bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research progress on permeability improvement mechanisms and technologies of coalbed deep-hole cumulative blasting
Authors: Guo Deyong , Lv Pengfei , Zhao Jiechao , Zhang Chao
Published: April 2020

Coalbed gas extraction is an important means of exploiting and utilizing gas resources, as well as a means of preventing coal mine disasters. In view of the low gas extraction rate from coalbeds with high gas content and low permeability, a method of improving permeability through deep-hole cumulative blasting is applied to develop initial directional fractures using a jet flow. Under the action of the blasting stress wave and detonation gas wedge, the fractures extend over a large range within the coal, thereby improving coalbed permeability. This study focuses on the criteria of cumulative blasting-induced coalbed fracturing based on a literature review of the penetration effect of cumulative blasting. On this basis, we summarize the coal fracturing zone, crack extension process, and the key technologies of charging and hole sealing for cumulative blasting. In addition, the latest research progress in the optimization of field test drilling and blasting parameters for cumulative blasting is introduced. Research findings indicate that the permeability improvement mechanism of cumulative blasting could be further enhanced, and the technology and technical equipment are in urgent need of improvement. Finally, development trends in the cumulative blasting permeability improvement technique are identified.
Monitoring Large-Scale Rail Transit Systems Based on an Analytic Hierarchy Process/Gradient-Based Cuckoo Search Algorithm (GBCS) Scheme
Authors: Talib Nihad Hasan , Hasnan Khalid Bin , Nawawi Azli Bin , Abdullah Haslina Binti , Elewe Adel Muhsin
Published: April 2020

Condition monitoring is used as a tool for maintenance management and function as input to decision support. Thus the key parameters in preventing severe damage to railway assets can be determined by automatic real-time monitoring. The technique of radio-frequency identification (RFID) is increasingly applied for the automatic real-time monitoring and control of railway assets, which employs radio waves without the use of physical contact. In this work, a 243-km2 area of Kuala Lumpur was selected. Because of its large size, determining the locations in which to install the RFID readers for monitoring the bogie components in the Kuala Lumpur railway system is a very complex task. The task involved three challenges: first, finding an optimal evolutionary method for railway network planning in order to deploy the RFID system in a large-area; second, identifying the large area that involved functional features; third, determining which station or stations should be given priority in applying the RFID system to achieve the most effective monitoring of the trains. The first challenge was solved by using a gradient-base cuckoo search algorithm for RFID system deployment. The second challenge was solved by determining all necessary information using geographic information system (GIS) resources. Because of the huge volume of data collected from GIS, it was found that the best method for eliminating data was to develop a new clustering model to separate the useful from the unuseful data and to identify the most suitable stations. Finally, the data set was reduced by developing a specific filter, and the information collected was tested by an analytic hierarchy process as a technique to determine the best stations for system monitoring and control. The results showed the success of the proposed method in solving the significant challenge of large-scale area conditions correlated with multi-objective RFID functions. The method provides high reliability in working with complex and dynamic data.
Keine Angst vor der Digitalisierung! Zum Stand digitalisierter Arbeitsanforderungen in verschiedenen Industriebranchen und Tätigkeitsfeldern sowie Zusammenhänge zwischen Belastung, Ressourcen und Beanspruchungsfolgen in Deutschland
Authors: Härtwig Christian , Sapronova Anna
Published: April 2020

Ziel der Studie war es, den Stand der Digitalisierung in zwölf Industriebranchen in Deutschland zu untersuchen. In der Fragebogen-Erhebung unter 14.007 Beschäftigten zeigte sich, dass die Digitalisierung oft noch am Anfang steht und primär durch den Einsatz von IKT-Systemen geprägt ist. Unterschiede zwischen acht verschiedenen Blue- und White-Collar-Tätigkeitsfeldern fallen statistisch bedeutsamer aus als zwischen einzelnen Branchen in Hinblick auf die Nutzung digitaler Arbeitsmittel, Arbeitsanforderungen und Ressourcen. Überraschenderweise zeigt sich eine hohe Bereitschaft und Zuversicht der Beschäftigten, die Veränderungen der Digitalisierung zu bewältigen; Befürchtungen und Unsicherheiten spielen in der Breite der Belegschaften eine eher untergeordnete Rolle. Anhand eines Strukturgleichungsmodells werden Wirkzusammenhänge zwischen allgemeinen sowie digitalisierungsspezifischen Arbeitsanforderungen und Ressourcen, Aspekten der beruflich-sozialen Entkopplung und psychischen Beanspruchungsfolgen deutlich. Mögliche Ergänzungen theoretischer Modelle werden diskutiert sowie Anregungen für Forschung und betriebliche Praxis skizziert.

Praktische Relevanz:In diesem Beitrag werden Ansätze zur Regulierung allgemeiner und digitalisierungsspezifischer Belastung sowie Stärkung arbeitsbezogener und persönlicher digitaler Ressourcen aufgezeigt. Dabei sollten Besonderheiten verschiedener Tätigkeitsfelder stärker berücksichtigt werden als Unterschiede zwischen verschiedenen Branchen. Trotz grundsätzlich positiver Befunde wird vorgeschlagen, Tendenzen beruflich-sozialer Entkopplung frühzeitig entgegenzuwirken.
The effectiveness of adding tramadol versus fentanyl as an adjuvant to bupivacaine on brachial plexus block: A double blind, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Allene Mengesha Dessie , Alimawu Agmuas Asichale , Abate Semagn Mekonen , Alemnew Efrem Fenta
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT

Background:

Anesthesia and analgesia for surgeries to the upper extremity are commonly provided using the brachial plexus block. Tramadol and fentanyl are used to fasten the onset and prolong the duration of the axillary brachial plexus block, but their relative efficacy is not well established.

