bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ERICH3 in Primary Cilia Regulates Cilium Formation and the Localisations of Ciliary Transport and Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Proteins
Authors: Alsolami Mona , Kuhns Stefanie , Alsulami Manal , Blacque Oliver E.
Published: November 2019

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is essential for the formation and function of the microtubule-based primary cilium, which acts as a sensory and signalling device at the cell surface. Consisting of IFT-A/B and BBSome cargo adaptors that associate with molecular motors, IFT transports protein into (anterograde IFT) and out of (retrograde IFT) the cilium. In this study, we identify the mostly uncharacterised ERICH3 protein as a component of the mammalian primary cilium. Loss of ERICH3 causes abnormally short cilia and results in the accumulation of IFT-A/B proteins at the ciliary tip, together with reduced ciliary levels of retrograde transport regulators, ARL13B, INPP5E and BBS5. We also show that ERICH3 ciliary localisations require ARL13B and BBSome components. Finally, ERICH3 loss causes positive (Smoothened) and negative (GPR161) regulators of sonic hedgehog signaling (Shh) to accumulate at abnormally high levels in the cilia of pathway-stimulated cells. Together, these findings identify ERICH3 as a novel component of the primary cilium that regulates cilium length and the ciliary levels of Shh signaling molecules. We propose that ERICH3 functions within retrograde IFT-associated pathways to remove signaling proteins from cilia.
The Resistome, Mobilome, Virulome and Phylogenomics of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Clinical Isolates from Pretoria, South Africa
Authors: Mbelle Nontombi Marylucy , Feldman Charles , Osei Sekyere John , Maningi Nontuthuko Excellent , Modipane Lesedi , Essack Sabiha Yusuf
Published: November 2019

Antibiotic-resistantEscherichia coliis a common occurrence in food, clinical, community and environmental settings worldwide. The resistome, mobilome, virulome and phylogenomics of 20 multidrug resistant (MDR) clinicalE. coliisolates collected in 2013 from Pretoria, South Africa, were characterised. The isolates were all extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers, harbouring CTX-M (n = 16; 80%), TEM-1B (n = 10; 50%) and OXA (n = 12, 60%) β-lactamases alongside genes mediating resistance to fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines etc. Most resistance determinants were found on contigs containing IncF plasmid replicons and bracketed by composite transposons (Tn3), diverse ISs and class 1 integrons (In13, In54, In369, and In467). Gene cassettes such asblaOXA,dfrA5-psp-aadA2-cmlA1a-aadA1-qacandestX3-psp-aadA2-cmlA1a-aadA1a-qacwere encompassed by Tn3and ISs; several isolates had same or highly similar genomic antibiotic resistance islands. ST131 (n = 10), ST617 (n = 2) and singletons of ST10, ST73, ST95, ST410, ST648, ST665, ST744 and ST998 clones were phylogenetically related to clinical (human and animal) strains from Egypt, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania, and UK. A rich repertoire of virulence genes, includingiss, gad and ihawere identified. MDRE. coliharbouring chromosomal and plasmid-borne resistance genes in same and multiple clones exist in South Africa, which is very worrying for clinical epidemiology and infectious diseases management.
Halszkaraptor escuilliei and the evolution of the paravian bauplan
Authors: Brownstein Chase D.
Published: November 2019

The evolution of birds from dinosaurs is a subject that has received great attention among vertebrate paleontologists. Nevertheless, the early evolution of the paravians, the group that contains birds and their closest non-avian dinosaur relatives, remains very poorly known. Even the most basal members of one paravian lineage, the Dromaeosauridae, already show a body plan that differs substantially from their closest non-paravian relatives. Recently, the dromaeosauridHalszkaraptor escuillieiwas described from the Cretaceous of Mongolia.Halszkaraptorpossesses numerous unserrated premaxillary teeth, a platyrostral rostrum with a developed neurovascular system, an elongate neck, bizarrely-proportioned forearms, and a foreword-shifted center of mass, differing markedly from other paravians. A reevaluation of the anatomy, taphonomy, environmental setting, and phylogenetic position ofH.escuillieibased on additional comparisons with other maniraptorans suggests that, rather than indicating it was a semiaquatic piscivore, the body plan of this dinosaur bears features widely distributed among maniraptorans and in some cases intermediate between the conditions in dromaeosaurids and related clades. I find no evidence for a semiaquatic lifestyle inHalszkaraptor. A phylogenetic reevaluation of Halszkaraptorinae places it as the sister clade to Unenlagiinae, indicating the bizarre features of unenlagiines previously interpreted as evidence of piscivory may also represent a mosaic of plesiomorphic, derived, and intermediate features. The anatomy ofHalszkaraptorreveals that dromaeosaurids still possessed many features found in more basal maniraptoran and coelurosaur clades, including some that may have been tied to herbivory. Rather than being a semiaquatic piscavore,Halszkaraptorwas a basal dromaeosaurid showing transitional features.
Band-dependent superconducting gap in SrFe2(As0.65P0.35)2 studied by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy
Authors: Suzuki H. , Kobayashi T. , Miyasaka S. , Okazaki K. , Yoshida T. , Horio M. , Ambolode L. C. C. , Ota Y. , Yamamoto H. , Shin S. , Hashimoto M. , Lu D. H. , Shen Z.-X. , Tajima S. , Fujimori A.
Published: November 2019

