bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cenozoic Exhumation of the Ailaoshan‐Red River Shear Zone: New Insights From Low‐Temperature Thermochronology
Authors: Wang Yang , Wang Yuejun , Schoenbohm Lindsay M. , Zhang Peizhen , Zhang Bo , Sobel Edward R. , Zhou Renjie , Shi Xuhua , Zhang Jinjiang , Stockli Daniel F. , Guo Xiaofei
Published: September 2020

Continental‐scale shear zones play an important role in accommodating block extrusion and rotation as shown by deformation on the Ailaoshan‐Red River shear zone (ASRRSZ) in the SE Tibetan Plateau. This study presents 13 apatite (U‐Th)/He, 11 zircon (U‐Th)/He, and three apatite fission track dates, together with thermal modeling in the Ailaoshan and Xuelongshan segments (ALSZ and XLSZ) of the shear zone to investigate its Cenozoic exhumation history and mechanism, which are critical for understanding its tectonic and landscape evolution. Our results, combined with published chronologic data, reveal that shear zone rocks along the ALSZ experienced prominent and rapid cooling from high temperature (>500°C) to 120–60°C at a rate of 75–100°C/Myr during 29–17 Ma with northwestward younging onset. A second, lower magnitude accelerated cooling occurred at 14–10 Ma along the ALSZ at a rate of 20–30°C/Myr, with a later initiation on the XLSZ at ~5 Ma and continuing to present with a cooling rate of ~20°C/Myr. Thermal modeling reveals a single rapid cooling phase with a rate of 17–14°C/Myr in the Eocene to early Oligocene for samples outside the shear zones. These three fast cooling episodes are directly related to deformation stages including crustal shortening across the SE plateau, sinistral ductile shearing along the ASRRSZ, and dextral faulting with a dip‐slip component on the Red River and Weixi‐Qiaohou faults along the shear zone flanks. Furthermore, the northward migration of kinematic reversal and associated cooling along strike since the mid‐late Miocene likely reflects the northward advance of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis.
Improving Evapotranspiration Model Performance by Treating Energy Imbalance and Interaction
Authors: Wei Guoxiao , Zhou Linlin , Liu Hongjuan , Tian Qianglong , Ding Linkai , Ran Xinmin
Published: September 2020

Input uncertainty and deficiencies in the key elements of hydrologic models are fundamental challenges to improving model performance. Evapotranspiration (ET) models are sensitive to energy imbalance and energy interaction between the canopy and surface, and these errors can bias model simulation. This paper presents a Bayesian framework that accounts for energy imbalance and energy interaction uncertainty in calibration of the Shuttleworth‐Wallace (SW) model and discusses whether these efforts can improve the SW model performance. Specifically, the DiffeRential Evolution Adaptive Metropolis (DREAM) algorithm is used to analyze the energy imbalance error and energy interaction correction during SW model calibration, and Bayesian model evidence (BME) is used to scrutinize multiple hypotheses about alternative representations of energy. The results indicate that explicit treatment of the energy imbalance and conceptual corrections of the energy interaction significantly reduce the uncertainty of model parameters and provide energy corrections that are more appropriate and largely improve the SW model performance. Moreover, the optimal model selected by BME is mostly consistent with that evaluated using traditional statistical criteria (TSC) during a validation period. This result shows that the improved SW model also provides the best predictions, and thus consistent model selection should also be asymptotically efficient. The findings may allow improvement of ET model performance, and hence the accuracy of hydrologic and climatic simulations, toward fully understanding the key process underlying hydrologic and climatic variability and change over land.
Parent Engagement in an Integrated Care Parenting Intervention to Prevent Toxic Stress
Authors: Woods-Jaeger Briana , Thompson Julia E. , Foye-Fletcher Angelique , Siedlik Emily , Chakawa Ayanda , Dalbey Katie , Gupta Rupal C.
Published: September 2020

Objective: This study assessed parent engagement and satisfaction with an evidence-based parenting intervention delivered within a pediatric primary care clinic serving families at-risk for toxic stress. Method: Ten pilot study parent participants (all female; 80% African American; mean age = 26.1 years) completed sociodemographic, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) history, depression, social support, and session satisfaction measures to assess parent characteristics and intervention satisfaction. Parent attendance was assessed and thematic analysis of session notes was conducted to assess parent engagement in intervention sessions. Results: Sixty percent of respondents had elevated ACE scores (Total Score ≥4), and 27% of respondents had elevated Edinburgh (Total Score ≥10). Attendance in intervention sessions was inconsistent. Thematic analysis indicated that parents demonstrated several engagement behaviors during sessions they attended, including sharing opinions/disclosing information and providing one’s point of view. Follow-through with activities recommended during intervention sessions was more likely when linked to parents’ personal strengths or concerns. Parents reported all session content as “helpful or “very helpful” and would recommend the program to others. Conclusions: Parents experiencing risk factors for toxic stress may face challenges in consistently attending integrated care parenting intervention sessions but engage in sessions they attend. Strategies for engaging parents at risk for toxic stress in a primary care-based parenting program include building from parent strengths, addressing identified parent concerns, offering proactive support including parent mental health promotion, and building trusting relationships.

