bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sulphur and carbon cycling in the subduction zone mélange
Authors: Schwarzenbach Esther M. , Caddick Mark J. , Petroff Matthew , Gill Benjamin C. , Cooperdock Emily H. G. , Barnes Jaime D.
Published: October 2018

Subduction zones impose an important control on the geochemical cycling between the surficial and internal reservoirs of the Earth. Sulphur and carbon are transferred into Earth’s mantle by subduction of pelagic sediments and altered oceanic lithosphere. Release of oxidizing sulphate- and carbonate-bearing fluids modifies the redox state of the mantle and the chemical budget of subduction zones. Yet, the mechanisms of sulphur and carbon cycling within subduction zones are still unclear, in part because data are typically derived from arc volcanoes where fluid compositions are modified during transport through the mantle wedge. We determined the bulk rock elemental, and sulphur and carbon isotope compositions of exhumed ultramafic and metabasic rocks from Syros, Greece. Comparison of isotopic data with major and trace element compositions indicates seawater alteration and chemical exchange with sediment-derived fluids within the subduction zone channel. We show that small bodies of detached slab material are subject to metasomatic processes during exhumation, in contrast to large sequences of obducted ophiolitic sections that retain their seafloor alteration signatures. In particular, fluids circulating along the plate interface can cause sulphur mobilization during several stages of exhumation within high-pressure rocks. This takes place more pervasively in serpentinites compared to mafic rocks.
Itch induced by peripheral mu opioid receptors is dependent on TRPV1-expressing neurons and alleviated by channel activation
Authors: Melo Helvira , Basso Lilian , Iftinca Mircea , MacNaughton Wallace K. , Hollenberg Morley D. , McKay Derek M. , Altier Christophe
Published: October 2018

Opioids remain the gold standard for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. However, their analgesic properties come with important side effects, including pruritus, which occurs frequently after systemic or neuraxial administration. Although part of the opioid-induced itch is mediated centrally, recent evidence shows that the opioid receptor system in the skin also modulates itch. The goal of our study was to identify the peripherally located transducer mechanisms involved in opioid-induced pruritus. Scratching behaviors in response to an intradermal injection of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist [D-Ala2, N-MePhe4, Gly-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) was quantified in mast cell-, PAR2- and TRPV1-deficient mice or following ablation of TRPV1+ sensory neurons. We found that mast cells−/−, PAR-2−/−, or TRPV1−/− mice still exhibit DAMGO-induced itch responses. However, we show that ablation of TRPV1+ neurons or acute TRPV1 activation by capsaicin abolishes DAMGO-induced itch. Overall, our work shows that peripheral DAMGO-induced itch is dependent on the presence of TRPV1-expressing pruriceptors, but not the TRPV1 channel itself. Activation of these fibers by capsaicin prevents the opioid-induced itch.
Soil Organic Carbon Increases in Semi-Arid Regions while it Decreases in Humid Regions Due to Woody-Plant Encroachment of Grasslands in South Africa
Authors: Mureva Admore , Ward David , Pillay Tiffany , Chivenge Pauline , Cramer Michael
Published: October 2018

Grasslands and savannas are experiencing intensive land-cover change due to woody plant encroachment. This change in land cover is thought to alter soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage in these ecosystems. Some studies have reported a negative correlation between soil C and N and mean annual precipitation while others have indicated that there is no relationship with mean annual precipitation. We quantified the changes in C and N pools and δ13C and δ15N values to a depth of 1 m in pairs of encroached and adjacent open grassland sites along a precipitation gradient from 300 mm to 1500 mm per annum in South Africa. Our study showed a negative correlation between changes in soil organic C stocks in the 0–100 cm soil layer and mean annual precipitation (MAP). The most humid site (1500 mm MAP) had less C in shrub-encroached sites while the drier sites (300–350 mm MAP) had more C than their paired open grasslands. This study generally showed soil organic C gains in low precipitation areas, with a threshold value between 750 mm and 900 mm. Our threshold value was higher than that found in North America, suggesting that one cannot extrapolate across continents.
Structural and electronic effects of adatoms on metallic atomic chains in Si(111)5 × 2-Au
Authors: Do Eui Hwan , Kwon Se Gab , Kang Myung Ho , Yeom Han Woong
Published: October 2018

We investigate the effects of native Si adatoms on structural and electronic properties of the Si(111)5 × 2-Au surface, a representative one-dimensional metal-chain system, by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. High-resolution STM images of relatively long adatom-free chain segments evidence directly the inherent ×2 reconstruction, which is the essential part of a recently proposed structural model based on a renewed Au coverage of 0.7 monolayer. On the other hand, STM images for chain segments of different lengths reveal that the structural distortion induced by Si adatoms is confined in neighboring unit cells, in good agreement with DFT calculations based on that model. Si adatoms greatly affect the metallic bands of Au chains, one of which becomes fully occupied and represents a tightly confined electronic state to the distortion around Si adatoms, potentially forming short insulating segments within metallic chains. This finding provides an atomic-scale understanding of the observed gradual metal-insulator transition and atomic-scale phase separation induced by Si adatoms.
Author Correction: Binge Drinking among adolescents is related to the development of Alcohol Use Disorders: results from a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Addolorato Giovanni , Vassallo Gabriele A. , Antonelli Giulio , Antonelli Mariangela , Tarli Claudia , Mirijello Antonio , Agyei-Nkansah Adwoa , Mentella Maria C. , Ferrarese Daniele , Mora Vincenzina , Barbàra Marco , Maida Marcello , Cammà Calogero , Gasbarrini Antonio ,   Alcohol Related Disease Consortium, Bruno Giovanni , D’Angelo Giovanna , Del Zompo Fabio , Di Rienzo Teresa , Feliciani Daniela , Forte Fabrizio , Isoppo Vanessa , Laterza Lucrezia , Mangiola Francesca , Mosoni Carolina , Rando Margherita , Sestito Luisa
Published: October 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Blood vessel imaging using radiofrequency-induced second harmonic acoustic response
Authors: Huang Yuanhui , Kellnberger Stephan , Sergiadis George , Ntziachristos Vasilis
Published: October 2018

