bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential for high yield with increased seedling density and decreased N fertilizer application under seedling-throwing rice cultivation
Authors: Liu Yang , Li Chao , Fang Baohua , Fang Yong , Chen Kailin , Zhang Yuzhu , Zhang Haiqing
Published: January 2019

Fertilizer application for rice production has increased significantly in southern China to raise yields, but has led to problems with lodging, quality decline and environmental pollution. Therefore, research on fertilizer-saving cultivation technologies for high-yielding rice is necessary. A two-factor experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of seedling-addition treatment (SAT) and nitrogen-saving treatment (NST) on yield formation and nitrogen absorption of individual plants and plant groups under the seedling-throwing cultivation system. Numbers of spikelets per panicle and filled grains per panicle of individual plants declined under decreased nitrogen application, but was compensated by substantially increased effective panicles number and total number of glumous flowers under SAT. Under the optimal SAT–NST treatments of 18% less N fertilizer and 32% additional seedlings, yield increased 1.79% and 4.29% compared with that of conventional practice (CK) in 2015 and 2016, respectively. The mature-stage individual-plant biomass under SAT–NST treatments decreased by 27.46% and 20.49% compared with CK in 2015 and 2016, but plant-group biomass did not differ significantly (all >16 t ha−1). Under SAT–NST treatments, effective number of panicles was positively correlated with maximum number of seedlings (r = 0.643) and N absorption amount in the tillering stage (r = 0.901).
Evaluation of selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in fresh root and leafy vegetables using GC-MS
Authors: Olatunji Olatunde S.
Published: January 2019

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are dangerous and toxic pollutants that may cause adverse effects on human and animal health, including death. POPs such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides are subtly released into the environment from industrial and agricultural use. Global circulation is due to their trans-boundary transport capacity, contingent on aerodynamic and hydrological properties. Plants have capacity to take-up POPs, and these bio-magnify along heterotrophic transfer pathways. In this study, levels of selected 6-PCB congeners and 3- DDTs in some leaf and root vegetables were investigated. Leaf and root vegetables were collected from different horticultural farms areas in Cape Town. The 6-PCBs and 3-DDTs were recovered from the samples using solid phase extraction(SPE), followed by GC-MS analysis. The ΣPCBs and ΣDDT (on-whole basis), were ranged: 90.9–234 ng/g and 38.9–66.1 ng/g respectively. The 3-PCBs and 6-DDTs levels were slightly higher in leaf vegetables compared to root vegetables. The detection of PCBs and DDTs in the vegetables suggest the probable use of PCBs containing pesticides. Although the observed concentrations were below the WHO maximum residue limits, consumption of such contaminated leaf and root vegetables portend a health risk.
Efficient coralline algal psbA mini barcoding and High Resolution Melt (HRM) analysis using a simple custom DNA preparation
Authors: Anglès d’Auriac Marc B. , Le Gall Line , Peña Viviana , Hall-Spencer Jason M. , Steneck Robert S. , Fredriksen Stein , Gitmark Janne , Christie Hartvig , Husa Vivian , Grefsrud Ellen Sofie , Rinde Eli
Published: January 2019

Coralline algae form extensive maerl and rhodolith habitats that support a rich biodiversity. Calcium carbonate harvesting as well as trawling activities threatens this ecosystem. Eleven species were recorded so far as maerl-forming in NE Atlantic, but identification based on morphological characters is unreliable. As for most red algae, we now use molecular characters to resolve identification of these taxa. However, obtaining DNA sequences requires time and resource demanding methods. The purpose of our study was to improve methods for achieving simple DNA extraction, amplification, sequencing and sequence analysis to allow robust identification of maerl species and other coralline algae. Our novel and easy DNA preparation method for coralline algae was of sufficient quality for qPCR amplification and sequencing of all 47 tested samples. The new psbA qPCR assay successfully amplified a 350 bp fragment identifying six species and uncovering two new Operational Taxonomic Units. Molecular results were corroborated with anatomical examination using i.e. scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the qPCR assay was coupled with High Resolution Melt analysis that successfully differentiated the closely related species Lithothamnion erinaceum and L. cf. glaciale. This DNA preparation and qPCR technique should vitalize coralline research by reducing time and cost associated with molecular systematics.
Ni-Co bimetal decorated carbon nanotube aerogel as an efficient anode catalyst in urea fuel cells
Authors: Tesfaye Robel Mehari , Das Gautam , Park Bang Ju , Kim Jihyeon , Yoon Hyon Hee
Published: January 2019

Ni-based catalysts have been considered as an efficient anode material for urea fuel cells due to the low cost and high activity in alkaline media. Herein, we demonstrate that Ni-Co bimetallic nanoparticles decorated carbon nanotube aerogels as catalysts for urea oxidation reaction (UOR) can be synthesized by a polyol reduction and sol-gel method. The morphology, structure, and composition of the Ni-Co/MWCNT aerogels were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-Ray diffraction. The electro-catalytic activity of the Ni-Co/MWCNT aerogels towards UOR was investigated using cyclic voltammetry. It was found that the Co-doping at 25% (Co/Ni) significantly increased the oxidation peak current and reduced the overpotential of the UOR. Furthermore, the MWCNT aerogel support also remarkably enhanced electro-catalytic activity by providing a high surface area and fast mass transport for the UOR owing to the porous 3D network structures with uniform distribution of Ni-Co nanoparticles. Urea/O2 fuel cell with Ni-Co/MWCNT aerogel as anode material exhibited an excellent performance with maximum power density of 17.5 mWcm−2 with an open circuit voltage of 0.9 V. Thus, this work showed that the highly porous three-dimensional Ni-Co/MWCNT aerogel catalysts can be used for urea oxidation and as an efficient anode material for urea fuel cells.
Identification of the novel role of butyrate as AhR ligand in human intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Marinelli Ludovica , Martin-Gallausiaux Camille , Bourhis Jean-Marie , Béguet-Crespel Fabienne , Blottière Hervé M. , Lapaque Nicolas
Published: January 2019

