bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface energy engineering for LiTaO3 and α-quartz SiO2 for low temperature (<220 °C) wafer bonding
Authors: Baker Brian , Herbots Nicole , Whaley Shawn D. , Sahal Mohammed , Kintz Jacob , Yano Aliya , Narayan Saaketh , Brimhall Alex L. , Lee Wey-Lyn , Akabane Yuko , Culbertson Robert J.
Published: July 2019

Wafer bonding can be substituted for heteroepitaxy when manufacturing specific heterojunction-based devices. Devices manufactured using wafer bonding include multijunction solar cells, integrated sensors, heterogeneously integrated photonic devices on Si (such as high-performance laser diodes), Mach-Zehnder modulators, photodetectors, optical filters, and surface acoustic wave devices. In these devices, creating heterointerfaces between different semiconductors with heavily mismatched lattice constants and/or significant thermal expansion mismatch presents significant challenges for heteroepitaxial growth. High costs and poor yields in heavily mismatched heteroepitaxy can be addressed by wafer bonding in these optoelectronic devices and sensors, including the LiTaO3/Si and LiTaO3/SiO2 heterostructures. In the present work, heterostructure formation between piezoelectric LiTaO3 (100) and Si (100) and α-quartz SiO2 (100) is investigated via wafer bonding. Direct bonding is selected instead of heteroepitaxy due to a significant thermal expansion mismatch between LiTaO3 and Si-based materials. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of LiTaO3 is 18.3 × 10−6/K. This is 1 order of magnitude larger than the CTE for Si, 2.6–2.77 × 10−6/K and 25–30 times larger than the CTE for fused SiO2 and quartz (which ranges 0.54–0.76 × 10−6/K). Thus, even at 200 °C, a 4 in. LiTaO3/Si bonded pair would delaminate with LiTaO3 expanding 300 μm in length while Si would expand only by 40 μm. Therefore, direct wafer bonding of LiTaO3/Si and LiTaO3/SiO2 is investigated with low temperature (T < 500 K) Nano-Bonding™, which uses surface energy engineering (SEE). SEE is guided by fast, high statistics surface energy measurements using three liquid contact angle analysis, the van Oss/van Oss–Chaudhury–Good theory, and a new, fast Drop Reflection Operative Program analysis algorithm. Bonding hydrophobic LiTaO3 to hydrophilic Si or SiO2 is found to be more effective than hydrophilic LiTaO3 to hydrophobic Si or SiO2 temperatures for processing LiTaO3 are limited by thermal decomposition LiTaO3 into Ta2O5 at T ≥ 180 °C due to Li out-diffusion as much as by LiTaO3 fractures due to thermal mismatch.
Cu depletion on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 surfaces investigated by chemical engineering: An x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy approach
Authors: Loubat Anais , Béchu Solène , Bouttemy Muriel , Vigneron Jackie , Lincot Daniel , Guillemoles Jean-François , Etcheberry Arnaud
Published: July 2019

Photovoltaic cells based on CIGS [Cu(In,Ga)Se2] absorber technology are among the most efficient thin film solar cells and already an industrial reality. Room for improvement is still possible in the manufacturing process to approach the theoretical ultimate efficiency. This not only requires an optimal absorber material but also the control of the CIGS interface chemistry, especially at the front side with the buffer layer which represents one of the main challenges. In this paper, thanks to x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, the CIGS surface chemical composition is studied after acid (HCl) and basic (KCN) samples dipping. Both are regularly employed to prepare CIGS surfaces. XPS monitoring of the surface composition evolution under air aging at an ambient atmosphere and over a period of 120 days is presented, bringing fundamental information about the surface oxidation trends. If the HCl treatment gives a remarkable deoxidation state for the CIGS surface, it also yields a slightly Se enriched surface indicating the presence of a Cu2–xSe binary side phase, which is totally removed, as expected, by the KCN process. The present comparative study based on intentional air aging of starting HCl and KCN treated surfaces sheds light on the reorganization mechanism of this I-III-VI quaternary compound toward oxidation of clean CIGS surfaces, in ambient conditions. The oxidation process occurs concomitantly with an Na migration toward the surface, with soda-lime glass at the back contact, acting as a nonlimiting supply, asking the question of a surface mechanistic correlation during the CIGS surface oxidation.
A Robust Phylogenomic Time Tree for Biotechnologically and Medically Important Fungi in the Genera
Aspergillus
and
Penicillium
Authors: Steenwyk Jacob L. , Shen Xing-Xing , Lind Abigail L. , Goldman Gustavo H. , Rokas Antonis
Published: July 2019

Understanding the evolution of traits across technologically and medically significant fungi requires a robust phylogeny. Even though species in the
Aspergillus
and
Penicillium
genera (family
Aspergillaceae
, class Eurotiomycetes) are some of the most significant technologically and medically relevant fungi, we still lack a genome-scale phylogeny of the lineage or knowledge of the parts of the phylogeny that exhibit conflict among analyses. Here, we used a phylogenomic approach to infer evolutionary relationships among 81 genomes that span the diversity of
Aspergillus
and
Penicillium
species, to identify conflicts in the phylogeny, and to determine the likely underlying factors of the observed conflicts. Using a data matrix comprised of 1,668 genes, we found that while most branches of the phylogeny of the
Aspergillaceae
are robustly supported and recovered irrespective of method of analysis, a few exhibit various degrees of conflict among our analyses. Further examination of the observed conflict revealed that it largely stems from incomplete lineage sorting and hybridization or introgression. Our analyses provide a robust and comprehensive evolutionary genomic roadmap for this important lineage, which will facilitate the examination of the diverse technologically and medically relevant traits of these fungi in an evolutionary context.
Persistent DNA Damage Foci and DNA Replication with a Broken Chromosome in the African Trypanosome
Authors: Glover Lucy , Marques Catarina A. , Suska Olga , Horn David
Published: July 2019

