bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suicidal behaviours among Chinese adolescents exposed to suicide attempt or death
Authors: Liu Zhen-Zhen , Wang Ze-Ying , Bo Qi-Gui , Qi Zhen-Biao , Xu Ru-Juan , Jia Cun-Xian , Liu Xianchen
Published: December 2018

Aims

Suicidal behaviours in adolescents are prevalent and multifactorial. This study was conducted to examine the associations between exposure to suicide attempt (ESA) or suicide death (ESD) and suicidal behaviours in a large sample of Chinese adolescents.

Methods

Participants included for the analysis were 11 831 adolescent students who participated in the baseline survey of the Shandong Adolescent Behavior and Health Cohort (SABHC). Participants were sampled from five middle and three high schools in three counties of Shandong province, China. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, behavioural and emotional problems, family environment, suicidal behaviours (suicidal thought, plan and attempt), and history of ESA or death of a family member, relative, friend or close acquaintance. Based on the sources of exposure, the participants were divided into four groups: non-exposure, exposure from relatives only, exposure from friends/close acquaintances only (EFO) and exposure from both relatives and friends (ERF). Logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between ESA or ESD and suicidal behaviours.

Results

Mean age of the participants was 14.97 ± 1.46 years and 50.9% were boys. Of the participants, 9.4% reported having ESA, and 6.6% reported having ESD. The prevalence rates of suicidal behaviours were significantly higher in adolescents who had been exposed to suicide attempt or death than those who had not. Multivariate logistic regressions showed that ESA and ESD were both significantly associated with increased risks of suicidal thought (ESA: OR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.66–2.31; ESD: OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.31–1.94), plan (ESA: OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.84–3.05; ESD: OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.18–2.23) and attempt (ESA: OR = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.92–3.89; ESD: OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.18–2.82), respectively. When participants were exposed to suicide attempt, ERF and EFO groups had significantly higher risks of suicidal thought (ERF: OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.28–1.64; EFO: OR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.64–2.36), plan (ERF: OR = 3.72, 95% CI = 2.04–6.78; EFO: OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.74–3.01) and attempt (ERF: OR = 4.83, 95% CI = 2.30–10.17; EFO: OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.73–3.81), respectively.

Conclusions

ESA or ESD was associated with increased risks of suicidal behaviours in adolescents. Exposure to suicidal behaviours of relatives and friends/close acquaintances appeared to have different influence on adolescent suicidal behaviours. Further research is warranted to examine the biological and psychosocial mechanisms between suicidal exposure and subsequent suicidal behaviours in adolescents.
Effect of Low Doses of Dicamba Alone and in Combination with Glyphosate on Parent Soybean and Offspring
Authors: Jones Gordon T. , Norsworthy Jason K. , Barber Tom , Gbur Edward , Kruger Greg R.
Published: December 2018

It is well established that soybean that does not contain the dicamba-resistant (DR) trait is highly sensitive to off-target exposure to dicamba. However, there is limited information on the effect of low doses of dicamba plus glyphosate mixtures on dicamba-sensitive soybean—a mixture likely to be used on a vast acreage of dicamba/glyphosate-resistant soybean. The objective of this research was to examine leaf and pod malformation, along with height and yield effects, when dicamba, glyphosate, or a mixture of the two was applied to soybean sensitive to both dicamba and glyphosate at sublethal doses. Field applications were made at three growth stages (R1, R3, and R5) at multiple locations. Two glyphosate rates (1/64 and 1/256 of the labeled rate of 870 g ae ha−1) and two dicamba rates (1/64 and 1/256 of the labeled rate of 560 g ae ha−1) were used. Adding glyphosate to dicamba increased leaf malformation by 6% more than dicamba alone when applied at the R1 soybean growth stage. After R3 applications, pod malformation was 10% greater in treatments containing dicamba and glyphosate than dicamba alone. Applications at R5 showed minimal leaf and pod malformation. Seed from field trials was planted in the greenhouse to evaluate the offspring. The number of offspring plants showing dicamba-like symptomology was not increased with the addition of glyphosate to dicamba. Overall, injury to offspring was similar in dicamba alone and dicamba plus glyphosate treatments; however, the number of plants injured increased when parent plants were exposed to sublethal doses of dicamba at R3 and R5 compared with R1 growth-stage exposure. Vigor was reduced in dicamba-containing treatments, but not glyphosate-alone treatments. Glyphosate addition to dicamba had no effect on vigor of soybean offspring. Although there is increased injury to parent plants when glyphosate is added to dicamba, this research demonstrates that glyphosate does not contribute to the negative effects of dicamba on soybean offspring.
Qualitätskriterien internetbasierter kognitiv-behavioraler Interventionen für Kinder und Jugendliche sowie deren Eltern – Ein systematisches Review
Authors: Tutus Dunja , Plener Paul L. , Niemitz Mandy
Published: December 2018

