bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Germination ecology of four African mustard (Brassica tournefortii Gouan) populations in the eastern region of Australia
Authors: Singh Sohraab , Mahajan Gulshan , Singh Rajandeep , Chauhan Bhagirath S.
Published: April 2021

African mustard (Brassica tournefortii Gouan) is a problematic winter annual weed in Australia. Germination ecology of B. tournefortii may change in response to the maternal environments or habitats in which the plants grow. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of environmental factors on germination and emergence of four populations of B. tournefortii that were collected from different fields. Averaged over populations, germination was stimulated by dark and was higher at 25/15 C (92%) compared with 15/5 C (76%) and 35/25 C (45%). Averaged over light/dark regimes, at the lowest temperature regime (15/5 C), population A had higher germination than population D; however, at the highest temperature regime (35/25 C), population D had higher germination than population A. Populations B and C had higher germination in the temperature range of 25/15 C and 30/20 C compared with 15/5 C, 20/10 C, and 35/25 C. Seeds germinated at a wide range of alternating day/night temperatures (15/5 to 35/25 C), suggesting that seeds can germinate throughout the year if other optimum conditions are available. Population A was more tolerant to water and salt stress than population D. The sodium chloride concentration and osmotic potential required to inhibit 50% germination of population A were 68 mM and −0.60 MPa, respectively. Averaged over populations, seeds placed at 1-cm soil depth had the highest emergence (54%), and burial depth of 8 cm resulted in 28% seedling emergence. Averaged over populations, wheat residue retention at 6,000 kg ha−1 resulted in greater seedling emergence than the residue amount of 1,000 kg ha−1. The results suggest that B. tournefortii will be favored in no-till systems and that the seedbank of B. tournefortii could be managed by tillage regimes that bury its seeds below 8-cm depths and restrict seedling emergence and growth of new plants.
3D Basin‐Scale Groundwater Flow Modeling as a Tool for Geothermal Exploration: Application to the Geneva Basin, Switzerland‐France
Authors: Alcanié Marion , Collignon Marine , Møyner Olav , Lupi Matteo
Published: April 2021

Switzerland promotes the energy transition by supporting the development of geothermal energy. We built a 3D basin‐scale fluid flow model of the Geneva Basin, France‐Switzerland, using the open‐source Matlab Reservoir Simulation Toolbox (MRST). The model is calibrated on available well and active seismic data. The goal of the numerical study is to investigate temperature and pressure distribution at the depth that could be used to identify large‐scale positive thermal anomalies. Previous and ongoing projects have assessed the geothermal potential of the region using static conductive models interpolated from bottom hole temperatures. However, a consistent basin‐scale fluid flow model of the Geneva Basin is still lacking. We perform 14 numerical models, articulated into three complementary studies to investigate how thermal properties, petrophysical parameters, and tectonic features affect fluid flow. We constrain our simulations by implementing a progressive degree of geological and petrophysical realism to study the physical processes driving fluid flow in the Geneva basin. We propose based on the simulation results a conceptual model showing that fluid flow is driven by the down‐welling of meteoric waters that cool down rocks at the edge of the Geneva Basin. In turn, this temperature drop promotes the up‐welling of warmer fluids in the center of the basin where we suggest that exploration for geothermal resources should focus. Finally, the approach presented in this study could be used for the first assessment of geothermal resources in other sedimentary basins.
How Equivalent Are Equivalent Porous Media?
Authors: Zareidarmiyan Ahmad , Parisio Francesco , Makhnenko Roman Y. , Salarirad Hossein , Vilarrasa Victor
Published: April 2021

Geoenergy and geoengineering applications usually involve fluid injection into and production from fractured media. Accounting for fractures is important because of the strong poromechanical coupling that ties pore pressure changes and deformation. A possible approach to the problem uses equivalent porous media to reduce the computational cost and model complexity instead of explicitly including fractures in the models. We investigate the validity of this simplification by comparing these two approaches. Simulation results show that pore pressure distribution significantly differs between the two approaches even when both are calibrated to predict identical values at the injection and production wells. Additionally, changes in fracture stability are not well captured with the equivalent porous medium. We conclude that explicitly accounting for fractures in numerical models may be necessary under some circumstances to perform reliable coupled thermohydromechanical simulations, which could be used in conjunction with other tools for induced seismicity forecasting.
The 2000–2012 Global Warming Hiatus More Likely With a Low Climate Sensitivity
Authors: Modak Angshuman , Mauritsen Thorsten
Published: April 2021

The global warming hiatus during the first decade of the 21st century has posed a challenge to the scientific community, though a leading explanation is that it was caused by internal variability overlaying a forced global warming trend. Here, we apply the Winton‐Held two‐layer model and show that the probability of the observed 2000–2012 hiatus period to arise from internal variability driven by white noise is larger if climate sensitivity is low. This is due to the delayed response of the oceans that cause the forced trend to increase faster with rising climate sensitivity than does natural variability, leading to a decreasing likelihood of observing the hiatus. The results are confirmed with the latest climate models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6).
Itina Trough and Other SW Pacific Examples of Rifting Across Former Subduction/Collision Zones
Authors: Taylor Brian
Published: April 2021

