bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of parental education in reduction of prevalence of childhood undernutrition in Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Md. Belal , Khan Md Hasinur Rahaman 
Published: February 2018

AbstractObjectiveDespite progress, levels of malnutrition among children in Bangladesh are among the highest in the world and this is one of the major causes of death in children. The pace of reduction in the prevalence of undernutrition among children is still relatively low. The present study aimed to examine the association between parental education and childhood undernutrition among Bangladeshi children under 5 years of age when adjusting for potential risk factors.DesignThe data set was extracted from a nationally representative survey based on a cross-sectional study, the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2014.SettingThe base survey was conducted using a two-stage stratified sample of households. In the first stage, 600 enumeration areas (EA) were selected with probability proportional to EA size (207 EA from urban areas, 393 EA from rural areas).SubjectsA total of 7173 children under 5 years from 17 863 households were considered for the analysis. A modified Poisson regression model was implemented to the data for assessing the relationship between parental education and childhood undernutrition when demographic and socio-economic covariates for the child, parents, households and clustering were adjusted.ResultsHigher parental education level was associated with lower levels of stunting and underweight, but not with wasting. Maternal and paternal education were both significantly associated with the reduction in prevalence of childhood undernutrition in Bangladesh.ConclusionsPaternal education appears equally as important as maternal education in reducing undernutrition prevalence among children under 5 years in Bangladesh.
An automated apparatus for the simulation of prebiotic wet‒dry cycles under strictly anaerobic conditions
Authors: Fox Stefan , Pleyer Hannes Lukas , Strasdeit Henry 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPrebiotic chemical evolution on the early Earth may have been driven in part by fluctuating environments, for example wet‒dry and temperature cycling in volcanic rock pools. Here, we describe the setup, operating principle and test applications of a newly developed ‘wet‒dry apparatus’ (WDA) designed to simulate such fluctuating environments. The WDA allows adjusting the duration of the cycles, the temperature during the wet and dry phases and the organic and mineral components, which are all key parameters in wet–dry simulations. The WDA's most important features, however, are (i) that it is automated, which means that long-time experiments are possible without the need for an operator and (ii) that the virtual absence of free oxygen in the early Earth's atmosphere at ground level can be simulated. Rigorously oxygen-free conditions were achieved by passing 99.999% nitrogen gas through two alkaline pyrogallol solutions in series, prior to entering the WDA. We used three chemical systems to test the WDA: (i) the amino acid glycine in the presence and absence of clay minerals, (ii) linoleic acid (an oxygen-sensitive amphiphile) with and without the mineral olivine, and (iii) alkaline pyrogallol solution. We observed that clay minerals greatly accelerated the decomposition of glycine under wet‒dry conditions. Glycine peptides were formed as minor products. In the course of the glycine experiments, we developed a reliable gas chromatographic method to quantify the cyclic dipeptide 2,5-diketopiperazine. The decomposition of linoleic acid in wet‒dry cycles was promoted by both air and olivine. And finally, the extremely oxygen-sensitive pyrogallol solution was used as a colour indicator for residual oxygen in the WDA. The simulation facility in our laboratory currently consists of eight identical WDAs and a surrounding infrastructure. It can be made available to others who wish to perform cyclic wet–dry experiments.
Probing the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the Martian meteorite NWA 7397 through μRaman and μXRF non-destructively
Authors: Nascimento-Dias Bruno Leonardo do , Galante Douglas , Oliveira Davi , Anjos Marcelino 
Published: February 2018

AbstractMartian meteorites have valuable information about past geological processes on Mars. In this particular case, the sample used was the Martian meteorite Northwest Africa (NWA) 7397. The main objective was to conduct preliminary analyses of the sample that was able to provide mineralogical characteristics in a non-destructive way. These meteorite NWA 7397 analyses were performed using two analytical techniques, μRaman and μXRF. Through the techniques used it was possible to suggest the presence of chromite, ilmenite, magnetite and forsterite minerals. These minerals seem to have a correspondence to one another in relation to the process that formed them. Thus, the information generated by these analytical techniques can contribute significantly by providing information on the history of Mars in order to have relevance to the areas of Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences.
