bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co-chaperones DNAJA1 and DNAJB6 are critical for regulation of polyglutamine aggregation
Authors: Rodríguez-González Claudio , Lin Shiying , Arkan Sertan , Hansen Christian
Published: May 2020

Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. The expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat of the encoded protein leads to protein misfolding and aggregation, resulting in increased neuronal cell death. DNAJ co-chaperones play a crucial role in transferring misfolded/unfolded proteins to HSP70 chaperones, which play an essential role for protein folding. Here, we investigated the effect of knock out (KO) of three individual DNAJ genes in HEK293 cells expressing polyglutamine74exon1 huntingtin (polyQ74htt). Flourescence microscopy analysis revealed that KO of DNAJB6 resulted in a 5-fold increase in polyQ74htt aggregation and that DNAJA1 KO resulted in a 4-fold decrease of polyQ74htt aggregation. KO of DNAJB1 did not change the propensity of polyQ74htt to aggregate in cells. These findings where confirmed both by fluorescence microscopy analysis and filter trap assay (FTA). DNAJB6 KO cells displayed an increased rate of cell death as assessed by trypan blue exclusion and propidium iodide (PI) uptake assays. These results demonstrate that the DNAJ proteins DNAJA1 and DNAJB6 can modulate polyQ aggregation in opposite manners, and thus that fine-tuning the cellular levels of DNAJ proteins is critical for suppression of polyQ aggregation and cell survival.
Acoustic field induced nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in a diamond mechanical resonator
Authors: Ghaderi Goran Abad Mohsen , Ashrafizadeh Khalifani Fatemeh , Mahmoudi Mohammad
Published: May 2020

We study the nonlinear magneto-optical rotation (MOR) of a linearly polarized microwave probe field passing through many nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers embedded in a high-Q single-crystal diamond mechanical resonator. On the basis of the strain-mediated coupling mechanism, we establish a three-level closed-loop system in the ground states of the NV center in the presence of a static magnetic field. It is shown that by applying an acoustic field, the birefringence is induced in the system through the cross-Kerr effect, so that the probe field is transmitted with a high intensity and rotated polarization plane by 90 degrees. In addition, we demonstrate that the acoustic field has a major role in enhancing the MOR angle to 90 degrees. Moreover, it is shown that the MOR angle of the polarization plane after passing through the presented system is sensitive to the relative phase of the applied fields. The physical mechanism of the MOR enhancement is explained using the analytical expressions which are in good agreement with the numerical results. The presented scheme can be used as a polarization converter for efficient switching TE/TM modes in optical communication, the depolarization backscattering lidar, polarization spectroscopy and precision measurements.
Cancer genomics predicts disease relapse and therapeutic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy of hormone sensitive breast cancers
Authors: Zhu Jieqiang , Muskhelishvili Levan , Tong Weida , Borlak Jürgen , Chen Minjun
Published: May 2020

Several studies provide insight into the landscape of breast cancer genomics with the genomic characterization of tumors offering exceptional opportunities in defining therapies tailored to the patient’s specific need. However, translating genomic data into personalized treatment regimens has been hampered partly due to uncertainties in deviating from guideline based clinical protocols. Here we report a genomic approach to predict favorable outcome to treatment responses thus enabling personalized medicine in the selection of specific treatment regimens. The genomic data were divided into a training set of N = 835 cases and a validation set consisting of 1315 hormone sensitive, 634 triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and 1365 breast cancer patients with information on neoadjuvant chemotherapy responses. Patients were selected by the following criteria: estrogen receptor (ER) status, lymph node invasion, recurrence free survival. The k-means classification algorithm delineated clusters with low- and high- expression of genes related to recurrence of disease; a multivariate Cox’s proportional hazard model defined recurrence risk for disease. Classifier genes were validated by Immunohistochemistry (IHC) using tissue microarray sections containing both normal and cancerous tissues and by evaluating findings deposited in the human protein atlas repository. Based on the leave-on-out cross validation procedure of 4 independent data sets we identified 51-genes associated with disease relapse and selected 10, i.e. TOP2A, AURKA, CKS2, CCNB2, CDK1 SLC19A1, E2F8, E2F1, PRC1, KIF11 for in depth validation. Expression of the mechanistically linked disease regulated genes significantly correlated with recurrence free survival among ER-positive and triple negative breast cancer patients and was independent of age, tumor size, histological grade and node status. Importantly, the classifier genes predicted pathological complete responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001) with high expression of these genes being associated with an improved therapeutic response toward two different anthracycline-taxane regimens; thus, highlighting the prospective for precision medicine. Our study demonstrates the potential of classifier genes to predict risk for disease relapse and treatment response to chemotherapies. The classifier genes enable rational selection of patients who benefit best from a given chemotherapy thus providing the best possible care. The findings encourage independent clinical validation.
Genome-wide identification, transcriptome analysis and alternative splicing events of Hsf family genes in maize
Authors: Zhang Huaning , Li Guoliang , Fu Cai , Duan Shuonan , Hu Dong , Guo Xiulin
Published: May 2020

Heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) plays a transcriptional regulatory role in plants during heat stress and other abiotic stresses. 31 non-redundant ZmHsf genes from maize were identified and clustered in the reference genome sequenced by Single Molecule Real Time (SMRT). The amino acid length, chromosome location, and presence of functional domains and motifs of all ZmHsfs sequences were analyzed and determined. Phylogenetics and collinearity analyses reveal gene duplication events in Hsf family and collinearity blocks shared by maize, rice and sorghum. The results of RNA-Seq analysis of anthesis and post-anthesis periods in maize show different expression patterns of ZmHsf family members. Specially, ZmHsf26 of A2 subclass and ZmHsf23 of A6 subclass were distinctly up-regulated after heat shock (HS) at post-anthesis stage. Nanopore transcriptome sequencing of maize seedlings showed that alternative splicing (AS) events occur in ZmHsf04 and ZmHsf17 which belong to subclass A2 after heat shock. Through sequence alignment, semi-quantitative and quantitative RT-PCR, we found that intron retention events occur in response to heat shock, and newly splice isoforms, ZmHsf04-II and ZmHsf17-II, were transcribed. Both new isoforms contain several premature termination codons in their introns which may lead to early termination of translation. The ZmHsf04 expression was highly increased than that of ZmHsf17, and the up-regulation of ZmHsf04-I transcription level were significantly higher than that of ZmHsf04-II after HS.
Substrate influences human removal of freshwater turtle nests in the eastern Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Michalski Fernanda , Norris Darren , Quintana Itxaso , Valerio Andressa , Gibbs James P.
Published: May 2020

Substrate type determines nesting success and fitness in turtles and is a critical consideration for nesting area protection and restoration. Here, we evaluated the effect of substrate on nest removal by humans in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. We analyzed substrate composition and fate of 216 P. unifilis nests along 88 km of rivers. River segment and substrate type were the most important predictors of nest removal by humans. We found up to 36% lower removal of nests in fine sand and experimental results support the hypothesis that wind more often obscures tracks of nesting females in substrates with more (>66%) fine sand. Our findings are useful for informing the restoration of artificial nesting areas across the Amazon, as nesting area substrates should be selected not only to maintain hatchling sex ratios, but also to minimize nest removal by humans.
Triterpenoid acids isolated from Schinus terebinthifolia fruits reduce Staphylococcus aureus virulence and abate dermonecrosis
Authors: Tang Huaqiao , Porras Gina , Brown Morgan M. , Chassagne Francois , Lyles James T. , Bacsa John , Horswill Alexander R. , Quave Cassandra L.
Published: May 2020

Staphylococcus aureus relies on quorum sensing to exert virulence to establish and maintain infection. Prior research demonstrated the potent quorum sensing inhibition effects of “430D-F5”, a refined extract derived from the fruits of Schinus terebinthifolia, a medicinal plant used for the traditional treatment of skin and soft tissue infections. We report the isolation and identification of three compounds from 430D-F5 that reduce virulence and abate dermonecrosis: 3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (1), 3-oxotirucalla-7,24Z-dien-26-oic acid (2) and 3α-hydroxytirucalla-7,24 Z-dien-27-oic acid (3). Each compound inhibits all S. aureus accessory gene regulator (agr) alleles (IC50 2–70 μM). Dose-dependent responses were also observed in agr-regulated reporters for leucocidin A (lukA, IC50 0.4-25 μM) and glycerol ester hydrolase or lipase (gehB, IC50 1.5–25 μM). Surprisingly, dose-dependent activity against the nuclease reporter (nuc), which is under the control of the sae two-component system, was also observed (IC50 0.4–12.5 μM). Compounds 1-3 exhibited little to no effect on the agr-independent mgrA P2 reporter (a constitutive promoter from the mgrA two-component system) and the esxA reporter (under control of mgrA). Compounds 1-3 inhibited δ-toxin production in vitro and reduced dermonecrosis in a murine in vivo model. This is the first report of triterpenoid acids with potent anti-virulence effects against S. aureus.
Mineral reaction kinetics constrain the length scale of rock matrix diffusion
Authors: Wogelius R. A. , Milodowski A. E. , Field L. P. , Metcalfe R. , Lowe T. , van Veelen A. , Carpenter G. , Norris S. , Yardley B.
Published: May 2020

Mass transport by aqueous fluids is a dynamic process in shallow crustal systems, redistributing nutrients as well as contaminants. Rock matrix diffusion into fractures (void space) within crystalline rock has been postulated to play an important role in the transient storage of solutes. The reacted volume of host rock involved, however, will be controlled by fluid-rock reactions. Here we present the results of a study which focusses on defining the length scale over which rock matrix diffusion operates within crystalline rock over timescales that are relevant to safety assessment of radioactive and other long-lived wastes. Through detailed chemical and structural analysis of natural specimens sampled at depth from an active system (Toki Granite, Japan), we show that, contrary to commonly proposed models, the length scale of rock matrix diffusion may be extremely small, on the order of centimetres, even over timescales of millions of years. This implies that in many cases the importance of rock matrix diffusion will be minimal. Additional analyses of a contrasting crystalline rock system (Carnmenellis Granite, UK) corroborate these results.
DNA-based identification of predators of the corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) from fish faeces and gut contents
Authors: Kroon Frederieke J. , Lefèvre Carine D. , Doyle Jason R. , Patel Frances , Milton Grant , Severati Andrea , Kenway Matt , Johansson Charlotte L. , Schnebert Simon , Thomas-Hall Peter , Bonin Mary C. , Cameron Darren S. , Westcott David A.
Published: May 2020

The corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (CoTS, Acanthaster spp.) has been linked with the widespread loss of scleractinian coral cover on Indo-Pacific reefs during periodic population outbreaks. Here, we re-examine CoTS consumption by coral reef fish species by using new DNA technologies to detect Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) in fish faecal and gut content samples. CoTS DNA was detected in samples from 18 different coral reef fish species collected on reefs at various stages of CoTS outbreaks in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, nine of which had not been previously reported to feed on CoTS. A comprehensive set of negative and positive control samples confirmed that our collection, processing and analysis procedures were robust, although food web transfer of CoTS DNA cannot be ruled out for some fish species. Our results, combined with the (i) presence of CoTS spines in some samples, (ii) reported predation on CoTS gametes, larvae and settled individuals, and (iii) known diet information for fish species examined, strongly indicate that direct fish predation on CoTS may well be more common than is currently appreciated. We provide recommendations for specific management approaches to enhance predation on CoTS by coral reef fishes, and to support the mitigation of CoTS outbreaks and reverse declines in hard coral cover.
New chlamydosporol derivatives from the endophytic fungus Pleosporales sp. Sigrf05 and their cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities
Authors: Lai Daowan , Mao Ziling , Zhou Zhiyao , Zhao Siji , Xue Mengyao , Dai Jungui , Zhou Ligang , Li Dianpeng
Published: May 2020

Five new chlamydosporol derivatives, named pleospyrones A-E (1–5), together with one known congener (6), were isolated from the culture of the endophytic fungus Pleosporales sp. Sigrf05, obtained from the medicinal plant Siraitia grosvenorii. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated mainly by analysis of the HRESIMS, and (1D, 2D) NMR data, while ECD and optical rotation calculations were used to assign the absolute configurations. The plausible biosynthetic pathway of these compounds were proposed. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity, antifungal and antibacterial activities. Compounds 1, and 4–6 were cytotoxic against the tested cancer cells with IC50 values of 1.26~47.5 μM. Compounds 1–3 showed moderate antifungal activities against Magnaporthe oryzae, while compound 5 displayed weak antibacterial activity.
Drug repurposing of pyrimidine analogs as potent antiviral compounds against human enterovirus A71 infection with potential clinical applications
Authors: Sun Jialei , Yogarajah Thinesshwary , Lee Regina Ching Hua , Kaur Parveen , Inoue Masafumi , Tan Yong Wah , Chu Justin Jang Hann
Published: May 2020

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is one of the aetiological agents for the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in young children and a potential cause of neurological complications in afflicted patients. Since its discovery in 1969, there remains no approved antiviral for EV-A71 and other HFMD-causing enteroviruses. We set out to address the lack of therapeutics against EV-A71 by screening an FDA-approved drug library and found an enrichment of hits including pyrimidine antimetabolite, gemcitabine which showed 90.2% of inhibition on EV-A71 infection. Gemcitabine and other nucleoside analogs, LY2334737 and sofosbuvir inhibition of EV-A71 infection were disclosed using molecular and proteomic quantification, and in vitro and in vivo efficacy evaluation. Gemcitabine displayed a significant reduction of infectious EV-A71 titres by 2.5 logs PFU/mL and was shown to target the early stage of EV-A71 viral RNA and viral protein synthesis process especially via inhibition of the RNA dependent RNA polymerase. In addition, the drug combination study of gemcitabine’s synergistic effects with interferon-β at 1:1 and 1:2 ratio enhanced inhibition against EV-A71 replication. Since gemcitabine is known to metabolize rapidly in vivo, other nucleoside analogs, LY2334737 and sofosbuvir conferred protection in mice against lethal EV-A71 challenge by potentially reducing the death rate, viral titers as well on virus-induced pathology in the limb muscle tissue of mice. Additionally, we found that gemcitabine is competent to inhibit other positive-sense RNA viruses of the Flaviviridae and Togaviridae family. Overall, these drugs provide new insights into targeting viral factors as a broad-spectrum antiviral strategy with potential therapeutic value for future development and are worthy of potential clinical application.
Evidence of language-related left hypofrontality in Major Depression: An EEG Beta band study
Authors: Spironelli Chiara , Maffei Antonio , Romeo Zaira , Piazzon Giulia , Padovan Giordano , Magnolfi Gianna , Pasini Ilenia , Gomez Homen Francesca , Concari Graziano , Angrilli Alessandro
Published: May 2020

Major depression (MDD) has been associated with an altered EEG frontal asymmetry measured in resting state; nevertheless, this association has showed a weak consistency across studies. In the present study, which starts from an evolutionistic view of psychiatric disorders, we investigated frontal asymmetry in MDD, using language as a probe to test the integrity of large inter- and intra-hemispheric networks and processes. Thirty MDD patients (22 women) and 32 matched controls (HC) were recruited for an EEG recording in resting state and during two linguistic tasks, phonological and semantic. Normalized alpha and beta EEG spectral bands were measured across all three conditions in the two groups. EEG alpha amplitude showed no hemispheric asymmetry, regardless of group, both at rest and during linguistic tasks. During resting state, analysis of EEG beta revealed a lack of hemispheric asymmetry in both groups, but during linguistic tasks, HC exhibited the typical greater left frontal beta activation, whereas MDD patients showed a lack of frontal asymmetry and a significantly lower activation of left frontal sites. In depressed patients, positive affect was negatively correlated with depression levels and positively correlated with left frontal EEG beta amplitude. Language represents the human process that requires the largest level of integration between and within the hemispheres; thus, language asymmetry was a valid probe to test the left frontal alteration encompassing highly impairing psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and MDD. Indeed, these severe diseases are marked by delusions, ruminations, thought disorders, and hallucinations, all of which have a clear linguistic or metalinguistic basis.
Nanoscale 3D quantitative imaging of 1.88 Ga Gunflint microfossils reveals novel insights into taphonomic and biogenic characters
Authors: Maldanis L. , Hickman-Lewis K. , Verezhak M. , Gueriau P. , Guizar-Sicairos M. , Jaqueto P. , Trindade R. I. F. , Rossi A. L. , Berenguer F. , Westall F. , Bertrand L. , Galante D.
Published: May 2020

