bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Migration and Memorials: Irish Cultural Identity in Early Nineteenth-Century Lowell, Massachusetts
Authors: Donnelly Colm , Murphy Eileen , McKean Dave , McKerr Lynne
Published: December 2019

Lowell is considered as the birthplace of the industrial revolution in the early nineteenth-century United States. Originating in 1822, the new textile factories harnessed the waters of the Merrimack River using a system of canals, dug and maintained by laborers. While this work employed many local Yankees, it also attracted groups of emigrant Irish workers. Grave memorials are a valuable source of information concerning religious and ethnic identity and an analysis of the slate headstones contained within Yard One of St Patrick’s Cemetery, opened in 1832, provides insight into the mindset of this migrant community. The headstones evolved from contemporary Yankee memorials but incorporated Roman Catholic imagery, while the inclusion of shamrocks and details of place of origin on certain memorials attests to a strong sense of Irish identity. The blatant display of such features at a time of ethnic and religious sectarian tensions in Massachusetts demonstrates the confidence that the Irish had of their place in the new industrial town.
Selective Roasting of Nd–Fe‒B Permanent Magnets as a Pretreatment Step for Intensified Leaching with an Ionic Liquid
Authors: Orefice Martina , Van den Bulck Amy , Blanpain Bart , Binnemans Koen
Published: December 2019

Oxidative roasting of Nd–Fe‒B permanent magnets prior to leaching improves the selectivity in the recovery of rare-earth elements over iron. However, the dissolution rate of oxidatively roasted Nd–Fe‒B permanent magnets in acidic solutions is very slow, often longer than 24 h. Upon roasting in air at temperatures above 500 °C, the neodymium metal is not converted to Nd2O3, but rather to the ternary NdFeO3 phase. NdFeO3 is much more difficult to dissolve than Nd2O3. In this work, the formation of NdFeO3 was avoided by roasting Nd–Fe‒B permanent magnet production scrap in argon atmosphere, having an oxygen content of $$ p_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} \, \le \,10^{ - 20} \;{\text{atm}}, $$pO2≤10-20atm, with the addition of 5 wt% of carbon as an iron reducing agent. For all the non-oxidizing iron roasting conditions investigated, the iron in the Nd–Fe‒B scrap formed a cobalt-containing metallic phase, clearly distinct from the rare-earth phase at microscopic level. The thermal treatment was optimized to obtain a clear phase separation of metallic iron and rare-earth phase also at the macroscopic level, to enable easy mechanical removal of iron prior to the leaching step. The sample roasted at the optimum conditions (i.e., 5 wt% carbon, no flux, no quenching step, roasting temperature of 1400 °C and roasting time of 2 h) was leached in the water-containing ionic liquid betainium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [Hbet][Tf2N]. A leaching time of only 20 min was sufficient to completely dissolve the rare-earth elements. The rare-earth elements/iron ratio in the leachate was about 50 times higher than the initial rare-earth elements/iron ratio in the Nd–Fe‒B scrap. Therefore, roasting in argon with addition of a small amount of carbon is an efficient process step to avoid the formation of NdFeO3 and to separate the rare-earth elements from the iron, resulting in selective leaching for the recovery of rare-earth elements from Nd–Fe‒B permanent magnets.
Managing Balance: Pursuit of Equilibrium Permeates the History of Science and Influences Contemporary Investigations
Authors: Kasmire J.
Published: December 2019

The word “sustainable” débuted in 1987 but has since become a hot topic issue, both for scientific research and wider society. Although sustainability may appear to be a thoroughly twenty-first century goal, sustainability science concepts and goals such as balance, endurance, order and change, reach back at least as far as the proto-scientific investigations of alchemy. Both alchemy and sustainability science can be understood as systems or strategies which individuals and societies can use to organise and manage themselves in a complex world filled with dynamic problems. Alchemy never created a panacea or transmuted base metals into gold because those goals proved to be based on fundamentally flawed theories and premises. Nevertheless, alchemy did succeed in helping adherents manage themselves and their societies in advantageous ways. Alchemy also positively and significantly influenced subsequent scientific development. Likewise, science helps humanity manage itself on multiple scales, from the individual to the international, and will certainly contribute to further scientific research and development. However, it is not yet known whether carbon neutrality, entirely renewable energy and other sustainability goals will be achieved or whether these goals will also come to be seen as based on flawed understandings and theories. For this reason, this article explores key features of alchemy, traces how they persisted through Enlightenment-era science and how they continue to be present and influential within scientific efforts today. The article goes on to reflect on how the history, development and continued use of concepts such as balance, endurance, order and change may be useful portents of how humans and human society will manage themselves in the future. Such reflections may also temper the zeal with which individuals that accept or reject sustainability goals treat each other, thereby offering a way for divergent groups to manage their interactions. Flawed theories prevented alchemy from achieving many of its primary stated goals. However, alchemy was very beneficial, both during its period of use and subsequently through its influence on subsequent development. This article identifies ideas from alchemy that were originally beneficial and that have persisted through Enlightenment-era science and into contemporary science. The article also explores how those ideas continue to influence scientific and sustainability goals today. Understanding and reflecting on alchemy’s successes and failures facilitates reflection on the potential successes and failures of sustainability and the human consequences of trying to manage a sustainable future.
Preliminary assessment of aneuploidy rates between the polar, mid and mural trophectoderm
Authors: Taylor Tyl H. , Stankewicz Tiffany , Katz Seth L. , Patrick Jennifer L. , Johnson Lauren , Griffin Darren K.
Published: December 2019

