bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The honeysuckle genome provides insight into the molecular mechanism of carotenoid metabolism underlying dynamic flower coloration
Authors: Pu Xiangdong , Li Zhen , Tian Ya , Gao Ranran , Hao Lijun , Hu Yating , He Chunnian , Sun Wei , Xu Meimei , Peters Reuben J. , Van de Peer Yves , Xu Zhichao , Song Jingyuan
Published: March 2020

Lonicera japonica is a widespread member of the Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle) family utilized in traditional medical practices. This twining vine honeysuckle also is a much‐sought ornamental, in part due to its dynamic flower coloration, which changes from white to gold during development.

The molecular mechanism underlying dynamic flower coloration in L. japonica was elucidated by integrating whole genome sequencing, transcriptomic analysis and biochemical assays.

Here, we report a chromosome‐level genome assembly of L. japonica, comprising nine pseudochromosomes with a total size of 843.2 Mb. We also provide evidence for a whole‐genome duplication event in the lineage leading to L. japonica, which occurred after its divergence from Dipsacales and Asterales. Moreover, gene expression analysis not only revealed correlated expression of the relevant biosynthetic genes with carotenoid accumulation, but also suggested a role for carotenoid degradation in L. japonica’s dynamic flower coloration. The variation of flower color is consistent with not only the observed carotenoid accumulation pattern, but also with the release of volatile apocarotenoids that presumably serve as pollinator attractants.

Beyond novel insights into the evolution and dynamics of flower coloration, the high‐quality L. japonica genome sequence also provides a foundation for molecular breeding to improve desired characteristics.
Comparative study of the effects of different growths of vegetation biomass on CO2 in crisp and fuzzy environments
Authors: Devi Sapna , Gupta Nivedita
Published: March 2020

In this paper, three fuzzy nonlinear mathematical models, corresponding to crisp models described in Devi and Gupta (2018), are formulated to study the comparative behavior of carbon dioxide concerning vegetation biomass in crisp and fuzzy environments. Logistic growth and regrowth of vegetation biomass are considered in the first two models, and delay is incorporated in the regrowth of vegetation biomass in the third one. Conditions for boundedness and persistence of the solutions, the existence of equilibrium points, and the stability of equilibrium points are carried out for each model. We also derived the formula for the critical value of time delay. Further, we also analyzed the existence, stability, and direction of the Hopf bifurcation. Numerical simulations were performed to complement analytical findings and to see the comparison between crisp and fuzzy environments. In fuzzy environment, it is observed that increment in the minimum value of regrowth rate shifts the destabilizing value of delay forward while if the maximum value of regrowth rate decreases, variables will become unstable before the estimated time. The overall analysis demonstrates that the behavior of the models in crisp and fuzzy environments is quite different.

Recommendations for resource managers

An increasing level of CO2 is the major factor for greenhouse effect, therefore to reduce the destructive effects of global warming, implementation of policies related to mitigation of the atmospheric CO2 is of paramount importance.

Vegetation biomass has considerable regrowth rate as compared with the rest of the plants. But, there is some time lag in the process of regrowth, therefore for the growth rate of vegetation biomass regrowth with delay must be considered to avoid the fluctuations in the results.

In the real world, the biological parameters are not always fixed because they vary according to the environment. So, scientists should consider fuzzy parameters for more precise results.
An investigation of self‐efficacy crossover between mentors and protégés within mentoring dyads
Authors: Varghese Lebena , Finkelstein Lisa
Published: March 2020

Our current research investigated how mentors enhance protégé self‐efficacy. Drawing from social comparison theory, we propose that the shared experience between mentors and protégés facilitates the ability of protégés to adopt the perspective of their mentors. Additionally, the perspective‐taking that a protégé engages in enables them to ascribe positive aspects of their mentor (i.e., efficacious beliefs) to themselves. Study 1 (N = 205 adults) and study 2 (N = 204 adults) adopted an experimental design (i.e., vignette study) and study 3 (N = 148 undergraduate management students) adopted a survey design with protégés in an e‐mentoring program. Results from all three studies provided evidence for the transfer of efficacy beliefs from the mentor to the protégé. The findings supported the postulation that shared experience between the protégé and mentor facilitates perspective‐taking on behalf of the protégé. Although the findings of the experimental studies showed that a protégé’s perspective‐taking moderated the positive transfer of efficacy beliefs from the mentor to the protégé, the field study failed to replicate this particular finding. Our current research findings have implications for training and developing employees.
Is the buccal alveolar bone less affected by mini‐implant assisted rapid palatal expansion than by conventional rapid palatal expansion?—A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Copello Flávio Mendonça , Marañón‐Vásquez Guido Artemio , Brunetto Daniel Paludo , Caldas Luciana Duarte , Masterson Daniele , Maia Lucianne Cople , Sant’Anna Eduardo Franzotti
Published: March 2020

Objective

To systematically review the existing literature comparing mini‐implant assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) and conventional rapid palatal expansion (RPE) regarding the effect on the buccal alveolar bone thickness (BT) and marginal bone level (BL).