The Itina Trough is a late Miocene rift graben formed at the beginning of Woodlark Basin opening where the northern Louisiade Plateau micro‐continent had collided with the eastern Pocklington Rise remnant arc. We infer that it was the collisional suture of this Plateau subducted at the Pocklington Trough that either thickened the crust and weakened the lithosphere and/or adjoined the apparently thicker Louisiade micro‐continent to the thinner crust of the eastern Pocklington Rise, and thereby localized the rifting. Other examples of rifting across a remnant arc‐trench system in the SW Pacific include the South Rennell Trough and the Norfolk Basin.
Self‐Organization of Coastal Barrier Systems During the Holocene
Authors: Mariotti G.
Published: April 2021

Understanding the response of coastal barrier systems to sea level rise is a crucial societal need. Despite the problem having been studied extensively, major knowledge gaps remain. For example, neither the sedimentary record nor existing numerical models have been conclusive in explaining the formation of barrier islands. Here I present a comprehensive 2D model that seamlessly couples cross‐shore and along‐shore transport, tidal transport, storm surges, and wind waves, and use it to simulate an idealized passive margin during the last 7,000 years. In the early Holocene, when sea level was rising ∼20 mm/yr, shoals and ephemeral barrier islands formed, periodically drowned, and then formed again at a landward location. Shoal emergence was triggered by the disequilibrium of the recently submerged shelf, especially for large waves and mild shelf slopes. About 5,000 years ago, as sea level rise slowed down to ∼1 mm/yr, barriers stabilized and even prograded seaward. The combination of excess sediment in the nearshore and storm surges allowed barriers to accrete above mean high water. When barriers eventually equilibrated to the new sea level rise rate and started to retreat, their retreat rate was highly variable in space and time due to autogenic processes such as inlet formation and backbarrier channel interception. This variability also included multi‐decadal periods of localized progradation. Both lag dynamics and autogenic processes confound the relationship between barrier retreat and sea level rise rate.
Kinetic Interaction of Cold and Hot Protons With an Oblique EMIC Wave Near the Dayside Reconnecting Magnetopause
Authors: Toledo‐Redondo S. , Lee J. H. , Vines S. K. , Turner D. L. , Allen R. C. , André M. , Boardsen S. A. , Burch J. L. , Denton R. E. , Fu H. S. , Fuselier S. A. , Gershman D. J. , Giles B. , Graham D. B. , Kitamura N. , Khotyaintsev Yu. V. , Lavraud B. , Le Contel O. , Li W. Y. , Moore T. E. , Navarro E. A. , Portí J. , Salinas A. , Vinas A.
Published: April 2021

We report observations of the ion dynamics inside an Alfvén branch wave that propagates near the reconnecting dayside magnetopause. The measured frequency, wave normal angle and polarization are consistent with the predictions of a dispersion solver. The magnetospheric plasma contains hot protons (keV), cold protons (eV), plus some heavy ions. While the cold protons follow the magnetic field fluctuations and remain frozen‐in, the hot protons are at the limit of magnetization. The cold protons exchange energy back and forth, adiabatically, with the wave fields. The cold proton velocity fluctuations contribute to balance the Hall term fluctuations in Ohm's law, and the waveEfield has small ellipticity and right‐handed polarization. The dispersion solver indicates that increasing the cold proton density facilitates propagation and amplification of these waves at oblique angles, as for the observed wave.
Observed Trends in the South Asian Monsoon Low‐Pressure Systems and Rainfall Extremes Since the Late 1970s
Authors: You Yujia , Ting Mingfang
Published: April 2021

The core Indian monsoon region receives more than half of the rainfall extremes from low‐pressure systems (LPSs), which typically form over the Bay of Bengal and propagate upstream against the time‐mean low‐level westerlies. Yet, the relationship between the trends of LPSs and rainfall extremes remains uncertain. Using two tracking algorithms and reanalyses‐derived LPSs, we find that LPS activity and extreme rainfall exhibit coherent trends during the post‐1979 satellite era. Over time, the LPSs propagate preferentially into south‐central India rather than north‐central India, imparting a corresponding dipole footprint in rainfall extremes. Consistent with existing theories that the diabatic heating is instrumental in shifting the LPSs west‐southwestward, the LPSs traveling through south‐central India have stronger updrafts on their west‐southwestern flank than those passing through north‐central India. The increased frequency of LPSs propagating into south‐central India is likely due to a strengthened cross‐equatorial moisture transport, which favors stronger storm ascents.
Probing the Atmospheric Cl Isotopic Ratio on Mars: Implications for Planetary Evolution and Atmospheric Chemistry
Authors: Liuzzi Giuliano , Villanueva Geronimo L. , Viscardy Sebastien , Mège Daniel , Crismani Matteo M. J. , Aoki Shohei , Gurgurewicz Joanna , Tesson Pierre‐Antoine , Mumma Michael J. , Smith Michael D. , Faggi Sara , Kofman Vincent , Knutsen Elise W. , Daerden Frank , Neary Lori , Schmidt Frédéric , Trompet Loïc , Erwin Justin T. , Robert Séverine , Thomas Ian R. , Ristic Bojan , Bellucci Giancarlo , Lopez‐Moreno Jóse Juan , Patel Manish R. , Vandaele Ann Carine
Published: April 2021

Following the recent detection of HCl in the atmosphere of Mars by ExoMars/Trace Gas Orbiter, we present here the first measurement of the 37Cl/35Cl isotopic ratio in the Martian atmosphere using a set of Nadir Occultation for MArs Discovery (NOMAD) observations. We determine an isotopic anomaly of −6 ± 78‰ compared to Earth standard, consistent with the −51‰–−1‰ measured on Mars’ surface by Curiosity. The measured isotopic ratio is also consistent with surface measurements, and suggests that Cl reservoirs may have undergone limited processing since formation in the Solar Nebula. The examination of possible sources and sinks of HCl shows only limited pathways to short‐term efficient Cl fractionation and many plausible reservoirs of “light” Cl.
The 2‐Day Photochemical Oscillations in the Mesopause Region: The First Experimental Evidence?
Authors: Kulikov M. Yu. , Belikovich M. V. , Feigin A. M.
Published: April 2021

