bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pipe‐Bursting Project Puts Failing Water Main Out of Its Misery
Authors: Nagle Kevin
Published: June 2018

This article discusses a project by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) for replacing a deteriorating 24‐in. 2,500‐ft steel, coal‐tar‐ lined water main that runs below one of the city's busiest thoroughfares. Static pipe‐bursting technology, using a machine that could deliver up to 625,000 lb of pulling force, was used for the project. Specially designed bladed rollers were pulled through the host pipe by a hydraulically powered bursting unit. As the rollers were pulled through the main, they split the host pipe. An expander attached to the rollers forced the host pipe to open from the bottom, expanded the host pipe into the surrounding soil, and simultaneously pulled in new high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe.
What Is Total Water Management?
Authors: Grigg Neil S.
Published: June 2018

This article discusses examples of the challenges and opportunities of applying total water management to operational problems, or in other words, getting more from a limited source. The article provides a list of integrated programs for responding to the challenges of total water management, and discusses four areas of the water industry that will have to adapt to the challenges of total water management.
What's Our First Step in Creating a Succession Plan?
Authors: Mercer Ken
Published: June 2018

This month's question asks about creating a succession plan for a water utility. Preserving institutional knowledge is an important part of succession planning that can be done by using data collection templates to create system records. All standard operations and practices, especially those that aren't performed routinely, should be thoroughly documented. In addition to asset records and operating procedures, accurate system maps with notes and documentation are valuable sources of institutional information. An overall plan for collecting records, maps, and procedures would greatly enhance the usability of the system.
AMI Helps New York Utility Achieve Operational Efficiency
Authors: Thomas Matt
Published: June 2018

The Village of Frankfort, New York, recently implemented an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network to increase operational efficiency; reduce operational costs; and improve employee safety, water and energy conservation, and customer service. Officials chose a two‐way AMI system that could automate the meter‐reading and billing processes and linked meters, distribution sites, and control devices in a single data network. The system's major components automatically determine how much water and electricity a customer uses for any period of time, allowing the utility to accurately bill customers for that usage.
Cathodic Protection Extends Storage Tank Life
Authors: Kroon David , Rog Jeff
Published: June 2018

By pairing protective coatings and cathodic protection, it's now possible to extend the life of a typical steel water storage tank's coating system for immersion service by as much as 20 years. Without cathodic protection, system failure of some sort is likely to occur within 10 years. This article discusses six key areas where the most significant advances in cathodic protection technology have occurred. AWWA and NACE International have both adopted corrosion‐control standards.
Effects of Teriparatide and Vibration on Bone Mass and Bone Strength in People with Bone Loss and Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: Edwards W Brent , Simonian Narina , Haider Ifaz T , Anschel Alan S , Chen David , Gordon Keith E , Gregory Elaine K , Kim Ki H , Parachuri Ramadevi , Troy Karen L , Schnitzer Thomas J
Published: June 2018

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with marked bone loss and an increased risk of fracture. We randomized 61 individuals with chronic SCI and low bone mass to receive either teriparatide 20 μg/d plus sham vibration 10 min/d (n = 20), placebo plus vibration 10 min/d (n = 20), or teriparatide 20 μg/d plus vibration 10 min/d (n = 21). Patients were evaluated for 12 months; those who completed were given the opportunity to participate in an open-label extension where all participants (n = 25) received teriparatide 20 μg/d for an additional 12 months and had the optional use of vibration (10 min/d). At the end of the initial 12 months, both groups treated with teriparatide demonstrated a significant increase in areal bone mineral density (aBMD) at the spine (4.8% to 5.5%). The increase in spine aBMD was consistent with a marked response in serum markers of bone metabolism (ie, CTX, P1NP, BSAP), but no treatment effect was observed at the hip. A small but significant increase (2.2% to 4.2%) in computed tomography measurements of cortical bone at the knee was observed in all groups after 12 months; however, the magnitude of response was not different amongst treatment groups and improvements to finite element-predicted bone strength were not observed. Teriparatide treatment after the 12-month extension resulted in further increases to spine aBMD (total increase from baseline 7.1% to 14.4%), which was greater in patients initially randomized to teriparatide. Those initially randomized to teriparatide also demonstrated 4.4% to 6.7% improvements in hip aBMD after the 12-month extension, while all groups displayed increases in cortical bone measurements at the knee. To summarize, teriparatide exhibited skeletal activity in individuals with chronic SCI that was not augmented by vibration stimulation. Without additional confirmatory data, the location-specific responses to teriparatide would not be expected to provide clinical benefit in this population. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Atmospheric corrosion comparison of antirust aluminum exposed to industrial and coastal atmospheres
Authors: Wang Bin , Zhang Lunwu , Jiang Hua , Li Xiangbo , Mu Xianliang
Published: June 2018

