bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Space as space and space as grammar
Authors: Haviland John B.
Published: October 2020

Research on narratives in an Australian language demonstrated surprising facts about speakers’ spatial orientation and knowledge both in the insistent use of morphologically hypertrophied spoken directional terminology and in accompanying gestures. Pursuing comparable phenomena in a Mayan language from the other side of the globe revealed correspondingly complex gestural devices for communicating about location and direction but with very different kinds of support from speech. Evidence from a new sign language, emerging in the same Mayan context, suggests that mechanisms for signing about space both resemble and depart from the gestural practices of the surrounding speech community. In particular, they invoke spatial “frames of reference” not used by speakers to sign about location and direction, and they employ signed “spatial grammar” to express syntactic argument structure.
Embodying kin-based respect in speech, sign, and gesture
Authors: Green Jennifer
Published: October 2020

In Australian Indigenous societies the means for demonstrating kinship-based respect are rich and varied, and mastery of their ideological and contextual dimensions is highly valued and an indication of communicative expertise. Special speech registers, sometimes referred to as ‘mother-in-law’, ‘brother-in-law’, or ‘avoidance’ languages, are one aspect of this complexity. Another dimension of respect is afforded by Australian Indigenous sign languages, used in contexts where speech itself is disallowed as well as in everyday interactions where signing is practical and useful. What is lacking from the majority of accounts of these special semiotic repertoires is an investigation of the ways that speech and communicative actions, such as sign or gesture, may work together in such contexts. Also neglected is the possibility that the articulation of signs and gestures may be modified to indicate a respectful stance towards avoided kin. Drawing on both archival sources and recent fieldwork, this paper delineates some of the articulatory dimensions of signs and gestures used in this domain.
Adiponectin restrains ILC2 activation by AMPK-mediated feedback inhibition of IL-33 signaling
Authors: Wang Lu , Luo Yan , Luo Liping , Wu Dandan , Ding Xiaofeng , Zheng Handong , Wu Haisha , Liu Bilian , Yang Xin , Silva Floyd , Wang Chunqing , Zhang Xing , Zheng Xianyun , Chen Jindong , Brigman Jonathan , Mandell Michael , Zhou Zhiguang , Liu Feng , Yang Xuexian O. , Liu Meilian
Published: October 2020

ILC2s are present in adipose tissue and play a critical role in regulating adipose thermogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying the activation of adipose-resident ILC2s remain poorly defined. Here, we show that IL-33, a potent ILC2 activator, stimulates phosphorylation of AMPK at Thr172 via TAK1 in primary ILC2s, which provides a feedback mechanism to inhibit IL-33–induced NF-κB activation and IL-13 production. Treating ILC2s with adiponectin or an adiponectin receptor agonist (AdipoRon) activated AMPK and decreased IL-33–NF-κB signaling. AdipoRon also suppressed cold-induced thermogenic gene expression and energy expenditure in vivo. In contrast, adiponectin deficiency increased the ILC2 fraction and activation, leading to up-regulated thermogenic gene expression in adipose tissue of cold-exposed mice. ILC2 deficiency or blocking ILC2 function by neutralization of the IL-33 receptor with anti-ST2 diminished the suppressive effect of adiponectin on cold-induced adipose thermogenesis and energy expenditure. Taken together, our study reveals that adiponectin is a negative regulator of ILC2 function in adipose tissue via AMPK-mediated negative regulation of IL-33 signaling.
Multi-transcription factor reporter mice delineate early precursors to the ILC and LTi lineages
Authors: Kasal Darshan N. , Bendelac Albert
Published: October 2020

Transcription factor (TF) reporter mice have proved integral to the characterization of murine innate lymphoid cell (ILC) development and function. Here, we implemented a CRISPR/Cas9-generated combinatorial reporter approach for the simultaneous resolution of several key TFs throughout ILC development in both the fetal liver and adult bone marrow. We demonstrate that the Tcf7-expressing early innate lymphoid precursor (EILP) and the common helper ILC precursor (CHILP) both contain a heterogeneous mixture of specified ILC and lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) precursors with restricted lineage potential rather than a shared precursor. Moreover, the earliest specified precursor to the LTi lineage was identified upstream of these populations, before Tcf7 expression. These findings match dynamic changes in chromatin accessibility associated with the expression of key TFs (i.e., GATA3 and RORγ(t)), highlighting the distinct origins of ILC and LTi lineages at the epigenetic and functional levels, and provide a revised map for ILC development.
Final report on AFRIMETS supplementary comparison AFRIMETS. T-S2): platinum resistance thermometer and digital thermometer calibrations over the range -50 °C to 450 °C
Authors: Ejigu Efrem Kebede , Hicham Souhale , Agbesinyale Sylvia , Bado Joel
Published: October 2020

A Regional Metrology Organization (RMO) supplementary comparison of platinum resistance thermometer and digital thermometer (AFRIMETS.T-S2) was carried out among AFRIMETS member NMIs namely the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA), Laboratoire Public d'Essais et d'Etudes - Laboratoire National de Métrologie (LPEE-LNM), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), and Agence Burkinabé de Normalisation, de la Métrologie et de la Qualité (ABNORM) between Dec 2015 and Sept 2018. The temperature range of the inter comparison is -50 °C to 450 °C. The results of this comparison are reported in this document, along with descriptions of the Artefacts and devices used during measurement. This report also presents the uncertainty budget. The results are analysed and En values are reported.

