bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
East Anglian English in the English Dialects App
Authors: Britain David , Blaxter Tamsin , Leemann Adrian
Published: September 2020

East Anglian English was the first British variety of English to be subject to dialectological scrutiny using sociolinguistic techniques (Trudgill, 1974, and his subsequent work) and since then has been subject to only sporadic investigation (e.g. Britain, 1991, 2014a, 2014b, 2015; Kingston, 2000; Straw, 2006; Amos, 2011; Potter, 2012, 2018; Butcher, 2015). Recent research has suggested that, in those few locations that have been investigated, East Anglian English is gradually losing some of its traditional dialect features, in favour of forms from the South East more generally. Kingston (2000), Britain (2014a) and Potter (2018) all found, for example, a rather steep decline in the use of East Anglia's traditional third-person present-tense zero. Furthermore, we are aware of the arrival into East Anglia of linguistic innovations from the South East of England, such as TH fronting (Trudgill, 1988; Britain, 2005; Potter, 2012) and /l/ vocalisation (Johnson & Britain, 2007; Potter, 2014), but we only know about their success in a few parts of the region – Norwich, East Suffolk and the Fens. Since Trudgill's investigations across East Anglia in the 1970s, however (e.g. Trudgill & Foxcroft, 1978), and despite a few multilocality studies (Britain, 1991, 2014a; Potter, 2018) no research has been able to provide a picture of the state of the traditional dialectacross the whole region. We have therefore only a patchy understanding of the extent to which traditional dialect obsolescence, dialect levelling and innovation diffusion have impacted the dialect landscape of this region as a whole.
Perceptions of T-glottalling among adolescents in South East England
Authors: Alderton Roy
Published: September 2020

Sociolinguistic research has established that glottal realisations of the voiceless alveolar stop /t/ have become increasingly common in accents of British English. The phenomenon, known as T-glottalling, encompasses the production of word-final and word-medial /t/ using glottal articulations, including creaky voice, pre-glottalisation [ʔt] and glottal replacement [ʔ] (Straw & Patrick, 2007), so that words such asbut[bʌt] andbutter[bʌtə] may become [bʌʔ] and [bʌʔə] respectively. The change has been documented for some time in Scotland (Macafee, 1997) and Norfolk (Trudgill, 1999) but has since been reported in numerous locations across the UK (see Smith & Holmes–Elliott, 2018 for a recent review). Studies of regional dialect levelling (Kerswill, 2003) have argued that T-glottalling has spread from working-class London speech into neighbouring varieties of South East England and beyond as a form of geographical diffusion (Altendorf & Watt, 2004). Together with other variables showing similar sociolinguistic patterns, such as TH-fronting and L vocalisation, it has been identified as part of a set of ‘youth norms’ used by young people in many urban centres to index a trendy, youthful identity (Williams & Kerswill, 1999; Milroy, 2007; though see Watson, 2006 for an exception in Liverpool), which have elsewhere been referred to as ‘Estuary English’ (Rosewarne, 1984; Altendorf, 2017). In terms of perception, T-glottalling is described as highly salient and stigmatised, frequently attracting comments from lay speakers to the effect that it should be avoided (Wells, 1982; Bennett, 2012), to the extent that mainstream journalistic publications can identify and criticise its use by ‘educated’ speakers such as politicians (e.g. Littlejohn, 2011).
Changes in psychological wellbeing, attitude and information-seeking behaviour among people at the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic: a panel survey of residents in Hubei province, China
Authors: Chen Xi , Gao Haiyan , Zou Yuchun , Lin Fen
Published: September 2020

While most research focuses on the clinical treatment of COVID-19, fewer studies have investigated individuals' responses towards this novel infectious disease. This study aims to report the temporal changes in individuals' psychological wellbeing, perceived discrimination, sociopolitical perceptions and information-seeking behaviours among the general public in Hubei, China. Data were obtained from a two-wave survey of 1902 respondents aged 18–80 in Hubei province during the peak and mitigation stages of the outbreak. The results showed that the prevalence of psychological distress dropped from over 75% to around 15% throughout the study period, but perceived discrimination remained stable. Female, middle-aged, well-educated respondents and those employed in government/public institutions/state-owned enterprises tended to report more distress. While respondents' attention on COVID-19 information kept high and stable, their sources of information diversified across different sociodemographic groups. Over time, people obtained more social support from neighbourhoods than from their friends and relatives or non-government organisations. Over 80% of respondents were satisfied with the performance of the central government, which was notably higher than their ratings on the local government and neighbourhood/village committees. The findings of this research are informative for formulating effective intervention strategies to tackle various psychosocial problems during COVID-19.
Die Corona-Pandemie zeigt die unverzichtbare Vernetzung von Leistungen zur Versorgung Abhängigkeitskranker auf
Authors: Raiser Peter , Bürkle Stefan , Fleischmann Heribert , Mäder-Linke Corinna , Rummel Christina , Tönsmeise Charlotte
Published: September 2020

