bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crossed Cerebellar Diaschisis in Patients with Diffuse Glioma Is Associated with Impaired Supratentorial Cerebrovascular Reactivity and Worse Clinical Outcome
Authors: Sebök Martina , van Niftrik Christiaan Hendrik Bas , Halter Matthias , Hiller Aimee , Seystahl Katharina , Pangalu Athina , Weller Michael , Stippich Christoph , Regli Luca , Fierstra Jorn
Published: July 2020

Crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD) can be associated with impaired cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) and poor clinical outcome, but whether this holds true for patients with diffuse glioma is unknown. With blood oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD)-CVR imaging, we determined the presence of CCD in patients with diffuse glioma and investigated its relationship with cerebrovascular reactivity and clinical outcome. For eighteen enrolled subjects (nineteen datasets) with diffuse glioma, CCD was deferred from BOLD-CVR using a predetermined cerebellar asymmetry index (CAI) cutoff value of 6.0%. A FET-PET study was done as a verification of the CCD diagnosis. BOLD-CVR values as well as clinical performance scores (i.e., Karnofsky performance score (KPS), disability rating scale (DRS), and modified Rankin scale (mRS)) by BOLD-CVR scan at 3-month clinical follow-up were assessed and compared for the CCD-positive and CCD-negative group. CCD was present in 26.3% of subjects and strongly associated with impaired BOLD-CVR of the affected (i.e., the hemisphere harboring the glioma) and unaffected supratentorial hemisphere (CCD(+) vs. CCD(−): 0.08 ± 0.11 vs. 0.18 ± 0.04; p = 0.007 and 0.08 ± 0.12 vs. 0.19 ± 0.04; p = 0.007, respectively). This finding was independent of tumor volume (p = 0.48). Furthermore, poorer initial (by scan) clinical performance scores at follow-up were found for the CCD(+) group. The presence of crossed cerebellar diaschisis in patients with diffuse glioma is associated with impaired supratentorial cerebrovascular reactivity and worse clinical outcome.
Weather control in radon flux time series from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Authors: Mudelsee Manfred , Albert Johannes , Sirocko Frank
Published: July 2020

Indoor radon exposure is a serious hazard to human health. The radon concentration in surface air varies spatially as a result of the uranium content in the underlying rocks. However, there exist also considerable knowledge gaps about temporal variations. Here we document the high temporal variability of radon flux from exhalation in high-resolution (hourly) time series from a site near Kleinneudorf, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. By means of advanced techniques of statistical time series analysis, we show a close association between radon and meteorological variables (air temperature and air pressure). We identify four principal weather regimes that lead to different radon exhalation modes. For each of the modes, we construct a statistical linear model for radon prediction via the meteorological variables and their derivatives or time-lagged versions. The model explains between 53 and 86 percent of the variance. Many model deviations consist in excessively high measured radon values and hint at nonlinear effects. Other model deviations hint at non-meteorological forcing.
Using bridge weigh-in-motion systems to monitor single-span bridge influence lines
Authors: Žnidarič Aleš , Kalin Jan
Published: July 2020

Bridge weigh-in-motion systems use instrumented bridges or culverts to weigh vehicles as they pass over the structures. They also provide data to allow the calculation of several bridge performance indicators. The article starts with the basics of a bridge weigh-in-motion system and briefly describes two key bridge performance indicators, girder distribution factor and dynamic amplification factor, which are also derived from B-WIM measurements. The central part of the article focuses on monitoring of influence lines, the third key parameter that characterises the bridge performance under traffic loads. First, the method of calculating the bending moment influence lines from random heavy traffic is described. A coefficient of rotational stiffness is introduced, which defines the shape of influence lines around the supports as a linear combination of the ideal simply supported and fixed supported influence lines, to allow quantifying the influence line changes. Then the long-term monitoring of influence lines is investigated on four different single-span test bridges. The initial focus is given on the examination of the effect of temperature on the shape of influence lines. Finally, two sets of influence lines are compared on one test bridge, one from before and the other from after replacing the expansion joints and bearings. The work done so far confirms that calculating of influence lines from random vehicles with a B-WIM system is entirely feasible and that differences in their shape can be detected on single-span bridges. What remains to be investigated is the comparison of these differences to the actual damages and under which circumstances the proposed procedure can compete with or better the routine bridge inspection and the conventional monitoring techniques.
Differences and similarities between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2: spike receptor-binding domain recognition and host cell infection with support of cellular serine proteases
Authors: Rossi Giovanni A. , Sacco Oliviero , Mancino Enrica , Cristiani Luca , Midulla Fabio
Published: July 2020

Novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) became pandemic by the end of March 2020. In contrast to the 2002–2003 SARS-CoV outbreak, which had a higher pathogenicity and lead to higher mortality rates, SARSCoV-2 infection appears to be much more contagious. Moreover, many SARS-CoV-2 infected patients are reported to develop low-titer neutralizing antibody and usually suffer prolonged illness, suggesting a more effective SARS-CoV-2 immune surveillance evasion than SARS-CoV. This paper summarizes the current state of art about the differences and similarities between the pathogenesis of the two coronaviruses, focusing on receptor binding domain, host cell entry and protease activation. Such differences may provide insight into possible intervention strategies to fight the pandemic.
Mindfulness moderates the relationship between emotional eating and body mass index in a sample of people with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Egan Helen , Keyte R. , Nash E. F. , Barrett J. , Regan A. , Mantzios M.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Self-regulation in eating is significant for enhancing life expectancy of people with cystic fibrosis (CF), but research with this population is scarce.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, adults with CF completed a number of psychometric scales exploring typical eating behaviours that may increase calorific intake including motivations to eat palatable foods and scales that may be associated with decreased calorific intake: mindfulness, mindful eating and self-compassion.