The ligand activated transcription factor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) emerged as a critical regulator of immune and metabolic processes in the gastrointestinal tract. In the gut, a main source of AhR ligands derives from commensal bacteria. However, many of the reported microbiota-derived ligands have been restricted to indolyl metabolites. Here, by screening commensal bacteria supernatants on an AhR reporter system expressed in human intestinal epithelial cell line (IEC), we found that the short chain fatty acid (SCFA) butyrate induced AhR activity and the transcription of AhR-dependent genes in IECs. We showed that AhR ligand antagonists reduced the effects of butyrate on IEC suggesting that butyrate could act as a ligand of AhR, which was supported by the nuclear translocation of AhR induced by butyrate and in silico structural modelling. In conclusion, our findings suggest that (i) butyrate activates AhR pathway and AhR-dependent genes in human intestinal epithelial cell-lines (ii) butyrate is a potential ligand for AhR which is an original mechanism of gene regulation by SCFA.
Mammalian plasma fetuin-B is a selective inhibitor of ovastacin and meprin metalloproteinases
Authors: Karmilin Konstantin , Schmitz Carlo , Kuske Michael , Körschgen Hagen , Olf Mario , Meyer Katharina , Hildebrand André , Felten Matthias , Fridrich Sven , Yiallouros Irene , Becker-Pauly Christoph , Weiskirchen Ralf , Jahnen-Dechent Willi , Floehr Julia , Stöcker Walter
Published: January 2019

Vertebrate fetuins are multi-domain plasma-proteins of the cystatin-superfamily. Human fetuin-A is also known as AHSG, α2-Heremans-Schmid-glycoprotein. Gene-knockout in mice identified fetuin-A as essential for calcified-matrix-metabolism and bone-mineralization. Fetuin-B deficient mice, on the other hand, are female infertile due to zona pellucida ‘hardening’ caused by the metalloproteinase ovastacin in unfertilized oocytes. In wildtype mice fetuin-B inhibits the activity of ovastacin thus maintaining oocytes fertilizable. Here we asked, if fetuins affect further proteases as might be expected from their evolutionary relation to single-domain-cystatins, known as proteinase-inhibitors. We show that fetuin-A is not an inhibitor of any tested protease. In stark contrast, the closely related fetuin-B selectively inhibits astacin-metalloproteinases such as meprins and ovastacin, but not astacins of the tolloid-subfamily, nor any other proteinase. The analysis of fetuin-B expressed in various mammalian cell types, insect cells, and truncated fish-fetuin expressed in bacteria, showed that the cystatin-like domains alone are necessary and sufficient for inhibition. This report highlights fetuin-B as a specific antagonist of ovastacin and meprin-metalloproteinases. Control of ovastacin was shown to be indispensable for female fertility. Meprin inhibition, on the other hand, renders fetuin-B a potential key-player in proteolytic networks controlling angiogenesis, immune-defense, extracellular-matrix-assembly and general cell-signaling, with implications for inflammation, fibrosis, neurodegenerative disorders and cancer.
Adipose fin development and its relation to the evolutionary origins of median fins
Authors: Stewart Thomas A. , Bonilla Melvin M. , Ho Robert K. , Hale Melina E.
Published: January 2019

The dorsal, anal and caudal fins of vertebrates are proposed to have originated by the partitioning and transformation of the continuous median fin fold that is plesiomorphic to chordates. Evaluating this hypothesis has been challenging, because it is unclear how the median fin fold relates to the adult median fins of vertebrates. To understand how new median fins originate, here we study the development and diversity of adipose fins. Phylogenetic mapping shows that in all lineages except Characoidei (Characiformes) adipose fins develop from a domain of the larval median fin fold. To inform how the larva’s median fin fold contributes to the adipose fin, we studyCorydoras aeneus(Siluriformes). As the fin fold reduces around the prospective site of the adipose fin, a fin spine develops in the fold, growing both proximally and distally, and sensory innervation, which appears to originate from the recurrent ramus of the facial nerve and from dorsal rami of the spinal cord, develops in the adipose fin membrane. Collectively, these data show how a plesiomorphic median fin fold can serve as scaffolding for the evolution and development of novel, individuated median fins, consistent with the median fin fold hypothesis.
Dynamics of the gut microbiota in developmental stages of Litopenaeus vannamei reveal its association with body weight
Authors: Fan Jiqiang , Chen Limei , Mai Guoqin , Zhang Haoran , Yang Jinfang , Deng Deng , Ma Yingfei
Published: January 2019

