bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internal and External Modulation of Folding Rates With 104to 105 Year Time Resolutions From Growth Strata, Pico del Aguila, Spain
Authors: Anastasio David J. , Kodama Kenneth P. , Parés Josep M. , Hinnov Linda A. , Idleman Bruce D.
Published: July 2021

High‐resolution cyclostratigraphy in growth strata are used to reconstruct unsteady folding rates at the regional‐scale Pico del Aguila anticline, southern Pyrenees, to evaluate deformation modulation. Magnetic polarity stratigraphy was used to calibrate cyclostratigraphy‐based anhysteretic remanent magnetization intensity variations to establish precessional frequencies in the growth strata record. The astronomically tuning was used to determine sedimentation rates and absolute time. Incremental tilting rates were calculated between selected horizons over ∼6 myr of fold growth. Careful treatment of uncertainties enhances confidence that the results are meaningful and results show significant variability in folding rates over time. The acceleration phase of fold growth was variable, punctuated by a prolonged period of tectonic quiescence, and correlated to sedimentation changes in the wedge‐top basin. Low dipping bedding intrinsically modulated the initial rates of folding for the first 25° of limb tilt, until ∼38.86 Ma. Then, halotectonics in the Paleogene Jaca Basin extrinsically modulated accelerating folding rates for the next 45° of limb tilting, until ∼37.42 Ma. Finally, forelimb‐steepening leading to geometric strain hardening and blunted folding rates for the last 17° of fold tightening and causing a thrust fault to cut the anticline's core. Folding ended at Pico del Aguila ∼35.10 Ma. Calculated folding rates varied between 0° ± 5.5°and 90° ± 19°/myr over 100s kyr time increments. Variations in the folding rate of the Pico del Aguila décollement anticline are attributed to both intrinsic modulation as a result of progressive bedding steepening during folding and extrinsic modulation as a result of variable deltaic sedimentation rates in the wedge‐top basin.
Magnetic Reconnection Near the Planet as a Possible Driver of Jupiter’s Mysterious Polar Auroras
Authors: Masters A. , Dunn W. R. , Stallard T. S. , Manners H. , Stawarz J.
Published: July 2021

Auroral emissions have been extensively observed at the Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn. These planets all have appreciable atmospheres and strong magnetic fields, and their auroras predominantly originate from a region encircling each magnetic pole. However, Jupiter’s auroras poleward of these “main” emissions are brighter and more dynamic, and the drivers responsible for much of these mysterious polar auroras have eluded identification to date. We propose that part of the solution may stem from Jupiter’s stronger magnetic field. We model large‐scale Alfvénic perturbations propagating through the polar magnetosphere toward Jupiter, showing that the resulting <0.1° deflections of the magnetic field closest to the planet could trigger magnetic reconnection as near as ∼0.2 Jupiter radii above the cloud tops. At Earth and Saturn this physics should be negligible, but reconnection electric field strengths above Jupiter’s poles can approach ∼1 V m−1, typical of the solar corona. We suggest this near‐planet reconnection could generate beams of high‐energy electrons capable of explaining some of Jupiter’s polar auroras.
The Trends of Warm‐Season Thunderstorm and Lightning Days in China and the Influence of Environmental Factors
Authors: Xue Xiaoying , Ren Guoyu , Xu Xiangde , Sun Xiubao , Yang Guowei , Zhang Panfeng , Zhang Siqi
Published: July 2021

Previous studies indicated that numbers of meso‐micro scale severe convective weather exhibited a significant decrease over China's mainland in the past decades. However, the possible mechanism of the decrease has not been well understood. This paper analyzes the changes in frequency of thunderstorm and lightning days using an updated data set of denser national observational stations and theirs links to the atmospheric circulation and regional environmental factors. The results confirm the highly significant decreasing trend of frequency of thunderstorm and lightning days during 1961–2013, with the decreasing rates of −2.6 days/10 years and −6.5 days/10 years in the warm season, respectively. The decrease of geopotential height difference between south and north, the weakening of westerly jet strength at 200 hPa and the decline of zonal wind speed of high level are found to be the direct reasons for the wide‐spread decrease of thunderstorm and lightning days across the country. Meanwhile, there is a significant positive correlation between thunderstorm days and convective available potential energy (CAPE), indicating a reduction of potential atmospheric instability accompanying the decline of thunderstorm days especially in the south of China. The decrease in the relative humidity at the lower troposphere, the weakening of 0–6 km vertical wind shear and the accompanying slackening of actual convective activity, may have also contributed to the downward trends of the severe convective weather. Our analysis shows a strong link of the decreasing thunderstorm and lightning days to the long‐term changes of the atmospheric circulation and environmental factors. Further investigation is needed to examine what have driven the changes of the environmental factors over the time period.
Using Passive Air Samplers to Quantify Vertical Gaseous Elemental Mercury Concentration Gradients Within a Forest and Above Soil
Authors: Quant M. Isabel , Feigis Michelle , Mistry Shreya , Lei Ying Duan , Mitchell Carl P. J. , Staebler Ralf , Di Guardo Antonio , Terzaghi Elisa , Wania Frank
Published: July 2021

Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), the primary form of mercury (Hg) in the atmosphere, can undergo bidirectional exchange with the Earth's surface, with uptake in growing vegetation constituting the dominant atmospheric deposition process. Whereas direction and magnitude of this exchange can be determined using micrometeorological and chamber techniques, these approaches are complex, costly and labor‐intensive, and often only yield fluxes over relatively short time‐scales at few sites. We demonstrate that an inexpensive and easy‐to‐use passive air sampler can identify and quantify vertical GEM concentration gradients on scales ranging from centimeters to tens of meters over long time periods (up to 1.5 years) and with coarse temporal resolution (monthly to seasonally). Samplers were deployed above clean and contaminated soil and through a deciduous forest canopy at two sites in Southern Ontario. Significant and seasonally variable gradients of GEM concentrations, both increasing and decreasing with height above ground, were observed and can be explained through the influence of factors such as soil contamination, canopy growth, temperature, solar irradiance, and snow cover. At a minimum, the sampler can identify the GEM flux direction, but, when combined with the Modified Bowen Ratio method, can also be used to estimate the evaporative GEM flux from mercury‐contaminated soil. We further demonstrate the application of the approach to contaminated site assessment, using a field in Brescia, Italy, known to contain elevated levels of Hg in soil. By allowing for cost‐effective measurements at multiple sites and over extended time periods, passive sampling complements existing techniques for studying atmosphere‐surface exchange of GEM.
Detecting Ground Level Enhancements Using Soil Moisture Sensor Networks
Authors: Hands A. D. P. , Baird F. , Ryden K. A. , Dyer C. S. , Lei F. , Evans J. G. , Wallbank J. R. , Szczykulska M. , Rylett D. , Rosolem R. , Fowler S. , Power D. , Henley E. M.
Published: July 2021

Ground level enhancements (GLEs) are space weather events that pose a potential hazard to the aviation environment through single event effects in avionics and increased dose to passengers and crew. The existing ground level neutron monitoring network provides continuous and well‐characterized measurements of the radiation environment. However, there are only a few dozen active stations worldwide, and there has not been a UK‐based station for several decades. Much smaller neutron detectors are increasingly deployed throughout the world with the purpose of using secondary neutrons from cosmic rays to monitor local soil moisture conditions (COSMOS). Space weather signals from GLEs and Forbush decreases have been identified in COSMOS data. Monte Carlo simulations of atmospheric radiation propagation show that a single COSMOS detector is sufficient to detect the signal of a medium‐strength (10%–100% increase above background) GLE at high statistical significance, including at fine temporal resolution. Use of fine temporal resolution would also provide a capability to detect Terrestrial Gamma Ray Flashes (via secondary neutrons) which are produced by certain lightning discharges and which can provide a hazard to aircraft, particularly in tropical regions. We also show how the COsmic‐ray Soil Moisture Observing System‐UK detector network could be used to provide warnings at the International Civil Aviation Organization “Moderate” and “Severe” dose rate thresholds at aviation altitudes, and how multiple‐detector hubs situated at strategic UK locations could detect a small GLE at high statistical significance and infer crucial information on the nature of the primary spectrum.
Spontaneous apoptosis of cells in therapeutic stem cell preparation exert immunomodulatory effects through release of phosphatidylserine
Authors: He Xuemei , Hong Weiqi , Yang Jingyun , Lei Hong , Lu Tianqi , He Cai , Bi Zhenfei , Pan Xiangyu , Liu Yu , Dai Lunzhi , Wang Wei , Huang Canhua , Deng Hongxin , Wei Xiawei
Published: July 2021

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-mediated immunomodulation has been harnessed for the treatment of human diseases, but its underlying mechanism has not been fully understood. Dead cells, including apoptotic cells have immunomodulatory properties. It has been repeatedly reported that the proportion of nonviable MSCs in a MSC therapeutic preparation varied from 5~50% in the ongoing clinical trials. It is conceivable that the nonviable cells in a MSC therapeutic preparation may play a role in the therapeutic effects of MSCs. We found that the MSC therapeutic preparation in the present study had about 5% dead MSCs (DMSCs), characterized by apoptotic cells. Namely, 1 × 106 MSCs in the preparation contained about 5 × 104 DMSCs. We found that the treatment with even 5 × 104 DMSCs alone had the equal therapeutic effects as with 1 × 106 MSCs. This protective effect of the dead MSCs alone was confirmed in four mouse models, including concanavalin A (ConA)- and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury, LPS-induced lung injury and spinal cord injury. We also found that the infused MSCs died by apoptosis in vivo. Furthermore, the therapeutic effect was attributed to the elevated level of phosphatidylserine (PS) upon the injection of MSCs or DMSCs. The direct administration of PS liposomes (PSLs) mimic apoptotic cell fragments also exerted the protective effects as MSCs and DMSCs. The Mer tyrosine kinase (MerTK) deficiency or the knockout of chemokine receptor C–C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) reversed these protective effects of MSCs or DMSCs. These results revealed that DMSCs alone in the therapeutic stem cell preparation or the apoptotic cells induced in vivo may exert the same immunomodulatory property as the “living MSCs preparation” through releasing PS, which was further recognized by MerTK and participated in modulating immune cells.
Local bi-fidelity field approximation with Knowledge Based Neural Networks for Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Pepper Nick , Gaymann Audrey , Sharma Sanjiv , Montomoli Francesco
Published: July 2021