The atmospheric corrosion behavior of antirust aluminum alloys 3A21 and 5A05 in industrial and coastal atmospheres was investigated and compared. Weight loss results, together with corrosion morphology characterization, suggest that the coastal atmosphere is much more corrosive to antirust aluminum than the industrial atmosphere. 5A05 alloy has better localized corrosion resistance than 3A21 alloy, and the corrosion rate shows a decreasing tendency with exposure time. After 3 years of exposure, the antirust aluminum samples only suffer pitting corrosion attack and retain their mechanical properties well. In the two atmospheres, the corrosion products are mainly oxides, aluminum hydroxychloride, aluminum sulfate hydrate, and basic aluminum sulfate. Besides, the atmospheric corrosion mechanism and the corrosion comparison between the two atmospheres were also discussed.
Harnessing microfluidic streak plate technique to investigate the gut microbiome of Reticulitermes chinensis
Authors: Zhou Nan , Sun Yu‐Tong , Chen Dong‐Wei , Du Wenbin , Yang Hong , Liu Shuang‐Jiang
Published: June 2018

The termite gut microbiome is a model system to investigate microbial interactions and their associations with host. For decades, extensive research with molecular tools and conventional cultivation method has been carried out to define the microbial diversity in termite gut. Yet, many bacterial groups of the termite gut microbiome have not been successfully cultivated in laboratory. In this study, we adapted the recently developed microfluidic streak plate (MSP) technique for cultivation of termite gut microbial communities at both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. We found that 99 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were cultivable by MSP approach and 18 OTUs were documented first time for termite gut microbiota. Further analysis of the bacterial diversities derived by culture‐dependent MSP approach and culture‐independent 16S rRNA gene typing revealed that both methods have bias in recovery of gut microbiota. In total 396 strains were isolated with MSP technique, and potential new taxa at species and/or genus levels were obtained that were phylogenetically related to Burkholderia, Micrococcus, and Dysgonomonas. Results from this study indicate that MSP technique is applicable for cultivating previously unknown and new microbial groups of termite gut microbiota.
A Fixed versus Weight‐Based Dosing Strategy of Daptomycin May Improve Safety in Obese Adults
Authors: Butterfield‐Cowper Jill M. , Lodise Thomas P. , Pai Manjunath P.
Published: June 2018

Objectives

To compare daptomycin exposures and predicted safety outcomes with a simulated weight‐based and fixed dose in morbidly obese and nonobese subjects.

Methods

We performed a nonparametric population pharmacokinetic analysis of daptomycin concentration‐time data from a prior obese and nonobese kidney function–matched cohort of healthy adult volunteers. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to compare the maximum concentrations (Cmax), minimum concentrations (Cmin), and area under the curve (AUC) with the standard daptomycin 6 mg/kg/day dose or a 500‐mg daily fixed dose in obese and nonobese subjects. The probability of exceeding a daptomycin Cmin target (24.3 mg/L or higher) associated with creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevations was computed with the two regimens.

Results

No significant differences were observed in clearance, volume of distribution at steady state, or terminal half‐life between the morbidly obese and nonobese PK models. Daptomycin 6 mg/kg/day resulted in AUC, Cmax, and Cmin values that were ~2‐fold higher in morbidly obese subjects relative to nonobese individuals. In contrast, fixed dosing (500 mg/day) resulted in relatively isometric exposures. The fraction of simulated morbidly obese subjects with a Cmin target associated with CPK elevations was 10.8% with 6 mg/kg/day and 2.0% at the 500 mg/day dosage.

Conclusions

Weight‐based maintenance dosing of daptomycin is less likely to yield bioequivalent exposures in morbidly obese subjects and provides credence for the evaluation of fixed maintenance doses across adult body size to improve safety.
An Experimental Study on the Impact of Deoxidation Methods on the Fatigue Properties of Bearing Steels
Authors: Gu Chao , Bao Yan‐Ping , Gan Peng , Lian Jun‐He , Münstermann Sebastian
Published: June 2018

Strong deoxidation and weak deoxidation are two kinds of deoxidation methods frequently applied in steelmaking. In the present study, high‐carbon chromium bearing steels are smelted with a strong deoxidizer and a weak deoxidizer, respectively in industrial trials. The generation mechanism of inclusions is analyzed, and the inclusion stability diagrams of the Fe–Si–Al–Mg–Mn–O system at 1873 and 1843 K are calculated. The very high cycle fatigue life of bearing steels deoxidized with different deoxidizers is also experimentally compared. The results showed that the evolution routes of inclusion in high‐carbon chromium bearing steels deoxidized by Si and Al are CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 → CaO–Al2O3–SiO2–MgO and Al2O3 → CaO–Al2O3–SiO2–MgO, respectively. The Al content in steel is controlled by different methods when different deoxidizers are applied. The effect of the oxide inclusions generated during Si deoxidization on the fatigue life is lower than that during Al deoxidization, even if the total oxygen content is slightly higher. This effect suggests that it is not accurate to evaluate the fatigue life of steels with the total oxygen content, and it is also desirable to produce bearing steels with the Si deoxidation method.
Critically assessing the utility of portable lead analyzers for wildlife conservation
Authors: Herring Garth , Eagles‐Smith Collin A. , Bedrosian Bryan , Craighead Derek , Domenech Robert , Langner Heiko W. , Parish Chris N. , Shreading Adam , Welch Alacia , Wolstenholme Rachel
Published: June 2018

