bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An efficient autometallography approach to localize lead at ultra-structural levels of cultured cells
Authors: Song Han , Zheng Gang , Shen Xue-Feng , Zhao Zai-Hua , Liu Yang , Liu Yang , Liu Ying-Ying , Kang Jun-Jun , Chen Jing-Yuan , Luo Wen-Jing
Published: September 2020

Understanding the precise intracellular localization of lead (Pb) is a key in deciphering processes in Pb-induced toxicology. However, it is a great challenge to trace Pbin vitro, especially in cultured cells. We aimed to find an innovative and efficient approach to investigate distribution of Pb in cells and to validate it through determining the subcellular Pb content. We identified its ultra-structural distribution with autometallography under electron microscopy in a choroidal epithelial Z310 cell line. Electron microscopy in combination with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDS) was employed to provide further evidence of Pb location. In addition, Pb content was determined in the cytosol, membrane/organelle, nucleus and cytoskeleton fractions with atomic absorption spectroscopy. Pb was found predominantly inside the nuclear membranes and some was distributed in the cytoplasm under low-concentration exposure. Nuclear existence of Pb was verified by EDS under electron microscopy. Once standardized for protein content, Pb percentage in the nucleus fraction reached the highest level (76%). Our results indicate that Pb is accumulated mainly in the nucleus of choroid plexus. This method is sensitive and precise in providing optimal means to study the ultra-structural localization of Pb forin vitromodels. In addition, it offers the possibility of localization of other metals in cultured cells. Some procedures may also be adopted to detect target proteins via immunoreactions.
Facile one-pot synthesis of water-soluble fcc FePt3 alloy nanostructures
Authors: Akbulut Melek Kızaloğlu , Harreiß Christina , Löffler Mario , Mayrhofer Karl J. J. , Schöbitz Michael , Bachmann Julien , Spiecker Erdmann , Hock Rainer , Kryschi Carola
Published: September 2020

Proccessible FePt3 alloy nanoparticles with sizes smaller than 50 nm open the avenue to novel magnetic sensor, catalytic and biomedical applications. Our research objective was to establish a highly scalable synthesis technique for production of single-crystalline FePt3 alloy nanoparticles. We have elaborated a one-pot thermal decomposition technique for the synthesis of superparamagnetic FePt3 nanoparticles (FePt3 NPs) with mean sizes of 10 nm. Subsequent tiron coating provided water solubility of the FePt3 NPs and further processibility as bidental ligands enable binding to catalyst surfaces, smart substrates or biosensors. The chemical composition, structure, morphology, magnetic, optical and crystallographic properties of the FePt3 NPs were examined using high resolution transmission electron microscopy, high-angle annular dark field-scanning transmission electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping, Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection, X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy.
Linking Grazing to Inhibition and Goal-Directed Behaviour in Obesity With and Without Eating Disorder Features
Authors: Heriseanu Andreea I. , Hay Phillipa , Touyz Stephen
Published: September 2020

Recent models of obesity and eating behaviour have implicated both automatic responding to food-related cues and executive functioning in driving dietary choice. This study aimed to relate grazing severity to high weight with and without significant eating disorder features via the effects of inhibition and degree of goal-directed behaviour, in persons with obesity with and without significant eating disorder features compared to healthy controls. Forty-four participants with obesity (43.1% endorsing marked eating disorder features), and 43 healthy-weight age- and sex-matched participants (N= 87; 67.8% female, age = 28.57 (8.70; 18.18–58.34) years, BMI = 29.18 (7.80; 18.65–51.95) kg/m2) completed demographic and eating disorder-related questionnaires, a neuropsychological task of inhibition and an instrumental decision-making task. Bootstrapped serial mediation analyses were performed to examine the effect of group on grazing via goal-directed behaviour and inhibition. While significant differences existed between the groups in terms of inhibition, goal-directed behaviour and grazing severity, the effect of group on grazing severity was not found to be mediated by the degree of behavioural goal-directedness and inhibition.Therefore, :in persons with obesity with or without eating disorder symptoms, putative relationships between a reduced inhibitory profile and/or behaviour that is less flexible and goal-directed and eating behaviours such as grazing, remain unclear.
Limit drift for complex Feigenbaum mappings
Authors: LEVIN GENADI , ŚWIA̧TEK GRZEGORZ
Published: September 2020

We study the dynamics of towers defined by fixed points of renormalization for Feigenbaum polynomials in the complex plane with varying order
$\ell $
of the critical point. It is known that the measure of the Julia set of the Feigenbaum polynomial is positive if and only if almost every point tends to
$0$
under the dynamics of the tower for corresponding
$\ell $
. That in turn depends on the sign of a quantity called the drift. We prove the existence and key properties of absolutely continuous invariant measures for tower dynamics as well as their convergence when
$\ell $
tends to
$\infty $
. We also prove the convergence of the drifts to a finite limit, which can be expressed purely in terms of the limiting tower, which corresponds to a Feigenbaum map with a flat critical point.
Studies on the life cycle ofPleurogenoides wayanadensisShinad & Prasadan, 2018 (Digenea: Pleurogenidae) from the Western Ghats, India
Authors: Prasadan P.K. , Shinad K. , Sherin C. , Arusha K.
Published: September 2020

