bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deletion of Dtnbp1 in mice impairs threat memory consolidation and is associated with enhanced inhibitory drive in the amygdala
Authors: Huang Cathy C. Y. , Muszynski Kevin J. , Bolshakov Vadim Y. , Balu Darrick T.
Published: April 2019

Schizophrenia is a severe and highly heritable disorder. Dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 (DTNBP1), also known as dysbindin-1, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Specifically, dysbindin-1 mRNA and protein expression are decreased in the brains of subjects with this disorder. Mice lacking dysbinidn-1 also display behavioral phenotypes similar to those observed in schizophrenic patients. However, it remains unknown whether deletion of dysbindin-1 impacts functions of the amygdala, a brain region that is critical for emotional processing, which is disrupted in patients with schizophrenia. Here, we show that dysbindin-1 is expressed in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons of the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Deletion of dysbindin-1 in male mice (Dys−/−) impaired cued and context-dependent threat memory, without changes in measures of anxiety. The behavioral deficits observed in Dys−/− mice were associated with perturbations in the BLA, including the enhancement of GABAergic inhibition of pyramidal neurons, increased numbers of parvalbumin interneurons, and morphological abnormalities of dendritic spines on pyramidal neurons. Our findings highlight an important role for dysbindin-1 in the regulation of amygdalar function and indicate that enhanced inhibition of BLA pyramidal neuron activity may contribute to the weakened threat memory expression observed in Dys−/− mice.
Anomalous metal segregation in lithium-rich material provides design rules for stable cathode in lithium-ion battery
Authors: Lin Ruoqian , Hu Enyuan , Liu Mingjie , Wang Yi , Cheng Hao , Wu Jinpeng , Zheng Jin-Cheng , Wu Qin , Bak Seongmin , Tong Xiao , Zhang Rui , Yang Wanli , Persson Kristin A. , Yu Xiqian , Yang Xiao-Qing , Xin Huolin L.
Published: April 2019

Despite the importance of studying the instability of delithiated cathode materials, it remains difficult to underpin the degradation mechanism of lithium-rich cathode materials due to the complication of combined chemical and structural evolutions. Herein, we use state-of-the-art electron microscopy tools, in conjunction with synchrotron X-ray techniques and first-principle calculations to study a 4d-element-containing compound, Li2Ru0.5Mn0.5O3. We find surprisingly, after cycling, ruthenium segregates out as metallic nanoclusters on the reconstructed surface. Our calculations show that the unexpected ruthenium metal segregation is due to its thermodynamic insolubility in the oxygen deprived surface. This insolubility can disrupt the reconstructed surface, which explains the formation of a porous structure in this material. This work reveals the importance of studying the thermodynamic stability of the reconstructed film on the cathode materials and offers a theoretical guidance for choosing manganese substituting elements in lithium-rich as well as stoichiometric layer-layer compounds for stabilizing the cathode surface.
Influenza A virus ribonucleoproteins form liquid organelles at endoplasmic reticulum exit sites
Authors: Alenquer Marta , Vale-Costa Sílvia , Etibor Temitope Akhigbe , Ferreira Filipe , Sousa Ana Laura , Amorim Maria João
Published: April 2019

Influenza A virus has an eight-partite RNA genome that during viral assembly forms a complex containing one copy of each RNA. Genome assembly is a selective process driven by RNA-RNA interactions and is hypothesized to lead to discrete punctate structures scattered through the cytosol. Here, we show that contrary to the accepted view, formation of these structures precedes RNA-RNA interactions among distinct viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs), as they assemble in cells expressing only one vRNP type. We demonstrate that these viral inclusions display characteristics of liquid organelles, segregating from the cytosol without a delimitating membrane, dynamically exchanging material and adapting fast to environmental changes. We provide evidence that viral inclusions develop close to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites, depend on continuous ER-Golgi vesicular cycling and do not promote escape to interferon response. We propose that viral inclusions segregate vRNPs from the cytosol and facilitate selected RNA-RNA interactions in a liquid environment.
The role of enhanced velocity shears in rapid ocean cooling during Super Typhoon Nepartak 2016
Authors: Yang Yiing Jang , Chang Ming-Huei , Hsieh Chia-Ying , Chang Hung-I , Jan Sen , Wei Ching-Ling
Published: April 2019

Typhoon is a major cause of multiple disasters in coastal regions of East Asia. To advance our understanding of typhoon–ocean interactions and thus to improve the typhoon forecast for the disaster mitigation, two data buoys were deployed in the western North Pacific, which captured Super Typhoon Nepartak (equivalent to Category 5) in July 2016 at distances <20 km from the typhoon’s eye center. Here we demonstrate that the unprecedented dataset combined with the modeling results provide new insights into the rapid temperature drop (~1.5 °C in 4 h) and the dramatic strengthening of velocity shear in the mixed layer and below as the driving mechanism for this rapid cooling during the direct influence period of extremely strong winds. The shear instability and associated strong turbulence mixing further deepened the mixed layer to ~120 m. Our buoys also observed that inertial oscillations appeared before the direct wind influence period.
Optimizing radionuclide sequestration in anion nanotraps with record pertechnetate sorption
Authors: Sun Qi , Zhu Lin , Aguila Briana , Thallapally Praveen K. , Xu Chao , Chen Jing , Wang Shuao , Rogers David , Ma Shengqian
Published: April 2019