Precambrian cellular remains frequently have simple morphologies, micrometric dimensions and are poorly preserved, imposing severe analytical and interpretational challenges, especially for irrefutable attestations of biogenicity. The 1.88 Ga Gunflint biota is a Precambrian microfossil assemblage with different types and qualities of preservation across its numerous geological localities and provides important insights into the Proterozoic biosphere and taphonomic processes. Here we use synchrotron-based ptychographic X-ray computed tomography to investigate well-preserved carbonaceous microfossils from the Schreiber Beach locality as well as poorly-preserved, iron-replaced fossil filaments from the Mink Mountain locality, Gunflint Formation. 3D nanoscale imaging with contrast based on electron density allowed us to assess the morphology and carbonaceous composition of different specimens and identify the minerals associated with their preservation based on retrieved mass densities. In the Mink Mountain filaments, the identification of mature kerogen and maghemite rather than the ubiquitously described hematite indicates an influence from biogenic organics on the local maturation of iron oxides through diagenesis. This non-destructive 3D approach to microfossil composition at the nanoscale within their geological context represents a powerful approach to assess the taphonomy and biogenicity of challenging or poorly preserved traces of early microbial life, and may be applied effectively to extraterrestrial samples returned from upcoming space missions.
Influence of irrigation regimes on competition indexes of winter and summer intercropping system under semi-arid regions of Pakistan
Authors: Amanullah  , Khalid Shah , Khalil Farhan , Imranuddin
Published: May 2020

An assessment of the competitive indexes in intercropping of different winter and summer based intercropping systems were studied, with the aim of increasing the productivity of these crops. Four winter crops, wheat (Triticum aestivumL.), barley (Hordeum vulgareL.), fababean (Vicia faba) and rapeseed (Brassica napus) and four summer crops, sorghum (Sorghum bicolorL.), pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoidumL.), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajanL.) and mungbean (Vigna radiateL.) were grown under two irrigation regimes with the pattern of two crops in each intercropping system, at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan in both winter and summer season during 2015–16 to 2016–17. The results showed that higher grain yield (kg ha−1) were recorded under sole cropping than intercropping. Higher grain yield was recorded in sole cropping, for all four crops. All crops grown in intercropping produced comparatively higher grains head−1and seeds pod−1than sole crop except pigeonpea. Intercropping systems were performed different in term of competition indexes which determined land utilization efficiency. Competition indexes revealed that in winter season wheat intercropped with fababean showed highest advantages of intercropping in term of land equivalent ratio (30%), relative crowding co-efficient (60%), actual yield loss (60%), area time equivalent ratio (27%), land utilization efficiency (83%), intercropping advantages (1060), monetary advantage index (Pakistani rupees (PKR) 46456) and system productivity index (3684) while in summer sorghum/pearl millet intercropped with pigeonpea was the most dominant intercropping systems in term of relative  crowding co-Efficient (40%), actual yield loss (50%), land utilization efficiency (60%) intercropping advantages (1150) and system productivity index (1914). Aggressivity and competition ratio showed that cereals especially barley in winter and sorghum in summer season was highly competitive crops in the intercropping system. Most of the competition indexes values were higher for winter crops under limited irrigated condition while in case of summer crops intercropping indexes were higher under full irrigated condition. It was concluded that wheat intercropped with fababean, and sorghum/millet intercropped with mung bean was the most successful intercropping systems in winter and summer seasons, respectively under both irrigation regimes, for the semiarid region of Pakistan.
Genome Comparison Identifies Different Bacillus Species in a Bast Fibre-Retting Bacterial Consortium and Provides Insights into Pectin Degrading Genes
Authors: Datta Subhojit , Saha Dipnarayan , Chattopadhyay Lipi , Majumdar Bijan
Published: May 2020

Retting of bast fibres requires removal of pectin, hemicellulose and other non-cellulosic materials from plant stem tissues by a complex microbial community. A microbial retting consortium with high-efficiency pectinolytic bacterial strains is effective in reducing retting-time and enhancing fibre quality. We report comprehensive genomic analyses of three bacterial strains (PJRB 1, 2 and 3) of the consortium and resolve their taxonomic status, genomic features, variations, and pan-genome dynamics. The genome sizes of the strains are ~3.8 Mb with 3729 to 4002 protein-coding genes. Detailed annotations of the protein-coding genes revealed different carbohydrate-degrading CAZy classes viz. PL1, PL9, GH28, CE8, and CE12. Phylogeny and structural features of pectate lyase proteins of PJRB strains divulge their functional uniqueness and evolutionary convergence with closely related Bacillus strains. Genome-wide prediction of genomic variations revealed 12461 to 67381 SNPs, and notably many unique SNPs were localized within the important pectin metabolism genes. The variations in the pectate lyase genes possibly contribute to their specialized pectinolytic function during the retting process. These findings encompass a strong foundation for fundamental and evolutionary studies on this unique microbial degradation of decaying plant material with immense industrial significance. These have preponderant implications in plant biomass research and food industry, and also posit application in the reclamation of water pollution from plant materials.
A Pilot retrospective analysis of alpha-blockers on recurrence in men with localised prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy
Authors: Hart Jordan , Spencer Briohny , McDermott Catherine M , Chess-Williams Russ , Sellers Donna , Christie David , Anoopkumar-Dukie Shailendra
Published: May 2020

