bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal dynamics of 53BP1 dimer recruitment to a DNA double strand break
Authors: Lou Jieqiong , Priest David G. , Solano Ashleigh , Kerjouan Adèle , Hinde Elizabeth
Published: November 2020

Tumor suppressor p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) is a DNA repair protein essential for the detection, assessment, and resolution of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). The presence of a DSB is signaled to 53BP1 via a local histone modification cascade that triggers the binding of 53BP1 dimers to chromatin flanking this type of lesion. While biochemical studies have established that 53BP1 exists as a dimer, it has never been shown in a living cell when or where 53BP1 dimerizes upon recruitment to a DSB site, or upon arrival at this nuclear location, how the DSB histone code to which 53BP1 dimers bind regulates retention and self-association into higher-order oligomers. Thus, here in live-cell nuclear architecture we quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of 53BP1 oligomerization during a DSB DNA damage response by coupling fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy (FFS) with the DSB inducible via AsiSI cell system (DIvA). From adopting this multiplexed approach, we find that preformed 53BP1 dimers relocate from the nucleoplasm to DSB sites, where consecutive recognition of ubiquitinated lysine 15 of histone 2A (H2AK15ub) and di-methylated lysine 20 of histone 4 (H4K20me2), leads to the assembly of 53BP1 oligomers and a mature 53BP1 foci structure.
Optocapillarity-driven assembly and reconfiguration of liquid crystal polymer actuators
Authors: Hu Zhiming , Fang Wei , Li Qunyang , Feng Xi-Qiao , Lv Jiu-an
Published: November 2020

Realizing programmable assembly and reconfiguration of small objects holds promise for technologically-significant applications in such fields as micromechanical systems, biomedical devices, and metamaterials. Although capillary forces have been successfully explored to assemble objects with specific shapes into ordered structures on the liquid surface, reconfiguring these assembled structures on demand remains a challenge. Here we report a strategy, bioinspired by Anurida maritima, to actively reconfigure assembled structures with well-defined selectivity, directionality, robustness, and restorability. This approach, taking advantage of optocapillarity induced by photodeformation of floating liquid crystal polymer actuators, not only achieves programmable and reconfigurable two-dimensional assembly, but also uniquely enables the formation of three-dimensional structures with tunable architectures and topologies across multiple fluid interfaces. This work demonstrates a versatile approach to tailor capillary interaction by optics, as well as a straightforward bottom-up fabrication platform for a wide range of applications.
Multipolar lasing modes from topological corner states
Authors: Kim Ha-Reem , Hwang Min-Soo , Smirnova Daria , Jeong Kwang-Yong , Kivshar Yuri , Park Hong-Gyu
Published: November 2020

Topological photonics provides a fundamental framework for robust manipulation of light, including directional transport and localization with built-in immunity to disorder. Combined with an optical gain, active topological cavities hold special promise for a design of light-emitting devices. Most studies to date have focused on lasing at topological edges of finite systems or domain walls. Recently discovered higher-order topological phases enable strong high-quality confinement of light at the corners. Here, we demonstrate lasing action of corner states in nanophotonic topological structures. We identify several multipole corner modes with distinct emission profiles via hyperspectral imaging and discern signatures of non-Hermitian radiative coupling of leaky topological states. In addition, depending on the pump position in a large-size cavity, we generate selectively lasing from either edge or corner states within the topological bandgap. Our studies provide the direct observation of multipolar lasing and engineered collective resonances in active topological nanostructures.
Architecture of the flexible tail tube of bacteriophage SPP1
Authors: Zinke Maximilian , Sachowsky Katrin A. A. , Öster Carl , Zinn-Justin Sophie , Ravelli Raimond , Schröder Gunnar F. , Habeck Michael , Lange Adam
Published: November 2020

Bacteriophage SPP1 is a double-stranded DNA virus of the Siphoviridae family that infects the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. This family of phages features a long, flexible, non-contractile tail that has been difficult to characterize structurally. Here, we present the atomic structure of the tail tube of phage SPP1. Our hybrid structure is based on the integration of structural restraints from solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and a density map from cryo-EM. We show that the tail tube protein gp17.1 organizes into hexameric rings that are stacked by flexible linker domains and, thus, form a hollow flexible tube with a negatively charged lumen suitable for the transport of DNA. Additionally, we assess the dynamics of the system by combining relaxation measurements with variances in density maps.
All atom insights into the impact of crowded environments on protein stability by NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Köhn Birgit , Kovermann Michael
Published: November 2020

The high density of macromolecules affecting proteins due to volume exclusion has been discussed in theory but numerous in vivo experiments cannot be sufficiently understood taking only pure entropic stabilization into account. Here, we show that the thermodynamic stability of a beta barrel protein increases equally at all atomic levels comparing crowded environments with dilute conditions by applying multidimensional high-resolution NMR spectroscopy in a systematic manner. Different crowding agents evoke a pure stabilization cooperatively and do not disturb the surface or integrity of the protein fold. The here developed methodology provides a solid base that can be easily expanded to incorporate e.g. binding partners to recognize functional consequences of crowded conditions. Our results are relevant to research projects targeting soluble proteins in vivo as it can be anticipated that their thermodynamic stability increase comparably and has consequently to be taken into account to coherently understand intracellular processes.
Acquired dysregulation of dopamine homeostasis reproduces features of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Bucher Meghan L. , Barrett Caitlyn W. , Moon Connor J. , Mortimer Amanda D. , Burton Edward A. , Greenamyre J. Timothy , Hastings Teresa G.
Published: November 2020

