bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automatic Detection of Volcanic Surface Deformation Using Deep Learning
Authors: Sun Jian , Wauthier Christelle , Stephens Kirsten , Gervais Melissa , Cervone Guido , La Femina Peter , Higgins Machel
Published: September 2020

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) provides subcentimetric measurements of surface displacements, which are key for characterizing and monitoring magmatic processes in volcanic regions. The abundant measurements of surface displacements in multitemporal InSAR data routinely acquired by SAR satellites can facilitate near real‐time volcano monitoring on a global basis. However, the presence of atmospheric signals in interferograms complicates the interpretation of those InSAR measurements, which can even lead to a misinterpretation of InSAR signals and volcanic unrest. Given the vast quantities of SAR data available, an automatic InSAR data processing and denoising approach is required to separate volcanic signals that are cause of concern from atmospheric signals and noise. In this study, we employ a deep learning strategy that directly removes atmospheric and other noise signals from time‐consecutive unwrapped surface displacements obtained through an InSAR time series approach using an end‐to‐end convolutional neural network (CNN) with an encoder‐decoder architecture, modified U‐net. The CNN is trained with simulated synthetic unwrapped surface displacement maps and is then applied to real InSAR data. Our proposed architecture is capable of detecting dynamic spatio‐temporal patterns of volcanic surface displacements. We find that an ensemble‐average strategy is recommended to stabilize detected results for varying deformation rates and signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNRs). A case study is also presented where this method is applied to InSAR data covering Masaya volcano, Nicaragua and the results are validated using continuous GPS data. The results confirm that our network can indeed efficiently suppress atmospheric and other noise to reveal the noise‐free surface deformation.
Does Low‐Viscosity Fracturing Fluid Always Create Complex Fractures?
Authors: Chen Zhiqiang , Elsworth Derek , Wang Moran
Published: September 2020

Lower viscosity fluids are commonly believed to be able to create more complex fractures in hydraulic fracturing; however, the mechanism remains stubbornly unclear. We use a new grain‐scale model with accurate coupling of hydrodynamic forces to simulate the propagation of fluid‐driven fracturing. The results clarify that fracturing fluid with a lower viscosity does not always create more complex fractures. The heterogeneity in the rock exerts the principal control on systematic evolution of fracture complexity. In homogeneous rock, low viscosity fluids result in low breakdown pressure, but viscosity exerts little influence on fracture complexity. However, in heterogeneous rock, lower viscosity can lead to more complex network of fracturing. A regime map shows the dependence of fracture complexity on the degree of rock heterogeneity where low viscosity fracturing fluid more readily permeates weak defects and creates complex fracture networks.
Cold Water Upwelling Near the Anadyr Strait: Observations and Simulations
Authors: Kawaguchi Yusuke , Nishioka Jun , Nishino Shigeto , Fujio Shinzou , Lee Keunjong , Fujiwara Amane , Yanagimoto Daigo , Mitsudera Humio , Yasuda Ichiro
Published: September 2020

Anadyr Strait, located at the northernmost reaches of the Bering Sea, influences pan‐Arctic climate through processes occurring in the strait as the Siberian Coastal Current carries water from the subpolar North Pacific Ocean into the western Arctic Ocean. A sharp sea surface temperature front near the Anadyr Strait segregates a tongue‐shaped mass of warm water from areas of cold‐water upwelling proximate to the Siberian coast. To clarify dynamical processes in this region, we conducted shipboard observations through and near the Anadyr and Bering straits during the summers of 2017 and 2018. Microstructure measurements show enhanced turbulence near the sea floor as strong throughflow occurs in the narrow straits. Direct observations of ocean currents indicate that the semidiurnal barotropic tide partly contributes to the near‐bottom currents driving mixing. Frictional effects accompanying the barotropic current are examined using a three‐dimensional regional model. Bottom friction produces a westward Ekman current in the bottom boundary layer, which then causes upwelling of underlying cold water on the western (Siberian) side of the Anadyr Strait. Secondary circulation across the strait is also maintained by the near‐surface eastward velocity, which is established by the steep slope of the main thermocline.
Description of Chemical Transport in Laboratory Rock Cores Using the Continuous Random Walk Formalism
Authors: Kurotori Takeshi , Zahasky Christopher , Benson Sally M. , Pini Ronny
Published: September 2020

We investigate chemical transport in laboratory rock cores using unidirectional pulse tracer experiments. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) measured at various flow rates in one sandstone and two carbonate samples are interpreted using the one‐dimensional Continuous Time Random Walk (CTRW) formulation with a truncated power law (TPL) model. Within the same framework, we evaluate additional memory functions to consider the Advection‐Dispersion Equation (ADE) and its extension to describe mass exchange between mobile and immobile solute phases (Single‐Rate Mass Transfer model, SRMT). To provide physical constraints to the models, parameters are identified that do not depend on the flow rate. While the ADE fails systematically at describing the effluent profiles for the carbonates, the SRMT and TPL formulations provide excellent fits to the measurements. They both yield a linear correlation between the dispersion coefficient and the Péclet number (DL ∝ Pe for
), and the longitudinal dispersivity is found to be significantly larger than the equivalent grain diameter, De. The BTCs of the carbonate rocks show clear signs of nonequilibrium effects. While the SRMT model explicitly accounts for the presence of microporous regions (up to 30% of the total pore space), in the TPL formulation the time scales of both advective and diffusive processes (t1(Pe) and t2) are associated with two characteristic heterogeneity length scales (
and l, respectively). We observed that l ≈ 2.5 × De and that anomalous transport arises when
. In this context, the SRMT and TPL formulations provide consistent, yet complementary, insight into the nature of anomalous transport in laboratory rock cores.
Vector Field‐Based Simulation of Tree‐Like Nonstationary Geostatistical Models
Authors: Vargas V. L. , Pesco S.
Published: September 2020