In this study, we analyze the main features of the 2‐day photochemical oscillations (2DPO) in the mesopause region (80–90 km) caused by the nonlinear response of mesospheric chemistry to 1‐day variations of solar radiation. The main indicators of 2DPO useful for subsequent detection of this phenomenon in satellite data are extracted from the theoretical data sets obtained using different chemical‐transport modeling approaches. The indicators are applied to find examples of these oscillations in the nighttime profiles of H and O concentration for the year 2003, taken from the SABER database. The 2DPO appearance/suppression is controlled by a local value of vertical eddy diffusion coefficient which is a critical parameter for three‐dimensional constituent distributions in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Thus, the experimental registration of 2DPO can be used to validate and subsequently improve the retrieval procedures in future determinations of a detailed distribution of .
Deformation, CPO, and Elastic Anisotropy in Low‐Grade Metamorphic Serpentinites, Atlantis Massif Oceanic Core Complex
Authors: Kuehn R. , Behrmann J. H. , Stipp M. , Kilian R. , Leiss B.
Published: April 2021

Crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) and the associated seismic anisotropy of serpentinites are important factors for the understanding of tectonic settings involving hydrated Earth´s mantle, for example, at slow‐spreading mid‐ocean ridges. CPO of lizardite and magnetite in low‐grade metamorphic serpentinites from the Atlantis Massif oceanic core complex (Mid‐Atlantic Ridge, 30°N) were determined using synchrotron high energy X‐ray diffraction in combination with Rietveld texture analysis. Serpentinite mesh structures show weak CPO while deformed samples show a single (0001) maximum perpendicular to the foliation. Seismic anisotropies calculated from CPO show up to >11% anisotropy for compressional waves (Vp) and shear wave splitting up to 0.38 km/s in the deformed samples. This indicates that deformation in shear zones controls elastic anisotropy and highlights its importance in defining the seismic signature of hydrated upper mantle.
MD2 blockade prevents modified LDL-induced retinal injury in diabetes by suppressing NADPH oxidase-4 interaction with Toll-like receptor-4
Authors: Chen Huaicheng , Yan Tao , Song Zongming , Ying Shilong , Wu Beibei , Ju Xin , Yang Xi , Qu Jia , Wu Wencan , Zhang Zongduan , Wang Yi
Published: April 2021

Modified LDL-induced inflammation and oxidative stress are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Recent studies have also shown that modified LDL activates Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) to mediate retinal injury. However, the mechanism by which modified LDL activates TLR4 and the potential role of the TLR4 coreceptor myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD2) are not known. In this study, we inhibited MD2 with the chalcone derivatives L2H17 and L6H21 and showed that MD2 blockade protected retinal Müller cells against highly oxidized glycated-LDL (HOG-LDL)-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. MD2 inhibition reduced oxidative stress by suppressing NADPH oxidase-4 (NOX4). Importantly, HOG-LDL activated TLR4 and increased the interaction between NOX4 and TLR4. MD2 was required for the activation of these pathways, as inhibiting MD2 prevented the association of NOX4 with TLR4 and reduced NOX4-mediated reactive oxygen species production and TLR4-mediated inflammatory factor production. Furthermore, treatment of diabetic mice with L2H17 significantly reduced LDL extravasation in the retina and prevented retinal dysfunction and apoptosis by suppressing the TLR4/MD2 pathway. Our findings provide evidence that MD2 plays a critical role in mediating modified LDL-induced cell injury in the retina and suggest that targeting MD2 may be a potential therapeutic strategy.
Artificial Intelligence-based methods in head and neck cancer diagnosis: an overview
Authors: Mahmood Hanya , Shaban Muhammad , Rajpoot Nasir , Khurram Syed A.
Published: April 2021

Background

This paper reviews recent literature employing Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) methods for diagnostic evaluation of head and neck cancers (HNC) using automated image analysis.

Methods

Electronic database searches using MEDLINE via OVID, EMBASE and Google Scholar were conducted to retrieve articles using AI/ML for diagnostic evaluation of HNC (2009–2020). No restrictions were placed on the AI/ML method or imaging modality used.

Results

In total, 32 articles were identified. HNC sites included oral cavity (n = 16), nasopharynx (n = 3), oropharynx (n = 3), larynx (n = 2), salivary glands (n = 2), sinonasal (n = 1) and in five studies multiple sites were studied. Imaging modalities included histological (n = 9), radiological (n = 8), hyperspectral (n = 6), endoscopic/clinical (n = 5), infrared thermal (n = 1) and optical (n = 1). Clinicopathologic/genomic data were used in two studies. Traditional ML methods were employed in 22 studies (69%), deep learning (DL) in eight studies (25%) and a combination of these methods in two studies (6%).