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCT, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Comparison for gas flow range 5 ml/min to 30 l/min (EURAMET.M.FF-S10)
Authors: Högström R , Heinonen M , Spazzini P G , Kramer R , Busk J , Niederhauser B , Metaxiotou Z , Blom G , Kutin J , Stankevičius A , Krajicek Z , Barbe J , Zadworny A
Published: October 2020

The EURAMET.M.FF-S10 comparison, also registered as EURAMET project 1325, was organized to compare the results of low gas flow facilities at twelve European laboratories. The following laboratories took part in the comparison: MIKES (Finland), INRIM (Italy), PTB (Germany), FORCE (Denmark), METAS (Switzerland), VSL (Netherlands), EIM (Greece), UL (Slovenia), CMI (Czech Republic), LNE (France), GUM (Poland), LEI (Lithuania).

Due to the high amount of participants, the comparison was carried out in two parallel loops with one circulating transfer standard in each loop. MIKES acted as the pilot laboratory and INRIM and PTB were the linking laboratories. High-accuracy piston provers (MesaLabs DryCal 800) provided by Mesa Laboratories Inc. were used as transfer standards. Each transfer standard package consisted of three flow cells in order to cover the flow range of the comparison from 5 ml/min to 30 l/min.

Generally, a good agreement between participating laboratories was found; 85% of the results agree with the comparison reference value and only 8% were found inconsistent. The remaining 7% of results were classified as inconclusive, because the participating laboratory stated uncertainty was lower than the standard uncertainty of the transfer standard.

The comparison provided valuable experience of using piston provers as high precision transfer standards. Such an extensive inter-comparison using piston provers has not been done before. As such, it gives a good overview on the capabilities of European laboratories of calibrating such instruments that are commonly used in industrial calibration laboratories worldwide.

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Localized dynamics following a quantum quench in a non-integrable system: an example on the sawtooth ladder
Authors: Khare Rishabh , Choudhury Sayan
Published: October 2020

Motivated by the recent discovery of ergodicity breaking in geometrically frustrated systems, we study the quench dynamics of interacting hardcore bosons on a sawtooth ladder. We identify a set of initial states for which this system exhibits characteristic signatures of localization like initial state memory retention and slow growth of entanglement entropy for a wide parameter regime. Remarkably, this localization persists even when the many-body spectrum is thermalizing. We argue that the localized dynamics originates from an interaction induced quantum interference. Our results show that the sawtooth ladder can be a fertile platform for realizing non-equilibrium quantum states of matter.
High-temperature three-dimensional GaN-based hall sensors for magnetic field detection
Authors: Huang Huolin , Zhang Hui , Cao Yaqing , Liu Yanhong , Ma Kaiming , Liu Kun , Liang Yung C
Published: October 2020

Three-dimensional (3D) high-temperature Hall sensors are strongly required in various applications such as in the automotive and aircraft engines and in the diagnostic system of the thermonuclear reactors. In this paper, we propose a novel Hall sensor based on the wide-bandgap GaN-based materials on a single chip with greatly reduced area which can simultaneously detect 3D magnetic fields at high temperature up to 650 K. The device is analysed and demonstrated by performing the technology computer-aided design simulations, and significantly improved performances are achieved by employing space isolation and passivation scheme to effectively reduce the carrier interference from each dimension. Finally, high current-related magnetic sensitivities are found and the typical values are 128.6, 88.1, and 49.9 V A−1 T−1 on x, y and z axes, respectively, at room temperature. And the temperature coefficients are as low as −286.4, −366.8, and −202.9 ppm K−1, respectively. Moreover, dramatically improved cross-sensitivities are revealed and the maximum value is less than 1.0% at B ≤ 1.0 T which is much lower compared with other currently reported data. The work provides a new technical approach to realize a single-chip 3D magnetic sensor which is promising especially for high-temperature applications.
Glassy dynamics of a binary Voronoi fluid: a mode-coupling analysis
Authors: Ruscher C , Ciarella S , Luo C , Janssen L M C , Farago J , Baschnagel J
Published: October 2020