We introduce a contrast mechanism for visualizing blood vessels based on radiofrequency-induced second harmonic acoustic (RISHA) signals sensing blood conductivity. We develop a novel imaging system using commonly available inexpensive components, and demonstrate in vivo RISHA visualization of blood vessels based on low-power quasi-continuous radiofrequency excitation of tissue at frequencies of a few MHz. We show how the novel approach also implicitly enables radiofrequency-induced passive ultrasound imaging and can be readily applied to non-invasive imaging of blood vessels ex vivo and in vivo. We discuss the implications of non-invasive conductivity measurements in the context of biomedical applications.
Chromatin accessibility landscape of articular knee cartilage reveals aberrant enhancer regulation in osteoarthritis
Authors: Liu Ye , Chang Jen-Chien , Hon Chung-Chau , Fukui Naoshi , Tanaka Nobuho , Zhang Zhenya , Lee Ming Ta Michael , Minoda Aki
Published: October 2018

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disorder with increasing impact in an aging society. While genetic and transcriptomic analyses have revealed some genes and non-coding loci associated to OA, the pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Chromatin profiling, which provides insight into gene regulation, has not been reported in OA mainly due to technical difficulties. Here, we employed Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin with high throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) to map the accessible chromatin landscape in articular knee cartilage of OA patients. We identified 109,215 accessible chromatin regions for cartilages, of which 71% were annotated as enhancers. By overlaying them with genetic and DNA methylation data, we have determined potential OA-relevant enhancers and their putative target genes. Furthermore, through integration with RNA-seq data, we characterized genes that are altered both at epigenomic and transcriptomic levels in OA. These genes are enriched in pathways regulating ossification and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation. Consistently, the differentially accessible regions in OA are enriched for MSC-specific enhancers and motifs of transcription factor families involved in osteoblast differentiation. In conclusion, we demonstrate how direct chromatin profiling of clinical tissues can provide comprehensive epigenetic information for a disease and suggest candidate genes and enhancers of translational potential.
Predictors for success in renal denervation–a single centre retrospective analysis
Authors: Reshetnik Alexander , Gohlisch Christopher , Scheurig-Münkler Christian , De Bucourt Maximilian , Zidek Walter , Tölle Markus , van der Giet Markus
Published: October 2018

Renal denervation (RDN) is one of the most frequently used invasive methods for the treatment of arterial hypertension. However, recent randomized sham-controlled studies raised concern about the efficacy and predictability of response. We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of patients, who underwent RDN in our hypertension center between November 2010 and April 2014 and report here outcomes twelve months after procedure based on 24-hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. We defined ten-mm Hg decrease in office systolic blood pressure (SBP) as a cut-off for response and looked for possible predictors of this response using binary multiple regression analysis. 42 patients were included. Their mean age was 59.6 ± 9.2 years and 24% were female. Baseline office SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 164.1 ± 20.3 and 91.8 ± 12.4 mm Hg respectively. Mean 24 h-SBP significantly decreased from 149.8 ± 13.3 mm Hg to 141.2 ± 14.6 mm Hg. Mean 24 h-DBP significantly decreased from 83.3 ± 11.7 mm Hg to 78.8 ± 11.2 mm Hg. A higher level of mean 24 h-DBP and office DBP was shown to be predictive for response in office BP and a higher level of mean 24 h-DBP for response in 24 h-SBP and 24 h-DBP. Further properly designed randomized trials are warranted to confirm this finding as well as further investigate the role of diabetes mellitus and arterial stiffness in RDN.
Limited congruence exhibited across microbial, meiofaunal and macrofaunal benthic assemblages in a heterogeneous coastal environment
Authors: Cronin-O’Reilly Sorcha , Taylor Joe D. , Jermyn Ian , Allcock A. Louise , Cunliffe Michael , Johnson Mark P.
Published: October 2018

One of the most common approaches for investigating the ecology of spatially complex environments is to examine a single biotic assemblage present, such as macroinvertebrates. Underlying this approach are assumptions that sampled and unsampled taxa respond similarly to environmental gradients and exhibit congruence across different sites. These assumptions were tested for five benthic groups of various sizes (archaea, bacteria, microbial eukaryotes/protists, meiofauna and macrofauna) in Plymouth Sound, a harbour with many different pollution sources. Sediments varied in granulometry, hydrocarbon and trace metal concentrations. Following variable reduction, canonical correspondence analysis did not identify any associations between sediment characteristics and assemblage composition of archaea or macrofauna. In contrast, variation in bacteria was associated with granulometry, trace metal variations and bioturbation (e.g. community bioturbation potential). Protists varied with granulometry, hydrocarbon and trace metal predictors. Meiofaunal variation was associated with hydrocarbon and bioturbation predictors. Taxon turnover between sites varied with only three out of 10 group pairs showing congruence (meiofauna-protists, meiofauna-macrofauna and protists-macrofauna). While our results support using eukaryotic taxa as proxies for others, the lack of congruence suggests caution should be applied to inferring wider indicator or functional interpretations from studies of a single biotic assemblage.
Tomography of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake area and the Beppu-Shimabara graben
Authors: Zhao Dapeng , Yamashita Kei , Toyokuni Genti
Published: October 2018