Conclusions

There is an increasing volume of studies exploring the role of AI/ML to aid HNC detection using a range of imaging modalities. These methods can achieve high degrees of accuracy that can exceed the abilities of human judgement in making data predictions. Large-scale multi-centric prospective studies are required to aid deployment into clinical practice.
Body mass index and absolute lymphocyte count predict disease-free survival in Korean breast cancer patients
Authors: Ko Sung Min , Lee Janghee , Bae Soong June , Baik Su Jung , Ji Junghwan , Kim Dooreh , Ahn Sung Gwe , Jeong Joon
Published: April 2021

Background

Our study evaluated the association between body mass index (BMI) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in breast cancer patients and healthy females. Additionally, we determined the prognostic value of these factors in breast cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively identified 1225 primary invasive breast cancer patients and 35,991 healthy females. Factors including BMI and complete blood count associated with disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed using a multi-variable Cox proportional hazard model.

Results

BMI and ALC were positively correlated in breast cancer patients and healthy females (both P < 0.001). In multi-variable analysis, overweight or obese participants had worse DFS (hazards ratio [HR], 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34–2.92; P = 0.001) than underweight or normal-weight individuals, but patients with high ALC had better DFS than those with low ALC (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.29–0.65; P < 0.001). After risk stratification according to BMI/ALC, high-risk patients with high BMI/low ALC had worse DFS than others (HR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.70–3.62; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

BMI and ALC were positive correlated, but their effect on breast cancer prognosis was opposite. Patients with high BMI/low ALC had worse DFS than others. Underlying mechanisms for effect of BMI/ALC on breast cancer prognosis should be studied in the future.
Automated production of CCR5-negative CD4+-T cells in a GMP-compatible, clinical scale for treatment of HIV-positive patients
Authors: Schwarze Lea Isabell , Sonntag Tanja , Wild Stefan , Schmitz Sabrina , Uhde Almut , Fehse Boris
Published: April 2021

Ex-vivo gene editing in T lymphocytes paves the way for novel concepts of immunotherapy. One of those strategies is directed at the protection of CD4+-T helper cells from HIV infection in HIV-positive individuals. To this end, we have developed and optimised a CCR5-targeting TALE nuclease, CCR5-Uco-hetTALEN, mediating high-efficiency knockout of C-C motif chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5), the HIV co-receptor essential during initial infection. Clinical translation of the knockout approach requires up-scaling of the manufacturing process to clinically relevant cell numbers in accordance with good manufacturing practice (GMP). Here we present a GMP-compatible mRNA electroporation protocol for the automated production of CCR5-edited CD4+-T cells in the closed CliniMACS Prodigy system. The automated process reliably produced high amounts of CCR5-edited CD4+-T cells (>1.5 × 109 cells with >60% CCR5 editing) within 12 days. Of note, about 40% of total large-scale produced cells showed a biallelic CCR5 editing, and between 25 and 42% of produced cells had a central memory T-cell phenotype. In conclusion, transfection of primary T cells with CCR5-Uco-hetTALEN mRNA is readily scalable for GMP-compatible production and hence suitable for application in HIV gene therapy.
Blood tryptase and thymic stromal lymphopoietin levels predict the risk of exacerbation in severe asthma
Authors: Ko Hsin-Kuo , Cheng Shih-Lung , Lin Ching-Hsiung , Lin Sheng-Hao , Hsiao Yi-Han , Su Kang-Cheng , Yu Chong-Jen , Wang Hao-Chien , Sheu Chau-Chyun , Chiu Kuo-Chin , Perng Diahn-Warng
Published: April 2021

Some patients with severe asthma experience exacerbations despite receiving multiple therapy. The risk of exacerbation and heterogeneous response to treatment may be associated with specific inflammatory molecules that are responsive or resistant to corticosteroids. We aimed to identify the independent factors predictive for the future risk of exacerbation in patients with severe asthma. In this multi-center prospective observational study, 132 patients with severe asthma were enrolled and divided into exacerbation (n = 52) and non-exacerbation (n = 80) groups on the basis of exacerbation rate after a 1-year follow-up period. We found that previous history of severe-to-serious exacerbation, baseline blood eosinophil counts (≥ 291cells/μL), and serum tryptase (≤ 1448 pg/mL) and thrymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) levels (≥ 25 pg/mL) independently predicted the future development of exacerbation with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of 3.27, 6.04, 2.53 and 8.67, respectively. Notably, the patients with high blood eosinophil counts and low tryptase levels were likely to have more exacerbations than those with low blood eosinophil counts and high tryptase levels (AOR 16.9). TSLP potentially played the pathogenic role across different asthma phenotypes. TSLP and tryptase levels may be implicated in steroid resistance and responsiveness in the asthma inflammatory process. High blood eosinophil counts and low serum tryptase levels predict a high probability of future asthma exacerbation.
First approach to distinguish between cardiac and arteriosclerotic emboli of individual stroke patients applying the histological THROMBEX-classification rule
Authors: Roessler Florian C. , Kalms Nicolas , Jann Florian , Kemmling Andrè , Ribbat-Idel Julika , Stellmacher Florian , König Inke R. , Ohlrich Marcus , Royl Georg
Published: April 2021

