bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unpacking the link between socioeconomic status and behavior problems: A second-order meta-analysis
Authors: Korous Kevin M. , Causadias José M. , Bradley Robert H. , Luthar Suniya S.
Published: September 2018

Substantial evidence links socioeconomic status to internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. However, it is unclear how these two categories of behavior problems relate to specific components of socioeconomic status (e.g., income, educational attainment, and occupational prestige) or overall social status. In this study, we conducted a second-order meta-analysis to estimate the average associations of income, education, occupation, and overall socioeconomic status with internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, and to examine if age, sex, and race/ethnicity moderated these associations. Our systematic search in PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global identified 12 meta-analyses (17% unpublished), including approximately 474 primary studies and 327,617 participants. In relation to internalizing, we found small average associations with income, r+ = –.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) [–.31, –.04], and education, r+ = –.12, 95% CI [–.15, –.09]. In relation to externalizing, we found smaller associations with income, r+ = –.02, 95% CI [–.15, .10], education, r+ = –.03, 95% CI [–.16, .10], and overall socioeconomic status, r+ = –.05, 95% CI [–.11, .01], but these CIs included zero. Only sex composition of the samples moderated the latter association. We provide recommendations for best practices and future research directions.
MICROLOCAL REGULARITY FOR MIZOHATA TYPE DIFFERENTIAL OPERATORS
Authors: Hoepfner G. , Medrado R.
Published: September 2018

We investigate interesting connections between Mizohata type vector fields and microlocal regularity of nonlinear first-order PDEs, establishing results in Denjoy–Carleman classes and real analyticity results in the linear case.
ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN AMERICA: GILDED AGE BEGINNINGS AND WORLD WAR I LEGACIES
Authors: Lerg Charlotte A.
Published: September 2018

The early decades of the twentieth century proved pivotal for defining academic freedom in America. The challenges of World War I ultimately strengthened the use and understanding of the concept specifically for the U.S. context. During the last third of the nineteenth century, a number of developments in higher learning had converged, bringing academic independence urgently to the forefront. Growth and professionalization meant a new role for universities in American society; big-business philanthropy saw sciences flourish, but it also introduced a new market-orientated organization to college administration. Gilded Age and Progressive Era debates over individual rights, social responsibilities, and public and political capital caused much controversy on campuses across the country. German academic institutions, long cherished models in U.S.-reform-rhetoric, had begun to lose their appeal, and by 1914, they were fully discredited. Hence, even before the United States entered into the conflict, World War I forced the academic community to define their position between society, government, and professional ethos. During this process, two very different notions of academic freedom emerged: one favoring individual liberties, the other one prioritizing institutional integrity. These distinctive and potentially adverse interpretations continued to function as the basis for legal and public arguments as the twentieth century progressed.
DEEDS NOT WORDS: AMERICAN SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS AND WORLD WAR I
Authors: Keene Jennifer D.
Published: September 2018

This essay investigates how the repressive wartime political and social environment in World War I encouraged three key American social justice movements to devise new tactics and strategies to advance their respective causes. For the African American civil rights, female suffrage, and civil liberties movements, the First World War unintentionally provided fresh opportunities for movement building, a process that included recruiting members, refining ideological messaging, devising innovative media strategies, negotiating with the government, and participating in nonviolent street demonstrations. World War I thus represented an important moment in the histories of all three movements. The constructive, rather than destructive, impact of the war on social justice movements proved significant in the short term (for the suffragist movement) and the long term (for the civil rights and civil liberties movements). Ultimately, considering these three movements collectively offers new insights into American war culture and the history of social movements.
COMPLETENESS OF SECOND-ORDER PROPOSITIONAL S4 AND H IN TOPOLOGICAL SEMANTICS
Authors: KREMER PHILIP
Published: September 2018

We add propositional quantifiers to the propositional modal logic S4 and to the propositional intuitionistic logic H, introducing axiom schemes that are the natural analogs to axiom schemes typically used for first-order quantifiers in classical and intuitionistic logic. We show that the resulting logics are sound and complete for a topological semantics extending, in a natural way, the topological semantics for S4 and for H.
Paleointensity Estimates From Ignimbrites: The Bishop Tuff Revisited
Authors: Avery Margaret S. , Gee Jeffrey S. , Bowles Julie A. , Jackson Michael J.
Published: September 2018

Volcanic ash flow tuffs (ignimbrites) may contain single domain‐sized (titano) magnetite that should be good for recording geomagnetic field intensity, but due to their complex thermal histories also contain other magnetic grains, which can complicate and obscure paleointensity determination. An initial study of the suitability of the ~767 ka Bishop Tuff for measuring paleointensity found an internally consistent estimate of 43.0 ± 3.2 μT. This initial study also showed a spatial heterogeneity in reliable paleointensity estimates that is possibly associated with vapor‐phase alteration and fumarolic activity, which motivated resampling of the Bishop Tuff to examine spatial changes in magnetic properties. Three new stratigraphic sections of the Bishop Tuff within the Owens River gorge were sampled, and the paleointensity results from the initial study in the same locality were reinterpreted. The mean of all sites is 41.9 ± 11.8 μT; this agrees with the initial study's finding but with substantially greater scatter. Two sections show evidence of vapor‐phase alteration where the presence of titanohematite, likely carrying a thermochemical remanence, produces nonideal behavior. This thermochemical remanence in the upper portion of the section also produces some paleointensity estimates of technically high quality that have significantly higher intensity than the rest of the tuff. Our best estimate for paleointensity, 39.6 ± 9.9 μT, comes from the densely welded ignimbrite that was emplaced above the Curie temperature of magnetite. The low permeability of this unit likely shielded it from vapor‐phase alteration. Our results suggest that care must be taken in interpreting paleointensity data from large tuffs as nonthermal remanence may be present.
Constraining Aerosol Vertical Profile in the Boundary Layer Using Hyperspectral Measurements of Oxygen Absorption
Authors: Zeng Zhao‐Cheng , Natraj Vijay , Xu Feng , Pongetti Thomas J. , Shia Run‐Lie , Kort Eric A. , Toon Geoffrey C. , Sander Stanley P. , Yung Yuk L.
Published: September 2018