Chromosome damage must be repaired to prevent the proliferation of defective cells. Alternatively, cells with damage must be eliminated. This is true of human and several other cell types but may not be the case for single-celled parasites, such as trypanosomes. African trypanosomes, which cause lethal diseases in both humans and livestock, can actually exploit chromosomal damage to activate new surface coat proteins and to evade host immune responses, for example. We monitored responses to single chromosomal breaks in trypanosomes using a DNA-binding protein that, in response to DNA damage, forms nuclear foci visible using a microscope. Surprisingly, and unlike what is seen in mammalian cells, these foci persist while cells continue to divide. We also demonstrate chromosome replication even when one chromosome is broken. These results reveal a remarkable degree of damage tolerance in trypanosomes, which may suit the lifestyle of a single-celled parasite, potentially facilitating adaptation and enhancing virulence.
Ubiquinone Biosynthesis over the Entire O
2
Range: Characterization of a Conserved O
2
-Independent Pathway
Authors: Pelosi Ludovic , Vo Chau-Duy-Tam , Abby Sophie Saphia , Loiseau Laurent , Rascalou Bérengère , Hajj Chehade Mahmoud , Faivre Bruno , Goussé Mathieu , Chenal Clothilde , Touati Nadia , Binet Laurent , Cornu David , Fyfe Cameron David , Fontecave Marc , Barras Frédéric , Lombard Murielle , Pierrel Fabien
Published: July 2019

In order to colonize environments with large O
2
gradients or fluctuating O
2
levels, bacteria have developed metabolic responses that remain incompletely understood. Such adaptations have been recently linked to antibiotic resistance, virulence, and the capacity to develop in complex ecosystems like the microbiota. Here, we identify a novel pathway for the biosynthesis of ubiquinone, a molecule with a key role in cellular bioenergetics. We link three uncharacterized genes of
Escherichia coli
to this pathway and show that the pathway functions independently from O
2
. In contrast, the long-described pathway for ubiquinone biosynthesis requires O
2
as a substrate. In fact, we find that many proteobacteria are equipped with the O
2
-dependent and O
2
-independent pathways, supporting that they are able to synthesize ubiquinone over the entire O
2
range. Overall, we propose that the novel O
2
-independent pathway is part of the metabolic plasticity developed by proteobacteria to face various environmental O
2
levels.
A Hyperstabilizing Mutation in the Base of the Ebola Virus Glycoprotein Acts at Multiple Steps To Abrogate Viral Entry
Authors: Fels J. Maximilian , Spence Jennifer S. , Bortz Robert H. , Bornholdt Zachary A. , Chandran Kartik
Published: July 2019

Ebola virus is a medically relevant virus responsible for outbreaks of severe disease in western and central Africa, with mortality rates reaching as high as 90%. Despite considerable effort, there are currently no FDA-approved therapeutics or targeted interventions available, highlighting the need of development in this area. Host-cell invasion represents an attractive target for antivirals, and several drug candidates have been identified; however, our limited understanding of the complex viral entry process challenges the development of such entry-targeting drugs. Here, we report on a glycoprotein mutation that abrogates viral entry and provides insights into the final steps of this process. In addition, the hyperstabilized phenotype of this mutant makes it useful as a tool in the discovery and design of stability-modulating antivirals and next-generation vaccines against Ebola virus.
BrlA and AbaA Govern Virulence-Required Dimorphic Switch, Conidiation, and Pathogenicity in a Fungal Insect Pathogen
Authors: Zhang An-Xue , Mouhoumed Amina-Zahra , Tong Sen-Miao , Ying Sheng-Hua , Feng Ming-Guang
Published: July 2019

Dimorphic insect mycopathogens infect the host by hyphal penetration through the host cuticle and switch from the penetrating hyphae to unicellular blastospores after entry into the host hemocoel, where blastospore propagation by yeast-like budding accelerates host mummification to death. The fungal virulence-required dimorphic switch is confirmed as a process of asexual development directly regulated by BrlA and AbaA, two key activators of the central developmental pathway in an insect mycopathogen. This finding unveils a novel mechanism distinct from the control of the dimorphic switch by multiple signaling systems other than the central developmental pathway in dimorphic plant and human mycopathogens, which switch from the usual yeast growth to filamentous growth required for pathogenicity through host tissue penetration.
A Cross-Sectional Study of Compositional and Functional Profiles of Gut Microbiota in Sardinian Centenarians
Authors: Wu Lu , Zeng Tiansheng , Zinellu Angelo , Rubino Salvatore , Kelvin David J. , Carru Ciriaco
Published: July 2019