Methods

PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Virtual Health Library, Embase, Ovid, LIVIVO, CINAHL, the Portal de Periódicos da CAPES, Google Scholar and SIGLE were searched up to January 2020. Risk of bias (RoB) assessments were performed using the Cochrane Collaboration and ROBINS‐I tools. Fixed‐effects meta‐analysis of standardized mean differences (SMD) was implemented to assess the pooled estimates for the BT outcome. The analyses were performed adopting a significance level of 5%. A narrative synthesis was performed to summarize the results on the BL. The GRADE tool was used to assess the quality of the evidence.

Results

Three randomized clinical trials and one retrospective study were included. Only one study was rated as with low RoB, while the others were scored as with moderate to serious RoB. Limited evidence indicated that patients using conventional RPE had a greater loss of the BT compared to patients using MARPE (SMD = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.29‐0.80; P < .0001). Subgroup analyses showed that differences were significant in both premolars’ regions, right (SMD = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.24‐1.25; P = .004) and left (SMD = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.52‐1.57; P < .0001), and these were not significant for the molars’ regions (P > .05) (Low quality of evidence).

Limitations

Limited amount of selected papers, methodological issues that could lead to bias and high clinical heterogeneity among the studies. Due to the statistical model applied for the quantitative synthesis of the results, no generalization to any other population is recommended.

Conclusions

Limited evidence suggests that MARPE could decrease the loss of the buccal alveolar bone when compared to conventional RPE.
Predictors of Long‐Term Opioid Effectiveness in Patients With Chronic Non‐Cancer Pain Attending Multidisciplinary Pain Treatment Clinics: A Quebec Pain Registry Study
Authors: Kaboré Jean‐Luc , Saïdi Hichem , Dassieu Lise , Choinière Manon , Pagé M. Gabrielle
Published: March 2020

Objective

This study aimed to identify characteristics of individuals who are most likely to benefit from long‐term opioid therapy in terms of reduction in pain severity and improved mental health–related quality of life (mQoL) without considering potential risks.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of 116 patients (age = 51.3 ± 12.5 years, male = 42.2%) enrolled in the Quebec Pain Registry between 2008 and 2011 and who initiated opioid therapy after their first appointment in a multidisciplinary pain clinic and persisted with this treatment for at least 12 months. Clinically significant improvement was defined as a 2‐point decrease on the PEG (pain, enjoyment of life, and general activity) Scale of pain severity (scored from 0 to 10) at 12‐month follow‐up and a 10‐point increase on the Short‐Form‐12 Health Survey version 2 (SF12‐v2) Mental Health‐Related Quality of Life Summary Scale, which corresponds to 1 standard deviation (SD) of the mean in the general population (mean = 50, SD = 10).

Results

Clinically significant reduction in pain severity was observed in 26.7% of patients, while improvement in mQoL was reported by 20.2% of patients on long‐term opioid therapy. Older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0 to 1.08; P = 0.032) and alcohol or drug problems (OR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.96; P = 0.044) were weakly associated with pain severity at 12‐month follow‐up. Baseline higher pain severity (OR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.91; P = 0.014) and baseline higher mQoL (OR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.83 to 0.95; P = 0.001) were associated with non‐improvement in mQoL.

Conclusion

The analysis failed to identify clinically meaningful predictors of opioid therapy effectiveness, making it difficult to inform clinicians about which patients with chronic non‐cancer pain are most likely to benefit from long‐term opioid therapy.
Does Pain Neuroscience Education and Cognition‐Targeted Motor Control Training Improve Cervical Motor Output? Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Willaert Ward , Malfliet Anneleen , Coppieters Iris , Lenoir Dorine , De Pauw Robby , Danneels Lieven , Roussel Nathalie , Meeus Mira , Cagnie Barbara , Nijs Jo , Kregel Jeroen
Published: March 2020

Background

In the context of interventions aimed at reducing pain, disability, and maladaptive pain cognitions in chronic neck pain, it is hypothesized that patients who have greater symptom reduction possibly also demonstrate greater improvement in cervical motor output. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of pain neuroscience education plus cognition‐targeted motor control training on cervical motor output.

Methods

Impairments in cervical motor output were measured in 64 subjects with chronic neck pain using standardized tests. Cervical muscle strength, cervical mobility, balance, and cervical neuromuscular control were derived. To assess the differences between groups in response to treatment, a random‐intercept linear mixed‐models analysis, applying a diagonal covariance matrix, was used.

Results

A significant treatment × time interaction effect was found for neuromuscular control of the deep cervical flexors, favoring the experimental treatment at 3 months’ follow‐up (mean group difference: 1.982; 95% confidence interval 0.779, 3.185; large effect size d = 0.82). Significant main effects of time were found for the neuromuscular capacity of scapulothoracic muscles and for cervical mobility. No significant effects were found for balance, cervical muscle strength, or endurance of cervical flexors.

Conclusion

Pain neuroscience education combined with cognition‐targeted motor control training is not more effective than biomedically focused education and exercise therapy for improving cervical motor output in people with chronic neck pain. Our findings question the relative importance of factors such as pain, disability, and maladaptive pain cognitions on cervical motor output and the need to address it in treatment.
Pediatricians’ perceptions and practice of the management of constipation in Thailand
Authors: Wiriyachai Thakoon , Tanpowpong Pornthep
Published: March 2020

Background

Previous studies have shown that physicians’ perception and practice can differ from proposed guidelines with regards to constipation. Most studies were performed in developed countries but only a few in developing nations. We therefore aimed to study Thai pediatricians’ perceptions of the management of constipation.

