bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical Properties of Laboratory and Ambient Biomass Burning Aerosols: Elucidating Black, Brown, and Organic Carbon Components and Mixing Regimes
Authors: Romonosky Dian E. , Gomez Samantha L. , Lam Jared , Carrico Christian M. , Aiken Allison C. , Chylek Petr , Dubey Manvendra K.
Published: April 2019

Biomass burning (BB) is an important global source of aerosol and trace gases that degrade air quality, decrease visibility, and impact climate and human health. Refractory black carbon (rBC), brown carbon (BrC), and organic aerosol are major components of BB emissions. BB aerosol composition is highly variable at the source and depends on fuel composition and combustion phase. Atmospheric aging alters fresh BB aerosol through processes that are complex and dynamic. To better understand the variability in optical properties, we report fresh aerosol laboratory measurements from burning southwestern U.S. fuels and compare them to aged ambient BB aerosol from wildfires over a range of atmospheric time scales. Our BB aerosol analysis uses the relationship between the absorption Ångström exponent and single‐scattering albedo (SSA) to identify rBC, BrC, and organic aerosol‐dominated regimes that are defined using Mie theory. This model framework is used to interpret the large variability in optical properties measured in laboratory burns. In contrast, we find the observed absorption Ångström exponent‐SSA relationship for ambient BB aerosol to be less variable and more clustered together with increased atmospheric aging. This transition from fresh to aged behavior is attributed to the homogenization of the BB aerosol from mixing and aging over several hours. Finally, BB aerosol in ambient fire plumes that have aged for several hours exhibits larger SSAs than laboratory flaming burns. We conclude that BrC/OC mixtures play a larger role than rBC in the positive climate forcing of BB aerosol than what would be projected from laboratory results.
Extreme Weather, Chemical Facilities, and Vulnerable Communities in the U.S. Gulf Coast: A Disastrous Combination
Authors: Anenberg Susan C. , Kalman Casey
Published: April 2019

Many chemical facilities are located in low‐lying coastal areas and vulnerable to damage from hurricanes, flooding, and erosion, which are increasing with climate change. Extreme weather can trigger industrial disasters, including explosions, fires, and major chemical releases, as well as chronic chemical leakage into air, water, and soil. We identified 872 highly hazardous chemical facilities within 50 miles of the hurricane‐prone U.S. Gulf Coast. Approximately 4,374,000 people, 1,717 schools, and 98 medical facilities were within 1.5 miles of these facilities. Public health risks from colocated extreme weather, chemical facilities, and vulnerable populations are potentially disastrous and growing under climate change.
Abnormal development of early auditory processing in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome
Authors: Cantonas Lucia-Manuela , Tomescu Miralena I. , Biria Marjan , Jan Reem K. , Schneider Maude , Eliez Stephan , Rihs Tonia A. , Michel Christoph M.
Published: April 2019

The 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2 DS) is one of the highest genetic risk factors for the development of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In schizophrenia, reduced amplitude of the frequency mismatch negativity (fMMN) has been proposed as a promising neurophysiological marker for progressive brain pathology. In this longitudinal study in 22q11.2 DS, we investigate the progression of fMMN between childhood and adolescence, a vulnerable period for brain maturation. We measured evoked potentials to auditory oddball stimuli in the same sample of 16 patients with 22q11.2 DS and 14 age-matched controls in childhood and adolescence. In addition, we cross-sectionally compared an increased sample of 51 participants with 22q11.2 DS and 50 controls divided into two groups (8–14 and 14–20 years). The reported results are obtained using the fMMN difference waveforms. In the longitudinal design, the 22q11.2 deletion carriers exhibit a significant reduction in amplitude and a change in topographic patterns of the mismatch negativity response from childhood to adolescence. The same effect, reduced mismatch amplitude in adolescence, while preserved during childhood, is observed in the cross-sectional study. These results point towards functional changes within the brain network responsible for the fMMN. In addition, the adolescents with 22q11.2 DS displayed a significant increase in amplitude over central electrodes during the auditory N1 component. No such differences, reduced mismatch response nor increased N1, were observed in the typically developing group. These findings suggest different developmental trajectories of early auditory sensory processing in 22q11.2 DS and functional changes that emerge during the critical period of increased risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Primed histone demethylation regulates shoot regenerative competency
Authors: Ishihara Hiroya , Sugimoto Kaoru , Tarr Paul T. , Temman Haruka , Kadokura Satoshi , Inui Yayoi , Sakamoto Takuya , Sasaki Taku , Aida Mitsuhiro , Suzuki Takamasa , Inagaki Soichi , Morohashi Kengo , Seki Motoaki , Kakutani Tetsuji , Meyerowitz Elliot M. , Matsunaga Sachihiro
Published: April 2019

Acquisition of pluripotency by somatic cells is a striking process that enables multicellular organisms to regenerate organs. This process includes silencing of genes to erase original tissue memory and priming of additional cell type specification genes, which are then poised for activation by external signal inputs. Here, through analysis of genome-wide histone modifications and gene expression profiles, we show that a gene priming mechanism involving LYSINE-SPECIFIC DEMETHYLASE 1-LIKE 3 (LDL3) specifically eliminates H3K4me2 during formation of the intermediate pluripotent cell mass known as callus derived from Arabidopsis root cells. While LDL3-mediated H3K4me2 removal does not immediately affect gene expression, it does facilitate the later activation of genes that act to form shoot progenitors when external cues lead to shoot induction. These results give insights into the role of H3K4 methylation in plants, and into the primed state that provides plant cells with high regenerative competency.
Learning about climate change uncertainty enables flexible water infrastructure planning
Authors: Fletcher Sarah , Lickley Megan , Strzepek Kenneth
Published: April 2019