Martian methane plume models for defining Mars rover methane source search strategies
Authors: Nicol Christopher , Ellery Alex , Lynch Brian , Cloutis Ed , de Croon Guido 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe detection of atmospheric methane on Mars implies an active methane source. This introduces the possibility of a biotic source with the implied need to determine whether the methane is indeed biotic in nature or geologically generated. There is a clear need for robotic algorithms which are capable of manoeuvring a rover through a methane plume on Mars to locate its source. We explore aspects of Mars methane plume modelling to reveal complex dynamics characterized by advection and diffusion. A statistical analysis of the plume model has been performed and compared to analyses of terrestrial plume models. Finally, we consider a robotic search strategy to find a methane plume source. We find that gradient-based techniques are ineffective, but that more sophisticated model-based search strategies are unlikely to be available in near-term rover missions.
Bankruptcies, bailouts, and some political economy of corporate reorganization
Authors: DELLISANTI DYLAN , WAGNER RICHARD E. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBankruptcy has long been the standard approach to reorganizing failing corporate entities. In recent years, bailout, whereby a governmental entity takes charge of the reorganization, has appeared as an alternative. At the enterprise level, there is a Coase-like invariance proposition at work in which a failing concern is replaced by a going concern under either process. Significant differences arise once we move beyond the point of reorganization. The choice between bankruptcy and bailout is fundamentally a choice between alternative arrangements for corporate governance, and not about transforming failing concerns into going concerns because this will happen under either arrangement. We argue that political entanglement in corporate restructuring will tend to preclude the entrepreneurial discovery process. We recount the recent American auto and financial industry bailouts, highlighting how each episode was guided by political considerations, which served to distract the restructuring process from discovering those opportunities that market-based restructuring would have discovered.
Dynamic risk measures for stochastic asset processes from ruin theory
Authors: Shimizu Yasutaka , Tanaka Shuji 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThis article considers a dynamic version of risk measures for stochastic asset processes and gives a mathematical benchmark for required capital in a solvency regulation framework. Some dynamic risk measures, based on the expected discounted penalty function launched by Gerber and Shiu, are proposed to measure solvency risk from the company’sgoing-concernpoint of view. This study proposes a novel mathematical justification of a risk measure for stochastic processes as a map on a functional path space of future loss processes.
Florpyrauxifen-benzyl Weed Control Spectrum and Tank-Mix Compatibility with other Commonly Applied Herbicides in Rice
Authors: Miller M. Ryan , Norsworthy Jason K. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractFlorpyrauxifen-benzyl is a new herbicide being developed for rice. Research is needed to understand its spectrum of control and optimal tank-mix partners. Multiple greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate florpyrauxifen-benzyl efficacy and tank-mix compatibility. In greenhouse experiments, florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 30 g ai ha–1provided ≥75% control of all weed species evaluated (broadleaf signalgrass, barnyardgrass, Amazon sprangletop, large crabgrass, northern jointvetch, hemp sesbania, pitted morningglory, Palmer amaranth, yellow nutsedge, rice flatsedge, smallflower umbrellasedge), and control was similar to or better than other herbicide options currently available in rice. Barnyardgrass was controlled 97% with florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 30 g ha–1, ultimately reducing height (86%) and aboveground biomass (84%). In these field studies at 30 g ha–1, no antagonism was observed when florpyrauxifen-benzyl was tank-mixed with contact (acifluorfen, bentazon, carfentrazone, propanil, and saflufenacil) or systemic (2,4-D, bispyribac, cyhalofop, fenoxaprop, halosulfuron, imazethapyr, penoxsulam, quinclorac, and triclopyr) rice herbicides. Although not every tank-mix or weed species was evaluated, the lack of antagonistic interactions herein highlights the flexibility and versatility of this new herbicide. Once florpyrauxifen-benzyl becomes commercially available, it will be beneficial to tank-mix this new herbicide with others without sacrificing efficacy, so as to apply multiple sites of action together and thus lessen the risk for evolution of herbicide resistance.
