bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Root growth and turnover in perennial forages as affected by management systems and soil depth
Authors: Houde Stéphanie , Thivierge Marie-Noëlle , Fort Florian , Bélanger Gilles , Chantigny Martin H. , Angers Denis A. , Vanasse Anne
Published: April 2020

Aims

Extensive knowledge of perennial forage root systems is essential, given their critical role in below-ground C input.

Methods

Root length and diameter were quantified periodically from 2016 to 2018 with minirhizotrons in a field experiment with three forage management systems: mixture of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) fertilized with (i) dairy cattle slurry or (ii) calcic ammonium nitrate, and (iii) mixture of timothy, tall fescue, and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) without N fertilization. Root biomass was measured yearly by coring.

Results

Management systems with the two fertilization sources did not differ in root elongation, but the management system with alfalfa resulted in a slower root elongation after the first defoliation and a lower root mortality in the fall. Root length turnover was greater in the topsoil with dairy cattle slurry than with calcic ammonium nitrate. Fine roots dominated the surface soil and coarse roots the deeper soil layers.

Conclusions

Root growth and mortality were more contrasted between systems that differed by the presence of alfalfa than by fertilizer source. As many root characteristics are drivers of soil C storage, the choice of perennial species in mixtures appears as a key management factor for sustainable farming systems.
Functional Fear Predicts Public Health Compliance in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Harper Craig A. , Satchell Liam P. , Fido Dean , Latzman Robert D.
Published: April 2020

In the current context of the global pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), health professionals are working with social scientists to inform government policy on how to slow the spread of the virus. An increasing amount of social scientific research has looked at the role of public message framing, for instance, but few studies have thus far examined the role of individual differences in emotional and personality-based variables in predicting virus-mitigating behaviors. In this study, we recruited a large international community sample (N = 324) to complete measures of self-perceived risk of contracting COVID-19, fear of the virus, moral foundations, political orientation, and behavior change in response to the pandemic. Consistently, the only predictor of positive behavior change (e.g., social distancing, improved hand hygiene) was fear of COVID-19, with no effect of politically relevant variables. We discuss these data in relation to the potentially functional nature of fear in global health crises.
Review of Alex Sharpe’s Sexual Intimacy and Gender Identity ‘Fraud’: Reframing the Legal and Ethical Debate (Routledge 2019; ISBN: 978-0-367-28024-6)
Authors: Hogg Claire
Published: April 2020

In her newest book, Alex Sharpe makes a persuasive case against the bringing of sexual offence prosecutions on the basis of “gender identity fraud”. Adopting a perspective in which queer and gender non-conforming identities are acknowledged and centred rather than doubted and dissected, Sharpe aims to destabilise the conceptual foundations upon which such prosecutions depend. In this review I place Sharpe’s contribution in its legal context, and offer an overview of her argument along with some reservations.
Führen mit Zielen in der Automobilindustrie – wie evidenzbasiert ist die Umsetzung in der Praxis?
Authors: Burkhardt-Waldherr Annika , Kauffeld Simone
Published: April 2020

Dieser Beitrag in der Zeitschrift „Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation (GIO)“ stellt eine qualitative Studie zum Umsetzungsstands des Führen mit Zielen in einem Beispielunternehmen dar und beleuchtet, welche wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse den Weg in die Praxis gefunden haben. Führen mit Zielen ist ein altbewährtes Mittel zur Motivation und Steigerung der Leistungsfähigkeit in Organisationen. Obwohl schon viel geforscht wurde zu Zielsetzungen und deren motivierenden Wirkungen, sind in der Praxis kontraproduktive Varianten anzutreffen. Hieraus leitet sich die Frage ab, welche Evidenzen zum Führen mit Zielen in der Praxis bekannt sind und welche tatsächlich Anwendung finden. In einem qualitativen Vorgehen wurde dies untersucht, indem eine Exploration über das vorherrschende Wissen und dessen Umsetzung in Form von Interviews mit Vertretern eines Automobilunternehmens vorgenommen wurde. Es kann festgestellt werden, dass das Verständnis über das Führen mit Zielen im Unternehmen nicht durchgängig mit dem in der Wissenschaft beschriebenen Wissen übereinstimmt. Die Interviewergebnisse zeigen, dass insbesondere der moderierende Effekt der Zielbindung wenig beachtet wird und stattdessen ein sehr hoher Fokus auf den Zielplanungsprozess gelegt wird. Ziele werden überwiegend vorgegeben anstatt vereinbart und nur zu sehr geringem Maße transparent kommuniziert. Oft sind sie in Form von Maßnahmen oder Aufgaben beschrieben und werden nicht explizit als Ziel wahrgenommen. Der Einsatz von einem kontinuierlichen Feedback ist bereits weitflächig etabliert und wird oft durch visuelle Elemente (z. B. Steuerungstafeln) unterstützt. Dieser Beitrag erläutert, wie durch die Beachtung von wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen eine höhere Wirksamkeit der Zielsysteme erreicht werden kann.
Polymorphism of the growth hormone gene GH1 in Polish children and adolescents with short stature
Authors: Majewska Katarzyna Anna , Kedzia Andrzej , Kontowicz Przemyslaw , Prauzinska Magdalena , Szydlowski Jaroslaw , Switonski Marek , Nowacka-Woszuk Joanna
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Short stature in children is a significant medical problem which, without proper diagnosis and treatment, can lead to long-term consequences for physical and psychological health in adult life. Since human height is a polygenic and highly heritable trait, numerous variants in the genes involved in growth—including the growth hormone (GH1) gene—have been identified as causes of short stature.