Zusammenfassung. Einleitung: Ziel dieses Reviews war es, einen Überblick über verfügbare empirisch untersuchte internetbasierte kognitiv-behaviorale Interventionen (iCBT) für Kinder und Jugendliche und/oder deren Eltern zu verschaffen und diese anhand von vorläufig definierten Qualitätskriterien hinsichtlich des Einsatzes im Gesundheitssystem zu beurteilen. Methodik: Die vorliegende Übersichtsarbeit wurde anhand der PRISMA-Leitlinien durchgeführt und die wissenschaftliche Literatur bezogen auf iCBT evaluiert. Es wurde eine umfassende Literaturrecherche über PubMed, PsychINFO, PsychARTICLES, PsychNDEX und Science Direct unter Nutzung relevanter Suchbegriffe durchgeführt. Die Studien wurden anhand von vorläufig definierten 10 Qualitätskriterien bewertet. Ergebnisse: Insgesamt wurden 4479 Artikel gescreent; 62 Studien wurden in die weitere Auswertung eingeschlossen. Davon wurden 24 internationale iCBT-Programme mit 50 randomisiert kontrollierten Studien (RCTs) identifiziert und evaluiert, die M = 7.25 (SD = 1.07) Qualitätskriterien erfüllen würden. Für 11 internationale iCBT-Programme liegen bereits 13 Studien zur Beurteilung der präliminieren Wirksamkeit vor. Sie würden M = 7.45 (SD = .82) Qualitätskriterien erfüllen. Es gab keinen signifikanten Unterschied zwischen Programmen mit und ohne RCT-Studiendesign (t[33] = –.56; p = .58. Schlussfolgerungen: Unsere Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass es international bereits eine Vielzahl an Programmen gibt. Da die Wartezeiten auf eine psychotherapeutische oder psychiatrische Behandlung immer noch ca. fünf Monate in Deutschland betragen, haben iCBT-Programme das Potenzial, diese Versorgungslücke zu verkleinern.
High Depolarization Ratios of Naturally Occurring Cirrus Clouds Near Air Traffic Regions Over Europe
Authors: Urbanek Benedikt , Groß Silke , Wirth Martin , Rolf Christian , Krämer Martina , Voigt Christiane
Published: December 2018

Cirrus clouds have a large influence on the Earth's climate and anthropogenic activities such as aviation can alter their properties. Besides the formation of contrails, indirect effects on naturally occurring cirrus like increased heterogeneous freezing due to exhaust soot particles are discussed in the literature. However, hardly any observational study exists. In this work we present cirrus optical properties measured by an airborne lidar over Europe during the Midlatitude Cirrus experiment (ML‐CIRRUS). One half of the cloud cases showed elevated depolarization ratios with a mode difference of 10 percentage points indicating differences in the clouds microphysical properties. Their origin can be traced back to highly frequented air traffic regions, and they show lower in‐cloud ice supersaturations. Our analysis reveals no influence of embedded contrails and temperature. These results could be explained by an indirect aerosol effect where heterogeneous freezing is caused by aviation exhaust particles.
Dynamic Rupture Simulation Reproduces Spontaneous Multifault Rupture and Arrest During the 2016Mw7.9 Kaikoura Earthquake
Authors: Ando Ryosuke , Kaneko Yoshihiro
Published: December 2018

The 2016 Kaikoura (New Zealand) earthquake is characterized as one of the most complex multifault rupture events ever observed. We perform dynamic rupture simulations to evaluate to what extent relatively simple forward models accounting for realistic fault geometry can explain the characteristics of coseismic observations. Without fine parameter tuning, our model reproduces many observed features including the multifault rupture, overall slip distribution, and the locations of the maximum slip and rupture arrest. In particular, our model shows spontaneous arrest of dynamic rupture at the both ends of the ruptured fault system due to smaller prestress levels expected from a regional tectonic stress field. Both the simulated and the observationally inferred source time functions show similar double peaks with a larger second peak. The results illuminate the importance of the 3‐D fault geometry in understanding the dynamics of complex multifault rupture.
The D Region Response to the August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse and Coincident Solar Flare
Authors: Moore R. C. , Burch H. C.
Published: December 2018

During the solar eclipse of 21 August 2017, the University of Florida monitored very low frequency (3–30 kHz) radio activity at ten locations, enabling the remote sensing of the D region ionosphere (∼50‐ to 100‐km altitude). Two of the locations were far enough away (Antarctica) that no response to the eclipse was detected despite the fact that the eclipse significantly shadowed the transmitter. A particularly rare observation is presented: Three receivers were at locations where the Moon blocked at least some of the solar X‐ray flare that occurred near 1800 UT, providing high‐resolution observations of solar flare occultation by the Moon. The remainder of the sites registered meaningful responses to both the solar eclipse and the solar flare. Observations indicate that very low frequency signal propagation is affected once 30–55% obscuration is achieved anywhere along the propagation path. No long‐term or delayed effects, such as atmospheric gravity waves, were observed.
A Bayesian Approach to Microtremor Array Methods for Estimating Shallow S Wave Velocity Structures: Identifying Structural Singularities
Authors: Cho Ikuo , Iwata Takaki
Published: December 2018

This paper proposes applying Bayesian inference to the problem of estimating shallow S wave velocity structures—in particular, those containing a structural singularity (a low‐velocity layer sandwiched between high‐velocity layers or a high‐velocity layer between low‐velocity layers)—by using Rayleigh‐wave phase velocities obtained in a microtremor survey. The method proposed here uses the empirical Bayesian approach, whereby field measurement data are used to build the prior distribution. An optimal velocity structure model is selected, from among multiple candidate models with different layer thickness parameter values, on the basis of a Bayes factor. The use of the proposed method allows the layer thickness parameter values in a one‐dimensional velocity structure model to be determined objectively for explaining an observed Rayleigh‐wave phase velocity dispersion curve. It also stabilizes the inversion process by the use of the prior distribution and strengthens constraints on the unknown parameter, or S wave velocity in each layer, by using multiple Rayleigh‐wave modes. These characteristics of the proposed method allow flexible and stable inverse analysis of highly variable shallow subsurface structures. The present study conducts numerical experiments to show that our method allows the assumed structural singularities are reproduced. Then field measurement data from three sites are used to show that the method has allowed shallow structural singularities (depths 5–30 m) to be identified appropriately.
Connections Between a Late Summer Snowstorm Over the Southwestern Tibetan Plateau and a Concurrent Indian Monsoon Low‐Pressure System
Authors: Dong Wenhao , Lin Yanluan , Wright Jonathon S. , Xie Yuanyu , Xu Fanghua , Yang Kun , Li Xin , Tian Lide , Zhao Xi , Cao Dianbin
Published: December 2018