This work presents a machine learning based method for bi-fidelity modelling. The method, a Knowledge Based Neural Network (KBaNN), performs a local, additive correction to the outputs of a coarse computational model and can be used to emulate either experimental data or the output of a more accurate, but expensive, computational model. An advantage of the method is that it can scale easily with the number of input and output features. This allows bi-fidelity modelling approaches to be applied to a wide variety of problems, for instance in the bi-fidelity modelling of fields. We demonstrate this aspect in this work through an application to Computational Fluid Dynamics, in which local corrections to a velocity field are performed by the KBaNN to account for mesh effects. KBaNNs were trained to make corrections to the free-stream velocity field and the boundary layer. They were trained on a limited data-set consisting of simple two-dimensional flows. The KBaNNs were then tested on a flow over a more complex geometry, a NACA 2412 airfoil. It was demonstrated that the KBaNNs were still able to provide a local correction to the velocity field which improved its accuracy. The ability of the KBaNNs to generalise to flows around new geometries that share similar physics is encouraging. Through knowledge based neural networks it may be possible to develop a system for bi-fidelity, computer based design which uses data from past simulations to inform its predictions.
Influence of nano-VC on the structural and magnetic properties of MnAlC-alloy
Authors: Shtender Vitalii , Stopfel Henry , Hedlund Daniel , Karlsson Dennis , Pothala Rajasekhar , Skårman Björn , Olsson Fredrik , Vidarsson Hilmar , Andersson Gabriella , Svedlindh Peter , Sahlberg Martin
Published: July 2021

Alloys of Mn55Al45C2 with additions of VC nano-particles have been synthesized and their properties evaluated. The Mn55Al45C2(VC)x (x = 0.25, 0.5 and 1) alloys have been prepared by induction melting resulting in a high content of the ferromagnetic τ-phase (> 94 wt.%). Powder X-ray diffraction indicates that nano-VC can be dissolved in the alloy matrix up to 1 at.%. On the other side, metallography investigations by scanning electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscope show inclusions of the nanosized additives in the microstructure. The effect of nano-VC on the grain and twin boundaries has been studied by electron backscattering diffraction. The magnetization has been measured by magnetometry up to 9 T while the domain structure has been studied using both magnetic force microscopy as well as Kerr-microscopy. For nano-VC contents above 0.25 at.%, a clear increase of the coercive force is observed, from 57 to 71 kA/m. The optimum appears to be for 0.5 at.% nano-VC which shows a 25% increase in coercive force without losing any saturation magnetization. This independent increase in coercivity is believed to originate from the nano-VC reducing the overall magnetic domain size. Overall, we observe that addition of nano-VC could be an interesting route to increase the coercive force of MnAl, without sacrificing saturation magnetization.
Theoretical investigation of pre-symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 person-to-person transmission in households
Authors: Arav Yehuda , Klausner Ziv , Fattal Eyal
Published: July 2021

Since its emergence, the phenomenon of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by seemingly healthy individuals has become a major challenge in the effort to achieve control of the pandemic. Identifying the modes of transmission that drive this phenomenon is a perquisite in devising effective control measures, but to date it is still under debate. To address this problem, we have formulated a detailed mathematical model of discrete human actions (such as coughs, sneezes, and touching) and the continuous decay of the virus in the environment. To take into account those discrete and continuous events we have extended the common modelling approach and employed a hybrid stochastic mathematical framework. This allowed us to calculate higher order statistics which are crucial for the reconstruction of the observed distributions. We focused on transmission within a household, the venue with the highest risk of infection and validated the model results against the observed secondary attack rate and the serial interval distribution. Detailed analysis of the model results identified the dominant driver of pre-symptomatic transmission as the contact route via hand-face transfer and showed that wearing masks and avoiding physical contact are an effective prevention strategy. These results provide a sound scientific basis to the present recommendations of the WHO and the CDC.
Combined nanopore and single-molecule real-time sequencing survey of human betaherpesvirus 5 transcriptome
Authors: Kakuk Balázs , Tombácz Dóra , Balázs Zsolt , Moldován Norbert , Csabai Zsolt , Torma Gábor , Megyeri Klára , Snyder Michael , Boldogkői Zsolt
Published: July 2021

Long-read sequencing (LRS), a powerful novel approach, is able to read full-length transcripts and confers a major advantage over the earlier gold standard short-read sequencing in the efficiency of identifying for example polycistronic transcripts and transcript isoforms, including transcript length- and splice variants. In this work, we profile the human cytomegalovirus transcriptome using two third-generation LRS platforms: the Sequel from Pacific BioSciences, and MinION from Oxford Nanopore Technologies. We carried out both cDNA and direct RNA sequencing, and applied the LoRTIA software, developed in our laboratory, for the transcript annotations. This study identified a large number of novel transcript variants, including splice isoforms and transcript start and end site isoforms, as well as putative mRNAs with truncated in-frame ORFs (located within the larger ORFs of the canonical mRNAs), which potentially encode N-terminally truncated polypeptides. Our work also disclosed a highly complex meshwork of transcriptional read-throughs and overlaps.
Conductance artery stiffness impairs atrio-ventriculo-arterial coupling before manifestation of arterial hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophic remodelling
Authors: Kyhl Kasper , von Huth Sebastian , Bojer Annemie , Thomsen Carsten , Engstrøm Thomas , Vejlstrup Niels , Madsen Per Lav
Published: July 2021

