Using the statewide, population-based birth defects surveillance data in New York State, the survival experience of the study cohort was examined across all survival time periods by individual birth defect of interest. Several risk factors that affect survival were identified.

Graphene oxide (GO) membranes become emerging efficient filters for molecular or ionic separation due to their well-defined two-dimensional nanochannels formed by closely spaced GO sheets and tunable physicochemical properties. The stability of GO membranes in aqueous solutions is a prerequisite for their applications. Here we show a novel and easy strategy for fabricating GO membranes with strong stability in aqueous solutions and controllable lamellar spacing by simply doping with partially reduced graphene oxide (prGO) sheets. With our prGO-doping strategy, the interlayer stabilizing force in GO membranes is enhanced due to the weakened repulsive hydration and enhanced π-π attraction between GO sheets; as a result, the fabricated GO membranes are featured with controllable lamellar spacing and extraordinary stability in water or even strong acid and base solutions as well as strong mechanical properties, which will expand the application scope of GO membranes and provide ever better performances in their applications with aqueous solution environments.

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While a rechargeable battery based on Na/CF x has been proposed, its reversible mechanism has remained unclear. Here, a new fluorinated carbon fiber material with the formula CF 0.75 is used as a cathode material for rechargeable sodium batteries, delivering an initial discharge capacity of 705 mA•h g −1 with a high discharge plateau of 2.75 V and a reversible high discharge capacity of 350 mA•h g −1 at 20 mA g −1 . The first discharge plateau of 2.75 V is the highest value reported in this family of materials so far, even slightly higher than that of commercial fluorinated graphite tested in a lithium battery (2.7 V). The origins of the observed high voltage of the material are explored by a combination of theoretical calculations and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique data and determined to be related to the disordered structure of the carbon fiber. Soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy and 19 F magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance characterization results disclose a full view of the conversion reaction mechanism involved in the charge and discharge processes, both on the surface and in the bulk, and show evidence of reversible conversion between CF x and NaF. Although a suitable electrolyte is currently lacking and further research is necessary, the inherent advantages of the compound make it a promising cathode material for future rechargeable sodium batteries.

Detection of water motion by the lateral line relies on mechanotransduction complexes at stereocilia tips. This sensory system is comprised of neuromasts, patches of hair cells with stereociliary bundles arranged with morphological mirror symmetry that are mechanically responsive to two opposing directions. Here, we find that transmembrane channel-like 2b (Tmc2b) is differentially required for mechanotransduction in the zebrafish lateral line. Despite similarities in neuromast hair cell morphology, three classes of these cells can be distinguished by their Tmc2b reliance. We map mechanosensitivity along the lateral line using imaging and electrophysiology to determine that a hair cell’s Tmc2b dependence is governed by neuromast topological position and hair bundle orientation. Overall, water flow is detected by molecular machinery that can vary between hair cells of different neuromasts. Moreover, hair cells within the same neuromast can break morphologic symmetry of the sensory organ at the stereocilia tips.

1. As the key carbon (C) fluxes between biosphere and atmosphere, soil respiration (R s ) and ecosystem respiration (R e ) play vital roles in regulating global C balance and climate-biosphere feedback in the Earth system. Despite the fact that numerous manipulative studies and a few meta-analyses have been conducted to examine the responses of R s and its components (i.e. autotrophic [R a ] and heterotrophic respiration [R h ]) as well as R e to grazing (G) or global change factors, the interactive effects between grazing and global change factors remain poorly understood. 2. Here, we performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of manipulative experiments with both grazing and global change factors to quantify their individual and interactive effects on R s and its components as well as R e .3. Our results showed that grazing and drought significantly decreased R s by 12.35% and 20.95%, respectively, whereas warming (W), nitrogen addition (N) and increased precipitation (P) stimulated it by 2.12%, 5.49% and 13.44%, respectively.Similarly, grazing, warming, nitrogen addition and increased precipitation increased R e by 7.21%, 4.94%, 48.45% and 21.57%, respectively, while drought decreased it by 16.86%. However, the combinations of grazing with warming (GW), nitrogen addition (GN) and increased precipitation (GP) exhibited non-significant effects on R s . More importantly, additive interactions between grazing and global change factors exhibited a substantial predominance on R s , R a , R h and R e rather than synergistic and antagonistic ones. 4. Synthesis and applications. Our findings highlight the crucial importance of the interactive effects between grazing and global change factors on soil respiration (R s ) and ecosystem respiration (R e ). Therefore, incorporating this key influence on ecosystem processes into Earth system models (ESMs) could better improve the prediction of climate-biosphere feedbacks and develop sustainable strategies for grassland management in the Anthropocene. K E Y W O R D Sadditive effect, drought, grazing, increased precipitation, meta-analysis, nitrogen addition, warming

Background: Despite advances in the representation of women in medical training, women continue to be underrepresented in cardiology, academic medicine, and more specifically, in senior positions within academic medicine. Identifying disparities in research productivity and acknowledgment can highlight barriers to female representation in academic cardiology leadership, as well as in academic promotion. Methods and Results: This bibliometric analysis included all authors of original research articles between 1980 and 2017 from 3 high-impact cardiology journals ( Journal of the American College of Cardiology , Circulation , and European Heart Journal ). We identified 71 345 unique authors of 55 085 primary research articles during our study period. Female authors accounted for 33.1% of all authors; however, they represented only 26.7% of first authors and 19.7% of senior authors. Looking at the most prolific authors within this time period, female authors were not well represented, accounting for only 5% of the top 100 authors. Articles with a female senior author had more female middle authors than articles with a male senior author (mean 1.41 versus 0.97, P <0.001) and were more likely to have a female first author (0.37 versus 0.18, P <0.001). There was an increased representation of female authors as first and senior authors compared with the total number of articles with female authors over time ( P <0.001 for trend); however, female senior authorship rates continued to lag first authorship rates. Conclusions: Using a large database of published manuscripts, we found that female representation in published cardiology research has increased over the past 4 decades. However, women continue to be not well represented as first authors, senior authors, and in the number of publications. When women were senior authors, they published more articles with female first authors and had more female authors. In addition to recruiting more women into the field of cardiology, additional work is needed to identify and address barriers to academic advancement for female physician-scientists.

Using the state-wide, population-based birth defects surveillance data to conduct a long-term follow-up of a large cohort of New York children, we were able to examine mortality and survival experience of the affected children during infancy and childhood period by individual birth defects of interest. As expected, children born with birth defects had a higher risk of mortality compared to children without birth defects. The magnitude of the risk varied by children's age, birth and maternal characteristics and the lethality of the specific birth defects involved.