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Die Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen e. V. ist der Zusammenschluss der in Deutschland auf Bundesebene tätigen Verbände und Organisationen der Suchthilfe, Sucht-Selbsthilfe und Suchtprävention. Während der Corona-Krise führten notwendige Maßnahmen zur Reduzierung des Infektionsgeschehens in der Suchthilfe abrupt zu Veränderungen der Inanspruchnahme von Angeboten durch Abhängigkeitserkrankte wie auch zu Veränderungen in der Leistungserbringung. Ziel: Für den Dachverband und Akteur der Interessenvertretung der in der Suchthilfe tätigen Vereine und Verbände, reflektieren die Autorinnen und Autoren der DHS unmittelbare Auswirkungen der ersten krisenhaften Phase der Pandemie auf Betroffene, Hilfeleistende und Angebotsstruktur und leiten aus dieser Bestandsaufnahme fünf zentrale Schlussfolgerungen und Forderungen ab. Schlussfolgerungen: 1. Suchthilfe (inklusive Beratung und Behandlung, Prävention und Sucht-Selbsthilfe) ist in Krisenzeiten notwendig und unverzichtbar. 2. Angebote müssen in (und nach) der Krise erhalten bleiben und werden an veränderte Rahmenbedingungen angepasst. 3. Die Anpassung der Angebote muss durch Politik und Kostenträger mitgetragen werden. 4. Hilfesuchende und Angehörige müssen mit der Information erreicht werden, dass Suchthilfe auch in Pandemie-Zeiten in Anspruch genommen werden kann und sollte. 5. Vernetzungen der Leistungen über die Versorgungssegmente hinweg sichert die Funktionsfähigkeit des Versorgungssystems.
Das Humanmedizinstudium an der Universität Zürich
Authors: Käser Lorenzo
Published: September 2020

Zusammenfassung. Wir stellen im Folgenden die wichtigsten veröffentlichten Informationen zum Humanmedizinstudium der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Zürich zusammen (Stand 8.6.2020), mit einer kurzen Übersicht des «Bildungsnetzwerks» (www.medunet.ch) der sechs beteiligten Standorte mit den Universitäten Zürich, Basel, St. Gallen, Luzern, der Università della Svizzera italiana und der ETH Zürich. Innerhalb des Bildungsnetzwerks bieten die Universitäten Luzern und St. Gallen für je 40 Medizinstudierende den sog. «Luzerner Track» bzw. «St. Galler Track» an als gemeinsamen Masterstudiengang mit der Universität Zürich. Die beiden Partner stellen ihr Curriculum in separaten Artikeln vor. Abschliessend folgen die Informationen zur laufenden Curriculumrevision unter dem Label ZH Med4, das für die profilierenden Schwerpunkte Digitalisierung, Forschung, Vernetzung und Grundversorgung steht.
Joint Master Medizin Universität Luzern und Universität Zürich
Authors: Gysin Stefan , Schirlo Christian , Babst Reto
Published: September 2020

Zusammenfassung. Die medizinische Ausbildung in der Schweiz ist im Wandel. Einerseits gilt es den neuen, kompetenzbasierten Lernzielkatalog PROFILES zu implementieren, andererseits wurden im Rahmen des Sonderprogramms «Erhöhung der Anzahl Abschlüsse in Humanmedizin» neue Ausbildungsstandorte und -kooperationen geschaffen. Eine dieser Kooperationen ist der Joint Medical Master der Universitäten Luzern und Zürich. Seit 2017 haben Studierende die Möglichkeit, im «Luzerner Track» ihren Bachelor an der Universität Zürich zu absolvieren. Im anschliessenden gemeinsamen Masterstudiengang (Start Herbstsemester 2020) sind die rund 40 Studierenden primär an der Universität Luzern immatrikuliert, die zusammen mit ihren Partnerinstitutionen in der Versorgungsregion Zentralschweiz ca. zwei Drittel der Lehrveranstaltungen anbietet. An der sozial- und humanwissenschaftlich geprägten Universität Luzern ist der Fachbereich Medizin am Departement Gesundheitswissenschaften und Medizin angesiedelt und setzt auf ein ganzheitliches, interdisziplinäres Verständnis von Gesundheit, Krankheit und Funktionsfähigkeit. In der Ausbildung von Medizinstudierenden bietet der Joint Medical Master primär interaktiven, praxisnahen Kleingruppenunterricht, orientiert am neuen Lernzielkatalog und unter Anwendung innovativer didaktischer Konzepte und digitaler Lernprogramme. Schwerpunkte im Luzerner Curriculum sind die Interprofessionalität, insbesondere mit den Gesundheitswissenschaften, sowie die medizinische Grundversorgung bzw. die Schnittstelle zwischen der stationären und ambulanten Patientenversorgung. Im letzten Studienjahr, das aktuell in der finalen Entwicklungsphase ist, sollen insbesondere auch die Themen Rettungsmedizin und Patientensicherheit thematisiert werden. Der Joint Medical Master in Luzern bietet aufgrund der überschaubaren Kohortengrösse ein familiäres Umfeld und einen engen Austausch zwischen den Studierenden und den Dozierenden. Die Studierenden sind sowohl in die Weiterentwicklung des Curriculums als auch in die Evaluationen der Lehrveranstaltungen involviert, die Dozierenden werden durch medizindidaktische Fortbildungsveranstaltungen bestmöglich auf den Studierendenunterricht vorbereitet. Mittelfristig möchte sich die Universität Luzern zudem vermehrt auf das Kontinuum Aus-, Weiter- und Fortbildung konzentrieren und sich national wie auch international in der medizinischen Bildungslandschaft vernetzen.
CME-Sonografie 93: Ultraschall der Enthese – nicht jede «Enthesitis» bedeutet eine Spondyloarthritis
Authors: Tamborrini Giorgio , Bruyn George A.
Published: September 2020

