bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seismogenic Necking During Slab Detachment: Evidence From Relocation of Intermediate‐Depth Seismicity in the Alboran Slab
Authors: Sun Meng , Bezada Maximiliano
Published: December 2019

With few exceptions, intermediate‐depth seismicity is associated with active subduction. In the Alboran slab, which is located just east of the Gibraltar Strait in the westernmost Mediterranean, although evidence suggests subduction is no longer active, tens to hundreds of M < 5.0 earthquakes are observed every year at depths of ~80 km. In this paper, we relocated 58 such events recorded by the PICASSO temporary network using a 3‐D velocity model and implementing a grid‐search approach to minimize the normalized misfit between observed and predicted P and S wave arrival times. Meanwhile, we relocated 908 events recorded by the Spanish national network using the double‐difference method and gave a high‐precision picture of seismicity distribution within the slab. Relocation results reveal five clusters in this region separated by small gaps. Jointly considering relocation results and a 3‐D tomography model indicates one cluster is at a shallower depth above the northern, E‐W oriented arm of the Alboran slab, while the other four are aligned from north to south, parallel to the strike of the slab and near its core. Larger events are generally shallower and more scattered, while the deeper, more clustered events tend to have smaller magnitudes. Clusters further to the north show concentrated seismicity on narrow zones that dip ~45° to the south. We suggest this seismicity is associated with active necking and break‐off of the Alboran slab, which is progressing from north to south. Shear instability is likely to be the failure‐enabling mechanism for the occurrence of these earthquakes.
Multiproxy Reduced‐Dimension Reconstruction of Pliocene Equatorial Pacific Sea Surface Temperatures
Authors: Wycech J. B. , Gill E. , Rajagopalan B. , Marchitto T. M. , Molnar P. H.
Published: December 2019

A controversial aspect of the Pliocene climate system is a posited permanent sea surface temperature (SST) distribution resembling that during El Niño events, which is largely inferred from sea surface temperatures reconstructed from several sites in the equatorial Pacific. We utilize a reduced‐dimension methodology on a compilation of previously published multiproxy (Mg/Ca, Uk′37, TEX86, and foraminifer assemblages) Pliocene SST records from the equatorial Pacific to reconstruct spatial and temporal snapshots of SST anomalies and a time series of Niño indices from 5 to 1 Ma. The use of multiple proxies increases the number of study sites and thereby improves the robustness of the reconstruction. We find that the early Pliocene equatorial Pacific was characterized by a reduced zonal SST difference due to minimal change in the west and extreme warmth in the east which peaked at 4.3 Ma. The intensity of this mean El Niño‐like SST state then gradually diminished toward modern conditions. We also use the Pliocene Niño 4 time series to estimate the past strength of Indian Summer Monsoon given the modern correlation of it to the Niño 4 index. Results indicate the monsoon was weaker throughout the study interval with weakest conditions (~37% less rainfall than modern) occurring at 4.3 Ma, congruent with regional proxy records. In summation, this reduced‐dimension approach spatially and temporally resolves the warm mean state of the Pliocene equatorial Pacific and has numerous applications to inferences of paleoclimate conditions in distal regions teleconnected to El Niño today.
Surrogate‐Based Bayesian Inverse Modeling of the Hydrological System: An Adaptive Approach Considering Surrogate Approximation Error
Authors: Zhang Jiangjiang , Zheng Qiang , Chen Dingjiang , Wu Laosheng , Zeng Lingzao
Published: December 2019

Bayesian inverse modeling is important for a better understanding of hydrological processes. However, this approach can be computationally demanding, as it usually requires a large number of model evaluations. To address this issue, one can take advantage of surrogate modeling techniques. Nevertheless, when approximation error of the surrogate model is neglected, the inversion result will be biased. In this paper, we develop a surrogate‐based Bayesian inversion framework that explicitly quantifies and gradually reduces the approximation error of the surrogate. Specifically, two strategies are proposed to quantify the surrogate error. The first strategy works by quantifying the surrogate prediction uncertainty with a Bayesian method, while the second strategy uses another surrogate to simulate and correct the approximation error of the primary surrogate. By adaptively refining the surrogate over the posterior distribution, we can gradually reduce the surrogate approximation error to a small level. Demonstrated with three case studies involving high dimensionality, multimodality, and a real‐world application, it is found that both strategies can reduce the bias introduced by surrogate approximation error, while the second strategy that integrates two methods (i.e., polynomial chaos expansion and Gaussian process in this work) that complement each other shows the best performance.
Reduced visual evoked potential amplitude in autism spectrum disorder, a variability effect?
Authors: Kovarski Klara , Malvy Joëlle , Khanna Raoul K. , Arsène Sophie , Batty Magali , Latinus Marianne
Published: December 2019