Methodology:

The study was conducted on 63 patients who underwent hand, wrist and forearm surgeries. Patients were randomly allocated in to three groups. Group T (n = 21) received 100 mg tramadol + 0.25% bupivacaine, group F (n = 21) received 50 μg fentanyl + 0.25% bupivacaine and group B (n = 21) received 0.25% bupivacaine. Parametric data and non-parametric data was analyzed by ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis H tests respectively. Chi-square test was used to assess the association of dependent and independent variables of categorical data. P-values less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

Result:

There was no statistically significant difference regarding demographic variables. Time onset of sensory and motor block was shorter in group F than group T and group B (p < 0.001). Duration of sensory blockade was longer in the group T than group F and group B (P < 0.001). Time to first analgesic request was significantly longer in group T and F when compared with group B and significantly longer in group T when compared with group F (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Addition of tramadol or fentanyl to bupivacaine in axillary block fastens the onset and prolongs its duration. Tramadol is superior to fentanyl in terms of duration.

Trial registration number:

PACTR202001635673534.

Highlights:
Three funerary inscriptions from Roman Tripolitania and observations on tombs in the Jefara plain
Authors: Elmayer Abdulhafid F.
Published: April 2020

This article provides the edition and commentary of two Punic and one Latin funerary inscription of Roman imperial date from inland areas of Tripolitania. The first two texts were discovered at Al-Brahama village in the vicinity of Al-Rujban in the Western Jebel district of Libya. The first is neo-Punic, the second is Latin. The neo-Punic inscription consists of seven lines, of which the first four lines are legible and their translation is unproblematic. However, the rest are illegible as a result of damage to the stone. The Latin inscription consists of four lines that are easy to read and translate. Finally a reinterpretation of an already published text (HNPI Tarhuna N1) from the area between Tarhuna and Garyan is presented, and some observations on tombs in the Jefara plain.
In Situ EBSD Study of Stable Cube Texture in an Advanced Composite Substrate Used in YBCO-Coated Conductors
Authors: Ji Yaotang , Suo Hongli , Zhang ZiLi , Ma Lin , Li Jiazhi , Zhang Chenxi , Wu Xinyu , Kausar Shaheen , Cui Jin , Liu Min , Wang Yi , Wang Qiuliang
Published: April 2020

Advanced Ni8W/Ni12W/Ni8W alloy composite substrates used in YBCO-coated conductors with a strong cube texture and high yield strength have been fabricated, and a CeO2 buffer layer film was successfully deposited on the composite substrates. Through in situ tensile testing coupled with electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis, the stability of the cube texture of Ni8W/Ni12W/Ni8W alloy composite substrates has been investigated. The stress–strain curve shows that the yield strength (at 0.2% strain) of the composite substrates exceeds 250 Mpa. The orientation of grains and boundaries on the surface of the substrates was almost unchanged, while the strain exceeds 0.2%, which indicated that the composite substrates are adequate for depositing buffer layers and YBCO layers by the reel-to-reel process.
THE ALTERNATIVE KIRCHHOFF APPROXIMATION IN ELASTODYNAMICS WITH APPLICATIONS IN ULTRASONIC NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
Authors: FRADKIN L. J. , DJAKOU A. K. , PRIOR C. , DARMON M. , CHATILLON S. , CALMON P.-F.
Published: April 2020

The Kirchhoff approximation is widely used to describe the scatter of elastodynamic waves. It simulates the scattered field as the convolution of the free-space Green’s tensor with the geometrical elastodynamics approximation to the total field on the scatterer surface and, therefore, cannot be used to describe nongeometrical phenomena, such as head waves. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that an alternative approximation, the convolution of the far-field asymptotics of the Lamb’s Green’s tensor with incident surface tractions, has no such limitation. This is done by simulating the scatter of a critical Gaussian beam of transverse motions from an infinite plane. The results are of interest in ultrasonic nondestructive testing.
Polarization and the Emergence of a Written Marker. A Diachronic Corpus Study of the Adnominal Genitive in German
Authors: Pickl Simon
Published: April 2020

This article investigates the diachrony of the adnominal genitive in written German by analyzing its usage in a diachronic corpus of sermons from the Upper German dialect area spanning the time from the 9th to the 19th century. The wide temporal scope allows for a better assessment of the events relating to the genitive’s disappearance from spoken German in Early New High German and the successive rise of its adnominal form in written German. Sermons make it possible to study the phenomenon over a long time because they provide a relatively consistent data basis in terms of genre and region. At the same time, as a genre that has characteristics of both spoken and written language, sermons show signs of changing stylistic trends, which makes them valuable for gaining insights in the divergent development of genitive use in spoken and written German. In order to characterize this divergence better, I use the concept of polarization, which describes the differentiation of linguistic usage between disparate contexts such as speech and writing. It becomes clear that the changes in genitive use found in the corpus cannot be viewed independently of sociopragmatic factors and their impact on the stylistic shape of the texts.*
Normative and pathological values of hemodynamic and Doppler ultrasound arterial findings in children
Authors: Trihan Jean-Eudes , Perez-Martin Antonia , Guillaumat Jérôme , Lanéelle Damien
Published: April 2020