In this work, a new nonstationary multiple‐point geostatistical methodology called vector field‐based simulation is presented. This method generates multiple realizations of the phenomena being modeled, whose spatial continuity is described by a training image. It can be applied in reservoir characterization and can be used to study the behavior of hydrogeological systems. The main novelty of this work is that nonstationarity is addressed through a vector field inferred from the training image. This field represents the directions in which the image develops and controls the multiple‐point statistics methods (MPS) simulation. Additionally, our simulation is adapted to support hard data conditioning. The method is tested, and the realizations exhibit a similar morphology as the training image but with substantial variability. Furthermore, in the results it can be seen that the connectivity presented in the training image is preserved.
Comparative genomics reveals insights into cyanobacterial evolution and habitat adaptation
Authors: Chen Meng-Yun , Teng Wen-Kai , Zhao Liang , Hu Chun-Xiang , Zhou Yang-Kai , Han Bo-Ping , Song Li-Rong , Shu Wen-Sheng
Published: September 2020

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes that inhabit diverse aquatic and terrestrial environments. However, the evolutionary mechanisms involved in the cyanobacterial habitat adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, based on phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses of 650 cyanobacterial genomes, we investigated the genetic basis of cyanobacterial habitat adaptation (marine, freshwater, and terrestrial). We show: (1) the expansion of gene families is a common strategy whereby terrestrial cyanobacteria cope with fluctuating environments, whereas the genomes of many marine strains have undergone contraction to adapt to nutrient-poor conditions. (2) Hundreds of genes are strongly associated with specific habitats. Genes that are differentially abundant in genomes of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial cyanobacteria were found to be involved in light sensing and absorption, chemotaxis, nutrient transporters, responses to osmotic stress, etc., indicating the importance of these genes in the survival and adaptation of organisms in specific habitats. (3) A substantial fraction of genes that facilitate the adaptation of Cyanobacteria to specific habitats are contributed by horizontal gene transfer, and such genetic exchanges are more frequent in terrestrial cyanobacteria. Collectively, our results further our understandings of the adaptations of Cyanobacteria to different environments, highlighting the importance of ecological constraints imposed by the environment in shaping the evolution of Cyanobacteria.
Reactive oxygen species mediate anlotinib-induced apoptosis via activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Yang Liguo , Zhou Xiaoshu , Sun Jinrui , Lei Qianghui , Wang Qi , Pan Di , Ding Mingxing , Ding Yi
Published: September 2020

Anlotinib (AL3818), a novel multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has recently been proven to be an antitumour drug. This study aimed to explore the antitumour effect of anlotinib and its underlying molecular mechanisms in human pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. The anti-proliferative effect of anlotinib for three PC cell lines was validated using CCK-8, colony formation and EdU detection assays. Cell cycle, cell apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection assays, a PC xenograft model and immunohistochemistry were performed to elucidate the mechanisms by which anlotinib induced tumour lethality in vitro and in vivo. These results demonstrated that anlotinib inhibited proliferation, induced G2/M phase arrest and triggered apoptosis in PC cell lines. Anlotinib induced PC’s apoptosis through the accumulation of ROS which activated the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress via PERK/p-eIF2α/ATF4 pathway. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the expression level of Nrf2, an antioxidant protein, increased with anlotinib treatment. Nrf2 knockdown enhanced the pro-apoptotic effect of anlotinib and the expression of the PERK/p-eIF2α/ATF4 pathway. The in vivo results suggested that suppressing Nrf2 improved the antitumour effect of anlotinib on PC cells. These data indicated that the apoptotic effect of anlotinib on PC cells was induced by ER stress via the accumulation of ROS. In the future, anlotinib combined with an Nrf2 inhibitor may provide a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of human PC.
LncRNA MM2P-induced, exosome-mediated transfer of Sox9 from monocyte-derived cells modulates primary chondrocytes
Authors: Bai Jinyu , Zhang Yingzi , Zheng Xin , Huang Man , Cheng Weinan , Shan Huajian , Gao Xiang , Zhang Mingchao , Sheng Lei , Dai Jun , Deng Yekun , Zhang Hong , Zhou Xiaozhong
Published: September 2020

