bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retracted: Induced cell migration based on a bioactive hydrogel sheet combined with a perfused microfluidic system
Authors: Jafarkhani Mahboubeh , Salehi Zeinab , Mashayekhan Shohreh , Kowsari-Esfahan Reza , Orive Gorka , Dolatshahi-Pirouz Alireza , Bonakdar Shahin , Shokrgozar Mohammad Ali
Published: March 2020

Endothelial cell migration is a crucial step in the process of new blood vessel formation—a necessary process to maintain cell viability inside thick tissue constructs. Here, we report a new method for maintaining cell viability and inducing cell migration using a perfused microfluidic platform based on collagen gel and a gradient hydrogel sheet. Due to the helpful role of the extracellular matrix components in cell viability, we developed a hydrogel sheet from decellularized tissue (DT) of the bovine heart and chitosan (CS). The results showed that hydrogel sheets with an optimum weight ratio of CS/DT = 2 possess a porosity of around 75%, a mechanical strength of 23 kPa, and display cell viability up to 78%. Then, we immobilized a radial gradient of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the hydrogel sheet to promote human umbilical vein endothelial cell migration. Finally, we incorporated the whole system as an entirety on the top of the microfluidic platform and studied cell migration through the hydrogel sheet in the presence of soluble and immobilized VEGF. The results demonstrated that immobilized VEGF stimulated cell migration in the hydrogel sheet at all depths compared with soluble VEGF. The results also showed that applying a VEGF gradient in both soluble and immobilized states had a significant effect on cell migration at limited depths (<100 μm). The main finding of this study is a significant improvement in cell migration using an in vivo imitating, cost-efficient and highly reproducible platform, which may open up a new perspective for tissue engineering applications.
Using remote sensing to detect, validate, and quantify methane emissions from California solid waste operations
Authors: Cusworth Daniel H , Duren Riley M , Thorpe Andrew K , Tseng Eugene , Thompson David , Guha Abhinav , Newman Sally , Foster Kelsey T , Miller Charles E
Published: March 2020

Solid waste management represents one of the largest anthropogenic methane emission sources. However, precise quantification of landfill and composting emissions remains difficult due to variety of site-specific factors that contribute to landfill gas generation and effective capture. Remote sensing is an avenue to quantify process-level emissions from waste management facilities. The California Methane Survey flew the Next Generation Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-NG) over 270 landfills and 166 organic waste facilities repeatedly during 2016–2018 to quantify their contribution to the statewide methane budget. We use representative methane retrievals from this campaign to present three specific findings where remote sensing enabled better landfill and composting methane monitoring: (1) Quantification of strong point source emissions from the active face landfills that are difficult to capture by in situ monitoring or landfill models, (2) emissions that result from changes in landfill infrastructure (design, construction, and operations), and (3) unexpected large emissions from two organic waste management methods (composting and digesting) that were originally intended to help mitigate solid waste emissions. Our results show that remotely-sensed emission estimates reveal processes that are difficult to capture in biogas generation models. Furthermore, we find that airborne remote sensing provides an effective avenue to study the temporally changing dynamics of landfills. This capability will be further improved with future spaceborne imaging spectrometers set to launch in the 2020s.
Economic losses from extreme weather in the U.S. Gulf Coast region: spatially differential contributions of climate hazard and socioeconomic exposure and vulnerability
Authors: Surendran Nair Sujithkumar , King Anthony W , Gulledge Jay , Preston Benjamin L , McManamay Ryan A , Clark Christopher D
Published: March 2020

Worldwide economic losses from extreme weather events (EWE) have increased over recent decades, with significant geographic heterogeneity in damages. The IPCC defines the risk from EWE as a function of the climate hazard, socioeconomic exposure, and vulnerability. Although these three drivers vary at fine spatial scales, spatial variability largely has been overlooked in assessments of the drivers of economic loss from EWE. Using cluster analysis, we developed a novel socio-climate hazard typology (SCT) that integrates locally defined climate hazard and socioeconomic exposure and social vulnerability typologies. The results identified 838 unique SCT types impacted by EWE across the Gulf Coastal United States during 1981–2010. We regressed the SCT types and their constituent hazard and socioeconomic components against the cumulative economic loss (1981–2010) from EWE for each SCT type. Across the landscape, economic damages of SCT types were determined by unique, spatially explicit combinations of different risk factors, even in explaining the same level of economic loss. For example, multi-billion-dollar damages in the central Gulf Coast and peninsular Florida were explained by different drivers of risk, with damages in the former explained by additive interaction between climate hazard and multiplicative interaction between climate hazard and socioeconomic exposure and vulnerability, and in the latter explained by socioeconomic exposure and vulnerability. These results highlight the need to diagnose additive and multiplicative interactions among drivers of EWE risk in a spatially explicit context.
Warming-induced unprecedented high-elevation forest growth over the monsoonal Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Shi Chunming , Schneider Lea , Hu Yuan , Shen Miaogen , Sun Cheng , Xia Jianyang , Forbes Bruce C , Shi Peili , Zhang Yuandong , Ciais Philippe
Published: March 2020

