bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The complex genetic landscape of familial MDS and AML reveals pathogenic germline variants
Authors: Rio-Machin Ana , Vulliamy Tom , Hug Nele , Walne Amanda , Tawana Kiran , Cardoso Shirleny , Ellison Alicia , Pontikos Nikolas , Wang Jun , Tummala Hemanth , Al Seraihi Ahad Fahad H. , Alnajar Jenna , Bewicke-Copley Findlay , Armes Hannah , Barnett Michael , Bloor Adrian , Bödör Csaba , Bowen David , Fenaux Pierre , Green Andrew , Hallahan Andrew , Hjorth-Hansen Henrik , Hossain Upal , Killick Sally , Lawson Sarah , Layton Mark , Male Alison M. , Marsh Judith , Mehta Priyanka , Mous Rogier , Nomdedéu Josep F. , Owen Carolyn , Pavlu Jiri , Payne Elspeth M. , Protheroe Rachel E. , Preudhomme Claude , Pujol-Moix Nuria , Renneville Aline , Russell Nigel , Saggar Anand , Sciuccati Gabriela , Taussig David , Toze Cynthia L. , Uyttebroeck Anne , Vandenberghe Peter , Schlegelberger Brigitte , Ripperger Tim , Steinemann Doris , Wu John , Mason Joanne , Page Paula , Akiki Susanna , Reay Kim , Cavenagh Jamie D. , Plagnol Vincent , Caceres Javier F. , Fitzgibbon Jude , Dokal Inderjeet
Published: February 2020

The inclusion of familial myeloid malignancies as a separate disease entity in the revised WHO classification has renewed efforts to improve the recognition and management of this group of at risk individuals. Here we report a cohort of 86 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) families with 49 harboring germline variants in 16 previously defined loci (57%). Whole exome sequencing in a further 37 uncharacterized families (43%) allowed us to rationalize 65 new candidate loci, including genes mutated in rare hematological syndromes (ADA,GP6, IL17RA, PRF1andSEC23B), reported in prior MDS/AML or inherited bone marrow failure series (DNAH9,NAPRT1and SH2B3) or variants at novel loci (DHX34) that appear specific to inherited forms of myeloid malignancies. Altogether, our series of MDS/AML families offer novel insights into the etiology of myeloid malignancies and provide a framework to prioritize variants for inclusion into routine diagnostics and patient management.
Enhancing the current density of a piezoelectric nanogenerator using a three-dimensional intercalation electrode
Authors: Gu Long , Liu Jinmei , Cui Nuanyang , Xu Qi , Du Tao , Zhang Lu , Wang Zheng , Long Changbai , Qin Yong
Published: February 2020

The low output current density of piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) severely restricts their application for ambient mechanical energy harvest. This has been a key challenge in the development of PENG. Here, to conquer this, based on a piezoelectric material with high piezoelectric coefficient (Sm-PMN-PT), a new design of PENG with a three-dimensional intercalation electrode (IENG) is proposed. By creating many boundary interfaces inside the piezoelectric material, the total amount of surface polarization charges increased, which contributes to an increased current density. The IENG can output a maximum peak short-circuit current of 320 μA, and the corresponding current density 290 μA cm−2 is 1.93 and 1.61 times the record values of PENG and triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), respectively. It can also charge a 1 μF capacitor from 0 V to 8 V in 21 cycles, and the equivalent surface charge density 1690 μC m−2 is 1.35 times the record value of TENG.
A potassium chloride to glycine betaine osmoprotectant switch in the extreme halophile Halorhodospira halophila
Authors: Deole Ratnakar , Hoff Wouter D.
Published: February 2020

Halophiles utilize two distinct osmoprotection strategies. The accumulation of organic compatible solutes such as glycine betaine does not perturb the functioning of cytoplasmic components, but represents a large investment of energy and carbon. KCl is an energetically attractive alternative osmoprotectant, but requires genome-wide modifications to establish a highly acidic proteome. Most extreme halophiles are optimized for the use of one of these two strategies. Here we examine the extremely halophilic Proteobacterium Halorhodospira halophila and report that medium K+ concentration dramatically alters its osmoprotectant use. When grown in hypersaline media containing substantial K+ concentrations, H. halophila accumulates molar concentrations of KCl. However, at limiting K+ concentrations the organism switches to glycine betaine as its major osmoprotectant. In contrast, the closely related organism Halorhodospira halochloris is limited to using compatible solutes. H. halophila performs both de novo synthesis and uptake of glycine betaine, matching the biosynthesis and transport systems encoded in its genome. The medium K+ concentration (~10 mM) at which the KCl to glycine betaine osmoprotectant switch in H. halophila occurs is near the K+ content of the lake from which it was isolated, supporting an ecological relevance of this osmoprotectant strategy.
Multiple time-scale beats in aurora: precise orchestration via magnetospheric chorus waves
Authors: Hosokawa K. , Miyoshi Y. , Ozaki M. , Oyama S.-I. , Ogawa Y. , Kurita S. , Kasahara Y. , Kasaba Y. , Yagitani S. , Matsuda S. , Tsuchiya F. , Kumamoto A. , Kataoka R. , Shiokawa K. , Raita T. , Turunen E. , Takashima T. , Shinohara I. , Fujii R.
Published: February 2020