Water resources planning requires decision-making about infrastructure development under uncertainty in future regional climate conditions. However, uncertainty in climate change projections will evolve over the 100-year lifetime of a dam as new climate observations become available. Flexible strategies in which infrastructure is proactively designed to be changed in the future have the potential to meet water supply needs without expensive over-building. Evaluating tradeoffs between flexible and traditional static planning approaches requires extension of current paradigms for planning under climate change uncertainty which do not assess opportunities to reduce uncertainty in the future. We develop a new planning framework that assesses the potential to learn about regional climate change over time and therefore evaluates the appropriateness of flexible approaches today. We demonstrate it on a reservoir planning problem in Mombasa, Kenya. This approach identifies opportunities to reliably use incremental approaches, enabling adaptation investments to reach more vulnerable communities with fewer resources.
Comprehensive genomic and immunological characterization of Chinese non-small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Zhang Xu-Chao , Wang Jun , Shao Guo-Guang , Wang Qun , Qu Xiaotao , Wang Bo , Moy Christopher , Fan Yue , Albertyn Zayed , Huang Xiayu , Zhang Jingyu , Qiu Yang , Platero Suso , Lorenzi Matthew V. , Zudaire Enrique , Yang Jennifer , Cheng Ying , Xu Lin , Wu Yi-Long
Published: April 2019

Deep understanding of the genomic and immunological differences between Chinese and Western lung cancer patients is of great importance for target therapy selection and development for Chinese patients. Here we report an extensive molecular and immune profiling study of 245 Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte estimated using immune cell signatures is found to be significantly higher in adenocarcinoma (ADC, 72.5%) compared with squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC, 54.4%). The correlation of genomic alterations with immune signatures reveals that low immune infiltration was associated with EGFR mutations in ADC samples, PI3K and/or WNT pathway activation in SQCC. While KRAS mutations are found to be significantly associated with T cell infiltration in ADC samples. The SQCC patients with high antigen presentation machinery and cytotoxic T cell signature scores are found to have a prolonged overall survival time.
Publisher Correction: Low genetic variation is associated with low mutation rate in the giant duckweed
Authors: Xu Shuqing , Stapley Jessica , Gablenz Saskia , Boyer Justin , Appenroth Klaus J. , Sree K. Sowjanya , Gershenzon Jonathan , Widmer Alex , Huber Meret
Published: April 2019

The original HTML version of this Article had an incorrect Published online date of 20 March 2019; it should have been 18 March 2019. This has been corrected in the HTML version of the Article. The PDF version was correct from the time of publication.
Phenotyping ciliary dynamics and coordination in response to CFTR-modulators in Cystic Fibrosis respiratory epithelial cells
Authors: Chioccioli M. , Feriani L. , Kotar J. , Bratcher P. E. , Cicuta P.
Published: April 2019

Personalized approaches for systematically assessing ciliary beat dynamics and for drug testing would improve the challenging task of diagnosing and treating respiratory disorders. In this pilot study, we show how multiscale differential dynamic microscopy (multi-DDM) can be used to characterize collective ciliary beating in a non-biased automated manner. We use multi-DDM to assess the efficacy of different CFTR-modulating drugs in human airway epithelial cells derived from subjects with cystic fibrosis (ΔF508/ΔF508 and ∆F508/-) based on ciliary beat frequency and coordination. Similar to clinical observations, drug efficacy is variable across donors, even within the same genotype. We show how our assay can quantitatively identify the most efficient drugs for restoring ciliary beating for each individual donor. Multi-DDM provides insight into ciliary beating responses following treatment with drugs, and has application in the broader context of respiratory disease and for drug screening.
Chiral acid-catalysed enantioselective C−H functionalization of toluene and its derivatives driven by visible light
Authors: Li Fuyuan , Tian Dong , Fan Yifan , Lee Richmond , Lu Gang , Yin Yanli , Qiao Baokun , Zhao Xiaowei , Xiao Ziwei , Jiang Zhiyong
Published: April 2019

Toluene and its derivatives are petroleum-derived raw materials produced from gasoline by catalytic reformation. These abundant chemical feedstocks are commonly used as solvents in organic synthesis. The C(sp3)−H functionalization of these unactivated substrates has been widely used to directly introduce benzylic motifs into diverse molecules to furnish important compounds. Despite these advances, progress in asymmetric catalysis remains underdeveloped. Here, we report photoinduced radical-based enantioselective C(sp3)−C(sp3) coupling reactions of activated ketones with toluene and its derivatives by means of chiral acid catalysis. With a La(OTf)3/pybox complex catalyst, a variety of chiral 3-hydroxy-3-benzyl-substituted 2-oxindoles, including many conventionally difficult-to-access variants, are obtained directly from isatins in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. Acenaphthoquinone is also compatible with the use of a chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalyst, leading to another series of important enantioenriched tertiary alcohols.
Experimental realization of 105-qubit random access quantum memory
Authors: Jiang N. , Pu Y.-F. , Chang W. , Li C. , Zhang S. , Duan L.-M.
Published: April 2019