The catecholamine neurotransmitter dopamine has the potential to act as an endogenous neurotoxin when its vesicular sequestration is dysregulated. Despite postmortem analyses from patients with Parkinson’s disease that demonstrate decreased vesicular sequestration of dopamine with a corresponding increase in dopamine metabolism, dopamine’s contribution to nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration in Parkinson’s disease has been debated. Here, we present a new in vivo model demonstrating the induction of Parkinson’s disease-associated pathogenic mechanisms of degeneration resulting from acquired dysregulation of dopamine sequestration in nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in adult rats. Utilizing adeno-associated virus (serotype 2), viral-mediated small-hairpin RNA interference of endogenous vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) expression resulted in a loss of VMAT2 protein expression in transduced dopaminergic cell bodies in the substantia nigra with a corresponding loss of VMAT2 protein within the striatal terminals. The loss of VMAT2 resulted in an accumulation of cytosolic dopamine and subsequent increased dopamine metabolism, deficits in dopamine-mediated behaviors, and degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons that was rescued through reintroduction of exogenous VMAT2, demonstrating that the toxicity was specific to the loss of VMAT2. Analysis of parkinsonian pathogenic mechanisms of degeneration identified oxidative damage, activation of Parkinson’s disease-associated kinase LRRK2, and the formation of aberrant α-synuclein. This model demonstrates that a progressive acquired loss of VMAT2 expression in adulthood is sufficient to induce Parkinson’s disease-associated pathogenic mechanisms of degeneration and provides a new model to further investigate the consequences of cytosolic dopamine.
Reduced astrocytic reactivity in human brains and midbrain organoids with PRKN mutations
Authors: Kano Masayoshi , Takanashi Masashi , Oyama Genko , Yoritaka Asako , Hatano Taku , Shiba-Fukushima Kahori , Nagai Makiko , Nishiyama Kazutoshi , Hasegawa Kazuko , Inoshita Tsuyoshi , Ishikawa Kei-ichi , Akamatsu Wado , Imai Yuzuru , Bolognin Silvia , Schwamborn Jens Christian , Hattori Nobutaka
Published: November 2020

Parkin (encoded by PRKN) is a ubiquitin ligase that plays an important role in cellular mitochondrial quality control. Mutations in PRKN cause selective dopaminergic cell loss in the substantia nigra and are presumed to induce a decrease in mitochondrial function caused by the defective clearance of mitochondria. Several studies have demonstrated that parkin dysfunction causes mitochondrial injury and astrocytic dysfunction. Using immunohistochemical methods, we analyzed astrocytic changes in human brains from individuals with PRKN mutations. Few glial fibrillary acidic protein- and vimentin-positive astrocytes were observed in the substantia nigra in PRKN-mutated subjects compared with subjects with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. We also differentiated patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells into midbrain organoids and confirmed decreased numbers of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes in PRKN-mutated organoids compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Our study reveals PRKN-mutation-induced astrocytic alteration and suggests the possibility of an astrocyte-related non-autonomous cell death mechanism for dopaminergic neurons in brains of PRKN-mutated patients.
Longitudinal stability of retinal blood flow regulation in response to flicker stimulation and systemic hyperoxia in mice assessed with laser speckle flowgraphy
Authors: Hanaguri Junya , Yokota Harumasa , Watanabe Masahisa , Kuo Lih , Yamagami Satoru , Nagaoka Taiji
Published: November 2020

This study aimed to evaluate longitudinal changes in retinal blood flow in response to flicker stimulation and systemic hyperoxia in mice using a laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG-Micro). The retinal blood flow in vascular area surrounding the optic nerve head was measured in 8-week-old male mice every 2 weeks until age 20-week. The coefficient of variation of retinal blood flow under resting condition was analyzed every 2 weeks to validate the consistency of the measurement. On day 1 of the experiment, retinal blood flow was assessed every 20 s for 6 min during and after 3 min flicker light (12 Hz) stimulation; on day 2, retinal blood flow was measured every minute for 20 min during and after 10 min systemic hyperoxia; and on day 3, electroretinography (ERG) was performed. Body weight, systemic blood pressure, and ocular perfusion pressure increased significantly with age, but the resting retinal blood flow and ERG parameters remained unchanged. Retinal blood flow significantly increased with flicker stimulation and decreased with systemic hyperoxia, independent of age. The LSFG-Micro provides consistent and reproducible retinal blood flow measurement in adult mice. Longitudinal assessments of retinal blood flow in response to flicker stimulation and systemic hyperoxia may be useful indexes for noninvasive monitoring of vascular function in retinas.
Bio-process performance, evaluation of enzyme and non-enzyme mediated composting of vegetable market complex waste
Authors: Murugesan V. , Amarnath D. Joshua
Published: November 2020