This study attempts to infer aerosol vertical structure in the urban boundary layer using passive hyperspectral measurements. A spectral sorting technique is developed to retrieve total aerosol optical depth (AOD) and effective aerosol layer height (ALH) from hyperspectral measurements in the 1.27‐μm oxygen absorption band by the mountaintop Fourier Transform Spectrometer at the California Laboratory for Atmospheric Remote Sensing instrument (1,673 m above sea level) overlooking the LA basin. Comparison to AOD measurements from Aerosol Robotic Network and aerosol backscatter profile measurements from a Mini MicroPulse Lidar shows agreement, with coefficients of determination (r2) of 0.74 for AOD and 0.57 for effective ALH. On average, the AOD retrieval has an error of 24.9% and root‐mean‐square error of 0.013, while the effective ALH retrieval has an error of 7.8% and root‐mean‐square error of 67.01 m. The proposed method can potentially be applied to existing and future satellite missions with hyperspectral oxygen measurements to constrain aerosol vertical distribution on a global scale.
Upper Mantle Seismic Structure of Alaska From Rayleigh and S Wave Tomography
Authors: Jiang Chengxin , Schmandt Brandon , Ward Kevin M. , Lin Fan‐Chi , Worthington Lindsay L.
Published: September 2018

Mantle shear velocity (Vs) structure beneath the Transportable Array (TA) in Alaska and northwestern Canada is imaged by joint inversion of Rayleigh wave dispersion and teleseismic S wave travel times. The study connects previously unsampled parts of northern and western Alaska with portions of southern Alaska imaged with earlier seismic arrays. The new Vs tomography shows contrasting lithospheric structure in the plate interior with lower Vs shallow upper mantle indicative of thinner thermal lithosphere south of the Brooks Range and along the transform margin. Higher Vs down to ~200 km beneath the Brooks Range and northern coast is consistent with the presence of a cold stable lithospheric root that may help guide intraplate deformation to the south. In the subduction‐to‐transform transition, a potential slab fragment is imaged beneath the Wrangell volcanic field where modern subduction has slowed due to the thick buoyant crust of the Yakutat terrane.
Lapse Rate or Cold Point: The Tropical Tropopause Identified by In Situ Trace Gas Measurements
Authors: Pan Laura L. , Honomichl Shawn B. , Bui Thaopaul V. , Thornberry Troy , Rollins Andrew , Hintsa Eric , Jensen Eric J.
Published: September 2018

Although the tropopause is a well‐established concept, its definition and physical properties remain an active research topic. In the tropics, both the World Meteorological Organization established lapse rate tropopause definition and the minimum in the temperature profile (the cold point) are used to determine the tropopause height. We examine the differences produced by these two definitions using high‐resolution airborne in situ measurements of temperature, water vapor, and ozone in the tropical tropopause layer from a recent experiment over the western Pacific using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system. When the two definitions do not produce the same tropopause height, which is in about half of the cases, the combined temperature and trace gas analysis shows that the lapse rate definition better identifies the transition from the troposphere to the stratosphere.
Automatic Classification of Volcano Seismic Signatures
Authors: Malfante Marielle , Dalla Mura Mauro , Mars Jerome I. , Métaxian Jean‐Philippe , Macedo Orlando , Inza Adolfo
Published: September 2018

The prediction of volcanic eruptions and the evaluation of associated risks remain a timely and unresolved issue. This paper presents a method to automatically classify seismic events linked to volcanic activity. As increased seismic activity is an indicator of volcanic unrest, automatic classification of volcano seismic events is of major interest for volcano monitoring. The proposed architecture is based on supervised classification, whereby a prediction model is built from an extensive data set of labeled observations. Relevant events should then be detected. Three steps are involved in the building of the prediction model: (i) signals preprocessing, (ii) representation of the signals in the feature space, and (iii) use of an automatic classifier to train the model. Our main contribution lies in the feature space where the seismic observations are represented by 102 features gathered from both acoustic and seismic fields. Ideally, observations are separable in the feature space, depending on their class. The architecture is tested on 109,609 seismic events that were recorded between June 2006 and September 2011 at Ubinas Volcano, Peru. Six main classes of signals are considered: long‐period events, volcanic tremors, volcano tectonic events, explosions, hybrid events, and tornillos. Our model reaches 93.5% ± 0.50% accuracy, thereby validating the presented architecture and the features used. Furthermore, we illustrate the limited influence of the learning algorithm used (i.e., random forest and support vector machines) by showing that the results remain accurate regardless of the algorithm selected for the training stage. The model is then used to analyze 6 years of data.
Keratin 80 promotes migration and invasion of colorectal carcinoma by interacting with PRKDC via activating the AKT pathway
Authors: Li Changcan , Liu Xisheng , Liu Yuan , Liu Xueni , Wang Rangrang , Liao Jianhua , Wu Shaohan , Fan Junwei , Peng Zhihai , Li Bin , Wang Zhaowen
Published: September 2018