Endovascular treatment of strokes caused by large vessel occlusion enables the histopathological investigation of the retrieved embolus, possibly providing a novel opportunity to contribute to the diagnostic workup of etiology and to define secondary prevention measures in strokes with uncertain genesis. We aimed to develop a classification rule based on pathophysiological considerations and adjustment to reference thrombi for distinction between cardiac and arteriosclerotic emboli and to validate this classification rule on a patient cohort. From 125 patients with stroke due to large vessel occlusion and thrombectomy, 82 patients with known etiology (55 cardioembolic and 27 arterioembolic strokes) were included. The corresponding emboli were histologically evaluated by two raters blinded to the etiology of stroke by means of a novel classification rule. Presumed etiology and classification results were compared. Agreement concerning cardiac emboli was 72.2% (95% CI: 58.4–83.5) for rater I and 78.2% (95% CI: 65.0–88.2) for rater II. Agreement concerning arteriosclerotic emboli was 70.4% (95% CI: 49.8–86.3) for rater I and 74.1% (95% CI: 53.7–88.9) for rater II. Overall agreement reached 71.6% (95% CI: 60.5–81.1) for rater I and 76.8% (95% CI: 66.2–85.4) for rater II. Within the limits of generally restricted accuracy of histological evaluations, the classification rule differentiates between cardiac and arteriosclerotic emboli of acute ischemic stroke patients. Further improvement is needed to provide valuable complementary data for stroke etiology workup.
Controlling water-mediated interactions by designing self-assembled monolayer coatings
Authors: Chen Hsieh , Zhu S. Sherry
Published: April 2021

Engineered nanoparticles have been broadly used in biological and geological systems. Hydrophilic molecules such as polyols have been used as coatings on nanoparticle surfaces due to their good biocompatibility and solubility in saline water. However, polyol coatings can cause huge retention of nanoparticles when encountering mineral surfaces. Here, molecular dynamics simulations enlightened that the strong adhesion of hydrophilic coatings to mineral surfaces stemming from the partitioning of the hydroxy groups on the hydrophilic molecules to the well-defined bound hydration layers on the mineral surfaces. To mitigate the nanoparticle adhesion, we investigated introducing small percentages of omniphobic fluoroalkanes to form a bicomponent system of hydrophilic and fluoroalkanes, which greatly perturbed the hydration layers on mineral surfaces and resulted in nonstick surface coatings. Our results provide important insight for the design of tunable “stickiness” nanoparticle coatings in different mineralogies, such as applications in subsurface environments or targeted delivery in mineralized tissues.
Endonuclease increases efficiency of osteoblast isolation from murine calvariae
Authors: Asano Yosuke , Matsumoto Yoshinori , La Rose Jose , He Fang , Katsuyama Takayuki , Ziyi Wang , Tsuji Shigetomo , Kamioka Hiroshi , Rottapel Robert , Wada Jun
Published: April 2021

Bone is a highly dynamic organ that undergoes remodeling equally regulated by osteoblast-mediated bone formation and osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. To clarify the regulation of osteoblastogenesis, primary murine osteoblasts are required for an in vitro study. Primary osteoblasts are isolated from neonatal calvariae through digestion with collagenase. However, the number of cells collected from one pup is not sufficient for further in vitro experiments, leading to an increase in the use of euthanized pups. We hypothesized that the viscosity of digested calvariae and digestion solution supplemented with collagenase results in cell clumping and reduction of isolated cells from bones. We simply added Benzonase, a genetically engineered endonuclease that shears all forms of DNAs/RNAs, in order to reduce nucleic acid-mediated viscosity. We found that addition of Benzonase increased the number of collected osteoblasts by three fold compared to that without Benzonase through reduction of viscosity. Additionally, Benzonase has no effect on cellular identity and function. The new osteoblast isolation protocol with Benzonase minimizes the number of neonatal pups required for an in vitro study and expands the concept that isolation of other populations of cells including osteocytes that are difficult to be purified could be modified by Benzonase.
Individual and collective foraging in autonomous search agents with human intervention
Authors: Schloesser Daniel S. , Hollenbeck Derek , Kello Christopher T.
Published: April 2021

Humans and other complex organisms exhibit intelligent behaviors as individual agents and as groups of coordinated agents. They can switch between independent and collective modes of behavior, and flexible switching can be advantageous for adapting to ongoing changes in conditions. In the present study, we investigated the flexibility between independent and collective modes of behavior in a simulated social foraging task designed to benefit from both modes: distancing among ten foraging agents promoted faster detection of resources, whereas flocking promoted faster consumption. There was a tradeoff between faster detection versus faster consumption, but both factors contributed to foraging success. Results showed that group foraging performance among simulated agents was enhanced by loose coupling that balanced distancing and flocking among agents and enabled them to fluidly switch among a variety of groupings. We also examined the effects of more sophisticated cognitive capacities by studying how human players improve performance when they control one of the search agents. Results showed that human intervention further enhanced group performance with loosely coupled agents, and human foragers performed better when coordinating with loosely coupled agents. Humans players adapted their balance of independent versus collective search modes in response to the dynamics of simulated agents, thereby demonstrating the importance of adaptive flexibility in social foraging.
Urban agglomeration worsens spatial disparities in climate adaptation
Authors: Kim Seung Kyum , Bennett Mia M. , van Gevelt Terry , Joosse Paul
Published: April 2021

Many countries promote urban agglomeration to enhance economic competitiveness, but the impacts of this strategy on local climate adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, we use variation in greenspaces to test the effectiveness of climate adaptation policy across climate impacts and vulnerability dimensions. Using satellite imagery and logistic regression, we analyze spatiotemporal correlation between greenspace and climate vulnerability in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, an area comprising ~ 70 million people and 11 cities, making it a useful natural experiment for our study. We find that while greenspace increases proportionally with climate exposure and sensitivity, many cities exhibit discrepancies between greenspace variation and climate vulnerability. Green adaptation funnels into wealthier, less vulnerable areas while bypassing more vulnerable ones, increasing their climate vulnerability and undermining the benefits of urban agglomeration. The results suggest that centrally-planned climate adaptation policy must accommodate local heterogeneity to improve urban sustainability. By neglecting local heterogeneity, urban agglomeration policy risks exacerbating spatial inequalities in climate adaptation.
Machine learning analysis to predict the need for ankle foot orthosis in patients with stroke
Authors: Choo Yoo Jin , Kim Jeoung Kun , Kim Jang Hwan , Chang Min Cheol , Park Donghwi
Published: April 2021