Summary. Doppler ultrasound is an effective, useful and remarkably powerful tool in pediatric imaging. If possible, its use is always favored to avoid exposure to radiation or sedatives. By waveform spectrum analysis, Doppler ultrasound reveals information on blood flow and details on normal physiology and pathological processes undiscernible from gray-scale imaging alone. However, Doppler ultrasound remains underused, largely due to the difficult interpretation of changes in Doppler waveforms during childhood. This article provides a narrative review of the literature regarding the normative values and the physiological arterial changes through childhood according to age, weight or height, as well as frequent pathological arterial findings in children, classified by arterial territory.
Phlebosclerosis in lower extremities veins – a systematic review
Authors: Tepelenis Kostas , Papathanakos Georgios , Barbouti Alexandra , Paraskevas Georgios , Kitsouli Aikaterini , Alexandra Kefala Maria , Tepelenis Nikolaos , Kanavaros Panagiotis , Kitsoulis Panagiotis
Published: April 2020

Summary. Phlebosclerosis is a venous wall degenerative disease which has gained little popularity in the literature due to its uncertain clinical significance. The objective of this review is to evaluate the epidemiology, etiology and clinical significance of phlebosclerosis in lower extremities veins, particularly the effect of preexisting phlebosclerosis of the great saphenous vein on vein graft patency. Medline was searched from inception until November 1, 2019. Reference lists of included studies were scanned. Only articles published after 1949 were included. Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts and full-text papers for any study design in relation to phlebosclerosis in lower extremities veins and abstracted data. A total of 16 Cohort studies and one case-control study (3708 participants, mean age 61.8 years, 59.3 % men, and 40.7 % women) were included after screening 317 titles and abstracts, and 80 full-text articles. The incidence of phlebosclerosis ranged from 1.5–9.7 % depending on the radiological features. On the contrary, the incidence of the phlebosclerotic great saphenous vein prior to its use as a vein graft was 26.9–91 % on histological examination. The small saphenous vein was the most common location of phlebosclerosis followed by the great saphenous vein. There is a link between phlebosclerosis and age, venous insufficiency and haemodialysis. As for the vein graft patency seven studies demonstrated a correlation between preexisting phlebosclerosis and vein graft stenosis, whereas three studies failed to prove any association. In conclusion, the radiological incidence of phlebosclerosis depended on the ultrasound findings. Its presence in the great saphenous vein prior to its use as a vein graft is established on histological examination. The small saphenous vein is mainly affected. Risk factors included age, haemodialysis, and venous insufficiency. Preexisting wall thickness of the great saphenous vein graft seemed to affect negatively its patency in bypass surgery.
Assessment of Four Near‐Surface Soil Freeze/Thaw Detection Algorithms Based on Calibrated Passive Microwave Remote Sensing Data Over China
Authors: Shao Wanwan , Zhang Tingjun
Published: April 2020

The near‐surface soil freeze/thaw (F/T) cycle affects the surface energy balance, hydrological processes, and soil greenhouse gas release. Passive microwave remote sensing data are the most widely used method for determining the near‐surface soil F/T status. While many algorithms have been developed for this purpose, their performance has never been compared using same and large in situ data set. Here, we evaluate and inter‐compare the classification results of the four most widely used algorithms using a large ground truth data set covering China. Based on the ground observations, our evaluation shows a wide range of near‐surface soil F/T detection performance, with Cohen's kappa coefficient ranging from 0.42 to 0.72 and an overall accuracy between 73.8% and 86.2%. We suggest performing parameter calibration for the decision tree algorithm and the discriminant function algorithm before applying them to areas outside of the training sites. All these four algorithms exhibited remarkable uncertainty in the detection of the onset and offset of near‐surface soil freezing with root mean squared errors of more than 27 days. These results suggest that careful cautions should be taken when outputs of these algorithms are used for investigations of long‐term changes.
Polar Electron Content From GPS Data‐Based Global Ionospheric Maps: Assessment, Case Studies, and Climatology
Authors: Hernández‐Pajares Manuel , Lyu Haixia , Aragón‐Àngel Àngela , Monte‐Moreno Enric , Liu Jingbin , An Jiachun , Jiang Hu
Published: April 2020

The electron content distribution of the north and south polar ionosphere from 2001 to the beginning of 2019 is analyzed by using the UQRG global ionospheric map (GIM) of vertical total electron content (VTEC), computed every 15 min by UPC‐IonSAT with a tomographic‐kriging combined technique. We first show that the accuracy of UQRG GIM is slightly better than that of the GIMs of other analysis centers on the whole and also over both poles. Second, we show examples of polar VTEC features in UQRG GIM, previously reported by different authors and with higher‐resolution techniques. Third, by means of an unsupervised clustering algorithm, learning vector quantization, we characterize the main features of the ionospheric electron content climatology, separately for the north and south polar regions.
Contextualizing Marine Heatwaves in the Southern California Bight Under Anthropogenic Climate Change
Authors: Fumo James T. , Carter Melissa L. , Flick Reinhard E. , Rasmussen Linda L. , Rudnick Daniel L. , Iacobellis Sam F.
Published: April 2020