Snowstorms cause more damage to the livelihoods and livestock of more than 2 million herders (~80% of the total population) on the Tibetan Plateau than any other natural disaster. In this study, we investigate an extreme snowstorm over the southwestern Tibetan Plateau (SWTP) that occurred on 18–21 September 2008. We explore sources and transport pathways of moisture to this storm using multiple data sets and a series of regional model simulations. The results show that this snowstorm results from dynamical coupling between an upper‐level trough and a concurrent low‐pressure system over northern India. This tropical‐extratropical interaction provides the dynamical mechanism for the snowstorm to occur: the upper level trough favors southward cold advection upstream of the SWTP while the low‐pressure system over northern India provides an abundant supply of moisture. Model‐based sensitivity tests indicate that large amounts of moisture are transported over the SWTP via both the up‐and‐over and upslope transport pathways. Our findings corroborate that low‐pressure systems over northern India can deliver abundant moisture into the SWTP. The coupling of this abundant supply of moisture with an upper‐level trough further leads to the occurrence of an early snow disaster in this case, aggravating already harsh conditions and causing severe damage. Improved understanding of the interactions between these two types of synoptic systems and the climatic conditions that influence their occurrence would aid the development of effective strategies for climate change adaptation and sustainable husbandry, as well as the mitigation and relief of future snow disasters in this region.
Motility-based label-free detection of parasites in bodily fluids using holographic speckle analysis and deep learning
Authors: Zhang Yibo , Ceylan Koydemir Hatice , Shimogawa Michelle M. , Yalcin Sener , Guziak Alexander , Liu Tairan , Oguz Ilker , Huang Yujia , Bai Bijie , Luo Yilin , Luo Yi , Wei Zhensong , Wang Hongda , Bianco Vittorio , Zhang Bohan , Nadkarni Rohan , Hill Kent , Ozcan Aydogan
Published: December 2018

Parasitic infections constitute a major global public health issue. Existing screening methods that are based on manual microscopic examination often struggle to provide sufficient volumetric throughput and sensitivity to facilitate early diagnosis. Here, we demonstrate a motility-based label-free computational imaging platform to rapidly detect motile parasites in optically dense bodily fluids by utilizing the locomotion of the parasites as a specific biomarker and endogenous contrast mechanism. Based on this principle, a cost-effective and mobile instrument, which rapidly screens ~3.2 mL of fluid sample in three dimensions, was built to automatically detect and count motile microorganisms using their holographic time-lapse speckle patterns. We demonstrate the capabilities of our platform by detecting trypanosomes, which are motile protozoan parasites, with various species that cause deadly diseases affecting millions of people worldwide. Using a holographic speckle analysis algorithm combined with deep learning-based classification, we demonstrate sensitive and label-free detection of trypanosomes within spiked whole blood and artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, achieving a limit of detection of ten trypanosomes per mL of whole blood (~five-fold better than the current state-of-the-art parasitological method) and three trypanosomes per mL of CSF. We further demonstrate that this platform can be applied to detect other motile parasites by imaging Trichomonas vaginalis, the causative agent of trichomoniasis, which affects 275 million people worldwide. With its cost-effective, portable design and rapid screening time, this unique platform has the potential to be applied for sensitive and timely diagnosis of neglected tropical diseases caused by motile parasites and other parasitic infections in resource-limited regions.
Seasonal and ecohydrological regulation of active microbial populations involved in DOC, CO2, and CH4 fluxes in temperate rainforest soil
Authors: Levy-Booth David J , Giesbrecht Ian J W , Kellogg Colleen T E , Heger Thierry J , D’Amore David V , Keeling Patrick J , Hallam Steven J , Mohn William W
Published: December 2018

The Pacific coastal temperate rainforest (PCTR) is a global hot-spot for carbon cycling and export. Yet the influence of microorganisms on carbon cycling processes in PCTR soil is poorly characterized. We developed and tested a conceptual model of seasonal microbial carbon cycling in PCTR soil through integration of geochemistry, micro-meteorology, and eukaryotic and prokaryotic ribosomal amplicon (rRNA) sequencing from 216 soil DNA and RNA libraries. Soil moisture and pH increased during the wet season, with significant correlation to net CO2 flux in peat bog and net CH4 flux in bog forest soil. Fungal succession in these sites was characterized by the apparent turnover of Archaeorhizomycetes phylotypes accounting for 41% of ITS libraries. Anaerobic prokaryotes, including Syntrophobacteraceae and Methanomicrobia increased in rRNA libraries during the wet season. Putatively active populations of these phylotypes and their biogeochemical marker genes for sulfate and CH4 cycling, respectively, were positively correlated following rRNA and metatranscriptomic network analysis. The latter phylotype was positively correlated to CH4 fluxes (r = 0.46, p < 0.0001). Phylotype functional assignments were supported by metatranscriptomic analysis. We propose that active microbial populations respond primarily to changes in hydrology, pH, and nutrient availability. The increased microbial carbon export observed over winter may have ramifications for climate–soil feedbacks in the PCTR.
Dysregulated autophagy contributes to caspase-dependent neuronal apoptosis
Authors: Chung Yuhyun , Lee Juhyung , Jung Shinae , Lee Yangsin , Cho Jin Won , Oh Young J.
Published: December 2018