Methods

We performed a national survey using an 37‐item online questionnaire that included questions about demographics, perceptions, and practice related to constipation in children. We used a five‐point scale to determine perception in each aspect (5 = strongly agreed; 1 = strongly disagreed).

Results

We received 275 responses (response rate of 11.0%). Most were female (69.1%), subspecialists (55.6%) and worked in a government‐based setting (69.5%). We noted that only 51.8% considered disimpaction if physical examination is suggestive of fecal impaction. Most pediatricians used lactulose for both disimpaction and maintenance phases (83.4 and 91.9%, respectively); however, pediatricians perceived that the caregivers of constipated children were concerned about tolerance or dependence of most commonly used laxatives, ranged from 45.8 to 63.8%. We also found that recently graduated pediatricians were more likely than older individuals to provide advice on fluid intake, toilet training, and laxative use, and to consider polyethylene glycol for disimpaction (P = 0.003, 0.02, 0.004, and 0.02, respectively).

Conclusions

The proportion of pediatricians who consider disimpaction remained suboptimal. Providing appropriate knowledge on pharmacological management, especially disimpaction and issues regarding laxatives, may be helpful for pediatricians and caregivers. Education may also need to be tailored to various pediatricians’ experience and work settings.
The role of macrophages in protective and pathological responses to Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Park Jeongho , Hunter Christopher A.
Published: March 2020

The ability of Toxoplasma gondii to cause clinical disease in immune‐competent and immune‐deficient hosts coupled with its ease of use in vitro and availability of murine models has led to its use as a model organism to study how the immune system controls an intracellular infection. This article reviews the studies that established the role of the cytokine IFN‐γ in the activation of macrophages to control T gondii and the events that lead to the mobilization and expansion of macrophage populations and their ability to limit parasite replication. Macrophages also have pro‐inflammatory functions that promote protective NK and T‐cell activities as well as regulatory properties that facilitate the resolution of inflammation. Nevertheless, while macrophages are important in determining the outcome of infection, T gondii has evolved mechanisms to subvert macrophage activation and can utilize their migratory activities to promote dissemination and these two properties underlie the ability of this parasite to persist and cause disease.
Political Ideology and Social Services Contracting: Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design
Authors: Alonso José M. , Andrews Rhys
Published: March 2020

Theoretical perspectives on the ideological influences on government contracting predict that local governments controlled by right‐wing political parties will contract out a higher proportion of services than those controlled by left‐wing parties. However, empirical evidence on the impact of political ideology on contracting out remains inconclusive. To cast new light on this important issue, the authors apply a quasi‐experimental research design to contracting choices in children's social services in English local government. Because local governments in England are largely divided along partisan lines, it is possible to estimate ideological effects using a regression discontinuity design that captures changes in political control at 50 percent of the seats gained in local elections. The regression discontinuity estimates reveal that left‐wing controlled local governments exhibit a marked aversion to private sector involvement in service provision and a clear preference for in‐house service provision. These results are robust to a variety of alternative specifications.
Applying Stone in a Western Landscape: Ranchers, Conservationists, and Causal Stories in the “American Serengeti”
Authors: Angstadt J. Michael
Published: March 2020

As the emergence of nongovernmental conservation efforts generates conflict among various stakeholders, the causal story that each party articulates regarding conservation and the causes of land degradation reflects their unique interests. This study uses existing literature to evaluate causal stories surrounding a contemporary conservation effort: Montana's American Prairie Reserve. Through qualitative review of web‐based documents and newspaper articles, it generates a preliminary account of key stakeholders' causal stories. The case study suggests that parties who might be disadvantaged by ascribing responsibility for environmental harms in an adversarial fashion may instead elect to articulate causal stories that are more neutral than existing approaches might forecast. The study concludes by suggesting that further development of causal story literature may enable it to better address contemporary conservation efforts.
Cold‐stored leukoreduced CPDA‐1 whole blood: in vitro quality and hemostatic properties
Authors: Sivertsen Joar , Braathen Hanne , Lunde Turid Helen Felli , Kristoffersen Einar K. , Hervig Tor , Strandenes Geir , Apelseth Torunn O.
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

Some jurisdictions require leukoreduction of cellular blood components. The only whole blood collection set with a platelet‐saving filter uses citrate‐phosphate‐dextrose (CPD) as storage solution. Substituting CPD with citrate‐phosphate‐dextrose‐adenine (CPDA‐1) increases shelf life from 21 to 35 days. This would simplify prehospital and rural resupply and reduce wastage. We investigated in vitro quality and hemostatic properties of CPDA‐1 whole blood leukoreduced with a platelet‐saving filter.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

CPDA‐1 whole blood was leukoreduced using a platelet‐saving filter and stored 35 days. EDQM requirements, hematology, metabolic parameters, thromboelastography, light transmission aggregometry, fibrinogen, factor VIII, and interleukin‐6 were measured on Days 0, 1, 14, 21, and 35 and compared to non‐leukoreduced blood.

