bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collaborative crisis management: a plausibility probe of core assumptions
Authors: Parker Charles F , Nohrstedt Daniel , Baird Julia , Hermansson Helena , Rubin Olivier , Baekkeskov Erik
Published: May 2020

In this article, we utilize the Collaborative Governance Databank to empirically explore core theoretical assumptions about collaborative governance in the context of crisis management. By selecting a subset of cases involving episodes or situations characterized by the combination of urgency, threat, and uncertainty, we conduct a plausibility probe to garner insights into a number of central assumptions and dynamics fundamental to understanding collaborative crisis management. Although there is broad agreement among academics and practitioners that collaboration is essential for managing complex risks and events that no single actor can handle alone, in the literature, there are several unresolved claims and uncertainties regarding many critical aspects of collaborative crisis management. Assumptions investigated in the article relate to starting-points and triggers for collaboration, level of collaboration, goal-formulation, adaptation, involvement and role of non-state actors, and the prevalence and impact of political infighting. The results confirm that crises represent rapidly moving and dynamic events that raise the need for adaptation, adjustment, and innovation by diverse sets of participants. We also find examples of successful behaviours where actors managed, despite challenging conditions, to effectively contain conflict, formulate and achieve shared goals, adapt to rapidly changing situations and emergent structures, and innovate in response to unforeseen problems.
A practical EPR dosimetry system for routine use in radiotherapy: uncertainty analysis of lithium formate dosimeters at the therapeutic dose level
Authors: Höfel Sebastian , Stehle Michael , Zwicker Felix , Fix Michael K , Drescher Malte
Published: May 2020

In electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry, solid dosimeter materials such as alanine (AL) or, more recently, lithium formate monohydrate (LFM) are typically used. These materials offer high potential for applications in radiotherapy based on their favorable dosimetric properties. Nevertheless, EPR dosimetry is not widespread in the clinics. This work presents an uncertainty analysis of EPR dosimetry in the dose range from 1 to 70 Gy using a compact spectrometer and applying a practical procedure being suitable for routine use in radiotherapy. The performances of self-pressed LFM pellets and commercial AL pellets are compared side by side.

All pellets had a diameter of 4 mm and a height of 2 mm (AL) or 4 mm (LFM). The mean pellet mass was 35.81 mg and 73.81 mg for AL and LFM, respectively. Before irradiation, the pellets were stored for at least 8 weeks at 34 ± 2% relative humidity. For irradiation, the pellets were put inside an airtight capsule. In total, 25 pellets per material were examined. The pellets were irradiated at a temperature of 25 ± 2.5 (2σ) °C to doses of either 1, 5, 20, 50 or 70 Gy (five pellets per dose value and material) by a clinical 6 MV photon beam. Measurement uncertainties were obtained from five independent readouts per pellet within five weeks following irradiation using a benchtop EPR spectrometer. The measurement time of a single readout was restricted to 10 min per pellet. Dose values were derived from EPR signal amplitudes using a specifically developed spectral fitting procedure. Signal fading characteristics were analyzed and taken into account during evaluation.

The relative dose uncertainties (1σ) for a single readout at doses ≥ 5 Gy are below 2.8% (AL) and 1.1% (LFM) but increase to 12.3% (AL) and 2.6% (LFM) at 1 Gy. By averaging five independent readouts, the uncertainties at 1 Gy decrease to 2.6% (AL) and 0.8% (LFM).

In terms of dose uncertainty, the LFM pellets are superior to the commercial AL pellets owing to their narrower EPR spectrum and approximately doubled mass resulting in higher EPR signal intensities. In case of the LFM pellets, the EPR dosimetry system shows a high level of precision (< 3%) down to 1 Gy being preferable for applications in radiotherapy. The uncertainties can be further decreased by averaging multiple dose values from independent readouts.
Single crystal growth and effects of Ni doping on the novel 12442-type iron-based superconductor RbCa2Fe4As4F2
Authors: Yi Xiaolei , Li Meng , Xing Xiangzhuo , Meng Yan , Zhao Caiye , Shi Zhixiang
Published: May 2020

The recently discovered 12442-type iron-based superconductors (IBSs), ACa2Fe4As4F2 (A = K, Rb, Cs), are intrinsically self-hole doped stoichiometric compounds that exhibit superconductivity with T
c = 30–33.5 K. In this paper, single crystals of Ni doped RbCa2(Fe1−x
Ni
x
)4As4F2 with 0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.1 have been successfully grown for the first time using a RbAs flux method and characterized by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), x-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and Hall effect measurements. EDS and XRD measurements suggest that the Ni dopants are successfully doped into the crystal lattice. Based on the electrical resistivity and magnetization data, we construct the T
c–x phase diagram. Furthermore, it is found that Ni dopants not only introduce extra electrons that modify the topology of Fermi surface, but also act as impurity scattering centers that contribute to the pair breaking effect, i.e., the superconducting transition temperature T
c is suppressed with a rate of ΔT
c/Ni-1% = −2.7 K. Intriguingly, such suppression of T
c and those in other similar hole doped IBSs, such as Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2, Ba0.5K0.5Fe2As2, and EuRbFe4As4 with multiple nodeless gaps, can be well scaled together. Combining with relevant experimental data reported so far, we speculate that the pairing symmetry in 12442 system is very likely to be nodeless s±-wave. Finally, doping evolution of the upper critical field and its anisotropy are investigated and discussed in detail. Upon Ni doping, the coherence length ξ
c(0) is gradually increased and becomes larger than the FeAs interbilayer distance when x > 0.07, indicating that the nature of superconductivity changes from quasi two-dimensional (2D) to three-dimensional (3D). The anisotropy of the upper critical field γ
H close to T
c shows a nonmonotonic dependence on doping, which first increases from 6.7 at the pristine sample to its maximum 8.1 at x = 0.03, and then decreases to 3.7 at x = 0.09.
Efficient regeneration of rat calvarial defect with gelatin-hydroxyapatite composite cryogel
Authors: Zhang Yifan , Leng Huijie , Du Zhiyun , Huang Yiqian , Liu Xue , Zhao Zhenda , Zhang Xu , Cai Qing , Yang Xiaoping
Published: May 2020

