bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the uses and advantages of genealogy for international law
Authors: Purcell Kate
Published: November 2019

This article considers the relationship between the uses and forms of history within international law and questions of method in the development of histories of international law. It focuses on the advantages of genealogy as an approach to the history of international law given its capacity to both explain the way in which the law itself makes use of the past and intervene in this.

Elaborating on the compatibility between genealogy and elements of the contextual approach to history associated with the ‘Cambridge School’, this article challenges recent suggestions that anachronism is irrelevant, unavoidable, or even a ‘method’ that might be fruitfully embraced in studies of international law’s past directed towards explaining and potentially altering its present. It argues that historians of international law should take the dangers of anachronism seriously, particularly if the histories they develop are to operate as a form of critique and basis for change. Genealogy is a form of history that allows a particularly potent critique of international legal thought and practice. It opens up possibilities for more radical change by questioning and moving beyond the normative framework that usually structures (and limits) calls for reform in international law.
Maternal mental health and internalizing and externalizing psychopathology in extremely low birth weight adults
Authors: Rangan Meena , Banting Megan , Favotto Lindsay , Schmidt Louis A. , Saigal Saroj , Van Lieshout Ryan J.
Published: November 2019

The mental health of adult extremely low birth weight (ELBW) (<1000 g) survivors is poorer than their normal birth weight (NBW) peers. An understanding of the modifiable factors that affect this risk could provide targets for intervention. We set out to determine the extent to which a maternal history of mental health problems influenced mental health in ELBW and NBW offspring in adulthood. A total of 85 ELBW and 88 NBW individuals born between 1977 and 1982 in central west Ontario, Canada self-reported on internalizing (depression, anxiety) and externalizing (attention-deficit hyperactivity and antisocial) problems using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) scales of the Young Adult Self-Report at ages 22–26 and 30–35. They also reported on their mother’s maternal mental health using the Family History Screen. An interaction was found between birth weight status and maternal history of an anxiety disorder such that ELBW survivors showed a greater increase in internalizing scores than NBW participants at 22–26 (β= 10.27,p= 0.002) and at 30–35 years of age (β= 12.65,p= 0.002). An interaction was also observed between birth weight and maternal history of mood disorder, with higher externalizing scores in ELBW survivors than NBW adults at 22–26 (β= 7.21,p< 0.0001). ELBW adults appear to be more susceptible to the adverse mental health effects of exposure to maternal mood and anxiety disorders than those born at NBW. These links further highlight the importance of detecting and treating mental health problems in the parents of preterm survivors as a means of attempting to reduce the burden of psychopathology in this population.
A Longitudinal Investigation of the Ethnic and National Identities of	Children With Migration Background in Germany
Authors: Froehlich Laura , Martiny Sarah E. , Deaux Kay
Published: November 2019

Abstract. How immigrants define their ethnicity and nationality is relevant for integration: They can identify with their ethnic group, the receiving society, and a combination of both. A longitudinal study with elementary-school children with migration background ( N = 200; age 9–10) in Germany investigated the predictors and stability of ethnic and national identities. Ethnic identity was more highly endorsed than national identity. National and dual identities were compatible (i.e., positively related), whereas ethnic identity was compartmentalized (i.e., unrelated to national and dual identities). Contact with Germans predicted national identity over time, but not vice versa. Thus, the study contributes to a better understanding of multiple social identities of young ethnic minority children in light of social psychological theories of social identity development.
Ship-Based Measurements Overestimate Southern Ocean Carbon Sink
Authors: Wheeling Kate
Published: November 2019

New research suggests that combining ship- and float-based observations provides a more accurate measure of how much carbon the Southern Ocean absorbs.
Landscape Age as a Major Control on the Geography of Soil Weathering
Authors: Slessarev E. W. , Feng X. , Bingham N. L. , Chadwick O. A.
Published: November 2019

Global‐scale models of rock‐derived nutrient availability often assume that physical erosion drives soils toward an approximate “steady state” over geologic timescales. By definition, steady‐state models do not represent landscape age—that is, the time elapsed since soil formation is initiated by major erosional or depositional events. We hypothesize that this steady‐state assumption has large consequences on estimates of soil fertility because landscape age can mediate the retention of mobile elements in soil, particularly in low‐relief landscapes and humid climates. We quantified the effect of landscape age on soil fertility by estimating Na retention in soils across the United States and explicitly resolving landscape age in regions that experienced significant deposition or glacial retreat after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). We then used a simple one‐compartment model to simulate soil formation and weathering, comparing predictions that incorporated landscape age with those based on the steady‐state assumption. We found that soils formed in LGM deposits in low‐relief, humid settings generally retain 10 times more Na than soils formed outside of LGM deposits. Furthermore, the model that accounted for landscape age outperformed a steady‐state model across the United States and increased globally averaged estimates of Na retention by 17%. These results reinforce the idea that landscape age is a major control on weathering and should not be ignored in simulations of nutrient cycling.
Impact of Multiscale Variability on Last 6,000 Years Indian and West African Monsoon Rain
Authors: Braconnot P. , Crétat J. , Marti O. , Balkanski Y. , Caubel A. , Cozic A. , Foujols M.‐A. , Sanogo S.
Published: November 2019