Results

Findings suggested that motivations to eat palatable foods and eating behaviours correlate with higher BMI, while mindfulness, mindful eating and self-compassion did not reach significance. Mindfulness and mindful eating moderated the relationship between emotional eating and BMI, while self-compassion did not moderate this relationship.

Conclusions

There is a need to develop healthy and effective means of enhancing calorific intake, where this is indicated, adapting mindful eating principles to focus on increasing both self-regulation and pleasure in eating while reducing emotional eating may be one means of doing this.

Level of evidence

Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
Development of a Robust Ultra-Wideband Module for Underground Positioning and Collision Avoidance
Authors: Kianfar Amir Ehsan , Uth Fabian , Baltes Ralph , Clausen Elisabeth
Published: July 2020

As indoor positioning provides particular challenges due to the unavailability of GPS signals, various systems such as ultra-wideband (UWB), radio frequency identification (RFID), ultrasound, and wireless local area network (WLAN) have been proposed in recent years. Some of these technologies are currently being marketed and some are still being developed. UWB technology allows for higher precision while also reducing power consumption. Hence, the underground automation and localization systems can use this technology for more accuracy and robustness. This article discusses new robust UWB modules used for underground positioning and collision avoidance with regard to human safety in underground mining operations.
Wer hat die Wahl? Robin Markwicas „Emotional Choices. How the Logic of Affect Shapes Coercive Diplomacy“ – Eine Reflexion
Authors: Rauscher Anna , Gienow-Hecht Jessica
Published: July 2020

Robin Markwicas Monografie erforscht, welche Rolle Emotionen in der Geschichte von (außen-)politischen Prozessen und Beziehungen spielen können. Entsprechend setzen die Autorinnen der Rezension Markwicas Arbeit in Beziehung zur Emotionsgeschichte als Forschungsparadigma. Zudem referieren sie anhand ausgewählter Arbeiten, welchen Erkenntnisgewinn eine Berücksichtigung der Emotionen in der Geschichte der internationalen Beziehungen liefert. Im Anschluss daran evaluieren sie die theoretischen und methodischen Überlegungen des Autors, die Ergebnisse seiner Analyse und seine Vorschläge zur konstruktiven Anwendung dieser Resultate in der internationalen Diplomatie. Die Autorinnen kommen zu dem Schluss, dass Markwicas Ansatz aufgrund seines Fokus auf Emotion als eine weitere Variable in (außen-)politischen Prozessen, sowie wegen der relativen Offenheit, Pluralität und Flexibilität des Analysemodells die Diskussion um Entscheidungsfindungzprozesse nachhaltig inspirieren könne.
Microbial communities of soda lakes and pans in the Carpathian Basin: a review
Authors: Felföldi Tamás
Published: July 2020

In this review, I would like to summarize the current knowledge on the microbiology of soda lakes and pans of the Carpathian Basin. First, the characteristic physical and chemical features of these sites are described. Most of the microbiological information presented deals with prokaryotes and algae, but protists and viruses are also mentioned. Planktonic bacterial communities are dominated by members of the phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria; small-sized trebouxiophycean green algae and Synechococcus/Cyanobium picocyanobacteria are the most important components of phytoplankton. Based on the current knowledge, it seems that mainly temperature, salinity, turbidity and grazing pressure regulate community composition and the abundance of individual microbial groups, but the external nutrient load from birds also has a significant impact on the ecological processes.
Emotion dysregulation between mothers, fathers, and adolescents: Implications for adolescents' internalizing problems
Authors: Cheung Rebecca Y.M. , Chan Long Yin , Chung Kevin K.H.
Published: July 2020

Introduction

The present study calls attention to the longitudinal relations between mothers', fathers', and adolescents' emotion dysregulation and adolescents' internalizing problems. To this end, we tested the associations between family members' emotion dysregulation and adolescents' internalizing problems over time.

Methods

Over a 12‐month period, 386 Chinese families from Hong Kong involving mothers, fathers, and adolescent children (children at 12–17 years of age; boys = 185, girls = 201) completed a set of questionnaires twice.

Results

Multi‐group path analysis revealed unidirectional effects of mothers' emotion dysregulation on fathers' and adolescents' emotion dysregulation over time. Adolescents' emotion dysregulation was also related to their subsequent internalizing problems. The associations did not differ as a function of adolescents' gender.

