bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Between a Rock and Soft Bottom: Evaluating the Use of Rod and Reel to Monitor Tautog in Southern Massachusetts
Authors: Vidal Tiffany , Glenn Robert , Reilly Brendan , Bednarski Michael , DeCelles Gregory R.
Published: December 2018

Fishery-independent trawl surveys are commonly used to monitor the status and trends of marine finfish species. Although bottom trawls are powerful sampling tools, they are limited to surveying relatively featureless bottom habitats and, as a result, may not accurately represent the trends in the relative abundance of fish species associated with structured and complex habitats. We evaluated the feasibility of rod and reel as an alternative fishery-independent survey methodology to monitor the abundance of Tautog Tautoga onitis, a recreationally and commercially important structure-dwelling reef fish, in the coastal waters of Massachusetts. Results suggest that a rod-and-reel survey is an effective, low-cost approach to monitor the structured habitats inaccessible to trawl gears. Using a generalized linear mixed modeling framework we were able to identify important predictor variables influencing catch rates; variables that would be important in the design of a continued long-term monitoring program and in the standardization of these data as an index of relative abundance. Variables retained in the top model included year, month, depth strata, bottom water temperature, tidal phase, fishing vessel, angler avidity, and random effects that accounted for the repeated measures survey design. Power analyses revealed that the directed rod-and-reel survey had far greater power to detect changes in Tautog abundance than the extant trawl survey, which had very little power to detect even large shifts in abundance. The results of this pilot study suggest that the continued use of rod and reel as a complementary survey tool would be warranted to further compare the trends in Tautog abundance generated using the two different survey methodologies, to reduce uncertainty in the stock assessment, and to improve the information upon which Tautog management is predicated in Massachusetts waters.
Age and Growth of the Shortfin Mako Shark in the Southern Indian Ocean
Authors: Liu Kwang-Ming , Sibagariang Rina D'rita , Joung Shoou-Jeng , Wang Shyh-Bin
Published: December 2018

The Shortfin Mako Isurus oxyrinchus is one of the major shark bycatch species in the longline fishery for tuna Thunnus spp. in the Indian Ocean; however, its biological information is still little known. This study estimated the age and growth of Shortfin Makos in the southern Indian Ocean. In total, 178 specimens (72 females and 106 males) were opportunistically collected by the scientific observers onboard Taiwanese large-scale longline fishing vessels from February 2013 to September 2016 in the southern Indian Ocean. The relationship of gutted weight (GW; in kg) to curved fork length (CFL; in cm) for both sexes combined was estimated as GW = 0.00001 × CFL2.517 (n = 170, r2 = 0.85). Growth band pairs (including translucent and opaque bands) were counted based on sectioned vertebral centra from the caudal peduncle region. The periodicity of band-pair deposition on vertebral centra was estimated to be 1 year, with opaque bands deposited around August based on edge analysis. On this basis, the maximum observed ages of females and males were 18 and 14 years, respectively. The von Bertalanffy growth function best fitted the observed sexes-combined length-at-age data, with growth parameter estimates as L∞ = 267.6 cm CFL, k = 0.123/year, and t0 = −2.487 years (n = 159). The growth model could be improved for future stock assessments by increasing the sample size, particularly on very small (neonates and small subadults) and very large female Shortfin Makos.
MMP‐14 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms are related to steroid‐induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in the population of northern China
Authors: Qi Yuxin , Wang Jiaqi , Sun Mingqi , Ma Chao , Jin Tianbo , Liu Yuan , Cao Yuju , Wang Jianzhong
Published: December 2018

Background

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a refractory disease which frequently occurs in young and middle‐aged people. Recent studies indicated that MMP‐14 played an important role in the development of chondrocytes, metabolism of osteoblasts as well as fate decision of hypertrophic chondrocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between polymorphisms of MMP‐14 and steroid‐induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in the Chinese population.

Methods

We selected 7 SNPs (rs3751488, rs1003349, rs1042703, rs2236302, rs1042704, rs2236303, and rs2236304) on gene MMP‐14. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the chi‐squared test, genetic model analysis, haplotype analysis, and stratification analysis.

Results

We discovered that the genotype “G/G” of rs2236302 was associated with ONFH risk in the MMP‐14 in the codominant model (OR = 8.62, 95% CI = 1.07–69.46, p = 0.038) and recessive model (OR = 8.86, 95% CI = 1.10–71.31, p = 0.013).

Conclusions

We have confirmed that the susceptive SNPs (rs2236302) of MMP‐14 from the MMPs/TIMPs system exhibit a significant association with increased risk of steroid‐induced ONFH in the population of northern China.
Prevention of mercaptopurine‐induced hypoglycemia using allopurinol to reduce methylated thiopurine metabolites
Authors: Miller Matthew. B. , Brackett Julienne , Schafer Eric S. , Rau Rachel E.
Published: December 2018

Skewing of mercaptopurine (6‐MP) metabolism preferentially toward the 6‐methylmercaptopurine (6‐MMP) metabolite over the antileukemic metabolite 6‐thioguanine (6‐TGN) is associated with 6‐MP‐related hepatotoxocity. Allopurinol when coadministered with 6‐MP can reduce this skewing and ameliorate the associated adverse effects. The cases we report here demonstrate that aberrant overproduction of 6‐MMP is also associated with profound 6‐MP‐associated hypoglycemia, which can be reversed by administration of allopurinol. This case series contributes to the scant literature on 6‐MP‐induced hypoglycemia and provides evidence that addition of allopurinol to reduced dose 6‐MP can successfully manage this severe toxicity.
Dumbbell to Core–Shell Structure Transformation of Ni–Au Nanoparticle Driven by External Stimuli
Authors: Han Shaobo , Liu Wei , Cai Chao , Cao Penghui , Gu Meng
Published: December 2018