We investigated the potential of machine learning techniques, at an early stage after stroke, to predict the need for ankle–foot orthosis (AFO) in stroke patients. We retrospectively recruited 474 consecutive stroke patients. The need for AFO during ambulation (output variable) was classified according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) score for the ankle dorsiflexor of the affected limb. Patients with an MRC score of < 3 for the ankle dorsiflexor of the affected side were considered to require AFO, while those with scores ≥ 3 were considered not to require AFO. The following demographic and clinical data collected when patients were transferred to the rehabilitation unit (16.20 ± 6.02 days) and 6 months after stroke onset were used as input data: age, sex, type of stroke (ischemic/hemorrhagic), motor evoked potential data on the tibialis anterior muscle of the affected side, modified Brunnstrom classification, functional ambulation category, MRC score for muscle strength for shoulder abduction, elbow flexion, finger flexion, finger extension, hip flexion, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion of the affected side. For the deep neural network model, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.887. For the random forest and logistic regression models, the AUC was 0.855 and 0.845, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that machine learning algorithms, particularly the deep neural network, are useful for predicting the need for AFO in stroke patients during the recovery phase.
Identification and functional analyses of host factors interacting with the 17-kDa protein of Barley yellow dwarf virus-GAV
Authors: Chen Siyu , Han Xiaoyu , Yang Lingling , Li Qinglun , Shi Yajuan , Li Honglian , Chen Linlin , Sun Bingjian , Shi Yan , Yang Xue
Published: April 2021

Barley yellow dwarf viruses (BYDVs) cause significant economic losses on barley, wheat, and oats worldwide. 17-kDa protein (17K) of BYDVs plays a key role in viral infection in plants, whereas the underlying regulation mechanism of 17K in virus infection remains elusive. In this study, we determined that 17K of BYDV-GAV, the most common species found in China in recent years, was involved in viral pathogenicity. To identify the host factors interacting with 17K, the full length coding sequence of 17K was cloned into pGBKT7 to generate the bait plasmid pGBKT7-17K. 114 positive clones were identified as possible host factors to interact with 17K through screening a tobacco cDNA library. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that they were classified into 35 functional groups, involving three main categories including biological processes (BP), cellular components (CC), and molecular functions (MF). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) analysis indicated the acquired genes were assigned to 49 KEGG pathways. The majority of these genes were involved in glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. The interactions between 17K and the 27 proteins with well-documented annotations were verified by conducting yeast two-hybrid assays and 12 of the 27 proteins were verified to interact with 17K. To explore the putative function of the 12 proteins in BYDV-GAV infection, the subcellular localization and expression alterations in the presence of BYDV-GAV were monitored. The results showed that, under the condition of BYDV-GAV infection, RuBisCo, POR, and PPD5 were significantly up-regulated, whereas AEP and CAT1 were significantly down-regulated. Our findings provide insights into the 17K-mediated BYDV-GAV infection process.
Revealing the spatial shifting pattern of COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
Authors: Zhu Di , Ye Xinyue , Manson Steven
Published: April 2021

We describe the use of network modeling to capture the shifting spatiotemporal nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common approach to tracking COVID-19 cases over time and space is to examine a series of maps that provide snapshots of the pandemic. A series of snapshots can convey the spatial nature of cases but often rely on subjective interpretation to assess how the pandemic is shifting in severity through time and space. We present a novel application of network optimization to a standard series of snapshots to better reveal how the spatial centres of the pandemic shifted spatially over time in the mainland United States under a mix of interventions. We find a global spatial shifting pattern with stable pandemic centres and both local and long-range interactions. Metrics derived from the daily nature of spatial shifts are introduced to help evaluate the pandemic situation at regional scales. We also highlight the value of reviewing pandemics through local spatial shifts to uncover dynamic relationships among and within regions, such as spillover and concentration among states. This new way of examining the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of network-based spatial shifts offers new story lines in understanding how the pandemic spread in geography.
The effect of sirolimus on angiomyolipoma is determined by decrease of fat-poor compartments and includes striking reduction of vascular structures
Authors: Watanabe Elieser Hitoshi , Coelho Fernando Morbeck Almeida , Filho Hilton Leão , Balbo Bruno Eduardo Pedroso , Neves Precil Diego Miranda de Menezes , Franzin Fernanda Maria , Yamauchi Fernando Ide , Onuchic Luiz Fernando
Published: April 2021