Conclusion

The present findings underscore the significance of mothers' emotion dysregulation on fathers' and adolescents' emotion dysregulation. As a risk factor, adolescents' emotion dysregulation was also predictive of their internalizing problems 12 months later. Taken together, this study serves to inform prevention and intervention efforts in promoting emotion regulation as a family asset associated with fewer adolescents' internalizing problems.
Quantitative Image Format for Electron Microscopy
Authors: Moldovan Grigore , Zabel Michael
Published: July 2020

Experimental data, simulation, data analysis and visualisation require image file formats that are open source and able to contain and manage quantitative data. Quantification techniques bring the new challenge of managing image calibration parameters and formulas in an open and efficient format, compatible with routine microscopy workflows. A practical approach to quantitative image format is presented and discussed here, relying on open and extensible file formats - Tagged Image File (TIF) and Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP).
Sozial-emotionale Kompetenzen und Verhaltensauffälligkeiten bei Kindern mit und ohne Entwicklungsbeeinträchtigungen im Kindergarten
Authors: Sarimski Klaus
Published: July 2020

Zusammenfassung. Es wird über eine Untersuchung zur Validierung der „Verhaltensskalen für das Kindergartenalter“ (VSK) an einer Stichprobe von Kindern mit Entwicklungsauffälligkeiten berichtet. Die Stichprobe umfasste 218 Kinder im Alter von drei bis sechs Jahren. Bei 111 Kindern lag eine kognitive und/oder sprachliche Entwicklungsbeeinträchtigung vor. Sie besuchten einen Schulkindergarten, der an eine Schule mit entsprechendem Förderschwerpunkt angeschlossen ist. 107 Kinder besuchten einen allgemeinen Kindergarten. Es wurde die Validität der VSK bei Kindern mit Entwicklungsbeeinträchtigung mittels Interkorrelationen, Kovarianzanalyse sowie linearer Regressionsanalyse überprüft. Zusammenhänge mit Alter und Geschlecht sowie Unterschiede in der Ausprägung von Verhaltensproblemen und sozial-emotionalen Kompetenzen zwischen Kindern mit und ohne Entwicklungsbeeinträchtigung lieferten Hinweise darauf, dass sich die VSK auch in der Teilgruppe der Kinder mit Entwicklungsbeeinträchtigung als valides Untersuchungsinstrument eignen. Es zeigten sich signifikante Unterschiede in der Ausprägung von Verhaltensauffälligkeiten und sozial-emotionalen Kompetenzen zwischen beiden Gruppen. Nach den Ergebnissen einer Regressionsanalyse fanden sich in beiden Teilgruppen unterschiedliche Zusammenhänge zwischen sozial-emotionalen Kompetenzen und Verhaltensauffälligkeiten. Die Fähigkeit zur Selbstregulation erwies sich in beiden Gruppen als Prädiktor der Ausprägung von Verhaltensauffälligkeiten. Schlussfolgerungen für die Förderung werden diskutiert.
VPS4B mutation impairs the osteogenic differentiation of dental follicle cells derived from a patient with dentin dysplasia type I
Authors: Li Qiang , Lu Fangli , Chen Tianxuan , Zhang Ke , Lu Yuping , Li Xiaocong , Wang Yingying , Liu Ling , Tian Qing , Xiong Fu , Chen Dong
Published: July 2020

A splicing mutation in VPS4B can cause dentin dysplasia type I (DD-I), a hereditary autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by rootless teeth, the etiology of which is genetically heterogeneous. In our study, dental follicle cells (DFCs) were isolated and cultured from a patient with DD-I and compared with those from an age-matched, healthy control. In a previous study, this DD-I patient was confirmed to have a loss-of-function splicing mutation in VPS4B (IVS7 + 46C > G). The results from this study showed that the isolated DFCs were vimentin-positive and CK14-negative, indicating that the isolated cells were derived from the mesenchyme. DFCs harboring the VPS4B mutation had a significantly higher proliferation rate from day 3 to day 8 than control DFCs, indicating that VPS4B is involved in cell proliferation. The cells were then replenished with osteogenic medium to investigate how the VPS4B mutation affected osteogenic differentiation. Induction of osteogenesis, detected by alizarin red and alkaline phosphatase staining in vitro, was decreased in the DFCs from the DD-I patient compared to the control DFCs. Furthermore, we also found that the VPS4B mutation in the DD-I patient downregulated the expression of osteoblast-related genes, such as ALP, BSP, OCN, RUNX2, and their encoded proteins. These outcomes confirmed that the DD-I-associated VPS4B mutation could decrease the capacity of DFCs to differentiate during the mineralization process and may also impair physiological root formation and bone remodeling. This might provide valuable insights and implications for exploring the pathological mechanisms underlying DD-I root development.
Scalable aesthetic transparent wood for energy efficient buildings
Authors: Mi Ruiyu , Chen Chaoji , Keplinger Tobias , Pei Yong , He Shuaiming , Liu Dapeng , Li Jianguo , Dai Jiaqi , Hitz Emily , Yang Bao , Burgert Ingo , Hu Liangbing
Published: July 2020

Nowadays, energy-saving building materials are important for reducing indoor energy consumption by enabling better thermal insulation, promoting effective sunlight harvesting and offering comfortable indoor lighting. Here, we demonstrate a novel scalable aesthetic transparent wood (called aesthetic wood hereafter) with combined aesthetic features (e.g. intact wood patterns), excellent optical properties (an average transmittance of ~ 80% and a haze of ~ 93%), good UV-blocking ability, and low thermal conductivity (0.24 W m−1K−1) based on a process of spatially selective delignification and epoxy infiltration. Moreover, the rapid fabrication process and mechanical robustness (a high longitudinal tensile strength of 91.95 MPa and toughness of 2.73 MJ m−3) of the aesthetic wood facilitate good scale-up capability (320 mm × 170 mm × 0.6 mm) while saving large amounts of time and energy. The aesthetic wood holds great potential in energy-efficient building applications, such as glass ceilings, rooftops, transparent decorations, and indoor panels.
Light microscopy of proteins in their ultrastructural context
Authors: M’Saad Ons , Bewersdorf Joerg
Published: July 2020

