bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Muscle wasting and function after muscle activation and early protocol‐based physiotherapy: an explorative trial
Authors: Wollersheim Tobias , Grunow Julius J. , Carbon Niklas M. , Haas Kurt , Malleike Johannes , Ramme Sara F. , Schneider Joanna , Spies Claudia D. , Märdian Sven , Mai Knut , Spuler Simone , Fielitz Jens , Weber‐Carstens Steffen
Published: April 2019

Background

Early mobilization improves physical independency of critically ill patients at hospital discharge in a general intensive care unit (ICU)‐cohort. We aimed to investigate clinical and molecular benefits or detriments of early mobilization and muscle activating measures in a high‐risk ICU‐acquired weakness cohort.

Methods

Fifty patients with a SOFA score ≥9 within 72 h after ICU admission were randomized to muscle activating measures such as neuromuscular electrical stimulation or whole‐body vibration in addition to early protocol‐based physiotherapy (intervention) or early protocol‐based physiotherapy alone (control). Muscle strength and function were assessed by Medical Research Council (MRC) score, handgrip strength and Functional Independence Measure at first awakening, ICU discharge, and 12 month follow‐up. Patients underwent open surgical muscle biopsy on day 15. We investigated the impact of muscle activating measures in addition to early protocol‐based physiotherapy on muscle strength and function as well as on muscle wasting, morphology, and homeostasis in patients with sepsis and ICU‐acquired weakness. We compared the data with patients treated with common physiotherapeutic practice (CPP) earlier.

Results

ICU‐acquired weakness occurs within the entire cohort, and muscle activating measures did not improve muscle strength or function at first awakening (MRC median [IQR]: CPP 3.3 [3.0–4.3]; control 3.0 [2.7–3.4]; intervention 3.0 [2.1–3.8];P > 0.05 for all), ICU discharge (MRC median [IQR]: CPP 3.8 [3.4–4.4]; control 3.9 [3.3–4.0]; intervention 3.6 [2.8–4.0];P > 0.05 for all), and 12 month follow‐up (MRC median [IQR]: control 5.0 [4.3–5.0]; intervention 4.8 [4.3–5.0];P = 0.342 for all). No signs of necrosis or inflammatory infiltration were present in the histological analysis. Myocyte cross‐sectional area in the intervention group was significantly larger in comparison with the control group (type I +10%; type IIa +13%; type IIb +3%;P < 0.001 for all) and CPP (type I +36%; type IIa +49%; type IIb +65%;P < 0.001 for all). This increase was accompanied by an up‐regulated gene expression for myosin heavy chains (fold change median [IQR]:MYH12.3 [1.1–2.7];MYH20.7 [0.2–1.8];MYH45.1 [2.2–15.3]) and an unaffected gene expression forTRIM63,TRIM62, andFBXO32.

Conclusions

In our patients with sepsis syndrome at high risk for ICU‐acquired weakness muscle activating measures in addition to early protocol‐based physiotherapy did not improve muscle strength or function at first awakening, ICU discharge, or 12 month follow‐up. Yet it prevented muscle atrophy.
Inconsistency in the frequency of rainfall events in the Indian summer monsoon season
Authors: Prathipati Vinay K. , C. V. Naidu , Konatham Prasanna
Published: April 2019

In global warming, India is adversely affected by weather extremes. Summer monsoon contributes about 70% of annual mean rainfall to India by mode of an ensemble of synoptic disturbances and intense events. These events bring extreme amounts of rainfall in very few days. We have studied the anomalies of rainfall events for wet days (>0 mm rainfall), dry days (=0 mm), little rainfall days (>0 to <20 mm), moderate rainfall days (≥20 mm to <60 mm), heavy rainfall days (≥ 60 to <100 mm) and very heavy rainfall days (≥ 100 mm) during the period, 1901–1930; 1931–1960; 1961–1990 and 1991–2015 using India Meteorological Department (IMD) rainfall data. In the present scenario, even though an extensive increase in frequency of lows forming in the Bay of Bengal is observed, only a few are intensified into depressions and above stages. Alternatively, monsoon circulation is trailing its strength; therefore extreme (heavy and very heavy rainfall) events came into existence to balance the mean rainfall activity. The rise in these events may be due to an increasing inconsistency of the strength of low‐level jet, an increase of sea surface temperature over the Arabian Sea and dynamic flow of moisture supply to inland from neighbourhood seas. An increase in the frequency of extreme rainfall events is seen over Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, central Northeast India (CNEI) and west central India (WCI) in the recent years (25 years) compared to previous 9 decades. Whereas, a decrease in the frequencies of little and moderate rainfall events are observed over the parts of the Western Ghats, Northeast India, WCI and CNEI. There is an increasing trend in the inconsistency of daily rainfall activity due to an increase in the frequency of extreme events in the global warming era.
Correlating Infant Fecal Microbiota Composition and Human Milk Oligosaccharide Consumption by Microbiota of 1‐Month‐Old Breastfed Infants
Authors: Borewicz Klaudyna , Gu Fangjie , Saccenti Edoardo , Arts Ilja C.W. , Penders John , Thijs Carel , van Leeuwen Sander S. , Lindner Cordula , Nauta Arjen , van Leusen Ellen , Schols Henk A. , Smidt Hauke
Published: April 2019

Scope

Understanding the biological functions of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in shaping gastrointestinal (GI) tract microbiota during infancy is of great interest. A link between HMOs in maternal milk and infant fecal microbiota composition is examined and the role of microbiota in degrading HMOs within the GI tract of healthy, breastfed, 1‐month‐old infants is investigated.