The life cycle ofPleurogenoides wayanadensisShinad & Prasadan, 2018, infecting the frogsHoplobatrachus tigerinusandEuphlyctis cyanophlyctis, is elucidated in this study. All the life cycle stages from egg to egg-producing adults were elucidated under natural conditions and successfully established in the laboratory. The life cycle took about 58 to 65 days for completion. Miracidia were released by teasing the eggs with fine needles. Sporocysts were found in the freshwater snail,Bithynia (Digoniostoma) pulchella, collected from paddy fields at Payode, Western Ghats, Wayanad region, in the months of October and November 2019. Cercariae were of the virgulate xiphidiocercous type. Metacercariae were recovered from the eyes of the damselfly naiads of the speciesIschnurasp. andCoperasp., and the thorax and abdomen of the dragonfly naiads,Orthetrumsp. The metacercariae showed progenetic development. The growth and development of the metacercariae in the naiads that were exposed to cercariae, and development of the trematode in frogs that were force-fed with encysted metacercariae, have been studied at regular intervals. The prepatent period is 14–19 days. The present life cycle study of aPleurogenoidesspp. forms the seventh report from the world, fourth report from India and the third from Kerala.
The outcomes of endoscopic myringoplasty: elevating a tympanomeatal flap or not
Authors: Wang D , Wang W
Published: September 2020

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the differences between the no tympanomeatal flap approach and the tympanomeatal flap approach in endoscopic myringoplasty.

Method

A total of 132 patients with tympanic membrane perforation were randomly divided into two groups: the no tympanomeatal flap approach group (group A, 56 ears) and the tympanomeatal flap approach group (group B, 76 ears). A comparison between the two groups was made.

Results

The average operation time of group A was 36.00 ± 5.24 minutes, which was significantly shorter than that of group B, which was 43.89 ± 4.57 minutes (p = 0.002). The blood loss of group A was 5.08 ± 1.83 ml, which was significantly less than that of group B (9.67 ± 2.29 ml; p < 0.001). There were no differences in the degree of hearing improvement, the rate of hearing improvement, the dry ear time (when the external auditory canal and the operating cavity were dry) after operation and the success rate of tympanic membrane repair when compared between the two groups.

Conclusion

Compared with group B, group A (no tympanomeatal flap approach) can achieve the same effect but has the advantages of a shorter operation time and less blood loss during the operation.
NONPARAMETRIC EULER EQUATION IDENTIFICATION AND ESTIMATION
Authors: Escanciano Juan Carlos , Hoderlein Stefan , Lewbel Arthur , Linton Oliver , Srisuma Sorawoot
Published: September 2020

We consider nonparametric identification and estimation of pricing kernels, or equivalently of marginal utility functions up to scale, in consumption-based asset pricing Euler equations. Ours is the first paper to prove nonparametric identification of Euler equations under low level conditions (without imposing functional restrictions or just assuming completeness). We also propose a novel nonparametric estimator based on our identification analysis, which combines standard kernel estimation with the computation of a matrix eigenvector problem. Our estimator avoids the ill-posed inverse issues associated with nonparametric instrumental variables estimators. We derive limiting distributions for our estimator and for relevant associated functionals. A Monte Carlo experiment shows a satisfactory finite sample performance for our estimators.
PERSONIFICANDO EL PODER LEJOS DE LA CAPITAL. LOS DELEGADOS DE LOS K'UHUL KAAN AJAWTAAK
Authors: Mumary Farto Pablo Alberto
Published: September 2020

Siguiendo los registros jeroglíficos de los que disponemos, pareciera que los gobernantes del glifo emblema de la cabeza de serpiente, asentados primero en Dzibanche y posteriormente en Calakmul, establecieron una organización político-social basada en la rígida autoridad del k'uhul ajaw que encabezaba la dinastía. Sin embargo, considerando la amplia distribución de referencias que indican eventos llevados a cabo en diferentes entidades políticas bajo la supervisión del gobernante de Kaan y las alusiones a distintas entidades corporativas fuera de la capital pero vinculadas al glifo emblema dinástico, sugiero una posible organización política establecida desde la entidad capital pero ejecutada en “la periferia” por distintos grupos de poder. Con base en lo anterior, propongo que éstos eran los verdaderos encargados de mantener los preceptos decretados desde la cabecera dinástica sin necesidad de la presencia física del k'uhul Kaan ajaw.
NEW PERSPECTIVES ON HENRY LUDWELL MOORE’S USE OF HARMONIC ANALYSIS
Authors: Turner Paul , Wood Justine
Published: September 2020

