bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tectonics and Landscape of the Central African Plateau and their Implications for a Propagating Southwestern Rift in Africa
Authors: Daly M. C. , Green P. , Watts A. B. , Davies O. , Chibesakunda F. , Walker R. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe Central African Plateau (CAP) covers a million square kilometers of African lithosphere absent of recent volcanism and intense seismicity. Treating the CAP erosion surface as a reference frame for measuring continental deformation reveals an active landscape of normal fault systems and crustal flexures. Free‐air gravity anomalies over the CAP reveal both a short‐wavelength (100–200 km) flexural and a longer‐wavelength (>500 km) mantle convective signature. Apatite fission track thermochronometry records the onset of regional cooling of the erosion surface below 60 °C between 38 and 22 Ma. The erosion surface was formed by the Latest Miocene and elevated to its present altitude (1,200 ± 50 m) in the Latest Miocene/Pliocene. High‐resolution Shuttle Radar Topography Mission‐ and LIDAR‐based digital elevation models of the erosion surface show active fault terraces and alluvial fan deformation associated with pre‐existing rift border faults. Flexural modeling of the footwall uplift of the Luangwa Rift border fault yields an effective elastic thickness of the CAP lithosphere of ~35 km. The rifting initiated in the Pliocene with, or soon after, elevation of the CAP. Subsequent Plio‐Pleistocene deformation of the CAP surface controls the Congo and Zambezi drainage systems and wetland locations. The CAP rifts link southwestward through the Zambezi, Kafue and Muchili Rifts to the Pleistocene aged Okavango and Eiseb Rifts of Botswana and Namibia, defining a propagating Southwestern Rift cutting the Nubian Plate. This active rift system developed along relatively thin (~150 km) lithosphere between the Congo and Kalahari cratons within crust inherited from Neoproterozoic collisional tectonics.
Food Sources of Benthic Communities at the Caiwei Guyot and Yap Trench, Northwestern Pacific Ocean: Inferences From Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopes
Authors: Yang Zhi , Chen Jianfang , Wang Chunsheng , Zhang Dongsheng , Lu Bo , Wang Kui , Ran Lihua , Sun Dong , Lin Shiquan , Chen Qianna 
Published: March 2020

AbstractTo investigate nutritional resources for benthic communities at two sites in the northwestern Pacific Ocean (the Caiwei Guyot and the Yap Trench), stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (δ13C and δ15N) were measured in the tissues of megabenthic consumers (Porifera, Asteroidea, Crinoidea, Holothuroidea, Ophiuroidea, Gammaridea, and Actiniaria) as well as four potential food sources (suspended particles, sinking particles, zooplankton, and sedimentary organic matter). Fast‐sinking particles are generally thought to be the primary food source for benthic consumers, but that paradigm does not seem to apply at these abyssal sites. Here the δ13C and δ15N signatures of fast‐sinking particles (as collected by sediment traps; δ13C = −24.1 to −22.6‰, δ15N = 1.4 to 5.4‰) were significantly lower than those of the megabenthos (δ13C = −20.1 to −16.1‰, δ15N = 10.2 to 17.9‰), indicating that these particles are not likely a direct food source for the animals. Buoyant particles (and slow‐sinking particles), on the other hand, seem to be a significant direct food source for the megabenthos. Sedimentary organic matter and zooplankton are also important direct food sources. Trophic level analysis similarly indicates a diversity of food sources and suggests that for at least some animals, microbes (e.g., bacteria) may be a food source as well.
Clinical Effectiveness of Insomnia Treatment in Adolescents With Comorbid Disorders: A Single Case Experimental Design Study
Authors: Groot Manon M. , de Bruin Eduard J. 
