bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A More Detailed Look at Earth’s Most Poorly Understood Crust
Authors: Cook Terri
Published: October 2018

The second-generation Antarctic Digital Magnetic Anomaly Project offers a powerful new tool for probing the structure and evolution of the southernmost continent’s lithosphere.
Volcanic Radiative Forcing From 1979 to 2015
Authors: Schmidt Anja , Mills Michael J. , Ghan Steven , Gregory Jonathan M. , Allan Richard P. , Andrews Timothy , Bardeen Charles G. , Conley Andrew , Forster Piers M. , Gettelman Andrew , Portmann Robert W. , Solomon Susan , Toon Owen B.
Published: October 2018

Using volcanic sulfur dioxide emissions in an aerosol‐climate model, we derive a time series of global‐mean volcanic effective radiative forcing (ERF) from 1979 to 2015. For 2005–2015, we calculate a global multiannual mean volcanic ERF of −0.08 W/m2 relative to the volcanically quiescent 1999–2002 period, due to a high frequency of small‐to‐moderate‐magnitude explosive eruptions after 2004. For eruptions of large magnitude such as 1991 Mt. Pinatubo, our model‐simulated volcanic ERF, which accounts for rapid adjustments including aerosol perturbations of clouds, is less negative than that reported in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) that only accounted for stratospheric temperature adjustments. We find that, when rapid adjustments are considered, the relation between volcanic forcing and volcanic stratospheric optical depth (SAOD) is 13–21% weaker than reported in IPCC AR5 for large‐magnitude eruptions. Further, our analysis of the recurrence frequency of eruptions reveals that sulfur‐rich small‐to‐moderate‐magnitude eruptions with column heights ≥10 km occur frequently, with periods of volcanic quiescence being statistically rare. Small‐to‐moderate‐magnitude eruptions should therefore be included in climate model simulations, given the >50% chance of one or two eruptions to occur in any given year. Not all of these eruptions affect the stratospheric aerosol budget, but those that do increase the nonvolcanic background SAOD by ~0.004 on average, contributing ~50% to the total SAOD in the absence of large‐magnitude eruptions. This equates to a volcanic ERF of about −0.10 W/m2, which is about two thirds of the ERF from ozone changes induced by ozone‐depleting substances.
Impacts of Synoptic and Local Factors on Heat Wave Events Over Southeastern Region of Korea in 2015
Authors: Yoon Donghyuck , Cha Dong‐Hyun , Lee Gil , Park Changyong , Lee Myong‐In , Min Ki‐Hong
Published: October 2018

Because of global warming and abnormal climate change, record‐breaking heat wave events have been increasing. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze and predict the mechanisms for generating and developing heat waves. In this study, the impacts of synoptic and local factors on heat waves over the southeastern region of South Korea in 2015 are investigated. First, Heat wave events for 1980–2016 defined by spatiotemporal criteria are classified into three clusters using the K‐means clustering analysis. Heat wave events in 2015 are compared to clusters of different synoptic conditions, which are strongly related to the western North Pacific subtropical high around South Korea. Second, numerical experiments using Weather Research and Forecasting model are performed to examine the effect of local conditions on 2015 heat waves. Four types of sensitivity experiments were conducted: a CTL experiment with no change in topography and soil moisture, TOPO experiment with lowered terrain, and WET and DRY experiments with wet and dry anomalies in initial soil moisture. The CTL experiment simulates higher temperature on the lee side compared to the TOPO experiment because of the Foehn effect. In particular, the effect is prominent when dry westerlies passing through mountains and the lower level atmosphere over the windward region are in a statically stable condition (i.e., nighttime). Due to the less (more) evaporation, the DRY (WET) experiment with less (more) soil moisture simulates higher (lower) maximum temperature than the CTL experiment during the daytime when solar radiation is relatively intense.
Complementing the Sculpting Metaphor: Reflections on How Relationship Partners Elicit the Best or the Worst in Each Other
Authors: Finkel Eli J.
Published: October 2018

A major idea in relationship science is that partners in a close relationship can “sculpt” each other in a manner that helps them align more closely with their ideal, or true, self. This sculpting metaphor is compelling, elegant, and generative, but it also possesses previously unrecognized liabilities, especially in its conceptualization of the ideal self as a sculpture yearning for release from a block of stone that is imprisoning it. Given the powerful role that metaphors play in structuring thought, overreliance on the sculpting metaphor has blinded us to certain questions even as it has sensitized us to others. To develop a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which relationship partners bring out the best or the worst in each other, we must complement the sculpting metaphor with metaphors that direct our attention to questions that it obscures, such as (a) where the ideal self comes from and (b) whether, how much, and how the ideal self changes over time.
Sublethal UV irradiation induces squamous differentiation via a p53-independent, DNA damage-mitosis checkpoint
Authors: de Pedro Isabel , Alonso-Lecue Pilar , Sanz-Gómez Natalia , Freije Ana , Gandarillas Alberto
Published: October 2018