Control of Photosystem II– and 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase Inhibitor–Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in Conventional Corn
Authors: Chahal Parminder S. , Irmak Suat , Gaines Todd , Amundsen Keenan , Jugulam Mithila , Jha Prashant , Travlos Ilias S. , Jhala Amit J. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPalmer amaranth, a dioecious summer annual weed species, is the most troublesome weed in agronomic crop production systems in the United States. Palmer amaranth resistant to photosystem (PS) II- and 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors is of particular concern in south central Nebraska. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of PRE followed by POST herbicide programs on PS II- and HPPD-inhibitor-resistant Palmer amaranth control, crop yield, and net economic return in conventional corn. A field study was conducted in 2014, 2015, and 2016 in a grower’s field infested with PS II- and HPPD-inhibitor-resistant Palmer amaranth near Shickley in Fillmore County, Nebraska. A contrast analysis suggested that mesotrione+S-metolachlor+atrazine applied PRE provided 83% Palmer amaranth control at 21 d after application compared to 78 and 72% control with pyroxasulfone+fluthiacet-ethyl+atrazine and saflufenacil+dimethenamid-P, respectively. Most of the PRE followed by POST herbicide programs provided ≥85% Palmer amaranth control. Based on contrast analysis, POST application of dicamba+diflufenzopyr provided 93% Palmer amaranth control compared to 87, 79, and 42% control with dicamba, dicamba+halosulfuron, and acetochlor, respectively, at 28 d after POST. All PRE followed by POST herbicide programs, aside from mesotrione+S-metolachlor+atrazine followed by acetochlor (2,530 to 7,809 kg ha−1), provided 9,550 to 10,500 kg ha−1corn yield compared with 2,713 to 6,110 kg ha−1from nontreated control. Similarly, PRE followed by POST herbicide programs, except for mesotrione+S-metolachlor+atrazine followed by acetochlor ($191 and $897 ha−1), provided similar net return of $427 to $707 ha−1and $1,127 to $1,727 ha−1in 2014 and 2015-16, respectively. It is concluded that herbicide programs based on multiple sites of action are available for control of PS II- and HPPD-inhibitor-resistant Palmer amaranth in conventional corn.
Mycoplasma-related endobacteria within Mortierellomycotina fungi: diversity, distribution and functional insights into their lifestyle
Authors: Desirò Alessandro , Hao Zhen , Liber Julian A , Benucci Gian Maria Niccolò , Lowry David , Roberson Robert , Bonito Gregory 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Bacterial interactions with animals and plants have been examined for over a century; by contrast, the study of bacterial–fungal interactions has received less attention. Bacteria interact with fungi in diverse ways, and endobacteria that reside inside fungal cells represent the most intimate interaction. The most significant bacterial endosymbionts that have been studied are associated with Mucoromycota and include two main groups: Burkholderia-related and Mycoplasma-related endobacteria (MRE). Examples of Burkholderia-related endobacteria have been reported in the three Mucoromycota subphyla. By contrast, MRE have only been identified in Glomeromycotina and Mucoromycotina. This study aims to understand whether MRE dwell in Mortierellomycotina and, if so, to determine their impact on the fungal host. We carried out a large-scale screening of 394 Mortierellomycotina strains and employed a combination of microscopy, molecular phylogeny, next-generation sequencing and qPCR. We detected MRE in 12 strains. These endosymbionts represent novel bacterial phylotypes and show evidence of recombination. Their presence in Mortierellomycotina demonstrates that MRE occur within fungi across Mucoromycota and they may have lived in their common ancestor. We cured the fungus of its endosymbionts with antibiotics and observed improved biomass production in isogenic lines lacking MRE, demonstrating that these endobacteria impose some fitness costs to their fungal host. Here we provided the first functional insights into the lifestyle of MRE. Our findings indicate that MRE may be antagonistic to their fungal hosts, and adapted to a non-lethal parasitic lifestyle in the mycelium of Mucoromycota. However, context-dependent adaptive benefits to their host at minimal cost cannot not be excluded. Finally, we conclude that Mortierellomycotina represent attractive model organisms for exploring interactions between MRE and fungi.