The brightness of aurorae in Earth’s polar region often beats with periods ranging from sub-second to a few tens of a second. Past observations showed that the beat of the aurora is composed of a superposition of two independent periodicities that co-exist hierarchically. However, the origin of such multiple time-scale beats in aurora remains poorly understood due to a lack of measurements with sufficiently high temporal resolution. By coordinating experiments using ultrafast auroral imagers deployed in the Arctic with the newly-launched magnetospheric satellite Arase, we succeeded in identifying an excellent agreement between the beats in aurorae and intensity modulations of natural electromagnetic waves in space called “chorus”. In particular, sub-second scintillations of aurorae are precisely controlled by fine-scale chirping rhythms in chorus. The observation of this striking correlation demonstrates that resonant interaction between energetic electrons and chorus waves in magnetospheres orchestrates the complex behavior of aurora on Earth and other magnetized planets.
Publisher Correction: A large intragenic deletion in the CLCN1 gene causes Hereditary Myotonia in pigs
Authors: Araújo C. E. T. , Oliveira C. M. C. , Barbosa J. D. , Oliveira-Filho J. P. , Resende L. A. L. , Badial P. R. , Araujo-Junior J. P. , Mccue M. E. , Borges A. S.
Published: February 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Antigenic cross-reactivity between Schistosoma mansoni and allergenic invertebrates putatively due to shared glycanic epitopes
Authors: El-Faham Marwa H. , Gai Fatou , Igetei Joseph E. , Richter Sarah , Falcone Franco H. , Schramm Gabi , Doenhoff Michael J.
Published: February 2020

Previous studies have shown that rabbit IgG antibodies againstSchistosoma mansoniegg antigens (SmSEA) cross-react with allergens in natural rubber latex, peanuts and grass and tree pollens. Here we describe antigenic molecules that cross-react with rabbit anti-S.mansoniIgG antibodies in extracts of the house dust mite (HDM)Dermatophagoides farinae, the Australian cockroach (ACR)Periplaneta australasiaeand in the venom of the honey beeApis mellifera(HBV). Tandem mass spectrometry identified the cross-reactive allergens as Der f 15 in HDM, two homologues of thePeriplaneta americanacockroach allergen Cr-PI/Per a 3 in ACR and two isoforms of the allergen Api m 1 (phospholipase A2: PLA2) in HBV. Cross-reactive rabbit anti-SmSEA IgG antibodies eluted from the three invertebrate allergens reacted withS.mansoniegg antigens and variably with schistosome cercarial and worm antigens. Treatment of the electroblotted allergens with sodium metaperiodate abrogated most of the cross-reactivity of the rabbit anti-SmSEA antibodies, suggesting it was due to cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs). Furthermore, analyses of the allergens’ amino acid sequences indicated that they had potential for both N- and O-linked glycosylation. A potential role for the CCDs shared by the schistosome and invertebrates in inducing an allergy-protective effect, as proposed by the hygiene hypothesis, is discussed.
A retrospective, Italian multicenter study of complex abdominal wall defect repair with a Permacol biological mesh
Authors: Russello Domenico , Sofia Maria , Conti Piero , Latteri Saverio , Pesce Antonino , Scaravilli Francesco , Vasta Fabio , Trombatore Giovanni , Randazzo Valentina , Schembari Elena , Barchitta Martina , Agodi Antonella , La Greca Gaetano
Published: February 2020

Complex abdominal wall defects (CAWDs) can be difficult to repair and using a conventional synthetic mesh is often unsuitable. A biological mesh might offer a solution for CAWD repair, but the clinical outcomes are unclear. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of a cross-linked, acellular porcine dermal collagen matrix implant (Permacol) for CAWD repair in a cohort of 60 patients. Here, 58.3% patients presented with a grade 3 hernia (according to the Ventral Hernia Working Group grading system) and a contaminated surgical field. Permacol was implanted as a bridge in 46.7%, as an underlay (intraperitoneal position) in 38.3% and as a sublay (retromuscolar position) in 15% of patients. Fascia closure was achieved in 53.3% of patients. The surgical site occurrence rate was 35% and the defect size significantly influenced the probability of post-operative complications. The long-term (2 year) hernia recurrence rate was 36.2%. This study represents the first large multi-centre Italian case series on Permacol implants in patients with a CAWD. Our data suggest that Permacol is a feasible strategy to repair a CAWD, with acceptable early complications and long-term (2 year) recurrence rates.
Gender-specific changes in energy metabolism and protein degradation as major pathways affected in livers of mice treated with ibuprofen
Authors: Tiwari Shuchita , Mishra Manish , Salemi Michelle R. , Phinney Brett S. , Newens Joanne L. , Gomes Aldrin V.
Published: February 2020

Ibuprofen, an inhibitor of prostanoid biosynthesis, is a common pharmacological agent used for the management of pain, inflammation and fever. However, the chronic use of ibuprofen at high doses is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal and liver injuries. The underlying mechanisms of ibuprofen-mediated effects on liver remain unclear. To determine the mechanisms and signaling pathways affected by ibuprofen (100 mg/kg/day for seven days), we performed proteomic profiling of male mice liver with quantitative liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using ten-plex tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling. More than 300 proteins were significantly altered between the control and ibuprofen-treated groups. The data suggests that several major pathways including (1) energy metabolism, (2) protein degradation, (3) fatty acid metabolism and (4) antioxidant system are altered in livers from ibuprofen treated mice. Independent validation of protein changes in energy metabolism and the antioxidant system was carried out by Western blotting and showed sex-related differences. Proteasome and immunoproteasome activity/expression assays showed ibuprofen induced gender-specific proteasome and immunoproteasome dysfunction in liver. The study observed multifactorial gender-specific ibuprofen-mediated effects on mice liver and suggests that males and females are affected differently by ibuprofen.
A new strategy for directly calculating the minimum eigenvector of matrices without diagonalization
Authors: Pan Wei , Wang Jing , Sun Deyan
Published: February 2020