Lead (Pb) exposure in wildlife is a widespread management and conservation concern. Quantitative determination of Pb concentrations in wildlife tissues is the foundation for estimating exposure and risk. Development of low‐cost, portable instruments has improved access and cost‐effectiveness of determining Pb concentrations in blood samples, while also facilitating the ability for wildlife researchers to conduct near real‐time Pb testing. However, these instruments, which use anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) methodology, may produce an analytical bias in wildlife‐blood Pb concentrations. Additionally, their simplicity invites use without appropriate quality‐assurance–quality‐control measures. Together, these factors can reduce data quality and hamper the ability to evaluate it, raising concerns about use of these instruments to inform important conservation issues. We document the extent to which this bias is addressed in the wildlife toxicology literature, develop quantitative approaches for correcting the bias, and provide recommendations to ensure robust data quality when using these instruments. Of the 25 studies we reviewed that referenced ASV use for determining Pb exposure in wildlife, only 32% acknowledged the existence of bias from the instrument. Importantly, another 20% of the studies actually reported ASV and spectroscopic‐based results together without acknowledging their lack of equivalence. Using a multispecies data set of avian blood Pb concentrations, we found that ASV‐based estimates of paired blood Pb concentrations were 30–38% lower than those from standard spectrometric‐based methods. We provide regression equations based on this analysis of 453 blood samples to allow users of ASV instruments to adjust Pb concentrations to spectrometric‐equivalent values, and propose a series of guidelines to follow when using these instruments to improve data validity. Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Critical points at infinity, non-Gaussian saddles, and bions
Authors: Behtash Alireza , Dunne Gerald V. , Schäfer Thomas , Sulejmanpasic Tin , Ünsal Mithat
Published: June 2018

Abstract

It has been argued that many non-perturbative phenomena in quantum mechanics (QM) and quantum field theory (QFT) are determined by complex field configurations, and that these contributions should be understood in terms of Picard-Lefschetz theory. In this work we compute the contribution from non-BPS multi-instanton configurations, such as instanton-anti-instanton

$$ \left[\mathrm{\mathcal{I}}\overline{\mathrm{\mathcal{I}}}\right] $$

ℐ

ℐ
¯

pairs, and argue that these contributions should be interpreted as exact critical points at infinity. The Lefschetz thimbles associated with such critical points have a specific structure arising from the presence of non-Gaussian, quasi-zero mode (QZM), directions. When fermion degrees of freedom are present, as in supersymmetric theories, the effective bosonic potential can be written as the sum of a classical and a quantum potential. We show that in this case the semi-classical contribution of the critical point at infinity vanishes, but there is a non-trivial contribution that arises from its associated non-Gaussian QZM-thimble. This approach resolves several puzzles in the literature concerning the semi-classical contribution of correlated

$$ \left[\mathrm{\mathcal{I}}\overline{\mathrm{\mathcal{I}}}\right] $$

ℐ

ℐ
¯

pairs. It has the surprising consequence that the configurations dominating the expansion of observables, and the critical points defining the Lefschetz thimble decomposition need not be the same, a feature not present in the traditional Picard-Lefschetz approach.
A Comparative Study of Feature Selection Methods for Stress Hotspot Classification in Materials
Authors: Mangal Ankita , Holm Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2018

The first step in constructing a machine learning model is defining the features of the dataset that can be used for optimal learning. In this work, we discuss feature selection methods, which can be used to build better models, as well as achieve model interpretability. We applied these methods in the context of stress hotspot classification problem, to determine what microstructural characteristics can cause stress to build up in certain grains during uniaxial tensile deformation. The results show how some feature selection techniques are biased and demonstrate a preferred technique to get feature rankings for physical interpretations.
An update on adolescent sleep: New evidence informing the perfect storm model☆
Authors: Crowley Stephanie J. , Wolfson Amy R. , Tarokh Leila , Carskadon Mary A.
Published: June 2018

The maturation of sleep regulatory systems during adolescence in combination with psychosocial and societal pressures culminate in a “Perfect Storm” of short and ill‐timed sleep and the associated consequences for many youngsters. This model, first described by Carskadon in 2011, guides our current thinking of adolescent sleep behavior. Since the original description, the field has moved forward with remarkable pace, and this review aims to summarize recent progress and describe how this new work informs our understanding of sleep regulation and sleep behavior during this developmental time frame.
Philadelphia chromosome-positive lymphoblastic lymphoma-Is it rare or underdiagnosed?
Authors: Alshomar Ahmad , Fakih Riad El
Published: June 2018

Lymphoblastic lymphomas (LBLs) are neoplasms of precursor B and T cells; they are considered in the same spectrum as precursor B and T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The World Health Organization classification classifies both LBL and ALL as one disease entity. While chromosome abnormalities are well defined with all of their therapeutic and prognostic implications in ALL, these are not well studied in LBL. Here, we describe a case of Philadelphia chromosomepositive LBL and review the available literature regarding this entity.
Photoconductive semiconductor switch-based triggering with 1 ns jitter for trigatron
Authors: Wang Langning , Jia Yongsheng , Liu Jinliang
Published: June 2018