In early August 2018, record‐high sea surface temperatures were recorded in the 102 year old Scripps Institution of Oceanography daily temperature time series (SIOT) at La Jolla, CA, USA. The previous record of 25.8 °C, set in July 1931, was broken four times over 9 days, peaking at 26.4 °C on 9 August 2018. Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature data suggest that the marine heatwave (MHW) manifested in the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula, tapering off into the Southern California Bight. Here we use the Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature data to categorize this MHW as severe with relatively high maximum intensity (3.9 °C) and long duration (44 days) when compared to other events in the time series. Glider profiles show that the thermal anomaly was largest near the surface and extended to at least 100 m depth. By detrending the SIOT to remove the long‐term anthropogenic climate signal and comparing the resulting data set to the unadjusted, we contextualize this MHW with respect to the entire time series and demonstrate that the long‐term trend played a crucial role in amplifying the intensity and duration of the MHW. In this case, the anthropogenic warming signal in the SIOT accounts for an additional 19 MHW days (from 24 to 43) and an increase in cumulative intensity of 56.8 °C (from 83.1 to 139.9).
Significance of 4DVAR Radar Data Assimilation in Weather Research and Forecast Model‐Based Nowcasting System
Authors: Thiruvengadam P. , Indu J. , Ghosh Subimal
Published: April 2020

Accurate nowcasting of short‐lived extreme weather events is essential for saving millions of lives and property. Traditional methods of nowcasting are majorly focused on extrapolation of precipitation derived from radar reflectivity data, which often fail to capture the initiation and decay of weather systems. Earlier studies have shown the ability of high‐resolution Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models to better capture the structure and lifecycle of storms compared to data‐driven methods. However, the initial value problem of NWP makes it more challenging to be implemented for nowcasting applications. To handle such uncertainty from initial conditions, we have designed an NWP nowcasting system based on variational approach using WRF model. One of the major challenges of the variational methods in the nowcasting system is the choice of control variables used for generating background error statistics. Thus, we have investigated the impact of control variable options on improving the skill of variational‐based NWP nowcasting system. The proposed nowcasting system was tested for a heavy rainfall event that occurred over the Chennai city, India, on 1 December 2015, by assimilating Doppler Weather Radar data using different control variable options in Weather Research and Forecast—three‐dimensional (3DVAR)‐ and four‐dimensional variational data assimilation (4DVAR)‐based nowcasting system. Results show that control variables choices have a positive impact on 4DVAR analysis, particularly on radial velocity. Our results also indicate that assimilation of Doppler Weather Radar data with zonal and meridional momentum control variable in a 4DVAR system shows more than 30% improvement in precipitation forecast skill compared to the 3DVAR system.
Electron Mixing and Isotropization in the Exhaust of Asymmetric Magnetic Reconnection With a Guide Field
Authors: Tang B.‐B. , Li W. Y. , Le A. , Graham D. B. , Wu Y.‐F. , Wang C. , Khotyaintsev Yu. V. , Egedal J. , Tao X. , Gershman D. J. , Giles B. L. , Lindqvist P.‐A. , Ergun R. E. , Russell C. T. , Burch J. L.
Published: April 2020

We investigate an exhaust crossing of asymmetric guide field reconnection observed by Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission at Earth's dayside magnetopause. One MMS spacecraft (MMS 4) observes multicomponent electron distributions, including two counterstreaming electron beams, while the other three MMS spacecraft, with a separation of ∼30 km, record nearly isotropic electron distributions. As counterstreaming electrons are unstable for the electron two‐stream instability, our observations suggest that the electrostatic waves generated by the fast‐growing electron two‐stream instability can contribute to the rapid isotropization of electron distributions in the reconnection exhaust, indicating that wave‐particle interactions play an important role in electron dynamics.
Sparse Ambient Resonance Measurements Reveal Dynamic Properties of Freestanding Rock Arches
Authors: Geimer Paul R. , Finnegan Riley , Moore Jeffrey R.
Published: April 2020

The dynamic properties of freestanding rock landforms are a function of fundamental material and mechanical parameters, facilitating noninvasive vibration‐based structural assessment. Characterization of resonant frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios, however, can be challenging at culturally sensitive geologic features, such as rock arches, where physical access is limited. Using sparse ambient vibration measurements, we describe three resonant modes between 1 and 40 Hz for 17 natural arches in Utah spanning a range of lengths from 3–88 m. Modal polarization data are evaluated to combine field observations with 3‐D numerical models. We find outcrop‐scale elastic moduli vary from 0.8 to 8.0 GPa, correlated with diagenetic processes and identify low damping at all sites. Correlation of dense‐array measurements from one arch validates predictions of simple bending modes and fixed boundary conditions. Our results establish use of sparse ambient resonance measurements for structural assessment and monitoring of arches and similar freestanding geologic features worldwide.
River Inflow Dominates Methane Emissions in an Arctic Coastal System
Authors: Manning Cara C. , Preston Victoria L. , Jones Samantha F. , Michel Anna P. M. , Nicholson David P. , Duke Patrick J. , Ahmed Mohamed M. M. , Manganini Kevin , Else Brent G. T. , Tortell Philippe D.
Published: April 2020