Random access memory is an indispensable device for classical information technology. Analog to this, for quantum information technology, it is desirable to have a random access quantum memory with many memory cells and programmable access to each cell. We report an experiment that realizes a random access quantum memory of 105 qubits carried by 210 memory cells in a macroscopic atomic ensemble. We demonstrate storage of optical qubits into these memory cells and their read out at programmable times by arbitrary orders with fidelities exceeding any classical bound. Experimental realization of a random access quantum memory with many memory cells and programmable control of its write-in and read out makes an important step for its application in quantum communication, networking, and computation.
Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial opportunities in the food value chain
Authors: Kuckertz Andreas , Hinderer Sebastian , Röhm Patrick
Published: April 2019

Successful entrepreneurs exploit entrepreneurial opportunities to establish their enterprises. The food industry is a setting in which many such opportunities exist. To shed light on those specific entrepreneurial opportunities, we combine a five-step model of the food value chain ranging from agriculture to consumption with classic economic sources of entrepreneurial opportunities, that is, changes in supply, changes in demand, exogenous shocks, or informational asymmetries prevalent in the market. We proxy for entrepreneurial opportunities by shedding light on where start-up investors assign their capital in the food value chain. Data drawn from the Dow Jones VentureSource database is recoded to illustrate this investment behavior. Consequently, we are able to (a) illustrate where in the food value chain in particular investors perceive the most upside potential and (b) construct a map of the entrepreneurial opportunity space in the food industry. The results are informative, particularly for aspiring food entrepreneurs searching for entrepreneurial opportunities and aiming to raise funding for their entrepreneurial endeavors.
Killer whales redistribute white shark foraging pressure on seals
Authors: Jorgensen Salvador J. , Anderson Scot , Ferretti Francesco , Tietz James R. , Chapple Taylor , Kanive Paul , Bradley Russell W. , Moxley Jerry H. , Block Barbara A.
Published: April 2019

Predatory behavior and top-down effects in marine ecosystems are well-described, however, intraguild interactions among co-occurring marine top predators remain less understood, but can have far reaching ecological implications. Killer whales and white sharks are prominent upper trophic level predators with highly-overlapping niches, yet their ecological interactions and subsequent effects have remained obscure. Using long-term electronic tagging and survey data we reveal rare and cryptic interactions between these predators at a shared foraging site, Southeast Farallon Island (SEFI). In multiple instances, brief visits from killer whales displaced white sharks from SEFI, disrupting shark feeding behavior for extended periods at this aggregation site. As a result, annual predations of pinnipeds by white sharks at SEFI were negatively correlated with close encounters with killer whales. Tagged white sharks relocated to other aggregation sites, creating detectable increases in white shark density at Ano Nuevo Island. This work highlights the importance of risk effects and intraguild relationships among top ocean predators and the value of long-term data sets revealing these consequential, albeit infrequent, ecological interactions.
Detection and Differentiation of Breast Cancer Sub-Types using a cPLA2α Activatable Fluorophore
Authors: Chiorazzo Michael G. , Tunset Hanna Maja , Popov Anatoliy V. , Johansen Berit , Moestue Siver , Delikatny E. James
Published: April 2019

Cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) has been shown to be elevated in breast cancer and is a potential biomarker in the differentiation of molecular sub-types. Using a cPLA2α activatable fluorophore, DDAO arachidonate, we explore its ability to function as a contrast agent in fluorescence-guided surgery. In cell lines ranging in cPLA2α expression and representing varying breast cancer sub-types, we show DDAO arachidonate activates with a high correlation to cPLA2α expression level. Using a control probe, DDAO palmitate, in addition to cPLA2α inhibition and genetic knockdown, we show that this activation is a result of cPLA2α activity. In mouse models, using an ex vivo tumor painting technique, we show that DDAO arachidonate activates to a high degree in basal-like versus luminal-like breast tumors and healthy mammary tissue. Finally, we show that using an in vivo model, orthotopic basal-like tumors give significantly high probe activation compared to healthy mammary fat pads and surrounding tissue. Together we conclude that cPLA2α activatable fluorophores such as DDAO arachidonate may serve as a useful contrast agent for the visualization of tumor margins in the fluorescence-guided surgery of basal-like breast cancer.
BrainNet: A Multi-Person Brain-to-Brain Interface for Direct Collaboration Between Brains
Authors: Jiang Linxing , Stocco Andrea , Losey Darby M. , Abernethy Justin A. , Prat Chantel S. , Rao Rajesh P. N.
Published: April 2019