Implications for Impact Statement

This is a small pilot study that assessed parent engagement in a parenting program connected to infant well-child visits. The intervention was designed to promote responsive caregiving by strengthening parents’ understanding of their infant’s behavior and supporting parents in responding to their child’s emotional and physical needs. The study found that building from parent strengths, responding to identified parent concerns, offering proactive support (including parent mental health referrals), and building trusting relationships may promote parent engagement.
Exploring Predictors of Treatment Engagement in Urban Integrated Primary Care
Authors: Mautone Jennifer A. , Cabello Beatriz , Egan Theresa E. , Rodrigues Nikita P. , Davis Molly , Figge Caleb J. , Sass Aliza Jaffe , Williamson Ariel A.
Published: September 2020

Objective: Integrated primary care (IPC) is intended to address the gap in access to behavioral health care. This may be particularly true in urban settings; however, there is a paucity of research on treatment engagement in urban IPC. This study explored factors associated with treatment engagement. Method: Data were collected via retrospective chart review for 410 patients of diverse backgrounds who received an IPC referral in an urban primary care site. Patient-related factors included having multiple types of referral concerns, patient primary care show rate, and number of visits with referring clinician. Service-related factors included referral type (warm handoff/electronic), number of days between referral and intake, and average number of days between IPC treatment sessions. Engagement outcomes included attendance at IPC intake, total IPC sessions attended, overall IPC show rate, and IPC treatment attrition. Results: Of referred patients, 348 (84.9%) were encouraged to or scheduled an intake. Of those, 289 (83.1%) scheduled and 57.2% attended; the average number of sessions attended was 1.73. Patients who had more primary care office visits and higher primary care show rates were more likely to attend an IPC intake. Shorter average duration between follow-up sessions was associated with higher overall IPC show rates for those who initiated IPC follow-up care. Conclusions: Supporting engagement in primary care broadly and building scheduling capacity for IPC treatment may increase IPC service engagement in an urban primary care context.

Implications for Impact Statement

Integrated primary care (IPC) is intended to address disparities in access to behavioral health care. The results demonstrate the importance of addressing barriers to attendance at urban primary care visits broadly, as patients with higher rates of attendance at primary care visits were more likely to engage in IPC services after referral.
Clinically adaptable polymer enables simultaneous spatial analysis of colonic tissues and biofilms
Authors: Macedonia Mary C. , Drewes Julia L. , Markham Nicholas O. , Simmons Alan J. , Roland Joseph T. , Vega Paige N. , Scurrah Cherie’ R. , Coffey Robert J. , Shrubsole Martha J. , Sears Cynthia L. , Lau Ken S.
Published: September 2020

Microbial influences on host cells depend upon the identities of the microbes, their spatial localization, and the responses they invoke on specific host cell populations. Multimodal analyses of both microbes and host cells in a spatially resolved fashion would enable studies into these complex interactions in native tissue environments, potentially in clinical specimens. While techniques to preserve each of the microbial and host cell compartments have been used to examine tissues and microbes separately, we endeavored to develop approaches to simultaneously analyze both compartments. Herein, we established an original method for mucus preservation using Poloxamer 407 (also known as Pluronic F-127), a thermoreversible polymer with mucus-adhesive characteristics. We demonstrate that this approach can preserve spatially-defined compartments of the mucus bi-layer in the colon and the bacterial communities within, compared with their marked absence when tissues were processed with traditional formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) pipelines. Additionally, antigens for antibody staining of host cells were preserved and signal intensity for 16S rRNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was enhanced in poloxamer-fixed samples. This in turn enabled us to integrate multimodal analysis using a modified multiplex immunofluorescence (MxIF) protocol. Importantly, we have formulated Poloxamer 407 to polymerize and cross-link at room temperature for use in clinical workflows. These results suggest that the fixative formulation of Poloxamer 407 can be integrated into biospecimen collection pipelines for simultaneous analysis of microbes and host cells.
Association of CNVs with methylation variation
Authors: Shi Xinghua , Radhakrishnan Saranya , Wen Jia , Chen Jin Yun , Chen Junjie , Lam Brianna Ashlyn , Mills Ryan E. , Stranger Barbara E. , Lee Charles , Setlur Sunita R.
Published: September 2020

Germline copy number variants (CNVs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) form the basis of inter-individual genetic variation. Although the phenotypic effects of SNPs have been extensively investigated, the effects of CNVs is relatively less understood. To better characterize mechanisms by which CNVs affect cellular phenotype, we tested their association with variable CpG methylation in a genome-wide manner. Using paired CNV and methylation data from the 1000 genomes and HapMap projects, we identified genome-wide associations by methylation quantitative trait locus (mQTL) analysis. We found individual CNVs being associated with methylation of multiple CpGs and vice versa. CNV-associated methylation changes were correlated with gene expression. CNV-mQTLs were enriched for regulatory regions, transcription factor-binding sites (TFBSs), and were involved in long-range physical interactions with associated CpGs. Some CNV-mQTLs were associated with methylation of imprinted genes. Several CNV-mQTLs and/or associated genes were among those previously reported by genome-wide association studies (GWASs). We demonstrate that germline CNVs in the genome are associated with CpG methylation. Our findings suggest that structural variation together with methylation may affect cellular phenotype.
Neural correlates of mindful emotion regulation in high and low ruminators
Authors: Rosenbaum David , Kroczek Agnes M. , Hudak Justin , Rubel Julian , Maier Moritz J. , Sorg Theresa , Weisbender Lucca , Goldau Lara , Mennin Douglas , Fresco David M. , Fallgatter Andreas J. , Ehlis Ann-Christine
Published: September 2020