Zusammenfassung. In diesem CME konzentrieren wir uns auf die Ultraschallanatomie der Enthese. Im Weiteren beschreiben wir Enthesopathien und Enthesitiden und diskutieren damit verbundene differenzialdiagnostische Überlegungen. Es ist wichtig, sämtliche Erkrankungen zu kennen, welche sich an der Enthese manifestieren können, damit Diagnosen korrekt gestellt werden können. Dabei kann der Ultraschall die Differenzialdiagnose massgebend eingrenzen. An dieser Stelle sei erwähnt, dass der Befund einer Enthesitis nicht zwingend mit einer Spondylarthritis assoziiert sein muss.
Global Spatio‐Temporal Assessment of Changes in Multiple Ecosystem Services Under Four IPCC SRES Land‐use Scenarios
Authors: Sun S. , Shi Q.
Published: September 2020

Social development and technological advancement have led to land use changes, influencing the structure of ecosystem services and severely impacting ecological balance. This study spatially and quantitatively assesses the effects of land‐use changes on ecosystem services based on the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoff (InVEST) model. This model, applied on a global scale, was used to quantify the changes in three ecosystem services, namely, carbon storage, water yield, and sediment retention, 2010 and 2100 under four land use scenarios (A1B, A2, B1, and B2) and to evaluate the impact of land use changes to these services. The results indicate that (1) sediment retention and carbon storage under scenario B1 increase more than under other scenarios, with average global increases of 175.74 t/km2 and 913.60 Mg/km2, respectively; water yield increase only under scenario A2 between 2010 and 2100, with average global increase of 3.51 mm; (2) forest and grassland are the principal land types providing three ecosystem services globally, and decreasing the area of barren contributes to increases in three ecosystem services; and (3) when barren is converted to forest, grassland, cropland, and urban, ecosystem services all increase, strengthening the utilization of barren land can increase ecosystem services greatly. This study provides a reference for further research and the sustainable development of ecosystem services.
Ironing Out Fe Residence Time in the Dynamic Upper Ocean
Authors: Black E. E. , Kienast S. S. , Lemaitre N. , Lam P. J. , Anderson R. F. , Planquette H. , Planchon F. , Buesseler K. O.
Published: September 2020

Although iron availability has been shown to limit ocean productivity and influence marine carbon cycling, the rates of processes driving iron's removal and retention in the upper ocean are poorly constrained. Using 234Th‐ and sediment‐trap data, most of which were collected through international GEOTRACES efforts, we perform an unprecedented observation‐based assessment of iron export from and residence time in the upper ocean. The majority of these new residence time estimates for total iron in the surface ocean (0–250 m) fall between 10 and 100 days. The upper ocean residence time of dissolved iron, on the other hand, varies and cycles on sub‐annual to annual timescales. Collectively, these residence times are shorter than previously thought, and the rates and timescales presented here will contribute to ongoing efforts to integrate iron into global biogeochemical models predicting climate and carbon dioxide sequestration in the ocean in the 21st century and beyond.
Heterogeneous Power‐Law Flow With Transient Creep in Southern California Following the 2010 El Mayor‐Cucapah Earthquake
Authors: Tang Chi‐Hsien , Barbot Sylvain , Hsu Ya‐Ju , Wu Yih‐Min
Published: September 2020

The rheology of the crust and mantle and the interaction of viscoelastic flow with seismic/aseismic slip on faults control the state of stress in the lithosphere over multiple seismic cycles. The rheological behavior of rocks is well constrained in a laboratory setting, but the in situ properties of the lithosphere and its lateral variations remain poorly known. Here, we access the lower‐crustal rheology in Southern California by exploiting 8 years of geodetic postseismic deformation following the 2010 El Mayor‐Cucapah earthquake. The data illuminate viscoelastic flow in the lower crust with lateral variations of effective viscosity correlated with the geological province. We show that a Burgers assembly with dashpots following a nonlinear constitutive law can approximate the temporal evolution of stress and strain rate, indicating the activation of nonlinear transient creep before steady‐state dislocation creep. The transient and background viscosities in the lower crust of the Salton Trough are on the order of ~1018 and ~1019 Pa s, respectively, about an order of magnitude lower than those in the surrounding regions. We highlight the importance of transient creep, nonlinear flow laws, and lateral variations of rheological properties to capture the entire history of postseismic relaxation following the El Mayor‐Cucapah earthquake.
Influence of Arctic Microlayers and Algal Cultures on Sea Spray Hygroscopicity and the Possible Implications for Mixed‐Phase Clouds
Authors: Christiansen Sigurd , Ickes Luisa , Bulatovic Ines , Leck Caroline , Murray Benjamin J. , Bertram Allan K. , Wagner Robert , Gorokhova Elena , Salter Matthew E. , Ekman Annica M. L. , Bilde Merete
Published: September 2020