Methods and results

Maternal breast milk and infant feces are from the KOALA Birth Cohort. HMOs are quantified in milk and infant fecal samples using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Fecal microbiota composition is characterized using Illumina HiSeq 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The composition is associated with gender, delivery mode, and milk HMOs: Lacto‐N‐fucopentaose I and 2′‐fucosyllactose. Overall, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Escherichia–Shigella, and Parabacteroides are predominating genera. Three different patterns in infant fecal microbiota structure are detected. GI degradation of HMOs is strongly associated with fecal microbiota composition, and there is a link between utilization of specific HMOs and relative abundance of various phylotypes (operational taxonomic units).

Conclusions

HMOs in maternal milk are among the important factors shaping GI tract microbiota in 1‐month‐old breastfed infants. An infant's ability to metabolize different HMOs strongly correlates with fecal microbiota composition and specifically with phylotypes within genera Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and Lactobacillus.
Techno‐economic analysis of FiWi access networks based on optimized source packet traffic
Authors: Breskovic Damir , Begusic Dinko
Published: April 2019

Fiber wireless access networks (FiWi) are capable of providing broadband 100 Mbit/s services with acceptable costs and can be considered as a competitive alternative to fiber to the home (FTTH). Techno‐economic analysis of viable FiWi architectures is needed in order to obtain the most suitable solution taking into account both technical and economical viewpoints. In this paper, a new approach to techno‐economic analysis of the FiWi networks is proposed. The proposed approach is based on the net present value calculation with the source packet traffic generation rate and traffic intensity as input parameters. As a precondition to net present value calculation, a traffic optimization procedure that assures the quality of experience is performed. Case study results indicate the usability of the proposed method.
From fluorescent proteins to fluorogenic RNAs: Tools for imaging cellular macromolecules
Authors: Truong Lynda , Ferré‐D'Amaré Adrian R.
Published: April 2019

The explosion in genome‐wide sequencing has revealed that noncoding RNAs are ubiquitous and highly conserved in biology. New molecular tools are needed for their study in live cells. Fluorescent RNA–small molecule complexes have emerged as powerful counterparts to fluorescent proteins, which are well established, universal tools in the study of proteins in cell biology. No naturally fluorescent RNAs are known; all current fluorescent RNA tags are in vitro evolved or engineered molecules that bind a conditionally fluorescent small molecule and turn on its fluorescence by up to 5000‐fold. Structural analyses of several such fluorescence turn‐on aptamers show that these compact (30–100 nucleotides) RNAs have diverse molecular architectures that can restrain their photoexcited fluorophores in their maximally fluorescent states, typically by stacking between planar nucleotide arrangements, such as G‐quadruplexes, base triples, or base pairs. The diversity of fluorogenic RNAs as well as fluorophores that are cell permeable and bind weakly to endogenous cellular macromolecules has already produced RNA–fluorophore complexes that span the visual spectrum and are useful for tagging and visualizing RNAs in cells. Because the ligand binding sites of fluorogenic RNAs are not constrained by the need to autocatalytically generate fluorophores as are fluorescent proteins, they may offer more flexibility in molecular engineering to generate photophysical properties that are tailored to experimental needs.
Side chain rotameric changes and backbone dynamics enable specific cladosporin binding in Plasmodium falciparum lysyl‐tRNA synthetase
Authors: Chhibber‐Goel Jyoti , Sharma Amit
Published: April 2019

Cladosporin (CLD) is a fungal metabolite that kills the malaria parasite via inhibiting its cytoplasmic lysyl‐tRNA synthetase (KRS) and abrogating protein translation. Here we provide structural and drug selectivity analyses on CLD interacting residues in apo and holo KRSs from Plasmodium falciparum, Homo sapiens, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Mycobacterium ulcerans. We show that both gross and subtle alterations in protein backbone and sidechains drive the active site structural plasticity that allows integration of CLD in KRSs. The ligand‐induced fit of CLD in PfKRS is marked by closure and stabilization of three disordered loops and one alpha helix. However, these structural rearragements are not evident in KRS‐CLD complexes from H. sapiens, C. parvum, or M. ulcerans. Strikingly, CLD fits into the MuKRS active site due to a remarkable rotameric alteration in its clash‐prone methionine residue that provides accommodation for the methyl moiety in CLD. Although the high concentrations of drugs used for Hs, Cp, and MuKRS‐CLD complexes in co‐crystallization studies enable elucidation of a structural framework for understanding drug binding in KRSs, we propose that these data should be concurrently assessed via biochemical studies of potency and drug selectivity given the poor cell‐based activity of CLD against human and bacterial cells. Our comprehensive analyses of KRS‐CLD interactions, therefore, highlight vital issues in structure‐based drug discovery studies.
A hyperthermophilic protein G variant engineered via directed evolution prevents the formation of toxic SOD1 oligomers
Authors: Dagan Bar , Oren Ofek , Banerjee Victor , Taube Ran , Papo Niv
Published: April 2019