Conversion of CO2 gas to CO fuels is one of the most promising solutions for the increasing threat of global warming and energy crisis. The efficient catalyst Ni–Au dumbbell converting CO2 into CO at elevated temperatures has high CO product selectivity; however, the accompanied atomic diffusion and subsequent surface reconstruction affect the catalytic efficiency of chemical reaction. Atomic scale characterization of structural evolution of the catalyst, which is essential to correlate the functional mechanism to active catalyst surfaces, is yet to be studied. Here, in situ transmission electron microscopy experiments and atomistic simulations are performed to characterize the structural evolution of Ni–Au dumbbell nanoparticles under two different external stimuli. In the condition of high temperature and vacuum, the Ni–Au nanostructure reveals a clear shape reconstruction from the initial dumbbell to core–shell‐like, which is induced by capillary force to minimize free surface energy of the system. The shape transformation involves two stages of processes, initial fast Au diffusion followed by slow source‐controlled diffusion. At ambient temperature, the combination of CO2 and electron flux surprisingly induces analogous structural transformation of Ni–Au nanostructure, where the associated chemical reaction and CO absorption stimulate the Au migration on Ni surface. Such surface reconstruction can be widely present in catalytic reactions in different environmental conditions, and the results herein demonstrate the detailed processes of Ni–Au structure evolution, which provide important insights for understanding the catalyst performance.
When the fail open valve fails closed: Lessons from investigating the “impossible”
Authors: Dee Sean J. , Cox Brenton L. , Ogle Russell A.
Published: December 2018

Process hazard analysis is recognized by many safety professionals and regulatory groups as the key provision of a process safety management system. This analysis evaluates what can go wrong, and what safeguards are needed to prevent incidents. One challenge in process hazard analysis is the reliance on humans to determine reasonable, expected, or anticipated failure modes. The implementation of safeguards may also foster a lost sense of vulnerability to potential process upsets. These factors in combination can lead to a disregard for failure modes considered “unlikely” or even “impossible.” Unfortunately, this problem is often revealed when the “impossible” leads to an incident or accident. In this article, a case study is used to motivate a discussion of incidents involving hazards that were disregarded in process hazard analysis due to their low probability, or supposed impossibility. Tools, techniques, and guidance will be discussed to improve process hazard analysis when evaluating low probability failure modes. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Process Saf Prog 38: e12031, 2019
Pyrethroid neurotoxicity studies with bifenthrin indicate a mixed Type I/II mode of action
Authors: Gammon Derek W , Liu Zhiwei , Chandrasekaran Appavu , El‐Naggar Shaaban F , Kuryshev Yuri A , Jackson Sharon
Published: December 2018

BACKGROUND

Bifenthrin is usually considered a Type I pyrethroid, because it lacks an α‐CN group present in Type II pyrethroids, but some previous studies suggest a mixed Type I/II mode‐of‐action. Results are presented for bifenthrin in a rat developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) study along with effects on Na currents in human VGSC subtypes. Molecular modeling comparisons were also made for bifenthrin and other pyrethroids.

RESULTS

In a rat DNT study, bifenthrin produced tremors and clonic convulsions in dams and pups and slightly reduced acoustic startle response amplitude, and increased Tmax, at PND20 in females. Similar blood levels of bifenthrin were measured in dams and pups at each dose level i.e. no concentration in pups. In human VGSC experiments, using the Nav1.8 subtype, bifenthrin's effects on inactivation were slight, as for Type II pyrethroids, but without large prolongation of the tail current (deactivation) seen with Type II. Molecular modeling of bifenthrin indicates that the o‐Me group may occupy a similar space to the α‐CN group of cypermethrin and fenpropathrin.

CONCLUSION

In a DNT study and on human Nav1.8 tail currents bifenthrin showed Type I and II effects, similar to some published studies. Overall, bifenthrin acts as a mixed Type I/II pyrethroid. © 2018 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Practical adaptive fractional‐order nonsingular terminal sliding mode control for a cable‐driven manipulator
Authors: Wang Yaoyao , Li Binbin , Yan Fei , Chen Bai
Published: December 2018

For the high precise tracking control purpose of a cable‐driven manipulator under lumped uncertainties, a novel adaptive fractional‐order nonsingular terminal sliding mode control scheme based on time delay estimation (TDE) is proposed and investigated in this paper. The proposed control scheme mainly has three elements, ie, a TDE element applied to properly compensate the lumped unknown dynamics of the system resulting in a fascinating model‐free feature; a fractional‐order nonsingular terminal sliding mode (FONTSM) surface element used to ensure high precision in the steady phase; and a combined reaching law with adaptive technique adopted to obtain fast convergence and high precision and chatter reduction under complex lumped disturbance. Stability of the closed‐loop control system is analyzed with the Lyapunov stability theory. Comparative simulations and experiments were performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed control scheme using 2‐DOF (degree of freedom) of a cable‐driven manipulator named Polaris‐I. Corresponding results show that our proposed method can ensure faster convergence, higher precision, and better robustness against complex lumped disturbance than the existing TDE‐based FONTSM and continuous FONTSM control schemes.
Survey on the run‐time systems of enterprise application integration platforms focusing on performance
Authors: Freire Daniela L. , Frantz Rafael Z. , Roos‐Frantz Fabricia , Sawicki Sandro
Published: December 2018