The epidermis is a self-renewal epithelium continuously exposed to the genotoxic effects of ultraviolet (UV) light, the main cause of skin cancer. Therefore, it needs robust self-protective mechanisms facing genomic damage. p53 has been shown to mediate apoptosis in sunburn cells of the epidermis. However, epidermal cells daily receive sublethal mutagenic doses of UV and massive apoptosis would be deleterious. We have recently unravelled an anti-oncogenic keratinocyte DNA damage-differentiation response to cell cycle stress. We now have studied this response to high or moderate single doses of UV irradiation. Whereas, as expected, high levels of UV induced p53-dependent apoptosis, moderate levels triggered squamous differentiation. UV-induced differentiation was not mediated by endogenous p53. Overexpression of the mitosis global regulator FOXM1 alleviated the proliferative loss caused by UV. Conversely, knocking-down the mitotic checkpoint protein Wee1 drove UV-induced differentiation into apoptosis. Therefore, the results indicate that mitosis checkpoints determine the response to UV irradiation. The differentiation response was also found in cells of head and neck epithelia thus uncovering a common regulation in squamous tissues upon chronic exposure to mutagens, with implications into homeostasis and disease.
All-inorganic cesium lead iodide perovskite solar cells with stabilized efficiency beyond 15%
Authors: Wang Kang , Jin Zhiwen , Liang Lei , Bian Hui , Bai Dongliang , Wang Haoran , Zhang Jingru , Wang Qian , Liu Shengzhong
Published: October 2018

As the black cesium lead iodide (CsPbI3) tends to transit into a yellow δ-phase at ambient, it is imperative to develop a stabilized black phase for photovoltaic applications. Herein, we report a distorted black CsPbI3 film by exploiting the synergistic effect of hydroiodic acid (HI) and phenylethylammonium iodide (PEAI) additives. It is found that the HI induces formation of hydrogen lead iodide (HPbI3+x), an intermediate to the distorted black phase with appropriate band gap of 1.69 eV; while PEAI provides nucleation for optimized crystallization. More importantly, it stabilizes the distorted black phase by hindering phase transition via its steric effects. Upon optimization, we have attained solar cell efficiency as high as 15.07%. Specifically, the bare cell without any encapsulation shows negligible efficiency loss after 300 h of light soaking. The device keeps 92% of its initial cell efficiency after being stored for 2 months under ambient conditions.
Structural basis for activation of fluorogenic dyes by an RNA aptamer lacking a G-quadruplex motif
Authors: Shelke Sandip A. , Shao Yaming , Laski Artur , Koirala Deepak , Weissman Benjamin P. , Fuller James R. , Tan Xiaohong , Constantin Tudor P. , Waggoner Alan S. , Bruchez Marcel P. , Armitage Bruce A. , Piccirilli Joseph A.
Published: October 2018

The DIR2s RNA aptamer, a second-generation, in-vitro selected binder to dimethylindole red (DIR), activates the fluorescence of cyanine dyes, DIR and oxazole thiazole blue (OTB), allowing detection of two well-resolved emission colors. Using Fab BL3-6 and its cognate hairpin as a crystallization module, we solved the crystal structures of both the apo and OTB-SO3 bound forms of DIR2s at 2.0 Å and 1.8 Å resolution, respectively. DIR2s adopts a compact, tuning fork-like architecture comprised of a helix and two short stem-loops oriented in parallel to create the ligand binding site through tertiary interactions. The OTB-SO3 fluorophore binds in a planar conformation to a claw-like structure formed by a purine base-triple, which provides a stacking platform for OTB-SO3, and an unpaired nucleotide, which partially caps the binding site from the top. The absence of a G-quartet or base tetrad makes the DIR2s aptamer unique among fluorogenic RNAs with known 3D structure.
Identification and characterization of a large family of superbinding bacterial SH2 domains
Authors: Kaneko Tomonori , Stogios Peter J. , Ruan Xiang , Voss Courtney , Evdokimova Elena , Skarina Tatiana , Chung Amy , Liu Xiaoling , Li Lei , Savchenko Alexei , Ensminger Alexander W. , Li Shawn S.-C.
Published: October 2018

Src homology 2 (SH2) domains play a critical role in signal transduction in mammalian cells by binding to phosphorylated Tyr (pTyr). Apart from a few isolated cases in viruses, no functional SH2 domain has been identified to date in prokaryotes. Here we identify 93 SH2 domains from Legionella that are distinct in sequence and specificity from mammalian SH2 domains. The bacterial SH2 domains are not only capable of binding proteins or peptides in a Tyr phosphorylation-dependent manner, some bind pTyr itself with micromolar affinities, a property not observed for mammalian SH2 domains. The Legionella SH2 domains feature the SH2 fold and a pTyr-binding pocket, but lack a specificity pocket found in a typical mammalian SH2 domain for recognition of sequences flanking the pTyr residue. Our work expands the boundary of phosphotyrosine signalling to prokaryotes, suggesting that some bacterial effector proteins have acquired pTyr-superbinding characteristics to facilitate bacterium-host interactions.
Anomalous X-ray diffraction studies of ion transport in K+ channels
Authors: Langan Patricia S. , Vandavasi Venu Gopal , Weiss Kevin L. , Afonine Pavel V. , el Omari Kamel , Duman Ramona , Wagner Armin , Coates Leighton
Published: October 2018

Potassium ion channels utilize a highly selective filter to rapidly transport K+ ions across cellular membranes. This selectivity filter is composed of four binding sites which display almost equal electron density in crystal structures with high potassium ion concentrations. This electron density can be interpreted to reflect a superposition of alternating potassium ion and water occupied states or as adjacent potassium ions. Here, we use single wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) X-ray diffraction data collected near the potassium absorption edge to show experimentally that all ion binding sites within the selectivity filter are fully occupied by K+ ions. These data support the hypothesis that potassium ion transport occurs by direct Coulomb knock-on, and provide an example of solving the phase problem by K-SAD.
Cloaking nanoparticles with protein corona shield for targeted drug delivery
Authors: Oh Jun Yong , Kim Han Sol , Palanikumar L. , Go Eun Min , Jana Batakrishna , Park Soo Ah , Kim Ho Young , Kim Kibeom , Seo Jeong Kon , Kwak Sang Kyu , Kim Chaekyu , Kang Sebyung , Ryu Ja-Hyoung
Published: October 2018