This paper reconsiders the contribution of Henry Ludwell Moore to dynamic economics through the use of harmonic analysis. We show that Moore’s analysis is innovative in its use of the Fourier transformation for the identification of cycles with different periodicities. This enables Moore to identify cycles of longer length with more precision than would be the case for the standard methodology. We are able to replicate the main features of his results and confirm the existence of a rainfall cycle with a periodicity similar to that of the business cycle (eight years). However, we find that the evidence for a longer (thirty-three-year) rainfall cycle is weaker than Moore indicates. We also argue that a central theme of Moore’s analysis—the relationship among rainfall, agricultural productivity, and the business cycle—marks an early precursor of the “real business cycle” approach. George Stigler’s (1962) dismissal of Moore’s work on cycles as “a complete failure” is therefore, in our opinion, unfair. Instead, we argue that, although his work is certainly flawed, it nevertheless deserves a place in both the history of business cycle theory and empirical economics.
Language exposure and phonological short-term memory as predictors of majority language vocabulary and phonological awareness in dual language learning
Authors: Vaahtoranta Enni , Suggate Sebastian , Lenhart Jan , Lenhard Wolfgang
Published: September 2020

Previous work suggests that child-internal and -external factors influence dual language learning (DLL), although more work is needed – to clarify the role of phonological short-term memory (PSTM) and language exposure in particular. Accordingly, we investigated the role of language exposure and PSTM in phonological awareness and receptive and expressive vocabulary development in the majority language in DLL. PSTM was measured with both a language-specific and language-universal nonword repetition task (NWR). Sixty-five DLL preschoolers were assessed twice, five months apart. Results show that maternal majority-language proficiency as well as language-specific and universal NWR predicted all outcomes, whereas length of exposure to the majority language only predicted receptive and expressive vocabulary. Current exposure did not predict any outcome. The findings extend previous research on child-internal and child-external factors as predictors of DLL to phonological awareness and language-universal NWR.
Bringing fish to the shore: fishermen’s knowledge and the anti-whaling protests in Norway and Japan, 1900–12
Authors: Holm Fynn
Published: September 2020

This article discusses the largely forgotten anti-whaling protests in Norway and Japan at the beginning of the twentieth century. It shows that fishing communities around the world protested almost simultaneously against the introduction of Norwegian-style industrial whaling, even though the protesting fishermen did not compete for the same marine resources as the whalers. Analysing Norwegian and Japanese fishermen’s knowledge reveals that whales played a crucial part in pre-industrial coastal fishing, as they were partly responsible for bringing fish closer to the shore. The article argues that fishing communities around the world had developed ‘coeval moral ecologies’, believing that the killing and flensing of whales caused environmental pollution, hurting coastal flora and fauna, and thus ultimately diminishing the coastal ecosystem on which the fishing communities depended. Fisheries scientists, politicians, and whalers have, however, downplayed this fishermen’s knowledge by presenting allegedly unbiased scientific data that did not indicate a relationship between whaling and fishing.
Evelyn Underhill and the Christian Social Movement
Authors: Malay Jessica L.
Published: September 2020

Evelyn Underhill is mainly known for her work in mysticism and spirituality. This article explores the political dimension of her work and argues her early work in mysticism and later work in spiritual direction and retreat work underpinned her engagement with leading figures in the interwar Anglican church and their social agenda. During this period Underhill worked closely with William Temple, Charles Raven, Walter Frere and Lucy Gardner among others. In the interwar years she contributed in important ways to the Church of England Congresses, and the Conference on Christian Politics, Employment and Citizenship (COPEC) initiative. She challenged what she called the anthropocentric tendency in the Christian Social movement and insisted on the centrality of the spiritual life for any effective social reform. Underhill worked to engage the general public, as well as Christian communities, in a spiritual life that she saw as essential to the efforts of individuals and organizations seeking to alleviate contemporary social harms.
Looking for the Past: History and Change in Traditional Music Studies in Chile (1990–2020)
Authors: SPENCER-ESPINOSA CHRISTIAN
Published: September 2020

This article presents a historical overview of traditional music studies in Chile, pointing out some of the main achievements and problems. It describes the origins of traditional music studies through the establishment of the Chilean Folk Society in 1909 and then offers a periodisation of studies during the twentieth century, followed by a critical review of the preference for facts over processes. Finally, it explores the renaissance of traditional music studies during the last 30 years (1990–2020), analysing 123 dissertations about traditional music and the concepts of “tradition” they employ. It concludes that Chilean folk studies have changed from a scientific to a humanistic approach, using the idea of tradition as a comprehensive concept and the idea of folklore as behaviour or performance.
Quantitative Mapping of the East Australian Current Encroachment Using Time Series Himawari‐8 Sea Surface Temperature Data
Authors: Xie Senyang , Huang Zhi , Wang Xiao Hua , Leplastrier Aero
Published: September 2020