The diagonalization of matrices may be the top priority in the application of modern physics. In this paper, we numerically demonstrate that, for real symmetric random matrices with non-positive off-diagonal elements, a universal scaling relationship between the eigenvector and matrix elements exists. Namely, each element of the eigenvector of ground states linearly correlates with the sum of matrix elements in the corresponding row. Although the conclusion is obtained based on random matrices, the linear relationship still keeps for non-random matrices, in which off-diagonal elements are non-positive. The relationship implies a straightforward method to directly calculate the eigenvector of ground states for one kind of matrices. The tests on both Hubbard and Ising models show that, this new method works excellently.
Amphibian responses in the aftermath of extreme climate events
Authors: Bucciarelli Gary M. , Clark Morgan A. , Delaney Katy S. , Riley Seth P. D. , Shaffer H. Bradley , Fisher Robert N. , Honeycutt Rodney L. , Kats Lee B.
Published: February 2020

Climate change-induced extinctions are estimated to eliminate one in six known species by the end of the century. One major factor that will contribute to these extinctions is extreme climatic events. Here, we show the ecological impacts of recent record warm air temperatures and simultaneous peak drought conditions in California. From 2008–2016, the southern populations of a wide-ranging endemic amphibian (the California newt, Taricha torosa) showed a 20% reduction to mean body condition and significant losses to variation in body condition linked with extreme climate deviations. However, body condition in northern populations remained relatively unaffected during this period. Range-wide population estimates of change to body condition under future climate change scenarios within the next 50 years suggest that northern populations will mirror the loss of body condition recently observed in southern populations. This change is predicated on latter 21st century climate deviations that resemble recent conditions in Southern California. Thus, the ecological consequences of climate change have already occurred across the warmer, drier regions of Southern California, and our results suggest that predicted climate vulnerable regions in the more mesic northern range likely will not provide climate refuge for numerous amphibian communities.
Disease asymmetry and hyperautofluorescent ring shape in retinitis pigmentosa patients
Authors: Jauregui Ruben , Chan Lawrence , Oh Jin Kyun , Cho Ahra , Sparrow Janet R. , Tsang Stephen H.
Published: February 2020

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is described as a bilateral disease with inter-eye symmetry that presents on short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence (SW-AF) imaging with hyperautofluorescent (hyperAF) rings with an ellipsoid shape and regular borders. Nevertheless, both asymmetry and irregular ring morphologies are also observed. In this retrospective study of 168 RP patients, we characterize the degree of inter-eye asymmetry and frequency of irregular hyperAF ring morphologies according to mode of inheritance and disease-causing gene by using SW-AF imaging and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans. We observed that from 336 eyes, 290 (86%) presented with regular hyperAF rings and 46 (14%) presented with irregular shapes. From the 168 patients, 23 (14%) presented with asymmetric disease, with 16 (70%) of these patients also presenting with irregular ring shapes. Patients with autosomal dominant RP (adRP) had the highest proportion of irregular ring shapes (21%) and disease asymmetry (23%) in comparison to other modes of inheritance. Furthermore, both RP1 and RHO-adRP had the highest proportions of both disease asymmetry and irregular ring morphology. Our results suggest that in patients presenting with either irregular ring shapes or asymmetric disease, emphasis should be placed in targeted gene sequencing of genes known to cause adRP, such as RHO and RP1.
Reynoutria sachalinensis extract elicits SA-dependent defense responses in courgette genotypes against powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera xanthii
Authors: Margaritopoulou Theoni , Toufexi Eleftheria , Kizis Dimosthenis , Balayiannis George , Anagnostopoulos Christos , Theocharis Andreas , Rempelos Leonidas , Troyanos Yerasimos , Leifert Carlo , Markellou Emilia
Published: February 2020

Powdery mildew (PM) caused by Podosphaera xanthii is one of the most important courgette diseases with high yield losses and is currently controlled by fungicides and sulphur applications in conventional and organic production. Plant derived elicitors/inducers of resistance are natural compounds that induce resistance to pathogen attack and promote a faster and/or more robust activation of plant defense responses. Giant knotweed (Reynoutria sachalinensis, RS) extract is a known elicitor of plant defenses but its mode of action remains elusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of foliar RS applications and how these affect PM severity and crop performance when used alone or in combination with genetic resistance. RS foliar treatments significantly reduced conidial germination and PM severity on both an intermediate resistance (IR) and a susceptible (S) genotype. RS application triggered plant defense responses, which induced the formation of callose papillae, hydrogen peroxide accumulation and the Salicylic acid (SA) - dependent pathway. Increased SA production was detected along with increased p-coumaric and caffeic acid concentrations. These findings clearly indicate that RS elicits plant defenses notably as a consequence of SA pathway induction.
Oncologist-led BRCA ‘mainstreaming’ in the ovarian cancer clinic: A study of 255 patients and its impact on their management
Authors: Rumford Megan , Lythgoe Mark , McNeish Iain , Gabra Hani , Tookman Laura , Rahman Nazneen , George Angela , Krell Jonathan
Published: February 2020