RESULTS

All units met EDQM requirements. Leukoreduction yielded residual white blood cell count <1 × 106 and 87% platelet recovery on Day 1. It caused reduction in thromboelastography parameters, but not aggregometry response. No hemolysis >0.8% was observed. Factor VIII was higher on Day 35 in the leukoreduced group, 37.9 (95% CI: 26.0, 49.8) versus 13.8 (9.4, 18.2) IU/dL. In both groups, aggregation was significantly reduced by Day 14. Thromboelastography showed remaining platelet activity on Day 35, MA 46.9 (42.1, 51.7) in the leukoreduced and 44.3 (39.6, 49.0) mm in the non‐leukoreduced group. Fibrinogen was within reference ranges at Day 35 (>2 g/dL). Interleukin‐6 was not detectable.

CONCLUSION

Leukoreducing CPDA‐1 whole blood with a platelet‐saving filter did not compromise hemostatic properties. We encourage development of a single bag CPDA‐1 whole blood collection set with in‐line platelet‐saving filter.
Secondary Flows in the Return System of a Centrifugal Compressor Stage
Authors: Rossbach T. , Bisping J. , Grates D. R. , Jeschke P. , Hildebrandt A. , Franz H.
Published: March 2020

This paper presents an analysis of the flow in the return system of a centrifugal compressor with a flow coefficient of 0.15. Based on the detailed experimental and numerical data, the areas of high losses and potentials for improving the return system geometry are revealed. Special emphasis is placed on the interaction of the flow in the return system components, including the U-bend, the vaned return channel, and the final L-bend. Strong flow redistribution occurs due to the sharp curvature of the U-bend, forming a blockage area at the hub near the vane leading edge. This causes a strong passage vortex, which is further intensified by the pressure gradient induced by the L-bend. Additionally, the flow near the shroud accelerates due to the large blockage area near the hub at the exit of the U-bend, resulting in high friction losses. To identify the main causes of loss, a method was evolved. It was validated and supplied by pneumatic measurement data. On this basis, analytical approaches were taken to quantify the total pressure losses due to friction, secondary flows, incidence, and trailing edge flow. As a result, approximately 60% of the return system losses arise due to friction. Another 30–40% are caused by secondary flows. It can be concluded that the results of the investigation contribute to the understanding of the secondary flow structures inside a centrifugal compressor return system of high mass flowrates. By combining the knowledge acquired in respect to the sources of highest losses with the experimental data, a well-founded basis for future optimization is achieved and the validation of numerical approaches is possible.
Experimental Evaluation of Geopolymer, Nano-Modified, and Neat Class H Cement by Using Diametrically Compressive Tests
Authors: Kimanzi Raymos , Wu Yuxing , Salehi Saeed , Mokhtari Mehdi , Khalifeh Mahmoud
Published: March 2020

Cement is the prime barrier material to maintain zonal isolation during wellbore life-cycle. Different types of the cement have different performances on sealability. The primary objective of this study is evaluation of three types of cement systems, neat Class H, nano-synthetic graphite, and rock-based geopolymer cements, on interfacial bond integrity. Diametrical compressive tests are used on casing–cement–formation systems. Cement performances are tested in a conventional configuration (Berea Sandstone). A universal testing system is utilized to analyze the relationship applied load–axial strain and the digital image correlation (DIC) technique is used to generate the strain field maps. Based on the relationship and DIC results, bond strengths in different cement systems are evaluated. Additionally, microscope images provide insight explanations of the bond from micro-view. Based on the experimental results, failures of all cases initiate and propagate from the casing–cement interface. Then, radial cracks develop through the formation. This is because the mechanical interlocking bonds are formed only at the cement–sandstone interface to enhance the bond strength. The comparison of geopolymer and nano-modified cements with the conventional cement (neat Class H) shows that the unconventional cements have a lower maximum load and higher axial strain before failure of the samples. It indicates that both the two kinds of cements are more ductile than conventional cement and can support more deformation before the initiation of cracks.
New data on ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from the Oriental region, with descriptions of two new species

Authors: Niedbała Wojciech , Ermilov Sergey G.
Published: March 2020

The present study is based on ptyctimous oribatid mite material collected from the Oriental region (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Macau Peninsula, Taiwan). A list of identified taxa, including 33 species from 15 genera and six families, is presented. Two new species, Euphthiracarus (Pocsia) insperatus Niedbała sp. nov. (Euphthiracaridae) from Indonesia and Hoplophthiracarus paraconcinuus Niedbała sp. nov. (Steganacaridae) from Malaysia are described. Morphological additions to Mesoplophora (Parplophora) brevicarinata, Acrotritia ardua, A. paraardua, A. sterigma, Plonaphacarus kugohi, and P. protrusus are presented. Deuto- and tritonymph of Apoplophora phalerata are described. Mesoplophora (Parplophora) flavida and Indotritia (Indotritia) krakatauensis are recorded for the first time in Sri Lanka, Austrotritia robusta, Sabahtritia sarawak and Phthiracarus pygmaeus in Indonesia, Microtritia minima, Atropacarus (Atropacarus) striculus, Plonaphacarus foveolatus, and P. protrusus in Taiwan. Acrotritia mahunkai and A. paraardua are recorded for the first time in the Oriental region.
Qatar 2022 World Cup: Designing a Context-Based Decision-Making Approach
Authors: Abeza Gashaw , Boesen Mads Quist , O’Reilly Norm , Braunstein-Minkove Jessica R.
Published: March 2020

