bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of the CMIP6 Forcing Data in the IPSL‐CM6A‐LR Model
Authors: Lurton Thibaut , Balkanski Yves , Bastrikov Vladislav , Bekki Slimane , Bopp Laurent , Braconnot Pascale , Brockmann Patrick , Cadule Patricia , Contoux Camille , Cozic Anne , Cugnet David , Dufresne Jean‐Louis , Éthé Christian , Foujols Marie‐Alice , Ghattas Josefine , Hauglustaine Didier , Hu Rong‐Ming , Kageyama Masa , Khodri Myriam , Lebas Nicolas , Levavasseur Guillaume , Marchand Marion , Ottlé Catherine , Peylin Philippe , Sima Adriana , Szopa Sophie , Thiéblemont Rémi , Vuichard Nicolas , Boucher Olivier
Published: April 2020

The implementation of boundary conditions is a key aspect of climate simulations. We describe here how the Climate Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) forcing data sets have been processed and implemented in Version 6 of the Institut Pierre‐Simon Laplace (IPSL) climate model (IPSL‐CM6A‐LR) as used for CMIP6. Details peculiar to some of the Model Intercomparison Projects are also described. IPSL‐CM6A‐LR is run without interactive chemistry; thus, tropospheric and stratospheric aerosols as well as ozone have to be prescribed. We improved the aerosol interpolation procedure and highlight a new methodology to adjust the ozone vertical profile in a way that is consistent with the model dynamical state at the time step level. The corresponding instantaneous and effective radiative forcings have been estimated and are being presented where possible.
Spatiotemporal Variability in Transport and Reactive Processes Across a First‐ to Fifth‐Order Fluvial Network
Authors: Gootman Kaylyn S. , González‐Pinzón Ricardo , Knapp Julia L. A. , Garayburu‐Caruso Vanessa , Cable Jaye E.
Published: April 2020

Fluvial networks integrate, transform, and transport constituents from terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. To date, most research on water quality dynamics has focused on process understanding at individual streams, and, as a result, there is a lack of studies analyzing how physical and biogeochemical drivers scale across fluvial networks. We performed tracer tests in five stream orders of the Jemez River continuum in New Mexico, USA, to quantify reach‐scale hyporheic exchange during two different seasonal periods to address the following: How do hyporheic zone contributions to overall riverine processing change with space and time? And does the spatiotemporal variability of hyporheic exchange scale across fluvial networks? Combining conservative (i.e., bromide) and reactive (i.e., resazurin) tracer analyses with solute transport modeling, we found a dominance of reaction‐limited transport conditions and a decrease of the contributions of hyporheic processing across stream orders and flow regimes. Our field‐based findings suggest that achieving knowledge transferability of hyporheic processing within fluvial networks may be possible, especially when process variability is sampled across multiple stream orders and flow regimes. Therefore, we propose a shift in our traditional approach to investigating scaling patterns in transport processes, which currently relies on the interpretation of studies conducted in multiple sites (mainly in headwater streams) that are located in different fluvial networks, to a more cohesive, network‐centered investigation of processes using the same or readily comparable methods.
The Sensitivity of Hyporheic Exchange to Fractal Properties of Riverbeds
Authors: Lee Anzy , Aubeneau Antoine F. , Cardenas M. Bayani
Published: April 2020

Hyporheic exchange in riverbeds is driven by current‐bed topography interactions. Because riverbeds exhibit topographic roughness across scales, from individual grains to bedforms and bars, they can exhibit fractal patterns. This study analyzed the influence of fractal properties of riverbed topography on hyporheic exchange. A set of synthetic fractal riverbeds with different scaling statistics was used as inputs to sequentially coupled numerical simulations of turbulent channel flow and hyporheic flow. In the analysis, the maximum power spectrum (dune size) and the fractal dimension (topographic complexity) were considered as independent variables and we then investigated how interfacial fluxes and hyporheic travel times are functionally related to these variables. As the maximum power spectrum increases (i.e., dune height to flow depth ratio), the average interfacial flux increases logarithmically whereas it increases exponentially with an increase in fractal dimension. Hyporheic exchange is more sensitive to additional roughness (larger fractal dimensions) than to bedform size (larger maximum power). Our results imply that fractal properties of riverbeds are crucial to predicting hyporheic exchange. The predictive relationships we propose could be integrated with reduced complexity, large‐scale models. They can also be used to design artificial topographies that target hyporheic ecosystem services.
FBXO22 degrades nuclear PTEN to promote tumorigenesis
Authors: Ge Meng-Kai , Zhang Na , Xia Li , Zhang Cheng , Dong Shuang-Shu , Li Zhan-Ming , Ji Yan , Zheng Min-Hua , Sun Jing , Chen Guo-Qiang , Shen Shao-Ming
Published: April 2020

Nuclear localization of PTEN is essential for its tumor suppressive role, and loss of nuclear PTEN is more prominent than cytoplasmic PTEN in many kinds of cancers. However, nuclear PTEN-specific regulatory mechanisms were rarely reported. Based on the finding that nuclear PTEN is more unstable than cytoplasmic PTEN, here we identify that F-box only protein 22 (FBXO22) induces ubiquitylation of nuclear but not cytoplasmic PTEN at lysine 221, which is responsible for the degradation of nuclear PTEN. FBXO22 plays a tumor-promoting role by ubiquitylating and degrading nuclear PTEN. In accordance, FBXO22 is overexpressed in various cancer types, and contributes to nuclear PTEN downregulation in colorectal cancer tissues. Cumulatively, our study reports the mechanism to specifically regulate the stability of nuclear PTEN, which would provide the opportunity for developing therapeutic strategies aiming to achieve complete reactivation of PTEN as a tumor suppressor.
Microbial Diversity and Metabolic Potential in the Stratified Sansha Yongle Blue Hole in the South China Sea
Authors: He Peiqing , Xie Linping , Zhang Xuelei , Li Jiang , Lin Xuezheng , Pu Xinming , Yuan Chao , Tian Ziwen , Li Jie
Published: April 2020