We present BrainNet which, to our knowledge, is the first multi-person non-invasive direct brain-to-brain interface for collaborative problem solving. The interface combines electroencephalography (EEG) to record brain signals and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to deliver information noninvasively to the brain. The interface allows three human subjects to collaborate and solve a task using direct brain-to-brain communication. Two of the three subjects are designated as “Senders” whose brain signals are decoded using real-time EEG data analysis. The decoding process extracts each Sender’s decision about whether to rotate a block in a Tetris-like game before it is dropped to fill a line. The Senders’ decisions are transmitted via the Internet to the brain of a third subject, the “Receiver,” who cannot see the game screen. The Senders’ decisions are delivered to the Receiver’s brain via magnetic stimulation of the occipital cortex. The Receiver integrates the information received from the two Senders and uses an EEG interface to make a decision about either turning the block or keeping it in the same orientation. A second round of the game provides an additional chance for the Senders to evaluate the Receiver’s decision and send feedback to the Receiver’s brain, and for the Receiver to rectify a possible incorrect decision made in the first round. We evaluated the performance of BrainNet in terms of (1) Group-level performance during the game, (2) True/False positive rates of subjects’ decisions, and (3) Mutual information between subjects. Five groups, each with three human subjects, successfully used BrainNet to perform the collaborative task, with an average accuracy of 81.25%. Furthermore, by varying the information reliability of the Senders by artificially injecting noise into one Sender’s signal, we investigated how the Receiver learns to integrate noisy signals in order to make a correct decision. We found that like conventional social networks, BrainNet allows Receivers to learn to trust the Sender who is more reliable, in this case, based solely on the information transmitted directly to their brains. Our results point the way to future brain-to-brain interfaces that enable cooperative problem solving by humans using a “social network” of connected brains.
Author Correction: Critical steps in clinical shotgun metagenomics for the concomitant detection and typing of microbial pathogens
Authors: Couto Natacha , Schuele Leonard , Raangs Erwin C. , Machado Miguel P. , Mendes Catarina I. , Jesus Tiago F. , Chlebowicz Monika , Rosema Sigrid , Ramirez Mário , Carriço João A. , Autenrieth Ingo B. , Friedrich Alex W. , Peter Silke , Rossen John W.
Published: April 2019

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Structure-based Design of JOC-x, a Conjugatable Tumor Tight Junction Opener to Enhance Cancer Therapy
Authors: Pitner Ragan , Kim Jiho , Davis-Bergthold Jenn , Turner Cheri , Vassal-Stermann Emilie , Wang Hongjie , Adams Jaclyn , Carter Lauren , Ahlgren Jeffrey A. , Fender Pascal , Lieber André , Carter Darrick , Gray Sean A.
Published: April 2019

Disorganized intercellular junctions are critical for maintaining the integrity of solid epithelial tumors and prevent the infiltration of oncological therapies into the bulk of the malignancy. We have developed small, recombinant proteins which bind a critical junction protein, desmoglein 2, triggering the transient and specific opening of tumor tight junctions allowing for infiltration of the tumor with immune cells, oncolytic viruses, drugs, and other therapeutics. Our new molecule, JOC-x, is a promising candidate for a new class of tumor-targeting agents that accumulate both around and within tumors and remodel the tumor microenvironment. Native cysteines were removed from the parental protein, JO-4, followed by addition of a single cysteine to allow for convenient attachment of various payloads that can be targeted directly to the tumor. Our tumor-targeting protein exhibits high avidity, minimal aggregation, and is easily purified at good yields from E. coli. For proof of concept, we demonstrate effective conjugation to biotin as a model for flexible co-targeting, addition of metal ion chelators as models for imaging and radiotherapy, and linkage of the TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) as a model immune-oncologic agent. This second-generation cancer co-therapeutic protein is optimized for activity and primed for cGMP manufacture in preparation for upcoming clinical studies.
Early and Pre-Clinical Detection of Prion Seeding Activity in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Goats using Real-Time Quaking-Induced Conversion Assay
Authors: Favole Alessandra , Mazza Maria , Vallino Costassa Elena , D’Angelo Antonio , Lombardi Guerino , Marconi Paola , Crociara Paola , Berrone Elena , Gallo Marina , Palmitessa Claudia , Orrù Christina D. , Caughey Byron , Acutis Pier L. , Caramelli Maria , Casalone Cristina , Corona Cristiano
Published: April 2019

Since 2005, two cases of natural bovine spongiform encephalopathies (BSE) have been reported in goats. Furthermore, experimental transmissions of classical (C-BSE) and atypical (L-BSE) forms of BSE in goats were also reported. To minimize further spreading of prion diseases in small ruminants the development of a highly sensitive and specific test for ante-mortem detection of infected animals would be of great value. Recent studies reported high diagnostic value of a second generation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Real-Time Quaking-Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC) assay across a wide spectrum of human prions. Here, we applied this improved QuIC (IQ-CSF) for highly efficient detection of TSEs prion protein in goat cerebrospinal fluid. IQ-CSF sensitivity and specificity were evaluated on CSF samples collected at disease endpoint from goats naturally and experimentally infected with scrapie or bovine isolates of C-BSE and L-BSE, respectively. Next, CSF samples collected from L-BSE infected goats during pre-symptomatic stage were also analysed. PrPL-BSE associated seeding activity was detected at early time points after experimental inoculation, with an average time of 439 days before clinical symptoms appeared. Taken together these data are indicative of the great potential of this in vitro prion amplification assay as ante-mortem TSE test for live and asymptomatic small ruminants.
Standard laboratory housing for mice restricts their ability to segregate space into clean and dirty areas
Authors: Makowska I. Joanna , Franks Becca , El-Hinn Cathy , Jorgensen Tina , Weary Daniel M.
Published: April 2019