While alpha-blockers are commonly used to reduce lower urinary tract symptoms in prostate cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, their impact on response to radiotherapy remains unknown. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to retrospectively determine if alpha-blockers use, influenced response to radiotherapy for localised prostate cancer. In total, 303 prostate cancer patients were included, consisting of 84 control (alpha-blocker naïve), 72 tamsulosin and 147 prazosin patients. The main outcomes measured were relapse rates (%), time to biochemical relapse (months) and PSA velocity (ng/mL/year). Recurrence free survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Prazosin significantly reduced biochemical relapse at both two and five-years (2.72%, 8.84%) compared to control (22.61%, 34.52%). Recurrence free survival was also significantly higher in the prazosin group. This remained after multivariable analysis (HR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.04–0.26, p < 0.001). Patients receiving prazosin had a 3.9 times lower relative risk of biochemical relapse compared to control. Although not statistically significant, tamsulosin and prazosin extended recurrence free survival by 13.15 and 9.21 months respectively. We show for the first time that prazosin may reduce risk of prostate cancer recurrence and delay time to biochemical relapse and provides justification for prospective studies to examine its potential as an adjunct treatment option for localised prostate cancer.
Retraction Note: Optical rectification and absorption coefficients studied by a short-range topless exponential potential well with inverse square root
Authors: Yu Qiucheng , Guo Kangxian , Hu Meilin
Published: May 2020

This article has been retracted.
Tellurium as a successor of silicon for extremely scaled nanowires: a first-principles study
Authors: Kramer Aaron , Van de Put Maarten L. , Hinkle Christopher L. , Vandenberghe William G.
Published: May 2020

Trigonal-Tellurium (t-Te) has recently garnered interest in the nanoelectronics community because of its measured high hole mobility and low-temperature growth. However, a drawback of tellurium is its small bulk bandgap (0.33 eV), giving rise to large leakage currents in transistor prototypes. We analyze the increase of the electronic bandgap due to quantum confinement and compare the relative stability of various t-Te nanostructures (t-Te nanowires and layers of t-Te) using first-principles simulations. We found that small t-Te nanowires (≤4 nm2) and few-layer t-Te (≤3 layers) have bandgaps exceeding 1 eV, making Tellurium a very suitable channel material for extremely scaled transistors, a regime where comparably sized silicon has a bandgap that exceeds 4 eV. Through investigations of structural stability, we found that t-Te nanowires preferentially form instead of layers of t-Te since nanowires have a greater number of van der Waals (vdW) interactions between the t-Te-helices. We develop a simplified picture of structural stability relying only on the number of vdW interactions, enabling the prediction of the formation energy of any t-Te nanostructure. Our analysis shows that t-Te has distinct advantages over silicon in extremely scaled nanowire transistors in terms of bandgap and the t-Te vdW bonds form a natural nanowire termination, avoiding issues with passivation.
Cognitive plausibility in voice-based AI health counselors
Authors: Kannampallil Thomas , Smyth Joshua M. , Jones Steve , Payne Philip R. O. , Ma Jun
Published: May 2020

Voice-based personal assistants using artificial intelligence (AI) have been widely adopted and used in home-based settings. Their success has created considerable interest for its use in healthcare applications; one area of prolific growth in AI is that of voice-based virtual counselors for mental health and well-being. However, in spite of its promise, building realistic virtual counselors to achieve higher-order maturity levels beyond task-based interactions presents considerable conceptual and pragmatic challenges. We describe one such conceptual challenge—cognitive plausibility, defined as the ability of virtual counselors to emulate the human cognitive system by simulating how a skill or function is accomplished. An important cognitive plausibility consideration for voice-based agents is its ability to engage in meaningful and seamless interactive communication. Drawing on a broad interdisciplinary research literature and based on our experiences with developing two voice-based (voice-only) prototypes that are in the early phases of testing, we articulate two conceptual considerations for their design and use—conceptualizing voice-based virtual counselors as communicative agents and establishing virtual co-presence. We discuss why these conceptual considerations are important and how it can lead to the development of voice-based counselors for real-world use.
Publisher Correction: Paternal restraint stress affects offspring metabolism via ATF-2 dependent mechanisms in Drosophila melanogaster germ cells
Authors: Seong Ki-Hyeon , Ly Nhung Hong , Katou Yuki , Yokota Naoko , Nakato Ryuichiro , Murakami Shinnosuke , Hirayama Akiyoshi , Fukuda Shinji , Kang Siu , Soga Tomoyoshi , Shirahige Katsuhiko , Ishii Shunsuke
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Dissolved organic matter modified magnetic carbon nanotubes enhance the bioremediation of azo dyes and Cr(vi)
Authors: He Caiwen , Gu Lipeng , He Huan , Zhang Zhe , Wang Xiaoxia , Han Fengxia , Huang Bin , Pan Xuejun
Published: May 2020

Dissolved organic matter and Fe(iii) species can serve as electron shuttles in the bioreduction of various pollutants in water treatment, but their residuals are also regarded as contaminants.
Elucidating the ionic liquid distribution in monolithic SILP hydroformylation catalysts by magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Marinkovic Jakob Maximilian , Benders Stefan , Garcia-Suarez Eduardo J. , Weiß Alexander , Gundlach Carsten , Haumann Marco , Küppers Markus , Blümich Bernhard , Fehrmann Rasmus , Riisager Anders
Published: May 2020

The action of the liquid catalyst phase in monolithic silicon carbide supported ionic liquid-phase (SILP) Rh-catalysts provide important insight toward industrial upscaling for gas-phase hydroformylation.
Size-controlled clustering of iron oxide nanoparticles within fluorescent nanogels using LCST-driven self-assembly
Authors: Yildirim Turgay , Pervez Maria , Li Bo , O’Reilly Rachel K.
Published: May 2020

