bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examination of abiotic cofactor assembly in photosynthetic biomimetics: site-specific stereoselectivity in the conjugation of a ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine) photosensitizer to a multi-heme protein
Authors: Ponomarenko Nina S. , Kokhan Oleksandr , Pokkuluri Phani R. , Mulfort Karen L. , Tiede David M.
Published: January 2020

To understand design principles for assembling photosynthetic biohybrids that incorporate precisely-controlled sites for electron injection into redox enzyme cofactor arrays, we investigated the influence of chirality in assembly of the photosensitizer ruthenium(II)bis(2,2′-bipyridine)(4-bromomethyl-4′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine), Ru(bpy)2(Br-bpy), when covalently conjugated to cysteine residues introduced by site-directed mutagenesis in the triheme periplasmic cytochrome A (PpcA) as a model biohybrid system. For two investigated conjugates that show ultrafast electron transfer, A23C-Ru and K29C-Ru, analysis by circular dichroism spectroscopy, CD, demonstrated site-specific chiral discrimination as a factor emerging from the close association between [Ru(bpy)3]2+ and heme cofactors. CD analysis showed the A23C-Ru and K29C-Ru conjugates to have distinct, but opposite, stereoselectivity for the Λ and Δ-Ru(bpy)2(Br-bpy) enantiomers, with enantiomeric excesses of 33.1% and 65.6%, respectively. In contrast, Ru(bpy)2(Br-bpy) conjugation to a protein site with high flexibility, represented by the E39C-Ru construct, exhibited a nearly negligible chiral selectivity, measured by an enantiomeric excess of 4.2% for the Λ enantiomer. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that site-specific stereoselectivity reflects steric constraints at the conjugating sites and that a high degree of chiral selectivity correlates to reduced structural disorder for [Ru(bpy)3]2+ in the linked assembly. This work identifies chiral discrimination as means to achieve site-specific, precise geometric positioning of introduced photosensitizers relative to the heme cofactors in manner that mimics the tuning of cofactors in photosynthesis.
Differential Emission Measure Plasma Diagnostics of a Long-Lived Coronal Hole
Authors: Saqri Jonas , Veronig Astrid M. , Heinemann Stephan G. , Hofmeister Stefan J. , Temmer Manuela , Dissauer Karin , Su Yang
Published: January 2020

We use Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) data to reconstruct the plasma properties from differential emission measure (DEM) analysis for a previously studied long-lived, low-latitude coronal hole (CH) over its lifetime of ten solar rotations. We initially obtain a non-isothermal DEM distribution with a dominant component centered around 0.9 MK and a secondary smaller component at 1.5 – 2.0 MK. We find that deconvolving the data with the instrument point spread function (PSF) to account for long-range scattered light reduces the secondary hot component. Using the 2012 Venus transit and a 2013 lunar eclipse to test the efficiency of this deconvolution, significant amounts of residual stray light are found for the occulted areas. Accounting for this stray light in the error budget of the different AIA filters further reduces the secondary hot emission, yielding CH DEM distributions that are close to isothermal with the main contribution centered around 0.9 MK. Based on these DEMs, we analyze the evolution of the emission measure (EM), density, and averaged temperature during the CH’s lifetime. We find that once the CH is clearly observed in EUV images, the bulk of the CH plasma reveals a quite constant state, i.e. temperature and density reveal no major changes, whereas the total CH area and the photospheric magnetic fine structure inside the CH show a distinct evolutionary pattern. These findings suggest that CH plasma properties are mostly “set” at the CH formation or/and that all CHs have similar plasma properties.
A memory scheduling strategy for eliminating memory access interference in heterogeneous system
Authors: Fang Juan , Wang Mengxuan , Wei Zelin
Published: January 2020

Multiple CPUs and GPUs are integrated on the same chip to share memory, and access requests between cores are interfering with each other. Memory requests from the GPU seriously interfere with the CPU memory access performance. Requests between multiple CPUs are intertwined when accessing memory, and its performance is greatly affected. The difference in access latency between GPU cores increases the average latency of memory accesses. In order to solve the problems encountered in the shared memory of heterogeneous multi-core systems, we propose a step-by-step memory scheduling strategy, which improve the system performance. The step-by-step memory scheduling strategy first creates a new memory request queue based on the request source and isolates the CPU requests from the GPU requests when the memory controller receives the memory request, thereby preventing the GPU request from interfering with the CPU request. Then, for the CPU request queue, a dynamic bank partitioning strategy is implemented, which dynamically maps it to different bank sets according to different memory characteristics of the application, and eliminates memory request interference of multiple CPU applications without affecting bank-level parallelism. Finally, for the GPU request queue, the criticality is introduced to measure the difference of the memory access latency between the cores. Based on the first ready-first come first served strategy, we implemented criticality-aware memory scheduling to balance the locality and criticality of application access.
Anabolic androgenic steroids exert a selective remodeling of the plasma lipidome that mirrors the decrease of the de novo lipogenesis in the liver
Authors: Balgoma David , Zelleroth Sofia , Grönbladh Alfhild , Hallberg Mathias , Pettersson Curt , Hedeland Mikael
Published: January 2020

Introduction

The abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) is a source of public concern because of their adverse effects. Supratherapeutic doses of AASs are known to be hepatotoxic and regulate the lipoproteins in plasma by modifying the metabolism of lipids in the liver, which is associated with metabolic diseases. However, the effect of AASs on the profile of lipids in plasma is unknown.

