bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Conciliatory Answer to the Paradox of the Ravens
Authors: Peden William
Published: December 2019

In the Paradox of the Ravens, a set of otherwise intuitive claims about evidence seems to be inconsistent. Most attempts at answering the paradox involve rejecting a member of the set, which seems to require a conflict either with commonsense intuitions or with some of our best confirmation theories. In contrast, I argue that the appearance of an inconsistency is misleading: ‘confirms’ and cognate terms feature a significant ambiguity when applied to universal generalisations. In particular, the claim that some evidence confirms a universal generalisation ordinarily suggests, in part, that the evidence confirms the reliability of predicting that something which satisfies the antecedent will also satisfy the consequent. I distinguish between the familiar relation of confirmation simpliciter and what I shall call ‘predictive confirmation’. I use them to formulate my answer, illustrate it in a very simple probabilistic model, and defend it against objections. I conclude that, once our evidential concepts are sufficiently clarified, there is no sense in which the initial claims are both plausible and inconsistent.
A Novel Bat Algorithm based on Cross Boundary Learning and Uniform Explosion Strategy
Authors: Yong Jia-shi , He Fa-zhi , Li Hao-ran , Zhou Wei-qing
Published: December 2019

Population-based algorithms have been used in many real-world problems. Bat algorithm (BA) is one of the states of the art of these approaches. Because of the super bat, on the one hand, BA can converge quickly; on the other hand, it is easy to fall into local optimum. Therefore, for typical BA algorithms, the ability of exploration and exploitation is not strong enough and it is hard to find a precise result. In this paper, we propose a novel bat algorithm based on cross boundary learning (CBL) and uniform explosion strategy (UES), namely BABLUE in short, to avoid the above contradiction and achieve both fast convergence and high quality. Different from previous opposition-based learning, the proposed CBL can expand the search area of population and then maintain the ability of global exploration in the process of fast convergence. In order to enhance the ability of local exploitation of the proposed algorithm, we propose UES, which can achieve almost the same search precise as that of firework explosion algorithm but consume less computation resource. BABLUE is tested with numerous experiments on unimodal, multimodal, one-dimensional, high-dimensional and discrete problems, and then compared with other typical intelligent optimization algorithms. The results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms other algorithms.
Synthesis of Silver Sulfide Quantum Dots Via the Liquid–Liquid Interface Reaction in a Rotating Packed Bed Reactor
Authors: Liu Qing , Pu Yuan , Zhao Zhijian , Wang Jiexin , Wang Dan
Published: December 2019

We developed the high-gravity coupled liquid–liquid interface reaction technique on the basis of the rotating packed bed (RPB) reactor for the continuous and ultrafast synthesis of silver sulfide (Ag2S) quantum dots (QDs) with near-infrared (NIR) luminescence. The formation of Ag2S QDs occurs at the interface of microdroplets, and the average size of Ag2S QDs was 4.5 nm with a narrow size distribution. Ag2S QDs can disperse well in various organic solvents and exhibit NIR luminescence with a peak wavelength at 1270 nm under 980-nm laser excitation. The mechanism of the process intensification was revealed by both the computational fluid dynamics simulation and fluorescence imaging, and the mechanism is attributed to the small and uniform droplet formation in the RPB reactor. This study provides a novel approach for the continuous and ultrafast synthesis of NIR Ag2S QDs for potential scale-up.
A novel productivity evaluation approach based on the morphological analysis and fuzzy mathematics: insights from the tight sandstone gas reservoir in the Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Liu Shanyong , Chen Gongyang , Lou Yishan , Zhu Liang , Ge Daoyao
Published: December 2019

Tight gas reservoirs have rich potential resources, which are hot spots in unconventional oil and gas exploration and development. Due to their strong heterogeneity and complex pore structures, the conventional approaches of productivity evaluation always have difficulty in predicting the gas content. This study aims to devise a new method to interpret the productivity of LX Block in the Ordos Basin using the morphological theory and fuzzy mathematics. First, core test results were used to investigate the reservoir quality and physical properties. Then, the change law of gas content was defined by the morphological theory of logging and mud logging curves. Assignments of those factors that affected the final production were provided based on fuzzy mathematics. Finally, the prediction model of productivity was established. The results show that the lower limit of the reservoir thickness in the LX Block is 3.1 m, whereas the porosity and permeability are 5% and 0.15 × 10−3 μm2, respectively. The morphological characteristic of the gas logging curve for those layers with high potential production normally presents a box shape with a high relative number of serration. The reservoir in the studied area can be classified into four categories according to the relationship between the logging curve shape and daily production, and each category is automatically identified. The coincidence rate between the prediction results and the gas test results is 84.1%, which satisfies the demand on the field. The findings have important theoretical and practical significance for screening the location of fracturing spots and predicting the production of tight gas reservoirs.
Review on the cost optimization of microgrids via particle swarm optimization
Authors: Phommixay Sengthavy , Doumbia Mamadou Lamine , Lupien St-Pierre David
Published: December 2019