The Sansha Yongle Blue Hole is the world’s deepest (301 m) underwater cave and has a sharp redox gradient, with oligotrophic, anoxic, and sulfidic bottom seawater. In order to discover the microbial communities and their special biogeochemical pathways in the blue hole, we analyzed the 16S ribosomal RNA amplicons and metagenomes of microbials from seawater depths with prominent physical, chemical, and biological features. Redundancy analysis showed that dissolved oxygen was the most important factor affecting the microbial assemblages of the blue hole and surrounding open sea waters, and significantly explained 44.7% of the total variation, followed by silicate, temperature, sulfide, ammonium, methane, nitrous oxide, nitrate, dissolved organic carbon, salinity, particulate organic carbon, and chlorophyll a. We identified a bloom of Alteromonas (34.9%) at the primary nitrite maximum occurring in close proximity to the chlorophyll a peak in the blue hole. Genomic potential for nitrate reduction of Alteromonas might contribute to this maximum under oxygen decrease. Genes that would allow for aerobic ammonium oxidation, complete denitrification, and sulfur-oxidization were enriched at nitrate/nitrite-sulfide transition zone (90 and 100 m) of the blue hole, but not anammox pathways. Moreover, γ-Proteobacterial clade SUP05, ε-Proteobacterial genera Sulfurimonas and Arcobacter, and Chlorobi harbored genes for sulfur-driven denitrification process that mediated nitrogen loss and sulfide removal. In the anoxic bottom seawater (100-300 m), high levels of sulfate reducers and dissimilatory sulfite reductase gene (dsrA) potentially created a sulfidic zone of ~200 m thickness. Our findings suggest that in the oligotrophic Sansha Yongle Blue Hole, O2 deficiency promotes nitrogen- and sulfur-cycling processes mediated by metabolically versatile microbials.
Alleviation of migraine symptoms by application of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation to myofascial trigger points of neck and shoulder muscles – A randomized trial
Authors: Renner Tabea , Sollmann Nico , Heinen Florian , Albers Lucia , Trepte-Freisleder Florian , Klose Birgit , König Helene , Krieg Sandro M. , Bonfert Michaela V. , Landgraf Mirjam N.
Published: April 2020

Migraine is a burdensome disease with an especially high prevalence in women between the age of 15 and 49 years. Non-pharmacological, non-invasive therapeutic methods to control symptoms are increasingly in demand to complement a multimodal intervention approach in migraine. Thirty-seven subjects (age: 25.0 ± 4.1 years; 36 females) diagnosed with high-frequency episodic migraine who presented at least one active myofascial trigger point (mTrP) in the trapezius muscles and at least one latent mTrP in the deltoid muscles bilaterally prospectively underwent six sessions of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) over two weeks. Patients were randomly assigned to receive rPMS applied to the mTrPs of the trapezius (n = 19) or deltoid muscles (n = 18). Whereas the trapezius muscle is supposed to be part of the trigemino-cervical complex (TCC) and, thus, involved in the pathophysiology of migraine, the deltoid muscle was not expected to interfere with the TCC and was therefore chosen as a control stimulation site. The headache calendar of the German Migraine and Headache Society (DMKG) as well as the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire were used to evaluate stimulation-related effects. Frequency of headache days decreased significantly in both the trapezius and the deltoid group after six sessions of rPMS (trapezius group: p = 0.005; deltoid group: p = 0.003). The MIDAS score decreased significantly from 29 to 13 points (p = 0.0004) in the trapezius and from 31 to 15 points (p = 0.002) in the deltoid group. Thus, rPMS applied to mTrPs of neck and shoulder muscles offers a promising approach to alleviate headache frequency and symptom burden. Future clinical trials are needed to examine more profoundly these effects, preferably using a sham-controlled setting.
Synaptic ribbons foster active zone stability and illumination-dependent active zone enrichment of RIM2 and Cav1.4 in photoreceptor synapses
Authors: Dembla Ekta , Dembla Mayur , Maxeiner Stephan , Schmitz Frank
Published: April 2020

Rod photoreceptor synapses use large, ribbon-type active zones for continuous synaptic transmission during light and dark. Since ribbons are physically connected to the active zones, we asked whether illumination-dependent changes of ribbons influence Cav1.4/RIM2 protein clusters at the active zone and whether these illumination-dependent effects at the active zone require the presence of the synaptic ribbon. We found that synaptic ribbon length and the length of presynaptic Cav1.4/RIM2 clusters are tightly correlated. Dark-adaptation did not change the number of ribbons and active zone puncta. However, mean ribbon length and length of presynaptic Cav1.4/RIM2 clusters increased significantly during dark-adaptation when tonic exocytosis is highest. In the present study, we identified by the analyses of synaptic ribbon-deficient RIBEYE knockout mice that synaptic ribbons are (1) needed to stabilize Cav1.4/RIM2 at rod photoreceptor active zones and (2) are required for the darkness-induced active zone enrichment of Cav1.4/RIM2. These data propose a role of the ribbon in active zone stabilization and suggest a homeostatic function of the ribbon in illumination-dependent active zone remodeling.
Non-Invasive Photoacoustic Imaging of In Vivo Mice with Erythrocyte Derived Optical Nanoparticles to Detect CAD/MI
Authors: Liu Yonggang , Hanley Taylor , Chen Hao , Long Steven R. , Gambhir Sanjiv S. , Cheng Zhen , Wu Joseph C. , Fakhri Georges El , Anvari Bahman , Zaman Raiyan T.
Published: April 2020