Although guidelines recommend BRCA testing for all women with non-mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer, there is significant variability in access to testing across the UK. A germline BRCA mutation (BRCAm) in ovarian cancer patients provides prognostic and predictive information and influences clinical management, such as the use of PARP inhibitors, which have demonstrated a progression-free survival benefit in the BRCAm cohort. Additionally, the finding of a BRCAm has significant implications for patients and their families in terms of cancer risk and prevention. We studied the impact of a newly-formed, oncologist-led ‘mainstreaming’ germline BRCA testing pathway in 255 ovarian cancer patients at Imperial College NHS Trust. Prior to the establishment of ‘mainstreaming’, uptake of germline BRCA testing was 14% with a mean turnaround time of 148.2 calendar days. The ‘mainstreaming’ approach led to a 95% uptake of germline BRCA testing and a mean turnaround time of 20.6 days. Thirty-four (13.33%) BRCAm patients were identified. At the time of data collection nine BRCAm patients had received a PARP inhibitor off-trial, three had entered a PARP inhibitor trial and 5 were receiving platinum-based chemotherapy with a plan to receive PARP inhibitor maintenance. This study provides further evidence of the impact of oncologist-led ‘mainstreaming’ programs.
Cohesive-strength homogenisation model of porous and non-porous materials using linear comparison composites and application
Authors: Lee Hyuk , Vimonsatit Vanissorn , Huen Wai Yeong , Mendis Priyan , Baduge Kasun Shanaka Kristombu
Published: February 2020

An estimation of the strength of composite materials with different strength behaviours of the matrix and inclusion is of great interest in science and engineering disciplines. Linear comparison composite (LCC) is an approach introduced for estimating the macroscopic strength of matrix-inclusion composites. The LCC approach has however not been expanded to model non-porous composites. Therefore, this paper is to fill this gap by developing a cohesive-strength method for modelling frictional composite materials, which can be porous and non-porous, using the LCC approach. The developed cohesive-strength homogenisation model represents the matrix and inclusion as a two-phase composite containing solids and pores. The model is then implemented in a multiscaling model in which porous cohesive-frictional solids intermix with each other at different scale levels classified as micro, meso and macro. The developed model satisfies an upscaling scheme and is suitable for investigating the effects of the microstructure, the composition, and the interface condition of the materials at micro scales on the macroscopic strength of the composites. To further demonstrate the application of the developed cohesive-strength homogenisation model, the cohesive-strength properties of very high strength concrete are determined using instrumented indentation, nonlinear limit analysis and second-order cone programming to obtain material properties at different scale levels.
Evaluation of pulse crops’ functional diversity supporting food production
Authors: Guiguitant Julie , Vile Denis , Ghanem Michel Edmond , Wery Jacques , Marrou Hélène
Published: February 2020

Pulses, defined as legumes which produce dry seed used for human consumption, are plants of great agronomic value, at the food system level as much as the field level but their diversity has been largely underused. This study aimed at analyzing existing data on cultivated pulse species in the literature to provide a broad and structured description of pulses’ interspecific functional diversity. We used a functional trait-based approach to evaluate how pulse diversity could support food production in agroecosystems constrained by low water and nutrient availability and exposed to high weed pressure. We gathered data for 17 functional traits and six agroecosystem properties for 43 pulse species. Our analytical framework highlights the correlations and combinations of functional traits that best predict values of six agroecosystem properties defined as ecosystem services estimates. We show that pulse diversity has been structured both by breeding and by an environmental gradient. The covariance space corresponding to agroecosystem properties was structured by three properties: producers, competitors, stress-tolerant species. The distribution of crop species in this functional space reflected ecological adaptive strategies described in wild species, where the size-related axis of variation is separated from variation of leaf morpho-physiological traits. Six agroecosystem properties were predicted by different combinations of traits. However, we identified ubiquitous plant traits such as leaflet length, days to maturity, seed weight, and leaf nitrogen content, that discriminated agroecosystem properties and allowed us to gather individual species into three clusters, representative of the three strategies highlighted earlier. Implications for pulses provisioning of services in agroecosystems are discussed.
Increased mitochondrial and lipid metabolism is a conserved effect of Insulin/PI3K pathway downregulation in adipose tissue
Authors: Bettedi Lucia , Yan Anqi , Schuster Eugene , Alic Nazif , Foukas Lazaros C.
Published: February 2020

The Insulin/IGF-1 signalling (IIS) pathway plays an essential role in the regulation of glucose and lipid homeostasis. At the same time, a reduction in the IIS pathway activity can extend lifespan and healthspan in various model organisms. Amongst a number of body organs that sense and respond to insulin/IGF-1, the adipose tissue has a central role in both the metabolic and lifespan effects of IIS at the organismal level. Genetic inactivation of IIS components specifically in the adipose tissue has been shown before to improve metabolic profile and extend lifespan in various model organisms. We sought to identify conserved molecular mechanisms that may underlie the beneficial effects of IIS inhibition in the adipose tissue, specifically at the level of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), a key IIS effector molecule. To this end, we inactivated PI3K by genetic means in the fly fat body and by pharmacological inhibition in mammalian adipocytes. Gene expression studies revealed changes to metabolism and upregulation of mitochondrial activity in mouse adipocytes and fly fat bodies with downregulated PI3K, which were confirmed by biochemical assays in mammalian adipocytes. These data suggest that PI3K inactivation has a conserved effect of upregulating mitochondrial metabolism in both fly and mammalian adipose tissue, which likely contributes to the health- and life-span extending effect of IIS pathway downregulation.
Force-time curve features of handgrip strength in fibromyalgia syndrome
Authors: Salaffi Fausto , Farah Sonia , Di Carlo Marco
Published: February 2020