As Arctic sea ice cover diminishes, sea spray aerosols (SSA) have a larger potential to be emitted into the Arctic atmosphere. Emitted SSA can contain organic material, but how it affects the ability of particles to act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) is still not well understood. Here we measure the CCN‐derived hygroscopicity of three different types of aerosol particles: (1) Sea salt aerosols made from artificial seawater, (2) aerosol generated from artificial seawater spiked with diatom species cultured in the laboratory, and (3) aerosols made from samples of sea surface microlayer (SML) collected during field campaigns in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean. Samples are aerosolized using a sea spray simulation tank (plunging jet) or an atomizer. We show that SSA containing diatom and microlayer exhibit similar CCN activity to inorganic sea salt with a κ value of ∼1.0. Large‐eddy simulation (LES) is then used to evaluate the general role of aerosol hygroscopicity in governing mixed‐phase low‐level cloud properties in the high Arctic. For accumulation mode aerosol, the simulated mixed‐phase cloud properties do not depend strongly on κ, unless the values are lower than 0.4. For Aitken mode aerosol, the hygroscopicity is more important; the particles can sustain the cloud if the hygroscopicity is equal to or higher than 0.4, but not otherwise. The experimental and model results combined suggest that the internal mixing of biogenic organic components in SSA does not have a substantial impact on the cloud droplet activation process and the cloud lifetime in Arctic mixed‐phase clouds.
GLUT3 induced by AMPK/CREB1 axis is key for withstanding energy stress and augments the efficacy of current colorectal cancer therapies
Authors: Dai Weixing , Xu Ye , Mo Shaobo , Li Qingguo , Yu Jun , Wang Renjie , Ma Yanlei , Ni Yan , Xiang Wenqiang , Han Lingyu , Zhang Long , Cai Sanjun , Qin Jun , Chen Wen-Lian , Jia Wei , Cai Guoxiang
Published: September 2020

Cancer cells are usually characterized by hyperactive glucose metabolism, which can often lead to glucose scarcity; thus, alternative pathways to rewire cancer metabolism are required. Here, we demonstrated that GLUT3 was highly expressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) and negatively linked to CRC patient outcomes, whereas GLUT1 was not associated with CRC prognosis. Under glucose-limiting conditions, GLUT3 expedited CRC cell growth by accelerating glucose input and fuelling nucleotide synthesis. Notably, GLUT3 had a greater impact on cell growth than GLUT1 under glucose-limiting stress. Mechanistically, low-glucose stress dramatically upregulated GLUT3 via the AMPK/CREB1 pathway. Furthermore, high GLUT3 expression remarkably increased the sensitivity of CRC cells to treatment with vitamin C and vitamin C-containing regimens. Together, the results of this study highlight the importance of the AMPK/CREB1/GLUT3 pathway for CRC cells to withstand glucose-limiting stress and underscore the therapeutic potential of vitamin C in CRC with high GLUT3 expression.
Cytometric fingerprints of gut microbiota predict Crohn’s disease state
Authors: Rubbens Peter , Props Ruben , Kerckhof Frederiek-Maarten , Boon Nico , Waegeman Willem
Published: September 2020

Variations in the gut microbiome have been associated with changes in health state such as Crohn’s disease (CD). Most surveys characterize the microbiome through analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. An alternative technology that can be used is flow cytometry. In this report, we reanalyzed a disease cohort that has been characterized by both technologies. Changes in microbial community structure are reflected in both types of data. We demonstrate that cytometric fingerprints can be used as a diagnostic tool in order to classify samples according to CD state. These results highlight the potential of flow cytometry to perform rapid diagnostics of microbiome-associated diseases.
MDA5 cleavage by the Leader protease of foot-and-mouth disease virus reveals its pleiotropic effect against the host antiviral response
Authors: Pulido Miguel Rodríguez , Martínez-Salas Encarnación , Sobrino Francisco , Sáiz Margarita
Published: September 2020

The RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) plays a key role in triggering innate antiviral response during infection by RNA viruses. MDA5 activation leads to transcription induction of type-I interferon (IFN) and proinflammatory cytokines. MDA5 has also been associated with autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases by dysfunctional activation of innate immune response in the absence of infection. Here, we show how foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) counteracts the specific antiviral effect exerted by MDA5 targeting the protein for cleavage by the viral Leader protease (Lpro). MDA5 overexpression had an inhibitory effect on FMDV infection in IFN-competent cells. Remarkably, immunostimulatory viral RNA co-immunoprecipitated with MDA5 in infected cells. Moreover, specific cleavage of MDA5 by Lpro was detected in co-transfected cells, as well as during the course of FMDV infection. A significant reduction in IFN induction associated with MDA5 cleavage was detected by comparison with a non-cleavable MDA5 mutant protein with preserved antiviral activity. The Lpro cleavage site in MDA5 was identified as the RGRAR sequence in the conserved helicase motif VI, coinciding with that recently reported for Lpro in LGP2, another member of the RLRs family involved in antiviral defenses. Interestingly, specific mutations within the MDA5 Lpro target sequence have been associated with immune disease in mice and humans. Our results reveal a pleiotropic strategy for immune evasion based on a viral protease targeting phylogenetically conserved domains of immune sensors. Identification of viral strategies aimed to disrupt MDA5 functionality may also contribute to develop new treatment tools for MDA5-related disorders.
Stochastic resonance in MoS2 photodetector
Authors: Dodda Akhil , Oberoi Aaryan , Sebastian Amritanand , Choudhury Tanushree H. , Redwing Joan M. , Das Saptarshi
Published: September 2020