The objective of this study is to compare aneuploidy rates between three distinct areas of the human trophectoderm: mural, polar and a region in between these two locations termed the ‘mid’ trophectoderm. This is a cohort study on in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients undergoing comprehensive chromosome screening at the blastocyst stage at a private IVF clinic. All embryos underwent assisted hatching on day 3 with blastocyst biopsy and comprehensive chromosome screening. Biopsied blastocysts were divided into three groups depending on which area (polar, mid, or mural) of the trophectoderm was protruding from the zona pellucida and biopsied. Aneuploidy rates were significantly higher with cells from the polar region of the trophectoderm (56.2%) compared with cells removed from the mural region of the trophectoderm (30.0%; P = 0.0243). A comparison of all three areas combined also showed a decreasing trend, but this did not reach clinical significance, polar (56.2%), mid (47.4%) and mural trophectoderm (30.0%; P = 0.1859). The non-concordance demonstrated between polar and mural trophectoderm can be attributed to biological occurrences including chromosomal mosaicism or procedural differences between embryologists.
Reduction of paw edema and liver oxidative stress in carrageenan-induced acute inflammation by Lobaria pulmonaria and Parmelia caperata, lichen species, in mice
Authors: Salem Samira , Leghouchi Essaid , Soulimani Rachid , Bouayed Jaouad
Published: December 2019

Abstract. Paw edema volume reduction is a useful marker in determining the anti-inflammatory effect of drugs and plant extracts in carrageenan-induced acute inflammation. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of Lobaria pulmonaria (LP) and Parmelia caperata (PC), two lichen species, was examined in carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema test. Compared to the controls in carrageenan-induced inflammation (n = 5/group), our results showed that pretreatment by single oral doses with PC extract (50–500 mg/kg) gives better results than LP extract (50–500 mg/kg) in terms of anti-edematous activity, as after 4 h of carrageenan subplantar injection, paw edema formation was inhibited at 82–99% by PC while at 35–49% by LP. The higher anti-inflammatory effect of PC, at all doses, was also observed on the time-course of carrageenan-induced paw edema, displaying profile closely similar to that obtained with diclofenac (25 mg/kg), an anti-inflammatory drug reference (all p < 0.001). Both LP and PC, at all doses, significantly ameliorated liver catalase (CAT) activity (all p < 0.05). However, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels were found increased in liver of PC- compared to LP-carrageenan-injected mice. Our findings demonstrated on one hand higher preventive effects of PC compared to LP in a mouse carrageenan-induced inflammatory model and suggested, on the other hand, that anti-inflammatory effects elicited by the two lichens were closely associated with the amelioration in the endogenous antioxidant status of liver.
Diurnal and Semidiurnal P‐ and S‐Wave Velocity Changes Measured Using an Airgun Source
Authors: Wang Baoshan , Yang Wei , Wang Weitao , Yang Jun , Li Xiaobin , Ye Beng
Published: December 2019

Monitoring the subtle seismic velocity changes provides a promising tool to study the Earth's dynamic processes. However, the precise monitoring of seismic velocity with high temporal resolution is still challenging especially at large distances. Here, we continuously monitor P‐wave and S‐wave velocities with a precision of up to 10−5 using an airgun source. During a 1‐week experiment conducted in the Yunnan Province, Southwestern China, unambiguous diurnal and semidiurnal velocity changes with amplitudes of ~10−4–10−3 were observed for both P‐ and S‐waves at distances up to 21 km. The amplitudes of P‐wave velocity (Vp) change are 1.2 to 3.8 times the amplitudes of S‐wave velocity (Vs) changes. The velocity variation decreases with the increase in distance and is larger in the basin region than that in the mountainous region. Seismic velocity change shows less correlation with volumetric tide strain but strong correlation with changes of air temperature and air pressure. We propose that the thermal strains from air temperature changes are the primary cause of the observed diurnal and semidiurnal seismic velocity changes. The stronger Vp than Vs change is explained by the higher Vp sensitivity to the saturation rate. The velocity changes in mountainous area are ascribed mainly to the crack density changes, while both crack density change and saturation change are required to account for the velocity changes in the basin.
Arctic Clouds Simulated by a Multiscale Modeling Framework and Comparisons With Observations and Conventional GCMs
Authors: Li Zhujun , Xu Kuan‐Man
Published: December 2019

Clouds are an important component of the Arctic climate system through their regulation of the surface energy budget; however, Arctic clouds are poorly simulated in global climate models (GCMs). In this study, we evaluate the Arctic clouds simulated by a multiscale modeling framework (MMF). The results are compared against a merged CloudSat‐CALIPSO radar‐lidar cloud product and contrasted with an atmospheric reanalysis and conventional GCMs. The comparisons focus on the annual cycle of cloud covers, vertical structures of cloud fraction, and condensate mixing ratio, as well as the relationships between low‐cloud cover and atmospheric static stability. The MMF is found to represent Arctic boundary layer clouds slightly more realistically than the reanalysis and GCMs in both the annual cycle and vertical distribution except that middle‐ and high‐cloud covers are underestimated and the amplitude of annual cycle of total cloud cover is larger. The relationship between low‐cloud cover and near‐surface atmospheric stability produced by MMF is remarkably similar to the satellite observation during autumn, winter, and early spring, as low‐cloud cover decreases with colder surface and stronger stability. Such relationships over the annual cycle are not reproduced by other modeling approaches. Lastly, MMF yields a positive correlation between low‐cloud cover and atmospheric stability over the Arctic ocean from May to August, opposite to the satellite observation, implying stronger control of horizontal advection on low‐cloud formation. This modeled relationship is contributed by cloud fraction near the surface, which is known to be underestimated due to radar's surface clutter.
Vertical Structures of Typical Meiyu Precipitation Events Retrieved From GPM‐DPR
Authors: Sun Yuting , Dong Xiquan , Cui Wenjun , Zhou Zhimin , Fu Zhikang , Zhou Lingli , Deng Yi , Cui Chunguang
Published: December 2019