Coronary artery disease (CAD) causes mortality and morbidity worldwide. We used near-infrared erythrocyte-derived transducers (NETs), a contrast agent, in combination with a photoacoustic imaging system to identify the locations of atherosclerotic lesions and occlusion due to myocardial-infarction (MI). NETs (≈90 nm diameter) were fabricated from hemoglobin-depleted mice erythrocyte-ghosts and doped with Indocyanine Green (ICG). Ten weeks old male C57BL/6 mice (n = 9) underwent left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery ligation to mimic vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques and their rupture leading to MI. 150 µL of NETs (20 µM ICG,) was IV injected via tail vein 1-hour prior to photoacoustic (PA) and fluorescence in vivo imaging by exciting NETs at 800 nm and 650 nm, respectively. These results were verified with histochemical analysis. We observed ≈256-fold higher PA signal from the accumulated NETs in the coronary artery above the ligation. Fluorescence signals were detected in LAD coronary, thymus, and liver. Similar signals were observed when the chest was cut open. Atherosclerotic lesions exhibited inflammatory cells. Liver demonstrated normal portal tract, with no parenchymal necrosis, inflammation, fibrosis, or other pathologic changes, suggesting biocompatibility of NETs. Non-invasively detecting atherosclerotic plaques and stenosis using NETs may lay a groundwork for future clinical detection and improving CAD risk assessment.
Achieving affective human–virtual agent communication by enabling virtual agents to imitate positive expressions
Authors: Numata Takashi , Sato Hiroki , Asa Yasuhiro , Koike Takahiko , Miyata Kohei , Nakagawa Eri , Sumiya Motofumi , Sadato Norihiro
Published: April 2020

Affective communication, communicating with emotion, during face-to-face communication is critical for social interaction. Advances in artificial intelligence have made it essential to develop affective human–virtual agent communication. A person’s belief during human–virtual agent interaction that the agent is a computer program affects social-cognitive processes. Whether this belief interferes with affective communication is an open question. We hypothesized that the imitation of a positive emotional expression by a virtual agent induces a positive emotion, regardless of the belief. To test this hypothesis, we conducted an fMRI study with 39 healthy volunteers, who were made to believe that a virtual agent was either a person or a computer. They were instructed to smile, and immediately afterwards, the virtual agent displayed a positive, negative, or neutral expression. The participants reported a positive emotion only when their smile was imitated by the agent’s positive expression regardless of their belief. This imitation activated the participants’ medial prefrontal cortex and precuneus, which are involved in anthropomorphism and contingency, respectively. These results suggest that a positive congruent response by a virtual agent can overcome the effect of believing that the agent is a computer program and thus contribute to achieving affective human–virtual agent communication.
Author Correction: A monocyte gene expression signature in the early clinical course of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Schlachetzki Johannes C. M. , Prots Iryna , Tao Jenhan , Chun Hyun B. , Saijo Kaoru , Gosselin David , Winner Beate , Glass Christopher K. , Winkler Jürgen
Published: April 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Effect of step frequency on leg stiffness during running in unilateral transfemoral amputees
Authors: Hobara Hiroaki , Sakata Hiroyuki , Namiki Yuta , Hisano Genki , Hashizume Satoru , Usui Fumio
Published: April 2020

Spring-like leg behavior is a general feature of mammalian bouncing gaits, such as running and hopping. Although increases in step frequency at a given running speed are known to increase the stiffness of the leg spring (kleg) in non-amputees, little is known about stiffness regulation in unilateral transfemoral amputees. In this study, we investigated stiffness regulation at different step frequencies at a given running speed in unilateral transfemoral amputees. We recruited nine unilateral transfemoral amputees wearing running-specific prostheses. They were asked to perform the action of running across a range of step frequencies (±20, ±15, ±10, ±5, and 0% of their preferred step frequency) at a given speed on an instrumented treadmill. The kleg values were calculated using ground reaction force data in both the affected and unaffected limbs. It was found that kleg increased with increasing step frequency for the unaffected limb, but not for the affected limb. Consequently, the unilateral transfemoral amputees attained the desired step frequency in the unaffected limb, but were unable to match the three highest step frequencies using their affected limbs. These results suggest that the stiffness regulation strategy during running differs between the affected and unaffected limbs.
Author Correction: Synchronized Biventricular Heart Pacing in a Closed-chest Porcine Model based on Wirelessly Powered Leadless Pacemakers
Authors: Lyu Hongming , John Mathews , Burkland David , Greet Brian , Post Allison , Babakhani Aydin , Razavi Mehdi
Published: April 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Hypoglycemic effect of glycyrrhizic acid, a natural non-carbohydrate sweetener, on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice
Authors: Zhang Wei , Li Ting , Zhang Xiao-Jing , Zhu Zhen-Yuan
Published: April 2020

Glycyrrhizic acid (GZA) was extracted from the stem of licorice by enzymatic hydrolysis, separated and purified by silica gel column chromatography, its purity was determined by HPLC, and the structure was identified by FT-IR and NMR methods.
Variable protein expression in marine-derived filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum in response to varying copper concentrations and salinity
Authors: Lotlikar Nikita , Damare Samir , Meena Ram Murti , Jayachandran Saranya
Published: April 2020