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by selective death of motor neurons in the brainstem, motor cortex, and spinal cord, leading to muscle atrophy and eventually to death. It is currently held that various oligomerization‐inducing mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), an amyloid‐forming protein, may be implicated in the familial form of this fast‐progressing highly lethal neurodegenerative disease. A possible therapeutic approach could therefore lie in developing inhibitors to SOD1 mutants. By screening a focused mutagenesis library, mutated randomly in specific “stability patch” positions of the B1 domain of protein G (HTB1), we previously identified low affinity inhibitors of aggregation of SOD1G93A and SOD1G85R mutants. Herein, with the aim to generate a more potent inhibitor with higher affinity to SOD1 mutants, we employed an unbiased, random mutagenesis approach covering the entire sequence space of HTB1 to optimize as yet undefined positions for improved interactions with SOD1. Using affinity maturation screens in yeast, we identified a variant, which we designated HTB1M3, that bound strongly to SOD1 misfolded mutants but not to wild‐type SOD1. In‐vitro aggregation assays indicated that in the presence of HTB1M3 misfolded SOD1 assembled into oligomeric species that were not toxic to NSC‐34 neuronal cells. In addition, when NSC‐34 cells were exposed to misfolded SOD1 mutants, either soluble or preaggregated, in the presence of HTB1M3, this inhibitor prevented the prion‐like propagation of SOD1 from one neuronal cell to another by blocking the penetration of SOD1 into the neuronal cells.
Viral infection in primary antibody deficiency syndromes
Authors: Jones Timothy P.W. , Buckland Matthew , Breuer Judith , Lowe David M.
Published: April 2019

Patients with primary antibody deficiency syndromes such as X‐linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) and common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) are at increased risk of severe and invasive infection. Viral infection in these populations has been of increasing interest as evidence mounts that viruses contribute significant morbidity and mortality: this is mediated both directly and via aberrant immune responses. We explain the importance of the humoral immune system in defence against viral pathogens before highlighting several significant viral syndromes in patients with antibody deficiency.

We explore historical cases of hepatitis C via contaminated immunoglobulin products, the predisposition to invasive enteroviral infections, prolonged excretion of vaccine‐derived poliovirus, the morbidity of chronic norovirus infection, and recent literature revealing the importance of respiratory viral infections. We discuss evidence that herpesviruses may play a role in driving the inflammatory disease seen in a subset of patients. We explore the phenomenon of within‐host evolution during chronic viral infection and the potential emergence of new pathogenic strains. We highlight novel and emerging viruses identified via deep sequencing techniques. We describe the treatment strategies that have been attempted in all these scenarios and the urgent outstanding questions for research.
Full‐complexity polytopic robust control invariant sets for uncertain linear discrete‐time systems
Authors: Liu Chengyuan , Tahir Furqan , Jaimoukha Imad M.
Published: April 2019

This paper presents an algorithm for the computation of full‐complexity polytopic robust control invariant (RCI) sets, and the corresponding linear state‐feedback control law. The proposed scheme can be applied for linear discrete‐time systems subject to additive disturbances and structured norm‐bounded or polytopic uncertainties. Output, initial condition, and performance constraints are considered. Arbitrary complexity of the invariant polytope is allowed to enable less conservative inner/outer approximations to the RCI sets whereas the RCI set is assumed to be symmetric around the origin. The nonlinearities associated with the computation of such an RCI set structure are overcome through the application of Farkas' theorem and a corollary of the elimination lemma to obtain an initial polytopic RCI set, which is guaranteed to exist under certain conditions. A Newton‐like update, which is recursively feasible, is then proposed to yield desirable large/small volume RCI sets.
Strong Charge Transfer at 2H–1T Phase Boundary of MoS2 for Superb High‐Performance Energy Storage
Authors: Ke Qingqing , Zhang Xiao , Zang Wenjie , Elshahawy Abdelnaby M. , Hu Yating , He Qiyuan , Pennycook Stephen J. , Cai Yongqing , Wang John
Published: April 2019

Transition metal dichalcogenides exhibit several different phases (e.g., semiconducting 2H, metallic 1T, 1T′) arising from the collective and sluggish atomic displacements rooted in the charge‐lattice interaction. The coexistence of multiphase in a single sheet enables ubiquitous heterophase and inhomogeneous charge distribution. Herein, by combining the first‐principles calculations and experimental investigations, a strong charge transfer ability at the heterophase boundary of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) assembled together with graphene is reported. By modulating the phase composition in MoS2, the performance of the nanohybrid for energy storage can be modulated, whereby remarkable gravimetric and volumetric capacitances of 272 F g−1 and 685 F cm−3 are demonstrated. As a proof of concept for energy application, a flexible solid‐state asymmetric supercapacitor is constructed with the MoS2‐graphene heterolayers, which shows superb energy and power densities (46.3 mWh cm−3 and 3.013 W cm−3, respectively). The present work demonstrates a new pathway for efficient charge flow and application in energy storage by engineering the phase boundary and interface in 2D materials of transition metal dichalcogenides.
Optically Stimulated Artificial Synapse Based on Layered Black Phosphorus
Authors: Ahmed Taimur , Kuriakose Sruthi , Mayes Edwin L. H. , Ramanathan Rajesh , Bansal Vipul , Bhaskaran Madhu , Sriram Sharath , Walia Sumeet
Published: April 2019