Laboratory mice(Mus musculus)are typically housed in simple cages consisting of one open space. These standard cages may thwart mouse ability to segregate resting areas from areas where they eliminate, a behaviour that is prevalent across the animal kingdom. No scientific work has directly tested whether mice engage in such segregation behaviour, or whether the ability to do so may have welfare consequences. Here we show that mice, whether housed in standard cages or a complex housing system consisting of three interconnected standard cages, kept nesting and elimination sites highly segregated, with nest and urine co-occurring in the same location only 2% of the time. However, mice in the complex system established these clean and dirty sites in separate cages instead of separate locations within one cage, and carried bedding materials (cellulose pellets) from their nesting cages to their latrine cage. Moreover, mice in the complex system displayed more behaviours associated with positive welfare and were less disturbed by weekly husbandry procedures. We conclude that mice find waste products aversive, and that housing mice in a way that facilitates spatial segregation provides a simple way of allowing the expression of natural behaviours and improving welfare.
The left-cradling bias and its relationship with empathy and depression
Authors: Malatesta Gianluca , Marzoli Daniele , Rapino Maria , Tommasi Luca
Published: April 2019

Women usually cradle their infants to the left of their body midline. Research showed that the left cradling could be altered by affective symptoms in mothers, so that right cradling might be associated with a reduced ability to become emotionally involved with the infant. In this study, we assessed cradling-side bias (using family photo inspection and an imagination task), as well as depression and empathy, in 50 healthy mothers of 0–3 years old children. The main finding was that the strength of the left-cradling bias was negatively related with participants’ depression scores and slightly positively related with their empathy scores. Our results thus provide further evidence that cradling-side preferences can represent an evolutionary proxy of mother’s affective state, influencing the early development of the infant social brain and behaviour.
Clinical and laboratory features of anti-MAG neuropathy without monoclonal gammopathy
Authors: Pascual-Goñi Elba , Martín-Aguilar Lorena , Lleixà Cinta , Martínez-Martínez Laura , Simón-Talero Manuel J. , Díaz-Manera Jordi , Cortés-Vicente Elena , Rojas-García Ricard , Moga Esther , Juárez Cándido , Illa Isabel , Querol Luis
Published: April 2019

Antibodies against myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) almost invariably appear in the context of an IgM monoclonal gammopathy associated neuropathy. Very few cases of anti-MAG neuropathy lacking IgM-monoclonal gammopathy have been reported. We investigated the presence of anti-MAG antibodies in 69 patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria for CIDP. Anti-MAG antibodies were tested by ELISA and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. We identified four (5.8%) anti-MAG positive patients without detectable IgM-monoclonal gammopathy. In two of them, IgM-monoclonal gammopathy was detected at 3 and 4-year follow-up coinciding with an increase in anti-MAG antibodies titers. In conclusion, anti-MAG antibody testing should be considered in chronic demyelinating neuropathies, even if IgM-monoclonal gammopathy is not detectable.
The effect of substrate and surface plasmons on symmetry breaking at the substrate interface of the topological insulator Bi2Te3
Authors: Wiesner Maciej , Roberts Richard H. , Lin Jung-Fu. , Akinwande Deji , Hesjedal Thorsten , Duffy Liam B. , Wang Shumin , Song Yuxin , Jenczyk Jacek , Jurga Stefan , Mroz Boguslaw
Published: April 2019

A pressing challenge in engineering devices with topological insulators (TIs) is that electron transport is dominated by the bulk conductance, and so dissipationless surface states account for only a small fraction of the conductance. Enhancing the surface-to-volume ratio is a common method to enhance the relative contribution of such states. In thin films with reduced thickness, the confinement results in symmetry-breaking and is critical for the experimental observation of topologically protected surface states. We employ micro-Raman and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to examine three different mechanisms of symmetry breaking in Bi2Te3 TI thin films: surface plasmon generation, charge transfer, and application of a periodic strain potential. These mechanisms are facilitated by semiconducting and insulating substrates that modify the electronic and mechanical conditions at the sample surface and alter the long-range interactions between Bi2Te3 and the substrate. We confirm the symmetry breaking in Bi2Te3 via the emergence of the Raman-forbidden $${{\boldsymbol{A}}}_{{\bf{1}}{\boldsymbol{u}}}^{{\bf{2}}}$$

A

1
u

2

mode. Our results suggest that topological surface states can exist at the Bi2Te3/substrate interface, which is in a good agreement with previous theoretical results predicting the tunability of the vertical location of helical surface states in TI/substrate heterostructures.
Monoenergetic 290 MeV/n carbon-ion beam biological lethal dose distribution surrounding the Bragg peak
Authors: Buglewicz Dylan J. , Banks Austin B. , Hirakawa Hirokazu , Fujimori Akira , Kato Takamitsu A.
Published: April 2019