Published: March 2020

Objective: Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) is an effective treatment for insomnia in adolescents. Knowledge on how CBTI works in clinical practice in adolescents with comorbid disorders is still scarce. Methods: In current research, clinical efficacy of group-CBTI “SleepingSmart” was investigated in a single case experimental design with pre- and posttests and 2-months follow-up in five participants with comorbid complaints (aged 14–16). Results: After CBTI, insomnia complaints in all participants improved. In addition, sleep parameters improved for most participants. Analyses of process of change indicated that these improvements were related to the intensity of implementation of CBTI techniques, in particular sleep hygiene, and restriction of time in bed. In some participants, comorbid complaints also improved after CBTI. Conclusions: These results indicate that a comorbid condition doesn’t have to be a contraindication for CBTI. In addition, this study shows that CBTI can be an effective treatment for insomnia, and improvements seemed to be related to intensity of implementation of sleep hygiene, and restriction of time in bed. Implications for Impact Statement Sleep problems are comorbid to many forms of psychopathology. This study shows that group-CBTI can be effective for adolescents with insomnia and comorbid complaints, and most effect seemed to be caused by sleep hygiene practices and restriction of time in bed. This confirms the notion that sleep problems can be treated regardless of comorbid complaints.
Industry incentives and antibiotic resistance: an introduction to the antibiotic susceptibility bonus
Authors: Morel Chantal M. , Lindahl Olof , Harbarth Stephan , de Kraker Marlieke E. A. , Edwards Suzanne , Hollis Aidan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe scarcity of novel antibiotic compounds in a time of increasing resistance rates has begun to ring alarm bells at the highest echelons of government. Large new financial incentives to accelerate antibiotic research and development, such as market entry rewards (MERs), are being considered. However, there is little focus on how to sustain the efficacy of new, promising antibiotics reaching the market. Currently, inappropriate use of antibiotics is commonplace, which has accelerated resistance development. In an attempt to halt this trend, antibiotic stewardship policies are being implemented in many resource-rich settings. Unfortunately, this has not yet had an impact on the amount of antibiotics being prescribed globally. One important hurdle is misalignment of incentives. While governments and health services are incentivized to promote prudent use of this common good, pharmaceutical companies are incentivized to increase volume of sales to maximize profits. This problem must be addressed or else the major efforts going into developing new antibiotics will be in vain. In this paper we outline an approach to realign the incentives of pharmaceutical companies with wider antibiotic conservation efforts by making a staged bonus a component of an MER for antibiotic developers when resistance to their drug remains low over time. This bonus could address the lack of stewardship focus in any innovation-geared incentive.
Tailoring the molecular structure of crosslinked polymers for pervaporation desalination
Authors: Xue Yun Long , Huang Jin , Lau Cher Hon , Cao Bing , Li Pei 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPolymer crosslinking imbues chemical stability to thin films at the expense of lower molecular transportation rates. Here in this work we deployed molecular dynamics simulations to optimise the selection of crosslinking compounds that overcome this trade-off relationship. We validated these simulations using a series of experiments and exploited this finding to underpin the development of a pervaporation (PV) desalination thin-film composite membrane with water fluxes reaching 234.9 ± 8.1 kg m−2 h−1 and salt rejection of 99.7 ± 0.2 %, outperforming existing membranes for pervaporation and membrane distillation. Key to achieving this state-of-the-art desalination performance is the spray coating of 0.73 μm thick crosslinked dense, hydrophilic polymers on to electrospun nanofiber mats. The desalination performances of our polymer nanocomposites are harnessed here in this work to produce freshwater from brackish water, seawater and brine solutions, addressing the key environmental issue of freshwater scarcity.