The binary Voronoi mixture is a fluid model whose interactions are derived from the Voronoi–Laguerre tessellation of the configurations of the system. The resulting interactions are local and many-body. Here we perform molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of an equimolar mixture that is weakly polydisperse and additive. For the first time we study the structural relaxation of this mixture in the supercooled-liquid regime. From the simulations we determine the time- and temperature-dependent coherent and incoherent scattering functions for a large range of wave vectors, as well as the mean-square displacements of both particle species. We perform a detailed analysis of the dynamics by comparing the MD results with the first-principles-based idealized mode-coupling theory (MCT). To this end, we employ two approaches: fits to the asymptotic predictions of the theory, and fit-parameter-free binary MCT calculations based on static-structure-factor input from the simulations. We find that many-body interactions of the Voronoi mixture do not lead to strong qualitative differences relative to similar analyses carried out for simple liquids with pair-wise interactions. For instance, the fits give an exponent parameter λ ≈ 0.746 comparable to typical values found for simple liquids, the wavevector dependence of the Kohlrausch relaxation time is in good qualitative agreement with literature results for polydisperse hard spheres, and the MCT calculations based on static input overestimate the critical temperature, albeit only by a factor of about 1.2. This overestimation appears to be weak relative to other well-studied supercooled-liquid models such as the binary Kob–Andersen Lennard-Jones mixture. Overall, the agreement between MCT and simulation suggests that it is possible to predict several microscopic dynamic properties with qualitative, and in some cases near-quantitative, accuracy based solely on static two-point structural correlations, even though the system itself is inherently governed by many-body interactions.
Domain structure evolution in the ferromagnetic Kagome-lattice Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2
Authors: Howlader Sandeep , Ramachandran Ranjani , Singh Yogesh , Sheet Goutam
Published: October 2020

Co3Sn2S2, a Weyl semimetal that consists of layers of Kagome lattices, undergoes a transition from a high temperature paramagnetic phase to a low temperature ferromagnetic phase below 177 K. The phase transition occurs through an intermediate non-trivial magnetic phase, the so called ‘A’-phase just below the Curie temperature. The ‘A’-phase was earlier linked with a competing anti-ferromagnetic phase, a spin-glass phase and certain indirect measurements indicated the possibility of magnetic Skyrmions in this phase. We have imaged the magnetic domain structure in a single crystal of Co3Sn2S2 at different temperatures, magnetic fields and field-angles by magnetic force microscopy. At low temperatures, we observed stripe domains indicating presence of uniaxial anisotropy. Above 130 K, the domain walls become mobile and they tend to align relatively easily when the magnetic field is increased along the c-axis than in the a–b plane. Our detailed study of field-dependent domain evolution reveal that the anomalous phase below T
c through which the transition happens is most probably governed by domain wall motion.
Resonant inelastic x-ray spectroscopy on UO2 as a test case for actinide materials
Authors: Lander G H , Sundermann M , Springell R , Walters A C , Nag A , Garcia-Fernandez M , Zhou K J , van der Laan G , Caciuffo R
Published: October 2020

Resonant inelastic x-ray spectroscopy at the uranium N4 absorption edge at 778 eV has been used to reveal the excitations in UO2 up to 1 eV. The earlier (1989) studies by neutron inelastic scattering of the crystal-field states within the 3H4 multiplet are confirmed. In addition, the first excited state of the 3F2 multiplet at ∼520 meV has been established, and there is a weak signal corresponding to the next excited state at ∼920 meV. This represents a successful application of soft x-ray spectroscopy to an actinide sample, and resolves an open question in UO2 that has been discussed for 50 years. The technique is described and important caveats are drawn about possible future applications.
Percutaneous structural cardiology: are anaesthesiologists properly protected from ionising radiation?
Authors: Sánchez Roberto M , Vano Eliseo , Fidalgo Juan , Fernández José Miguel
Published: October 2020

During transcatheter aortic valve implantations (TAVI) and other percutaneous structural procedures, some patients may need close anesthesiological care, thus exposing the anaesthesiologist to x-rays. This work aims to investigate the radiation dose received by anaesthesiologists during these specific procedures in order to improve their radiological protection. Occupational radiation doses were measured prospectively during percutaneous structural procedures in several health professionals using electronic dosimeters worn over the apron at chest level. A sample of 49 procedures were recorded, where the anaesthesiologists’ average dose per procedure resulted 13 times higher than that of interventional cardiologists. The average dose per procedure received over the protection apron during TAVIs by the anaesthesiologist was 0.13 mSv, with a maximum value of 0.69 mSv. Taking these figures as a conservative estimation of the eye lens dose, an anaesthesiologist could participate in around 150 procedures before reaching the regulatory annual dose limit for the lens of the eye in Europe (20 mSv). In those clinical procedures where patients need close anesthesiological care, the anaesthesiologists might receive high radiation doses increasing the risk for cataracts and the risk of stochastic radiation effects. The proper use of occupational dosimeters will help identify these situations. It is recommended to use a mobile shielding barrier to reduce radiation exposure to acceptable levels in these situations.
3D shape measurement of shiny surfaces based on optimized combination of fringe patterns of different intensity
Authors: Wei Yifan , Lu Lei , Xi Jiangtao , Yin Yongkai , Yu Yanguang , Tong Jun , Guo Qinghua
Published: October 2020