Objectives

To describe the changes in the plasma lipidome exerted by AASs and to discuss these changes in the light of previous research about AASs and de novo lipogenesis in the liver.

Methods

We treated male Wistar rats with supratherapeutic doses of nandrolone decanoate and testosterone undecanoate. Subsequently, we isolated the blood plasma and performed lipidomics analysis by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry.

Results

Lipid profiling revealed a decrease of sphingolipids and glycerolipids with palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, and oleic acids. In addition, lipid profiling revealed an increase in free fatty acids and glycerophospholipids with odd-numbered chain fatty acids and/or arachidonic acid.

Conclusion

The lipid profile presented herein reports the imprint of AASs on the plasma lipidome, which mirrors the downregulation of de novo lipogenesis in the liver. In a broader perspective, this profile will help to understand the influence of androgens on the lipid metabolism in future studies of diseases with dysregulated lipogenesis (e.g. type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma).
Interpretive analogies between quantum and statistical mechanics
Authors: McCoy C. D.
Published: January 2020

The conspicuous similarities between interpretive strategies in classical statistical mechanics and in quantum mechanics may be grounded on their employment of common implementations of probability. The objective probabilities which represent the underlying stochasticity of these theories can be naturally associated with three of their common formal features: initial conditions, dynamics, and observables. Various well-known interpretations of the two theories line up with particular choices among these three ways of implementing probability. This perspective has significant application to debates on primitive ontology and to the quantum measurement problem.
Fabrication of Zr-doped SnO2 nanoparticles with synergistic influence for improved visible-light photocatalytic action and antibacterial performance
Authors: Ali Baig Ameer Baig , Rathinam Vadamalar , Palaninathan Jayanthi
Published: January 2020

Zr-doped SnO2 (Zr:SnO2) nanostructures (NSs) were produced by simplistic and low-cost co-precipitation route. The FTIR spectra of bands on 523 and 583 cm−1 were witnessed though indorsed as the features of (Sn–OH) term which approves the incident of Sn–O in the synthesized samples. The Zr:SnO2 NSs were spherical-like and composed of numerous agglomerated particles. The decreased crystallite sizes of the pristine and Zr-doped SnO2 NPs were 41.9, 38.9 and 35.8 nm individually. Moreover, the achievable growth manner of acquired samples was deliberated through the source of the customs of nucleation and crystal growth. The photocatalytic performances of 4% of Zr-doped SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were thoroughly explored in the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) dye, thus revealing higher photocatalytic activity in the degradation of MO than pristine and 2% of Zr-doped SnO2 under via visible-light exposure. Related to pristine SnO2, the 4% Zr-doped SnO2 NPs are accessible to greater photocatalytic capability, which could be essentially accredited to existing in the nominal defects of oxygen vacancies by the produced NPs. Eventually, founded on the self-assembly progression the possible development of photocatalytic mechanism was projected by means of reactive species in trapping tests as well. Also, the antibacterial action was attained against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria through agar well diffusion system.
Dynamic Deformation Measurement by the Sampling Moiré Method from Video Recording and its Application to Bridge Engineering
Authors: Ri S. , Tsuda H. , Chang K. , Hsu S. , Lo F. , Lee T.
Published: January 2020

Measuring accurate dynamic deformation distribution for large-scale structures inexpensively and efficiently is a crucial challenge of structural health monitoring. In this study, a simple technique for measuring the deflection and vibration frequency from a captured video, based on the sampling Moiré method is developed. The striking advantage over conventional measurement using sensors and other imaging techniques are that the developed technique allows accurate measurement of two-dimensional deformations at multiple locations as well as the natural frequency of the target structure. Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)-formatted images encoded from the recorded video with Motion-JPEG (MJPEG) format reduced the file size significantly without degrading the measurement accuracy and applied to deformation measurement. The effectiveness of the developed technique was confirmed through a field experiment of an old bridge in Taiwan. The field experiment demonstrated that both deflection and natural frequency of the bridge were successfully measured with higher 0.1 mm displacement accuracy and 0.05 Hz frequecy comparable to a conventional microwave radar displacement sensor from 20 m distance.
Measuring Pedophilic Sexual Interest
Authors: Carvalho Joana , Bradford John , Murphy Lisa , Briken Peer , Fedoroff Paul
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Pedophilic sexual interest is an important risk factor in sexual offender recidivism and remains a key component in the clinical assessment of child sexual offenders and people diagnosed with pedophilia. Despite concerns about the absence of universally accepted standardized clinical assessment methods, there are a number of established techniques aimed at assessing people with sexual interest in children.