Growth of high-elevation forests is generally temperature-limited and thus sensitive to warming. The Tibetan Plateau has experienced fast warming rates associated with decreased summer monsoon rainfall over the last century. However, whether such warming and monsoon-induced drought could offset a potential warming-driven enhancement of forest growth has not been examined. Here, we have compiled high-elevation forest growth data at 40 sites over the monsoonal Tibetan Plateau (MTP), and combined them in a high-elevation forest growth index (HEFGI) spanning 1567–2010. Tree growth in this region was significantly and positively correlated with July–October minimum temperatures during 1950–2010 (R
2 = 0.53 P < 0.001), and insignificantly coherent with soil moisture and precipitation. The HEFGI of MTP reaches its highest values from the 2000s onwards. This result suggests that the mean HEFGI of MTP has not been negatively affected by the current drying trend and responded positively to increased temperatures.
Classical antennas, quantum emitters, and densities of optical states
Authors: Barnes William L , Horsley Simon A R , Vos Willem L
Published: March 2020

We provide a pedagogical introduction to the concept of the local density of optical states (LDOS), illustrating its application to both the classical and quantum theory of radiation. We show that the LDOS governs the efficiency of a macroscopic classical antenna, determining how the antenna’s emission depends on its environment. The LDOS is shown to similarly modify the spontaneous emission rate of a quantum emitter, such as an excited atom, molecule, ion, or quantum dot that is embedded in a nanostructured optical environment. The difference between the number density of optical states, the LDOS, and the partial LDOS is elaborated and examples are provided for each density of states to illustrate where these are required. We illustrate the universal effect of the LDOS on emission by comparing systems with emission wavelengths that differ by more than 5 orders of magnitude, and systems whose decay rates differ by more than 5 orders of magnitude. To conclude we discuss and resolve an apparent difference between the classical and quantum expressions for the spontaneous emission rate that often seems to be overlooked, and discuss the experimental determination of the LDOS.
Tailoring complex permittivity and permeability to enhance microwave absorption properties of FeCo alloy particles through adjusting hydrazine reduction process parameters
Authors: Zare Y , Shams M H , Jazirehpour M
Published: March 2020

Owing to their high permeability, metallic soft magnetic materials exhibit high potential as microwave absorbers. The great challenge in designing desirable absorption properties from these materials is their large electrical permittivity at microwave frequencies. So, decreasing their permittivity within acceptable limits while keeping permeability at sufficiently high or improved levels is considered an important requirement for matching impedance and obtaining excellent electromagnetic (EM) absorption properties. In the present research, FeCo alloy particles produced employing by a simple wet chemical reduction process with the intention of investigating dependence of their EM properties on synthesis parameters. The characterizations were done with the help of x-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The intrinsic EM properties (ε

r
, μ

r
) in a frequency range of 2–18 GHz were measured by a vector network analyzer (VNA) for the paraffin composites containing obtained products. The results indicated that the concentration of NaOH and metallic salts as the synthesis precursors can tune the permittivity and permeability. Under optimum conditions, bandwidths of 7.3 and 5.5 GHz with thicknesses of only 1.2 and 1.5 mm were obtained respectively. Also, Reflection loss (RL) of −45 dB was attained. The excellent EM absorption properties demonstrated that the synthesized FeCo alloy may be an ideal absorber having both a wide absorption bandwidth and a low thickness.
Electronic transport in high magnetic fields of thin film MnSi
Authors: Steinki N , Schroeter D , Wächter N , Menzel D , Schumacher H W , Sheikin I , Süllow S
Published: March 2020

We present a study of the magnetoresistivity of thin film MnSi in high magnetic fields. We establish that the magnetoresistivity can be understood in terms of spin fluctuation theory, allowing us to compare our data to studies of bulk material. Despite of a close qualitative resemblance of bulk and thin film data, there are clear quantitative differences. We propose that these reflect a difference of the spin fluctuation spectra in thin film and bulk material MnSi, and discuss possible causes.
Impact of the June 2018 Saddleworth Moor wildfires on air quality in northern England
Authors: Graham A M , Pope R J , McQuaid J B , Pringle K P , Arnold S R , Bruno A G , Moore D P , Harrison J J , Chipperfield M P , Rigby R , Sanchez-Marroquin A , Lee J , Wilde S , Siddans R , Kerridge B J , Ventress L J , Latter B G
Published: March 2020

The June 2018 Saddleworth Moor fires were some of the largest UK wildfires on record and lasted for approximately three weeks. They emitted large quantities of smoke, trace gases and aerosols which were transported downwind over the highly populated regions of Manchester and Liverpool. Surface observations of PM2.5 indicate that concentrations were 4–5.5 times higher than the recent seasonal average. State-of-the-art satellite measurements of total column carbon monoxide (TCCO) from the TROPOMI instrument on the Sentinel 5—Precursor (S5P) platform, coupled with measurements from a flight of the UK BAe-146–301 research aircraft, are used to quantify the substantial enhancement in emitted trace gases. The aircraft measured plume enhancements with near-fire CO and PM2.5 concentrations >1500 ppbv and >125 μg m−3 (compared to ∼100 ppbv and ∼5 μg m−3 background concentrations). Downwind fire-plume ozone (O3) values were larger than the near-fire location, indicating O3 production with distance from source. The near-fire O3:CO ratio was (ΔO3/ΔCO) 0.001 ppbv/ppbv, increasing downwind to 0.060–0.105 ppbv/ppbv, suggestive of O3 production enhancement downwind of the fires. Emission rates of CO and CO2 ranged between 1.07 (0.07–4.69) kg s−1 and 13.7 (1.73–50.1) kg s−1, respectively, similar to values expected from a medium sized power station.
What is the prevalence of loneliness amongst older people living in residential and nursing care homes? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gardiner Clare , Laud Pete , Heaton Tim , Gott Merryn
Published: March 2020

Background

the number of older people living in residential and nursing care homes is rising. Loneliness is a major problem for older people, but little is known about the prevalence of loneliness amongst older people living in care homes.