Detailed three-dimensional images of P and S wave velocity and Poisson’s ratio (σ) of the crust and upper mantle beneath Kyushu in SW Japan are determined, with a focus on the source area of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake (M 7.3) that occurred in the Beppu-Shimabara graben (BSG) where four active volcanoes and many active faults exist. The 2016 Kumamoto earthquake took place in a high-velocity and low-σ zone in the upper crust, which is surrounded and underlain by low-velocity and high-σ anomalies in the upper mantle. This result suggests that, in and around the source zone of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, strong structural heterogeneities relating to active volcanoes and magmatic fluids exist, which may affect the seismogenesis. Along the BSG, low-velocity and high-σ anomalies do not exist everywhere in the upper mantle but mainly beneath the active volcanoes, suggesting that hot mantle upwelling is not the only cause of the graben. The BSG was most likely formed by joint effects of northward extension of the Okinawa Trough, westward extension of the Median Tectonic Line, and hot upwelling flow in the mantle wedge beneath the active volcanoes.
Increased transferrin saturation is associated with subgingival microbiota dysbiosis and severe periodontitis in genetic haemochromatosis
Authors: Boyer Emile , Le Gall-David Sandrine , Martin Bénédicte , Fong Shao Bing , Loréal Olivier , Deugnier Yves , Bonnaure-Mallet Martine , Meuric Vincent
Published: October 2018

Genetic haemochromatosis (GH) is responsible for iron overload. Increased transferrin saturation (TSAT) has been associated with severe periodontitis, which is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting tissues surrounding the teeth and is related to dysbiosis of the subgingival microbiota. Because iron is essential for bacterial pathogens, alterations in iron homeostasis can drive dysbiosis. To unravel the relationships between serum iron biomarkers and the subgingival microbiota, we analysed samples from 66 GH patients. The co-occurrence analysis of the microbiota showed very different patterns according to TSAT. Healthy and periopathogenic bacterial clusters were found to compete in patients with normal TSAT (≤45%). However, significant correlations were found between TSAT and the proportions of Porphyromonas and Treponema, which are two genera that contain well-known periopathogenic species. In patients with high TSAT, the bacterial clusters exhibited no mutual exclusion. Increased iron bioavailability worsened periodontitis and promoted periopathogenic bacteria, such as Treponema. The radical changes in host-bacteria relationships and bacterial co-occurrence patterns according to the TSAT level also suggested a shift in the bacterial iron supply from transferrin to NTBI when TSAT exceeded 45%. Taken together, these results indicate that iron bioavailability in biological fluids is part of the equilibrium between the host and its microbiota.
Efficacy of tenofovir in preventing perinatal transmission of HBV infection in pregnant women with high viral loads
Authors: Lin Yayun , Liu Yan , Ding Guifeng , Touqui Lhousseine , Wang Weimin , Xu Na , Liu Keying , Zhang Lingyan , Chen Dunjin , Wu Yongzheng , Bai Guiqin
Published: October 2018

Mother-to-child transmission is the major cause of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This double-blind trial tested the effect of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in preventing vertical transmission. Pregnant women who were HBsAg/HBeAg-positive with a HBV DNA titer ≥ 2×106 IU/mL were randomly assigned to the control (n = 60) and TDF-treated (n = 60) groups. TDF treatment (oral dose 300 mg/day) was initiated at 24 weeks of gestation and continued to 4 weeks after delivery. The subjects were followed up to 28 weeks postpartum. The effects of TDF on vertical transmission, outcomes of the mothers and infants and virological changes were monitored. TDF dynamically reduced the serum HBV DNA level of the mothers, particularly during the first 4 weeks of treatment. The lower viral loads were maintained in the pregnancies until delivery. Approximately 90% and 33.9% of the TDF-treated mothers had viral loads ≤2000 IU/mL after delivery and at 28 weeks postpartum, respectively. No cervical transmission or adverse effects were observed in the TDF-treated individuals, whereas 13.5% of the infants were infected with HBV in the control group. We conclude that TDF treatment initiated at 24 weeks of gestation in high-viremia, HBsAg/HBeAg-positive mothers efficiently prevents mother-to-child HBV transmission without adverse events in mothers and infants.
Photoacoustic-based visual servoing of a needle tip
Authors: Lediju Bell Muyinatu A. , Shubert Joshua
Published: October 2018

In intraoperative settings, the presence of acoustic clutter and reflection artifacts from metallic surgical tools often reduces the effectiveness of ultrasound imaging and complicates the localization of surgical tool tips. We propose an alternative approach for tool tracking and navigation in these challenging acoustic environments by augmenting ultrasound systems with a light source (to perform photoacoustic imaging) and a robot (to autonomously and robustly follow a surgical tool regardless of the tissue medium). The robotically controlled ultrasound probe continuously visualizes the location of the tool tip by segmenting and tracking photoacoustic signals generated from an optical fiber inside the tool. System validation in the presence of fat, muscle, brain, skull, and liver tissue with and without the presence of an additional clutter layer resulted in mean signal tracking errors <2 mm, mean probe centering errors <1 mm, and successful recovery from ultrasound perturbations, representing either patient motion or switching from photoacoustic images to ultrasound images to search for a target of interest. A detailed analysis of channel SNR in controlled experiments with and without significant acoustic clutter revealed that the detection of a needle tip is possible with photoacoustic imaging, particularly in cases where ultrasound imaging traditionally fails. Results show promise for guiding surgeries and procedures in acoustically challenging environments with this novel robotic and photoacoustic system combination.
Internal cueing improves gait more than external cueing in healthy adults and people with Parkinson disease
Authors: Harrison Elinor C. , Horin Adam P. , Earhart Gammon M.
Published: October 2018