Particularly dry or wet boreal summer monsoon seasons are major hazards affecting societal vulnerability in India and Africa. Several factors affect monsoon rainfall amount and limit the understanding of possible linkages between monsoon variability and mean climate changes. Here we characterize the multiscale variability of Indian and West African monsoon rain from two simulations of the last 6,000 years. Changes in Earth's orbit cause long‐term monsoon drying trend in India and Africa, but the Indian monsoon is more sensitive to anthropogenic CO2. Variability is characterized by two major ranges of chaotic variability, each related to specific ocean‐atmosphere modes present throughout the period. Combination of random 50‐ to 500‐ and 2‐ to 20‐year variability leads to large events occurring at millennium scale. However, the two regions exhibit opposite trends in rainfall variability due to changes in teleconnection with Pacific sea surface temperature for India and Atlantic sea surface temperature for West Africa at interannual to decadal timescales.
Lattice Thermal Conductivity of MgSiO3 Postperovskite Under the Lowermost Mantle Conditions From Ab Initio Anharmonic Lattice Dynamics
Authors: Dekura Haruhiko , Tsuchiya Taku
Published: November 2019

The lattice thermal conductivity (κlat) of MgSiO3 postperovskite (Mg‐PPv) under the lowermost mantle pressure (P) and temperature (T) conditions was calculated using density functional theory combining anharmonic lattice dynamics theory. The κlat of Mg‐PPv was found to be ~50% higher than that of MgSiO3 bridgmanite (Mg‐Brg) owing to the larger phonon group velocity and lifetime. The lateral variation in the core‐mantle boundary heat flux (qCMB) can be enhanced by the Brg‐PPv phase transition. We also found that the κlat along the c axis of Mg‐PPv is close to the conductivity of isotropic aggregate. This suggests that the effect of anisotropy in the κlat on qCMB would be minor if the transversely isotropic aggregate with the c axis vertical alignment, a potential source of seismic anisotropy in the D″ layer, is developed.
Development of a Dense Cratonic Keel Prior to the Destruction of the North China Craton: Constraints From Sedimentary Records and Numerical Simulation
Authors: Liu Liang , Liu Lijun , Xu Yi‐Gang , Xia Bing , Ma Qiang , Menzies Martin
Published: November 2019

It remains unclear why some cratonic lithospheres like the North China Craton (NCC) have undergone significant thinning and catastrophic destruction. Here we provide evidence for a dense Phanerozoic cratonic keel beneath the NCC that provides a reason for the craton destruction during the late Mesozoic. We observed two long‐lasting (>100 Myr) episodes of surface subsidence that formed the saucer‐shaped basin topography on the NCC from the Paleozoic to early Mesozoic, which was not associated with lithosphere stretching or a high sea level. Based on a detailed geological and geochemical analysis and 2‐D numerical experiments, we show that this subsidence most likely reflects the secular cooling and eclogitization of iron‐rich materials infiltrated into the cratonic mantle since the early Phanerozoic, a process that is the most prominent over the eastern NCC. This result implies that the lithosphere beneath the eastern NCC became gravitationally unstable prior to its Mesozoic destruction as its keel became progressively denser during the Paleozoic. An early Mesozoic partial removal of this dense keel possibly led to widespread surface uplift of the NCC, as indicated by regional basin inversion. We conclude that the long‐term subsidence of a cratonic basin reflects a gradual increase of the lithospheric density and that this type of subsidence should not be considered a characteristic of stable cratons as previously assumed.
Mapping Internal Tides From Satellite Altimetry Without Blind Directions
Authors: Zhao Zhongxiang
Published: November 2019

Satellite altimetry is one practical technique for observing internal tides on the global scale. However, it is a great challenge to extract weak internal tide signals. This paper presents a new technique for mapping internal tides from satellite altimeter data. Along‐track high‐pass filtering is needed to remove long‐wavelength nontidal noise and the barotropic tidal residual; however, the filter also removes internal tides having large angles with respect to satellite ground tracks. It thus causes blind directions in mapping internal tides from satellite altimetry: Generally west‐east propagating internal tides are missed. The new technique addresses the blind‐direction issue by replacing the problematic one‐dimensional (1‐D) high‐pass filter with a two‐dimensional (2‐D) band‐pass filter. This mapping technique is able to retrieve ubiquitous westbound and eastbound internal tides not captured in previous estimates. Long‐range westbound and eastbound waves travel over thousands of km from numerous generation sites such as the Emperor seamount chain, the Hawaiian Ridge, and the Kermadec trench. Evaluation using independent Cryosat‐2 data reveals that the new internal tide model may reduce more SSH variance than a model built in 2016 does in regions of strong internal tides. However, this mapping technique makes no improvement in strong boundary current regions, due to the dominance of mesoscale motions. Moreover, the new internal tide model contains leaked noise from westward propagating tropical instability waves (TIWs), which can be suppressed by prior along‐track high‐pass filtering. This paper suggests that better internal tide models may be constructed using both 1‐D and 2‐D filters with optimized parameters.
Insignificant QBO‐MJO Prediction Skill Relationship in the SubX and S2S Subseasonal Reforecasts
Authors: Kim Hyemi , Richter Jadwiga H. , Martin Zane
Published: November 2019