Aim

To provide a foundation from which to understand existing methods available for the assessment of people with pedophilic sexual interests, including strengths and limitations of each approach.

Methods

A group of clinical experts provide a clinically oriented, narrative review on assessment methods for pedophilic sexual interest, including the rationale behind each method and its implementation. Evidence on validity supporting the techniques, limitations, and ethical issues is also discussed.

Results

The assessment methods were grouped according to the following categories: self-report, genital psychophysiological assessment, indirect measurement, and behavioral measurement of pedophilic interest. Although most techniques performed well in discriminating child sexual offenders with pedophilic interest from distinct comparison groups, there are several limitations, including the current lack of standardization and the ethical challenges posed by this sensitive area.

Clinical implications

An understanding of the different measures available for the assessment of problematic sexual interests plays a vital role in forensic clinical determinations of risk of recidivism and in the identification of treatment targets for men who have committed sexual offenses. Several independent but complimentary methods exist to assess sexual interest. Ongoing work on the international standardization of assessment based on methodologically sound research aimed at determining best practices will address some of the shortcomings of these assessments while improving their reliability.

Strengths & limitations

This article provides a general review on a number of methods aimed at assessing pedophilic interest. However, these methods mirror clinical practice largely used within North America and parts of continental Europe. As a result of cultural differences, opposing paradigms on assessment and treatment of pedophilia, and diverse legal regulation between jurisdictions and countries, these practices may not be applicable on an international scale where other special procedures may be required.

Conclusion

A number of techniques have been used within clinical and research settings that vary from self-report to objective measures. Most methods have demonstrated efficacy. Continued work to combine evidence and experience from diverse populations and multiple countries will improve the quality of the methods available.
An Important Pediatric Stroke Mimic: Hemiplegic Migraine
Authors: Jurkiewicz Michael T. , Vossough Arastoo , Pollock Avrum N.
Published: January 2020

Stroke is relatively rare in children but has become increasingly recognized clinically. Hemiplegic migraine (HM) is a rare subtype of migraine, with attacks typically beginning in childhood or adolescence. Attacks are characterized by migraine headaches and motor weakness, which develop over several minutes. HM may therefore mimic acute stroke; however, symptoms last less than an hour and resolve spontaneously, often without sequela.1–4 Distinction between these entities is important due to their different urgency and management. Neuroimaging is indispensible in working up patients presenting to the Emergency Department with stroke-like symptoms and can be used to distinguish between infarction and HM.
Barriers and facilitators to implementing changes in opioid prescribing in rural primary care clinics
Authors: Parchman Michael L. , Ike Brooke , Osterhage Katherine P , Baldwin Laura-Mae , Stephens Kari A , Sutton Sarah
Published: January 2020

Background:

Opioids are more commonly prescribed for chronic pain in rural settings in the USA, yet little is known about how the rural context influences efforts to improve opioid medication management.

Methods:

The Six Building Blocks is an evidence-based program that guides primary care practices in making system-based improvements in managing patients using long-term opioid therapy. It was implemented at 6 rural and rural-serving organizations with 20 clinic locations over a 15-month period. To gain further insight about their experience with implementing the program, interviews and focus groups were conducted with staff and clinicians at the six organizations at the end of the 15 months and transcribed. Team members used a template analysis approach, a form of qualitative thematic analysis, to code these data for barriers, facilitators, and corresponding subcodes.

Results:

Facilitators to making systems-based changes in opioid management within a rural practice context included a desire to help patients and their community, external pressures to make changes in opioid management, a desire to reduce workplace stress, external support for the clinic, supportive clinic leadership, and receptivity of patients. Barriers to making changes included competing demands on clinicians and staff, a culture of clinician autonomy, inadequate data systems, and a lack of patient resources in rural areas.

Discussion:

The barriers and facilitators identified here point to potentially unique determinants of practice that should be considered when addressing opioid prescribing for chronic pain in the rural setting.
Personas for the translational workforce
Authors: Gonzales Sara , O’Keefe Lisa , Gutzman Karen , Viger Guillaume , Wescott Annie B. , Farrow Bailey , Heath Allison P. , Kim Meen Chul , Taylor Deanne , Champieux Robin , Yen Po-Yin , Holmes Kristi
Published: January 2020

Twelve evidence-based profiles of roles across the translational workforce and two patients were made available through clinical and translational science (CTS) Personas, a project of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program National Center for Data to Health (CD2H). The persona profiles were designed and researched to demonstrate the key responsibilities, motivators, goals, software use, pain points, and professional development needs of those working across the spectrum of translation, from basic science to clinical research to public health. The project’s goal was to provide reliable documents that could be used to inform CTSA software development projects, educational resources, and communication initiatives. This paper presents the initiative to create personas for the translational workforce, including the methodology, engagement strategy, and lessons learned. Challenges faced and successes achieved by the project may serve as a roadmap for others searching for best practices in the creation of Persona profiles.
Approaches to strategy formulations: A content analysis of definitions of strategy
Authors: Mishra Subrat P. , Mohanty Brajaraj
Published: January 2020