Companies are taking advantage of cloud computing to upgrade their business processes. Cloud computing requires interaction with many kinds of applications, so it is necessary to improve the performance of software tools that allow keeping information on all these applications consistent and synchronised. Integration platforms are specialised software tools that provide support to design, implement, run, and monitor integration solutions, which aim to orchestrate a set of applications so as to promote compatibility among their data or to develop new functionality on top of the current ones. The run‐time system is the part of the integration platform responsible for running the integration solutions, which makes its performance the uttermost important issue. The contribution of this article is two‐fold: a framework and an evaluation of integration platforms. The former is a framework composed of ten properties grouped into two dimensions to evaluate the run‐time systems focusing on performance. Using this framework as reference, the second contribution is an evaluation of nine open‐source integration platforms, which represent the state‐of‐the‐art, provide support to the integration patterns, and follow the pipes‐and‐filters architectural style. In addition, as a result of this work, we suggest open research directions that can be explored to improve the performance of the run‐time systems and at the same time may be useful to adapt them to the context of cloud computing.
Differential Marking of Embryos by Location and Date of Release Reveals Within‐River Natal Homing and Parental Influence on Progeny Return Timing in Sockeye Salmon
Authors: Barnett Heidy K. , Quinn Thomas P. , Fresh Kurt L. , Koehler Michele E. , Burton Karl D. , Bhuthimethee Mary , Peterson N. Phil
Published: December 2018

The tendencies of salmon and trout to spawn in proximity to their natal sites and follow the parental timing of breeding are fundamental to their population structure and also affect the performance of enhancement facilities. Specifically, an understanding of how parental spawning date and offspring release location affect the timing and place of breeding by returning adults is important for the evaluation of hatchery supplementation programs and their integration with sympatric naturally spawning populations. We collected Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka carcasses in the Cedar River, Washington, over three spawning seasons to evaluate spawn timing and distribution. Thermal marks on the otoliths of hatchery‐origin carcasses allowed assignment of fish to parents that spawned in the early, middle, and late parts of the season and to fry release locations in the lower, middle, and upper parts of the river. The early portion of the spawning run was composed of a higher proportion of hatchery‐origin fish than was the case later in the season. Hatchery‐origin adults that were released early in the spring as fry (from early spawning parents) were recovered early in the season, and those released later in the spring as fry were recovered later in the season. The natural‐origin spawn timing most closely matched the spawn timing of middle and late hatchery fry release groups in all years. Our data also demonstrated a correspondence between hatchery fry release location and adult recovery location; fry released at river kilometer (rkm) 1.0 were recovered 7.0 km lower (median value) in the river than fry released at rkm 21.7 and were recovered 10.0 km lower than fry released at rkm 35.1. These data contribute to the substantial body of evidence that population characteristics of anadromous salmonids are sensitive to influence from fish culture practices—even under benign regimes—because of the strong connections between parental and progeny timing and the fine‐scale homing of salmon to release sites within a river.
Sources of Bighead Carp and Silver Carp Found in Chicago Urban Fishing Program Ponds
Authors: Love Seth A. , Lederman Nathan J. , Widloe Tristan , Whitledge Gregory W.
Published: December 2018

Planktivorous Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and Silver Carp H. molitrix are two invasive species that pose a severe threat to native aquatic biota. Efforts have been made to inhibit Bighead Carp and Silver Carp expansion into the Great Lakes through hydrologically connected systems, but understanding their expansion to and from hydrologically disconnected systems could further reduce this risk. We assessed the origin of 23 Bighead Carp and 1 Silver Carp captured from Chicago Urban Fishing Program ponds using otolith chemistry. Otolith core δ18O and δ13C of captured Bighead Carp did not overlap with ranges of otolith δ18O and δ13C from Bighead Carp and Silver Carp from the Illinois River but was consistent with otolith δ18O and δ13C of Bighead Carp obtained from aquaculture facilities. Likewise, otolith core Sr:Ca of 19 captured Bighead Carp was higher than the range of otolith Sr:Ca from Illinois River Bighead Carp and Silver Carp. Due to inferred timing of introduction (likely age‐0 or age‐1 fish), these Bighead Carp may have been released incidentally via stocking sport fish shipments contaminated with the carp. Contrastingly, otolith chemistry results suggest that the captured Silver Carp originated from the Illinois River, although timing of introduction of this fish could not be inferred. Overall, our results indicate that nearly all fish analyzed did not originate from rivers within the Mississippi River basin and were instead likely introduced through stocking contaminated shipments of fish. Even though Chicago Urban Fishing Program ponds now pose a minimal threat for Bighead Carp and Silver Carp expansion into Lake Michigan, sustained urban pond monitoring and nonnative fish removal may limit or eliminate this alternative invasion pathway. Additionally, continued vigilance in understanding the origin of stocked fish and culture environment (e.g., polyculture) could decrease the likelihood of future invasive species introductions through contaminated sport fish stockings.
Behavioral and endocrine correlates of dominance in captive female Jackson's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus)
Authors: Spratt Kelly S. , Spratt Jeffrey S. , Bauman Joan E. , Chandler Charles Ray
Published: December 2018