Depressive rumination is considered a prominent risk factor for the occurrence, severity, and duration of depressive episodes. A variety of treatment options have been developed to treat depressive rumination of which mindfulness based programs are especially promising. In the current study, we investigated the neural underpinnings of a short mindfulness intervention and mindful emotion regulation in high and low trait ruminators in an ecologically valid environment using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Participants were randomly assigned to a mindfulness instruction (MT) group or an instructed thinking (IT) group. Participants in the MT group were trained to either focus their attention mindfully on their breath or their emotions, while the IT group focused their attention on the past or future. Afterwards, all participants underwent an emotion regulation paradigm in which they either watched negative or neutral movie clips. During both paradigms cortical hemodynamic changes were assessed by means of fNIRS. Participants in the MT group showed lower activity in the cognitive control network (CCN) during the focus on breath condition in comparison to the focus on emotion condition. Additionally, oxygenated hemoglobin in the MT group tended to be lower than in the IT group. Further, self-reports of emotional distress during the instruction paradigm were reduced in the MT group. During the emotion regulation paradigm, we observed reduced emotional reactivity in terms of emotional distress and avoidance in the MT group in comparison to the IT group. Furthermore, on a neural level, we observed higher CCN activity in the MT group in comparison to the IT group. We did not find any effect of rumination, neither on the intervention nor on the emotion regulation task. The results of this pilot study are discussed in light of the present literature on the neural correlates of mindfulness based interventions in rumination and emphasize the use of fNIRS to track neural changes in situ over the course of therapy.
Phenazine from Pseudomonas aeruginosa UPMP3 induced the host resistance in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)-Ganoderma boninense pathosystem
Authors: Parvin Waheeda , Govender Nisha , Othman Radziah , Jaafar Hawa , Rahman Mahbubur , Wong Mui-Yun
Published: September 2020

Pseudomonas aeruginosa developed its biocontrol agent property through the production of antifungal derivatives, with the phenazine among them. In this study, the applications of crude phenazine synthesized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa UPMP3 and hexaconazole were comparatively evaluated for their effectiveness to suppress basal stem rot infection in artificially G. boninense-challenged oil palm seedlings. A glasshouse experiment under the randomized completely block design was set with the following treatments: non-inoculated seedlings, G. boninense inoculated seedlings, G. boninense inoculated seedlings with 1 mg/ml phenazine application, G. boninense inoculated seedlings with 2 mg/ml phenazine application and G. boninense inoculated seedlings with 0.048 mg/ml hexaconazole application. Seedlings were screened for disease parameters and plant vigour traits (plant height, plant fresh weight, root fresh, and dry weight, stem diameter, and total chlorophyll) at 1-to-4 month post-inoculation (mpi). The application of 2 mg/ml phenazine significantly reduced disease severity (DS) at 44% in comparison to fungicide application (DS = 67%). Plant vigour improved from 1 to 4 mpi and the rate of disease reduction in seedlings with phenazine application (2 mg/ml) was twofold greater than hexaconazole. At 4, 6 and 8 wpi, an up-regulation of chitinase and β-1,3 glucanase genes in seedlings treated with phenazine suggests the involvement of induced resistance in G. boninense-oil palm pathosystem.
Effect of fasting and feeding on apolipoprotein A-I kinetics in preβ1-HDL, α-HDL, and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins
Authors: Chétiveaux Maud , Croyal Mikaël , Ouguerram Khadija , Fall Fanta , Flet Laurent , Zair Yassine , Nobecourt Estelle , Krempf Michel
Published: September 2020

The aim of this study was to compare the kinetics of apolipoprotein (apo)A-I during fed and fasted states in humans, and to determine to what extent the intestine contributes to apoA-I production. A stable isotope study was conducted to determine the kinetics of apoA-I in preβ1 high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and α-HDL. Six healthy male subjects received a constant intravenous infusion of 2H3-leucine for 14 h. Subjects in the fed group also received small hourly meals. Blood samples were collected hourly during tracer infusion and then daily for 4 days. Tracer enrichments were measured by mass spectrometry and then fitted to a compartmental model using asymptotic plateau of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) apoB100 and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) apoB48 as estimates of hepatic and intestinal precursor pools, respectively. The clearance rate of preβ1-HDL-apoA-I was lower in fed individuals compared with fasted subjects (p < 0.05). No other differences in apoA-I production or clearance rates were observed between the groups. No significant correlation was observed between plasma apoC-III concentrations and apoA-I kinetic data. In contrast, HDL-apoC-III was inversely correlated with the conversion of α-HDL to preβ1-HDL. Total apoA-I synthesis was not significantly increased in fed subjects. Hepatic production was not significantly different between the fed group (17.17 ± 2.75 mg/kg/day) and the fasted group (18.67 ± 1.69 mg/kg/day). Increase in intestinal apoA-I secretion in fed subjects was 2.20 ± 0.61 mg/kg/day. The HDL-apoA-I kinetics were similar in the fasted and fed groups, with 13% of the total apoA-I originating from the intestine with feeding.
Author Correction: Selective, high-contrast detection of syngeneic glioblastoma in vivo
Authors: Banati Richard B. , Wilcox Paul , Xu Ran , Yin Grace , Si Emily , Son Eric Taeyoung , Shimizu Mauricio , Holsinger R. M. Damian , Parmar Arvind , Zahra David , Arthur Andrew , Middleton Ryan J. , Liu Guo-Jun , Charil Arnaud , Graeber Manuel B.
Published: September 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Coordinated analysis of exon and intron data reveals novel differential gene expression changes
Authors: Eghbalnia Hamid R. , Wilfinger William W. , Mackey Karol , Chomczynski Piotr
Published: September 2020