The isovalent-substituted iron pnictide compound SrFe2(As1−xPx)2 exhibits multiple evidence for nodal superconductivity via various experimental probes, such as the penetration depth, nuclear magnetic resonance and specific heat measurements. The direct identification of the nodal superconducting (SC) gap structure is challenging, partly because the presence of nodes is not protected by symmetry but instead caused by an accidental sign change of the order parameter, and also because of the three-dimensionality of the electronic structure. We have studied the SC gaps of SrFe2(As0.65P0.35)2 in three-dimensional momentum space by synchrotron and laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The three hole Fermi surfaces (FSs) at the zone center have SC gaps with different magnitudes, whereas the SC gaps of the electron FSs at the zone corner are almost isotropic and kz-independent. As a possible nodal SC gap structure, we propose that the SC gap of the outer hole FS changes sign around the Z-X [(0, 0, 2π) − (π, π, 2π)] direction.
Chemotherapy-induced neuroinflammation is associated with disrupted colonic and bacterial homeostasis in female mice
Authors: Loman B. R. , Jordan K. R. , Haynes B. , Bailey M. T. , Pyter L. M.
Published: November 2019

Chemotherapy treatment negatively affects the nervous and immune systems and alters gastrointestinal function and microbial composition. Outside of the cancer field, alterations in commensal bacteria and immune function have been implicated in behavioral deficits; however, the extent to which intestinal changes are related to chemotherapy-associated behavioral comorbidities is not yet known. Thus, this study identified concurrent changes in behavior, central and peripheral immune activation, colon histology, and bacterial community structure in mice treated with paclitaxel chemotherapy. In paclitaxel-treated mice, increased fatigue and decreased cognitive performance occurred in parallel with reduced microglia immunoreactivity, increased circulating chemokine expression (CXCL1), as well as transient increases in pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine (Il-1β, Tnfα, Il-6, and Cxcl1) gene expression in the brain. Furthermore, mice treated with paclitaxel had altered colonic bacterial community composition and increased crypt depth. Relative abundances of multiple bacterial taxa were associated with paclitaxel-induced increases in colon mass, spleen mass, and microglia activation. Although microbial community composition was not directly related to available brain or behavioral measures, structural differences in colonic tissue were strongly related to microglia activation in the dentate gyrus and the prefrontal cortex. These data indicate that the chemotherapeutic paclitaxel concurrently affects the gut microbiome, colonic tissue integrity, microglia activation, and fatigue in female mice, thus identifying a novel relationship between colonic tissue integrity and behavioral responses that is not often assessed in studies of the brain-gut-microbiota axis.
Early symptoms and sensations as predictors of lung cancer: a machine learning multivariate model
Authors: Levitsky Adrian , Pernemalm Maria , Bernhardson Britt-Marie , Forshed Jenny , Kölbeck Karl , Olin Maria , Henriksson Roger , Lehtiö Janne , Tishelman Carol , Eriksson Lars E.
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to identify a combination of early predictive symptoms/sensations attributable to primary lung cancer (LC). An interactive e-questionnaire comprised of pre-diagnostic descriptors of first symptoms/sensations was administered to patients referred for suspected LC. Respondents were included in the present analysis only if they later received a primary LC diagnosis or had no cancer; and inclusion of each descriptor required ≥4 observations. Fully-completed data from 506/670 individuals later diagnosed with primary LC (n = 311) or no cancer (n = 195) were modelled with orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS). After analysing 145/285 descriptors, meeting inclusion criteria, through randomised seven-fold cross-validation (six-fold training set: n = 433; test set: n = 73), 63 provided best LC prediction. The most-significant LC-positive descriptors included a cough that varied over the day, back pain/aches/discomfort, early satiety, appetite loss, and having less strength. Upon combining the descriptors with the background variables current smoking, a cold/flu or pneumonia within the past two years, female sex, older age, a history of COPD (positive LC-association); antibiotics within the past two years, and a history of pneumonia (negative LC-association); the resulting 70-variable model had accurate cross-validated test set performance: area under the ROC curve = 0.767 (descriptors only: 0.736/background predictors only: 0.652), sensitivity = 84.8% (73.9/76.1%, respectively), specificity = 55.6% (66.7/51.9%, respectively). In conclusion, accurate prediction of LC was found through 63 early symptoms/sensations and seven background factors. Further research and precision in this model may lead to a tool for referral and LC diagnostic decision-making.
Sirtuin 3 deficiency does not impede digit regeneration in mice
Authors: Busse Emily , Simkin Jennifer , Marrero Luis , Stewart Kennon , Brunauer Regina , Muneoka Ken , Guntur Anyonya , Lacey Michelle , Sammarco Mimi
Published: November 2019

The mitochondrial deacetylase sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is thought to be one of the main contributors to metabolic flexibility–promoting mitochondrial energy production and maintaining homeostasis. In bone, metabolic profiles are tightly regulated and the loss of SIRT3 has deleterious effects on bone volume in vivo and on osteoblast differentiation in vitro. Despite the prominent role of this protein in bone stem cell proliferation, metabolic activity, and differentiation, the importance of SIRT3 for regeneration after bone injury has never been reported. We show here, using the mouse digit amputation model, that SIRT3 deficiency has no impact on the regenerative capacity and architecture of bone and soft tissue. Regeneration occurs in SIRT3 deficient mice in spite of the reduced oxidative metabolic profile of the periosteal cells. These data suggest that bone regeneration, in contrast to homeostatic bone turnover, is not reliant upon active SIRT3, and our results highlight the need to examine known roles of SIRT3 in the context of injury.
Light on the cell cycle of the non-photosynthetic bacterium Ramlibacter tataouinensis
Authors: De Luca Gilles , Fochesato Sylvain , Lavergne Jérôme , Forest Katrina T. , Barakat Mohamed , Ortet Philippe , Achouak Wafa , Heulin Thierry , Verméglio André
Published: November 2019