Increasing evidences have revealed a close interaction between the intestinal microbes and host growth performance. The shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) gut harbors a diverse microbial community, yet its associations with dietary, body weight and weaning age remain a matter of debate. In this study, we analyzed the effects of different dietary (fishmeal group (NC), krill meal group (KM)) and different growth stages (age from 42 day-old to 98 day-old) of the shrimp on the intestinal microbiota. High throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes of shrimp intestinal microbes determined the novelty of bacteria in the shrimp gut microbiota and a core of 58 Operation Taxonomic Units (OTUs) was present among the shrimp gut samples. Analysis results indicated that the development of the shrimp gut microbiota is a dynamic process with three stages across the age according to the gut microbiota compositions. Furthermore, the dietary of KM group did not significantly change the intestinal microbiota of the shrimps compared with NC group. Intriguingly, compared to NC group, we observed in KM group that a fluctuation of the shrimp gut microbiota coincided with the shrimp body weight gain between weeks 6–7. Six OTUs associated with the microbiota change in KM group were identified. This finding strongly suggests that the shrimp gut microbiota may be correlated with the shrimp body weight likely by influencing nutrient uptake in the gut. The results obtained from this study potentially will be guidelines for manipulation to provide novel shrimp feed management approaches.
Organic-Inorganic Solid-State Hybridization with High-Strength and Anti-Hydrolysis Interface
Authors: Yang Tilo H. , Kao C. Robert , Shigetou Akitsu
Published: January 2019

Organic-inorganic material hybridization at the solid-state level is indispensable for the integration of IoT applications, but still remains a challenging issue. Existing bonding strategies in the field of electronic packaging tend to employ vacuum or ultrahigh temperature; however, these can cause process complications and material deterioration. Here we report an easy-to-tune method to achieve hybrid bonding at the solid-state level and under the ambient atmosphere. Vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV)-induced reorganization with ethanol was used to develop hydroxyl-carrying alkyl chains through coordinatively-bonded carboxylate onto aluminum, whereas numerous hydroxyl-carrying alkyls were created on polyimide. The triggering of dehydration through these hydroxyls by merely heating at 150 °C for a few minutes produced robust organic-inorganic reticulated complexes within the aluminum/polyimide interface. The as-bonded aluminum/polyimide interface possessed an superior fracture energy of (2.40 ± 0.36) × 103 (J/m2) compared with aluminum and polyimide matrices themselves, which was mainly attributed to crack deflection due to the nano-grains of inorganic-organic reticulated complexes. The interfacial adhesion was successfully kept after humidity test, which was contributed by those anti-hydrolytic carboxylates. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time organic-inorganic bonding at the solid-state level was achieved using the ethanol-assisted VUV (E-VUV) process, a strategy which should be applicable to a diversity of plastics and metals with native oxides.
Ionization injection of highly-charged copper ions for laser driven acceleration from ultra-thin foils
Authors: Li Jun , Arefiev Alexey V. , Bulanov Stepan S. , Kawahito Daiki , Bailly-Grandvaux Mathieu , Petrov George M. , McGuffey Christopher , Beg Farhat N.
Published: January 2019

Laser-driven ion acceleration is often analyzed assuming that ionization reaches a steady state early in the interaction of the laser pulse with the target. This assumption breaks down for materials of high atomic number for which the ionization occurs concurrently with the acceleration process. Using particle-in-cell simulations, we have examined acceleration and simultaneous field ionization of copper ions in ultra-thin targets (20–150 nm thick) irradiated by a laser pulse with intensity 1 × 1021 W/cm2. At this intensity, the laser pulse drives strong electric fields at the rear side of the target that can ionize Cu to charge states with valence L-shell or full K-shell. The highly-charged ions are produced only in a very localized region due to a significant gap between the M- and L-shells’ ionization potentials and can be accelerated by strong, forward-directed sections of the field. Such an “ionization injection” leads to well-pronounced bunches of energetic, highly-charged ions. We also find that for the thinnest target (20 nm) a push by the laser further increases the ion energy gain. Thus, the field ionization, concurrent with the acceleration, offers a promising mechanism for the production of energetic, high-charge ion bunches.
Neutron visualization of inhomogeneous buried interfaces in thin films
Authors: Sakurai Kenji , Jiang Jinxing , Mizusawa Mari , Ito Takayoshi , Akutsu Kazuhiro , Miyata Noboru
Published: January 2019

When designing some functions in thin film systems, one of the key concepts is the structure of the constituent layers and interfaces. In an actual system, the layers and interfaces are often inhomogeneous in different scales, from hundreds of microns to several nanometers, causing differences in properties, despite very similar average structures. In this case, the choice of the observation point is critical to clarify the problem. Another critical aspect is the identification of these points by surveying the entire inhomogeneous thin film system. This article presents a description of a novel promising solution that is suitable for nondestructive visualization of inhomogeneous buried layers and interfaces in thin films. Such observations have been impossible until now. In this investigation, a unique extension of neutron reflectometry is proposed. While conventional neutron reflectivity just gives average depth-profiling of the scattering length density of layered thin films, the present method provides full picture of the inhomogeneity. In general, achieving a high spatial-resolving power for neutron scattering is not straightforward because the neutron counts become fairly limited at the sample or the detector position when the beam size is reduced. As a result, XY scanning of a sample with a small neutron beam is fairly difficult because of the required long measurement time. To address these issues, new concepts have been introduced for neutron reflectivity. The proposed method uses a wide beam instead of reducing the beam size. In addition, it measures the projection reflection profile instead of the total integrated intensity. These profiles are collected at a set of different in-plane angles. Similar to computed tomography, it is possible to obtain the specimen’s two-dimensional (2D) neutron reflectivity distribution as one image. Because the spatial resolution is limited by the detection method, a Hadamard coded mask is employed to measure the reflection projection with only 50% loss of the primary neutron intensity. When the time-of-flight (ToF) mode is used for the neutron experiment, one can obtain many images as a function of ToF, i.e., the wavevector transfer. Such series of images can be displayed as a video. This indicates that the neutron reflectivity profiles of local points can be retrieved from the above video images. This paper presents the first report on the development of neutron reflectivity with imaging capability, and the analysis of local points in inhomogeneous layered thin-films without utilizing a small neutron beam. In the present work, the feasibility of the proposed method with approximately 1 mm spatial resolution was examined. In addition, further improvements of the approach are discussed. It is anticipated that this technique will facilitate new opportunities in the study of buried function interfaces.
The antiquity of Nullarbor speleothems and implications for karst palaeoclimate archives
Authors: Woodhead Jon D. , Sniderman J. M. Kale , Hellstrom John , Drysdale Russell N. , Maas Roland , White Nicholas , White Susan , Devine Paul
Published: January 2019