RNA-Seq expression analysis currently relies primarily upon exon expression data. The recognized role of introns during translation, and the presence of substantial RNA-Seq counts attributable to introns, provide the rationale for the simultaneous consideration of both exon and intron data. We describe here a method for the coordinated analysis of exon and intron data by investigating their relationship within individual genes and across samples, while taking into account changes in both variability and expression level. This coordinated analysis of exon and intron data offers strong evidence for significant differences that distinguish the profiles of the exon-only expression data from the combined exon and intron data. One advantage of our proposed method, called matched change characterization for exons and introns (MEI), is its straightforward applicability to existing archived data using small modifications to standard RNA-Seq pipelines. Using MEI, we demonstrate that when data are examined for changes in variability across control and case conditions, novel differential changes can be detected. Notably, when MEI criteria were employed in the analysis of an archived data set involving polyarthritic subjects, the number of differentially expressed genes was expanded by sevenfold. More importantly, the observed changes in exon and intron variability with statistically significant false discovery rates could be traced to specific immune pathway gene networks. The application of MEI analysis provides a strategy for incorporating the significance of exon and intron variability and further developing the role of using both exons and intron sequencing counts in studies of gene regulatory processes.
The zinc transporter ZIP9 (Slc39a9) regulates zinc dynamics essential to egg activation in zebrafish
Authors: Converse Aubrey , Thomas Peter
Published: September 2020

The zinc transporter ZIP9 (SLC39A9) was recently characterized as a membrane androgen receptor in various teleost and mammalian cell models. ZIP9 shows the highest expression in ovaries of teleosts, a tissue in which both androgen signaling and zinc dynamics have significant roles. To examine the role of ZIP9 in ovarian physiology, we generated a ZIP9-mutant zebrafish strain using a CRISPR/Cas9 system. zip9-/- females showed significant reductions in fecundity, embryo viability, and growth of their offspring compared to wildtype (WT) fish. Furthermore, a high proportion of zip9-/- eggs failed to undergo normal chorion elevation during activation. In WT eggs, zinc was detected in cortically-localized vesicles which underwent exocytosis upon activation. zip9-/- eggs showed abnormal cortical vesicle development and had a significantly depressed activation-induced zinc release compared to WT eggs. Moreover, pharmacologically sustained elevation of zinc in WT eggs prior to activation resulted in abnormal chorion elevation similar to that observed in zip9-/- eggs. These results indicate that ZIP9 is essential for proper zinc modulation during zebrafish egg activation and presents the first evidence of zinc modulation during egg activation in a non-mammalian species.
Spontaneous microstates related to effects of low socioeconomic status on neuroticism
Authors: Guo Peifang , Cui Jinqi , Wang Yufeng , Zou Feng , Wu Xin , Zhang Meng
Published: September 2020

Individuals with high neuroticism had the decreased control functions of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) over amygdala (emotion regions) and low socioeconomic status (SES) had negative effects on the functions of ACC. Based on these, we hypothesized that the decreased functions of ACC might make individuals with low SES had high level of neuroticism. According to the score of objective SES (OSES) and subjective SES (SSES) scales, subjects were divided into four groups (low SSES, high SSES, low OSES and high OSES) to investigate the roles of dynamic characteristics related to the ACC in the relationships between SES and neuroticism using resting-state EEG (RS-EEG) microstates analysis. It had been found that RS-EEG microstates can be divided into four types (MS1, MS2, MS3 and MS4) and the MS3 was related cingulo-opercular brain networks (including ACC and anterior insular). As our prediction, SSES had direct effects on neuroticism relative to OSES. Moreover, the neuroticism for low SSES was positively related to the occurrence and contribution of MS3, as well as the possibilities of transitions between MS3 and MS1. Based on these, we thought that low-SSES individuals might be more difficult to inhibit the negative emotions, especially inhibit the spontaneous thoughts related to these emotions.
Multiproxy paleoceanographic study from the western Barents Sea reveals dramatic Younger Dryas onset followed by oscillatory warming trend
Authors: Łącka Magdalena , Michalska Danuta , Pawłowska Joanna , Szymańska Natalia , Szczuciński Witold , Forwick Matthias , Zajączkowski Marek
Published: September 2020

The Younger Dryas (YD) is recognized as a cool period that began and ended abruptly during a time of general warming at the end of the last glacial. New multi-proxy data from a sediment gravity core from Storfjordrenna (western Barents Sea, 253 m water depth) reveals that the onset of the YD occurred as a single short-lived dramatic environment deterioration, whereas the subsequent warming was oscillatory. The water masses in the western Barents Sea were likely strongly stratified at the onset of the YD, possibly due to runoff of meltwater combined with perennial sea-ice cover, the latter may last up to several decades without any brake-up. Consequently, anoxic conditions prevailed at the bottom of Storfjordrenna, leading to a sharp reduction of benthic biota and the appearance of vivianite microconcretions which formation is favoured by reducing conditions. While the anoxic conditions in Storfjordrenna were transient, the unfavorable conditions for benthic foraminifera lasted for c. 1300 years. We suggest that the Pre-Boreal Oscillation, just after the onset of the Holocene, may have been a continuation of the oscillatory warming trend during the YD.
1-Kestose supplementation mitigates the progressive deterioration of glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes OLETF rats
Authors: Watanabe Ayako , Kadota Yoshihiro , Kamio Rina , Tochio Takumi , Endo Akihito , Shimomura Yoshiharu , Kitaura Yasuyuki
Published: September 2020