For species that form dominance hierarchies, such as group‐living ungulates, aggressive interactions can pose a challenge to successful captive management. For example, Jackson's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), a rare antelope of east Africa, can be difficult to maintain in captivity because aggression within female dominance hierarchies can lead to injury and death. We quantified behavioral and endocrine correlates of dominance in a captive herd of ten female hartebeest with the goal of understanding how to minimize dangerous interactions. We observed hartebeest for 18 months in a 4‐ha enclosure on St. Catherines Island, Georgia. We quantified type of agonistic behavior, initiator and recipient of the behavior, who displaced whom, and age and relative size of participants. We also used fecal steroid analysis to take weekly measurements of corticoids, a hormonal correlate of stress. Hartebeest maintained a stable, linear dominance hierarchy. Only 5.9% of interactions were reversals of established rank. Most dominance interactions were low intensity, but 17.3% of interactions carried a high risk of injury (chase, horn butt, horn clash, horn clash on knees, and head push). High‐ranking individuals usually initiated interactions. Most interactions were between animals of similar rank, and animals of intermediate rank participated in the highest number of interactions. The frequency of high‐intensity interactions was unrelated to rank. Rank was correlated with age, but not size. There was no relationship between rank and fecal corticoid levels. Dominance interactions in hartebeest are not a function of social instability, and the frequency of dangerous interactions is not a function of rank.
Do we live in the swampland?
Authors: Murayama Hitoshi , Yamazaki Masahito , Yanagida Tsutomu T.
Published: December 2018

Abstract

A low-energy effective theory is said to be in the swampland if it does not have any consistent UV completion inside a theory of quantum gravity. The natural question is if the standard model of particle physics, possibly with some minimal extensions, are in the swampland — we are in trouble if the answer to this question is yes. We discuss this question in view of the recent swampland conjectures. We prove a no-go theorem concerning the modification of the Higgs sector. Moreover, we find that QCD axion is incompatible with the recent swampland conjectures, unless some sophisticated possibilities are considered. We discuss the implications of this result for spontaneous breaking of CP symmetry. We comment on dynamical supersymmetry breaking as well as the issue of multi-valuedness of the potential. We also propose a refinement of the de Sitter swampland conjecture.
Collider probes of singlet fermionic dark matter scenarios for the Fermi gamma-ray excess
Authors: Kim Yeong Gyun , Park Chan Beom , Shin Seodong
Published: December 2018

Abstract

We investigate the collider signatures of three benchmark points in the singlet fermionic dark matter model motivated by the Fermi gamma-ray excess at the Galactic center. The benchmark points are classified according to the final state of the main dark annihilation process: a pair of b quarks, Higgs bosons and new scalar bosons. Since the dark sector in the model communicates with the visible sector through a mixing between the new scalar and the Higgs boson, collider observables related to the measurements of Higgs boson properties and searches for the new scalar boson are essential to probe the benchmark scenarios at colliders. In this paper, we consider four collider observables: (1) Higgs signal strength (essentially hZZ coupling), (2) triple Higgs coupling, (3) exotic Higgs decay, and (4) direct production of the new scalar particle. We find that the benchmark points have distinctive collider signatures that can be well tested by the interplay of future lepton and hadron colliders.
eScience development and experiences in The Netherlands
Authors: Hazeleger Wilco , Bakker Tom , van Nieuwpoort Rob
Published: December 2018

The Netherlands eScience Center is the national expertise center for the development and application of research software. Collaborating with researchers from all academic disciplines, it extends the breadth and depth of research opportunities by exploiting the latest insights from computer and data science, as well as making optimal use of hardware, software, and data infrastructures. It does so through problem-driven research projects where eScience research engineers, employed by the eScience Center, collaborate with researchers in all disciplines at Dutch academic institutions. Project software is generalized and made available for reuse for other disciplines and goals. The center has three main technological competences: efficient computing, optimized data handling, and data analytics. Furthermore, on the national level it coordinates and contributes to science policies on computing, data, and applications thereof. With its two main assets, a staff of highly educated and multi-disciplinary eScience Research Engineers and an open online directory of research software tools and knowledge, it successfully contributes to the Dutch scientific landscape and enhances and accelerates all research in The Netherlands and beyond.
Taxes and firm size: Political cost or political power?
Authors: Belz Thomas , Hagen Dominik von , Steffens Christian
Published: December 2018

Using a meta-regression analysis, we quantitatively review the empirical literature on the relation between effective tax rate (ETR) and firm size. Accounting literature offers two competing theories on this relation: The political cost theory, suggesting a positive size-ETR relation, and the political power theory, suggesting a negative size-ETR relation. Using a unique data set of 56 studies that do not show a clear tendency towards either of the two theories, we contribute to the discussion on the size-ETR relation in three ways: First, applying meta-regression analysis on a US meta-data set, we provide evidence supporting the political cost theory. Second, our analysis reveals factors that are possible sources of variation and bias in previous empirical studies; these findings can improve future empirical and analytical models. Third, we extend our analysis to a cross-country meta-data set; this extension enables us to investigate explanations for the two competing theories in more detail. We find that Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, a transparency index and a corruption index explain variation in the size-ETR relation. Independent of the two theories, we also find that tax planning aspects potentially affect the size-ETR relation. To our knowledge, these explanations have not yet been investigated in our research context.
The influence of parents and schools on developmental trajectories of antisocial behaviors in Caucasian and African American youths
Authors: Morrison Ryann A. , Martinez Jonathan I. , Hilton Emily C. , Li James J.
Published: December 2018