Resolving the distribution of specific proteins at the nanoscale in the ultrastructural context of the cell is a major challenge in fluorescence microscopy. We report the discovery of a new principle for an optical contrast equivalent to electron microscopy (EM) which reveals the ultrastructural context of the cells with a conventional confocal microscope. By decrowding the intracellular space through 13 to 21-fold physical expansion while simultaneously retaining the proteins, bulk (pan) labeling of the proteome resolves local protein densities and reveals the cellular nanoarchitecture by standard light microscopy.
Reversible redox chemistry in azobenzene-based organic molecules for high-capacity and long-life nonaqueous redox flow batteries
Authors: Zhang Leyuan , Qian Yumin , Feng Ruozhu , Ding Yu , Zu Xihong , Zhang Changkun , Guo Xuelin , Wang Wei , Yu Guihua
Published: July 2020

Redox-active organic molecules have drawn extensive interests in redox flow batteries (RFBs) as promising active materials, but employing them in nonaqueous systems is far limited in terms of useable capacity and cycling stability. Here we introduce azobenzene-based organic compounds as new active materials to realize high-performance nonaqueous RFBs with long cycling life and high capacity. It is capable to achieve a stable long cycling with a low capacity decay of 0.014% per cycle and 0.16% per day over 1000 cycles. The stable cycling under a high concentration of 1 M is also realized, delivering a high reversible capacity of ~46 Ah L−1. The unique lithium-coupled redox chemistry accompanied with a voltage increase is observed and revealed by experimental characterization and theoretical simulation. With the reversible redox activity of azo group in π-conjugated structures, azobenzene-based molecules represent a class of promising redox-active organics for potential grid-scale energy storage systems.
Deterministic all-optical magnetization writing facilitated by non-local transfer of spin angular momentum
Authors: van Hees Youri L. W. , van de Meugheuvel Paul , Koopmans Bert , Lavrijsen Reinoud
Published: July 2020

Ever since its discovery around a decade ago, all-optical magnetization switching (AOS) using femtosecond laser pulses has shown potential for future data storage and logic devices. In particular, single pulse helicity independent AOS in certain ferrimagnetic alloys and multilayers is highly efficient and ultrafast. However, in most cases it is a toggle mechanism, which is not desirable for applications. Here we experimentally demonstrate conversion from toggle switching to a deterministic mechanism by biasing AOS in a Co/Gd bilayer with a spin polarized current which is optically generated in an adjacent ferromagnetic reference layer. We show deterministic writing of an ‘up’ and ‘down’ state using a sequence of one or two pulses, respectively, and demonstrate the non-local origin by varying the magnitude of the generated spin current. Our demonstration of deterministic magnetization writing could provide an essential step towards the implementation of future optically addressable spintronic memory devices.
Structures of the human mitochondrial ribosome bound to EF-G1 reveal distinct features of mitochondrial translation elongation
Authors: Koripella Ravi Kiran , Sharma Manjuli R. , Bhargava Kalpana , Datta Partha P. , Kaushal Prem S. , Keshavan Pooja , Spremulli Linda L. , Banavali Nilesh K. , Agrawal Rajendra K.
Published: July 2020

The mammalian mitochondrial ribosome (mitoribosome) and its associated translational factors have evolved to accommodate greater participation of proteins in mitochondrial translation. Here we present the 2.68–3.96 Å cryo-EM structures of the human 55S mitoribosome in complex with the human mitochondrial elongation factor G1 (EF-G1mt) in three distinct conformational states, including an intermediate state and a post-translocational state. These structures reveal the role of several mitochondria-specific (mito-specific) mitoribosomal proteins (MRPs) and a mito-specific segment of EF-G1mt in mitochondrial tRNA (tRNAmt) translocation. In particular, the mito-specific C-terminal extension in EF-G1mt is directly involved in translocation of the acceptor arm of the A-site tRNAmt. In addition to the ratchet-like and independent head-swiveling motions exhibited by the small mitoribosomal subunit, we discover significant conformational changes in MRP mL45 at the nascent polypeptide-exit site within the large mitoribosomal subunit that could be critical for tethering of the elongating mitoribosome onto the inner-mitochondrial membrane.
Unravelling the diversity of magnetotactic bacteria through analysis of open genomic databases
Authors: Uzun Maria , Alekseeva Lolita , Krutkina Maria , Koziaeva Veronika , Grouzdev Denis
Published: July 2020

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are prokaryotes that possess genes for the synthesis of membrane-bounded crystals of magnetite or greigite, called magnetosomes. Despite over half a century of studying MTB, only about 60 genomes have been sequenced. Most belong to Proteobacteria, with a minority affiliated with the Nitrospirae, Omnitrophica, Planctomycetes, and Latescibacteria. Due to the scanty information available regarding MTB phylogenetic diversity, little is known about their ecology, evolution and about the magnetosome biomineralization process. This study presents a large-scale search of magnetosome biomineralization genes and reveals 38 new MTB genomes. Several of these genomes were detected in the phyla Elusimicrobia, Candidatus Hydrogenedentes, and Nitrospinae, where magnetotactic representatives have not previously been reported. Analysis of the obtained putative magnetosome biomineralization genes revealed a monophyletic origin capable of putative greigite magnetosome synthesis. The ecological distributions of the reconstructed MTB genomes were also analyzed and several patterns were identified. These data suggest that open databases are an excellent source for obtaining new information of interest.
Dynamics of entangled networks of the quantum Internet
Authors: Gyongyosi Laszlo
Published: July 2020