Autophagy is a regulated, intracellular degradation process that delivers unnecessary or dysfunctional cargo to the lysosome. Autophagy has been viewed as an adaptive survival response to various stresses, whereas in other cases, it promotes cell death. Therefore, both deficient and excessive autophagy may lead to cell death. In this study, we specifically attempted to explore whether and how dysregulated autophagy contributes to caspase-dependent neuronal cell death induced by the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Ultrastructural and biochemical analyses indicated that MN9D neuronal cells and primary cultures of cortical neurons challenged with 6-OHDA displayed typical features of autophagy. Cotreatment with chloroquine and monitoring autophagic flux by a tandem mRFP-EGFP-tagged LC3 probe indicated that the autophagic phenomena were primarily caused by dysregulated autophagic flux. Consequently, cotreatment with an antioxidant but not with a pan-caspase inhibitor significantly blocked 6-OHDA-stimulated dysregulated autophagy. These results indicated that 6-OHDA-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) played a critical role in triggering neuronal death by causing dysregulated autophagy and subsequent caspase-dependent apoptosis. The results of the MTT reduction, caspase-3 activation, and TUNEL assays indicated that pharmacological inhibition of autophagy using 3-methyladenine or deletion of the autophagy-related gene Atg5 significantly inhibited 6-OHDA-induced cell death. Taken together, our results suggest that abnormal induction of autophagic flux promotes apoptotic neuronal cell death, and that the treatments limiting dysregulated autophagy may have a strong neuroprotective potential.
ALDH1A3 induces mesenchymal differentiation and serves as a predictor for survival in glioblastoma
Authors: Li Guanzhang , Li Yiming , Liu Xing , Wang Zheng , Zhang Chuanbao , Wu Fan , Jiang Haoyu , Zhang Wenlong , Bao Zhaoshi , Wang Yongzhi , Cai Jinquan , Zhao Liang , Kahlert Ulf D. , Jiang Tao , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2018

As aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is a novel stem cell marker, increasing studies have confirmed that high ALDH activity promotes tumorigenesis and progression in cancers. Some preliminary studies have found that ALDH1A3 may play an important role in glioma malignant progression, but so far there was no conclusive conclusion. The purpose of our study was to elucidate the mechanisms by which ALDH1A3 regulated in glioma and to provide practical tools for clinical application. Aldefluor, flow cytometry sorting and qRT-PCR were performed to verify the role of ALDH1A3 in ALDH activity maintenance. Transwell, immunofluorescence, glycolytic assays, and orthotopic xenograft models were used to explore ALDH1A3 bio-functions in GBM. LASSO-COX, COX survival analysis and Kaplan–Meier analysis were used to establish the prognostic evaluation system and predict postoperative chemotherapy sensitivity of GBMs. Our integrated study found that (1) ALDH1A3 associates with mesenchymal differentiation of GBM in Eastern and Western world patients. (2) ALDH1A3 plays a critical role in ALDH activity maintenance. (3) ALDH1A3 is an activator of mesenchymal transformation in GBM. (4) ALDH1A3-derived PMT markers’ molecular signature can predict 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates of GBMs precisely. In conclusion, ALDH1A3 was a major contributor to ALDH activity and a key driver in triggering mesenchymal transformation in GBM. ALDH1A3-based molecular classification scheme can help to improve guidance for prognosis forecasting and individualized treatment decision making for GBM patients.
Microbiome characterization by high-throughput transfer RNA sequencing and modification analysis
Authors: Schwartz Michael H. , Wang Haipeng , Pan Jessica N. , Clark Wesley C. , Cui Steven , Eckwahl Matthew J. , Pan David W. , Parisien Marc , Owens Sarah M. , Cheng Brian L. , Martinez Kristina , Xu Jinbo , Chang Eugene B. , Pan Tao , Eren A. Murat
Published: December 2018

Advances in high-throughput sequencing have facilitated remarkable insights into the diversity and functioning of naturally occurring microbes; however, current sequencing strategies are insufficient to reveal physiological states of microbial communities associated with protein translation dynamics. Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are core components of protein synthesis machinery, present in all living cells, and are phylogenetically tractable, which make them ideal targets to gain physiological insights into environmental microbes. Here we report a direct sequencing approach, tRNA-seq, and a software suite, tRNA-seq-tools, to recover sequences, abundance profiles, and post-transcriptional modifications of microbial tRNA transcripts. Our analysis of cecal samples using tRNA-seq distinguishes high-fat- and low-fat-fed mice in a comparable fashion to 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons, and reveals taxon- and diet-dependent variations in tRNA modifications. Our results provide taxon-specific in situ insights into the dynamics of tRNA gene expression and post-transcriptional modifications within complex environmental microbiomes.
Stretched and compressed exponentials in the relaxation dynamics of a metallic glass-forming melt
Authors: Wu Zhen Wei , Kob Walter , Wang Wei-Hua , Xu Limei
Published: December 2018

The dynamics of glass-forming systems shows a multitude of features that are absent in normal liquids, such as non-exponential relaxation and a strong temperature-dependence of the relaxation time. Connecting these dynamic properties to the microscopic structure of the system is challenging because of the presence of the structural disorder. Here we use computer simulations of a metallic glass-former to establish such a connection. By probing the temperature and wave-vector dependence of the intermediate scattering function we find that the relaxation dynamics of the glassy melt is directly related to the local arrangement of icosahedral structures: Isolated icosahedra give rise to a liquid-like stretched exponential relaxation whereas clusters of icosahedra lead to a compressed exponential relaxation that is reminiscent to the one found in a solid. Our results show that in metallic glass-formers these two types of relaxation processes can coexist and give rise to a dynamics that is surprisingly complex.
Increased nitrogen supply promoted the growth of non-N-fixing woody legume species but not the growth of N-fixing Robinia pseudoacacia
Authors: Wang Xiao , Guo Xiao , Yu Yang , Cui Han , Wang Renqing , Guo Weihua
Published: December 2018

Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient for plant development and growth, and the deposition of N has increased in recent decades. Legumes that fix N can also provide N for nearby species. However, N in soil inhibits N fixation. We tested the effects of N fertilisation on one N-fixing (Robinia pseudoacacia) and two non-N-fixing (Sophora japonica and Senna surattensis) woody legume species, which were subjected to five different N levels (0, 1.5, 2.9, 5.9 and 11.4 mg N per plant day−1) under greenhouse conditions. The growth of the two non-N-fixing species was promoted by N supply, while that of R. pseudoacacia was unaffected. Among the three species, R. pseudoacacia had the largest specific leaf area and chlorophyll concentration, S. japonica had the largest root-to-shoot ratio and main root-to-lateral root ratio, and S. surattensis had the largest leaf N and phosphorus concentrations. The N-fixing species was mostly unaffected by N supply. The growth, leaf chlorophyll concentration, and leaf number in the non-N-fixing species were promoted by N supply. The N-fixing species showed better growth in low-N environments, while under increased N deposition, its growth was similar to that of the non-N-fixing species.
Magnetized plasma implosion in a snail target driven by a moderate-intensity laser pulse
Authors: Pisarczyk T. , Gus’kov S. Yu , Zaras-Szydłowska A. , Dudzak R. , Renner O. , Chodukowski T. , Dostal J. , Rusiniak Z. , Burian T. , Borisenko N. , Rosinski M. , Krupka M. , Parys P. , Klir D. , Cikhardt J. , Rezac K. , Krasa J. , Rhee Y.-J. , Kubes P. , Singh S. , Borodziuk S. , Krus M. , Juha L. , Jungwirth K. , Hrebicek J. , Medrik T. , Golasowski J. , Pfeifer M. , Skala J. , Pisarczyk P. , Korneev Ph.
Published: December 2018

Optical generation of compact magnetized plasma structures is studied in the moderate intensity domain. A sub-ns laser beam irradiated snail-shaped targets with the intensity of about 1016 W/cm2. With a neat optical diagnostics, a sub-megagauss magnetized plasmoid is traced inside the target. On the observed hydrodynamic time scale, the hot plasma formation achieves a theta-pinch-like density and magnetic field distribution, which implodes into the target interior. This simple and elegant plasma magnetization scheme in the moderate-intensity domain is of particular interest for fundamental astrophysical-related studies and for development of future technologies.
In vivo time-harmonic ultrasound elastography of the human brain detects acute cerebral stiffness changes induced by intracranial pressure variations
Authors: Tzschätzsch Heiko , Kreft Bernhard , Schrank Felix , Bergs Judith , Braun Jürgen , Sack Ingolf
Published: December 2018

Cerebral stiffness (CS) reflects the biophysical environment in which neurons grow and function. While long-term CS changes can occur in the course of chronic neurological disorders and aging, little is known about acute variations of CS induced by intracranial pressure variations. Current gold standard methods for CS and intracranial pressure such as magnetic resonance elastography and direct pressure recordings are either expensive and slow or invasive. The study objective was to develop a real-time method forin vivoCS measurement and to demonstrate its sensitivity to physiological aging and intracranial pressure variations induced by the Valsalva maneuver in healthy volunteers. We used trans-temporal ultrasound time-harmonic elastography (THE) with external shear-wave stimulation by continuous and superimposed vibrations in the frequency range from 27 to 56 Hz. Multifrequency wave inversion generated maps of shear wave speed (SWS) as a surrogate maker of CS. On average, cerebral SWS was 1.56 ± 0.08 m/s with a tendency to reduce with age (R = −0.76, p < 0.0001) while Valsalva maneuver induced an immediate stiffening of the brain as reflected by a 10.8 ± 2.5% increase (p < 0.0001) in SWS. Our results suggest that CS is tightly linked to intracranial pressure and might be used in the future as non-invasive surrogate marker for intracranial pressure, which otherwise requires invasive measurements.
Comparison of community- and healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates at a Chinese tertiary hospital, 2012–2017
Authors: Peng Haiying , Liu Dengtao , Ma Yuhua , Gao Wei
Published: December 2018