Vegetable Market have become major sources of organic waste. Some of such waste when being diverted to landfills not only increase the landfill loading but also contribute to increase greenhouse gas emission. Of the many technologies available in handling such hugely generated waste, composting has proven very effective for decades. Enzyme and non-enzyme mediated aerobic composting of vegetable market complex waste (VMCW) have been investigated. Conventional composting technique though being capable of handling large quantum of waste are found to consume more time. Proven to be disadvantages factor. In the present investigation, the pre-cultured seed inoculums used for vegetable market complex waste, shortened the typical composting period from 45 to 9 days for the first time. Also, rapid size and volume reduction of VMCW was witnessed. The organic degradation of VMCW was observed as 42% (82 ± 2.83% to 40.82 ± 0.61%), with a volume reduction from 0.012m3 to 0.003 m3 within 9 days. An enriched nutrients NPK level of compost bio-fertilizer was recorded as 0.91% w/w, 0.5% w/w and 1.029% w/w respectively. Compost maturity observed through the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the manure confirmed the conversion of the crystal structure of the compost particle to amorphous form and the mineralization of organic matter during the composting. Thus, the fermented pre-cultured seed inoculums favored an enhanced nutrients level with shortened composting time.
Effects of set cathode potentials on microbial electrosynthesis system performance and biocathode methanogen function at a metatranscriptional level
Authors: Ragab Ala’a , Shaw Dario Rangel , Katuri Krishna P. , Saikaly Pascal E.
Published: November 2020

Microbial electrosynthesis exploits the catalytic activity of microorganisms to utilize a cathode as an electron donor for reducing waste CO2 to valuable fuels and chemicals. Electromethanogenesis is the process of CO2 reduction to CH4 catalyzed by methanogens using the cathode directly as a source of electrons or indirectly via H2. Understanding the effects of different set cathode potentials on the functional dynamics of electromethanogenic communities is crucial for the rational design of cathode materials. Replicate enriched electromethanogenic communities were subjected to different potentials (− 1.0 V and − 0.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and the potential-induced changes were analyzed using a metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approach. The most abundant and transcriptionally active organism on the biocathodes was a novel species of Methanobacterium sp. strain 34x. The cathode potential-induced changes limited electron donor availability and negatively affected the overall performance of the reactors in terms of CH4 production. Although high expression of key genes within the methane and carbon metabolism pathways was evident, there was no significant difference in transcriptional response to the different set potentials. The acetyl-CoA decarbonylase/synthase (ACDS) complex were the most highly expressed genes, highlighting the significance of carbon assimilation under limited electron donor conditions and its link to the methanogenesis pathway.
Cocaine, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Arenas Daniel J. , Beltran Sourik , Zhou Sara , Goldberg Lee R.
Published: November 2020

Although the cardiotoxic effects of cocaine are universally recognized, the association between cocaine and cardiomyopathy and/or heart failure is poorly understood. To conduct a comprehensive review and meta-analysis on the association between cocaine, heart failure, and cardiomyopathy, we first conducted a broad-term search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus for human studies containing primary data on the relationship between cocaine and heart failure or cardiomyopathy. We were interested in studies with data beyond acute coronary syndromes. Retrieved studies were grouped into different categories based on possible hypotheses to test by meta-analysis. A second search with specific terms was then conducted. For grouped studies with sufficient clinical and methodological homogeneity, effect sizes were calculated and combined for meta-analysis by the Random Effects model. There is in general a need for more primary data studies that investigate heart failure and/or cardiomyopathy in cocaine users for mechanisms independent of ischemia. There were, however, enough studies to combine by meta-analyses that showed that chronic cocaine use is associated with anatomical and functional changes more consistent with diastolic heart failure instead of the commonly taught dilated cardiomyopathy pathway. In patients without a history of ACS, chronic cocaine use was not associated with significantly reduced EF. The few studies on acute cocaine had conflicting results on whether single-dose intravascular cocaine results in acute heart failure. Studies identified that included beta-blockade therapy in cocaine users with cardiac disease suggest that beta-blockers are not unsafe and that may be effective in the treatment of cocaine-associated heart failure. Chronic cocaine use is associated with anatomical and physiological changes of the heart muscle that are potentially reversible with beta-blockade therapy.
Aldosterone-to-renin ratio is related to arterial stiffness when the screening criteria of primary aldosteronism are not met
Authors: Kokko Eeva , Nevalainen Pasi I. , Choudhary Manoj Kumar , Koskela Jenni , Tikkakoski Antti , Huhtala Heini , Niemelä Onni , Viukari Marianna , Mustonen Jukka , Matikainen Niina , Pörsti Ilkka
Published: November 2020

Aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) is a screening tool for primary aldosteronism (PA), but the significance of ARR when the PA criteria are not met remains largely unknown. In this cross-sectional study we investigated the association of ARR with haemodynamic variables in 545 normotensive and never-medicated hypertensive subjects (267 men, 278 women, age range 19–72 years) without suspicion of PA. Supine haemodynamic data was recorded using whole-body impedance cardiography and radial tonometric pulse wave analysis. In sex-adjusted quartiles of ARR, determined as serum aldosterone to plasma renin activity ratio, the mean values were 282, 504, 744 and 1467 pmol/µg of angiotensin I/h, respectively. The only difference in haemodynamic variables between the ARR quartiles was higher pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the highest quartile versus other quartiles (p = 0.004), while no differences in blood pressure (BP), heart rate, wave reflections, cardiac output or systemic vascular resistance were observed between the quartiles. In linear regression analysis with stepwise elimination, ARR was an independent explanatory factor for PWV (β = 0.146, p < 0.001, R2 of the model 0.634). In conclusion, ARR was directly and independently associated with large arterial stiffness in individuals without clinical suspicion of PA. Therefore, ARR could serve as a clinical marker of cardiovascular risk.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrails.gov: NCT01742702.
The importance of common and the irrelevance of rare species for partition the variation of community matrix: implications for sampling and conservation
Authors: Brasil Leandro Schlemmer , Vieira Thiago Bernardi , Andrade André Felipe Alves , Bastos Rafael Costa , Montag Luciano Fogaça de Assis , Juen Leandro
Published: November 2020