The impact of the stratospheric quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) on the prediction of the tropospheric Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO) is evaluated in reforecasts from nine models participating in subseasonal prediction projects, including the Subseasonal Experiment (SubX) and Subseasonal to Seasonal (S2S) projects. When MJO prediction skill is analyzed for December to February, MJO prediction skill is higher in the easterly phase of the QBO than the westerly phase, consistent with previous studies. However, the relationship between QBO phase and MJO prediction skill is not statistically significant for most models. This insignificant QBO‐MJO skill relationship is further confirmed by comparing two subseasonal reforecast experiments with the Community Earth System Model v1 using both a high‐top (46‐level) and low‐top (30‐level) version of the Community Atmosphere Model v5. While there are clear differences in the forecasted QBO between the two model top configurations, a negligible change is shown in the MJO prediction, indicating that the QBO in this model may not directly control the MJO prediction and supporting the insignificant QBO‐MJO skill relationship found in SubX and S2S models.
Diffusive processes in aqueous glass dissolution
Authors: Goût Thomas L. , Misra Sambuddha , Tipper Edward T. , Bohlin Madeleine S. , Guo Rui , Farnan Ian
Published: November 2019

High level nuclear waste is often immobilised in a borosilicate glass for disposal. However, this glass corrodes in contact with aqueous solutions. To predict radionuclide releases from wasteforms, their dissolution mechanisms must be understood. Understanding glass dissolution mechanisms presents a challenge across numerous other disciplines and many glass dissolution models still remain conflicted. Here we show that diffusion was a significant process during the later stages of dissolution of a simplified waste glass but was not evidenced during the initial stages of dissolution. The absence of measurable isotopic fractionation in solution initially supports models of congruent dissolution. However, the solution becoming isotopically lighter at later times evidences diffusive isotopic fractionation and opposes models that exclude diffusive transport as a significant mechanism. The periodically sampled isotopic methodologies outlined here provide an additional dimension with which to understand glass dissolution mechanisms beyond the usual measurement of solution concentrations and, post-process, nano-scale analysis of the altered glass.
Advance care planning in Parkinson’s disease: ethical challenges and future directions
Authors: Sokol Leonard L. , Young Michael J. , Paparian Jack , Kluger Benzi M. , Lum Hillary D. , Besbris Jessica , Kramer Neha M. , Lang Anthony E. , Espay Alberto J. , Dubaz Ornella M. , Miyasaki Janis M. , Matlock Daniel D. , Simuni Tanya , Cerf Moran
Published: November 2019

Recent discoveries support the principle that palliative care may improve the quality of life of patients with Parkinson’s disease and those who care for them. Advance care planning, a component of palliative care, provides a vehicle through which patients, families, and clinicians can collaborate to identify values, goals, and preferences early, as well as throughout the disease trajectory, to facilitate care concordant with patient wishes. While research on this topic is abundant in other life-limiting disorders, particularly in oncology, there is a paucity of data in Parkinson’s disease and related neurological disorders. We review and critically evaluate current practices on advance care planning through the analyses of three bioethical challenges pertinent to Parkinson’s disease and propose recommendations for each.
Percolation-based architecture for cluster state creation using photon-mediated entanglement between atomic memories
Authors: Choi Hyeongrak , Pant Mihir , Guha Saikat , Englund Dirk
Published: November 2019

A central challenge for many quantum technologies concerns the generation of large entangled states of individually addressable quantum memories. Here, we show that percolation theory allows the rapid generation of arbitrarily large graph states by heralding the entanglement in a lattice of atomic memories with single-photon detection. This approach greatly reduces the time required to produce large cluster states for quantum information processing including universal one-way quantum computing. This reduction puts our architecture in an operational regime where demonstrated coupling, collection, detection efficiencies, and coherence time are sufficient. The approach also dispenses the need for time-consuming feed-forward, high cooperativity interfaces and ancilla single photons, and can tolerate a high rate of site imperfections. We derive the minimum coherence time to scalably create large cluster states, as a function of photon-collection efficiency. We also propose a variant of the architecture with long-range connections, which is even more resilient to site yields. We analyze our architecture for nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, but the approach applies to any atomic or atom-like systems.
Electric field spectroscopy of material defects in transmon qubits
Authors: Lisenfeld Jürgen , Bilmes Alexander , Megrant Anthony , Barends Rami , Kelly Julian , Klimov Paul , Weiss Georg , Martinis John M. , Ustinov Alexey V.
Published: November 2019

Superconducting integrated circuits have demonstrated a tremendous potential to realize integrated quantum computing processors. However, the downside of the solid-state approach is that superconducting qubits suffer strongly from energy dissipation and environmental fluctuations caused by atomic-scale defects in device materials. Further progress towards upscaled quantum processors will require improvements in device fabrication techniques, which need to be guided by novel analysis methods to understand and prevent mechanisms of defect formation. Here, we present a technique to analyse individual defects in superconducting qubits by tuning them with applied electric fields. This provides a spectroscopy method to extract the defects’ energy distribution, electric dipole moments, and coherence times. Moreover, it enables one to distinguish defects residing in Josephson junction tunnel barriers from those at circuit interfaces. We find that defects at circuit interfaces are responsible for about 60% of the dielectric loss in the investigated transmon qubit sample. About 40% of all detected defects are contained in the tunnel barriers of the large-area parasitic Josephson junctions that occur collaterally in shadow evaporation, and only $$\approx$$≈3% are identified as strongly coupled defects, which presumably reside in the small-area qubit tunnel junctions. The demonstrated technique provides a valuable tool to assess the decoherence sources related to circuit interfaces and to tunnel junctions that is readily applicable to standard qubit samples.
Coral endosymbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) emit species-specific volatilomes that shift when exposed to thermal stress
Authors: Lawson Caitlin A. , Possell Malcolm , Seymour Justin R. , Raina Jean-Baptiste , Suggett David J.
Published: November 2019