Economic analysis is an important tool in evaluating the performances of microgrid (MG) operations and sizing. Optimization techniques are required for operating and sizing an MG as economically as possible. Various optimization approaches are applied to MGs, which include classic and artificial intelligence techniques. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is one of the most frequently used methods for cost optimization due to its high performance and flexibility. PSO has various versions and can be combined with other intelligent methods to realize improved performance optimization. This paper reviews the cost minimization performances of various economic models that are based on PSO with regard to MG operations and sizing. First, PSO is described, and its performance is analyzed. Second, various objective functions, constraints and cost functions that are used in MG optimizations are presented. Then, various applications of PSO for MG sizing and operations are reviewed. Additionally, optimal operation costs that are related to the energy management strategy, unit commitment, economic dispatch and optimal power flow are investigated.
Transmembrane emp24 domain proteins in development and disease.
Authors: Aber Rachel , Chan Wesley , Mugisha Sevane , Jerome-Majewska Loydie A.
Published: December 2019

Regulated transport through the secretory pathway is essential for embryonic development and homeostasis. Disruptions in this process impact cell fate, differentiation and survival, often resulting in abnormalities in morphogenesis and in disease. Several congenital malformations are caused by mutations in genes coding for proteins that regulate cargo protein transport in the secretory pathway. The severity of mutant phenotypes and the unclear aetiology of transport protein-associated pathologies have motivated research on the regulation and mechanisms through which these proteins contribute to morphogenesis. This review focuses on the role of the p24/transmembrane emp24 domain (TMED) family of cargo receptors in development and disease.
The Founding of the Federal Reserve, the Great Depression, and the Evolution of the U.S. Interbank Network
Authors: Jaremski Matthew , Wheelock David C.
Published: December 2019

Financial network structure is an important determinant of systemic risk. This article examines how the U.S. interbank network evolved over a long and important period that included two key events: the founding of the Federal Reserve and the Great Depression. Banks established connections to correspondents that joined the Federal Reserve in cities with Fed offices, initially reducing overall network concentration. The network became even more focused on Fed cities during the Depression, as survival rates were higher for banks with more existing connections to Fed cities, and as survivors established new connections to those cities over time.
PRICES AND EARLY INFLATION IN BUENOS AIRES DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19THCENTURY (1824–1850)
Authors: Schmit Roberto
Published: December 2019

In the present work we study the evolution of the prices of the most representative goods of the Buenos Aires market in the decades after independence from the Spanish empire. The paper analyses the evolution of import, export and local prices in Buenos Aires for the first half of the 19thcentury and intends to contribute to a more accurate estimate of the intense process of price inflation and changes in relative prices that occurred in Buenos Aires during this period. We also aspire to be able to analyse the relationships between the increases in prices and the institutional effects of commercial blockades, the issuance of paper money and changes in the demand for goods that occurred in the commercial interaction of Buenos Aires. An attempt is also made to compare the dynamics of various baskets of goods, allowing us to evaluate the differentiated effects in local, regional and overseas supply and demand. With this in mind we analyse both general price indexes, with their main changes, and also aim to integrate a variety of products in baskets that represent as accurately as possible the diverse demands of the commercial space offered by the Buenos Aires market. Finally, we reexamine the effects of the price variations of the baskets of prices on various social sectors and regions linked to the significant interregional plaza represented by the Buenos Aires market.
A review and comparison of ontology-based approaches to robot autonomy
Authors: Olivares-Alarcos Alberto , Beßler Daniel , Khamis Alaa , Goncalves Paulo , Habib Maki K. , Bermejo-Alonso Julita , Barreto Marcos , Diab Mohammed , Rosell Jan , Quintas João , Olszewska Joanna , Nakawala Hirenkumar , Pignaton Edison , Gyrard Amelie , Borgo Stefano , Alenyà Guillem , Beetz Michael , Li Howard
Published: December 2019

Within the next decades, robots will need to be able to execute a large variety of tasks autonomously in a large variety of environments. To relax the resulting programming effort, a knowledge-enabled approach to robot programming can be adopted to organize information in re-usable knowledge pieces. However, for the ease of reuse, there needs to be an agreement on the meaning of terms. A common approach is to represent these terms using ontology languages that conceptualize the respective domain. In this work, we will review projects that use ontologies to support robot autonomy. We will systematically search for projects that fulfill a set of inclusion criteria and compare them with each other with respect to the scope of their ontology, what types of cognitive capabilities are supported by the use of ontologies, and which is their application domain.
Current approaches to the Neolithic of Thessaly
Authors: Krahtopoulou Athanasia
Published: December 2019

This paper explores important new evidence from recent and ongoing landscape and excavation projects carried out in Thessaly that revolutionizes our understanding of the Neolithic in the region. Moving from wider landscapes to individual archaeological sites, the paper focuses on complexity and diversity in the spatio-temporal manifestation and internal structure of Neolithic settlements, and highlights the potential of the current direction of research to illuminate the lifeways of the Neolithic people of Thessaly.
Archaeology in Macedonia and Thrace: Iron Age to Hellenistic, 2014–2019
Authors: Dimova Bela
Published: December 2019