The importance of strategy has led scholars, consultants and managers to explore the term more intensively. From some of the important words used in the definitions of strategy, differences in various approaches to strategy formulation can be analysed and specific approaches can be identified. Keeping this in view, 273 strategy definitions were analysed using major nouns appearing in these definitions. The study obtained six distinct approaches to strategy formulation namely: theplanning approach– related to long-term planning and execution to achieve organisation goals;fit approach– concerned with matching internal strengths and weakness with that of external opportunities and threats;emergent approach– involving adapting to change when needed;positioning approach– involving placing company in such a position so that it gains maximum advantage vis-à-vis its competitors;resource-based approach– identifying and utilizing key resources efficiently and finally,stakeholders' approach– protecting the interest of stakeholders. Using Content analysis, this study shows that each of the approaches emerged and dominated at different periods. This study also shows that during the last four decades, the positioning approach has been the most dominant approach followed by the resource-based approach.
Black carbon and mineral dust on two glaciers on the central Tibetan Plateau: sources and implications
Authors: Li Xiaofei , Kang Shichang , Sprenger Michael , Zhang Yulan , He Xiaobo , Zhang Guoshuai , Tripathee Lekhendra , Li Chaoliu , Cao Junji
Published: January 2020

Sources and implications of black carbon (BC) and mineral dust (MD) on two glaciers on the central Tibetan Plateau were estimated based on in situ measurements and modeling. The results indicated that BC and MD accounted for ~11 ± 1% and 4 ± 0% of the albedo reduction relative to clean snow, while the radiative forcing varied between 11 and 196 and 1–89 W m−2, respectively. Assessment of BC and MD contributions to the glacier melt can reach up 88 to 434 and 35 to 187 mm w.e., respectively, contributing ~9–23 and 4–10% of the total glacier melt. A footprint analysis indicated that BC and MD deposited on the glaciers originated mainly from the Middle East, Central Asia, North China and South Asia during the study period. Moreover, a potentially large fraction of BC may have originated from local and regional fossil fuel combustion. This study suggests that BC and MD will enhance glacier melt and provides a scientific basis for regional mitigation efforts.
Reviving Legislative Avenues for Gerrymandering Reform with a Flexible, Automated Tool
Authors: Saxon James
Published: January 2020

After seeking a “manageable standard” to apply to claims of partisan gerrymandering for over three decades, the Supreme Court has finally given up the chase, ruling that such claims are nonjusticiable. What is to be done? An extended history of successful congressional action suggests that the legislative pathway is more practical than often believed. Statutory requirements also make it possible to consider a broader suite of districting objectives. This paper presents a flexible new software and a framework for evaluating the practical implications of explicit objectives. I apply this approach to the conditions last required by Congress, generating equipopulous, contiguous, and compact districts. Among these conditions, the formal definition ofcompactnesshas proven contentious. Does it matter? I contrast the representation of the political parties and of racial and ethnic minorities under plans optimized according to 18 different definitions of compactness. On these grounds, the definitions are markedly consistent. These methods may be extended to alternative districting objectives and criteria.
Longevity returns to political office
Authors: Barfort Sebastian , Klemmensen Robert , Larsen Erik Gahner
Published: January 2020

Does political office cause worse or better longevity prospects? Two perspectives in the literature offer contradicting answers. First, increased income, social status, and political connections obtained through holding office can increase longevity. Second, increased stress and working hours associated with holding office can have detrimental effects on longevity. To provide causal evidence, we exploit a regression discontinuity design with unique data on the longevity of candidates for US gubernatorial office. The results show that politicians winning a close election live 5–10 years longer than candidates who lose.
Dissecting the language of elitism: The ‘joyful’ violence ofpremium
Authors: Thurlow Crispin
Published: January 2020

Aligned with renewed commitments to class critique in sociolinguistics and discourse studies, I examinepremiumas a floating signifier. My initial semiotic landscape analysis demonstrates how this word is attached to any number of goods/services, coaxing people into a sense of distinction and superior status. These language games occur most vividly in my second analytic site—Premium Economy—where status is fabricated as tangibly but not too obviously distinct from Economy while preserving the prestige of Business. From a corpus of over forty international airlines’ promotional materials, I pinpoint three key rhetorics underpinning Premium Economy: extraction, excess, and comparison. My analysis locatespremiumas a quintessential form of symbolic violence (Bourdieu 1997/2000) deployed for controlling people by seducing, flattering, and enchanting them. The anxious bourgeoisie are thereby ‘joyfully enlisted’ (Lordon 2014) into the aspirational logics of elitism, all animated by the tenacious neoliberal ideologies of a supposedly post-class world. (Elite discourse, post-class ideology, floating signifiers, Frédéric Lordon ‘premium’, Premium Economy)*
Moufang loops with nonnormal commutative centre
Authors: GRISHKOV ALEXANDER N. , ZAVARNITSINE ANDREI V.
Published: January 2020