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) influence organism fitness by promoting stress resistance and regulating trophic interactions. Studies examining BVOC emissions have predominantly focussed on terrestrial ecosystems and atmospheric chemistry – surprisingly, highly productive marine ecosystems remain largely overlooked. Here we examined the volatilome (total BVOCs) of the microalgal endosymbionts of reef invertebrates, Symbiodiniaceae. We used GC-MS to characterise five species (Symbiodinium linucheae, Breviolum psygmophilum, Durusdinium trenchii, Effrenium voratum, Fugacium kawagutii) under steady-state growth. A diverse range of 32 BVOCs were detected (from 12 in D. trenchii to 27 in S. linucheae) with halogenated hydrocarbons, alkanes and esters the most common chemical functional groups. A thermal stress experiment on thermally-sensitive Cladocopium goreaui and thermally-tolerant D. trenchii significantly affected the volatilomes of both species. More BVOCs were detected in D. trenchii following thermal stress (32 °C), while fewer BVOCs were recorded in stressed C. goreaui. The onset of stress caused dramatic increases of dimethyl-disulfide (98.52%) in C. goreaui and nonanoic acid (99.85%) in D. trenchii. This first volatilome analysis of Symbiodiniaceae reveals that both species-specificity and environmental factors govern the composition of BVOC emissions among the Symbiodiniaceae, which potentially have, as yet unexplored, physiological and ecological importance in shaping coral reef community functioning.
Differentially Expressed Genes between Carrot Petaloid Cytoplasmic Male Sterile and Maintainer during Floral Development
Authors: Liu Bo , Ou Chenggang , Chen Shumin , Cao Qiongwen , Zhao Zhiwei , Miao Zengjian , Kong Xiaoping , Zhuang Feiyun
Published: November 2019

Petaloid cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a maternally inherited loss of male fertility due to the complete conversion of stamens into petal-like organs, and CMS lines have been widely utilized in carrot breeding. Petaloid CMS is an ideal model not only for studying the mitochondrial–nuclear interaction but also for discovering genes that are essential for floral organ development. To investigate the comprehensive mechanism of CMS and homeotic organ alternation during carrot flower development, we conducted transcriptome analysis between the petaloid CMS line (P2S) and its maintainer line (P2M) at four flower developmental stages (T1–T4). A total of 2838 genes were found to be differentially expressed, among which 1495 genes were significantly downregulated and 1343 genes were significantly upregulated in the CMS line. Functional analysis showed that most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, plant hormone signal transduction, and biosynthesis. A total of 16 MADS-box genes were grouped into class A, B, C, and E, but not class D, genes. Several key genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation showed continuously low expression from stage T2 in P2S, and the expression of DcPI and DcAG-like genes also greatly decreased at stage T2 in P2S. This indicated that energy deficiency might inhibit the expression of B- and C-class MADS-box genes resulting in the conversion of stamens into petals. Stamen petaloidy may act as an intrinsic stress, upregulating the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) genes and MADS-box genes at stages T3 and T4 in P2S, which results in some fertile revertants. This study will provide a better understanding of carrot petaloid CMS and floral development as a basis for further research.
The detrimental effect of AlGaN barrier quality on carrier dynamics in AlGaN/GaN interface
Authors: Podlipskas Žydrūnas , Jurkevičius Jonas , Kadys Arūnas , Miasojedovas Saulius , Malinauskas Tadas , Aleksiejūnas Ramūnas
Published: November 2019

Carrier recombination and scattering at the semiconductor boundaries can substantially limit the device efficiency. However, surface and interface recombination is generally neglected in the nitride-based devices. Here, we study carrier recombination and diffusivity in AlGaN/GaN/sapphire heterointerfaces with AlGaN barriers of different quality. We employ the light induced transient grating and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy techniques to extract carrier lifetime in different depths of the GaN buffer as well as in the AlGaN barrier, and to evaluate the carrier diffusion coefficient in the buffer. Moreover, we assess interface recombination velocity, Shockley-Read-Hall and radiative recombination rates. We reveal the adverse barrier influence on carrier dynamics in the underlying buffer: AlGaN barrier accelerates the nonradiative carrier recombination in the GaN buffer. The interface recombination velocity in the GaN buffer increases with decreasing AlGaN barrier quality, and the dominating recombination mechanism switches from Shockley-Read-Hall to interface recombination. These phenomena are governed by a cumulative effect of various interface-deteriorating barrier defects. Meanwhile, the carrier diffusivity in the GaN buffer is not affected by the AlGaN barrier. We conclude that barrier-accelerated interface recombination can become a major carrier loss mechanism in AlGaN/GaN interface, and may substantially limit the efficiency in nitride-based UV LEDs.
Simulated NIR spectra as sensitive markers of the structure and interactions in nucleobases
Authors: Beć Krzysztof B. , Grabska Justyna , Ozaki Yukihiro , Czarnecki Mirosław A. , Huck Christan W.
Published: November 2019

