bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgery of the Primary Tumor Offers Survival Benefits of Breast Cancer with Synchronous Ipsilateral Supraclavicular Lymph Node Metastasis
Authors: Chen Qi‐tong , Zeng Li‐yun , Ouyang Deng‐jie , Zhao Piao , Zou Qiong‐yan , Pei Lei , Luo Na , Yi Wen‐jun
Published: November 2019

Background

Controversy exists around the locoregional management of the primary tumor for breast cancer associated with synchronous ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis (sISLM) due to the rarity of the disease and limited available data. This study aimed to compare outcomes of patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database with sISLM who underwent surgical resection and radiation of the primary tumor with those who did not.

Methods

This population‐based retrospective study included breast cancer patients with sISLM without distant metastases from 2004 to 2016 in the SEER database. In this study, patients had been stratified by operative management, and propensity score matching (PSM) had been successfully applied.

Results

A total of 1172 breast cancer patients with sISLM were included in the study: 863 (73.6%) of patients underwent the primary tumor resection, and 309 (26.4%) patients did not undergo surgery. The median survival time in the surgery group was longer compared to the nonsurgery group in the overall cohort and the PSM cohort. We concluded that the primary tumor resection was associated with improved survival. Subgroup analysis further demonstrated that local surgery was not inferior to radical surgery.

Conclusion

For selected breast cancer patients with sISLM, surgery is a promising local intervention which may improve the survival.
The Significance of Histologically “Large Normal” Parathyroid Glands in Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Krawitz Russel , Glover Anthony , Koneru Sireesha , Jiang James , Di Marco Aimee , Gill Anthony J. , Aniss Ahmad , Sywak Mark , Delbridge Leigh , Sidhu Stan
Published: November 2019

Introduction

We investigated outcomes in a cohort of patients with a biochemical diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) undergoing surgery for asymptomatic disease or target organ damage, where a focussed or four‐gland operation was undertaken and the histopathology only reported a “large normal” parathyroid gland (LNP).

Methods and materials

Patients subjected to a parathyroidectomy for pHPT between 2012 and 2018 with a pathology of LNP were included. Patients with fat depletion or additional histological features of adenoma or hyperplasia in any of the resected glands were excluded. A control group was formed from 50 consecutive patients with the histological finding of adenoma or hyperplasia during the same study period. The primary outcome was biochemical normalisation of pHPT at 1–2 weeks and after 6 months post‐operatively.

Results

Forty‐eight LNP patients (2% of all parathyroidectomies) were included in the study group with 50 matched controls. LNP patients had a lower biochemical cure rate (81% vs. 98% P < 0.05) and a higher risk of recurrence (10% vs. 0%, P = 0.06). LNP patients had a milder form of pHPT (Ca2+ 2.63 vs. 2.68 P < 0.05) with a smaller PTH and Ca2+ drop post‐operatively. For LNP patients with failure, a definite additional cause of pHPT was found in only two patients.

Conclusion

This study highlights a controversial area in pHPT and reports LNP as a cause of pHPT. The biochemical analysis of this LNP group supports a benefit in resection in the setting of pHPT, although the risk of failure (persistence/recurrence) is higher than those with adenoma or hyperplasia. Stricter post‐operative follow‐up of LNP patients should be considered.
‘We don’t know for sure’: discussion of uncertainty concerning multigene panel testing during initial cancer genetic consultations
Authors: Medendorp Niki M. , Hillen Marij A. , van Maarschalkerweerd Pomme E. A. , Aalfs Cora M. , Ausems Margreet G. E. M. , Verhoef Senno , van der Kolk Lizet E. , Berger Lieke P. V. , Wevers Marijke R. , Wagner Anja , Caanen Barbara A. H. , Stiggelbout Anne M. , Smets Ellen M. A.
Published: November 2019

Pre-test counseling about multigene panel testing involves many uncertainties. Ideally, counselees are informed about uncertainties in a way that enables them to make an informed decision about panel testing. It is presently unknown whether and how uncertainty is discussed during initial cancer genetic counseling. We therefore investigated whether and how counselors discuss and address uncertainty, and the extent of shared decision-making (SDM), and explored associations between counselors’ communication and their characteristics in consultations on panel testing for cancer. For this purpose, consultations of counselors discussing a multigene panel with a simulated patient were videotaped. Simulated patients represented a counselee who had had multiple cancer types, according to a script. Before and afterwards, counselors completed a survey. Counselors’ uncertainty expressions, initiating and the framing of expressions, and their verbal responses to scripted uncertainties of the simulated patient were coded by two researchers independently. Coding was done according to a pre-developed coding scheme using The Observer XT software for observational analysis. Additionally, the degree of SDM was assessed by two observers. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to assess associations of communicated uncertainties, responses and the extent of SDM, with counselors’ background characteristics. In total, twenty-nine counselors, including clinical geneticists, genetic counselors, physician assistants-in-training, residents and interns, participated of whom working experience varied between 0 and 25 years. Counselors expressed uncertainties mainly regarding scientific topics (94%) and on their own initiative (95%). Most expressions were framed directly (77%), e.g. We don’t know, and were emotionally neutral (59%; without a positive/negative value). Counselors mainly responded to uncertainties of the simulated patient by explicitly referring to the uncertainty (69%), without providing space for further disclosure (66%). More experienced counselors provided less space to further disclose uncertainty (p < 0.02), and clinical geneticists scored lower on SDM compared with other types of counselors (p < 0.03). Our findings that counselors mainly communicate scientific uncertainties and use space-reducing responses imply that the way counselors address counselees’ personal uncertainties and concerns during initial cancer genetic counseling is suboptimal.
Assessment of bacterial pathogens on edible macroalgae in coastal waters
Authors: Barberi Olivia N. , Byron Carrie J. , Burkholder Kristin M. , St. Gelais Adam T. , Williams Alicia K.
Published: November 2019