Image saturation is a challenging problem for three-dimensional shape measurement of objects with shiny surfaces using fringe projection profilometry technology. This paper presents a new method based on projection of multiple fringe patterns, providing an effective solution to the problem. First, a set of phase shifted sinusoidal fringe patterns with different intensity levels are projected to the object of interest, and the reflections are captured by the camera. With the captured images a set of masks are created, which are able to pick up the unsaturated data from the captured images. The unsaturated data are then combined based on maximal Signal-to-noise Ratio (SNR) scenario, and the combined images are used to retrieve the phase information. Comparing to existing methods, the proposed technique is advantageous by improved measurement accuracy due to the improved SNR. The performance of the proposed method is verified by the experiments.
Phase transformation and its effect on the piezopotential in a bent zinc oxide nanowire
Authors: Zhang Jin
Published: October 2020

Most piezotronic nanodevices rely on the piezopotential generated by the bending of their component piezoelectric nanowires (NWs). The mechanical behaviours and piezopotential properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) NWs under lateral bending are investigated in this paper by using a multiscale modelling technique combining first-principles calculations, molecular dynamics simulations and finite-element calculations. Two phase transformation processes are successively found in ZnO NWs by increasing the bending force. As a result, the inner and outer surfaces of bent ZnO NWs transform from the parent wurtzite (WZ) structure to a hexagonal (HX) structure and a body-centred-tetragonal (BCT-4) structure, respectively. Different material properties are found among the WZ, BCT-4, and HX structures, which result in a significant change in the piezopotential distribution in bent ZnO NWs after the phase transformation. Meanwhile, the piezopotential generated in bent ZnO NWs can be enhanced by an order of magnitude due to the phase transformation. Moreover, a significant increase in the electronic band gap is found in the transformed HX structure, which implies that the phase transformation may also affect the piezopotential in bent ZnO NWs by modifying their semiconducting properties especially when the doping level of NWs is large.
Strong surface magnetic field generation in relativistic short pulse laser–plasma interaction with an applied seed magnetic field
Authors: Weichman K , Robinson A P L , Murakami M , Arefiev A V
Published: October 2020

While plasma often behaves diamagnetically, we demonstrate that the laser irradiation of a thin opaque target with an embedded target-transverse seed magnetic field B
seed can trigger the generation of an order-of-magnitude stronger magnetic field with opposite sign at the target surface. Strong surface field generation occurs when the laser pulse is relativistically intense and results from the currents associated with the cyclotron rotation of laser-heated electrons transiting through the target and the compensating current of cold electrons. We derive a predictive scaling for this surface field generation, B
gen ∼ −2πB
seedΔx/λ
0 (in the large spot size limit), where Δx is the target thickness and λ
0 is the laser wavelength, and conduct 1D and 2D particle-in-cell simulations to confirm its applicability over a wide range of conditions. We additionally demonstrate that both the seed and surface-generated magnetic fields can have a strong impact on application-relevant plasma dynamics, for example substantially altering the overall expansion and ion acceleration from a μm-thick laser-irradiated target with a kilotesla-level seed magnetic field.
Dual-band terahertz switch with stretchable Bloch-mode metasurface
Authors: Wang Jing , Tian Hao , Li Shuai , Wang Guanchao , Wang Yu , Li Li , Zhou Zhongxiang
Published: October 2020

A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based stretchable metadevice for dual-band switching of terahertz radiation is experimentally demonstrated. The metasurface can efficiently excite dipole resonance of the metal structure and the surface Bloch mode generated by the periodic lattice substrate. In the tensile deformation operation, these two resonant modes show significant frequency shift sensitivity characteristics, which provides a feasible solution for the realization of dual-band terahertz switches. A transmittance modulation depth of 90% is achieved by the dipole resonance, with a frequency shift of 0.14 THz. The other transmittance modulation depth of 65% is achieved by the surface Bloch mode, with a frequency shift of 0.4 THz. The broad tuning of 0.4 THz is attributed to the surface mode is period-sensitive. This approach provides a promising method for broad frequency tuning of stretchable metasurfaces.
Effect of net direct current on the properties of radio frequency sheaths: simulation and cross-code comparison
Authors: Myra J.R. , Elias M.T. , Curreli D. , Jenkins T.G.
Published: October 2020

In order to understand, predict and control ion cyclotron range of frequency interactions with tokamak scrape-off layer plasmas, computational tools which can model radio frequency (RF) sheaths are needed. In particular, models for the effective surface impedance and DC rectified sheath potentials may be coupled with full wave RF simulation codes to predict self-consistent wave fields near surfaces and the resulting power dissipation and plasma–material interactions from ion sputtering. In this study, previous work assuming zero net DC current flow through the sheath is generalized to allow the surface to collect net positive or negative current, as is often observed in experiments. The waveforms, DC potential and RF admittance are investigated by means of analytical theory, nonlinear fluid and particle-in-cell codes. Cross-code comparisons provide detailed model verification and elucidate the roles of ion and electron kinetics. When the sheath draws negative (positive) DC current, the voltage rectification is reduced (increased) compared with the zero-current case, and the magnitude of both the real and imaginary parts of the admittance are increased (reduced). A previous four-input parametrization of the sheath rectification and admittance properties is generalized to include a fifth parameter describing the DC sheath current.
Community enhancement network embedding based on edge reweighting preprocessing
Authors: Lv Shaoqing , Xiang Ju , Feng Jingyu , Wang Honggang , Lu Guangyue , Li Min
Published: October 2020