Speleothems represent important archives of terrestrial climate variation that host a variety of proxy signals and are also highly amenable to radiometric age determination. Although speleothems have been forming on Earth for at least 400 million years, most studies rely upon the U-Th chronometer which extends only to the mid Pleistocene, leaving important questions over their longer-term preservation potential. To date, older records, exploiting the advantages of the U-Pb chronometer, remain fragmentary ‘snapshots in time’. Here we demonstrate the viability of speleothems as deep time climate archives by showing that a vast system of shallow caves beneath the arid Nullarbor plain of southern Australia, the world’s largest exposed karst terrain, formed largely within the Pliocene epoch, with a median age of 4.2 Ma, and that, in these caves, even the most delicate formations date from this time. The long-term preservation of regional-scale cave networks such as this demonstrates that abundant speleothem archives do survive to permit the reconstruction of climates and environments for much older parts of Earth history than the ~600 ka period to which most previous studies have been limited.
Comparison between dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons in the VTA following chronic nicotine exposure during pregnancy
Authors: Keller Renee F. , Kazemi Tina , Dragomir Andrei , Akay Yasemin M. , Akay Metin
Published: January 2019

Exposure to nicotine during pregnancy through maternal smoking or nicotine replacement therapy is associated with adverse birth outcomes as well as several cognitive and neurobehavioral deficits. Several studies have shown that nicotine produces long-lasting effects on gene expression within many brain regions, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which is the origin of dopaminergic neurons and the dopamine reward pathway. Using a well-established rat model for perinatal nicotine exposure, we sought to investigate altered biological pathways using mRNA and miRNA expression profiles of dopaminergic (DA) and non-dopaminergic (non-DA) neurons in this highly-valuable area. Putative miRNA-gene target interactions were assessed as well as miRNA-pathway interactions. Our results indicate that extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interactions were significantly altered in DA and non-DA neurons due to chronic nicotine exposure during pregnancy. They also show that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was enriched in DA neurons with multiple significant miRNA-gene targets, but the same changes were not seen in non-DA neurons. We speculate that nicotine exposure during pregnancy could differentially affect the gene expression of DA and non-DA neurons in the VTA.
Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIβ (PI4KB) forms highly flexible heterocomplexes that include ACBD3, 14-3-3, and Rab11 proteins
Authors: Chalupska Dominika , Różycki Bartosz , Humpolickova Jana , Faltova Lenka , Klima Martin , Boura Evzen
Published: January 2019

Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIβ (PI4KB) is a key enzyme of the Golgi system because it produces its lipid hallmark - the phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P). It is recruited to Golgi by the Golgi resident ACBD3 protein, regulated by 14-3-3 proteins and it also serves as an adaptor because it recruits the small GTPase Rab11. Here, we analyzed the protein complexes formed by PI4KB in vitro using small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and we discovered that these protein complexes are highly flexible. The 14-3-3:PI4KB:Rab11 protein complex has 2:1:1 stoichiometry and its different conformations are rather compact, however, the ACBD3:PI4KB protein complex has both, very compact and very extended conformations. Furthermore, in vitro reconstitution revealed that the membrane is necessary for the formation of ACBD3:PI4KB:Rab11 protein complex at physiological (nanomolar) concentrations.
Physical plasma-treated saline promotes an immunogenic phenotype in CT26 colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Freund Eric , Liedtke Kim Rouven , van der Linde Julia , Metelmann Hans-Robert , Heidecke Claus-Dieter , Partecke Lars-Ivo , Bekeschus Sander
Published: January 2019

Metastatic colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death. Current options in palliation such as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) present severe side effects. Recent research efforts suggested the therapeutic use of oxidant-enriched liquid using cold physical plasma. To investigate a clinically accepted treatment regimen, we assessed the antitumor capacity of plasma-treated saline solution. In response to such liquid, CT26 murine colon cancer cells were readily oxidized and showed cell growth with subsequent apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and upregulation of immunogenic cell death (ICD) markersin vitro. This was accompanied by marked morphological changes with re-arrangement of actin fibers and reduced motility. Induction of an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenotype was not observed. Key results were confirmed in MC38 colon and PDA6606 pancreatic cancer cells. Compared to plasma-treated saline, hydrogen peroxide was inferiorly toxic in 3D tumor spheroids but of similar efficacy in 2D models.In vivo, plasma-treated saline decreased tumor burden in Balb/C mice. This was concomitant with elevated numbers of intratumoral macrophages and increased T cell activation following incubation with CT26 cellsex vivo. Being a potential adjuvant for HIPEC therapy, our results suggest oxidizing saline solutions to inactivate colon cancer cells while potentially stimulating antitumor immune responses.
Acetaldehyde forms covalent GG intrastrand crosslinks in DNA
Authors: Sonohara Yuina , Yamamoto Junpei , Tohashi Kosuke , Takatsuka Reine , Matsuda Tomonari , Iwai Shigenori , Kuraoka Isao
Published: January 2019