In the Northeast USA, the aquaculture of macroalgae is a rapidly growing industry. Within this region, there are no established regulations for farm siting or methods of pathogen detection on macroalgae cultivated or harvested for human consumption. Bacterial pathogens from natural and anthropogenic sources may persist in coastal waters and can potentially contaminate macroalgae. During the winter growing season, sugar kelp Saccharina latissima and adjacent water were sampled from three sites of kelp aquaculture located in adjacent bays of ME, USA. Membrane filtration onto selective media detected Escherichia coli, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio alginolyticus in kelp and water samples at all sites, however plate counts were very low. The foodborne pathogens Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium, V. parahaemolyticus, and enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 were detected on enriched kelp samples from 83%, 78%, and 56% of sampling events, respectively, using molecular methods. Even with low bacterial levels, this frequency of detection confirms the risk of foodborne pathogens present on kelp and recommends the development of best management practices to control microbial growth during kelp harvest and processing. Bacterial plate counts from kelp samples often varied from those of water, indicating the importance of sampling the kelp directly, and that the association between bacterial pathogens on kelp and in the surrounding water should be further investigated. This study provides the first food safety assessment of sea vegetables in this region with the goal of providing data to enable the expansion of its industry.
pH-dependent silicon release from phytoliths of Norway spruce (Picea abies)
Authors: Lisztes-Szabó Zsuzsa , Filep Anna F. , Csík Attila , Pető Ákos , Kertész Titanilla G. , Braun Mihály
Published: November 2019

Accurate evaluation of the preservation state of fossil phytoliths in glacial lake sediments is important, as these microfossils are often used in paleoecological and archaeological studies. The characteristic phytolith type of the Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) needle is a potential keystone in paleoecological studies. In this laboratory study, we investigated dissolution of Picea abies blocky type phytoliths, to simulate dissolution processes in sediments and soils and create reference material to compare with fossil phytoliths. Intact needles, needle ash, diatomite and silica gel were treated with Britton–Robinson buffer solutions at pH values from 2 to 12 for 22 days. Silicon was measured by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Treatment effects were evaluated on longitudinal cuts of needles under a stereomicroscope and on phytolith assemblages from needles using a light microscope. Surfaces of treated phytoliths were investigated by scanning electron microscope and elemental analysis of phytoliths was determined by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Dissolution of silicon in spruce needles was inhibited between pH 8.0 and 11.1. Needle tissue protects phytoliths from erosion processes at this alkaline pH range. Most dissolved silicon appeared to originate from the phytolith surfaces and the silica matrix of the apoplast in the tissues, with less from complete dissolution of phytoliths. Our experiment suggests that extraneous metal elements are incorporated into the silica structure during the dissolution process. Thus, higher element content is an effect of partial dissolution rather than a cause of dissolution. Ultrastructure of the surface of Picea-blocky type phytoliths, namely disappearance of the globular structure, may be useful to assess the intensity of destructive processes in sediments. Our experimental treatments indicate that characteristic Picea-blocky phytoliths in needles can be well-preserved, depending on circumstances in sediments. Further micro-analytical measurements will make these needles promising tools for paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
Fast MW estimation of microearthquakes recorded around the underground gas storage in the Montello-Collalto area (Southeastern Alps, Italy)
Authors: Lanzoni Alessandra , Moratto Luca , Priolo Enrico , Romano Maria Adelaide
Published: November 2019

Underground fluid injection and extraction is able to change pore fluid pressure at depth and make faults unstable, due to friction-force reduction, with an increased possibility of triggering earthquakes. Studying the local seismicity, down to microearthquakes, and stress field in areas where such activities are developed are essential steps to discriminate between natural and induced events. In this context, the moment magnitude (MW) is a key-parameter to both evaluate the energy balance and the stress involved in earthquake rupture process and assess seismic hazard accurately. Here, we focus on the fast MWestimation of microearthquakes recorded around the underground gas storage of Collalto (Northeastern Italy) by a dedicated seismic monitoring network. The area of Montello-Collalto, where this industrial activity is carried out, is densely populated and characterized by relevant seismic hazard. We compute MWfrom the response spectra (SA) calculated at fixed periods (i.e., 1.0 and 0.3 s); we show that log (SA) and MWscale as 2/3 and extend our method to microseismicity by using response spectra at 0.1 s. We eventually estimate MWfor 1659 events (0.4 ≤ MW≤ 3.5) and find that MLand MWscale as 2/3 too. The discrepancy between these two magnitude scales affects both the Gutenberg-Richter parameters and completeness magnitude estimations; therefore, it has consequences when those quantities are used for physical interpretation. Our procedure shows to be efficient and suitable to be implemented within standard routine analyses of real-time monitoring and feed decision-making processes about plant management, such as the traffic light protocols.
Expenditures on Mental Health Care in the Czech Republic in 2015
Authors: Broulikova Hana M. , Dlouhy Martin , Winkler Petr
Published: November 2019