Size-controlled clustering of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) within the fluorescent polymer nanogels was achieved using the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) driven self-assembly and cross-linking of grafted polymer on the IONPs.
Long wavelength visible light-responsive SrTiO3 photocatalysts doped with valence-controlled Ru for sacrificial H2 and O2 evolution
Authors: Suzuki Sho , Iwase Akihide , Kudo Akihiko
Published: May 2020

H2-Reduced SrTiO3:Ru photocatalyst is active for O2 evolution under a wide range of visible light up to 750 nm.
The chemopreventive effect of 5-demethylnobiletin, a unique citrus flavonoid, on colitis-driven colorectal carcinogenesis in mice is associated with its colonic metabolites
Authors: Song Mingyue , Lan Yaqi , Wu Xian , Han Yanhui , Wang Minqi , Zheng Jinkai , Li Zhengze , Li Fang , Zhou Jiazhi , Xiao Jie , Cao Yong , Xiao Hang
Published: May 2020

The inhibitory effect of dietary 5-demethylnobiletin on colitis-driven colorectal carcinogenesis and the potential roles of its colonic metabolites were reported.
The dietary flavonoid eupatilin attenuatesin vitrolipid peroxidation and targets lipid profile in cancer HeLa cells
Authors: Rosa A. , Isola R. , Pollastro F. , Caria P. , Appendino G. , Nieddu M.
Published: May 2020

Eupatilin, a dietary flavonoid, is an antioxidant agent against membrane lipid oxidative damage and induces cytotoxicity, apoptosis and abnormal mitosis, affecting lipid profile and mitochondrial potential in cancer HeLa cells.
Theoretical prediction of silicether: a two-dimensional hyperconjugated disilicon monoxide nanosheet
Authors: Zhu Gui-Lin , Ye Xiao-Juan , Liu Chun-Sheng , Yan Xiao-Hong
Published: May 2020

Silicether is designed by the assembly of disilyl ether molecules with anisotropic mechanical and electrical properties.
Minimizing solvent waste in catalytic reactions in highly recyclable hydrocarbon solvents
Authors: Thavornpradit Sopida , Killough James M. , Bergbreiter David E.
Published: May 2020

This paper describes chemistry using organocatalysts in hydrocarbon solvents that minimizes solvent waste by using inexpensive, non-volatile, relatively inflammable, and easily recyclable poly(α-olefin)s (PAOs) as hydrocarbon solvents.
Calcium mediated efficient synthesis of N-arylamidines from organic nitriles and amines
Authors: Banerjee Indrani , Sagar Shweta , Panda Tarun K.
Published: May 2020

An efficient one-step methodology for the facile synthesis of N-arylamidines from organic nitriles and amines by using calcium bis(hexamethyldisilazide) as a competent catalyst under solvent-free conditions is reported.
Nanoparticles decorated with folate based on a site-selective αCD-rotaxanated PEG-b-PCL copolymer for targeted cancer therapy
Authors: Dal Poggetto Giovanni , Troise Salvatore Simone , Conte Claudia , Marchetti Roberta , Moret Francesca , Iadonisi Alfonso , Silipo Alba , Lanzetta Rosa , Malinconico Mario , Quaglia Fabiana , Laurienzo Paola
Published: May 2020

NPs fabricated from a mixture of PEG-b-PCL and selectively rotaxanated Fol-PEG(αCD)-PCL showed internalisation in KB cells through an active targeting mechanism.
Two-dimensional material membranes for critical separations
Authors: Liu Pengchao , Hou Junjun , Zhang Yi , Li Lianshan , Lu Xiaoquan , Tang Zhiyong
Published: May 2020

In this review, we summarize the separation mechanisms and materials adopted for the fabrication of 2D material membranes as well as their applications in critical separations.
A rapid and reliable CE-LIF method for the quantitative analysis of miRNA-497 in plasma and organs and its application to a pharmacokinetic and biodistribution study
Authors: Ban Eunmi , Kwon Haejin , Song Eun Joo
Published: May 2020

This study evaluated the pharmacokinetic and biodistribution of miRNA-497 mimic as model miRNA for lung target using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence.
Enhancing the thermoelectric power factor of nanostructured ZnCo2O4 by Bi substitution
Authors: Alagar Nedunchezhian A. S. , Sidharth D. , Rajkumar R. , Yalini Devi N. , Maeda K. , Arivanandhan M. , Fujiwara K. , Anbalagan G. , Jayavel R.
Published: May 2020

Nanostructuring and Bi substitution have considerably increased the thermoelectric power factor and ZT of BixZnCo2−xO4; Bi1.9ZnCo1.9O4 shows a higher power factor than that of other Bi substituted samples.
Laser direct writing of carbonaceous sensors on cardboard for human health and indoor environment monitoring
Authors: Ju Kuan , Gao Yang , Xiao Ting , Yu Cunjiang , Tan Jianpin , Xuan Fuzhen
Published: May 2020

Carbonaceous sensors on cardboard can be used for human health and indoor environment monitoring.
Effect of thiophene linker addition to fluorene-benzotriazole polymers with the purpose of achieving white emission in OLEDs
Authors: Kok Cansu , Doyranli Ceylan , Canımkurbey Betül , Pıravadılı Mucur Selin , Koyuncu Sermet
Published: May 2020

Fluorene-benzotriazole based polymers with double bound subunits were prepared for white light electroluminescence applications.
Acellularized spinal cord scaffolds incorporating bpV(pic)/PLGA microspheres promote axonal regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury
Authors: Liu Jia , Li Kai , Huang Ke , Yang Chengliang , Huang Zhipeng , Zhao Xingchang , Song Shiqiang , Pang Taisen , Zhou Jing , Wang Yuhai , Wang Chong , Tang Yujin
Published: May 2020