Atypical sensory behaviours represent a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Investigating early visual processing is crucial to deepen our understanding of higher-level processes. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to pattern-reversal checkerboards were recorded in ASD children and age-matched controls. Peak analysis of the P100 component and two types of single-trial analyses were carried out. P100 amplitude was reduced in the ASD group, consistent with previous reports. The analysis of the proportion of trials with a positive activity in the latency range of the P100, measuring inter-trial (in)consistency, allowed identifying two subgroups of ASD participants: the first group, as control children, showed a high inter-trial consistency, whereas the other group showed an inter-trial inconsistency. Analysis of median absolute deviation of single-trial P100 (st-P100) latencies revealed an increased latency variability in the ASD group. Both single-trial analyses revealed increased variability in a subset of children with ASD. To control for this variability, VEPs were reconstructed by including only positive trials or trials with homogeneous st-P100 latencies. These control analyses abolished group differences, confirming that the reduced P100 amplitude results from increased inter-trial variability in ASD. This increased variability in ASD supports the neural noise theory. The existence of subgroups in ASD suggests that the neural response variability is not a genuine characteristic of the entire autistic spectrum, but rather characterized subgroups of children. Exploring the relationship between sensory responsiveness and inter-trial variability could provide more precise bioclinical profiles in children with ASD, and complete the functional diagnostic crucial for the development of individualized therapeutical projects.
Glacial–interglacial Nd isotope variability of North Atlantic Deep Water modulated by North American ice sheet
Authors: Zhao Ning , Oppo Delia W. , Huang Kuo-Fang , Howe Jacob N. W. , Blusztajn Jerzy , Keigwin Lloyd D.
Published: December 2019

The Nd isotope composition of seawater has been used to reconstruct past changes in the contribution of different water masses to the deep ocean. In the absence of contrary information, the Nd isotope compositions of endmember water masses are usually assumed constant during the Quaternary. Here we show that the Nd isotope composition of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW), a major component of the global overturning ocean circulation, was significantly more radiogenic than modern during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and shifted towards modern values during the deglaciation. We propose that weathering contributions of unradiogenic Nd modulated by the North American Ice Sheet dominated the evolution of the NADW Nd isotope endmember. If water mass mixing dominated the distribution of deep glacial Atlantic Nd isotopes, our results would imply a larger fraction of NADW in the deep Atlantic during the LGM and deglaciation than reconstructed with a constant northern endmember.
Distributed sensing of earthquakes and ocean-solid Earth interactions on seafloor telecom cables
Authors: Sladen A. , Rivet D. , Ampuero J. P , De Barros L. , Hello Y. , Calbris G. , Lamare P.
Published: December 2019

Two thirds of the surface of our planet are covered by water and are still poorly instrumented, which has prevented the earth science community from addressing numerous key scientific questions. The potential to leverage the existing fiber optic seafloor telecom cables that criss-cross the oceans, by using them as dense arrays of seismo-acoustic sensors, remains to be evaluated. Here, we report Distributed Acoustic Sensing measurements on a 41.5 km-long telecom cable that is deployed offshore Toulon, France. Our observations demonstrate the capability to monitor with unprecedented details the ocean-solid earth interactions from the coast to the abyssal plain, in addition to regional seismicity (e.g., a magnitude 1.9 micro-earthquake located 100 km away) with signal characteristics comparable to those of a coastal seismic station.
Coarse-graining auto-encoders for molecular dynamics
Authors: Wang Wujie , Gómez-Bombarelli Rafael
Published: December 2019

Molecular dynamics simulations provide theoretical insight into the microscopic behavior of condensed-phase materials and, as a predictive tool, enable computational design of new compounds. However, because of the large spatial and temporal scales of thermodynamic and kinetic phenomena in materials, atomistic simulations are often computationally infeasible. Coarse-graining methods allow larger systems to be simulated by reducing their dimensionality, propagating longer timesteps, and averaging out fast motions. Coarse-graining involves two coupled learning problems: defining the mapping from an all-atom representation to a reduced representation, and parameterizing a Hamiltonian over coarse-grained coordinates. We propose a generative modeling framework based on variational auto-encoders to unify the tasks of learning discrete coarse-grained variables, decoding back to atomistic detail, and parameterizing coarse-grained force fields. The framework is tested on a number of model systems including single molecules and bulk-phase periodic simulations.
The effects of childhood maltreatment on epigenetic regulation of stress-response associated genes: an intergenerational approach
Authors: Ramo-Fernández Laura , Boeck Christina , Koenig Alexandra M. , Schury Katharina , Binder Elisabeth B. , Gündel Harald , Fegert Jöerg M. , Karabatsiakis Alexander , Kolassa Iris-Tatjana
Published: December 2019

While biological alterations associated with childhood maltreatment (CM) have been found in affected individuals, it remains unknown to what degree these alterations are biologically transmitted to the next generation. We investigated intergenerational effects of maternal CM on DNA methylation and gene expression inN = 113 mother-infant dyads shortly after parturition, additionally accounting for the role of theFKBP5rs1360780 genotype. Using mass array spectrometry, we assessed the DNA methylation of selected stress-response-associated genes (FK506 binding protein 51 [FKBP5], glucocorticoid receptor [NR3C1], corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 [CRHR1]) in isolated immune cells from maternal blood and neonatal umbilical cord blood. In mothers, CM was associated with decreased levels of DNA methylation ofFKBP5andCRHR1and increasedNR3C1methylation, but not with changes in gene expression profiles. Rs1360780 moderated theFKBP5epigenetic CM-associated regulation profiles in a gene × environment interaction. In newborns, we found no evidence for any intergenerational transmission of CM-related methylation profiles for any of the investigated epigenetic sites. These findings support the hypothesis of a long-lasting impact of CM on the biological epigenetic regulation of stress-response mediators and suggest for the first time that these specific epigenetic patterns might not be directly transmitted to the next generation.
Increased double strand breaks in diabetic β-cells with a p21 response that limits apoptosis
Authors: Tay Vanessa S. Y. , Devaraj Surabhi , Koh Tracy , Ke Guo , Crasta Karen C. , Ali Yusuf
Published: December 2019