Ramlibacter tataouinensis TTB310, a non-photosynthetic betaproteobacterium isolated from a semi-arid region of southern Tunisia, forms both rods and cysts. Cysts are resistant to desiccation and divide when water and nutrients are available. Rods are motile and capable of dissemination. Due to the strong correlation between sunlight and desiccation, light is probably an important external signal for anticipating desiccating conditions. Six genes encoding potential light sensors were identified in strain TTB310. Two genes encode for bacteriophytochromes, while the four remaining genes encode for putative blue light receptors. We determined the spectral and photochemical properties of the two recombinant bacteriophytochromes RtBphP1 and RtBphP2. In both cases, they act as sensitive red light detectors. Cyst divisions and a complete cyst-rod-cyst cycle are the main processes in darkness, whereas rod divisions predominate in red or far-red light. Mutant phenotypes caused by the inactivation of genes encoding bacteriophytochromes or heme oxygenase clearly show that both bacteriophytochromes are involved in regulating the rod-rod division. This process could favor rapid rod divisions at sunrise, after dew formation but before the progressive onset of desiccation. Our study provides the first evidence of a light-based strategy evolved in a non-photosynthetic bacterium to exploit scarse water in a desert environment.
KMT2C, a histone methyltransferase, is mutated in a family segregating non-syndromic primary failure of tooth eruption
Authors: Assiry Ali A. , Albalawi Alia M. , Zafar Muhammad S. , Khan Siraj D. , Ullah Anhar , Almatrafi Ahmed , Ramzan Khushnooda , Basit Sulman
Published: November 2019

Primary failure of tooth eruption (PFE) is a rare odontogenic defect and is characterized by failure of eruption of one or more permanent teeth. The aim of the study is to identify the genetic defect in a family with seven affected individuals segregating autosomal dominant non-syndromic PFE. Whole genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping was performed. SNP genotypes were analysed by DominantMapper and multiple shared haplotypes were detected on different chromosomes. Four individuals, including three affected, were exome sequenced. Variants were annotated and data were analysed while considering candidate chromosomal regions. Initial analysis of variants obtained by whole exome sequencing identified damaging variants in C15orf40, EPB41L4A, TMEM232, KMT2C, and FBXW10 genes. Sanger sequencing of all family members confirmed segregation of splice acceptor site variant (c.1013-2 A > G) in the KMT2C gene with the phenotype. KMT2C is considered as a potential candidate gene based on segregation analysis, the absence of variant in the variation databases, the presence of variant in the shared identical by descent (IBD) region and in silico pathogenicity prediction. KMT2C is a histone methyltransferase and recently the role of another member of this family (KMT2D) has been implicated in tooth development. Moreover, protein structures of KMT2C and KMT2D are highly similar. In conclusion, we have identified that the KMT2C gene mutation causes familial non-syndromic PFE. These findings suggest the involvement of KMT2C in the physiological eruption of permanent teeth.
Rituximab protects against development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease after kidney transplantation: a propensity-matched study
Authors: Kim Deok Gie , Lee Juhan , Seo Won Jun , Lee Jae Geun , Kim Beom Seok , Kim Myoung Soo , Kim Soon Il , Kim Yu Seun , Huh Kyu Ha
Published: November 2019

Recent studies have implicated B cells in atherosclerosis and have verified the atheroprotective effect of rituximab. Rituximab is widely used for desensitization in ABO-incompatible or crossmatch-positive kidney transplantation (KT). Using a single-center KT database, we performed propensity-matched analysis to investigate the association between rituximab and posttransplant atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Among 1299 eligible patients, 239 given rituximab induction were matched with 401 controls in a 1:2 propensity score matching process. The cumulative rate of ASCVD during 8 years of follow-up was significantly lower in rituximab-treated patients, compared with matched controls (3.7% vs. 11.2%; P = 0.012). However, all-cause mortality did not differ by group (2.9% vs. 4%; P = 0.943). In multivariable Cox analysis, rituximab proved independently protective of ASCVD (hazard ratio = 0.34, 95% confidence interval: 0.14–0.83). The lower risk of ASCVD seen with rituximab induction reached significance only in patient subsets of diabetes mellitus, pretransplant dialysis, or older age (>50 years). Rituximab induction confers a lower risk of ASCVD during the posttransplant period. This atheroprotective effect appears particularly beneficial in patients whose risk of ASCVD is heightened.
Changes in soil organic carbon and its influencing factors in the growth of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantation in Horqin Sandy Land, Northeast China
Authors: Lei Zeyong , Yu Dongwei , Zhou Fengyan , Zhang Yansong , Yu Deliang , Zhou Yanping , Han Yangang
Published: November 2019