The case presents a challenging decision that the new Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President faced with the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Specifically, the issues surround the agreement that the President signed a year after his election with Qatar Airways and the allegations made against the 2022 World Cup host country, Qatar, for human rights violations and state-sponsored terrorism. Right after the allegation was made against Qatar, the President formed an advisory group to help prepare him to make a rational decision on the case. You have been appointed as the members of the advisory board that is tasked with investigating and making recommendations on the President’s challenge of keeping his campaign promises of restoring FIFA’s image and raising more money for the federation.
A quantitative super-resolution imaging toolbox for diagnosis of motile ciliopathies
Authors: Liu Zhen , Nguyen Quynh P. H. , Guan Qingxu , Albulescu Alexandra , Erdman Lauren , Mahdaviyeh Yasaman , Kang Jasmine , Ouyang Hong , Hegele Richard G. , Moraes Theo , Goldenberg Anna , Dell Sharon D. , Mennella Vito
Published: March 2020

Quantitative super-resolution imaging improves the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia.
A urine score for noninvasive accurate diagnosis and prediction of kidney transplant rejection
Authors: Yang Joshua Y. C. , Sarwal Reuben D. , Sigdel Tara K. , Damm Izabella , Rosenbaum Ben , Liberto Juliane M. , Chan-On Chitranon , Arreola-Guerra José M. , Alberu Josefina , Vincenti Flavio , Sarwal Minnie M.
Published: March 2020

A urinary assay enables the noninvasive diagnosis of kidney transplant rejection in concordance with biopsy histology reports.
Boosting immune responses against early breast cancer
Authors: Ileana-Dumbrava Ecaterina
Published: March 2020

Pembrolizumab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves therapeutic responses in patients with early triple-negative breast cancer.
Not “dust” any neural stimulator
Authors: Roche Ellen
Published: March 2020

An untethered, ultrasound-powered milliscale device can stimulate peripheral nerves in rats.
Osteopetrosis-Associated Transmembrane Protein 1 Recruits RNA Exosome To Restrict Hepatitis B Virus Replication
Authors: Ma Chunqiang , Xu Wei , Yang Qingyu , Liu Weiyong , Xiang Qi , Chen Junbo , Zhang Qi , Liu Yingle , Wu Kailang , Wu Jianguo
Published: March 2020

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a human pathogen infecting the liver to cause a variety of diseases ranging from acute hepatitis to advanced liver diseases, fulminate hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, thereby causing a major health problem worldwide. In this study, we demonstrated that Ostm1 plays an inhibitory role in HBV protein production, RNA expression, and DNA replication. However, Ostm1 has no effect on the activities of the four HBV promoters; instead, it binds to HBV RNA and recruits RNA exosomes to promote HBV RNA degradation. We further demonstrated that the anti-HBV activity of Ostm1 is independent of the interferon signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study reveals a distinct mechanism underlying the repression of HBV replication and suggests that Ostm1 is a potential therapeutic agent for HBV infection.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Necrotrophic Plant-Pathogenic Bacterium Pectobacterium brasiliense 1692
Authors: Liu Yingyu , Filiatrault Melanie J.
Published: March 2020

We report here the complete and annotated genome sequence of
Pectobacterium brasiliense
1692, a Gram-negative enterobacterium that can cause soft rot disease in many plant hosts.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Vibrio
sp. Strain OCN044, Isolated from Palmyra Atoll, Northern Line Islands
Authors: Loughran Rachel M. , Esquivel Abigail R. , Deadmond Monica C. , Koyack Marc J. , Paddock Brie E. , O’Hanlon Samantha M. , Ushijima Blake , Saw Jimmy H. , Videau Patrick
Published: March 2020

Vibrio
sp. strain OCN044 is a Gram-negative gammaproteobacterium found in marine environments. Presented here is the whole-draft genome sequence of nonpathogenic
Vibrio
sp. strain OCN044, isolated from a healthy
Acropora cytherea
colony off the western reef terrace of Palmyra Atoll.
Complete Genome Analysis of Influenza A(H1N1) Viruses Isolated in Kerala, India
Authors: Prasad Raji , Mohanakumari Vishnu VikramanThampi , Sasi Remya Vasanthi , Nair Radhakrishnan , Jones Sara , Pillai Madhavan Radhakrishna
Published: March 2020

Here, we report the complete sequence of four influenza A(H1N1) virus samples isolated from cases that occurred during the 2017 epidemic season in Kerala in South India. Sequence analysis showed mutations that differentiate this strain from the reference strain A/California/07/2009 virus.
Draft Genome Sequence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia CRB139-1, Isolated from Poultry Meat in Japan
Authors: Yamamoto Shiori , Nakayama Tatsuya , Asakura Hiroshi
Published: March 2020

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
is a nosocomial pathogen that primarily causes respiratory infection in humans. This pathogen is widely distributed in the environment, including in foods. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
S. maltophilia
strain CRB139-1, isolated from poultry meat in Japan. The genome size was 4,619,918 bp at 90× coverage.
Investigating the Whole-Genome Sequence of a New Locus of Enterocyte Effacement-Positive Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 Strain Isolated from River Water
Authors: Zhang Yujie , Liao Yen-Te , Salvador Alexandra , Sun Xiaohong , Wu Vivian C. H.
Published: March 2020