In this article, we adopt a radical approach for next generation ultra-low-power sensor design by embracing the evolutionary success of animals with extraordinary sensory information processing capabilities that allow them to survive in extreme and resource constrained environments. Stochastic resonance (SR) is one of those astounding phenomena, where noise, which is considered detrimental for electronic circuits and communication systems, plays a constructive role in the detection of weak signals. Here, we show SR in a photodetector based on monolayer MoS2 for detecting ultra-low-intensity subthreshold optical signals from a distant light emitting diode (LED). We demonstrate that weak periodic LED signals, which are otherwise undetectable, can be detected by a MoS2 photodetector in the presence of a finite and optimum amount of white Gaussian noise at a frugal energy expenditure of few tens of nano-Joules. The concept of SR is generic in nature and can be extended beyond photodetector to any other sensors.
Future urban development exacerbates coastal exposure in the Mediterranean
Authors: Wolff Claudia , Nikoletopoulos Theodore , Hinkel Jochen , Vafeidis Athanasios T.
Published: September 2020

Changes in the spatial patterns and rate of urban development will be one of the main determinants of future coastal flood risk. Existing spatial projections of urban extent are, however, often available at coarse spatial resolutions, local geographical scales or for short time horizons, which limits their suitability for broad-scale coastal flood impact assessments. Here, we present a new set of spatially explicit projections of urban extent for ten countries in the Mediterranean, consistent with the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). To model plausible future urban development, we develop an Urban Change Model, which uses input variables such as elevation, population density or road network and an artificial neural network to project urban development on a regional scale. The developed future projections for the five SSPs indicate that accounting for the spatial patterns of urban development can lead to significant differences in the assessment of future coastal urban exposure. The increase in exposure in the Extended Low Elevation Coastal Zone (E-LECZ = area below 20 m of elevation) until 2100 can vary, by up to 104%, depending on the urban development scenario chosen. This finding highlights that accounting for urban development in long-term adaptation planning, e.g. in the form of land-use planning, can be an effective measure for reducing future coastal flood risk on a regional scale.
Deep learning-based diatom taxonomy on virtual slides
Authors: Kloster Michael , Langenkämper Daniel , Zurowietz Martin , Beszteri Bánk , Nattkemper Tim W.
Published: September 2020

Deep convolutional neural networks are emerging as the state of the art method for supervised classification of images also in the context of taxonomic identification. Different morphologies and imaging technologies applied across organismal groups lead to highly specific image domains, which need customization of deep learning solutions. Here we provide an example using deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for taxonomic identification of the morphologically diverse microalgal group of diatoms. Using a combination of high-resolution slide scanning microscopy, web-based collaborative image annotation and diatom-tailored image analysis, we assembled a diatom image database from two Southern Ocean expeditions. We use these data to investigate the effect of CNN architecture, background masking, data set size and possible concept drift upon image classification performance. Surprisingly, VGG16, a relatively old network architecture, showed the best performance and generalizing ability on our images. Different from a previous study, we found that background masking slightly improved performance. In general, training only a classifier on top of convolutional layers pre-trained on extensive, but not domain-specific image data showed surprisingly high performance (F1 scores around 97%) with already relatively few (100–300) examples per class, indicating that domain adaptation to a novel taxonomic group can be feasible with a limited investment of effort.
In utero exposure to endogenous maternal polyclonal anti-Caspr2 antibody leads to behavioral abnormalities resembling autism spectrum disorder in male mice
Authors: Bagnall-Moreau Ciara , Huerta Patricio T. , Comoletti Davide , La-Bella Andrea , Berlin Roseann , Zhao Chunfang , Volpe Bruce T. , Diamond Betty , Brimberg Lior
Published: September 2020

The concept that exposure in utero to maternal anti-brain antibodies contributes to the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been entertained for over a decade. We determined that antibodies targeting Caspr2 are present at high frequency in mothers with brain-reactive serology and a child with ASD, and further demonstrated that exposure in utero to a monoclonal anti-Caspr2 antibody, derived from a mother of an ASD child, led to an-ASD like phenotype in male offspring. Now we propose a new model to study the effects of in utero exposure to anti-Caspr2 antibody. Dams immunized with the extracellular portion of Caspr2 express anti-Caspr2 antibodies throughout gestation to better mimic the human condition. Male but not female mice born to dams harboring polyclonal anti-Caspr2 antibodies showed abnormal cortical development, decreased dendritic complexity of excitatory neurons and reduced numbers of inhibitory neurons in the hippocampus, as well as repetitive behaviors and impairments in novelty interest in the social preference test as adults. These data supporting the pathogenicity of anti-Caspr2 antibodies are consistent with the concept that anti-brain antibodies present in women during gestation can alter fetal brain development, and confirm that males are peculiarly susceptible.
Capacitive sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymers for detection of the insecticide imidacloprid in water
Authors: El-Akaad Suzan , Mohamed Mona A. , Abdelwahab Nada S. , Abdelaleem Eglal A. , De Saeger Sarah , Beloglazova Natalia
Published: September 2020