The change of soil organic carbon and its influencing factors after afforestation in sandy land should be taken into account. Here, the factors would be revealed which would influence the SOC dynamics to a depth of 100 cm during the development of Mongolian pine plantations in Horqin sandy land, northeast China. The chronosequence method was used to quantify the change of SOC in vertical distribution and influencing factors following conversion grassland to Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica forest in semi-arid sandy land, northeast China. Then the traditional statistical approaches were used to assessed the influence of the identified factors. Stand age played a major role in SOC dynamics. It took 38 years for SOC in 0–10 cm layer to recover to its initial level after afforestation, and 46 years for 10–20 cm layer. SOC accumulation increased with the age of Mongolian pine plantation. Over-mature forest fully embodied the advantage of SOC accumulation. In addition, the changes of SOC in 0–10 cm layer were also affected by TN, TP, TK and soil moisture, and those below 10 cm soil layers were related to the effects of TN, TP, TK, BD and CS.
Permutation entropy in intraoperative ECoG of brain tumour patients in awake tumour surgery– a robust parameter to separate consciousness from unconsciousness
Authors: Lange Nicole , Schleifer Sophia , Berndt Maria , Jörger Ann-Kathrin , Wagner Arthur , Krieg Sandro M. , Jordan Denis , Bretschneider Martin , Ryang Yu-Mi , Meyer Bernhard , Gempt Jens
Published: November 2019

Awake craniotomies represent an essential opportunity in the case of lesions in eloquent areas. Thus, optimal surveillance of the patient during different stages of sedation, as well as the detection of seizure activity during brain surgery, remains difficult, as skin electrodes for electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis are not applicable in most cases. We assessed the applicability of ECoG to monitor different stages of sedation, as well as the influence of different patient characteristics, such as tumour volume, size, entity, and age or gender on permutation entropy (PeEn). We conducted retrospective analysis of the ECoG data of 16 patients, who underwent awake craniotomies because of left-sided brain tumours at our centre between 2014 and 2016. PeEn could be easily calculated and compared using frontal and parietal cortical electrodes. A comparison of PeEn scores showed significantly higher values in awake patients than in patients under anaesthesia (p ≤ 0.004) and significantly higher ones in the state of transition than under general anaesthesia (p = 0.023). PeEn scores in frontal and parietal leads did not differ significantly, making them both applicable for continuous surveillance during brain surgery. None of the following clinical characteristics showed significant correlation with PeEn scores: tumour volume, WHO grade, first or recurrent tumour, gender, and sex. Being 50 years or older led to significantly lower values in parietal leads but not in frontal leads. ECoG and a consecutive analysis of PeEn are feasible and suitable for the continuous surveillance of patients during awake craniotomies. Hence, the analysis is not influenced by patients’ clinical characteristics.
Laser speckle decorrelation time-based platelet function testing in microfluidic system
Authors: Jeon Hee-Jae , Qureshi Muhammad Mohsin , Lee Seung Yeob , Badadhe Jaya Dilip , Cho Heejoo , Chung Euiheon
Published: November 2019

Platelet aggregation and adhesion are critically involved in both normal hemostasis and thrombosis during vascular injury. Before any surgery, it is important to identify the number of platelets and their functionality to reduce the risk of bleeding; therefore, platelet function testing is a requirement. We introduce a novel evaluation method of assessing platelet function with laser speckle contrast imaging. The speckle decorrelation time (SDT) of the blood flowing through a microfluidic channel chip provides a quantitative measure of platelet aggregation. We compared SDTs of whole blood and platelet-poor blood, i.e., whole blood stripped of its buffy coat region, and found a marked reduction in decorrelation time for platelet-poor blood. The measured SDT of platelet-poor blood was 1.04 ± 0.21 ms, while that of whole blood was 2.64 ± 0.83 ms. To further characterize the sensitivity of our speckle decorrelation time-based platelet function testing (SDT-PFT), we added various agonists involved in platelet aggregation, including adenosine diphosphate (ADP), epinephrine (EPI), and arachidonic acid (AA). In this study, the results show that whole blood with ADP resulted in the largest SDT, followed by whole blood with AA, whole blood with EPI, whole blood without agonist, and platelet-poor blood with or without agonist. These findings show that SDT-PFT has the potential for rapid screening of bleeding disorders and monitoring of anti-platelet therapies with only a small volume of blood.
Prestin kinetics and corresponding frequency dependence augment during early development of the outer hair cell within the mouse organ of Corti
Authors: Bai Jun-Ping , Navaratnam Dhasakumar , Santos-Sacchi Joseph
Published: November 2019

Several studies have documented the early development of OHC electromechanical behavior. The mechanical response (electromotility, eM) and its electrical correlate (nonlinear capacitance, NLC), resulting from prestin’s voltage-sensor charge movement, increase over the course of several postnatal days in altricial animals. They increase until about p18, near the time of peripheral auditory maturity. The correspondence of auditory capabilities and prestin function indicates that mature activity of prestin occurs at this time. One of the major requirements of eM is its responsiveness across auditory frequencies. Here we evaluate the frequency response of prestin charge movement in mice over the course of development up to 8 months. We find that in apical turn OHCs prestin’s frequency response increases during postnatal development and stabilizes when mature hearing is established. The low frequency component of NLC, within in situ explants, agrees with previously reported results on isolated cells. If prestin activity is independent of cochlear place, as might be expected, then these observations suggest that prestin activity somehow influences cochlear amplification at high frequencies in spite of its low pass behavior.
Preparation and characterization of polysaccharide - silica hybrid aerogels
Authors: Horvat Gabrijela , Pantić Milica , Knez Željko , Novak Zoran
Published: November 2019