Synchronization for multiple-pulse at nanosecond range shows a great value on the power multiplication and synchronous electric fields applications. Nanosecond or sub-ns jitter synchronization is essential for the improved working efficiency of the large amounts of pulse modules and accurate requirements for the power coherent combining applications. This paper presents a trigger generator based on a laser diode-triggered GaAs photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS) with low jitter and compact size characteristics. It avoids the high currents that are harmful to high-gain mode PCSSs. In the trigger circuit, a 200 pF capacitor is charged by a microsecond-scale 18 kV pulse and then discharged via the high-gain mode GaAs PCSS to trigger the high-power trigatron switch. When triggered by the ∼10 ns pulse generated by the PCSS, the DC-charged trigatron can operate in the 20–35 kV range with 10 ns rise time and 1 ns delay-time jitter.
Editorial
Authors: Mansfield-Devine Steve
Published: June 2018

So the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is finally here. And we no longer have to guess who will be the first organisations to be caught in its net – Facebook and Google are already being sued, with writs having been issued the day the regulation came into force.
Can consumers bank on financial services being secure with GDPR?
Authors: Sydekum Ralf
Published: June 2018

The face of finance is changing. Everywhere you look, institutions are abandoning the high street and moving to faster, more responsive 24-hour online services to meet customer demand. Yet, as digital engagement increases, hacker groups are changing the game and expanding their footprints of destruction with sophisticated tools to infiltrate operations, attack critical applications and gain access to data.

Ralf Sydekum of F5 Networks believes that the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) might lead to better data management and greater transparency, and will force organisations to improve their security. On the other hand, businesses that ignore requirements for transparency and fairness will suffer severe reputational and financial consequences
Instability of pressure-driven gas–liquid two-layer channel flows in two and three dimensions
Authors: Ó Náraigh Lennon , Spelt Peter D. M.
Published: June 2018

We study unstable waves in gas–liquid two-layer channel flows driven by a pressure gradient, under stable stratification, not assumed to be set in motion impulsively. The basis of the study is direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the two-phase Navier–Stokes equations in two and three dimensions for moderately large Reynolds numbers, accompanied by a theoretical description of the dynamics in the linear regime (Orr–Sommerfeld–Squire equations). The results are compared and contrasted across a range of density ratios $r=\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{liquid}/\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{gas}$. Linear theory indicates that the growth rate of small-amplitude interfacial disturbances generally decreases with increasing $r$; at the same time, the cutoff wavenumbers in both streamwise and spanwise directions increase, leading to an ever-increasing range of unstable wavenumbers, albeit with diminished growth rates. The analysis also demonstrates that the most dangerous mode is two-dimensional in all cases considered. The results of a comparison between the DNS and linear theory demonstrate a consistency between the two approaches: as such, the route to a three-dimensional flow pattern is direct in these cases, i.e. through the strong influence of the linear instability. We also characterize the nonlinear behaviour of the system, and we establish that the disturbance vorticity field in two-dimensional systems is consistent with a mechanism proposed previously by Hinch (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 144, 1984, p. 463) for weakly inertial flows. A flow-pattern map constructed from two-dimensional numerical simulations is used to describe the various flow regimes observed as a function of density ratio, Reynolds number and Weber number. Corresponding simulations in three dimensions confirm that the flow-pattern map can be used to infer the fate of the interface there also, and show strong three-dimensionality in cases that exhibit violent behaviour in two dimensions, or otherwise the development of behaviour that is nearly two-dimensional behaviour possibly with the formation of a capillary ridge. The three-dimensional vorticity field is also analysed, thereby demonstrating how streamwise vorticity arises from the growth of otherwise two-dimensional modes.
Long-range optical trapping and binding of microparticles in hollow-core photonic crystal fibre
Authors: Bykov Dmitry S. , Xie Shangran , Zeltner Richard , Machnev Andrey , Wong Gordon K. L. , Euser Tijmen G. , Russell Philip St.J.
Published: June 2018

Optically levitated micro- and nanoparticles offer an ideal playground for investigating photon–phonon interactions over macroscopic distances. Here we report the observation of long-range optical binding of multiple levitated microparticles, mediated by intermodal scattering and interference inside the evacuated core of a hollow-core photonic crystal fibre (HC-PCF). Three polystyrene particles with a diameter of 1 µm are stably bound together with an inter-particle distance of ~40 μm, or 50 times longer than the wavelength of the trapping laser. The levitated bound-particle array can be translated to-and-fro over centimetre distances along the fibre. When evacuated to a gas pressure of 6 mbar, the collective mechanical modes of the bound-particle array are able to be observed. The measured inter-particle distance at equilibrium and mechanical eigenfrequencies are supported by a novel analytical formalism modelling the dynamics of the binding process. The HC-PCF system offers a unique platform for investigating the rich optomechanical dynamics of arrays of levitated particles in a well-isolated and protected environment.
Overcoming diffusion-related limitations in semiconductor defect imaging with phonon-plasmon-coupled mode Raman scattering
Authors: Hu Changkui , Chen Qiong , Chen Fengxiang , Gfroerer T. H. , Wanlass M. W. , Zhang Yong
Published: June 2018