Elevated intracellular cAMP exacerbates vulnerability to oxidative stress in optic nerve head astrocytes
Authors: Shim Myoung Sup , Kim Keun-Young , Bu Jung Hyun , Nam Hye Seung , Jeong Seung Won , Park Tae Lim , Ellisman Mark H. , Weinreb Robert N. , Ju Won-Kyu 
Published: February 2018

AbstractGlaucoma is characterized by a progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and their axons, but the underlying biological basis for the accompanying neurodegeneration is not known. Accumulating evidence indicates that structural and functional abnormalities of astrocytes within the optic nerve head (ONH) have a role. However, whether the activation of cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway is associated with astrocyte dysfunction in the ONH remains unknown. We report here that the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway is critical to ONH astrocyte dysfunction, leading to caspase-3 activation and cell death via the AKT/Bim/Bax signaling pathway. Furthermore, elevated intracellular cAMP exacerbates vulnerability to oxidative stress in ONH astrocytes, and this may contribute to axonal damage in glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Inhibition of intracellular cAMP/PKA signaling activation protects ONH astrocytes by increasing AKT phosphorylation against oxidative stress. These results strongly indicate that activation of cAMP/PKA pathway has an important role in astrocyte dysfunction, and suggest that modulating cAMP/PKA pathway has therapeutic potential for glaucomatous ONH degeneration.
The mycotoxin phomoxanthone A disturbs the form and function of the inner mitochondrial membrane
Authors: Böhler Philip , Stuhldreier Fabian , Anand Ruchika , Kondadi Arun Kumar , Schlütermann David , Berleth Niklas , Deitersen Jana , Wallot-Hieke Nora , Wu Wenxian , Frank Marian , Niemann Hendrik , Wesbuer Elisabeth , Barbian Andreas , Luyten Tomas , Parys Jan B. , Weidtkamp-Peters Stefanie , Borchardt Andrea , Reichert Andreas S. , Peña-Blanco Aida , García-Sáez Ana J. , Itskanov Samuel , van der Bliek Alexander M. , Proksch Peter , Wesselborg Sebastian , Stork Björn 
Published: February 2018

AbstractMitochondria are cellular organelles with crucial functions in the generation and distribution of ATP, the buffering of cytosolic Ca2+ and the initiation of apoptosis. Compounds that interfere with these functions are termed mitochondrial toxins, many of which are derived from microbes, such as antimycin A, oligomycin A, and ionomycin. Here, we identify the mycotoxin phomoxanthone A (PXA), derived from the endophytic fungus Phomopsis longicolla, as a mitochondrial toxin. We show that PXA elicits a strong release of Ca2+ from the mitochondria but not from the ER. In addition, PXA depolarises the mitochondria similarly to protonophoric uncouplers such as CCCP, yet unlike these, it does not increase but rather inhibits cellular respiration and electron transport chain activity. The respiration-dependent mitochondrial network structure rapidly collapses into fragments upon PXA treatment. Surprisingly, this fragmentation is independent from the canonical mitochondrial fission and fusion mediators DRP1 and OPA1, and exclusively affects the inner mitochondrial membrane, leading to cristae disruption, release of pro-apoptotic proteins, and apoptosis. Taken together, our results suggest that PXA is a mitochondrial toxin with a novel mode of action that might prove a useful tool for the study of mitochondrial ion homoeostasis and membrane dynamics.
Evolution of Barrett’s esophagus through space and time at single-crypt and whole-biopsy levels
Authors: Martinez Pierre , Mallo Diego , Paulson Thomas G. , Li Xiaohong , Sanchez Carissa A. , Reid Brian J. , Graham Trevor A. , Kuhner Mary K. , Maley Carlo C. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe low risk of progression of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) to esophageal adenocarcinoma can lead to over-diagnosis and over-treatment of BE patients. This may be addressed through a better understanding of the dynamics surrounding BE malignant progression. Although genetic diversity has been characterized as a marker of malignant development, it is still unclear how BE arises and develops. Here we uncover the evolutionary dynamics of BE at crypt and biopsy levels in eight individuals, including four patients that experienced malignant progression. We assay eight individual crypts and the remaining epithelium by SNP array for each of 6–11 biopsies over 2 time points per patient (358 samples in total). Our results indicate that most Barrett’s segments are clonal, with similar number and inferred rates of alterations observed for crypts and biopsies. Divergence correlates with geographical location, being higher near the gastro-esophageal junction. Relaxed clock analyses show that genomic instability precedes and is enhanced by genome doubling. These results shed light on the clinically relevant evolutionary dynamics of BE.