The translation of biological synapses onto a hardware platform is an important step toward the realization of brain‐inspired electronics. However, to mimic biological synapses, devices till‑date continue to rely on the need for simultaneously altering the polarity of an applied electric field or the output of these devices is photonic instead of an electrical synapse. As the next big step toward practical realization of optogenetics inspired circuits that exhibit fidelity and flexibility of biological synapses, optically‑stimulated synaptic devices without a need to apply polarity‑altering electric field are needed. Utilizing a unique photoresponse in black phosphorus (BP), here reported is an all‑optical pathway to emulate excitatory and inhibitory action potentials by exploiting oxidation‑related defects. These optical synapses are capable of imitating key neural functions such as psychological learning and forgetting, spatiotemporally correlated dynamic logic and Hebbian spike‑time dependent plasticity. These functionalities are also demonstrated on a flexible platform suitable for wearable electronics. Such low‐power consuming devices are highly attractive for deployment in neuromorphic architectures. The manifestation of cognition and spatiotemporal processing solely through optical stimuli provides an incredibly simple and powerful platform to emulate sophisticated neural functionalities such as associative sensory data processing and decision making.
Photocatalytic Partial Oxidation of Methane on Palladium‐Loaded Strontium Tantalate
Authors: Jiang Haoyang , Peng Xiaobo , Yamaguchi Akira , Ueda Shigenori , Fujita Takeshi , Abe Hideki , Miyauchi Masahiro
Published: April 2019

Partial oxidation of methane (POM) to syngas is a credible approach to utilize natural gas resources effectively. However, the high reaction temperature required in thermocatalysis decreases the cost–performance ratio. A scheme for photocatalytic POM is proposed using palladium (Pd) nanoparticles loaded onto strontium tantalate (Sr2Ta2O7), an ultrawide‐bandgap (UWBG) semiconductor. UV irradiation initiates POM at temperatures lower than 423 K and promotes the reaction efficiency below 873 K as compared with the dark conditions. The photogenerated hot carriers that arise from the d to s interband excitation of Pd drive the photocatalytic reaction, rather than the bandgap excitation of the semiconductor support. It is demonstrated that the combination of a UWBG semiconductor and metal nanoparticles is conducive to the migration and separation of hot carriers. The suppressed activities of frequently used wide‐gap semiconductors such as TiO2 loaded with Pd are attributed to the competition between bandgap excitation in semiconductors and interband excitation in metal nanoparticles.
Correction to: Reality Lost
Authors: Hendricks Vincent F. , Vestergaard Mads
Published: April 2019

The book was inadvertently published without the following credit line, Translated from the Danish by Sara Høyrup / Hoyrup.biz – English language copy editing by Vincent F. Hendricks
Zeitliche Restriktionen als hochschulexterne Bedingungsfaktoren struktureller Studierbarkeit
Authors: Buß Imke
Published: April 2019

Dieses Kapitel fokussiert die Lebens- und Studiensituation, den Studienerfolg sowie die zeitlichen Restriktionen von vier unterschiedlichen Studierendengruppen: erwerbstätigen Studierenden, Studierenden mit Kind, Studierenden mit Pflegeaufgaben und behinderten Studierenden. Diese Analysen sind relevant, um das im Modell der strukturellen Studierbarkeit enthaltene Konzept der zeitlichen Restriktionen entwickeln zu können (siehe Abschnitt 3.5). Denn im Modell gehen nicht die einzelnen Studierendengruppen in die Analysen ein, sondern die Gemeinsamkeit der zeitlichen Restriktion.
Small Landau-Ginzburg theories
Authors: Gholson Sean M. , Melnikov Ilarion V.
Published: April 2019

Abstract

We classify (0,2) Landau-Ginzburg theories that can flow to compact IR fixed points with equal left and right central charges strictly bounded by 3. Our result is a (0,2) generalization of the ADE classification of (2,2) Landau-Ginzburg theories that flow to N=2 minimal models. Unitarity requires the right-moving supersymmetric sector to fall into the standard N=2 minimal model representations, but the left-moving sector need not have supersymmetry. The Landau-Ginzburg realizations provide a simple way to compute the chiral algebra and other characteristics of these fixed points. While our results pertain to isolated superconformal theories, tensor products lead to (0,2) superconformal theories with higher central charge, and the Landau-Ginzburg realization provides a model for a class of marginal and relevant deformations of such theories.
Religious Fictionalism
Authors: Le Poidevin Robin
Published: April 2019

This Element is an introduction to contemporary religious fictionalism, its motivation and challenges. Among the issues raised are: can religion be viewed as a game of make-believe? In what ways does religious fictionalism parallel positions often labelled 'fictionalist' in ethics and metaphysics? Does religious fictionalism represent an advance over its rivals? Can fictionalism provide an adequate understanding of the characteristic features of the religious life, such as worship, prayer, moral commitment? Does fictionalism face its own version of the problem of evil? Is realism about theistic (God-centred) language less religiously serious than fictionalism?
Understanding the Socioeconomic Trajectory of Chavín de Huántar: A New Radiocarbon Sequence and Its Wider Implications
Authors: Burger Richard L.
Published: April 2019