The elimination of specific contaminants from competitors poses a significant challenge. Rather than relying on a single direct interaction, the cooperation of multiple functionalities is an emerging strategy for adsorbents design to achieve the required affinity. Here, we describe that the interaction with the target species can be altered by modifying the local environment of the direct contact site, as demonstrated by manipulating the affinity of pyridinium-based anion nanotraps toward pertechnetate. Systematic control of the substituent effect allows the resulting anion nanotraps to combine multiple features, overcoming the long-term challenge of TcO4− segregation under extreme conditions of super acidity and basicity, strong irradiation field, and high ionic strength. The top material exhibits the highest sorption capacity together with record-high extraction efficiencies after a single treatment from conditions relevant to the used nuclear fuel (Hanford tank wastes, 95%) and legacy nuclear wastes (Savannah River Sites, 80%) among materials reported thus far.
Trapping single atoms on a nanophotonic circuit with configurable tweezer lattices
Authors: Kim May E. , Chang Tzu-Han , Fields Brian M. , Chen Cheng-An , Hung Chen-Lung
Published: April 2019

Trapped atoms near nanophotonics form an exciting platform for bottom-up synthesis of strongly interacting quantum matter. The ability to induce tunable long-range atom-atom interactions with photons presents an opportunity to explore many-body physics and quantum optics. Here we implement a configurable optical tweezer array over a planar photonic circuit tailored for cold atom integration and control for trapping and high-fidelity imaging of one or more atoms in an array directly on a photonic structure. Using an optical conveyor belt formed by a moving optical lattice within a tweezer potential, we show that single atoms can be transported from a reservoir into close proximity of a photonic interface, potentially allowing for the synthesis of a defect-free atom-nanophotonic hybrid lattice. Our experimental platform can be integrated with generic planar photonic waveguides and resonators, promising a pathway towards on-chip many-body quantum optics and applications in quantum technology.
A Bayesian mixture model for clustering droplet-based single-cell transcriptomic data from population studies
Authors: Sun Zhe , Chen Li , Xin Hongyi , Jiang Yale , Huang Qianhui , Cillo Anthony R. , Tabib Tracy , Kolls Jay K. , Bruno Tullia C. , Lafyatis Robert , Vignali Dario A. A. , Chen Kong , Ding Ying , Hu Ming , Chen Wei
Published: April 2019

The recently developed droplet-based single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology makes it feasible to perform a population-scale scRNA-seq study, in which the transcriptome is measured for tens of thousands of single cells from multiple individuals. Despite the advances of many clustering methods, there are few tailored methods for population-scale scRNA-seq studies. Here, we develop a Bayesian mixture model for single-cell sequencing (BAMM-SC) method to cluster scRNA-seq data from multiple individuals simultaneously. BAMM-SC takes raw count data as input and accounts for data heterogeneity and batch effect among multiple individuals in a unified Bayesian hierarchical model framework. Results from extensive simulation studies and applications of BAMM-SC to in-house experimental scRNA-seq datasets using blood, lung and skin cells from humans or mice demonstrate that BAMM-SC outperformed existing clustering methods with considerable improved clustering accuracy, particularly in the presence of heterogeneity among individuals.
Competitive endogenous RNA is an intrinsic component of EMT regulatory circuits and modulates EMT
Authors: Liu Yuwei , Xue Mengzhu , Du Shaowei , Feng Wanwan , Zhang Ke , Zhang Liwen , Liu Haiyue , Jia Guoyi , Wu Lingshuang , Hu Xin , Chen Luonan , Wang Peng
Published: April 2019

The competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis suggests an intrinsic mechanism to regulate biological processes. However, whether the dynamic changes of ceRNAs can modulate miRNA activities remains controversial. Here, we examine the dynamics of ceRNAs during TGF-β-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We observe that TGFBI, a transcript highly induced during EMT in A549 cells, acts as the ceRNA for miR-21 to modulate EMT. We further identify FN1 as the ceRNA for miR-200c in the canonical SNAIL-ZEB-miR200 circuit in MCF10A cells. Experimental assays and computational simulations demonstrate that the dynamically induced ceRNAs are directly coupled with the canonical double negative feedback loops and are critical to the induction of EMT. These results help to establish the relevance of ceRNA in cancer EMT and suggest that ceRNA is an intrinsic component of the EMT regulatory circuit and may represent a potential target to disrupt EMT during tumorigenesis.
Accelerated nonlinear interactions in graded-index multimode fibers
Authors: Eftekhar M. A. , Sanjabi-Eznaveh Z. , Lopez-Aviles H. E. , Benis S. , Antonio-Lopez J. E. , Kolesik M. , Wise F. , Amezcua-Correa R. , Christodoulides D. N.
Published: April 2019

Multimode optical fibers have recently reemerged as a viable platform for addressing a number of long-standing issues associated with information bandwidth requirements and power-handling capabilities. As shown in recent studies, the complex nature of such heavily multimoded systems can be effectively exploited to observe altogether novel physical effects arising from spatiotemporal and intermodal linear and nonlinear processes. Here, we study for the first time, accelerated nonlinear intermodal interactions in core-diameter decreasing multimode fibers. We demonstrate that in the anomalous dispersion region, this spatiotemporal acceleration can lead to relatively blue-shifted multimode solitons and blue-drifting dispersive wave combs, while in the normal domain, to a notably flat and uniform supercontinuum, extending over 2.5 octaves. Our results pave the way towards a deeper understanding of the physics and complexity of nonlinear, heavily multimoded optical systems, and could lead to highly tunable optical sources with very high spectral densities.
Author Correction: Comparative study of the toxicity between three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and their UV/Na2S2O8 degradation products on Cyprinus carpio
Authors: Gao Xingsheng , Geng Jinju , Du Yourong , Li Shaoli , Wu Gang , Fu Yingying , Ren Hongqiang
Published: April 2019