Near-infrared (near-IR; NIR) spectroscopy is continuously advancing in biophysical and biochemical fields of investigation. For instance, recent progresses in NIR hyperspectral imaging of biological systems may be noted. However, interpretation of NIR bands for biological samples is difficult and creates a considerable barrier in exploring the full potential of NIR spectroscopy in bioscience. For this reason, we carried out a systematic study of NIR spectra of adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine in polycrystalline state. Interpretation of NIR spectra of these nucleobases was supported by anharmonic vibrational analysis using Deperturbed Vibrational Second-Order Perturbation Theory (DVPT2). A number of molecular models of nucleobases was applied to study the effect of the inter-molecular interactions on the NIR spectra. The accuracy of simulated NIR spectra appears to depend on the intra-layer interactions; in contrast, the inter-layer interactions are less influential. The best results were achieved by combining the simulated spectra of monomers and dimers. It is of particular note that in-plane deformation bands are far more populated than out-of-plane ones and the importance of ring modes is relatively small. This trend is in contrast to that observed in mid-IR region. As shown, the local, short-range chemical neighborhood of nucleobase molecules influence their NIR spectra more considerably. This suggests that NIR spectra are more sensitive probe of the nucleobase pairing than mid-IR ones. The obtained results allow, for the first time, to construct a frequency correlation table for NIR spectra of purines and pyrimidines.
Synthesis of Boron Nanosheets in Copper Medium
Authors: Zhao Shuo , Wu Yuying , Zhou Bo , Liu Xiangfa
Published: November 2019

Boron has a tendency to form bulk structures due to its unique electron-deficient property, so it’s hard for boron to form sheets in large quantities. Here, we report a novel method for the preparation of boron nanosheets in large quantities by copper medium. The method mainly includes mechanical exfoliation, recombination and extraction. A large number of boron nanosheets with a height of below 6 nm have been prepared in this work. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy results confirmed that the nanosheets possess the characteristics of α-rhombohedra boron and β-rhombohedra boron with a high content of boron. Hexagonal and rhombic sheets have been observed and two different growth processes are revealed successfully, which are also the basic structures of boron nanosheets. An interesting phenomenon also have been discovered that high density nanotwins exist in β-Rhombohedra boron sheets and it might stimulate more interest in growth of nanomaterials.
FGF Signalling in the Self-Renewal of Colon Cancer Organoids
Authors: Otte Jörg , Dizdar Levent , Behrens Bianca , Goering Wolfgang , Knoefel Wolfram T. , Wruck Wasco , Stoecklein Nikolas H. , Adjaye James
Published: November 2019

The progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) is supposedly driven by cancer stem cells (CSC) which are able to self-renew and simultaneously fuel bulk tumour mass with highly proliferative and differentiated tumour cells. However, the CSC-phenotype in CRC is unstable and dependent on environmental cues. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is essential and necessary for the maintenance of self-renewal in adult and embryonic stem cells. Investigating its role in self-renewal in advanced CRC patient-derived organoids, we unveiled that FGF-receptor (FGFR) inhibition prevents organoid formation in very early expanding cells but induces cyst formation when applied to pre-established organoids. Comprehensive transcriptome analyses revealed that the induction of the transcription factor activator-protein-1 (AP-1) together with MAPK activation was most prominent after FGFR-inhibition. These effects resemble mechanisms of an acquired resistance against other described tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as EGF-receptor targeted therapies. Furthermore, we detected elevated expression levels of several self-renewal and stemness-associated genes in organoid cultures with active FGF2 signalling. The combined data assume that CSCs are a heterogeneous population while self-renewal is a common feature regulated by distinct but converging pathways. Finally, we highlight FGF2 signalling as one of numerous components of the complex regulation of stemness in cancer.
Physiology and proteomic analysis reveals root, stem and leaf responses to potassium deficiency stress in alligator weed
Authors: Li Liqin , Lyu Chengcheng , Huang Luping , Chen Qian , Zhuo Wei , Wang Xiyao , Lu Yifei , Zeng Fuchun , Lu Liming
Published: November 2019

Alligator weed is reported to have a strong ability to adapt to potassium deficiency stress. Proteomic changes in response to this stress are largely unknown in alligator weed seedlings. In this study, we performed physiological and comparative proteomics of alligator weed seedlings between normal growth (CK) and potassium deficiency (LK) stress using 2-DE techniques, including root, stem and leaf tissues. Seedling height, soluble sugar content, PGK activity and H2O2 contents were significantly altered after 15 d of LK treatment. A total of 206 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified. There were 72 DEPs in the root, 79 in the stem, and 55 in the leaves. The proteomic results were verified using western blot and qRT-PCR assays. The most represented KEGG pathway was “Carbohydrate and energy metabolism” in the three samples. The “Protein degradation” pathway only existed in the stem and root, and the “Cell cycle” pathway only existed in the root. Protein-protein interaction analysis demonstrated that the interacting proteins detected were the most common in the stem, with 18 proteins. Our study highlights protein changes in alligator weed seedling under LK stress and provides new information on the comprehensive analysis of the protein network in plant potassium nutrition.
Single-Sensor Source Localization Using Electromagnetic Time Reversal and Deep Transfer Learning: Application to Lightning
Authors: Mostajabi Amirhossein , Karami Hamidreza , Azadifar Mohammad , Ghasemi Alireza , Rubinstein Marcos , Rachidi Farhad
Published: November 2019