Carcinogens often generate mutable DNA lesions that contribute to cancer and aging. However, the chemical structure of tumorigenic DNA lesions formed by acetaldehyde remains unknown, although it has long been considered an environmental mutagen in alcohol, tobacco, and food. Here, we identify an aldehyde-induced DNA lesion, forming an intrastrand crosslink between adjacent guanine bases, but not in single guanine bases or in other combinations of nucleotides. The GG intrastrand crosslink exists in equilibrium in the presence of aldehyde, and therefore it has not been detected or analyzed in the previous investigations. The newly identified GG intrastrand crosslinks might explain the toxicity and mutagenicity of acetaldehyde in DNA metabolism.
Label-free classification of neurons and glia in neural stem cell cultures using a hyperspectral imaging microscopy combined with machine learning
Authors: Ogi Hiroshi , Moriwaki Sanzo , Kokubo Masahiko , Hikida Yuichiro , Itoh Kyoko
Published: January 2019

Due to a growing demand for a viable label-free observation method in the biomedical field, many techniques, such as quantitative phase imaging and Raman spectroscopy, have been studied, and a complementary approach, hyperspectral imaging, has also been introduced. We developed a high-speed hyperspectral imaging microscopy imaging method with commercially available apparatus, employing a liquid crystal tunable bandpass filter combined with a pixel-wise machine learning classification. Next, we evaluated the feasibility of the application of this method for stem cell research utilizing neural stem cells. Employing this microscopy method, with a 562 × 562 μm2 field of view, 2048 × 2048 pixel resolution images containing 63 wavelength pixel-wise spectra could be obtained in 30 seconds. The neural stem cells were differentiated into neurons and astroglia (glia), and a four-class cell classification evaluation (including neuronal cell body, glial cell body, process and extracellular region) was conducted under co-cultured conditions. As a result, an average of 88% of the objects of interest were correctly classified, with an average precision of 94%, and more than 99% of the extracellular pixels were correctly segregated. These results indicated that the proposed hyperspectral imaging microscopy is feasible as a label-free observation method for stem cell research.
Tumor resection ameliorates tumor-induced suppression of neuroinflammatory and behavioral responses to an immune challenge in a cancer survivor model
Authors: Santos Jessica C. , Bever Savannah R. , Pereira-da-Silva Gabriela , Pyter Leah M.
Published: January 2019

Breast cancer survivors display altered inflammatory responses to immune challenges relative to cancer-naive controls likely due to previous cancer treatments, stress associated with cancer, and/or tumor physiology. Proper inflammatory responses are necessary for adaptive sickness behaviors (e.g., fatigue, anorexia, and fever) and neuroinflammatory pathways are also implicated in mental health disturbances (e.g., cognitive impairment, depression) suffered by cancer patients and survivors. Rodent cancer models indicate that tumors are sufficient to exacerbate neuroinflammatory responses after an immune challenge, however primary tumors are not usually present in cancer survivors, and the behavioral consequences of these brain changes remain understudied. Therefore, we tested the extent to which mammary tumor resection attenuates tumor-induced neuroinflammation and sickness behavior following an immune challenge (i.p. lipopolysaccharide [LPS] injection) in mice. Tnf-α, Il-1β, and Il-6 mRNA decreased in multiple brain regions of LPS-treated tumor-bearing mice relative to LPS-treated controls; tumor resection attenuated these effects in some cases (but not Tnf-α). Tumors also attenuated sickness behaviors (hypothermia and lethargy) compared to LPS-treated controls. Tumor resection reversed these behavioral consequences, although basal body temperature remained elevated, comparable to tumor-bearing mice. Thus, tumors significantly modulate neuroinflammatory pathways with functional consequences and tumor resection mitigates most, but not all, of these changes.
The rice CYP78A gene BSR2 confers resistance to Rhizoctonia solani and affects seed size and growth in Arabidopsis and rice
Authors: Maeda Satoru , Dubouzet Joseph G. , Kondou Youichi , Jikumaru Yusuke , Seo Shigemi , Oda Kenji , Matsui Minami , Hirochika Hirohiko , Mori Masaki
Published: January 2019

The fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani causes devastating diseases in hundreds of plant species. Among these, R. solani causes sheath blight, one of the three major diseases in rice. To date, few genes have been reported that confer resistance to R. solani. Here, rice-FOX Arabidopsis lines identified as having resistance to a bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, and a fungal pathogen, Colletotrichum higginsianum were screened for disease resistance to R. solani. BROAD-SPECTRUM RESISTANCE2 (BSR2), a gene encoding an uncharacterized cytochrome P450 protein belonging to the CYP78A family, conferred resistance to R. solani in Arabidopsis. When overexpressed in rice, BSR2 also conferred resistance to two R. solani anastomosis groups. Both Arabidopsis and rice plants overexpressing BSR2 had slower growth and produced longer seeds than wild-type control plants. In contrast, BSR2-knockdown rice plants were more susceptible to R. solani and displayed faster growth and shorter seeds in comparison with the control. These results indicate that BSR2 is associated with disease resistance, growth rate and seed size in rice and suggest that its function is evolutionarily conserved in both monocot rice and dicot Arabidopsis.
Superamphiphobic Cu/CuO Micropillar Arrays with High Repellency Towards Liquids of Extremely High Viscosity and Low Surface Tension
Authors: Zhu Qing , Li Bucheng , Li Shangbin , Luo Guan , Zheng Baohui , Zhang Junping
Published: January 2019