Expenditures on mental health care in the Czech Republic are not being published regularly, yet they are indispensable for evaluation of the ongoing reform of Czech mental health care. The main objective of this study is to estimate the size of these expenditures in 2015 and make a comparison with the last available figures from the year 2006. The estimation is based on an OECD methodology of health accounts, which structures health care expenditures according to health care functions, provider industries, and payers. The expenditures are further decomposed according to diagnoses, and inputs used in service production. The amount spent on mental health care in 2015 reached more than 13.7 billion Czech korunas (EUR 501.6 million), which represented 4.08% of the total health care expenditures. This ratio is almost identical with the 2006 share (4.14%). There are no significant changes in the relative expenditures on mental health care and in the structure of service provision. The Czech mental health care system remains largely hospital based with most of all mental health care expenditures being spent on inpatient care. Future developments in the expenditures will indicate the success of the current effort to deinstitutionalise mental health care.
PCR MP Method for Differentiation of Clavibacter michiganensis Subsp. sepedonicus Isolates
Authors: Węgierek-Maciejewska Agnieszka , Masny Aleksander , Wołkowicz Tomasz , Jagiełło Agata , Arseniuk Edward
Published: November 2019

The published data indicate that the bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus (Cms) shows a notably low degree of intraspecific variation, and most of the molecular diagnostic methods could differentiate among subspecies groups but lacked the resolution to detect genetic diversity within subspecies. The present study describes effective differentiation of 50 isolates of C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus by the PCR MP method using five restriction enzymes (ApaI, PstI, BamHI, XmaI, HindIII). By analysing the electrophoretic patterns obtained by the PCR MP method performed with the applied restriction enzymes, each of the 50 tested isolates could be identified and distinguished from the remaining isolates. The PCR MP method of bacterial strain identification can be used in epidemiological studies, particularly for excluding the isolates of C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus as a source of primary infection.
Management and outcomes of real-world use of non-vitamin-K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation: experience of a dedicated NOAC clinic
Authors: de Veer A. J. W. M. , Bennaghmouch N. , Wijffels M. C. E. F. , ten Berg J. M.
Published: November 2019

Background

Current guidelines recommend non-vitamin‑K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) as the first-choice therapy for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The use of drugs in a clinical trial setting differs from that in real-world populations. Real-world data are important to accrue more heterogeneous patient populations with respect to co-morbidities and co-medication use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of NOACs in daily practice in a large tertiary hospital in the Netherlands.

Methods

A single-centre prospective study was conducted among all patients with AF using a NOAC in the St. Antonius Hospital between 2013 and June 2017. The outcomes were the rates of any bleeding, stroke/transient ischaemic attack, mortality, discontinuation rate and adverse drug reactions.

Results

In total, 799 patients were enrolled with a mean follow-up of 1.7 years. Mean age was 69.8 (SD ± 11) and 61.2% were male. Mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 2.8 (SD ± 1.6) and mean HAS-BLED score was 1.4 (SD ± 0.9). Bleeding occurred in 6.0, major bleeding in 1.8, stroke in 1.2 patients per 100 patient-years, and 87 patients (10.9%) died during the follow-up period. Adverse drug reactions were reported by 59 patients (7.4%). Finally, 249 patients (31.2%) reported a temporary interruption and 132 (16.5%) permanent discontinuation of NOAC treatment, of whom 33 (25%) patients switched to a vitamin‑K antagonist.

Conclusions

We observed low rates of bleeding and adverse drug reactions. However, rates of mortality and discontinuation were relatively high. These results could possibly be explained by the real-world nature of the data including higher-risk patients.
New Strategies for Prevention and Treatment of Insect Bite Hypersensitivity in Horses
Authors: Jonsdottir Sigridur , Cvitas Iva , Svansson Vilhjalmur , Fettelschloss-Gabriel Antonia , Torsteinsdottir Sigurbjorg , Marti Eliane
Published: November 2019

Purpose of Review

Treatment of equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) needs to be improved. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT), the only curative treatment of allergy, currently has only a limited efficacy for treatment of IBH. This review highlights the latest findings in prophylactic and therapeutic strategies.

Recent Findings

Prophylactic vaccination against IBH using recombinant Culicoides allergen has been developed in unexposed Icelandic horses and is ready to be tested. Therapeutic virus-like particle (VLP)–based vaccines targeting equine interleukin- (IL-) 5 or IL-31 improved clinical signs of IBH by induction of anti-cytokine antibodies thus reducing eosinophil counts or allergic pruritus, respectively.