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Publisher Correction: Menisci protect chondrocytes from load-induced injury
Authors: Abusara Z. , Andrews S. H. J. , Von Kossel M. , Herzog W.
Published: April 2019

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.
Identification of a Novel Anti-cancer Protein, FIP-bbo, from Botryobasidium botryosum and Protein Structure Analysis using Molecular Dynamic Simulation
Authors: Wang Ying , Gao Ying Nv , Bai Rui , Chen Hong Yu , Wu Ying Ying , Shang Jun Jun , Bao Da Peng
Published: April 2019

Fungal immunoregulatory proteins (FIP) are effective small molecule proteins with broad-spectrum immunomodulatory and anti-cancer activities and can be potential agents for the development of clinical drugs and health food additives. In this study, a new member of FIP named FIP-bbo was obtained through Botryobasidium botryosum genome mining. FIP-bbo has the typical characteristics of FIP but is genetically distant from other FIPs. Recombinant FIP-bbo (rFIP-bbo) was produced in an optimized E. coli expression system, and the pure protein was isolated using a Ni-NTA column. Antineoplastic experiments suggested that FIP-bbo is similar to LZ-8 in inhibiting various cancer cells (Hela, Spac-1, and A549) at lower concentrations, but it is not as potent as LZ-8. The molecular mechanism by which FIP-bbo, FIP-fve, and LZ-8 are cytotoxic to cancer cells has been discussed based on molecular dynamics simulation. Point mutations that may improve the thermal stability of FIP-fve and FIP-bbo were predicted. These results not only present a new candidate protein for the development of anticancer adjuvants, but also provide an approach for designing FIPs with high anticancer activity.
Evaluation of an untargeted nano-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry approach to expand coverage of low molecular weight dissolved organic matter in Arctic soil
Authors: Ladd Mallory P. , Giannone Richard J. , Abraham Paul E. , Wullschleger Stan D. , Hettich Robert L.
Published: April 2019

Characterizing low molecular weight (LMW) dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soils and evaluating the availability of this labile pool is critical to understanding the underlying mechanisms that control carbon storage or release across terrestrial systems. However, due to wide-ranging physicochemical diversity, characterizing this complex mixture of small molecules and how it varies across space remains an analytical challenge. Here, we evaluate an untargeted approach to detect qualitative and relative-quantitative variations in LMW DOM with depth using water extracts from a soil core from the Alaskan Arctic, a unique system that contains nearly half the Earth’s terrestrial carbon and is rapidly warming due to climate change. We combined reversed-phase and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, and nano-electrospray ionization coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry in positive- and negative-ionization mode. The optimized conditions were sensitive, robust, highly complementary, and enabled detection and putative annotations of a wide range of compounds (e.g. amino acids, plant/microbial metabolites, sugars, lipids, peptides). Furthermore, multivariate statistical analyses revealed subtle but consistent and significant variations with depth. Thus, this platform is useful not only for characterizing LMW DOM, but also for quantifying relative variations in LMW DOM availability across space, revealing hotspots of biogeochemical activity for further evaluation.
Long-term benefit of Microbiota Transfer Therapy on autism symptoms and gut microbiota
Authors: Kang Dae-Wook , Adams James B. , Coleman Devon M. , Pollard Elena L. , Maldonado Juan , McDonough-Means Sharon , Caporaso J. Gregory , Krajmalnik-Brown Rosa
Published: April 2019

Many studies have reported abnormal gut microbiota in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), suggesting a link between gut microbiome and autism-like behaviors. Modifying the gut microbiome is a potential route to improve gastrointestinal (GI) and behavioral symptoms in children with ASD, and fecal microbiota transplant could transform the dysbiotic gut microbiome toward a healthy one by delivering a large number of commensal microbes from a healthy donor. We previously performed an open-label trial of Microbiota Transfer Therapy (MTT) that combined antibiotics, a bowel cleanse, a stomach-acid suppressant, and fecal microbiota transplant, and observed significant improvements in GI symptoms, autism-related symptoms, and gut microbiota. Here, we report on a follow-up with the same 18 participants two years after treatment was completed. Notably, most improvements in GI symptoms were maintained, and autism-related symptoms improved even more after the end of treatment. Important changes in gut microbiota at the end of treatment remained at follow-up, including significant increases in bacterial diversity and relative abundances of Bifidobacteria and Prevotella. Our observations demonstrate the long-term safety and efficacy of MTT as a potential therapy to treat children with ASD who have GI problems, and warrant a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in the future.
β-carboline biomediators induce reveromycin production in Streptomyces sp. SN-593
Authors: Panthee Suresh , Takahashi Shunji , Hayashi Teruo , Shimizu Takeshi , Osada Hiroyuki
Published: April 2019

The biosynthetic potential of soil-dwelling actinomycetes to produce diverse bioactive molecules that are useful as drug seeds has been achieved in the laboratory by modifying culture conditions. Availability of a small molecule that can induce secondary metabolism in these microbes can greatly facilitate the exploration of bioactive natural products. In this manuscript, through the screening of natural products and chemical modification, we demonstrated that the presence of the β-carboline compound, BR-1, enhanced reveromycin A production in Streptomyces sp. SN-593. BR-1 induced reveromycins production at the wide range of concentrations without affecting cell growth. Our study indicates that BR-1 might serve as an alternative to activate specialized metabolite biosynthesis without genetic engineering.
Effects of animal-assisted therapy on social behaviour in patients with acquired brain injury: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Hediger Karin , Thommen Stefan , Wagner Cora , Gaab Jens , Hund-Georgiadis Margret
Published: April 2019