The gut microbiota has been proposed as a promising determinant for human health. Centenarians as a model for extreme aging may help us understand the correlation of gut microbiota with healthy aging and longevity. Here we confirmed that centenarians had microbiota elements usually associated with benefits to health. Our finding of a high capacity of glycolysis and related SCFA production represented a healthy microbiome and environment that is regarded as beneficial for host gut epithelium. The low abundance of genes encoding components of pathways involved in carbohydrate degradation was also found in the gut microbiota of Sardinian centenarians and is often associated with poor gut health. Overall, our study here represents an expansion of previous research investigating the age-related changes in gut microbiota. Furthermore, our study provides a new prospective for potential targets for gut microbiota intervention directed at limiting gut inflammation and pathology and enhancing a healthy gut barrier.
New onset or exacerbation of uveitis with infliximab: paradoxical effects?
Authors: Iwahashi Chiharu , Ono Hikari , Haruta Mami , Minami Takamasa , Mashimo Hisashi , Shimojo Hiroshi , Ohguro Nobuyuki
Published: July 2019

Objective

To report four cases of new onset or exacerbation of uveitis following administration of infliximab.

Methods

This retrospective observational case series includes four patients who developed new onset or exacerbation of uveitis paradoxically during infliximab treatment.

Results

Four patients were assessed, including three women, with a mean age of 33 (14–84) years. Infliximab was introduced for the treatment of scleritis associated with rheumatoid arthritis (two cases), chronic anterior uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) (one case) and Crohn’s disease (one case). Anterior scleritis associated with rheumatoid arthritis successfully improved following infliximab administration; however, macular oedema or dense vitritis paradoxically developed in two cases. In one case, infliximab was switched to tocilizumab. In another case, infliximab was discontinued, and additional corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medications were added. In one patient with JIA, new-onset macular oedema and exacerbation of anterior uveitis were observed during infliximab treatment, so the patient was switched to adalimumab. In the patient with Crohn’s disease treated with infliximab, severe vasculitis and macular oedema occurred, requiring intravitreal triamcinolone injection. The patient was switched to adalimumab. Given that these reactions were paradoxical effects of infliximab, infliximab treatment was discontinued in all cases, and additional corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medications were added. All cases remained free of ocular inflammation at the last visit.

Conclusion

Uveitis rarely occurs de novo or is exacerbated during infliximab treatment. Cessation of infliximab led to resolution of this paradoxical adverse effect.
Peritoneal mesothelioma and asbestos exposure: a population-based case–control study in Lombardy, Italy
Authors: Consonni Dario , Calvi Cristina , De Matteis Sara , Mirabelli Dario , Landi Maria Teresa , Caporaso Neil E , Peters Susan , Vermeulen Roel , Kromhout Hans , Dallari Barbara , Pesatori Angela Cecilia , Riboldi Luciano , Mensi Carolina
Published: July 2019

Objectives

Asbestos is the main risk factor for peritoneal mesothelioma (PeM). However, due to its rarity, PeM has rarely been investigated in community-based studies. We examined the association between asbestos exposure and PeM risk in a general population in Lombardy, Italy.

Methods

From the regional mesothelioma registry, we selected PeM cases diagnosed in 2000–2015. Population controls (matched by area, gender and age) came from two case–control studies in Lombardy on lung cancer (2002–2004) and pleural mesothelioma (2014). Assessment of exposure to asbestos was performed through a quantitative job-exposure matrix (SYN-JEM) and expert evaluation based on a standardised questionnaire. We calculated period-specific and gender-specific OR and 90% CI using conditional logistic regression adjusted for age, province of residence and education.

Results

We selected 68 cases and 2116 controls (2000–2007) and 159 cases and 205 controls (2008–2015). The ORs for ever asbestos exposure (expert-based, 2008–2015 only) were 5.78 (90% CI 3.03 to 11.0) in men and 8.00 (2.56 to 25.0) in women; the ORs for definite occupational exposure were 12.3 (5.62 to 26.7) in men and 14.3 (3.16 to 65.0) in women. The ORs for ever versus never occupational asbestos exposure based on SYN-JEM (both periods) were 2.05 (90% CI 1.39 to 3.01) in men and 1.62 (0.79 to 3.27) in women. In men, clear positive associations were found for duration, cumulative exposure (OR 1.33 (1.19 to 1.48) per fibres/mL-years) and latency.

Conclusions

Using two different methods of exposure assessment we provided evidence of a clear association between asbestos exposure and PeM risk in the general population.
Nanotechnology based therapeutics for lung disease
Authors: Doroudian Mohammad , MacLoughlin Ronan , Poynton Fergus , Prina-Mello Adriele , Donnelly Seamas C
Published: July 2019

Nanomedicine is a multidisciplinary research field with an integration of traditional sciences such as chemistry, physics, biology and materials science. The application of nanomedicine for lung diseases as a relatively new area of interdisciplinary science has grown rapidly over the last 10 years. Promising research outcomes suggest that nanomedicine will revolutionise the practice of medicine, through the development of new approaches in therapeutic agent delivery, vaccine development and nanotechnology-based medical detections. Nano-based approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases will, in the not too distant future, change the way we practise medicine. This review will focus on the current trends and developments in the clinical translation of nanomedicine for lung diseases, such as in the areas of lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, asthma, bacterial infections and COPD.
First mitochondrial genomes of five hoverfly species of the genus Eristalinus (Diptera: Syrphidae)
Authors: Sonet Gontran , De Smet Yannick , Tang Min , Virgilio Massimiliano , Young Andrew Donovan , Skevington Jeffrey H. , Mengual Ximo , Backeljau Thierry , Liu Shanlin , Zhou Xin , De Meyer Marc , Jordaens Kurt
Published: July 2019