DNA damage and DNA damage response (DDR) pathways in β-cells have received little attention especially in the context of type-2 diabetes. We postulate that p21 plays a key role in DDR by preventing apoptosis, associated through its overexpression triggered by DNA stand breaks (DSBs). Our results show that β-cells from chronic diabetic mice had a greater extent of DSBs as compared to their non-diabetic counterparts. Comet assays and nuclear presence of γH2AX and 53bp1 revealed increased DNA DSBs in 16 weeks old (wo) db/db β-cells as compared to age matched non-diabetic β-cells. Our study of gene expression changes in MIN6 cell line with doxorubicin (Dox) induced DNA damage, showed that the DDR was similar to primary β-cells from diabetic mice. There was significant overexpression of DDR genes, gadd45a and p21 after a 24-hr treatment. Western blot analysis revealed increased cleaved caspase3 over time, suggesting higher frequency of apoptosis due to Dox-induced DNA strand breaks. Inhibition of p21 by pharmacological inhibitor UC2288 under DNA damage conditions (both in Dox-induced MIN6 cells and older db/db islets) significantly increased the incidence of β-cell apoptosis. Our studies confirmed that while DNA damage, specifically DSBs, induced p21 overexpression in β-cells and triggered the p53/p21 cellular response, p21 inhibition exacerbated the frequency of apoptosis.
A Memory Computational Basis for the Other-Race Effect
Authors: Yaros Jessica L. , Salama Diana A. , Delisle Derek , Larson Myra S. , Miranda Blake A. , Yassa Michael A.
Published: December 2019

People often recognize and remember faces of individuals within their own race more easily than those of other races. While behavioral research has long suggested that the Other-Race Effect (ORE) is due to extensive experience with one’s own race group, the neural mechanisms underlying the effect have remained elusive. Predominant theories of the ORE have argued that the effect is mainly caused by processing disparities between same and other-race faces during early stages of perceptual encoding. Our findings support an alternative view that the ORE is additionally shaped by mnemonic processing mechanisms beyond perception and attention. Using a “pattern separation” paradigm based on computational models of episodic memory, we report evidence that the ORE may be driven by differences in successful memory discrimination across races as a function of degree of interference or overlap between face stimuli. In contrast, there were no ORE-related differences on a comparable match-to-sample task with no long-term memory load, suggesting that the effect is not simply attributable to visual and attentional processes. These findings suggest that the ORE may emerge in part due to “tuned” memory mechanisms that may enhance same-race, at the expense of other-race face detection.
Enhanced Water Stability and Photoresponsivity in Metal-Organic Framework (MOF): A Potential Tool to Combat Drug-resistant Bacteria
Authors: Ahmed Saleh A. , Bagchi Damayanti , Katouah Hanadi A. , Hasan Md. Nur , Altass Hatem M. , Pal Samir Kumar
Published: December 2019

In this work, we have successfully synthesized a bimetallic (Zinc and Cobalt) Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (Zn50Co50-ZIF), a class in a wider microporous Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) family. The synthesized nanostructures maintain both water stability like ZIF-8 (solely Zn containing) and charge transfer electronic band in the visible optical spectrum as ZIF-67 (solely Co containing). Crystal structure from XRD, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) followed by elemental mapping (EDAX) confirm structural stability and omnipresence of the metal atoms (Zn and Co) across the nanomaterial with equal proportion. Existence of charge transfer state consistent with ZIF67 and intact ultrafast excited state dynamics of the imidazolate moiety in both ZIF-8 and ZIF-67, is evidenced from steady state and time resolved optical spectroscopy. The thermal and aqueous stabilities of Zn50Co50-ZIF are found to be better than ZIF-67 but comparable to ZIF-8 as evidenced by solubility, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and XRD studies of the material in water. We have evaluated the photoinduced ROS generation by the mixed ZIF employing dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. We have also explored the potentiality of the synthesized material for the alternate remediation of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection through the photoinduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and methylene blue (MB) degradation kinetics.
Succession of microbial populations and nitrogen-fixation associated with the biodegradation of sediment-oil-agglomerates buried in a Florida sandy beach
Authors: Shin Boryoung , Bociu Ioana , Kolton Max , Huettel Markus , Kostka Joel E.
Published: December 2019

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill contaminated coastlines from Louisiana to Florida, burying oil up to 70 cm depth in sandy beaches, posing a potential threat to environmental and human health. The dry and nutrient-poor beach sand presents a taxing environment for microbial growth, raising the question how the biodegradation of the buried oil would proceed. Here we report the results of an in-situ experiment that (i) characterized the dominant microbial communities contained in sediment oil agglomerates (SOAs) of DWH oil buried in a North Florida sandy beach, (ii) elucidated the long-term succession of the microbial populations that developed in the SOAs, and (iii) revealed the coupling of SOA degradation to nitrogen fixation. Orders of magnitude higher bacterial abundances in SOAs compared to surrounding sands distinguished SOAs as hotspots of microbial growth. Blooms of bacterial taxa with a demonstrated potential for hydrocarbon degradation (Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria) developed in the SOAs, initiating a succession of microbial populations that mirrored the evolution of the petroleum hydrocarbons. Growth of nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes or diazotrophs (Rhizobiales and Frankiales), reflected in increased abundances of nitrogenase genes (nifH), catalyzed biodegradation of the nitrogen-poor petroleum hydrocarbons, emphasizing nitrogen fixation as a central mechanism facilitating the recovery of sandy beaches after oil contamination.
Allergic inflammation alters the lung microbiome and hinders synergistic co-infection with H1N1 influenza virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: LeMessurier Kim S. , Iverson Amy R. , Chang Ti-Cheng , Palipane Maneesha , Vogel Peter , Rosch Jason W. , Samarasinghe Amali E.
Published: December 2019