Little is known about the function of Keratin 80 (KRT80), an epithelial keratin, in cancer. This study investigated the role of KRT80 in the prognosis of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and the underlying mechanisms involved in CRC migration and invasion. We analyzed the expression of KRT80 using The Cancer Genome Atlas and Oncomine databases. Higher expression of KRT80 was found to be significantly associated with multiple pathological parameters, lower disease-free survival, and overall survival in CRC patients. Also, KRT80 was an independent prognostic indicator for CRC. Furthermore, altered KRT80 expression impacted migration and invasion of CRC cells, as well as the expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers and cell morphology via the AKT pathway. Inhibiting the expression of AKT could reverse these phenomena. Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer/Mass Spectromete, Co-immunoprecipitation, and laser scanning confocal microscopy techniques showed that KRT80 could interact with protein kinase, DNA-activated, catalytic polypeptide (PRKDC). Suppressing PRKDC could inhibit the expression of AKT and EMT, as well as the migration and invasion of CRC cells. Taken together, these results demonstrated that KRT80 was an independent prognostic biomarker for CRC and promoted CRC migration and invasion by interacting with PRKDC via activation of the AKT pathway.
A new signaling cascade linking BMP4, BMPR1A, ΔNp73 and NANOG impacts on stem-like human cell properties and patient outcome
Authors: Voeltzel Thibault , Flores-Violante Mario , Zylbersztejn Florence , Lefort Sylvain , Billandon Marion , Jeanpierre Sandrine , Joly Stéphane , Fossard Gaelle , Milenkov Milen , Mazurier Frédéric , Nehme Ali , Belhabri Amine , Paubelle Etienne , Thomas Xavier , Michallet Mauricette , Louache Fawzia , Nicolini Franck-Emmanuel , Caron de Fromentel Claude , Maguer-Satta Véronique
Published: September 2018

In a significant number of cases cancer therapy is followed by a resurgence of more aggressive tumors derived from immature cells. One example is acute myeloid leukemia (AML), where an accumulation of immature cells is responsible for relapse following treatment. We previously demonstrated in chronic myeloid leukemia that the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) pathway is involved in stem cell fate and contributes to transformation, expansion, and persistence of leukemic stem cells. Here, we have identified intrinsic and extrinsic dysregulations of the BMP pathway in AML patients at diagnosis. BMP2 and BMP4 protein concentrations are elevated within patients’ bone marrow with a BMP4-dominant availability. This overproduction likely depends on the bone marrow microenvironment, since MNCs do not overexpress BMP4 transcripts. Intrinsically, the receptor BMPR1A transcript is increased in leukemic samples with more cells presenting this receptor at the membrane. This high expression of BMPR1A is further increased upon BMP4 exposure, specifically in AML cells. Downstream analysis demonstrated that BMP4 controls the expression of the survival factor ΔNp73 through its binding to BMPR1A. At the functional level, this results in the direct induction of NANOG expression and an increase of stem-like features in leukemic cells, as shown by ALDH and functional assays. In addition, we identified for the first time a strong correlation between ΔNp73, BMPR1A and NANOG expression with patient outcome. These results highlight a new signaling cascade initiated by tumor environment alterations leading to stem-cell features and poor patients’ outcome.
Modulation of intracellular calcium signaling by microRNA-34a-5p
Authors: Diener Caroline , Hart Martin , Alansary Dalia , Poth Vanessa , Walch-Rückheim Barbara , Menegatti Jennifer , Grässer Friedrich , Fehlmann Tobias , Rheinheimer Stefanie , Niemeyer Barbara A. , Lenhof Hans-Peter , Keller Andreas , Meese Eckart
Published: September 2018

Adjusting intracellular calcium signaling is an important feature in the regulation of immune cell function and survival. Here we show that miR-34a-5p, a small non-coding RNA that is deregulated in many common diseases, is a regulator of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) and calcineurin signaling. Upon miR-34a-5p overexpression, we observed both a decreased depletion of ER calcium content and a decreased Ca2+ influx through Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channels. Based on an in silico target prediction we identified multiple miR-34a-5p target genes within both pathways that are implicated in the balance between T-cell activation and apoptosis including ITPR2, CAMLG, STIM1, ORAI3, RCAN1, PPP3R1, and NFATC4. Functional analysis revealed a decrease in Ca2+ activated calcineurin pathway activity measured by a reduced IL-2 secretion due to miR-34a-5p overexpression. Impacting SOCE and/or downstream calcineurin/NFAT signaling by miR-34a-5p offers a possible future approach to manipulate immune cells for clinical interventions.
Blockade of Na/H exchanger stimulates glioma tumor immunogenicity and enhances combinatorial TMZ and anti-PD-1 therapy
Authors: Guan Xiudong , Hasan Md Nabiul , Begum Gulnaz , Kohanbash Gary , Carney Karen E. , Pigott Victoria M. , Persson Anders I. , Castro Maria G. , Jia Wang , Sun Dandan
Published: September 2018