Aim

to undertake a systematic review of literature on the prevalence of moderate and severe loneliness amongst older people living in residential and nursing care homes.

Design

we systematically reviewed the databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane and Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED) from inception to January 2019. We included all studies reporting data on the prevalence of loneliness amongst older people living in care homes. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted on all eligible data.

Results

a total of 13 articles were included, representing 5,115 participants (age range of 55–102 years, mean age 83.5 years, 68% female). There was a significant variation between studies in estimates of prevalence. The prevalence of moderate loneliness ranged from 31 to 100%, and the prevalence of severe loneliness ranged from 9 to 81%. The estimated mean prevalence of ‘moderate loneliness’ was 61% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.41, 0.80). The estimated mean prevalence of ‘severe loneliness’ was 35% (95% CI: 0.14, 0.60).

Conclusion

the prevalence of both moderate loneliness and severe loneliness amongst care home residents is high enough to warrant concern. However, the significant variation in prevalence estimates warrants further research. Future studies should identify which interventions can address loneliness and promote meaningful social engagement to enhance quality of life in care homes.
Local recruitment in Northern Flickers is related to environmental factors at multiple scales and provides reproductive benefits to yearling breeders settling close to home
Authors: Wiebe Karen L
Published: March 2020

Natal dispersal and local recruitment are affected by factors both intrinsic and extrinsic to juveniles and may affect fitness. Understanding the relationship between dispersal and population density in birds has been hindered by a lack of long-term studies and a focus on resident species has neglected the role of weather operating at large spatial scales. I studied local recruitment and the reproductive consequences of natal dispersal distance within a population of Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus), a migratory woodpecker. During a field study spanning 16 yr in British Columbia, 8,272 fledglings were banded and 138 males and 105 females recruited locally. The average annual local recruitment rate for males (3.36%) was greater than that for females (2.55%) and the propensity to recruit locally was positively correlated with an early hatch date and high body condition. Annual local recruitment was not associated with population density in the year of hatch but was positively correlated with population density in the year of settlement. Local recruitment was also positively correlated with warmer springs during migration, consistent with the phenology hypothesis that the location of settlement is affected by weather along the route. Among local recruits, natal dispersal distance was independent of the presence of parents and so dispersal was not a behavior to prevent inbreeding. However, settling closer to the natal site led to reproductive benefits in terms of earlier laying dates and better nest success. Therefore, juveniles may gain useful information about the location of nesting substrates, predation risk, and patchy food resources by exploring the landscape around their natal site during the post-fledging period and then settling in the familiar area after returning from migration.
SCLpred-EMS: subcellular localization prediction of endomembrane system and secretory pathway proteins by Deep N-to-1 Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Kaleel Manaz , Zheng Yandan , Chen Jialiang , Feng Xuanming , Simpson Jeremy C , Pollastri Gianluca , Mooney Catherine
Published: March 2020

Motivation

The subcellular location of a protein can provide useful information for protein function prediction and drug design. Experimentally determining the subcellular location of a protein is an expensive and time-consuming task. Therefore, various computer-based tools have been developed, mostly using machine learning algorithms, to predict the subcellular location of proteins.

Results

Here, we present a neural network-based algorithm for protein subcellular location prediction. We introduce SCLpred-EMS a subcellular localization predictor powered by an ensemble of Deep N-to-1 Convolutional Neural Networks. SCLpred-EMS predicts the subcellular location of a protein into two classes, the endomembrane system and secretory pathway versus all others, with a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.75–0.86 outperforming the other state-of-the-art web servers we tested.

Availability and implementation

SCLpred-EMS is freely available for academic users at http://distilldeep.ucd.ie/SCLpred2/.

Contact

catherine.mooney@ucd.ie
Reflections on ‘community organizing for social action’, CDJ Thinkery, July 2019
Authors: Taylor Marilyn
Published: March 2020

In July 2019, the CDJ held a Thinkery which was attended by 57 people from 11 countries. It was an opportunity for people from a range of backgrounds to reflect on community organizing for social action, its achievements and challenges. The discussions that took place were rich and varied, highlighting both similarities and differences across the different countries. This article summarises the themes that concerned participants, wherever they were studying and practising, and considers the role the CDJ can play in continuing these valuable and challenging conversations.
Invasive Saltcedar and Drought Impact Ant Communities and Isopods in South-Central Nebraska
Authors: Hoback W Wyatt , Jurzenski Jessica , Farnsworth-Hoback Kerri M , Roeder Karl A
Published: March 2020