We construct two infinite series of Moufang loops of exponent 3 whose commutative centre (i. e. the set of elements that commute with all elements of the loop) is not a normal subloop. In particular, we obtain examples of such loops of orders 38 and 311 one of which can be defined as the Moufang triplication of the free Burnside group B(3, 3).
Changes in valvular regurgitation in mid-term follow-up of children with first attack acute rheumatic fever: first evaluation after the updated Jones criteria
Authors: Güler Muhlike , Laloğlu Fuat , Ceviz Naci
Published: January 2020

Aim:

In present study, we aimed to evaluate the changes in valvular regurgitations in mid-term follow-up of children with first attack acute rheumatic fever diagnosed after updated Jones criteria.

Materials and methods:

The medical records of the children diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever between June 2015 and November 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. When compared to the findings during diagnosis, the changes in the degree of valvular regurgitation in the last visit were coded as same, regressed, or disappeared.

Results:

A total of 50 children were diagnosed with the first attack of acute rheumatic fever between the noted dates. Nine patients (18%) could be diagnosed depending on the new criteria. Eight patients did not have carditis, and 35 patients (49 valves) could be followed for a median follow-up period of 11.7 ± 3.3 months. In our study, the valvar lesions continued in 82% of patients with clinical carditis at the end of the first year and the degree of valvular regurgitation decreased in 39% of them. Despite this, in a significantly higher (p = 0.031) ratio of patients with silent carditis (41%), valvar lesions disappeared in the same follow-up period. In 18.4% of the involved valves, regurgitation regressed to physiological level.

Conclusion:

Updated Jones criteria make it possible to diagnose a significant number of patients, and the ratio of complete recovery among patients with silent carditis is significantly higher. Also, it can be speculated that the normal children in whom a physiological mitral regurgitation is detected should be followed in terms of rheumatic heart disease.
Analysis of the superior temporal gyrus as a possible biomarker in schizophrenia using voxel-based morphometry of the brain magnetic resonance imaging: a comprehensive review
Authors: Bandeira Igor D. , Barouh Judah L. , Bandeira Ingrid D. , Quarantini Lucas
Published: January 2020

The lack of predictive biomarkers for therapeutic responses to schizophrenia leads clinical procedures to be decided without taking into account the subjects’ neuroanatomical features, a consideration, which could help in identifying specific pharmacological treatments for the remission of symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique widely used for radiological diagnosis and produces 3-dimensional images in excellent anatomical detail, and with a great capacity to differentiate soft tissue. Various MRI techniques of the human brain have emerged as a result of research, enabling structural tests that may help to in consolidate previous findings and lead to the discovery of new patterns of abnormality in schizophrenia. A literature review was undertaken to assess the superior temporal gyrus (STG) as a possible biomarker in schizophrenia with the use of voxel-based morphometry of the brain using MRI. Many findings in studies of schizophrenia using MRI have been inconclusive and, in some cases, conflicting, although interesting results have been obtained when attempting to correlate neuroimaging changes with aspects of clinical features and prognosis of the disease. The individuals affected by this mental illness appear to have smaller STG volumes when compared to healthy controls and also to subjects with a diagnosis of first-episode affective psychosis or groups of individuals at high risk of psychosis. However, the wide variety of definitions surrounding the STG found in a number of studies is a contributing factor to the lack of correlation between brain abnormalities and clinical symptoms. For instance, disagreements have arisen due to studies using regions of interest to analyze the STG whereas other studies prioritize the analysis of only STG subregions or specific supratemporal plane regions. It is necessary to standardize the nomenclature of the areas to be studied in the future, as this will enable more consistent results, allowing higher clinical and morphological correlations.
The microbiome of the digestive system of ruminants – a review
Authors: Cholewińska Paulina , Czyż Katarzyna , Nowakowski Piotr , Wyrostek Anna
Published: January 2020

This review aims to explain the influence and characterization of the microbiome in the ruminant digestive system by presenting the knowledge collected so far. The knowledge presented in this work is focused on the main factors affecting the microbiome and the main dependencies that have been found in it so far. The microbiome in the rumen is the first to come into contact with the biomass of the forage and its main purpose is to decompose into smaller particles or compounds. With the gradual increase in knowledge about the microbiome, there is a chance to manipulate it so that the animal continues to live in a symbiotic relationship with it, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the environment as well as increasing feed efficiency. Therefore, understanding the influence of the ruminant microbiome is the main step to achieve such results. However, learning the relationship between microorganisms is only at an early stage, because research focuses mainly on taxonomy. Future research should focus on interactions in the ecosystem which is the microbiome, on explaining individual functions and on influence of environmental factors.
Communicating in Good Faith? Dynamics of the Christian Right Agenda
Authors: Wilson Angelia R. , Djupe Paul A.
Published: January 2020