The weak immunogenicity of gliomas presents a barrier for effective immunotherapy. Na/H exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) maintains alkaline intracellular pH (pHi) of glioma cells and acidic microenvironment. In addition, NHE1 is expressed in tumor-associated microglia and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and involved in protumoral communications between glioma and TAMs. Therefore, we hypothesize that NHE1 plays a role in developing tumor resistance and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of pharmacological inhibition of NHE1 on combinatorial therapies. Here we show that temozolomide (TMZ) treatment stimulates NHE1 protein expression in two intracranial syngeneic mouse glioma models (SB28, GL26). Pharmacological inhibition of NHE1 potentiated the cytotoxic effects of TMZ, leading to reduced tumor growth and increased median survival of mice. Blockade of NHE1 stimulated proinflammatory activation of TAM and increased cytotoxic T cell infiltration into tumors. Combining TMZ, anti-PD-1 antibody treatment with NHE1 blockade significantly prolonged the median survival in the mouse glioma model. These results demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of NHE1 protein presents a new strategy for potentiating TMZ-induced cytotoxicity and increasing tumor immunogenicity for immunotherapy to improve glioma therapy.
Dynein links engulfment and execution of apoptosis via CED-4/Apaf1 in C. elegans
Authors: Harders Rikke Hindsgaul , Morthorst Tine Hørning , Lande Anna Dippel , Hesselager Marianne Overgaard , Mandrup Ole Aalund , Bendixen Emøke , Stensballe Allan , Olsen Anders
Published: September 2018

Apoptosis ensures removal of damaged cells and helps shape organs during development by removing excessive cells. To prevent the intracellular content of the apoptotic cells causing damage to surrounding cells, apoptotic cells are quickly cleared by engulfment. Tight regulation of apoptosis and engulfment is needed to prevent several pathologies such as cancer, neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. There is increasing evidence that the engulfment machinery can regulate the execution of apoptosis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. We show that dynein mediates cell non-autonomous cross-talk between the engulfment and apoptotic programs in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. Dynein is an ATP-powered microtubule-based molecular motor, built from several subunits. Dynein has many diverse functions including transport of cargo around the cell. We show that both dynein light chain 1 (DLC-1) and dynein heavy chain 1 (DHC-1) localize to the nuclear membrane inside apoptotic germ cells in C. elegans. Strikingly, lack of either DLC-1 or DHC-1 at the nuclear membrane inhibits physiological apoptosis specifically in mutants defective in engulfment. This suggests that a cell fate determining dialogue takes place between engulfing somatic sheath cells and apoptotic germ cells. The underlying mechanism involves the core apoptotic protein CED-4/Apaf1, as we find that DLC-1 and the engulfment protein CED-6/GULP are required for the localization of CED-4 to the nuclear membrane of germ cells. A better understanding of the communication between the engulfment machinery and the apoptotic program is essential for identifying novel therapeutic targets in diseases caused by inappropriate engulfment or apoptosis.
Exome and copy number variation analyses of Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster– Hauser syndrome
Authors: Takahashi Kazumi , Hayano Takahide , Sugimoto Ryota , Kashiwagi Hirofumi , Shinoda Mari , Nishijima Yoshihiro , Suzuki Takahiro , Suzuki Shingo , Ohnuki Yuko , Kondo Akane , Shiina Takashi , Nakaoka Hirofumi , Inoue Ituro , Izumi Shun-ichiro
Published: September 2018

Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is characterized by congenital absence of the vagina and uterus. We conducted genome-wide SNP analyses and exome sequencing to detect the causes of MRKH syndrome. We identified de novo variants ofMYCBP2,NAV3, andPTPN3in three families and a variant ofMYCBP2in a sporadic case. Here, we demonstrated the partial genetic makeup of Japanese MRKH syndrome.
Reprogramming of regulatory network using expression uncovers sex-specific gene regulation in Drosophila
Authors: Wang Yijie , Cho Dong-Yeon , Lee Hangnoh , Fear Justin , Oliver Brian , Przytycka Teresa M.
Published: September 2018

Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) describe regulatory relationships between transcription factors (TFs) and their target genes. Computational methods to infer GRNs typically combine evidence across different conditions to infer context-agnostic networks. We develop a method, Network Reprogramming using EXpression (NetREX), that constructs a context-specific GRN given context-specific expression data and a context-agnostic prior network. NetREX remodels the prior network to obtain the topology that provides the best explanation for expression data. Because NetREX utilizes prior network topology, we also develop PriorBoost, a method that evaluates a prior network in terms of its consistency with the expression data. We validate NetREX and PriorBoost using the “gold standard” E. coli GRN from the DREAM5 network inference challenge and apply them to construct sex-specific Drosophila GRNs. NetREX constructed sex-specific Drosophila GRNs that, on all applied measures, outperform networks obtained from other methods indicating that NetREX is an important milestone toward building more accurate GRNs.
High-content ductile coherent nanoprecipitates achieve ultrastrong high-entropy alloys
Authors: Liang Yao-Jian , Wang Linjing , Wen Yuren , Cheng Baoyuan , Wu Qinli , Cao Tangqing , Xiao Qian , Xue Yunfei , Sha Gang , Wang Yandong , Ren Yang , Li Xiaoyan , Wang Lu , Wang Fuchi , Cai Hongnian
Published: September 2018

Precipitation-hardening high-entropy alloys (PH-HEAs) with good strength−ductility balances are a promising candidate for advanced structural applications. However, current HEAs emphasize near-equiatomic initial compositions, which limit the increase of intermetallic precipitates that are closely related to the alloy strength. Here we present a strategy to design ultrastrong HEAs with high-content nanoprecipitates by phase separation, which can generate a near-equiatomic matrix in situ while forming strengthening phases, producing a PH-HEA regardless of the initial atomic ratio. Accordingly, we develop a non-equiatomic alloy that utilizes spinodal decomposition to create a low-misfit coherent nanostructure combining a near-equiatomic disordered face-centered-cubic (FCC) matrix with high-content ductile Ni3Al-type ordered nanoprecipitates. We find that this spinodal order–disorder nanostructure contributes to a strength increase of ~1.5 GPa (>560%) relative to the HEA without precipitation, achieving one of the highest tensile strength (1.9 GPa) among all bulk HEAs reported previously while retaining good ductility (>9%).
Critical deposition height for sustainable restoration via laser additive manufacturing
Authors: Paul Santanu , Singh Ramesh , Yan Wenyi , Samajdar Indradev , Paradowska Anna , Thool Khushahal , Reid Mark
Published: September 2018