Walking can be challenging for aging individuals and people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson disease (PD). Gait impairment characterized by reduced speed and higher variability destabilizes gait and increases the risk of falls. External auditory cueing provides an effective strategy to improve gait, as matching footfalls to rhythms typically increases gait speed and elicits larger steps, but the need to synchronize to an outside source often has a detrimental effect on gait variability. Internal cueing in the form of singing may provide an alternative to conventional gait therapy. In the present study, we compare the effects of internal and external cueing techniques on forward and backward walking for both people with PD and healthy controls. Results indicate that internal cueing was associated with improvements in gait velocity, cadence, and stride length in the backward direction, and reduced variability in both forward and backward walking. In comparison, external cueing was associated with minimal improvement in gait characteristics and a decline in gait stability. People with gait impairment due to aging or neurological decline may benefit more from internal cueing techniques such as singing as compared to external cueing techniques.
Comparative venom-gland transcriptomics and venom proteomics of four Sidewinder Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes) lineages reveal little differential expression despite individual variation
Authors: Hofmann Erich P. , Rautsaw Rhett M. , Strickland Jason L. , Holding Matthew L. , Hogan Michael P. , Mason Andrew J. , Rokyta Darin R. , Parkinson Christopher L.
Published: October 2018

Changes in gene expression can rapidly influence adaptive traits in the early stages of lineage diversification. Venom is an adaptive trait comprised of numerous toxins used for prey capture and defense. Snake venoms can vary widely between conspecific populations, but the influence of lineage diversification on such compositional differences are unknown. To explore venom differentiation in the early stages of lineage diversification, we used RNA-seq and mass spectrometry to characterize Sidewinder Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes) venom. We generated the first venom-gland transcriptomes and complementary venom proteomes for eight individuals collected across the United States and tested for expression differences across life history traits and between subspecific, mitochondrial, and phylotranscriptomic hypotheses. Sidewinder venom was comprised primarily of hemorrhagic toxins, with few cases of differential expression attributable to life history or lineage hypotheses. However, phylotranscriptomic lineage comparisons more than doubled instances of significant expression differences compared to all other factors. Nevertheless, only 6.4% of toxins were differentially expressed overall, suggesting that shallow divergence has not led to major changes in Sidewinder venom composition. Our results demonstrate the need for consensus venom-gland transcriptomes based on multiple individuals and highlight the potential for discrepancies in differential expression between different phylogenetic hypotheses.
The chemical cue tetrabromopyrrole induces rapid cellular stress and mortality in phytoplankton
Authors: Whalen Kristen E. , Kirby Christopher , Nicholson Russell M. , O’Reilly Mia , Moore Bradley S. , Harvey Elizabeth L.
Published: October 2018

Eukaryotic phytoplankton contribute to the flow of elements through marine food webs, biogeochemical cycles, and Earth’s climate. Therefore, how phytoplankton die is a critical determinate of the flow and fate of nutrients. While heterotroph grazing and viral infection contribute to phytoplankton mortality, recent evidence suggests that bacteria-derived cues also control phytoplankton lysis. Here, we report exposure to nanomolar concentrations of 2,3,4,5-tetrabromopyrrole (TBP), a brominated chemical cue synthesized by marine γ-proteobacteria, resulted in mortality of seven phylogenetically-diverse phytoplankton species. A comparison of nine compounds of marine-origin containing a range of cyclic moieties and halogenation indicated that both a single pyrrole ring and increased bromination were most lethal to the coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi. TBP also rapidly induced the production of reactive oxygen species and the release of intracellular calcium stores, both of which can trigger the activation of cellular death pathways. Mining of the Ocean Gene Atlas indicated that TBP biosynthetic machinery is globally distributed throughout the water column in coastal areas. These findings suggest that bacterial cues play multiple functions in regulating phytoplankton communities by inducing biochemical changes associated with cellular death. Chemically-induced lysis by bacterial infochemicals is yet another variable that must be considered when modeling oceanic nutrient dynamics.
Experimental manipulation of a signal trait reveals complex phenotype-behaviour coordination
Authors: Levin Iris I. , Fosdick Bailey K. , Tsunekage Toshi , Aberle Matthew A. , Bergeon Burns Christine M. , Hund Amanda K. , Safran Rebecca J.
Published: October 2018

Animals use morphological signals such as ornamental traits or weaponry to mediate social interactions, and the extent of signal trait elaboration is often positively associated with reproductive success. By demonstrating relationships between signal traits and fitness, researchers often make inferences about how behaviour operates to shape those outcomes. However, detailed information about fine-scale individual behaviour, and its physiological basis, can be difficult to obtain. Here we show that experimental manipulations to exaggerate a signal trait (plumage colour) and concomitant changes in testosterone and stress-induced corticosterone levels altered social interactivity between manipulated males and their social mates. On average, darkened males did not have higher levels of interactivity than unmanipulated males; however, males who experienced a greater shift in colour (pale to dark), a larger, positive change in testosterone levels, and a dampened stress-induced corticosterone response had a larger increase in the number of interactions with their social mate post-manipulation compared to pre-manipulation. This work provides new insights into the integration and real-time flexibility of multivariate phenotypes and direct evidence for the role of social interactions in pair bond maintenance.
Bispectrum Features and Multilayer Perceptron Classifier to Enhance Seizure Prediction
Authors: Bou Assi Elie , Gagliano Laura , Rihana Sandy , Nguyen Dang K. , Sawan Mohamad
Published: October 2018