Carrier diffusion is of paramount importance in many semiconductor devices, such as solar cells, photodetectors, and power electronics. Structural defects prevent such devices from reaching their full performance potential. Although a large carrier diffusion length indicates high material quality, it also implies increased carrier depletion by an individual extended defect (for instance, a dislocation) and obscures the spatial resolution of neighboring defects using optical techniques. For commonly utilized photoluminescence (PL) imaging, the spatial resolution is dictated by the diffusion length rather than by the laser spot size, no matter the spot is at or below the diffraction limit. Here, we show how Raman imaging of the LO phonon-plasmon-coupled mode can be used to recover the intrinsic spatial resolution of the optical system, and we demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique by imaging defects in GaAs with diffraction-limited optics, achieving a 10-fold improvement in resolution. Furthermore, by combining Raman and PL imaging, we can independently and simultaneously determine the spatial dependence of the electron density, hole density, radiative recombination rate, and non-radiative recombination rate near a dislocation-like defect, which has not been possible using other techniques.
NMDA antagonists for treating the non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Vanle Brigitte , Olcott William , Jimenez Jaime , Bashmi Luma , Danovitch Itai , IsHak Waguih William
Published: June 2018

Among patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), depression is prevalent and disabling, impacting both health outcomes and quality of life. There is a critical need for alternative pharmacological methods to treat PD depression, as mainstream antidepressant drugs are largely ineffective in this population. Currently, there are no recommendations for the optimal treatment of PD neuropsychiatric symptoms. Given the dual antidepressant and anti-dyskinetic effects of ketamine and other N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists for PD, this review aims to examine the current evidence of NMDA antagonists for treating neuropsychiatric symptoms, including memantine, amantadine, ketamine, dizoclopine, and d-cycloserine. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the PubMed database. We also searched the following databases up to March 1, 2018: Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The following keywords were used: NMDA antagonist and Parkinson’s disease. Two authors independently reviewed the articles identified from the search using specific selection criteria, focusing on studies of mood, psychiatric condition, depression, cognition, and quality of life, and the consensus was reached on the 20 studies included. There is a preliminary evidence that NMDA antagonists may modulate psychiatric symptoms in PD. However, current evidence of psychiatric symptom-modifying effects is inconclusive and requires that further trials be conducted in PD. The repurposing of old NMDA antagonists, such as ketamine for depression and newer therapies, such as rapastinel, suggests that there is an emerging place for modulating the glutamatergic system for treating non-motor symptoms in PD.
Correction to: Long noncoding RNA TUG1 facilitates osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells via interacting with Lin28A
Authors: He Qin , Yang Shuangyan , Gu Xiuge , Li Mengying , Wang Chunling , Wei Fulan
Published: June 2018

Since publication of this article, the authors found a mistake in the drawing figure 5e. After careful checking of all original data, the authors discovered that they had submitted the wrong composite figure 5e. The correct Figure 5 is included below.
A phosphorylation switch turns a positive regulator of phototropism into an inhibitor of the process
Authors: Schumacher Paolo , Demarsy Emilie , Waridel Patrice , Petrolati Laure Allenbach , Trevisan Martine , Fankhauser Christian
Published: June 2018

Phototropins are light-activated protein kinases, which contribute to photosynthesis optimization both through enhancement of photon absorption when light is limiting and avoidance responses in high light. This duality is in part endowed by the presence of phototropins with different photosensitivity (phot1 and phot2). Here we show that phot1, which senses low light to promote positive phototropism (growth towards the light), also limits the response in high light. This response depends in part on phot1-mediated phosphorylation of Phytochrome Kinase Substrate 4 (PKS4). This light-regulated phosphorylation switch changes PKS4 from a phototropism enhancer in low light to a factor limiting the process in high light. In such conditions phot1 and PKS4 phosphorylation prevent phototropic responses to shallow light gradients and limit phototropism in a natural high light environment. Hence, by modifying PKS4 activity in high light the phot1-PKS4 regulon enables appropriate physiological adaptations over a range of light intensities.
The synaptic receptor Lrp4 promotes peripheral nerve regeneration
Authors: Gribble Katherine D. , Walker Lauren J. , Saint-Amant Louis , Kuwada John Y. , Granato Michael
Published: June 2018

Early during PNS regeneration, regenerating axons emerge from the proximal nerve stump, yet whether they extend simultaneously or whether pioneering axons establish a path for follower axons remains unknown. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms underlying robust regeneration are incompletely understood. Using live imaging, we demonstrate that in zebrafish pioneering axons establish a regenerative path for follower axons. We find this process requires the synaptic receptor lrp4, and in lrp4 mutants pioneers are unaffected while follower axons frequently stall at the injury gap, providing evidence for molecular diversity between pioneering and follower axons in regeneration. We demonstrate that Lrp4 promotes regeneration through an axon extrinsic mechanism and independent of membrane anchoring and MuSK co-receptor signaling essential for synaptic development. Finally, we show that Lrp4 coordinates the realignment of denervated Schwann cells with regenerating axons, consistent with a model by which Lrp4 is repurposed to promote sustained peripheral nerve regeneration via axon-glia interactions.
A synthetic enzyme built from DNA flips 107 lipids per second in biological membranes
Authors: Ohmann Alexander , Li Chen-Yu , Maffeo Christopher , Al Nahas Kareem , Baumann Kevin N. , Göpfrich Kerstin , Yoo Jejoong , Keyser Ulrich F. , Aksimentiev Aleksei
Published: June 2018