It is an article of faith that organized interests represent members to elected officials making use of synchronized communication channels. Rarely, if at all, have researchers had access to multiple, internal, and external channels to test this notion. We mine a trove of nearly 2,500 emails the Family Research Council (FRC) sent to list subscribers from 2007 to 2018. Text tools allow us to depict message flexibility of the FRC. We then consider how internal and external messages may be linked by examining the issue content of emails in relation to press releases. Finally, we note the bills lobbied by FRC and the frequency these are mentioned in the internal email messages. Our findings are twofold. First, they support the conditional independence of communication channels in ways that appear to conform to the requisites of the different audiences: elected officials are likely mobilized by different signals than members are. Second, our evidence shows that the flexibility organized interests have in composing their communications can mean that different audiences are presented with considerably different political agendas. While FRC has significant sophisticated message flexibility, our data set indicates that such flexibility can raise serious concerns about good faith representation.
Sentinel‐1 Detects Firn Aquifers in the Greenland Ice Sheet
Authors: Brangers I. , Lievens H. , Miège C. , Demuzere M. , Brucker L. , De Lannoy G. J. M.
Published: January 2020

Firn aquifers in Greenland store liquid water within the upper ice sheet and impact the hydrological system. Their location and area have been estimated with airborne radar sounder surveys (Operation IceBridge, OIB). However, the OIB coverage is limited to narrow flight lines, offering an incomplete view. Here, we show the ability of satellite radar measurements from Sentinel‐1 to map firn aquifers across all of Greenland at 1 km
resolution. The detection of aquifers relies on a delay in the freezing of meltwater within the firn above the water table, causing a distinctive pattern in the radar backscatter. The Sentinel‐1 aquifer locations are in very good agreement with those detected along the OIB flight lines (Cohen's
). The total aquifer area is estimated at 54,800 km
. With continuity of Sentinel‐1 ensured until 2030, our study lays a foundation for monitoring the future response of firn aquifers to climate change.
On the Variability of Pressure Propagation During Hydraulic Stimulation Based on Seismic Velocity Observations
Authors: Schopper Florian , Doetsch Joseph , Villiger Linus , Krietsch Hannes , Gischig Valentin S. , Jalali Mohammadreza , Amann Florian , Dutler Nathan , Maurer Hansruedi
Published: January 2020

Permeability enhancement of a reservoir through hydraulic stimulation is ever so often accompanied by potentially hazardous induced seismicity. Monitoring of in situ pressure propagation remains an important step in understanding the underlying seismo‐hydromechanical processes during hydraulic stimulation and mitigating hazardous induced seismicity. In an effort to monitor pressure propagation remotely, active seismic monitoring was performed during decameter‐scale hydraulic stimulation experiments at the Grimsel Test Site in Switzerland. Using cross‐correlation schemes, subtle traveltime variations that correlate well with the high‐pressure fluid injections during hydraulic stimulation become apparent. The 4‐D seismic tomograms obtained through time‐lapse differential traveltime inversion reveal transient changes in the seismic velocity within the stimulated volume that depend on the effective stress. In‐depth comparison of the seismic velocity variations and measured pressure data indicates that the seismic velocity variations can be used as a proxy for pressure propagation within an equilibrated system. Observations show that traveltime tomography is insensitive to isolated, high‐pressure variations such as a breakthrough within the fracture network. Joint interpretation of the 4‐D seismic tomograms with geological and hydromechanical data reveals fundamental differences between the different experiments due to a large variability in the rock mass response to the hydraulic stimulation. Using the observed velocity variations as a proxy for pressure propagation, we can infer characteristics of the shear zones and the rock volume at the Grimsel Test Site. The observed velocity variations provide not only information on the characteristics of the reservoir itself but also its response to different stimulation techniques.
IMDAA Regional Reanalysis: Performance Evaluation During Indian Summer Monsoon Season
Authors: Ashrit Raghavendra , Indira Rani S. , Kumar Sushant , Karunasagar S. , Arulalan T. , Francis Timmy , Routray Ashish , Laskar S. I. , Mahmood Sana , Jermey Peter , Maycock Adam , Renshaw Richard , George John P. , Rajagopal E. N.
Published: January 2020