First studies for development of ASIT using pure r-Culicoides allergens have yielded promising results and need now to be tested in clinical studies for both prevention and treatment of IBH. Therapeutic vaccines inducing neutralizing antibodies against IL-5 or IL-31 will be valuable future treatments for reduction of clinical signs of IBH.
Aluthge transform of operators on the Bergman space
Authors: Padhy Chinmayee , Jena Pabitra Kumar , Paikray S. K.
Published: November 2019

The aim of this paper is to explore some sufficient conditions for Aluthge transform of Toeplitz operators on the Bergman space to be unitary, average of unitaries and normal.
Effect of a pre-milking teat foam and a liner disinfectant on the presence of mesophilic and (proteolytic) psychrotrophic bacteria prior to milking
Authors: Verhegghe M. , De Block J. , Van Weyenberg S. , Herman L. , Heyndrickx M. , Van Coillie E.
Published: November 2019

Contamination of raw milk by psychrotrophs can lead to the production of heat-resistant proteases and subsequent spoilage of UHT milk. Therefore, this research communication evaluated the effect of a pre-milking teat disinfectant (active components: L-(+)-lactic acid and salicylic acid) and a liner disinfectant (active components: peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide) on the number of mesophilic and (proteolytic) psychrotrophic bacteria prior to milking. The teat orifices of 10 cows were sampled using a swabbing procedure before and after treatment with a pre-milking teat disinfectant on six subsequent days. On the teat orifices, there was a small but statistically significant decrease in the psychrotrophic bacterial counts between pre and post dipping. No differences were observed for the mesophilic bacterial counts and proteolytic active counts. Liners were also sampled using swabs pre and post disinfection. No statistically significant decrease in the bacterial counts was observed post liner disinfection, although there was a numerical decrease. Sixty-two percent of the proteolytic psychrotrophs were pseudomonads: 16.5% of which were P. fragi, 14.3% P. lundensis, 10.0% P. fluorescens and 2.9% P. putida. Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) analysis revealed a wide variety in proteolytic activity (from 0 to 55 µmol glycine/ml milk) and the presence of high producers. It can be concluded that there was only a minor effect of teat and liner disinfection on the psychrotrophic bacterial counts indicating that the measures presented did not result in a reduction of the targeted bacteria on teat orifices and liners.
Exploring variation in nonnative Japanese learners’ perception of lexical pitch accent: The roles of processing resources and learning context
Authors: Goss Seth
Published: November 2019

This article reports findings on the effects of processing resources and learning context on the perceptual learning of lexical pitch accent in beginning nonnative Japanese learners. Native English speakers in at-home and study-abroad contexts were tested twice during a semester of Japanese study on their ability to judge the correctness of and categorize nouns by their pitch pattern. Regression analyses indicated that the ability to store nonnative-like sound sequences in phonological short-term memory (PSTM), as well as auditory processing ability, predicted a significant degree of perceptual gains made over a 12-week interval. However, these predictors were task specific in that PSTM capacity predicted correctness judgment gains, while auditory processing accounted for variation in categorization. Furthermore, despite learners in the at-home context performing slightly better overall, processing resources adhered to the same predictive pattern when context was taken into account. The results suggest that (a) neither increased input during study-abroad nor targeted instruction is sufficient for most learners to acquire lexical accent; (b) processing resources support the acquisition of lexical prosody, but these may depend on how learning is assessed; and (c) PSTM operates across learning contexts, suggesting it to be a domain-general capacity in early-stage nonnative language acquisition.
Sharp concentration of the equitable chromatic number of dense random graphs
Authors: Heckel Annika
Published: November 2019

An equitable colouring of a graph G is a vertex colouring where no two adjacent vertices are coloured the same and, additionally, the colour class sizes differ by at most 1. The equitable chromatic number χ=(G) is the minimum number of colours required for this. We study the equitable chromatic number of the dense random graph ${\mathcal{G}(n,m)}$ where $m = \left\lfloor {p\left( \matrix{
n \cr
2 \cr} \right)} \right\rfloor $ and 0 < p < 0.86 is constant. It is a well-known question of Bollobás [3] whether for p = 1/2 there is a function f(n) → ∞ such that, for any sequence of intervals of length f(n), the normal chromatic number of ${\mathcal{G}(n,m)}$ lies outside the intervals with probability at least 1/2 if n is large enough. Bollobás proposes that this is likely to hold for f(n) = log n. We show that for the equitable chromatic number, the answer to the analogous question is negative. In fact, there is a subsequence ${({n_j})_j}_{ \in {\mathbb {N}}}$ of the integers where $\chi_=({\mathcal{G}(n_j,m_j)})$ is concentrated on exactly one explicitly known value. This constitutes surprisingly narrow concentration since in this range the equitable chromatic number, like the normal chromatic number, is rather large in absolute value, namely asymptotically equal to n/(2logbn) where b = 1/(1 − p).
The Principles of Constitutional Reform
Authors: Weinrib Jacob
Published: November 2019

In legal orders around the world, commitments to democracy, liberalism and constitutionalism are increasingly eroding. Although political and constitutional theorists often lament this trend, they invariably adopt frameworks that are indifferent to these commitments. My aims in this article are both critical and constructive. As a critical matter, I will expose the indifference of the leading political and constitutional theories to the emergence, maintenance and refinement of liberal democratic constitutional orders. As a constructive matter, I will draw on Immanuel Kant’s constitutional theory to explain why realizing such a form of governance is a public duty and why receding from it is a public wrong.
Collective Property Rights and Social Citizenship: Recent Trends in Urban Latin America
Authors: Davis Diane E. , Fernández José Carlos
Published: November 2019