The transmission between community-associated (CA-) and healthcare-associated (HA-) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has increased the challenge of infection control. To understand the clonal evolution and transmission of MRSA isolates, we compared the characteristics of 175 CA-MRSA and 660 HA-MRSA strains at a Chinese tertiary hospital in 2012–2017. Antibiotic susceptibility was performed on VITEK system, the genetic background of the isolates was characterized by SCCmec, spa, and MLST typing, while virulence determinants were screened using conventional PCR. Although more than 70% of the CA-MRSA isolates were erythromycin and clindamycin resistant, CA-MRSA was more susceptible than HA-MRSA to most of the antibiotics tested. ST239-MRSA-III-t030 (30%) was the most prevalent clone among HA-MRSA, while ST59-MRSA-IVa-t437 (28.8%) was the major clone among CA-MRSA. Notably, ST59-MRSA-IVa-t437 accounted for 6.7% of the chosen HA-MRSA isolates. Additionally, difference in virulence gene content was found between the CA- and HA-MRSA strains. In conclusion, epidemiological characteristics were largely different between CA- and HA-MRSA. Although ST239-MRSA-III-t030 is still the predominant clone among HA-MRSA, the community clone ST59-MRSA-IVa-t437 has the potential of becoming an essential part of HA-MRSA in the region tested.
Monensin inhibits cell proliferation and tumor growth of chemo-resistant pancreatic cancer cells by targeting the EGFR signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Xin , Wu Xingye , Zhang Zhonglin , Ma Chao , Wu Tingting , Tang Shengli , Zeng Zongyue , Huang Shifeng , Gong Cheng , Yuan Chengfu , Zhang Linghuan , Feng Yixiao , Huang Bo , Liu Wei , Zhang Bo , Shen Yi , Luo Wenping , Wang Xi , Liu Bo , Lei Yan , Ye Zhenyu , Zhao Ling , Cao Daigui , Yang Lijuan , Chen Xian , Haydon Rex C. , Luu Hue H. , Peng Bing , Liu Xubao , He Tong-Chuan
Published: December 2018

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most deadly malignancies with <5% five-year survival rate due to late diagnosis, limited treatment options and chemoresistance. There is thus an urgent unmet clinical need to develop effective anticancer drugs to treat pancreatic cancer. Here, we study the potential of repurposing monensin as an anticancer drug for chemo-resistant pancreatic cancer. Using the two commonly-used chemo-resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines PANC-1 and MiaPaCa-2, we show that monensin suppresses cell proliferation and migration, and cell cycle progression, while solicits apoptosis in pancreatic cancer lines at a low micromole range. Moreover, monensin functions synergistically with gemcitabine or EGFR inhibitor erlotinib in suppressing cell growth and inducing cell death of pancreatic cancer cells. Mechanistically, monensin suppresses numerous cancer-associated pathways, such as E2F/DP1, STAT1/2, NFkB, AP-1, Elk-1/SRF, and represses EGFR expression in pancreatic cancer lines. Furthermore, the in vivo study shows that monensin blunts PDAC xenograft tumor growth by suppressing cell proliferation via targeting EGFR pathway. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that monensin can be repurposed as an effective anti-pancreatic cancer drug even though more investigations are needed to validate its safety and anticancer efficacy in pre-clinical and clinical models.
The deubiquitylating enzyme UCHL3 regulates Ku80 retention at sites of DNA damage
Authors: Nishi Ryotaro , Wijnhoven Paul W. G. , Kimura Yusuke , Matsui Misaki , Konietzny Rebecca , Wu Qian , Nakamura Keisuke , Blundell Tom L. , Kessler Benedikt M.
Published: December 2018

Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), which can promote genomic instability when dysfunctional, is a major DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway. Although ubiquitylation of the core NHEJ factor, Ku (Ku70-Ku80), which senses broken DNA ends, is important for its removal from sites of damage upon completion of NHEJ, the mechanism regulating Ku ubiquitylation remains elusive. We provide evidence showing that the ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L3 (UCHL3) interacts with and directly deubiquitylates one of the Ku heterodimer subunits, Ku80. Additionally, depleting UCHL3 resulted in reduced Ku80 foci formation, Ku80 binding to chromatin after DSB induction, moderately sensitized cells to ionizing radiation and decreased NHEJ efficiencies. Mechanistically, we show that DNA damage induces UCHL3 phosphorylation, which is dependent on ATM, downstream NHEJ factors and UCHL3 catalytic activity. Furthermore, this phosphorylation destabilizes UCHL3, despite having no effect on its catalytic activity. Collectively, these data suggest that UCHL3 facilitates cellular viability after DSB induction by antagonizing Ku80 ubiquitylation to enhance Ku80 retention at sites of damage.
Meta-Dome for Broadband Radar Absorbing Structure
Authors: Jeong Heijun , Nguyen Toan Trung , Lim Sungjoon
Published: December 2018

This study focused on the radome and proposed an absorber with a meta-dome structure for ultra-wideband radar absorption using an FR-4 dielectric material on the metasurface absorber for protection. In addition to protecting the absorber, the metasurface absorber exhibited ultra-wideband frequency absorptivity from radar signals, with an absorptivity band from 4.6–12 GHz, including the C and X frequency bands of radar signals. A wide incidence angle should also be considered in addition to the absorption frequency band. Experimental results were obtained for all polarization angles at normal incidence for 5–14 GHz. Sensitivity to incident angle from 0° to 40° in the transverse electric mode and 0° to 60° in the transverse magnetic mode were observed. The proposed concept was demonstrated using full-wave simulation and experimental measurements.
Polychlorinated biphenyls reduce the kinematics contractile properties of embryonic stem cells-derived cardiomyocytes by disrupting their intracellular Ca2+ dynamics
Authors: Rebuzzini Paola , Zuccolo Estella , Civello Cinzia , Fassina Lorenzo , Arechaga Juan , Izquierdo Amaia , Faris Pawan , Zuccotti Maurizio , Moccia Francesco , Garagna Silvia
Published: December 2018