Monocyte-derived cells were shown to promote cartilage repair in osteoarthritis. The role of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MM2P in this function of monocyte-derived cells remained unexplored. Treatment of RAW264.7 murine macrophages and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages with IL-4 or IL-13 upregulated MM2P expression, upstream of STAT3 and STAT6 phosphorylation. Specifically, MM2P blocked SHP2-mediated dephosphorylation of STAT3 at Try705 and interacted with the RNA-binding protein FUS. In turn, p-STAT3 increased the Sox9 gene expression. These cells released Sox9 mRNA and protein-containing exosomes, as demonstrated by a transmission electron microscope, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and detection of typical surface markers. Their culture supernatant promoted the differentiation of mouse primary chondrocytes, i.e., upregulated the expression of Col1a2 and Acan genes and promoted the secretion of extracellular matrix components proteoglycan and type II collagen. These effects were mediated by Sox9 mRNA and protein delivered to chondrocytes by exosomes. Together, ex vivo treatment of monocyte-derived cells with IL-4 or IL-13 promoted chondrocyte differentiation and functions through exosome-mediated delivery of Sox9 mRNA and protein.
ALG13 participates in epileptogenesis via regulation of GABAA receptors in mouse models
Authors: Huo Junming , Ren Shuanglai , Gao Peng , Wan Ding , Rong Shikuo , Li Xinxiao , Liu Shenhai , Xu Siying , Sun Kuisheng , Guo Baorui , Wang Peng , Yu Baoli , Wu Ji , Wang Feng , Sun Tao
Published: September 2020

ALG13 (asparagine-linked glycosylation 13) plays crucial roles in the process of N-linked glycosylation. Mutations of the ALG13 gene underlie congenital disorders of glycosylation type I (CDG-I), a rare human genetic disorder with defective glycosylation. Epilepsy is commonly observed in congenital disorders of glycosylation type I (CDG-I). In our study, we found that about 20% of adult ALG13KO knockout mice display spontaneous seizures, which were identified in a simultaneous video and intracranial EEG recording. However, the mechanisms of ALG13 by which deficiency leads to epilepsy are unknown. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings demonstrated that ALG13KO mice show a marked decrease in gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABAAR)-mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission. Furthermore, treatment with low-dose diazepam (a positive allosteric modulator of GABAA receptors), which enhances GABAAR function, also markedly ameliorates severity of epileptic seizures in ALG13KO mice. Moreover, ALG13 may influenced the expression of GABAARα2 membrane and total protein by changing transcription level of GABAARα2. Furthermore, protein interactions between ALG13 and GABAARα2 were observed in the cortex of wild-type mice. Overall, these results reveal that ALG13 may be involved in the occurrence of epilepsy through the regulation of GABAAR function, and may provide new insight into epilepsy prevention and treatment.
EDIL3 promotes epithelial–mesenchymal transition and paclitaxel resistance through its interaction with integrin αVβ3 in cancer cells
Authors: Gasca J. , Flores M. L. , Jiménez-Guerrero R. , Sáez M. E. , Barragán I. , Ruíz-Borrego M. , Tortolero M. , Romero F. , Sáez C. , Japón M. A.
Published: September 2020

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) has recently been associated with tumor progression, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance in several tumor types. We performed a differential gene expression analysis comparing paclitaxel-resistant vs. paclitaxel-sensitive breast cancer cells that showed the upregulation ofEDIL3(EGF Like Repeats and Discoidin I Like Domains Protein 3). This gene codifies an extracellular matrix protein that has been identified as a novel regulator of EMT, so we studied its role in tumor progression and paclitaxel response. Our results demonstrated that EDIL3 expression levels were increased in paclitaxel-resistant breast and prostate cancer cells, and in subsets of high-grade breast and prostate tumors. Moreover, we observed that EDIL3 modulated the expression of EMT markers and this was impaired by cilengitide, which blocks the EDIL3–integrin αVβ3interaction. EDIL3 knockdown reverted EMT and sensitized cells to paclitaxel. In contrast, EDIL3 overexpression or the culture of cells in the presence of EDIL3-enriched medium induced EMT and paclitaxel resistance. Adding cilengitide resensitized these cells to paclitaxel treatment. In summary, EDIL3 may contribute to EMT and paclitaxel resistance through autocrine or paracrine signaling in cancer cells. Blockade of EDIL3–integrin αVβ3interaction by cilengitide restores sensitivity to paclitaxel and reverts EMT in paclitaxel-resistant cancer cells. Combinations of cilengitide and taxanes could be beneficial in the treatment of subsets of breast and prostate cancers.
Reinforcing materials modelling by encoding the structures of defects in crystalline solids into distortion scores
Authors: Goryaeva Alexandra M. , Lapointe Clovis , Dai Chendi , Dérès Julien , Maillet Jean-Bernard , Marinica Mihai-Cosmin
Published: September 2020

This work revises the concept of defects in crystalline solids and proposes a universal strategy for their characterization at the atomic scale using outlier detection based on statistical distances. The proposed strategy provides a generic measure that describes the distortion score of local atomic environments. This score facilitates automatic defect localization and enables a stratified description of defects, which allows to distinguish the zones with different levels of distortion within the structure. This work proposes applications for advanced materials modelling ranging from the surrogate concept for the energy per atom to the relevant information selection for evaluation of energy barriers from the mean force. Moreover, this concept can serve for design of robust interatomic machine learning potentials and high-throughput analysis of their databases. The proposed definition of defects opens up many perspectives for materials design and characterization, promoting thereby the development of novel techniques in materials science.
Using synchronized oscillators to compute the maximum independent set
Authors: Mallick Antik , Bashar Mohammad Khairul , Truesdell Daniel S. , Calhoun Benton H. , Joshi Siddharth , Shukla Nikhil
Published: September 2020