The fructooligosaccharide 1-kestose cannot be hydrolyzed by gastrointestinal enzymes, and is instead fermented by the gut microbiota. Previous studies suggest that 1-kestose promotes increases in butyrate concentrations in vitro and in the ceca of rats. Low levels of butyrate-producing microbiota are frequently observed in the gut of patients and experimental animals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, little is known about the role of 1-kestose in increasing the butyrate-producing microbiota and improving the metabolic conditions in type 2 diabetic animals. Here, we demonstrate that supplementation with 1-kestose suppressed the development of diabetes in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, possibly through improved glucose tolerance. We showed that the cecal contents of rats fed 1-kestose were high in butyrate and harbored a higher proportion of the butyrate-producing genus Anaerostipes compared to rats fed a control diet. These findings illustrate how 1-kestose modifications to the gut microbiota impact glucose metabolism of T2D, and provide a potential preventative strategy to control glucose metabolism associated with dysregulated insulin secretion.
OTUD4 enhances TGFβ signalling through regulation of the TGFβ receptor complex
Authors: Jaynes Patrick William , Iyengar Prasanna Vasudevan , Lui Sarah Kit Leng , Tan Tuan Zea , Vasilevski Natali , Wright Sarah Christine Elizabeth , Verdile Giuseppe , Jeyasekharan Anand D. , Eichhorn Pieter Johan Adam
Published: September 2020

Systematic control of the transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) pathway is essential to keep the amplitude and the intensity of downstream signalling at appropriate levels. Ubiquitination plays a crucial role in the general regulation of this pathway. Here we identify the deubiquitinating enzyme OTUD4 as a transcriptional target of the TGFβ pathway that functions through a positive feedback loop to enhance overall TGFβ activity. Interestingly we demonstrate that OTUD4 functions through both catalytically dependent and independent mechanisms to regulate TGFβ activity. Specifically, we find that OTUD4 enhances TGFβ signalling by promoting the membrane presence of TGFβ receptor I. Furthermore, we demonstrate that OTUD4 inactivates the TGFβ negative regulator SMURF2 suggesting that OTUD4 regulates multiple nodes of the TGFβ pathway to enhance TGFβ activity.
A high urea-to-creatinine ratio predicts long-term mortality independent of acute kidney injury among patients hospitalized with an infection
Authors: van der Slikke Elisabeth C. , Star Bastiaan S. , de Jager Vincent D. , Leferink Marije B. M. , Klein Lotte M. , Quinten Vincent M. , Olgers Tycho J. , ter Maaten Jan C. , Bouma Hjalmar R.
Published: September 2020

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently in patients with sepsis. Persistent AKI is, in contrast to transient AKI, associated with reduced long-term survival after sepsis, while the effect of AKI on survival after non-septic infections remains unknown. As prerenal azotaemia is a common cause of transient AKI that might be identified by an increased urea-to-creatinine ratio, we hypothesized that the urea-to-creatinine ratio may predict the course of AKI with relevance to long-term mortality risk. We studied the association between the urea-to-creatinine ratio, AKI and long-term mortality among 665 patients presented with an infection to the ED with known pre-existent renal function. Long-term survival was reduced in patients with persistent AKI. The urea-to-creatinine ratio was not associated with the incidence of either transient or non-recovered AKI. In contrast, stratification according to the urea-to-creatinine-ratio identifies a group of patients with a similar long-term mortality risk as patients with persistent AKI. Non-recovered AKI is strongly associated with all-cause long-term mortality after hospitalization for an infection. The urea-to-creatinine ratio should not be employed to predict prerenal azotaemia, but identifies a group of patients that is at increased risk for long-term mortality after infections, independent of AKI and sepsis.
Part 1: profiling extra cellular matrix core proteome of human fetal nucleus pulposus in search for regenerative targets
Authors: Rajasekaran Shanmuganathan , Tangavel Chitraa , Djuric Niek , Raveendran Muthurajan , Soundararajan Dilip Chand Raja , Nayagam Sharon Miracle , Matchado Monica Steffi , Anand K. S. Sri Vijay
Published: September 2020