Electromagnetic Time Reversal (EMTR) has been used to locate different types of electromagnetic sources. We propose a novel technique based on the combination of EMTR and Machine Learning (ML) for source localization. We show for the first time that ML techniques can be used in conjunction with EMTR to reduce the required number of sensors to only one for the localization of electromagnetic sources in the presence of scatterers. In the EMTR part, we use 2D-FDTD method to generate 2D profiles of the vertical electric field as RGB images. Next, in the ML part, we take advantage of transfer learning techniques by using the pretrained VGG-19 Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) as the feature extractor tool. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the knowledge of pretrained CNNs is applied to simulation-generated images. We demonstrate the skill of the developed methodology in localizing two kinds of electromagnetic sources, namely RF sources with a bandwidth of 0.1–10 MHz and lightning impulses. For the localization of lightning, based on the experimental recordings in the Säntis region, the new approach enables accurate 2D lightning localization using only one sensor, as opposed to current lightning location systems that need at least two sensors to operate.
Novel ACE inhibitory tripeptides from ovotransferrin using bioinformatics and peptidomics approaches
Authors: Yu Zhipeng , Chen Yang , Zhao Wenzhu , Zheng Fuping , Ding Long , Liu Jingbo
Published: November 2019

Food-derived ACE inhibitory peptides have recently attracted increased attention. This work focused on a more efficient in silico method to find ACE inhibitory peptides from ovotransferrin. In this work, ovotransferrin was digested into peptides by virtual enzymolysis. Subsequently, in vitro ACE inhibitory activity of potential tripeptides was conducted following the peptide score, toxicity, and water solubility prediction. Both pharmacophore study and flexible docking were applied to analyze ACE inhibition mechanism of tripeptides. Our results demonstrated that EWL was a potent ACE inhibitory tripeptide with IC50 value of 380 ± 10 μM. Besides, pharmacophore and flexible docking showed that the pi interaction and hydrogen bond were the key interactions in ACE-EWL complex. It appears that the in vitro ACE inhibitory activity of tripeptide EWL was consistent with its molecular modeling.
Longitudinal study of the bacterial and fungal microbiota in the human sinuses reveals seasonal and annual changes in diversity
Authors: Wagner Mackenzie Brett , Chang Kevin , Zoing Melissa , Jain Ravi , Hoggard Michael , Biswas Kristi , Douglas Richard G. , Taylor Michael W.
Published: November 2019

There is a pressing need for longitudinal studies which examine the stability of the sinonasal microbiota. In this study, we investigated bacterial and fungal community composition of the sinuses of four healthy individuals every month for one year, then once every three months for an additional year to capture seasonal variation. Sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS2 revealed communities that were mainly dominated by members ofActinobacteriaandBasidiomycota, respectively. We observed overall shifts in both bacterial and fungal community diversity that were attributable to a combination of individual, seasonal and annual changes. The results suggest that each of the subjects possessed a strong bacterial sinonasal signature, but that fungal communities were less subject specific. Differences in fungal and bacterial diversity between subjects, and which OTUs may be correlated with seasonal differences, were investigated. A small core community that persisted throughout the two year sampling period was identified:Corynebacterium,PropionibacteriumandStaphylococcus, and one type of fungus,Malassezia restricta. It is likely that bacterial and fungal airway microbiomes are dynamic and experience natural shifts in diversity with time. The underlying reasons for these shifts appear to be a combination of changes in environmental climate and host factors.
Functionalized Graphene Quantum Dot Interfaced Electrochemical Detection of Cardiac Troponin I: An Antibody Free Approach
Authors: Lakshmanakumar Muthaiyan , Nesakumar Noel , Sethuraman Swaminathan , Rajan K. S. , Krishnan Uma Maheswari , Rayappan John Bosco Balaguru
Published: November 2019

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the world every year. The design and development of biosensors for the detection of CVD markers could be one of the major contributions of the scientific community to society. In this context, acetic acid functionalized graphene quantum dots (fGQDs) were used as an interface for the electrochemical detection of cardiac Troponin I (cTnI). The interaction of cTnI with fGQDs for the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry. The carbodiimide conjugation between the N-H group of cTnI and the functionalized COOH group on GQDs enabled the detection of cTnI biomarker. The same sensing mechanism was confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR). The fGQDs modified Au electrode showed remarkable electrocatalytic oxidation of cTnI with good stability and sensitivity over a linear range of 0.17 to 3 ng mL−1 and a low detection limit of 0.02 ng mL−1. Bland-Altman plots substantiate a bias between the intra-/inter-cTnI assay and calibrated cTnI assay with 95% limits of agreement (mean difference ± 1.96 SD). The aim of this study is to describe an innovative method to detect cardiac biomarker cTnI and provide preliminary data on its diagnostic capacity. At the same time, its applicability in clinical setting will have to be validated with a significant number of samples collected from patients.
Immunocytochemical studies on the distribution of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) as a response to fungal infection in Malus x domestica fruit
Authors: Leszczuk Agata , Pieczywek Piotr M. , Gryta Agata , Frąc Magdalena , Zdunek Artur
Published: November 2019