Not all computing problems are created equal. The inherent complexity of processing certain classes of problems using digital computers has inspired the exploration of alternate computing paradigms. Coupled oscillators exhibiting rich spatio-temporal dynamics have been proposed for solving hard optimization problems. However, the physical implementation of such systems has been constrained to small prototypes. Consequently, the computational properties of this paradigm remain inadequately explored. Here, we demonstrate an integrated circuit of thirty oscillators with highly reconfigurable coupling to compute optimal/near-optimal solutions to the archetypally hard Maximum Independent Set problem with over 90% accuracy. This platform uniquely enables us to characterize the dynamical and computational properties of this hardware approach. We show that the Maximum Independent Set is more challenging to compute in sparser graphs than in denser ones. Finally, using simulations we evaluate the scalability of the proposed approach. Our work marks an important step towards enabling application-specific analog computing platforms to solve computationally hard problems.
A systematic review of antibody mediated immunity to coronaviruses: kinetics, correlates of protection, and association with severity
Authors: Huang Angkana T. , Garcia-Carreras Bernardo , Hitchings Matt D. T. , Yang Bingyi , Katzelnick Leah C. , Rattigan Susan M. , Borgert Brooke A. , Moreno Carlos A. , Solomon Benjamin D. , Trimmer-Smith Luke , Etienne Veronique , Rodriguez-Barraquer Isabel , Lessler Justin , Salje Henrik , Burke Donald S. , Wesolowski Amy , Cummings Derek A. T.
Published: September 2020

Many public health responses and modeled scenarios for COVID-19 outbreaks caused by SARS-CoV-2 assume that infection results in an immune response that protects individuals from future infections or illness for some amount of time. The presence or absence of protective immunity due to infection or vaccination (when available) will affect future transmission and illness severity. Here, we review the scientific literature on antibody immunity to coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 as well as the related SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and endemic human coronaviruses (HCoVs). We reviewed 2,452 abstracts and identified 491 manuscripts relevant to 5 areas of focus: 1) antibody kinetics, 2) correlates of protection, 3) immunopathogenesis, 4) antigenic diversity and cross-reactivity, and 5) population seroprevalence. While further studies of SARS-CoV-2 are necessary to determine immune responses, evidence from other coronaviruses can provide clues and guide future research.
Extracellular bacterial lymphatic metastasis drives Streptococcus pyogenes systemic infection
Authors: Siggins Matthew K. , Lynskey Nicola N. , Lamb Lucy E. , Johnson Louise A. , Huse Kristin K. , Pearson Max , Banerji Suneale , Turner Claire E. , Woollard Kevin , Jackson David G. , Sriskandan Shiranee
Published: September 2020

Unassisted metastasis through the lymphatic system is a mechanism of dissemination thus far ascribed only to cancer cells. Here, we report that Streptococcus pyogenes also hijack lymphatic vessels to escape a local infection site, transiting through sequential lymph nodes and efferent lymphatic vessels to enter the bloodstream. Contrasting with previously reported mechanisms of intracellular pathogen carriage by phagocytes, we show S. pyogenes remain extracellular during transit, first in afferent and then efferent lymphatics that carry the bacteria through successive draining lymph nodes. We identify streptococcal virulence mechanisms important for bacterial lymphatic dissemination and show that metastatic streptococci within infected lymph nodes resist and subvert clearance by phagocytes, enabling replication that can seed intense bloodstream infection. The findings establish the lymphatic system as both a survival niche and conduit to the bloodstream for S. pyogenes, explaining the phenomenon of occult bacteraemia. This work provides new perspectives in streptococcal pathogenesis with implications for immunity.
Ring-opening polymerization-induced crystallization-driven self-assembly of poly-L-lactide-block-polyethylene glycol block copolymers (ROPI-CDSA)
Authors: Hurst Paul J. , Rakowski Alexander M. , Patterson Joseph P.
Published: September 2020

The self-assembly of block copolymers into 1D, 2D and 3D nano- and microstructures is of great interest for a wide range of applications. A key challenge in this field is obtaining independent control over molecular structure and hierarchical structure in all dimensions using scalable one-pot chemistry. Here we report on the ring opening polymerization-induced crystallization-driven self-assembly (ROPI-CDSA) of poly-L-lactide-block-polyethylene glycol block copolymers into 1D, 2D and 3D nanostructures. A key feature of ROPI-CDSA is that the polymerization time is much shorter than the self-assembly relaxation time, resulting in a non-equilibrium self-assembly process. The self-assembly mechanism is analyzed by cryo-transmission electron microscopy, wide-angle x-ray scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and turbidity studies. The analysis revealed that the self-assembly mechanism is dependent on both the polymer molecular structure and concentration. Knowledge of the self-assembly mechanism enabled the kinetic trapping of multiple hierarchical structures from a single block copolymer.
The lysophospholipase D enzyme Gdpd3 is required to maintain chronic myelogenous leukaemia stem cells
Authors: Naka Kazuhito , Ochiai Ryosuke , Matsubara Eriko , Kondo Chie , Yang Kyung-Min , Hoshii Takayuki , Araki Masatake , Araki Kimi , Sotomaru Yusuke , Sasaki Ko , Mitani Kinuko , Kim Dong-Wook , Ooshima Akira , Kim Seong-Jin
Published: September 2020