Endophilin-A3 and Galectin-8 control the clathrin-independent endocytosis of CD166
Authors: Renard Henri-François , Tyckaert François , Lo Giudice Cristina , Hirsch Thibault , Valades-Cruz Cesar Augusto , Lemaigre Camille , Shafaq-Zadah Massiullah , Wunder Christian , Wattiez Ruddy , Johannes Ludger , van der Bruggen Pierre , Alsteens David , Morsomme Pierre 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWhile several clathrin-independent endocytic processes have been described so far, their biological relevance often remains elusive, especially in pathophysiological contexts such as cancer. In this study, we find that the tumor marker CD166/ALCAM (Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule) is a clathrin-independent cargo. We show that endophilin-A3—but neither A1 nor A2 isoforms—functionally associates with CD166-containing early endocytic carriers and physically interacts with the cargo. Our data further demonstrates that the three endophilin-A isoforms control the uptake of distinct subsets of cargoes. In addition, we provide strong evidence that the construction of endocytic sites from which CD166 is taken up in an endophilin-A3-dependent manner is driven by extracellular galectin-8. Taken together, our data reveal the existence of a previously uncharacterized clathrin-independent endocytic modality, that modulates the abundance of CD166 at the cell surface, and regulates adhesive and migratory properties of cancer cells.
Independent risk factors for death in patients admitted for asthma exacerbation in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Yuh-Lih , Ko Hsin-Kuo , Lu Meng-Shui , Chou Chia-Lin , Su Kang-Cheng , Hsu Chia-Chen , Chou Kun-Ta , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Perng Diahn-Warng , Chou Yueh-Ching 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe independent risk factors for death in patients admitted for asthma exacerbation have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to investigate these independent risk factors and the relationship between mortality and the prescription patterns of anti-asthmatic medications in patients admitted for asthma exacerbation. Using a nested case–control design, we identified 267 cases (death after asthma admission) and 1035 controls (survival after asthma admission) from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 2001 to 2010. Conditional logistic regressions were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We identified the independent risk factors for death as the comorbidities of pneumonia (aOR 3.82, 95% CI 2.41–6.05), genitourinary disease (aOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.17–2.62), septicemia (aOR 4.26, 95% CI 2.61–6.94), diabetes mellitus (aOR 2.10, 95% CI 1.30–3.38), arrhythmia (aOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.14–3.50), and a history of asthmatic hospitalization (aOR 4.48, 95% CI 2.77–7.25). Moreover, the use of short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) and the dosage of oral corticosteroids (OCSs) >70 mg prednisolone during previous hospitalization (all p < 0.05) and the dosage of OCSs ≥110 mg prednisolone/month (aOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.08–4.50) during outpatient treatment independently increased the risk of death. The inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) ≥4 canisters/year (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.19–0.78) independently reduced the risk of death. Specific comorbidities, asthma severity, and prescription patterns of SABA, OCSs, and ICSs were independently associated with mortality in patients admitted for asthma exacerbation. These results can be utilized to help physicians identify asthmatic patients who are at a higher mortality risk and to refine the management of the condition.
Innate and secondary humoral responses are improved by increasing the time between MVA vaccine immunizations
Authors: Palgen Jean-Louis , Tchitchek Nicolas , Rodriguez-Pozo André , Jouhault Quentin , Abdelhouahab Hadjer , Dereuddre-Bosquet Nathalie , Contreras Vanessa , Martinon Frédéric , Cosma Antonio , Lévy Yves , Le Grand Roger , Beignon Anne-Sophie 
Published: March 2020

AbstractComprehending the mechanisms behind the impact of vaccine regimens on immunity is critical for improving vaccines. Indeed, the time-interval between immunizations may influence B and T cells, as well as innate responses. We compared two vaccine schedules using cynomolgus macaques immunized with an attenuated vaccinia virus. Two subcutaneous injections 2 weeks apart led to an impaired secondary antibody response and similar innate myeloid responses to both immunizations. In contrast, a delayed boost (2 months) improved the quality of the antibody response and involved more activated/mature innate cells, induced late after the prime and responding to the recall. The magnitude and quality of the secondary antibody response correlated with the abundance of these neutrophils, monocytes, and dendritic cells that were modified phenotypically and enriched prior to revaccination at 2 months, but not 2 weeks. These late phenotypic modifications were associated with an enhanced ex vivo cytokine production (including IL-12/23 and IL-1β) by PBMCs short after the second immunization, linking phenotype and functions. This integrated analysis reveals a deep impact of the timing between immunizations, and highlights the importance of early but also late innate responses involving phenotypical changes, in shaping humoral immunity.