Asthma is a chronic airways condition that can be exacerbated during respiratory infections. Our previous work, together with epidemiologic findings that asthmatics were less likely to suffer from severe influenza during the 2009 pandemic, suggest that additional complications of influenza such as increased susceptibility to bacterial superinfection, may be mitigated in allergic hosts. To test this hypothesis, we developed a murine model of ‘triple-disease’ in which mice rendered allergic to Aspergillus fumigatus were co-infected with influenza A virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae seven days apart. Significant alterations to known synergistic effects of co-infection were noted in the allergic mice including reduced morbidity and mortality, bacterial burden, maintenance of alveolar macrophages, and reduced lung inflammation and damage. The lung microbiome of allergic mice differed from that of non-allergic mice during co-infection and antibiotic-induced perturbation to the microbiome rendered allergic animals susceptible to severe morbidity. Our data suggest that responses to co-infection in allergic hosts likely depends on the immune and microbiome states and that antibiotics should be used with caution in individuals with underlying chronic lung disease.
Pharmacological polysulfide suppresses glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in an ATP-sensitive potassium channel-dependent manner
Authors: Shoji Tomohiro , Hayashi Mikio , Sumi Chisato , Kusunoki Munenori , Uba Takeo , Matsuo Yoshiyuki , Kimura Hideo , Hirota Kiichi
Published: December 2019

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous gaseous transmitter synthesized in various cell types. It is well established that H2S functions in many physiological processes, including the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle, mediation of neurotransmission, regulation of inflammation, and modulation of insulin signaling. In recent years, it has been revealed that polysulfides, substances with a varying number of sulfur atoms (H2Sn), are generated endogenously from H2S in the presence of oxygen. A series of studies describes that sulfane sulfur has the unique ability to bind reversibly to other sulfur atoms to form hydropersulfides and polysulfides, and that polysulfides activate ion channels and promote calcium influx. Furthermore, polysulfides regulate tumor suppressor activity, promote the activation of transcription factors targeting antioxidant genes and regulate blood pressure by vascular smooth muscle relaxation. Insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells plays a critical role in response to increased blood glucose concentration. H2S has emerged as an important regulator of glycemic control and exhibits characteristic regulation of glucose homeostasis. However, the effects of polysulfides on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) are largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that pharmacological polysulfide salts including Na2S2, Na2S3, and Na2S4 considerably inhibit GSIS in mouse and rat pancreatic β-cell-derived MIN6 and INS-1 cell lines, and that the effect is dependent on the activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels. In addition, we demonstrated that a mixture of Na2S and diethylamine NONOate inhibits GSIS in a similar way to the pharmacological administration of polysulfide salts.
The relationship between the gut microbiome and mild cognitive impairment in patients without dementia: a cross-sectional study conducted in Japan
Authors: Saji Naoki , Murotani Kenta , Hisada Takayoshi , Tsuduki Tsuyoshi , Sugimoto Taiki , Kimura Ai , Niida Shumpei , Toba Kenji , Sakurai Takashi
Published: December 2019

Recent studies have revealed an association between the dysregulation of the gut microbiome and dementia. However, whether this dysregulation is associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of cognitive decline, in patients without dementia remains unclear. We performed a cross-sectional analysis to determine the association between the gut microbiome and MCI. Data, including patient demographics, risk factors, cognitive function, and brain imaging, were collected. The gut microbiome was assessed through terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors independently associated with MCI. Graphical modelling was used to illustrate mutual associations between MCI and identified factors. We analysed 82 patients, 61 of whom exhibited MCI. Patients with MCI had a higher prevalence of Bacteroides. Furthermore, patients with more Bacteroides were more likely to present with white matter hyperintensity and high voxel-based specific regional analysis system for Alzheimer’s Disease (VSRAD) scores, indicating cortical and hippocampal atrophy. A multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that a greater prevalence of Bacteroides was independently associated with MCI. Graphical modelling also showed a close association between Bacteroides and MCI. In conclusion, an increased prevalence of Bacteroides is independently associated with the presence of MCI in patients without dementia.
Optimization of heterotrophic cultivation of Chlorella sp. HS2 using screening, statistical assessment, and validation
Authors: Kim Hee Su , Park Won-Kun , Lee Bongsoo , Seon Gyeongho , Suh William I. , Moon Myounghoon , Chang Yong Keun
Published: December 2019