This paper reviews archaeological publications and fieldwork related to Macedonia and Thrace of the past five years, covering the Early Iron Age to the Hellenistic period, with reference also to sites and projects in Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Turkey. Published syntheses reveal the priorities that have driven archaeological research to date (for example funerary monuments, ties to historical figures and narratives, pottery) and a need for more studies on other aspects of social history and archaeology, such as subsistence, crafts and households. Fieldwork at settlements has continued over the years, but few are being dug and published to current standards. A discussion is growing about the role and use of the countryside, and field surveys and excavations are providing new data on this. Fortified rural sites in Greece and Bulgaria may indicate that similar social processes were afoot, but full publication and the retrieval of relevant comparative data, especially faunal and botanical, are essential for a better understanding of potential differences.
Ottoman archaeology in Greece: a new research field
Authors: Kolovos Elias , Vionis Athanasios
Published: December 2019

Some areas of the territory of present-day Greece were under Ottoman rule for more than 500 years. To date, the study of this period has largely been neglected, with academic research generally focused on Prehistoric and ancient Greece. However, over the course of the last 20 years, there have been noteworthy developments in the study of the Ottoman history and archaeology of Greece. This paper has two aims: (1) to summarize research conducted in the fields of Ottoman archaeology and material culture in Greece, focusing on demographics, settlement layouts and ceramics, particularly table wares; and (2) to present recent efforts to record and protect the Ottoman monuments of Greece.
Wintertime North American Weather Regimes and the Arctic Stratospheric Polar Vortex
Authors: Lee S. H. , Furtado J. C. , Charlton‐Perez A. J.
Published: December 2019

The impact of the Arctic stratospheric polar vortex on persistent weather regimes over North America is so far underexplored. Here we show the relationship between four wintertime North American weather regimes and the stratospheric vortex strength using reanalysis data. We find that the strength of the vortex significantly affects the behavior of the regimes. While a regime associated with Greenland blocking is strongly favored following weak vortex events, it is not the primary regime associated with a widespread, elevated risk of extreme cold in North America. Instead, we find that the regime most strongly associated with widespread extremely cold weather does not show a strong dependency on the strength of the lower stratospheric zonal mean zonal winds. We also suggest that stratospheric vortex morphology may be particularly important for cold air outbreaks during this regime.
Magnetospheric “Penetration” of IMF Viewed Through the Lens of an Empirical RBF Modeling
Authors: Tsyganenko N. A. , Andreeva V. A.
Published: December 2019

The spiral structure of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is known to induce intramagnetospheric azimuthal magnetic field
, which strongly correlates with the IMF
. We reconstruct this effect for the first time in 3‐D, using a large set of data taken in the near/inner magnetosphere and a flexible magnetic field model based on expansions in radial basis functions (RBF). The RBF model serves here as a magnifying glass with tunable resolution, focused on the specific region of interest. In this study, we used it to explore the IMF‐induced
both on a global scale (i.e., for the entire range of local times) and in the night sector only, to better visualize details in the region with the strongest “penetration” magnitude. The induced
was found to maximize on the nightside at distances
10–12
, where it concentrates around the solar‐magnetic equator and bifurcates into a pair of peaks located in predawn and postdusk sectors. The
“penetration” is associated with the IMF‐induced asymmetry of field‐aligned currents at the plasma sheet boundary. Even on a statistical level, the peak values of the induced
can substantially exceed the external IMF
. The effect is significantly stronger under southward IMF
conditions and grows with increasing geodipole tilt angle.
Features and Source Current of Long‐Period Induced Geoelectric Field During Magnetic Storms: A Case Study
Authors: Wu S. Y. , Yao S. , Feng X. D. , Wei W. B. , Yin Y. T. , Zhang L. T. , Dong H. , Wang G. W. , Liu J. L. , Yu Y. Q. , Wei D.
Published: December 2019

We present a case study on the long‐period (
 s) induced geoelectric field disturbance during magnetic storms. A set of continuous 33‐day measurements of the geoelectric field, geomagnetic field, geomagnetic indices, and interplanetary magnetic field are analyzed. In the studied 33 days, two magnetic storms occurred after 10 geomagnetic quiet days. To exclude the effects from the different underground electrical structures, geomagnetic and geoelectric field measurements from the same ground observatory enrolled in Chinese Meridian Project are studied. Besides, Space Weather Modeling Framework is adopted to calculate the global geomagnetic field disturbances and the contribution from different current systems. The wavelet power spectra analysis reveals that the long‐period geoelectric field disturbance appears only during magnetic storms. Especially, stronger magnetic storm generates weaker geoelectric disturbances at the same observatory. The opposite‐direction eastward geomagnetic field disturbance, which is generated mainly by the field‐aligned current at different magnetic local time, significantly changes the magnitude and direction of the induced geoelectric field via the underground impedance tensor. Therefore, both the effects caused by ring current and field‐aligned current should be considered in analyzing the ground induced geoelectric field. Excluding the effect from the geospace current source, the more accurate electrical conductivity in the upper mantle would be obtained in future.
Author Correction: RhMYB108, an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, is involved in ethylene- and JA-induced petal senescence in rose plants
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Zhao Qingcui , Zeng Daxing , Xu Jiehua , Zhou Hougao , Wang Fenglan , Ma Nan , Li Yonghong
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Down-regulation of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR sensitizes breast cancer to trastuzumab
Authors: Chen Tianwen , Liu Zeming , Zeng Wen , Huang Tao
Published: December 2019