Diverse Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) strains have been isolated from several environmental samples. Rivers are associated with the distribution of STEC pathogens in the environment. Thus, we report the complete genome sequence of a locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE)-positive STEC O157:H7 strain isolated from the Mississippi River.
Metagenome-Assembled Genome Sequences of Three Uncultured
Planktomarina
sp. Strains from the Northeast Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Marques Matilde , Borges Nuno , Silva Sandra Godinho , da Rocha Ulisses Nunes , Lago-Lestón Asunción , Keller-Costa Tina , Costa Rodrigo
Published: March 2020

We report three metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of
Planktomarina
strains from coastal seawater (Portugal) to help illuminate the functions of understudied
Rhodobacteraceae
bacteria in marine environments. The MAGs encode proteins involved in aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis and a versatile carbohydrate metabolism, strengthening the role of
Planktomarina
species in oceanic carbon cycling.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Larkinella
sp. Strain BK230, Isolated from
Populus deltoides
Roots
Authors: Pelletier Dale A. , Burdick Leah H. , Podar Mircea , Schadt Christopher W. , Kalluri Udaya C.
Published: March 2020

Larkinella
sp. strain BK230, a heterotrophic bacterium of the phylum
Bacteroidetes
, was isolated from the roots of a field-grown eastern cottonwood tree (
Populus deltoides
) located in Georgia. The draft 7.27-Mb genome has a G+C content of 53.4% and contains 6,026 coding sequences, including 41 tRNA genes.
Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus cereus Strain PL1, Isolated from Soil in Japan
Authors: Miyazaki Kentaro , Hase Erina , Maruya Tomomasa
Published: March 2020

We isolated the soil bacterium strain PL1 and herein report its complete genome sequence. The strain presented 97% average nucleotide identity (ANI) to
Bacillus cereus
and 91% ANIs to other members of the
B. cereus
group, indicating that it is affiliated with
B. cereus
.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Microcystin-Degrading Bacterium
Novosphingobium
sp. Strain MD-1
Authors: Okano Kunihiro , Shimizu Kazuya , Saito Takeshi , Maseda Hideaki , Utsumi Motoo , Itayama Tomoaki , Sugiura Norio
Published: March 2020

This report describes the whole-genome sequence of a microcystin-degrading bacterium,
Novosphingobium
sp. strain MD-1, isolated from a lake in Japan. The
Novosphingobium
sp. strain MD-1 genome had a total length of 4,617,766 bp. Moreover, strain MD-1 showed a conserved microcystin-degrading gene cluster (
mlrA
to
mlrF
), similar to
Sphingopyxis
sp. strain C-1.
Complete Genome Sequence of Mycoplasma feriruminatoris Strain IVB14/OD_0535, Isolated from an Alpine Ibex in a Swiss Zoo
Authors: Labroussaa Fabien , Thomann Andreas , Nicholson Pamela , Falquet Laurent , Jores Joerg
Published: March 2020

Mycoplasma feriruminatoris
is a fast-growing and genetically tractable mycoplasma species. We sequenced the Swiss strain IVB14/OD_0535, isolated from an Alpine ibex. This strain has a circular genome of 1,027,435 bp with a G+C content of 24.3%. It encodes 835 open reading frames (ORFs), 2 rRNA operons, and 30 tRNAs.
Silica diagenesis promotes early primary hydrocarbon migration
Authors: Abu-Mahfouz Israa S. , Cartwright Joe , Idiz Erdem , Hooker John N. , Robinson Stuart A.
Published: March 2020

We present evidence that hydrocarbon source rocks can be preconditioned for primary hydrocarbon migration at an early stage of catagenesis by pore-scale processes linked to silica diagenesis. The evidence comes from a detailed petrographic and geochemical study of the Jordan Oil Shale (JOS), an immature to early mature, Upper Cretaceous to Paleogene source rock developed on the platform regions of central and southern Jordan. Diagenesis of biogenic silica led to silicification of the source rock interval and the growth of chert nodules. Localization of bitumen veins in reaction rims around these nodules is interpreted to indicate that silica diagenesis promotes the early mobilization of hydrocarbons from the geochemically identical, disseminated bitumen within the host mudstones. We propose a model in which early-formed bitumen migrated into neoforming mode I fractures that formed as a result of the crystallization pressure imposed from the growing chert nodule. Hydraulic fracturing occurred under elevated bitumen fluid pressures that approached lithostatic stress values under burial depths of the order of 1000 m. The recognition that silica diagenesis can promote the early migration of neoforming bitumen raises the possibility that primary hydrocarbon migration may occur earlier and at shallower depths than predicted by kinetic modeling approaches wherever silica diagenetic reactions are coeval with catagenesis.
Quantifying the volume increase and chemical exchange during serpentinization
Authors: Klein Frieder , Le Roux Véronique
Published: March 2020