This article proposes a new14C chronology for the three-phase ceramic chronology from the settlement of Chavín de Huántar based on the AMS dating of collagen extracted from faunal remains recovered during my 1975 excavations. The chronometric estimates for the Chavín de Huántar ceramic chronology are as follows: Urabarriu Phase (950–800 cal BC), Chakinani Phase (800–700 cal BC), and Janabarriu Phase (700–400 cal BC). The new measurements confirm the sequence of the ceramic phases and indicate that the site was established around 950 cal BC and was abandoned by 400 cal BC. The results are consistent with the earlier hypothesis that the major developments at Chavín de Huántar largely postdate the Initial Period fluorescence of early coastal civilization during the second millennium BC, but they cast doubt on some current interpretations of the site's founding and cultural apogee.
Origins Space Telescope: Predictions for far-IR spectroscopic surveys
Authors: Bonato Matteo , De Zotti Gianfranco , Leisawitz David , Negrello Mattia , Massardi Marcella , Baronchelli Ivano , Cai Zhen-Yi , Bradford Charles M. , Pope Alexandra , Murphy Eric J. , Armus Lee , Cooray Asantha
Published: April 2019

We illustrate the extraordinary potential of the (far-IR) Origins Survey Spectrometer (OSS) on board the Origins Space Telescope (OST) to address a variety of open issues on the co-evolution of galaxies and AGNs. We present predictions for blind surveys, each of 1000 h, with different mapped areas (a shallow survey covering an area of 10 deg2 and a deep survey of 1 deg2) and two different concepts of the OST/OSS: with a 5.9 m telescope (Concept 2, our reference configuration) and with a 9.1 m telescope (Concept 1, previous configuration). In 1 000 h, surveys with the reference concept will detect from ∼1.9×106 to ∼8.7×106 lines from ∼4.8×105 to 2.7×106 star-forming galaxies and from ∼1.4×104 to ∼3.8×104 lines from ∼1.3×104 to 3.5×104 AGNs. The shallow survey will detect substantially more sources than the deep one; the advantage of the latter in pushing detections to lower luminosities/higher redshifts turns out to be quite limited. The OST/OSS will reach, in the same observing time, line fluxes more than one order of magnitude fainter than the SPICA/SMI and will cover a much broader redshift range. In particular it will detect tens of thousands of galaxies at z ≥ 5, beyond the reach of that instrument. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons lines are potentially bright enough to allow the detection of hundreds of thousands of star-forming galaxies up to z ∼ 8.5, i.e. all the way through the reionisation epoch. The proposed surveys will allow us to explore the galaxy–AGN co-evolution up to z ∼ 5.5−6 with very good statistics. OST Concept 1 does not offer significant advantages for the scientific goals presented here.
Heinrich Rauchberg (1860–1938): A Reappraisal of a Central European Demographer's Life and Work
Authors: Nachum Iris
Published: April 2019

In the small, idyllic German Evangelical Cemeteryin Prague-Strašnice, a simple tombstone stands in the back row of graves, dedicated to the memory of “Dr. Heinrich Rauchberg, Professor at the German University in Prague, 1860–1938” and his wife Freia (1874–1939) (see Figures 1 and 2). When the Viennese-born demographer passed away, he left behind him an impressive professional career in the Habsburg monarchy and later in Czechoslovakia: he published a massive body of professional studies in population statistics and was an important figure at the German University in Prague, where he founded the Institute of Political Science in 1898 and served as dean of the Faculty of Law (1902–3, 1916–17, and 1926–27) and as university rector (1911–12). Outside the academic realm, Rauchberg was also involved in a broad range of activities. In 1890, for instance, he headed the Austrian census, in which the Hollerith electric counting machine was employed for the first time in Europe; Franz Kafka, his student in 1905, would later craft a literary monument to Rauchberg, the machine expert, in the short story “In the Penal Colony.” Especially after the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, Rauchberg became a familiar figure among the local German minority, particularly because of his radio broadcasts on legal questions; his frequent articles in the German-speaking press on current issues; his numerous public lectures on social topics; his tireless engagement with housing assistance, tenant protection, and social insurance; and his involvement in the German League of Nations Union in the Czechoslovak Republic, which he cofounded in 1922. In short, he was a scholar very much in the public eye.
As the Old Homeland Unravels: Hungarian-American Jews’ Reactions to the White Terror in Hungary, 1919–24
Authors: Lazaroms Ilse Josepha
Published: April 2019

In his office on 1 Union Square West in New York City, Samuel Buchler, president of the Federation of Hungarian Jews in America, sat at his desk and looked at the trees turning red, yellow, and brown in the park below the window. It was September 1924, and Buchler had just read the news from Hungary. After years of anti-Jewish violence—the white terror, passively condoned by the postwar regime—the Hungarian government had decided to honor Felix M. Warburg, president of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC, or Joint), with a Red Cross Decoration. The honor came directly from Admiral Miklós Horthy, regent of Hungary, who wanted to acknowledge the role the JDC had played in “mitigating misery in Hungary.” It was clear that the JDC had aided millions of Jewish war victims across the devastated landscapes of East Central Europe, including Hungary. But Buchler was skeptical. Since its founding in 1916, the Federation of Hungarian Jews had tried to ameliorate the fate of Hungarian Jews across the ocean, who in quick succession had felt the tremors of war, terror, revolution, social exclusion, and institutional antisemitism. It was ironic that the government Buchler held responsible for much of the anti-Jewish violence and agitation was now hoping to be on good terms with the most famous Jew in the realm of international humanitarianism. For Buchler and the Federation of Hungarian Jews, this was cause for concern.
The effect of speech rhythm and speaking rate on assessment of pronunciation in a second language
Authors: Polyanskaya Leona , Ordin Mikhail
Published: April 2019