This study aimed to investigate the roles and possible molecular mechanisms of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR in regulating resistance to trastuzumab in breast cancer. Trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cell line SK-BR-3-TR was assayed for the expression of HOX antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins or genes. Methylation levels of TGF- β, PTEN and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (or P27) were determined. In trastuzumab-resistant cell line, the mRNA level of HOTAIR was significantly up-regulated; in addition, the expression of TGF-β, Snail and Vimentin was also up-regulated, E-cadherin was down-regulated while the expression of HER2, PI3K, AKT, mTOR and MAPK in the HER2 receptor pathway and phosphorylation level of HER2 receptor remained unchanged, the methylation levels of the PTEN gene and TGF-β were increased and decreased, respectively. RNA interference downregulated the HOTAIR level and sensitized the cells to trastuzumab. It also resulted in down-regulation of TGF-β, Snail, Vimentin, p-AKT, p-APK and CyclinD1 and up-regulation of E-cadherin, PTEN and P27. Besides, the methylation levels of the PTEN gene and TGF-β were reduced and increased, respectively. Mouse models grafted with SK-BR-3-TR grew faster than with SK-BR-3-TS and siHOTAIR-SK-BR-3-TR.
Embryonic stem cell-derived extracellular vesicle-mimetic nanovesicles rescue erectile function by enhancing penile neurovascular regeneration in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse
Authors: Kwon Mi-Hye , Song Kang-Moon , Limanjaya Anita , Choi Min-Ji , Ghatak Kalyan , Nguyen Nhat Minh , Ock Jiyeon , Yin Guo Nan , Kang Ju-Hee , Lee Man Ryul , Gho Yong Song , Ryu Ji-Kan , Suh Jun-Kyu
Published: December 2019

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have attracted particular interest in various fields of biology and medicine. However, one of the major hurdles in the clinical application of EV-based therapy is their low production yield. We recently developed cell-derived EV-mimetic nanovesicles (NVs) by extruding cells serially through filters with diminishing pore sizes (10, 5, and 1 μm). Here, we demonstrate in diabetic mice that embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived EV-mimetic NVs (ESC-NVs) completely restore erectile function (~96% of control values) through enhanced penile angiogenesis and neural regeneration in vivo, whereas ESC partially restores erectile function (~77% of control values). ESC-NVs promoted tube formation in primary cultured mouse cavernous endothelial cells and pericytes under high-glucose condition in vitro; and accelerated microvascular and neurite sprouting from aortic ring and major pelvic ganglion under high-glucose condition ex vivo, respectively. ESC-NVs enhanced the expression of angiogenic and neurotrophic factors (hepatocyte growth factor, angiopoietin-1, nerve growth factor, and neurotrophin-3), and activated cell survival and proliferative factors (Akt and ERK). Therefore, it will be a better strategy to use ESC-NVs than ESCs in patients with erectile dysfunction refractory to pharmacotherapy, although it remains to be solved for future clinical application of ESC.
Publisher Correction: Novel QUEST MRI In Vivo Measurement of Noise-induced Oxidative Stress in the Cochlea
Authors: Kühl André , Dixon Angela , Hali Mirabela , Apawu Aaron K. , Muca Antonela , Sinan Moaz , Warila James , Braun Rod D. , Berkowitz Bruce A. , Holt Avril Genene
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
A simple mooring modification reduces impacts on seagrass meadows
Authors: Luff Anna L. , Sheehan Emma V. , Parry Mark , Higgs Nicholas D.
Published: December 2019

Moorings can have a detrimental impact on seagrass, fragmenting the meadows, resulting in the habitat degradation. To reduce contact of the moorings with the seabed we attached small floats along the chain of a traditional swing mooring and monitored the ecological impacts of this modified mooring, with reference to a standard swing mooring, in a seagrass meadow under high tidal influence. After three years, seagrass density surrounding the modified mooring was over twice as high as that of the standard mooring, with blade length surrounding the modified mooring also found to exceed that of the standard mooring. Seagrass-associated epifaunal species richness was twice as high surrounding the modified mooring compared to the standard mooring. Sediment composition was considerably finer at the modified mooring, indicative of increased disturbance surrounding the standard mooring. A simple modification to existing swing moorings can mitigate some of the impacts of moorings on seagrass meadows, whilst accommodating for tidal fluctuations. The scale of the differences observed between the mooring types demonstrates the susceptibility of seagrass meadows to damage from swing moorings. Given the ecological importance of these habitats, it is crucial that action is taken to reduce further degradation, such as that demonstrated here.
High-frequency random DNA insertions upon co-delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein and selectable marker plasmid in rice
Authors: Banakar Raviraj , Eggenberger Alan L. , Lee Keunsub , Wright David A. , Murugan Karthik , Zarecor Scott , Lawrence-Dill Carolyn J. , Sashital Dipali G. , Wang Kan
Published: December 2019