The Indian Monsoon Data Assimilation and Analysis (IMDAA) is a regional high‐resolution atmospheric reanalysis over the Indian subcontinent. This regional reanalysis over India is the first of its kind and is produced by the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting and Met Office, UK, in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department under the National Monsoon Mission project of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. The reanalysis runs from 1979 to 2018, to span the era of modern meteorological satellites. This article briefly describes the IMDAA system and discusses the performance of the IMDAA during summer monsoon (June–September). This study provides evidence for substantial improvements seen in IMDAA compared to the ERA‐Interim reanalysis fields over India. The evaluation is carried out for the period of 1979–1993 for all major features associated with the Indian Monsoon to highlight improvements compared to ERA‐Interim and to document the biases. The study also demonstrates the potential use of the IMDAA data for applications such as wind resource assessment over India.
The Role of Ice Splintering on Microphysics of Deep Convective Clouds Forming Under Different Aerosol Conditions: Simulations Using the Model With Spectral Bin Microphysics
Authors: Qu Yi , Khain Alexander , Phillips Vaughan , Ilotoviz Eyal , Shpund Jacob , Patade Sachin , Chen Baojun
Published: January 2020

Observations during the Ice in Clouds Experiment‐Tropical (ICE‐T) field experiment show that the ice particles concentration in a developing deep convective clouds at the level of T = −15 °C reached about 500 L−1, that is, many orders higher than that of ice‐nucleating particle. To simulate microphysics of these clouds, the 2‐D Hebrew University Cloud model (HUCM) with spectral bin microphysics was used in which two main types of ice multiplication mechanisms were included in addition to the Hallet‐Mossop mechanism. In the first ice multiplication mechanism ice splinters form by drop freezing and drop‐ice collisions. Ice multiplication of this type dominates during developing stage of cloud evolution, when liquid water content is significant. At later stage when clouds become nearly glaciated, ice crystals are produced largely by ice splintering during ice‐ice collisions (the second ice multiplication mechanism). Simulations show that droplet size distributions, as well as size distributions of ice particles, agree well with the measurements during ICE‐T. Simulations with different cloud condensation nuclei concentrations show the existence of the “optimum” cloud condensation nuclei concentration (or droplet concentration), at which concentration of ice splinters reaches maximum. In these simulations ice nucleation caused by the direct formation of ice crystals upon ice‐nucleating particles, as well as the Hallett‐Mossop process, has a negligible contribution to the ice crystal concentration.
A Mathematical Model for the Release, Transport, and Retention of Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Vadose Zone
Authors: Guo Bo , Zeng Jicai , Brusseau Mark L.
Published: January 2020

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging contaminants of critical concern. As surfactants, PFAS tend to accumulate at air‐water interfaces and may stay in the vadose zone for long times before contaminating groundwater. Yet not well understood, the extent of retention in the vadose zone has critical implications for risk management and remediation strategies. We present the first mathematical model that accounts for surfactant‐induced flow and solid‐phase and air‐water interfacial adsorption. We apply the model to simulate PFOS (a PFAS compound of primary concern) transport in the vadose zone at a model fire‐training area site impacted by aqueous film‐forming foam (AFFF). Air‐water interfacial adsorption is shown to have a significant impact—amplified by the low water content due to gravity drainage—total retardation factors range from 233 to 1,355 for the sand and 146 to 792 for the soil used in the study. The simulations illustrate it can take several decades or longer for PFOS to reach groundwater. Counterintuitively, the lower water content in the sand—due to stronger drainage and weaker capillary retention—leads to retardation factors greater than for the soil. Also, most PFOS is adsorbed at air‐water interfaces with only 1–2% in the aqueous phase. The implications include (1) fine‐texture materials could have lower retardation factors than sand due to higher retained water content, (2) soil PFAS concentrations are likely to be orders of magnitude higher than those in groundwater at source zones. Both implications are consistent with recent field observations at hundreds of AFFF‐impacted sites.
Efficacy and safety of FOLFIRINOX as salvage treatment in advanced biliary tract cancer: an open-label, single arm, phase 2 trial
Authors: Belkouz Ali , de Vos-Geelen Judith , Mathôt Ron A. A. , Eskens Ferry A. L. M. , van Gulik Thomas M. , van Oijen Martijn G. H. , Punt Cornelis J. A. , Wilmink Johanna W. , Klümpen Heinz-Josef
Published: January 2020

Background

No standard treatment is available for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) after first-line therapy with gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GEMCIS). The objective of this study was to evaluate safety and anti-tumour activity of fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan plus oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) as salvage treatment in patients with previously treated advanced BTC.

Methods

In this two-stage phase 2 study, patients with advanced BTC who had disease progression or unacceptable toxicity after ≥3 cycles of GEMCIS were eligible. Primary endpoints were safety and efficacy (defined as objective response rate, ORR). In stage one, ten patients were treated with FOLFIRINOX every 2 weeks. In stage two, an additional 20 patients were enrolled at a starting dose as defined in stage one, provided that in stage ≥1 objective response or ≥2 stable diseases were observed and ≤3 patients had serious adverse events (SAEs) within the first 6 weeks of treatment. Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

Forty patients were screened for eligibility and 30 patients were enrolled. In stage one, one patient had a partial response and five patients had stable disease. One patient had a SAE during the first 6 weeks of treatment, and five patients required a dose reduction due to adverse events. The most common grade 3–4 adverse events in stage one were neutropaenia, mucositis and diarrhoea. Stage two was initiated with FOLFIRINOX in an adapted dose. In stage two, grade 3–4 neutropaenia, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting were the most common adverse events. The ORR, median PFS and OS in all patients were 10%, 6.2 and 10.7 months, respectively.