Intervertebral disc degeneration is accompanied by a loss of Extra-cellular matrix (ECM) due to an imbalance in anabolic and catabolic pathways. Identifying ECM proteins with anabolic and/or regenerative potential could be the key to developing regenerative therapies. Since human fetal discs grow and develop rapidly, studying these discs may provide valuable insights on proteins with regenerative potential. This study compares core matrisome of 9 fetal and 7 healthy adult (age 22–79) nucleus pulposus (NP), using a proteomic and bioinformatic approach. Of the 33 upregulated proteins in fetus NP’s, 20 of which were involved in ECM assembly pathways: fibromodulin, biglycan, heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4, procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer and Collagen—type 1a1, 1a2, 6a1, 6a3, 11a1, 11a2, 12a1, 14a1 and 15a1. Moreover, 10 of the upregulated proteins were involved in growth pathways ‘PI3L-Akt signaling’ and ‘regulation of insulin like growth factor transport and uptake.’ Thrombospondin 1,3 and 4, tenascin C, matrilin-3, and collagen- type 1a1, 1a2, 6a1, 6a3 and 9a1. Additionally, matrillin-2 and ‘Collagen triple helix repeat containing 1’ were identified as possible regenerative proteins due to their involvement in ‘Regeneration’ and ‘tissue development’ respectively. In conclusion, the consistency of human fetal NP’s differs greatly from that of healthy adults. In view of these outcomes, the core matrisome of human fetal discs contains an abundant number of proteins that could potentially show regenerative properties, and their potential should be explored in future machinal experiments.
Techno-economic evaluation of biogas production from food waste via anaerobic digestion
Authors: Al-Wahaibi Abeer , Osman Ahmed I. , Al-Muhtaseb Ala’a H. , Alqaisi Othman , Baawain Mahad , Fawzy Samer , Rooney David W.
Published: September 2020

Food waste is a major constituent in municipal solid wastes and its accumulation or disposal of in landfills is problematic, causing environmental issues. Herein, a techno-economic study is carried out on the potential of biogas production from different types of food waste generated locally. The biogas production tests were at two-time sets; 24-h and 21-day intervals and results showed a good correlation between those two-time sets. Thus, we propose to use the 24-h time set to evaluate feedstock fermentation capacity that is intended for longer periods. Our approach could potentially be applied within industry as the 24-h test can give a good indication of the potential substrate gas production as a quick test that saves time, with minimal effort required. Furthermore, polynomial models were used to predict the production of total gas and methane during the fermentation periods, which showed good matching between the theoretical and practical values with a coefficient of determination R2 = 0.99. At day 21, the accumulative gas production value from mixed food waste samples was 1550 mL per 1 g of dry matter. An economic evaluation was conducted and showed that the case study breaks-even at $0.2944 per cubic metre. Any prices above this rate yield a positive net present value (NPV); at $0.39/m3 a discounted payback period of six years and a positive NPV of $3108 were calculated. If waste management fee savings are to be incorporated, the total savings would be higher, increasing annual cash flows and enhancing financial results. This economic evaluation serves as a preliminary guide to assess the economic feasibility based on the fluctuating value of methane when producing biogas from food waste via anaerobic digestion, thus could help biogas project developers investigate similar scale scenarios .
Robust B-exciton emission at room temperature in few-layers of MoS2:Ag nanoheterojunctions embedded into a glass matrix
Authors: Sarkar Abdus Salam , Konidakis Ioannis , Demeridou Ioanna , Serpetzoglou Efthymis , Kioseoglou George , Stratakis Emmanuel
Published: September 2020

Tailoring the photoluminescence (PL) properties in two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) crystals using external factors is critical for its use in valleytronic, nanophotonic and optoelectronic applications. Although significant effort has been devoted towards enhancing or manipulating the excitonic emission in MoS2 monolayers, the excitonic emission in few-layers MoS2 has been largely unexplored. Here, we put forward a novel nano-heterojunction system, prepared with a non-lithographic process, to enhance and control such emission. It is based on the incorporation of few-layers MoS2 into a plasmonic silver metaphosphate glass (AgPO3) matrix. It is shown that, apart from the enhancement of the emission of both A- and B-excitons, the B-excitonic emission dominates the PL intensity. In particular, we observe an almost six-fold enhancement of the B-exciton emission, compared to control MoS2 samples. This enhanced PL at room temperature is attributed to an enhanced exciton–plasmon coupling and it is supported by ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy that reveals plasmon-enhanced electron transfer that takes place in Ag nanoparticles-MoS2 nanoheterojunctions. Our results provide a great avenue to tailor the emission properties of few-layers MoS2, which could find application in emerging valleytronic devices working with B excitons.
The effectiveness of a monetary reimbursement model for weight reduction via a smartphone application: a preliminary retrospective study
Authors: Lee Jungeun , Bae Sujin , Park Dohyung , Kim Youngin , Park Jisun
Published: September 2020

Weight loss for obese populations has been a challenging subject. There are numerous mobile applications to address weight loss, but the low retention rate is a barrier for the intervention. This is a retrospective study, aiming to investigate the effectiveness of financial incentives to achieve weight loss via a monetary reimbursement model on a smartphone application. Participants voluntarily purchased a 16-week mobile weight loss application program, and those who logged food intake three times a day received monetary reimbursement up to the full amount they initially paid. We analyzed health-related information and logged in-app activities from participants (N = 2,803) including age, sex, weight, food intake, and physical activity on their mobile healthcare application called Noom from January 2017 to April 2019. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare differences between groups who succeeded and failed at food logging, controlling for baseline BMI. The ANCOVA found that participants who completed the food logging successfully for 16 weeks (N = 1,565) lost significantly more weight than those who failed food logging (N = 1,238, F = 56.0, p < 0.001). In addition, participants who were able to log their food intake successfully exercised more (F = 41.5, p < 0.001), read more in-app articles (F = 120.7, p < 0.001), and consumed more quantity of healthy foods (F = 12.8, p < 0.001). Monetary reimbursement is an effective tool for weight reduction by encouraging participants to monitor their health-related behaviors regularly.
The Grueneberg ganglion controls odor-driven food choices in mice under threat
Authors: Brechbühl Julien , de Vallière Aurélie , Wood Dean , Nenniger Tosato Monique , Broillet Marie-Christine
Published: September 2020