We present a year‐round time series of dissolved methane (CH4), along with targeted observations during ice melt of CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2) in a river and estuary adjacent to Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada. During the freshet, CH4 concentrations in the river and ice‐covered estuary were up to 240,000% saturation and 19,000% saturation, respectively, but quickly dropped by >100‐fold following ice melt. Observations with a robotic kayak revealed that river‐derived CH4 and CO2 were transported to the estuary and rapidly ventilated to the atmosphere once ice cover retreated. We estimate that river discharge accounts for >95% of annual CH4 sea‐to‐air emissions from the estuary. These results demonstrate the importance of resolving seasonal dynamics in order to estimate greenhouse gas emissions from polar systems.
Repeated Near‐Collapse of the Pliocene Sea Surface Temperature Gradient in the North Atlantic
Authors: Naafs B. D. A. , Voelker A. H. L. , Karas C. , Andersen N. , Sierro F. J.
Published: April 2020

Sea surface temperature (SST) is used to infer past changes in the state of the climate system. Here we use a combination of newly generated and published organic paleothermometer records, together with novel high‐resolution benthic foraminiferal δ18O stratigraphy, from four sites in the midlatitude North Atlantic (41–58°N) to reconstruct the long‐term evolution of the latitudinal SST gradient during the Pliocene and early Pleistocene (4.0 to 2.4 Myr), the last time atmospheric CO2reached concentrations above 400 ppmv. We demonstrate that the latitudinal SST gradient in the North Atlantic nearly collapsed twice during this period. We conclude that the latitudinal SST gradient in the midlatitude North Atlantic has two end‐members: a maximum as existing at present and a minimum that existed during certain periods of the (late) Pliocene. Our results suggest that the 400‐ppmv Pliocene world was more dynamic than currently thought.
RAGE acts as an oncogenic role and promotes the metastasis of human lung cancer
Authors: Chen Mei-Chih , Chen Kun-Chieh , Chang Gee-Chen , Lin Ho , Wu Chun-Chi , Kao Wei-Hsiang , Teng Chieh-Lin Jerry , Hsu Shih-Lan , Yang Tsung-Ying
Published: April 2020

RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end-product) is thought to be associated with metastasis and poor prognosis of various types of cancer. However, RAGE is constitutively expressed in the normal lung and down-regulated in cancerous lung, while the opposite evidence shows that RAGE-mediated signaling contributes to the tumorigenesis of lung cancer. Therefore, the role of RAGE in lung cancer progression is still unclear to be further investigated. In this study, RAGE-overexpressed stable clones of human lung cancer A549 cells and two local lung adenocarcinoma cell lines CL1-0 and CL1-5 were utilized to verify the effect of RAGE on lung cancer cells while the in vivo xenograft animal model was further performed to evaluate the role of RAGE in the progression of lung cancer. The growth of A549 cells was inhibited by RAGE overexpression. p53-dependent p21CIP1 expression contributed to RAGE-induced growth inhibition by suppressing CDK2 kinase activity and retinoblastoma protein (RB) phosphorylation in vitro. On the other hand, RAGE overexpression promoted migration, invasion, and mesenchymal features of lung adenocarcinoma cells through ERK signaling. Furthermore, an in vivo xenograft experiment indicated that RAGE promoted the metastasis of lung cancer cells with p21CIP1 up-regulation, ERK activation, and the changes of EMT markers. Regarding to the involvement of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) in the microenvironment, we monitored the expressions of TAM markers including CD68 and CD163 as well as angiogenesis marker CD31 in xenograft slice. The data showed that RAGE might induce the accumulation of TAM in lung cancer cells and further accelerate the in vivo tumor growth. In summary, our study provides evidence indicating the distinct in vitro and in vivo effects of RAGE and related mechanisms on tumor growth and metastasis, which shed light on the oncogenic role of RAGE in lung cancer.
SK channel-mediated metabolic escape to glycolysis inhibits ferroptosis and supports stress resistance in C. elegans
Authors: Krabbendam Inge E. , Honrath Birgit , Dilberger Benjamin , Iannetti Eligio F. , Branicky Robyn S. , Meyer Tammo , Evers Bernard , Dekker Frank J. , Koopman Werner J. H. , Beyrath Julien , Bano Daniele , Schmidt Martina , Bakker Barbara M. , Hekimi Siegfried , Culmsee Carsten , Eckert Gunter P. , Dolga Amalia M.
Published: April 2020

Metabolic flexibility is an essential characteristic of eukaryotic cells in order to adapt to physiological and environmental changes. Especially in mammalian cells, the metabolic switch from mitochondrial respiration to aerobic glycolysis provides flexibility to sustain cellular energy in pathophysiological conditions. For example, attenuation of mitochondrial respiration and/or metabolic shifts to glycolysis result in a metabolic rewiring that provide beneficial effects in neurodegenerative processes. Ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of cell death triggered by an impaired redox balance is gaining attention in the field of neurodegeneration. We showed recently that activation of small-conductance calcium-activated K+ (SK) channels modulated mitochondrial respiration and protected neuronal cells from oxidative death. Here, we investigated whether SK channel activation with CyPPA induces a glycolytic shift thereby increasing resilience of neuronal cells against ferroptosis, induced by erastin in vitro and in the nematode C. elegans exposed to mitochondrial poisons in vivo. High-resolution respirometry and extracellular flux analysis revealed that CyPPA, a positive modulator of SK channels, slightly reduced mitochondrial complex I activity, while increasing glycolysis and lactate production. Concomitantly, CyPPA rescued the neuronal cells from ferroptosis, while scavenging mitochondrial ROS and inhibiting glycolysis reduced its protection. Furthermore, SK channel activation increased survival of C. elegans challenged with mitochondrial toxins. Our findings shed light on metabolic mechanisms promoted through SK channel activation through mitohormesis, which enhances neuronal resilience against ferroptosis in vitro and promotes longevity in vivo.
MicroRNA-4476 promotes glioma progression through a miR-4476/APC/β-catenin/c-Jun positive feedback loop
Authors: Lin Jie , Ding Shengfeng , Xie Cheng , Yi Renhui , Wu Zhiyong , Luo Jie , Huang Tengyue , Zeng Yu , Wang Xizhao , Xu Anqi , Xiao Jianqi , Song Ye , Zhang Xian
Published: April 2020