To induce bone regeneration efficiently, a properly designed organic-inorganic composite scaffold is necessary and important. Gelatin-hydroxyapatite (HA) composite is a suitable choice for the purpose because it can resemble the chemical composition of natural bone tissue. The gelatin-HA composite can be implanted into bone defects as a hydrogel or cryogel, however, it is interesting to know the effect of their different morphology on inducing osteogenesis in vivo. Herein, HA nanowire (HANW) reinforced photocrosslinkable methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) cryogel and hydrogel are prepared and comparatively investigated by being implanted into rat calvarial defects. The cryogel acts as a kind of sponge with interconnected macropores, allowing cell infiltration, as well as, displaying rapid shape recovery and excellent mechanical stability under cyclic compression loading. Conversely, the hydrogel is rigid and easily crushed during the first compression test, showing no shape recovery ability, instead inhibiting cell migration and spreading. Accordingly, the GelMA/HANW composite cryogel is able to promote osteogenesis significantly more in comparison with the corresponding hydrogel at six and 12 weeks post-implantation, as revealed by comprehensive evaluations using radiographic examination, histochemical and immunohistochemical staining methods. Neo-bone tissues have grown into the macroporous cryogel six and 12 weeks after the implantation, while the dense hydrogel prevents the tissue ingrowth, causing the newly formed sparse bone tissue to only elongate into the gaps between cracked hydrogel blocks. In summary, organic-inorganic macroporous cryogels demonstrate superiority for in vivo applications to induce bone regeneration.
Symmetry-adapted decomposition of tensor operators and the visualization of coupled spin systems
Authors: Leiner David , Zeier Robert , Glaser Steffen J
Published: May 2020

We study the representation and visualization of finite-dimensional, coupled quantum systems. To establish a generalized Wigner representation, multi-spin operators are decomposed into a symmetry-adapted tensor basis and are mapped to multiple spherical plots that are each assembled from linear combinations of spherical harmonics. We explicitly determine the corresponding symmetry-adapted tensor basis for up to six coupled spins 1/2 (qubits) using a first step that relies on a Clebsch–Gordan decomposition and a second step which is implemented with two different approaches based on explicit projection operators and coefficients of fractional parentage. The approach based on explicit projection operators is currently only applicable for up to four spins 1/2. The resulting generalized Wigner representation is illustrated with various examples for the cases of four to six coupled spins 1/2. We also treat the case of two coupled spins with arbitrary spin numbers (qudits) not necessarily equal to 1/2 and highlight a quantum system of a spin 1/2 coupled to a spin 1 (qutrit). Our work offers a much more detailed understanding of the symmetries appearing in coupled quantum systems.
Unraveling the mysteries of centriolar satellites: time to rewrite the textbooks about the centrosome/cilium complex
Authors: Odabasi Ezgi , Batman Umut , Firat-Karalar Elif Nur
Published: May 2020

Centriolar satellites are membraneless granules that localize and move around centrosomes and cilia. Once referred to as structures with no obvious function, research in the past decade has identified satellites as key regulators of a wide range of cellular and organismal processes. Importantly, these studies have revealed a substantial overlap between functions, proteomes, and disease links of satellites with centrosomes and cilia. Therefore, satellites are now accepted as the “third component” of the vertebrate centrosome/cilium complex, which profoundly changes the way we think about the assembly, maintenance, and remodeling of the complex at the cellular and organismal levels. In this perspective, we first provide an overview of the cellular and structural complexities of centriolar satellites. We then describe the progress in the identification of the satellite interactome, which have paved the way to a molecular understanding of their mechanism of action and assembly mechanisms. After exploring current insights into their functions as recently described by loss-of-function studies and comparative evolutionary approaches, we discuss major unanswered questions regarding their functional and compositional diversity and their functions outside centrosomes and cilia.
From stem cell to immune effector: how adhesion, migration, and polarity shape T-cell and natural killer cell lymphocyte development in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Lee Barclay J. , Mace Emily M.
Published: May 2020