Conditioning attenuates kidney and heart injury in rats following transient suprarenal occlusion of the abdominal aorta
Authors: Karageorgiadi Dimitra M. , Tsilimigras Diamantis I. , Selemenakis Platonas , Vlachou Vassiliki , de Lastic Anne-Lise , Rodi Maria , Chatziathanasiou Danai , Savvatakis Konstantinos , Antoniou Nikolaos , Deli Aikaterini C. , Papalampros Alexandros , Filis Konstantinos A. , Mouzaki Athanasia , Varvarigou Anastasia , Zografos George , Gorgoulis Vassilis G. , Pateras Ioannis S. , Sigala Fragiska 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSuprarenal aortic clamping during abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair results in ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in local (i.e. kidney) and distant (i.e. heart) tissue. To investigate perioperative approaches that mitigate IRI-induced tissue damage, Wistar rats underwent suprarenal aortic clamping either alone or in combination with short cycles of ischemic conditioning before and/or after clamping. Serum analysis revealed significant reduction in key biochemical parameters reflecting decreased tissue damage at systemic level and improved renal function in conditioned groups compared to controls (p < 0.05), which was corroborated by histolopathological evaluation. Importantly, the levels of DNA damage, as reflected by the biomarkers 8-oxo-G, γH2AX and pATM were reduced in conditioned versus non-conditioned cases. In this setting, NADPH oxidase, a source of free radicals, decreased in the myocardium of conditioned cases. Of note, administration of 5-HD and 8-SPT blocking key protective signaling routes abrogated the salutary effect of conditioning. To further understand the non-targeted effect of IRI on the heart, it was noted that serum TGF-β1 levels decreased in conditioned groups, whereas this difference was eliminated after 5-HD and 8-SPT administration. Collectively, conditioning strategies reduced both renal and myocardial injury. Additionally, the present study highlights TGF-β1 as an attractive target for manipulation in this context.
MRI Visualization of Whole Brain Macro- and Microvascular Remodeling in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kang MungSoo , Jin SeokHa , Lee DongKyu , Cho HyungJoon 
Published: March 2020

AbstractUsing superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) as a single contrast agent, we investigated dual contrast cerebrovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for simultaneously monitoring macro- and microvasculature and their association with ischemic edema status (via apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC]) in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) rat models. High-resolution T1-contrast based ultra-short echo time MR angiography (UTE-MRA) visualized size remodeling of pial arteries and veins whose mutual association with cortical ischemic edema status is rarely reported. ΔR2–ΔR2*-MRI-derived vessel size index (VSI) and density indices (Q and MVD) mapped morphological changes of microvessels occurring in subcortical ischemic edema lesions. In cortical ischemic edema lesions, significantly dilated pial veins (p = 0.0051) and thinned pial arteries (p = 0.0096) of ipsilateral brains compared to those of contralateral brains were observed from UTE-MRAs. In subcortical regions, ischemic edema lesions had a significantly decreased Q and MVD values (p < 0.001), as well as increased VSI values (p < 0.001) than normal subcortical tissues in contralateral brains. This pilot study suggests that MR-based morphological vessel changes, including but not limited to venous blood vessels, are directly related to corresponding tissue edema status in ischemic stroke rat models.