The hoverfly genus Eristalinus (Diptera, Syrphidae) contains many widespread pollinators. The majority of the species of Eristalinus occur in the Afrotropics and their molecular systematics still needs to be investigated. This study presents the first complete and annotated mitochondrial genomes for five species of Eristalinus. They were obtained by high-throughput sequencing of total genomic DNA. The total length of the mitogenomes varied between 15 757 and 16 245 base pairs. Gene composition, positions, and orientation were shared across species, and were identical to those observed for other Diptera. Phylogenetic analyses (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) based on the 13 protein coding and both rRNA genes suggested that the subgenus Eristalinus was paraphyletic with respect to the subgenus Eristalodes. An analysis of the phylogenetic informativeness of all protein coding and rRNA genes suggested that NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, nad4, nad2, cytochrome b, and 16S rRNA genes are the most promising mitochondrial molecular markers to result in supported phylogenetic hypotheses of the genus. In addition to the five complete mitogenomes currently available for hoverflies, the five mitogenomes published here will be useful for broader molecular phylogenetic analyses among hoverflies.
Low-Affinity Binding Sites and the Transcription Factor Specificity Paradox in Eukaryotes
Authors: Kribelbauer Judith F. , Rastogi Chaitanya , Bussemaker Harmen J. , Mann Richard S.
Published: July 2019

Eukaryotic transcription factors (TFs) from the same structural family tend to bind similar DNA sequences, despite the ability of these TFs to execute distinct functions in vivo. The cell partly resolves this specificity paradox through combinatorial strategies and the use of low-affinity binding sites, which are better able to distinguish between similar TFs. However, because these sites have low affinity, it is challenging to understand how TFs recognize them in vivo. Here, we summarize recent findings and technological advancements that allow for the quantification and mechanistic interpretation of TF recognition across a wide range of affinities. We propose a model that integrates insights from the fields of genetics and cell biology to provide further conceptual understanding of TF binding specificity. We argue that in eukaryotes, target specificity is driven by an inhomogeneous 3D nuclear distribution of TFs and by variation in DNA binding affinity such that locally elevated TF concentration allows low-affinity binding sites to be functional.
Diverse Cellular Roles of Autophagy
Authors: Morishita Hideaki , Mizushima Noboru
Published: July 2019

Macroautophagy is an intracellular degradation system that delivers diverse cytoplasmic materials to lysosomes via autophagosomes. Recent advances have enabled identification of several selective autophagy substrates and receptors, greatly expanding our understanding of the cellular functions of autophagy. In this review, we describe the diverse cellular functions of macroautophagy, including its essential contribution to metabolic adaptation and cellular homeostasis. We also discuss emerging findings on the mechanisms and functions of various types of selective autophagy.
The Role of Symbioses in the Adaptation and Stress Responses of Marine Organisms
Authors: Apprill Amy
Published: July 2019

Ocean ecosystems are experiencing unprecedented rates of climate and anthropogenic change, which can often initiate stress in marine organisms. Symbioses, or associations between different organisms, are plentiful in the ocean and could play a significant role in facilitating organismal adaptations to stressful ocean conditions. This article reviews current knowledge about the role of symbiosis in marine organismal acclimation and adaptation. It discusses stress and adaptations in symbioses from coral reef ecosystems, which are among the most affected environments in the ocean, including the relationships between corals and microalgae, corals and bacteria, anemones and clownfish, and cleaner fish and client fish. Despite the importance of this subject, knowledge of how marine organisms adapt to stress is still limited, and there are vast opportunities for research and technological development in this area. Attention to this subject will enhance our understanding of the capacity of symbioses to alleviate organismal stress in the oceans.
Brainstem Circuits Controlling Action Diversification
Authors: Ruder Ludwig , Arber Silvia
Published: July 2019

Neuronal circuits that regulate movement are distributed throughout the nervous system. The brainstem is an important interface between upper motor centers involved in action planning and circuits in the spinal cord ultimately leading to execution of body movements. Here we focus on recent work using genetic and viral entry points to reveal the identity of functionally dedicated and frequently spatially intermingled brainstem populations essential for action diversification, a general principle conserved throughout evolution. Brainstem circuits with distinct organization and function control skilled forelimb behavior, orofacial movements, and locomotion. They convey regulatory parameters to motor output structures and collaborate in the construction of complex natural motor behaviors. Functionally tuned brainstem neurons for different actions serve as important integrators of synaptic inputs from upstream centers, including the basal ganglia and cortex, to regulate and modulate behavioral function in different contexts.
The Emerging Nature of Astrocyte Diversity
Authors: Khakh Baljit S. , Deneen Benjamin
Published: July 2019