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is increasingly used to address impaired social competence in patients with acquired brain injury. However, the efficacy of AAT has not been tested in these patients. We used a randomised, controlled within subject trial to determine the effects of AAT on social competence in patients undergoing stationary neurorehabilitation. Participants received both AAT sessions and paralleled conventional therapy sessions. The patients’ social behaviour was systematically coded on the basis of video recordings of therapy sessions. Moreover, mood, treatment motivation and satisfaction was measured during each therapy session. We analysed 222 AAT and 219 control sessions of 19 patients with linear mixed models. Patients showed a significantly higher amount of social behaviour during AAT. Furthermore, patients’ positive emotions, verbal and non-verbal communication, mood, treatment motivation and satisfaction were increased in the presence of an animal. Neutral emotions were reduced but no effect was found regarding negative emotions. Our results show that AAT increases aspects of social competence and leads to higher emotional involvement of patients with acquired brain injury, reflected in higher social engagement, motivation and satisfaction during a therapeutic session.
Successively accelerated ionic wind with integrated dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma actuator for low-voltage operation
Authors: Sato Shintaro , Furukawa Haruki , Komuro Atsushi , Takahashi Masayuki , Ohnishi Naofumi
Published: April 2019

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) force is used for active control of fluid motion and for the generation of propulsive thrust by inducing ionic wind with no moving parts. We propose a method of successively generating and accelerating ionic wind induced by surface dielectric-barrier-discharge (DBD), referred to as a DBD plasma actuator with multiple electrodes. A conventional method fails to generate unidirectional ionic wind, due to the generation of a counter ionic-wind with the multiple electrodes DBD plasma actuator. However, unidirectional ionic wind can be obtained by designing an applied voltage waveform and electrode arrangement suitable for the unidirectional EHD force generation. Our results demonstrate that mutually enhanced EHD force is generated by using the multiple electrodes without generating counter ionic-wind and highlights the importance of controlling the dielectric surface charge to generate the strong ionic wind. The proposed method can induce strong ionic wind without a high-voltage power supply, which is typically expensive and heavy, and is suitable for equipping small unmanned aerial vehicles with a DBD plasma actuator for a drastic improvement in the aerodynamic performance.
microRNA-155 inhibition restores Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 expression in diabetic skin and decreases wound inflammation
Authors: Moura João , Sørensen Anja , Leal Ermelindo C. , Svendsen Rikke , Carvalho Lina , Willemoes Rie Juul , Jørgensen Per Trolle , Jenssen Håvard , Wengel Jesper , Dalgaard Louise Torp , Carvalho Eugénia
Published: April 2019

Treatment for chronic diabetic foot ulcers is limited by the inability to simultaneously address the excessive inflammation and impaired re-epithelization and remodeling. Impaired re-epithelization leads to significantly delayed wound closure and excessive inflammation causes tissue destruction, both enhancing wound pathogen colonization. Among many differentially expressed microRNAs, miR-155 is significantly upregulated and fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) mRNA (target of miR-155) and protein are suppressed in diabetic skin, when compared to controls, leading us to hypothesize that topical miR-155 inhibition would improve diabetic wound healing by restoring FGF7 expression.In vitroinhibition of miR-155 increased human keratinocyte scratch closure and topical inhibition of miR-155in vivoin wounds increased murine FGF7 protein expression and significantly enhanced diabetic wound healing. Moreover, we show that miR-155 inhibition leads to a reduction in wound inflammation, in accordance with known pro-inflammatory actions of miR-155. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that topical miR-155 inhibition increases diabetic wound fibroblast growth factor 7 expression in diabetic wounds, which, in turn, increases re-epithelization and, consequently, accelerates wound closure. Topical miR-155 inhibition targets both excessive inflammation and impaired re-epithelization and remodeling, being a potentially new and effective treatment for chronic diabetic foot ulcers.
Mitogenomics of historical type specimens of Australasian turtles: clarification of taxonomic confusion and old mitochondrial introgression
Authors: Kehlmaier Christian , Zhang Xiuwen , Georges Arthur , Campbell Patrick D. , Thomson Scott , Fritz Uwe
Published: April 2019

Diagnosability is central to taxonomy as are type specimens which define taxa. New advances in technologies and the discovery of new informative traits must be matched with previous taxonomic decisions based on name-bearing type specimens. Consequently, the challenge of sequencing highly degraded DNA from historical types becomes an inevitability to resolve the very many taxonomic issues arising from, by modern standards, poor historical species descriptions leading to difficulties to assign names to genetic clusters identified from fresh material. Here we apply high-throughput parallel sequencing and sequence baiting to reconstruct the mitogenomes from 18 type specimens of Australasian side-necked turtles (Chelidae). We resolve a number of important issues that have confused the taxonomy of this family, and analyse the mitogenomes of the types and those of fresh material to improve our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of this morphologically conservative group. Together with previously published nuclear genomic data, our study provides evidence for multiple old mitochondrial introgressions.
Natural tuning of restriction endonuclease synthesis by cluster of rare arginine codons
Authors: Mruk Iwona , Kaczorowski Tadeusz , Witczak Agata
Published: April 2019