Quantifying the concurrent changes in rock volume and fluid composition during serpentinization remains a major challenge in assessing its physicochemical effects during continental rifting, seafloor spreading, and subduction. Here we conducted a series of 11 hydrothermal laboratory experiments where cylindrical cores of natural dunite, harzburgite, and pyroxenite were reacted with an aqueous solution at 300 °C and 35 MPa for up to 18 months. Using three-dimensional microcomputed tomography and thermogravimetry, we show that rock volume systematically increased with time and extent of reaction, leading to a volume increase of 44% (±8%) in altered rock domains after 10–18 months of serpentinization. The volume expansion was accompanied by Mg-Ca exchange between fluid and rock, while Fe and Si were largely conserved. We find that the protolith composition (olivine/orthopyroxene ratio) plays a significant role in controlling the fluid chemistry and the proportions of hydrous secondary minerals during serpentinization. Agreement between alteration mineralogy, composition of reacting fluids, and measured volume changes suggests that serpentinization under static conditions is a volume-increasing process in spite of demonstrable mass transfer. Volume expansion implies an increased water carrying capacity and buoyancy force of serpentinite per unit mass of protolith, while Mg-Ca exchange during serpentinization may affect the Mg/Ca ratio of seawater on Earth and possibly other ocean worlds.
Acute myocardial infarction caused by persistent coronary spasm associated with high-grade macrophage accumulation
Authors: Wakabayashi Kohei , Nishikura Tenjin , Shinke Toshiro , Tanno Kaoru
Published: March 2020

The mechanisms responsible for persistent and lethal coronary spasm remain incompletely understood. Our group treated a patient with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) caused by a spontaneously persistent spasm associated with high-grade macrophage accumulation. A 48-year-old man was transferred to an emergency room because of persisted chest tightness. The patient’s chest pain subsided without ST elevation when he arrived at the hospital, but he tested positive for fatty acid-binding protein. Emergent coronary angiography revealed a subtotal occlusion in the middle of the right coronary artery. The occluded lesion was released immediately after an injection of isosorbide dinitrate. No disruption, ulceration or erosion was observed at the culprit lesion segment on optical coherence tomography. The only finding was high-grade macrophage accumulation in the segment of the persistent focal coronary spasm. The present case suggests that the early stage of atherosclerosis with high-grade macrophage accumulation was associated with persistent coronary spasm resulting in acute MI.
Cerebral aneurysm treatment trends in National Inpatient Sample 2007–2016: endovascular therapies favored over surgery
Authors: Wang Alice S , Campos Jessica K , Colby Geoffrey P , Coon Alexander L , Lin Li-Mei
Published: March 2020

Background

Flow modulation is the newest endovascular technique for treatment of cerebral aneurysms.

Objective

To investigate changes in aneurysm treatment practice patterns in the USA.

Methods

From the 2007 to 2016, the National Inpatient Sample databases, hospital discharges associated with unruptured aneurysms (UA), and/or ruptured aneurysms (RA) having undergone surgical clipping (SC) and/or endovascular treatments (EVT) were identified using the International Classification of Diseases codes. Patient demographics, hospital characteristics, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. Five year subgroup analyses were performed for treatment differences.

Results

A total of 39 282 hospital discharges were identified with a significant increase in EVT (UA: SC n=7847 vs EVT n=12 797, p<0.001; RA: SC n=8108 vs EVT n=10 530, p<0.001). Hospitals in the South demonstrated the most significant EVT use regardless of aneurysm status (UA: SC n=258.5±53.6 vs EVT n=480.7±155.8, p<0.001; RA: SC n=285.6±54.3 vs EVT n=393.3±102.9, p=0.003). From 2007 to 2011, there was no significant difference in the mean number of cases for the treatment modalities (UA: SC n=847.4±107.7 vs EVT n=1120.4±254.1, p=0.21; RA: SC n=949.4±52.8 vs EVT n=1054.4±219.6, p=0.85). Comparatively, from 2012 to 2016, significantly more UA and RA were treated endovascularly (UA: SC n=722.0±43.4 vs EVT n=1439.0±419.2, p<0.001; RA: SC n=672.2±61.4 vs EVT n=1051.6±330.2, p=0.02).

Conclusions

As technological innovations continue to advance the neuroendovascular space, the standard of care for treatment of cerebral aneurysms is shifting further towards endovascular therapies over open surgical approaches in the USA.
Fracton phases of matter
Authors: Pretko Michael , Chen Xie , You Yizhi
Published: March 2020

Fractons are a new type of quasiparticle which are immobile in isolation, but can often move by forming bound states. Fractons are found in a variety of physical settings, such as spin liquids and elasticity theory, and exhibit unusual phenomenology, such as gravitational physics and localization. The past several years have seen a surge of interest in these exotic particles, which have come to the forefront of modern condensed matter theory. In this review, we provide a broad treatment of fractons, ranging from pedagogical introductory material to discussions of recent advances in the field. We begin by demonstrating how the fracton phenomenon naturally arises as a consequence of higher moment conservation laws, often accompanied by the emergence of tensor gauge theories. We then provide a survey of fracton phases in spin models, along with the various tools used to characterize them, such as the foliation framework. We discuss in detail the manifestation of fracton physics in elasticity theory, as well as the connections of fractons with localization and gravitation. Finally, we provide an overview of some recently proposed platforms for fracton physics, such as Majorana islands and hole-doped antiferromagnets. We conclude with some open questions and an outlook on the field.
A novel parallel chaotic system with greatly improved Lyapunov exponent and chaotic range
Authors: Zhu Minghao , Wang Chunhua
Published: March 2020