Targeted drug delivery using nanoparticles can minimize the side effects of conventional pharmaceutical agents and enhance their efficacy. However, translating nanoparticle-based agents into clinical applications still remains a challenge due to the difficulty in regulating interactions on the interfaces between nanoparticles and biological systems. Here, we present a targeting strategy for nanoparticles incorporated with a supramolecularly pre-coated recombinant fusion protein in which HER2-binding affibody combines with glutathione-S-transferase. Once thermodynamically stabilized in preferred orientations on the nanoparticles, the adsorbed fusion proteins as a corona minimize interactions with serum proteins to prevent the clearance of nanoparticles by macrophages, while ensuring systematic targeting functions in vitro and in vivo. This study provides insight into the use of the supramolecularly built protein corona shield as a targeting agent through regulating the interfaces between nanoparticles and biological systems.
Cross-sectional study assessing the performance of the Arabic translated childhood asthma control test
Authors: AlTeneiji Majid , AlKalbani Alia , Nasser Huda , Iram Durdana , Alblooshi Afaf , Narchi Hassib
Published: October 2018

The standard Arabic version of the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) has never been previously evaluated in Arab countries. We studied its correlation in Arabic speaking children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with both the GINA assessment of asthma control and the resulting changes in asthma management. The Arabic C-ACT was completed by the children or by their parents when needed. A GINA based level of asthma control score was assigned by their managing physician. The correlation between the different cut- scores of the C-ACT and GINA were studied. A total of 105 eligible children with asthma (aged between 4 and 11.8 years, 61% boys) were enrolled. The Arabic translated C-ACT had a high reliability (Cronbach alpha 81%) and validity (as it correlated well with the GINA level of control). We found that using it with the traditional cut-score of 19 overestimated the degree of asthma control. Instead, a calculated optimal cut-score of 20 estimated more accurately the level of asthma control as assessed both by the GINA assessment and also by changes in asthma management. The current Arabic version of the C-ACT has a good reliability and validity. By using a single optimal cut-point of 20, it can be used to assess both the level of asthma control and of treatment control. It does not, however, accurately define asthma control when using the originally proposed cut-score of 19. Physicians need to recognise that the C-ACT cut-points may vary in different populations. We suggest that cut-scores of translated versions need to be modified in different geographical settings.
Metamaterial Superlenses Operating at Visible Wavelength for Imaging Applications
Authors: Haxha S. , AbdelMalek F. , Ouerghi F. , Charlton M. D. B. , Aggoun A. , Fang X.
Published: October 2018

In this paper, a novel design for a metamaterial lens (superlens) based on a Photonic Crystal (PC) operating at visible wavelengths is reported. The proposed superlens consist of a gallium phosphide (GaP) dielectric slab waveguide with a hexagonal array of silver rods embedded within the GaP dielectric. In-house 2DFDTD numerical method is used to design and optimize the proposed superlens. Several superlenses are designed and integrated within a same dielectric platform, promoting the proof-of-concept (POC) of possible construction of an array of superlenses (or sub-lenses to create an M-Lens) for light field imaging applications. It is shown that the concavity of the superlens and positioning of each sub-lens within the array strongly affects the performances of the image in terms of resolution. Defects and various geometrical shapes are introduced to construct and optimize the proposed superlenses and increase the quality of the image resolution. It is shown that the orientation of the active region (ellipse) along x and y axis has tremendous influence on the quality of image resolution. In order to investigate the performance characteristics of the superlenses, transmitted power is calculated using 2D FDTD for image projections at various distances (in x and y plane). It is also shown, how the proposed superlens structures could be fabricated using standard micro fabrication techniques such as electron beam lithography, inductively coupled Reactive ion etching, and glancing angle evaporation methods. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first reported POC of superlenses, integrated in a monolithic platform suitable for high imaging resolution that can be used for light field imaging applications at visible wavelength. The proposed superlenses (integrated in a single platform M-Lens) will have tremendous impact on imaging applications.
Pathological cardiac remodeling occurs early in CKD mice from unilateral urinary obstruction, and is attenuated by Enalapril
Authors: Ham Onju , Jin William , Lei Lei , Huang Hui Hui , Tsuji Kenji , Huang Ming , Roh Jason , Rosenzweig Anthony , Lu Hua A. Jenny
Published: October 2018

Cardiovascular disease constitutes the leading cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease. Despite increasing recognition of a close interplay between kidney dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, termed cardiorenal syndrome (CRS), the underlying mechanisms of CRS remain poorly understood. Here we report the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in early stage non-uremic CKD. Moderate kidney failure was induced three weeks after unilateral urinary obstruction (UUO) in mice. We observed pathological cardiac hypertrophy and increased fibrosis in UUO-induced CKD (UUO/CKD) animals. Further analysis indicated that this cardiac fibrosis was associated with increased expression of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) along with significant upregulation of Smad 2/3 signaling in the heart. Moreover early treatment of UUO/CKD animals with an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACE I), Enalapril, significantly attenuated cardiac fibrosis. Enalapril antagonized activation of the TGF-β signaling pathway in the UUO/CKD heart. In summary our study demonstrates the presence of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in mice early in UUO-induced CKD, in association with early activation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. We also demonstrate the beneficial effect of ACE I in alleviating this early fibrogenic process in the heart in UUO/CKD animals.
Exploring NS3/4A, NS5A and NS5B proteins to design conserved subunit multi-epitope vaccine against HCV utilizing immunoinformatics approaches
Authors: Ikram Aqsa , Zaheer Tahreem , Awan Faryal Mehwish , Obaid Ayesha , Naz Anam , Hanif Rumeza , Paracha Rehan Zafar , Ali Amjad , Naveed Abdul Khaliq , Janjua Hussnain Ahmed
Published: October 2018