Restriction–modification (R-M) systems are highly widespread among bacteria and archaea, and they appear to play a pivotal role in modulating horizontal gene transfer, as well as in protecting the host organism against viruses and other invasive DNA particles. Type II R-M systems specify two independent enzymes: a restriction endonuclease (REase) and protective DNA methyltransferase (MTase). If the cell is to survive, the counteracting activities as toxin and antitoxin, must be finely balanced in vivo. The molecular basis of this regulatory process remains unclear and current searches for regulatory elements in R-M modules are focused mainly at the transcription step. In this report, we show new aspects of REase control that are linked to translation. We used the EcoVIII R-M system as a model. Both, the REase and MTase genes for this R-M system contain an unusually high number of rare arginine codons (AGA and AGG) when compared to the rest of the E. coli K-12 genome. Clusters of these codons near the N-terminus of the REase greatly affect the translational efficiency. Changing these to higher frequency codons for E. coli (CGC) improves the REase synthesis, making the R-M system more potent to defend its host against bacteriophages. However, this improved efficiency in synthesis reduces host fitness due to increased autorestriction. We hypothesize that expression of the endonuclease gene can be modulated depending on the host genetic context and we propose a novel post-transcriptional mode of R–M system regulation that alleviates the potential lethal action of the restriction enzyme.
Mapping the potential use of endectocide-treated cattle to reduce malaria transmission
Authors: Imbahale Susan S. , Montaña Lopez Julia , Brew Joe , Paaijmans Krijn , Rist Cassidy , Chaccour Carlos
Published: April 2019

Treating cattle with endectocide is a longstanding veterinary practice to reduce the load of endo and ectoparasites, but has the potential to be added to the malaria control and elimination toolbox, as it also kills malaria mosquitoes feeding on the animals. Here we used openly available data to map the areas of the African continent where high malaria prevalence in 2–10 year old children coincides with a high density of cattle and high density of the partly zoophilic malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis. That is, mapping the areas where treating cattle with endectocide would potentially have the greatest impact on reducing malaria transmission. In regions of Africa that are not dominated by rainforest nor desert, the map shows a scatter of areas in several countries where this intervention shows potential, including central and eastern sub-Saharan Africa. The savanna region underneath the Sahel in West Africa appears as the climatic block that would benefit to the largest extent from this intervention, encompassing several countries. West Africa currently presents the highest under-10 malaria prevalence and elimination within the next twenty years cannot be contemplated there with currently available interventions alone, making the use of endectocide treated cattle as a complementary intervention highly appealing.
Theoretical analysis of glyoxal condensation with ammonia in aqueous solution
Authors: Tuguldurova Vera P. , Fateev Alexander V. , Poleshchuk Oleg Kh. , Vodyankina Olga V.
Published: April 2019

The alternative pathways for the formation of heterocyclic products through mono- and diamino-intermediates were determined.
Nanostructures of solid electrolyte interphases and their consequences for microsized Sn anodes in sodium ion batteries
Authors: Huang Jiaqiang , Guo Xuyun , Du Xiaoqiong , Lin Xiuyi , Huang Jian-Qiu , Tan Hong , Zhu Ye , Zhang Biao
Published: April 2019

An optimized solid electrolyte interphase is the key to stabilization of microparticle anodes.
Degree of branching in poly(acrylic acid) prepared by controlled and conventional radical polymerization
Authors: Maniego Alison R. , Sutton Adam T. , Guillaneuf Yohann , Lefay Catherine , Destarac Mathias , Fellows Christopher M. , Castignolles Patrice , Gaborieau Marianne
Published: April 2019

Poly(acrylic acid)s, PAAs and poly(sodium acrylate)s, PNaAs were characterized in detail.
The phase diagram of a mixed halide (Br, I) hybrid perovskite obtained by synchrotron X-ray diffraction
Authors: Lehmann Frederike , Franz Alexandra , Többens Daniel M. , Levcenco Sergej , Unold Thomas , Taubert Andreas , Schorr Susan
Published: April 2019

The phase diagram elucidates structural changes and phase separation effects, induced by halide substitution in hybrid perovskite MAPb(I,Br)3 solid solution.
Targeting triple-negative breast cancer cells using Dengue virus-mimicking pH-responsive framboidal triblock copolymer vesicles
Authors: Mable Charlotte J. , Canton Irene , Mykhaylyk Oleksandr O. , Ustbas Gul Burcin , Chambon Pierre , Themistou Efrosyni , Armes Steven P.
Published: April 2019

Dengue fever-mimicking pH-responsive framboidal triblock copolymer vesicles enable delivery of a nucleic acid payload to the nuclei of triple-negative breast cancer cells.
A rapid room-temperature DNA amplification and detection strategy based on nicking endonuclease and catalyzed hairpin assembly
Authors: Dong Guixiu , Dai Jianyuan , Jin Limin , Shi Hongli , Wang Fang , Zhou Cuisong , Zheng Baozhan , Guo Yong , Xiao Dan
Published: April 2019

A novel and rapid room-temperature DNA amplification strategy to simultaneously amplify and detect target HIV DNA was developed by coupling catalyzed hairpin assembly (CHA) with a “non-sequence dependent” nicking endonuclease.
A facile method to synthesize small-sized and superior crystalline Cs0.32WO3nanoparticles for transparent NIR shielding coatings
Authors: Qi Shuai , Xiao Xiudi , Lu Yuan , Huan Changmeng , Zhan Yongjun , Liu Hongsha , Xu Gang
Published: April 2019