Network embedding has attracted considerable attention in recent years. It represents nodes in a network into a low-dimensional vector space while keeping the properties of the network. Some methods (e.g. ComE, MNMF, and CARE) have been proposed to preserve the community property in network embedding, and they have obtained good results in some downstream network analysis tasks. However, there still exists a significant challenge because nodes may lose important structural information following embedding. To address this problem, we propose a community structure enhancement framework for network embedding, based on edge reweighting. Through edge reweighting, the weight of intra-community edges is increased while the weight of inter-community edges is decreased. Therefore, after embedding, nodes in the same community are closer to each other than nodes in different communities in the embedding space. We apply the edge reweighting as a preprocessing stage in network embedding, and construct an enhanced network by incorporating enhanced community structures into the original network. By doing this, the embedded vectors from the enhanced network can better perform all downstream network analysis tasks. Extensive experiments are conducted on two network analysis tasks (community detection and node classification) with synthetic and real-world datasets. The results show that our method outperforms state-of-the-art network embedding methods.
Theoretical analysis of the hydrodynamic filtering system in the balaenid whales suspension feeding
Authors: Zhu Yawei , Hu Dean , Yang Gang
Published: October 2020

Balaenid whales are giant filter feeders that feed on the dense aggregations of prey. Through their unique oral filters, they can effectively filter water out and leave prey in their mouths. In this study, a theoretical model is established to analyze the hydrodynamic filtering system in the balaenid whales suspension feeding. First, the appropriate velocity profiles in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions are adopted to approximate the flow field in the anteroposterior channel along the tongue (APT channel). Then, a four-stage Runge–Kutta method is used to calculate the particle trajectories and predict the corresponding filter cake profile by solving the particle motion equations. Finally, the effects of three crucial parameters, i.e. the APT channel width D

T
, the fringe layer permeability K, and the food particle diameter d
p, are discussed. The results show that the particle trajectories consist of a series of backward-outward arcs and the food particles tend to accumulate in the posterior region of the oral cavity. The growing parabolic filter cake profiles are formed except for the case of extremely low permeability. A small D

T
and large K make the tendency of particle posterior aggregation obviously. So squeezing the tongue and having larger fringe layer permeability are both conducive to the swallowing process. But the change in d
p has less influence on this tendency. The proposed theoretical analysis method is a fast and low-cost calculation method. The study on the balaenid whales’ filter feeding biomechanics and hydrodynamics is helpful to guide the design of the high-efficiency bionic filters.
Meta-analytic evidence for a robust and positive association between individuals’ pro-environmental behaviors and their subjective wellbeing
Authors: Zawadzki Stephanie Johnson , Steg Linda , Bouman Thijs
Published: October 2020

While it is often suggested that individuals’ pro-environmental behaviors may be linked with their subjective wellbeing, the strength and direction (e.g. positive or negative) of this relation is unclear. Because pro-environmental behaviors impact peoples’ everyday lives, understanding this relation is critical for promoting long-term environmental solutions. Using a series of meta-analyses, we systematically reviewed the literature on the association between individuals’ pro-environmental behaviors and their subjective wellbeing. We hypothesized that the relation between pro-environmental behavior and subjective wellbeing would be positive and strongest among types of behaviors (e.g. sustainable purchase decisions) and indicators of subjective wellbeing which more clearly reflect personal meaning (e.g. warm glow). We sourced studies via PsychINFO, PsychARTICLES, GreenFile, SocINDEX, Web of Science, and Scopus, as well as professional email lists, direct contact with authors who publish in this domain, data from the authorship team, and the European Social Survey (2016). We included studies with quantitative data on the relation between individuals’ pro-environmental behavior and their subjective wellbeing, ultimately identifying 78 studies (73 published, 5 unpublished) for synthesis. Across multiple indicators of pro-environmental behaviors and subjective wellbeing, we found a significant, positive relation (overall r = .243), and this relation did not meaningfully differ across study characteristics (e.g. sample, design). As predicted, the relation was particularly strong for indicators of pro-environmental behavior and subjective wellbeing which clearly reflect meaning, such as sustainable purchase decisions (r = .291) and for warm glow (r = .408). We found a robust, positive relation between people’s pro-environmental behaviors and subjective wellbeing, and initial evidence that this relation may be stronger the more clearly behaviors and indicators of subjective wellbeing reflect meaning. Our results indicate that program and policy-makers can seek opportunities to design ‘win-win’ sustainability programs which could positively impact both people and the environment.
Advection kinetics induced self-assembly of colloidal nanoflakes into microscale floral structures
Authors: Dhar Purbarun
Published: October 2020