The ability to accurately forecast seizures could significantly improve the quality of life of patients with drug-refractory epilepsy. Prediction capabilities rely on the adequate identification of seizure activity precursors from electroencephalography recordings. Although a long list of features has been proposed, none of these is able to independently characterize the brain states during transition to a seizure. This work assessed the feasibility of using the bispectrum, an advanced signal processing technique based on higher order statistics, as a precursor of seizure activity. Quantitative features were extracted from the bispectrum and passed through two statistical tests to check for significant differences between preictal and interictal recordings. Results showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between preictal and interictal states using all bispectrum-extracted features. We used normalized bispectral entropy, normalized bispectral squared entropy, and mean of magnitude as inputs to a 5-layer multilayer perceptron classifier and achieved respective held-out test accuracies of 78.11%, 72.64%, and 73.26%.
Nonstationary Temperature-Duration-Frequency curves
Authors: Ouarda Taha B. M. J. , Charron Christian
Published: October 2018

Persistent extreme heat events are of growing concern in a climate change context. An increase in the intensity, frequency and duration of heat waves is observed in several regions. Temperature extremes are also influenced by global-scale modes of climate variability. Temperature-Duration-Frequency (TDF) curves, which relate the intensity of heat events of different durations to their frequencies, can be useful tools for the analysis of heat extremes. To account for climate external forcings, we develop a nonstationary approach to the TDF curves by introducing indices that account for the temporal trend and teleconnections. Nonstationary TDF modeling can find applications in adaptive management in the fields of health care, public safety and energy production. We present a one-step method, based on the maximization of the composite likelihood of observed heat extremes, to build the nonstationary TDF curves. We show the importance of integrating the information concerning climate change and climate oscillations. In an application to the province of Quebec, Canada, the influence of Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillations (AMO) on heat events is shown to be more important than the temporal trend.
Comparative transcriptome analysis two genotypes of Acer truncatum Bunge seeds reveals candidate genes that influences seed VLCFAs accumulation
Authors: Wang Rongkai , Liu Pei , Fan Jinshuan , Li Lingli
Published: October 2018

The Acer truncatum Bunge is a particular widespread forest tree species in northern China. VLCFAs are important to eukaryotes survival and play diverse roles throughout the development. So far, there are reports that the Acer truncatum seeds fatty acid (FA) rich in VLCFAs, but little is known about the physiological mechanism responsible for the biosynthesis. A total of approximately 37.07 Gbp was generated, it was comprehensive enough to determine the majority of the regulation VLCFAs biosynthesis genes. The 97,053 different unigenes were assembled and identified, and large numbers of EST-SSRs were determined. The expression profiles of crucial genes (KCS, KCR, HCD and ECR) involved in VLCFAs elongation of fatty acids were also studied. To our knowledge, the present study provides the first comprehensive of the transcriptome of Acer truncatum seeds. This transcriptome dataset have been made publicly available NCBI, we believe that it may provide new resource for future high-throughput gene expression of Acer truncatum seeds growth and development and will provide theoretical basic information for improving the yield of VLCFAs, especially nervonic acid.
Alternative processing of its precursor is related to miR319 decreasing in melon plants exposed to cold
Authors: Bustamante Antonio , Marques Maria Carmen , Sanz-Carbonell Alejandro , Mulet Jose Miguel , Gomez Gustavo
Published: October 2018

miRNAs are fundamental endogenous regulators of gene expression in higher organisms. miRNAs modulate multiple biological processes in plants. Consequently, miRNA accumulation is strictly controlled through miRNA precursor accumulation and processing. Members of the miRNA319 family are ancient ribo-regulators that are essential for plant development and stress responses and exhibit an unusual biogenesis that is characterized by multiple processing of their precursors. The significance of the high conservation of these non-canonical biogenesis pathways remains unknown. Here, we analyze data obtained by massive sRNA sequencing and 5′ - RACE to explore the accumulation and infer the processing of members of the miR319 family in melon plants exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Sequence data showed that miR319c was down regulated in response to low temperature. However, the level of its precursor was increased by cold, indicating that miR319c accumulation is not related to the stem loop levels. Furthermore, we found that a decrease in miR319c was inversely correlated with the stable accumulation of an alternative miRNA (#miR319c) derived from multiple processing of the miR319c precursor. Interestingly, the alternative accumulation of miR319c and #miR319c was associated with an additional and non-canonical partial cleavage of the miR319c precursor during its loop-to-base-processing. Analysis of the transcriptional activity showed that miR319c negatively regulated the accumulation of HY5 via TCP2 in melon plants exposed to cold, supporting its involvement in the low temperature signaling pathway associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis. Our results provide new insights regarding the versatility of plant miRNA processing and the mechanisms regulating them as well as the hypothetical mechanism for the response to cold-induced stress in melon, which is based on the alternative regulation of miRNA biogenesis.
In situ paper-based 3D cell culture for rapid screening of the anti-melanogenic activity
Authors: Pupinyo Naricha , Chatatikun Moragot , Chiabchalard Anchalee , Laiwattanapaisal Wanida
Published: October 2018

Recently, paper has gained traction in the biotechnology research field due to its ability to be a substrate for 3D cell culture.
Electrochemical sensing for 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene based on β-cyclodextrin/carbon nanohorn nanohybrids
Authors: Kingsford Odoom Jibrael , Qian Junjuan , Zhang Depeng , Yi Yinhui , Zhu Gangbing
Published: October 2018