Entangled quantum networks are a fundamental of any global-scale quantum Internet. Here, a mathematical model is developed to quantify the dynamics of entangled network structures and entanglement flow in the quantum Internet. The analytical solutions of the model determine the equilibrium states of the entangled quantum networks and characterize the stability, fluctuation attributes, and dynamics of entanglement flow in entangled network structures. We demonstrate the results of the model through various entangled structures and quantify the dynamics.
Can increasing years of schooling reduce type 2 diabetes (T2D)?: Evidence from a Mendelian randomization of T2D and 10 of its risk factors
Authors: Adams Charleen D. , Boutwell Brian B.
Published: July 2020

A focus in recent decades has involved examining the potential causal impact of educational attainment (schooling years) on a variety of disease and life-expectancy outcomes. Numerous studies have broadly revealed a link suggesting that as years of formal schooling increase so too does health and wellbeing; however, it is unclear whether the associations are causal. Here we use Mendelian randomization, an instrumental variables technique, with a two-sample design, to probe whether more years of schooling are causally linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 10 of its attendant risk factors. The results revealed a protective effect of more schooling years against T2D (odds ratio = 0.39; 95% confidence interval: 0.26, 0.58; P = 3.89 × 10–06), which in turn might be partly mediated by more years of schooling being protective against the following: having a father with T2D, being overweight, having higher blood pressure and higher levels of circulating triglycerides, and having lower levels of HDL cholesterol. More schooling years had no effect on risk for gestational diabetes or polycystic ovarian syndrome and was associated with a decreased likelihood of moderate physical activity. These findings imply that strategies to retain adults in higher education may help reduce the risk for a major source of metabolic morbidity and mortality.
Cleavage of proteoglycans, plasma proteins and the platelet-derived growth factor receptor in the hemorrhagic process induced by snake venom metalloproteinases
Authors: Asega Amanda F. , Menezes Milene C. , Trevisan-Silva Dilza , Cajado-Carvalho Daniela , Bertholim Luciana , Oliveira Ana K. , Zelanis André , Serrano Solange M. T.
Published: July 2020

Envenoming by viperid snakes results in a complex pattern of tissue damage, including hemorrhage, which in severe cases may lead to permanent sequelae. Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) are main players in this pathogenesis, acting synergistically upon different mammalian proteomes. Hemorrhagic Factor 3 (HF3), a P-III class SVMP from Bothrops jararaca, induces severe local hemorrhage at pmol doses in a murine model. Our hypothesis is that in a complex scenario of tissue damage, HF3 triggers proteolytic cascades by acting on a partially known substrate repertoire. Here, we focused on the hypothesis that different proteoglycans, plasma proteins, and the platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) could be involved in the HF3-induced hemorrhagic process. In surface plasmon resonance assays, various proteoglycans were demonstrated to interact with HF3, and their incubation with HF3 showed degradation or limited proteolysis. Likewise, Western blot analysis showed in vivo degradation of biglycan, decorin, glypican, lumican and syndecan in the HF3-induced hemorrhagic process. Moreover, antithrombin III, complement components C3 and C4, factor II and plasminogen were cleaved in vitro by HF3. Notably, HF3 cleaved PDGFR (alpha and beta) and PDGF in vitro, while both receptor forms were detected as cleaved in vivo in the hemorrhagic process induced by HF3. These findings outline the multifactorial character of SVMP-induced tissue damage, including the transient activation of tissue proteinases, and underscore for the first time that endothelial glycocalyx proteoglycans and PDGFR are targets of SVMPs in the disruption of microvasculature integrity and generation of hemorrhage.
An efficient coral survey method based on a large-scale 3-D structure model obtained by Speedy Sea Scanner and U-Net segmentation
Authors: Mizuno Katsunori , Terayama Kei , Hagino Seiichiro , Tabeta Shigeru , Sakamoto Shingo , Ogawa Toshihiro , Sugimoto Kenichi , Fukami Hironobu
Published: July 2020

Over the last 3 decades, a large portion of coral cover has been lost around the globe. This significant decline necessitates a rapid assessment of coral reef health to enable more effective management. In this paper, we propose an efficient method for coral cover estimation and demonstrate its viability. A large-scale 3-D structure model, with resolutions in the x, y and z planes of 0.01 m, was successfully generated by means of a towed optical camera array system (Speedy Sea Scanner). The survey efficiency attained was 12,146 m2/h. In addition, we propose a segmentation method utilizing U-Net architecture and estimate coral coverage using a large-scale 2-D image. The U-Net-based segmentation method has shown higher accuracy than pixelwise CNN modeling. Moreover, the computational cost of a U-Net-based method is much lower than that of a pixelwise CNN-based one. We believe that an array of these survey tools can contribute to the rapid assessment of coral reefs.
A systematic approach to alkaline-surfactant-foam flooding of heavy oil: microfluidic assessment with a novel phase-behavior viscosity map
Authors: Vavra Eric , Puerto Maura , Biswal Sibani L. , Hirasaki George J.
Published: July 2020