This article argues that efforts to implement collective property ownership via community land trusts (CLTs) in Latin America can be seen as a viable means for reducing socio-spatial inequalities, strengthening the urban poor’s ‘right to the city,’ and enabling more substantive social citizenship. It begins by arguing that, in Latin America, market models intended to strengthen individual property rights can increase urban inequality and spatial exclusion. It then examines recent measures undertaken to reverse the negative impacts of these patterns, focusing explicitly on the adoption of CLTs and how they serve as a means for strengthening urban citizenship. After highlighting the fact that CLTs have proliferated in the US and Europe but not Latin America, we explain how and why a few Latin American countries have nonetheless embraced CLTs. Building on deeper analysis of two cases in the region, Puerto Rico and Brazil, we show that despite the legal and governance constraints of Latin American cities, CLTs can materialise when local authorities join with citizens to embrace these models.
Proactive and Reactive Aggressive Behaviors: Dimensionality of Self-Report Scales
Authors: Borsa Juliane Callegaro , Hauck-Filho Nelson , Damásio Bruno Figueiredo
Published: November 2019

The literature distinguishes aggressive behavior as being either proactive or reactive; however, despite being highly comorbid, they appear to possess unique correlation patterns to external variables. We propose to assess the dimensionality and latent profiles that emerged based on the Peer Aggressive Behavior Scale (PAB-S) and the Peer Aggressive and Reactive Behavior Questionnaire (PARB-Q). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted on two self-report scales in a non-representative Brazilian sample composed by 2,517 students of elementary school (1,275 girls; 50.7%), aged from seven to 16 years. CFA analyses showed inconclusive results regarding the dimensionality of the data. LPA results, for both instruments, indicated the interdependence between proactive and reactive factors. We suggest that dimensionality issues concerning human aggression might depend, at least in part, on the method used to assess the phenomenon.
Twins Research Australia: A New Paradigm for Driving Twin Research
Authors: Murphy Kate , Lam Janine , Cutler Tessa , Tyler Jess , Calais-Ferreira Lucas , Li Shuai , Little Callie , Ferreira Paulo , Craig Jeffrey M. , Scurrah Katrina J. , Hopper John L.
Published: November 2019

Twins Research Australia (TRA) is a community of twins and researchers working on health research to benefit everyone, including twins. TRA leads multidisciplinary research through the application of twin and family study designs, with the aim of sustaining long-term twin research that, both now and in the future, gives back to the community. This article summarizes TRA’s recent achievements and future directions, including new methodologies addressing causation, linkage to health, economic and educational administrative datasets and to geospatial data to provide insight into health and disease. We also explain how TRA’s knowledge translation and exchange activities are key to communicating the impact of twin studies to twins and the wider community. Building researcher capability, providing registry resources and partnering with all key stakeholders, particularly the participants, are important for how TRA is advancing twin research to improve health outcomes for society. TRA provides researchers with open access to its vibrant volunteer membership of twins, higher order multiples (multiples) and families who are willing to consider participation in research. Established four decades ago, this resource facilitates and supports research across multiple stages and a breadth of health domains.
The HEXACO-Middle School Inventory (MSI)
Authors: Sergi Ida , Gnisci Augusto , Senese Vincenzo P. , Perugini Marco
Published: November 2019

Abstract. We developed and validated a novel measure, the 6-factor personality HEXACO-Middle School Inventory (MSI). We started with a pool of 16 items for each of the six dimensions of the HEXACO. In Study 1, we administered the HEXACO-MSI to 1,089 Italian children and the Observer version to their parents. Using principal component analyses (PCA) and extension factor analysis (EFA), we selected the best eight items for each dimension. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the 6-factor dimensionality and its invariance. Internal consistency of each dimension was adequate. Convergent and divergent validity were successfully established with a version of the scale filled by parents. Convergent validity was also established with the Big Five Questionnaire – Children (BFQ-Children) whereas divergent validity was less clear-cut. Conscientiousness, Honesty-Humility, and eXtraversion demonstrated predictive validity of school marks (criterion validity). In Study 2 ( N = 317), we replicated dimensionality, internal consistency, and established test-retest reliability of each dimension in two measurements at a 1 month distance. The HEXACO-MSI showed a clear personality structure organized in six traits, and evidence of predictive validity of relevant school criteria particularly via Conscientiousness, Honesty-Humility, and eXtraversion.
The Learning-Specific Inner Speech Scale (LISS)
Authors: Xiang Xue , Brinthaupt Thomas M. , Sun Sumin , Ren Xuezhu
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Theory and research suggest that inner speech plays a prominent role in students’ learning. To facilitate research on inner speech within learning and academic contexts, we developed a Learning-specific Inner Speech Scale (LISS) used for assessing students spanning a broad range of ages. The LISS takes a functional view of inner speech, assessing the frequency of social-assessing, self-critical, self-reinforcing, and self-managing inner speech in the learning context. Data from three studies based on the child, adolescent, and young adult samples demonstrated that the LISS exhibits acceptable psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct and content validities. In addition, the LISS is age-sensitive and demonstrates a favorably predictive validity for students’ real-life learning performance. The LISS provides researchers and practitioners a useful tool for exploring verbal thinking and its relationships with learning strategies and performance.
Core Self-Evaluations Over Time
Authors: Tocci Michael C. , Converse Patrick D. , Moon Nicholas A.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Core self-evaluations (CSEs) represent a prominent construct with links to a number of important organizational behaviors and outcomes. Previous research on this variable appears to have assumed that CSE is a stable trait. However, very little research has examined this assumption, particularly over longer time periods. This study investigated this issue, focusing on within-person variability in CSE. Drawing from several theoretical perspectives related to self-concept, we examined the extent to which levels of this construct varied over several years as well as potential predictors of this variability. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses indicated there was substantial within-person variance in CSE over time and this variability was related to income and education. These findings shed additional light on the fundamental nature of CSE, contributing to a new perspective on this construct with potential implications for employees, organizations, and researchers.
Dire and Drier Future for Lake Victoria
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: November 2019