This work for the first time analyzed the vertical structures of the different stages of Meiyu precipitation systems over the Yangtze‐Huai River Valley in central China using measurements and retrievals from the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission Dual‐Frequency Precipitation Radar (GPM‐DPR) and Feng Yun satellites. GPM‐DPR‐retrieved near‐surface rain and drop size distributions were first validated against the surface disdrometer measurements and showed good agreement. Then we analyzed three cases from the Integrative Monsoon Frontal Rainfall Experiment to demonstrate the different characteristics of convective precipitation and stratiform precipitation (SP) in the developing, mature, and dissipating stages of the Meiyu precipitation systems, respectively. For statistical analysis, all Meiyu cases during the period 2016–2018 detected by GPM‐DPR were collected and classified into different types and stages. In the stratiform regions of Meiyu precipitation systems, coalescence slightly overwhelms breakup and/or evaporation processes, but it was dominant in the convective regions when raindrops fall. There were large numbers of large ice particles during the developing stage due to strong updrafts and abundant moisture, whereas there were both large ice and liquid particles in the mature stage. The vertical structures of the SP examined in this study were similar to those over the ocean regions due to high relative humidity but different to the mountainous west regions of the USA. The findings of the stage‐dependent SP vertical structures provide better understanding of the evolution of monsoon frontal precipitation, as well as the associated microphysical properties, and provide insights to improve microphysical parameterization in future models.
Socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among women aged 20–49 in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Reyes Matos Ursula , Mesenburg Marilia Arndt , Victora Cesar G.
Published: December 2019

Objective

To analyze socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of underweight and overweight or obesity in women from low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods

Using the last available Demographic Health Survey between 2010 and 2016 from 49 LMICs, we estimated the prevalence of underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) and overweight or obesity combined (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) for women aged 20–49 years. We used linear regression to explore the associations between the two outcomes and gross national income (GNI). We assess within-country socioeconomic inequalities using wealth deciles. The slope index of inequality (SII) and the inequality pattern index (IPI) were calculated for each outcome. Negative values of the latter express bottom inequality (when inequality is driven by the poorest deciles) while positive values express top inequality (driven by the richest deciles).

Results

In total, 931,145 women were studied. The median prevalence of underweight, overweight or obesity combined, and obesity were 7.3% (range 0.2–20.5%), 31.5% (8.8–85.3%), and 10.2% (1.9–48.8%), respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients with log GNI were −0.33 (p = 0.006) for underweight, 0.72 (p < 0.001) for overweight or obesity, and 0.66 (p < 0.001) for obesity. For underweight, the SII was significantly negative in 38 of the 49 countries indicating a higher burden among poor women. There was no evidence of top or bottom inequality. Overweight or obesity increased significantly with wealth in 44 of the 49 countries. Top inequality was observed in low-prevalence countries, and bottom inequality in high-prevalence countries.

Conclusion

Underweight remains a problem among the poorest women in poor countries, but overweight and obesity are the prevailing problem as national income increases. In low-prevalence countries, overweight or obesity levels are driven by the higher prevalence among the richest women; as national prevalence increases, only the poorest women are relatively preserved from the epidemic.
The persimmon (Diospyros oleifera Cheng) genome provides new insights into the inheritance of astringency and ancestral evolution
Authors: Zhu Qing-gang , Xu Yang , Yang Yong , Guan Chang-fei , Zhang Qiu-yun , Huang Jing-wen , Grierson Don , Chen Kun-song , Gong Bang-chu , Yin Xue-ren
Published: December 2019