Although advanced lipidomics technology facilitates quantitation of intracellular lipid components, little is known about the regulation of lipid metabolism in cancer cells. Here, we show that disruption of theGdpd3gene encoding a lysophospholipase D enzyme significantly decreased self-renewal capacity in murine chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) stem cells in vivo. Sophisticated lipidomics analyses revealed thatGdpd3deficiency reduced levels of certain lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) and lipid mediators in CML cells. Loss ofGdpd3also activated AKT/mTORC1 signalling and cell cycle progression while suppressing Foxo3a/β-catenin interaction within CML stem cell nuclei. Strikingly, CML stem cells carrying a hypomorphic mutation ofLgr4/Gpr48, which encodes a leucine-rich repeat (LRR)-containing G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) acting downstream of Gdpd3, displayed inadequate disease-initiating capacity in vivo. Our data showing that lysophospholipid metabolism is required for CML stem cell maintenance in vivo establish a new, biologically significant mechanism of cancer recurrence that is independent of oncogene addiction.
Porous cage-derived nanomaterial inks for direct and internal three-dimensional printing
Authors: Aubert Tangi , Huang Jen-Yu , Ma Kai , Hanrath Tobias , Wiesner Ulrich
Published: September 2020

The convergence of 3D printing techniques and nanomaterials is generating a compelling opportunity space to create advanced materials with multiscale structural control and hierarchical functionalities. While most nanoparticles consist of a dense material, less attention has been payed to 3D printing of nanoparticles with intrinsic porosity. Here, we combine ultrasmall (about 10 nm) silica nanocages with digital light processing technique for the direct 3D printing of hierarchically porous parts with arbitrary shapes, as well as tunable internal structures and high surface area. Thanks to the versatile and orthogonal cage surface modifications, we show how this approach can be applied for the implementation and positioning of functionalities throughout 3D printed objects. Furthermore, taking advantage of the internal porosity of the printed parts, an internal printing approach is proposed for the localized deposition of a guest material within a host matrix, enabling complex 3D material designs.
Fully organic compliant dry electrodes self-adhesive to skin for long-term motion-robust epidermal biopotential monitoring
Authors: Zhang Lei , Kumar Kirthika Senthil , He Hao , Cai Catherine Jiayi , He Xu , Gao Huxin , Yue Shizhong , Li Changsheng , Seet Raymond Chee-Seong , Ren Hongliang , Ouyang Jianyong
Published: September 2020

Wearable dry electrodes are needed for long-term biopotential recordings but are limited by their imperfect compliance with the skin, especially during body movements and sweat secretions, resulting in high interfacial impedance and motion artifacts. Herein, we report an intrinsically conductive polymer dry electrode with excellent self-adhesiveness, stretchability, and conductivity. It shows much lower skin-contact impedance and noise in static and dynamic measurement than the current dry electrodes and standard gel electrodes, enabling to acquire high-quality electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyogram (EMG) and electroencephalogram (EEG) signals in various conditions such as dry and wet skin and during body movement. Hence, this dry electrode can be used for long-term healthcare monitoring in complex daily conditions. We further investigated the capabilities of this electrode in a clinical setting and realized its ability to detect the arrhythmia features of atrial fibrillation accurately, and quantify muscle activity during deep tendon reflex testing and contraction against resistance.
Direct growth of uniform carbon nitride layers with extended optical absorption towards efficient water-splitting photoanodes
Authors: Qin Jiani , Barrio Jesús , Peng Guiming , Tzadikov Jonathan , Abisdris Liel , Volokh Michael , Shalom Menny
Published: September 2020

A general synthesis of carbon nitride (CN) films with extended optical absorption, excellent charge separation under illumination, and outstanding performance as a photoanode in water-splitting photoelectrochemical cells is reported. To this end, we introduced a universal method to rapidly grow CN monomers directly from a hot saturated solution on various substrates. Upon calcination, a highly uniform carbon nitride layer with tuned structural and photophysical properties and in intimate contact with the substrate is obtained. Detailed photoelectrochemical and structural studies reveal good photoresponse up to 600 nm, excellent hole extraction efficiency (up to 62%) and strong adhesion of the CN layer to the substrate. The best CN photoanode demonstrates a benchmark-setting photocurrent density of 353 µA cm−2 (51% faradaic efficiency for oxygen), and external quantum yield value above 12% at 450 nm at 1.23 V versus RHE in an alkaline solution, as well as low onset potential and good stability.
Publisher Correction: Immunoprophylactic and immunotherapeutic control of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer
Authors: Buqué Aitziber , Bloy Norma , Perez-Lanzón Maria , Iribarren Kristina , Humeau Juliette , Pol Jonathan G. , Levesque Sarah , Mondragon Laura , Yamazaki Takahiro , Sato Ai , Aranda Fernando , Durand Sylvère , Boissonnas Alexandre , Fucikova Jitka , Senovilla Laura , Enot David , Hensler Michal , Kremer Margerie , Stoll Gautier , Hu Yang , Massa Chiara , Formenti Silvia C. , Seliger Barbara , Elemento Olivier , Spisek Radek , André Fabrice , Zitvogel Laurence , Delaloge Suzette , Kroemer Guido , Galluzzi Lorenzo
Published: September 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Topological pruning enables ultra-low Rayleigh scattering in pressure-quenched silica glass
Authors: Yang Yongjian , Homma Osamu , Urata Shingo , Ono Madoka , Mauro John C.
Published: September 2020