In the past, Lake Victoria dried out swiftly and often when rainfall was limited. Climate change might bring about those conditions again within a century.
Devolatilization of Subducting Slabs, Part II: Volatile Fluxes and Storage
Authors: Tian Meng , Katz Richard F. , Rees Jones David W. , May Dave A.
Published: November 2019

Subduction is a crucial part of the long‐term water and carbon cycling between Earth's exosphere and interior. However, there is broad disagreement over how much water and carbon is liberated from subducting slabs to the mantle wedge and transported to island‐arc volcanoes. In the Tian et al. (2019) Part I, we parameterize the metamorphic reactions involving H2O and CO2 for representative subducting lithologies. On this basis, a two‐dimensional reactive transport model is constructed in this Part II. We assess the various controlling factors of CO2 and H2O release from subducting slabs. Model results show that up‐slab fluid flow directions produce a flux peak of CO2 and H2O at subarc depths. Moreover, infiltration of H2O‐rich fluids sourced from hydrated slab mantle enhances decarbonation or carbonation at lithological interfaces, increases slab surface fluxes, and redistributes CO2 from basalt and gabbro layers to the overlying sedimentary layer. As a result, removal of the cap sediments (by diapirism or off‐scraping) leads to elevated slab surface CO2 and H2O fluxes. The modeled subduction efficiency (the percentage of initially subducted volatiles retained until ∼200 km deep) of H2O and CO2 is increased by open‐system effects due to fractionation within the interior of lithological layers.
Three‐Dimensional Seismic Attenuation Structure of Central Japan and Deep Sources of Arc Magmatism
Authors: Kashiwagi Hirokazu , Nakajima Junichi
Published: November 2019

We estimate the 3‐D P wave attenuation (Qp−1) structure of central Japan to investigate arc magmatism. We first determine the corner frequencies of the earthquakes and then conduct a joint inversion to determine attenuation terms. The 3‐D Qp−1 structure is finally obtained via a tomographic inversion. High‐attenuation areas are located in the uppermost mantle along the volcanic front, which are interpreted as zones of partial melting at 30‐ to 100‐km depth due to the supply of slab‐derived fluids. The subducted Philippine Sea plate acts as a barrier to the upward migration of melt, resulting in the volcanic gap. The distribution of volcanoes is controlled primarily by the geometry of the subducted Philippine Sea plate. The attenuation structures beneath Mount Fuji and Mount Hakone show contrasting melt transport pathways, which are separated at ≤50‐km depth, suggesting that the independent melt supply system results in the distinct activities of these volcanoes.
Gas Hydrate Dissociation During Sea‐Level Highstand Inferred From U/Th Dating of Seep Carbonate From the South China Sea
Authors: Chen Fang , Wang Xudong , Li Niu , Cao Jun , Bayon Germain , Peckmann Jörn , Hu Yu , Gong Shanggui , Cheng Hai , Edwards R. Lawrence , Ning Youfeng , Jin Meng , Huang Huiwen , Wu Cong , Sun Yuedong , Chen Hong , Zhou Yang , Chen Duofu , Feng Dong
Published: November 2019

Gas hydrates represent a huge reservoir of methane in marine sediments, prone to dissociation in response to environmental changes. There is consensus that past events of gas hydrate dissociation in the marine environment mainly occurred during periods of low sea level. Here, we report geochemical data for 2‐m‐thick layers of seep carbonate collected from a hydrate‐bearing drill core from ~800‐m water depth in the northern South China Sea. The aragonite‐rich carbonates reveal positive δ18O values, confirming a genetic link with gas hydrate dissociation. Uranium‐thorium dating of seep carbonates indicates that gas hydrates at the study site dissociated between 133,300 and 112,700 years BP, hence coinciding with the Last Interglacial (MIS 5e) sea‐level highstand. We put forward the concept that a climate‐driven increase in temperature was responsible for a period of pronounced gas hydrate dissociation.
Capillary Trapping of CO2 in Sandstone Using Low Field NMR Relaxometry
Authors: Connolly Paul R. J. , Vogt Sarah J. , Mahmoud Mohamed , Ng Christopher N. Y. , May Eric F. , Johns Michael L.
Published: November 2019