The East Australian Current (EAC) is a highly dynamic western boundary current that exerts significant influences on the marine ecosystem off southeast margin of Australia. For the first time, a quantitative mapping of the EAC system was conducted using Himawari‐8 sea surface temperature data and a Topographic Position Index (TPI)‐based image processing technique. The validation using Bluelink ReANalysis data suggested good reliability of our mapping results. Subsequent quantitative examination provides new insights into the EAC's cross‐shelf movement which is a driving force of adjacent slope‐shelf circulations. Along the coast of New South Wales (NSW), large‐scale and high‐frequency EAC encroachment was observed, being every 60–80 days upstream (30–32°S) and every 90–100 days downstream (33–35°S), which is associated with the EAC's intrinsic oscillation and eddy shedding. Downstream, the EAC encroachment exhibits a 20‐day longer period and a double amplitude. Such dephasing is most likely due to the abrupt change of regime at the EAC separation point (32–33°S). Upstream, the EAC encroachment also exhibits seasonality, being 10–15 km closer to the coast in austral summer, which is due to the seasonal EAC broadening. Higher‐frequency (16–32 days) and smaller‐magnitude EAC intrusion was observed along the entire NSW coast (28–37°S), which is possibly associated with EAC's meanders and frontal eddies. In the extension zone (37.30–44°S), we observed maximum EAC encroachment in summer, which is an expression of the seasonal boundary flow off eastern Tasmania. A data set of EAC encroachment (2015–2017) is available (see Data Availability Statement).
The Evolution of Icelandic Volcano Emissions, as Observed From Space in the Era of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS)
Authors: Flower Verity J. B. , Kahn Ralph A.
Published: September 2020

Volcanoes are natural phenomena that have global environmental impacts. Satellite remote sensing can help classify volcanic eruptions and track the dispersion of emissions. We assess multiple volcanic eruptions in Iceland (Eyjafjallajökull 2010, Grímsvötn 2011, and Holuhraun 2014–2015), using space‐borne observations to infer information about the geological dynamics of each volcano and the properties and evolution of plume particles. We derive qualitative constraints on plume particle size, shape, and light‐absorption characteristics from Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) space‐borne imagery. With the MISR Research Algorithm (RA), we distinguish sulfate/water‐dominated volcanic plumes from Holuhraun and ash‐dominated plumes from Eyjafjallajökull and Grímsvötn, and even identify subtler changes in ash particle size and light‐absorption within plumes. Additionally, plume heights are retrieved geometrically from MISR. These are combined with surface thermal anomalies from the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and SO2 concentrations derived from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to synthesize eruption remote‐sensing chronologies. Signals related to differences in particle properties are identified and linked to evolving magma composition at Eyjafjallajökull. The results illustrate the potential to distinguish qualitative differences in eruptive magma composition based on particle light absorption and plume profile from remote‐sensing. For the sulfate‐rich Holuhraun plumes, the influence of aerosol hygroscopic growth during transport is inferred from such data. Three processes appear to dominate plume evolution in Iceland: downwind aerosol formation, particle hydration, and particle deposition. This work demonstrates enhanced MISR capabilities and, more generally, remote‐sensing analysis that can be applied globally, especially where suborbital volcano observations are limited or entirely absent.
Iron Speciation in PM2.5 From Urban, Agriculture, and Mixed Environments in Colorado, USA
Authors: Salazar Joseph R. , Pfotenhauer David J. , Leresche Frank , Rosario‐Ortiz Fernando L. , Hannigan Michael P. , Fakra Sirine C. , Majestic Brian J.
Published: September 2020

Atmospheric iron solubility varies depending on whether the particles are collected in rural or urban areas, with urban areas showing increased iron solubility. In this study, we investigate if the iron species present in different environments affects its ultimate solubility. Field data are presented from the Platte River Air Pollution and Photochemistry Experiment (PRAPPE), aimed at understanding the interactions between organic carbon and trace elements in atmospheric particulate matter (PM). 24‐hr PM2.5 samples were collected during the summer and winter (2016–2017), at three different sites on the Eastern Colorado plains: an urban, agricultural, and a mixed site. Downtown Denver had an average total and water‐soluble iron air concentration of 181.2 and 7.7 ng m−3, respectively. Platteville, the mixed site, had an average of total iron of 76.1 ng m−3, with average water‐soluble iron concentration of 9.1 ng m−3. Jackson State Park (rural/agricultural) had the lowest total iron average of 31.5 ng m−3 and the lowest water‐soluble iron average, 1.3 ng m−3. The iron oxidation state and chemical speciation of 97 samples across all sites and seasons was probed by X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. The most common iron phases observed were almandine (Fe₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂) (Denver 21%, Platteville 16%, Jackson 24%), magnetite (Fe3O4) (Denver 9%, Platteville 4%, Jackson 5%) and Fe (III)dextran (Denver 5%, Platteville 13%, Jackson 5%), a surrogate for Fe‐organic complexes. Additionally, native iron [Fe(0)] was found in significant amounts at all sites. No correlation was observed between iron solubility and iron oxidation state or chemical speciation.
Temporal tracking of quantum-dot apatite across in vitro mycorrhizal networks shows how host demand can influence fungal nutrient transfer strategies
Authors: van’t Padje Anouk , Oyarte Galvez Loreto , Klein Malin , Hink Mark A , Postma Marten , Shimizu Thomas , Kiers E Toby
Published: September 2020