Silica glass is the most indispensable material in optical communication applications due to its superior optical properties. The transmission loss of silica glass has been reduced over the past 30 years by continuous efforts toward decreasing density fluctuations by lowering of fictive temperature, e.g., through improvements in processing or doping. A recent study has shown that shrinkage of structural voids by hot compression is a promising way to further decrease the loss. However, an atomic understanding of the pressure effect is still lacking. Here, using molecular simulations, we connect the void shrinkage to topological pruning of silica network. Two physical models predict that the Rayleigh scattering loss of pressure-quenched silica glass can be reduced by >50% when the glass is quenched at an appropriate pressure (4 GPa in our simulation). Our studies are consistent with available experimental results and demonstrate topologically optimized structure can give desirable properties for optical applications of silica as well as other glasses with similar network structure.
Warfare-induced mammal population declines in Southwestern Africa are mediated by species life history, habitat type and hunter preferences
Authors: Braga-Pereira Franciany , Peres Carlos A. , Campos-Silva João Vitor , Santos Carmen Van-Dúnem , Alves Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega
Published: September 2020

Civil wars often coincide with global biodiversity hotspots and have plagued the everyday reality of many countries throughout human history. However, how do civil wars affect wildlife populations? Are these impacts the same in savannah and forest environments? How persistent are the post-war consequences on wildlife populations within and outside conflict zones? Long-term monitoring programs in war zones, which could answer these questions, are virtually nonexistent, not least due to the risks researchers are exposed to. In this context, only a few methodologies can provide data on wild populations during war conflicts. We used local ecological knowledge to assess the main consequences of a prolonged civil war (1975–2002) in Southwestern Africa on forest and savannah mammals. The post-war abundance in 20 of 26 (77%) mammal species considered in this study was lower in open savannah compared to the closed-canopy forest environments, with some species experiencing a decline of up to 80% of their pre-war baseline abundance. Large-bodied mammals were preferred targets and had been overhunted, but as their populations became increasingly depleted, the size structure of prey species gradually shifted towards smaller-bodied species. Finally, we present a general flow diagram of how civil wars in low-governance countries can have both positive and negative impacts on native wildlife populations at different scales of space and time.
Choosing to view morbid information involves reward circuitry
Authors: Oosterwijk Suzanne , Snoek Lukas , Tekoppele Jurriaan , Engelbert Lara H. , Scholte H. Steven
Published: September 2020

People often seek out stories, videos or images that detail death, violence or harm. Considering the ubiquity of this behavior, it is surprising that we know very little about the neural circuits involved in choosing negative information. Using fMRI, the present study shows that choosing intensely negative stimuli engages similar brain regions as those that support extrinsic incentives and “regular” curiosity. Participants made choices to view negative and positive images, based on negative (e.g., a soldier kicks a civilian against his head) and positive (e.g., children throw flower petals at a wedding) verbal cues. We hypothesized that the conflicting, but relatively informative act of choosing to view a negative image, resulted in stronger activation of reward circuitry as opposed to the relatively uncomplicated act of choosing to view a positive stimulus. Indeed, as preregistered, we found that choosing negative cues was associated with activation of the striatum, inferior frontal gyrus, anterior insula, and anterior cingulate cortex, both when contrasting against a passive viewing condition, and when contrasting against positive cues. These findings nuance models of decision-making, valuation and curiosity, and are an important starting point when considering the value of seeking out negative content.
Northstar enables automatic classification of known and novel cell types from tumor samples
Authors: Zanini Fabio , Berghuis Bojk A. , Jones Robert C. , Nicolis di Robilant Benedetta , Nong Rachel Yuan , Norton Jeffrey A. , Clarke Michael F. , Quake Stephen R.
Published: September 2020

Single cell transcriptomics is revolutionising our understanding of tissue and disease heterogeneity, yet cell type identification remains a partially manual task. Published algorithms for automatic cell annotation are limited to known cell types and fail to capture novel populations, especially cancer cells. We developed northstar, a computational approach to classify thousands of cells based on published data within seconds while simultaneously identifying and highlighting new cell states such as malignancies. We tested northstar on data from glioblastoma, melanoma, and seven different healthy tissues and obtained high accuracy and robustness. We collected eleven pancreatic tumors and identified three shared and five private neoplastic cell populations, offering insight into the origins of neuroendocrine and exocrine tumors. Northstar is a useful tool to assign known and novel cell type and states in the age of cell atlases.
Bio-assisted synthesized Ag(0) nanoparticles stabilized on hybrid of sepiolite and chitin: efficient catalytic system for xanthene synthesis
Authors: Kahangi Fatemeh Ghoreyshi , Mehrdad Morteza , Heravi Majid M. , Sadjadi Samahe
Published: September 2020