The study explores the effect of deviations from native speech rhythm and rate norms on the assessement of pronunciation mastery of a second language (L2) when the native language of the learner is either rhythmically similar to or different from the target language. Using the concatenative speech synthesis technique, different versions of the same sentence were created in order to produce segmentally and intonationally identical utterances that differed only in rhythmic patterns and/or speaking rate. Speech rhythm and tempo patterns modeled those from the speech of French or German native learners of English at different proficiency levels. Native British English speakers rated the original sentences and the synthesized utterances for accentedness. The analysis shows that (a) differences in speech rhythm and speaking tempo influence the perception of accentedness; (b) idiosyncratic differences in speech rhythm and speech rate are sufficient to differentiate between the proficiency levels of L2 learners; (c) the relative salience of rhythm and rate on perceived accentedness in L2 speech is modulated by the native language of the learners; and (d) intonation facilitates the perception of finer differences in speech rhythm between otherwise identical utterances. These results emphasize the importance of prosodic timing patterns for the perception of speech delivered by L2 learners.
Turmeric and chicory seed have beneficial effects on obesity markers and lipid profile in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Authors: Ghaffari Aida , Rafraf Maryam , Navekar Roya , Sepehri Bita , Asghari-Jafarabadi Mohammad , Ghavami Seyyed-Mostafa
Published: April 2019

Abstract. In an attempt to investigate new strategies aimed at reducing risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and chicory seed (Cichorium intybus L.) supplementation was evaluated in these patients. In this double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial, 92 patients with NAFLD aged 20–60 year with body mass index (BMI) ranged 24.9–40 kg/m2was randomly assigned to 4 groups as follows. 1) Turmeric supplementation (3 g/d) (n = 23, TUR); 2) Chicory seed supplementation (infused 9 g/d (4.5 g /100mL)) (n = 23, CHI); 3) Turmeric and chicory seed supplementation (3 g/d turmeric + infused 9 g/d chicory seed (n = 23, TUR + CHI); 4) Placebo (n = 23, PLA). All intervention periods were 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples, anthropometric measurements, dietary records and physical activity were collected at baseline and at the end of the trial. Significant decreases were observed in BMI and waist circumference (WC) of subjects in CHI and TUR + CHI groups, compared with PLA group (p < 0.05). Combination of turmeric and chicory seed significantly decreased serum alkaline phosphatase level (p < 0.05). Serum levels of HDL-C increased considerably in TUR and TUR + CHI groups (p < 0.05 vs. placebo). Turmeric supplementation alone and plus chicory seed led to significant reduction in serum levels of TG/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio in TUR and TUR + CHI groups in comparison with placebo (p < 0.05). In conclusion, turmeric and chicory seed supplementation can be significantly useful in management of NAFLD risk factors.
Basin‐Scale Variations in Labile Dissolved Phosphoric Monoesters and Diesters in the Central North Pacific Ocean
Authors: Yamaguchi Tamaha , Sato Mitsuhide , Hashihama Fuminori , Ehama Makoto , Shiozaki Takuhei , Takahashi Kazutaka , Furuya Ken
Published: April 2019

Labile dissolved phosphoric esters act as important phosphorus sources for microorganisms in the low‐phosphate oligotrophic ocean. Despite the significant role of labile dissolved phosphoric esters, previous studies have only focused on phosphoric monoesters, and the spatial distribution and dynamics of phosphoric ester species, including diesters, remain unclear. Thus, we aimed to elucidate basin‐scale variations in both monoesters and diesters and their role on microorganisms particularly in terms of diazotrophs. This is the first study to report the concentrations of these phosphoric esters in low‐ to middle‐latitudinal areas of the central North Pacific Ocean, concurrent with their hydrolysis rates. Hydrolysable monoester and diester concentrations ranged from undetectable levels to 40 nM, and their sum accounted for <11% of dissolved organic phosphorus on average. While monoester concentrations were significantly low in the low phosphate (<100 nM) region, there was no obvious trend between diester and phosphate concentrations. Monoesterase and diesterase activities showed significantly high values under low phosphate conditions when normalized by chlorophyll a concentrations. This indicated that both esters served as alternative phosphorus sources for microbial communities including phytoplankton. Diester concentrations and diesterase activities were positively correlated with nitrogen fixation activities, whereas such relationships were not observed for monoester concentrations and monoesterase activities. Thus, our results suggest that diesters have high affinity to diazotrophs compared with monoesters, which are utilized by a broad spectrum of microorganisms.
All Types of Large Earthquakes Produce Prompt Gravity Signals
Authors: Cook Terri
Published: April 2019

New observations of recently discovered gravity perturbations that precede seismic waves have the potential to improve earthquake early-warning systems in California and other tectonic settings.
Reduced Moisture Transport Linked to Drought Propagation Across North America
Authors: Herrera‐Estrada Julio E. , Martinez J. Alejandro , Dominguez Francina , Findell Kirsten L. , Wood Eric F. , Sheffield Justin
Published: April 2019