Glioma has been a major healthcare burden; however, the specific molecular regulatory mechanism underlying its initiation and progression remains to be elucidated. Although it is known that many miRNAs are involved in the regulation of malignant phenotypes of glioma, the role of miR-4476 has not been reported yet. In the present study, we identify miR-4476 as an upregulated microRNA, which promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in glioma. Further mechanistic analyses indicate that the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), a negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, is a direct target of miR-4476 and mediates the oncogenic effects of miR-4476 in glioma. C-Jun, a downstream effector of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling, is upregulated by miR-4476 overexpression. In turn, c-Jun could positively regulate miR-4476 expression by binding to the upstream of its transcription start site (TSS). Furthermore, in our clinical samples, increased miR-4476 is an unfavorable prognostic factor, and its expression positively correlates with c-Jun expression but negatively correlates with that of APC. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that miR-4476 acts as a tumor enhancer, directly targeting APC to stimulate its own expression and promoting the malignant phenotypes of glioma.
Discovery of superionic conductors by ensemble-scope descriptor
Authors: Kajita Seiji , Ohba Nobuko , Suzumura Akitoshi , Tajima Shin , Asahi Ryoji
Published: April 2020

Machine learning accelerates virtual screening in which material candidates are selected from existing databases, facilitating materials discovery in a broad chemical search space. Machine learning models quickly predict a target property from explanatory material features called descriptors. However, a major bottleneck of the machine learning model is an insufficient amount of training data in materials science, especially data with non-equilibrium properties. Here, we develop an alternative virtual-screening process via ensemble-based machine learning with one handcrafted and two generic descriptors to maximize the inference ability even using a small training dataset. A joint representation with the three descriptors translates the physical and chemical properties of a material as well as its underlying short- and long-range atomic structures to describe a multifaceted perspective of the material. As an application, the ensemble-scope descriptor learning model was trained with only 29 entries in the training dataset, and it selected potential oxygen-ion conductors from 13,384 oxides in the inorganic crystal structure database. The experiments confirmed that we successfully discovered five compounds that have not been reported, to the best of our knowledge, as oxygen-ion conductors.
Development of a wearable infrared shield based on a polyurethane–antimony tin oxide composite fiber
Authors: Jeong Sang-Mi , Ahn Jihun , Choi Yong Kyu , Lim Taekyung , Seo Keumyoung , Hong Taekuk , Choi Gwang Hwi , Kim Heesoo , Lee Bo Wha , Park Sang Yoon , Ju Sanghyun
Published: April 2020

Here, we investigate a wearable-based IR and thermal stealth structure that effectively blocks IR and thermal radiation from a human body or device using a polyurethane–antimony tin oxide (PU–ATO) composite fiber. The aging time of the ATO sol prepared by a sol–gel method, and the concentration of ATO with respect to that of the PU matrix were optimized to prepare PU–ATO composite fibers that simultaneously have an appropriate mechanical strength (strength of ~4 MPa and strain of ~340%) and IR- and thermal radiation-shielding properties with ~98% IR light, as determined by Fourier transform IR spectroscopic studies. The fabricated PU–ATO composite fiber showed stable IR- and thermal radiation-shielding properties even when exposed to ten cycles of repeated temperature changes of −20 and +80 °C and long-term temperature changes for 30 days. In addition, the surface of the PU–ATO composite fiber was rendered hydrophobic to prevent the distortion of the IR and thermal radiation due to the wetting of the PU–ATO composite fiber with absorbed water. The PU–ATO composite fiber-based textile proposed herein can be applied in wearable IR- and thermal radiation-shielding technologies to shield IR signals generated by objects of diverse and complex shapes.
Sex chromosome evolution in parasitic nematodes of humans
Authors: Foster Jeremy M. , Grote Alexandra , Mattick John , Tracey Alan , Tsai Yu-Chih , Chung Matthew , Cotton James A. , Clark Tyson A. , Geber Adam , Holroyd Nancy , Korlach Jonas , Li Yichao , Libro Silvia , Lustigman Sara , Michalski Michelle L. , Paulini Michael , Rogers Matthew B. , Teigen Laura , Twaddle Alan , Welch Lonnie , Berriman Matthew , Dunning Hotopp Julie C. , Ghedin Elodie
Published: April 2020