In this work, with the use of two natural compounds, chitin and sepiolite clay, a novel covalent hybrid is fabricated and applied as a support for the stabilization of silver nanoparticles with the aid of Kombucha extract as a natural reducing agent. The resultant catalytic system, Ag@Sep-N–CH, was characterized via XRD, TEM, FTIR, ICP, SEM, TGA, UV–Vis and BET. It was found that fine Ag(0) nanoparticles with mean diameter of 6.1 ± 1.8 nm were formed on the support and the specific surface area of the catalyst was 130 m2 g−1. The study of the catalytic performance of Ag@Sep-N–CH for catalyzing synthesis of xanthenes in aqueous media under mild reaction condition confirmed that Ag@Sep-N–CH exhibited high catalytic activity and could promote the reaction of various substrates to furnish the corresponding products in high yields. Moreover, the contribution of both chitin and sepiolite to the catalysis has been affirmed. It was found that hybridization of these two components led to synergistic effects and consequently improved the observed catalytic activity. Notably, the catalyst was recyclable up to several reaction runs.
A small Cretaceous crocodyliform in a dinosaur nesting ground and the origin of sebecids
Authors: Sellés Albert G. , Blanco Alejandro , Vila Bernat , Marmi Josep , López-Soriano Francisco J. , Llácer Sergio , Frigola Jaime , Canals Miquel , Galobart Àngel
Published: September 2020

Sebecosuchia was a group of highly specialized cursorial crocodyliforms that diversified during the Cretaceous and persist until the end of the Miocene. Their unique combination of cranial and post-cranial features indicates that they were active terrestrial predators that occupied the apex of the Late Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems, even competing with theropod dinosaurs. Here, we report the discovery of the earliest sebecid worldwide, and the first from Eurasia, Ogresuchus furatus gen. et sp. nov., based on a semi-articulate specimen located in a titanosaurian sauropod nesting ground. The new taxon challenges current biogeographical models about the early dispersal and radiation of sebecid crocodylomorphs, and suggests an origin of the group much earlier than previously expected. Moreover, the new taxon suggests a potential convergent evolution between linages geographically isolated. Taphonomic evidences suggest that Ogresuchus died almost in the same place where fossilized, in a dinosaur nesting area. Biometric and morphologic observations lead to speculate that Ogresuchus could easily predate on sauropod hatchlings.
Individual differences in fear acquisition: multivariate analyses of different emotional negativity scales, physiological responding, subjective measures, and neural activation
Authors: Sjouwerman Rachel , Scharfenort Robert , Lonsdorf Tina B.
Published: September 2020

Negative emotionality is a well-established and stable risk factor for affective disorders. Individual differences in negative emotionality have been linked to associative learning processes which can be captured experimentally by computing CS-discrimination values in fear conditioning paradigms. Literature suffers from underpowered samples, suboptimal methods, and an isolated focus on single questionnaires and single outcome measures. First, the specific and shared variance across three commonly employed questionnaires [STAI-T, NEO-FFI-Neuroticism, Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) Scale] in relation to CS-discrimination during fear-acquisition in multiple analysis units (ratings, skin conductance, startle) is addressed (NStudy1 = 356). A specific significant negative association between STAI-T and CS-discrimination in SCRs and between IU and CS-discrimination in startle responding was identified in multimodal and dimensional analyses, but also between latent factors negative emotionality and fear learning, which capture shared variance across questionnaires/scales and across outcome measures. Second, STAI-T was positively associated with CS-discrimination in a number of brain areas linked to conditioned fear (amygdala, putamen, thalamus), but not to SCRs or ratings (NStudy2 = 113). Importantly, we replicate potential sampling biases between fMRI and behavioral studies regarding anxiety levels. Future studies are needed to target wide sampling distributions for STAI-T and verify whether current findings are generalizable to other samples.
Somatostatin 1.1 contributes to the innate exploration of zebrafish larva
Authors: Quan Feng B. , Desban Laura , Mirat Olivier , Kermarquer Maxime , Roussel Julian , Koëth Fanny , Marnas Hugo , Djenoune Lydia , Lejeune François-Xavier , Tostivint Hervé , Wyart Claire
Published: September 2020

Pharmacological experiments indicate that neuropeptides can effectively tune neuronal activity and modulate locomotor output patterns. However, their functions in shaping innate locomotion often remain elusive. For example, somatostatin has been previously shown to induce locomotion when injected in the brain ventricles but to inhibit fictive locomotion when bath-applied in the spinal cord in vitro. Here, we investigated the role of somatostatin in innate locomotion through a genetic approach by knocking out somatostatin 1.1 (sst1.1) in zebrafish. We automated and carefully analyzed the kinematics of locomotion over a hundred of thousand bouts from hundreds of mutant and control sibling larvae. We found that the deletion of sst1.1 did not impact acousto-vestibular escape responses but led to abnormal exploration. sst1.1 mutant larvae swam over larger distance, at higher speed and performed larger tail bends, indicating that Somatostatin 1.1 inhibits spontaneous locomotion. Altogether our study demonstrates that Somatostatin 1.1 innately contributes to slowing down spontaneous locomotion.
Predicting permeability via statistical learning on higher-order microstructural information
Authors: Röding Magnus , Ma Zheng , Torquato Salvatore
Published: September 2020