Laser material deposition based restoration of high-value components can be a revolutionary technology in remanufacturing. The deposition process induces residual stresses due to thermomechanical behavior and metallurgical transformations. The presence of tensile residual stresses in the deposited layer will compromise the fatigue life of the restored component. We have developed a novel fully coupled metallurgical, thermal and mechanical (metallo-thermomechanical) model to predict residual stresses and identified a critical deposition height, which ensures compressive residual stresses in the deposited layer. Any lower deposition height will result in tensile residual stresses and higher deposition height will result in excessive dilution (substrate melting). We have validated the model using neutron and micro-focus X-ray diffraction measurements. This study highlights that the critical deposition height corresponds to the minimum cooling rate during solidification. It addresses one of the major outstanding problems of additive manufacturing and paves a way for “science-enabled-technology” solutions for sustainable restoration/remanufacturing.
Protein-protein interactions reveal key canonical pathways, upstream regulators, interactome domains, and novel targets in ALS
Authors: Dervishi Ina , Gozutok Oge , Murnan Kevin , Gautam Mukesh , Heller Daniel , Bigio Eileen , Ozdinler P. Hande
Published: September 2018

Developing effective treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases require an understanding of the underlying cellular pathways that lead to neuronal vulnerability and progressive degeneration. To date, numerous mutations in 147 distinct genes are identified to be “associated” with, “modifier” or “causative” of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Protein products of these genes and their interactions helped determine the protein landscape of ALS, and revealed upstream modulators, key canonical pathways, interactome domains and novel therapeutic targets. Our analysis originates from known human mutations and circles back to human, revealing increased PPARG and PPARGC1A expression in the Betz cells of sALS patients and patients with TDP43 pathology, and emphasizes the importance of lipid homeostasis. Downregulation of YWHAZ, a 14-3-3 protein, and cytoplasmic accumulation of ZFYVE27 especially in diseased Betz cells of ALS patients reinforce the idea that perturbed protein communications, interactome defects, and altered converging pathways will reveal novel therapeutic targets in ALS.
Closing water productivity gaps to achieve food and water security for a global maize supply
Authors: Zheng Huifang , Bian Qianqian , Yin Yulong , Ying Hao , Yang Qinghua , Cui Zhenling
Published: September 2018

To achieve food and water security, it is as important to close the water productivity (WP) gap (which was defined as the difference between the maximum attainable WP and the currently achieved WP at the field scale) as it is to close yield gaps. However, few studies have provided quantitative estimates of existing WP gaps and constraining factors for global maize production. Using a meta-analysis of 473 published studies covering 31 countries and 5,553 observations (932 site-years), we found the global average WP value for irrigated maize was 18.6 kg ha−1 mm−1. These WPs varied by factors such as seasonal precipitation, irrigation regimes, soil organic matter and soil pH. In current production systems, there exists a huge scope for improvement in maize WP, but the reported field experiments achieved only 20–46% of potential WP across all countries. Considering the future, raising WP to 85% of potential WP by 2050, a 100% increase in maize production could be achieved with 20% less planted area and 21% less water consumption than in 2005. Closing the WP gap may be critical to ensuring food security and achieving sustainable global agriculture.
Monitoring of microbial dynamics in a drinking water distribution system using the culture-free, user-friendly, MYcrobiota platform
Authors: Boers Stefan A. , Prest Emmanuelle I. , Taučer-Kapteijn Maja , Knezev Aleksandra , Schaap Peter G. , Hays John P. , Jansen Ruud
Published: September 2018

Drinking water utilities currently rely on a range of microbiological detection techniques to evaluate the quality of their drinking water (DW). However, microbiota profiling using culture-free 16S rRNA gene next-generation sequencing (NGS) provides an opportunity for improved monitoring of the microbial ecology and quality of DW. Here, we evaluated the utility of a previously validated microbiota profiling platform (MYcrobiota) to investigate the microbial dynamics of a full-scale, non-chlorinated DW distribution system (DWDS). In contrast to conventional methods, we observed spatial and temporal bacterial genus changes (expressed as operational taxonomic units - OTUs) within the DWDS. Further, a small subset of bacterial OTUs dominated with abundances that shifted across the length of the DWDS, and were particularly affected by a post-disinfection step. We also found seasonal variation in OTUs within the DWDS and that many OTUs could not be identified, even though MYcrobiota is specifically designed to reduce potential PCR sequencing artefacts. This suggests that our current knowledge about the microbial ecology of DW communities is limited. Our findings demonstrate that the user-friendly MYcrobiota platform facilitates culture-free, standardized microbial dynamics monitoring and has the capacity to facilitate the introduction of microbiota profiling into the management of drinking water quality.
Rapid in situ synthesis of polymer-metal nanocomposite films in several seconds using a CO2 laser
Authors: Kashihara Kazuhiko , Uto Yuki , Nakajima Takashi
Published: September 2018