In community ecology, it is important to understand the distribution of communities along environmental and spatial gradients. However, it is common for the residuals of models investigating those relationships to be very high (> 50%). It is believed that species’ intrinsic characteristics such as rarity can contribute to large residuals. The objective of this study is to test the relationship among communities and environmental and spatial predictors by evaluating the relative contribution of common and rare species to the explanatory power of models. Our hypothesis is that the residual of partition the variation of community matrix (varpart) models will decrease as rare species get removed. We used several environmental variables and spatial filters as varpart model predictors of fish and Zygoptera (Insecta: Odonata) communities in 109 and 141 Amazonian streams, respectively. We built a repetition structure, in which we gradually removed common and rare species independently. After the repetitions and removal of species, our hypothesis was not corroborated. In all scenarios, removing up to 50% of rare species did not reduce model residuals. Common species are important and rare species are irrelevant for understanding the relationships among communities and environmental and spatial gradients using varpart. Therefore, our findings suggest that studies using varpart with single sampling events that do not detect rare species can efficiently assess general distributional patterns of communities along environmental and spatial gradients. However, when the objectives concern conservation of biodiversity and functional diversity, rare species must be carefully assessed by other complementary methods, since they are not well represented in varpart models.
Prevalence and bother of lower urinary tract symptoms and overactive bladder in Poland, an Eastern European Study
Authors: Przydacz Mikolaj , Golabek Tomasz , Dudek Przemyslaw , Lipinski Marek , Chlosta Piotr
Published: November 2020

The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and overactive bladder (OAB) has been measured by population-based investigations in many parts of the world. However, data are lacking for Eastern Europe, and there has not been any large population-representative study in any country of this region. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated bother of LUTS and OAB in a population-representative sample of persons aged ≥ 40 years in Poland. This investigation was conducted as a computer-assisted telephone interview. The survey sample was stratified by age, sex, and place of residence to reflect the entire Polish population. LUTS and OAB were assessed by a standardized protocol based on the International Continence Society definitions and validated questionnaires. Of 6005 participants, 57% were women, and the mean age (range) was 60.7 (40–93) years. The prevalence of LUTS was 69.8% (men 66.2%; women 72.6%). There was no difference in prevalence between urban and rural areas. LUTS were often bothersome among men and women, but women were more likely to be bothered compared with men. There were also statistically significant correlations between the frequency and the bother intensity of each of the LUTS. The prevalence of OAB was higher in women (39.5%) than in men (26.8%), and OAB increased with age. Lastly, LUTS had detrimental effects on the quality of life because one third of the participants had concerns about their urinary-specific quality of life. This investigation was the first nationwide, population-representative epidemiological study of LUTS and OAB in an Eastern-European country. LUTS were highly prevalent, often bothersome, and had negative effects on the quality of life of men and women aged ≥ 40 years. Our findings are comparable with other epidemiologic studies of LUTS and OAB conducted in different regions of the world.

Trial registration: NCT04121936.
Evolution and transformation of early modern cosmological knowledge: a network study
Authors: Zamani Maryam , Tejedor Alejandro , Vogl Malte , Kräutli Florian , Valleriani Matteo , Kantz Holger
Published: November 2020

We investigated the evolution and transformation of scientific knowledge in the early modern period, analyzing more than 350 different editions of textbooks used for teaching astronomy in European universities from the late fifteenth century to mid-seventeenth century. These historical sources constitute the Sphaera Corpus. By examining different semantic relations among individual parts of each edition on record, we built a multiplex network consisting of six layers, as well as the aggregated network built from the superposition of all the layers. The network analysis reveals the emergence of five different communities. The contribution of each layer in shaping the communities and the properties of each community are studied. The most influential books in the corpus are found by calculating the average age of all the out-going and in-coming links for each book. A small group of editions is identified as a transmitter of knowledge as they bridge past knowledge to the future through a long temporal interval. Our analysis, moreover, identifies the most impactful editions. These books introduce new knowledge that is then adopted by almost all the books published afterwards until the end of the whole period of study. The historical research on the content of the identified books, as an empirical test, finally corroborates the results of all our analyses.
Author Correction: The Impact of Liposomal Irinotecan on the Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Real-World Experience in a Taiwanese Cohort
Authors: Su Yung-Yeh , Chiang Nai-Jung , Tsai Hui-Jen , Yen Chia-Jui , Shan Yan‐Shen , Chen Li‐Tzong
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
ATAC-seq with unique molecular identifiers improves quantification and footprinting
Authors: Zhu Tao , Liao Keyan , Zhou Rongfang , Xia Chunjiao , Xie Weibo
Published: November 2020