Astrocytes are morphologically complex, ubiquitous cells that are viewed as a homogeneous population tiling the entire central nervous system (CNS). However, this view has been challenged in the last few years with the availability of RNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, morphological reconstruction, and imaging data. These studies suggest that astrocytes represent a diverse population of cells and that they display brain area– and disease–specific properties and functions. In this review, we summarize these observations, emphasize areas where clear conclusions can be made, and discuss potential unifying themes. We also identify knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in order to exploit astrocyte diversity as a biological phenomenon of physiological relevance in the CNS. We thus provide a summary and a perspective on astrocyte diversity in the vertebrate CNS.
Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Bennett C. Frank , Krainer Adrian R. , Cleveland Don W.
Published: July 2019

Antisense oligonucleotides represent a novel therapeutic platform for the discovery of medicines that have the potential to treat most neurodegenerative diseases. Antisense drugs are currently in development for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, and multiple research programs are underway for additional neurodegenerative diseases. One antisense drug, nusinersen, has been approved for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy. Importantly, nusinersen improves disease symptoms when administered to symptomatic patients rather than just slowing the progression of the disease. In addition to the benefit to spinal muscular atrophy patients, there are discoveries from nusinersen that can be applied to other neurological diseases, including method of delivery, doses, tolerability of intrathecally delivered antisense drugs, and the biodistribution of intrathecal dosed antisense drugs. Based in part on the early success of nusinersen, antisense drugs hold great promise as a therapeutic platform for the treatment of neurological diseases.
Pathophysiology and Mechanisms of Zika Virus Infection in the Nervous System
Authors: Christian Kimberly M. , Song Hongjun , Ming Guo-li
Published: July 2019

In 2015, public awareness of Zika virus (ZIKV) rose in response to alarming statistics of infants with microcephaly being born to women who were infected with the virus during pregnancy, triggering global concern over these potentially devastating consequences. Although we have discovered a great deal about the genome and pathogenesis of this reemergent flavivirus since this recent outbreak, we still have much more to learn, including the nature of the virus-host interactions and mechanisms that determine its tropism and pathogenicity in the nervous system, which are in turn shaped by the continual evolution of the virus. Inevitably, we will find out more about the potential long-term effects of ZIKV exposure on the nervous system from ongoing longitudinal studies. Integrating clinical and epidemiological data with a wider range of animal and human cell culture models will be critical to understanding the pathogenetic mechanisms and developing more specific antiviral compounds and vaccines.
Activity and Phylogenetics of the Broadly Occurring Family of Microbial Nep1-Like Proteins
Authors: Seidl Michael F. , Van den Ackerveken Guido
Published: July 2019

Necrosis- and ethylene-inducing peptide 1 (Nep1)-like proteins (NLP) have an extremely broad taxonomic distribution; they occur in bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes. NLPs come in two forms, those that are cytotoxic to eudicot plants and those that are noncytotoxic. Cytotoxic NLPs bind to glycosyl inositol phosphoryl ceramide (GIPC) sphingolipids that are abundant in the outer leaflet of plant plasma membranes. Binding allows the NLP to become cytolytic in eudicots but not monocots. The function of noncytotoxic NLPs remains enigmatic, but the expansion of NLP genes in oomycete genomes suggests they are important. Several plant species have evolved the capacity to recognize NLPs as molecular patterns and trigger plant immunity, e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana detects nlp peptides via the receptor-like protein RLP23. In this review, we provide a historical perspective from discovery to understanding of molecular mechanisms and describe the latest developments in the NLP field to shed light on these fascinating microbial proteins.
Boxwood Blight: Threat to Ornamentals
Authors: Daughtrey Margery L.
Published: July 2019

Boxwood blight, caused by Calonectria pseudonaviculata and Calonectria henricotiae, has had devastating effects in gardens since its first appearance in the United Kingdom in 1994. The disease affects two other plants in the Buxaceae: sweet box ( Sarcococca spp.) and pachysandra ( Pachysandra spp.). C. pseudonaviculata was likely introduced to Europe by nursery trade from East Asia on an ornamental species and then to western Asia and North America. Thus far, C. henricotiae has been seen only in Europe. Boxwood, valued at $126 million wholesale per year in the United States alone, is now besieged by an aggressive foliar blight active over a broad temperature range when there are long periods of leaf wetness. Research on inoculum, means of dissemination, cultivar susceptibility, environmental influences, fungicides, sanitizers, and detection methods has vastly improved knowledge of this new invasive disease in a short time. Boxwood with genetic resistance to the disease is critically needed.
Fusogenic Reoviruses and Their Fusion-Associated Small Transmembrane (FAST) Proteins
Authors: Duncan Roy
Published: July 2019

With no limiting membrane surrounding virions, nonenveloped viruses have no need for membrane fusion to gain access to intracellular replication compartments. Consequently, nonenveloped viruses do not encode membrane fusion proteins. The only exception to this dogma is the fusogenic reoviruses that encode fusion-associated small transmembrane (FAST) proteins that induce syncytium formation. FAST proteins are the smallest viral membrane fusion proteins and, unlike their enveloped virus counterparts, are nonstructural proteins that evolved specifically to induce cell-to-cell, not virus-cell, membrane fusion. This distinct evolutionary imperative is reflected in structural and functional features that distinguish this singular family of viral fusogens from all other protein fusogens. These rudimentary fusogens comprise specific combinations of different membrane effector motifs assembled into small, modular membrane fusogens. FAST proteins offer a minimalist model to better understand the ubiquitous process of protein-mediated membrane fusion and to reveal novel mechanisms of nonenveloped virus dissemination that contribute to virulence.
Predictive Smooth Pursuit Eye Movements
Authors: Kowler Eileen , Rubinstein Jason F. , Santos Elio M. , Wang Jie
Published: July 2019