For almost all the research of super anti-wetting surfaces, pure liquids like water and n-hexadecane are used as the probes. However, liquids of diverse compositions are used in academic research, industrial production and our daily life. Obviously, the liquid repellency of super anti-wetting coatings is highly dependent on properties of the liquids. Here, we report the first superamphiphobic surface with high repellency towards liquids of extremely high viscosity and low surface tension. The surfaces were prepared by constructing a hierarchical micro-/nanostructure on the Cu micropillar arrays followed by modification with perfluorosilane. The surfaces are superamphiphobic towards the liquids with extremely high viscosity and low surface tension because of (i) the micro-/nanostructured surface composed of micropillars with proper pillar distance and CuO nano-flowers, and (ii) the abundant perfluorodecyl groups on the surface. The contact angles, sliding angles, apparent contact line at the solid-liquid interface and adhesion forces are the end products of micropillar distance, viscosity and surface tension. Smaller micropillar distance, higher viscosity and higher surface tension contribute to reducing the adhesion force. We in situ observed the process of microcapillary bridge rupture for the first time using highly viscous liquids. We also successfully reduced the adhesion forces and enhanced the average rolling velocity of liquids with extremely high viscosity and low surface tension by regulating the micropillar distance.
Evaluating tropical phytoplankton phenology metrics using contemporary tools
Authors: Gittings John A. , Raitsos Dionysios E. , Kheireddine Malika , Racault Marie-Fanny , Claustre Hervé , Hoteit Ibrahim
Published: January 2019

The timing of phytoplankton growth (phenology) in tropical oceans is a crucial factor influencing the survival rates of higher trophic levels, food web structure and the functioning of coral reef ecosystems. Phytoplankton phenology is thus categorised as an ‘ecosystem indicator’, which can be utilised to assess ecosystem health in response to environmental and climatic perturbations. Ocean-colour remote sensing is currently the only technique providing global, long-term, synoptic estimates of phenology. However, due to limited available in situ datasets, studies dedicated to the validation of satellite-derived phenology metrics are sparse. The recent development of autonomous oceanographic observation platforms provides an opportunity to bridge this gap. Here, we use satellite-derived surface chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) observations, in conjunction with a Biogeochemical-Argo dataset, to assess the capability of remote sensing to estimate phytoplankton phenology metrics in the northern Red Sea – a typical tropical marine ecosystem. We find that phenology metrics derived from both contemporary platforms match with a high degree of precision (within the same 5-day period). The remotely-sensed surface signatures reflect the overall water column dynamics and successfully capture Chl-a variability related to convective mixing. Our findings offer important insights into the capability of remote sensing for monitoring food availability in tropical marine ecosystems, and support the use of satellite-derived phenology as an ecosystem indicator for marine management strategies in regions with limited data availability.
Mercury methylating microbial communities of boreal forest soils
Authors: Xu Jingying , Buck Moritz , Eklöf Karin , Ahmed Omneya O. , Schaefer Jeffra K. , Bishop Kevin , Skyllberg Ulf , Björn Erik , Bertilsson Stefan , Bravo Andrea G.
Published: January 2019

The formation of the potent neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) is a microbially mediated process that has raised much concern because MeHg poses threats to wildlife and human health. Since boreal forest soils can be a source of MeHg in aquatic networks, it is crucial to understand the biogeochemical processes involved in the formation of this pollutant. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and the mercury methyltransferase, hgcA, combined with geochemical characterisation of soils, were used to determine the microbial populations contributing to MeHg formation in forest soils across Sweden. The hgcA sequences obtained were distributed among diverse clades, including Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Methanomicrobia, with Deltaproteobacteria, particularly Geobacteraceae, dominating the libraries across all soils examined. Our results also suggest that MeHg formation is also linked to the composition of non-mercury methylating bacterial communities, likely providing growth substrate (e.g. acetate) for the hgcA-carrying microorganisms responsible for the actual methylation process. While previous research focused on mercury methylating microbial communities of wetlands, this study provides some first insights into the diversity of mercury methylating microorganisms in boreal forest soils.
Temporal dynamics in meta longitudinal RNA-Seq data
Authors: Oh Sunghee , Li Congjun , Baldwin Ransom L. , Song Seongho , Liu Fang , Li Robert W.
Published: January 2019

Identification of differentially expressed genes has been a high priority task of downstream analyses to further advances in biomedical research. Investigators have been faced with an array of issues in dealing with more complicated experiments and metadata, including batch effects, normalization, temporal dynamics (temporally differential expression), and isoform diversity (isoform-level quantification and differential splicing events). To date, there are currently no standard approaches to precisely and efficiently analyze these moderate or large-scale experimental designs, especially with combined metadata. In this report, we propose comprehensive analytical pipelines to precisely characterize temporal dynamics in differential expression of genes and other genomic features, i.e., the variability of transcripts, isoforms and exons, by controlling batch effects and other nuisance factors that could have significant confounding effects on the main effects of interest in comparative models and may result in misleading interpretations.
Gfi1-Mediated Repression of c-Fos, Egr-1 and Egr-2, and Inhibition of ERK1/2 Signaling Contribute to the Role of Gfi1 in Granulopoiesis
Authors: Zhang Yangyang , Hu Nan , Dong Fan
Published: January 2019