As part of normal ageing, conductance arteries lose their cushion function, left ventricle (LV) filling and also left atrial emptying are impaired. The relation between conductance artery stiffness and LV diastolic function is normally explained by arterial hypertension and LV hypertrophy as needed intermediaries. We examined whether age-related aortic stiffening may influence LV diastolic function in normal healthy subjects. Aortic distensibility and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were related to LV emptying and filling parameters and left atrial emptying parameters as determined by magnetic resonance imaging in 36 healthy young (< 35 years) and 16 healthy middle-aged and elderly (> 35 years) with normal arterial blood pressure and myocardial mass. In the overall cohort, total aorta PWV correlated to a decrease in LV peak-emptying volume (r = 0.43), LV peak-filling (r = 0.47), passive atrial emptying volume (r = 0.66), and an increase in active atrial emptying volume (r = 0.47) (all p < 0.001). PWV was correlated to passive atrial emptying volume even if only the > 35-year-old were considered (r = 0.53; p < 0.001). Total peripheral resistance demonstrated similar correlations as PWV, but in a regression analysis only the total aorta PWV was related to left atrial (LA) passive emptying volume. Via impaired ventriculo-arterial coupling, the increased aortic PWV seen with normal ageing hence affects atrio-ventricular coupling, before increased aortic PWV is associated with significantly increased arterial blood pressure or LV hypertrophic remodelling. Our findings reinforce the existence of atrio-ventriculo-arterial coupling and suggest aortic distensibility should be considered an early therapeutic target to avoid diastolic dysfunction of the LV.
Distinct tumor signatures using deep learning-based characterization of the peritumoral microenvironment in glioblastomas and brain metastases
Authors: Samani Zahra Riahi , Parker Drew , Wolf Ronald , Hodges Wes , Brem Steven , Verma Ragini
Published: July 2021

Tumor types are classically distinguished based on biopsies of the tumor itself, as well as a radiological interpretation using diverse MRI modalities. In the current study, the overarching goal is to demonstrate that primary (glioblastomas) and secondary (brain metastases) malignancies can be differentiated based on the microstructure of the peritumoral region. This is achieved by exploiting the extracellular water differences between vasogenic edema and infiltrative tissue and training a convolutional neural network (CNN) on the Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)-derived free water volume fraction. We obtained 85% accuracy in discriminating extracellular water differences between local patches in the peritumoral area of 66 glioblastomas and 40 metastatic patients in a cross-validation setting. On an independent test cohort consisting of 20 glioblastomas and 10 metastases, we got 93% accuracy in discriminating metastases from glioblastomas using majority voting on patches. This level of accuracy surpasses CNNs trained on other conventional DTI-based measures such as fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), that have been used in other studies. Additionally, the CNN captures the peritumoral heterogeneity better than conventional texture features, including Gabor and radiomic features. Our results demonstrate that the extracellular water content of the peritumoral tissue, as captured by the free water volume fraction, is best able to characterize the differences between infiltrative and vasogenic peritumoral regions, paving the way for its use in classifying and benchmarking peritumoral tissue with varying degrees of infiltration.
Physiological and transcriptome analyses for assessing the effects of exogenous uniconazole on drought tolerance in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)
Authors: Jiang Ying , Sun Yufeng , Zheng Dianfeng , Han Chengwei , Cao Kun , Xu Lei , Liu Shuxia , Cao Yanyong , Feng Naijie
Published: July 2021

Uniconazole (S-(+)-uniconazole), a plant growth retardant, exerts key roles in modulating growth and development and increasing abiotic stress tolerance in plants. However, the underlying mechanisms by which uniconazole regulates drought response remain largely unknown. Here, the effects of exogenous uniconazole on drought tolerance in hemp were studied via physiological and transcriptome analyses of the drought-sensitive industrial hemp cultivar Hanma No. 2 grown under drought stress. Exogenous uniconazole treatment increased hemp tolerance to drought-induced damage by enhancing chlorophyll content and photosynthesis capacity, regulating activities of enzymes involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and altering endogenous hormone levels. Expression of genes associated with porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, photosynthesis-antenna proteins, photosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction were significantly regulated by uniconazole compared with that by control (distilled water) under drought stress. Numerous genes were differentially expressed to increase chlorophyll content, enhance photosynthesis, regulate carbon–nitrogen metabolism-related enzyme activities, and alter endogenous hormone levels. Thus, uniconazole regulated physiological and molecular characteristics of photosynthesis, carbon–nitrogen metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction to enhance drought resistance in industrial hemp.
Physico-chemical properties of an innovative gluten-free, low-carbohydrate and high protein-bread enriched with pea protein powder
Authors: Wójcik Monika , Różyło Renata , Schönlechner Regine , Berger Mary Violet
Published: July 2021

The study aimed to determine the effect of pea protein powder on the pasting behavior and physico-chemical properties including the composition of amino and fatty acids of gluten-free bread with low-carbohydrate content. The control bread recipe was based on buckwheat flour (50 g) and flaxseed flour (50 g) as main flours. Additionally, the improving additives for this control bread such as psyllium husk (4 g), potato fiber (2 g), and guar gum (2 g) were used. The mixture of base flour was supplemented with the addition of pea protein powder (PPP) in the amount ranging from 5 to 25%. The results of Visco analyzes measured by RVA apparatus showed that the addition of 10% PPP to the control bread did not significantly differentiate peak viscosity and pasting temperature which was at the level 3115 cP and 3149 cP and 50 °C, respectively. Supplementation of low-carbohydrate bread with 10% of PPP was acceptable and significantly increased the content of all analyzed amino acids, as well as the amount of α-linolenic acid concerning the control bread. The lowest value of chemical score was observed for leucine. The EAAI (essential amino acid index) value increased from 34 to 40 when the optimal protein supplement was added. The developed gluten-free, low-carbohydrate, and high protein bread was characterized by contents of carbohydrate of 16.9%, protein of 17.1%, fiber of 13.7%, fat of 3.3% and its calorific value was 194 kcal/100 g.
Tobacco BY2 cells expressing recombinant cardosin B as an alternative for production of active milk clotting enzymes
Authors: Folgado André , Abranches Rita
Published: July 2021