The sharp high dose Bragg peak of a carbon-ion beam helps it to deliver the highest dosage to the malignant cells while leaving the normal cells relatively unharmed. However, the precise range in which it distributes dosages that significantly induce cell death or genotoxicity surrounding its Bragg peak remains unclear. To evaluate biological effects of carbon-ion radiation through entrance to post Bragg peak in a single biological system, CHO and xrs5 cells were cultured in T-175 cell culture flasks and irradiated with 290 MeV/n monoenergetic carbon-ions with initial dosages upon entrance to the flask of 1, 2, or 3 Gy for cell survival assays or 1 Gy for cytokinesis block micronuclei assays. Under all initial dosages, the biological Bragg peak and the highest micronuclei formation was observed at the depth of 14.5 cm. Moreover, as the initial dosage increased the range displaying a significant decrease in survival fraction increased as well (P < 0.0001). Intriguingly from 1 Gy to 3 Gy, we observed a significant increase in reappearance of colony formation depth (P < 0.05), possibly indicating the nuclear fragmentation lethality potential of the carbon-ion. By means of our single system approach, we can achieve a more comprehensive understanding of biological effects surrounding of carbon-ions Bragg peak.
Advances in the role of HCV nonstructural protein 5a (NS5A) of 3a genotype in inducing insulin resistance by possible phosphorylation of AKT/PKB
Authors: Shams Faiza , Rafique Shazia , Zahid Sadia , Munir Mobeen , Idrees Muhammad , Ilyas Muhammad , Husnain Tayyab
Published: April 2019

HCV genes interfere with host cellular genes and play crucial role in pathogenesis. The mechanism under which HCV genes induce insulin resistance is not much clear. This study is aimed to examine the role of HCV NS5A in inducing insulin resistance by examining its affect in the phosphorylation level of AKT/PKB. In the present study, HepG2 cells were transfected with HCV NS5A and after 24 hours of transfection, protein was extracted from cells that were pre induced with insulin at three different time intervals i.e. 1hour, 2 hours and 3hours. Dot Blot analysis was performed to study the phosphorylation level of AKT. Results showed that there is clear upregulation of serine 473 phosphorylation level of AKT in NS5A transfected cells as compared with control (without NS5A). In conclusion, upregulation of serine 473 phosphorylation by NS5A of HCV genotype 3a suggests that this gene impairs the normal insulin AKT/PKB signaling pathway that leads towards insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, HCV non-structural protein NS5A should be considered as promising candidate to be studied in detail for HCV induced insulin resistance and should be regarded as a therapeutically important target for the prevention of chronic liver diseases.
Duck production systems and highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 in France, 2016–2017
Authors: Guinat C. , Artois J. , Bronner A. , Guérin J. L. , Gilbert M. , Paul M. C.
Published: April 2019

In winter 2016–2017, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N8 virus spread across Europe, causing unprecedented epizootics. France was massively affected, resulting in the culling of over 6 million poultry. Boosted regression tree (BRT) models were used to quantify the association between spatial risk factors and HPAI H5N8 infection in poultry holdings and to generate predictive maps for HPAI infection. Three datasets were combined to build the model: a dataset of the reported outbreaks in poultry, a dataset of the poultry holdings where the virus has not been reported and a set of relevant spatial risk factors, including poultry production and trade, and water bird habitat. Results identified key associations between the ‘foie gras’ production systems and HPAI H5N8 risk of occurrence and indicate that strengthening surveillance of fattening duck production systems and making the transportation of fattening ducks more secure would be key priority options for HPAI prevention and control.
Analysis of tractable allosteric sites in G protein-coupled receptors
Authors: Wakefield Amanda E. , Mason Jonathan S. , Vajda Sandor , Keserű György M.
Published: April 2019

Allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors represent a promising mechanism of pharmacological intervention. Dramatic developments witnessed in the structural biology of membrane proteins continue to reveal that the binding sites of allosteric modulators are widely distributed, including along protein surfaces. Here we restrict consideration to intrahelical and intracellular sites together with allosteric conformational locks, and show that the protein mapping tools FTMap and FTSite identify 83% and 88% of such experimentally confirmed allosteric sites within the three strongest sites found. The methods were also able to find partially hidden allosteric sites that were not fully formed in X-ray structures crystallized in the absence of allosteric ligands. These results confirm that the intrahelical sites capable of binding druglike allosteric modulators are among the strongest ligand recognition sites in a large fraction of GPCRs and suggest that both FTMap and FTSite are useful tools for identifying allosteric sites and to aid in the design of such compounds in a range of GPCR targets.
Remote Sensing Data to Detect Hessian Fly Infestation in Commercial Wheat Fields
Authors: Bhattarai Ganesh P. , Schmid Ryan B. , McCornack Brian P.
Published: April 2019

Remote sensing data that are efficiently used in ecological research and management are seldom used to study insect pest infestations in agricultural ecosystems. Here, we used multispectral satellite and aircraft data to evaluate the relationship between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) infestation in commercial winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) fields in Kansas, USA. We used visible and near-infrared data from each aerial platform to develop a series of NDVI maps for multiple fields for most of the winter wheat growing season. Hessian fly infestation in each field was surveyed in a uniform grid of multiple sampling points. For both satellite and aircraft data, NDVI decreased with increasing pest infestation. Despite the coarse resolution, NDVI from satellite data performed substantially better in explaining pest infestation in the fields than NDVI from high-resolution aircraft data. These results indicate that remote sensing data can be used to assess the areas of poor growth and health of wheat plants due to Hessian fly infestation. Our study suggests that remotely sensed data, including those from satellites orbiting >700 km from the surface of Earth, can offer valuable information on the occurrence and severity of pest infestations in agricultural areas.
Ectopic Dpp signaling promotes stem cell competition through EGFR signaling in the Drosophila testis
Authors: Lu Yanfen , Yao Yuncong , Li Zhouhua
Published: April 2019