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccines, designed to augment specific T-cell responses, have been designated as an important aspect of effective antiviral treatment. However, despite the current satisfactory progress of these vaccines, extensive past efforts largely remained unsuccessful in mediating clinically relevant anti-HCV activity in humans. In this study, we used a series of immunoinformatics approaches to propose a multiepitope vaccine against HCV by prioritizing 16 conserved epitopes from three viral proteins (i.e., NS34A, NS5A, and NS5B). The prioritised epitopes were tested for their possible antigenic combinations with each other along with linker AAY using structural modelling and epitope–epitope interactions analysis. An adjuvant (β-defensin) at the N-terminal of the construct was added to enhance the immunogenicity of the vaccine construct. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation revealed the most stable structure of the proposed vaccine. The designed vaccine is potentially antigenic in nature and can form stable and significant interactions with Toll-like receptor 3 and Toll-like receptor 8. The proposed vaccine was also subjected to an in silico cloning approach, which confirmed its expression efficiency. These analyses suggest that the proposed vaccine can elicit specific immune responses against HCV; however, experimental validation is required to confirm the safety and immunogenicity profile of the proposed vaccine construct.
VCE-004.8, A Multitarget Cannabinoquinone, Attenuates Adipogenesis and Prevents Diet-Induced Obesity
Authors: Palomares Belen , Ruiz-Pino Francisco , Navarrete Carmen , Velasco Inmaculada , Sánchez-Garrido Miguel A. , Jimenez-Jimenez Carla , Pavicic Carolina , Vazquez Maria J. , Appendino Giovanni , Bellido M. Luz , Calzado Marco A. , Tena-Sempere Manuel , Muñoz Eduardo
Published: October 2018

Over the past few years, the endocannabinoid system (ECs) has emerged as a crucial player for the regulation of food intake and energy metabolism, and its pharmacological manipulation represents a novel strategy for the management of metabolic diseases. The discovery that VCE-004.8, a dual PPARγ and CB2 receptor agonist, also inhibits prolyl-hydroxylases (PHDs) and activates the HIF pathway provided a rationale to investigate its effect in in vitro models of adipogenesis and in a murine model of metabolic syndrome, all processes critically regulated by these targets of VCE-004.8. In accordance with its different binding mode to PPARγ compared to rosiglitazone (RGZ), VCE-004.8 neither induced adipogenic differentiation, nor affected osteoblastogenesis. Daily administration of VCE-004.8 (20 mg/kg) to HFD mice for 3-wks induced a significant reduction in body weight gain, total fat mass, adipocyte volume and plasma triglycerides levels. VCE-004.8 could also significantly ameliorate glucose tolerance, reduce leptin levels (a marker of adiposity) and increase adiponectin and incretins (GLP-1 and GIP) levels. Remarkably, VCE-004.8 increased the FGF21 mRNA expression in white and brown adipose, as well as in a BAT cell line, qualifying cannabinoaminoquinones as a class of novel therapeutic candidates for the management of obesity and its common metabolic co-morbidities.
EEG may serve as a biomarker in Huntington’s disease using machine learning automatic classification
Authors: Odish Omar F. F. , Johnsen Kristinn , van Someren Paul , Roos Raymund A. C. , van Dijk J. Gert
Published: October 2018

Reliable markers measuring disease progression in Huntington’s disease (HD), before and after disease manifestation, may guide a therapy aimed at slowing or halting disease progression. Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) may provide a quantification method for possible (sub)cortical dysfunction occurring prior to or concomitant with motor or cognitive disturbances observed in HD. In this pilot study we construct an automatic classifier distinguishing healthy controls from HD gene carriers using qEEG and derive qEEG features that correlate with clinical markers known to change with disease progression in HD, with the aim of exploring biomarker potential. We included twenty-six HD gene carriers (49.7 ± 8.5 years) and 25 healthy controls (52.7 ± 8.7 years). EEG was recorded for three minutes with subjects at rest. An EEG index was created by applying statistical pattern recognition to a large set of EEG features, which was subsequently tested using 10-fold cross-validation. The index resulted in a continuous variable ranging from 0 to 1: a low value indicating a state close to normal and a high value pointing to HD. qEEG features that correlate specifically with commonly used clinical markers in HD research were derived. The classification index had a specificity of 83%, a sensitivity of 83% and an accuracy of 83%. The area under the curve of the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.9. qEEG analysis on subsets of electrophysiological features resulted in two highly significant correlations with clinical scores. The results of this pilot study suggest that qEEG may serve as a biomarker in HD. The indices correlating with modalities changing with the progression of the disease may lead to tools based on qEEG that help monitor efficacy in intervention studies.
QCM-based immunosensor for rapid detection of Salmonella Typhimurium in food
Authors: Fulgione Andrea , Cimafonte Martina , Della Ventura Bartolomeo , Iannaccone Marco , Ambrosino Concetta , Capuano Federico , Proroga Yolande Thérèse Rose , Velotta Raffaele , Capparelli Rosanna
Published: October 2018