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic injury to the central nervous system (CNS) with a high rate of disability and a low capability of self-recovery.
TIPS-pentacene triplet exciton generation on PbS quantum dots results from indirect sensitization
Authors: Papa Christopher M. , Garakyaraghi Sofia , Granger Devin B. , Anthony John E. , Castellano Felix N.
Published: May 2020

Many fundamental questions remain in the elucidation of energy migration mechanisms across the interface between semiconductor nanomaterials and molecular chromophores.
Surface passivation extends single and biexciton lifetimes of InP quantum dots
Authors: Yang Wenxing , Yang Yawei , Kaledin Alexey L. , He Sheng , Jin Tao , McBride James R. , Lian Tianquan
Published: May 2020

Combined optical spectroscopic study now reveals the photophysical changes of InP QDs upon surface passivation by various methods.
N-Hydroxybenzimidazole as a structurally modifiable platform forN-oxyl radicals for direct C–H functionalization reactions
Authors: Yoshii Tomomi , Tsuzuki Saori , Sakurai Shunya , Sakamoto Ryu , Jiang Julong , Hatanaka Miho , Matsumoto Akira , Maruoka Keiji
Published: May 2020

A novel class ofN-oxy radicals based on flexibly modifiableN-hydroxybenzimidazole skeleton was designed and applied to C–H functionalization reactions.
Turning autophobic wetting on biomimetic surfaces into complete wetting by wetting additives
Authors: Leermakers Frans A. M. , Luengo Gustavo S. , Baghdadli Nawel , Mazilier Christian , Potter Anne , Léonforte Fabien
Published: May 2020

Autophobicity or pseudo partial wetting, a phenomenon of a liquid not spreading on its own monolayer, is characterized by an energy barrier that prevents the growth of a wetting film beyond the monolayer thickness, which additionally may have an impact on the conditioning performance of films.
An injectable thermosensitive hydrogel self-supported by nanoparticles of PEGylated amino-modified PCL for enhanced local tumor chemotherapy
Authors: Guo Jinxuan , Feng Zujian , Liu Xiang , Wang Changrong , Huang Pingsheng , Zhang Jianhua , Deng Liandong , Wang Weiwei , Dong Anjie
Published: May 2020

Scheme of preparation of PTX/PECNGel and local injection for chemotherapy in vivo.
Vortex formation of spherical self-propelled particles around a circular obstacle
Authors: Pan Jun-xing , Wei Hua , Qi Mei-jiao , Wang Hui-fang , Zhang Jin-jun , Tian Wen-de , Chen Kang
Published: May 2020

The vortex of spherical active Brownian particles around a circular obstacle.
Competition of nanoparticle-induced mobilization and immobilization effects on segmental dynamics of an epoxy-based nanocomposite
Authors: Szymoniak Paulina , Pauw Brian Richard , Qu Xintong , Schönhals Andreas
Published: May 2020

The complex effects of nanoparticles on a thermosetting material based on an anhydride-cured DGEBA/boehmite nanocomposite with different particle concentrations are considered.
Removing the barrier to water dissociation on single-atom Pt sites decorated with a CoP mesoporous nanosheet array to achieve improved hydrogen evolution
Authors: Ye Shenghua , Xiong Wei , Liao Peng , Zheng Lirong , Ren Xiangzhong , He Chuanxin , Zhang Qianling , Liu Jianhong
Published: May 2020

Single-atom Pt immobilized in the lattice of CoP mesoporous nanosheets (MNSs) grown on carbon fiber cloth (CFC) (Ptat–CoP MNSs/CFC) was synthesized for the HER in alkaline solution and seawater. The improved HER is mainly attributed to water dissociation that becomes spontaneous on Ptat–CoP MNSs/CFC.
A novel mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe for endogenous sulfur dioxide derivatives as a cancer-detecting tool
Authors: Yang Di , He Xiao-Ying , Wu Xiao-Tian , Shi Hao-Nan , Miao Jun-Ying , Zhao Bao-Xiang , Lin Zhao-Min
Published: May 2020

A new mitochondria-targeted fluorescent probe RBC, constructed using a coumarin moiety which was selected as the donor and a benzothiazole derivative as the acceptor, for SO2 derivatives (HSO3−/SO32−) was presented.
Recent advances in ZnO nanostructure-based electrochemical sensors and biosensors
Authors: Beitollahi Hadi , Tajik Somayeh , Garkani Nejad Fariba , Safaei Mohadeseh
Published: May 2020

Nanostructured metal oxides such as zinc oxide (ZnO) are considered as excellent material for fabrication of highly sensitive and selective electrochemical sensors and biosensors due to good properties.
Determination of phase-formation of (Mg1−xMnx)2Al4Si5O18(x= 0–1) cordierite solid-solutionsviacrystallographic sites and luminescence dynamics of Mn2+centers
Authors: Wei Donglei , Seo Hyo Jin
Published: May 2020

(Mg1−xMnx)2Al4Si5O18(x= 0–1.0) cordierite shows structural changes from β-phase (x= 0–0.2) to α-phase (x= 0.3–0.9) and Mn-cordierite (x= 0.95–1.0) (β-phase). Luminescence characteristics of Mn2+can clearly identify phase and site-occupation.
Boundary detection using unbiased sparseness‐constrained colour‐opponent response and superpixel contrast
Authors: Wang Gang , Chen Yong‐guang , Gao Min , Yang Suo‐chang , Feng Fu‐qiang , De Baets Bernard
Published: May 2020