An important advantage of delivering CRISPR reagents into cells as a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex is the ability to edit genes without reagents being integrated into the genome. Transient presence of RNP molecules in cells can reduce undesirable off-target effects. One method for RNP delivery into plant cells is the use of a biolistic gun. To facilitate selection of transformed cells during RNP delivery, a plasmid carrying a selectable marker gene can be co-delivered with the RNP to enrich for transformed/edited cells. In this work, we compare targeted mutagenesis in rice using three different delivery platforms: biolistic RNP/DNA co-delivery; biolistic DNA delivery; and Agrobacterium-mediated delivery. All three platforms were successful in generating desired mutations at the target sites. However, we observed a high frequency (over 14%) of random plasmid or chromosomal DNA fragment insertion at the target sites in transgenic events generated from both biolistic delivery platforms. In contrast, integration of random DNA fragments was not observed in transgenic events generated from the Agrobacterium-mediated method. These data reveal important insights that must be considered when selecting the method for genome-editing reagent delivery in plants, and emphasize the importance of employing appropriate molecular screening methods to detect unintended alterations following genome engineering.
Significant effect of HIV/HAART on oral microbiota using multivariate analysis
Authors: Griffen Ann L. , Thompson Zachary A. , Beall Clifford J. , Lilly Elizabeth A. , Granada Carolina , Treas Kelly D. , DuBois Kenneth R. , Hashmi Shahr B. , Mukherjee Chiranjit , Gilliland Aubrey E. , Vazquez Jose A. , Hagensee Michael E. , Leys Eugene J. , Fidel Paul L.
Published: December 2019

Persons infected with HIV are particularly vulnerable to a variety of oral microbial diseases. Although various study designs and detection approaches have been used to compare the oral microbiota of HIV-negative and HIV-positive persons, both with and without highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), methods have varied, and results have not been consistent or conclusive. The purpose of the present study was to compare the oral bacterial community composition in HIV-positive persons under HAART to an HIV-negative group using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Extensive clinical data was collected, and efforts were made to balance the groups on clinical variables to minimize confounding. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the independent contribution of HIV status. Eighty-nine HIV-negative participants and 252 HIV-positive participants under HAART were sampled. The independent effect of HIV under HAART on the oral microbiome was statistically significant, but smaller than the effect of gingivitis, periodontal disease, smoking, caries, and other clinical variables. In conclusion, a multivariate comparison of a large sample of persons with HIV under HAART to an HIV-negative control group showed a complex set of clinical features that influenced oral bacterial community composition, including the presence of HIV under HAART.
Evidence for a dominantly reducing Archaean ambient mantle from two redox proxies, and low oxygen fugacity of deeply subducted oceanic crust
Authors: Aulbach Sonja , Woodland Alan B. , Stern Richard A. , Vasilyev Prokopiy , Heaman Larry M. , Viljoen K. S.
Published: December 2019

Oxygen fugacity (ƒO2) is an intensive variable implicated in a range of processes that have shaped the Earth system, but there is controversy on the timing and rate of oxidation of the uppermost convecting mantle to its present ƒO2 around the fayalite-magnetite-quartz oxygen buffer. Here, we report Fe3+/ΣFe and ƒO2 for ancient eclogite xenoliths with oceanic crustal protoliths that sampled the coeval ambient convecting mantle. Using new and published data, we demonstrate that in these eclogites, two redox proxies, V/Sc and Fe3+/ΣFe, behave sympathetically, despite different responses of their protoliths to differentiation and post-formation degassing, seawater alteration, devolatilisation and partial melting, testifying to an unexpected robustness of Fe3+/ΣFe. Therefore, these processes, while causing significant scatter, did not completely obliterate the underlying convecting mantle signal. Considering only unmetasomatised samples with non-cumulate and little-differentiated protoliths, V/Sc and Fe3+/ΣFe in two Archaean eclogite suites are significantly lower than those of modern mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB), while a third suite has ratios similar to modern MORB, indicating redox heterogeneity. Another major finding is the predominantly low though variable estimated ƒO2 of eclogite at mantle depths, which does not permit stabilisation of CO2-dominated fluids or pure carbonatite melts. Conversely, low-ƒO2 eclogite may have caused efficient reduction of CO2 in fluids and melts generated in other portions of ancient subducting slabs, consistent with eclogitic diamond formation ages, the disproportionate frequency of eclogitic diamonds relative to the subordinate abundance of eclogite in the mantle lithosphere and the general absence of carbonate in mantle eclogite. This indicates carbon recycling at least to depths of diamond stability and may have represented a significant pathway for carbon ingassing through time.
Author Correction: Circulating Apolipoprotein L1 is associated with insulin resistance-induced abnormal lipid metabolism
Authors: Nishimura Kenji , Murakami Taichi , Sakurai Toshihiro , Miyoshi Masashi , Kurahashi Kiyoe , Kishi Seiji , Tamaki Masanori , Tominaga Tatsuya , Yoshida Sumiko , Nagai Kojiro , Abe Hideharu , Hui Shu-Ping , Kotani Kazuhiko , Doi Toshio
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Survival impact of primary tumor resection in de novo metastatic breast cancer patients (GEICAM/El Alamo Registry)
Authors: Lopez-Tarruella Sara , Escudero M. J. , Pollan Marina , Martín Miguel , Jara Carlos , Bermejo Begoña , Guerrero-Zotano Angel , García-Saenz José , Santaballa Ana , Alba Emilio , Andrés Raquel , Martínez Purificación , Calvo Lourdes , Fernández Antonio , Batista Norberto , Llombart-Cussac Antonio , Antón Antonio , Lahuerta Ainhara , de la Haba Juan , López-Vega José Manuel , Carrasco E.
Published: December 2019