Cynara cardunculusL. or cardoon is a plant that is used as a source of milk clotting enzymes during traditional cheese manufacturing. This clotting activity is due to aspartic proteases (APs) found in the cardoon flower, named cyprosins and cardosins. APs from cardoon flowers display a great degree of heterogeneity, resulting in variable milk clotting activities and directly influencing the final product. Producing these APs using alternative platforms such as bacteria or yeast has proven challenging, which is hampering their implementation on an industrial scale. We have developed tobacco BY2 cell lines as an alternative plant-based platform for the production of cardosin B. These cultures successfully produced active cardosin B and a purification pipeline was developed to obtain isolated cardosin B. The enzyme displayed proteolytic activity towards milk caseins and milk clotting activity under standard cheese manufacturing conditions. We also identified an unprocessed form of cardosin B and further investigated its activation process. The use of protease-specific inhibitors suggested a possible role for a cysteine protease in cardosin B processing. Mass spectrometry analysis identified three cysteine proteases containing a granulin-domain as candidates for cardosin B processing. These findings suggest an interaction between these two groups of proteases and contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms behind the regulation and processing of plant APs. This work also paves the way for the use of tobacco BY2 cells as an alternative production system for active cardosins and represents an important advancement towards the industrial production of cardoon APs.
A stochastic oscillator model simulates the entrainment of vertebrate cellular clocks by light
Authors: Kumpošt Vojtěch , Vallone Daniela , Gondi Srinivas Babu , Foulkes Nicholas S. , Mikut Ralf , Hilbert Lennart
Published: July 2021

The circadian clock is a cellular mechanism that synchronizes various biological processes with respect to the time of the day. While much progress has been made characterizing the molecular mechanisms underlying this clock, it is less clear how external light cues influence the dynamics of the core clock mechanism and thereby entrain it with the light–dark cycle. Zebrafish-derived cell cultures possess clocks that are directly light-entrainable, thus providing an attractive laboratory model for circadian entrainment. Here, we have developed a stochastic oscillator model of the zebrafish circadian clock, which accounts for the core clock negative feedback loop, light input, and the proliferation of single-cell oscillator noise into population-level luminescence recordings. The model accurately predicts the entrainment dynamics observed in bioluminescent clock reporter assays upon exposure to a wide range of lighting conditions. Furthermore, we have applied the model to obtain refitted parameter sets for cell cultures exposed to a variety of pharmacological treatments and predict changes in single-cell oscillator parameters. Our work paves the way for model-based, large-scale screens for genetic or pharmacologically-induced modifications to the entrainment of circadian clock function.
Phytoremediation of electroplating wastewater by vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanoides L.)
Authors: Nugroho Andhika Puspito , Butar Erni Saurmalinda Butar , Priantoro Ekaputra Agung , Sriwuryandari Lies , Pratiwi Zulfa Berliana , Sembiring Tarzan
Published: July 2021

The electroplating industry generates wastewater containing a variety of heavy metals which potentially contaminate water ecosystems. The available and well-known electroplating wastewater treatments are considered as an expensive and less effective method, therefore phytoremediation was used as an alternative friendly solution. This study aims to evaluate the uptake and elimination rate of heavy metals by vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanoides L.) on metal-polluted water. Vetiver was planted in artificial electroplating wastewater containing different levels (low, medium, high) of chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). Water, roots, and shoots were collected periodically to determine Cr and Ni contents using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Metal accumulation and elimination rate, Bioconcentration Factor (BCF), Biological Absorption Coefficient (BAC), and Translocation Factor (TF) were calculated to evaluate plant’s effectiveness in metal remediation processes. The results showed that vetiver (C. zizanoides L.) was able to remove 61.10% Cr and 95.65% Ni on metal-contaminated water. The highest uptake rates for Cr and Ni are 127.21 mg/kg/day and 15.60 mg/kg/day respectively, while the elimination rates for Cr and Ni tend to slow 1.09 mg/kg/day and 12.24 mg/kg/day respectively. Vetiver BCF, BAC, and TF values on Cr and Ni contaminated water were greater than 1, which indicates that vetiver work through phytoextraction and phytostabilization to treat metals. The findings showed that vetiver has promise as a phytoremediation agent thus providing implication for electroplating wastewater treatment.
Unveiling the nature of interaction between semantics and phonology in lexical access based on multilayer networks
Authors: Levy Orr , Kenett Yoed N. , Oxenberg Orr , Castro Nichol , De Deyne Simon , Vitevitch Michael S. , Havlin Shlomo
Published: July 2021