Sex determination mechanisms often differ even between related species yet the evolution of sex chromosomes remains poorly understood in all but a few model organisms. Some nematodes such as Caenorhabditis elegans have an XO sex determination system while others, such as the filarial parasite Brugia malayi, have an XY mechanism. We present a complete B. malayi genome assembly and define Nigon elements shared with C. elegans, which we then map to the genomes of other filarial species and more distantly related nematodes. We find a remarkable plasticity in sex chromosome evolution with several distinct cases of neo-X and neo-Y formation, X-added regions, and conversion of autosomes to sex chromosomes from which we propose a model of chromosome evolution across different nematode clades. The phylum Nematoda offers a new and innovative system for gaining a deeper understanding of sex chromosome evolution.
Functional and molecular heterogeneity of D2R neurons along dorsal ventral axis in the striatum
Authors: Puighermanal Emma , Castell Laia , Esteve-Codina Anna , Melser Su , Kaganovsky Konstantin , Zussy Charleine , Boubaker-Vitre Jihane , Gut Marta , Rialle Stephanie , Kellendonk Christoph , Sanz Elisenda , Quintana Albert , Marsicano Giovanni , Martin Miquel , Rubinstein Marcelo , Girault Jean-Antoine , Ding Jun B. , Valjent Emmanuel
Published: April 2020

Action control is a key brain function determining the survival of animals in their environment. In mammals, neurons expressing dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) in the dorsal striatum (DS) and the nucleus accumbens (Acb) jointly but differentially contribute to the fine regulation of movement. However, their region-specific molecular features are presently unknown. By combining RNAseq of striatal D2R neurons and histological analyses, we identified hundreds of novel region-specific molecular markers, which may serve as tools to target selective subpopulations. As a proof of concept, we characterized the molecular identity of a subcircuit defined by WFS1 neurons and evaluated multiple behavioral tasks after its temporally-controlled deletion of D2R. Consequently, conditional D2R knockout mice displayed a significant reduction in digging behavior and an exacerbated hyperlocomotor response to amphetamine. Thus, targeted molecular analyses reveal an unforeseen heterogeneity in D2R-expressing striatal neuronal populations, underlying specific D2R’s functional features in the control of specific motor behaviors.
Direct structural evidence of Indian continental subduction beneath Myanmar
Authors: Zheng Tianyu , He Yumei , Ding Lin , Jiang Mingming , Ai Yinshuang , Mon Chit Thet , Hou Guangbing , Sein Kyaing , Thant Myo
Published: April 2020

Indian continental subduction can explain Cenozoic crustal deformation, magmatic activity and uplift of the Tibetan Plateau following the India-Asia collision. In the western Himalayan syntaxis and central Himalaya, subduction or underthrusting of the Indian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate is well known from seismological studies. However, because information on the deep structure of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis is lacking, the nature of the Indian subduction slab beneath Myanmar and the related tectonic regime remain unclear. Here, we use receiver function common conversion point imaging from a densely spaced seismic array to detect direct structural evidence of present-day Indian continental subduction beneath Asia. The entire subducting Indian crust has an average crustal thickness of ~30 km, dips at an angle of ~19°, and extends to a depth of 100 km under central Myanmar. These results reveal a unique continental subduction regime as a result of Indian-Eurasian continental collision and lateral extrusion.
Feature-specific neural reactivation during episodic memory
Authors: Bone Michael B. , Ahmad Fahad , Buchsbaum Bradley R.
Published: April 2020

We present a multi-voxel analytical approach, feature-specific informational connectivity (FSIC), that leverages hierarchical representations from a neural network to decode neural reactivation infMRI data collected while participants performed an episodic visual recall task. We show that neural reactivation associated with low-level (e.g. edges), high-level (e.g. facial features), and semantic (e.g. “terrier”) features occur throughout the dorsal and ventral visual streams and extend into the frontal cortex. Moreover, we show that reactivation of both low- and high-level features correlate with the vividness of the memory, whereas only reactivation of low-level features correlates with recognition accuracy when the lure and target images are semantically similar. In addition to demonstrating the utility of FSIC for mapping feature-specific reactivation, these findings resolve the contributions of low- and high-level features to the vividness of visual memories and challenge a strict interpretation the posterior-to-anterior visual hierarchy.
Noninvasive electromagnetic source imaging of spatiotemporally distributed epileptogenic brain sources
Authors: Sohrabpour Abbas , Cai Zhengxiang , Ye Shuai , Brinkmann Benjamin , Worrell Gregory , He Bin
Published: April 2020

Brain networks are spatiotemporal phenomena that dynamically vary over time. Functional imaging approaches strive to noninvasively estimate these underlying processes. Here, we propose a novel source imaging approach that uses high-density EEG recordings to map brain networks. This approach objectively addresses the long-standing limitations of conventional source imaging techniques, namely, difficulty in objectively estimating the spatial extent, as well as the temporal evolution of underlying brain sources. We validate our approach by directly comparing source imaging results with the intracranial EEG (iEEG) findings and surgical resection outcomes in a cohort of 36 patients with focal epilepsy. To this end, we analyzed a total of 1,027 spikes and 86 seizures. We demonstrate the capability of our approach in imaging both the location and spatial extent of brain networks from noninvasive electrophysiological measurements, specifically for ictal and interictal brain networks. Our approach is a powerful tool for noninvasively investigating large-scale dynamic brain networks.
Solar photovoltaic interventions have reduced rural poverty in China
Authors: Zhang Huiming , Wu Kai , Qiu Yueming , Chan Gabriel , Wang Shouyang , Zhou Dequn , Ren Xianqiang
Published: April 2020