ATAC-seq (Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin with high-throughput sequencing) provides an efficient way to analyze nucleosome-free regions and has been applied widely to identify transcription factor footprints. Both applications rely on the accurate quantification of insertion events of the hyperactive transposase Tn5. However, due to the presence of the PCR amplification, it is impossible to accurately distinguish independently generated identical Tn5 insertion events from PCR duplicates using the standard ATAC-seq technique. Removing PCR duplicates based on mapping coordinates introduces increasing bias towards highly accessible chromatin regions. To overcome this limitation, we establish a UMI-ATAC-seq technique by incorporating unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) into standard ATAC-seq procedures. UMI-ATAC-seq can rescue about 20% of reads that are mistaken as PCR duplicates in standard ATAC-seq in our study. We demonstrate that UMI-ATAC-seq could more accurately quantify chromatin accessibility and significantly improve the sensitivity of identifying transcription factor footprints. An analytic pipeline is developed to facilitate the application of UMI-ATAC-seq, and it is available at https://github.com/tzhu-bio/UMI-ATAC-seq.
Data-driven analysis of the number of Lennard–Jones types needed in a force field
Authors: Schauperl Michael , Kantonen Sophie M , Wang Lee-Ping , Gilson Michael K
Published: November 2020

Force fields used in molecular simulations contain numerical parameters, such as Lennard–Jones (LJ) parameters, which are assigned to the atoms in a molecule based on a classification of their chemical environments. The number of classes, or types, should be no more than needed to maximize agreement with experiment, as parsimony avoids overfitting and simplifies parameter optimization. However, types have historically been crafted based largely on chemical intuition, so current force fields may contain more types than needed. In this study, we seek the minimum number of LJ parameter types needed to represent the key properties of organic liquids. We find that highly competitive force field accuracy is obtained with minimalist sets of LJ types; e.g., two H types and one type apiece for C, O, and N atoms. We also find that the fitness surface has multiple minima, which can lead to local trapping of the optimizer.
Optomechanical resonator-enhanced atom interferometry
Authors: Richardson Logan L. , Rajagopalan Ashwin , Albers Henning , Meiners Christian , Nath Dipankar , Schubert Christian , Tell Dorothee , Wodey Étienne , Abend Sven , Gersemann Matthias , Ertmer Wolfgang , Rasel Ernst M. , Schlippert Dennis , Mehmet Moritz , Kumanchik Lee , Colmenero Luis , Spannagel Ruven , Braxmaier Claus , Guzmán Felipe
Published: November 2020

Matter-wave interferometry and spectroscopy of optomechanical resonators offer complementary advantages. Interferometry with cold atoms is employed for accurate and long-term stable measurements, yet it is challenged by its dynamic range and cyclic acquisition. Spectroscopy of optomechanical resonators features continuous signals with large dynamic range, however it is generally subject to drifts. In this work, we combine the advantages of both devices. Measuring the motion of a mirror and matter waves interferometrically with respect to a joint reference allows us to operate an atomic gravimeter in a seismically noisy environment otherwise inhibiting readout of its phase. Our method is applicable to a variety of quantum sensors and shows large potential for improvements of both elements by quantum engineering.
A solid-state route to stabilize cubic Li7La3Zr2O12 at low temperature for all-solid-state-battery applications
Authors: Han Joah , Kim Jae Chul
Published: November 2020

An additive-assisted solid-state reaction by Al and B doping enables cubic Li7La3Zr2O12 with a dense microstructure to be obtained at low temperature showing a reasonable Li conductivity.
A general doping rule: rational design of Ir-doped catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Zhou Chuan , Yuan Haiyang , Hu P. , Wang Haifeng
Published: November 2020

Revealing how to rationally select a suitable dopant or the host counterpart is greatly important for optimizing the catalytic activity of transition metal oxides (TMOs).
From 3D to 4D printing: a reactor for photochemical experiments using hybrid polyurethane acrylates for vat-based polymerization and surface functionalization
Authors: Hansen Anne , Renner Melissa , Griesbeck Axel G. , Büsgen Thomas
Published: November 2020

A solvent-, air-, and UV-stable isocyanate-functionalized polyacrylate reactor with flow-meter geometry was post-functionalized with porphyrin and benzophenone catalysts and applied for photoinitiated energy- and hydrogen-transfer catalysis.
Functionalised polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane with encapsulated fluoride – first observation of fluxional Si⋯F interactions in POSS
Authors: Laird Mathilde , Totée Cédric , Gaveau Philippe , Silly Gilles , Van der Lee Arie , Carcel Carole , Unno Masafumi , Bartlett John R. , Wong Chi Man Michel
Published: November 2020

The first observation of fluxional covalent Si⋯F interactions in functionalised T8-F cage silsesquioxanes containing an encapsulated fluoride is reported.
Low-spin and spin-crossover iron(ii) complexes with pyridyl-benzimidazole ligands: synthesis, and structural, magnetic and solution study
Authors: Brachňaková Barbora , Adamko Kožíšková Júlia , Kožíšek Jozef , Melníková Eva , Gál Miroslav , Herchel Radovan , Dubaj Tibor , Šalitroš Ivan
Published: November 2020

Novel derivatives of tri- and didentate pyridyl-benzimidazole ligands were employed for the synthesis of ferrous complexes showing either low-spin or room temperature spin crossover.
Recent progress and perspectives on the structural design on metal–organic zeolite (MOZ) frameworks
Authors: Huang Wen-Huan , Zhang Xing-Xing , Zhao Yan-Na
Published: November 2020