Droughts can have devastating societal impacts. Yet, we do not fully understand the mechanisms that control their development, possibly affecting our ability to predict them. Here we run a moisture‐tracking analytical model using reanalysis data between 1980 and 2016 to explore the role of reduced moisture transport in drought propagation. We find that agricultural droughts in multiple subregions across North America may be amplified by decreased moisture transport from upwind land areas, which we link to reduced evapotranspiration and dry soil moisture upwind. We also find that decreases in precipitation recycling are correlated with decreases in moisture arriving from upwind areas. We estimate that decreases in moisture contributions from land areas accounted for 62% of the precipitation deficit during the 2012 Midwest drought. Our results suggest that the land surface may contain useful information for drought prediction and highlight the importance of sustainable land use and of regional cooperation for drought risk management.
Polyaromatic nanocapsules as photoresponsive hosts in water
Authors: Catti Lorenzo , Kishida Natsuki , Kai Tomokuni , Akita Munetaka , Yoshizawa Michito
Published: April 2019

Molecular containers that provide both stimuli-responsive assembly/disassembly properties and wide-ranging host capabilities in aqueous medium still remain a current synthetic challenge. Herein we report polyaromatic nanocapsules assembled from V-shaped amphiphilic molecules bearing a photoresponsive ortho-dianthrylbenzene unit in water. Unlike previously reported supramolecular capsules and cages, the nanocapsules quickly and quantitatively disassemble into monomeric species by a non-invasive light stimulus through structural conversion from the open to the closed form of the amphiphiles. Regeneration of the nanocapsules is demonstrated by light irradiation or heating of the closed amphiphiles. With the aid of the wide-ranging host capability, the photo-induced release of various encapsulated guest molecules (e.g., Nile red, Cu(II)-phthalocyanine, and fullerene C60) can be achieved by using the present nanocapsule in water. This feature can furthermore be utilized to switch the fluorescence of encapsulated coumarin guests through their controlled release.
Bacillus subtilis CBR05 induces Vitamin B6 biosynthesis in tomato through the de novo pathway in contributing disease resistance against Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria
Authors: Chandrasekaran Murugesan , Paramasivan Manivannan , Chun Se-Chul
Published: April 2019

Expression profiling for genes involved in Vitamin B6 (VitB6) biosynthesis was undertaken to delineate the involvement of de novo and salvage pathway induced by Bacillus subtilis CBR05 against, Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria in tomato. Pyridoxine biosynthesis (PDX) genes such as PDX1.2 and PDX1.3, were found to be overexpressed significantly at 72 hpi in B. subtilis and pyridoxine inoculated plants. Most significant upregulation was observed in the transcript profile of PDX1.3, which showed more than 12- fold increase in expression. Unfortunately, salt sensitive overlay4 (SOS4) profiling showed irregular expression which corroborates that SOS4 role in VitB6 biosynthesis needs further studies for deciphering a clear notion about their role in tomato. Antioxidant enzymes i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase activities clearly demonstrate escalation till 48 hpi and gets reduced in 72 hpi. Pot trials also confirm that B. subtilis compared to pyridoxine supplementation alone show plant disease resistance and elongated roots. The present study confirms that B. subtilis, as a versatile agent in eliciting induced systemic resistance regulated by de novo pathway as a model for plant defense against X. campestris pv. vesicatoria substantiated by VitB6 biosynthesis. Nevertheless, the study is preliminary and needs further evidence for affirming this phenomenon.
Knee osteoarthritis induces atrophy and neuromuscular junction remodeling in the quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles of rats
Authors: Cunha Jonathan Emanuel , Barbosa Germanna Medeiros , Castro Paula Aiello Tomé de Souza , Luiz Beatriz Leite Ferreira , Silva Andreza Cristine Arcari , Russo Thiago Luiz , Vasilceac Fernando Augusto , Cunha Thiago Mattar , Cunha Fernando Queiróz , Salvini Tania Fátima
Published: April 2019

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is associated with muscle weakness, but it is unclear which structures are involved in the muscle changes. This study assessed morphological alterations and the expression of genes and proteins linked to muscular atrophy and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in KOA, induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) in rats. Two groups of rats were assessed: control (without intervention) and KOA (ACLT surgery in the right knee). After 8 weeks, quadriceps, tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius muscles were analyzed (area of muscle fibers, NMJ, gene and protein expression). KOA group showed atrophy in quadriceps (15.7%) and TA (33%), with an increase in atrogin-1 and muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF-1). KOA group showed quadriceps NMJ remodeling (reduction area and perimeter) and decrease in NMJ diameter in TA muscle. The expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) γ-nAChR increased and that of α-nAChR and muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) declined in the quadriceps, with a decrease in ε-nAChR in TA. MuRF-1 protein expression increased in quadriceps and TA, with no changes in neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). In conclusion, ACLT-induced KOA promotes NMJ remodeling and atrophy in quadriceps and TA muscles, associated with inflammatory signs and changes in muscle gene and protein expression.
Bicontinuous Interfacially Jammed Emulsion Gels (bijels) as Media for Enabling Enzymatic Reactive Separation of a Highly Water Insoluble Substrate
Authors: Cha Sanghak , Lim Hyun Gyu , Haase Martin F. , Stebe Kathleen J. , Jung Gyoo Yeol , Lee Daeyeon
Published: April 2019