The ability to efficiently search for food is fundamental for animal survival. Olfactory messages are used to find food while being aware of the impending risk of predation. How these different olfactory clues are combined to optimize decision-making concerning food selection remains elusive. Here, we find that chemical danger cues drive the food selection in mice via the activation of a specific olfactory subsystem, the Grueneberg ganglion (GG). We show that a functional GG is required to decipher the threatening quality of an unfamiliar food. We also find that the increase in corticosterone, which is GG-dependent, enhances safe food preference acquired during social transmission. Moreover, we demonstrate that memory retrieval for food preference can be extinguished by activation of the GG circuitry. Our findings reveal a key function played by the GG in controlling contextual food responses and illustrate how mammalian organisms integrate environmental chemical stress to optimize decision-making.
Dynamic observation of manganese adatom mobility at perovskite oxide catalyst interfaces with water
Authors: Lole Gaurav , Roddatis Vladimir , Ross Ulrich , Risch Marcel , Meyer Tobias , Rump Lukas , Geppert Janis , Wartner Garlef , Blöchl Peter , Jooss Christian
Published: September 2020

Real time in-situ microscopy imaging of surface structure and atom dynamics of heterogeneous catalysts is an important step for understanding reaction mechanisms. Here, using in-situ environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM), we directly visualize surface atom dynamics at manganite perovskite catalyst surfaces for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which are ≥20 times faster in water than in other ambients. Comparing (001) surfaces of La0.6Sr0.4MnO3 and Pr0.67Ca0.33MnO3 with similar initial manganese valence state and OER activity, but very different OER stability, allows us to distinguish between reversible surface adatom dynamics and irreversible surface defect chemical reactions. We observe enhanced reversible manganese adatom dynamics due to partial solvation in adsorbed water for the highly active and stable La0.6Sr0.4MnO3 system, suggesting that aspects of homogeneous catalysis must be included for understanding the OER mechanism in heterogeneous catalysis.
A femtosecond Bessel laser for preparing a nontoxic slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) for improving the hemocompatibility of NiTi alloys
Authors: Cheng Yang , Yang Qing , Lu Yu , Yong Jiale , Fang Yao , Hou Xun , Chen Feng
Published: September 2020

A nontoxic slippery liquid-infused porous surface prepared by femtosecond Bessel laser ablation to improve the hemocompatibility of NiTi alloys.
Novel method for preparing stable near-infrared absorbers: a new phthalocyanine family based on rhenium(i) complexes
Authors: Murata Kei , Koike Yosuke , Ishii Kazuyuki
Published: September 2020

Unsymmetric coordination of the electron-deficient Re(i) unit(s) to the phthalocyanine ring concomitantly realized intense absorption in the near-infrared region and the improvement of tolerance to oxidation.
Reaction of 2,5-dihydroxy-[1,4]-benzoquinone with nucleophiles – ipso-substitution vs. addition/elimination
Authors: Hettegger Hubert , Steinkellner Karin , Zwirchmayr Nele S. , Potthast Antje , Edgar Kevin J. , Rosenau Thomas
Published: September 2020

ipso-Substitution vs. addition/elimination reaction depending on the type of nucleophile reacting with 2,5-dihydroxy-[1,4]-benzoquinone (DHBQ).
Porosity controlled carbon-based 3D anode for lithium metal batteries by a slurry based process
Authors: Kim Dong-Hyun , Lee Min-Ho , Kim Byung Gon , Lee Sang-Min , Choi Jeong-Hee
Published: September 2020

3D-Carbon based porous anode was fabricated by a facile slurry-based process and its electrochemical properties as a Li metal host were reported.
Dual-readout proximity hybridization-regulated and photothermally amplified protein analysis based on MXene nanosheets
Authors: Ren Huizhu , Zhang Shupei , Huang Yitian , Chen Yanjie , Lv Liang , Dai Hong
Published: September 2020

An ingenious dual-readout sensing platform based on a proximity hybridization-regulated strategy is proposed for protein detection.
Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed amide directed spiroannulation with naphthoquinones: access to spiro-isoindolinone frameworks
Authors: Dana Suman , Giri Chandan Kumar , Baidya Mahiuddin
Published: September 2020

A mild ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed spiroannulation between benzamides and naphthoquinones is developed for the succinct synthesis of biologically relevant spiro-isoindolinone scaffolds.
Metal-directed synthesis of quadruple-stranded helical Eu(iii) molecular switch: a significant improvement in photocyclization quantum yield
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Zhou Yanyan , Gao Ting , Yan Pengfei , Li Hongfeng
Published: September 2020

Metal-directed self-assembly enforces the conformation transformation of ligand from parallel to antiparallel, leading to a significant improvement on Φo–c and realizes a reversible on/off switching to Eu3+ ion emission.
An AIE probe for imaging mitochondrial SO2-induced stress and SO2 levels during heat stroke
Authors: Yang Xiaopeng , Tang Jun , Zhang Di , Han Xiaojing , Liu Jianfei , Li Jinsa , Zhao Yufen , Ye Yong
Published: September 2020