Smooth pursuit eye movements maintain the line of sight on smoothly moving targets. Although often studied as a response to sensory motion, pursuit anticipates changes in motion trajectories, thus reducing harmful consequences due to sensorimotor processing delays. Evidence for predictive pursuit includes ( a) anticipatory smooth eye movements (ASEM) in the direction of expected future target motion that can be evoked by perceptual cues or by memory for recent motion, ( b) pursuit during periods of target occlusion, and ( c) improved accuracy of pursuit with self-generated or biologically realistic target motions. Predictive pursuit has been linked to neural activity in the frontal cortex and in sensory motion areas. As behavioral and neural evidence for predictive pursuit grows and statistically based models augment or replace linear systems approaches, pursuit is being regarded less as a reaction to immediate sensory motion and more as a predictive response, with retinal motion serving as one of a number of contributing cues.
The Oxygen Reduction Activity of Pt-Mn/C and Pt-Cu/C Alloys
Authors: Ghavidel Mohammadreza Zamanzad , Easton E. Bradley
Published: July 2019

Pt-Mn and Pt-Cu alloys with low Pt contents have been previously shown to be highly active for the ethanol oxidization reaction. Here we examined these alloys for their activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media. The ORR activity of these alloys has also compared to the Pt/C and Pt-Sn/C commercial samples. In addition, the effect of heat treatment and formation of ordered structures on the ORR activity in both Pt-Cu and Pt-Mn systems were investigated. The highest Von-set was recorded for Pt/C. While adding the alloying elements may slightly reduce the ORR activity, these catalysts had no more that 25 at% Pt, which is promising from a cost stand point. In addition, our findings show that the heat treatment and formation of ordered phases had a great impact on the ORR activity of the alloyed samples.
Profiling the rainbow trout hepatic miRNAome under diet-induced hyperglycemia
Authors: Kostyniuk Daniel J. , Marandel Lucie , Jubouri Mais , Dias Karine , de Souza Robson F. , Zhang Dapeng , Martyniuk Christopher J. , Panserat Stéphane , Mennigen Jan A.
Published: July 2019

Carnivorous rainbow trout exhibit prolonged postprandial hyperglycemia when fed a diet exceeding 20% carbohydrate content. This poor capacity to utilize carbohydrates has led to rainbow trout being classified as “glucose-intolerant” (GI). The metabolic phenotype has spurred research to identify the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of glucose intolerance, largely because carbohydrate-rich diets provide economic and ecological advantages over traditionally used fish meal, considered unsustainable for rainbow trout aquaculture operations. Evidence points to a contribution of hepatic intermediary carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, as well as upstream insulin signaling. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs), small noncoding RNAs acting as negative posttranscriptional regulators affecting target mRNA stability and translation, have emerged as critical regulators of hepatic control of glucose-homeostasis in mammals, revealing that dysregulated hepatic miRNAs might play a role in organismal hyperglycemia in metabolic disease. To determine whether hepatic regulatory miRNA networks may contribute to GI in rainbow trout, we induced prolonged postprandial hyperglycemia in rainbow trout by using a carbohydrate-rich diet and profiled genome-wide hepatic miRNAs in hyperglycemic rainbow trout compared with fasted trout and trout fed a diet devoid of carbohydrates. Using small RNA next-generation sequencing and real-time RT-PCR validation, we identified differentially regulated hepatic miRNAs between these groups and used an in silico approach to predict bona fide mRNA targets and enriched pathways. Diet-induced hyperglycemia resulted in differential regulation of hepatic miRNAs compared with fasted fish. Some of the identified miRNAs, such as miRNA-27b-3p and miRNA-200a-3p, are known to be responsive to hyperglycemia in the liver of hyperglycemic glucose-tolerant fish and mammals, suggesting an evolutionary conserved regulation. Using Gene Ontology term-based enrichment analysis, we identify intermediate carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and insulin signaling as potential targets of posttranscriptional regulation by hyperglycemia-regulated miRNAs and provide correlative expression analysis of specific predicted miRNA-target pairs. This study identifies hepatic miRNAs in rainbow trout that exhibit differential postprandial expression in response to diets with different carbohydrate content and predicts posttranscriptionally regulated target mRNAs enriched for pathways involved in glucoregulation. Together, these results provide a framework for testable hypotheses of functional involvement of specific hepatic miRNAs in GI in rainbow trout.
Integral Representation of Functions of Bounded Variation
Authors: Lipcsey Z. , Esuabana I. M. , Ugboh J. A. , Isaac I. O.
Published: July 2019