Lymphocyte development is a complex and coordinated pathway originating from pluripotent stem cells during embryogenesis and continuing even as matured lymphocytes are primed and educated in adult tissue. Hematopoietic stem cells develop in a specialized niche that includes extracellular matrix and supporting stromal and endothelial cells that both maintain stem cell pluripotency and enable the generation of differentiated cells. Cues for lymphocyte development include changes in integrin-dependent cell motility and adhesion which ultimately help to determine cell fate. The capacity of lymphocytes to adhere and migrate is important for modulating these developmental signals both by regulating the cues that the cell receives from the local microenvironment as well as facilitating the localization of precursors to tissue niches throughout the body. Here we consider how changing migratory and adhesive phenotypes contribute to human natural killer (NK)- and T-cell development as they undergo development from precursors to mature, circulating cells and how our understanding of this process is informed by in vitro models of T- and NK cell generation.
SPOP is essential for DNA–protein cross-link repair in prostate cancer cells: SPOP-dependent removal of topoisomerase 2A from the topoisomerase 2A-DNA cleavage complex
Authors: Watanabe Ryuta , Maekawa Masashi , Hieda Miki , Taguchi Tomohiko , Miura Noriyoshi , Kikugawa Tadahiko , Saika Takashi , Higashiyama Shigeki
Published: May 2020

SPOP is a substrate recognition receptor of the CUL3 ubiquitin E3 complex and is point mutated in 10–15% of prostate cancer patients. Here, it is shown that, in prostate cancer cells, SPOP is involved in the DNA-protein cross-link repair process through the elimination of TOP2A from the TOP2A-DNA complex, which may prevent the genome instability.
Integrin-linked kinase regulates melanosome trafficking and melanin transfer in melanocytes
Authors: Crawford Melissa , Liu Nancy , Mahdipour Elahe , Barr Kevin , Heit Bryan , Dagnino Lina
Published: May 2020

Inactivation of the Ilk gene in primary mouse melanocytes results in microtubule defects, impairing normal trafficking of melanosomes toward cell dendrites. Melanosome movements can be restored upon taxol-induced microtubule stabilization. ILK-deficient melanocytes also fail to form normal dendritic extensions through GSK-3–dependent activity. Together, these abnormalities lead to impaired melanin transfer to neighboring epidermal keratinocytes.
The effects of proliferation status and cell cycle phase on the responses of single cells to chemotherapy
Authors: Granada Adrián E. , Jiménez Alba , Stewart-Ornstein Jacob , Blüthgen Nils , Reber Simone , Jambhekar Ashwini , Lahav Galit
Published: May 2020

DNA-damaging chemotherapy often leaves residual tumor cells. Combining single-cell long-term live imaging with information theory, we found an unexpected effect: highly proliferative cells were more likely to arrest than to die, whereas more slowly proliferating cells showed a higher probability of death.
A role for keratins in supporting mitochondrial organization and function in skin keratinocytes
Authors: Steen Kaylee , Chen Desu , Wang Fengrong , Majumdar Ritankar , Chen Song , Kumar Surinder , Lombard David B. , Weigert Roberto , Zieman Abigail G. , Parent Carole A. , Coulombe Pierre A.
Published: May 2020

We provide evidence that keratins (K) 6 and 16 modulate the organization, movement, and function of mitochondria in skin keratinocytes. Loss of either K6 or K16 protein results in reduced mitochondrial respiration and elevated reactive oxygen species. This newly defined role may be relevant to diseases caused by mutations in K6 or K16.
Loss of a conserved MAPK causes catastrophic failure in assembly of a specialized cilium-like structure inToxoplasma gondii
Authors: O’Shaughnessy William J. , Hu Xiaoyu , Beraki Tsebaot , McDougal Matthew , Reese Michael L.
Published: May 2020

Toxoplasma gondii that lacks the kinase ERK7 cannot invade or egress from their host cells, thereby blocking their replicative cycle. These defects are due to the loss of a specialized cilium-like structure called the conoid. Strikingly, the ultrastructural changes are specific to the conoid, and suggest an important role for ERK7 in its biogenesis.
Ubiquitin–proteasome-mediated cyclin C degradation promotes cell survival following nitrogen starvation
Authors: Willis Stephen D. , Hanley Sara E. , Beishke Thomas , Tati Prasanna D. , Cooper Katrina F.
Published: May 2020

Cyclin C-Cdk8 kinase negatively regulates the yeast phagophore gene ATG8. After nitrogen starvation, repression is relieved by ubiquitin proteasome degradation of cyclin C. This is important for survival as degradation occurs prior to cyclin C translocation to the mitochondria where it induces mitochondrial fragmentation and promotes cell death.
Microtubule dynamics at low temperature: evidence that tubulin recycling limits assembly
Authors: Li Gabriella , Moore Jeffrey K.
Published: May 2020

This study provides insight into the long-standing question of why microtubules are cold labile and opens new avenues for investigating how tubulin “recycling” impacts microtubule dynamics.
Wnt regulation: exploring Axin-Disheveled interactions and defining mechanisms by which the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase is recruited to the destruction complex
Authors: Schaefer Kristina N. , Pronobis Mira I. , Williams Clara E. , Zhang Shiping , Bauer Lauren , Goldfarb Dennis , Yan Feng , Major M. Ben , Peifer Mark
Published: May 2020

Wnt signaling plays key roles in embryonic development and adult stem cell homeostasis and is altered in human cancer. We explore β-catenin transfer from the destruction complex to the E3 ligase, and test models suggesting Dishevelled and APC2 compete for association with Axin.
Mgr2 regulates mitochondrial preprotein import by associating with channel-forming Tim23 subunit
Authors: Matta Srujan Kumar , Kumar Abhishek , D’Silva Patrick
Published: May 2020