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are cell components implicated in plant-microbe interactions. Despite the significance of AGPs in response to stress factors, their distribution during development of fungal disease in fruit is unknown. In our work, in situ analysis of AGP arrangement in fruit inoculated with Penicillium spinulosum during the consecutive days of infection development was carried out. For immunolocalization of AGPs, samples were incubated with JIM13, MAC207, LM2, and LM14 antibodies recognizing the AGP carbohydrate moieties. To analyse cell walls without proper action of AGP, an experiment with β-glucosyl Yariv reagent specifically binding AGPs was performed. The results showed an increase of signal fluorescence in the fruit after 16 days of fungal disease. Higher amounts of the examined epitopes were observed in the infection-altered sites of the fruit, in close vicinity to a surface filled by fungal spores. The results indicate that the Yariv reagent treatment induced progress of the fungal disease. Changes in the AGP presence during the fungal disease confirmed their involvement in defence against pathogen attack in fruit.
Effects of nitric oxide-releasing nanoparticles on neotropical tree seedlings submitted to acclimation under full sun in the nursery
Authors: Lopes-Oliveira Patrícia Juliana , Gomes Diego Genuário , Pelegrino Milena Trevisan , Bianchini Edmilson , Pimenta José Antonio , Stolf-Moreira Renata , Seabra Amedea Barozzi , Oliveira Halley Caixeta
Published: November 2019

Polymeric nanoparticles have emerged as carrier systems for molecules that release nitric oxide (NO), a free radical involved in plant stress responses. However, to date, nanoencapsulated NO donors have not been applied to plants under realistic field conditions. Here, we verified the effects of free and nanoencapsulated NO donor, S-nitroso-mercaptosuccinic acid (S-nitroso-MSA), on growth, physiological and biochemical parameters of neotropical tree seedlings kept under full sunlight in the nursery for acclimation. S-nitroso-MSA incorporation into chitosan nanoparticles partially protected the NO donor from thermal and photochemical degradation. The application of nanoencapsulated S-nitroso-MSA in the substrate favoured the growth of seedlings of Heliocarpus popayanensis, a shade-intolerant tree. In contrast, free S-nitroso-MSA or nanoparticles containing non-nitrosated mercaptosuccinic acid reduced photosynthesis and seedling growth. Seedlings of Cariniana estrellensis, a shade-tolerant tree, did not have their photosynthesis and growth affected by any formulations, despite the increase of foliar S-nitrosothiol levels mainly induced by S-nitroso-MSA-loaded nanoparticles. These results suggest that depending on the tree species, nanoencapsulated NO donors can be used to improve seedling acclimation in the nursery.
Challenges of developing a digital scribe to reduce clinical documentation burden
Authors: Quiroz Juan C. , Laranjo Liliana , Kocaballi Ahmet Baki , Berkovsky Shlomo , Rezazadegan Dana , Coiera Enrico
Published: November 2019

Clinicians spend a large amount of time on clinical documentation of patient encounters, often impacting quality of care and clinician satisfaction, and causing physician burnout. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) open the possibility of automating clinical documentation with digital scribes, using speech recognition to eliminate manual documentation by clinicians or medical scribes. However, developing a digital scribe is fraught with problems due to the complex nature of clinical environments and clinical conversations. This paper identifies and discusses major challenges associated with developing automated speech-based documentation in clinical settings: recording high-quality audio, converting audio to transcripts using speech recognition, inducing topic structure from conversation data, extracting medical concepts, generating clinically meaningful summaries of conversations, and obtaining clinical data for AI and ML algorithms.
A conserved odorant binding protein is required for essential amino acid detection in Drosophila
Authors: Rihani Karen , Fraichard Stéphane , Chauvel Isabelle , Poirier Nicolas , Delompré Thomas , Neiers Fabrice , Tanimura Teiichi , Ferveur Jean-François , Briand Loïc
Published: November 2019

Animals need to detect in the food essential amino acids that they cannot synthesize. We found that the odorant binding protein OBP19b, which is highly expressed in Drosophila melanogaster taste sensilla, is necessary for the detection of several amino acids including the essential l-phenylalanine. The recombinant OBP19b protein was produced and characterized for its binding properties: it stereoselectively binds to several amino acids. Using a feeding-choice assay, we found that OBP19b is necessary for detecting l-phenylalanine and l-glutamine, but not l-alanine or D-phenylalanine. We mapped the cells expressing OBP19b and compared the electrophysiological responses of a single taste sensillum to several amino acids: OBP19b mutant flies showed a reduced response compared to control flies when tested to preferred amino acids, but not to the other ones. OBP19b is well conserved in phylogenetically distant species suggesting that this protein is necessary for detection of specific amino acids in insects.
Correction: Silk based scaffolds with immunomodulatory capacity: anti-inflammatory effects of nicotinic acid
Authors: Siavashani Abdollah Zakeri , Mohammadi Javad , Maniura-Weber Katharina , Senturk Berna , Nourmohammadi Jhamak , Sadeghi Behnam , Huber Lukas , Rottmar Markus
Published: November 2019