We demonstrate the rapid in situ synthesis of polymer-metal nanocomposite films using a CO2 laser at 10.6 μm. The mechanism of our method is that the precursor of the metal nanoparticles, i.e., the metallic ions, is very rapidly reduced in the laser-heated polymer matrix without any reducing agent. Unlike other known laser-induced reduction methods using UV lasers, which produce radicals to promote reduction, the CO2 laser energy is mainly absorbed by the glass substrate, and the laser-heated substrate heats the polymer matrix through heat diffusion to promote reduction. The superiority of the use of CO2 lasers over nanosecond visible~UV lasers is also demonstrated in terms of the damage to the film. The developed method can be a new alternative to quickly synthesize a variety of polymer-metal nanocomposite films.
Spatial and temporal characteristics of temperature effects on cardiovascular disease in Southern China using the Empirical Mode Decomposition method
Authors: Huang Jixia , Wang Li , Wang Shibo , Lu Yaling , Zhang Weiwei , Wang Jinfeng
Published: September 2018

Until now, few studies have analyzed the effects of temperature on cardiovascular disease (CVD) death at different time points. In this study, we chose 9 different cities in the subtropical and tropical areas of China and analyzed the correlation between temperature at different time points and CVD mortality. We completed this study in two steps. First, we analyzed different time trend decomposition data related to CVD mortality in different populations within the 9 selected cities using empirical mode decomposition (EMD). Second, we created a regression fitting analysis of CVD mortality and temperatures at different time periods. The results showed that the CVD mortality of subtropical and tropical areas in southern Chinese cities represented spatial heterogeneity. The CVD mortality rates in Beihai, Hefei and Nanning showed rising trends, whereas the CVD mortality rates in Haikou, Guilin and Changde appeared to be decreasing. At the daily, seasonal and year time scales, low temperatures were negatively correlated with CVD mortality. Other than at the daily time scale, high temperatures did not significantly influence CVD mortality. This article will help to develop appropriate measures to reduce temperature-related mortality risk in different populations within the subtropical and tropical regions of China.
Biodegradable Thermogelling Polymers for Drug Delivery
Authors: Lim Hong Kit , Young David James , Loh Xian Jun
Published: September 2018

Recent developments of biodegradable thermogelling polymers for drug delivery are reviewed, focusing on the properties of different thermogel systems and how those properties correlate with drug delivery behavior with the goal of controlled, sustained release for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes, glaucoma and cancer.
Injectable Thermogelling Polymers for Bone and Cartilage Tissue Engineering
Authors: Scoccimarro Enrico , Young David James , Loh Xian Jun
Published: September 2018

Injectable thermoresponsive hydrogels are elegant scaffolds for tissue engineering. Cells and biomolecules can be directly embedded in the gel precursor solution, which then gels at body temperature. Significant advances have been made in this field over the past two decades. The ease with which the hydrogel properties can be tailored has generated a number of different scaffolds for cartilage and bone tissue engineering, as well as for cardiac and neural applications. In this chapter, we provide a concise overview of the general properties of thermogels for tissue engineering applications. We focus on some of the materials developed for bone and cartilage tissue engineering, including pNiPAAm, chitosan, PEG-PGLA and PEG-PCL based thermogels. Interesting aspects of the gelling mechanism and original approaches are described, highlighting the importance of long term, in vivo investigations to assess biodegradability, cytotoxicity and the host response.
Degradation Behaviour of Biodegradable Thermogels
Authors: Chee Pei Lin , Young David James , Loh Xian Jun
Published: September 2018

The unique properties of hydrogels make them attractive materials for numerous biomedical applications. Their high water content bears similarities to that of biological tissues. They can also be tuned to achieve different mechanical properties and rates of degradation. Thermogels are actively being developed for a variety of applications, ranging from carriers of drugs or cells to scaffolds for tissue engineering, and particularly for cancer chemotherapy. The rate and mechanism of degradation is fundamental to these possible applications and is therefore the focus of this chapter. Thermogels, techniques to tune their degradability and methods to study this degradation behaviour are discussed together with a summary of efforts to achieve the ideal thermogel with appropriate degradation profiles for different applications.
From Bench to Bedside – OncoGel™, an In Situ Hydrogel for In Vivo Applications
Authors: Prasad Ankshita , Young David James , Loh Xian Jun
Published: September 2018

Localized drug delivery to a tumor site can be an effective treatment regime by increasing local control and decreasing the metastatic potential of the tumor. Utilizing the reverse thermal gelation properties of a class of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers called ReGel™ copolymers and combining this soft material with a therapeutic agent like Paclitaxel has provided the new drug delivery system OncoGel™. This chapter summarizes the development of this controlled release formulation, including efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics studies in animal models and early results from clinical trials. The possibility of using OncoGel™ as a monotherapy for cancer treatment and in combination with other treatment regimes such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy is evaluated.
A G-triplex based molecular beacon for label-free fluorescence “turn-on” detection of bleomycin
Authors: Ma Lin , Han Xue , Xia Lian , Kong Rong-Mei , Qu Fengli
Published: September 2018

A facile and label-free G-triplex based molecular beacon (G3MB) sensing system was constructed for fluorescence “turn-on” detection of BLM.
Reactive nano-patterns in triple structured bio-inspired honeycomb films as a clickable platform
Authors: Marcasuzaa Pierre , Pearson Samuel , Bosson Karell , Pessoni Laurence , Dupin Jean-Charles , Billon Laurent
Published: September 2018

