinO2n-1 boosts photoelectrochemical oxidation of benzene to phenol with P-SC Ti9O17 showing 60.1% benzene conversion and 99.6% phenol selectivity at room temperature which is the highest so far to the best of our knowledge.
Computer-aided discovery of connected metal-organic frameworks
Authors: Kwon Ohmin , Kim Jin Yeong , Park Sungbin , Lee Jae Hwa , Ha Junsu , Park Hyunsoo , Moon Hoi Ri , Kim Jihan
Published: August 2019

Composite metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) tend to possess complex interfaces that prevent facile and rational design. Here we present a joint computational/experimental workflow that screens thousands of MOFs and identifies the optimal MOF pairs that can seamlessly connect to one another by taking advantage of the fact that the metal nodes of one MOF can form coordination bonds with the linkers of the second MOF. Six MOF pairs (HKUST-1@MOF-5, HKUST-1@IRMOF-18, UiO-67@HKUST-1, PCN-68@MOF-5, UiO-66@MIL-88B(Fe) and UiO-67@MIL-88C(Fe)) yielded from our theoretical predictions were successfully synthesized, leading to clean single crystalline MOF@MOF, demonstrating the power of our joint workflow. Our work can serve as a starting point to accelerate the discovery of novel MOF composites that can potentially be used for many different applications.
Protegrin-1 cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells positively correlates with the magnitude of conformational changes of the unfolded form upon cell interaction
Authors: Soundrarajan Nagasundarapandian , Park Suhyun , Le Van Chanh Quy , Cho Hye-sun , Raghunathan Govindan , Ahn Byeongyong , Song Hyuk , Kim Jin-Hoi , Park Chankyu
Published: August 2019

Porcine protegrin-1 (PG-1) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with potent antimicrobial activities. We produced recombinant PG-1 and evaluated its cytotoxicity toward various types of mammalian cell lines, including embryonic fibroblasts, retinal cells, embryonic kidney cells, neuroblastoma cells, alveolar macrophage cells, and neutrophils. The sensitivity of the different mammalian cells to cytotoxic damage induced by PG-1 differed significantly among the cell types, with retinal neuron cells and neutrophils being the most significantly affected. A circular dichroism analysis showed there was a precise correlation between conformational changes in PG-1 and the magnitude of cytotoxicity among the various cell type. Subsequently, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) penetration assay using positively charged GFPs indicated there was a close correlation between the degree of penetration of charged GFP into cells and the magnitude of PG-1 cytotoxicity. Furthermore, we also showed that inhibition of the synthesis of anionic sulphated proteoglycans on the cell surface decreases the cytotoxic damage induced by PG-1 treatment. Taken together, the observed cytotoxicity of PG-1 towards different membrane surfaces is highly driven by the membrane’s anionic properties. Our results reveal a possible mechanism underlying cell-type dependent differences in cytotoxicity of AMPs, such as PG-1, toward mammalian cells.
Biological learning curves outperform existing ones in artificial intelligence algorithms
Authors: Uzan Herut , Sardi Shira , Goldental Amir , Vardi Roni , Kanter Ido
Published: August 2019

Recently, deep learning algorithms have outperformed human experts in various tasks across several domains; however, their characteristics are distant from current knowledge of neuroscience. The simulation results of biological learning algorithms presented herein outperform state-of-the-art optimal learning curves in supervised learning of feedforward networks. The biological learning algorithms comprise asynchronous input signals with decaying input summation, weights adaptation, and multiple outputs for an input signal. In particular, the generalization error for such biological perceptrons decreases rapidly with increasing number of examples, and it is independent of the size of the input. This is achieved using either synaptic learning, or solely through dendritic adaptation with a mechanism of swinging between reflecting boundaries, without learning steps. The proposed biological learning algorithms outperform the optimal scaling of the learning curve in a traditional perceptron. It also results in a considerable robustness to disparity between weights of two networks with very similar outputs in biological supervised learning scenarios. The simulation results indicate the potency of neurobiological mechanisms and open opportunities for developing a superior class of deep learning algorithms.
Towards A Microbead Occlusion Model of Glaucoma for a Non-Human Primate
Authors: Lambert Wendi S. , Carlson Brian J. , Ghose Purnima , Vest Victoria D. , Yao Vincent , Calkins David J.
Published: August 2019

Glaucoma is a group of optic neuropathies associated with aging and sensitivity to intraocular pressure (IOP). The disease causes vision loss through the degeneration of retinal ganglion cell neurons and their axons in the optic nerve. Using an inducible model of glaucoma, we elevated IOP in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis) using intracameral injection of 35 μm polystyrene microbeads and measured common pathogenic outcomes in the optic projection. A 42% elevation in IOP over 28 weeks reduced anterograde transport of fluorescently-labeled cholera toxin beta from retina to the lateral geniculate nucleus (60% decrease), and to the superior colliculus (49% decrease). Pressure also reduced survival of ganglion cellaxons in the optic nerve by 22%. The same elevation caused upregulation of proteins associated with glaucomatous neurodegeneration in the retina and optic nerve, including complement 1q, interleukin 6, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. That axon degeneration in the nerve lagged deficits in anterograde transport is consistent with progression in rodent models, while the observed protein changes also occur in tissue from human glaucoma patients. Thus, microbead occlusion in a non-human primate with a visual system similar to our own represents an attractive model to investigate neurodegenerative mechanisms and therapeutic interventions for glaucoma.
Particulate matter-attributable mortality and relationships with carbon dioxide in 250 urban areas worldwide
Authors: Anenberg Susan C. , Achakulwisut Pattanun , Brauer Michael , Moran Daniel , Apte Joshua S. , Henze Daven K.
Published: August 2019

Urban air pollution is high on global health and sustainability agendas, but information is limited on associated city-level disease burdens. We estimated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mortality in the 250 most populous cities worldwide using PM2.5 concentrations, population, disease rates, and concentration-response relationships from the Global Burden of Disease 2016 Study. Only 8% of these cities had population-weighted mean concentrations below the World Health Organization guideline for annual average PM2.5. City-level PM2.5-attributable mortality rates ranged from 13–125 deaths per 100,000 people. PM2.5 mortality rates and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rates were weakly positively correlated, with regional influences apparent from clustering of cities within each region. Across 82 cities globally, PM2.5 concentrations and mortality rates were negatively associated with city gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, but we found no relationship between GDP per capita and CO2 emissions rates. While results provide only a cross-sectional snapshot of cities worldwide, they point to opportunities for cities to realize climate, air quality, and health co-benefits through low-carbon development. Future work should examine drivers of the relationships (e.g. development stage, fuel mix for electricity generation and transportation, sector-specific PM2.5 and CO2 emissions) uncovered here and explore uncertainties to test the robustness of our conclusions.