Methods

In this study, we performed for the first time molecular analysis of the GH1 gene in a cohort (n = 186) of Polish children and adolescents with short stature, suffering from growth hormone deficiency (GHD) or idiopathic short stature (ISS), and a control cohort (n = 178).

Results

Thirteen SNP variants were identified, including four missense variants, six in 5′UTR, and three in introns. The frequency of minor missense variants was low (<0.02) and similar in the compared cohorts. However, two of these variants, Ala39Val (rs151263636) and Arg42Leu (rs371953554), were found (heterozygote status) in only two GHD patients. These substitutions, according to databases, can potentially be deleterious.

Conclusions

Mutations of GH1 causing short stature are very rare in the Polish population, but two potentially causative variants need further studies in a larger cohort of GHD patients.
Extracellular Vesicles, Apoptotic Bodies and Mitochondria: Stem Cell Bioproducts for Organ Regeneration
Authors: Gebara Natalia , Rossi Andrea , Skovronova Renata , Aziz Justine Mariam , Asthana Amish , Bussolati Benedetta
Published: April 2020

Purpose of Review

In the current work, we will present the characterization of the main different stem cell-derived vesicular bio-products with potential application in organ regeneration.

Recent Findings

The therapeutic effects of stem cell therapy in organ repair, specifically those utilizing mesenchymal stromal cells, are largely dependent on the cells’ release of different bio-products. Among these bio-products, extracellular vesicles (EVs) appear to play a major role due to their ability to carry and deliver bioactive material for modulation of cellular pathways in recipient cells. Concurrently, mitochondria transfer emerged as a new mechanism of cell communication, in which the bioenergetics of a damaged cell are restored. Finally, apoptotic bodies released by dying apoptotic stem cells contribute to stimulation of the tissue’s stem cells and modulation of the immune response.

Exploitation of isolated extracellular vesicles, mitochondria and apoptotic bodies in preclinical models of organ damage shows promising results. Here, we describe the results of the pre-clinical applications of stem cell vesicular products, as well as the first clinical trials approaching artificial administration of extracellular vesicles and mitochondria in human subjects and their possible benefits and limitations.
Associating Facial Expressions and Upper-Body Gestures with Learning Tasks for Enhancing Intelligent Tutoring Systems
Authors: Behera Ardhendu , Matthew Peter , Keidel Alexander , Vangorp Peter , Fang Hui , Canning Susan
Published: April 2020

Learning involves a substantial amount of cognitive, social and emotional states. Therefore, recognizing and understanding these states in the context of learning is key in designing informed interventions and addressing the needs of the individual student to provide personalized education. In this paper, we explore the automatic detection of learner’s nonverbal behaviors involving hand-over-face gestures, head and eye movements and emotions via facial expressions during learning. The proposed computer vision-based behavior monitoring method uses a low-cost webcam and can easily be integrated with modern tutoring technologies. We investigate these behaviors in-depth over time in a classroom session of 40 minutes involving reading and problem-solving exercises. The exercises in the sessions are divided into three categories: an easy, medium and difficult topic within the context of undergraduate computer science. We found that there is a significant increase in head and eye movements as time progresses, as well as with the increase of difficulty level. We demonstrated that there is a considerable occurrence ofhand-over-facegestures (on average 21.35%) during the 40 minutes session and is unexplored in the education domain. We propose a novel deep learning approach for automatic detection ofhand-over-facegestures in images with a classification accuracy of 86.87%. There is a prominent increase inhand-over-facegestures when the difficulty level of the given exercise increases. Thehand-over-facegestures occur more frequently during problem-solving (easy 23.79%, medium 19.84% and difficult 30.46%) exercises in comparison to reading (easy 16.20%, medium 20.06% and difficult 20.18%).
Optimal Design in Hierarchical Random Effect Models for Individual Prediction with Application in Precision Medicine
Authors: Prus Maryna , Benda Norbert , Schwabe Rainer
Published: April 2020

Hierarchical random effect models are used for different purposes in clinical research and other areas. In general, the main focus is on population parameters related to the expected treatment effects or group differences among all units of an upper level (e.g. subjects in many settings). Optimal design for estimation of population parameters are well established for many models. However, optimal designs for the prediction for the individual units may be different. Several settings are identified in which individual prediction may be of interest. In this paper, we determine optimal designs for the individual predictions, e.g. in multi-cluster trials or in trials that investigate a new treatment in a number of different subpopulations, and compare them to a conventional balanced design with respect to treatment allocation. Our investigations show that in the case of uncorrelated cluster intercepts and cluster treatments the optimal allocations are far from being balanced if the treatment effects vary strongly as compared to the residual error and more subjects should be recruited to the active (new) treatment. Nevertheless, efficiency loss may be limited resulting in a moderate sample size increase when individual predictions are foreseen with a balanced allocation.
Perceived parental sacrifice, filial piety and hopelessness among Chinese adolescents: A cross‐lagged panel study
Authors: Leung Janet T.Y.
Published: April 2020

Introduction

There is a dearth of research on examining the longitudinal effects of cultural family processes on adolescent hopelessness, and the mechanisms through which the effects happen. Hence, the present study examined the relationship among parental (paternal and maternal) sacrifices, filial piety and adolescent hopelessness in the Chinese context.