The article explores the governing role of the internal soluto-thermal hydrodynamics and advective transport within sessile colloidal droplets on the self-assembly of nanostructures to form floral patterns. Water–acetone mixture and Bi2O3 nanoflakes based complex fluids are used as the experimental liquids. Micro-liter sessile droplets are allowed to vaporize and the dry-out patterns are examined using scanning electron microscopy. The presence of distributed self-assembled rose-like structures is observed and is postulated to be formed by the hydrodynamic interactions within the drying droplet. The population density, structure and shape of the floral structures are noted to be dependent on the binary fluid composition and nanomaterial concentration. Detailed microscopic particle image velocimetry and infrared thermography analysis is undertaken to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the solutal Marangoni advection within the evaporating droplets. It has been shown that the kinetics, regime and spatial distribution of the internal flows are dominantly responsible factors towards the advection influenced clustering, aggregation and self-assembly of the nanoflakes. In addition, the size of the nanostructures and the viscous character of the complex fluid are also noted to play dominant roles. The resulting interplay of hydrodynamic behavior, adhesion and cohesion forces during the droplet dry-out phase, and thermodynamic energy minimization leads to formation of such floral structures. The findings may have strong implications towards modulating micro-hydrodynamics induced self-assembly in complex fluids.
Successful Back Contouring With Elimination of Back Rolls Using Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction and Helium-Activated Radiofrequency
Authors: Mowlavi Arian , Talle Armin , Berri Marian , Rashid Waleed
Published: October 2020

Background

Patients are routinely consulted regarding dislike of their upper and middle back contour and associated back rolls that stick out of their bras. Although patients only associate this fullness with excess fat, on examination it becomes evident that back rolls are due to a combination of excess fat as well as skin redundancy. To date, treatment of both excess skin and fat in back rolls has required consideration of excisional surgery such as an upper body lift.

Objectives

We present 14 consecutive back contouring cases that were treated with an alternative protocol involving simultaneous ultrasound assisted liposuction and helium activated radiofrequency.

Methods

Patients underwent ultrasound assisted liposuction to remove superficial fat over the upper and middle back as well as helium activated radiofrequency to tighten the skin using subdermal coagulation.

Results

All 14 patients visually demonstrated elimination of back rolls and improvement in upper and middle back contour. All 14 patients also reported overall satisfaction in their postoperative follow-ups at 3, 6, and 12-months.

Conclusion

In summary, simultaneous ultrasound assisted liposuction and helium activated radiofrequency provide an effective treatment for patients desiring improvements in upper and middle back contour and elimination of back rolls while avoiding more invasive excisional surgeries.

Level of Evidence: 4
Obelisc: an identical-by-descent mapping tool based on SNP streak
Authors: Sonehara Kyuto , Okada Yukinori
Published: October 2020

Motivation

Genetic linkage analysis has made a huge contribution to the genetic mapping of Mendelian diseases. However, most previously available linkage analysis methods have limited applicability. Since parametric linkage analysis requires predefined model of inheritance with a fixed set of parameters, it is inapplicable without fully structured pedigree information. Furthermore, the analytical results are dependent on the specification of model parameters. While non-parametric linkage analysis can avoid these problems, the runs of homozygosity (ROH) mapping, a widely used non-parametric linkage analysis method, can only deal with recessive inheritance. The implementation of non-parametric linkage analyses capable of dealing with both dominant and recessive inheritance has been required.

Results

We have developed the Obelisc (Observational linkage scan), a flexibly applicable user-friendly non-parametric linkage analysis tool, which also provides an intuitive visualization of the analytical results. Obelisc is based on the SNP streak approach, which does not require any predefined inheritance model with parameters. In contrast to the ROH mapping, the SNP streak approach is applicable to both dominant and recessive traits. To illustrate the performance of Obelisc, we generated a pseudo-pedigree from the publicly available BioBank Japan Project genome-wide genotype dataset (n > 180 000). By applying Obelisc to this pseudo-pedigree, we successfully identified the regions with inherited identical-by-descent haplotypes shared among the members of the pseudo-pedigree, which was validated by the population-based haplotype phasing approach.

Availability and implementation

Obelisc is feely available at https://github.com/qsonehara/Obelisc as a python package with example datasets.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
COSIFER: a Python package for the consensus inference of molecular interaction networks
Authors: Manica Matteo , Bunne Charlotte , Mathis Roland , Cadow Joris , Ahsen Mehmet Eren , Stolovitzky Gustavo A , Martínez María Rodríguez
Published: October 2020

The advent of high-throughput technologies has provided researchers with measurements of thousands of molecular entities and enable the investigation of the internal regulatory apparatus of the cell. However, network inference from high-throughput data is far from being a solved problem. While a plethora of different inference methods have been proposed, they often lead to non-overlapping predictions, and many of them lack user-friendly implementations to enable their broad utilization. Here, we present Consensus Interaction Network Inference Service (COSIFER), a package and a companion web-based platform to infer molecular networks from expression data using state-of-the-art consensus approaches. COSIFER includes a selection of state-of-the-art methodologies for network inference and different consensus strategies to integrate the predictions of individual methods and generate robust networks.