Mimicking enzyme function and increasing performance of naturally evolved proteins is one of the most challenging and intriguing aims of nanoscience. Here, we employ DNA nanotechnology to design a synthetic enzyme that substantially outperforms its biological archetypes. Consisting of only eight strands, our DNA nanostructure spontaneously inserts into biological membranes by forming a toroidal pore that connects the membrane’s inner and outer leaflets. The membrane insertion catalyzes spontaneous transport of lipid molecules between the bilayer leaflets, rapidly equilibrating the lipid composition. Through a combination of microscopic simulations and fluorescence microscopy we find the lipid transport rate catalyzed by the DNA nanostructure exceeds 107 molecules per second, which is three orders of magnitude higher than the rate of lipid transport catalyzed by biological enzymes. Furthermore, we show that our DNA-based enzyme can control the composition of human cell membranes, which opens new avenues for applications of membrane-interacting DNA systems in medicine.
Tailoring exciton and excimer emission in an exfoliated ultrathin 2D metal-organic framework
Authors: Liao Wei-Ming , Zhang Jian-Hua , Yin Shao-Yun , Lin He , Zhang Xingmin , Wang Jihong , Wang Hai-Ping , Wu Kai , Wang Zheng , Fan Ya-Nan , Pan Mei , Su Cheng-Yong
Published: June 2018

Two-dimensional (2D) metal–organic frameworks have exhibited a range of fascinating attributes, of interest to numerous fields. Here, a calcium-based metal-organic framework with a 2D layered structure has been designed. Dual emissions relating to intralayer excimers and interlayer trapped excitons are produced, showing excitation-dependent shifting tendency, characteristic of a low dimensional semiconductor nature. Furthermore, the layer stacking by weak van der Waals forces among dynamically coordinated DMF molecules enables exfoliation and morphology transformation, which can be achieved by ultrasound in different ratios of DMF/H2O solvents, or grinding under appropriate humidity conditions, leading to nano samples including ultrathin nanosheets with single or few coordination layers. The cutting down of layer numbers engenders suppression of interlayer exciton-related emission, resulting in modulation of the overall emitting color and optical memory states. This provides a rare prototypical model with switchable dual-channel emissions based on 2D-MOFs, in which the interlayer excitation channel can be reversibly tuned on/off by top-down exfoliation and morphology transformation.
Oak genome reveals facets of long lifespan
Authors: Plomion Christophe , Aury Jean-Marc , Amselem Joëlle , Leroy Thibault , Murat Florent , Duplessis Sébastien , Faye Sébastien , Francillonne Nicolas , Labadie Karine , Le Provost Grégoire , Lesur Isabelle , Bartholomé Jérôme , Faivre-Rampant Patricia , Kohler Annegret , Leplé Jean-Charles , Chantret Nathalie , Chen Jun , Diévart Anne , Alaeitabar Tina , Barbe Valérie , Belser Caroline , Bergès Hélène , Bodénès Catherine , Bogeat-Triboulot Marie-Béatrice , Bouffaud Marie-Lara , Brachi Benjamin , Chancerel Emilie , Cohen David , Couloux Arnaud , Da Silva Corinne , Dossat Carole , Ehrenmann François , Gaspin Christine , Grima-Pettenati Jacqueline , Guichoux Erwan , Hecker Arnaud , Herrmann Sylvie , Hugueney Philippe , Hummel Irène , Klopp Christophe , Lalanne Céline , Lascoux Martin , Lasserre Eric , Lemainque Arnaud , Desprez-Loustau Marie-Laure , Luyten Isabelle , Madoui Mohammed-Amin , Mangenot Sophie , Marchal Clémence , Maumus Florian , Mercier Jonathan , Michotey Célia , Panaud Olivier , Picault Nathalie , Rouhier Nicolas , Rué Olivier , Rustenholz Camille , Salin Franck , Soler Marçal , Tarkka Mika , Velt Amandine , Zanne Amy E. , Martin Francis , Wincker Patrick , Quesneville Hadi , Kremer Antoine , Salse Jérôme
Published: June 2018

Oaks are an important part of our natural and cultural heritage. Not only are they ubiquitous in our most common landscapes1 but they have also supplied human societies with invaluable services, including food and shelter, since prehistoric times2. With 450 species spread throughout Asia, Europe and America3, oaks constitute a critical global renewable resource. The longevity of oaks (several hundred years) probably underlies their emblematic cultural and historical importance. Such long-lived sessile organisms must persist in the face of a wide range of abiotic and biotic threats over their lifespans. We investigated the genomic features associated with such a long lifespan by sequencing, assembling and annotating the oak genome. We then used the growing number of whole-genome sequences for plants (including tree and herbaceous species) to investigate the parallel evolution of genomic characteristics potentially underpinning tree longevity. A further consequence of the long lifespan of trees is their accumulation of somatic mutations during mitotic divisions of stem cells present in the shoot apical meristems. Empirical4 and modelling5 approaches have shown that intra-organismal genetic heterogeneity can be selected for6 and provides direct fitness benefits in the arms race with short-lived pests and pathogens through a patchwork of intra-organismal phenotypes7. However, there is no clear proof that large-statured trees consist of a genetic mosaic of clonally distinct cell lineages within and between branches. Through this case study of oak, we demonstrate the accumulation and transmission of somatic mutations and the expansion of disease-resistance gene families in trees.
A local and scalable lattice renormalization method for ballistic quantum computation
Authors: Herr Daniel , Paler Alexandru , Devitt Simon J. , Nori Franco
Published: June 2018