Methods

The study was based on a three‐wave longitudinal data from a sample of 1569 Chinese adolescents (Time 1: mean age = 13.15 ± .92 years; 50.8% girls). The adolescents were invited to fill out a questionnaire containing measurements of studied variables thrice, at an interval of one year.

Results

The results of cross‐lagged panel analysis indicated that maternal sacrifice was associated with filial piety, which in turn was linked with hopelessness among Chinese adolescents. Moreover, there was bidirectional effects of adolescent hopelessness at earlier time point on paternal and maternal sacrifice at later time point via filial piety.

Conclusions

The study showed that maternal sacrifice serves as a protective factor that reduces adolescents’ sense of hopelessness via the development of filial piety. At the same time, the bidirectional indirect effects of filial piety on the relationship between parental sacrifice and adolescent hopelessness also alert family researchers and youth practitioners on the child effects on parental behavior in Chinese families. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Brexit, the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, and Global Treaty (Re-)Negotiations
Authors: Larik Joris
Published: April 2020

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union has prompted a global recalibration of treaty relations. Due to the Withdrawal Agreement and its transition period, the UK is expanding its international treaty-making powers as it is gradually released from the constraints of EU law. Practice to date shows the creation of many new international legal instruments through which governments have sought to address the novel questions that Brexit raises for the international law of treaties.
Genetic comparison of introduced and native populations of common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), a woody shrub introduced into North America from Europe
Authors: Wafer Alexis , Culley Theresa M. , Stephens Kala , Stewart J. Ryan
Published: April 2020

Introduced from Europe to North America in the early 19th century as an ornamental shrub and for medicinal purposes, common buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticaL.) has since spread and naturalized throughout regions of the United States and Canada. The purpose of this study was to investigate levels of genetic variation and population differentiation inR.catharticain its introduced range in North America compared with its native range in Europe to better understand patterns of spread. By analyzing introduced and native populations using microsatellite markers, we found that introduced populations generally exhibited similar or slightly lower levels of genetic variation compared with native populations, consistent with a slight bottleneck effect. Introduced populations contained many different genotypes, indicating genetic admixture, rather than one or few genotypes. In a few cases, populations had been misidentified in the field and were glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnusMill.; syn.Rhamnus frangulaL.). Overall, there was no substantial genetic differentiation detected between native and introduced populations ofR. cathartica. Invasive spread in this species is likely due to its past horticultural history as well as adaptive biological traits such as competitive behavior, potential allelopathy, and seed dispersal via birds.
JUSTICE, MERCY, AND EQUALITY IN DISCRETIONARY CRIMINAL JUSTICE DECISION MAKING
Authors: Alschuler Albert W.
Published: April 2020

This essay examines whether, in exercising their discretion, criminal justice officials should do justice, grant mercy, and treat alleged or convicted offenders equally. Although it endorses doing justice, the essay maintains that officials should almost never reduce a just punishment simply to be merciful. Public officials are fiduciaries, and they ordinarily have no authority to make unmerited gifts. Sometimes, however, deciding not to inflict a just penalty can reflect the willingness of an entire society to forgive. That may be the case, for example, when truth and reconciliation commissions approve amnesties. The essay focuses on the teachings of Jesus Christ and questions some of them. It asks, for example, whether a modern chief executive would merit praise or condemnation if this executive followed Jesus's example in the case of the woman taken in adultery. The essay also suggests that—unlike other officials—chief executives exercising their pardon power need not act affirmatively to treat like cases alike. A conclusion notes that it would have been out of character for Jesus Christ to refuse a plea for mercy. Nevertheless, few Christians have endorsed an implication of his willingness to forgive—the abolition of criminal punishment.
ON THE ARITHMETIC STRUCTURE OF RATIONAL NUMBERS IN THE CANTOR SET
Authors: SHPARLINSKI IGOR E.
Published: April 2020

We obtain a lower bound on the largest prime factor of the denominator of rational numbers in the Cantor set. This gives a stronger version of a recent result of Schleischitz [‘On intrinsic and extrinsic rational approximation to Cantor sets’, Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. to appear] obtained via a different argument.
Anomalous losses of energetic particles in the presence of an oscillating radial electric field in fusion plasmas
Authors: Zarzoso David , del-Castillo-Negrete Diego
Published: April 2020

The confinement of energetic particles in nuclear fusion devices is studied in the presence of an oscillating radial electric field and an axisymmetric magnetic equilibrium. It is shown that, despite the poloidal and toroidal symmetries, initially integrable orbits turn into chaotic regions that can potentially intercept the wall of the tokamak, leading to particle losses. It is observed that the losses exhibit algebraic time decay different from the expected exponential decay characteristic of radial diffusive transport. A dynamical explanation of this behaviour is presented, within the continuous time random walk theory. The central point of the analysis is based on the fact that, contrary to the radial displacement, the poloidal angle is not bounded and a proper statistical analysis can therefore be made, showing for the first time that energetic particle transport can be super-diffusive in the poloidal direction and characterised by asymmetric poloidal displacement. The connection between poloidal and radial positions ensured by the conservation of the toroidal canonical momentum, implies that energetic particles spend statistically more time in the inner region of the tokamak than in the outer one, which explains the observed algebraic decay. This indicates that energetic particles might be efficiently slowed down by the thermal population before leaving the system. Also, the asymmetric transport reveals a new possible mechanism of self-generation of momentum.
Comparative proteomics of threeGiardia lambliastrains: investigation of antigenic variation in the post-genomic era
Authors: Müller Joachim , Braga Sophie , Uldry Anne-Christine , Heller Manfred , Müller Norbert
Published: April 2020