Salmonella Typhimurium is one of the main causes of outbreaks and sporadic cases of human gastroenteritis. At present, the rapid detection of this pathogen is a major goal of biosensing technology applied to food safety. In fact, ISO standardized culture method takes up to ten days to provide a reliable response. In this paper, we describe a relatively simple protocol for detecting Salmonella Typhimurium in chicken meat based on a Quartz-Crystal Microbalance (QCM), which leads to a limit of detection (LOD) less than of 10° CFU/mL and requires a pre-enrichment step lasting only 2 h at 37 °C. The reliability of the proposed immunosensor has been demonstrated through the validation of the experimental results with ISO standardized culture method. The cost-effectiveness of the procedure and the rapidity of the QCM-based biosensor in providing the qualitative response make the analytical method described here suitable for applications in food inspection laboratory and throughout the chain production of food industry.
Two CONSTANS-LIKE genes jointly control flowering time in beet
Authors: Dally Nadine , Eckel Maike , Batschauer Alfred , Höft Nadine , Jung Christian
Published: October 2018

Breeding vegetative crops (e.g. beets, cabbage, forage grasses) is challenged by two conflicting aims. For field production, flowering must be avoided while flowering and seed set is necessary for breeding and seed production. The biennial species sugar beet makes shoot elongation (‘bolting’) followed by flowering after a long period of cold temperatures. Field production in northern geographical regions starts in spring. A thickened storage root is formed only during vegetative growth. It is expected that winter beets, which are sown before winter would have a much higher yield potential. However, field production was not possible so far due to bolting after winter. We propose a strategy to breed winter beets exploiting haplotype variation at two major bolting time loci, B and B2. Both genes encode transcription factors controlling the expression of two orthologs of the Arabidopsis gene FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT). We detected an epistatic interaction between both genes because F2 plants homozygous for two B/B2 mutant alleles did not bolt even after vernalization. Fluorescence complementation studies revealed that both proteins form a heterodimer in vivo. In non-bolting plants, the bolting activator BvFT2 was completely downregulated whereas the repressor BvFT1 was upregulated which suggests that both genes acquire a CONSTANS (CO) like function in beet. Like CO, B and B2 proteins house CCT and BBX domains which, in contrast to CO are split between the two beet genes. We propose an alternative regulation of FT orthologs in beet that can be exploited to breed winter beets.
Systemic vascular leakage induced in mice by Russell’s viper venom from Pakistan
Authors: Rucavado Alexandra , Escalante Teresa , Camacho Erika , Gutiérrez José María , Fox Jay W.
Published: October 2018

Envenomings by some populations of the Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) are characterized by a systemic capillary leak syndrome (CLS) which causes hemoconcentration, and is associated with the severity of envenoming. We adapted a model of CLS in mice by assessing hemoconcentration. The venom of D. russelii from Pakistan, but not that of another viperid, Bothrops asper, induced hemoconcentration and an increment in vascular permeability, being devoid of hemorrhagic activity at the doses tested. These findings reveal a dichotomous pattern of vasculotoxicity in viperid snake venoms. This difference might depend on variations in venom composition, especially regarding metalloproteinases (SVMPs), which are low in Pakistani D. russelii and high in B. asper. Inhibition of SVMPs and phospholipases A2 in D. russelii venom did not abrogate hemoconcentration. An hemoconcentration-inducing fraction was obtained by chromatography, which contains vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a known potent inducer of increment in vascular permeability. Exudates collected from tissue injected with venom also induced hemoconcentration, and the effect was inhibited by antivenom. However, the amount of venom in exudate required to induce the effect is low, as compared with venom dissolved in saline solution, hence suggesting that endogenous proteins present in the exudate, probably inflammatory mediators, potentiate the effect.
Artificially designed hybrids facilitate efficient generation of high-resolution linkage maps
Authors: Yoshitake Kazutoshi , Igarashi Yoji , Mizukoshi Misaki , Kinoshita Shigeharu , Mitsuyama Susumu , Suzuki Yutaka , Saito Kazuyoshi , Watabe Shugo , Asakawa Shuichi
Published: October 2018

When sequencing eukaryotic genomes, linkage maps are indispensable for building scaffolds to assemble and/or to validate chromosomes. However, current approaches to constructing linkage maps are limited by marker density and cost-effectiveness, especially for wild organisms. We have now devised a new strategy based on artificially generated hybrid organisms to acquire ultrahigh-density genomic markers at reduced cost and build highly accurate linkage maps. We have also developed the novel analysis pipeline Scaffold Extender with Low Depth Linkage Analysis (SELDLA) for data processing to generate linkage maps and draft genomes. Using SELDLA, linkage maps and improved genomes for two species of pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes and Takifugu stictonotus, were obtained simultaneously. The strategy is applicable to a wide range of sexually reproducing organisms, and could, therefore, accelerate the whole genome analysis of various organisms including fish, mollusks, amphibians, insects, plants, and even mammals.
The PDL1-inducible GTPase Arl4d controls T effector function by limiting IL-2 production
Authors: Tolksdorf Felix , Mikulec Julita , Geers Bernd , Endig Jessica , Sprezyna Paulina , Heukamp Lukas C. , Knolle Percy A. , Kolanus Waldemar , Diehl Linda
Published: October 2018

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a key regulator of adaptive immune responses but its regulation is incompletely understood. We previously found that PDL1-dependent signals were pivotal for liver sinusoidal endothelial cell-mediated priming of CD8 T cells, which have a strongly reduced capacity to produce IL-2. Here, we show that the expression of the ARF-like GTPase Arl4d is PD-L1-dependently induced in such LSEC-primed T cells, and is associated with reduced IL-2 secretion and Akt phosphorylation. Conversely, Arl4d-deficient T cells overproduced IL-2 upon stimulation. Arl4d-deficiency in CD8 T cells also enhanced their expansion and effector function during viral infection in vivo. Consistent with their increased IL-2 production, Arl4d-deficient T cells showed enhanced development into KLRG1+CD127− short-lived effector cells (SLEC), which is dependent on IL-2 availability. Thus, our data reveal a PD-L1-dependent regulatory circuitry that involves the induction of Arl4d for limiting IL-2 production in T cells.
Novel molecular marker-assisted strategy for production of wheat–Leymus mollis chromosome addition lines
Authors: Edet Offiong U. , Gorafi Yasir S. A. , Cho Seong-woo , Kishii Masahiro , Tsujimoto Hisashi
Published: October 2018