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi function as conduits for underground nutrient transport. While the fungal partner is dependent on the plant host for its carbon (C) needs, the amount of nutrients that the fungus allocates to hosts can vary with context. Because fungal allocation patterns to hosts can change over time, they have historically been difficult to quantify accurately. We developed a technique to tag rock phosphorus (P) apatite with fluorescent quantum-dot (QD) nanoparticles of three different colors, allowing us to study nutrient transfer in an in vitro fungal network formed between two host roots of different ages and different P demands over a 3-week period. Using confocal microscopy and raster image correlation spectroscopy, we could distinguish between P transfer from the hyphae to the roots and P retention in the hyphae. By tracking QD-apatite from its point of origin, we found that the P demands of the younger root influenced both: (1) how the fungus distributed nutrients among different root hosts and (2) the storage patterns in the fungus itself. Our work highlights that fungal trade strategies are highly dynamic over time to local conditions, and stresses the need for precise measurements of symbiotic nutrient transfer across both space and time.
COPII mitigates ER stress by promoting formation of ER whorls
Authors: Xu Fang , Du Wanqing , Zou Qin , Wang Yuting , Zhang Xin , Xing Xudong , Li Ying , Zhang Dachuan , Wang Huimin , Zhang Wenhao , Hu Xinyao , Liu Xin , Liu Xiaoling , Zhang Shaojin , Yu Jinqiang , Fang Jianhuo , Li Fajin , Zhou Ying , Yue Tieqiang , Mi Na , Deng Haiteng , Zou Peng , Chen Xiaowei , Yang Xuerui , Yu Li
Published: September 2020

Cells mitigate ER stress through the unfolded protein response (UPR). Here, we report formation of ER whorls as an effector mechanism of the ER stress response. We found that strong ER stress induces formation of ER whorls, which contain ER-resident proteins such as the Sec61 complex and PKR-like ER kinase (PERK). ER whorl formation is dependent on PERK kinase activity and is mediated by COPII machinery, which facilitates ER membrane budding to form tubular-vesicular ER whorl precursors. ER whorl precursors then go through Sec22b-mediated fusion to form ER whorls. We further show that ER whorls contribute to ER stress-induced translational inhibition by possibly modulating PERK activity and by sequestering translocons in a ribosome-free environment. We propose that formation of ER whorls reflects a new type of ER stress response that controls inhibition of protein translation.
Understanding salt tolerance mechanism using transcriptome profiling and de novo assembly of wild tomato Solanum chilense
Authors: Kashyap S. P. , Prasanna H. C. , Kumari Nishi , Mishra Pallavi , Singh B.
Published: September 2020

Soil salinity affects the plant growth and productivity detrimentally, but Solanum chilense, a wild relative of cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), is known to have exceptional salt tolerance. It has precise adaptations against direct exposure to salt stress conditions. Hence, a better understanding of the mechanism to salinity stress tolerance by S. chilense can be accomplished by comprehensive gene expression studies. In this study 1-month-old seedlings of S. chilense and S. lycopersicum were subjected to salinity stress through application of sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. Through RNA-sequencing here we have studied the differences in the gene expression patterns. A total of 386 million clean reads were obtained through RNAseq analysis using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. Clean reads were further assembled de novo into a transcriptome dataset comprising of 514,747 unigenes with N50 length of 578 bp and were further aligned to the public databases. Genebank non-redundant (Nr), Viridiplantae, Gene Ontology (GO), KOG, and KEGG databases classification suggested enrichment of these unigenes in 30 GO categories, 26 KOG, and 127 pathways, respectively. Out of 265,158 genes that were differentially expressed in response to salt treatment, 134,566 and 130,592 genes were significantly up and down-regulated, respectively. Upon placing all the differentially expressed genes (DEG) in known signaling pathways, it was evident that most of the DEGs involved in cytokinin, ethylene, auxin, abscisic acid, gibberellin, and Ca2+ mediated signaling pathways were up-regulated. Furthermore, GO enrichment analysis was performed using REVIGO and up-regulation of multiple genes involved in various biological processes in chilense under salinity were identified. Through pathway analysis of DEGs, “Wnt signaling pathway” was identified as a novel pathway for the response to the salinity stress. Moreover, key genes for salinity tolerance, such as genes encoding proline and arginine metabolism, ROS scavenging system, transporters, osmotic regulation, defense and stress response, homeostasis and transcription factors were not only salt-induced but also showed higher expression in S. chilense as compared to S. lycopersicum. Thus indicating that these genes may have an important role in salinity tolerance in S. chilense. Overall, the results of this study improve our understanding on possible molecular mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in plants in general and tomato in particular.
Meta-analysis of QTL reveals the genetic control of yield-related traits and seed protein content in pea
Authors: Klein Anthony , Houtin Hervé , Rond-Coissieux Céline , Naudet-Huart Myriam , Touratier Michael , Marget Pascal , Burstin Judith
Published: September 2020