Lyapunov exponent (LE), chaotic range and complexity are the key considerations of a discrete chaotic system. A dynamic chaotic system with larger LE and wider parameter space will result in better statistical performance that can be used to generate pseudo random sequences and applied to encryption fields. At the same time, the combination of simple chaotic maps can generate more excellent chaotic behavior. This paper proposes a newly combined chaotic system called Parallel Chaotic System (PCS). Multiple simple chaotic maps are paralleled to construct the novel system. In this system, LE and chaotic range can be improved as much as possible by setting additional parameters. Compared with the existing models made up of same seed maps, PCS is able to get better chaotic behavior by means of a simple structure at the same time. Performance evaluation emphasizes that the chaotic maps generated by PCS are more unpredictable with better complexity.
Module-phase synchronization of fractional-order complex chaotic systems based on RBF neural network and sliding mode control
Authors: Nian Fuzhong , Liu Xinmeng , Zhang Yaqiong , Yu Xuelong
Published: March 2020

Combined with RBF neural network and sliding mode control, the synchronization between drive system and response system was achieved in module space and phase space, respectively (module-phase synchronization). The RBF neural network is used to estimate the unknown nonlinear function in the system. The module-phase synchronization of two fractional-order complex chaotic systems is implemented by the Lyapunov stability theory of fractional-order systems. Numerical simulations are provided to show the effectiveness of the analytical results.
Preparation of stable biopolymer composite suspension with metal/metal-oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Shi Shih-Chen , Yang Jason Hsiao Chun
Published: March 2020

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is a kind of biopolymer that is biodegradable, environmentally friendly and possesses exceptional mechanical and tribological properties. Therefore, it could be used as a suitable alternative to plastic. However, HPMC deforms easily when subjected to loads, causing higher real contact area and adhesive force between HPMC and grinding counter. Therefore, HPMC films are easily damaged because of adhesive wear, which negatively affects wear resistance. Hence, nanoparticles (NPs) of Al, Cu, Al2O3 and CuO have been used as fillers to increase the wear resistance of the HPMC composite films. The uniform dispersion of NPs in the suspension is the most important factor, which is greatly related to the wear resistance after film formation. Nanosuspensions with various dispersant concentrations were prepared, and mixed with the HPMC solution to prepare composite solutions and composite films. The results showed that Span 80 could provide steric stabilization, and that it dispersed the NPs effectively in suspension. After mixing the suspension with the HPMC solution, the solution became more stable.
A solution for priority-based multi-robot path planning problem with obstacles using ant lion optimization
Authors: Dewangan Ram Kishan , Shukla Anupam , Godfrey W. Wilfred
Published: March 2020

This paper provides a Priority-based Optimized-Hybrid Asynchronous Centralized and Decentralized (POHACD) algorithm for multi-robot path planning (MRPP) issue, where multiple robots communicate with each other, as well as through collision check makes their decision. The priority-based approach provides priority to each robot thus bypassing another robot in conflict situation. Optimization lies in terms of minimal path length. The proposed hybrid asynchronous algorithm leverages the centralized approach to improve the overall system efficiency and distributed approach to reduce communication overhead, which automatically reduces execution time. This algorithm prevents unnecessary communication by transmitting global information and in the meantime limits specific information that is only in the interest of certain robots. By carrying out the simulations, it has been demonstrated that the ant lion optimization for prioritized planning performs better in all the roadmaps.
Position- and momentum-squeezed quantum states in micro-scale mechanical resonators
Authors: Le Coq Yann , Mølmer Klaus , Seidelin Signe
Published: March 2020

A challenge of modern physics is to investigate the quantum behavior of a bulk material object, for instance a mechanical oscillator. We have earlier demonstrated that by coupling a mechanical oscillator to the energy levels of embedded rare-earth ion dopants, it is possible to prepare such a resonator in a low phonon number state. Here, we describe how to extend this protocol in order to prepare momentum- and position-squeezed states, and we analyze how the obtainable degree of squeezing depends on the initial conditions and on the coupling of the oscillator to its thermal environment.
A Systematic Study of Unsupervised Domain Adaptation for Robust Human-Activity Recognition
Authors: Chang Youngjae , Mathur Akhil , Isopoussu Anton , Song Junehwa , Kawsar Fahim
Published: March 2020

Wearable sensors are increasingly becoming the primary interface for monitoring human activities. However, in order to scale human activity recognition (HAR) using wearable sensors to million of users and devices, it is imperative that HAR computational models are robust against real-world heterogeneity in inertial sensor data. In this paper, we study the problem of wearing diversity which pertains to the placement of the wearable sensor on the human body, and demonstrate that even state-of-the-art deep learning models are not robust against these factors. The core contribution of the paper lies in presenting a first-of-its-kind in-depth study of unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) algorithms in the context of wearing diversity -- we develop and evaluate three adaptation techniques on four HAR datasets to evaluate their relative performance towards addressing the issue of wearing diversity. More importantly, we also do a careful analysis to learn the downsides of each UDA algorithm and uncover several implicit data-related assumptions without which these algorithms suffer a major degradation in accuracy. Taken together, our experimental findings caution against using UDA as a silver bullet for adapting HAR models to new domains, and serve as practical guidelines for HAR practitioners as well as pave the way for future research on domain adaptation in HAR.