Mgr2 regulates the gating behavior of the TIM23 complex and mgr2∆ and causes aberrations in mitochondrial dynamics. Here, we show that Mgr2 directly associates with channel-forming Tim23. Additionally, the Mgr2 transmembrane region plays a crucial role in coupling the TIM23 complex with OXPHOS machinery and thus regulates mitochondrial protein import and dynamics.
Desmocollin-2 promotes intestinal mucosal repair by controlling integrin-dependent cell adhesion and migration
Authors: Flemming Sven , Luissint Anny-Claude , Kusters Dennis H. M. , Raya-Sandino Arturo , Fan Shuling , Zhou Dennis W. , Hasegawa Mizuho , Garcia-Hernandez Vicky , García Andrés J. , Parkos Charles A. , Nusrat Asma
Published: May 2020

We report a key role for Dsc2 in simple epithelial cell migration and mucosal wound healing in vivo using newly generated mice with inducible conditional knockdown of Dsc2 in intestinal epithelial cells ( Villin-CreERT2; Dsc2fl/fl).
Co-regulation of the antagonistic RepoMan:Aurora-B pair in proliferating cells
Authors: Manzione Maria Giulia , Rombouts Jan , Steklov Mikhail , Pasquali Lorenzo , Sablina Anna , Gelens Lendert , Qian Junbin , Bollen Mathieu
Published: May 2020

We found that the counteracting enzymes RepoMan and Aurora B co-oscillate during the cell cycle. The co–up-regulation of RepoMan and Aurora B in human tumors correlates with poor prognosis. Moreover, cancer cells with high RepoMan concentration are more sensitive to treatment with Aurora-B inhibitors.
Mechanistic insights into actin-driven polarity site movement in yeast
Authors: Ghose Debraj , Lew Daniel
Published: May 2020

Cells dynamically orient their direction of growth or movement by moving a polarity site that defines the front. A bottom-up computational model is used to explore the mechanism of movement. Assumptions inspired by findings in the yeast system show that vesicle traffic directed to the polarity site would suffice to produce realistic movement.
Effect of aridity on species assembly in gypsum drylands: a response mediated by the soil affinity of species
Authors: Luzuriaga Arantzazu L , Ferrandis Pablo , Flores Joel , Escudero Adrián
Published: May 2020

Previous studies found that plant communities on infertile soils are relatively resistant to climatic variation due to stress tolerance adaptations. However, the species assemblies in gypsum soil habitats require further investigation. Thus, we considered the following questions. (1) Do harsher arid conditions determine the characteristics of the species that form plant assemblages? (2) Is the selection of the species that assemble in arid conditions mediated by their ability to grow on gypsum soils? (3) Is the selection of species that assemble in harsher conditions related to phylogenetically conserved functional traits? Perennial plant communities were analysed in 89 gypsum-soil sites along a 400 km climate gradient from the central to southeastern Iberian Peninsula. Each local assemblage was analysed in 30 × 30 m plots and described based on taxonomic, functional (soil plant affinity) and phylogenetic parameters. The mean maximum temperatures in the hottest month, mean annual precipitation and their interaction terms were used as surrogates for the aridity conditions in generalized linear models. In the hottest locations, the gypsophily range narrowed and the mean gypsophily increased at the community level, thereby suggesting the filtering of species and the dominance of soil specialists in the actual plant assemblies. Drier sites had higher taxonomic diversity. The species that formed the perennial communities were close in evolutionary terms at the two ends of the aridity gradient. The mean maximum temperatures in the hottest month had the main abiotic filtering effect on perennial plant communities, which was mediated by the ability of species to grow on gypsum soils, and thus gypsum specialists dominated the species assemblies in the hottest locations. In contrast, the perennial communities on gypsum soils were relatively resistant to changes in precipitation. Our findings suggest that the warmer environmental conditions predicted by global change models will favour gypsum specialists over generalists.
Group Belief: Lessons from Lies and Bullshit
Authors: Lackey I—Jennifer
Published: May 2020

Groups and other sorts of collective entities are frequently said to believe things. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, for instance, was asked by reporters at White House press conferences whether the Trump administration ‘believes in climate change’ or ‘believes that slavery is wrong’. Similarly, it is said on the website of the Aclu of Illinois that the organization ‘firmly believes that rights should not be limited based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity’. A widespread philosophical view is that belief on the part of a group’s members is neither necessary nor sufficient for group belief. In other words, groups are said to be able to believe that p even when not a single individual member of the group believes that p. In this paper, I challenge this view by focusing on two phenomena that have been entirely ignored in the literature: group lies and group bullshit. I show that when group belief is understood in terms of actions over which group members have voluntarily control, as is standardly thought, paradigmatic instances of a group lying or bullshitting end up counting as a group believing. Thus we need to look elsewhere for an adequate account of group belief.
Comparison of high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing data processing pipelines
Authors: Gao Mingxuan , Ling Mingyi , Tang Xinwei , Wang Shun , Xiao Xu , Qiao Ying , Yang Wenxian , Yu Rongshan
Published: May 2020