Copper is one of the essential trace dietary minerals for all living organisms, but is potentially toxic at higher concentrations, mainly due to the redox reactions in its transition state. Tolerance of microbes towards copper is primarily attributed to chelation and biosorption. In this study, marine-derived filamentous fungi were evaluated for their ability to remove Cu(ii) from a culture medium. Further, the cellular response of a select isolate to salinity stress (0, 35 and 100 PSU) and Cu(ii) stress (0, 100, and 500 ppm) was studied using the peptide mass fingerprinting technique, which revealed expression of 919 proteins, of which 55 proteins were commonly expressed across all conditions. Housekeeping proteins such as citrate synthase, pyruvate carboxylase, ribosomal proteins, ATP synthases, and more were expressed across all conditions. Reactive oxygen species scavenging proteins such as glutaredoxin, mitochondrial peroxiredoxins and thioredoxins were expressed under Cu(ii) and salinity stresses individually as well as in combination. Up-regulation of glutaredoxin under Cu(ii) stress with fold change values of 18.3 and 13.9 under 100 ppm and 500 ppm of Cu(ii) indicated active scavenging of free radicals to combat oxidative damage. The common mechanisms reported were enzymatic scavenging of free radicals, activation of DNA damage and repair proteins and probable intracellular metal chelation. This indicated multiple stress mechanisms employed by the isolate to combat the singular and synergistic effects of Cu(ii) and salinity stress.
Development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of glaucoma based on actin-binding kinase inhibition – in silico approach
Authors: Zivkovic Maja , Zlatanovic Marko , Zlatanovic Nevena , Djordjevic Jocic Jasmina , Golubović Mladjan , Veselinović Aleksandar M.
Published: April 2020

QSAR modeling with computer-aided drug design were used for the in silico development of novel therapeutics for glaucoma treatment.
Chemical transformation of a luminescent two-dimensional Eu(iii) coordination polymer in the aqueous phase
Authors: da Silva Caroline Moraes , Ellena Javier , Frem Regina Célia Galvão
Published: April 2020

We report a 2D Eu-based MOF that give promising applications in several areas, especially in luminescence sensing. This compound can be exfoliated in nanosheets and also, transformed into a hydrated polýmer with strong red luminescence by naked eye.
Urea-assisted synthesis of a Fe nanoparticle modified N-doped three-dimensional porous carbon framework for a highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Peng Hui , Xie Xuan , Sun Kanjun , Zhang Miaoran , Zhao Rui , Ma Guofu , Lei Ziqiang
Published: April 2020

A rapid gas foaming process is developed to prepare a novel Fe nanoparticle modified N-doped 3D porous carbon framework (Fe/3DNC) catalyst with a controllable morphology and catalytic efficiency through regulation of the urea content.
Two-stage thiol-based click reactions for the preparation and adhesion of hydrogels
Authors: Yang Wen Jing , Xu Wenya , Tao Xi , Wang Wen , Hu Yaqin , Li Xue , Kang En-Tang , Wang Lianhui
Published: April 2020

Two-stage thiol-based click reactions have been employed as a facile strategy for hydrogel preparation and self-adhesion.
Physicochemical and structural properties of lidocaine-based ionic liquids with anti-inflammatory anions
Authors: Panić Jovana , Tot Aleksandar , Janković Nenad , Drid Patrik , Gadžurić Slobodan , Vraneš Milan
Published: April 2020

A detailed theoretical and physico-chemical investigation of synthesized pharmaceutically active ionic liquids.
Synthesis, characterization and sorption studies of a zirconium(iv) impregnated highly functionalized mesoporous activated carbons
Authors: Sonal Sonalika , Prakash Prem , Mishra Brijesh Kumar , Nayak G. C.
Published: April 2020

The present work focuses to develop a varied meso-microporous sorbent by using Zr(iv) as an impregnated metal. The modification develops the oxidative functionalities and porosity of the sorbent that enhances its efficiency for the removal of RB19.
Development and evaluation of novel science and chemistry identity measures
Authors: Hosbein Kathryn N. , Barbera Jack
Published: April 2020

Identity has been proposed as a mechanism to increase persistence within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education programs. To assess the impact of identity on STEM persistence, measures that produce valid and reliable data within a given STEM discipline need to be employed. Therefore, this study developed and evaluated the functioning of science and chemistry identity measures in the context of university-level chemistry courses. The developed measures were administered to students enrolled in general and organic chemistry courses at four universities across the United States. Validity and reliability evidence for the data provided by the novel measures was supported using confirmatory factor analysis and McDonald's omega. Additionally, two competing structural equation models (SEMs), designed to explore the relations between mastery experiences, verbal persuasion, situational interest, and science or chemistry identity, were tested and compared to previously reported results. Both SEMs produced acceptable data-model fit, therefore a superior model was chosen based on theoretical support. Within both SEMs, the direct pathway (relation) between mastery experiences and identity was nonsignificant. The more supported model proposed that the relation was indirect and facilitated through verbal persuasion and situational interest. While the indirect relation was supported in both courses, the predominate pathway varied by course. Limitations of the science identity measure, recommendations for future use of the Measure of Chemistry Identity (MoChI), and suggestions for the facilitation of positive identity formation within chemistry classrooms are discussed.
Effect of molecular weight on the EUV-printability of main chain scission type polymers
Authors: Rathore Ashish , Pollentier Ivan , Singh Harpreet , Fallica Roberto , De Simone Danilo , De Gendt Stefan
Published: April 2020