Stem cell competition could select the fittest stem cells and potentially control tumorigenesis. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we find that ectopic Decapentaplegic (Dpp) signal activation by expressing a constitutively active form of Thickveins (TkvCA) in cyst stem cells (CySCs) leads to competition between CySCs and germline stem cells (GSCs) for niche occupancy and GSC loss. GSCs are displaced from the niche and undergo differentiation. Interestingly, we find that induction of TkvCA results in elevated expression of vein, which further activates Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling in CySCs to promote their proliferation and compete GSCs out of the niche. Our findings elucidate the important role of Dpp signaling in regulating stem cell competition and tumorigenesis, which could be shed light on tumorigenesis and cancer treatment in mammals.
Synchronization of interconnected heterogeneous networks: The role of network sizes
Authors: Zhang Huixin , Zhang Weidong , Gao Jianxi
Published: April 2019

Increasing evidence shows that real networks interact with each other, forming a network of networks (NONs). Synchronization, a ubiquitous process in natural and engineering systems, has fascinatingly gained rising attentions in the context of NONs. Despite efforts to study the synchronization of NONs, it is still a challenge to understand how do the network sizes affect the synchronization and its phase diagram of NONs coupled with nonlinear dynamics. Here, we model such NONs as star-like motifs to analytically derive the critical values of both the internal and the external coupling strengths, at which a phase transition from synchronization to incoherence occurs. Our results show that the critical values strongly depend on the network sizes. Reducing the difference between network sizes will enhance the synchronization of the whole system, which indicates the irrationality of previous studies that assume the network sizes to be the same. The optimal connection strategy also changes as the network sizes change, a discovery contradicting to the previous conclusion that connecting the high-degree nodes of each network is always the most effective strategy to achieve synchronization unchangeably. This finding emphasizes the crucial role of network sizes which has been neglected in the previous studies and could contribute to the design of a global synchronized system.
Implementation of SWAP test for two unknown states in photons via cross-Kerr nonlinearities under decoherence effect
Authors: Kang Min-Sung , Heo Jino , Choi Seong-Gon , Moon Sung , Han Sang-Wook
Published: April 2019

We present an optical scheme for a SWAP test (controlled swap operation) that can determine whether the difference between two unknown states (photons) using cross-Kerr nonlinearities (XKNLs). The SWAP test, based on quantum fingerprinting, has been widely applied to various quantum information processing (QIP) schemes. Thus, for a reliable QIP scheme, it is important to implement a scheme for a SWAP test that is experimentally feasible. Here, we utilize linearly and nonlinearly optical (XKNLs) gates to design a scheme for a SWAP test. We also analyze the efficiency and the performance of nonlinearly optical gates in our scheme under the decoherence effect and exhibit a technique employing quantum bus beams and photon-number-resolving measurements to reduce the effect of photon loss and dephasing caused by the decoherence effect. Consequently, our scheme, which is designed using linearly optical devices and XKNLs (nonlinear optics), can feasibly operate the nearly deterministic SWAP test with high efficiency, in practice.
Universal confined tensile strength of intact rock
Authors: Lan Hengxing , Chen Junhui , Macciotta Renato
Published: April 2019

Strength criteria for intact rock are essential for the safe design of many engineering structures. These criteria have been derived mainly from tests in the compressive stress region. Very few results have been published for confined, direct tensile tests on intact rock. No appropriate criteria are available for addressing the issue on tensile strength of intact rock at current stage. We present the results of direct triaxial tensile tests on Longmaxi Shales under varying confining stresses. These and the results from previous tests in marble and sandstone prove that the phenomenon of “tension cut-off” at low confining stress and the positive correlations between confining stress and tensile strength above the confining stress threshold for brittle rocks occur also in more ductile rocks like shales. Such findings are consistent with the concept that tensile failure processes for intact rock are universal. Our results demonstrate that friction processes still have a significant role on intact rock strength in the tensile region which is leading to confined tensile failure and transitioning to a purely tensile mode. Further, strength criteria are presented which consider the frictional processes leading to failure under confined, direct tension tests and validated against published tensile strength data.
A Simple and Useful Predictive Assay for Evaluating the Quality of Isolated Hepatocytes for Hepatocyte Transplantation
Authors: Matsumura Muneyuki , Imura Takehiro , Inagaki Akiko , Ogasawara Hiroyuki , Fukuoka Kengo , Fathi Ibrahim , Miyagi Shigehito , Ohashi Kazuo , Unno Michiaki , Kamei Takashi , Satomi Susumu , Goto Masafumi
Published: April 2019

No optimal assay for assessing isolated hepatocytes before hepatocyte transplantation (HTx) has been established, therefore reliable and rapid assays are warranted. Isolated rat hepatocytes were dipped in a water bath (necrosis model), and were also cultured with Okadaic acid (apoptosis model) or vehicle, followed by cellular assessment including trypan blue exclusion (TBE) viability, ADP /ATP ratio, plating efficiency (PE), DNA quantity and ammonia elimination. Hepatocytes were transplanted into the liver of analbuminemic rats, subsequently engraftment was assessed by serum albumin and the histology of transplanted grafts. In the necrosis model, the ADP/ATP ratio was strongly and negatively correlated with the TBE (R2 = 0.559, P < 0.001). In the apoptosis model, the ADP/ATP ratio assay, PE, DNA quantification and an ammonia elimination test clearly distinguished the groups (P < 0.001, respectively). The ADP/ATP ratio, PE and DNA quantity were well-correlated and the ammonia elimination was slightly correlated with the transplant outcome. TBE could not distinguish the groups and was not correlated with the outcome. The ADP/ATP ratio assay predicted the transplant outcome. PE and DNA quantification may improve the accuracy of the retrospective (evaluations require several days) quality assessment of hepatocytes. The ADP/ATP ratio assay, alone or with a short-term metabolic assay could improve the efficiency of HTx.
Room-temperature magnetism and tunable energy gaps in edge-passivated zigzag graphene quantum dots
Authors: Hu Wei , Huang Yi , Qin Xinmin , Lin Lin , Kan Erjun , Li Xingxing , Yang Chao , Yang Jinlong
Published: April 2019