With the development of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology, it has become possible to perform large-scale transcript profiling for tens of thousands of cells in a single experiment. Many analysis pipelines have been developed for data generated from different high-throughput scRNA-seq platforms, bringing a new challenge to users to choose a proper workflow that is efficient, robust and reliable for a specific sequencing platform. Moreover, as the amount of public scRNA-seq data has increased rapidly, integrated analysis of scRNA-seq data from different sources has become increasingly popular. However, it remains unclear whether such integrated analysis would be biassed if the data were processed by different upstream pipelines. In this study, we encapsulated seven existing high-throughput scRNA-seq data processing pipelines with Nextflow, a general integrative workflow management framework, and evaluated their performance in terms of running time, computational resource consumption and data analysis consistency using eight public datasets generated from five different high-throughput scRNA-seq platforms. Our work provides a useful guideline for the selection of scRNA-seq data processing pipelines based on their performance on different real datasets. In addition, these guidelines can serve as a performance evaluation framework for future developments in high-throughput scRNA-seq data processing.
RNCE: network integration with reciprocal neighbors contextual encoding for multi-modal drug community study on cancer targets
Authors: Chen Junyi , Wong Ka-Chun
Published: May 2020

Mining drug targets and mechanisms of action (MoA) for novel anticancer drugs from pharmacogenomic data is a path to enhance the drug discovery efficiency. Recent approaches have successfully attempted to discover targets/MoA by characterizing drug similarities and communities with integrative methods on multi-modal or multi-omics drug information. However, the sparse and imbalanced community size structure of the drug network is seldom considered in recent approaches. Consequently, we developed a novel network integration approach accounting for network structure by a reciprocal nearest neighbor and contextual information encoding (RNCE) approach. In addition, we proposed a tailor-made clustering algorithm to perform drug community detection on drug networks. RNCE and spectral clustering are proved to outperform state-of-the-art approaches in a series of tests, including network similarity tests and community detection tests on two drug databases. The observed improvement of RNCE can contribute to the field of drug discovery and the related multi-modal/multi-omics integrative studies. Availabilityhttps://github.com/WINGHARE/RNCE.
Wildfire-Driven Forest Conversion in Western North American Landscapes
Authors: Coop Jonathan D , Parks Sean A , Stevens-Rumann Camille S , Crausbay Shelley D , Higuera Philip E , Hurteau Matthew D , Tepley Alan , Whitman Ellen , Assal Timothy , Collins Brandon M , Davis Kimberley T , Dobrowski Solomon , Falk Donald A , Fornwalt Paula J , Fulé Peter Z , Harvey Brian J , Kane Van R , Littlefield Caitlin E , Margolis Ellis Q , North Malcolm , Parisien Marc-André , Prichard Susan , Rodman Kyle C
Published: May 2020

Changing disturbance regimes and climate can overcome forest ecosystem resilience. Following high-severity fire, forest recovery may be compromised by lack of tree seed sources, warmer and drier postfire climate, or short-interval reburning. A potential outcome of the loss of resilience is the conversion of the prefire forest to a different forest type or nonforest vegetation. Conversion implies major, extensive, and enduring changes in dominant species, life forms, or functions, with impacts on ecosystem services. In the present article, we synthesize a growing body of evidence of fire-driven conversion and our understanding of its causes across western North America. We assess our capacity to predict conversion and highlight important uncertainties. Increasing forest vulnerability to changing fire activity and climate compels shifts in management approaches, and we propose key themes for applied research coproduced by scientists and managers to support decision-making in an era when the prefire forest may not return.
Differential Generation of Saccade, Fixation, and Image-Onset Event-Related Potentials in the Human Mesial Temporal Lobe
Authors: Katz Chaim N , Patel Kramay , Talakoub Omid , Groppe David , Hoffman Kari , Valiante Taufik A
Published: May 2020

Event-related potentials (ERPs) are a commonly used electrophysiological signature for studying mesial temporal lobe (MTL) function during visual memory tasks. The ERPs associated with the onset of visual stimuli (image-onset) and eye movements (saccades and fixations) provide insights into the mechanisms of their generation. We hypothesized that since eye movements and image-onset provide MTL structures with salient visual information, perhaps they both engage similar neural mechanisms. To explore this question, we used intracranial electroencephalographic data from the MTLs of 11 patients with medically refractory epilepsy who participated in a visual search task. We characterized the electrophysiological responses of MTL structures to saccades, fixations, and image-onset. We demonstrated that the image-onset response is an evoked/additive response with a low-frequency power increase. In contrast, ERPs following eye movements appeared to arise from phase resetting of higher frequencies than the image-onset ERP. Intriguingly, this reset was associated with saccade onset and not termination (fixation), suggesting it is likely the MTL response to a corollary discharge, rather than a response to visual stimulation. We discuss the distinct mechanistic underpinnings of these responses which shed light on the underlying neural circuitry involved in visual memory processing.
Investigation of Psychiatric and Neuropsychological Correlates of Default Mode Network and Dorsal Attention Network Anticorrelation in Children
Authors: Owens Max M , Yuan DeKang , Hahn Sage , Albaugh Matthew , Allgaier Nicholas , Chaarani Bader , Potter Alexandra , Garavan Hugh
Published: May 2020