An essential aspect of human communication is the ability to access and retrieve information from ones’ ‘mental lexicon’. This lexical access activates phonological and semantic components of concepts, yet the question whether and how these two components relate to each other remains widely debated. We harness tools from network science to construct a large-scale linguistic multilayer network comprising of phonological and semantic layers. We find that the links in the two layers are highly similar to each other and that adding information from one layer to the other increases efficiency by decreasing the network overall distances, but specifically affecting shorter distances. Finally, we show how a multilayer architecture demonstrates the highest efficiency, and how this efficiency relates to weak semantic relations between cue words in the network. Thus, investigating the interaction between the layers and the unique benefit of a linguistic multilayer architecture allows us to quantify theoretical cognitive models of lexical access.
Control of stripe rust of wheat using indigenous endophytic bacteria at seedling and adult plant stage
Authors: Kiani Tehmina , Mehboob Farrakh , Hyder Muhammad Zeeshan , Zainy Zainy , Xu Liangsheng , Huang Lili , Farrakh Sumaira
Published: July 2021

Stripe rust (caused by Puccinia striiformis tritici) is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat. The most effective ways to control stripe rust are the use of resistant cultivars and the timely use of an appropriate dose of fungicide. However, the changing nature of rust pathogen outwits the use of resistant cultivars, and the use of a fungicide is associated with environmental problems. To control the disease without sacrificing the environment, we screened 16 endophytic bacteria, which were isolated from stripe rust-resistant wheat cultivars in our previous study, for their biocontrol potential. A total of 5 bacterial strains Serratia marcescens 3A, Bacillus megaterium 6A, Paneibacillus xylanexedens 7A, Bacillus subtilis 11A, and Staphyloccus agentis 15A showed significant inhibition of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) urediniospores germination. Two formulations i.e., fermented liquid with bacterial cell (FLBC) and fermented liquid without bacterial cells (FL) of each bacterial strain, were evaluated against the urediniospores germination. Formulations of five selected endophytic bacteria strains significantly inhibited the uredinioospores germination in the lab experiments. It was further confirmed on seedlings of Pakistani susceptible wheat cultivar Inqilab-91 in the greenhouse, as well as in semi-field conditions. FLBC and FL formulations applied 24 h before Pst inoculation (hbi) displayed a protective mode. The efficacy of FLBC was between 34.45 and 87.77%, while the efficacy of FL was between 39.27 and 85.16% when applied 24 hbi. The inoculated wheat cultivar Inqilab-91 was also tested under semi-field conditions during the 2017–2018 cropping season at the adult plant stage. The strains Bacillus megaterium 6A and Paneibacillus xylanexedens 7A alone significantly reduced the disease severity of stripe rust with the efficacy of 65.16% and 61.11% for the FLBC in protective effect, while 46.07% and 44.47% in curative effect, respectively. Inoculated seedlings of Inqilab-91 showed higher activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). The treated seedlings also showed higher expressions of pathogenesis-related (PR) protein genes, antifungal protein (PR-1), β-1,3-endoglucanases (PR-2), endochitinases (PR-4), peroxidase (PR-9), and ribonuclease-like proteins (PR-10). These results indicated that endophytic bacteria have the biocontrol potential, which can be used to manage stripe rust disease. High production antioxidant enzymes, as well as high expression of PR protein genes, might be crucial in triggering the host defense mechanism against Pst.
Using dense seismo-acoustic network to provide timely warning of the 2019 paroxysmal Stromboli eruptions
Authors: Le Pichon A. , Pilger C. , Ceranna L. , Marchetti E. , Lacanna G. , Souty V. , Vergoz J. , Listowski C. , Hernandez B. , Mazet-Roux G. , Dupont A. , Hereil P.
Published: July 2021

Stromboli Volcano is well known for its persistent explosive activity. On July 3rd and August 28th 2019, two paroxysmal explosions occurred, generating an eruptive column that quickly rose up to 5 km above sea level. Both events were detected by advanced local monitoring networks operated by Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) and Laboratorio di Geofisica Sperimentale of the University of Firenze (LGS-UNIFI). Signals were also recorded by the Italian national seismic network at a range of hundreds of kilometres and by infrasonic arrays up to distances of 3700 km. Using state-of-the-art propagation modeling, we identify the various seismic and infrasound phases that are used for precise timing of the eruptions. We highlight the advantage of dense regional seismo-acoustic networks to enhance volcanic signal detection in poorly monitored regions, to provide timely warning of eruptions and reliable source amplitude estimate to Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC).
The first mitochondrial genome of the genus Exhippolysmata (Decapoda: Caridea: Lysmatidae), with gene rearrangements and phylogenetic associations in Caridea
Authors: Ye Ying-ying , Miao Jing , Guo Ya-hong , Gong Li , Jiang Li-hua , Lü Zhen‑ming , Xu Kai-da , Guo Bao-ying
Published: July 2021