A recent proposal has shown that it is possible to perform linear-optics quantum computation using a ballistic generation of the lattice. Yet, due to the probabilistic generation of its cluster state, it is not possible to use the fault-tolerant Raussendorf lattice, which requires a lower failure rate during the entanglement-generation process. Previous work in this area showed proof-of-principle linear-optics quantum computation, while this paper presents an approach to it which is more practical, satisfying several key constraints. We develop a classical measurement scheme that purifies a large faulty lattice to a smaller lattice with entanglement faults below threshold. A single application of this method can reduce the entanglement error rate to 7% for an input failure rate of 25%. Thus, we can show that it is possible to achieve fault tolerance for ballistic methods.
The Small Molecule Inhibitor QLT-0267 Decreases the Production of Fibrin-Induced Inflammatory Cytokines and Prevents Post-Surgical Peritoneal Adhesions
Authors: Fang Cheng-Chung , Chou Tzung-Hsin , Huang Jenq-Wen , Lee Chien-Chang , Chen Shyr-Chyr
Published: June 2018

Peritoneal adhesions develop after abdominal surgery, trauma or intraperitoneal infections, and have important consequences. The deposition of peritoneal fibrin is a common pathophysiological pathway for the formation of adhesions. Here, we aimed to examine the effects of fibrin-induced cytokine production on peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs), and to block the effects of fibrin using an integrin-linked kinase (ILK) inhibitor, QLT-0267. PMCs were cultured from the enzymatic disaggregation of rat omentum. After the PMCs were covered with fibrin, the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα and VEGF-A increased. This increase in cytokine production was attenuated by QLT-0267, which acted via the inhibition of both the ILK and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathways, and subsequently via the GSK-3β pathway. We found that QLT-0267 decreased both the severity of peritoneal adhesion and the serum levels of IL-6 in our post-surgical adhesion mouse model. In conclusion, our study provides novel evidence that fibrin-induced cytokine production may involve in the mechanism of peritoneal adhesion formation. Furthermore, the use of the small molecule inhibitor QLT-0267 is a new strategy in preventing peritoneal adhesion in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.
Publisher Correction: Memristive neural network for on-line learning and tracking with brain-inspired spike timing dependent plasticity
Authors: Pedretti G. , Milo V. , Ambrogio S. , Carboni R. , Bianchi S. , Calderoni A. , Ramaswamy N. , Spinelli A. S. , Ielmini D.
Published: June 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Accuracy and Precision of Tidal Wetland Soil Carbon Mapping in the Conterminous United States
Authors: Holmquist James R. , Windham-Myers Lisamarie , Bliss Norman , Crooks Stephen , Morris James T. , Megonigal J. Patrick , Troxler Tiffany , Weller Donald , Callaway John , Drexler Judith , Ferner Matthew C. , Gonneea Meagan E. , Kroeger Kevin D. , Schile-Beers Lisa , Woo Isa , Buffington Kevin , Breithaupt Joshua , Boyd Brandon M. , Brown Lauren N. , Dix Nicole , Hice Lyndie , Horton Benjamin P. , MacDonald Glen M. , Moyer Ryan P. , Reay William , Shaw Timothy , Smith Erik , Smoak Joseph M. , Sommerfield Christopher , Thorne Karen , Velinsky David , Watson Elizabeth , Grimes Kristin Wilson , Woodrey Mark
Published: June 2018

Tidal wetlands produce long-term soil organic carbon (C) stocks. Thus for carbon accounting purposes, we need accurate and precise information on the magnitude and spatial distribution of those stocks. We assembled and analyzed an unprecedented soil core dataset, and tested three strategies for mapping carbon stocks: applying the average value from the synthesis to mapped tidal wetlands, applying models fit using empirical data and applied using soil, vegetation and salinity maps, and relying on independently generated soil carbon maps. Soil carbon stocks were far lower on average and varied less spatially and with depth than stocks calculated from available soils maps. Further, variation in carbon density was not well-predicted based on climate, salinity, vegetation, or soil classes. Instead, the assembled dataset showed that carbon density across the conterminous united states (CONUS) was normally distributed, with a predictable range of observations. We identified the simplest strategy, applying mean carbon density (27.0 kg C m−3), as the best performing strategy, and conservatively estimated that the top meter of CONUS tidal wetland soil contains 0.72 petagrams C. This strategy could provide standardization in CONUS tidal carbon accounting until such a time as modeling and mapping advancements can quantitatively improve accuracy and precision.
The role of irradiance and C-use strategies in tropical macroalgae photosynthetic response to ocean acidification
Authors: Zweng Regina C. , Koch Marguerite S. , Bowes George
Published: June 2018