Pea is one of the most important grain legume crops in temperate regions worldwide. Improving pea yield is a critical breeding target. Nine inter-connected pea recombinant inbred line populations were evaluated in nine environments at INRAE Dijon, France and genotyped using the GenoPea 13.2 K SNP array. Each population has been evaluated in two to four environments. A multi-population Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis for seed weight per plant (SW), seed number per plant (SN), thousand seed weight (TSW) and seed protein content (SPC) was done. QTL were then projected on the multi-population consensus map and a meta-analysis of QTL was performed. This analysis identified 17 QTL for SW, 16 QTL for SN, 35 QTL for TSW and 21 QTL for SPC, shedding light on trait relationships. These QTL were resolved into 27 metaQTL. Some of them showed small confidence intervals of less than 2 cM encompassing less than one hundred underlying candidate genes. The precision of metaQTL and the potential candidate genes reported in this study enable their use for marker-assisted selection and provide a foundation towards map-based identification of causal polymorphisms.
Motility patterns of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes correlate with the efficiency of parasite invasion in vitro
Authors: Arias-del-Angel Jorge A. , Santana-Solano Jesús , Santillán Moisés , Manning-Cela Rebeca G.
Published: September 2020

Numerous works have demonstrated that trypanosomatid motility is relevant for parasite replication and sensitivity. Nonetheless, although some findings indirectly suggest that motility also plays an important role during infection, this has not been extensively investigated. This work is aimed at partially filling this void for the case of Trypanosoma cruzi. After recording swimming T. cruzi trypomastigotes (CL Brener strain) and recovering their individual trajectories, we statistically analyzed parasite motility patterns. We did this with parasites that swim alone or above monolayer cultures of different cell lines. Our results indicate that T. cruzi trypomastigotes change their motility patterns when they are in the presence of mammalian cells, in a cell-line dependent manner. We further performed infection experiments in which each of the mammalian cell cultures were incubated for 2 h together with trypomastigotes, and measured the corresponding invasion efficiency. Not only this parameter varied from cell line to cell line, but it resulted to be positively correlated with the corresponding intensity of the motility pattern changes. Together, these results suggest that T. cruzi trypomastigotes are capable of sensing the presence of mammalian cells and of changing their motility patterns accordingly, and that this might increase their invasion efficiency.
Inverted ILM-flap techniques variants for macular hole surgery: randomized clinical trial to compare retinal sensitivity and fixation stability
Authors: Cacciamani Andrea , Gelso Aldo , Di Nicola Marta , Scarinci Fabio , Ripandelli Guido , Costagliola Ciro , Rossi Tommaso
Published: September 2020

To report closure rate, Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), Retinal Sensitivity (RS) and Fixation Stability (FS) of idiopathic Macular Holes (MH) randomized to Cover Group (CG) or Fill Group (FG) of the Inverted Internal Limiting Membrane (ILM) flap surgical procedure. Twenty-eight patients were randomized (1:1) to receive a vitrectomy with either Cover or Fill ILM flap technique. All patients underwent BCVA, RS and FS assessment at baseline, 1-month and 3-months after surgery. MH closed in all patients. BCVA rose from 20/100 (baseline) to 20/33 (1-month) in both groups, to 20/28 in CG versus 20/33 in FG (3-months) (p < 0.05). The central 4° RS rose from 11.5 and 12 dB to 19 and 19.5 dB (1-month) and to 22 and 20 dB (3-months), respectively, in CG and FG (p < 0.001). The central 10° RS rose from 11 and 15 dB to 22 and 20 dB (1-month) and to 23 and 20 dB (3-months), respectively, in CG and FG (p < 0.001). FS increased significantly more in CG. CG improved significantly more than FG in terms of BCVA, RS and FS. The average MH diameter was relatively small (397 µm); larger MHs may behave differently.

Trial registration: Trial Registry: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Identifier: NCT04135638. Registration date 22/10/2019.
A-Situ: a computational framework for affective labeling from psychological behaviors in real-life situations
Authors: Kim Byung Hyung , Jo Sungho , Choi Sunghee
Published: September 2020

This paper presents a computational framework for providing affective labels to real-life situations, called A-Situ. We first define an affective situation, as a specific arrangement of affective entities relevant to emotion elicitation in a situation. Then, the affective situation is represented as a set of labels in the valence-arousal emotion space. Based on psychological behaviors in response to a situation, the proposed framework quantifies the expected emotion evoked by the interaction with a stimulus event. The accumulated result in a spatiotemporal situation is represented as a polynomial curve called the affective curve, which bridges the semantic gap between cognitive and affective perception in real-world situations. We show the efficacy of the curve for reliable emotion labeling in real-world experiments, respectively concerning (1) a comparison between the results from our system and existing explicit assessments for measuring emotion, (2) physiological distinctiveness in emotional states, and (3) physiological characteristics correlated to continuous labels. The efficiency of affective curves to discriminate emotional states is evaluated through subject-dependent classification performance using bicoherence features to represent discrete affective states in the valence-arousal space. Furthermore, electroencephalography-based statistical analysis revealed the physiological correlates of the affective curves.
Systemic induction of phosphatidylinositol-based signaling in leaves of arbuscular mycorrhizal rice plants
Authors: Campo Sonia , San Segundo Blanca
Published: September 2020