Towards unprecedented triple structured bio-inspired honeycomb film by selfassembly of a functional block copolymer during breath figure templating as a nano-patterned clickable platform.
Plutonium chlorido nitrato complexes: ligand competition and computational metrics for assembly and bonding
Authors: Surbella Robert G. , Ducati Lucas C. , Autschbach Jochen , Pellegrini Kristi L. , McNamara Bruce K. , Schwantes Jon M. , Cahill Christopher L.
Published: September 2018

Four novel Pu(iv) nitrato chloro complexes were crystallographically characterized and the Pu–ligand bond nature was delineated computationally.
Subtle changes in network composition impact the biodistribution and tumor accumulation of nanogels
Authors: Zilkowski Ilona , Theodorou Ioanna , Albrecht Krystyna , Ducongé Frederic , Groll Jürgen
Published: September 2018

We studied the effect of subtle changes in side-chain chemistry and labelling with near infrared fluorophores of nanogels (NGs) prepared from thiolated poly(glycidol) on in vivo biodistribution in mice bearing human breast tumor xenografts. Side chain chemistry as well as labelling clearly influenced tumor targeting and overall biodistribution.
Remoulding a MOF’s pores by auxiliary ligand introduction for stability improvement and highly selective CO2-capture
Authors: Zhang Qing-Qing , Liu Xiao-Fei , Ma Lin , Wei Yong-Sheng , Wang Zhao-Yang , Xu Hong , Zang Shuang-Quan
Published: September 2018

An auxiliary ligand was introduced as a girder to remould a flexible MOF’s pores and bring new pore functionality, allowing superior stability and highly selective CO2 capture.
Tandem one-pot CO2 reduction by PMHS and silyloxycarbonylation of aryl/vinyl halides to access carboxylic acids
Authors: Paridala Kumaraswamy , Lu Sheng-Mei , Wang Meng-Meng , Li Can
Published: September 2018

The synthesis of aryl/vinyl carboxylic acids from Csp2-bound halides (Cl, Br, I) in a carbonylative path by using silyl formate (from CO2 and hydrosilane) as an instant CO-surrogate.
Iridium-catalyzed direct asymmetric vinylogous allylic alkylation
Authors: Shi Chang-Yun , Xiao Jun-Zhao , Yin Liang
Published: September 2018

A catalytic asymmetric vinylogous allylic alkylation of α,β-unsaturated lactones with an iridium catalyst was achieved with excellent regio- and enantioselectivity.
A study of GaN nucleation and coalescence in the initial growth stages on nanoscale patterned sapphire substrates via MOCVD
Authors: Chen Yifan , Chen Zhizhong , Li Junze , Chen Yiyong , Li Chengcheng , Zhan Jinglin , Yu Tongjun , Kang Xiangning , Jiao Fei , Li Shunfeng , Zhang Guoyi , Shen Bo
Published: September 2018

A study of GaN nucleation and coalescence behaviors in the initial growth stages on nanoscale patterned sapphire substrates (NPSS) is presented.
High-pressure phase transitions with group–subgroup disagreement in metal guanidinium formates
Authors: Viswanathan M.
Published: September 2018

Neutron diffraction studies reveal high-pressure phase transitions in metal guanidinium formates. The change in symmetry disregards the group–subgroup association and yet exhibits reversibility.
Polyamidoxime chain length drives emergent metal-binding phenomena
Authors: Earl L. D. , Do C. , Wang Y. , Abney C. W.
Published: September 2018

Emergence is complex behavior arising from the interactions of many simple constituents that do not display such behavior independently. Understanding the origin of these phenomena is essential in the design and control of advanced soft materials.
Influence of compatible solute ectoine on distinct DNA structures: thermodynamic insights into molecular binding mechanisms and destabilization effects
Authors: Oprzeska-Zingrebe Ewa Anna , Meyer Susann , Roloff Alexander , Kunte Hans-Jörg , Smiatek Jens
Published: September 2018

We study ectoine-induced destabilization effects on DNA hairpins by a combination of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, experiments, and theoretical approaches.
Symmetry-adapted perturbation theory potential for the adenine dimer
Authors: Karatosun Armağan , Çankaya Mehmet , Tekin Adem
Published: September 2018

A new ab initio intermolecular interaction potential for the adenine dimer has been developed.
Large amplitude motion within acetylene–rare gas complexes hosted in helium droplets
Authors: Briant Marc , Viel Alexandra , Mengesha Ephriem , Gaveau Marc-André , Soep Benoît , Mestdagh Jean-Michel , Jamet Pierre , Launay Jean-Michel , Poisson Lionel
Published: September 2018

Near-infrared spectroscopy of the C2H2–Ar, Kr complexes was performed in the spectral region overlapping the ν3/ν2 + ν4 + ν5 Fermi-type resonance of C2H2. The HElium NanoDroplet Isolation (HENDI) technique was used for this purpose.
On the influence of the titanium source on the composition and structure of novel titanoniobates
Authors: Dopta Joanna , Grzanna Sven , Näther Christian , Bensch Wolfgang
Published: September 2018

Systematic variation of the titanium source and the reaction temperature applied during hydrothermal synthesis led to crystallization of four new titanoniobates: {[Ni(cyclam)]4[Ti2Nb8O28]}n·∼28nH2O (I), K[Ni(cyclam)]3[TiNb9O28]·xH2O; x = 18 (II), x = 14 (III) and x ∼ 10(IV).
Electrochemical study of specially designed graphene-Fe3O4-polyaniline nanocomposite as a high-performance anode for lithium-ion battery
Authors: Bahadur Ali , Iqbal Shahid , Shoaib Muhammad , Saeed Aamer
Published: September 2018