Metal–organic zeolites (MOZs) as typical solid porous materials inherit structural advantages of inorganic zeolites and have been applied in many areas. Herein, we outline recent progress and perspectives of their synthesis and functionalization.
A digital protein microarray for COVID-19 cytokine storm monitoring
Authors: Song Yujing , Ye Yuxuan , Su Shiuan-Haur , Stephens Andrew , Cai Tao , Chung Meng-Ting , Han Meilan K. , Newstead Michael W. , Yessayan Lenar , Frame David , Humes H. David , Singer Benjamin H. , Kurabayashi Katsuo
Published: November 2020

A digital microfluidic immunoassay platform enables rapid multiplex quantification of proinflammatory cytokines in serum for critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Trapping and control of bubbles in various microfluidic applications
Authors: Gao Yuan , Wu Mengren , Lin Yang , Xu Jie
Published: November 2020

Active and passive techniques for bubble trapping and control in various microfluidic applications.
Highly active PdCu/graphene catalyst for an efficient Suzuki cross-coupling reaction
Authors: M. Xiaojing , Gao Lingfeng , Weng Zhentao , Yang Hua , Sun Xu
Published: November 2020

A graphene supported Pd–Cu bimetallic catalyst (Pd–Cu/G) has been successfully fabricated by a simple one-pot solvothermal reaction.
Metal–organic frameworks: possible new two-dimensional magnetic and topological materials
Authors: Li Jie , Wu Ruqian
Published: November 2020

New functional two-dimensional metal–organic framework materials with room-temperature magnetic ordering, large out-of-plane magnetic anisotropic energy, huge topological band gap, and excellent spin-filtering performance were theoretically predicted.
Visible-light induced copper(i)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of o-aminobenzamides with methanol and ethanol via HAT
Authors: Bhargava Reddy Mandapati , Prasanth Kesavan , Anandhan Ramasamy
Published: November 2020

The activation of the C(sp3)–H of MeOH via HAT for the synthesis of quinazolinones has been achieved using an in situ generated ligand–copper-superoxo complex under visible light.
Luminescence modulation, near white light emission, selective luminescence sensing, and anticounterfeiting via a series of Ln-MOFs with a π-conjugated and uncoordinated lewis basic triazolyl ligand
Authors: Ma Lu-Lu , Yang Guo-Ping , Li Gao-Peng , Zhang Peng-Feng , Jin Jing , Wang Yao , Wang Jiao-Min , Wang Yao-Yu
Published: November 2020

A series of Ln-MOFs with π-conjugated and uncoordinated lewis basic triazolyl ligand have luminescence modulation, near white light emission, selective luminescence sensing, and anticounterfeiting.
Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed reductive N–O bond cleavage ofN-OR (R = H, alkyl, or acyl) substituted amides and sulfonamides
Authors: You Tingjie , Zhang Maosheng , Chen Jianhui , Liu Hongmei , Xia Yuanzhi
Published: November 2020

A convenient method for the reductive cleavage of the N–O bonds of amide derivatives was developed using ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation reaction.
Molecular mechanism of inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 cell entry facilitator TMPRSS2 with camostat and nafamostat
Authors: Hempel Tim , Raich Lluís , Olsson Simon , Azouz Nurit P. , Klingler Andrea M. , Hoffmann Markus , Pöhlmann Stefan , Rothenberg Marc E. , Noé Frank
Published: November 2020

The authors unravel the molecular action principle of nafamostat and camostat, two potential COVID-19 drugs targeting the human protein TMPRSS2.
Born–Oppenheimer approximation in optical cavities: from success to breakdown
Authors: Fábri Csaba , Halász Gábor J. , Cederbaum Lorenz S. , Vibók Ágnes
Published: November 2020

The coupling of a molecule and a cavity induces nonadiabaticity in the molecule which makes the description of its dynamics complicated.
Structure-dependent iron-based metal–organic frameworks for selective CO2-to-CH4photocatalytic reduction
Authors: Dao Xiao-Yao , Guo Jin-Han , Zhang Xiao-Yu , Wang Shi-Qing , Cheng Xiao-Mei , Sun Wei-Yin
Published: November 2020

MIL-100(Fe) exhibits superior activity and selectivity for CH4generation under visible-light irradiation compared with MIL-101(Fe).
1,3,5,9-Tetra(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)phenyl)pyrene (TTPE(1,3,5,9)Py): a prominent blue AIEgen for highly efficient nondoped pure-blue OLEDs
Authors: Xie Fuli , Ran Huijuan , Duan Xuewei , Han Ruijun , Sun Huaming , Hu Jian-Yong
Published: November 2020

By integrating four tetraphenylethylene (TPE) groups into the pyrene ring at 1,3,5,9-positions, a highly twisted pyrene-based blue AIEgen has been developed for highly efficient nondoped pure-blue OLEDs.
Evaluating a Maintenance-Based Treatment Approach to Preventing Lexical Dropout in Progressive Anomia
Authors: Flurie Maurice , Ungrady Molly , Reilly Jamie
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and the amnestic variant of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are neurodegenerative conditions characterized by a profound loss of functional communication abilities. Communicative impairment in AD and PPA is especially apparent in the domain of naming common objects and familiar faces. We evaluated the effectiveness of a language intervention targeting maintenance of an individualized core vocabulary in a longitudinal cohort of older adults experiencing either PPA or AD.