This study on the main chain scission type polymers, PMMA and a copolymer system, shows that the EUV-printability is proportional to theMwof the starting material, which is attributed to the enhanced litho-parameters of higherMwmaterial.
Biodegradable nanocomposite fibrous scaffold mediated local delivery of vancomycin for the treatment of MRSA infected experimental osteomyelitis
Authors: Krishnan Amit G. , Biswas Raja , Menon Deepthy , Nair Manitha B.
Published: April 2020

The study shows the development of a biodegradable bi-functional composite scaffold that can reduce bacterial infection, while promotes bone regeneration in osteomyelitis, without the need for revision surgery.
Determination of the internal quantum efficiency for photoelectrochemical reaction in a semiconductor photoelectrode by photoacoustic detection
Authors: Murakami Naoya , Okuzono Keita
Published: April 2020

We report a method for the determination of internal quantum efficiency for photoelectrochemical reaction in a semiconductor photoelectrode by photoacoustic detection.
Step-by-step: uncommon SCSC transformation accompanied by stepwise change in the binding of a particular ligand within a mononuclear complex upon stepwise desolvation
Authors: Gavrikov Andrey V. , Ilyukhin Andrey B. , Koroteev Pavel S.
Published: April 2020

Uncommon SCSC transformation when desolvation induces subtle changes within a mononuclear complex, namely a stepwise change in the binding of a particular ligand.
Structural stability of single-layer PdSe2 with pentagonal puckered morphology and its nanotubes
Authors: Kuklin Artem V. , Ågren Hans , Avramov Pavel V.
Published: April 2020

Based on first-principle calculations, we demonstrate structural stability and instability of several recently proposed 2D materials with pentagonal morphology including the experimentally exfoliated single-layer PdSe2.
A study of the reactions of Ni+and NiO+ions relevant to planetary upper atmospheres
Authors: Bones David L. , Daly Shane M. , Mangan Thomas P. , Plane John M. C.
Published: April 2020

The reactions between Ni+ and O3, O2, N2, CO2 and H2O; NiO+ and O, O3 and CO; and NiO2+ and O3 were studied at 294 K using the pulsed laser ablation of a nickel metal target in a fast flow tube, with mass spectrometric detection of Ni+ and NiO+.
Lanthanum complexes stabilized by a pentadentate Schiff-base ligand: synthesis, characterization, and reactivity in statistical copolymerization of ε-caprolactone and l-lactide
Authors: Shao Jingjing , Zhou Hairong , Wang Yaorong , Luo Yunjie , Yao Yingming
Published: April 2020

One-pot reaction of La[N(SiMe3)2]3, Schiff base LH2, and alcohol ROH gave mono-Schiff-base-ligated lanthanum complexes [LLaOR(THF)n1]n2 (n1 = 0, 1; n2 = 2, 1), which can catalyze the statistical copolymerization of CL and l-LA efficiently.
The relative insignificance of advanced materials in enhancing the energy efficiency of desalination technologies
Authors: Patel Sohum K. , Ritt Cody L. , Deshmukh Akshay , Wang Zhangxin , Qin Mohan , Epsztein Razi , Elimelech Menachem
Published: April 2020

We reveal the insignificance of advanced materials in further enhancing the energy efficiency of desalination and suggest more impactful approaches.
Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo model to assess fucoidan bioactivity preventing Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: Palacios-Gorba Carla , Pina Raquel , Tortajada-Girbés Miguel , Jiménez-Belenguer Ana , Siguemoto Érica , Ferrús Maria Antonia , Rodrigo Dolores , Pina-Pérez Maria Consuelo
Published: April 2020

Fucoidan effectively reduces H. pylori infection.
Direct C–H bond activation: palladium-on-carbon as a reusable heterogeneous catalyst for C-2 arylation of indoles with arylboronic acids
Authors: Bhattacharjee Prantika , Boruah Purna K , Das Manash R , Bora Utpal
Published: April 2020

We report a methodology for exclusive C-2 arylated indoles without the aid of any ligand or directing group in air.
Customized MFM probes based on magnetic nanorods
Authors: Jaafar Miriam , Pablo-Navarro Javier , Berganza Eider , Ares Pablo , Magén César , Masseboeuf Aurélien , Gatel Christophe , Snoeck Etienne , Gómez-Herrero Julio , de Teresa José María , Asenjo Agustina
Published: April 2020

Focused Electron Beam Induced Deposition (FEBID) for magnetic tip fabrication is presented in this work as an alternative to conventional sputtering-based Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) tips.
Ternary PtFeCo alloys on graphene with high electrocatalytic activities for methanol oxidation
Authors: Wang Hongfei , Zhang Kefu , Qiu Jun , Wu Juan , Shao Jingwen , Wang Huijuan , Zhang Yujuan , Han Jie , Zhang Yong , Yan Lifeng
Published: April 2020

Ternary PtFeCo alloys as alternatives to conventional Pt electrocatalysts are highly important in the field of the methanol oxidation reaction.
Redox-inactive ions control the redox-activity of molecular vanadium oxides
Authors: Greiner Simon , Schwarz Benjamin , Ringenberg Mark , Dürr Maximilian , Ivanovic-Burmazovic Ivana , Fichtner Maximilian , Anjass Montaha , Streb Carsten
Published: April 2020

The enhanced redox-activity of a molecular vanadium oxide cluster upon functionalization with redox-inert Ca2+ ions is reported together with initial insights into its performance as a lithium ion battery cathode.
LncRNA LINC00668 promotes cell proliferation, migration, invasion ability and EMT process in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting miR-532-5p/YY1 axis
Authors: Xuan Wei , Zhou Chen , You Guangqiang
Published: April 2020