Most land plants form beneficial associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi which improves mineral nutrition, mainly phosphorus, in the host plant in exchange for photosynthetically fixed carbon. Most of our knowledge on the AM symbiosis derives from dicotyledonous species. We show that inoculation with the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae stimulates growth and increases Pi content in leaves of rice plants (O. sativa, cv Loto, ssp japonica). Although rice is a host for AM fungi, the systemic transcriptional responses to AM inoculation, and molecular mechanisms underlying AM symbiosis in rice remain largely elusive. Transcriptomic analysis identified genes systemically regulated in leaves of mycorrhizal rice plants, including genes with functions associated with the biosynthesis of phospholipids and non-phosphorus lipids (up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively). A coordinated regulation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of phospholipids and inositol polyphosphates, and genes involved in hormone biosynthesis and signaling (jasmonic acid, ethylene) occurs in leaves of mycorrhizal rice. Members of gene families playing a role in phosphate starvation responses and remobilization of Pi were down-regulated in leaves of mycorrhizal rice. These results demonstrated that the AM symbiosis is accompanied by systemic transcriptional responses, which are potentially important to maintain a stable symbiotic relationship in rice plants.
Machine learning assistive rapid, label-free molecular phenotyping of blood with two-dimensional NMR correlational spectroscopy
Authors: Peng Weng Kung , Ng Tian-Tsong , Loh Tze Ping
Published: September 2020

Translation of the findings in basic science and clinical research into routine practice is hampered by large variations in human phenotype. Developments in genotyping and phenotyping, such as proteomics and lipidomics, are beginning to address these limitations. In this work, we developed a new methodology for rapid, label-free molecular phenotyping of biological fluids (e.g., blood) by exploiting the recent advances in fast and highly efficient multidimensional inverse Laplace decomposition technique. We demonstrated that using two-dimensional T1-T2 correlational spectroscopy on a single drop of blood (<5 μL), a highly time- and patient-specific ‘molecular fingerprint’ can be obtained in minutes. Machine learning techniques were introduced to transform the NMR correlational map into user-friendly information for point-of-care disease diagnostic and monitoring. The clinical utilities of this technique were demonstrated through the direct analysis of human whole blood in various physiological (e.g., oxygenated/deoxygenated states) and pathological (e.g., blood oxidation, hemoglobinopathies) conditions.
Biosensors for detecting viral and bacterial infections using host biomarkers: a review
Authors: Qureshi Anjum , Niazi Javed H.
Published: September 2020

A schematic diagram showing multiple modes of biosensing platforms for the diagnosis of bacterial or viral infections.
Identification of synthesisable crystalline phases of water – a prototype for the challenges of computational materials design
Authors: Engel Edgar A.
Published: September 2020

We discuss the identification of experimentally realisable crystalline phases of water to outline and contextualise some of the diverse building blocks of a computational materials design process.
Designing the disorder: the kinetics of nonisothermal crystallization of the orientationally disordered crystalline phase in a nematic mesogen
Authors: Rozwadowski Tomasz , Jasiurkowska-Delaporte Małgorzata , Massalska-Arodź Maria , Yamamura Yasuhisa , Saito Kazuya
Published: September 2020

Controlling the orientational and positional order of molecules and nonisothermal crystallization mechanisms in the disordered phase.
Kinetic study of the OH + HO2 → H2O + O2 reaction using ring polymer molecular dynamics and quantum dynamics
Authors: Liu Yang , Song Hongwei , Li Jun
Published: September 2020

The kinetics of the title reaction is studied by running the ring polymer molecular dynamics and quantum dynamics on an accurate potential energy surface.
A density functional theoretical study on the stability of Pt clusters in MOF-808
Authors: Song Xiaohui , Mei Donghai
Published: September 2020

A study on the stability of metal nanoclusters over metal–organic frameworks.
A copper complex formed with neurokinin B: binding stoichiometry, redox properties, self-assembly and cytotoxicity
Authors: Huang Yaliang , Xia Ning , Chen Miao , Yang Ping , Liu Lin , Wang Jianxiu
Published: September 2020

The tachykinin neuropeptide of neurokinin B (NKB) is a copper-binding amyloid peptide with important roles in the regulation of physiological functions and pathophysiological processes in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In this work, the formation of a NKB–Cu2+ complex in a 1 : 1 stoichiometry was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The self-assembly of NKB and its mutant species was investigated by Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay and atomic force microscopy (AFM), and at the same time, the effect of Cu2+ on the aggregation of NKB was studied. As evidenced by cyclic voltammetry, the redox potential of NKB–Cu2+ was determined to be 0.77 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). It has been demonstrated that NKB at low concentrations exerts its neuroprotective function by inhibiting Cu2+-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA). In comparison with equivalent Cu2+, the peptide–Cu2+ aggregates aggravated the viability of PC-12 cells more seriously in the absence of AA. These results should be extremely valuable for understanding the NKB/Cu2+ interactions and the toxicity mechanism of Cu2+ associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
Y-shaped potential third-order nonlinear optical material – 3-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-5-methyl hexanoic acid: an analysis of structural, spectroscopic and docking studies
Authors: Poojith Nuthalapati , Potla Krishna Murthy , Osório Francisco A. P. , Valverde Clodoaldo , Vankayalapati Suneetha , Suchetan P. A. , Raja M.
Published: September 2020

The merit of this work is that it has clearly established the structure and the nonlinear optical properties relationship of the title molecule and it could be helpful for developing new nonlinear optical materials.
Hexagonal tungsten oxides with large bandgaps synthesized by a chemical substitution method
Authors: Park Geonju , Ok Kang Min
Published: September 2020