Giardia lambliais a causative agent of persistent diarrhoea widespread in regions with low hygienic standards. Laboratory research is based on cloned lines issuing from various patient isolates typed in the late 1980s and 90s using restriction analysis and serology. In the present study, we compared the well-characterized strain WBC6 with another clone of the parent WB isolate termed WBA1 and with a clone from another isolate, GS/M-83-H7, using shotgun mass spectrometry proteomics. We identified 398 proteins differentially expressed between the GS and both WB isolates and 97 proteins differentially expressed between the two WB isolates. We investigated the expression levels of the predominant variant-specific surface proteins (VSPs) in each clone and matched the previously described major VSPs of each strain to the corresponding open reading frame sequences identified by whole-genome sequencing efforts. Furthermore, since the original WB isolate comes from a patient treated with metronidazole, we compared the susceptibilities of the strains to nitro compounds, as well the expression levels of enzymes involved in nitro reduction and on the corresponding enzyme activities and found distinct differences between the three strains.
Minimum Wage as a Social Policy Instrument: Evidence from Germany
Authors: BRUCKMEIER KERSTIN , BRUTTEL OLIVER
Published: April 2020

The minimum wage is often considered a social policy instrument that can help reduce both poverty and welfare receipt. The introduction of the statutory minimum wage in Germany in 2015 provides an interesting case study to analyse not only the potential but also the limitations of minimum wages as an instrument to achieve socially desirable goals such as reduced welfare receipt or poverty. Based on the results of simulation models, descriptive analyses and causal effects studies of the short-term effects, we argue that minimum wages are a rather badly targeted measure when attempting to reduce poverty and welfare receipt.
The Romano-British ‘Aedicule’ from Sheepwash Grange, Canwick, Lincolnshire
Authors: Everson Paul , Stocker David
Published: April 2020

A stone fragment from recent excavations at Sheepwash Grange near Lincoln is illustrated and discussed. Initially thought to be an early medieval, Christian grave-marker, because of its excavated context, its original form is reconstructed as a carved stone aedicule of Roman date and interpreted as a lararium. The building depicted is timber framed. Analogies from Britain prove at best partial, but contemporary objects of similar form in the Rhineland and Saarland regions provide close parallels and invite discussion of the connection this evidences. While the excavations included a villa complex likely to be the aedicule's immediate context, the location is an ancient river crossing distinctively marked by repeated activity from earliest prehistory.
NEARLY OPTIMAL TEST FOR LONG-RUN PREDICTABILITY WITH NEARLY INTEGRATED REGRESSORS
Authors: Sizova Natalia
Published: April 2020

We develop a method for long-run predictability testing in series Y by a persistent series X. We consider a class of tests based on the long-run behavior of these series that are robust to short-run dynamics and attempt to attain the highest possible power. The test is based on the Whittle approximation to the likelihood ratio that is adjusted to remain accurate across a range of persistence inX. We verify the properties of this test in small simulations and compare this test against a group of recently proposed methods.
Mobilities: The Role of the Social Sciences and Humanities under the United Nations Sustainable Goals for 2020–2030
Authors: Polónia Amélia
Published: April 2020

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2020–2030 include areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, peace and justice. The topic of migrations comprises broad concepts of socio-cultural, religious, political, economic, environmental and technological movement and change. The consensus seems to be that the future lies in cooperation across disciplines. The question of this paper is: how far can social scientists go or want to go down this road?
In Girum Revisited: From Guy Debord’s dérive to the Situationist View of History
Authors: Costa Xavier
Published: April 2020

This article presents the concept of contemporary mobility in relation to the writings and actions of the Situationist group, particularly in Guy Debord’s concepts of urban dérive and psychogeography, as reflected in his last film In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni (1978). Connecting different disciplines, the paper examines the concept of mobility in its relation to history, philosophy, art and urbanism.
Post-traumatic stress disorder in train crash survivors in Italy: the role of mood spectrum dysregulations and intrusiveness
Authors: Miniati Mario , Palagini Laura , Caruso Danila , Mauri Mauro , Marazziti Donatella , Dell’Osso Liliana
Published: April 2020

Background

To explore relationships among post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive spectrum symptoms, and intrusiveness in subjects who survived the crash of a train derailed carrying liquefied petroleum gas and exploded causing a fire.

Methods

A sample of 111 subjects was enrolled in Viareggio, Italy. AMOS version 21 (IBM Corp, 2012) was utilized for a structural equation model-path analysis to model the direct and indirect links between the exposure to the traumatic event, the occurrence of depressive symptoms, and intrusiveness. Subjects were administered with the SCID-IV (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV), the Questionnaire for Mood Spectrum (MOODS-SR)-Last Month version, the Trauma and Loss Spectrum Questionnaire (TALS-SR), and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised version (IES-R).