The heterotrophic cultivation of microalgae has a number of notable advantages, which include allowing high culture density levels as well as enabling the production of biomass in consistent and predictable quantities. In this study, the full potential of Chlorella sp. HS2 is explored through optimization of the parameters for its heterotrophic cultivation. First, carbon and nitrogen sources were screened in PhotobioBox. Initial screening using the Plackett-Burman design (PBD) was then adopted and the concentrations of the major nutrients (glucose, sodium nitrate, and dipotassium phosphate) were optimized via response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design (CCD). Upon validation of the model via flask-scale cultivation, the optimized BG11 medium was found to result in a three-fold improvement in biomass amounts, from 5.85 to 18.13 g/L, in comparison to a non-optimized BG11 medium containing 72 g/L glucose. Scaling up the cultivation to a 5-L fermenter resulted in a greatly improved biomass concentration of 35.3 g/L owing to more efficient oxygenation of the culture. In addition, phosphorus feeding fermentation was employed in an effort to address early depletion of phosphate, and a maximum biomass concentration of 42.95 g/L was achieved, with biomass productivity of 5.37 g/L/D.
Triple-marker cardiac MRI detects sequential tissue changes of healing myocardium after a hydrogel-based therapy
Authors: van den Boomen Maaike , Kause Hanne B. , van Assen Hans C. , Dankers Patricia Y. W. , Bouten Carlijn V. C. , Vandoorne Katrien
Published: December 2019

Regenerative therapies based on injectable biomaterials, hold an unparalleled potential for treating myocardial ischemia. Yet, noninvasive evaluation of their efficacy has been lagging behind. Here, we report the development and longitudinal application of multiparametric cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate a hydrogel-based cardiac regenerative therapy. A pH-switchable hydrogel was loaded with slow releasing insulin growth factor 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor, followed by intramyocardial injection in a mouse model of ischemia reperfusion injury. Longitudinal cardiac MRI assessed three hallmarks of cardiac regeneration: angiogenesis, resolution of fibrosis and (re)muscularization after infarction. The multiparametric approach contained dynamic contrast enhanced MRI that measured improved vessel features by assessing fractional blood volume and permeability*surface area product, T1-mapping that displayed reduced fibrosis, and tagging MRI that showed improved regional myocardial strain in hydrogel treated infarcts. Finally, standard volumetric MRI demonstrated improved left ventricular functioning in hydrogel treated mice followed over time. Histology confirmed MR-based vessel features and fibrotic measurements. Our novel triple-marker strategy enabled detection of ameliorated regeneration in hydrogel treated hearts highlighting the translational potential of these longitudinal MRI approaches.
PPIP5K2 and PCSK1 are Candidate Genetic Contributors to Familial Keratoconus
Authors: Khaled Mariam Lofty , Bykhovskaya Yelena , Gu Chunfang , Liu Alice , Drewry Michelle D. , Chen Zhong , Mysona Barbara A. , Parker Emily , McNabb Ryan P. , Yu Hongfang , Lu Xiaowen , Wang Jing , Li Xiaohui , Al-Muammar Abdulrahman , Rotter Jerome I. , Porter Louise F. , Estes Amy , Watsky Mitchell A. , Smith Sylvia B. , Xu Hongyan , Abu-Amero Khaled K. , Kuo Anthony , Shears Stephen B. , Rabinowitz Yaron S. , Liu Yutao
Published: December 2019

Keratoconus (KC) is the most common corneal ectatic disorder affecting >300,000 people in the US. KC normally has its onset in adolescence, progressively worsening through the third to fourth decades of life. KC patients report significant impaired vision-related quality of life. Genetic factors play an important role in KC pathogenesis. To identify novel genes in familial KC patients, we performed whole exome and genome sequencing in a four-generation family. We identified potential variants in the PPIP5K2 and PCSK1 genes. Using in vitro cellular model and in vivo gene-trap mouse model, we found critical evidence to support the role of PPIP5K2 in normal corneal function and KC pathogenesis. The gene-trap mouse showed irregular corneal surfaces and pathological corneal thinning resembling KC. For the first time, we have integrated corneal tomography and pachymetry mapping into characterization of mouse corneal phenotypes which could be widely implemented in basic and translational research for KC diagnosis and therapy in the future.
Ganglioside GM2, highly expressed in the MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line, is correlated with growth, invasion, and advanced stage
Authors: Sasaki Norihiko , Hirabayashi Kenichi , Michishita Masaki , Takahashi Kimimasa , Hasegawa Fumio , Gomi Fujiya , Itakura Yoko , Nakamura Naoya , Toyoda Masashi , Ishiwata Toshiyuki
Published: December 2019

Gangliosides, a group of glycosphingolipids, are known to be cell surface markers and functional factors in several cancers. However, the association between gangliosides and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has not been well elucidated. In this study, we examined the expression and roles of ganglioside GM2 in PDAC. GM2+ cells showed a higher growth rate than GM2− cells in the adherent condition. When GM2– and GM2+ cells were cultured three-dimensionally, almost all cells in the spheres expressed GM2, including cancer stem cell (CSC)-like cells. A glycolipid synthesis inhibitor reduced GM2 expression and TGF-β1 signaling in these CSC-like cells, presumably by inhibiting the interaction between GM2 and TGFβ RII and suppressing invasion. Furthermore, suppression of GM2 expression by MAPK inhibition also reduced TGF-β1 signaling and suppressed invasion. GM2+ cells formed larger subcutaneous tumors at a high incidence in nude mice than did GM2– cells. In PDAC cases, GM2 expression was significantly associated with younger age, larger tumor size, advanced stage and higher histological grade. These findings suggest that GM2 could be used as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for PDAC.
Small nutrient molecules in fruit fuel efficient digestion and mutualism with plants in frugivorous bats
Authors: Moreno S. Andrea , Gelambi Mariana , Biganzoli Alejandro , Molinari Jesús
Published: December 2019