The aim of this study was to compare the handgrip strength (HGs), assessed with a cylindrical-shape grip device, of fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) patients with healthy subjects and to demonstrate the relationship between HGs characteristics and disease severity. Consecutive female patients with FM were enrolled and compared to a group of healthy women. The correlations between HGs curve characteristics and disease severity indices were studied through the Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients (rho). The HGs threshold distinguishing the FM presence was determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis. Multivariate regression analysis was used in order to assess the contribution of covariates on the HGs. 110 patients (mean age 53.8 ± 12.4 years) and 111 healthy controls have been enrolled. Altogether all parameters related to the analysis of HGs were worse in patients with FM. The HGs cut-off distinguishing the presence of a FM was 14.2 Kg. A negative correlation was found between disease severity indices and peak force (p < 0.001). Factors significantly associated with HGs area under the curve (AUC) in multivariate analysis were the Widespread Pain Index (WPI) (p = 0.003) and the revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) (p = 0.016). HGs is reduced in female FM patients and is inversely related to disease severity. The force-time curves analysis may be used as a complementary tool in the FM assessment and monitoring.
Reorganisation of Brain Hubs across Altered States of Consciousness
Authors: Vatansever D. , Schröter M. , Adapa R. M. , Bullmore E. T. , Menon D. K. , Stamatakis E. A.
Published: February 2020

Patterns of functional interactions across distributed brain regions are suggested to provide a scaffold for the conscious processing of information, with marked topological alterations observed in loss of consciousness. However, establishing a firm link between macro-scale brain network organisation and conscious cognition requires direct investigations into neuropsychologically-relevant architectural modifications across systematic reductions in consciousness. Here we assessed both global and regional disturbances to brain graphs in a group of healthy participants across baseline resting state fMRI as well as two distinct levels of propofol-induced sedation. We found a persistent modular architecture, yet significant reorganisation of brain hubs that formed parts of a wider rich-club collective. Furthermore, the reduction in the strength of rich-club connectivity was significantly associated with the participants’ performance in a semantic judgment task, indicating the importance of this higher-order topological feature for conscious cognition. These results highlight a remarkable interplay between global and regional properties of brain functional interactions in supporting conscious cognition that is relevant to our understanding of clinical disorders of consciousness.
Simulation of an electrically actuated cantilever as a novel biosensor
Authors: SoltanRezaee Masoud , Bodaghi Mahdi
Published: February 2020

Recently, detecting biological particles by analyzing their mechanical properties has attracted increasing attention. To detect and identify different bioparticles and estimate their dimensions, a mechanical nanosensor is introduced in this paper. To attract particles, numerous parts of the substrate are coated with different chemicals as probe detectors or receptors. The principal of cell recognition in this sensor is based on applying an electrical excitation and measuring the maximum deflection of the actuated cantilever electrode. Investigating the critical voltage that causes pull-in instability is also important in such highly-sensitive detectors. The governing equation of motion is derived from Hamilton’s principle. A Galerkin approximation is applied to discretize the nonlinear equation, which is solved numerically. Accuracy of the proposed model is validated by comparison studies with available experimental and theoretical data. The coupled effects of geometrical and mechanical properties are included in this model and studied in detail. Moreover, system identification is carried out to distinguish bioparticles by a stability analysis. Due to the absence of a similar concept and device, this research is expected to advance the state-of-the-art biosystems in identifying particles.
Prostate Cancer Nodal Staging: Using Deep Learning to Predict 68Ga-PSMA-Positivity from CT Imaging Alone
Authors: Hartenstein A. , Lübbe F. , Baur A. D. J. , Rudolph M. M. , Furth C. , Brenner W. , Amthauer H. , Hamm B. , Makowski M. , Penzkofer T.
Published: February 2020

Lymphatic spread determines treatment decisions in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT can be performed, although cost remains high and availability is limited. Therefore, computed tomography (CT) continues to be the most used modality for PCa staging. We assessed if convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can be trained to determine 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT-lymph node status from CT alone. In 549 patients with 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT imaging, 2616 lymph nodes were segmented. Using PET as a reference standard, three CNNs were trained. Training sets balanced for infiltration status, lymph node location and additionally, masked images, were used for training. CNNs were evaluated using a separate test set and performance was compared to radiologists’ assessments and random forest classifiers. Heatmaps maps were used to identify the performance determining image regions. The CNNs performed with an Area-Under-the-Curve of 0.95 (status balanced) and 0.86 (location balanced, masked), compared to an AUC of 0.81 of experienced radiologists. Interestingly, CNNs used anatomical surroundings to increase their performance, “learning” the infiltration probabilities of anatomical locations. In conclusion, CNNs have the potential to build a well performing CT-based biomarker for lymph node metastases in PCa, with different types of class balancing strongly affecting CNN performance.
Importance of suspended particulate organic matter in the diet of Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Santana Cesar Augusto da Silva , Wieczorek Alina M. , Browne Patricia , Graham Conor T. , Power Anne Marie
Published: February 2020