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) is an oriental perennial woody fruit tree whose popular fruit is produced and consumed worldwide. The persimmon fruit is unique because of the hyperaccumulation of proanthocyanidins during fruit development, causing the mature fruit of most cultivars to have an astringent taste. In this study, we obtained a chromosome-scale genome assembly for ‘Youshi’ (Diospyros oleifera, 2n = 2x = 30), the diploid species of persimmon, by integrating Illumina sequencing, single-molecule real-time sequencing, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture techniques. The assembledD. oleiferagenome consisted of 849.53 Mb, 94.14% (799.71 Mb) of which was assigned to 15 pseudochromosomes, and is the first assembled genome for any member of the Ebenaceae. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that theD. oleiferagenome underwent an ancient γ whole-genome duplication event. We studied the potential genetic basis for astringency development (proanthocyanidin biosynthesis) and removal (proanthocyanidin insolublization). Proanthocyanidin biosynthesis genes were mainly distributed on chromosome 1, and the clustering of these genes is responsible for the genetic stability of astringency heredity. Genome-based RNA-seq identified deastringency genes, and promoter analysis showed that most of their promoters contained large numbers of low oxygen-responsive motifs, which is consistent with the efficient industrial application of high CO2treatment to remove astringency. Using theD. oleiferagenome as the reference, SLAF-seq indicated that ‘Youshi’ is one of the ancestors of the cultivated persimmon (2n = 6x = 90). Our study provides significant insights into the genetic basis of persimmon evolution and the development and removal astringency, and it will facilitate the improvement of the breeding of persimmon fruit.
Genetic correlations of psychiatric traits with body composition and glycemic traits are sex- and age-dependent
Authors: Hübel Christopher , Gaspar Héléna A. , Coleman Jonathan R. I. , Hanscombe Ken B. , Purves Kirstin , Prokopenko Inga , Graff Mariaelisa , Ngwa Julius S. , Workalemahu Tsegaselassie ,   ADHD Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   Meta-Analyses of Glucose and Insulin-related traits consortium (MAGIC),   Autism Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   Bipolar Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   Eating Disorders Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   OCD & Tourette Syndrome Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   PTSD Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   Sex Differences Cross Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   Substance Use Disorders Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium,   German Borderline Genomics Consortium,   International Headache Genetics Consortium, O’Reilly Paul F. , Bulik Cynthia M. , Breen Gerome
Published: December 2019

Body composition is often altered in psychiatric disorders. Using genome-wide common genetic variation data, we calculate sex-specific genetic correlations amongst body fat %, fat mass, fat-free mass, physical activity, glycemic traits and 17 psychiatric traits (up to N = 217,568). Two patterns emerge: (1) anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and education years are negatively genetically correlated with body fat % and fat-free mass, whereas (2) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), alcohol dependence, insomnia, and heavy smoking are positively correlated. Anorexia nervosa shows a stronger genetic correlation with body fat % in females, whereas education years is more strongly correlated with fat mass in males. Education years and ADHD show genetic overlap with childhood obesity. Mendelian randomization identifies schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, and higher education as causal for decreased fat mass, with higher body fat % possibly being a causal risk factor for ADHD and heavy smoking. These results suggest new possibilities for targeted preventive strategies.
Automated acquisition of explainable knowledge from unannotated histopathology images
Authors: Yamamoto Yoichiro , Tsuzuki Toyonori , Akatsuka Jun , Ueki Masao , Morikawa Hiromu , Numata Yasushi , Takahara Taishi , Tsuyuki Takuji , Tsutsumi Kotaro , Nakazawa Ryuto , Shimizu Akira , Maeda Ichiro , Tsuchiya Shinichi , Kanno Hiroyuki , Kondo Yukihiro , Fukumoto Manabu , Tamiya Gen , Ueda Naonori , Kimura Go
Published: December 2019

Deep learning algorithms have been successfully used in medical image classification. In the next stage, the technology of acquiring explainable knowledge from medical images is highly desired. Here we show that deep learning algorithm enables automated acquisition of explainable features from diagnostic annotation-free histopathology images. We compare the prediction accuracy of prostate cancer recurrence using our algorithm-generated features with that of diagnosis by expert pathologists using established criteria on 13,188 whole-mount pathology images consisting of over 86 billion image patches. Our method not only reveals findings established by humans but also features that have not been recognized, showing higher accuracy than human in prognostic prediction. Combining both our algorithm-generated features and human-established criteria predicts the recurrence more accurately than using either method alone. We confirm robustness of our method using external validation datasets including 2276 pathology images. This study opens up fields of machine learning analysis for discovering uncharted knowledge.
SKP2 attenuates autophagy through Beclin1-ubiquitination and its inhibition reduces MERS-Coronavirus infection
Authors: Gassen Nils C. , Niemeyer Daniela , Muth Doreen , Corman Victor M. , Martinelli Silvia , Gassen Alwine , Hafner Kathrin , Papies Jan , Mösbauer Kirstin , Zellner Andreas , Zannas Anthony S. , Herrmann Alexander , Holsboer Florian , Brack-Werner Ruth , Boshart Michael , Müller-Myhsok Bertram , Drosten Christian , Müller Marcel A. , Rein Theo
Published: December 2019

Autophagy is an essential cellular process affecting virus infections and other diseases and Beclin1 (BECN1) is one of its key regulators. Here, we identified S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) as E3 ligase that executes lysine-48-linked poly-ubiquitination of BECN1, thus promoting its proteasomal degradation. SKP2 activity is regulated by phosphorylation in a hetero-complex involving FKBP51, PHLPP, AKT1, and BECN1. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of SKP2 decreases BECN1 ubiquitination, decreases BECN1 degradation and enhances autophagic flux. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) multiplication results in reduced BECN1 levels and blocks the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes. Inhibitors of SKP2 not only enhance autophagy but also reduce the replication of MERS-CoV up to 28,000-fold. The SKP2-BECN1 link constitutes a promising target for host-directed antiviral drugs and possibly other autophagy-sensitive conditions.
Enhancement of and interference among higher order multipole transitions in molecules near a plasmonic nanoantenna
Authors: Rusak Evgenia , Straubel Jakob , Gładysz Piotr , Göddel Mirko , Kędziorski Andrzej , Kühn Michael , Weigend Florian , Rockstuhl Carsten , Słowik Karolina
Published: December 2019