African American youths are overrepresented in the American juvenile justice system relative to Caucasians. Yet, research on antisocial behaviors (ASB) has focused on predominantly Caucasian populations. Furthermore, relatively little is known about how environmental factors, such as supportive parenting (e.g., how close adolescents feel to their parent) and school connectedness (e.g., how supported adolescents feel at school), affect trajectories of ASB in Caucasians versus African Americans. This study mapped developmental trajectories of ASB in Caucasians (n= 10,764) and African Americans (n= 4,091) separately, using four waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. We then examined supportive parenting and school connectedness on the trajectories of ASB. Four trajectories of ASB were identified for both Caucasians and African Americans: negligible, adolescence-peaked, low-persistence, and high-persistence ASB, although prevalence rates differed by racial-ethnic status. Supportive parenting reduced the risk of membership into the adolescence-peaked trajectory for both Caucasians and African Americans. However, school connectedness was less protective for African Americans than for Caucasians because it only predicted a lower risk of adolescence-peaked membership for African Americans. Findings may reflect the complex social dynamics between race and schools in the development of ASB.
„Früh geborgen“
Authors: Kleinke Astrid
Published: December 2018

Zusammenfassung. Familienintegration beginnt mit dem werdenden Leben. Das multiprofessionelle Weg der Mitte Projekt „Früh geborgen“ – Ganzheitliche integrative Begleitung für Familien mit früh geborenen Kindern – ist bundesweit das einzige aufsuchende Betreuungsprojekt für Eltern von Frühgeborenen. „Früh geborgen“ schließt berlinweit eine Versorgungslücke in der Begleitung von Familien mit Frühgeborenen nach Klinikentlassung bis zur Einschulung und darüber hinaus.
Generationen lernen voneinander und miteinander
Authors: Blumenstein Gilles , Staudacher Diana , Panfil Eva-Maria
Published: December 2018

Zusammenfassung. Seitdem fünfzehn- bis siebzehnjährige Auszubildende „Fachfrau/Fachmann Gesundheit“ (FaGe) zum Team gehören, hat sich die Altersspanne zwischen den jüngsten und ältesten Kolleg(inn)en verändert. Das Voneinander-Lernen der Generationen geschieht oft zufällig und unsystematisch. Umso wichtiger ist es, „intergenerationelles Lernen“ zu spezifischen Themen gezielt zu fördern. Erste Erfahrungen am Universitätsspital Zürich sind vielversprechend.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors: recent progress and potential biomarkers
Authors: Darvin Pramod , Toor Salman M. , Sasidharan Nair Varun , Elkord Eyad
Published: December 2018

Cancer growth and progression are associated with immune suppression. Cancer cells have the ability to activate different immune checkpoint pathways that harbor immunosuppressive functions. Monoclonal antibodies that target immune checkpoints provided an immense breakthrough in cancer therapeutics. Among the immune checkpoint inhibitors, PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors showed promising therapeutic outcomes, and some have been approved for certain cancer treatments, while others are under clinical trials. Recent reports have shown that patients with various malignancies benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. However, mainstream initiation of immune checkpoint therapy to treat cancers is obstructed by the low response rate and immune-related adverse events in some cancer patients. This has given rise to the need for developing sets of biomarkers that predict the response to immune checkpoint blockade and immune-related adverse events. In this review, we discuss different predictive biomarkers for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 inhibitors, including immune cells, PD-L1 overexpression, neoantigens, and genetic and epigenetic signatures. Potential approaches for further developing highly reliable predictive biomarkers should facilitate patient selection for and decision-making related to immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies.
Dopamine perturbation of gene co-expression networks reveals differential response in schizophrenia for translational machinery
Authors: Kos Mark Z. , Duan Jubao , Sanders Alan R. , Blondell Lucy , Drigalenko Eugene I. , Carless Melanie A. , Gejman Pablo V. , Göring Harald H. H. ,   MGS, Gejman P. V. , Sanders A. R. , Duan J. , Levinson D. F. , Shi J. , Buccola N. G. , Mowry B. J. , Freedman R. , Olincy A. , Amin F. , Black D. W. , Silverman J. M. , Byerley W. F. , Cloninger C. R. , Svrakic D. M.
Published: December 2018