Injecting carbon dioxide into geological formations for long‐term storage is considered integral to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Residual trapping of CO2 is a primary storage mechanism, whereby CO2 ganglia are trapped in the pore space by capillary forces. Experimental knowledge of residual trapping processes in rocks is critical to the development of safe storage strategies. Here we present a quantitative low field 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) core flooding study of CO2 residual trapping in three different sandstones. It was found that transverse relaxation (T2) measurements were sensitive to the dissolution of paramagnetic ions from rock matrix minerals after exposure to carbonic acid; this response was observed on time scales relevant to core flooding experiments (i.e., minutes to hours). Subsequently, a brine aging protocol was designed and implemented to minimize this chemical effect, and hence, by applying the well‐known T2‐pore size relationship, changes in T2 time distributions during core flooding could be related to displacement of brine from pores of different sizes. Comparison of T2 distributions for partially CO2/brine‐saturated cores to previously published data for N2/H2O systems shows an increased displacement of brine from small pores by CO2. Furthermore, results from cyclical brine/CO2 injections showed an increase in the total volume of residually trapped CO2 and an increase in trapping efficiency; compared to the results observed for N2/H2O, however, the improvement in trapping efficiency with cyclic injection was less pronounced. Potential causes for the observed differences are discussed in the context of effective N2 and CO2 wetting.
Maternal Type-I interferon signaling adversely affects the microglia and the behavior of the offspring accompanied by increased sensitivity to stress
Authors: Ben-Yehuda Hila , Matcovitch-Natan Orit , Kertser Alexander , Spinrad Amit , Prinz Marco , Amit Ido , Schwartz Michal
Published: November 2019

Viral infection during pregnancy is often associated with neuropsychiatric conditions. In mice, exposure of pregnant dams to the viral mimetic poly(I:C), serves as a model that simulates such pathology in the offspring, through a process known as Maternal Immune Activation (MIA). To investigate the mechanism of such effect, we hypothesized that maternal upregulation of Type-I interferon (IFN-I), as part of the dam’s antiviral response, might contribute to the damage imposed on the offspring. Using mRNA sequencing and flow cytometry analyses we found that poly(I:C) treatment during pregnancy caused reduced expression of genes related to proliferation and cell cycle in the offspring’s microglia relative to controls. This was found to be associated with an IFN-I signature in the embryonic yolk sac, the origin of microglia in development. Neutralizing IFN-I signaling in dams attenuated the effect of MIA on the newborn’s microglia, while systemic maternal administration of IFNβ was sufficient to mimic the effect of poly(I:C), and led to increased vulnerability of offspring’s microglia to subsequent stress. Furthermore, maternal elevation of IFNβ resulted in behavioral manifestations reminiscent of neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, by adopting a “two-hit” experimental paradigm, we show a higher sensitivity of the offspring to postnatal stress subsequent to the maternal IFNβ elevation, demonstrated by behavioral irregularities. Our results suggest that maternal upregulation of IFN-I, in response to MIA, interferes with the offspring’s programmed microglial developmental cascade, increases their susceptibility to postnatal stress, and leads to behavioral abnormalities.
Hippocampal Lnx1–NMDAR multiprotein complex mediates initial social memory
Authors: Liu Xian-Dong , Ai Peng-Hui , Zhu Xiao-Na , Pan Yuan-Bo , Halford Michael M. , Henkemeyer Mark , Feng Dong-Fu , Xu Tian-Le , Sun Suya , Xu Nan-Jie
Published: November 2019

Social interaction and communication are evolutionary conserved behaviours that are developed in mammals to establish partner cognition. Deficit in sociability has been represented in human patients and animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders, which are connected with genetic variants of synaptic glutamate receptors and associated PDZ-binding proteins. However, it remains elusive how these key proteins are specialized in the cellular level for the initial social behaviour during postnatal developmental stage. Here we identify a hippocampal CA3 specifically expressed PDZ scaffold protein Lnx1 required for initial social behaviour. Through gene targeting we find that Lnx1 deficiency led to a hippocampal subregional disorder in neuronal activity and social memory impairments for partner discrimination observed in juvenile mice which also show cognitive defects in adult stage. We further demonstrate that Lnx1 deletion causes NMDA receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction and this is attributable to decreased GluN2B expression in PSD compartment and disruption of the Lnx1–NMDAR–EphB2 complex. Specific restoration of Lnx1 or EphB2 protein in the CA3 area of Lnx1−/− mice rescues the defective synaptic function and social memory. These findings thus reveal crucial roles of postsynaptic NMDAR multiprotein complex that regulates the formation of initial social memory during the adolescent period.
PGK1 depletion activates Nrf2 signaling to protect human osteoblasts from dexamethasone
Authors: Liang Jinqian , Zhang Xiang-yang , Zhen Yun-Fang , Chen Chong , Tan Haining , Hu Jianhua , Tan Ming-sheng
Published: November 2019