The apparent viscosity of viscous heavy oil emulsions in water can be less than that of the bulk oil. Microfluidic flooding experiments were conducted to evaluate how alkali-surfactant-foam enhanced oil recovery (ASF EOR) of heavy oil is affected by emulsion formation. A novel phase-behavior viscosity map—a plot of added salinity vs. soap fraction combining phase behavior and bulk apparent viscosity information—is proposed as a rapid and convenient method for identifying suitable injection compositions. The characteristic soap fraction, $${X}_{soap}^{Sor}$$XsoapSor, is shown to be an effective benchmark for relating information from the phase-viscosity map to expected ASF flood test performance in micromodels. Characteristically more hydrophilic cases were found to be favorable for recovering oil, despite greater interfacial tensions, due to wettability alteration towards water-wet conditions and the formation of low apparent-viscosity oil-in-water (O/W) macroemulsions. Wettability alteration and bubble-oil pinch-off were identified as contributing mechanisms to the formation of these macroemulsions. Conversely, characteristically less hydrophilic cases were accompanied by a large increase in apparent viscosity due to the formation of water-in-oil (W/O) macroemulsions.
Effects of combining exercise with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on cognitive function in the elderly: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Tokuda Hisanori , Ito Mika , Sueyasu Toshiaki , Sasaki Hideyuki , Morita Satoshi , Kaneda Yoshihisa , Rogi Tomohiro , Kondo Sumio , Kouzaki Motoki , Tsukiura Takashi , Shibata Hiroshi
Published: July 2020

Multifactorial lifestyle intervention is known to be more effective for ameliorating cognitive decline than single factor intervention; however, the effects of combining exercise with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) on the elderlies' cognitive function remain unclear. We conducted a randomised, single-masked placebo-controlled trial in non-demented elderly Japanese individuals. Participants were randomly allocated to the exercise with LCPUFA, placebo, or no exercise with placebo (control) groups. Participants in the exercise groups performed 150 min of exercise per week, comprised resistance and aerobic training, for 24 weeks with supplements of either LCPUFA (docosahexaenoic acid, 300 mg/day; eicosapentaenoic acid, 100 mg/day; arachidonic acid, 120 mg/day) or placebo. Cognitive functions were evaluated by neuropsychological tests prior to and following the intervention. The per-protocol set analysis (n = 76) revealed no significant differences between the exercise and the control groups in changes of neuropsychological tests. Subgroup analysis for participants with low skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) corresponding to sarcopenia cut-off value showed changes in selective attention, while working memory in the exercise with LCPUFA group was better than in the control group. These findings suggest that exercise with LCPUFA supplementation potentially improves attention and working memory in the elderly with low SMI.
Fractionation of carbon and hydrogen isotopes of TSR-altered gas products under closed system pyrolysis
Authors: Liu Quanyou , Peng Weilong , Meng Qingqiang , Zhu Dongya , Jin Zhijun , Wu Xiaoqi
Published: July 2020

Thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) is common in marine carbonate gas reservoirs, leading to complicated isotope characteristics of TSR-altered gas. This study aims to better understand how TSR affects the geochemical and isotopic compositions of alkanes in pyrolysis products. Pyrolysis of TSR were conducted with crude oil, nonane (C9) and methylnaphthalene (MN) in the presence of MgSO4 solution at temperatures of 350 °C, 360 °C, and 370 °C for different durations of 4–219 h in a closed system. Results show that carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions of alkane gas resulting from TSR (pyrolysis with crude oil and MgSO4) became heavier with increasing carbon number, i.e., δ13C1 < δ13C2 < δ13C3 and δ2H–C1 < δ2H–C2 < δ2H–C3. Compared with the δ13C1, δ13C2 and δ13C3 increased in a much wider range as heating continued. Carbon and hydrogen isotopes of alkane gas produced by TSR became heavier with increasing gas souring index. Values for δ13C1–δ13C2 and δ2H–C1– δ2H–C2 typically decreased as oil and C9 underwent thermal cracking. Comparative experiments using C9 in the presence of MgSO4 produced partially reversed carbon isotope series (δ13C1 > δ13C2), which, for the first time, confirmed the ability of TSR to cause isotopic reversal from pyrolysis. The residual heavy alkanes gradually became 13C-enriched during TSR, which increased δ13C2 values and changed the partially reversed isotope sequence to a positive sequence (δ13C1 < δ13C2). The discovery of a partial reversal of the carbon isotope series of alkane gases through pyrolysis will further deepen the understanding of TSR-altered natural gas.
Crystal structure of the Rab33B/Atg16L1 effector complex
Authors: Metje-Sprink Janina , Groffmann Johannes , Neumann Piotr , Barg-Kues Brigitte , Ficner Ralf , Kühnel Karin , Schalk Amanda M. , Binotti Beyenech
Published: July 2020

The Atg12-Atg5/Atg16L1 complex is recruited by WIPI2b to the site of autophagosome formation. Atg16L1 is an effector of the Golgi resident GTPase Rab33B. Here we identified a minimal stable complex of murine Rab33B(30–202) Q92L and Atg16L1(153–210). Atg16L1(153–210) comprises the C-terminal part of the Atg16L1 coiled-coil domain. We have determined the crystal structure of the Rab33B Q92L/Atg16L1(153–210) effector complex at 3.47 Å resolution. This structure reveals that two Rab33B molecules bind to the diverging α-helices of the dimeric Atg16L1 coiled-coil domain. We mutated Atg16L1 and Rab33B interface residues and found that they disrupt complex formation in pull-down assays and cellular co-localization studies. The Rab33B binding site of Atg16L1 comprises 20 residues and immediately precedes the WIPI2b binding site. Rab33B mutations that abolish Atg16L binding also abrogate Rab33B association with the Golgi stacks. Atg16L1 mutants that are defective in Rab33B binding still co-localize with WIPI2b in vivo. The close proximity of the Rab33B and WIPI2b binding sites might facilitate the recruitment of Rab33B containing vesicles to provide a source of lipids during autophagosome biogenesis.
Development of novel hybridized models for urban flood susceptibility mapping
Authors: Rahmati Omid , Darabi Hamid , Panahi Mahdi , Kalantari Zahra , Naghibi Seyed Amir , Ferreira Carla Sofia Santos , Kornejady Aiding , Karimidastenaei Zahra , Mohammadi Farnoush , Stefanidis Stefanos , Tien Bui Dieu , Haghighi Ali Torabi
Published: July 2020