Results

Sixty-six (66/111; 59.4%) subjects met SCID-IV criteria for PTSD. Indices of goodness of fit were as followed: χ2/df = 0.2 P = .6; comparative fit index = 1 and root mean square error of approximation = 0.0001. A significant path coefficient for direct effect of potential traumatic events on depressive symptoms (β = 0.25; P < .04) and from depressive symptoms to intrusiveness (β = 0.34; P < .003) was found. An indirect effect was also observed: standardized value of potential traumatic events on intrusiveness was 0.86. The mediating factor of this indirect effect path was represented by depressive symptoms. Potential traumatic events explained 6.2% of the variance of depressive symptoms; 11.8% of the variance of intrusiveness was accounted for traumatic event and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Path analysis led us to speculate that depression symptoms might have mediated the relationship between the exposure to potential traumatic events and intrusiveness for the onset of PTSD.
Early Brain Injury and Adaptive Functioning in Middle Childhood: The Mediating Role of Pragmatic Language
Authors: Hendrix Cassandra L. , King Tricia Z. , Wise Justin , Haarbauer-Krupa Juliet
Published: April 2020

Objective:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often adversely affect adaptive functioning (AF). However, the cognitive mechanisms by which AF is disrupted are not well understood in young children who sustain TBI. This study examined pragmatic language (PL) and executive functioning (EF) as potential mechanisms for AF disruption in children with early, predominantly mild-complicated, TBI.

Method:

The sample consisted of 76 children between the ages of 6 and 10 years old who sustained a TBI (n= 36) or orthopedic injury (OI;n= 40) before 6 years of age and at least 1 year prior to testing (M= 4.86 years,SD= 1.59). Children’s performance on a PL and an expressive vocabulary task (which served as a control task), and parent report of child’s EF and AF were examined at two time points 1 year apart (i.e., at age 8 and at age 9 years).

Results:

Injury type (TBIvs.OI) significantly predicted child’s social and conceptual, but not practical, AF. Results indicated that PL, and not expressive vocabulary or EF at time 1, mediated the relationship between injury type and both social and conceptual AF at time 2.

Conclusions:

A TBI during early childhood appears to subtly, but uniquely, disrupt complex language skills (i.e., PL), which in turn may disrupt subsequent social and conceptual AF in middle childhood. Additional longitudinal research that examines different aspects of PL and adaptive outcomes into adolescence is warranted.
What features of a nutrition resource are important to adolescents of a low socioeconomic status?
Authors: Scott HC , Craddock C , Craig LCA
Published: April 2020

Objective:

To identify the key features of a nutrition resource that are important to adolescents of a low socioeconomic status (SES).

Design:

Structured interviews were conducted to explore participants’ preferences relating to the features of a nutrition resource. Thematic framework analysis was used to determine key themes, subthemes and concepts from the data.

Setting:

Streetsport activity sessions, north-east of Scotland.

Participants:

Eighteen adolescents aged 12–17 years from a low socioeconomic background.

Results:

The overarching themes identified were barriers and facilitators to engagement with a nutrition resource. Adolescents expressed a preference for an app, and this was mainly attributed to convenience and low cost. There was also an emphasis on the integral role social media has in their lives. Aesthetics was a facilitator for both male and female participants, with a particular focus on weight loss. Behaviour change support, including reminders, access to simple recipes and adopting a ‘small change approach’, were identified as possible facilitators, whereas cost, environmental influences, and existing eating habits were identified as possible barriers to engaging with a nutrition resource.

Conclusions:

A number of subthemes, including aesthetics, cost and convenience, which have previously been reported in adolescents with a higher SES, were prominent in our research. The present study contributes to insights relating to behaviour change tools that should be considered when developing a nutrition resource targeting disadvantaged adolescents. Further research focusing on how mobile phone technology and social media can be utilised to support dietary behaviour change in low SES adolescents is recommended.
The Philosophy of the Myōken: The Ethics of the Dead and Bodhisattvas
Authors: Sueki Fumihiko , Sevilla Anton Luis
Published: April 2020

Today, the modern value systems that once held sway have fallen apart, and people throughout the world are wandering in an aimless state. Amidst this, we are pressed to ask, “What kind of a new ethics might we construct?” We need to consider the possibility of an ethics that focuses on the religious view of humankind (previously ignored by modernity), that goes beyond this life, and includes the next life. In this article, I examine the way of being of bodhisattvas in Mahāyāna Buddhism via the Lotus Sutra. According to the Lotus Sutra, human existence is one that necessarily relates with the other, and this relationship is not confined to this life, but continues from past lives to future lives. Here, I refer to this as “bodhisattva as existence.” On this basis, it is possible to think of an ethics of “bodhisattva as praxis” that considers the benefit of others even after death. This view of bodhisattvas in the Lotus Sutra lives on in Japanese Buddhism and can be said to point to a new possibility for ethics today.
Exploring Abrupt Alternations Between Wet and Dry Conditions on the Basis of Historical Observations and Convection‐Permitting Climate Model Simulations
Authors: Chen H. , Wang S. , Wang Y.
Published: April 2020