Liver cancer is now one of the most lethal and commonest cancers in the world, among which over 90% is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent studies have confirmed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in carcinogenesis. It has been reported lncRNA LINC00668 serves as an oncogene in several cancers. However, the mechanism where LINC00668 regulates HCC is still unclear. qRT-PCR analysis was adopted to detect the expression of relative RNAs. Cytoplasmic and nuclear RNA fraction analysis was conducted to verify the underlying molecular mechanism. Cell colony formation was carried out to test cell colony formation ability and transwell assays were performed to testify cell migratory and invaded abilities. Relevant protein expression level was measured by Western blot assay. LINC00668 was significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. LINC00668 knockdown inhibited cell proliferative, migratory and invasion abilities and slowed down the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Mechanistically, LINC00668 positively modulates the expression of YY1 by competitively binding to miR-532-5p. It was revealed that LINC00668 up-regulation accelerated cell proliferation and motility in HCC and suggested LINC00668 could be a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
Structure of the outer Galactic disc with Gaia DR2
Authors: Chrobáková Ž. , Nagy R. , López-Corredoira M.
Published: April 2020

Context. The structure of outer disc of our Galaxy is still not well described, and many features need to be better understood. The second Gaia data release (DR2) provides data in unprecedented quality that can be analysed to shed some light on the outermost parts of the Milky Way.

Aims. We calculate the stellar density using star counts obtained from Gaia DR2 up to a Galactocentric distance R = 20 kpc with a deconvolution technique for the parallax errors. Then we analyse the density in order to study the structure of the outer Galactic disc, mainly the warp.

Methods. In order to carry out the deconvolution, we used the Lucy inversion technique for recovering the corrected star counts. We also used the Gaia luminosity function of stars with MG <  10 to extract the stellar density from the star counts.

Results. The stellar density maps can be fitted by an exponential disc in the radial direction hr = 2.07 ± 0.07 kpc, with a weak dependence on the azimuth, extended up to 20 kpc without any cut-off. The flare and warp are clearly visible. The best fit of a symmetrical S-shaped warp gives zw ≈ z⊙ + (37 ± 4.2(stat.) − 0.91(syst.))pc ⋅ (R/R⊙)2.42 ± 0.76(stat.) + 0.129(syst.)sin(ϕ + 9.3° ±7.37° (stat.) + 4.48° (syst.)) for the whole population. When we analyse the northern and southern warps separately, we obtain an asymmetry of an ∼25% larger amplitude in the north. This result may be influenced by extinction because the GaiaG band is quite prone to extinction biases. However, we tested the accuracy of the extinction map we used, which shows that the extinction is determined very well in the outer disc. Nevertheless, we recall that we do not know the full extinction error, and neither do we know the systematic error of the map, which may influence the final result. The analysis was also carried out for very luminous stars alone (MG <  −2), which on average represents a younger population. We obtain similar scale-length values, while the maximum amplitude of the warp is 20 − 30% larger than with the whole population. The north-south asymmetry is maintained.
Relation of X-ray activity and rotation in M dwarfs and predicted time-evolution of the X-ray luminosity
Authors: Magaudda E. , Stelzer B. , Covey K. R. , Raetz St. , Matt S. P. , Scholz A.
Published: April 2020

The relation of activity to rotation in M dwarfs is of high astrophysical interest because it provides observational evidence of the stellar dynamo, which is poorly understood for low-mass stars, especially in the fully convective regime. Previous studies have shown that the relation of X-ray activity to rotation consists of two different regimes: the saturated regime for fast-rotating stars and the unsaturated regime for slowly rotating stars. The transition between the two regimes lies at a rotation period of ∼10 d. We present here a sample of 14 M dwarf stars observed with XMM-Newton and Chandra, for which we also computed rotational periods from Kepler Two-Wheel (K2) Mission light curves. We compiled X-ray and rotation data from the literature and homogenized all data sets to provide the largest uniform sample of M dwarfs (302 stars) for X-ray activity and rotation studies to date. We then fit the relation between Lx − Prot using three different mass bins to separate partially and fully convective stars. We found a steeper slope in the unsaturated regime for fully convective stars and a nonconstant Lx level in the saturated regime for all masses. In the Lx/Lbol − RO space we discovered a remarkable double gap that might be related to a discontinuous period evolution. Then we combined the evolution of Prot predicted by angular momentum evolution models with our new results on the empirical Lx − Prot relation to provide an estimate for the age decay of X-ray luminosity. We compare predictions of this relationship with the actual X-ray luminosities of M stars with known ages from 100 Myr to a few billion years. We find remarkably good agreement between the predicted Lx and the observed values for partially convective stars. However, for fully convective stars at ages of a few billion years, the constructed Lx-age relation overpredicts the X-ray luminosity because the angular momentum evolution model underpredicts the rotation period of these stars. Finally, we examine the effect of different parameterizations for the Rossby number (RO) on the shape of the activity-rotation relation in Lx/Lbol − RO space, and we find that the slope in the unsaturated regime and the location of the break point of the dual power-law depend sensitively on the choice of RO.
SABRE and the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory Dark Matter Research at the Australian National University
Authors: Bignell L. J. , Barberio E. , Froehlich M. B. , Lane G. J. , Lennon O. , Mahmood I. , Nuti F. , Rahman M. S. , Simenel C. , Spinks N. J. , Stuchbery A. E. , Timmers H. , Wallner A. , Wang L. , Wu J. , Zhong Y. Y.
Published: April 2020