Hybrid aerogels based on polysaccharides - silica were prepared and characterized. Tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS) was used as inorganic precursor and various polysaccharides (alginate, pectin, xanthan and guar) were used as organic precursors. TMOS was added to polysaccharide aqueous solutions, resulting in stable wet gels. There were no additional chemicals or cross-linkers in the process. Produced wet gels were dried under supercritical conditions with CO2 in order to preserve their structure. The nitrogen adsorption results were compared to pure polysaccharide aerogels, prepared in our previous research. It is shown, that the addition of silica to pectin, xanthan, alginate and guar significantly improved their structural properties, primarily seen in the drastic increase of the surface area. Guar-silica aerogels reached the highest surface area of 679 m2 g−1. The thermal properties, including thermal degradation and thermal conductivity were highly improved. Among the prepared hybrid aerogels, pectin-silica samples had the lowest thermal conductivity of 19 mWm−1 K−1.
Facile in-situ growth of Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles on polydopamine modified bamboo with excellent mildew-proofing
Authors: Liu Gonggang , Lu Zhou , Zhu Xiu , Du Xiaoqing , Hu Jinbo , Chang Shanshan , Li Xianjun , Liu Yuan
Published: November 2019

Bamboo with the outstanding properties, such as good mechanical strength, fast growth rate and low growth cost, is considered as one of utilitarian structural nature materials. But bamboo is easy to get mildewed resulting in disfiguration and fungi corrosion. In this work, a facile method was developed to improve the mildew-proofing capability of bamboo. Mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) with biomimetic adhesion function and highly active functional groups was employed to immobilize highly-dispersed Ag and TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of bamboo via an in-situ growth method. Integrating the uniform PDA coating, photocatalytic function of TiO2 nanoparticles and bactericidal role of Ag nanoparticles, the mildew-proofing capability of bamboo is enhanced significantly. The results show a non-covalent interaction is more likely to account for the binding mechanism of PDA to bamboo. And the prepared bamboo samples show good photocatalytic performance and have excellent resistance leachability. Meanwhile, the mildew-proofing property of prepared bamboo sample was greatly improved.
One-step synthesis of ball-shaped metal complexes with a main absorption band in the near-IR region
Authors: Furuyama Taniyuki , Shimasaki Fumika , Saikawa Natsumi , Maeda Hajime , Segi Masahito
Published: November 2019

The design of near-IR materials is highly relevant to energy and pharmaceutical sciences due to the high proportion of near-IR irradiation in the solar spectrum and the high penetration of near-IR light in biological samples. Here, we show the one-step synthesis of hexacoordinated ruthenium and iron complexes that exhibit a main absorption band in the near-IR region. For that purpose, novel tridentate ligands were prepared by condensation of two diimines and four cyanoaryl derivatives in the presence of ruthenium and iron template ions. This method was applied to a wide variety of cyanoaryl, diimine, and metal ion combinations. The relationship between the structure and the optical and electrochemical properties in the resulting complexes was examined, and the results demonstrated that these compounds represent novel near-IR materials whose physical properties can be controlled based on rational design guidelines. The intense absorption bands in the 700–900 nm region were assigned to metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions, which should allow applications in materials with triplet excited states under irradiation with near-IR light.
3D Deformation Patterns of S Shaped Elastic Rods as a Pathogenesis Model for Spinal Deformity in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Pasha Saba
Published: November 2019

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional (3D) deformity of the spinal column in pediatric population. The primary cause of scoliosis remains unknown. The lack of such understanding has hampered development of effective preventive methods for management of this disease. A long-held assumption in pathogenesis of AIS is that the upright spine in human plays an important role in induction of scoliosis. Here, the variations in the sagittal curve of the scoliotic and non-scoliotic pediatric spines were used to study whether specific sagittal curves, under physiological loadings, are prone to 3D deformation leading to scoliosis. To this end, finite element models of the S shaped elastic rods, which their curves were derived from the radiographs of 129 sagittal spinal curves of adolescents with and without scoliosis, were generated. Using the mechanics of deformation in elastic rods, this study showed that the 3D deformation patterns of the two-dimensional S shaped slender elastic rods mimics the 3D patterns of the spinal deformity in AIS patients with the same S shaped sagittal spinal curve. On the other hand, the rods representing the non-scoliotic sagittal spinal curves, under the same mechanical loading, did not twist thus did not lead to a 3D deformation. This study provided strong evidence that the shape of the sagittal profile in individuals can be a leading cause of the 3D spinal deformity as is observed in the AIS population.
On the understanding and feasibility of “Breakthrough” Osmosis
Authors: Wu Jun Jie , Field Robert W.
Published: November 2019

Osmosis is the movement of solvent across a permselective membrane induced by a solute-concentration gradient. Now in ‘Forward Osmosis’ it is empirically observed that the diffusion of the solute is counter to that of the solvent i.e. there is so-called “reverse salt diffusion”. However it has been recently suggested, in a theoretical paper, that if allowance is made for minor deviations from ideal semi-permeability then operation in an overlooked mode of “breakthrough” osmosis would be possible and importantly it would yield relatively large rates of osmosis. A consequential prediction was that in “breakthrough mode”, Pressure-Retarded Osmosis (PRO) would generate very high power densities exceeding those in the conventional mode by one order of magnitude. The practicality of this suggestion was explored and necessarily questions were then raised regarding the foundation of the Spiegler-Kedem-Katchalsky model.