Exploring the dynamic evolution of the abrupt alternation between wet and dry spells in adjacent months plays a crucial role in water resources planning and agricultural development in a changing climate. The dry‐wet abrupt alternation (DWAA) has been studied based on hydrometeorological observations over the past several years. However, little effort has been made to explore DWAA from a climate projection standpoint. Furthermore, few studies have investigated potential interrelationships between DWAA and heavy rainfall. In this study, the interrelationships between DWAA events and heavy rainfall with various intensities as well as potential evapotranspiration are revealed explicitly through the convection‐permitting climate simulations for 10 climate divisions over Texas in the United States. Our findings disclose that the increasing heavy rainfall and potential evapotranspiration lead to more frequent occurrence of DWAA events over a larger spatial extent. Heavy rainfall with daily precipitation greater than 20 mm contributes most to the occurrence of DWAA. In addition, a severe phenomenon of dry‐wet‐dry alternation is projected to appear due to the increasing number of heavy rainfall and drought events as well as the deteriorated soil water holding capacity under global warming.
Hybrid multi-chip assembly of optical communication engines by in situ 3D nano-lithography
Authors: Blaicher Matthias , Billah Muhammad Rodlin , Kemal Juned , Hoose Tobias , Marin-Palomo Pablo , Hofmann Andreas , Kutuvantavida Yasar , Kieninger Clemens , Dietrich Philipp-Immanuel , Lauermann Matthias , Wolf Stefan , Troppenz Ute , Moehrle Martin , Merget Florian , Skacel Sebastian , Witzens Jeremy , Randel Sebastian , Freude Wolfgang , Koos Christian
Published: April 2020

Three-dimensional (3D) nano-printing of freeform optical waveguides, also referred to as photonic wire bonding, allows for efficient coupling between photonic chips and can greatly simplify optical system assembly. As a key advantage, the shape and the trajectory of photonic wire bonds can be adapted to the mode-field profiles and the positions of the chips, thereby offering an attractive alternative to conventional optical assembly techniques that rely on technically complex and costly high-precision alignment. However, while the fundamental advantages of the photonic wire bonding concept have been shown in proof-of-concept experiments, it has so far been unclear whether the technique can also be leveraged for practically relevant use cases with stringent reproducibility and reliability requirements. In this paper, we demonstrate optical communication engines that rely on photonic wire bonding for connecting arrays of silicon photonic modulators to InP lasers and single-mode fibres. In a first experiment, we show an eight-channel transmitter offering an aggregate line rate of 448 Gbit/s by low-complexity intensity modulation. A second experiment is dedicated to a four-channel coherent transmitter, operating at a net data rate of 732.7 Gbit/s – a record for coherent silicon photonic transmitters with co-packaged lasers. Using dedicated test chips, we further demonstrate automated mass production of photonic wire bonds with insertion losses of (0.7 ± 0.15) dB, and we show their resilience in environmental-stability tests and at high optical power. These results might form the basis for simplified assembly of advanced photonic multi-chip systems that combine the distinct advantages of different integration platforms.
Impact of Vitamin E supplementation on vascular function in haptoglobin genotype stratified diabetes patients (EVAS Trial): a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Dalan Rinkoo , Goh Liuh Ling , Lim Chien Joo , Seneviratna Aruni , Liew Huiling , Seow Cherng Jye , Xia Lian , Chew Daniel E. K. , Leow Melvin K. S. , Boehm Bernhard O.
Published: April 2020

Aims

Vitamin E (Vit-E) may preferentially improve cardiovascular risk in haptoglobin 2-2 (Hp2-2) genotype diabetes individuals. We studied the impact of Vit-E supplementation on vascular function in diabetes individuals stratified by haptoglobin genotype in Singapore.

Methods

In this 24-week, double blind, placebo-controlled RCT, we recruited 187 subjects (101 Hp2-2, 86 non-Hp2-2). Intervention: alpha-tocopherol-400 IU. Primary Outcome: Change in EndoPAT-derived reactive-hyperaemia index (RHI) and augmentation index (AIx); Secondary Outcomes: Pulse-Wave velocity (Sphygmocor-PWV), carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), inflammation (hsCRP), derivatives of reactive-oxygen metabolites (dROMs), biological antioxidant-potential (BAPs), HbA1c, LDL-C, HDL-C and oxidised LDL-C (ox-LDL).

Results

Overall, with Vit-E supplementation no significant change in RHI, PWV, CIMT, hsCRP, dROMS, BAPs, HDL-C and HbA1c was observed (p > 0.05); an increase in LDL-C with concomitant decrease in ox-LDL, and incidentally increase in eGFR was observed (p < 0.05). No interaction effect with haptoglobin genotype was seen for all outcomes (p > 0.05). Subgroup analysis: In the non-Hp-2-2 group, Vit-E supplementation led to a higher EndoPAT-derived AIx, accompanied by higher LDL and ox-LDL concentrations (p < 0.05); Hp2-2 group: Vit-E supplementation led to higher eGFR when compared to the non-Hp2-2 group (exploratory) (p < 0.05). We observed an interaction effect for baseline haptoglobin concentration (threshold > 119 mg/dl) with intervention in terms of increased EndoPAT-derived AIx in the Hp > 119 mg/dl group whereas no change in the group with Hp ≤ 119 mg/dl.