A novel hexagonal tungsten oxide designed by a chemical substitution method, NH4(GaF2)3(SeO3)2, exhibits the largest bandgap among all known phase-matchable NLO selenite compounds.
C–O/C–S difunctionalized benzene derivatives via multicomponent coupling of tetraynes
Authors: Yao Liangliang , Hu Qiong , Lei Yu , Bao Li , Hu Yimin
Published: September 2020

C–O/C–S difunctionalization of fused highly substituted benzene derivatives was conducted via the multicomponent coupling reaction of tetraynes, sulfoxides, and cyclopropenones.
Understanding the crystal structure-dependent electrochemical capacitance of spinel and rock-salt Ni–Co oxides via density function theory calculations
Authors: Sun Xuan , Sun Jinfeng , Guo Lingzhi , Hou Linrui , Yuan Changzhou
Published: September 2020

The crystal structure dependent pseudocapacitance of binary spinel and rock-salt Ni–Co oxides is unveiled via the density function theory calculations, along with experimental evaluation.
Synthesis and biological activities of novel trifluoromethylpyridine amide derivatives containing sulfur moieties
Authors: Guo S. X. , He F. , Dai A. L. , Zhang R. F. , Chen S. H. , Wu J.
Published: September 2020

Novel trifluoromethylpyridine amide derivatives containing sulfur moieties were synthesized, which exhibited good antibacterial and insecticidal activities for potential crop protection agents.
Exploring the impact of the framing of a laboratory experiment on the nature of student argumentation
Authors: Petritis Steven J. , Kelley Colleen , Talanquer Vicente
Published: September 2020

Research on student argumentation in chemistry laboratories has mainly focused on evaluating the quality of students’ arguments and analyzing the structure of such arguments (i.e. claims, evidence, and rationale). Despite advances in these areas, little is known about the impact of activity framing on the nature of student argumentation in laboratory settings. In this research study, we analyzed the arguments generated by college organic chemistry students working on a substitution reaction experiment that was framed in two distinct ways: predict-verify and observe-infer. The arguments constructed by students in their post-laboratory reports under each laboratory frame were characterized by paying attention to both domain-specific and domain-general features. Our analysis revealed significant differences in the chemical concepts and ideas that students under the two conditions invoked, as well as in the level of integration, specificity, alignment, and type of reasoning observed within and across different argument components. Our findings highlight the importance of paying attention to how experiments are framed in terms of the goals, procedures, information, and tools available to students as these decisions can have a major impact on the nature of the claims students make, their use of evidence, and the approach to reasoning that they follow.
CO2 green technologies in CO2 capture and direct utilization processes: methanation, reverse water-gas shift, and dry reforming of methane
Authors: Jo Seong Bin , Woo Jin Hyeok , Lee Jong Heon , Kim Tae Young , Kang Hu In , Lee Soo Chool , Kim Jae Chang
Published: September 2020

CO2 green technologies, such as methanation, reverse water-gas shift (rWGS), and dry reforming of methane (DRM) in CO2 capture and direct utilization process are developed using Ni/CaO catal-sorbents.
Investigation of the swollen state of Carbopol molecules in non-aqueous solvents through rheological characterization
Authors: Migliozzi Simona , Meridiano Giovanni , Angeli Panagiota , Mazzei Luca
Published: September 2020

Swelling of Carbopol particles depends on the ionization degree induced by the solvent. In co-solvents, the one with the greatest permeability preferentially penetrates the network yielding the same final dimension obtained with that solvent alone.
Synergistic structures in lyotropic lamellar gels
Authors: Dieterich Sonja , Prévost Sylvain , Dargel Carina , Sottmann Thomas , Giesselmann Frank
Published: September 2020

In lyotropic lamellar gels new synergistic structures are formed if the gel fiber diameter is larger than the lamellar repeat distance.
Effect of Hearing Aid Acclimatization on Speech-in-Noise Perception and Its Relationship With Changes in Auditory Long Latency Responses
Authors: Megha  , Maruthy Sandeep
Published: September 2020

Objective

The study attempted to track speech-in-noise perception and auditory long latency responses (ALLRs) over a period of hearing aid use in naïve hearing aid users. The primary aim was to investigate the relationship of change in speech-in-noise perception with the change in ALLRs.

Method

Thirty adults with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss (clinical group) and 17 adults with normal hearing (control group) in the age range of 23–60 years participated in the study. Syllable identification in noise (SIN) and ALLRs in noise were measured three times (three sessions) over a period of 2 months of hearing aid use.

Results

Results showed a significant increase in SIN and a decrease in the latency of ALLRs in the later sessions compared to the baseline session in the clinical group. However, the changes seen across the three sessions in the control group were not statistically significant. The magnitude of change in ALLRs seen in the clinical group did not significantly correlate with the change in SIN scores seen in them.

Conclusions

The study provides evidence for improvements in speech perception in noise and in processing time of auditory cortical areas with hearing aid acclimatization. However, it is important to note that the improvement in ALLRs does not assure improvement in speech perception in noise.