The default mode network (DMN) and dorsal attention network (DAN) demonstrate an intrinsic “anticorrelation” in healthy adults, which is thought to represent the functional segregation between internally and externally directed thought. Reduced segregation of these networks has been proposed as a mechanism for cognitive deficits that occurs in many psychiatric disorders, but this association has rarely been tested in pre-adolescent children. The current analysis used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study to examine the relationship between the strength of DMN/DAN anticorrelation and psychiatric symptoms in the largest sample to date of 9- to 10-year-old children (N = 6543). The relationship of DMN/DAN anticorrelation to a battery of neuropsychological tests was also assessed. DMN/DAN anticorrelation was robustly linked to attention problems, as well as age, sex, and socioeconomic factors. Other psychiatric correlates identified in prior reports were not robustly linked to DMN/DAN anticorrelation after controlling for demographic covariates. Among neuropsychological measures, the clearest correlates of DMN/DAN anticorrelation were the Card Sort task of executive function and cognitive flexibility and the NIH Toolbox Total Cognitive Score, although these did not survive correction for socioeconomic factors. These findings indicate a complicated relationship between DMN/DAN anticorrelation and demographics, neuropsychological function, and psychiatric problems.
Comparison between lung perfusion scan and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography for predicting postoperative lung function after pulmonary resection in patients with borderline lung function
Authors: Na Kwon Joong , Park Samina , Lee Hyun Joo , Park In Kyu , Kang Chang Hyun , Kim Young Tae
Published: May 2020

OBJECTIVES

We compared the usefulness of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and lung perfusion scintigraphy (LPS) for predicting postoperative lung function by comparing patients with borderline lung function.

METHODS

A total of 274 patients who underwent simultaneous LPS and SPECT/CT and had a forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) or diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) under 80% were included. The % uptake by LPS was calculated by the posterior-oblique method. The concordance and difference of the % uptake, predicted postoperative (ppo) FEV1 and ppoDLCO as determined by 2 methods were evaluated. The association between ppo values and actual postoperative FEV1 and DLCO was examined. Subgroup analysis was conducted in redo-operation cases.

RESULTS

The % uptake of each lobe, except the right middle lobe, showed fair concordance (concordance correlation coefficients for right upper, middle, lower, left upper and lower lobe = 0.61, 0.37, 0.71, 0.66 and 0.69, respectively). ppoFEV1 and ppoDLCO also revealed high concordance between both methods (concordance correlation coefficient = 0.93 for ppoFEV1 and concordance correlation coefficient = 0.92 for ppoDLCO) without a significant difference (P = 0.42 for ppoFEV1; P = 0.31 for ppoDLCO). Both ppoFEV1 and ppoDLCO showed a significantly high correlation with the actual FEV1 (r = 0.77, P < 0.01 for LPS, r = 0.77, P < 0.01 for SPECT/CT) and DLCO (r = 0.62, P < 0.01 for LPS, r = 0.62, P < 0.01 for SPECT/CT). High concordance of % uptake, ppoFEV1 and ppoDLCO was present in redo-operation patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Both LPS and SPECT/CT showed high predictability for actual postoperative lung function, and LPS showed good performance to estimate ppoFEV1 and ppoDLCO with reference to SPECT/CT, even in redo-operation cases.
Pregnancies, ventricular arrhythmias, and substrate progression in women with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in the Nordic ARVC Registry
Authors: Platonov Pyotr G , Castrini Anna I , Svensson Anneli , Christiansen Morten K , Gilljam Thomas , Bundgaard Henning , Madsen Trine , Heliö Tiina , Christensen Alex H , Åström Meriam Aneq , Carlson Jonas , Edvardsen Thor , Jensen Henrik K , Haugaa Kristina H , Svendsen Jesper H
Published: May 2020

Aims

Women with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) are at relatively lower risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) than men, but the physical burden associated with pregnancy on VA risk remains insufficiently studied. We aimed to assess the risk of VA in relation to pregnancies in women with ARVC.

Methods and results

We included 199 females with definite ARVC (n = 121) and mutation-positive family members without ascertained ARVC diagnosis (n = 78), of whom 120 had at least one childbirth. Ventricular arrhythmia-free survival after the latest childbirth was compared between women with one (n = 20), two (n = 67), and three or more (n = 37) childbirths. Cumulative probability of VA for each pregnancy (n = 261) was assessed from conception through 2 years after childbirth and compared between those pregnancies that occurred before (n = 191) or after (n = 19) ARVC diagnosis and in mutation-positive family members (n = 51). The nulliparous women had lower median age at ARVC diagnosis (38 vs. 42 years, P < 0.001) and first VA (22 vs. 41 years, P < 0.001). Ventricular arrhythmia-free survival after the latest childbirth was not related to the number of pregnancies. No pregnancy-related VA was reported among the family members. Women who gave birth after ARVC diagnosis had elevated risk of VA postpartum (hazard ratio 13.74, 95% confidence interval 2.9–63, P = 0.001), though only two events occurred during pregnancies.

Conclusion

In women with ARVC, pregnancy was uneventful for the overwhelming majority and the number of prior completed pregnancies was not associated with VA risk. Pregnancy-related VA was primarily related to the phenotypical severity rather than pregnancy itself.
Long-term outcome of patients with invasive electrophysiology procedure-related cardiac tamponade
Authors: von Olshausen Gesa , Bourke Tara , Schwieler Jonas , Drca Nikola , Bastani Hamid , Tapanainen Jari , Saluveer Ott , Benson Lina , Goedel Alexander , Kennebäck Göran , Insulander Per , Jensen-Urstad Mats , Braunschweig Frieder
Published: May 2020

Aims

Iatrogenic cardiac tamponades are a rare but dreaded complication of invasive electrophysiology procedures (EPs). Their long-term impact on clinical outcomes is unknown. This study analysed the risk of death or serious cardiovascular events in patients suffering from EP-related cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis during long-term follow-up.