Conclusion

Vit-E supplementation did not show any preferential benefit or deleterious effect on vascular function in Hp2-2 diabetes subjects in Singapore. A possible deleterious effect of an increase in arterial stiffness in individuals with Hp > 119 mg/dl was observed. Future studies should consider personalisation based on baseline Hp concentrations in patients with T2DM rather than just Hp2-2 genotype to evaluate impact on the detailed lipid pathways, cardiac and renal physiology. The impact of ethnic differences needs to be explored in greater details.
Food selectivity of anaerobic protists and direct evidence for methane production using carbon from prey bacteria by endosymbiotic methanogen
Authors: Hirakata Yuga , Hatamoto Masashi , Oshiki Mamoru , Watari Takahiro , Araki Nobuo , Yamaguchi Takashi
Published: April 2020

Anaerobic protists are major predators of prokaryotes in anaerobic ecosystems. However, little is known about the predation behavior of anaerobic protists because almost none have been cultured. In particular, these characteristics of anaerobic protists in the phyla Metamonada and Cercozoa have not been reported previously. In this study, we isolated three anaerobic protists, Cyclidium sp., Trichomitus sp., and Paracercomonas sp., from anaerobic granular sludge in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor used to treat domestic sewage. Ingestion and digestion of food bacteria by anaerobic protists with or without endosymbiotic methanogens were demonstrated using tracer experiments with green fluorescent protein and a stable carbon isotope. These tracer experiments also demonstrated that Cyclidium sp. supplied CO2 and hydrogen to endosymbiotic methanogens. While Cyclidium sp. and Trichomitus sp. ingested both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, Paracercomonas sp. could only take up Gram-negative bacteria. Archaeal cells such as Methanobacterium beijingense and Methanospirillum hungatei did not support the growth of these protists. Metabolite patterns of all three protists differed and were influenced by food bacterial species. These reported growth rates, ingestion rates, food selectivity, and metabolite patterns provide important insights into the ecological roles of these protists in anaerobic ecosystems.
Inhibition of the autophagic protein ULK1 attenuates axonal degeneration in vitro and in vivo, enhances translation, and modulates splicing
Authors: Vahsen Björn Friedhelm , Ribas Vinicius Toledo , Sundermeyer Jonas , Boecker Alexander , Dambeck Vivian , Lenz Christof , Shomroni Orr , Caldi Gomes Lucas , Tatenhorst Lars , Barski Elisabeth , Roser Anna-Elisa , Michel Uwe , Urlaub Henning , Salinas Gabriela , Bähr Mathias , Koch Jan Christoph , Lingor Paul
Published: April 2020

Axonal degeneration is a key and early pathological feature in traumatic and neurodegenerative disorders of the CNS. Following a focal lesion to axons, extended axonal disintegration by acute axonal degeneration (AAD) occurs within several hours. During AAD, the accumulation of autophagic proteins including Unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) has been demonstrated, but its role is incompletely understood. Here, we study the effect of ULK1 inhibition in different models of lesion-induced axonal degeneration in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of a dominant negative of ULK1 (ULK1.DN) in primary rat cortical neurons attenuates axotomy-induced AAD in vitro. Both ULK1.DN and the ULK1 inhibitor SBI-0206965 protect against AAD after rat optic nerve crush in vivo. ULK1.DN additionally attenuates long-term axonal degeneration after rat spinal cord injury in vivo. Mechanistically, ULK1.DN decreases autophagy and leads to an mTOR-mediated increase in translational proteins. Consistently, treatment with SBI-0206965 results in enhanced mTOR activation. ULK1.DN additionally modulates the differential splicing of the degeneration-associated genesKif1bandDdit3. These findings uncover ULK1 as an important mediator of axonal degeneration in vitro and in vivo, and elucidate its function in splicing, defining it as a putative therapeutic target.
Cold atmospheric plasma induces GSDME-dependent pyroptotic signaling pathway via ROS generation in tumor cells
Authors: Yang Xiaorui , Chen Guodong , Yu Kwan Ngok , Yang Miaomiao , Peng Shengjie , Ma Jie , Qin Feng , Cao Wei , Cui Shujun , Nie Lili , Han Wei
Published: April 2020

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been proposed as a novel promising anti-cancer treatment modality. Apoptosis and necrosis have been revealed in CAP-induced cell death, but whether CAP induces pyroptosis, another kind of programmed cell death is still unknown. In the present study, we first reported that CAP effectively induced pyroptosis in a dose-dependent manner in Gasdermin E (GSDME) high-expressed tumor cell lines. Interestingly, the basal level of GSDME protein was positively correlated with the sensitivity to CAP in three selected cancer cell lines, implying GSDME might be a potential biomarker of prognosis in the forthcoming cancer CAP treatment. Moreover, our study revealed that CAP-induced pyroptosis depended on the activation of mitochondrial pathways (JNK/cytochrome c/caspase-9/caspase-3) and the cleavage of GSDME but not Gasdermin D (GSDMD). ROS generation induced by CAP was identified to initiate the pyroptotic signaling. These results complemented our knowledge on CAP-induced cell death and provide a strategy to optimize the effect of CAP cancer treatment.
Effect of naive and cancer-educated fibroblasts on colon cancer cell circadian growth rhythm
Authors: Parascandolo Alessia , Bonavita Raffaella , Astaburuaga Rosario , Sciuto Antonio , Reggio Stefano , Barra Enrica , Corcione Francesco , Salvatore Marco , Mazzoccoli Gianluigi , Relógio Angela , Laukkanen Mikko O.
Published: April 2020