The establishment and spread of non-native species often results in negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Several species of saltcedar, Tamarix spp. L., have been recently naturalized in large portions of the United States where they have altered plant and animal communities. To test the prediction that saltcedar negatively affects invertebrates, we measured ant genera diversity and the activity density of the exotic isopod Armadillidium vulgare Latrielle (Isopoda: Oniscoidea) for 2 yr using pitfall traps located within 30 5-m2 plots with or without saltcedar at a south-central Nebraska reservoir. From 2005 to 2006, we collected 10,837 ants representing 17 genera and 4,953 A. vulgare. Per plot, the average number of ant genera was not different between saltcedar (x̅ = 3.9) and non-saltcedar areas ( x̅ = 3.9); however, saltcedar plots were compositionally different and more similar from plot to plot (i.e., they had lower beta diversity than control plots) in 2005, but not in 2006. Isopods were likewise temporally affected with higher activity density (+89%) in control plots in 2005, but higher activity density (+27%) in saltcedar plots in 2006. The observed temporal differences occurred as the drought that initially enabled the saltcedar invasion became less severe in 2006. Combined, our results suggest that invertebrate groups like ants, which are generally omnivorous, may be better equipped than more specialized taxa like detritivores to withstand habitat changes due to invasions by non-native species, especially during extreme weather events such as prolonged droughts.
Spondylolysis and spinal adaptations for bipedalism
Authors: Plomp Kimberly A , Dobney Keith , Collard Mark
Published: March 2020

Background and objectives

The study reported here focused on the aetiology of spondylolysis, a vertebral pathology usually caused by a fatigue fracture. The goal was to test the Overshoot Hypothesis, which proposes that people develop spondylolysis because their vertebral shape is at the highly derived end of the range of variation within Homo sapiens.

Methodology

We recorded 3D data on the final lumbar vertebrae of H. sapiens and three great ape species, and performed three analyses. First, we compared H. sapiens vertebrae with and without spondylolysis. Second, we compared H. sapiens vertebrae with and without spondylolysis to great ape vertebrae. Lastly, we compared H. sapiens vertebrae with and without spondylolysis to great ape vertebrae and to vertebrae of H. sapiens with Schmorl’s nodes, which previous studies have shown tend to be located at the ancestral end of the range of H. sapiens shape variation.

Results

We found that H. sapiens vertebrae with spondylolysis are significantly different in shape from healthy H. sapiens vertebrae. We also found that H. sapiens vertebrae with spondylolysis are more distant from great ape vertebrae than are healthy H. sapiens vertebrae. Lastly, we found that H. sapiens vertebrae with spondylolysis are at the opposite end of the range of shape variation than vertebrae with Schmorl’s nodes.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that H. sapiens vertebrae with spondylolysis tend to exhibit highly derived traits and therefore support the Overshoot Hypothesis. Spondylolysis, it appears, is linked to our lineage’s evolutionary history, especially its shift from quadrupedalism to bipedalism.

Lay summary: Spondylolysis is a relatively common vertebral pathology usually caused by a fatigue fracture. There is reason to think that it might be connected with our lineage’s evolutionary shift from walking on all fours to walking on two legs. We tested this idea by comparing human vertebrae with and without spondylolysis to the vertebrae of great apes. Our results support the hypothesis. They suggest that people who experience spondylolysis have vertebrae with what are effectively exaggerated adaptations for bipedalism.
Networks, incentives and technology adoption: evidence from a randomised experiment in Uganda
Authors: Shikuku Kelvin Mashisia , Melesse Mequanint B
Published: March 2020

We use data from a randomised experiment in Uganda to examine effects of incentives on the decision to adopt drought-tolerant maize varieties (DTMVs) and mechanisms through which effects occur. We find that social recognition (SR) incentives to a random subset of trained farmers – disseminating farmers (DFs) – increase knowledge transmission from DFs to their co-villagers and change information networks of both DFs and their neighbours. SR also increases DFs’ likelihood of adopting DTMVs. However, the corresponding results for private material rewards are not conclusively strong. We find no evidence that incentives for knowledge diffusion increase the likelihood of co-villagers adopting DTMVs.
Bacterial Genes Outnumber Archaeal Genes in Eukaryotic Genomes
Authors: Brueckner Julia , Martin William F
Published: March 2020

Eukaryotes are typically depicted as descendants of archaea, but their genomes are evolutionary chimeras with genes stemming from archaea and bacteria. Which prokaryotic heritage predominates? Here, we have clustered 19,050,992 protein sequences from 5,443 bacteria and 212 archaea with 3,420,731 protein sequences from 150 eukaryotes spanning six eukaryotic supergroups. By downsampling, we obtain estimates for the bacterial and archaeal proportions. Eukaryotic genomes possess a bacterial majority of genes. On average, the majority of bacterial genes is 56% overall, 53% in eukaryotes that never possessed plastids, and 61% in photosynthetic eukaryotic lineages, where the cyanobacterial ancestor of plastids contributed additional genes to the eukaryotic lineage. Intracellular parasites, which undergo reductive evolution in adaptation to the nutrient rich environment of the cells that they infect, relinquish bacterial genes for metabolic processes. Such adaptive gene loss is most pronounced in the human parasite Encephalitozoon intestinalis with 86% archaeal and 14% bacterial derived genes. The most bacterial eukaryote genome sampled is rice, with 67% bacterial and 33% archaeal genes. The functional dichotomy, initially described for yeast, of archaeal genes being involved in genetic information processing and bacterial genes being involved in metabolic processes is conserved across all eukaryotic supergroups.
The U-Shaped Relationship Between Levels of Bouted Activity and Fall Incidence in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Lu Zhihui , Lam Freddy M H , Leung Jason C S , Kwok Timothy C Y
Published: March 2020

Background

It remains uncertain whether the association between physical activity (PA) and falls is U-shaped, and few studies have explored the potential mediation of PA accumulation pattern.