The extent to which commercially important Nephrops norvegicus lobsters feed on particulates in the wild is unknown, even though this could be an important way for burrow-dwelling females to avoid starvation during the long breeding season. This was investigated using δ13C and δ15N isotopic signatures in tissues with long and short turnover rates to provide diet discrimination and compare this between males and females. Secondary objectives examined size-related differences and calculated the trophic position based on the new results. Almost half the diet (47%) was made up of suspended particulate organic matter (POMsusp) alone. Fish was another important item in the diet, with plankton and invertebrate sources coming much lower down in dietary importance. Significantly more suspension feeding was observed in small or medium sized individuals than large ones in both sexes. However, there were no sex-related patterns, despite females being restricted to burrows for part of the analysis period. Female diet was almost identical to males and POMsusp comprised a large component of the diet in both sexes. The trophic position was estimated at 2.94 ± 0.16 (mean ± SD), which was at the lower end of the range reported in previous studies (2.60 to 4.32).
The Differential Impact of a Response’s Effectiveness and its Monetary Value on Response-Selection
Authors: Karsh Noam , Hemed Eitan , Nafcha Orit , Elkayam Shirel Bakbani , Custers Ruud , Eitam Baruch
Published: February 2020

While known reinforcers of behavior are outcomes that are valuable to the organism, recent research has demonstrated that the mere occurrence of an own-response effect can also reinforce responding. In this paper we begin investigating whether these two types of reinforcement occur via the same mechanism. To this end, we modified two different tasks, previously established to capture the influence of a response’s effectiveness on the speed of motor-responses (indexed here by participants’ reaction times). Specifically, in six experiments we manipulated both a response’s ‘pure’ effectiveness and its outcome value (e.g., substantial versus negligible monetary reward) and measured the influence of both on the speed of responding. The findings strongly suggest that post action selection, responding is influenced only by pure effectiveness, as assessed by the motor system; thus, at these stages responding is not sensitive to abstract representations of the value of a response (e.g., monetary value). We discuss the benefit of distinguishing between these two necessary aspects of adaptive behavior namely, fine-tuning of motor-control and striving for desired outcomes. Finally, we embed the findings in the recently proposed Control-based response selection (CBRS) framework and elaborate on its potential for understanding motor-learning processes in developing infants.
Sub-oxycline methane oxidation can fully uptake CH4 produced in sediments: case study of a lake in Siberia
Authors: Thalasso Frédéric , Sepulveda-Jauregui Armando , Gandois Laure , Martinez-Cruz Karla , Gerardo-Nieto Oscar , Astorga-España María S. , Teisserenc Roman , Lavergne Céline , Tananaev Nikita , Barret Maialen , Cabrol Léa
Published: February 2020

It is commonly assumed that methane (CH4) released by lakes into the atmosphere is mainly produced in anoxic sediment and transported by diffusion or ebullition through the water column to the surface of the lake. In contrast to that prevailing idea, it has been gradually established that the epilimnetic CH4 does not originate exclusively from sediments but is also locally produced or laterally transported from the littoral zone. Therefore, CH4 cycling in the epilimnion and the hypolimnion might not be as closely linked as previously thought. We utilized a high-resolution method used to determine dissolved CH4 concentration to analyze a Siberian lake in which epilimnetic and hypolimnetic CH4 cycles were fully segregated by a section of the water column where CH4 was not detected. This layer, with no detected CH4, was well below the oxycline and the photic zone and thus assumed to be anaerobic. However, on the basis of a diffusion-reaction model, molecular biology, and stable isotope analyses, we determined that this layer takes up all the CH4 produced in the sediments and the deepest section of the hypolimnion. We concluded that there was no CH4 exchange between the hypolimnion (dominated by methanotrophy and methanogenesis) and the epilimnion (dominated by methane lateral transport and/or oxic production), resulting in a vertically segregated lake internal CH4 cycle.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Melting Iron Nanoparticles with/without Defects Using a Reaxff Reactive Force Field
Authors: Sun Junlei , Liu Pingan , Wang Mengjun , Liu Junpeng
Published: February 2020

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study thermal properties of bulk iron material and Fe nanoparticles (FNP) by using a ReaxFF reactive force field. Thermodynamic and energy properties such as radial distribution function, Lindemann index and potential energy plots are adopted to study the melting behaviors of FNPs from 300 K to 2500 K. A step-heating method is introduced to obtain equilibrium melting points. Our results show ReaxFF force field is able to detect size effect in FNP melting no matter in energy or structure evolution aspect. Extra storage energy of FNPs caused by defects (0%-10%) is firstly studied in this paper: defects will not affect the melting point of FNPs directly but increase the system energy especially when temperature reaches the melting points.
Corneal confocal microscopy detects small nerve fibre damage in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy
Authors: Kalteniece Alise , Ferdousi Maryam , Azmi Shazli , Mubita Womba M. , Marshall Andrew , Lauria Giuseppe , Faber Catharina G. , Soran Handrean , Malik Rayaz A.
Published: February 2020