The direct detection of dark matter is a key problem in astroparticle physics that generally requires the use of deep-underground laboratories for a low-background environment where the rare signals from dark matter interactions can be observed. This work reports on the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory – currently under construction and the first such laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere – and the associated research program. A particular focus will be given to ANU’s contribution to SABRE, a NaI:Tl dark matter, direct detection experiment that aims to confirm or refute the long-standing DAMA result. Preliminary measurements of the NaI:Tl quenching factor and characterisation of the SABRE liquid scintillator veto are reported.
External beam for the Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility
Authors: Shaharuddin S. , Stuchbery J. , Simpson E. C. , Gan Z. K. , Green A. C. , Cho A. , Lu E.
Published: April 2020

Radiotherapy using protons and heavier ions is emerging as an alternative to traditional photon radiotherapy for cancer treatment. Ions have a depth-dose profile that results in high energy deposition at the end of the particle’s path, with a relatively low dosage elsewhere. However, the specifics of ion interactions with cellular biology are not yet fully understood. To study the induced biological effects of the ions on cell cultures, an external beam is required as biological specimens cannot be placed in vacuum. The Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF) at the Australian National University hosts accelerators for a wide variety of ion-beam research applications. However, HIAF does not currently have an external beam capability. Here, we present an initial design for a radiobiological research capability at HIAF. A systems engineering approach was used to develop the architecture of the apparatus and determine the feasibility of adapting the current facilities to external beam applications. This effort included ion optics calculations, coupled to a Geant4 simulation, to characterise ion beam transitions through a thin window into the air. The beam spread, intensity distributions, and energy of proton and carbon ions were studied as a function of distance travelled from the window, as well as the effects of alternative window materials and thicknesses. It was determined that the proposed line at the HIAF would be suitable for the desired applications. Overall, this feasibility study lays the foundations of an external beam design, a simulation test framework, and the basis for a grant application for an external beam at the HIAF.
Development of a new database for Auger electron and X-ray spectra
Authors: Tee B. P. E. , Kibédi T. , Lee B. Q. , Vos M. , du Rietz R. , Stuchbery A. E.
Published: April 2020

An energy correction method is described to account for the Breit and QED effects on Auger electrons and X-ray energies in the recently developed atomic relaxation model BrIccEmis. The results are compared with literature and new experimental data for Z = 52. Overall this improves the agreement of the calculated energies with the literature values. A new atomic radiation database NS_Radlist, will contain atomic transition energies from the BrIccEmis program with these energy corrections.
Modelling hyperfine interactions for nuclear g-factor measurements
Authors: McCormick B. P. , Stuchbery A. E. , Goasduff A. , Kusoglu A. , Georgiev G.
Published: April 2020

A promising technique forg-factor measurements on short-lived nuclear states utilises the hyperfine fields of free ions in vacuum. To fully utilise this technique the hyperfine interaction must be modelled based on atomic structure calculations. Atomic structure calculations were performed using the most recent release of the General Relativistic Atomic Structure Package, and Monte-Carlo simulations of atomic-decay cascades in highly charged ions were developed. The simulations were used to fit experimental data on excited56Fe ions recoiling in vacuum with a view to determining the first-excited state g factor, g(21+), of56Fe.
Relevance of the Nuclear Structure of the Stable Ge Isotopes to the Neutrino-less Double-Beta Decay of 76Ge
Authors: Yates S. W. , Peters E. E. , Crider B. P. , Mukhopadhyay S. , Ramirez A. P. D.
Published: April 2020

Gamma-ray detection following the inelastic neutron scattering reaction on isotopically enriched material was used to study the nuclear structure of 74Ge. From these measurements, low-lying, low-spin excited states were characterized, new states and their decays were identified, level lifetimes were measured with the Doppler-shift attenuation method (DSAM), multipole mixing ratios were established, and transition probabilities were determined. New structural features in 74Ge were identified, and the reanalysis of older 76Ge data led to the placement of the 2+ member of the intruder band. In addition, a number of previously placed states in 74Ge were shown not to exist. A procedure for future work, which will lead to meaningful data for constraining calculations of the neutrinoless double-beta decay matrix element, is suggested.
Parallel Thomas approach development for solving tridiagonal systems in GPU programming − steady and unsteady flow simulation
Authors: Souri Milad , Akbarzadeh Pooria , Darian Hossein Mahmoodi
Published: April 2020

The solution of tridiagonal system of equations using graphic processing units (GPU) is assessed. The parallel-Thomas-algorithm (PTA) is developed and the solution of PTA is compared to two known parallel algorithms, i.e. cyclic-reduction (CR) and parallel-cyclic-reduction (PCR). Lid-driven cavity problem is considered to assess these parallel approaches. This problem is also simulated using the classic Thomas algorithm that runs on a central processing unit (CPU). Runtimes and physical parameters of the mentioned GPU and CPU algorithms are compared. The results show that the speedup of CR, PCR and PTA against the CPU runtime is 4.4x,5.2x and 38.5x, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of coalesced and uncoalesced memory access to GPU global memory is examined for PTA, and a 2x-speedup is achieved for the coalesced memory access. Additionally, the PTA performance in a time dependent problem, the unsteady flow over a square, is assessed and a 9x-speedup is obtained against the CPU.
Dynamische OCT − was verraten uns die Gefäße?
Authors: Schuh S. , Berger M. , Brunnmeier G. , Welzel J.
Published: April 2020