Methods

We measured PA in 671 community-dwelling older adults (82.7 ± 3.8 years) using wrist-worn accelerometer for 7 days. PA was further classified to bouted PA (≥10 minutes bout length) and sporadic PA (<10 minutes bout length) for subanalysis. Fall incidence in the following 12-month was recorded through tri-monthly telephone interviews. Classification and Regression Tree analysis was used to identify two optimal cutoff values of each PA measurement to predict falls. Participants were then divided into “inactive,” “moderately active,” and “highly active” groups accordingly. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the association between the PA measures and fall incidence.

Results

Six hundred and thirty-nine participants completed 12-month follow-up. Ninety-three (14.6%) experienced a total of 118 falls. Inactive and highly active older adults had higher falls per person month relative to the moderately active group (inactive: incidence rate ratios [IRR] = 2.372, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.317–4.271; highly active: IRR = 2.731, 95% CI = 1.196–6.232). Subanalyses found similar significant finding with bouted PA (p < .001) but not sporadic PA (p ≥ .221). The association between bouted PA and falls remained significant even after adjusting fall incidence for bouted activity time (inactive: IRR = 3.636, 95% CI = 2.238–5.907; highly active: IRR = 1.823, 95% CI = 1.072–3.1). Further adjustments for fall-related risk factors did not meaningfully change the results.

Conclusion

A U-shaped relationship was identified between bouted but not sporadic PA and fall incidence. There is an approximately twofold increase in fall rate in highly active older adults even after adjusting for activity time.
Estimating perturbed stress from 3-D borehole displacements induced by fluid injection in fractured or faulted shales
Authors: Guglielmi Yves , Nussbaum Christophe , Rutqvist Jonny , Cappa Frédéric , Jeanne Pierre , Birkholzer Jens
Published: March 2020

Hydrofracturing stress measurements in fractured and anisotropic shales are notoriously difficult, because opening of existing geological features tends to prevent the creation of a pure hydraulic fracture perpendicular to the least compressive principal stress. Here we show how adding 3-D borehole-displacement measurements while conducting the hydraulic injection test helps to better constrain the principal stress orientations and magnitudes. We developed a 3-D fully coupled hydromechanical numerical model to analyse the displacement, fluid pressure and injection flow-rate data measured during an injection pressure-step-rate test conducted to activate a faulted borehole interval in the Mont Terri Opalinus Clay (Switzerland). We find that injected fluids can only penetrate the fault when it is at or above the Coulomb failure pressure. Borehole displacement orientations are sensitive to a ∼15° variation in the stress–tensor orientation and a 1 MPa stress magnitude variation. Although some dispersion occurs while rupture is propagating along the fault plane ∼4 m away from the borehole, the maximum density of displacement orientations consistently informs about the stress orientation. Thus, an extended injection step-rate approach coupled with an accurate in situ measurement of the borehole wall displacements can be used to better constrain the local stress field perturbations in fractured shales and in heterogeneous rock in general.
Oligodendrocyte dysfunction due to Chd8 mutation gives rise to behavioral deficits in mice
Authors: Kawamura Atsuki , Katayama Yuta , Nishiyama Masaaki , Shoji Hirotaka , Tokuoka Kota , Ueta Yoshifumi , Miyata Mariko , Isa Tadashi , Miyakawa Tsuyoshi , Hayashi-Takagi Akiko , Nakayama Keiichi I
Published: March 2020

Mutations in the gene encoding the chromatin remodeler CHD8 are strongly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). CHD8 haploinsufficiency also results in autistic phenotypes in humans and mice. Although myelination defects have been observed in individuals with ASD, whether oligodendrocyte dysfunction is responsible for autistic phenotypes has remained unknown. Here we show that reduced expression of CHD8 in oligodendrocytes gives rise to abnormal behavioral phenotypes in mice. CHD8 was found to regulate the expression of many myelination-related genes and to be required for oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination. Ablation of Chd8 specifically in oligodendrocytes of mice impaired myelination, slowed action potential propagation and resulted in behavioral deficits including increased social interaction and anxiety-like behavior, with similar effects being apparent in Chd8 heterozygous mutant mice. Our results thus indicate that CHD8 is essential for myelination and that dysfunction of oligodendrocytes as a result of CHD8 haploinsufficiency gives rise to several neuropsychiatric phenotypes.
Association of previous cardiac surgery with outcomes in left ventricular assist device patients
Authors: Ayers Brian C , Wood Katherine , McNitt Scott , Goldenberg Ilan , Chen Leway , Alexis Jeffrey , Vidula Himabindu , Thomas Sabu , Storozynsky Eugene , Barrus Bryan , Prasad Sunil , Gosev Igor
Published: March 2020

OBJECTIVES

History of prior cardiac surgery has traditionally been considered a risk factor for subsequent cardiac procedures. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of patients implanted with a left ventricular assist device via redo sternotomy.