Methods and results

Out of 19 997 invasive EPs at the Karolinska University Hospital between January 1998 and September 2018, all patients with EP-related periprocedural cardiac tamponade were identified (n = 60) and matched (1:3 ratio) to a control group (n = 180). After a follow-up of 5 years, the composite primary endpoint — death from any cause, acute myocardial infarction, transitory ischaemic attack (TIA)/stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure — occurred in significantly more patients in the tamponade than in the control group [12 patients (20.0%) vs. 19 patients (10.6%); hazard ratio (HR) 2.53 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.15–5.58); P = 0.021]. This was mainly driven by a higher incidence of TIA/stroke in the tamponade than in the control group [HR 3.75 (95% CI 1.01–13.97); P = 0.049]. Death from any cause, acute myocardial infarction, and hospitalization for heart failure did not show a significant difference between the groups. Hospitalization for pericarditis occurred in significantly more patients in the tamponade than in the control group [HR 36.0 (95% CI 4.68–276.86); P = 0.001].

Conclusion

Patients with EP-related cardiac tamponade are at higher risk for cerebrovascular events during the first 2 weeks and hospitalization for pericarditis during the first months after index procedure. Despite the increased risk for early complications tamponade patients have a good long-term prognosis without increased risk for mortality or other serious cardiovascular events.
Novel putative rhizobial species with different symbiovars nodulate Lotus creticus and their differential preference to distinctive soil properties
Authors: Rejili Mokhtar , BenAbderrahim Mohamed Ali , Mars Mohamed , Sherrier Janine Darla
Published: May 2020

Phylogenetically diverse rhizobial strains endemic to Tunisia were isolated from symbiotic nodules of Lotus creticus, growing in different arid extremophile geographical regions of Tunisia, and speciated using multiloci-phylogenetic analysis as Neorhizobium huautlense (LCK33, LCK35, LCO42 and LCO49), Ensifer numidicus (LCD22, LCD25, LCK22 and LCK25), Ensifer meliloti (LCK8, LCK9 and LCK12) and Mesorhizobium camelthorni (LCD11, LCD13, LCD31 and LCD33). In addition, phylogenetic analyses revealed eight additional strains with previously undescribed chromosomal lineages within the genera Ensifer (LCF5, LCF6 and LCF8),Rhizobium (LCF11, LCF12 and LCF14) and Mesorhizobium (LCF16 and LCF19). Analysis using the nodC gene identified five symbiovar groups, four of which were already known. The remaining group composed of two strains (LCD11 and LCD33) represented a new symbiovar of Mesorhizobium camelthorni, which we propose designating as sv. hedysari. Interestingly, we report that soil properties drive and structure the symbiosis of L. creticus and its rhizobia.
The impact ofCUP1gene copy-number and XVI-VIII/XV-XVI translocations on copper and sulfite tolerance in vineyardSaccharomyces cerevisiaestrain populations
Authors: Crosato Giulia , Nadai Chiara , Carlot Milena , Garavaglia Juliano , Ziegler Denise Righetto , Rossi Rochele Cassanta , De Castilhos Juliana , Campanaro Stefano , Treu Laura , Giacomini Alessio , Corich Viviana
Published: May 2020

In wine production, sulfites are widely used as antimicrobials and antioxidants, whereas copper is associated with fungicides and wine fining treatments. Therefore, wine yeasts are constantly exposed to these agents. Copper tolerance is related to the copy number of the CUP1 gene, encoding for a metallothionein involved in copper detoxification. In wine yeasts, sulfite resistance mainly depends on the presence of the translocation t(XVI;VIII) in the promoter region of the SSU1 gene. This gene encodes for a plasma membrane sulfite pump involved in sulfite metabolism and detoxification. Recently, a new translocation, t(XVI;VIII), was identified. In this work, 253 Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, representing three vineyard populations from two different continents, were analyzed, along with 20 industrial starters. Copper and sulfites tolerance as well as distribution of CUP1 gene copy-number, t(XVI;VIII)and t(XVI;XV) of SSU1 gene were studied to evaluate the impact of these genomic variations on population phenotypes. The CUP1 gene copy-number was found to be highly variable, ranging from zero to 79 per strain. Moreover it differently impacted the copper tolerance in the populations of the two continents. The diffusion of t(XVI;VIII) and, for the first time, t(XVI;XV) was determined in the three vineyard populations. The correlation between the presence of the translocation and strain sulfite tolerance levels was significant only for the t(XVI;VIII).
Adenosine Triphosphate Neutralizes Pneumolysin-Induced Neutrophil Activation
Authors: Cuypers Fabian , Klabunde Björn , Gesell Salazar Manuela , Surabhi Surabhi , Skorka Sebastian B , Burchhardt Gerhard , Michalik Stephan , Thiele Thomas , Rohde Manfred , Völker Uwe , Hammerschmidt Sven , Siemens Nikolai
Published: May 2020

Background

In tissue infections, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is released into extracellular space and contributes to purinergic chemotaxis. Neutrophils are important players in bacterial clearance and are recruited to the site of tissue infections. Pneumococcal infections can lead to uncontrolled hyperinflammation of the tissue along with substantial tissue damage through excessive neutrophil activation and uncontrolled granule release. We aimed to investigate the role of ATP in neutrophil response to pneumococcal infections.

Methods

Primary human neutrophils were exposed to the pneumococcal strain TIGR4 and its pneumolysin-deficient mutant or directly to different concentrations of recombinant pneumolysin. Neutrophil activation was assessed by measurement of secreted azurophilic granule protein resistin and profiling of the secretome, using mass spectrometry.