Quantitative structure–property relationships are crucial for the understanding and prediction of the physical properties of complex materials. For fluid flow in porous materials, characterizing the geometry of the pore microstructure facilitates prediction of permeability, a key property that has been extensively studied in material science, geophysics and chemical engineering. In this work, we study the predictability of different structural descriptors via both linear regressions and neural networks. A large data set of 30,000 virtual, porous microstructures of different types, including both granular and continuous solid phases, is created for this end. We compute permeabilities of these structures using the lattice Boltzmann method, and characterize the pore space geometry using one-point correlation functions (porosity, specific surface), two-point surface-surface, surface-void, and void-void correlation functions, as well as the geodesic tortuosity as an implicit descriptor. Then, we study the prediction of the permeability using different combinations of these descriptors. We obtain significant improvements of performance when compared to a Kozeny-Carman regression with only lowest-order descriptors (porosity and specific surface). We find that combining all three two-point correlation functions and tortuosity provides the best prediction of permeability, with the void-void correlation function being the most informative individual descriptor. Moreover, the combination of porosity, specific surface, and geodesic tortuosity provides very good predictive performance. This shows that higher-order correlation functions are extremely useful for forming a general model for predicting physical properties of complex materials. Additionally, our results suggest that artificial neural networks are superior to the more conventional regression methods for establishing quantitative structure–property relationships. We make the data and code used publicly available to facilitate further development of permeability prediction methods.
Lethal and sub-lethal effects of low-temperature exposures on Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) adults before and after overwintering
Authors: Scaccini Davide , Vanishvili Luka , Tirello Paola , Walton Vaughn M. , Duso Carlo , Pozzebon Alberto
Published: September 2020

Cold winter temperatures can influence insects’ survival in temperate zones. Brown marmorated stink bug,Halyomorpha halys(Stål) overwinters as adults in natural and human-made structures. In this study, we characterized low temperature mortality rates ofH. halysadults that were either entering (ENA) or exiting (EXA) overwintering microhabitats. We considered the effect of different duration of cold exposure on mortality. We determined the impact of insect nutritional status and weight on cold tolerance. We additionally evaluated the effects of cold exposure onH. halysadult longevity and fecundity. Mortality of ENA and EXA adults was determined for 6 h and 2 h periods at − 2.5 °C and 2.5 °C respectively. EXA adults displayed higher mortality rates compared to ENA individuals at the low-temperature regimes.Halyomorpha halysadult survival rate was higher when their nutrient index (EXA individuals only) and weight were high. Low-temperature exposure increased longevity, but reduced fecundity of ENA females. The data further highlight how extreme spring frost events can result in significantly increased mortality levels ofH. halysadults.
Borophosphate glass as an active media for CuO nanoparticle growth: an efficient catalyst for selenylation of oxadiazoles and application in redox reactions
Authors: Scheide Marcos R. , Peterle Marcos M. , Saba Sumbal , Neto José S. S. , Lenz Guilherme F. , Cezar Rosane Dias , Felix Jorlandio F. , Botteselle Giancarlo V. , Schneider Ricardo , Rafique Jamal , Braga Antonio L.
Published: September 2020

Herein, we report the preparation of CuO@ borophosphate nanoparticles (CuOnano@glass) and their wide catalytic applications. The glass annealing, under a controlled atmosphere, enables the growth of copper nanoparticles on the glass surface (not within) by an uncommon bottom-up process. Following the thermal annealing of metallic nanoparticles under air atmosphere, supported copper oxide nanoparticles CuONPs on the glass surface can be obtained. The approach enables the glass matrix to be explored as a precursor and a route for the synthesis of supported copper-based nanoparticles in a solvent-free process without immobilization steps or stabilizing agents. In order to demonstrate the wide synthetic utility of this CuONPs glass-based catalyst, one-pot three-component domino reactions were performed under an air atmosphere, affording the desired selenylated oxadiazoles in good to excellent yields. We also extended the application of these new materials as a glass-based catalyst in the phenol hydroxylation and the reduction of 4-nitrophenol.
Implications for megathrust earthquakes and tsunamis from seismic gaps south of Java Indonesia
Authors: Widiyantoro S. , Gunawan E. , Muhari A. , Rawlinson N. , Mori J. , Hanifa N. R. , Susilo S. , Supendi P. , Shiddiqi H. A. , Nugraha A. D. , Putra H. E.
Published: September 2020

Relocation of earthquakes recorded by the agency for meteorology, climatology and geophysics (BMKG) in Indonesia and inversions of global positioning system (GPS) data reveal clear seismic gaps to the south of the island of Java. These gaps may be related to potential sources of future megathrust earthquakes in the region. To assess the expected inundation hazard, tsunami modeling was conducted based on several scenarios involving large tsunamigenic earthquakes generated by ruptures along segments of the megathrust south of Java. The worst-case scenario, in which the two megathrust segments spanning Java rupture simultaneously, shows that tsunami heights can reach ~ 20 m and ~ 12 m on the south coast of West and East Java, respectively, with an average maximum height of 4.5 m along the entire south coast of Java. These results support recent calls for a strengthening of the existing Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System (InaTEWS), especially in Java, the most densely populated island in Indonesia.