Persistent organic pollutants are a group of chemicals that include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs exposure during adult life increases incidence and severity of cardiomyopathies, whereas in utero exposure determines congenital heart defects. Being fat-soluble, PCBs are passed to newborns through maternal milk, impairing heart functionality in the adult. It is still unknown how PCBs impair cardiac contraction at cellular/molecular levels. Here, we study the molecular mechanisms by which PCBs cause the observed heart contraction defects, analysing the alterations of Ca2+ toolkit components that regulate contraction. We investigated the effect that Aroclor 1254 (Aroclor), a mixture of PCBs, has on perinatal-like cardiomyocytes derived from mouse embryonic stem cells. Cardiomyocytes, exposed to 1 or 2 µg/ml Aroclor for 24 h, were analyzed for their kinematics contractile properties and intracellular Ca2+ dynamics. We observed that Aroclor impairs cardiomyocytes contractile properties by inhibiting spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations. It disrupts intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis by reducing the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content and by inhibiting voltage-gated Ca2+ entry. These findings contribute to the understanding of the molecular underpinnings of PCBs-induced cardiovascular alterations, which are emerging as an additional life-threatening hurdle associated to PCBs pollution. Therefore, PCBs-dependent alteration of intracellular Ca2+ dynamics is the most likely trigger of developmental cardiac functional alteration.
Extracellular vesicles are associated with the systemic inflammation of patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Burbano Catalina , Rojas Mauricio , Muñoz-Vahos Carlos , Vanegas-García Adriana , Correa Luis A. , Vásquez Gloria , Castaño Diana
Published: December 2018

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and autoantibodies, such as rheumatoid factor and those against cyclic citrullinated peptides, are designated as seropositive and have a more severe disease with worse prognosis than seronegative RA patients. Understanding the factors that participate in systemic inflammation, in addition to articular commitment, would allow better treatment approaches for prevention of RA comorbidities and disease reactivation. We evaluated whether monocyte subsets and extracellular vesicles (EVs) could contribute to this phenomenon. Seropositive patients had higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines than those of seronegative patients and healthy controls (HCs); however, this systemic inflammatory profile was unrelated to disease activity. High frequencies of circulating EVs positive for IgG, IgM, CD41a, and citrulline, together with altered counts and receptor expression of intermediate monocytes, were associated with systemic inflammation in seropositive patients; these alterations were not observed in seronegative patients, which seem to be more similar to HCs. Additionally, the EVs from seropositive patients were able to activate mononuclear phagocytesin vitro, and induced proinflammatory cytokines that were comparable to the inflammatory response observed at the systemic level in seropositive RA patients; therefore, all of these factors may contribute to the greater disease severity that has been described in these patients.
Author Correction: Extracting Intercellular Signaling Network of Cancer Tissues using Ligand-Receptor Expression Patterns from Whole-tumor and Single-cell Transcriptomes
Authors: Zhou Joseph X. , Taramelli Roberto , Pedrini Edoardo , Knijnenburg Theo , Huang Sui
Published: December 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Time-resolved synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography datasets of drainage and imbibition in carbonate rocks
Authors: Singh Kamaljit , Menke Hannah , Andrew Matthew , Rau Christoph , Bijeljic Branko , Blunt Martin J.
Published: December 2018

Multiphase flow in permeable media is a complex pore-scale phenomenon, which is important in many natural and industrial processes. To understand the pore-scale dynamics of multiphase flow, we acquired time-series synchrotron X-ray micro-tomographic data at a voxel-resolution of 3.28 μm and time-resolution of 38 s during drainage and imbibition in a carbonate rock, under a capillary-dominated flow regime at elevated pressure. The time-series data library contains 496 tomographic images (gray-scale and segmented) for the complete drainage process, and 416 tomographic images (gray-scale and segmented) for the complete imbibition process. These datasets have been uploaded on the publicly accessible British Geological Survey repository, with the objective that the time-series information can be used by other groups to validate pore-scale displacement models such as direct simulations, pore-network and neural network models, as well as to investigate flow mechanisms related to the displacement and trapping of the non-wetting phase in the pore space. These datasets can also be used for improving segmentation algorithms for tomographic data with limited projections.
Gene-gene and gene-environment interaction data for platinum-based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Lei-Yun , Cui Jia-Jia , Liu Jun-Yan , Guo Ao-Xiang , Zhao Zhen-Yu , Liu Ying-Zi , Wu Ji-Chu , Li Min , Hu Cheng-Ping , Gao Yang , Zhou Hong-Hao , Yin Ji-Ye
Published: December 2018

Gene-gene (GXG) and gene-environment (GXE) interactions play important roles in pharmacogenetics study. Simultaneously incorporating multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and clinical factors is needed to explore the association of their interactions with drug response and toxicity phenotypes. We genotyped 504 SNPs in a total of 490 Chinese non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and the correlation of GXG and GXE interactions with platinum-based chemotherapeutic efficacy and safety were analyzed. In this data descriptor, we shared our data set which could help others to reuse them. All kinds of file types needed for GXG and GXE analysis were supplied. The process of genotyping and data analysis was also introduced step by step.
Disposable screen-printed electrodes modified with uniform iron oxide nanocubes for the simple electrochemical determination of meclizine, an antihistamine drug
Authors: Khorshed Ahmed A. , Khairy Mohamed , Elsafty Sherif A. , Banks Craig E.
Published: December 2018

A disposable screen-printed carbon electrode modified with uniform iron oxide nanocubes was explored for simple electrochemical determination of meclizine, an antihistamine drug.
Bilberry anthocyanin extract promotes intestinal barrier function and inhibits digestive enzyme activity by regulating the gut microbiota in aging rats
Authors: Li Jing , Wu Tao , Li Na , Wang Xuening , Chen Guiyun , Lyu Xiaoling
Published: December 2018

Bilberry anthocyanin extract promotes intestinal barrier function and inhibits digestive enzyme activity through regulating the gut microbiota in aging rats.
A dual pH-sensitive liposomal system with charge-reversal and NO generation for overcoming multidrug resistance in cancer
Authors: Chen Mingmao , Song Feifei , Liu Yan , Tian Jia , Liu Chun , Li Ruyue , Zhang Qiqing
Published: December 2018