The dopaminergic hypothesis of schizophrenia (SZ) postulates that positive symptoms of SZ, in particular psychosis, are due to disturbed neurotransmission via the dopamine (DA) receptor D2 (DRD2). However, DA is a reactive molecule that yields various oxidative species, and thus has important non-receptor-mediated effects, with empirical evidence of cellular toxicity and neurodegeneration. Here we examine non-receptor-mediated effects of DA on gene co-expression networks and its potential role in SZ pathology. Transcriptomic profiles were measured by RNA-seq in B-cell transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines from 514 SZ cases and 690 controls, both before and after exposure to DA ex vivo (100 μM). Gene co-expression modules were identified using Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis for both baseline and DA-stimulated conditions, with each module characterized for biological function and tested for association with SZ status and SNPs from a genome-wide panel. We identified seven co-expression modules under baseline, of which six were preserved in DA-stimulated data. One module shows significantly increased association with SZ after DA perturbation (baseline: P = 0.023; DA-stimulated: P = 7.8 × 10-5; ΔAIC = −10.5) and is highly enriched for genes related to ribosomal proteins and translation (FDR = 4 × 10−141), mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and neurodegeneration. SNP association testing revealed tentative QTLs underlying module co-expression, notably at FASTKD2 (top P = 2.8 × 10−6), a gene involved in mitochondrial translation. These results substantiate the role of translational machinery in SZ pathogenesis, providing insights into a possible dopaminergic mechanism disrupting mitochondrial function, and demonstrates the utility of disease-relevant functional perturbation in the study of complex genetic etiologies.
Integrin CD11b activation drives anti-tumor innate immunity
Authors: Schmid Michael C. , Khan Samia Q. , Kaneda Megan M. , Pathria Paulina , Shepard Ryan , Louis Tiani L. , Anand Sudarshan , Woo Gyunghwi , Leem Chris , Faridi M. Hafeez , Geraghty Terese , Rajagopalan Anugraha , Gupta Seema , Ahmed Mansoor , Vazquez-Padron Roberto I. , Cheresh David A. , Gupta Vineet , Varner Judith A.
Published: December 2018

Myeloid cells are recruited to damaged tissues where they can resolve infections and tumor growth or stimulate wound healing and tumor progression. Recruitment of these cells is regulated by integrins, a family of adhesion receptors that includes integrin CD11b. Here we report that, unexpectedly, integrin CD11b does not regulate myeloid cell recruitment to tumors but instead controls myeloid cell polarization and tumor growth. CD11b activation promotes pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization by stimulating expression of microRNALet7a. In contrast, inhibition of CD11b preventsLet7aexpression and induces cMyc expression, leading to immune suppressive macrophage polarization, vascular maturation, and accelerated tumor growth. Pharmacological activation of CD11b with a small molecule agonist, Leukadherin 1 (LA1), promotes pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization and suppresses tumor growth in animal models of murine and human cancer. These studies identify CD11b as negative regulator of immune suppression and a target for cancer immune therapy.
Ultrastrong nanocrystalline steel with exceptional thermal stability and radiation tolerance
Authors: Du Congcong , Jin Shenbao , Fang Yuan , Li Jin , Hu Shenyang , Yang Tingting , Zhang Ying , Huang Jianyu , Sha Gang , Wang Yugang , Shang Zhongxia , Zhang Xinghang , Sun Baoru , Xin Shengwei , Shen Tongde
Published: December 2018

Nanocrystalline (NC) metals are stronger and more radiation-tolerant than their coarse-grained (CG) counterparts, but they often suffer from poor thermal stability as nanograins coarsen significantly when heated to 0.3 to 0.5 of their melting temperature (Tm). Here, we report an NC austenitic stainless steel (NC-SS) containing 1 at% lanthanum with an average grain size of 45 nm and an ultrahigh yield strength of ~2.5 GPa that exhibits exceptional thermal stability up to 1000 °C (0.75 Tm). In-situ irradiation to 40 dpa at 450 °C and ex-situ irradiation to 108 dpa at 600 °C produce neither significant grain growth nor void swelling, in contrast to significant void swelling of CG-SS at similar doses. This thermal stability is due to segregation of elemental lanthanum and (La, O, Si)-rich nanoprecipitates at grain boundaries. Microstructure dependent cluster dynamics show grain boundary sinks effectively reduce steady-state vacancy concentrations to suppress void swelling upon irradiation.
Visual capture of gait during redirected walking
Authors: Rothacher Yannick , Nguyen Anh , Lenggenhager Bigna , Kunz Andreas , Brugger Peter
Published: December 2018

Redirected walking allows users of virtual reality applications to explore virtual environments larger than the available physical space. This is achieved by manipulating users’ walking trajectories through visual rotation of the virtual surroundings, without users noticing this manipulation. Apart from its applied relevance, redirected walking is an attractive paradigm to investigate human perception and locomotion. An important yet unsolved question concerns individual differences in the ability to detect redirection. Addressing this question, we administered several perceptual-cognitive tasks to healthy participants, whose thresholds of detecting redirection in a virtual environment were also determined. We report relations between individual thresholds and measures of multisensory weighting (visually-assisted postural stability (Romberg quotient), subjective visual vertical (rod-and-frame test) and illusory self-motion (vection)). The performance in the rod-and-frame test, a classical measure of visual dependency regarding postural information, showed the strongest relation to redirection detection thresholds: The higher the visual dependency, the higher the detection threshold. This supports the interpretation of users’ neglect of redirection manipulations as a “visual capture of gait”. We discuss how future interdisciplinary studies, merging the fields of virtual reality and psychology, may help improving virtual reality applications and simultaneously deepen our understanding of how humans process multisensory conflicts during locomotion.
Vinculin and the mechanical response of adherent fibroblasts to matrix deformation
Authors: Rosowski Kathryn A. , Boltyanskiy Rostislav , Xiang Yingjie , Van den Dries Koen , Schwartz Martin A. , Dufresne Eric R.
Published: December 2018