The debate about surgical resection of primary tumor (PT) in de novo metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients persists. We explored this approach’s outcomes in patients included in a retrospective registry, named El Álamo, of breast cancer patients diagnosed in Spain (1990–2001). In this analysis we only included de novo MBC patients, 1415 of whom met the study’s criteria. Descriptive, Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were carried out. Median age was 63.1 years, 49.2% of patients had single-organ metastasis (skin/soft tissue [16.3%], bone [33.8%], or viscera [48.3%]). PT surgery (S) was performed in 44.5% of the cases. S-group patients were younger, had smaller tumors, higher prevalence of bone and oligometastatic disease, and lower prevalence of visceral involvement. With a median follow-up of 23.3 months, overall survival (OS) was 39.6 versus 22.4 months (HR = 0.59, p < 0.0001) in the S- and non-S groups, respectively. The S-group OS benefit remained statistically and clinically significant regardless of metastatic location, histological type, histological grade, hormone receptor status and tumor size. PT surgery (versus no surgery) was associated with an OS benefit suggesting that loco-regional PT control may be considered in selected MBC patients. Data from randomized controlled trials are of utmost importance to confirm these results.
Publisher Correction: Genomic analysis of the emergence of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Middle East
Authors: Alyamani Essam J. , Marcus Sarah A. , Ramirez-Busby Sarah M. , Hansen Chungyi , Rashid Julien , El-kholy Amani , Spalink Daniel , Valafar Faramarz , Almehdar Hussein A. , Jiman-Fatani Asif A. , Khiyami Mohamed A. , Talaat Adel M.
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Publisher Correction: Deep Electrical Resistivity Tomography for a 3D picture of the most active sector of Campi Flegrei caldera
Authors: Troiano A. , Isaia R. , Di Giuseppe M. G. , Tramparulo F. D. A. , Vitale S.
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Clinical and neuroimaging disparity between Chinese and German patients with cerebral small vessel disease: a comparative study
Authors: Shu Junlong , Neugebauer Hermann , Li Fan , Lulé Dorothée , Müller Hans-Peter , Zhang Jing , Ludolph Albert C. , Huang Yining , Kassubek Jan , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2019

Ethnic disparity of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) has been reported previously but understanding of its clinical-anatomical is sparse. Two cohorts of CSVD patients from Peking University First Hospital, China and University Hospital of Ulm, Germany were retrospectively collected between 2013 and 2017. Visual rating scales and semiautomatic computer-assisted quantitative analysis were used to describe the neuroimaging features of CSVD, including lacunes, enlarged perivascular spaces, white matter changes and microbleeds. After exclusion of confounding neurological disorders, 165 out of 220 Chinese and 86 out of 98 German patients’ data were analyzed. Mean age of patients was 64.0 ± 11.9 years in China and 73.9 ± 10.3 years in Germany. Cognitive deficits were more prominent in the German group, mainly in the cognitive domains of language and delayed recall. Neuroimaging comparison showed that lacunes were more common and white matter lesion load was more severe in German than Chinese patients. Spatial distribution analysis suggested that Chinese patients showed more deep and infratentorial lesions (microbleeds and lacunes), while lesions in German patients were more frequently located in the lobes or subcortical white matter. In conclusion, different age of onset and anatomical distribution of lesions exist between Chinese and German CSVD patients in the observed population.
Publisher Correction: Direct stimulation of somatosensory cortex results in slower reaction times compared to peripheral touch in humans
Authors: Caldwell David J. , Cronin Jeneva A. , Wu Jing , Weaver Kurt E. , Ko Andrew L. , Rao Rajesh P. N. , Ojemann Jeffrey G.
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Publisher Correction: The role of cardiac transcription factor NKX2-5 in regulating the human cardiac miRNAome
Authors: Arasaratnam Deevina , Bell Katrina M. , Sim Choon Boon , Koutsis Kathy , Anderson David J. , Qian Elizabeth L. , Stanley Edouard G. , Elefanty Andrew G. , Cheung Michael M. , Oshlack Alicia , White Anthony J. , Abi Khalil Charbel , Hudson James E. , Porrello Enzo R. , Elliott David A.
Published: December 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Proteomic and Transcriptomic Changes in Hibernating Grizzly Bears Reveal Metabolic and Signaling Pathways that Protect against Muscle Atrophy
Authors: Mugahid D. A. , Sengul T. G. , You X. , Wang Y. , Steil L. , Bergmann N. , Radke M. H. , Ofenbauer A. , Gesell-Salazar M. , Balogh A. , Kempa S. , Tursun B. , Robbins C. T. , Völker U. , Chen W. , Nelson L. , Gotthardt M.
Published: December 2019

Muscle atrophy is a physiological response to disuse and malnutrition, but hibernating bears are largely resistant to this phenomenon. Unlike other mammals, they efficiently reabsorb amino acids from urine, periodically activate muscle contraction, and their adipocytes differentially responds to insulin. The contribution of myocytes to the reduced atrophy remains largely unknown. Here we show how metabolism and atrophy signaling are regulated in skeletal muscle of hibernating grizzly bear. Metabolic modeling of proteomic changes suggests an autonomous increase of non-essential amino acids (NEAA) in muscle and treatment of differentiated myoblasts with NEAA is sufficient to induce hypertrophy. Our comparison of gene expression in hibernation versus muscle atrophy identified several genes differentially regulated during hibernation, including Pdk4 and Serpinf1. Their trophic effects extend to myoblasts from non-hibernating species (including C. elegans), as documented by a knockdown approach. Together, these changes reflect evolutionary favored adaptations that, once translated to the clinics, could help improve atrophy treatment.
Chronic heavy alcohol consumption influences the association between genetic variants of GCK or INSR and the development of diabetes in men: A 12-year follow-up study
Authors: Jang Han Byul , Go Min Jin , Park Sang Ick , Lee Hye-Ja , Cho Seong Beom
Published: December 2019