Arising from: Yaroshchuk, A., Sci. Rep. 7, 45168 (2017); https://doi.org/10.1038/srep45168
Real-time health monitoring through urine metabolomics
Authors: Miller Ian J. , Peters Sean R. , Overmyer Katherine A. , Paulson Brett R. , Westphall Michael S. , Coon Joshua J.
Published: November 2019

Current healthcare practices are reactive and based on limited physiological information collected months or years apart. By enabling patients and healthy consumers access to continuous measurements of health, wearable devices and digital medicine stand to realize highly personalized and preventative care. However, most current digital technologies provide information on a limited set of physiological traits, such as heart rate and step count, which alone offer little insight into the etiology of most diseases. Here we propose to integrate data from biohealth smartphone applications with continuous metabolic phenotypes derived from urine metabolites. This combination of molecular phenotypes with quantitative measurements of lifestyle reflect the biological consequences of human behavior in real time. We present data from an observational study involving two healthy subjects and discuss the challenges, opportunities, and implications of integrating this new layer of physiological information into digital medicine. Though our dataset is limited to two subjects, our analysis (also available through an interactive web-based visualization tool) provides an initial framework to monitor lifestyle factors, such as nutrition, drug metabolism, exercise, and sleep using urine metabolites.
Tailoring of multi-pulse dynamics in mode-locked laser via optoacoustic manipulation of quasi-continuous-wave background
Authors: Lee Ki Sang , Ha Chang Kyun , Moon Kyoung Jun , Han Dae Seok , Kang Myeong Soo
Published: November 2019

Various nonequilibrium multi-pulse states can emerge in a mode-locked laser through interactions between the quasi-continuous-wave background (qCWB) and pulses inside the laser cavity. While they have been regarded as unpredictable and hardly controllable due to the noise-like nature of qCWB, we here demonstrate that the qCWB landscape can be manipulated via optoacoustically mediated pulse-to-qCWB interactions, which alters the behaviors of multi-pulse dynamics. In this process, impulsive qCWB modulations are created at well-defined temporal locations, which act as the point emitters and attractive potentials for drifting pulse bunches and soliton rains. Hence, we can transport a single pulse bunch from a certain temporal position to another, and also make soliton rains created and collided exclusively at specific temporal locations. Our study opens up possibilities to control the nonequilibrium multi-pulse phenomena precisely in the time domain, which would offer a practical means of advanced optical information processing.
Soft-trilinear constraints for improved quantitation in multivariate curve resolution
Authors: Tavakkoli Elnaz , Abdollahi Hamid , Gemperline Paul J.
Published: November 2019

Soft trilinearity constraints give a range of feasible solutions (grey) that envelop the true solution (blue). PARAFAC2 (green) and MCR-ALS results (black) are shown for comparison.
A simple microfluidic device for live-imaging of the vertical section of epithelial cells
Authors: Araki Seigo , Nakano Masayoshi , Tsugane Mamiko , Sunaga Fumiko , Hattori Mitsuru , Nakano Masahiro , Nagai Takeharu , Suzuki Hiroaki
Published: November 2019

Capability of simple microfluidic devices having vertical sidewalls for live-cell fluorescence imaging was investigated.
Sodium chromium hexacyanoferrate as a potential cathode material for aqueous sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Baster Dominika , Oveisi Emad , Mettraux Pierre , Agrawal Surbhi , Girault Hubert H.
Published: November 2019

Sodium chromium hexacyanoferrate (NaCrHCF) is obtained here using a facile co-precipitation method at room temperature.
Through-space π-delocalization in a conjugated macrocycle consisting of [2.2]paracyclophane
Authors: Wu Yayu , Zhuang Guilin , Cui Shengsheng , Zhou Yu , Wang Jinyi , Huang Qiang , Du Pingwu
Published: November 2019

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a [2.2]paracyclophane-containing macrocycle (PCMC) as a new through-space conjugated macrocycle using only benzene groups as the skeleton.
The effect of polymeric binders in the sulfur cathode on the cycling performance for lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Eom Ji-Yong , Kim Seong-In , Ri Vitalii , Kim Chunjoong
Published: November 2019

We study the structural and electrochemical performance of sulfur cathodes prepared with two different binders, PVdF and SBR/CMC. Enhanced battery performance is observed in the SBR/CMC-based electrode and its origin is scrutinized.
Lead-free silver-antimony halide double perovskite quantum dots with superior blue photoluminescence
Authors: Lv Kexin , Qi Shaopeng , Liu Guoning , Lou Yongbing , Chen Jinxi , Zhao Yixin
Published: November 2019

Sb-based lead-free double perovskite Cs2AgSbX6 (X = Cl, Br or I) quantum dots exhibiting excellent air stability and blue emission with photoluminescence quantum yields of 31.33% were synthesized firstly using surfactant-assisted method.
Reversible chirality inversion of circularly polarized luminescence in a photo-invertible helical cholesteric superstructure
Authors: Qiao Jinghui , Lin Siyang , Li Juntao , Tian Jiajun , Guo Jinbao
Published: November 2019

The first example of photo-driven reversible chirality inversion of circularly polarized luminescence in a helical cholesteric superstructure is reported.
Hypotaurine promotes longevity and stress toleranceviathe stress response factors DAF-16/FOXO and SKN-1/NRF2 inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Wan Qin-Li , Fu Xiaodie , Meng Xiao , Luo Zhenhuan , Dai Wenyu , Yang Jing , Wang Chongyang , Wang Hao , Zhou Qinghua
Published: November 2019

Hypotaurine, an important sulfur-containing and nonpeptidic amino acid, is a precursor of taurine and an antioxidant.
The inhibition effect and deactivation mechanism of H2O and SO2 on selective catalytic oxidation of NO over the Mn–Ca–Ox–(CO3)y catalyst
Authors: Wang Chi , Zhang Ruiyuan , Zhang Yishan , Ning Ping , Song Xin , Li Kai , Sun Xin , Ma Yixing , Sun Lina
Published: November 2019