This manuscript reports on the development of a capacitive sensor for the detection of imidacloprid (IMD) in water samples based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). MIPs used as recognition elements were synthesized via a photo-initiated emulsion polymerization. The particles were carefully washed using a methanol (MeOH) /acetic acid mixture to ensure complete template removal and were then dried. The average size of the obtained particles was less than 1 µm. The imprinting factor (IF) for IMD was 6 and the selectivity factor (α) for acetamiprid, clothianidin, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam were 14.8, 6.8, 7.1 and 8.2, respectively. The particles were immobilized on the surface of a gold electrode by electropolymerization. The immobilized electrode could be spontaneously regenerated using a mixture of MeOH/10 mM of phosphate buffer (pH = 7.2)/triethylamine before each measurement and could be reused for 32 times. This is the first-time that automated regeneration was introduced as part of a sensing platform for IMD detection. The developed sensor was validated by the analysis of artificially spiked water samples. Under the optimal conditions, the linearity was in the range of 5–100 µM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.61 µM.
Palaeoproteomics gives new insight into early southern African pastoralism
Authors: Le Meillour Louise , Zirah Séverine , Zazzo Antoine , Cersoy Sophie , Détroit Florent , Imalwa Emma , Lebon Matthieu , Nankela Alma , Tombret Olivier , Pleurdeau David , Lesur Joséphine
Published: September 2020

The advent of domestication is a major step that transformed the subsistence strategies of past human societies. In Africa, domestic caprines (sheep and goat) were introduced in the north-eastern part of the continent from the Near East more than 9000 years ago. However, their diffusion southwards was slow. They are thought to have made their first appearance in the southern part of the continent ca. 2000 years ago, at a few Later Stone Age sites, including Leopard Cave (Erongo region, Namibia), which provided the oldest directly dated remains assigned to sheep or goat on the basis of morphology of bones and teeth. However, similarities in morphology, not only between these two domesticated caprine species, but also between them and the small wild antelopes, raised questions about the morphological species attribution of these remains. Additionally, the high fragmentation of the site’s osteological remains makes it difficult to achieve species-level taxonomic identification by comparative anatomy. In this paper, we report molecular species identification of the Leopard Cave remains using palaeoproteomics, a method that uses protein markers in bone and tooth collagen to achieve taxonomic identification of archaeological remains. We also report new direct radiocarbon dates. Wild antelope remains from museum collections were used to enrich the available protein record and propose de novo type I collagen sequences. Our results demonstrate that the remains morphologically described as domesticates actually belong to a wild antelope species and that domestic caprines first appeared at Leopard Cave 1500 years later than previously thought. This study illustrates that the use of palaeoproteomics coupled with direct radiocarbon dates is particularly suited to complement classic zooarchaeological studies, in this case concerning the arrival of the first herding practices in arid environments.
The first possible choristoderan trackway from the Lower Cretaceous Daegu Formation of South Korea and its implications on choristoderan locomotion
Authors: Lee Yuong-Nam , Kong Dal-Yong , Jung Seung-Ho
Published: September 2020

Here we report a new quadrupedal trackway found in the Lower Cretaceous Daegu Formation (Albian) in the vicinity of Ulsan Metropolitan City, South Korea, in 2018. A total of nine manus-pes imprints show a strong heteropodous quadrupedal trackway (length ratio is 1:3.36). Both manus and pes tracks are pentadactyl with claw marks. The manus prints rotate distinctly outward while the pes prints are nearly parallel to the direction of travel. The functional axis in manus and pes imprints suggests that the trackmaker moved along the medial side during the stroke progressions (entaxonic), indicating weight support on the inner side of the limbs. There is an indication of webbing between the pedal digits. These new tracks are assigned to Novapes ulsanensis, n. ichnogen., n. ichnosp., which are well-matched not only with foot skeletons and body size of Monjurosuchus but also the fossil record of choristoderes in East Asia, thereby N. ulsanensis could be made by a monjurosuchid-like choristoderan and represent the first possible choristoderan trackway from Asia. N. ulsanensis also suggests that semi-aquatic choristoderans were capable of walking semi-erect when moving on the ground with a similar locomotion pattern to that of crocodilians on land.
Synergistic effects in bimetallic Pd–CoO electrocatalytic thin films for oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Ehsan Muhammad Ali , Hakeem Abbas Saeed , Rehman Abdul
Published: September 2020

Bimetallic catalysts due to the synergistic effects often outperform their single-component counterparts while exhibiting structure and composition-dependent enhancement in active sites, thereby having the potential to improve the current density and over-potential parameters in the water oxidation reaction. Herein, we demonstrate a simple and rapid, yet highly efficient method to fabricate Pd–CoO films of immaculate homogeneity as characterized using different imaging and spectroscopic techniques. The SEM images revealed that the films were composed of bimetallic spherical granules wherein both metals were uniformly distributed in an atomic ratio of ~ 1:1. The time-dependent investigations of the film fabrication behavior demonstrated that the films formed in shorter deposition times (1–2 h) display more porous character, allowing better access to the reaction centers. This character was transcribed into their enhanced electrocatalytic performance toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Using this specific bimetallic formulation, we could attain a low over-potential of 274 mV for a current density of 10 mA cm−2, whereas the high current density value of > 200 mA cm−2was achieved while still under 600 mV of over-potential. The cycling and current generation stability was also found to be sufficiently high, which can only be attributed to the facile electron transfer processes and a higher number of active sites available in homogeneous bimetallic films.
Weather and biotic interactions as determinants of seasonal shifts in abundance measured through nest-box occupancy in the Siberian flying squirrel
Authors: Selonen Vesa , Hongisto Kari , Hänninen Mikko , Turkia Tytti , Korpimäki Erkki
Published: September 2020