Availability and implementation

COSIFER Python source code is available at https://github.com/PhosphorylatedRabbits/cosifer. The web service is accessible at https://ibm.biz/cosifer-aas.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Psychosocial Interventions Situated Within the Natural Environment with Young People Who Have Experienced Trauma: A Scoping Review
Authors: Boddy Jennifer , Slattery Maddy , Liang Jianqiang , Gallagher Hilary , Smith Amanda , Agllias Kylie
Published: October 2020

The natural environment is increasingly used in therapeutic psychosocial interventions for young people who have experienced trauma. However, as the research in this area has yet to be synthesised, very little is known about the types and outcomes of interventions. This prevents the optimisation of social work interventions in outdoor settings. Consequently, a scoping review of peer-reviewed research published from 2008 to 2018 was undertaken to examine how nature is being used in psychosocial interventions with young people aged ten to twenty-four years who have experienced trauma and the impact of these interventions on young people’s mental health. The database search identified 5,425 records; however, only ten papers met the inclusion criteria. These papers suggested that positive changes across a range of mental health outcomes for young people were achieved in psychosocial interventions which were situated in, or made use of the natural environment, although it is unclear whether the environment influenced the outcomes. The scoping review also highlighted the need for conducting further research that examines how environmental factors contribute to clinical change for young people who have experienced trauma.
Unresponsive or just asleep? Do local slow waves in the perilesional cortex have a function?
Authors: Krone Lukas B , Vyazovskiy Vladyslav V
Published: October 2020

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Local sleep-like cortical reactivity in the awake brain after focal injury’, by Sarasso et al. (doi:10.1093/brain/awaa338).
The Dynamics of Language Network Interactions in Lexical Selection: An Intracranial EEG Study
Authors: Wang Yujing , Korzeniewska Anna , Usami Kiyohide , Valenzuela Alyssandra , Crone Nathan E
Published: October 2020

Speaking in sentences requires selection from contextually determined lexical representations. Although posterior temporal cortex (PTC) and Broca’s areas play important roles in storage and selection, respectively, of lexical representations, there has been no direct evidence for physiological interactions between these areas on time scales typical of lexical selection. Using intracranial recordings of cortical population activity indexed by high-gamma power (70–150 Hz) modulations, we studied the causal dynamics of cortical language networks while epilepsy surgery patients performed a sentence completion task in which the number of potential lexical responses was systematically varied. Prior to completion of sentences with more response possibilities, Broca’s area was not only more active, but also exhibited more local network interactions with and greater top-down influences on PTC, consistent with activation of, and competition between, more lexical representations. These findings provide the most direct experimental support yet for network dynamics playing a role in lexical selection among competing alternatives during speech production.
Hierarchical Complexity of the Macro-Scale Neonatal Brain
Authors: Blesa Manuel , Galdi Paola , Cox Simon R , Sullivan Gemma , Stoye David Q , Lamb Gillian J , Quigley Alan J , Thrippleton Michael J , Escudero Javier , Bastin Mark E , Smith Keith M , Boardman James P
Published: October 2020

The human adult structural connectome has a rich nodal hierarchy, with highly diverse connectivity patterns aligned to the diverse range of functional specializations in the brain. The emergence of this hierarchical complexity in human development is unknown. Here, we substantiate the hierarchical tiers and hierarchical complexity of brain networks in the newborn period, assess correspondences with hierarchical complexity in adulthood, and investigate the effect of preterm birth, a leading cause of atypical brain development and later neurocognitive impairment, on hierarchical complexity. We report that neonatal and adult structural connectomes are both composed of distinct hierarchical tiers and that hierarchical complexity is greater in term born neonates than in preterms. This is due to diversity of connectivity patterns of regions within the intermediate tiers, which consist of regions that underlie sensorimotor processing and its integration with cognitive information. For neonates and adults, the highest tier (hub regions) is ordered, rather than complex, with more homogeneous connectivity patterns in structural hubs. This suggests that the brain develops first a more rigid structure in hub regions allowing for the development of greater and more diverse functional specialization in lower level regions, while connectivity underpinning this diversity is dysmature in infants born preterm.
Flying Fox Hemolytic Fever, Description of a New Zoonosis Caused by Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis
Authors: Descloux Elodie , Mediannikov Oleg , Gourinat Ann-Claire , Colot Julien , Chauvet Martine , Mermoud Isabelle , Desoutter Denise , Cazorla Cécile , Klement-Frutos Elise , Antonini Luca , Levasseur Anthony , Bossi Vincent , Davoust Bernard , Merlet Audrey , Goujart Marie-Amélie , Oedin Malik , Brescia Fabrice , Laumond Sylvie , Fournier Pierre-Edouard , Raoult Didier
Published: October 2020

Background

Hemotropic mycoplasmas, previously classified in the genus Eperythrozoon, have been reported as causing human infections in Brazil, China, Japan, and Spain.