Small-sized and superior crystalline Cs0.32WO3nanoparticles used for NIR-shielding were developed by tailoring the molar ratio of Cs/W.
Determination of the prevailing n-butenes dimerization mechanism over nickel containing Al-MCM-41/ZSM-5 mixed-phase catalysts
Authors: Alscher Felix , Nadolny Fabian , Frenzel Henrik , Knossalla Johannes , Peitz Stephan , Borovinskaya Ekaterina , Breitkopf Cornelia , Franke Robert , Reschetilowski Wladimir
Published: April 2019

Novel approaches to evaluate the contribution of the cationic or coordinative reaction mechanism to the overall reaction course are proposed.
Bimetallic NiCo/CNF encapsulated in a N-doped carbon shell as an electrocatalyst for Zn–air batteries and water splitting
Authors: Gebremariam Tesfaye Tadesse , Chen Fuyi , Jin Yachao , Wang Qiao , Wang Jiali , Wang Junpeng
Published: April 2019

Bimetallic NiCo/CNF encapsulated in a N-doped carbon shell (NiCo/CNF@NC) catalyst for application in a Zn–air battery and water splitting has been reported in this work.
A look at periodic trends in d-block molecular electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction
Authors: Jiang Changcheng , Nichols Asa W. , Machan Charles W.
Published: April 2019

Periodic trends in the electronic structure of the transition metal centers can be used to explain the observed CO2 reduction activities in molecular electrocatalysts for CO2 reductions. Research activities concerning both horizontal and vertical trends have been summarized with mononuclear complexes from Group 6 to Group 10.
Evaluation of dicopper azacryptand complexes in aqueous CuAAC reactions and their tolerance toward biological thiols
Authors: Tran Thi V. , Couture Garret , Do Loi H.
Published: April 2019

The catalytic activity of dicopper azacryptands was evaluated in water and in the presence of biological thiols.
Copper fluorapatite assisted synthesis of new 1,2,3-triazoles bearing a benzothiazolyl moiety and their antibacterial and anticancer activities
Authors: Dhumal Sambhaji T. , Deshmukh Amarsinh R. , Kharat Kiran R. , Sathe Bhaskar R. , Chavan Santosh S. , Mane Ramrao A.
Published: April 2019

New 1,2,3-triazoles with a benzothiazolyl scaffold have been synthesized for the first time using copper fluorapatite as a catalyst and their antibacterial and anticancer activities are reported.
Facile synthesis of a molybdenum phosphide@carbon nanocomposite as an advanced anode material for sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Cao Yang , Zhang Bao , Ou Xing , Li Yunsha , Wang Chunhui , Cao Liang , Peng Chunli , Zhang Jiafeng
Published: April 2019

The MoP@C nanocomposite was successfully fabricated via a facile sol–gel approach, which demonstrated excellent electrochemical properties as a sodium-ion battery anode.
Probing the multi-step crystallization dynamics of micelle templated nanoparticles: structural evolution of single crystalline γ-Fe2O3
Authors: Liang Kunyu , Hui Lok Shu , Turak Ayse
Published: April 2019

Reverse micelle deposition of iron oxide nanoparticles results in monodisperse arrays of single crystalline nanoparticles with pure γ-Fe2O3 or pure α-Fe2O3 under optimized conditions, which can be effectively tracked from precursor incorporation through final particle formation using Raman spectroscopy.
Carboxylic acid-capped ruthenium nanoparticles: experimental and theoretical case study with ethanoic acid
Authors: González-Gómez Roberto , Cusinato Lucy , Bijani Christian , Coppel Yannick , Lecante Pierre , Amiens Catherine , del Rosal Iker , Philippot Karine , Poteau Romuald
Published: April 2019

Joint computational studies and full experimental characterization of NPs is a significant plus in order to apprehend their surface chemistry.
Surface-diffusion-limited growth of atomically thin WS2 crystals from core–shell nuclei
Authors: Jo Sunghwan , Jung Jin-Woo , Baik Jaeyoung , Kang Jang-Won , Park Il-Kyu , Bae Tae-Sung , Chung Hee-Suk , Cho Chang-Hee
Published: April 2019

CVD growth of monolayer TMDs occurs from the core–shell nanoparticles, through the 3D islands, to the 2D monolayers.
IrW nanobranches as an advanced electrocatalyst for pH-universal overall water splitting
Authors: Fu Luhong , Hu Xin , Li Yunbo , Cheng Gongzhen , Luo Wei
Published: April 2019

A well-dispersed 3-in-1 IrW electrocatalyst with nanobranch architecture was synthesized and the catalyst exhibits excellent performance for HER and OER at all pH values. Furthermore, the IrW catalyst shows low cell voltages for overall water splitting in pH-universal electrolytes.
A photoelectrochemical aptasensor for aflatoxin B1 detection based on an energy transfer strategy between Ce-TiO2@MoSe2 and Au nanoparticles
Authors: Tang Yunfei , Liu Xiaoqiang , Zheng Hejie , Yang Liwei , Li Lele , Zhang Si , Zhou Yanmei , Alwarappan Subbiah
Published: April 2019

In this work, a novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor was developed for the sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) based on a resonance energy transfer strategy between the Ce-TiO2@MoSe2 heterostructure and Au nanoparticles (AuNPs).
Catalyst-free and selective trifluoromethylative cyclization of acryloanilides using PhICF3Cl
Authors: Guo Jia , Xu Cong , Wang Ling , Huang Wanqiao , Wang Mang
Published: April 2019