Die Weiterentwicklung der optischen Kohärenztomografie (OCT) zur dynamischen OCT (D-OCT) erlaubt die gleichzeitige Darstellung der oberflächlichen Blutgefäße. Blut ist das wichtigste Transportsystem unseres Körpers, und sowohl durch äußere als auch durch innere Einflüsse können physiologische Prozesse beeinträchtigt werden. Die D-OCT ermöglicht erstmals die Darstellung dieser Veränderungen anhand der Gefäßdichte und Durchblutung. Durch wiederholtes schnelles Messen der gleichen untersuchten Region können mithilfe einer speziellen Software Unterschiede in einer Bildserie erfasst werden und so sich bewegende Teilchen, die den Blutbestandteilen entsprechen, bis zu einer Tiefe von 0,5 mm vom statischen Hautgewebe differenziert werden. Die Software bildet den Blutfluss im D-OCT-Bild in roter Farbe als Überlagerung über das grau-weiß strukturelle Gewebe ab. Mithilfe der D-OCT konnten physiologische Einflüsse auf die Durchblutung, wie Vasokonstriktion und Positionsänderung, Unterschiede aufgrund der anatomischen Körperregionen, aber auch therapeutische Effekte, wie z. B. durch die lokale Behandlung mit vasokonstringierendem Brimonidin-Gel (einem selektiven α2-Adrenorezeptor-Agonisten) oder bei der Lasertherapie nachgewiesen werden. Weiterhin fanden sich bestimmte Blutgefäßformen nur bei chronisch venösen Ulzera (wie Knäuel am Wundrand oder geschlängelte Gefäße bei Dermatosklerose), während die Blutgefäße bei akuten Wunden eine Häufung von anderen Gefäßformen und Verteilungsmustern zeigten. Bei ausgewählten entzündlichen und autoimmunbedingten Erkrankungen konnten die damit einhergehenden vaskulären Prozesse exemplarisch dargestellt werden. Auch ließ sich mit der D-OCT feststellen, dass eine erhöhte Blutgefäßdichte und gewisse Formen erst mit einer größeren Tumordicke von Melanomen (Breslow-Index) einhergehen. Außerdem können die Blutgefäße zur Differenzierung sowie zur Therapieauswahl von nicht-melanozytärem Hautkrebs beitragen. Die D-OCT ist jedoch nicht nur ein diagnostisches Gerät, sondern eignet sich auch zur bildgeführten Therapie wie der D-OCT-geführten Lasertherapie.

Die D-OCT bietet durch die Darstellung von Blutgefäßen zahlreiche diagnostische und therapeutische Einsatzmöglichkeiten. Die Blutgefäße verraten uns so viel über physiologische und pathologische Prozesse in unserer Haut, und ihre Darstellung wird in Zukunft eine individuellere, patienten-orientiertere Therapie erlauben, als es bisher möglich ist. So könnten z. B. Ulzera verschiedener Genese mittels D-OCT differenziert werden oder Melanome anhand der Gefäßmuster bereits präoperativ risikostratifiziert werden.
Der betätigungszentrierte ergotherapeutische Prozess – CPPF anhand eines Fallbeispiels
Authors: Zeindl Julia
Published: April 2020

Ein klar definierter Prozess hilft Therapeuten und Klienten dabei, die Intervention strukturiert durchzuführen. So sind sich alle Beteiligten stets darüber im Klaren, wo sie momentan stehen und welche weiteren Schritte vor ihnen liegen.
„Unterschätze niemals die Kraft einer guten Geschichte“ – Öffentlichkeitsarbeit für Ergotherapie in Großbritannien
Authors: Janssen Christina
Published: April 2020

Mit der Kampagne „Occupational Therapy: Improving Lives, Saving Money” stellte der britische Berufsverband den einzigartigen Wert und Nutzen der Ergotherapie für die breite Öffentlichkeit und die Politik dar. Aktionen zeigten, wie Ergotherapeuten das Leben der Bürger verbessern und dem Gesundheitssystem Geld einsparen. Karin Bishop war maßgeblich an der Kampagne beteiligt und sicherte damit Ergotherapeuten ihren rechtmäßigen Platz im britischen Gesundheitsversorgungssystem.
Noneffectiveness of scopolamine for facilitating detection of upper gastrointestinal neoplasia during screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy: propensity score-matched study
Authors: Omata Fumio , Kumakura Yasuhisa , Ishii Naoki , Deshpande Gautam A. , Matoba Kohei , Ohmuro Akemi , Rai Fumie , Takashima Misako , Kato Akira , Masuda Katsunori
Published: April 2020

Background Antispasmodics, such as scopolamine, are widely used in several countries prior to diagnostic and screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), with the goal of optimizing the detection of minute lesions, typically early gastric cancer (T1 lesions). The aim of this study was to determine whether scopolamine facilitates detection of gastric cancer in the screening setting.

Methods A propensity score-matched retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary referral medical center in Tokyo, Japan. Consecutive individuals (n = 40 776) underwent screening EGD between January 2011 and May 2016. All outcome lesions were diagnosed with histopathological confirmation. Detection of esophageal cancer, gastric adenoma, duodenal adenoma, and upper gastrointestinal neoplasia (UGIN) were investigated as secondary outcomes.

Results Scopolamine was used in 31 130 patients (76.3 %) and propensity score matching yielded 6625 pairs. Bivariate analysis revealed no significant association between possible confounders (age, sex, overweight, atrophic gastritis, alcohol history, smoking history, midazolam use, endoscopist biopsy rate grade, and gastric cancer in first-degree relatives) and scopolamine use. Lesions detected were 18 gastric cancers, 11 esophageal cancers, 19 gastric adenomas, 6 duodenal adenomas, and 54 UGINs, with no significant association between scopolamine use and lesion detection.

Conclusions Scopolamine use did not appear to effectively facilitate detection of gastric or esophageal cancer, gastric or duodenal adenoma, and UGIN during screening EGD. Scopolamine should be avoided until its efficacy is confirmed by a randomized controlled trial.