Graphene is a nonmagnetic semimetal and cannot be directly used as electronic and spintronic devices. Here, we demonstrate that zigzag graphene nanoflakes (GNFs), also known as graphene quantum dots, can exhibit strong edge magnetism and tunable energy gaps due to the presence of localized edge states. By using large-scale first principle density functional theory calculations and detailed analysis based on model Hamiltonians, we can show that the zigzag edge states in GNFs ($${\mathrm{C}}_{6n^2}$$

C

6

n

2

H6n, n = 1–25) become much stronger and more localized as the system size increases. The enhanced edge states induce strong electron–electron interactions along the edges of GNFs, ultimately resulting in a magnetic configuration transition from nonmagnetic to intra-edge ferromagnetic and inter-edge antiferromagnetic, when the diameter is larger than 4.5 nm (C480H60). Our analysis shows that the inter-edge superexchange interaction of antiferromagnetic states between two nearest-neighbor zigzag edges in GNFs at the nanoscale (around 10 nm) can be stabilized at room temperature and is much stronger than that exists between two parallel zigzag edges in graphene nanoribbons, which cannot be stabilized at ultra-low temperature (3 K). Furthermore, such strong and localized edge states also induce GNFs semiconducting with tunable energy gaps, mainly controlled by adjusting the system size. Our results show that the quantum confinement effect, inter-edge superexchange (antiferromagnetic), and intra-edge direct exchange (ferromagnetic) interactions are crucial for the electronic and magnetic properties of zigzag GNFs at the nanoscale.
Pinostrobin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in cancer stem-like cells through a reactive oxygen species-dependent mechanism
Authors: Jadaun Alka , Sharma Sapna , Verma Radha , Dixit Aparna
Published: April 2019

The anti-proliferative potential of pinostrobin, a dietary flavonoid, is evaluated against cancer stem-like cells.
An electrochemical sensor based on poly(procaterol hydrochloride)/carboxyl multi-walled carbon nanotube for the determination of bromhexine hydrochloride
Authors: Kong Dexian , Han Libin , Wang Zeming , Jiang Lili , Zhang Qian , Wu Qiong , Su Jinwei , Lu Chunhua , Chen Guonan
Published: April 2019

The fabrication process of the p-ProH/CMWCNT/GCE.
Intra-articular tracking of adipose-derived stem cells by chitosan-conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles in a rat osteoarthritis model
Authors: Xie Meihua , Luo ShuLin , Li Ying , Lu Laiya , Deng Cuijun , Cheng Yu , Yin Feng
Published: April 2019

The chitosan modified IO-CS nanoparticles are biocompatible and efficient MRI reagents for the adipose-derived stem cell labeling and tracking in an osteoarthritis rat model.
Retracted Article: The nuclear export of TR3 mediated gambogic acid-induced apoptosis in cervical cancer cells through mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Zhang Chunhong , Liu Jia , Tao Fengxing , Lu Yiyi , He Qin , Zhao Liang , Ou Rongying , Xu Yunsheng , Li Wenfeng
Published: April 2019

The crosstalk of TR3 and p53 mediates GA-induced apoptosis of cervical cancer cells.
The stability and catalytic performance of K-modified molybdena supported on a titanate nanostructured catalyst in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane
Authors: Goudarzi Ehsan , Asadi Reza , Darian Jafar Towfighi , Shahbazi Kootenaei Amirhossein
Published: April 2019

Titanate nanotube supported molybdena was evaluated as a catalyst in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene.
Surface-mediated assembly, polymerization and degradation of thiophene-based monomers
Authors: Galeotti G. , De Marchi F. , Taerum T. , Besteiro L. V. , El Garah M. , Lipton-Duffin J. , Ebrahimi M. , Perepichka D. F. , Rosei F.
Published: April 2019

Temperature mapping of the different molecular phases of tribromoterthienobenzene on (111) coinage metals.
The impact of an isoreticular expansion strategy on the performance of iodine catalysts supported in multivariate zirconium and aluminum metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Tahmouresilerd Babak , Moody Michael , Agogo Louis , Cozzolino Anthony F.
Published: April 2019

A new iodine catalyst was supported in two different MOFs and the catalytic activity for the oxidation of hydroquinones and catechols was evaluated.
Nb-doped variants of high surface aluminium fluoride: a very strong bi-acidic solid catalyst
Authors: Marshall Clara Patricia , Scholz Gudrun , Braun Thomas , Kemnitz Erhard
Published: April 2019

Novel aluminium Nb-doped fluoride catalysts were synthesized using an aluminium hydroxide precursor to afford solids where very strong Lewis acid sites coexist with Brønsted acid sites.