An AIE-based fluorescent probe was developed for imaging the misregulation of SO2 levels in mitochondria during heat stroke.
Matrix–filler interactions and solvent sorption features of nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) embedded ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA)–millable polyurethane (MPU) blends
Authors: Shafeeq V. H. , Unnikrishnan G.
Published: September 2020

A bioceramic material, nanohydroxyapatite has been explored as an effective filler to modulate the solvent transport features of ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA)–millable polyurethane (MPU) blends.
First-principles studies of strongly correlated states in defect spin qubits in diamond
Authors: Ma He , Sheng Nan , Govoni Marco , Galli Giulia
Published: September 2020

Using a recently developed quantum embedding theory, we present first principles calculations of strongly correlated states of spin defects in diamond.
Electrochemical deposition of a semiconducting gold dithiolene complex with NIR absorption
Authors: Benjamin Helen , Müller Moritz L. , Afanasjevs Sergejs , Kamenev Konstantin V. , Robertson Neil
Published: September 2020

Gold dithiolene complex can be electrodeposited as a film of neutral, paramagnetic molecules with strong NIR absorption.
Physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses reveal zinc oxide nanoparticles modulate plant growth in tomato
Authors: Sun Liangliang , Wang Yibo , Wang Ruling , Wang Ruting , Zhang Ping , Ju Qiong , Xu Jin
Published: September 2020

ZnO NPs increased metal nutrient accumulation and reprogrammed carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism in tomato plants. They also improved Fe deficiency tolerance by improving Fe accumulation, antioxidative capacity and contents of sugars and amino acids.
Accelerated alkaline activation of peroxydisulfate by reduced rubidium tungstate nanorods for enhanced degradation of bisphenol A
Authors: Hu Jian , Zeng Xiangkang , Yin Yichun , Liu Yue , Li Yang , Hu Xiaoyi , Zhang Lian , Zhang Xiwang
Published: September 2020

Reduced rubidium tungstate nanorods were employed to activate peroxydisulfate under alkaline conditions for bisphenol A degradation.
Synergistic effect of amino-acids and metal salts as draw solutions to enhance the performance of fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis
Authors: Nematzadeh Mohammad , Shokrollahzadeh Soheila , Samimi Abdolreza , Mohebbi-Kalhori Davod
Published: September 2020

Blended amino-acids–metal-salts were introduced as novel fertilizer draw solutions. The synergic effects resulted in higher water flux than the sum of their individual fluxes.
Sample preparation approaches for qualitative and quantitative analysis of lipid-derived electrophile modified proteomes by mass spectrometry
Authors: Yuan Wenjuan , Wang Jun , Zhang Ying , Lu Haojie
Published: September 2020

MS-based analytical methods of lipid-derived electrophile modified proteome are discussed in this review.
Millimeter-sized Bi2S3@polyacrylonitrile hybrid beads for highly efficient iodine capture
Authors: Yu Qiang , Jiang Xiaohui , Cheng Zhengjun , Liao Yunwen , Pu Qiang , Duan Ming
Published: September 2020

Chemisorption of iodine by forming BiI3was the main capturing mechanism of Bi2S3@PAN for iodine.
Two-dimensional MoS2: a platform for constructing three-dimensional structures using RAFT polymerization
Authors: Souri Zeinab , Adeli Mohsen , Mehdipour Ebrahim
Published: September 2020

Controlled and straightforward functionalization are relevant strategies to obtain MoS2platforms with defined functionality and improved processability.
A directing group free Pd(ii)-catalysed desulfitative C6-arylation of 2-pyridone using an arylsulfonyl chloride
Authors: Karmakar Ujjwal , Samanta Rajarshi
Published: September 2020

Heteroatom-containing directing group free C6-arylation of 2-pyridone.
Acid-promoted synthesis and photophysical properties of substituted acridine derivatives
Authors: Bian Zi-Long , Lv Xin-Xin , Li Ya-Lan , Sun Wen-Wu , Liu Ji-Kai , Wu Bin
Published: September 2020

A simple and efficient synthetic protocol for the preparation of acridinium esters and amides through the cyclization and esterification or amidation of isatins with alcohols or amines as nucleophiles in the presence of CF3SO3H is established.
Light controlled oxidation by supramolecular Zn(ii) Schiff-base complexes
Authors: Laube Christian , Taut Josef Anton , Kretzschmar Jonas , Zahn Stefan , Knolle Wolfgang , Ullman Steve , Kahnt Axel , Kersting Berthold , Abel Bernd
Published: September 2020

Application of Schiff-base ligands for the controlled zinc ion induced formation of electronic triplet states and the initialisation of photoreactivity.
Low-temperature, high-performance thin-film solid oxide fuel cells with tailored nano-column structures of a sputtered Ni anode
Authors: Yu Wonjong , Lim Yonghyun , Lee Sanghoon , Pandiyan Arunkumar , Cho Gu Young , Cha Suk Won
Published: September 2020

By tailoring the nano-column structures of a sputtered Ni anode, the in-plane connectivity of the nanostructured Ni anode is significantly improved.
Tuning the mechanical and electronic properties and carrier mobility of phosphorene via family atom doping: a first-principles study
Authors: Xu Yan , Liu Guipeng , Xing Shu’an , Zhao Guijuan , Yang Jianhong
Published: September 2020

Formation energy and cohesive energy are used to evaluate the thermodynamic stability of substitutionally doped phosphorene.