METHODS

Prospectively collected data were reviewed for all patients implanted with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device at a single institution from December 2006 through June 2018. Patients were separated into 2 cohorts: those with a history of prior cardiac surgery (redo sternotomy) and those undergoing primary sternotomy at the time of left ventricular assist device implantation. The primary outcome was overall survival.

RESULTS

Of the 321 patients included in the study, 77 (24%) were implanted via redo sternotomy and 244 (76%) via primary sternotomy. The redo sternotomy cohort was generally older (59 ± 10 vs 57 ± 12 years, P = 0.050) and had a higher incidence of ischaemic disease (70% vs 49%, P = 0.002). The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis demonstrated that overall survival was not significantly different between the redo sternotomy and primary sternotomy groups (6-month survival: 86% vs 92%; 5-year survival: 53% vs 51%; log-rank P = 0.590 for overall difference during follow-up). The propensity score analysis consistently showed that redo sternotomy was not significantly associated with mortality risk (hazard ratio 1.19, 95% confidence interval 0.73–1.93; P = 0.488). Redo sternotomy patients were more likely to require rehospitalization during their first year postoperatively (P = 0.020) and spent less time out of the hospital during the first year (P = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS

The redo sternotomy cohort represents a more technically challenging patient population, but overall survival similar to that of primary sternotomy patients can be achieved.
Modeling chemical effects on breast cancer: the importance of the microenvironment in vitro
Authors: Morgan Molly M , Schuler Linda A , Ciciliano Jordan C , Johnson Brian P , Alarid Elaine T , Beebe David J
Published: March 2020

Accumulating evidence suggests that our ability to predict chemical effects on breast cancer is limited by a lack of physiologically relevant in vitro models; the typical in vitro breast cancer model consists of the cancer cell and excludes the mammary microenvironment. As the effects of the microenvironment on cancer cell behavior becomes more understood, researchers have called for the integration of the microenvironment into in vitro chemical testing systems. However, given the complexity of the microenvironment and the variety of platforms to choose from, identifying the essential parameters to include in a chemical testing platform is challenging. This review discusses the need for more complex in vitro breast cancer models and outlines different approaches used to model breast cancer in vitro. We provide examples of the microenvironment modulating breast cancer cell responses to chemicals and discuss strategies to help pinpoint what components should be included in a model.
A Quantitative Analysis ofMicrurusCoral Snakes Reveals Unexpected Variation in Stereotyped Anti-Predator Displays Within a Mimicry System
Authors: Moore T Y , Danforth S M , Larson J G , Davis Rabosky A R
Published: March 2020

Synopsis

Warning signals in chemically defended organisms are critical components of predator–prey interactions, often requiring multiple coordinated display components for effective communication. When threatened by a predator, venomous coral snakes (genus Micrurus) display a vigorous, non-locomotory thrashing behavior that has previously been qualitatively described. Given the high contrast and colorful banding patterns of these snakes, this thrashing display is hypothesized to be a key component of a complex aposematic signal under strong stabilizing selection across species in a mimicry system. By experimentally testing snake response across simulated predator cues, we analyzed variation in the presence and expression of a thrashing display across five species of South American coral snakes. Although the major features of the thrash display were conserved across species, we found that predator cue type, snake body size, and species identity predict significant inter- and intraspecific variation in the propensity to perform a display, the duration of thrashing, and the curvature of snake bodies. We also found an interaction between curve magnitude and body location that clearly shows which parts of the display vary most across individuals and species. Our results suggest that contrary to the assumption that all Micrurus species and individuals perform the same display, a high degree of variation exists despite presumably strong selection to conserve a common signal. This quantitative behavioral characterization presents a new framework for analyzing the non-locomotory motions displayed by snakes in a broader ecological context, especially for signaling systems with complex interaction across multiple modalities.
Accurate Differentiation of Green Beans of Arabica and Robusta Coffee Using Nanofluidic Array of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Markers
Authors: Zhang Dapeng , Vega Fernando E , Infante Francisco , Solano William , Johnson Elizabeth S , Meinhardt Lyndel W
Published: March 2020

Green (unroasted) coffee is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world. The Arabica (Coffea arabica L.) and Robusta (Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner) species are the two main types of coffees for commercial production. In general, Arabica coffee is known to have better quality in terms of sensory characteristics; thus, it has a higher market value than Robusta coffee. Accurate differentiation of green beans of the two species is, therefore, of commercial interest in the coffee industry. Using the newly developed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, we analyzed a total of 80 single green bean samples, representing 20 Arabica cultivars and four Robusta accessions. Reliable SNP fingerprints were generated for all tested samples. Unambiguous differentiation between Robusta and Arabica coffees was achieved using multivariate analysis and assignment test. The SNP marker panel and the genotyping protocol are sufficiently robust to detect admixture of green coffee in a high-throughput fashion. Moreover, the multilocus SNP approach can differentiate every single bean within Robusta and 55% of Arabica samples. This advantage, together with the single-bean sensitivity, suggests a significant potential for practical application of this technology in the coffee industry.
Reproductive performance in a phyletic dwarf, the spider crab Petramithrax pygmaeus (Bell, 1836) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Mithracidae)
Authors: Fields Joshua T , Mullen Hayden K , Kroenke Clayr M , Salomon Kyla A , Craft Abby J , Conrad Isabelle E , Baeza J Antonio
Published: March 2020