Floods in urban environments often result in loss of life and destruction of property, with many negative socio-economic effects. However, the application of most flood prediction models still remains challenging due to data scarcity. This creates a need to develop novel hybridized models based on historical urban flood events, using, e.g., metaheuristic optimization algorithms and wavelet analysis. The hybridized models examined in this study (Wavelet-SVR-Bat and Wavelet-SVR-GWO), designed as intelligent systems, consist of a support vector regression (SVR), integrated with a combination of wavelet transform and metaheuristic optimization algorithms, including the grey wolf optimizer (GWO), and the bat optimizer (Bat). The efficiency of the novel hybridized and standalone SVR models for spatial modeling of urban flood inundation was evaluated using different cutoff-dependent and cutoff-independent evaluation criteria, including area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), Accuracy (A), Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC), Misclassification Rate (MR), and F-score. The results demonstrated that both hybridized models had very high performance (Wavelet-SVR-GWO: AUC = 0.981, A = 0.92, MCC = 0.86, MR = 0.07; Wavelet-SVR-Bat: AUC = 0.972, A = 0.88, MCC = 0.76, MR = 0.11) compared with the standalone SVR (AUC = 0.917, A = 0.85, MCC = 0.7, MR = 0.15). Therefore, these hybridized models are a promising, cost-effective method for spatial modeling of urban flood susceptibility and for providing in-depth insights to guide flood preparedness and emergency response services.
Quantum state holography to reconstruct the molecular wave packet using an attosecond XUV–XUV pump-probe technique
Authors: González-Castrillo Alberto , Martín Fernando , Palacios Alicia
Published: July 2020

An attosecond molecular interferometer is proposed by using a XUV–XUV pump-probe scheme. The interferograms resulting in the photoelectron distributions enable the full reconstruction of the molecular wave packet associated to excited states using a quantum state holographic approach that, to our knowledge, has only been proposed for simple atomic targets combining attosecond XUV pulses with IR light. In contrast with existing works, we investigate schemes where one- and two-photon absorption paths contribute to ionize the hydrogen molecule and show that it is possible to retrieve the excitation dynamics even when imprinted in a minority channel. Furthermore, we provide a systematic analysis of the time-frequency maps that reveal the distinct, but tightly coupled, motion of electrons and nuclei.
Single berry reconstitution prior to RNA-sequencing reveals novel insights into transcriptomic remodeling by leafroll virus infections in grapevines
Authors: Ghaffari Sana , Reynard Jean Sébastien , Rienth Markus
Published: July 2020

Leafroll viruses are among the most devastating pathogens in viticulture and are responsible for major economic losses in the wine industry. However, the molecular interactions underlying the effects on fruit quality deterioration are not well understood. The few molecular studies conducted on berries from infected vines, associated quality decreases with the repression of key genes in sugar transport and anthocyanin biosynthesis. Sampling protocols in these studies did however not account for berry heterogeneity and potential virus induced phenological shifts, which could have biased the molecular information. In the present study, we adopted an innovative individual berry sampling protocol to produce homogeneous batches for RNA extraction, thereby circumventing berry heterogeneity and compensating for virus induced phenological shifts. This way a characterization of the transcriptomic modulation by viral infections was possible and explain why our results differ significantly from previously reported repression of anthocyanin biosynthesis and sugar metabolism. The present study provides new insights into the berry transcriptome modulation by leafroll infection, highlighting the virus induced upregulation of plant innate immunity as well as an increased responsiveness of the early ripening berry to biotic stressors. The study furthermore emphasizes the importance of sampling protocols in physiological studies on grapevine berry metabolism.
Expression profiling of human milk derived exosomal microRNAs and their targets in HIV-1 infected mothers
Authors: Zahoor Muhammad Atif , Yao Xiao-Dan , Henrick Bethany M. , Verschoor Chris P. , Abimiku Alash’le , Osawe Sophia , Rosenthal Kenneth L.
Published: July 2020

Despite the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-1 infected mothers approximately 5% of new HIV-1 infections still occur in breastfed infants annually, which warrants for the development of novel strategies to prevent new HIV-1 infections in infants. Human milk (HM) exosomes are highly enriched in microRNAs (miRNAs), which play an important role in neonatal immunity. Furthermore, HM exosomes from healthy donors are known to inhibit HIV-1 infection and transmission; however, the effect of HIV-1 on HM exosomal miRNA signatures remains unknown. In this study, we used nCounter NanoString technology and investigated miRNAs expression profiles in first week postpartum HM exosomes from HIV-1 infected and uninfected control mothers (n = 36). Our results indicated that HIV-1 perturbed the differential expression patterns of 19 miRNAs (13 upregulated and 6 downregulated) in HIV-1 infected women compared to healthy controls. DIANA-miR functional pathway analyses revealed that multiple biological pathways are involved including cell cycle, pathways in cancer, TGF-β signaling, FoxO signaling, fatty acid biosynthesis, p53 signaling and apoptosis. Moreover, the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses of miR-630 and miR-378g yielded areas under the ROC curves of 0.82 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.82) and 0.83 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.83), respectively highlighting their potential to serve as biomarkers to identify HIV-1 infection in women. These data may contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV-1.
Screening of safe soybean cultivars for cadmium contaminated fields
Authors: Zhi Yang , Sun Ting , Zhou Qixing , Leng Xue
Published: July 2020