In this work, an anode material with improved thermal stability, charge capacity, charge capacity retention, energy density, cyclic performance, operation safety, reversible capacity, and rate capability was synthesized for battery applications.
Photoluminescence modulation of an atomically precise silver(i)–thiolate cluster via site-specific surface engineering
Authors: Li Yan-Ling , Zhang Wen-Min , Wang Jie , Tian Yuan , Wang Zhao-Yang , Du Chen-Xia , Zang Shuang-Quan , Mak Thomas C. W.
Published: September 2018

Wide-range photoluminescence modulation of a Ag12 nanocluster was achieved by site-specific surface modification with a variety of fluorescent pyridyl ligands.
Single crystalline thallium rhodium oxide pyrochlore for highly improved round trip efficiency of hybrid Na–air batteries
Authors: Kim Myeongjin , Ju Hyun , Kim Jooheon
Published: September 2018

Tl2Rh2O7 nanoparticles are developed for effective bifunctional electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The favorable oxidation potential of Tl and Rh ions means that they can easily donate their electrons, improving the electron transport and bifunctional catalytic activity.
Diverse reactivity of a boraguanidinato germylene toward organic pseudohalides
Authors: Böserle Jiří , Zhigulin Grigory , Ketkov Sergey , Jambor Roman , Růžička Aleš , Dostál Libor
Published: September 2018

The reactivity of the N,N-chelated germylene with pseudohalides was investigated producing various types of novel heterocycles.
High voltage vacuum-deposited CH3NH3PbI3–CH3NH3PbI3 tandem solar cells
Authors: Ávila Jorge , Momblona Cristina , Boix Pablo , Sessolo Michele , Anaya Miguel , Lozano Gabriel , Vandewal Koen , Míguez Hernán , Bolink Henk J.
Published: September 2018

High open circuit voltage solar cells are obtained employing two methyl-ammonium lead iodide absorbers in a monolithic tandem configuration joined by a molecular charge recombination layer.
Tender coconut water attenuates heat stress-induced testicular damage through modulation of the NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways
Authors: Kumar Soumya Sundar , Manna Krishnendu , Das Asima
Published: September 2018

Tender Coconut Water (TCW) prevents heat stress (HS)-induced testicular damage.
Gas-phase synthesis of oxymethylene ethers over Si-rich zeolites
Authors: Grünert Anna , Losch Pit , Ochoa-Hernández Cristina , Schmidt Wolfgang , Schüth Ferdi
Published: September 2018

A new approach for production of potential diesel substitutes oxymethylene ethers via continuous gas-phase synthesis from methanol and formaldehyde over zeolite catalysts.
Structural characterization of a fluorescein hydrazone molecular switch with application towards logic gates
Authors: Villada Juan D. , D’Vries Richard F. , Macías Mario , Zuluaga Fabio , Chaur Manuel N.
Published: September 2018

A new polymorph of fluorescein hydrazone was fully characterized via single X-ray crystallography. In addition, multiple logic circuits and a Half-Adder operator were designed using the fluorescence and UV-Vis switching responses of the fluorescein compound to different metal cations and pH changes.
HfO2/HfS2 hybrid heterostructure fabricated via controllable chemical conversion of two-dimensional HfS2
Authors: Lai Shen , Byeon Seongjae , Jang Sung Kyu , Lee Juho , Lee Byoung Hun , Park Jin-Hong , Kim Yong-Hoon , Lee Sungjoo
Published: September 2018

We demonstrate that HfO2, a high-K dielectric, can be prepared on the top surface of 2D HfS2 through plasma oxidation, which results in a heterostructure composed of a 2D van der Waals semiconductor and its insulating native oxide.
Fiber nanogratings induced by femtosecond pulse laser direct writing for in-line polarizer
Authors: Lu Jiafeng , Dai Ye , Li Qin , Zhang Yali , Wang Chunhua , Pang Fufei , Wang Tingyun , Zeng Xianglong
Published: September 2018

Self-organized fiber nanogratings (FNGs) induced by femtosecond pulse laser direct writing are demonstrated in optical silica fibers for the first time.
Synthesis of medium-sized (6–7–6) ring compounds by iron-catalyzed dehydrogenative C–H activation/annulation
Authors: Panda Niranjan , Mattan Irshad , Ojha Subhadra , Purohit Chandra Shekhar
Published: September 2018

Iron-catalyzed synthesis of fused seven-membered ring compounds by intramolecular hydroarylation of alkynes.
Efficient synthesis of organic thioacetates in water
Authors: Olivito F. , Costanzo P. , Di Gioia M. L. , Nardi M. , M. Oliverio , Procopio A.
Published: September 2018

A green, mild and safe synthetic procedure to obtain organic thioacetates in almost quantitative yield via aqueous nucleophilic displacement.
Recent progress in the synthesis of phosphorus-containing indole derivatives
Authors: Chen Long , Zou Yun-Xiang
Published: September 2018

Phosphorus-containing indole derivatives represent a special class of phosphorus-containing nitrogen heterocycles. This review summarizes the recent progress in the synthesis of such compounds, briefly discusses the reaction mechanisms and challenges, and outlines the synthetic opportunities still open.
Preparation and characterization of pyrene modified uridine derivatives as potential electron donors in RNA
Authors: Frommer Jennifer , Karg Beatrice , Weisz Klaus , Müller Sabine
Published: September 2018

Charge transfer across double stranded DNA has been the subject of a large number of studies, whereas RNA has been hardly investigated in this regard.