Cells respond to the mechanics of their environment. Mechanical cues include extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness and deformation, which are primarily sensed through integrin-mediated adhesions. We investigated the impact of ECM deformation on cellular forces, measuring the time-evolution of traction forces of isolated mouse fibroblasts in response to stretch and release. Stretch triggered a marked increase of traction stresses and apparent stiffness. Expression of the focal adhesion protein vinculin not only increased baseline traction forces, but also increased dissipation of mechanical energy, which was correlated with the cells’ failure to recover baseline traction forces after release of stretch.
Hybrid Hydrogel Composed of Polymeric Nanocapsules Co-Loading Lidocaine and Prilocaine for Topical Intraoral Anesthesia
Authors: Muniz Bruno Vilela , Baratelli Diego , Di Carla Stephany , Serpe Luciano , da Silva Camila Batista , Guilherme Viviane Aparecida , Ribeiro Lígia Nunes de Morais , Cereda Cintia Maria Saia , de Paula Eneida , Volpato Maria Cristina , Groppo Francisco Carlos , Fraceto Leonardo Fernandes , Franz-Montan Michelle
Published: December 2018

This study reports the development of nanostructured hydrogels for the sustained release of the eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine (both at 2.5%) for intraoral topical use. The local anesthetics, free or encapsulated in poly(ε-caprolactone) nanocapsules, were incorporated into CARBOPOL hydrogel. The nanoparticle suspensions were characterized in vitro in terms of particle size, polydispersity, and surface charge, using dynamic light scattering measurements. The nanoparticle concentrations were determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis. Evaluation was made of physicochemical stability, structural features, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release kinetics. The CARBOPOL hydrogels were submitted to rheological, accelerated stability, and in vitro release tests, as well as determination of mechanical and mucoadhesive properties, in vitro cytotoxicity towards FGH and HaCaT cells, and in vitro permeation across buccal and palatal mucosa. Anesthetic efficacy was evaluated using Wistar rats. Nanocapsules were successfully developed that presented desirable physicochemical properties and a sustained release profile. The hydrogel formulations were stable for up to 6 months under critical conditions and exhibited non-Newtonian pseudoplastic flows, satisfactory mucoadhesive strength, non-cytotoxicity, and slow permeation across oral mucosa. In vivo assays revealed higher anesthetic efficacy in tail-flick tests, compared to a commercially available product. In conclusion, the proposed hydrogel has potential for provision of effective and longer-lasting superficial anesthesia at oral mucosa during medical and dental procedures. These results open perspectives for future clinical trials.
Scanning electron microscopy examination of needle tips after different procedures of deep dry needling in humans
Authors: Poveda-Pagán Emilio J. , Hernández-Sánchez Sergio , Rhys-Jones-López Luis , Palazón-Bru Antonio , Lozano-Quijada Carlos
Published: December 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the tips and the surface conditions of two types of needles with different quality and their possible alterations after performing different needling on human beings. A total of 160 needles from AguPunt brand were examined. Surface conditions (lumps and scratches) and tip of the needles after needling procedures in humans were tested using a JEOL JSM-6360LV microscopy device. Additionally, a group of physiotherapists assessed the use of both types of needles in clinical practice using a self-reported questionnaire. Both types of needles, after performing different needling on human beings, kept the needle tips well preserved although the dry needle (Type B) suffered very little deformation even touching the bone of the scapula 10 times versus acupuncture needle (Type A), which were deformed slightly. The surface conditions revealed irregularities and scratches in both types of needles but the tips of Type A suffered more damage after different procedures (Odds ratio = 0.04,95% CI:0.01–0.13, p < 0.001). The cellular tissue adhered to the surface was similar in both types of needles and the questionnaire about clinical practice of both types of needles showed that Type B seemed easier than Type A when the physical therapist penetrated the skin and when the needle went out the skin.
Chiroptical and catalytic properties of doubly binaphthyl-strapped chiral porphyrins
Authors: Maeda Chihiro , Ogawa Kanae , Sadanaga Kosuke , Takaishi Kazuto , Ema Tadashi
Published: December 2018

Doubly (R)-binaphthyl-strapped porphyrins with methylene chains were synthesized.
Molecular structure, spectroscopic signatures and reactivity analyses of paracetamol hydrochloride monohydrate salt using density functional theory calculations
Authors: Srivastava Karnica , Shukla Anuradha , Thangavel Karthick , Velaga Sitaram , Tandon Poonam , Sinha Kirti , Shimpi Manishkumar Ramesh
Published: December 2018

The aim of the present study is to understand the role of intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions present in the paracetamol hydrochloride monohydrated salt. Paracetamol hydrochloride monohydrate salt (PRA-HCl), along with...
Synthesis, crystal growth and characterization of the pyrochlore Er2Ti2O7
Authors: Wang Q. , Ghasemi A. , Scheie A. , Koohpayeh S. M.
Published: December 2018

A stoichiometric and high crystalline quality Er2Ti2O7 single crystal was successfully grown using the traveling solvent floating zone technique for the first time.
Dynamics of benzene excimer formation from the parallel-displaced dimer
Authors: Cardozo Thiago Messias , Galliez Andre Pessoa , Borges Itamar , Plasser Felix , Aquino Adelia J. A. , Barbatti Mario , Lischka Hans
Published: December 2018

Charge transfer, exciton localization and time scales in benzene excimer formation after a S0–S1 transition from the parallel-displaced structure were characterized by surface-hopping dynamics.
Assessing relative humidity dependent photoacoustics to retrieve mass accommodation coefficients of single optically trapped aerosol particles
Authors: Diveky Matus E. , Roy Sandra , Cremer Johannes W. , David Grégory , Signorell Ruth
Published: December 2018