Conclusions

In patients with advanced BTC who progressed after or were intolerant to GEMCIS, FOLFIRINOX can be administered safely and could be considered as an option for salvage treatment in these patients.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02456714.
MiR-107 confers chemoresistance to colorectal cancer by targeting calcium-binding protein 39
Authors: Liang Yu , Zhu Danxi , Hou Lidan , Wang Yu , Huang Xin , Zhou Cui , Zhu Liming , Wang Yingying , Li Lei , Gu Yan , Luo Meng , Wang Jianhua , Meng Xiangjun
Published: January 2020

Background

Chemoresistance remains a critical event that accounts for colorectal cancer (CRC) lethality. The aim of this study is to explore the ability of dichloroacetate (DCA) to increase chemosensitivity in CRC and the molecular mechanisms involved.

Methods

The effects of combination treatment of DCA and oxaliplatin (L-OHP) were analysed both in vitro and in vivo. The DCA-responsive proteins in AMPK pathway were enriched using proteomic profiling technology. The effect of DCA on CAB39–AMPK signal pathway was analysed. In addition, miRNA expression profiles after DCA treatment were determined. The DCA-responsive miRNAs that target CAB39 were assayed. Alterations of CAB39 and miR-107 expression were performed both in vitro and on xenograft models to identify miR-107 that targets CAB39–AMPK–mTOR signalling pathway.

Results

DCA increased L-OHP chemosensitivity both in vivo and in vitro. DCA could upregulate CAB39 expression, which activates the AMPK/mTOR signalling pathway. CAB39 was confirmed to be a direct target of miR-107 regulated by DCA. Alterations of miR-107 expression were correlated with chemoresistance development in CRC both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that the miR-107 induces chemoresistance through CAB39–AMPK–mTOR pathway in CRC cells, thus providing a promising target for overcoming chemoresistance in CRC.
Loss of PARP-1 attenuates diabetic arteriosclerotic calcification via Stat1/Runx2 axis
Authors: Li Peng , Wang Ying , Liu Xue , Liu Bin , Wang Zhao-yang , Xie Fei , Qiao Wen , Liang Er-shun , Lu Qing-hua , Zhang Ming-xiang
Published: January 2020

Accelerated atherosclerotic calcification is responsible for plaque burden, especially in diabetes. The regulatory mechanism for atherosclerotic calcification in diabetes is poorly characterized. Here we show that deletion of PARP-1, a main enzyme in diverse metabolic complications, attenuates diabetic atherosclerotic calcification and decreases vessel stiffening in mice through Runx2 suppression. Specifically, PARP-1 deficiency reduces diabetic arteriosclerotic calcification by regulating Stat1-mediated synthetic phenotype switching of vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophage polarization. Meanwhile, both vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophages manifested osteogenic differentiation in osteogenic media, which was attenuated by PARP-1/Stat1 inhibition. Notably, Stat1 acts as a positive transcription factor by directly binding to the promoter of Runx2 and promoting atherosclerotic calcification in diabetes. Our results identify a new function of PARP-1, in which metabolism disturbance-related stimuli activate the Runx2 expression mediated by Stat1 transcription to facilitate diabetic arteriosclerotic calcification. PARP-1 inhibition may therefore represent a useful therapy for this challenging complication.
Antisymmetric linear magnetoresistance and the planar Hall effect
Authors: Wang Yishu , Lee Patrick A. , Silevitch D. M. , Gomez F. , Cooper S. E. , Ren Y. , Yan J.-Q. , Mandrus D. , Rosenbaum T. F. , Feng Yejun
Published: January 2020

The phenomena of antisymmetric magnetoresistance and the planar Hall effect are deeply entwined with ferromagnetism. The intrinsic magnetization of the ordered state permits these unusual and rarely observed manifestations of Onsager’s theorem when time reversal symmetry is broken at zero applied field. Here we study two classes of ferromagnetic materials, rare-earth magnets with high intrinsic coercivity and antiferromagnetic pyrochlores with strongly-pinned ferromagnetic domain walls, which both exhibit antisymmetric magnetoresistive behavior. By mapping out the peculiar angular variation of the antisymmetric galvanomagnetic response with respect to the relative alignments of the magnetization, magnetic field, and electrical current, we experimentally distinguish two distinct underlying microscopic mechanisms: namely, spin-dependent scattering of a Zeeman-shifted Fermi surface and anomalous electron velocities. Our work demonstrates that the anomalous electron velocity physics typically associated with the anomalous Hall effect is prevalent beyond the ρxy(Hz) channel, and should be understood as a part of the general galvanomagnetic behavior.