A novel liposomal system of PTX/NO/DMA-L was designed with the charge-reversal and NO generation properties for overcoming MDR in cancer.
A sequentially responsive and structure-transformable nanoparticle with a comprehensively improved ‘CAPIR cascade’ for enhanced antitumor effect
Authors: Xu Chenfeng , Sun Yu , Yu Yulin , Hu Mei , Yang Conglian , Zhang Zhiping
Published: December 2018

A sequentially responsive and structure-transformable nanoparticle was designed for comprehensively improving circulation, accumulation, penetration, internalization and release in drug delivery.
Pairing 1D/2D-conjugation donors/acceptors towards high-performance organic solar cells
Authors: Wang Jiayu , Xiao Yiqun , Wang Wei , Yan Cenqi , Rech Jeromy , Zhang Mingyu , You Wei , Lu Xinhui , Zhan Xiaowei
Published: December 2018

1D conjugated donor FTAZ, 2D conjugated donor J71, 1D conjugated acceptor ITIC1, and 2D conjugated acceptor ITIC2 were used to investigate the effects of conjugation dimension on the performance of organic solar cells.
Efficient synthesis of tetrasubstituted 2,3-allenoates and preliminary studies on bioactivities
Authors: Yao Yuan , Zhu Guirong , Chen Qin , Qian Hui , Ma Shengming
Published: December 2018

A general and highly efficient straightforward protocol for the preparation of tetrasubstituted 2,3-allenoates through a palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of 3-alkoxycarbonyl propargylic carbonates and boronic acids with commercially available tri(o-tolyl)phosphine as a ligand has been developed.
The low-temperature corrosion characteristics of alcohol-based fuel combustion
Authors: Wang Zhiqiang , Lu Xuge , Cheng Xingxing , Ma Chunyuan
Published: December 2018

Research on low-temperature dewpoint corrosion characteristics of boiler under four fuels (methanol, diesel, MF75 and MF50) combustion conditions.
The effects of amino substituents on the enhanced ammonia sensing performance of PcCo/rGO hybrids
Authors: Wang Bin , Wang Xiaolin , Li Xiaocheng , Guo Zhijiang , Zhou Xin , Wu Yiqun
Published: December 2018

Three new room temperature reversible ammonia gas sensors were fabricated using PcCo/rGO hybrids with cost-efficient, highly sensitive and stable sensing performance.
The penetration of a charged peptide across a membrane under an external electric field: a coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Wang Bin , Zhang Jianhua , Zhang Youyu , Mao Zheng , Lu Nan , Liu Qing Huo
Published: December 2018

The processes of single polyarginine (R8) peptide penetration through planar and vesicle membranes under an external electric field are simulated via a coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulation.
NO reduction with CO over HY zeolite-supported rhodium dicarbonyl complexes: giving insight into the structure sensitivity
Authors: Vityuk Artem D. , Ma Shuguo , Alexeev Oleg S. , Amiridis Michael D.
Published: December 2018

Mononuclear zeolite-anchored Rh(CO)2 complexes do not facilitate NO reduction with CO and groups of rhodium atoms are required to initiate and sustain NO/CO catalytic transformations.
A positive student experience of collaborative project work in upper-year undergraduate chemistry
Authors: Knox Kerry J. , Gillis Elizabeth A. L. , Dake Gregory R.
Published: December 2018

Demands are placed on undergraduate courses in chemistry to develop transferable skills, such as teamwork, alongside subject content and technical skills. Such skills can be developed by implementing pedagogies which involve students working together. Such pedagogies can, however, pose various challenges, including unfavourable student perceptions and experiences including the occurrence of dysfunctional student teams. This article presents a research-informed group project assignment delivered as part of an upper-year undergraduate chemistry course which has been found to overcome these challenges. The instructional activity is characterized by a high degree of structure and support for teamwork. Student perceptions, collected by survey and interview, and peer- and self-evaluations of contributions to the work of the groups reveal that students have experienced the activity positively. Many perceived disadvantages of working in a team to complete a project were either reportedly not experienced or could be overcome by the students, while perceived advantages were often reported to be experienced. Dysfunction within teams did not represent a significant issue.
Design of gradient nanopores in phenolics for ultrafast water permeation
Authors: Guo Leiming , Yang Yazhi , Xu Fang , Lan Qianqian , Wei Mingjie , Wang Yong
Published: December 2018

Ultra-permeable and robust membranes are prepared by creating a gradient nanoporous structure in low-cost phenolics, enabled by the spontaneous assembly of gradually enlarged phenolic nanoparticles.
Hierarchical porous carbon nanosheet derived from waste engine oil for high-performance supercapacitor application
Authors: Li Yubing , Zhang Deyi , He Jingjing , Wang Yulin , Zhang Xiai , Zhang Yameng , Liu Xuexin , Wang Kunjie , Wang Yi
Published: December 2018

The utilization of electrode materials with high-performance and low-cost is crucial for the development of electrochemical energy storage devices.
Integrating MXene nanosheets with cobalt-tipped carbon nanotubes for an efficient oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Chen Jianian , Yuan Xiaolei , Lyu Fenglei , Zhong Qixuan , Hu Huicheng , Pan Qi , Zhang Qiao
Published: December 2018

A metal–organic-framework-engaged strategy is proposed for the fabrication of cobalt-tipped carbon nanotube/Ti3C2 nanosheet composites for an efficient oxygen reduction reaction.