It is much debated whether the direct effects of weather or biotic interactions determine species’ responses to climate change. For example, an important biotic factor for herbivores in northern ecosystems is the availability of winter food. If the food availability changes because of the changing climate, it likely has major impact on the abundance of herbivores. To evaluate this, we need to know the relative roles of weather and biotic interactions, such as food availability and risk of predation, for the species. Here, we utilize long-term data on nest-box occupancy by Siberian flying squirrels (Pteromys volans) in Finland during 2002–2018. We built binary models with nest-box occupancy in different seasons as a response variable. Weather, winter food (tree mast), and predator presence (the Ural owl, Strix uralensis) modified seasonal nest-box occupancy patterns of the flying squirrel. However, the effect of weather was only important in the summer. The negative effect of predators was clear for adults but, surprisingly, not for overwinter survival of apparent juveniles. Considering the relative importance of different factors, winter food availability had a clear positive effect in each season. Our study supports the view that the effects of climate change mediate through multiple biotic interactions. In forest ecosystems, responses of masting trees to weather likely play an important role in species responses to climate change.
PM2.5 air pollution contributes to the burden of frailty
Authors: Lee Wei-Ju , Liu Ching-Yi , Peng Li-Ning , Lin Chi-Hung , Lin Hui-Ping , Chen Liang-Kung
Published: September 2020

Frailty is common among older people and results in adverse health outcomes. We investigated whether exposure to PM2.5 is associated with frailty. This cross-sectional study involved 20,606 community-dwelling participants aged ≥ 65 years, residing in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Analytic data included phenotypic frailty, disease burden by Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), urban or rural residence, and household income. PM2.5 exposure was calculated from air quality monitoring records, with low exposure defined as the lowest quartile of the study population. 1,080 frail participants (5.2%) were older, predominantly female, had more comorbidities, lived rurally, and had low PM2.5 exposure (all p < 0.001). In multinomial logistic regression analyses, the likelihood of high PM2.5 exposure was higher in prefrail (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.3–1.5) and frail adults (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.9) than in robust individuals, with stronger associations in those who were male (frail: OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5–3.1; prefrail: OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.9–2.6), ≥ 75 years old (frail: OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3–2.4; prefrail: OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3–1.8), non-smokers (frail: OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3–2.0; prefrail: OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.5), had CCI ≥ 2 (frail: OR 5.1, 95% CI 2.1–12.6; prefrail: OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.8), and with low household income (frail: OR 4.0, 95% CI 2.8–5.8; prefrail: OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.2–3.3). This study revealed a significant association between PM2.5 exposure and frailty, with a stronger effect in vulnerable groups.
Effects of two types of activated carbon on the properties of vegetation concrete and Cynodon dactylon growth
Authors: Gao Jiazhen , Liu Daxiang , Xu Yakun , Chen Jiangang , Yang Yueshu , Xia Dong , Ding Yu , Xu Wennian
Published: September 2020

Vegetation concrete is one of the most widely used substrates for slope ecological protection in China. However, there are still some imperfections that are disadvantageous for plant growth, such as high density, low porosity, insufficient nutrient retention ability and so on. In this paper, the effect of wood activated carbon and mineral activated carbon on the physicochemical properties of vegetation concrete is studied. The experimental results show that the activated carbon proportion in vegetation concrete is positively related to the porosity, permeability coefficient, water holding capacity, and nutrient content and retention ability, while it is negatively related to the dry density, water retention ability, cohesive force and internal friction angle. However, it should be noticed that when the proportion exceeds 2%, the average height, aboveground biomass and underground biomass of Cynodon dactylon decrease with increasing proportion of activated carbon. The effect of wood activated carbon is generally more remarkable than that of mineral activated carbon. In addition, according to the research results, the effect of activated carbon on vegetation concrete can last for at least half a year, although it does slowly deteriorate with increasing time. By comprehensive consideration of the current industry standard, previous research results and economical reasoning, the recommended type of activated carbon is wood, with a corresponding suitable proportion ranging between 1 and 2%.
Grand-maternal lifestyle during pregnancy and body mass index in adolescence and young adulthood: an intergenerational cohort study
Authors: Ding Ming , Strohmaier Susanne , Schernhammer Eva , Yuan Changzheng , Sun Qi , Michels Karin B. , Tamimi Rulla , Chavarro Jorge E.
Published: September 2020

To examine associations of healthy lifestyle during pregnancy with body mass index (BMI) and risk of overweight or obesity of grandchildren during adolescence and young adulthood. Our study population included 14,001 grandmother–mother–child triads comprised of participants of two ongoing prospective cohort studies of related individuals. We used self-reported grand-maternal gestational weight gain, diet, physical activity, and smoking during pregnancy to create a lifestyle score ranged from 0 to 12, with a higher score indicating healthier lifestyle. Grandchild BMI was self-assessed in follow-up questionnaires. Compared with individuals whose grandmothers had the least healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, individuals whose grandmothers had the most healthy lifestyle had 0.17 (95% CI 0.01, 0.33; P for trend = 0.05) kg/m2 lower BMI and 7% (95% CI 2%, 12%; P for trend = 0.001) lower risk of overweight or obesity during adolescence and young adulthood. The inverse associations between grand-maternal lifestyle and BMI in grandchildren were mainly mediated by maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (mediation effect: 64%; P value = 0.001). Overall, maternal BMI, along with maternal socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors in the second and third generations accounted for all of the inter-generational association (mediation effect: 99%; P value < 0.001). The inverse associations of grand-maternal lifestyle with BMI of offspring were not modified by grand-maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, grandchild age, or grandchild gender. Grandchildren of women who had the healthiest lifestyles during pregnancy defined by no excess gestational weight gain, no smoking, a healthy diet and being physically active, were less likely to be overweight or obese in adolescence and early adulthood.
Light sheet fluorescence microscopy guided MALDI-imaging mass spectrometry of cleared tissue samples
Authors: Blutke Andreas , Sun Na , Xu Zhihao , Buck Achim , Harrison Luke , Schriever Sonja C. , Pfluger Paul T. , Wiles David , Kunzke Thomas , Huber Katharina , Schlegel Jürgen , Aichler Michaela , Feuchtinger Annette , Matiasek Kaspar , Hauck Stefanie M. , Walch Axel
Published: September 2020