H2O and SO2 had an inhibition effect on NO oxidation. SO2 increased the particle size of the catalyst. H2O decreased the particle size of the catalyst.
Ag–NHC anchored on silica: an efficient ultra-low loading catalyst for regioselective 1,2,3-triazole synthesis
Authors: Garg Anirban , Khupse Nagesh , Bordoloi Ankur , Sarma Diganta
Published: November 2019

A silica-supported silver complex, Ag–NHC@SiO2, was prepared by an anchoring coordination technique, which was successfully employed for the click reaction under mild reaction conditions.
Boosting acetone oxidation efficiency over MnO2 nanorods by tailoring crystal phases
Authors: Cheng Li , Wang Jinguo , Zhang Chi , Jin Bei , Men Yong
Published: November 2019

MnO2 nanorods with different crystal phases (e.g. α-, β- and γ-MnO2) exhibited distinct crystal-phase dependent catalytic performances for acetone oxidation.
Rich N/O/S co-doped porous carbon with a high surface area from silkworm cocoons for superior supercapacitors
Authors: Huang Jianyu , Liu Simin , Peng Zifang , Shao Zhuoxian , Zhang Yuanyuan , Dong Hanwu , Zheng Mingtao , Xiao Yong , Liu Yingliang
Published: November 2019

The synergistic effects of high surface area and abundant heteroatoms make porous carbons superior electrode materials.
Stepwise fractionation extracted lignin for high strength lignin-based carbon fibers
Authors: Shi Xiaojuan , Dai Zhong , Cao Qiping , Chen Kefu , Zhou Jinghui
Published: November 2019

Lignin was fractionation extracted by a SFE method to prepare high quality lignin-based carbon fibers.
Heterocyclic anthrazoline derivatives: a critical review
Authors: dos Santos Giovanny Carvalho , Moreno Vitor Fernandes , da Silva Bruno Henrique Sacoman Torquato , da Silva-Filho Luiz Carlos
Published: November 2019

The anthrazolinic core is an important building block for several applications, especially those depending on the effect of light.
Microarray-assisted size-effect study of amorphous silica nanoparticles on human bronchial epithelial cells
Authors: Li Yang , Duan Junchao , Chai Xiangyuan , Yang Man , Wang Ji , Chen Rui , Sun Zhiwei
Published: November 2019

Silica nanoparticles produced size-dependent toxic effect on the gene expression profile of BEAS-2B cells.
Sgc8 aptamer targeted glutathione-responsive nanoassemblies containing Ara-C prodrug for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Fang Zhigang , Wang Xiaozhen , Sun Yanling , Fan Ruifang , Liu Zhong , Guo Rui , Xie Deming
Published: November 2019

Cytarabine (Ara-C) is an essential medicine used in the clinical treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Different NIR dye scaffolds for polymerization reactions under NIR light
Authors: Bonardi Aude , Bonardi Fabrice , Noirbent Guillaume , Dumur Frédéric , Dietlin Céline , Gigmes Didier , Fouassier Jean-Pierre , Lalevée Jacques
Published: November 2019

Photopolymerization under NIR light with squarylium, squaraine, porphyrin or Bodipy dyes.
Correction: Influence of Zn and Co co-doping on oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysis at MOF-derived N-doped carbon electrodes
Authors: Yang Xiaobing , Chen Juan , Yang Weishen , Lin Hao , Luo Xuetao
Published: November 2019

Correction for ‘Influence of Zn and Co co-doping on oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysis at MOF-derived N-doped carbon electrodes’ by Xiaobing Yang et al., Inorg. Chem. Front., 2019, DOI: 10.1039/c9qi00334g.
Study of half metallicity, structural and mechanical properties in inverse Heusler alloy Mn2ZnSi(1−x)Gex and a superlattice
Authors: Ram M. , Saxena A. , Aly Abeer E. , Shankar A.
Published: November 2019

The electronic and magnetic properties of Mn2ZnSi(1−x)Gex (x = 0.0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, 0.5, 0.625, 0.75, 0.875, and 1.0) inverse Heusler alloys and Mn2ZnSi/Mn2ZnGe superlattice have been investigated using first-principles calculations.
Insights into a rutile/brookite homojunction of titanium dioxide: separated reactive sites and boosted photocatalytic activity
Authors: Chen Jing , Guan Meili , Zhang Xuan , Gong Xuezhong
Published: November 2019

Reactive sites for redox reactions were spatially separated using a rutile/brookite homojunction, thus contributing to improved charge separation efficiency.
Polymer network-derived nitrogen/sulphur co-doped three-dimensionally interconnected hierarchically porous carbon for oxygen reduction, lithium-ion battery, and supercapacitor
Authors: Xu Zili , Zhang Fangfang , Lin Weiran , Zhang Haining
Published: November 2019

Polymer networks are efficient precursors for large scale production of hierarchical porous carbon.
Human bone probed by neutron diffraction: the burning process
Authors: Mamede A. P. , Marques M. P. M. , Vassalo A. R. , Cunha E. , Gonçalves D. , Parker S. F. , Kockelmann W. , Batista de Carvalho L. A. E.
Published: November 2019

The first neutron diffraction study of human burned bone – for understanding heat-induced changes, relevant for archaeology, biomaterials and forensic science.
Polyamide monomers via carbonate-promoted C–H carboxylation of furfurylamine
Authors: Lankenau Andrew W. , Kanan Matthew W.
Published: November 2019

Carbonate-promoted C–H carboxylation provides a streamlined synthesis of polyamide monomers from a lignocellulosic feedstock without using organic reagents.
Interfacial aspect of ZnTe/In2Te3 heterostructures as an efficient catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Yang Xiaoyong , Banerjee Amitava , Xu Zhitong , Wang Ziwei , Ahuja Rajeev
Published: November 2019