Opportunistic modification of the tumour microenvironment by cancer cells enhances tumour expansion and consequently eliminates tumour suppressor components. We studied the effect of fibroblasts on the circadian rhythm of growth and protein expression in colon cancer HCT116 cells and found diminished oscillation in the proliferation of HCT116 cells co-cultured with naive fibroblasts, compared with those co-cultured with tumour-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) or those cultured alone, suggesting that TAFs may have lost or gained factors that regulate circadian phenotypes. Based on the fibroblast paracrine factor analysis, we tested IL6, which diminished HCT116 cell growth oscillation, inhibited early phase cell proliferation, increased early phase expression of the differentiation markers CEA and CDX2, and decreased early phase ERK5 phosphorylation. In conclusion, our data demonstrate how the cancer education of naive fibroblasts influences the circadian parameters of neighbouring cancer cells and highlights a putative role for IL6 as a novel candidate for preoperative treatments.
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the heterogeneity of liver-resident immune cells in human
Authors: Zhao Juanjuan , Zhang Shuye , Liu Yang , He Xiaomeng , Qu Mengmeng , Xu Gang , Wang Hongbo , Huang Man , Pan Jing , Liu Zhenwen , Li Zhiwei , Liu Lei , Zhang Zheng
Published: April 2020

The liver plays a critical role in both immune defense and tolerance in the body. The liver-resident immune cells (LrICs) determine the immune properties, but the unique composition and heterogeneity of these cells are incompletely understood. Here, we dissect the diversity of LrICs by a comprehensive transcriptomic profiling using the unbiased single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). A total of 70, 706 of CD45+ immune cells from the paired liver perfusion, spleen and peripheral blood as references were profiled. We identified more than 30 discrete cell populations comprising 13 of T and NK cell, 7 of B cell, 4 of plasma cell, and 8 of myeloid cell subsets in human liver and donor-paired spleen and blood, and characterized their tissue distribution, gene expression and functional modules. Especially, four of CXCR6+ T and NK cell subsets were found to be present preferentially in the liver, where they manifested heterogeneity, distinct function and prominent homeostatic proliferation. We propose a universal category system of T and NK cells based on distinct chemokine receptors, confirmed subsequently by phenotype, transcriptional factors and functionality. We also identified adaptive changes by the spleen and liver-derived monocyte and macrophage populations. Finally, we give a global glimpse on B cell and plasma cell subsets in human spleen and liver. We, therefore, reveal the heterogeneity and functional diversity of LrICs in human. This study presents comprehensively the landscape of LrICs and will enable further study on their roles in various human diseases.
The phylogenetic landscape and nosocomial spread of the multidrug-resistant opportunist Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Authors: Gröschel Matthias I. , Meehan Conor J. , Barilar Ivan , Diricks Margo , Gonzaga Aitor , Steglich Matthias , Conchillo-Solé Oscar , Scherer Isabell-Christin , Mamat Uwe , Luz Christian F. , De Bruyne Katrien , Utpatel Christian , Yero Daniel , Gibert Isidre , Daura Xavier , Kampmeier Stefanie , Rahman Nurdyana Abdul , Kresken Michael , van der Werf Tjip S. , Alio Ifey , Streit Wolfgang R. , Zhou Kai , Schwartz Thomas , Rossen John W. A. , Farhat Maha R. , Schaible Ulrich E. , Nübel Ulrich , Rupp Jan , Steinmann Joerg , Niemann Stefan , Kohl Thomas A.
Published: April 2020

Recent studies portend a rising global spread and adaptation of human- or healthcare-associated pathogens. Here, we analyse an international collection of the emerging, multidrug-resistant, opportunistic pathogen Stenotrophomonas maltophilia from 22 countries to infer population structure and clonality at a global level. We show that the S. maltophilia complex is divided into 23 monophyletic lineages, most of which harbour strains of all degrees of human virulence. Lineage Sm6 comprises the highest rate of human-associated strains, linked to key virulence and resistance genes. Transmission analysis identifies potential outbreak events of genetically closely related strains isolated within days or weeks in the same hospitals.
Solar-blind ultraviolet-C persistent luminescence phosphors
Authors: Wang Xianli , Chen Yafei , Liu Feng , Pan Zhengwei
Published: April 2020

Visible-light and infrared-light persistent phosphors are extensively studied and are being used as self-sustained glowing tags in darkness. In contrast, persistent phosphors for higher-energy, solar-blind ultraviolet-C wavelengths (200–280 nm) are lacking. Also, persistent tags working in bright environments are not available. Here we report five types of Pr3+-doped silicates (melilite, cyclosilicate, silicate garnet, oxyorthosilicate, and orthosilicate) ultraviolet-C persistent phosphors that can act as self-sustained glowing tags in bright environments. These ultraviolet-C persistent phosphors can be effectively charged by a standard 254 nm lamp and emit intense, long-lasting afterglow at 265–270 nm, which can be clearly monitored and imaged by a corona camera in daylight and room light. Besides thermal-stimulation, in bright environments, photo-stimulation also contributes to the afterglow emission and its contribution can be dominant when ambient light is strong. This study expands persistent luminescence research to the ultraviolet-C wavelengths and brings persistent luminescence applications to light.