Gfi1 supports neutrophil development at the expense of monopoiesis, but the underlying molecular mechanism is incompletely understood. We recently showed that the G-CSFR Y729F mutant, in which tyrosine 729 was mutated to phenylalanine, promoted monocyte rather than neutrophil development in myeloid precursors, which was associated with prolonged activation of Erk1/2 and enhanced activation of c-Fos and Egr-1. We show here that Gfi1 inhibited the expression of c-Fos, Egr-1 and Egr-2, and rescued neutrophil development in cells expressing G-CSFR Y729F. Gfi1 directly bound to and repressed c-Fos and Egr-1, as has been shown for Egr-2, all of which are the immediate early genes (IEGs) of the Erk1/2 pathway. Interestingly, G-CSF- and M-CSF-stimulated activation of Erk1/2 was augmented in lineage-negative (Lin−) bone marrow (BM) cells from Gfi1−/− mice. Suppression of Erk1/2 signaling resulted in diminished expression of c-Fos, Egr-1 and Egr-2, and partially rescued the neutrophil development of Gfi1−/− BM cells, which are intrinsically defective for neutrophil development. Together, our data indicate that Gfi1 inhibits the expression of c-Fos, Egr-1 and Egr-2 through direct transcriptional repression and indirect inhibition of Erk1/2 signaling, and that Gfi1-mediated downregulation of c-Fos, Egr-1 and Egr-2 may contribute to the role of Gfi1 in granulopoiesis.
Selective oxidation of methane to methanol with H2O2 over an Fe-MFI zeolite catalyst using sulfolane solvent
Authors: Xiao Peipei , Wang Yong , Nishitoba Toshiki , Kondo Junko N. , Yokoi Toshiyuki
Published: January 2019

Selective oxidation of methane to methanol with H2O2 over an Fe-MFI zeolite catalyst using a sulfolane–water mixture solvent achieved a high productivity of liquid products and a high methanol selectivity.
Solvent modulated excited state processes of push–pull molecule with hybridized local excitation and intramolecular charge transfer character
Authors: Song Hongwei , Wang Kang , Kuang Zhuoran , Zhao Yong Sheng , Guo Qianjin , Xia Andong
Published: January 2019

Recently, a type of synthetic highly efficient OLED molecule based on a hybridized local excitation and charge transfer (HLCT) character has received much attention as a potential high-efficiency fluorescent OLED material.
Controllable design of double metal oxide (NiCo2O4)-modified CdS for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production
Authors: Yan Xian , Jin Zhiliang , Zhang Yupeng , Liu Hai , Ma Xiaoli
Published: January 2019

In the present study, we have successfully synthesized a kind of high-efficiency NiCo2O4/CdS composite photocatalyst using the hydrothermal method and high-temperature calcination.
Ovotransferrin ameliorates the dysbiosis of immunomodulatory function and intestinal microbiota induced by cyclophosphamide
Authors: Zhu Gaoxiang , Jiang Yan , Yao Yao , Wu Na , Luo Jing , Hu Mingwen , Tu Yonggang , Xu Mingsheng
Published: January 2019

In this study, the regulative effects of ovotransferrin (OVT) on immunomodulatory function and intestinal microbial dysbiosis in a mouse model injected with cyclophosphamide (CP) were investigated.
Synthesis and structural characterization of CoxFe3−xC (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications
Authors: Gangwar A. , Singh G. , Shaw S. K. , Mandal R. K. , Sharma A. , Meena Sher Singh , Prajapat C. L. , Prasad N. K.
Published: January 2019

The ferrofluids of pure and Co-substituted iron carbides exhibited heating abilities suitable for bioapplications.
Properties of iron vanadate over CdS nanorods for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production
Authors: Zhang Lijun , Jin Zhiliang , Ma Xiaoli , Zhang Yupeng , Wang Haiyu
Published: January 2019

In this study, V3+/VO2+/VO2+ was successfully employed as a redox mediator to modify CdS nanorods for the first time, and remarkable enhancement of efficient hydrogen evolution was obtained.
Diastereoselective Rh-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation to form quaternary stereocenters using sulfinimine as the directing group
Authors: Qin Shuanglin , Liu Tongtong , Luo Yunhao , Jiang Shende , Yang Guang
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we reported for the first time that the diastereoselective Rh-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation of chiral sulfinimines could be used to form quaternary stereocenters.
Liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite into graphene nanosheets in a hydrocavitating ‘lab-on-a-chip’
Authors: Qiu Xiaoyu , Bouchiat Vincent , Colombet Damien , Ayela Frederic
Published: January 2019

Graphene nanosheets were exfoliated from hydrodynamic cavitation performed inside a microchannel.
Targeting regulation of tryptophan metabolism for colorectal cancer therapy: a systematic review
Authors: Zhang Hong-lian , Zhang Ai-hua , Miao Jian-hua , Sun Hui , Yan Guang-li , Wu Fang-fang , Wang Xi-jun
Published: January 2019