Activation of nuclear-factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) cascade can alleviate dexamethasone (DEX)-induced oxidative injury and death of human osteoblasts. A recent study has shown that phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) inhibition/depletion will lead to Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) methylglyoxal modification, thereby activating Nrf2 signaling cascade. Here, in OB-6 osteoblastic cells and primary human osteoblasts, PGK1 silencing, by targeted shRNA, induced Nrf2 signaling cascade activation, causing Nrf2 protein stabilization and nuclear translocation, as well as increased expression of ARE-dependent genes (HO1, NQO1, and GCLC). Functional studies demonstrated that PGK1 shRNA largely attenuated DEX-induced oxidative injury and following death of OB-6 cells and primary osteoblasts. Furthermore, PGK1 knockout, by the CRISPR/Cas9 method, similarly induced Nrf2 signaling activation and protected osteoblasts from DEX. Importantly, PGK1 depletion-induced osteoblast cytoprotection against DEX was almost abolished by Nrf2 shRNA. In addition, Keap1 shRNA mimicked and nullified PGK1 shRNA-induced anti-DEX osteoblast cytoprotection. At last we show that PGK1 expression is downregulated in human necrotic femoral head tissues of DEX-taking patients, correlating with HO1 depletion. Collectively, these results show that PGK1 depletion protects human osteoblasts from DEX via activation of Keap1-Nrf2 signaling cascade.
High-efficiency and integrable DNA arithmetic and logic system based on strand displacement synthesis
Authors: Su Haomiao , Xu Jinglei , Wang Qi , Wang Fuan , Zhou Xiang
Published: November 2019

Powerful information processing and ubiquitous computing are crucial for all machines and living organisms. The Watson-Crick base-pairing principle endows DNA with excellent recognition and assembly abilities, which facilitates the design of DNA computers for achieving intelligent systems. However, current DNA computational systems are always constrained by poor integration efficiency, complicated device structures or limited computational functions. Here, we show a DNA arithmetic logic unit (ALU) consisting of elemental DNA logic gates using polymerase-mediated strand displacement. The use of an enzyme resulted in highly efficient logic gates suitable for multiple and cascaded computation. Based on our basic single-rail DNA configuration, additional combined logic gates (e.g., a full adder and a 4:1 multiplexer) have been constructed. Finally, we integrate the gates and assemble the crucial ALU. Our strategy provides a facile strategy for assembling a large-scale complex DNA computer system, highlighting the great potential for programming the molecular behaviors of complicated biosystems.
Structural basis for DNA unwinding at forked dsDNA by two coordinating Pif1 helicases
Authors: Su Nannan , Byrd Alicia K. , Bharath Sakshibeedu R. , Yang Olivia , Jia Yu , Tang Xuhua , Ha Taekjip , Raney Kevin D. , Song Haiwei
Published: November 2019

Pif1 plays multiple roles in maintaining genome stability and preferentially unwinds forked dsDNA, but the mechanism by which Pif1 unwinds forked dsDNA remains elusive. Here we report the structure of Bacteroides sp Pif1 (BaPif1) in complex with a symmetrical double forked dsDNA. Two interacting BaPif1 molecules are bound to each fork of the partially unwound dsDNA, and interact with the 5′ arm and 3′ ss/dsDNA respectively. Each of the two BaPif1 molecules is an active helicase and their interaction may regulate their helicase activities. The binding of BaPif1 to the 5′ arm causes a sharp bend in the 5′ ss/dsDNA junction, consequently breaking the first base-pair. BaPif1 bound to the 3′ ss/dsDNA junction impacts duplex unwinding by stabilizing the unpaired first base-pair and engaging the second base-pair poised for breaking. Our results provide an unprecedented insight into how two BaPif1 coordinate with each other to unwind the forked dsDNA.
Estimation of the apnea-hypopnea index in a heterogeneous sleep-disordered population using optimised cardiovascular features
Authors: Papini Gabriele B. , Fonseca Pedro , van Gilst Merel M. , van Dijk Johannes P. , Pevernagie Dirk A. A. , Bergmans Jan W. M. , Vullings Rik , Overeem Sebastiaan
Published: November 2019

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep disorder, which results in daytime symptoms, a reduced quality of life as well as long-term negative health consequences. OSA diagnosis and severity rating is typically based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) retrieved from overnight poly(somno)graphy. However, polysomnography is costly, obtrusive and not suitable for long-term recordings. Here, we present a method for unobtrusive estimation of the AHI using ECG-based features to detect OSA-related events. Moreover, adding ECG-based sleep/wake scoring yields a fully automatic method for AHI-estimation. Importantly, our algorithm was developed and validated on a combination of clinical datasets, including datasets selectively including OSA-pathology but also a heterogeneous, “real-world” clinical sleep disordered population (262 participants in the validation set). The algorithm provides a good representation of the current gold standard AHI (0.72 correlation, estimation error of 0.56 ± 14.74 events/h), and can also be employed as a screening tool for a large range of OSA severities (ROC AUC ≥ 0.86, Cohen’s kappa ≥ 0.53 and precision ≥70%). The method compares favourably to other OSA monitoring strategies, showing the feasibility of cardiovascular-based surrogates for sleep monitoring to evolve into clinically usable tools.