Since 2013, China has implemented a large-scale initiative to systematically deploy solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to alleviate poverty in rural areas. To provide new understanding of China’s targeted poverty alleviation strategy, we use a panel dataset of 211 pilot counties that received targeted PV investments from 2013 to 2016, and find that the PV poverty alleviation pilot policy increases per-capita disposable income in a county by approximately 7%-8%. The effect of PV investment is positive and significant in the year of policy implementation and the effect is more than twice as high in the subsequent two to three years. The PV poverty alleviation effect is stronger in poorer regions, particularly in Eastern China. Our results are robust to alternative specifications and variable definitions. We propose several policy recommendations to sustain progress in China’s efforts to deploy PV for poverty alleviation.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis associated with severe tuberculosis evades cytosolic surveillance systems and modulates IL-1β production
Authors: Sousa Jeremy , Cá Baltazar , Maceiras Ana Raquel , Simões-Costa Luisa , Fonseca Kaori L. , Fernandes Ana Isabel , Ramos Angélica , Carvalho Teresa , Barros Leandro , Magalhães Carlos , Chiner-Oms Álvaro , Machado Henrique , Veiga Maria Isabel , Singh Albel , Pereira Rui , Amorim António , Vieira Jorge , Vieira Cristina P. , Bhatt Apoorva , Rodrigues Fernando , Rodrigues Pedro N. S. , Gagneux Sebastien , Castro António Gil , Guimarães João Tiago , Bastos Helder Novais , Osório Nuno S. , Comas Iñaki , Saraiva Margarida
Published: April 2020

Genetic diversity ofMycobacterium tuberculosisaffects immune responses and clinical outcomes of tuberculosis (TB). However, how bacterial diversity orchestrates immune responses to direct distinct TB severities is unknown. Here we study 681 patients with pulmonary TB and show thatM.tuberculosisisolates from cases with mild disease consistently induce robust cytokine responses in macrophages across multiple donors. By contrast, bacteria from patients with severe TB do not do so. Secretion of IL-1β is a good surrogate of the differences observed, and thus to classify strains as probable drivers of different TB severities. Furthermore, we demonstrate thatM.tuberculosisisolates that induce low levels of IL-1β production can evade macrophage cytosolic surveillance systems, including cGAS and the inflammasome. Isolates exhibiting this evasion strategy carry candidate mutations, generating sigA recognition boxes or affecting components of the ESX-1 secretion system. Therefore, we provide evidence thatM.tuberculosisstrains manipulate host-pathogen interactions to drive variable TB severities.
Novel metabolic role for BDNF in pancreatic β-cell insulin secretion
Authors: Fulgenzi Gianluca , Hong Zhenyi , Tomassoni-Ardori Francesco , Barella Luiz F. , Becker Jodi , Barrick Colleen , Swing Deborah , Yanpallewar Sudhirkumar , Croix Brad St , Wess Jürgen , Gavrilova Oksana , Tessarollo Lino
Published: April 2020

BDNF signaling in hypothalamic circuitries regulates mammalian food intake. However, whether BDNF exerts metabolic effects on peripheral organs is currently unknown. Here, we show that the BDNF receptor TrkB.T1 is expressed by pancreatic β-cells where it regulates insulin release. Mice lacking TrkB.T1 show impaired glucose tolerance and insulin secretion. β-cell BDNF-TrkB.T1 signaling triggers calcium release from intracellular stores, increasing glucose-induced insulin secretion. Additionally, BDNF is secreted by skeletal muscle and muscle-specific BDNF knockout phenocopies the β-cell TrkB.T1 deletion metabolic impairments. The finding that BDNF is also secreted by differentiated human muscle cells and induces insulin secretion in human islets via TrkB.T1 identifies a new regulatory function of BDNF on metabolism that is independent of CNS activity. Our data suggest that muscle-derived BDNF may be a key factor mediating increased glucose metabolism in response to exercise, with implications for the treatment of diabetes and related metabolic diseases.
LGR5 marks targetable tumor-initiating cells in mouse liver cancer
Authors: Cao Wanlu , Li Meng , Liu Jiaye , Zhang Shaoshi , Noordam Lisanne , Verstegen Monique M. A. , Wang Ling , Ma Buyun , Li Shan , Wang Wenshi , Bolkestein Michiel , Doukas Michael , Chen Kan , Ma Zhongren , Bruno Marco , Sprengers Dave , Kwekkeboom Jaap , van der Laan Luc J. W. , Smits Ron , Peppelenbosch Maikel P. , Pan Qiuwei
Published: April 2020

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are thought to be the main drivers for disease progression and treatment resistance across various cancer types. Identifying and targeting these rare cancer cells, however, remains challenging with respect to therapeutic benefit. Here, we report the enrichment of LGR5 expressing cells, a well-recognized stem cell marker, in mouse liver tumors, and the upregulation of LGR5 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma. Isolated LGR5 expressing cells from mouse liver tumors are superior in initiating organoids and forming tumors upon engraftment, featuring candidate TICs. These cells are resistant to conventional treatment including sorafenib and 5-FU. Importantly, LGR5 lineage ablation significantly inhibits organoid initiation and tumor growth. The combination of LGR5 ablation with 5-FU, but not sorafenib, further augments the therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Thus, we have identified the LGR5+ compartment as an important TIC population, representing a viable therapeutic target for combating liver cancer.