Photoacoustic spectroscopy is a standout technique widely used for absorption measurements of atmospheric aerosols. Here we investigate the relative humidity dependence of photoacoustics and its implication for evaporation kinetics.
Practical use of polymer brushes in sustainable energy applications: interfacial nanoarchitectonics for high-efficiency devices
Authors: Giussi Juan M. , Cortez M. Lorena , Marmisollé Waldemar A. , Azzaroni Omar
Published: December 2018

Polymer brushes provide a new perspective from which to consider the development of energy conversion and storage devices with improved performance and efficiency.
Nanoporous 2D semiconductors encapsulated by quantum-sized graphitic carbon nitride: tuning directional photoinduced charge transfer via nano-architecture modulation
Authors: Liang Zhi-Yu , Huang Ming-Hui , Guo Si-Yi , Yu Yan , Chen Wei , Xiao Fang-Xing
Published: December 2018

A reversed charge transfer pathway in photoredox catalysis has been achieved by rational structure engineering through electrostatically integrating g-C3N4 quantum dots with nanoporous CdS nanosheets.
Efficient CO2 to CO electrolysis on solid Ni–N–C catalysts at industrial current densities
Authors: Möller Tim , Ju Wen , Bagger Alexander , Wang Xingli , Luo Fang , Ngo Thanh Trung , Varela Ana Sofia , Rossmeisl Jan , Strasser Peter
Published: December 2018

We demonstrate the direct electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CO using solid state Ni–N–C carbon catalysts characterized by a coordinative molecular Ni–Nx active moiety at industrial current densities of up to 700 mA cm−2 with faradaic efficiencies superior to those of the state-of-the-art AgOx electrocatalysts.
Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells for hydrogen production and electricity generation: exceptional reversibility, stability, and demonstrated faradaic efficiency
Authors: Choi Sihyuk , Davenport Timothy C. , Haile Sossina M.
Published: December 2018

We demonstrate excellent performance and durability at intermediate temperatures (500–650 °C) upon reversible operation of an electrochemical cell incorporating a proton-permeable, high-activity mixed conducting oxide as the air electrode, a highly proton-conductive and chemically stable perovskite oxide as the electrolyte, and a composite of Ni and the electrolyte as the fuel electrode.
Integrity of reverse osmosis membrane for removing bacteria: new insight into bacterial passage
Authors: Fujioka Takahiro , Hoang Anh T. , Ueyama Tetsuro , Nghiem Long D.
Published: December 2018

Fluorescent microspheres (surrogates for bacteria) allowed identification of the fact that even an intact O-ring seal can allow for some bacterial passage through the reverse osmosis membrane element.
Synthesis of acetamides using CO2, methanol, H2 and amines
Authors: Zhang Jingjing , Qian Qingli , Wang Ying , Asare Bediako Bernard Baffour , Cui Meng , Yang Guanying , Han Buxing
Published: December 2018

Acetamides can be synthesized from CO2, methanol, H2 and corresponding amines, which is a new route for their production.
Vinyl sulfonamide synthesis for irreversible tethering via a novel α-selenoether protection strategy
Authors: Craven Gregory B. , Affron Dominic P. , Raymond Philip N. , Mann David J. , Armstrong Alan
Published: December 2018

A novel strategy for the synthesis of vinyl sulfonamide fragments for application to irreversible protein tethering.
Composition and property tunable ternary coacervate: branched polyethylenimine and a binary mixture of a strong and weak polyelectrolyte
Authors: Zhao Mengmeng , Xia Xuhui , Mao Jingyi , Wang Chao , Dawadi Mahesh B. , Modarelli David A. , Zacharia Nicole S.
Published: December 2018

The formation of a composition- and property-tunable complex ternary coacervate was achieved by combining branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) and a binary mixture of polyacrylic acid (PAA) and poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) (SPS).
Selenium deficiency inhibits myocardial development and differentiation by targeting the mir-215-5p/CTCF axis in chicken
Authors: Cai Jingzeng , Yang Jie , Liu Qi , Gong Yafan , Zhang Yuan , Zhang Ziwei
Published: December 2018

Selenium (Se) is imperative for normal myocardial differentiation and development, and these basic cellular functions can be regulated by miRNA during cardiogenesis.
pH-responsive targeted gold nanoparticles for in vivo photoacoustic imaging of tumor microenvironments
Authors: Li Shiying , Lui Kwok-Ho , Tsoi Tik-Hung , Lo Wai-Sum , Li Xin , Hu Xuesen , Chi-Shing Tai William , Hiu-Ling Hung Clara , Gu Yan-Juan , Wong Wing-Tak
Published: December 2018

Stable, tumor-specific and pH-responsive gold nanoparticles are carefully designed for aggregation-induced photoacoustic in vivo imaging.
Scalable synthesis of holey graphite nanosheets for supercapacitors with high volumetric capacitance
Authors: Wang Jie , Park Teahoon , Yi Jin Woo , Ding Bing , Henzie Joel , Chang Zhi , Dou Hui , Zhang Xiaogang , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: December 2018

We developed a simple and scalable method to fabricate holey graphite nanosheets (HGNs) using GO as the carbon source and ZnO as an etching agent.