β-cyclodextrin/carbon nanohorn nanohybrids were prepared for the electrochemical sensing of 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene.
Development, validation and comparison of three methods of sample preparation used for identification and quantification of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and products of its degradation in sediments by GC-MS/MS
Authors: Dawidziuk Barbara , Nawała Jakub , Dziedzic Daniel , Gordon Diana , Popiel Stanisław
Published: October 2018

Large amounts of ammunition were dumped in seas and oceans after World War II.
Directional threading of a chiral porphyrin cage compound onto viologen guests
Authors: Varghese Shaji , White Paul B. , Elemans Johannes A. A. W. , Spierenburg Bram , Nolte Roeland J. M.
Published: October 2018

Face-selective threading of a chiral porphyrin host onto viologen guests.
Highly concentrated single-chain atomic crystal LiMo3Se3 solution using ion-exchange chromatography
Authors: Chae Sudong , Oh Seungbae , Siddiqa Akhtar J. , Choi Kyung Hwan , Lee Weon-Gyu , Jang Woo-Sung , Lee Joo Song , Kim Young-Min , Huh Joonsuk , Kim Soo Min , Choi Jae-Young
Published: October 2018

The enlargement of the Stern layer distance caused by this ion exchange improves the dispersibility of (Mo3Se3−)∞ chains and also prevents the re-bundling and aggregation of nanowires in aqueous solutions, even at high concentrations (1 mg mL−1).
Linking nanomaterial properties to biological outcomes: analytical chemistry challenges in nanotoxicology for the next decade
Authors: Qiu Tian A. , Clement Peter L. , Haynes Christy L.
Published: October 2018

This article provides our perspective on the analytical challenges in nanotoxicology as the field is entering its third decade.
Isomerism control of diethylstilbestrol by metal surface induced O–H cleavage
Authors: Oh Seung Cheol , Lloyd Julian A. , Fischer Sybille , Saǧlam Özge , Papageorgiou Anthoula C. , Diller Katharina , Duncan David A. , Klappenberger Florian , Allegretti Francesco , Reichert Joachim , Barth Johannes V.
Published: October 2018

Thetransorcisconformation of a stilbene is found to be critically dependent on the supporting metal surface.
Urchin-like Mo2S3 prepared via a molten salt assisted method for efficient hydrogen evolution
Authors: Zhou Xiaowen , Zhao Wei , Pan Jie , Fang Yuqiang , Wang Fengyun , Huang Fuqiang
Published: October 2018

Urchin-like Mo2S3 crystals, prepared via a molten salt assisted solid-state method, exhibit better catalytic activity and stability for hydrogen evolution reactions in acidic media compared with the well-known two-dimensional 2H-MoS2 and 1T′-MoS2.
Chiral α-hydroxy acid-coadsorbed TiO2photocatalysts for asymmetric induction in hydrogenation of aromatic ketones
Authors: Kohtani Shigeru , Kawashima Akira , Masuda Fumie , Sumi Momono , Kitagawa Yuichi , Yoshioka Eito , Hasegawa Yasuchika , Miyabe Hideto
Published: October 2018

In enantioselective photohydrogenation of aromatic ketones on TiO2, the enantioselectivity is strongly affected by not only chiral reagents but also the crystalline phase, surface structure, and morphology of TiO2.
A four-component radical cascade trifluoromethylation reaction of alkenes enabled by an electron-donor–acceptor complex
Authors: Tu Hai-Yong , Zhu Shengqing , Qing Feng-Ling , Chu Lingling
Published: October 2018

A four-component radical cascade trifluoromethylation of alkenes, enabled by an electron-donor–acceptor complex between Togni's reagent and Hantzsch ester, has been described.
Efficient synthesis of 2-arylquinazolin-4-amines via a copper-catalyzed diazidation and ring expansion cascade of 2-arylindoles
Authors: Xu Meng-Meng , Cao Wen-Bin , Xu Xiao-Ping , Ji Shun-Jun
Published: October 2018

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of 2-arylquinazolin-4-amines from readily available 2-arylindoles and TMSN3 has been developed.
Crystallisation of sodium dodecyl sulfate–water micellar solutions with structurally similar additives: counterion variation
Authors: Miller Ruhina M. , Cabral João T. , Robles Eric S. J. , Brooks Nicholas J. , Ces Oscar
Published: October 2018

Kinetic and morphological insight into the crystallisation of micellar SDS–H2O solutions using small quantities of structurally similar additives.
Basal plane bending of 4H-SiC single crystals grown by sublimation method with different seed attachment methods
Authors: Yang Xianglong , Yu Jinying , Chen Xiufang , Peng Yan , Hu Xiaobo , Xu Xiangang , Yang Xianglai , Song Yingxin , Wang Ruiqi
Published: October 2018

Basal plane bending of 4H-SiC single crystals grown using the sublimation method on an open or closed backside seed was measured using high-resolution X-ray diffractometry.
Specific features of supramolecular organisation and hydrogen bonding in proline cocrystals: a case study of fenamates and diclofenac
Authors: Surov Artem O. , Voronin Alexander P. , Vener Mikhail V. , Churakov Andrei V. , Perlovich German L.
Published: October 2018

New zwitterionic cocrystals of fenamate drugs and diclofenac with the naturally occurring amino acidl-proline have been obtained and thoroughly characterised by a variety of experimental and theoretical techniques.
A novel trimeric cationic surfactant as a highly efficient capping agent for the synthesis of trisoctahedral gold nanocrystals
Authors: Wang Wentao , Wu Chunxian , Zhu Jiang , Han Yuchun , Fan Yaxun , Wang Yilin
Published: October 2018