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) of optically cleared biological samples represents a powerful tool to analyze the 3-dimensional morphology of tissues and organs. Multimodal combinations of LSFM with additional analyses of the identical sample help to limit the consumption of restricted specimen and reduce inter-sample variation. Here, we demonstrate the proof-of-concept that LSFM of cleared brain tissue samples can be combined with Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI-MSI) for detection and quantification of proteins. Samples of freshly dissected murine brain and of archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human brain tissue were cleared (3DISCO). Tissue regions of interest were defined by LSFM and excised, (re)-embedded in paraffin, and sectioned. Mouse sections were coated with sinapinic acid matrix. Human brain sections were pre-digested with trypsin and coated with α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid matrix. Subsequently, sections were subjected to MALDI-time-of-flight (TOF)-MSI in mass ranges between 0.8 to 4 kDa (human tissue sections), or 2.5–25 kDa (mouse tissue sections) with a lateral resolution of 50 µm. Protein- and peptide-identities corresponding to acquired MALDI-MSI spectra were confirmed by parallel liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis. The spatial abundance- and intensity-patterns of established marker proteins detected by MALDI-MSI were also confirmed by immunohistochemistry.
Simultaneous polarization filtering and wavefront shaping enabled by localized polarization-selective interference
Authors: Cai Jixiang , Zhang Fei , Zhang Ming , Ou Yi , Yu Honglin
Published: September 2020

The ability of simultaneous polarization filter and wavefront shaping is very important for many applications, especially for polarization imaging. However, traditional methods rely on complex combinations of bulky optical components, which not only hinder the miniaturization and integration but also reduce the efficiency and imaging quality. Metasurfaces have shown extraordinary electromagnetic properties to manipulate the amplitude, polarization, and wavefront. Unfortunately, multi-layer metasurfaces with complex fabrication are often required to realize complex functions. Here, a platform of monolayer all-dielectric metasurfaces is proposed to simultaneously achieve polarization filtering and wavefront shaping, based on the principle of local polarization-selective constructive or destructive interference. The transmission efficiency surpassing 0.75 and polarization extinction ratio exceeding 11.6 dB are achieved by the proposed metasurface at the wavelength of 10.6 μm. These results are comparable to those of multi-layer metasurfaces. Considering these good performances, this work may prove new ideas for the generation of complex optical field and find wide applications in polarization imaging.
Highly conductive nanometer-thick gold films grown on molybdenum disulfide surfaces for interconnect applications
Authors: Zhang Yu-Wei , Wu Bo-Yu , Chen Kuan-Chao , Wu Chao-Hsin , Lin Shih-Yen
Published: September 2020

Thin gold (Au) films (10 nm) are deposited on different substrates by using a e-beam deposition system. Compared with sapphire and SiO2 surfaces, longer migration length of the Au adatoms is observed on MoS2 surfaces, which helps in the formation of a single-crystal Au film on the MoS2 surface at 200 °C. The results have demonstrated that with the assistance of van der Waals epitaxy growth mode, single-crystal 3D metals can be grown on 2D material surfaces. With the improved crystalline quality and less significant Au grain coalescence on MoS2 surfaces, sheet resistance 2.9 Ω/sq is obtained for the thin 10 nm Au film at 100 °C, which is the lowest value reported in literature. The highly conductive thin metal film is advantageous for the application of backend interconnects for the electronic devices with reduced line widths.
A way to thioacetate esters compatible with non-oxidative prebiotic conditions
Authors: Leqraa Naoual , Nicolet Yvain , Milet Anne , Vallée Yannick
Published: September 2020

The centrality of pyruvate oxidative decarboxylation into acetyl-CoA in current biochemistry is a strong argument for proposing that a similar reaction have been necessary for the development of an effective protometabolism on the primitive Earth. However, such a decarboxylation requires the use of an oxidant and a catalyst, today enzymatic. Based on the mechanisms of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase, we propose that the initial mechanism involved disulfides and occurred via radicals. A first disulfide is obtained by reacting glyoxylate with hydrogen sulfide. It is then possible to produce a wide variety of other disulfides by exchange reactions. When reacted with pyruvate under UV light they give thioesters. This process requires no oxidant and is therefore compatible with what is known of the redox conditions of the early Earth. Neither does it require any catalyst. It could be the first way to acetyl thioesters, a way that was later improved by the introduction of catalysts, first minerals, then enzymes.