Functionally distinct disease-associated fibroblast subsets in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Mizoguchi Fumitaka , Slowikowski Kamil , Wei Kevin , Marshall Jennifer L. , Rao Deepak A. , Chang Sook Kyung , Nguyen Hung N. , Noss Erika H. , Turner Jason D. , Earp Brandon E. , Blazar Philip E. , Wright John , Simmons Barry P. , Donlin Laura T. , Kalliolias George D. , Goodman Susan M. , Bykerk Vivian P. , Ivashkiv Lionel B. , Lederer James A. , Hacohen Nir , Nigrovic Peter A. , Filer Andrew , Buckley Christopher D. , Raychaudhuri Soumya , Brenner Michael B. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractFibroblasts regulate tissue homeostasis, coordinate inflammatory responses, and mediate tissue damage. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), synovial fibroblasts maintain chronic inflammation which leads to joint destruction. Little is known about fibroblast heterogeneity or if aberrations in fibroblast subsets relate to pathology. Here, we show functional and transcriptional differences between fibroblast subsets from human synovial tissues using bulk transcriptomics of targeted subpopulations and single-cell transcriptomics. We identify seven fibroblast subsets with distinct surface protein phenotypes, and collapse them into three subsets by integrating transcriptomic data. One fibroblast subset, characterized by the expression of proteins podoplanin, THY1 membrane glycoprotein and cadherin-11, but lacking CD34, is threefold expanded in patients with RA relative to patients with osteoarthritis. These fibroblasts localize to the perivascular zone in inflamed synovium, secrete proinflammatory cytokines, are proliferative, and have an in vitro phenotype characteristic of invasive cells. Our strategy may be used as a template to identify pathogenic stromal cellular subsets in other complex diseases.
Bioinspired leaves-on-branchlet hybrid carbon nanostructure for supercapacitors
Authors: Xiong Guoping , He Pingge , Lyu Zhipeng , Chen Tengfei , Huang Boyun , Chen Lei , Fisher Timothy S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractDesigning electrodes in a highly ordered structure simultaneously with appropriate orientation, outstanding mechanical robustness, and high electrical conductivity to achieve excellent electrochemical performance remains a daunting challenge. Inspired by the phenomenon in nature that leaves significantly increase exposed tree surface area to absorb carbon dioxide (like ions) from the environments (like electrolyte) for photosynthesis, we report a design of micro-conduits in a bioinspired leaves-on-branchlet structure consisting of carbon nanotube arrays serving as branchlets and graphene petals as leaves for such electrodes. The hierarchical all-carbon micro-conduit electrodes with hollow channels exhibit high areal capacitance of 2.35 F cm−2 (~500 F g−1 based on active material mass), high rate capability and outstanding cyclic stability (capacitance retention of ~95% over 10,000 cycles). Furthermore, Nernst–Planck–Poisson calculations elucidate the underlying mechanism of charge transfer and storage governed by sharp graphene petal edges, and thus provides insights into their outstanding electrochemical performance.
Direct observation of single-molecule hydrogen-bond dynamics with single-bond resolution
Authors: Zhou Ce , Li Xingxing , Gong Zhongliang , Jia Chuancheng , Lin Yuanwei , Gu Chunhui , He Gen , Zhong Yuwu , Yang Jinlong , Guo Xuefeng 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe hydrogen bond represents a fundamental interaction widely existing in nature, which plays a key role in chemical, physical and biochemical processes. However, hydrogen bond dynamics at the molecular level are extremely difficult to directly investigate. Here, in this work we address direct electrical measurements of hydrogen bond dynamics at the single-molecule and single-event level on the basis of the platform of molecular nanocircuits, where a quadrupolar hydrogen bonding system is covalently incorporated into graphene point contacts to build stable supramolecule-assembled single-molecule junctions. The dynamics of individual hydrogen bonds in different solvents at different temperatures are studied in combination with density functional theory. Both experimental and theoretical results consistently show a multimodal distribution, stemming from the stochastic rearrangement of the hydrogen bond structure mainly through intermolecular proton transfer and lactam–lactim tautomerism. This work demonstrates an approach of probing hydrogen bond dynamics with single-bond resolution, making an important contribution to broad fields beyond supramolecular chemistry.