A trimeric cationic surfactant, even at a very low concentration of 0.2 mM, enables the formation of trisoctahedral Au nanocrystals.
Structural search for stable Mg–Ca alloys accelerated with a neural network interatomic model
Authors: Ibarra-Hernández Wilfredo , Hajinazar Samad , Avendaño-Franco Guillermo , Bautista-Hernández Alejandro , Kolmogorov Aleksey N. , Romero Aldo H.
Published: October 2018

We have combined a neural network formalism with metaheuristic structural global search algorithms to systematically screen the Mg–Ca binary system for new (meta)stable alloys.
Degradation of acetaminophen in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation by Bi-modified titanate nanomaterials: morphology effect, kinetics and mechanism
Authors: Fan Gongduan , Peng Huiping , Zhang Jin , Zheng Xiaomei , Zhu Guocheng , Wang Shumin , Hong Liang
Published: October 2018

Three morphologies of Bi-modified titanate nanomaterials were prepared using the hydrothermal method and controlled parameters to degrade acetaminophen.
Catechol oxidase activity of comparable dimanganese and dicopper complexes
Authors: Magherusan Adriana M. , Nelis Daniel N. , Twamley Brendan , McDonald Aidan R.
Published: October 2018

Dicopper complexes proved to be more reactive catechol oxidase mimics when compared to dimanganese complexes supported by identical ligand frameworks.
Reactivity of the diphosphinodithio ligated nickel(0) complex toward alkyl halides and resultant nickel(i) and nickel(ii)–alkyl complexes
Authors: Zhang Ailing , Wang Congxiao , Lai Xiaoyu , Zhai Xiaofang , Pang Maofu , Tung Chen-Ho , Wang Wenguang
Published: October 2018

Diphosphinodithio ligated complexes of nickel(0), nickel(i) and nickel(ii)–alkyl with a reactivity relevant to the C–C bond formation were described.
Nacre-inspired crystallization and elastic “brick-and-mortar” structure for a wearable perovskite solar module
Authors: Hu Xiaotian , Huang Zengqi , Li Fengyu , Su Meng , Huang Zhandong , Zhao Zhipeng , Cai Zheren , Yang Xia , Meng Xiangchuan , Li Pengwei , Wang Yang , Li Mingzhu , Chen Yiwang , Song Yanlin
Published: October 2018

Biomimetic crystallization has been developed to improve the efficiency and mechanical stability for a wearable and stretchable perovskite solar module.
The selective capture of Pb2+ in rice phloem sap using glutathione-functionalized gold nanoparticles/multi-walled carbon nanotubes: enhancing anti-interference electrochemical detection
Authors: Jiang Min , Chen Hui-Ru , Li Shan-Shan , Liang Rui , Liu Jin-Huai , Yang Yang , Wu Yue-Jin , Yang Meng , Huang Xing-Jiu
Published: October 2018

Selective detection of Pb2+ in rice phloem sap by a simple and effective method.
Impact of anaerobic co-digestion between sewage sludge and carbon-rich organic waste on microbial community resilience
Authors: Nguyen Anh Q. , Wickham Richard , Nguyen Luong N. , Phan Hop V. , Galway Brendan , Bustamante Heriberto , Nghiem Long D.
Published: October 2018

This study examines the changes in microbial community diversity and structure in response to anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) between sewage sludge and a carbon-rich organic waste.
Selective assembly and functionalization of miniaturized redox capacitor inside microdevices for microbial toxin and mammalian cell cytotoxicity analyses
Authors: Shang Wu , Liu Yi , Kim Eunkyoung , Tsao Chen-Yu , Payne Gregory F. , Bentley William E.
Published: October 2018

We report a novel strategy for bridging information transfer between electronics and biological systems within microdevices.
Engineering hyperthermostable rcSso7d as reporter molecule forin vitrodiagnostic tests
Authors: Sung Ki-Joo , Miller Eric A. , Sikes Hadley D.
Published: October 2018

We investigated different constructs of the hyperthermostable binding protein, rcSso7d, to link a detectable signal to the presence of target biomarker.
High capacity MoO3/rGO nanocomposite anode for lithium ion batteries: an intuition into the conversion mechanism of MoO3
Authors: Patil Shivaraj B. , Udayabhanu Udayabhanu , Kishore Brij , Nagaraju G. , Dupont Jairton
Published: October 2018

rGO wrapped MoO3 NPs were successfully synthesized via simple and scalable steps as potential anode materials for Li-ion batteries.
Combining organocatalysis with photoorganocatalysis: photocatalytic hydroacylation of asymmetric organocatalytic Michael addition products
Authors: Schiza Andriana , Spiliopoulou Nikoleta , Shahu Adelajda , Kokotos Christoforos G.
Published: October 2018

Organocatalysis and photoorganocatalysis are two areas of synthetic methodology that have been successfully combined.
A highly sensitive luminescent ratiometric thermometer based on europium(iii) and terbium(iii) benzoylacetonate complexes chemically bonded to ethyldiphenylphosphine oxide functionalized polydimethylsiloxane
Authors: Gálico Diogo Alves , Mazali Ítalo Odone , Sigoli Fernando Aparecido
Published: October 2018

A terbium(iii) and europium(iii) ratiometric optical temperature probe with a high relative thermal sensitivity of 11.05% K−1.
Light-scattering detection within the difficult size range of protein particle measurement using flow cytometry
Authors: Hu Zhishang , Ye Chen , Mi Wei , Zhao Yun , Quan Can , Li William W. , Li Hongmei , Hang Haiying
Published: October 2018