Chronic heavy alcohol consumption is a risk factor for diabetes, which is characterized by impaired β-cell function and insulin resistance. We aimed to determine whether the longitudinal associations between genetic variants of glucokinase (GCK) and insulin receptor (INSR) and the risk of developing diabetes were influenced by chronic heavy alcohol consumption. Data were obtained from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. To identify candidate variants, 1,520 subjects (726 non-drinkers and 794 heavy drinkers) were included in the baseline cross-sectional study. After excluding patients with diabetes at baseline and those with insufficient data on diabetes incidence, prospective analyses were conducted in 773 subjects (353 non-drinkers and 420 heavy drinkers). In the baseline cross-sectional study, one SNP (rs758989) in GCK and four SNPs (rs7245757, rs1035942, rs1035940, and rs2042901) in INSR were selected as candidate SNPs that interact with alcohol to affect prediabetes and diabetes. We identified that these GCK and INSR polymorphisms are affected by chronic heavy alcohol consumption and have an effect on the incidence of diabetes. The incidence of diabetes was increased in chronic heavy alcohol drinkers carrying the C allele of GCK compared with never-drinkers with the C allele (HR, 2.15; 95% CI 1.30–3.57), and was increased in chronic heavy alcohol drinkers who were not carrying the INSR haplotype (−/−) compared with never-drinkers carrying the AACT haplotype (HR, 1.98; 95% CI 1.24–3.18). Moreover, we observed that the aggravating effects on the late insulin secretion (I/G120 and I/G AUC 60–120) in individuals who were chronic heavy drinkers with C allele of GCK. In the INSR haplotype, chronic heavy drinkers not carrying AACT were associated with lower disposition index. These results potentially suggest that chronic heavy alcohol consumption induce β-cell dysfunction partially mediated by decreased GCK expression or decline of insulin sensitivity via inhibition of INSR, thereby contributing to the development of diabetes.
Promoted diffusion mechanism of Fe2.7wt.%Si-Fe10wt.%Si couples under magnetic field by atomic-scale observations
Authors: Fan L. J. , Zhong Y. B. , Xu Y. L. , Zheng T. X. , Shen Z. , Ren Z. M.
Published: December 2019

Diffusion behavior of newly designed Fe2.7wt.%Si-Fe10wt.%Si couples at 1100 °C for up to 12 h has been investigated under the 0, 0.8 and 3 T magnetic fields. Diffusion thickness of solid solution layer and weight percent of Si on Fe2.7wt.%Si side increase significantly under a magnetic field. Application of a magnetic field promotes the diffusion of solid solution layer through the possible diffusion of vacancies mainly due to the appearance of defects, which has been demonstrated by the increased dislocation density and broadening of the typical XRD peaks. Replacement of Si sits by Fe atoms in the crystal structure leads to the appearance of Fe diffraction peaks, which has been confirmed by the increased interplanar spacings under a magnetic field. The magnetic field benefits the depinning of dislocations and leads to higher dislocation density because of the magnetoplastic effect which has been confirmed by the significantly reduced thickness of Fe2.7wt.%Si. Nano-sized Fe3Si particles precipitate in the matrix with an orientation relationship on Fe10wt.%Si side as {220}Fe3Si || {220}matrix & < 1–10 >Fe3Si || < 1–10 >matrix. Fe3Si particles pin dislocation moving and lead to higher dislocation density.
A generic workflow for Single Locus Sequence Typing (SLST) design and subspecies characterization of microbiota
Authors: Ederveen Thomas H. A. , Smits Jos P. H. , Hajo Karima , van Schalkwijk Saskia , Kouwenhoven Tessa A. , Lukovac Sabina , Wels Michiel , van den Bogaard Ellen H. , Schalkwijk Joost , Boekhorst Jos , Zeeuwen Patrick L. J. M. , van Hijum Sacha A. F. T.
Published: December 2019

We present TaxPhlAn, a new method and bioinformatics pipeline for design and analysis of single-locus sequence typing (SLST) markers to type and profile bacteria beyond the species-level in a complex microbial community background. TaxPhlAn can be applied to any group of phylogenetically-related bacteria, provided reference genomes are available. As TaxPhlAn requires the SLST targets identified to fit the phylogenetic pattern as determined through comprehensive evolutionary reconstruction of input genomes, TaxPhlAn allows for the identification and phylogenetic inference of new biodiversity. Here, we present a clinically relevant case study of high-resolution Staphylococcus profiling on skin of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. We demonstrate that SLST enables profiling of cutaneous Staphylococcus members at (sub)species level and provides higher resolution than current 16S-based techniques. With the higher discriminative ability provided by our approach, we further show that the presence of Staphylococcus capitis on the skin together with Staphylococcus aureus associates with AD disease.
3D bioprinting via an in situ crosslinking technique towards engineering cartilage tissue
Authors: Galarraga Jonathan H. , Kwon Mi Y. , Burdick Jason A.
Published: December 2019