Neuropathic pain is believed to arise from damage to nociceptive C fibres in diabetic neuropathy (DN). We have utilised corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) to quantify the severity of small nerve fibre damage in relation to the severity of neuropathic pain and quality of life (QoL) in patients with and without painful DN. 30 controls and patients with painful (n = 78) and painless (n = 62) DN underwent assessment of large and small nerve fibre function, CCM, neuropathic symptoms (small fibre neuropathy symptom inventory questionnaire, neuropathic pain scale) and QoL (SF-36, pre-R-ODS and hospital anxiety and depression scale). Patients with painful compared to painless DN, had comparable neurophysiology and vibration perception, but lower corneal nerve fibre density (20.1 ± 0.87 vs. 24.13 ± 0.91, P = 0.005), branch density (44.4 ± 3.31 vs. 57.74 ± 3.98, P = 0.03), length (19.61 ± 0.81 vs. 22.77 ± 0.83, P = 0.01), inferior whorl length (18.03 ± 1.46 vs. 25.1 ± 1.95, P = 0.005) and cold sensation threshold (21.35 ± 0.99 vs. 26.08 ± 0.5, P < 0.0001) and higher warm sensation threshold (43.7 ± 0.49 vs. 41.37 ± 0.51, P = 0.004) indicative of small fibre damage. There was a significant association between all CCM parameters and the severity of painful neuropathic symptoms, depression score and QoL. CCM identifies small nerve fibre loss, which correlates with the severity of neuropathic symptoms and reduced QoL in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy.
Cube natural sea salt ameliorates obesity in high fat diet-induced obese mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes
Authors: Park Eui-Seong , Yu Ting , Yang Kiho , Choi Shinil , Lee Seung-Min , Park Kun-Young
Published: February 2020

Sodium is an essential component of the human body, with known influences on obesity. This paper reports the effect of cube natural sea salt (CNS) on the reduction of obesity in high fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes, by ameliorating the obesity parameters and obesity-related gene mechanisms. The suppression of high fat diet-induced obesity and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes by sea salt depends on the manufacturing process and mineral content. The manufacturing method using only new sea water (Cube natural sea salt) decreases the magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S) content in the salt with different crystallization and morphologies, compared to the general manufacturing method (Generally manufactured sea salt, GS). Mg in salt is known to considerably affect obesity; an appropriate concentration of magnesium chloride (MgCl2) reduces lipid accumulation significantly and regulates the lipogenesis and liver enzyme activity. Our results indicate that sea salt contains an appropriate level of Mg as compared to table salt (purified salt, NaCl), and is important for regulating obesity, as observed in the in vivo and in vitro anti-obesity effects of CNS. The Mg content and mineral ratio of sea salt are important factors that ameliorate the lipid metabolism and liver enzyme activity in high fat diet induced obesity, and contents of Mg in sea salt can be altered by modifying the manufacturing process.
Heat rectification via a superconducting artificial atom
Authors: Senior Jorden , Gubaydullin Azat , Karimi Bayan , Peltonen Joonas T. , Ankerhold Joachim , Pekola Jukka P.
Published: February 2020

In developing technologies based on superconducting quantum circuits, the need to control and route heating is a significant challenge in the experimental realisation and operation of these devices. One of the more ubiquitous devices in the current quantum computing toolbox is the transmon-type superconducting quantum bit, embedded in a resonator-based architecture. In the study of heat transport in superconducting circuits, a versatile and sensitive thermometer is based on studying the tunnelling characteristics of superconducting probes weakly coupled to a normal-metal island. Here we show that by integrating superconducting quantum bit coupled to two superconducting resonators at different frequencies, each resonator terminated (and thermally populated) by such a mesoscopic thin film metal island, one can experimentally observe magnetic flux-tunable photonic heat rectification between 0 and 10%.
Tumor-targeting peptide functionalized PEG-PLA micelles for efficient drug delivery
Authors: Cai Yue , Xu Zhuomin , Shuai Qi , Zhu Fangtao , Xu Jiao , Gao Xin , Sun Xuanrong
Published: February 2020

PEG-PLA micelles are modified with F3 peptides, thus endowing the micelles with active-targeting ability due to the nucleolin-binding ability of the F3 peptides.
Van der Waals induced molecular recognition of canonical DNA nucleobases on a 2D GaS monolayer
Authors: Singh Deobrat , Panda Pritam Kumar , Mishra Yogendra Kumar , Ahuja Rajeev
Published: February 2020

In the present study, we systematically investigated the adsorption mechanism of canonical DNA nucleobases and their two nucleobase pairs on a single-layer gallium disulfide (GaS) substrate using DFT+D3 methods.
Band alignment control in a blue phosphorus/C2N van der Waals heterojunction using an electric field
Authors: Zhang Zhihui , Xie Zifeng , Liu Jian , Tian Ye , Zhang Yan , Wei Xing , Guo Tingting , Ni Lei , Fan Jibin , Weng Yijun , Zha Zhengdi , Duan Li
Published: February 2020

The BlueP/C2N vdW heterojunction exhibits the characteristics of electric field-controllable band alignment, which is favorable for multifunctional devices applications.
The valence and Rydberg states of dienes
Authors: Ning Jiaxin , Truhlar Donald G.
Published: February 2020

MC-PDFT can give the most accurate excitation energies for both valence and Rydberg states of 1,4-cyclohexadiene and 1,3-cyclohexadiene when the active space includes Rydberg orbitals.
Manifesto for the routine use of NMR for the liquid product analysis of aqueous CO2reduction: from comprehensive chemical shift data to formaldehyde quantification in water
Authors: Chatterjee Tamal , Boutin Etienne , Robert Marc
Published: February 2020

In the quest for developing CO2reduction processes, we show the efficiency and applicability of1H NMR as powerful technique for liquid phase products analysis.
Crystal structures, red-shifted luminescence and iodide-anion recognition properties of four novel D–A type Zn(ii) complexes
Authors: Song Jian-Biao , Wang Pengfei , Yan Li , Hao Liang , Khan Maroof Ahmad , Liu Gui-lei , Li Hui
Published: February 2020