The spider crab Petramithrax pygmaeus (Bell, 1836), a phyletic dwarf, was used to test predictions regarding reproductive performance in small marine invertebrates. Considering the disproportional increase in brooding costs and the allometry of egg production with increasing body size, it was expected that this minute-size species would produce large broods compared to closely related species that attain much larger body sizes. Fecundity in P. pygmaeus females carrying early and late eggs varied, respectively, between 17 and 172 eggs crab–1 (mean ± SD = 87.97 ± 48.39) and between 13 and 159 eggs crab–1 (55.04 ± 40.29). Females did not experience brood loss during egg development. Egg volume in females carrying early and late eggs varied, respectively, between 0.13 and 0.40 mm3 (0.22 ± 0.07) and between 0.15 and 0.42 mm3 (0.26 ± 0.06 mm3). Reproductive output (RO) varied between 0.91 and 8.73% (3.81 ± 2.17%) of female dry body weight. The RO of P. pygmaeus was lower than that reported for closely related species with larger body sizes. The slope (b = 0.95 ± 0.15) of the line describing the relationship between brood and parental female dry weight was not statistically significant from unity. Overall, our results disagree with the notion that the allometry of gamete production and increased physiological costs with increased brood size explain the association between brooding and small body size in marine invertebrates. Comparative studies on the reproductive investment of brooding species belonging to monophyletic clades with extensive differences in body size are warranted to further our understanding about disparity in egg production in brooding marine invertebrates.
Crowdfunding in a not-so-flat world
Authors: Breznitz Shiri M , Noonan Douglas S
Published: March 2020

This article analyzes the geographic clustering of crowdfunding (CF) activity across two countries at the city level. We find that the ability of Kickstarter projects to attract funding or backers is spikier than the simple number of projects, suggesting that while the locations of Kickstarter projects are not as clustered, projects that are able to recruit funding are clustering. In addition, we find that digital media (DM) projects cluster more than Local projects. Yet, once we control for the pre-existing geographic distribution of population and economic activity, we find more complex patterns of geographic clustering. The spatial clustering of total Kickstarter funds raised is largely explained by the population and economic activity controls. Conditional on those controls, funds raised for DM projects do spatially cluster, while funds raised for Local projects exhibit significant dispersion. Funding and number of backers cluster for DM projects, above and beyond the prior concentration of socioeconomic and employment factors. Conversely, our results suggest CF can reduce or flatten the spikiness of fundraising for local projects. The world was already spiky, and it is a bit less so thanks to CF platforms like Kickstarter.
ZCCHC3 modulates TLR3-mediated signaling by promoting recruitment of TRIF to TLR3
Authors: Zang Ru , Lian Huan , Zhong Xuan , Yang Qing , Shu Hong-Bing
Published: March 2020

Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)-mediated signaling is important for host defense against RNA virus. Upon viral RNA stimulation, toll and interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-β (TRIF) is recruited to TLR3 and then undergoes oligomerization, which is required for the recruitment of downstream molecules to transmit signals. Here, we identified zinc finger CCHC-type containing 3 (ZCCHC3) as a positive regulator of TLR3-mediated signaling. Overexpression of ZCCHC3 promoted transcription of downstream antiviral genes stimulated by the synthetic TLR3 ligand poly(I:C). ZCCHC3-deficiency markedly inhibited TLR3- but not TLR4-mediated induction of type I interferons (IFNs) and proinflammatory cytokines. Zcchc3−/− mice were more resistant to poly(I:C)- but not lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory death. Mechanistically, ZCCHC3 promoted recruitment of TRIF to TLR3 after poly(I:C) stimulation. Our findings reveal that ZCCHC3 plays an important role in TLR3-mediated innate immune response by promoting the recruitment of TRIF to TLR3 after ligand stimulation.
Novel Penicillium species causing disseminated disease in a Labrador Retriever dog
Authors: Rothacker Tatiana , Jaffey Jared A , Rogers Erin R , Fales William H , Gibas Connie F C , Wiederhold Nathan P , Sanders Carmita , Mele James , Fan Hongxin , Cohn Leah A , Royal Angela
Published: March 2020