The selection and breeding of Cd-safe cultivars (CSCs) has been used to minimize the influx of Cd into the human food chain. The pot-culture experiment combined with the field-culture experiment were conducted to screen out CSCs, i.e. the cultivars accumulating Cd at low enough level for safe consumption in their edible parts when grown in contaminated soils, were screened out and explored among the crop cultivars. We used 25 Chinese soybean cultivars in different Cd contaminated soils to assess the performance of this new method. Variations in uptake, enrichment, and translocation of Cd among these cultivars were studied to screen out soybean CSCs. The accumulation of Cd in the five soybean genotypes was lower than 0.20 mg kg−1 under 1.0 mg Cd kg−1 treatment, and the EF and TF were lower than 1.0. The field studies further identified that cultivar Shennong 10, Tiedou 36 and Liaodou 21 fit the criteria for CSCs, which were suitable to be planted in low-Cd (Cd concentration < 1.22 mg kg−1) contaminated soils. The results can provide scientific methods for screening low-Cd accumulation in soybeans and can provide a path for controlling, treating and remedying Cd-contaminated agricultural soils to make grains safe for human consumption.
Patient and haemodynamic factors affecting intraoperative graft flow during coronary artery bypass grafting: an observational pilot study
Authors: Lee Sang-Wook , Jo Jun-Young , Kim Wook-Jong , Choi Dae-Kee , Choi In-Cheol
Published: July 2020

Transit-time flow measurement (TTFM) is frequently used to evaluate intraoperative quality control during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and has the ability to assess graft failure intraoperatively. However, perioperative factors affecting TTFM during CABG remain poorly understood. Patients who underwent CABG at a single institution between July 2016 and May 2018 were prospectively evaluated. TTFM and blood viscosity were measured haemodynamically, while mean flow (mL/min), pulsatility index, and diastolic filling were recorded. Arterial blood gas was analysed immediately after left internal mammary artery to left descending artery anastomosis and before sternal closure. Factors associated with TTFM were assessed using multiple linear regression analysis. We evaluated 57 of the 62 patients who underwent CABG during the study period, including 49 who underwent off-pump and 8 who underwent on-pump surgeries. Blood viscosity was not significantly associated with TTFM (p > 0.05). However, TTFM was significantly associated with body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and cardiac index (p < 0.05 each). In conclusion, maintaining the SBP in the perioperative period and maintaining the CI with inotropic support or fluid resuscitation can be important in improving blood flow of graft vessels after surgery.
Fermi-crossing Type-II Dirac fermions and topological surface states in NiTe2
Authors: Mukherjee Saumya , Jung Sung Won , Weber Sophie F. , Xu Chunqiang , Qian Dong , Xu Xiaofeng , Biswas Pabitra K. , Kim Timur K. , Chapon Laurent C. , Watson Matthew D. , Neaton Jeffrey B. , Cacho Cephise
Published: July 2020

Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offer an ideal platform to experimentally realize Dirac fermions. However, typically these exotic quasiparticles are located far away from the Fermi level, limiting the contribution of Dirac-like carriers to the transport properties. Here we show that NiTe2 hosts both bulk Type-II Dirac points and topological surface states. The underlying mechanism is shared with other TMDs and based on the generic topological character of the Te p-orbital manifold. However, unique to NiTe2, a significant contribution of Ni d orbital states shifts the energy of the Type-II Dirac point close to the Fermi level. In addition, one of the topological surface states intersects the Fermi energy and exhibits a remarkably large spin splitting of 120 meV. Our results establish NiTe2 as an exciting candidate for next-generation spintronics devices.
Substrate-induced strain in 2D layered GaSe materials grown by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Liu Cheng-Wei , Dai Jin-Ji , Wu Ssu-Kuan , Diep Nhu-Quynh , Huynh Sa-Hoang , Mai Thi-Thu , Wen Hua-Chiang , Yuan Chi-Tsu , Chou Wu-Ching , Shen Ji-Lin , Luc Huy-Hoang
Published: July 2020

Two-dimensional (2D) layered GaSe films were grown on GaAs (001), GaN/Sapphire, and Mica substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The in situ reflective high-energy electron diffraction monitoring reveals randomly in-plane orientations of nucleated GaSe layers grown on hexagonal GaN/Sapphire and Mica substrates, whereas single-orientation GaSe domain is predominant in the GaSe/GaAs (001) sample. Strong red-shifts in the frequency of in-plane $${E}_{2g}^{2}$$E2g2 vibration modes and bound exciton emissions observed from Raman scattering and photoluminescence spectra in all samples are attributed to the unintentionally biaxial in-plane tensile strains, induced by the dissimilarity of symmetrical surface structure between the 2D-GaSe layers and the substrates during the epitaxial growth. The results in this study provide an important understanding of the MBE-growth process of 2D-GaSe on 2D/3D hybrid-heterostructures and pave the way in strain engineering and optical manipulation of 2D layered GaSe materials for novel optoelectronic integrated technologies.