Method

PPA (
n
= 9) and AD (
n
= 1) patients were administered a semantically based language treatment for up to 2 years. Patients repeatedly named and generated semantic features for a personalized lexicon consisting of 100 words. We evaluated naming accuracy and off-line neuropsychological measures at four successive timepoints. Naming accuracy was assessed in patients (
n
= 7) who completed at least three recurrent evaluations. Off-line neuropsychological performance was assessed across timepoints in all patients.

Results

Patients demonstrated relative preservation of naming trained words relative to a steep decline for untrained (control) words. The greatest decrements were observed for naming people relative to objects.

Conclusion

These results suggest that consistent training of a finite set of words can protect a core lexicon composed of crucial target concepts (e.g., a spouse's name). We discuss potential benefits and clinical implications of maintenance-based approaches to promoting language functioning in the context of neurodegeneration.
Pedigree-Based Gene Mapping Supports Previous Loci and Reveals Novel Suggestive Loci in Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Andres Erin M. , Earnest Kathleen Kelsey , Smith Shelley D. , Rice Mabel L. , Raza Muhammad Hashim
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Specific language impairment (SLI) is characterized by a delay in language acquisition despite a lack of other developmental delays or hearing loss. Genetics of SLI is poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to identify SLI genetic loci through family-based linkage mapping.

Method

We performed genome-wide parametric linkage analysis in six families segregating with SLI. An age-appropriate standardized omnibus language measure was used to categorically define the SLI phenotype.

Results

A suggestive linkage region replicated a previous region of interest with the highest logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 2.40 at 14q11.2-q13.3 in Family 489. A paternal parent-of-origin effect associated with SLI and language phenotypes on a nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in
NOP9
(14q12) was reported previously. Linkage analysis identified a new SLI locus at 15q24.3-25.3 with the highest parametric LOD score of 3.06 in Family 315 under a recessive mode of inheritance. Suggestive evidence of linkage was also revealed at 4q31.23-q35.2 in Family 300, with the highest LOD score of 2.41. Genetic linkage was not identified in the other three families included in parametric linkage analysis.

Conclusions

These results are the first to report genome-wide suggestive linkage with a total language standard score on an age-appropriate omnibus language measure across a wide age range. Our findings confirm previous reports of a language-associated locus on chromosome 14q, report new SLI loci, and validate the pedigree-based parametric linkage analysis approach to mapping genes for SLI.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.13203218
UCT‐GAN: underwater image colour transfer generative adversarial network
Authors: Deng Junjie , Luo Gege , Zhao Caidan
Published: November 2020

Underwater image enhancement algorithms improve image quality and indirectly enhance underwater visibility. Although many underwater image enhancement neural networks have been proposed, they require large amounts of data. To reduce the amount of data required while providing better image enhancement, this study proposes an underwater image colour transfer generative adversarial network (UCT‐GAN). The authors first design a non‐linear mapping function to generate colour cast images according to original images. Then, the authors utilise these image pairs (i.e. colour cast images and corresponding original images) to guide the UCT‐GAN in learning the inverse function of the designed non‐linear mapping function. Finally, colour cast images are restored via the inverse function. A data augmentation method based on Poisson fusion and block combination is also proposed to overcome the problem of requiring a large amount of training data. Moreover, the authors extend UCT‐GAN into a multi‐class colour transfer network to achieve an array of underwater image enhancements. Experimental results indicate that the proposed UCT‐GAN can more effectively resolve underwater image colour cast compared to existing algorithms.
Anisotropic transport in tellurene FETs
Authors: Alam Khairul
Published: November 2020

Tellurene, a single layer of tellurium, is a new emerging 2D material and a possible candidate for the post‐silicon era. It has anisotropic carrier effective mass in zigzag and armchair directions. Therefore, the study of the anisotropic performance of tellurene FETs is a timely topic. In this work, the authors study the transport mechanism and performance metrics of tellurene n‐channel and p‐channel transistors using a quantum simulation. Heavy carrier mass in the armchair direction effectively blocks the tunnelling current and the transport is governed by thermionic emission over the potential barrier. On the other hand, lighter carrier mass in the zigzag direction results in a mixed tunnelling and thermionic transport mechanism. The n‐channel transistor has an on‐state current of 894 μA/μm, a sub‐threshold slope of 62 mV/dec, a 9.27 mS/μm transconductance, a 0.129 ps delay, and a 0.046 fJ/μm dynamic power loss. The p‐channel metrics are, respectively, 852 μA/μm, 62 mV/dec, 9.24 mS/μm, 0.117 ps, and 0.040 fJ/μm. Both the transistors comply with the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors 2026 low operating power device requirements.
Dual‐tree complex wavelet transform and super‐resolution based video inpainting application to object removal and error concealment
Authors: Tudavekar Gajanan , Patil Sanjay R. , Saraf Santosh S.
Published: November 2020