Frugivorous bats often possess short intestines, and digest rapidly. These characters are thought to be weight-saving adaptations for flight. The hypothesis that they limit digestive efficiency was tested by assaying glucose and protein in fecal samples of a free-ranging bat, and in fruit of its main food plant. To assure the correct calculation of digestive efficiencies, seeds were used as a mass marker for nutrients in fruit and feces. Glucose represents 32.86%, and protein 0.65%, of the nutrient content of fruit. Digestive efficiencies for these nutrients respectively are 92.46% and 84.44%, clearly negating the hypothesis for glucose. Few studies have quantified protein in fruit. Instead, “crude protein”, a dietary parameter solely based on nitrogen determinations, is used as a surrogate of protein content. This study shows that, for fruit consumed by bats, crude protein estimates typically are much greater than true protein values, implying that a large fraction of the crude protein reported in previous studies consists of free amino acids. The rapid digestion of frugivores has the potential to limit protein digestion, thus it may require free amino acids for efficient assimilation of nitrogen; therefore, the crude protein approach is inadequate for the fruit that they consume because it does not differentiate free amino acids from protein. Adding simple sugars and free amino acids, instead of protein, to fruit reduce metabolic costs for plants. Direct assimilation of these small nutrient molecules increases digestive and foraging efficiencies. Both factors contribute to the persistence of the mutualism between plants and frugivores, with community-wide repercussions.
Validation of peripheral arterial tonometry as tool for sleep assessment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Holmedahl Nils Henrik , Fjeldstad Odd-Magne , Engan Harald , Saxvig Ingvild West , Grønli Janne
Published: December 2019

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) worsens outcomes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and reduced sleep quality is common in these patients. Thus, objective sleep monitoring is needed, but polysomnography (PSG) is cumbersome and costly. The WatchPAT determines sleep by a pre-programmed algorithm and has demonstrated moderate agreement with PSG in detecting sleep stages in normal subjects and in OSA patients. Here, we validated WatchPAT against PSG in COPD patients, hypothesizing agreement in line with previous OSA studies. 16 COPD patients (7 men, mean age 61 years), underwent simultaneous overnight recordings with PSG and WatchPAT. Accuracy in wake and sleep staging, and concordance regarding total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) was calculated. Compared to the best fit PSG score, WatchPAT obtained 93% sensitivity (WatchPAT = sleep when PSG = sleep), 52% specificity (WatchPAT = wake when PSG = wake), 86% positive and 71% negative predictive value, Cohen’s Kappa (κ) = 0.496. Overall agreement between WatchPat and PSG in detecting all sleep stages was 63%, κ = 0.418. The mean(standard deviation) differences in TST, SE and AHI was 25(61) minutes (p = 0.119), 5(15) % (p = 0.166), and 1(5) (p = 0.536), respectively. We conclude that in COPD-patients, WatchPAT detects sleep stages in moderate to fair agreement with PSG, and AHI correlates well.
Assessment of Aggregation Frameworks for Composite Indicators in Measuring Flood Vulnerability to Climate Change
Authors: Il Choi Hyun
Published: December 2019

The IPCC Third Assessment Report presents a conceptual framework for vulnerability to climate change with the three attribute components of exposure, sensitivity, and coping. Since the vulnerability assessments have been conducted mainly by the composite indicators aggregated from the IPCC’s components, it is necessary to assess aggregation frameworks for constructing the composite indicators that have an influence on vulnerability assessment outcomes. This study therefore investigates the robustness of assessment outcomes for flood vulnerability to climate change through a comparative analysis of the six vulnerability indicators aggregated from the IPCC’s components by the conventional aggregation frameworks. The comparative analysis has been illustrated through both the possible combinations of reference values for vulnerability attribute components and a case study on the flood vulnerability assessment to climate change for coastal areas in the Republic of Korea. The study demonstrates that there can be large fluctuations and reversals in ranking orders across the six vulnerability outcomes by different aggregation frameworks. It concludes that for flood vulnerability assessment to climate change in coastal areas, the vulnerability indicator needs to be aggregated by a multiplicative utility function from all the three assessment components with positive elasticity to vulnerability.
Monocytes undergo multi-step differentiation in mice during oral infection by Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Detavernier Aurélie , Azouz Abdulkader , Shehade Hussein , Splittgerber Marion , Van Maele Laurye , Nguyen Muriel , Thomas Séverine , Achouri Younes , Svec David , Calonne Emilie , Fuks François , Oldenhove Guillaume , Goriely Stanislas
Published: December 2019

Monocytes play a major role in the defense against pathogens. They are rapidly mobilized to inflamed sites where they exert both proinflammatory and regulatory effector functions. It is still poorly understood how this dynamic and exceptionally plastic system is controlled at the molecular level. Herein, we evaluated the differentiation process that occurs in Ly6Chi monocytes during oral infection by Toxoplasma gondii. Flow cytometry and single-cell analysis revealed distinct activation status and gene expression profiles in the bone marrow, the spleen and the lamina propria of infected mice. We provide further evidence that acquisition of effector functions, such as the capacity to produce interleukin-27, is accompanied by distinct waves of epigenetic programming, highlighting a role for STAT1/IRF1 in the bone marrow and AP-1/NF-κB in the periphery. This work broadens our understanding of the molecular events that occur in vivo during monocyte differentiation in response to inflammatory cues.
Application of an iron-based porphyrinic metal–organic framework for removal of warfarin from aqueous solutions
Authors: Safaei Moghaddam Zahra , Kaykhaii Massoud , Khajeh Mostafa , Oveisi Ali Reza
Published: December 2019