Developing wheat–alien chromosome introgression lines to improve bread wheat’s resistance to stresses, such as drought, salinity stress and diseases, requires reliable markers to identify and characterize the alien chromatins.Leymus mollisis a wild relative of bread wheat resistant to salinity and economically important diseases of wheat, but its genome sequence and cytological markers are not available. We devised a molecular marker-assisted strategy forL. mollischromosome identification and applied it to produce 10 wheat–L. mollischromosome addition lines. Using 47 L. racemosusgenome polymorphic PCR markers and DArTseq genotyping, we distinguished theL. mollischromosomes and differentiated disomic and monosomic lines by progeny test. DArTseq genotyping generated 14,530 L. mollisSNP markers and the chromosome-specific SNP markers were used to determine the homoeologous groups ofL. mollischromosomes in the addition lines. To validate the marker-based results, genomicin situhybridization was applied to confirm the presence and cytological status ofL. mollischromosomes in the lines. This study demonstrates that adequate molecular markers allow the production and characterization of wheat–alien addition lines withoutin situhybridization, which saves considerable time and effort.
A novel therapeutic agent, sodium oxybate, improves dystonic symptoms via reduced network-wide activity
Authors: Simonyan Kristina , Frucht Steven J. , Blitzer Andrew , Sichani Azadeh Hamzehei , Rumbach Anna F.
Published: October 2018

Oral medications for the treatment of dystonia are not established. Currently, symptoms of focal dystonia are managed with botulinum toxin injections into the affected muscles. However, the injection effects are short-lived and not beneficial for all patients. We recently reported significant clinical improvement of symptoms with novel investigational oral drug, sodium oxybate, in patients with the alcohol-responsive form of laryngeal focal dystonia. Understanding the mechanism of action of this promising oral agent holds a strong potential for the development of a scientific rationale for its use in dystonia. Therefore, to determine the neural markers of sodium oxybate effects, which may underlie dystonic symptom improvement, we examined brain activity during symptomatic speech production before and after drug intake in patients with laryngeal dystonia and compared to healthy subjects. We found that sodium oxybate significantly attenuated hyperfunctional activity of cerebellar, thalamic and primary/secondary sensorimotor cortical regions. Drug-induced symptom improvement was correlated with decreased-to-normal levels of activity in the right cerebellum. These findings suggest that sodium oxybate shows direct modulatory effects on disorder pathophysiology by acting upon abnormal neural activity within the dystonic network.
Graphene-based optical waveguide tactile sensor for dynamic response
Authors: Kim Jin Tae , Choi Hongkyw , Shin EunJin , Park Suntak , Kim In Gyoo
Published: October 2018

Optical tactile sensors based on a directional coupler have been widely investigated because of their many advantages. However, one important requirement limits their wide application: the refractive index of the upper superstrate must be equal to or larger than that of the optical waveguide core. To overcome this disadvantage, an optical waveguide tactile sensor using graphene is proposed and its operational feasibility was validated experimentally. The pressure-dependent lateral deformation of the low-index prism-like microstructure on an elastomer superstrate has a key role in optically measuring the mechanical pressure. By mechanically varying the lateral deformation area, the waveguide core-graphene-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) interface area was adjusted and the amount of light absorption by graphene became tunable, even when the refractive index of the superstrate was lower than that of the waveguide core. The dynamic response of the sensor was accurately matched to the repeated pressing and release time of the pressure, and exhibited a real-time response to multi-stepped mechanical pressing and releasing using a piezoelectric motor. The proposed graphene-based optical tactile sensor is foundational to the use of a wide range of materials for overcoming the shortcoming of a directional coupler-based optical tactile sensor.
Reduced diversity of gut microbiota in two Aedes mosquitoes species in areas of recent invasion
Authors: Rosso Fausta , Tagliapietra Valentina , Albanese Davide , Pindo Massimo , Baldacchino Frédéric , Arnoldi Daniele , Donati Claudio , Rizzoli Annapaola
Published: October 2018

Aedes mosquitoes are considered highly successful global invasive species and vectors of several pathogens of relevance for public health. Their midgut’s microbiota can play an important role in affecting not only their vectorial competence but also their fitness, physiology, food digestion, metabolism, immunity and adaptation to new environmental conditions. Using high-throughput sequencing we compared the microbiota of Aedes albopictus collected in Italy with those reported in populations from France and Vietnam. We also analysed Aedes koreicus gut microbiota for the first time. We found remarkable individual difference along with common bacterial taxa in both species. Ae. albopictus collected in Italy had a lower richness and a different composition of microbiota in respect to specimens collected in France and Vietnam. It also showed a core microbiota formed mainly of bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas. Overall, the two Aedes species (Ae. albopictus and Ae. koreicus) collected in Italy, showed a large core microbiota with 75.98% of the identified Operational Taxonomic Units. Furthermore, Ae. albopictus had 2.5% prevalence of Wolbachia and 0.07% of Asaia spp, while Ae. koreicus had 14.42% of Asaia spp. and no Wolbachia. This study provides new informations on the spatial variation of the midgut bacterial communities in mosquitoes of medical relevance within areas of recent invasion and provide the basis for further studies aimed at assessing the effects of such variation on vectorial capacity for a range of pathogens.
A free standing Ru–TiC nanowire array/carbon textile cathode with enhanced stability for Li–O2 batteries
Authors: Liu Chenjuan , Qiu Zhen , Brant Willian R. , Younesi Reza , Ma Yue , Edström Kristina , Gustafsson Torbjörn , Zhu Jiefang
Published: October 2018