Trifluoromethylative cyclization and biscyclization reactions of acryloanilides efficiently occurred under catalyst-free conditions.
A new route to tricyclane sesquiterpenoids: total synthesis of α-ekasantalic acid
Authors: Lomba L. , Afarinkia K. , Vinader V.
Published: April 2019

Chemical manipulation of the cycloadduct of citraconic anhydride and cyclopentadiene enables a new synthetic route to tricyclane sesquiterpenoids.
Self-assembly of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte block copolymers containing short thermoresponsive blocks
Authors: van Hees I. A. , Swinkels P. J. M. , Fokkink R. G. , Velders A. H. , Voets I. K. , van der Gucht J. , Kamperman M.
Published: April 2019

The assembly of oppositely charged block copolymers, containing small thermoresponsive moieties, was investigated as a function of salt concentration and temperature.
Nitrogen doped microporous carbon nanospheres derived from chitin nanogels as attractive materials for supercapacitors
Authors: Zheng Si , Cui Yin , Zhang Jianwei , Gu Yuxing , Shi Xiaowen , Peng Chuang , Wang Dihua
Published: April 2019

N-doped microporous carbon nanospheres were directly carbonized from chitin nanogels and demonstrated fascinating supercapacitance performance.
High resolution tracking of macrophage cells in deep organs and lymphatics using fluorescent polymer dots
Authors: Tang Shiyi , Guo Yixiao , Yang Yidian , Li Yao , Gao Yanhong , Zhang Chunfu , Xiong Liqin
Published: April 2019

Fluorescent polymer dots for tracking macrophage cells in deep organs using probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE).
Lignocellulosic hydrogen production using dark fermentation byClostridium lentocellumstrain Cel10 newly isolated fromAiluropoda melanoleucaexcrement
Authors: Zhang Luyan , Li Yan , Liu Xianshu , Ren Nanqi , Ding Jie
Published: April 2019

Lignocellulosic biomass, such as cassava residues, rice straw, corn stalks, and corncob, can be directly converted to hydrogen using dark fermentation by newly isolatedClostridium lentocellumstrain Cel10.
Thermodynamic insight into the growth of calcia inclusions at the nanoscale: the case of Fe–O–Ca melt
Authors: Xiao Yuanyou , Lei Hong , Yang Bin , Zhao Yang , Wang Qi , Wang Guocheng
Published: April 2019

Thermodynamics of the formation of nano-CaO in liquid iron is important to explore the relationship between deoxidation reaction and size of inclusions, and is very useful in the size controlling of inclusions.
One metal is enough: a nickel complex reduces nitrate anions to nitrogen gas
Authors: Gwak Jinseong , Ahn Seihwan , Baik Mu-Hyun , Lee Yunho
Published: April 2019

A nickel complex was found to be capable of stepwise reducing nitrate to dinitrogen gas using carbon monoxide as the reaction partner.
Active microrheology in two-dimensional magnetic networks
Authors: Wang Hanqing , Mohorič Tomaž , Zhang Xianren , Dobnikar Jure , Horbach Jürgen
Published: April 2019

We study active microrheology in 2D with Langevin simulations of tracer particles pulled through magnetic networks by a constant force. While non-magnetic tracers strongly deform the network in order to be able to move through, the magnetic tracers can do so by deforming the structure only slightly.
Design of textured multi-layered structuresviamagnetically assisted slip casting
Authors: Le Ferrand Hortense , Bouville Florian , Studart André R.
Published: April 2019

Multi-layered composites with controlled orientation of inorganic building blocks can be fabricated by imposing a magnetic field while casting a suspension with tailored composition.
Novel acetic acid induced Na-rich Prussian blue nanocubes with iron defects as cathodes for sodium ion batteries
Authors: Li Lan , Nie Ping , Chen Yubo , Wang Jie
Published: April 2019

Novel Na-enriched Prussian blue with Fe defects is for the first time created, exhibiting sufficient activation of low-spin FeLS(C) redox-couple Na-involved reactions.
Is there a role for autophagy in ascending aortopathy associated with tricuspid or bicuspid aortic valve?
Authors: Forte Amalia , Cipollaro Marilena , De Feo Marisa , Della Corte Alessandro
Published: April 2019

Autophagy is a conserved process by which cytoplasmatic elements are sequestered in vesicles and degraded after their fusion with lysosomes, thus recycling the precursor molecules. The autophagy-mediated removal of redundant/harmful/damaged organelles and biomolecules plays not only a replenishing function, but protects against stressful conditions through an adaptive mechanism. Autophagy, known to play a role in several pathological conditions, is now gaining increasing attention also in the perspective of the identification of the pathogenetic mechanisms at the basis of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), a localized or diffused dilatation of the aorta with an abnormal widening greater than 50 percent of the vessel’s normal diameter. TAA is less frequent than abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), but is encountered with a higher percentage in patients with congenital heart disease or known genetic syndromes. Several biological aspects of TAA pathophysiology remain to be elucitated and therapeutic needs are still widely unmet. One of the most controversial and epidemiologically important forms of TAA is that associated with the congenital bicuspid malformation of the aortic valve (BAV). Dysregulated autophagy in response, for example, to wall shear stress alterations, has been demonstrated to affect the phenotype of vascular cells relevant to aortopathy, with potential consequences on signaling, remodeling, and angiogenesis. The most recent findings and hypotheses concerning the multiple aspects of autophagy and of its dysregulation are summarized, both in general and in the context of the different vascular cell types and of TAA progression, with particular reference to BAV-related aortopathy.
Dynamic chromatin organization in the cell
Authors: Prieto Eloise I. , Maeshima Kazuhiro
Published: April 2019