A novel iron-based porphyrinic metal–organic framework (PCN-600(Fe)) was synthesized and applied for removal of warfarin from. wastewater samples.
Enhanced ammonia synthesis performance of ceria-supported Ru catalysts via introduction of titanium
Authors: Wu Yuyuan , Li Chunyan , Fang Biyun , Wang Xiuyun , Ni Jun , Lin Bingyu , Lin Jianxin , Jiang Lilong
Published: December 2019

The spatial arrangements of Ti species would affect the electronic metal–support interactions and the proportion of Ce3+ sites for ceria-supported Ru catalysts.
In situ growth of M-{001}TiO2/Ti photoelectrodes: synergetic dominant {001} facets and ratio-optimal surface junctions for the effective oxidation of environmental pollutants
Authors: Han Shengnan , Niu Qiongyan , Qin Ning , Gu Xiaotong , Zhang Ya-nan , Zhao Guohua
Published: December 2019

Engineering synergetic dominated {001} facet and ratio-optimally surface junctions on TiO2 photoelectrode for effective oxidation of environment pollutants.
Analytic non-adiabatic couplings for the spin-flip ORMAS method
Authors: Mato Joani , Gordon Mark S.
Published: December 2019

Analytic non-adiabatic coupling matrix elements (NACME) are derived and implemented for the spin-flip occupation restricted multiple active space configuration interaction (SF-ORMAS-CI) method.
Correction: The challenges of glycan recognition with natural and artificial receptors
Authors: Tommasone Stefano , Allabush Francia , Tagger Yazmin K. , Norman Joshua , Köpf Monika , Tucker James H. R. , Mendes Paula M.
Published: December 2019

Correction for ‘The challenges of glycan recognition with natural and artificial receptors’ by Stefano Tommasone et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2019, 48, 5488–5505.
Zinc(ii), copper(ii) and cadmium(ii) complexes as fluorescent chemosensors for cations
Authors: Pandey Rampal , Kumar Ashish , Xu Qiang , Pandey Daya Shankar
Published: December 2019

Fluorescence chemosensing behavior of Zn(ii), Cu(ii), and Cd(ii) complexes for detection of cations emphasizing conventional, metal–metal exchange and chemodosimetric mechanisms has been described conferring their scope, significance and challenges.
Structural, magnetic and spectral properties of tetrahedral cobalt(ii) silanethiolates: a variety of structures and manifestation of field-induced slow magnetic relaxation
Authors: Kowalkowska-Zedler D. , Dołęga A. , Nedelko N. , Łyszczek R. , Aleshkevych P. , Demchenko I. , Łuczak J. , Ślawska-Waniewska A. , Pladzyk A.
Published: December 2019

Mono-, di- and polynuclear cobalt(ii) silanethiolates in a tetrahedral CoN2S2 environment and a general formula of [Co{SSi(tBuO)3}2(L)2]n have been obtained and their spectroscopic and magnetic properties have been characterized.
Nutrient recovery from treated wastewater by a hybrid electrochemical sequence integrating bipolar membrane electrodialysis and membrane capacitive deionization
Authors: Gao Fei , Wang Li , Wang Jie , Zhang Hongwei , Lin Shihong
Published: December 2019

A hybrid electrochemical treatment train enables the sustainable recovery of nutrients from wastewater with minimal chemical use.
Multifunctional carbon nanotubes covalently coated with imine-based covalent organic frameworks: exploring structure–property relationships through nanomechanics
Authors: Moya Alicia , Hernando-Pérez Mercedes , Pérez-Illana Marta , San Martín Carmen , Gómez-Herrero Julio , Alemán José , Mas-Ballesté Rubén , de Pablo Pedro J.
Published: December 2019

Hybridization of imine-based covalent organic framework (COF-300) on oxidized MWCNT surface have been designed and succesfully developed for the first time in one-pot chemical synthesis.
An LSPR-based “push–pull” synergetic effect for the enhanced photocatalytic performance of a gold nanorod@cuprous oxide-gold nanoparticle ternary composite
Authors: Yu Xiaojing , Liu Xu , Wang Bin , Meng Qingnan , Sun Shaodong , Tang Yufei , Zhao Kang
Published: December 2019

Au nanorod@octahedron Cu2O with preferentially edge-loaded Au nanoparticles was designed for improved photocatalytic performance due to the LSPR-based “push–pull” synergetic effect.
IsoquinolinequinoneN-oxides as anticancer agents effective against drug resistant cell lines
Authors: Kruschel Ryan D. , Buzid Alyah , Khandavilli Udaya B. Rao , Lawrence Simon E. , Glennon Jeremy D. , McCarthy Florence O.
Published: December 2019

6- and 7-Substituted isoquinolineN-oxides are identified as redox active, adduct forming, anticancer agents and effective against drug resistant cell lines at nanomolar concentrations.
Synthesis of substituted benzo[b][1,4]oxazepine derivatives by the reaction of 2-aminophenols with alkynones
Authors: Oshimoto Kohei , Zhou Biao , Tsuji Hiroaki , Kawatsura Motoi
Published: December 2019