Functions of bounded variations form important transition between absolute continuous and singular functions. With Bainov’s introduction of impulsive differential equations having solutions of bounded variation, this class of functions had eventually entered into the theory of differential equations. However, the determination of existence of solutions is still problematic because the solutions of differential equations is usually at least absolute continuous which is disrupted by the solutions of bounded variations. As it is known, if f:[a,bλ]→Rn is of bounded variation then f is the sum of an absolute continuous function fa and a singular function fs where the total variation of fs generates a singular measure τ and fs is absolute continuous with respect to τ. In this paper we prove that a function of bounded variation f has two representations: one is f which was described with an absolute continuous part with respect to the Lebesgue measure λ, while in the other an integral with respect to τ forms the absolute continuous part and t(τ) defines the singular measure. Both representations are obtained as parameter transformation images of an absolute continuous function on total variation domain [a,bν].
Ketogenic Diet-Induced Severe Ketoacidosis in a Lactating Woman: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Nnodum Benedicta Nneoma , Oduah Eziafa , Albert David , Pettus Mark
Published: July 2019

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, adequate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet that leads to nutritional ketosis and weight loss. It is known to induce ketosis but is not an established cause of clinically significant ketoacidosis. Lactation ketoacidosis is well established in bovine literature but remains a rare phenomenon in humans. Here we present a life-threatening case of severe ketoacidosis in a nondiabetic lactating mother on a strict ketogenic diet. We review the available case reports of lactation ketoacidosis in humans and the mechanisms thereof. Although ketogenic diet has been shown to be safe in nonpregnant individuals, the safety of this diet in lactating mothers is not known. Health professionals and mothers should be made aware of the potential risk associated with a strict ketogenic diet when combined with lactation. Prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment cannot be overemphasized. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of life-threatening lactation ketoacidosis associated with ketogenic diet while consuming an adequate number of calories per day.
Molecularly Imprinted Polymers-Coated CdTe Quantum Dots for Highly Sensitive and Selective Fluorescent Determination of Ferulic Acid
Authors: Wang Zhihong , Long Ruiqing , Peng Mijun , Li Te , Shi Shuyun
Published: July 2019

Ferulic acid (FA), an important phenolic acid, is widely distributed in higher plants and presents many pharmacological effects. Therefore, sensitive determination of FA in complex matrix is necessary. Molecularly imprinted polymers-coated CdTe quantum dots (CdTe-QDs@MIPs) exhibited incomparable advantages because of their combination of excellent selectivity of MIPs and high sensitivity of QDs. Here, a fluorescent probe based on CdTe-QDs@MIPs was successfully fabricated for selective and sensitive determination of FA. MIPs shell was obtained by the reverse microemulsion method using FA, 3-(aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), as template, functional monomer, and crosslinker. In optimal conditions, the fluorescence CdTe-QDs@MIPs sensor exhibited fast response (within only 3 min), high sensitivity (limit of detection, LOD at 0.85 μg/l), excellent linear ranges (2–100 μg/l) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996, and distinguished selectivity for FA. Satisfactory recoveries from 91.8% to 110.3% were achieved with precisions below 6.6% for FA analysis in real pineapple juice and apple juice by developed CdTe-QDs@MIPs. The fluorescence results coincided well with those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It could be concluded that the resultant CdTe-QDs@MIPs offered a new way for rapid and sensitive analysis of FA in the complex matrix.
Four Subgroups of Blood Stasis Syndrome Are Identified by Manifestation Cluster Analysis in Males
Authors: You Sooseong , Kang Byoung-Kab , Kim Jihyun , Lee Hoyoung , Shim Eun Hyoung , Ko Mi Mi , Choi Jiae , Choi Tae-Young , Jun Ji Hee , Jung Jeeyoun , Cha Minho , Lee Ju Ah , Lee Myeong Soo
Published: July 2019

Blood stasis syndrome (BSS) is an important pathological condition in traditional East Asian medicine and is associated with ischemic heart disease, cerebral vascular accident, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, severe traumatic injury, and dysmenorrhea. However, previous studies have been unable to reveal the clinical and biological characteristics or biological markers of BSS. We hypothesized that the heterogeneity among the manifestations of BSS or non-BSS could interfere with an analysis to describe the characteristics of BSS. In this study, male participants based on the severity of BSS-associated symptoms and signs were clustered and classified into four subgroups: BSS subgroups (1), (2), (3), and (4). Non-BSS core subgroup was redefined using manifestation cluster analysis. Biological characteristics of subgroups BSS(1) and BSS(2) belong to the range of the non-BSS core subgroup (1), whereas that of subgroups BSS(3) and BSS(4) are characterized by different biological parameters such as systemic inflammatory conditions and elevated D-dimer level. Our results suggested that patients in subgroups of BSS(3) and BSS(4) are more likely to be exposed in an inflammatory state than other BSS subgroups. We found the heterogeneity among the manifestations which could mask the characteristics of BSS and identified the clinical and biological profiles of the four BSS subgroups through comparisons of the redefined non-BSS and BSS subgroups. This finding could provide accurate diagnostic criteria and new approaches for BSS treatments in different subgroups.
Low Back Pain and Associated Factors among Primary School Teachers in Mekele City, North Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kebede Aregawi , Abebe Solomon Mekonnen , Woldie Haile , Yenit Melaku Kindie
Published: July 2019