Correction for ‘Silk based scaffolds with immunomodulatory capacity: anti-inflammatory effects of nicotinic acid’ by Abdollah Zakeri Siavashani et al., Biomater. Sci., 2019, DOI: 10.1039/c9bm00814d.
A cascade approach to 3D cyclic carbamates via an ionic decarboxylative functionalization of olefinic oxamic acids
Authors: Fan Huaqiang , Wan Yi , Pan Peng , Cai Wenbin , Liu Shihui , Liu Chuanxu , Zhang Yongqiang
Published: November 2019

An m-CPBA-mediated intramolecular epoxidation-decarboxylative alkoxylation cascade reaction of olefinic oxamic acids has been developed.
A fluorescent hydrazone exchange probe of pyridoxal phosphate for the assessment of vitamin B6 status
Authors: Jun Yong Woong , Hebenbrock Marian , Kool Eric T.
Published: November 2019

A new fluorogenic probe based on exchange of hydrazones is described. The probe (Ac-RAB6) is selective for pyridoxal phosphate among the B6 vitamins and other cellular aldehydes, and enables the assessment of abnormal vitamin B6 status in cells.
Fast prediction of oxygen reduction reaction activity on carbon nanotubes with a localized geometric descriptor
Authors: Yang Kunran , Zaffran Jeremie , Yang Bo
Published: November 2019

By using the pyramidalization angle as a localized geometric descriptor for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), we show the ORR activity of these systems can be readily predicted with mere structural optimization of CNTs.
Synchronously voltage-manipulable spin reversing and selecting assisted by exchange coupling in a monomeric dimer with magnetic interface
Authors: Xiong Yong-Chen , Zhou Wang-Huai , Nan Nan , Ma Ya-Nan , Li Wei
Published: November 2019

A designed molecular device within which electronically-manipulable spin reversal and spin selection can be achieved simultaneously.
An unsymmetrical covalent organic polymer for catalytic amide synthesis
Authors: Yadav Deepika , Awasthi Satish Kumar
Published: November 2019

Herein, we present the first report on the Covalent Organic Polymer (COP) directed non-classical synthesis of an amide bond. An economical route has been chosen for the synthesis of APC-COP using p-aminophenol and cyanuric chloride.
Lewis or Brønsted acid-catalysed reaction of propargylic alcohol-tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes with indoles and pyrroles for the preparation of polycyclic compounds tethered with indole or pyrrole motif
Authors: Wei Hao-Zhao , Yu Liu-Zhu , Shi Min
Published: November 2019

We developed a facile synthetic method to access the cyclopenta[b]naphthalene skeleton from Lewis or Brønsted acid-catalysed propargylic alcohol-tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes with indole and pyrrole derivatives.
Design, synthesis and cytotoxicity of novel hexacyclic saframycin–ecteinascidin analogs
Authors: Lu Xiangran , Pan Xuan , Guan Baohe , Liu Zhanzhu
Published: November 2019

Two series of novel tetrahydroisoquinoline–tetrahydrocarboline hybrid derivatives were prepared and their cytotoxicities were tested.
A supramolecular hydrophobic guest transport system based on a biological macrocycle
Authors: Ge Yan , Shen Xin , Cao Hongqian , Hao Yuchong , Jin Lin , Shang Jie , Wang Yangxin , Pan Tiezheng , Qi Zhenhui
Published: November 2019

A highly biocompatible biogenic macrocycle was utilized to enhance the water-solubility and pH stability of the potent antineoplastic agent SN38.
Heterostructured intermetallic CuSn catalysts: high performance towards the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate
Authors: Wang Jigang , Zou Jiasui , Hu Xiao , Ning Shunlian , Wang Xiujun , Kang Xiongwu , Chen Shaowei
Published: November 2019

Electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) into fuels and chemicals is an appealing approach to tackle CO2 emission challenges.
High-mobility nanometer-thick crystalline In–Sm–O thin-film transistors via aqueous solution processing
Authors: Li Yanwei , Zhu Deliang , Xu Wangying , Han Shun , Fang Ming , Liu Wenjun , Cao Peijiang , Lu Youming
Published: November 2019

We demonstrated aqueous solution-processed In–Sm–O TFTs with state-of-the-art performance.
Regulation of FKBP51 and FKBP52 functions by post-translational modifications
Authors: Daneri-Becerra Cristina , Zgajnar Nadia R. , Lotufo Cecilia M. , Ramos Hryb Ana B. , Piwien-Pilipuk Graciela , Galigniana Mario D.
Published: November 2019

FKBP51 and FKBP52 are two iconic members of the family of peptidyl-prolyl-(cis/trans)-isomerases (EC: 5.2.1.8), which comprises proteins that catalyze the cis/trans isomerization of peptidyl-prolyl peptide bonds in unfolded and partially folded polypeptide chains and native state proteins. Originally, both proteins have been studied as molecular chaperones belonging to the steroid receptor heterocomplex, where they were first discovered. In addition to their expected role in receptor folding and chaperoning, FKBP51 and FKBP52 are also involved in many biological processes, such as signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, protein transport, cancer development, and cell differentiation, just to mention a few examples. Recent studies have revealed that both proteins are subject of post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, SUMOlyation, and acetylation. In this work, we summarize recent advances in the study of these immunophilins portraying them as scaffolding proteins capable to organize protein heterocomplexes, describing some of their antagonistic properties in the physiology of the cell, and the putative regulation of their properties by those post-translational modifications.