Video inpainting is a technique that fills in the missing regions or gaps in a video by using its known pixels. The existing video inpainting algorithms are computationally expensive and introduce seam in the target region that arises due to variation in brightness or contrast of the patches. To overcome these drawbacks, the authors propose a novel two‐stage framework. In the first step, sub‐bands of wavelets of a low‐resolution image are obtained using the dual‐tree complex wavelet transform. Criminisi algorithm and auto‐regression technique are then applied to these sub‐bands to inpaint the missing regions. The fuzzy logic‐based histogram equalisation is used to further enhance the image by preserving the image brightness and improve the local contrast. In the second step, the image is enhanced using super‐resolution technique. The process of down‐sampling, inpainting and subsequently enhancing the video using the super‐resolution technique reduces the video inpainting time. The framework is tested on video sequences by comparing and analysing the structural similarity index matrix, peak‐signal‐to‐noise ratio, visual information fidelity in pixel domain and execution time with the state‐of‐the‐art algorithms. The experimental analysis gives visually pleasing results for object removal and error concealment.
ALMA detection of the dusty object silhouetted against the S0 galaxy NGC 3269 in the Antlia cluster
Authors: Haikala L. K. , Salinas R. , Richtler T. , Gómez M. , Gahm G. F. , Mattila K.
Published: November 2020

Context. An intriguing silhouette of a small dust patch can be seen against the disk of the S0 galaxy NGC 3269 in the Antlia cluster in optical images. The images do not provide any clue as to whether the patch is a local Jupiter mass-scale cloudlet or a large extragalactic dust complex.

Aims. We aim to resolve the nature of this object: is it a small Galactic cloudlet or an extragalactic dust complex?

Methods. ALMA and APEX spectroscopy and Gemini GMOS long-slit spectroscopy were used to measure the velocity of the patch and the NGC 3269 disk radial velocity curve.

Results. A weak 16  ±  2.5 km s−1 wide 12CO(2 − 1) TMB 19  ±  2.5. mK line in a 2.″2 by 2.″12 beam associated with the object was detected with ALMA. The observed heliocentric velocity, Vr, hel = 3878  ±  5.0 km s−1, immediately establishes the extragalactic nature of the object. The patch velocity is consistent with the velocity of the nucleus of NGC 3269, but not with the radial velocity of the NGC 3269 disk of the galaxy at its position. The ∼4″ angular size of the patch corresponds to a linear size of ∼1 kpc at the galaxy’s Hubble distance of 50.7 Mpc. The mass estimated from the 12CO(2 − 1) emission is ∼1.4 × 106(d/50.7 Mpc)2 M⊙, while the attenuation derived from the optical spectrum implies a dust mass of ∼2.6 × 104(d/50.7 Mpc)2 M⊙. The derived attenuation ratio A′B/(A′B − A′R) of 1.6  ±  0.11 is substantially lower than the corresponding value for the mean Milky Way extinction curve for point sources (2.3).

Conclusions. We established the extragalactic nature of the patch, but its origin remains elusive. One possibility is that the dust patch is left over from the removal of interstellar matter in NGC 3269 through the interaction with its neighbour, NGC 3268.
Gravitational Brownian motion as inhomogeneous diffusion: Black hole populations in globular clusters
Authors: Roupas Zacharias
Published: November 2020

Recent theoretical and numerical developments supported by observational evidence strongly suggest that many globular clusters host a black hole (BH) population in their centers. This stands in contrast to the prior long-standing belief that a BH subcluster would evaporate after undergoing core collapse and decoupling from the cluster. In this work, we propose that the inhomogeneous Brownian motion generated by fluctuations of the tellar gravitational field may act as a mechanism adding a stabilizing pressure to a BH population. We argue that the diffusion equation for Brownian motion in an inhomogeneous medium with spatially varying diffusion coefficient and temperature, which was first discovered by Van Kampen, also applies to self-gravitating systems. pplying the stationary phase space probability distribution to a single BH immersed in a Plummer globular cluster, we infer that it may wander as far as ∼0.05,  0.1,  0.5 pc for a mass ofmb ∼ 103,  102,  10 M⊙, respectively. urthermore, we find that the fluctuations of a fixed stellar mean gravitational field are sufficient to stabilize a BH population above the Spitzer instability threshold. Nevertheless, we identify an instability whose onset depends on the Spitzer parameter,S = (Mb/M⋆)(mb/m⋆)3/2, and parameterB=ρb(0)(4πrc3/Mb)(m⋆/mb)3/2, whereρb(0) is the Brownian population central density. For a Plummer sphere, the instability occurs at (B, S) = (140, 0.25). ForB >  140, we get very cuspy BH subcluster profiles that are unstable with regard to the support of fluctuations alone. ForS >  0.25, there is no evidence of any stationary states for the BH population based on the inhomogeneous diffusion equation.
Characterization and evolution of spearfishing in Madeira archipelago, Eastern Atlantic
Authors: Martínez-Escauriaza Roi , Vieira Claudio , Gouveia Lídia , Gouveia Nuno , Hermida Margarida
Published: November 2020

Data obtained from licenses of spearfishers and surveys conducted in 2004 and 2017 allowed for the analysis, for the first time, of the practice of spearfishing in the Madeira archipelago. Only a small percentage of the population practices spearfishing, mostly local young men. Most of them practice the activity with a partner throughout most of the year and along most of the island's coastal areas, although preferentially along the North and Southeast coast. Results show how, in recent years, despite the population of spearfishers decreasing, the abundance in the annual catch potentially increased, probably due to the higher investment of time in this activity. It has been observed that many fishers complement their catches with manual collecting of invertebrates. Overall, 40 teleost fishes and also 4 crustaceans and 8 molluscs were identified. The most frequently captured fish species were parrotfish and white seabream, while limpets were the most collected invertebrates in both selected periods.