Spontaneous emission of quantum emitters can be modified by their optical environment, such as a resonant nanoantenna. This impact is usually evaluated under assumption that each molecular transition is dominated only by one multipolar channel, commonly the electric dipole. In this article, we go beyond the electric dipole approximation and take light-matter coupling through higher-order multipoles into account. We investigate a strong enhancement of the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole emission channels of a molecule adjacent to a plasmonic nanoantenna. Additionally, we introduce a framework to study interference effects between various transition channels in molecules by rigorous quantum-chemical calculations of their multipolar moments and a consecutive investigation of the transition rate upon coupling to a nanoantenna. We predict interference effects between these transition channels, which allow in principle for a full suppression of radiation by exploiting destructive interference, waiving limitations imposed on the emitter’s coherence time by spontaneous emission.
Identification of The Canidae Iron Regulatory Hormone Hepcidin
Authors: Mead Martin K. , Claus Melissa , Litton Edward , Smart Lisa , Raisis Anthea , Rossi Gabriele , Trengove Robert D. , Gummer Joel P. A.
Published: December 2019

Hepcidins are an evolutionarily conserved class of liver-expressed peptide, from which the twenty-five amino acid hormone, hepcidin-25 (herein hepcidin), has gained significant notoriety as the master regulator of iron homeostasis in mammals. Hepcidin maintains iron homeostasis by controlling the dietary absorption of iron and the mechanisms of recycling cellular iron stores. With the physiological significance of this hormone well established, it has emerged as an informative biomarker. In a comparison of the genome, transcriptome and peptidome of Canis lupis familiaris, we reveal the size of the hepcidin peptide in the canine, previous reports of which were contradictory to the evolutionary conservation predicted by genome annotation. Here, measurement of the peptide by mass spectrometry, following isolation from greyhound blood serum, revealed an amino acid sequence and peptide mass, differing from all accounts to date, yet demonstrating perfect sequence identity to that of the greater Canidae lineage of the Carnivora. Importantly, in the greyhound, the measured hepcidin peptide showed a similar temporal pattern to total serum iron, consistent with our understanding of hepcidin regulating iron homeostasis, in agreement with human diagnostics, and providing added translational evidence of the measured peptide being the iron regulatory hormone of the Canidae.
Testing for consistency in the impacts of a burrowing ecosystem engineer on soil and vegetation characteristics across biomes
Authors: Louw M. A. , Haussmann N. S. , le Roux P. C.
Published: December 2019

The impacts of ecosystem engineers may be expected to vary along environmental gradients. Due to some resources being more limited in arid than in mesic environments, disturbances created by burrowing mammals are expected to have a greater ameliorating effect in arid environments, with larger differences in microhabitat conditions expected between burrows and undisturbed areas. The aim of this study was to test if the impacts of a medium-sized burrowing mammal, the aardvark, on soil properties (soil temperature, moisture and compaction) and vegetation characteristics (plant cover, species richness and species composition) are consistent across three biomes that differ strongly in annual rainfall. Burrowing affected soil and vegetation attributes, but the direction and magnitude of these biogeomorphological impacts were not consistent across the different biomes. For example, plant species composition was altered by burrowing in the arid scrubland and in the mesic grassland, but not in the semi-arid savannah. Contrary to expectations, the difference in the impacts of burrowing between biomes were not related to rainfall, with burrowing having strong, albeit different, impacts in both the arid scrubland and the mesic grassland, but weaker effects in the semi-arid savannah. It appears, therefore, that the impacts of these biogeomorphic agents may be site-specific and that it may be difficult to predict variation in their biotic and abiotic effects across environmental gradients. As a result, forecasting the impacts of ecosystem engineers under different conditions remains a challenge to management, restoration and conservation strategies related to these types of species.
Task-irrelevant odours affect both response inhibition and response readiness in fast-paced Go/No-Go task: the case of valence
Authors: Albayay Javier , Castiello Umberto , Parma Valentina
Published: December 2019

Whether emotional stimuli influence both response readiness and inhibition is highly controversial. Visual emotional stimuli appear to interfere with both under certain conditions (e.g., task relevance). Whether the effect is generalisable to salient yet task-irrelevant stimuli, such as odours, remains elusive. We tested the effect of orthonasally-presented pleasant (orange) and unpleasant odours (trimethyloxazole and hexenol) and clean air as a control on response inhibition. In emotional Go/No-Go paradigms, we manipulated the intertrial interval and ratios of Go/No-Go trials to account for motor (Experiment 1, N = 31) and cognitive (Experiment 2, N = 29) response inhibition processes. In Experiment 1, participants had greater difficulty in withholding and produced more accurate and faster Go responses under the pleasant vs. the control condition. Faster Go responses were also evident in the unpleasant vs. the control condition. In Experiment 2, neither pleasant nor unpleasant odours modulated action withholding, but both elicited more accurate and faster Go responses as compared to the control condition. Pleasant odours significantly impair action withholding (as compared to the control condition), indicating that more inhibitory resources are required to elicit successful inhibition in the presence of positive emotional information. This modulation was revealed for the motor aspect of response inhibition (fast-paced design with lower Go/No-Go trial ratio) rather than for attentional interference processes. Response readiness is critically impacted by the emotional nature of the odour (but not by its valence). Our findings highlight that the valence of task-irrelevant odour stimuli is a factor significantly influencing response inhibition.
Paeonol attenuates inflammation by targeting HMGB1 through upregulating miR-339-5p
Authors: Mei Liyan , He Meihong , Zhang Chaoying , Miao Jifei , Wen Quan , Liu Xia , Xu Qin , Ye Sen , Ye Peng , Huang Huina , Lin Junli , Zhou Xiaojing , Zhao Kai , Chen Dongfeng , Zhou Jianhong , Li Chun , Li Hui
Published: December 2019