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of animals can provide useful information for evolutionary and phylogenetic analyses. The mitogenome of the genus Exhippolysmata (i.e., Exhippolysmata ensirostris) was sequenced and annotated for the first time, its phylogenetic relationship with selected members from the infraorder Caridea was investigated. The 16,350 bp mitogenome contains the entire set of 37 common genes. The mitogenome composition was highly A + T biased at 64.43% with positive AT skew (0.009) and negative GC skew (− 0.199). All tRNA genes in the E. ensirostris mitogenome had a typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for trnS1 (AGN), which appeared to lack the dihydrouridine arm. The gene order in the E. ensirostris mitogenome was rearranged compared with those of ancestral decapod taxa, the gene order of trnL2-cox2 changed to cox2-trnL2. The tandem duplication-random loss model is the most likely mechanism for the observed gene rearrangement of E. ensirostris. The ML and BI phylogenetic analyses place all Caridea species into one group with strong bootstrap support. The family Lysmatidae is most closely related to Alpheidae and Palaemonidae. These results will help to better understand the gene rearrangements and evolutionary position of E. ensirostris and lay a foundation for further phylogenetic studies of Caridea.
Longitudinal monitoring of laboratory markers characterizes hospitalized and ambulatory COVID-19 patients
Authors: Velavan Thirumalaisamy P. , Kuk Salih , Linh Le Thi Kieu , Lamsfus Calle Carlos , Lalremruata Albert , Pallerla Srinivas Reddy , Kreidenweiss Andrea , Held Jana , Esen Meral , Gabor Julian , Neurohr Eva Maria , Shamsrizi Parichehr , Fathi Anahita , Biecker Erwin , Berg Christoph P. , Ramharter Michael , Addo Marylyn Martina , Kreuels Benno , Kremsner Peter G.
Published: July 2021

Early detection of severe forms of COVID-19 is absolutely essential for timely triage of patients. We longitudinally followed-up two well-characterized patient groups, hospitalized moderate to severe (n = 26), and ambulatory mild COVID-19 patients (n = 16) at home quarantine. Human D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, cardiac troponin I, interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured on day 1, day 7, day 14 and day 28. All hospitalized patients were SARS-CoV-2 positive on admission, while all ambulatory patients were SARS-CoV-2 positive at recruitment. Hospitalized patients had higher D-dimer, CRP and ferritin, cardiac troponin I and IL-6 levels than ambulatory patients (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.016, p = 0.035, p = 0.002 respectively). Hospitalized patients experienced significant decreases in CRP, ferritin and IL-6 levels from admission to recovery (p < 0.001, p = 0.025, and p = 0.001 respectively). Cardiac troponin I levels were high during the acute phase in both hospitalized and ambulatory patients, indicating a potential myocardial injury. In summary, D-dimer, CRP, ferritin, cardiac troponin I, IL-6 are predictive laboratory markers and can largely determine the clinical course of COVID-19, in particular the prognosis of critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Predicting mortality risk for preterm infants using deep learning models with time-series vital sign data
Authors: Feng Jiarui , Lee Jennifer , Vesoulis Zachary A. , Li Fuhai
Published: July 2021

Mortality remains an exceptional burden of extremely preterm birth. Current clinical mortality prediction scores are calculated using a few static variable measurements, such as gestational age, birth weight, temperature, and blood pressure at admission. While these models do provide some insight, numerical and time-series vital sign data are also available for preterm babies admitted to the NICU and may provide greater insight into outcomes. Computational models that predict the mortality risk of preterm birth in the NICU by integrating vital sign data and static clinical variables in real time may be clinically helpful and potentially superior to static prediction models. However, there is a lack of established computational models for this specific task. In this study, we developed a novel deep learning model, DeepPBSMonitor (Deep Preterm Birth Survival Risk Monitor), to predict the mortality risk of preterm infants during initial NICU hospitalization. The proposed deep learning model can effectively integrate time-series vital sign data and fixed variables while resolving the influence of noise and imbalanced data. The proposed model was evaluated and compared with other approaches using data from 285 infants. Results showed that the DeepPBSMonitor model outperforms other approaches, with an accuracy, recall, and AUC score of 0.888, 0.780, and 0.897, respectively. In conclusion, the proposed model has demonstrated efficacy in predicting the real-time mortality risk of preterm infants in initial NICU hospitalization.
Single-molecule imaging and microfluidic platform reveal molecular mechanisms of leukemic cell rolling
Authors: Al Alwan Bader , AbuZineh Karmen , Nozue Shuho , Rakhmatulina Aigerim , Aldehaiman Mansour , Al-Amoodi Asma S. , Serag Maged F. , Aleisa Fajr A. , Merzaban Jasmeen S. , Habuchi Satoshi
Published: July 2021

Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) and leukemic cell homing is an important biological phenomenon that occurs through key interactions between adhesion molecules. Tethering and rolling of the cells on endothelium, the crucial initial step of the adhesion cascade, is mediated by interactions between selectins expressed on endothelium to their ligands expressed on HSPCs/leukemic cells in flow. Although multiple factors that affect the rolling behavior of the cells have been identified, molecular mechanisms that enable the essential slow and stable cell rolling remain elusive. Here, using a microfluidics-based single-molecule live cell fluorescence imaging, we reveal that unique spatiotemporal dynamics of selectin ligands on the membrane tethers and slings, which are distinct from that on the cell body, play an essential role in the rolling of the cell. Our results suggest that the spatial confinement of the selectin ligands to the tethers and slings together with the rapid scanning of a large area by the selectin ligands, increases the efficiency of selectin-ligand interactions during cell rolling, resulting in slow and stable rolling of the cell on the selectins. Our findings provide novel insights and contribute significantly to the molecular-level understanding of the initial and essential step of the homing process.
Light-induced enhancement of superconductivity in iron-based superconductor FeSe0.5Te0.5
Authors: Isoyama Kazuki , Yoshikawa Naotaka , Katsumi Kota , Wong Jeremy , Shikama Naoki , Sakishita Yuki , Nabeshima Fuyuki , Maeda Atsutaka , Shimano Ryo
Published: July 2021