Fleshy macroalgae may increase photosynthesis with greater CO2 availability under ocean acidification (OA) and outcompete calcifying macroalgae important for tropical reef accretion. Macroalgae use energy-dependent carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) to take up HCO3−, the dominant inorganic carbon for marine photosynthesis, but carbon-use strategies may depend on the pCO2, pH and irradiance. We examined photosynthesis in eight tropical macroalgae across a range of irradiances (0–1200 μmol photon m−2 s−1), pH levels (7.5–8.5) and CO2 concentrations (3–43 μmol kg−1). Species-specific CCM strategies were assessed using inhibitors and δ13C isotope signatures. Our results indicate that the log of irradiance is a predictor of the photosynthetic response to elevated pCO2 (R2 > 0.95). All species utilized HCO3−, exhibited diverse C-use pathways and demonstrated facultative HCO3− use. All fleshy species had positive photosynthetic responses to OA, in contrast to a split amongst calcifiers. We suggest that shifts in photosynthetically-driven tropical macroalgal changes due to OA will most likely occur in moderate to high-irradiance environments when CCMs are ineffective at meeting the C-demands of photosynthesis. Further, facultative use of HCO3− allows greater access to CO2 for photosynthesis under OA conditions, particularly amongst fleshy macroalgae, which could contribute to enhance fleshy species dominance over calcifiers.
CSF-1/CSF-1R axis is associated with epithelial/mesenchymal hybrid phenotype in epithelial-like inflammatory breast cancer
Authors: Kai Kazuharu , Iwamoto Takayuki , Zhang Dongwei , Shen Li , Takahashi Yuko , Rao Arvind , Thompson Alastair , Sen Subrata , Ueno Naoto T.
Published: June 2018

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare subtype of breast cancer, accounting for 8–10% of breast cancer-associated deaths in the US. Clinical hallmarks of IBC include tumor emboli in lymphatic vessels and E-cadherin overexpression, which supports a type of metastasis referred to as cell cluster-based metastasis, prevalent in IBC. In contrast, we previously reported epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-based progression of IBC, utilizing in vivo xenografts and in vitro Matrigel culture models. To address these two contradictory concepts of IBC metastasis, we used Matrigel culture to induce EMT in a panel of IBC cells. Results revealed Matrigel culture induced vimentin expression in SUM149 and SUM190 IBC cells at the transcriptional and protein levels while maintaining the expression of E-cadherin, a phenomenon referred to as partial EMT. Transcriptional profiling revealed that expression of colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) was induced in Matrigel culture. When the receptor tyrosine kinase of CSF-1 (CSF-1R) was inhibited by CSF-1R inhibitor BLZ945, the partial EMT was reversed in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that the CSF-1/CSF-1R axis plays a key role in controlling partial EMT. This observation may help reconcile the two contradictory theories of IBC metastasis, EMT vs cell cluster-based metastasis.
Nationwide survey on the organ-specific prevalence and its interaction with sarcoidosis in Japan
Authors: Hattori Takeshi , Konno Satoshi , Shijubo Noriharu , Yamaguchi Tetsuo , Sugiyama Yukihiko , Honma Sakae , Inase Naohiko , Ito Yoichi M. , Nishimura Masaharu
Published: June 2018

Previous studies attempted to characterize the subjects with sarcoidosis according to differences in sex, age, and the presence of specific organ involvement. However, significant interactions among these factors precluded a clear conclusion based on simple comparison. This study aimed to clarify the age- and sex-stratified prevalence of specific organ involvement and the heterogenous nature of sarcoidosis. Using the data of 9,965 patients who were newly registered into a database at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan between 2002 and 2011, we evaluated the age- and sex-specific prevalence of the eye, lung, and skin involvement of sarcoidosis. We also attempted corresponding analysis considering multiple factors. As compared with several decades ago, the monophasic age distribution in men became biphasic, and the biphasic distribution in women, monophasic. The prevalence of pulmonary and cutaneous lesions was significantly associated with age, whereas the prevalence of ocular involvement showed a biphasic pattern. The prevalence of bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy was significantly higher, whereas the prevalence of diffuse lung shadow was significantly lower, in subjects with ocular involvement than those without ocular involvement. Corresponding analysis visually clarified the complex interactions among factors. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the heterogeneous features of sarcoidosis.
Immune interconnectivity of anatomically distant tumors as a potential mediator of systemic responses to local therapy
Authors: Walker Rachel , Poleszczuk Jan , Pilon-Thomas Shari , Kim Sungjune , Anderson Alexander A. R. A. , Czerniecki Brian J. , Harrison Louis B. , Moros Eduardo G. , Enderling Heiko
Published: June 2018

Complex interactions occur between tumor and host immune system at each site in the metastatic setting, the outcome of which can determine behavior ranging from dormancy to rapid growth. An additional layer of complexity arises from the understanding that cytotoxic T cells can traffic through the host circulatory system. Coupling mathematical models of local tumor-immune dynamics and systemic T cell trafficking allows us to simulate the evolution of tumor and immune cell populations in anatomically distant sites following local therapy and thus computationally evaluate immune interconnectivity. Results suggest that the presence of a secondary site may either inhibit or promote growth of the primary, depending on the capacity for immune recruitment of each tumor and the resulting systemic redistribution of T cells. Treatment such as surgical resection and radiotherapy can be simulated to estimate both the decrease in tumor volume at the local treatment-targeted site, and the change in overall tumor burden and tumor growth trajectories across all sites. Qualitatively similar responses of distant tumors to local therapy (positive and negative abscopal effects) to those reported in the clinical setting were observed. Such findings may facilitate an improved understanding of general disease kinetics in the metastatic setting: if metastatic sites are interconnected through the immune system, truly local therapy does not exist.