3D bioprinting is a promising approach for the repair of cartilage tissue after damage due to injury or disease; however, the design of 3D printed scaffolds has been limited by the availability of bioinks with requisite printability, cytocompatibility, and bioactivity. To address this, we developed an approach termed in situ crosslinking that permits the printing of non-viscous, photocrosslinkable bioinks via the direct-curing of the bioink with light through a photopermeable capillary prior to deposition. Using a norbornene-modified hyaluronic acid (NorHA) macromer as a representative bioink and our understanding of thiol-ene curing kinetics with visible light, we varied the printing parameters (e.g., capillary length, flow rate, light intensity) to identify printing conditions that were optimal for the ink. The printing process was cytocompatible, with high cell viability and homogenous distribution of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) observed throughout printed constructs. Over 56 days of culture in chondrogenic media, printed constructs increased in compressive moduli, biochemical content (i.e., sulfated glycosaminoglycans, collagen), and histological staining of matrix associated with cartilage tissue. This generalizable printing approach may be used towards the repair of focal defects in articular cartilage or broadly towards widespread biomedical applications across a range of photocrosslinkable bioinks that can now be printed.
Biological Effects of Anti-RANKL Antibody and Zoledronic Acid on Growth and Tooth Eruption in Growing Mice
Authors: Isawa Motoki , Karakawa Akiko , Sakai Nobuhiro , Nishina Saki , Kuritani Miku , Chatani Masahiro , Negishi-Koga Takako , Sato Masashi , Inoue Mitsuko , Shimada Yukie , Takami Masamichi
Published: December 2019

The anti-bone resorptive drugs denosumab, an anti-human-RANKL antibody, and zoledronic acid (ZOL), a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, have recently been applied for treatment of pediatric patients with bone diseases, though details regarding their effects in growing children have yet to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we administered these anti-resorptive drugs to mice from the age of 1 week and continued once-weekly injections for a total of 7 times. Mice that received the anti-RANKL antibody displayed normal growth and tooth eruption, though osteopetrotic bone volume gain in long and alveolar bones was noted, while there were nearly no osteoclasts and a normal of number osteoblasts observed. In contrast, ZOL significantly delayed body growth, tooth root formation, and tooth eruption, with increased osteoclast and decreased osteoblast numbers. These findings suggest regulation of tooth eruption via osteoblast differentiation by some types of anti-resorptive drugs.
Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for detection and quantification of in vivo derived metabolites of [Pyr1]apelin-13 in humans
Authors: Nyimanu Duuamene , Kay Richard G. , Sulentic Petra , Kuc Rhoda E. , Ambery Philip , Jermutus Lutz , Reimann Frank , Gribble Fiona M. , Cheriyan Joseph , Maguire Janet J. , Davenport Anthony P.
Published: December 2019

[Pyr1]apelin-13 is the predominant apelin peptide isoform in the human cardiovascular system and plasma. To date, few studies have investigated [Pyr1]apelin-13 metabolism in vivo in rats with no studies examining its stability in humans. We therefore aimed to develop an LC-MS/MS method for detection and quantification of intact [Pyr1]apelin-13 and have used this method to identify the metabolites generated in vivo in humans. [Pyr1]apelin-13 (135 nmol/min) was infused into six healthy human volunteers for 120 minutes and blood collected at time 0 and 120 minutes after infusion. Plasma was extracted in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride and analysed by LC-MS/MS. Here we report a highly sensitive, robust and reproducible method for quantification of intact [Pyr1]apelin-13 and its metabolites in human plasma. Using this method, we showed that the circulating concentration of intact peptide was 58.3 ± 10.5 ng/ml after 120 minutes infusion. We demonstrated for the first time that in humans, [Pyr1]apelin-13 was cleaved from both termini but the C-terminal was more susceptible to cleavage. Consequently, of the metabolites identified, [Pyr1]apelin-13(1–12), [Pyr1]apelin-13(1–10) and [Pyr1]apelin-13(1–6) were the most abundant. These data suggest that apelin peptides designed for use as cardiovascular therapeutics, should include modifications that minimise C-terminal cleavage.
Quantitation of the ROS production in plasma and radiation treatments of biotargets
Authors: Ji Wan-Ook , Lee Min-Ho , Kim Gon-Ho , Kim Eun-Hee
Published: December 2019

Medical treatment utilizing non-thermal plasma is based on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their interactions with biomatters. On the basis of empirical data from practices, plasma treatment has been planned with regard to the setup of a plasma generator’s parameters, including gas combination, gas-flow rate, and applied voltage. In this study, we quantitated plasma treatment in terms of the plasma dose on the target matter, which can be contrasted with the radiation dose to targets under radiation exposure. We measured the OH radical production in cell culture medium and intracellular ROS production from plasma treatment in comparison with those from X-ray exposure. The clonogenic cell deaths from plasma and X-ray exposures were also compared. In plasma treatment, the clonogenic cell death was better predicted by intracellular ROS production rather than by medium OH production.