The instability of cathode materials is one of the key problems that hinder the development of lithium–air/lithium–oxygen (Li–O2) batteries.
Red blood cell-derived nanovesicles for safe and efficient macrophage-targeted drug deliveryin vivo
Authors: Wan Xue , Zhang Shi , Wang Feng , Fan Wei , Wu Chenxi , Mao Kuirong , Wang Hongda , Hu Zheng , Yang Yong-Guang , Sun Tianmeng
Published: October 2018

RBC-derived nanovesicles are effective hydrophilic drug carriers and can effectively deliver drugs into macrophages bothin vitroandin vivo.
Characterisation and performance of hydrotalcite-derived CoMo sulphide catalysts for selective HDS in the presence of olefin
Authors: Coelho Tiago L. , Arias Santiago , Rodrigues Victor O. , Chiaro Sandra S. X. , Oliviero Laetitia , Maugé Françoise , Faro Jr. Arnaldo C.
Published: October 2018

Infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed CO showed that, in hydrotalcite-derived CoMoMgAl catalysts, Co-promoted sites catalyse HDS, and un-promoted sites, hydrogenation.
A capacity recoverable zinc-ion micro-supercapacitor
Authors: Sun Guoqiang , Yang Hongsheng , Zhang Guofeng , Gao Jian , Jin Xuting , Zhao Yang , Jiang Lan , Qu Liangti
Published: October 2018

A capacity-recoverable zinc-ion micro-supercapacitor with high energy and power density is developed.
Parental transfer of titanium dioxide nanoparticle aggravated MCLR-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish offspring
Authors: Wu Qin , Yan Wei , Liu Chunsheng , Hung Tien-Chieh , Li Guangyu
Published: October 2018

This work focuses on the transgenerational effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (n-TiO2) and microcystin-LR (MCLR) on the development of F1 zebrafish offspring.
Transcriptomic and microRNAomic profiling reveals molecular mechanisms to cope with silver nanoparticle exposure in the ciliate Euplotes vannus
Authors: Pan Yongbo , Zhang Wenjing , Lin Senjie
Published: October 2018

A comprehensive insight into how a benthic ciliate copes with AgNPs by integrated analysis of transcriptomic, microRNAomic and biochemical approaches.
Hepatoprotective mechanism of freshwater clam extract alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: elucidatedin vitroandin vivomodels
Authors: Lin Jing-Jen , Liu Yeuk-Chuen , Chang Chun-Ju , Pan Min-Hsiung , Lee Mong-Fong , Pan Bonnie Sun
Published: October 2018

In vitroandin vivohepatoprotective model-verified freshwater clam extract alleviated NAFLD.
Design, synthesis, andin vitrobiological evaluation of novel benzimidazole tethered allylidenehydrazinylmethylthiazole derivatives as potent inhibitors ofMycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Surineni Goverdhan , Gao Yamin , Hussain Muzammal , Liu Zhiyong , Lu Zhili , Chhotaray Chiranjibi , Islam Md Mahmudul , Hameed H. M. Adnan , Zhang Tianyu
Published: October 2018

Development of novel chemical probe for antitubercular lead optimization.
Superwettable nanodendritic gold substrates for direct miRNA SERS detection
Authors: Song Yongchao , Xu Tailin , Xu Li-Ping , Zhang Xueji
Published: October 2018

By combining a superwettable interface with a nanodendritic gold structure, we have fabricated a superwettable nanodendritic gold substrate for direct SERS detection of multiple concentrations of miRNAs.
Exactly matched pore size for the intercalation of electrolyte ions determined using the tunable swelling of graphite oxide in supercapacitor electrodes
Authors: Sun Jinhua , Iakunkov Artem , Rebrikova Anastasiia T. , Talyzin Alexandr V.
Published: October 2018

Brodie graphite oxide structure is intercalated by TEA-BF4in acetonitrile solution at low temperature and high electrolyte concentration adopting inter-layer distance of ∼15–16.6 Å thus providing estimate for smallest size of slit pores required for penetration of the ions.
Synthesis and application of a highly branched, mechanism-based 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-oligosaccharide inhibitor ofendo-xyloglucanases
Authors: Jain Namrata , Attia Mohamed A. , Offen Wendy A. , Davies Gideon J. , Brumer Harry
Published: October 2018

Xyloglucan (XyG) is a complex polysaccharide that is ubiquitous and often abundant in the cell walls of terrestrial plants.
Asymmetric hydrogenation of imines with chiral alkene-derived boron Lewis acids
Authors: Liu Xiaoqin , Liu Ting , Meng Wei , Du Haifeng
Published: October 2018

Asymmetric hydrogenations of imines were realized by using readily available chiral alkene-derived Lewis acids to give up to 89% ee.
Palladium catalyzed carbonylative annulation of the C(sp2)–H bond of N,1-diaryl-1H-tetrazol-5-amines and N,4-diaryl-4H-triazol-3-amines to quinazolinones
Authors: Chandrasekhar Attoor , Ramkumar Venkatachalam , Sankararaman Sethuraman
Published: October 2018