The organization and regulation of genomic DNA as nuclear chromatin is necessary for proper DNA function inside living eukaryotic cells. While this has been extensively explored, no true consensus is currently reached regarding the exact mechanism of chromatin organization. The traditional view has assumed that the DNA is packaged into a hierarchy of structures inside the nucleus based on the regular 30-nm chromatin fiber. This is currently being challenged by the fluid-like model of the chromatin which views the chromatin as a dynamic structure based on the irregular 10-nm fiber. In this review, we focus on the recent progress in chromatin structure elucidation highlighting the paradigm shift in chromatin folding mechanism from the classical textbook perspective of the regularly folded chromatin to the more dynamic fluid-like perspective.
Intravelar and Extravelar Portions of Soft Palate Muscles in Velic Constrictions: A Three-Dimensional Modeling Study
Authors: Anderson Peter , Fels Sidney , Stavness Ian , Pearson William G. , Gick Bryan
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This study predicts and simulates the function and relative contributions of the intravelar and extravelar portions of the levator veli palatini (LVP) and palatoglossus (PG) muscles in velic constrictions.

Method

A finite element-based model of the 3-dimensional upper airway structures (palate, pharynx, tongue, jaw, maxilla) was implemented, with LVP and PG divided into intravelar and extravelar portions. Simulations were run to investigate the contributions of these muscles in velopharyngeal port (VPP) closure and constriction of the oropharyngeal isthmus (OPI).

Results

Simulations reveal that the extravelar portion of LVP, though crucial for lifting the palate, is not sufficient to effect VPP closure. Specifically, the characteristic “bulge” appearing in the posterior soft palate during VPP closure (Pigott, 1969;Serrurier & Badin, 2008) is found to result from activation of the intravelar portion of LVP. Likewise, the intravelar portion of posterior PG is crucial in bending the “veil” or “traverse” (Gick, Francis, Klenin, Mizrahi, & Tom, 2013) of the velum anteriorly to produce uvular constrictions of the OPI (Gick et al., 2014).

Conclusions

Simulations support the view that intravelar LVP and PG play significant roles in VPP and OPI constrictions.
Respiratory Phase and Lung Volume Patterns During Swallowing in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hopkins-Rossabi Theresa , Curtis Philip , Temenak Mark , Miller Corinne , Martin-Harris Bonnie
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The coordination of respiration with swallowing is critical for facilitation of airway protection and the efficiency of movements that propel ingested material through the upper aerodigestive tract. Confirmation of a predominant pattern in healthy adults provides a platform for comparison to aberrant patterns observed in the population with swallowing impairment (dysphagia).

Method

A comprehensive search of published research in MEDLINE via PubMed 1946–2018, Embase 1947–2018, and Proquest Dissertations & Theses Global 1861–2018 was completed.

Results

Thirty-seven articles meeting inclusion criteria were selected for data extraction, and the findings were reviewed. In addition, a meta-analysis of the data was completed. A significantly higher occurrence (p< .001) of expiration prior to and following the swallow was found when compared to 3 other patterns. The predominance of the pattern was influenced by increases in bolus volume when controlling for participant sample size.

Conclusion

Determination of this predominant pattern provides a normative framework for evaluating respiratory–swallow coordination in adults across the age span and highlights the relevance for assessing and incorporating respiratory swallowing coordination during assessment and interventions.
Detection of severity level of diabetic retinopathy using Bag of features model
Authors: Leeza Mona , Farooq Humera
Published: April 2019

Diabetic retinopathy is a vascular disease caused by uncontrolled diabetes. Its early detection can save diabetic patients from blindness. However, the detection of its severity level is a challenge for ophthalmologists since last few decades. Several efforts have been made for the identification of its limited stages by using pre‐ and post‐processing methods, which require extensive domain knowledge. This study proposes an improved automated system for severity detection of diabetic retinopathy which is a dictionary‐based approach and does not include pre‐ and post‐processing steps. This approach integrates pathological explicit image representation into a learning outline. To create the dictionary of visual features, points of interest are detected to compute the descriptive features from retinal images through speed up robust features algorithm and histogram of oriented gradients. These features are clustered to generate a dictionary, then coding and pooling are applied for compact representation of features. Radial basis kernel support vector machine and neural network are used to classify the images into five classes namely normal, mild, moderate, severe non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The proposed system exhibits improved results of 95.92% sensitivity and 98.90% specificity in relation to the reported state of the art methods.
Parametric Study on the Effect of Steel Confinement in Short Bridge Piers Retrofitted with Externally-Wrapped FRP
Authors: Zignago Diogo , Barbato Michele
Published: April 2019

Confinement of reinforced concrete (RC) piers generally has a beneficial effect on both the compressive strength and the ductility of the confined member. Thus, externally-bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) wrapping is often used as a retrofit technique for bridge piers when additional compressive strength is needed. This study employs finite element analysis and a recently developed FRP-and-steel confined concrete model to investigate the influence of internal steel confinement on the response of circular RC columns confined with FRP and subject to concentric axial load. This new model leads to more accurate estimates of the response of these columns, what is particularly relevant for piers in short span bridges that are subjected mainly to vertical loads, for which it could lead to a more efficient and economical piers’ retrofit, as well as a more accurate and less conservative bridge rating. A parametric study is conducted to examine the importance of some key parameters in the design of such columns.