The phenomenon of protein aggregation is a prominent challenge that impacts biopharmaceutical development at every stage.
Recent advances in electrocatalysts toward the oxygen reduction reaction: the case of PtNi octahedra
Authors: Chaudhari Nitin K. , Joo Jinwhan , Kim Byeongyoon , Ruqia Bibi , Choi Sang-Il , Lee Kwangyeol
Published: October 2018

This review addresses the recent important developments in PtNi-based octahedral electrocatalysts as potential electrode candidates for the oxygen reduction reaction.
Synthesis of N-arylsulfonamides through a Pd-catalyzed reduction coupling reaction of nitroarenes with sodium arylsulfinates
Authors: Yang Bo , Lian Chang , Yue Guanglu , Liu Danyang , Wei Liyan , Ding Yi , Zheng Xiancai , Lu Kui , Qiu Di , Zhao Xia
Published: October 2018

A novel Pd/C catalysed direct reductive coupling reaction between nitroarenes and sodium arylsulfinates to synthesize N-arylsulfonamides was developed.
A radical cyclization cascade of 2-alkynylbenzonitriles with sodium arylsulfinates
Authors: Zhou Bang , Chen Wenqi , Yang Yuzhong , Yang Yuan , Deng Guobo , Liang Yun
Published: October 2018

We report an efficient approach to synthesize sulfonated indenones via a radical cascade cyclization of 2-alkynylbenzonitriles with sodium arylsulfinates.
KHMDS mediated synthesis of 9-arylfluorenes from dibenzothiophene dioxides and arylacetonitriles by tandem SNAr-decyanation-based arylation
Authors: Mylavarapu Saketh , Yadav Mamta , Bhanuchandra M.
Published: October 2018

A straightforward KHMDS mediated synthetic route to 9-arylfluorenes from readily available starting materials has been developed.
Direct synthesis of indenes via a rhodium-catalyzed multicomponent Csp2–H annulation reaction
Authors: Querard Pierre , Li Chao-Jun
Published: October 2018

A highly efficient, direct and multicomponent route for the synthesis of indenes is reported herein.
Grafting-through ROMP for gels with tailorable moduli and crosslink densities
Authors: Weaver Jessica A. , Morelly Samantha L. , Alvarez Nicolas J. , Magenau Andrew J. D.
Published: October 2018

A new class of chemically-crosslinked network was synthesized by grafting-through macrocrosslinkers with ROMP, exhibiting highly-tailorable storage moduli through independent control of the network junction functionality and molecular weight between crosslinks.
Combination of noncovalent conformational locks and side chain engineering to tune the crystallinity of nonfullerene acceptors for high-performance P3HT based organic solar cells
Authors: Ye Pan , Chen Yusheng , Wu Jianfei , Wu Xiaoxi , Xu Yunxiao , Li Zijie , Hong Shikai , Sun Ming , Peng Aidong , Huang Hui
Published: October 2018

The performances of P3HT based OSCs were systematically improved attributed to the modification of the side chains of small molecules.
Synthesis of ordered Ca- and Li-doped mesoporous silicas for H2 and CO2 adsorption at ambient temperature and pressure
Authors: Pal Nabanita , Kim Taeyeon , Jae-Seo Park Jae-Seo Park , Cho Eun-Bum
Published: October 2018

Mesoporous Ca- and Li-doped silica materials have been synthesized in a surfactant mediated sol–gel method and the materials showed significant H2 uptake capabilities at ambient temperature and pressure.
Influence of odd–even effect and intermolecular interactions in 2D molecular layers of bisamide organogelators
Authors: Kocasoy Volga , Dedeoglu Burcu , Demir-Ordu Oznur , Aviyente Viktorya
Published: October 2018

Our computational results rationalize the factors that affect the molecular self-assembly of bisamides and its role on gelation.
Visible light activity of Bi2WO6@TCNQ with core–shell structure in phenol degradation
Authors: Wei Yunxia , Li Wenlu , Miao Hong , Zhang Hanjie , Ma Mingguang
Published: October 2018

Under visible irradiation, the photogenerated holes on the HOMO orbit of TCNQ can be injected into the VB of Bi2WO6 resulting in the oxidation of organic pollutant directly.
Nanoscale tungsten nitride/nitrogen-doped carbon as an efficient non-noble metal catalyst for hydrogen and oxygen recombination at room temperature in nickel–iron batteries
Authors: Huang Lanxiang , Yang Jun , Zhou Wanhai , Liu Kun , Zhu Ding , Chen Yungui
Published: October 2018

A nickel–iron battery with nanoscale WN/NC catalyst can be used for large-scale energy storage systems in rural/remote areas.
Pristine carbon nitride as active material for high-performance metal-free supercapacitors: simple, easy and cheap
Authors: Gonçalves Roger , Lima Thiago M. , Paixão Márcio W. , Pereira Ernesto C.
Published: October 2018

Understanding the basic properties of pristine carbon nitride electrodes is of great importance for their further applications as supercapacitor materials.
Vortex-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction and indirect spectrophotometric determination of chromium(vi)
Authors: Bazel Yaroslav , Riabukhina Tetiana
Published: October 2018

A novel, simple, sensitive and selective method for the indirect spectrophotometric determination of Cr(vi) was developed on the basis of vortex-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction of an ion association pair between the I3–and cationic dye ABR.
MoS2-quantum dot triggered reactive oxygen species generation and depletion: responsible for enhanced chemiluminescence
Authors: Dou Xiangnan , Zhang Qiang , Shah Syed Niaz Ali , Khan Mashooq , Uchiyama Katsumi , Lin Jin-Ming
Published: October 2018

Activated MoS2-QDs exhibit a promising capability for the generation of reactive oxygen species.