Boundaries play a crucial role in various image‐based tasks, but many existing non‐learning‐based boundary detection methods underperform in recognising authentic boundaries from a complex background. In this study, the authors address this problem using the sparseness‐constrained colour‐opponent response and the superpixel contrast. First, building on the biologically inspired colour‐opponency mechanism, the authors elaborate a method to compute the unbiased sparseness‐constrained colour‐opponent response. In this procedure, locations showing colour variations are enhanced, while the textural locations are preliminarily suppressed by the cue of local sparseness measure. Second, with the help of superpixel segmentation, the authors present an effective approach to obtain the superpixel contrast map. This approach helps to exploit the object shape information in suppressing textures. Consequently, the authors propose a non‐learning‐based method to detect boundaries in images, combining the unbiased sparseness‐constrained colour‐opponent response and the overall superpixel contrast map. Experiment results on widely adopted datasets manifest that the authors method outperforms most of the competing methods. In particular, compared with the state‐of‐the‐art surround‐modulation method, the proposed method obtains a comparable performance while consuming much less runtime.
Hybrid nanophotonic-nanomagnonic SiC-YiG quantum sensor: I/theoretical design and properties
Authors: Tribollet Jérôme
Published: May 2020

Here I present the theory of a new hybrid paramagnetic-ferrimagnetic SiC-YiG quantum sensor. It is designed to allow sub-nanoscale single external spin sensitivity optically detected pulsed electron electron double resonance spectroscopy, using anXband pulsed EPR spectrometer and an optical fiber. The sensor contains one single V2 negatively charged silicon vacancy color center in 4H-SiC, whose photoluminescence is waveguided by a 4H-SiC nanophotonic structure towards an optical fiber. This V2 spin probe is created by ion implantation at a depth of few nanometers below the surface, determined by optically detected paramagnetic resonance under the strong magnetic field gradient of a YiG ferrimagnetic nanostripe located on the back-side of the nanophotonic structure. This gradient also allow the study, slice by slice at nanoscale, of the target paramagnetic sample. The fabrication process of this quantum sensor, its magnetic and optical properties, its external spins sensing properties in a structural biology context, and its integration to a standard commercially available pulsed EPR spectrometer are all presented here.
Demenz mit Lewy-Körpern
Authors: Riepe Matthias W.
Published: May 2020

Ein demenzielles Syndrom und eine parkinsonoide extrapyramidalmotorische Symptomatik sind häufig assoziiert. Allgemein etablierte Konsensuskriterien erlauben die Diagnose einer Lewy-Körper-Demenz – allerdings schließt diese auf klinischen Kriterien basierende Diagnose auch die Diagnose einer Demenz anderer Ätiologie nicht aus. Im klinischen Alltag treten häufig Mischformen mit begleitender Alzheimer-Erkrankung oder vaskulärer Enzephalopathie auf.
Aktuelles zum Gestationsdiabetes mellitus
Authors: Kleinwechter Helmut
Published: May 2020

Der Gestationsdiabetes mellitus (GDM), auch als Schwangerschaftsdiabetes bezeichnet, ist definiert durch einen hohen Blutzuckerspiegel während der Schwangerschaft. GDM ist eine erstmals in der Schwangerschaft beobachtete Glukosetoleranzstörung, die mit einem 75-g-oralen Glukosetoleranztest (75-g-oGTT) unter standardisierten Bedingungen und qualitätsgesicherter Glukosemessung in venösem Plasma diagnostiziert wird. Der Schwangerschaftsdiabetes wird als Typ-4-Diabetes bezeichnet und es handelt sich somit um eine eigene Klassifikationsgruppe neben Typ-1- und Typ-2-Diabetes. Allerdings erreichen beim GDM die Blutglukosewerte nicht das sonst beim Diabetes erkennbare Niveau.
Muskuloskelettale Erkrankungen nehmen zu
Authors: Vielitz Arne
Published: May 2020

Sebbag E, Felten R, Sagez F et al. The World-wide Burden of Musculoskeletal diseases: A Systematic Analysis of the World Health Organization Burden of Diseases Database. Ann Rheum Dis 2019; 78: 844–848. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2019–215142
Sensitivität und Spezifität des Lever Sign Tests bei VKB
Authors: Klien Sebastian
Published: May 2020

Jarbo KA, Hartigan DE, Scott KL et al. Accuracy of the Lever Sign Test in the Diagnosis of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries. Orthop J Sports Med 2017; 5: 232596711772980. doi: 10.1177/2325967117729809
The Effects of Vitamin D on Metabolic Profiles in Women with
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Authors: Williams Ashley , Babu Jeganathan Ramesh , Wadsworth Danielle D. , Burnett Donna , Geetha Thangiah
Published: May 2020

This systematic review aims to evaluate all epidemiological evidence in the
literature linking the effect of vitamin D supplementation to metabolic and
hormonal functions in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The literature
search was performed with two databases, namely Medline/PubMed and Web
of Science, until 20 May 2019 for both observational and experimental studies
concerning relationships between vitamin D and polycystic ovary syndrome. A
total of ten studies with randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled
trial design from 2008 to 2019 were selected for this review. The inclusion
criteria were women 18–45 years of age with polycystic ovary syndrome
and comparing the metabolic or endocrine parameters between placebo and vitamin
D supplementation groups. A total of ten studies were selected for this review.
We found that vitamin D supplementation had a significant effect on insulin
metabolism, total serum testosterone, hirsutism, C-reactive protein, and total
antioxidant capacity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Evidence from
available randomized controlled trials suggests that patients with polycystic
ovary syndrome should take vitamin D supplementation for the beneficial effect
of metabolic profiles. However, future research is needed regarding the
beneficial effects in women who are non-obese with polycystic ovary syndrome, as
well as more studies with larger sample sizes.