This report describes the phenotypic characteristics of a novel Penicillium species, Penicillium labradorum, isolated from a 3-year-old male, castrated, Labrador retriever with disseminated fungal disease. The dog's presenting clinical signs included lethargy, lymphadenopathy, tachypnea, moderate pitting edema, and nonweight bearing lameness associated with the right hind limb. Fine-needle aspirate biopsies from the sublumbar and prescapular lymph nodes were initially examined. The cytologic findings were consistent with pyogranulomatous inflammation with abundant extracellular and phagocytized fungal fragments and hyphae. Based on the morphology of the organisms and lack of endogenous pigment, hyalohyphomycosis was considered most likely, with Fusarium, Penicillium, and Paecilomyces species being considerations. Fungal isolates were obtained via culture of samples from the lymph nodes, and molecular identification testing originally identified an undescribed Penicillium species belonging to the Penicillium section Exilicaulis. BLAST searches and phylogenetic analyses performed approximately 1 year and 9 months after the isolation date revealed an isolate within the Penicillium parvum clade in the Penicillium section Exilicaulis but phylogenetically distant from the other species in the section, thus representing a new species, Penicillium labradorum. Antifungal susceptibility testing was also performed on the isolate and low minimum inhibitory concentrations were observed with terbinafine, voriconazole, and posaconazole, while in vitro resistance was observed with fluconazole. The dog had been previously treated with fluconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B lipid complex, voriconazole, and terbinafine. Approximately 587 days after the initial diagnosis, the dog was euthanized due to worsening of clinical signs and concerns for quality of life.
Advancing biology-based therapeutic approaches for atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors
Authors: Hoffman Lindsey M , Richardson Elizabeth Anne , Ho Ben , Margol Ashley , Reddy Alyssa , Lafay-Cousin Lucie , Chi Susan , Slavc Irene , Judkins Alexander , Hasselblatt Martin , Bourdeaut Franck , Frühwald Michael C , Vibhakar Rajeev , Bouffet Eric , Huang Annie
Published: March 2020

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is a rare, highly malignant central nervous system cancer arising in infants and younger children, historically considered to be homogeneous, monogenic, and incurable. Recent use of intensified therapies has modestly improved survival for ATRT; however, a majority of patients will still succumb to their disease. While ATRTs almost universally exhibit loss of SMARCB1 (BAF47/INI1/SNF5), recent whole genome, transcriptome, and epigenomic analyses of large cohorts reveal previously underappreciated molecular heterogeneity. These discoveries provide novel insights into how SMARCB1 loss drives oncogenesis and confer specific therapeutic vulnerabilities, raising exciting prospects for molecularly stratified treatment for patients with ATRT.
Racial disparities in supportive medication use among older patients with brain metastases: a population-based analysis
Authors: Lamba Nayan , Mehanna Elie , Kearney Rachel B , Catalano Paul J , Haas-Kogan Daphne A , Alexander Brian M , Cagney Daniel N , Lee Kathleen A , Aizer Ayal A
Published: March 2020

Background

Brain metastases (BM) cause symptoms that supportive medications can alleviate. We assessed whether racial disparities exist in supportive medication utilization after BM diagnosis.

Methods

Medicare-enrolled patients linked with the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (SEER) who had diagnoses of BM between 2007 and 2016 were identified. Fourteen supportive medication classes were studied: non-opioid analgesics, opioids, anti-emetics, anti-epileptics, headache-targeting medications, steroids, cognitive aids, antidepressants, anxiolytics, antidelirium/antipsychotic agents, muscle relaxants, psychostimulants, sleep aids, and appetite stimulants. Drug administration ≤30 days following BM diagnosis was compared by race using multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Among 17,957 patients, headache aids, antidepressants, and anxiolytics were prescribed less frequently to African Americans (odds ratio [95% CI] = 0.81 [0.73–0.90], P < 0.001; OR = 0.68 [0.57–0.80], P < 0.001; and OR = 0.68 [0.56–0.82], P < 0.001, respectively), Hispanics (OR = 0.83 [0.73–0.94], P = 0.004 OR = 0.78 [0.64–0.97], P = 0.02; and OR = 0.63 [0.49–0.81], P < 0.001, respectively), and Asians (OR = 0.81 [0.72–0.92], P = 0.001, OR = 0.67 [0.53–0.85], P = 0.001, and OR = 0.62 [0.48–0.80], P < 0.001, respectively) compared with non-Hispanic Whites. African Americans also received fewer anti-emetics (OR = 0.75 [0.68–0.83], P < 0.001), steroids (OR = 0.84 [0.76–0.93], P < 0.001), psychostimulants (OR = 0.14 [0.03–0.59], P = 0.007), sleep aids (OR = 0.71 [0.61–0.83], P < 0.001), and appetite stimulants (OR = 0.85 [0.77–0.94], P = 0.002) than Whites. Hispanic patients less frequently received antidelirium/antipsychotic drugs (OR = 0.57 [0.38–0.86], P = 0.008), sleep aids (OR = 0.78 [0.64–0.94, P = 0.01), and appetite stimulants (OR = 0.87 [0.76–0.99], P = 0.04). Asian patients received fewer opioids (OR = 0.86 [0.75–0.99], P = 0.04), anti-emetics (OR = 0.83 [0.73–0.94], P = 0.004), anti-epileptics (OR = 0.83 [0.71–0.97], P = 0.02), steroids (OR = 0.81 [0.72–0.92], P = 0.001), muscle relaxants (OR = 0.60 [0.41–0.89], P = 0.01), and appetite stimulants (OR = 0.87 [0.76–0.99], P = 0.03). No medication class was prescribed significantly less frequently to Whites.

Conclusions

Disparities in supportive medication prescription for non-White/Hispanic groups with BM exist; improved provider communication and engagement with at-risk patients is needed.

Key Points

1. Patients with BM commonly experience neurologic symptoms.

2. Supportive medications improve quality of life among patients with BM.

3. Non-White patients with BM receive fewer supportive medications than White patients.