Renal angiomyolipomas hemorrhage is associated with their size and vascular constitution. The effects of sirolimus on different components of angiomyolipomas was analyzed in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex, sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis and multiple sporadic angiomyolipomas. Thirty angiomyolipomas from 14 patients treated with sirolimus were retrospectively evaluated. A Hounsfield-unit threshold was used to classify angiomyolipomas in fat-rich, fat-poor and intermediate-fat tumors, and to categorize tumor compartments in fat rich, fat poor, intermediate fat and highly vascularized. Diameter variations were measured to assess the effects on aneurysmatic/ectatic vascular formations. Volume reduction following treatment with sirolimus was higher in fat-poor than fat-rich angiomyolipomas. Tumor reduction was mainly determined by decrease of the fat-poor and highly-vascularized compartments while the volume of the fat-rich compartment increased. Broad liposubstitution was observed in some tumors. A median reduction of 100% (75 to 100) in the diameter of aneurysmatic/ectatic vascular structures was observed. Our study showed that sirolimus reduces the size of angiomyolipomas by decreasing primarily their highly-vascularized and fat-poor compartments. This effect is associated with a remarkable reduction of tumoral aneurysms/ectatic vessels, revealing the likely mechanism responsible for the risk-decreasing effect of mTOR inhibitors on angiomyolipoma bleeding. These findings support the role of mTOR in the development of angiomyolipoma blood vessels.
Automated measurement of iris surface smoothness using anterior segment optical coherence tomography
Authors: Zarei Mohammad , Mahmoudi Tahereh , Riazi-Esfahani Hamid , Mousavi Behnam , Ebrahimiadib Nazanin , Yaseri Mehdi , Khalili Pour Elias , Arabalibeik Hossein
Published: April 2021

Fuchs uveitis (FU) is a chronic and often unilateral ocular inflammation and characteristic iris atrophic changes, other than heterochromia, are common in FU and are key to the correct diagnosis in many cases. With the advent of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), some investigators attempted to quantitatively study these atrophic changes; mostly by introducing various methods to measure iris thickness in AS-OCT images. We aimed to present an automated method in an observational case series to measure the smoothness index (SI) of the iris surface in AS-OCT images. The ratio of the length of the straight line connecting the most peripheral and central points of the anterior iris border (in nasal and temporal sides) to the actual length of this border on AS-OCT images, was defined as SI. In a uveitis referral center, twenty-two eyes of 11 patients with unilateral Fuchs uveitis (FU) (7 female) and 22 eyes of 11 healthy control subjects underwent AS-OCT imaging. Image J and a newly developed MATLAB algorithm were used for manual and automated SI measurements, respectively. Agreement between manual and automated measurements was evaluated with Bland–Altman analysis and interclass correlation coefficient. The inter-eye difference of SI was compared between the FU group and the control group. Automated mean overall SI was 0.868 ± 0.037 and 0.840 ± 0.039 in FU and healthy fellow eyes, respectively (estimated mean difference =  − 0.028, 95% CI [− 0.038, − 0.018], p < 0.001). Bland- Altman plots showed good agreement between two methods in both healthy and FU eyes. The interclass correlation coefficient between the manual and automated measurements in the FU and healthy fellow eyes was 0.958 and 0.964, respectively. The inter-eye difference of overall SI was 0.029 ± 0.015 and 0.012 ± 0.008 in FU group and control group, respectively (p = 0.01). We concluded that the automated algorithm can rapidly and conveniently measure SI with results comparable to the manual method.
Application of Three-dimensional Visualization Fused with Ultrasound for Percutaneous Renal Puncture
Authors: Xu Zhibin , Li Zhenchi , Guo MaoMao , Bian Hao , Niu Tianli , Wang Jiangping
Published: April 2021

We present here the three-dimensional (3D) visualization fused with ultrasound and to evaluate its clinical application effect preliminarily. One hundred and eighteen patients with renal calculi in our hospital from September 2017 to December 2019 were prospectively randomized into two groups. The experimental group was treated with percutaneous renal puncture guided by the 3D visualization fused with ultrasound. The control group was treated with percutaneous renal puncture guided by B-ultrasonography (B-US). The puncture time in the experimental versus control group was 4.36 ± 1.28 min versus 10.72 ± 2.94 min (P = 0.000), operation time was 65.85 ± 10.63 min versus 81.34 ± 12.52 min (P = 0.000), and the loss of hemoglobin was 8.55 ± 3.76 g/L min versus 13.33 ± 5.81 g/L(P = 0.000), and the success rate of establishing the channel at one time was 98.41% versus 81.82% (P = 0.002), and the coincidence rate between the channel and the longitudinal axis of the target renal calyx was 88.89% versus 60.00% (P = 0.000). The 3D visualization fused with ultrasound could guide precise puncture to target calyces, reduce operation time, bleeding, and difficulty of puncture.
Anterior neck soft tissue measurements on computed tomography to predict difficult laryngoscopy: a retrospective study
Authors: Kim Hye Jin , Min Nar Hyun , Lee Jong Seok , Lee Wootaek , Kim Do-Hyeong
Published: April 2021

Predicting difficult laryngoscopy is an essential component of the airway management. We aimed to evaluate the use of anterior neck soft tissue measurements on computed tomography for predicting difficult laryngoscopy and to present a clear measurement protocol. In this retrospective study, 281 adult patients whose tracheas were intubated using a direct laryngoscope for thyroidectomy were enrolled. On computed tomography, the distances from the midpoint of the thyrohyoid membrane to the closest concave point of the vallecular (membrane-to-vallecula distance; dMV), and to the most distant point of the epiglottis (membrane-to-epiglottis distance; dME) were measured, respectively. The extended distances straight to the skin anterior from the dMV and dME were called the skin-to-vallecula distance (dSV) and skin-to-epiglottis distance (dSE), respectively. Difficult laryngoscopy was defined by a Cormack-Lehane grade of > 2. Difficult laryngoscopy occurred in 40 (14%) cases. Among four indices, the dMV showed the highest prediction ability for difficult laryngoscopy with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.884 (95% confidence interval 0.841–0.919, P < 0.001). The optimal dMV cut-off value for predicting difficult laryngoscopy was 2.33 cm (sensitivity 75.0%; specificity 93.8%). The current study provides novel evidence that increased dMV is a potential predictive indicator of difficult laryngoscopy.
Cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal for refractory cystoid macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion
Authors: Yamada Hiroko , Imai Hisanori , Tetsumoto Akira , Hayashida Mayuka , Otsuka Keiko , Miki Akiko , Kusuhara Sentaro , Nakamura Makoto
Published: April 2021