Four D–A type Zn(ii) complexes with interesting structures, precisely controllable tuning of the red-shift of their fluorescence emission and iodide recognition properties were obtained by appropriate ligand design.
Pristine S,N-containing Mn-based metal organic framework nanorods enable efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalysis
Authors: Chao Shujun , Xia Qingyun , Wang Yingling , Li Wenge , Chen Wenge
Published: February 2020

Uniform MnII[(Tdc)(4,4′-Bpy)]nnanorods have been synthesized by a hydrothermal method and they show high performance for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline medium.
Synthesis and structural studies of copper(ii) complex with N2S2 based N-substituted pendant phosphonic acid arms
Authors: Taschner Ian S. , Aubuchon Ethan , Schrage Briana R. , Ziegler Christopher J. , van der Est Art
Published: February 2020

Physical properties and copper chelation of phosphonic acid substituted 14-[ane]N2S2 macrocycle for use as a potential radio imaging ligand.
Selective Th(iv) capture from a new metal–organic framework with O− groups
Authors: Guo Xiang-Guang , Su Jia , Xie Wen-Qi , Ni Shuai-Nan , Gao Yun , Su Xiang , Sun Xiao-Qi
Published: February 2020

New MOF adsorbent with functional N+–O− groups was designed. The material shows fast adsorption of Th(iv) and high removal efficiency, and is selective over La(iii), Sm(iii), Ho(iii), Cd(ii), Pb(ii) and K(i) ions.
Temporal trends of suspect- and target-per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), extractable organic fluorine (EOF) and total fluorine (TF) in pooled serum from first-time mothers in Uppsala, Sweden, 1996–2017
Authors: Miaz Luc T. , Plassmann Merle M. , Gyllenhammar Irina , Bignert Anders , Sandblom Oskar , Lignell Sanna , Glynn Anders , Benskin Jonathan P.
Published: February 2020

Temporal trends (1996–2017) of suspect- and target-per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), extractable organic fluorine (EOF) and total fluorine (TF) were determined in first-time mothers from Uppsala, Sweden.
The fate of CdS quantum dots in plants as revealed by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis
Authors: Marmiroli Marta , Lepore Giovanni Orazio , Pagano Luca , d'Acapito Francesco , Gianoncelli Alessandra , Villani Marco , Lazzarini Laura , White Jason C. , Marmiroli Nelson
Published: February 2020

The use of quantum dots (QDs) is widespread and as such, the potential risk associated with their dispersion in the environment has stimulated research on their interaction with potential sensitive receptors.
Bioactive proteins in bovine colostrum and effects of heating, drying and irradiation
Authors: Chatterton Dereck E. W. , Aagaard Sasha , Hesselballe Hansen Tim , Nguyen Duc Ninh , De Gobba Cristian , Lametsch René , Sangild Per T.
Published: February 2020

Bioactive proteins in bovine colostrum are affected by the type of pasteurization and spray drying and if gamma irradiation is used to improve microbial safety during packaging. Selection of the correct conditions preserves these important proteins.
Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of maleic acid with stoichiometric amounts of formic acid in aqueous phase: paving the way for more sustainable succinic acid production
Authors: López Granados M. , Moreno J. , Alba-Rubio A. C. , Iglesias J. , Martín Alonso D. , Mariscal R.
Published: February 2020

The aqueous phase hydrogenation of maleic acid to succinic acid (SAc) is proved using an efficient and robust Pd/C catalysts and stoichiometric formic acid as source of H2. SAc can be separated from the reaction medium by precipitation.
A hysteresis-free perovskite transistor with exceptional stability through molecular cross-linking and amine-based surface passivation
Authors: Kim Hyeong Pil , Vasilopoulou Maria , Ullah Habib , Bibi Salma , Ximim Gavim Anderson Emanuel , Macedo Andreia Gerniski , da Silva Wilson Jose , Schneider Fabio Kurt , Tahir Asif Ali , Mat Teridi Mohd Asri , Gao Peng , Yusoff Abd. Rashid bin Mohd , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Khaja
Published: February 2020

A molecular cross-linking approach of the perovskite grains combined with amine-based surface passivation leads to hysteresis-free perovskite transistors.
Intracellular delivery of a peptide nucleic acid-based hybrid of an autophagy inducing peptide with a cell-penetrating peptide
Authors: Hakata Yoshiyuki , Ishikawa Suzuka , Ohtsuki Takashi , Miyazawa Masaaki , Kitamatsu Mizuki
Published: February 2020

The conjugate of autophagy-inducing peptide with cell-penetrating peptide formed by hybridization between peptide nucleic acids was delivered into cell and induced effective autophagy.
Micro-block versus random quaternized poly(arylene ether sulfones) with highly dense quaternization units for anion exchange membranes
Authors: Li Su , Zhang Haibo , Wang Kaiqi , Yang Fan , Han Yuntao , Sun Yirong , Pang Jinhui , Jiang Zhenhua
Published: February 2020

A systematic study was carried out to investigate the effect of different distributions of conducting groups in segments for poly(arylene ether sulfone)s.
A simple and rapid colorimetric detection of serum lncRNA biomarkers for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Lou Ut Kei , Wong Chi Hin , Chen Yangchao
Published: February 2020

A colorimetric LAMP-(+)AuNP assay was proposed for detection of pancreatic cancer.