We have developed a novel synthetic method accessing benzo[b][1,4]oxazepines that are one of the rare classes of benzoxazepine derivatives by reaction of 2-aminophenols with alkynones in 1,4-dioxane at 100 °C.
Copper-based ionic liquid-catalyzed click polymerization of diazides and diynes toward functional polytriazoles for sensing applications
Authors: Li Baixue , Hu Rong , Qin Anjun , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: December 2019

An efficient copper-based ionic liquid-catalyzed azide–alkyne click polymerization was developed, and functional polytriazoles were produced which could be used as sensors.
Development and characterization of bladder acellular matrix cross-linked by dialdehyde carboxymethyl cellulose for bladder tissue engineering
Authors: Peng Xu , Yue Pengfei , Zhou Xiong , Li Li , Li Shuangshuang , Yu Xixun
Published: December 2019

To address the disadvantage of rapid degradation and serious immune response of bladder acellular matrix tissues in clinical application, oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose was developed to replace commonly used glutaraldehyde, to fix BAM tissues for lower cytotoxicity.
Novel lanthanide(III) 4-methylbenzoylhydrazide complexes as precursors for lanthanide oxide nanophotocatalysts
Authors: El-Enein S. A. Abou , Ali A. M. , Abdel-Monem Y. K. , Senna M. H. , Madkour Metwally
Published: December 2019

A series of metal complexes were prepared from separate reactions of lanthanide nitrate salts (La(iii), Ce(iii), Sm(iii), Gd(iii) and Ho(iii)) with 4-methylbenzoylhydrazide.
A colorimetric nanoprobe based on enzyme-immobilized silver nanoparticles for the efficient detection of cholesterol
Authors: Dewangan Lakshita , Korram Jyoti , Karbhal Indrapal , Nagwanshi Rekha , Jena Vinod K. , Satnami Manmohan L.
Published: December 2019

A functionalized silver nanoparticle (AgNP) based colorimetric probe have been developed for efficient sensing of cholesterol, most important cardio-risk-marker.
Access to 1-amino-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines via palladium-catalyzed C–H bond aminoimidoylation reaction from functionalized isocyanides
Authors: Xiong Zhuang , Cai Panyuan , Mei Yingshuang , Wang Jian
Published: December 2019

Efficient and practice access to 1-amino-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines, through palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C–H bond aminoimidoylation of α-benzyl-α-isocyanoacetates, has been developed.
Novel stereoselective syntheses of N-octyl-β-valienamine (NOV) and N-octyl-4-epi-β-valienamine (NOEV) from (−)-shikimic acid
Authors: Li Feng-Lei , Yu Jiang-Ping , Ding Wei , Sun Mian-Mian , He Yun-Gang , Zhu Xing-Liang , Liu Shi-Ling , Shi Xiao-Xin
Published: December 2019

Novel stereoselective syntheses of N-octyl-β-valienamine (NOV) 1 and N-octyl-4-epi-β-valienamine (NOEV) 2 starting from naturally abundant (−)-shikimic acid are described in this article.
Sustainable preparation of sunlight active α-Fe2O3nanoparticles using iron containing ionic liquids for photocatalytic applications
Authors: Komal Komal , Kaur Harmandeep , Kainth Money , Meena Sher Singh , Kang Tejwant Singh
Published: December 2019

Inspired by nanosegregation of ionic liquids into bicontinuous structures of arrays of ionic and non-ionic components, we present a new sustainable strategy for preparation of mesh-like nano-sheets of α-Fe2O3nanoparticles and their photocatalytic activity under sunlight.
Serine is the molecular source of the NH(CH2)2 bridgehead moiety of the in vitro assembled [FeFe] hydrogenase H-cluster
Authors: Rao Guodong , Tao Lizhi , Britt R. David
Published: December 2019

The CH2NHCH2 bridgehead moiety of the [FeFe] hydrogenase H-cluster is derived from serine as revealed by isotope labeling and EPR spectroscopy.
A highly stretchable and conductive composite based on an emulsion-templated silver nanowire aerogel
Authors: Tian Zhilin , Zhao Yu , Wang Shaogang , Zhou Guodong , Zhao Ni , Wong Ching-Ping
Published: December 2019

A stretchable and conductive composite was developed based on an isotropic and hierarchical Ag NW aerogel by an emulsion-template method.
Confined encapsulation of living cells in self-assembled fiber macrospheres with micro/nanoporous polymer shells for the transformation of contaminants to green energy
Authors: Qin Lei , Li Chang , Li Xiong , Zhang Xu , Shen Chong , Meng Qin , Shen Liang , Lu Yinghua , Zhang Guoliang
Published: December 2019

The confined encapsulation of living cells in self-assembled fiber macrospheres with micro/nanoporous polymer shell was realized for the efficient transformation of contaminants into green energy.
The key mechanism of conductivity in PEDOT:PSS thin films exposed by anomalous conduction behaviour upon solvent-doping and sulfuric acid post-treatment
Authors: Hosseini Ehsan , Ozhukil Kollath Vinayaraj , Karan Kunal
Published: December 2019

The role of the π–π stacking distance and abundance in the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS thin films and a new morphology are unraveled.