To demonstrate the long-term effect of cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal for treatment-resistant cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Retrospective clinical study. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 22 eyes of 22 patients with treatment-resistant CME secondary to BRVO with 12 months observation after cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal. Patients included 11 women and 11 men. The mean ± SD age was 72.7 ± 10.2 years. LogMAR-converted best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was statistically better at 12 months after surgery (0.30 ± 0.30) than preoperative BCVA (0.39 ± 0.27) (p = 0.01). The central sensitivity of microperimetry (dB) was maintained during follow-up (preoperative sensitivity: 25.4 ± 4.1, postoperative sensitivity at 12 months after the surgery: 25.9 ± 4.2, p = 0.69). Twelve months after surgery, there was a significant improvement in the central retinal thickness (CRT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) (303.7 ± 80.1) (μm) compared with the preoperative CRT (524.2 ± 114.8) (p < 0.01). In 12 months, CME recurred in 3 of 22 eyes. The preoperative reflectivity in cystoid cavity on OCT was significantly higher in patients with fibrinogen clot removal (n = 5) than in patients without fibrinogen clot removal (n = 17) (p < 0.01). For treatment-resistant CME secondary to BRVO, Cystotomy with or without fibrinogen clot removal may be one of the treatment options.
Author Correction: MEG signatures of long-term effects of agreement and disagreement with the majority
Authors: Gorin A. , Klucharev V. , Ossadtchi A. , Zubarev I. , Moiseeva V. , Shestakova A.
Published: April 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Publisher Correction: Inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase activity impairs human T cell activation and function
Authors: Nastasi Claudia , Willerlev-Olsen Andreas , Dalhoff Kristoffer , Ford Shayne L. , Gadsbøll Anne-Sofie Østergaard , Buus Terkild Brink , Gluud Maria , Danielsen Morten , Litman Thomas , Bonefeld Charlotte Mennè , Geisler Carsten , Ødum Niels , Woetmann Anders
Published: April 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Oxidative etching of S-vacancy defective MoS2 monolayer upon reaction with O2
Authors: Farigliano Lucas M. , Paredes-Olivera Patricia A. , Patrito Eduardo M.
Published: April 2021

The reactions of O2 with S vacancy sites within a MoS2 monolayer were investigated using ab initio molecular dnamics simulations.
Amplified spontaneous emission in thin films of quasi-2D BA3MA3Pb5Br16 lead halide perovskites
Authors: De Giorgi Maria Luisa , Cretì Arianna , La-Placa Maria-Grazia , Boix Pablo P. , Bolink Henk J. , Lomascolo Mauro , Anni Marco
Published: April 2021

Energy level scheme of multilayered quasi-2D BA3MA3Pb5Br16 films as a function of temperature.
Anisotropic nanoporous morphology of ZnO-supported Co that enhances catalytic activity
Authors: Coaty Christopher M. , Corrao Adam A. , Petrova Victoria , Kim Taewoo , Fenning David P. , Khalifah Peter G. , Liu Ping
Published: April 2021

Conversion reaction synthesis methods yield a nanoporous ZnO-supported Co catalyst with an anisotropic crystal structure and an anisotropic, hierarchical, columnar wall morphology that is highly efficient for steam reforming of ethanol to produce H2.
Liposome-assisted enzyme catalysis: toward signal amplification for sensitive split-type electrochemiluminescence immunoassay
Authors: Fu Yi-Zhuo , Liu Xiang-Mei , Ma Shu-Hui , Cao Jun-Tao , Liu Yan-Ming
Published: April 2021

A liposome-assisted enzyme catalysis signal amplification strategy was developed for ECL immunoassay of PSA in a split-type mode.
Reply to the ‘Comment on “Trimorphs of 4-bromophenyl 4-bromobenzoate. Elastic, brittle, plastic”’ by J. J. Whittaker, A. J. Brock, A. Grosjean, M. C. Pfrunder, J. C. McMurtrie and J. K. Clegg, Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, DOI: 10.1039/D0CC07668F
Authors: Saha Subhankar , Desiraju Gautam R.
Published: April 2021

Different molecular structures and still the same crystal property.
Temperature-dependent upconversion luminescence multicolor tuning and temperature sensing of multifunctional β-NaYF4:Yb/Er@β-NaYF4:Yb/Tm microcrystals
Authors: Ju Dandan , Gao Xiaoli , Zhang Shouchao , Li Yang , Cui Wenjing , Yang Yinhui , Luo Mingyan , Liu Shujing
Published: April 2021

Multifunctional β-NaYF4:Yb/Er@β-NaYF4:Yb/Tm microcrystals with simultaneous white-light emission, temperature-dependent upconversion luminescence multicolor tuning and good temperature sensitivity.
Highly emissive halide perovskite nanocrystals: from lead to lead-free
Authors: Li Chunlong , Li Jie , Li Zhengping , Zhang Huayong , Dang Yangyang , Kong Fangong
Published: April 2021

Highly emissive halide perovskite nanocrystals with tunable emission spectra covering the entire visible spectra.