Illumination of light on matter normally causes heating and destroys the ordered ground states. Despite this common understanding, recent advances in ultrafast light sources have enabled the non-thermal control of quantum phases. Here, we report the light-induced enhancement of superconductivity in a thin film of an iron chalcogenide FeSe0.5Te0.5, which exhibits multiple quantum condensates associated with the multi-orbital character. Upon the photoexcitation, we observed a transient increase of the superfluid density as indicated by the optical conductivity in the frequency range of superconducting gaps. The light-induced enhancement of superconductivity is further corroborated by the photoinduced enhancement of terahertz third harmonic generation, which is accounted for by the Higgs mode response. The ultrafast dynamics of two superfluid components revealed by frequency- and time-resolved terahertz measurements indicate the interplay between the condensates through the interband Cooper pairings while suggesting the potential tunability of the pairing interaction by light in the ultrafast timescale.
A systematic assessment of structural heterogeneity and IgG/IgE-binding of ovalbumin
Authors: Yang Wenhua , Tu Zongcai , McClements David Julian , Kaltashov Igor A.
Published: July 2021

Ovalbumin (OVA), one of the major allergens in hen egg, exhibits extensive structural heterogeneity due to a range of post-translational modifications (PTMs).
Emergence of a thorium–organic framework as a radiation attenuator for selective X-ray dosimetry
Authors: Zheng Zhaofa , Lu Huangjie , Guo Xiaofeng , Zhou Zhengyang , Wang Yumin , Li Zi-Jian , Xiao Guo-Ping , Qian Yuan , Lin Jian , Wang Jian-Qiang
Published: July 2021

A brand-new functionality of thorium has been achieved by employing a thorium–organic framework as an X-ray attenuator and a host of photo-responsive ligands, which allows selective chemosensing and sensitive dosimetry of X-ray radiation.
A [3+2] cycloaddition-1,2-acyl migration-hydrolysis cascade for regioselective synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles in water
Authors: Chakraborti Gargi , Mandal Tirtha , Roy Charles Patriot , Dash Jyotirmayee
Published: July 2021

A [3+2] cycloaddition, 1,2-acyl migration and hydrolysis cascade is delineated for the synthesis of 2H-1,2,3-triazoles via the regioselective formation of N2-carboxyalkylated triazoles using a prolinamide ligand in water.
Hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet as an effective nanoquencher for the fluorescence detection of microRNA
Authors: Li Xinyi , Chen Song , Liu Qian , Luo Yonglan , Sun Xuping
Published: July 2021

Hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet acts as an effective nanoquencher for fluorescence detection of biocompatible microRNA, capable of achieving a detection limit as low as 2.39 nM with rapid response and high specificity.
Electrochemiluminescence platform for transcription factor diagnosis by using CRISPR–Cas12a trans-cleavage activity
Authors: Fan Zhenqiang , Ding Yuedi , Yao Bo , Wang Jiaying , Zhang Kai
Published: July 2021

Inhibition of CRISPR–Cas12a activity by target binding to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) enables detection of NF-κB.
Ultra-broad absorption band of a Dy3+-doped Gd3Sc2Al3O12 garnet crystal at around 450 nm: a potential crystal for InGaN LD-pumped all-solid-state yellow lasers
Authors: Ding Shoujun , Li Hongyuan , Ren Hao , Tong Ye , Liu Wenpeng , Zhang Qingli
Published: July 2021

The 2 at% Dy3+ doped Gd3Sc2Al3O12 single crystal is potential for InGaN LD-pumped all-solid-state yellow lasers application with an ultra-broad absorption band (FWHM = 31 nm) at 447 nm.
Core–shell Cu1.94S–MnS nanoheterostructures synthesized by cation exchange for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Li Chongyao , Wang Weijia , Yang Ying , Liu Sheng , Zhu Congtan , Tian Qinghua
Published: July 2021

The nanoheterostructures synthesized by cation exchange present the integration of synergetic designs into high-quality, well-defined catalysts for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
Structure and thermodynamics of empty clathrate hydrates below the freezing point of water
Authors: Cruz Fernando J. A. L. , Mota José P. B.
Published: July 2021

Ultra-cold empty clathrate hydrates are benchmarked against hexagonal ice and ice XVI and a universal equation of state for highly compressed solids is used for the empty lattices. Unit cell lengths, isobaric expansivities and tetrahedral order parameters are calculated.
A high throughput dynamic method for characterizing thermodynamic properties of catalyzed magnesium hydrides by thermogravimetric analysis
Authors: Zhou Chengshang , Gao Yunhe , Bowman Robert C. , Zhang Jingxi , Liu Huang , Sun Pei , Fang Zhigang Zak
Published: July 2021

An effective dynamic method using TGA to determine the reaction enthalpies of catalyzed MgH2.
Metal carbonyl clusters of groups 8–10: synthesis and catalysis
Authors: Cesari Cristiana , Shon Jong-Hwa , Zacchini Stefano , Berben Louise A.
Published: July 2021

In this review article, we discuss advances in the chemistry of metal carbonyl clusters (MCCs) spanning the last three decades, with an emphasis on the more recent reports and those involving groups 8–10 elements.
Chemical design principles of next-generation antiviral surface coatings
Authors: Wang Nan , Ferhan Abdul Rahim , Yoon Bo Kyeong , Jackman Joshua A. , Cho Nam-Joon , Majima Tetsuro
Published: July 2021

Understanding the chemical design principles of antiviral surface coatings can enhance material innovation efforts to stop pandemic-causing viruses.