Two-dimensional (2D) materials, group III2–VI3 compounds have drawn intense attention due to its excellent surface properties.
Correction: Ga and Ce ion-doped phosphate glass fibres with antibacterial properties and their composite for wound healing applications
Authors: Łapa Agata , Cresswell Mark , Campbell Ian , Jackson Phil , Goldmann Wolfgang H. , Detsch Rainer , Parsons Andrew , Ahmed Ifty , Boccaccini Aldo R.
Published: November 2019

Correction for ‘Ga and Ce ion-doped phosphate glass fibres with antibacterial properties and their composite for wound healing applications’ by Agata Łapa et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 2019, DOI: 10.1039/c9tb00820a.
Cosmic-ray propagation around the Sun: investigating the influence of the solar magnetic field on the cosmic-ray Sun shadow
Authors: Becker Tjus J. , Desiati P. , Döpper N. , Fichtner H. , Kleimann J. , Kroll M. , Tenholt F.
Published: November 2019

The cosmic-ray Sun shadow, which is caused by high-energy charged cosmic rays being blocked and deflected by the Sun and its magnetic field, has been observed by various experiments, such as Argo-YBJ, Tibet, HAWC, and IceCube. Most notably, the shadow’s size and depth was recently shown to correlate with the 11-year solar cycle. The interpretation of such measurements, which help to bridge the gap between solar physics and high-energy particle astrophysics, requires a solid theoretical understanding of cosmic-ray propagation in the coronal magnetic field. It is the aim of this paper to establish theoretical predictions for the cosmic-ray Sun shadow in order to identify observables that can be used to study this link in more detail. To determine the cosmic-ray Sun shadow, we numerically compute trajectories of charged cosmic rays in the energy range of 5−316 TeV for five different mass numbers. We present and analyze the resulting shadow images for protons and iron, as well as for typically measured cosmic-ray compositions. We confirm the observationally established correlation between the magnitude of the shadowing effect and both the mean sunspot number and the polarity of the magnetic field during the solar cycle. We also show that during low solar activity, the Sun’s shadow behaves similarly to that of a dipole, for which we find a non-monotonous dependence on energy. In particular, the shadow can become significantly more pronounced than the geometrical disk expected for a totally unmagnetized Sun. For times of high solar activity, we instead predict the shadow to depend monotonously on energy and to be generally weaker than the geometrical shadow for all tested energies. These effects should become visible in energy-resolved measurements of the Sun shadow, and may in the future become an independent measure for the level of disorder in the solar magnetic field.
Failure of cost-benefit analysis in gastrointestinal endoscopy
Authors: Sonnenberg Amnon , Bakis Gennadiy
Published: November 2019

Background and study aims We discuss the occurrence of two cases, where the endoscopic pursuit of diagnostic certainty resulted in adverse events that exceeded the clinical relevance of the endoscopic diagnosis itself. In both instances, physicians were hesitant to subject their patients to a necessary surgical intervention before gastrointestinal endoscopy had provided them with absolute assurance that no other mitigating factors could possibly jeopardize the success of a planned intervention. In trying to avoid a single and potentially bad outcome of a necessary medical intervention, the physicians exposed their patients to many more additional and unnecessary risks. As key players in clinical decision-making, physicians sometimes may find it difficult to disentangle their own risk-benefit considerations from those of their patients.
Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs (1819–1885): Wegbereiter der klinischen Diabetologie
Authors: Schmechel Harald , Fünfstück Reinhard
Published: November 2019

Prof. Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs (1819–1885) war ein international hoch geachteter Kliniker an der Berliner Charité und im Jahr 1882 Gründer der heutigen Gesellschaft für Innere Medizin. Sein 200. Geburtstag am 24. März 2019 war Anlass, seine medizinisch-wissenschaftlichen Leistungen zu würdigen.

Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs gilt als Begründer der wissenschaftlich fundierten Medizin. Er führte naturwissenschaftliche Methoden in die Diagnostik und Ursachenforschung von Erkrankungen ein. Von Frerichs wurde frühzeitig bekannt durch die zwei Monografien „Über die Leberkrankheiten“ und „Brightsche Nierenkrankheit“. Er wird als Begründer der modernen Hepatologie angesehen.

Von gleicher Bedeutung für die Entwicklung der Diabetologie ist das ein Jahr vor seinem Tod 1884 erschienene Werk „Über die Zuckerkrankheit“. In diesem Buch fasste er seine in 40 Berufsjahren an über 400 selbst behandelten Patienten gesammelten klinischen Erfahrungen zur Zuckerkrankheit zusammen. Gleichzeitig beschrieb er die von ihm bei über 50 durchgeführten Autopsien festgestellten Organveränderungen bei Diabetes mellitus. Die systematische vergleichende Aufarbeitung jedes Einzelfalls im Querschnitt- wie Längsschnittverhalten führte ihn in der Vorinsulinära zu Erkenntnissen, die auch heute zu den Grundlagen der modernen Diabetologie gehören. Der methodische Ansatz der vergleichenden kasuistischen Bewertung von Frerichs zeigt uns die Bedeutung der klinischen Forschung für die spezifische Entwicklung eines Fachgebiets. Er kann daher zu Recht als Wegbereiter der klinischen Diabetologie bezeichnet werden.

Das Ziel der Arbeit ist es, die Verdienste von Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs für die Entwicklung der klinischen Diabetologie in der Vorinsulinära zu zeigen.