Methods

In 2017, we detected DNA from Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis in the blood of a Melanesian patient from New Caledonia presenting with febrile splenomegaly, weight loss, life-threatening autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and hemophagocytosis. The full genome of the bacterium was sequenced from a blood isolate. Subsequently, we retrospectively (2011–2017) and prospectively (2018–2019) tested patients who had been hospitalized with a similar clinico-biological picture. In addition, as these patients had been in contact with frugivorous bats (authorized under conditions for hunting and eating in New Caledonia), we investigated the role of these animals and their biting flies by testing them for hemotropic mycoplasmas.

Results

There were 15 patients found to be infected by this hemotropic mycoplasma. Among them, 4 (27%) died following splenectomy performed either for spontaneous spleen rupture or to cure refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The bacterium was cultivated from the patient’s blood. The full genome of the Neocaledonian Candidatus M. haemohominis strain differed from that of a recently identified Japanese strain. Of 40 tested Pteropus bats, 40% were positive; 100% of collected bat flies Cyclopodia horsfieldi (Nycteribiidae, Diptera) were positive. Human, bat, and dipteran strains were highly similar.

Conclusions

The bacterium being widely distributed in bats, Candidatus M. haemohominis, should be regarded as a potential cause of severe infections in humans.
Triiodothyronine (T3) levels fluctuate in response to ambient temperature rather than nutritional status in a wild tropical ungulate
Authors: Hunninck L , Jackson C R , May R , Røskaft E , Palme R , Sheriff M J
Published: October 2020

Animals can employ a range of physiological mechanisms in response to unpredictable changes within their environment, such as changes in food availability and human disturbances. For example, impala exhibit higher faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) levels—indicative of physiological stress—in response to low food quality and higher human disturbance. In this study, we measured faecal triiodothyronine (T3) metabolite (FTM) levels in 446 wild impala from 2016 to 2018 to test the hypothesis that environmental and human disturbances would affect their physiological status. We also validated a faecal thyroid hormone assay. T3 levels mainly regulate metabolic rate and drive thermoregulation—increasing with colder temperatures. We predicted that individuals would have lower FTM levels, indicative of poor physiological status, (i) when food quality was poor, (ii) when ambient temperature (Ta) was high, (iii) in areas of high human disturbance (due to food competition with livestock) and (iv) when FGM levels were high. Interestingly, we found that Ta was the most important predictor of FTM—FTM levels decreased by 70% from lowest to highest Ta—and food quality and human disturbance only influenced FTM levels when Ta was accounted for. FTM levels also tended to increase with increasing FGM levels, opposite our predictions. Our results suggest that food quality and availability may only partially influence FTM levels and that fluctuations in Ta are a significant driver of FTM levels in a wild tropical ungulate. Given that thyroid hormones are primarily responsible for regulating metabolic rate, they may be better indicators of how wild animals metabolically and energetically respond to environmental factors and only indicate poor nutritional status in extreme cases.
Role of the vascular endothelial sodium channel activation in the genesis of pathologically increased cardiovascular stiffness
Authors: Hill Michael A , Jaisser Frederic , Sowers James R
Published: October 2020

Cardiovascular (CV) stiffening represents a complex series of events evolving from pathological changes in individual cells of the vasculature and heart which leads to overt tissue fibrosis. While vascular stiffening occurs naturally with ageing it is accelerated in states of insulin (INS) resistance, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. CV stiffening is clinically manifested as increased arterial pulse wave velocity and myocardial fibrosis-induced diastolic dysfunction. A key question that remains is how are these events mechanistically linked. In this regard, heightened activation of vascular mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and hyperinsulinaemia occur in obesity and INS resistance states. Further, a downstream mediator of MR and INS receptor activation, the endothelial cell Na+ channel (EnNaC), has recently been identified as a key molecular determinant of endothelial dysfunction and CV fibrosis and stiffening. Increased activity of the EnNaC results in a number of negative consequences including stiffening of the cortical actin cytoskeleton in endothelial cells, impaired endothelial NO release, increased oxidative stress-meditated NO destruction, increased vascular permeability, and stimulation of an inflammatory environment. Such endothelial alterations impact vascular function and stiffening through regulation of vascular tone and stimulation of tissue remodelling including fibrosis. In the case of the heart, obesity and INS resistance are associated with coronary vascular endothelial stiffening and associated reductions in bioavailable NO leading to heart failure with preserved systolic function (HFpEF). After a brief discussion on mechanisms leading to vascular stiffness per se, this review then focuses on recent findings regarding the role of INS and aldosterone to enhance EnNaC activity and associated CV stiffness in obesity/INS resistance states. Finally, we discuss how coronary artery-mediated EnNaC activation may lead to cardiac fibrosis and HFpEF, a condition that is especially pronounced in obese and diabetic females.