Pd(ii) catalyzed direct C–H carbonylative annulation of N,1-diaryl-1H-tetrazol-5-amines and N,4-diaryl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amines gave the corresponding triazole and tetrazole fused quinazolinones in good yields.
Dual-functional cyclometalated iridium imine NHC complexes: highly potent anticancer and antimetastatic agents
Authors: Tian Zhenzhen , Yang Yuliang , Guo Lihua , Zhong Genshen , Li Juanjuan , Liu Zhe
Published: October 2018

Six cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. They showed strong anticancer and antimetastatic activity.
MoS2 nanosheets with expanded interlayer spacing for enhanced sodium storage
Authors: Dong Huishuang , Xu Yang , Zhang Chenglin , Wu Yuhan , Zhou Min , Liu Long , Dong Yulian , Fu Qun , Wu Minghong , Lei Yong
Published: October 2018

The interlayer spacing of MoS2 is largely expanded to fully exploit the van der Waals gaps for Na-ion storage.
Polydopamine nanoparticles kill cancer cells
Authors: Nieto Celia , Vega Milena A. , Marcelo Gema , Martín del Valle Eva M.
Published: October 2018

Polydopamine (PD) is a synthetic melanin analogue of growing importance in the field of biomedicine, especially with respect to cancer research, due, in part, to its biocompatibility.
Magnetic ordering in a vanadium-organic coordination polymer using a pyrrolo[2,3-d:5,4-d′]bis(thiazole)-based ligand
Authors: Getmanenko Yulia A. , Mullins Christopher S. , Nesterov Vladimir N. , Lake Stephanie , Risko Chad , Johnston-Halperin Ezekiel
Published: October 2018

Here we present the synthesis and characterization of a hybrid vanadium-organic coordination polymer with robust magnetic order, a Curie temperatureTCof ∼110 K, a coercive field of ∼5 Oe at 5 K.
Production of cellulase byTrichoderma reeseifrom pretreated straw and furfural residues
Authors: Zhao Chun Hai , Liu Xiaoyan , Zhan Tong , He Jianlong
Published: October 2018

In this study, furfural residues were used as a substrate for cellulase production by the fungiTrichoderma reesei.
Electrochemical hydrodechlorination of perchloroethylene in groundwater on a Ni-doped graphene composite cathode driven by a microbial fuel cell
Authors: Liu Lu , Sun Xiaochen , Li Wenxin , An Yonglei , Li Hongdong
Published: October 2018

Ni-doped graphene was prepared to electrochemically dechlorinate PCE driven by a microbial fuel cell. Dechlorination efficiency and reduction potential were significantly higher than for bare Ni or graphene.
Solid-state reduction of silica nanoparticles via oxygen abstraction from SiO4 units by polyolefins under mechanical stressing
Authors: Senna Mamoru , Noda Hirotaka , Xin Yunzi , Hasegawa Hiroki , Takai Chika , Shirai Takashi , Fuji Masayoshi
Published: October 2018

Metal oxides with an oxidation number lower than the highest often exhibit attractive functional properties.
PtRu/C catalyst slurry preparation for large-scale decal transfer with high performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Authors: Choi Mihwa , Kim Jong Kwan , Kim Jungsuk , Yang Seugran , Park Ji-Eun , Kim Ok-Hee , Cho Yong-Hun
Published: October 2018

A large-area membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) has been fabricated using the decal transfer method with a methanol-based PtRu/C catalyst slurry and its excellent performance was realized by using reformed hydrogen gas.
Engineering the interface in mechanically responsive graphene-based films
Authors: Chen Yaqing , Dai Zhaohe , Weng Chuanxin , Wang Guorui , Liu Xuelu , Cong Xin , Tan Pingheng , Liu Luqi , Zhang Zhong
Published: October 2018

Engineering interface and microstructures to improve mechanical performance of graphene-based films via a “mechanical” way.
Nuclear singlet multimers (NUSIMERs) with long-lived singlet states
Authors: Saul Philip , Mamone Salvatore , Glöggler Stefan
Published: October 2018

We are introducing nuclear spin singlet multimers which are molecules that contain several nuclear singlet states that can be populated at the same time.
Machine learning of optical properties of materials – predicting spectra from images and images from spectra
Authors: Stein Helge S. , Guevarra Dan , Newhouse Paul F. , Soedarmadji Edwin , Gregoire John M.
Published: October 2018

Assembling the world's largest materials image and spectroscopy dataset enables training of machine learning models that learn hidden relationships in materials data, providing a key example of the data requirements to capitalize on recent advancements in computer science.
Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of Criegee-amine chemistry in the gas phase and aqueous surface environments
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Francisco Joseph S.
Published: October 2018

Computational results suggest that the reactions ofantisubstituted Criegee intermediates with amine could lead to oligomers, which may play an important role in new particle formation and hydroxyl radical generation in the troposphere.
Influence of metal coordination and light irradiation on hierarchical self-assembly processes
Authors: Kartha Kalathil K. , Allampally Naveen Kumar , Politi Antiope T. , Prabhu Deepak D. , Ouchi Hayato , Albuquerque Rodrigo Q. , Yagai Shiki , Fernández Gustavo
Published: October 2018

We unravel the impact of metal coordination and light irradiation on hierarchical self-assembly processes by combined theoretical and experimental results.
Growth of ZIF-8 on molecularly ordered 2-methylimidazole/single-walled carbon nanotubes to form highly porous, electrically conductive composites
Authors: Ellis James E. , Zeng Zidao , Hwang Sean I. , Li Shaobo , Luo Tian-Yi , Burkert Seth C. , White David L. , Rosi Nathaniel L. , Gassensmith Jeremiah J. , Star Alexander
Published: October 2018

ZIF-8 crystals grow from SWCNT sidewalls to form a microporous, electrically conductive composite.