Sepsis is a life-threatening disease caused by infection. Inflammation is a key pathogenic process in sepsis. Paeonol, an active ingredient in moutan cortex (a Chinese herb), has many pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and antitumour actions. Previous studies have indicated that paeonol inhibits the expression of HMGB1 and the transcriptional activity of NF-κB. However, its underlying mechanism is still unknown. In this study, microarray assay and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) results confirmed that paeonol could significantly up-regulate the expression of miR-339-5p in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by LPS. Dual-luciferase assays indicated that miR-339-5p interacted with the 3′ untranslated region (3′-UTR) of HMGB1. Western blot, immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses indicated that miR-339-5p mimic and siHMGB1 both negatively regulated the expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., HMGB1, IL-1β and TNF-α) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Studies have confirmed that IKK-β is targeted by miR-339-5p, and we further found that paeonol could inhibit IKK-β expression. Positive mutual feedback between HMGB1 and IKK-β was observed when we silenced HMGB1 or IKK-β. These results indicated that paeonol could attenuate the inflammation mediated by HMGB1 and IKK-β by upregulating miR-339-5p expression. In addition, we constructed CLP model mice by cecal ligation and puncture. Paeonol was used to intervene to investigate its anti-inflammatory effect in vivo. The results showed that paeonol could improve the survival rate of sepsis mice and protect the kidney of sepsis mice.
AR facilitates YAP-TEAD interaction with the AM promoter to enhance mast cell infiltration into cutaneous neurofibroma
Authors: Jia Jing , Zhang Haibao , Zhang Hongke , Liu Wenbo , Du Huicong , Shu Maoguo , He Lin
Published: December 2019

Abundant mast cell infiltration and disease initiation at puberty are hallmark features of cutaneous neurofibroma (cNF). However, the association between mast cell infiltration and steroid hormones in cNF remains unclear. Here, we determined that androgen receptor (AR) expression is positively associated with mast cell density in cNF tissues. Moreover, both in vitro cell experiments and in vivo mouse models verified that activated AR promoted mast cell infiltration and that AR inhibition reduced mast cell infiltration. Analyses in cell models and xenograft tumours both demonstrated that AR upregulated Yes associate  protein 1 (YAP)-adrenomedullin (AM) signalling. Clinical samples from cNF patients further verified that AR was positively related to YAP and AM. Mechanistic analysis revealed that AR accelerates AM transcription via enhancing YAP- TEA domain transcription factor (TEAD) binding to the AM promoter. Consequently, the upregulated AM enhanced mast cell recruitment. Interruption of the YAP-TEAD interaction or inhibition of AM could impair mast cell accumulation induced by active AR, which indicated that this newly found signalling pathway may provide novel targets for cNF treatment.
Resting States and Memory Consolidation: A Preregistered Replication and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Humiston Graelyn B. , Tucker Matthew A. , Summer Theodore , Wamsley Erin J.
Published: December 2019

While several recent studies have found that a post-encoding period of quiet, eyes-closed waking rest benefits memory consolidation, others have reported null effects. To more precisely estimate this effect, we conducted a quasi-exact behavioural replication of a recent study from our lab, which found that post-training eyes-closed waking rest improved declarative memory relative to a distractor task. Contrary to our hypothesis, the observed effect was not significant; however, it did fall within the 95% confidence interval of our previous finding. Furthermore, a meta-analytic effect summarizing n = 10 similar studies indicates a moderately sized and significant benefit of waking rest for verbal memory (d = 0.38, p < 0.001). We argue that the apparently conflicting results in this literature are most parsimoniously explained by variability due to sampling and/or measurement error, in a group of studies often underpowered to detect a smaller-than-expected effect of rest. Additionally, exploratory analyses revealed that increased trait daydreaming frequency negatively correlated with memory retention during eyes-closed rest. Together with our replication and meta-analysis, these studies suggest that waking rest confers a small but significant benefit on memory consolidation, and that this benefit requires the mind to be free from attention to either external tasks or spontaneous thought.
Diaphragmatic dysfunction associates with dyspnoea, fatigue, and hiccup in haemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Bin , Yin Qing , Wang Ying-yan , Tu Yan , Han Yuchen , Gao Min , Pan Mingming , Yang Yan , Xue Yufang , Zhang Li , Zhang Liuping , Liu Hong , Tang Rining , Zhang Xiaoliang , xiao Jingjie , Wang Xiaonan H. , Liu Bi-Cheng
Published: December 2019