Background. Low back pain (LBP) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder among teachers. The pain, which is widely considered to be caused by occupational activities, has a significant impact on teachers’ quality of life because it results in frequent sick leaves, functional impairment, and early retirement. It is also demanding in terms of treatment costs, individual suffering, and discontinuation of jobs. Therefore, this study assessed the magnitude of low back pain and associated factors among primary school teachers in Mekele City, north Ethiopia. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study which included 611 public primary school teachers of Mekele City was conducted from March to April 2015. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with low back pain. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to show the strength of the associations, and variables with a p value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results. In this study, the prevalence of low back pain was 74.8% (95% CI: 71.4-78.2). According to the multivariate analysis, the pain was associated with teachers’ sleeping disturbance (AOR = 6.99; 95% CI: 2.20, 13.63), prolonged standing (AOR = 4.78; 95% CI: 3.75, 9.32), and irregular physical exercise (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.29, 5.10). Conclusion. The study showed that the prevalence of low back pain was high. Sleeping disturbance, prolonged standing during sessions, and irregular physical activity were significantly associated with the problem. Therefore, addressing work-related and individual factors is essential for decreasing the burden.
Cost-Effective, Time-Efficient Passenger Rail System for the Eastern United States
Authors: Mathias James , Kim Dal Hyung
Published: July 2019

A program was developed using a genetic algorithm and automated lookup features to design an efficient passenger rail system for the eastern-half of the United States connecting large cities, metropolitan populations greater than two million, with overnight rail service. The results of the program predicted a passenger starting at the farthest point of the system boards the train at 16:02 on average and arrives at a different point of the system at 07:57 on average the following day, assuming the train travels an average speed of 70 mph. The design used actual distances by train track where possible. The system was modeled with six trains that meet at a hub and exchange passengers and continue on to their destination. The optimal solution had a total one-way minimum distance of 4334 km (2693 miles). Assuming the same ridership that currently exists on a popular train route, ticket prices would average $62 (USD) for a one-way ticket. For this system to be feasible, the government would need to own or lease one set of tracks for all the routes determined, build a hub for passengers to transfer trains near Charleston, WV, and ensure the trains are unimpeded by other trains. Installing tracks that go around cities that the trains do not stop at would be a great benefit also. With advances in communication, GPS, and train control technology, this article points out the benefits of publically available tracks to form a transportation network similar to that found in road, air, and water traffic.
Study on the Optimization Model of a Flexible Transmission
Authors: Zhai Guodong , Liang Zhihao , Li Mingyang
Published: July 2019

A belt drive and a chain drive are the main types of flexible power transmission. In the traditional belt and chain drive design process, engineers need to do a lot of rework to get a design. To solve this problem, taking the Shell Eco‐Marathon vehicle as an example, the traditional design and optimization design of the transmission system are carried out. In the optimization design, component optimization and overall optimization design model of the belt and chain drive are first established. Second, the charts in the design manual are converted into formulas by using MATLAB. Finally, an optimization design model is established in Microsoft Excel, and the Excel Solver tool is used to find the optimal design result. The design method proposed in this paper can effectively determine the optimal design of transmission system and provides a new method for the processing of such problems.
Impact of Late Ventricular Arrhythmias on Cardiac Mortality in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Takada Takuma , Shishido Koki , Hayashi Takahiro , Yokota Shohei , Miyashita Hirokazu , Yokoyama Hiroaki , Nishimoto Takashi , Ochiai Tomoki , Moriyama Noriaki , Tobita Kazuki , Mizuno Shingo , Yamanaka Futoshi , Murakami Masato , Tanaka Yutaka , Takahashi Saeko , Saito Shigeru
Published: July 2019

Objectives. This study investigated the relationship between the timing of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VT or VF) and prognosis in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Background. It is unknown whether the timing of VT/VF occurrence affects the prognosis of patients with AMI. Methods. From January 2004 to December 2014, 1004 patients with AMI underwent primary PCI. Of these patients, 888 did not have VT/VF (non-VT/VF group) and 116 had sustained VT/VF during prehospitalization or hospitalization. Patients with VT/VF were divided into two groups: early VT/VF (VT/VF occurrence before and within 2 days of admission, 92 patients) and late VT/VF (VT/VF occurrence >2 days after admission; 24 patients) groups. Results. The frequency of VT/VF occurrence was high between the day of admission and the 2nd day and between days 6 and 10 of hospitalization. The late VT/VF group had a significantly longer onset-to-balloon time, lower ejection fraction, poorer renal function, and higher creatine phosphokinase (CK)-MB level on admission (p< 0.001). They also had a lower 30-day cardiac survival rate than the early VT/VF and non-VT/VF groups (42% vs. 76% vs. 96%, p < 0.001). Moreover, independent predictors of in-hospital cardiac mortality among patients with AMI who had sustained VT/VF were higher peak CK-MB [Odds ratio (OR: 1.001, 95%confidence interval (CI): 1.000-1.002, p= 0.03)], higher Killip class (OR: 1.484, 95%CI 1.017-2.165, p= 0.04), and late VT/VF (OR: 3.436, 95%CI 1.115-10.59, p= 0.03). Conclusions. The timing of VT/VF occurrences had a bimodal peak. Although late VT/VF occurrence after primary PCI was less frequent than early VT/VF occurrence, patients with late VT/VF had a very poor prognosis.