Although enzymes are efficient catalysts capable of converting various substrates into desired products with high specificity under mild conditions, their effectiveness as catalysts is substantially reduced when substrates are poorly water-soluble. In this study, to expedite the enzymatic conversion of a hydrophobic substrate, we use a bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gel (bijel) which provides large interfacial area between two immiscible liquids: oil and water. Using lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of tributyrin as a model reaction in a batch mode, we show that bijels can be used as media to enable enzymatic reaction. The bijel system gives a four-fold increase in the initial reaction rate in comparison to a stirred biphasic medium. Our results demonstrate that bijels are powerful biphasic reaction media to accelerate enzymatic reactions with various hydrophobic reagents. This work also demonstrates that bijels can potentially be used as reaction media to enable continuous reactive separations.
Effect of nitrogen on grain growth and formability of Ti-stabilized ferritic stainless steels
Authors: Lee Mun Hyung , Kim Rosa , Park Joo Hyun
Published: April 2019

The relationship between the grain size of as-cast and cold rolled 16%Cr ferritic stainless steel and the surface roughness defect, called ridging during forming was investigated. The ridging height corresponded to the grain size of the as-cast sample. The nitrogen content of 140 ppm yielded the minimum grain size and the minimum ridging height observed, whereas the nitrogen content of 50 ppm yielded the maximum grain size and the maximum ridging height observed. Ridging results from different plastic anisotropies of band structure composed of colonies. Through the EBSD analysis, the texture of mixed colonies composed of ND//{112} and ND//{331} in the 50 ppm nitrogen steel underwent more severe ridging than the randomly texture in the 140 ppm nitrogen steel sample. Therefore, an effective means to reduce the ridging of ferritic stainless steel during the forming process is to form a random texture by enhancing the formation of fine equiaxed grain during the casting process. During equal holding times at 1200 °C, the 80 ppm nitrogen sample was definitely coarsened, whereas the 200 ppm nitrogen sample underwent slower grain growth. Zener pinning force, which is proportional to the number of TiN particles on grain boundaries, was relatively strong in samples of 200 ppm nitrogen content, corresponding to slower grain growth. Although the Zener pinning force great affected with increasing nitrogen content, there may not affect the trend of initial cast grain size to be changed as much during annealing.
Cancer and cancer survival modulates brain and behavior in a time-of-day-dependent manner in mice
Authors: Santos Jessica C. , Bever Savannah R. , Sullivan Kyle A. , Pyter Leah M.
Published: April 2019

Improvements in breast cancer therapy/diagnosis have substantially increased the cancer survivor population, although many survivors report persistent mental health issues including fatigue, mood and anxiety disorders, and cognitive impairments. These behavioral symptoms impair quality-of-life and are often associated with increased inflammation. Nocturnal rodent models of cancer are critical to the identification of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these behavioral changes. Although both behavior and immunity display distinct diurnal patterns, most rodent research in this field is performed during the rodents’ inactive (light) period, which could potentially undermine the conclusions and clinical relevance. Therefore, here we tested the extent to which mammary tumors or tumor resection (“survivors”) in mice affects behavior and neuroinflammation in a nyctohemeral (day versus night)-dependent manner. Indeed, only the dark (active) phase unmasked fatigue-like behavior and altered novel object investigation for both tumor-bearing and -resected mice relative to surgical controls. Several inflammatory markers were expressed in a time-of-day-dependent manner (lower in the dark phase) in the blood and brains of surgical control mice, whereas this temporal pattern was absent (IL-1β, CXCL1, Myd88, Cd4) or reversed (C3) in the respective tissues of tumor-bearing and -resected mice. Taken together, these data indicate that the time of day of assessment significantly modulates various persistent and transient tumor-induced behavioral and immune changes.
Preparation and characterization of general-purpose gelatin-based co-loading flavonoids nano-core structure
Authors: Song Xiaoqing , Gan Kang , Qin Shuang , Chen Liang , Liu Xiuju , Chen Tianjie , Liu Hong
Published: April 2019

Flavonoids (FLAs) possess anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-oxidant properties. In this study, gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) with controllable surface potential and diameter was prepared through a modified two-step desolvation. Two well-known flavonoids, namely, low-molecular weight Genistein (GEN) and high-molecular weight Icariin (ICA), were adsorbed onto the surface of GNPs (FLA@GNPs). The characteristics of GNPs and the main parameters affecting flavonoid adsorption were studied to evaluate the adsorption capacity and structural stability of FLA@GNPs. Furthermore, co-adsorption of GEN and ICA was detected. The adsorption mechanism of GNPs with FLA was further discussed. Results showed that the low-molecular weight GEN could be effectively adsorbed by GNPs, and their entrapment efficiencies were over 90% under optimized conditions. The total drug loading of the co-adsorbed FLA@GNPs was significantly higher than that of the single drug loaded (GEN or ICA). GEN@GNPs could maintain its structural stability under acidic conditions (pH = 2) at room temperature (25 °C). This protective function enables both ICA and GEN to be bioactive at room temperature for at least 180 days. The characteristics of GNPs adsorption indicate that the hydrogen bonding theory of the combination of gelatin molecules with polyphenols cannot sufficiently explain the binding of GNPs with polyphenols. FLA@GNPs is a promising general-purpose gelatin-based co-loading preload structure with simplified operation and storage condition.