Muscle wasting is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, especially in the haemodialysis (HD) population. Nevertheless, little is known regarding diaphragm dysfunction in HD patients. We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Institute of Nephrology, Southeast University, involving 103 HD patients and 103 healthy volunteers as normal control. Ultrasonography was used to evaluate diaphragmatic function, including diaphragm thickness and excursion during quiet and deep breathing. HD patients showed lower end-inspiration thickness of the diaphragm at total lung capacity (0.386 ± 0.144 cm vs. 0.439 ± 0.134 cm, p < 0.01) and thickening fraction (TF) (0.838 ± 0.618 vs. 1.127 ± 0.757; p < 0.01) compared to controls. The velocity and excursion of the diaphragm were significantly lower in the HD patients during deep breathing (3.686 ± 1.567 cm/s vs. 4.410 ± 1.720 cm/s, p < 0.01; 5.290 ± 2.048 cm vs. 7.232 ± 2.365 cm; p < 0.05). Changes in diaphragm displacement from quiet breathing to deep breathing (△m) were lower in HD patients than in controls (2.608 ± 1.630 vs. 4.628 ± 2.110 cm; p < 0.01). After multivariate adjustment, diaphragmatic excursion during deep breathing was associated with haemoglobin level (regression coefficient = 0.022; p < 0.01). We also found that the incidence of dyspnoea and hiccup and the fatigue scores, all of which were related to diaphragmatic dysfunction, were significantly higher in HD patients than in controls (all p < 0.01). Improving diaphragm function through targeted therapies may positively impact clinical outcomes in HD patients.
A robust model developed by LCWR combined with uniform design for the determination of hydrogen peroxide in water used in a microgravity environment
Authors: Dong Hai-Sheng , Zhao Wei , Cao Ping , Li Shu-Juan , Liu Tong-Fang , Lin Jin-Ming
Published: December 2019

Hydrogen peroxide is widely used in manned space exploration missions. A liquid core wave guide Raman apparatus was developed for the determination of hydrogen peroxide concentration in water coupled with uniform design strategy.
An activatable near-infrared fluorescent probe for methylglyoxal imaging in Alzheimer's disease mice
Authors: Dang Yijing , Wang Fengyang , Li Lingling , Lai Yi , Xu Zhiai , Xiong Zhi , Zhang Ao , Tian Yang , Ding Chunyong , Zhang Wen
Published: December 2019

A near-infrared fluorescent probe for MGO imaging in Alzheimer's disease mouse brains was developed.
Electron band tuning of organolead halide perovskite materials by methylammonium and formamidinium halide post-treatment for high-efficiency solar cells
Authors: Kogo Atsushi , Chikamatsu Masayuki
Published: December 2019

The bandgap energy of perovskite materials was tuned by post-treatment with methylammonium and formamidinium halides to improve the efficiency up to 20.06%.
Stiffness of cationized gelatin nanoparticles is a key factor determining RNAi efficiency in myeloid leukemia cells
Authors: Zhang Weiqi , Han Bo , Lai Xinning , Xiao Chen , Xu Shilin , Meng Xianghui , Li Zifu , Meng Jie , Wen Tao , Yang Xiangliang , Liu Jian , Xu Haiyan
Published: December 2019

The stiffness of cationized gelatin nanoparticles (CGNPs) dictates the siRNA delivery efficiency in myeloid leukemia cells.
Photothermal catalytic properties of layered titanium chalcogenide nanomaterials
Authors: Okeil Sherif , Yadav Sandeep , Bruns Michael , Zintler Alexander , Molina-Luna Leopoldo , Schneider Jörg J.
Published: December 2019

Titanium chalcogenides are valuable candidates for visible light photocatalysis at high efficiency levels. TiS2/TiO2 core shell heterostructures are able to increase this efficiency by an effective quenching of the exiton recombination.
Constructing MoS2/CoMo2S4/Co3S4 nanostructures supported by graphene layers as the anode for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Wang Pengcheng , Zhang Peng , Zheng Xiaohang , Cao Jian , Liu Yang , Feng Jicai , Qi Junlei
Published: December 2019

With the increasing energy demand, it is very urgent to develop new anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs).
Morphology control of metal-modified zirconium phosphate support structures for the oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Ramos-Garcés Mario V. , Sanchez Joel , La Luz-Rivera Kálery , Del Toro-Pedrosa Daniel E. , Jaramillo Thomas F. , Colón Jorge L.
Published: December 2019

The morphology of ZrP supports affects the loading and coverage of Co and Ni species, explaining their different OER performances.
Graphdiyne for crucial gas involved catalytic reactions in energy conversion applications
Authors: Li Jian , Gao Xin , Zhu Lei , Ghazzal Mohamed Nawfal , Zhang Jin , Tung Chen-Ho , Wu Li-Zhu
Published: December 2019

This review summarizes the recent progress of GDY based catalysts for key gas involved reactions in energy conversion.
A novel Mg(OH)2 binding layer-based DGT technique for measuring phosphorus in water and sediment
Authors: Xie Fazhi , Li Lu , Sun Xiaoyan , Hu Tingting , Song Kang , Giesy John P. , Wang Qilin
Published: December 2019

Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) have gained wide attention for in situ measurement of reactive phosphorus species (PO4) in natural water, sediments and potentially soils.
Correction: Seasonal variation in aerosol composition and concentration upon transport from the outdoor to indoor environment
Authors: Avery Anita M. , Waring Michael S. , DeCarlo Peter F.
Published: December 2019

Correction for ‘Seasonal variation in aerosol composition and concentration upon transport from the outdoor to indoor environment’ by Anita M. Avery et al., Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2019, 21, 528–547.
Mo2C-embedded biomass-derived honeycomb-like nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheet/graphene aerogel films for highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Wang Bo , Wu Xiaoyu , Zhang Xiaoyu , Pang GuiGui , Li Songmei
Published: December 2019