Genetic landscape of autism spectrum disorder in Vietnamese children
Authors: Tran Kien Trung , Le Vinh Sy , Bui Hoa Thi Phuong , Do Duong Huy , Ly Ha Thi Thanh , Nguyen Hieu Thi , Dao Lan Thi Mai , Nguyen Thanh Hong , Vu Duc Minh , Ha Lien Thi , Le Huong Thi Thanh , Mukhopadhyay Arijit , Nguyen Liem Thanh 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex disorder with an unclear aetiology and an estimated global prevalence of 1%. However, studies of ASD in the Vietnamese population are limited. Here, we first conducted whole exome sequencing (WES) of 100 children with ASD and their unaffected parents. Our stringent analysis pipeline was able to detect 18 unique variants (8 de novo and 10 ×-linked, all validated), including 12 newly discovered variants. Interestingly, a notable number of X-linked variants were detected (56%), and all of them were found in affected males but not in affected females. We uncovered 17 genes from our ASD cohort in which CHD8, DYRK1A, GRIN2B, SCN2A, OFD1 and MDB5 have been previously identified as ASD risk genes, suggesting the universal aetiology of ASD for these genes. In addition, we identified six genes that have not been previously reported in any autism database: CHM, ENPP1, IGF1, LAS1L, SYP and TBX22. Gene ontology and phenotype-genotype analysis suggested that variants in IGF1, SYP and LAS1L could plausibly confer risk for ASD. Taken together, this study adds to the genetic heterogeneity of ASD and is the first report elucidating the genetic landscape of ASD in Vietnamese children.
Video Recording Can Conveniently Assay Mosquito Locomotor Activity
Authors: Araujo Maisa da Silva , Guo Fang , Rosbash Michael 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAnopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti are perhaps the best studied mosquito species and important carriers of human malaria and arbovirus, respectively. Mosquitoes have daily rhythms in behaviors and show a wide range of activity patterns. Although Anopheles is known to be principally nocturnal and Aedes principally diurnal, details of mosquito activity are not easily assayed in the laboratory. We recently described FlyBox, a simple tracking system for assaying Drosophila locomotor activity rhythms and thought that it might also be applicable to monitoring mosquito activity. Indeed, we show here that FlyBox can easily, conveniently, affordably and accurately measure the activity of Anopheles as well as Aedes over several days. The resulting profiles under light-dark as well as constant darkness conditions are compatible with results in the literature, indicating that this or similar systems will be useful in the future for more detailed studies on a range of insect species and under more diverse laboratory conditions.
The risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and a high hepatic fibrosis index
Authors: Park Hyo Eun , Lee Heesun , Choi Su-Yeon , Kim Hua Sun , Chung Goh Eun 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPrevious epidemiological studies focusing on the association between liver disease and atrial fibrillation (AF) show interesting but inconsistent findings. Patients with liver disease have a higher AF risk; however, it is unknown whether the liver fibrosis index can predict AF risk. The medical records of a healthy population undergoing routine health examinations at Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, were reviewed retrospectively. After excluding subjects with a history of liver disease and known cardiovascular disease, 74,946 subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated. The mean age was 51 ± 11 years, and 71.9% were male. AF was found in 380 (0.5%) subjects. Using univariate analyses, age, male sex, body mass index, hypertension, and diabetes were significantly associated with AF. The fibrosis 4 index (FIB 4) showed significant correlations with AF [unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.062 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.605–3.600, p = 0.000; adjusted OR 2.255 and 95% CI 1.744–2.915, p = 0.000, with cardiometabolic risk factors adjusted]. In conclusion, NAFLD subjects with higher FIB 4 were associated with increased AF risk. The noninvasive determination of liver fibrosis indices can have clinical implications on the early identification of NAFLD in patients at risk for AF.
Resolution-enhanced imaging using interferenceless coded aperture correlation holography with sparse point response
Authors: Rai Mani Ratnam , Rosen Joseph 
Published: March 2020

AbstractInterferenceless coded aperture correlation holography (I-COACH) is a non-scanning, motionless, incoherent digital holography technique. In this study we use a special type of I-COACH in which its point spread hologram (PSH) is ensemble of sparse dots. With this PSH an imaging resolution beyond the classic diffraction limit is demonstrated. This resolution improvement is achieved due to the position of the coded aperture between the object and the lens-based imaging system. The coded aperture scatters part of the light, that otherwise is blocked by the system aperture, into the optical system, and by doing that, extends the effective numerical aperture of the system. The use of sparse PSH increases the signal-to-noise ratio of the entire imaging system. A lateral resolution enhancement by a factor of about 1.6 was noted in the case of I-COACH compared to direct imaging.