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most malignant cancers resulting from abnormal metabolism alterations.
Molecular dynamics simulation of four typical surfactants in aqueous solution
Authors: Shi Peng , Zhang Hui , Lin Lin , Song Chunhui , Chen Qingguo , Li Zesheng
Published: January 2019

The thermodynamic values of the four surfactants, anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, zwitterion surfactants and gemini surfactants, were calculated by molecular dynamics simulation.
Mn4+-activated BaLaMgSbO6 double-perovskite phosphor: a novel high-efficiency far-red-emitting luminescent material for indoor plant growth lighting
Authors: Sun Qi , Wang Shaoying , Devakumar Balaji , Sun Liangling , Liang Jia , Huang Xiaoyong
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we reported on Mn4+-activated BaLaMgSbO6 double-perovskite phosphors showing efficient far-red emissions for plant growth applications.
Halide-free neodymium phosphate based catalyst for highly cis-1,4 selective polymerization of dienes
Authors: Ren Yixin , Miller Justin T. , Polderman Stefanie T. , Vo Trinh D. , Wallace Adele C. M. , Cue John Michael O. , Tran Sarah T. , Biewer Michael C. , Stefan Mihaela C.
Published: January 2019

[Nd(μ-DEP)3]x/TIBA stereospecifically polymerizes myrcene in a pseudo-living Ziegler–Natta like catalytic system despite the absence of a halide.
Acid tolerant covalently functionalized graphene oxide for the selective extraction of Pd from high-level radioactive liquid wastes
Authors: Kancharla Srinivasarao , Sasaki Keiko
Published: January 2019

Covalently functionalized graphene oxides were explored as a promising material for the recycle of severely depleting highly demanded palladium (Pd) from strongly acidic conditions.
Stability progress of perovskite solar cells dependent on the crystalline structure: From 3D ABX3 to 2D Ruddlesden–Popper perovskite absorbers
Authors: Arabpour Roghabadi Farzaneh , Alidaei Maryam , Mousavi Seyede Maryam , Ashjari Tahereh , Tehrani Ali Shokrolahzadeh , Ahmadi Vahid , Sadrameli Seyed Mojtaba
Published: January 2019

This review presents the progress of the change of the PSK structure from 3 dimensional CH3NH3PbX3 to mixed cations or halides based PSKs and finally to Ruddlesden–Popper PSK two dimensional (2D) homologous structures regarding the lifetime improvement.
Giant enhancements in electronic transport and photoelectric properties of bismuth oxysulfide by pressure-driven 2D–3D structural reconstruction
Authors: Zhang Ganghua , Zhang Qian , Hu Qingyang , Wang Bihan , Yang Wenge
Published: January 2019

By applying hydrostatic pressure, a structural evolution from 2D layered to 3D network structure has been realized in bismuth oxysulfide Bi9O7.5S6, resulting in giant enhancements in electric conductivity and photoelectric current.
A review of electrode materials based on core–shell nanostructures for electrochemical supercapacitors
Authors: Ho Kuo-Chuan , Lin Lu-Yin
Published: January 2019

This review article outlines the most commonly used methods for making the core/shell structures as the active materials for supercapacitors over the past decade (2007–2018), and points out the most efficient combination of the material categories and morphologies for the core/shell structure.
Recent progress in metal–organic polymers as promising electrodes for lithium/sodium rechargeable batteries
Authors: Wu Zhenzhen , Xie Jian , Xu Zhichuan J. , Zhang Shanqing , Zhang Qichun
Published: January 2019

Recent progress in the usage of metal organic polymers (coordination polymers (CPs), metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), Prussian blue and Prussian blue analogues (PBAs)) as electrodes in Li/Na rechargeable batteries has been reviewed.
Dancing with 5-substituted monotetrazoles, oxygen-rich ions, and silver: towards primary explosives with positive oxygen balance and excellent energetic performance
Authors: Sun Qi , Li Xin , Lin Qiuhan , Lu Ming
Published: January 2019

The first two examples of ECP-based primary explosives exhibiting a positive oxygen balance (based on CO2), [Ag5NT4NO3]n and [Ag5NT4ClO4]n, are presented.
Unraveling the enzyme-like activity of heterogeneous single atom catalyst
Authors: Zhao Chao , Xiong Can , Liu Xiaokang , Qiao Man , Li Zhijun , Yuan Tongwei , Wang Jing , Qu Yunteng , Wang XiaoQian , Zhou Fangyao , Xu Qian , Wang Shiqi , Chen Min , Wang Wenyu , Li Yafei , Yao Tao , Wu Yuen , Li Yadong
Published: January 2019

Herein, we report a heterogeneous single iron atom catalyst exhibiting excellent peroxidase, oxidase and catalase enzyme-like activities (defined as single atom enzymes, SAEs), exceeding those of Fe3O4 nanozymes by a factor of 40.
Correction: High-performance alkaline hydrogen evolution electrocatalyzed by a Ni3N–CeO2 nanohybrid
Authors: Sun Zhaomei , Zhang Jiayu , Xie Junfeng , Zheng Xiangjiang , Wang Min , Li Xuemei , Tang Bo
Published: January 2019

Correction for ‘High-performance alkaline hydrogen evolution electrocatalyzed by a Ni3N–CeO2 nanohybrid’ by Zhaomei Sun et al., Inorg. Chem. Front., 2018, 5, 3042–3045.