Honeycomb-like Mo2C@nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheet/graphene aerogel films were synthesized successfully by solid-state reaction between (NH4)6Mo7O24 and regenerated chitin/graphene oxide aerogel.
Iron–nickel oxide: a promising strategy for water oxidation
Authors: Safdari Tohid , Akbari Nader , Valizadeh Amirreza , Bagheri Robabeh , Song Zhenlun , Allakhverdiev Suleyman I. , Najafpour Mohammad Mahdi
Published: December 2019

Herein, a straightforward method is used to fabricate an effective and stable Fe–Ni based electrode for water oxidation.
Heterostructures of tellurium on NbSe2 from sub-monolayer to few-layer films
Authors: Xian Jing-Jing , Wang Cong , Zhang Zhi-Mo , Qin Le , Ji Wei , Chen Fang-Chu , Luo Xuan , Sun Yu-Ping , Zhang Wen-Hao , Fu Ying-Shuang
Published: December 2019

At atomic scale, we present the growth kinetics and tunability of electronic properties for two-dimensional tellurium on NbSe2 substrate from sub-monolayer to few-layer films.
An intramolecular catalytic hairpin assembly on a DNA tetrahedron for mRNA imaging in living cells: improving reaction kinetics and signal stability
Authors: Qing Zhihe , Hu Jinlei , Xu Jingyuan , Zou Zhen , Lei Yanli , Qing Taiping , Yang Ronghua
Published: December 2019

An intramolecular catalytic hairpin assembly is implemented on a DNA tetrahedron for mRNA imaging in living cells. The spatial confinement effect enables the acceleration of target-triggered signal generation, with excellent cell permeability and FRET signal stability.
Proton-conduction photomodulation in spiropyran-functionalized MOFs with large on–off ratio
Authors: Kanj Anemar Bruno , Chandresh Abhinav , Gerwien Aaron , Grosjean Sylvain , Bräse Stefan , Wang Yuemin , Dube Henry , Heinke Lars
Published: December 2019

A spiropyran functionalized metal–organic framework is presented, allowing to photomodulate the aqueous proton conductivity by two orders of magnitude.
A near-infrared fluorescent probe reveals decreased mitochondrial polarity during mitophagy
Authors: Li Xiaoyi , Li Xiaohua , Ma Huimin
Published: December 2019

A near-infrared mitochondria-targeting fluorescent probe has been developed to monitor the mitophagy-specific polarity dynamics in living cells.
Switchable electrical conductivity in a three-dimensional metal–organic framework via reversible ligand n-doping
Authors: Wentz Hanna C. , Skorupskii Grigorii , Bonfim Ana B. , Mancuso Jenna L. , Hendon Christopher H. , Oriel Evan H. , Sazama Graham T. , Campbell Michael G.
Published: December 2019

Redox-active ligands are used to reversibly tune electrical conductivity in a porous 3D metal–organic framework (MOF).
Anti-LDLR modified TPZ@Ce6-PEG complexes for tumor hypoxia-targeting chemo-/radio-/photodynamic/photothermal therapy
Authors: Song Chuanhui , Xu Wenguang , Wei Zheng , Ou Changjin , Wu Jinhui , Tong Jinlong , Cai Yu , Dong Xiaochen , Han Wei
Published: December 2019

A tumor hypoxia-targeting theranostic nanoplatform based on Ce6-PEG and tirapazamine for imaging diagnosis and multimodal therapy.
Copper nanowires in recent electronic applications: progress and perspectives
Authors: Li Xingsheng , Wang Yumeng , Yin Chengri , Yin Zhenxing
Published: December 2019

This article outlines the latest advances of copper nanowires in electronic applications, including flexible transparent electrodes for optical devices, current collectors for lithium-ion batteries, and stretchable electrodes for wearable devices.
Saturated red iridium(iii) complexes containing a unique four-membered Ir–S–C–N backbone: mild synthesis and application in OLEDs
Authors: Lu Guangzhao , Yao Jingwen , Chen Zhanxiang , Ma Dongge , Yang Chuluo
Published: December 2019

Saturated red iridium(iii) complexes containing a four-membered Ir–S–C–N backbone were mildly prepared and applied in OLEDs.
Rational design of efficient orange-red to red thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters for OLEDs with external quantum efficiency of up to 26.0% and reduced efficiency roll-off
Authors: Liang Jixiong , Li Chenglong , Cui Yuanyuan , Li Zhiqiang , Wang Jiaxuan , Wang Yue
Published: December 2019

A class of novel donor–acceptor orange-red to red thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters with a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of up to 26.0% and extremely low efficiency roll-off have been designed and synthesized.
Aggregation-induced white emission of lanthanide metallopolymer and its coating on cellulose nanopaper for white-light softening
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Chen Yanxin , Chang Hui , Wang Yaoyu , Li Xinping , Zhu Xunjin
Published: December 2019

AIE-active lanthanide metallopolymer coated on an optical haze nanopaper for application in soft-white-light emitting diodes (SWLEDs).
Nacre-based carbon nanomeshes for a soft ionic actuator with large and rapid deformation
Authors: Han Xiao , Kong Meng , Li Mingjie , Li Xiankai , Yang Weiqing , Li Chaoxu
Published: December 2019

Hierarchically porous carbon nanomeshes from nacre for fast ion penetration of soft ionic actuator with large and rapid deformation.