Results

Pneumococci are potent inducers of neutrophil degranulation. Pneumolysin was identified as a major trigger of neutrophil activation. This process is partially lysis independent and inhibited by ATP. Pneumolysin and ATP interact with each other in the extracellular space leading to reduced neutrophil activation. Proteome analyses of the neutrophil secretome confirmed that ATP inhibits pneumolysin-dependent neutrophil activation.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that despite its cytolytic activity, pneumolysin serves as a potent neutrophil activating factor. Extracellular ATP mitigates pneumolysin-induced neutrophil activation.
What is the most appropriate metric for the assessment of volume of antibiotic use?
Authors: Vlahović-Palčevski Vera , Pulcini Céline
Published: May 2020

One of the core elements of antibiotic stewardship is surveillance and monitoring of quantity of antibiotic use. This requires tools for measuring the quantity of antibiotic use. However, these metrics have not been standardized, and different metrics are used across different countries, regions and individual healthcare settings. In the literature, there is much controversy on the most appropriate metric for monitoring antibiotic use. Several authors have questioned the relevance of DDDs, which are recommended by the WHO, while others still prefer using DDDs as the best available metric. The results of the recent DRIVE-AB project suggest that a combination of metrics may be the best approach, since all metrics have limitations and provide different perspectives.
Addressing the Implementation Crisis: Securing Reparation and Righting Wrongs
Authors: Murray Rachel
Published: May 2020

There has been increasing attention to the implementation of decisions of human rights bodies by scholars and by supranational institutions, states, litigants, and civil society. A project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) tracked the implementation by nine states of decisions adopted by human rights courts and commissions in the European, African and Inter-American systems and by select UN treaty bodies. This article summarizes the methodology and findings of the Project and in so doing forms an introduction to a series of articles and practice notes published in this special issue. A range of factors are identified from the research which influence implementation and stress the importance of a multifaceted, multidimensional approach to the issues. Implementation is not automatic and requires mechanisms, processes, and the involvement of actors (national and supranational) for states to comply with the reparations ordered in the decision. A case-by-case, state-by-state, context-specific approach is needed, tailored to the circumstances. This has implications for the manner in which litigants present their submissions, engage with state and supranational bodies and for the latter in terms of their roles and relationships with the various actors.
Balancing Specificity of Reparation Measures and States’ Discretion to Enhance Implementation
Authors: Murray Rachel , Sandoval Clara
Published: May 2020

A recurrent statement when implementation of international orders or recommendations in individual cases is considered is the belief that greater specificity of the measures helps compliance. Our research project examined a number of decisions adopted by some of the UN treaty bodies, and the regional human rights commissions and courts, in Africa, the Americas and Europe, and attempted to trace the extent to which the reparations ordered by the supranational bodies were implemented by the state authorities. This article focuses primarily on the reparations ordered by the Inter-American, African and UN systems and attempts to define specificity, emphasizing that it refers to a constant process of refining and clarifying the meaning of different forms of reparation. Specificity is then ‘unpacked’ in terms of the content of the reparation, deadlines imposed, who is responsible and who is a victim, and how the decision is reasoned. In so doing, the article maintains that specificity must also be considered vis-à-vis the degree of discretion that is given (or not) to states to act on orders or recommendations given by supranational bodies in individual cases. We conclude that a more nuanced approach to specificity versus ambiguity is needed, tailored to each reparation, each state and each case.
Wedge resection as an alternative treatment for octogenarian and older patients with early-stage non–small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Mimae Takahiro , Miyata Yoshihiro , Tsutani Yasuhiro , Imai Kentaro , Ito Hiroyuki , Nakayama Haruhiko , Ikeda Norihiko , Okada Morihito
Published: May 2020

Objective

Anatomical resection with lymph node dissection is the standard treatment for early non–small cell lung cancer, whereas wedge resection is considered as a compromise. We aimed to determine whether wedge resection without lymph node dissection could be a treatment option for patients aged ≥80 years.

Methods

We assessed 669 patients with clinical stage IA non–small cell lung cancer, whole tumour sizes ≤2 cm and a consolidation to tumour ratio of >0.5 who underwent R0 resection at three institutions between 2010 and 2016. We selected 58 of them who were aged ≥80 years and analysed their clinicopathological findings and prognosis after surgical procedures over a median follow-up of 38 months. Propensity scores for surgical procedures were calculated using age, gender, smoking status and solid tumour size on computed tomography.

Results

Three-year overall and recurrence-free survival rates after wedge resection and after segmentectomy + lobectomy for patients aged ≥80 years did not significantly differ (overall survival: 88.9% [95% confidence interval, 69.4–96.3%] vs. 75.5% [95% confidence interval, 51.5–88.8%], P = 0.95; recurrence-free survival: 85.2% [95% confidence interval: 65.2–94.2%] vs. 68.0% [95% confidence interval, 44.4–83.2], P = 0.57). Multivariable Cox regression analysis of overall survival with propensity scores revealed that surgical procedure was not an independent predictor of a poor prognosis (hazard ratio: 0.86 (0.28–2.6), P = 0.78) in patients aged ≥80 years.

Conclusions

Wedge resection might be an alternative to lobectomy or segmentectomy with lymph node dissection for patients aged ≥80 years with early non–small cell lung cancer.