bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of nanostructured P2-Na2/3MnO2 for high performance sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Jung Euiyeon , Park Yuwon , Park Kunsu , Kwon Mi-Sook , Park Mihyun , Sinha Arun Kumar , Lee Byoung-Hoon , Kim Jiheon , Lee Hyeon Seok , Chae Sue In , Cho Sung-Pyo , Lee Kyu Tae , Hyeon Taeghwan
Published: March 2019

Nanostructured P2-Na2/3MnO2 prepared by a novel synthetic method delivers a high initial capacity (170 mA h g−1) with excellent rate capability.
Mechanical properties of supramolecular polymeric materials cross-linked by donor–acceptor interactions
Authors: Itano Misaki , Kobayashi Yuichiro , Takashima Yoshinori , Harada Akira , Yamaguchi Hiroyasu
Published: March 2019

We prepare a tough elastomer with aromatic donor and acceptor molecules introduced on the same polymer side chain.
Formation of the quasi-planar B50boron cluster: topological path from B10and disk aromaticity
Authors: Pham Hung Tan , Muya Jules Tshishimbi , Buendía Fernando , Ceulemans Arnout , Nguyen Minh Tho
Published: March 2019

The lowest-lying isomer of the B50boron cluster is confirmed to have a quasi-planar shape with two hexagonal holes. This cluster is derived from a topological (leapfrog) path from B10and its high thermodynamical stability is due to a disk aromaticity.
Order parameters, orientational distribution functions and heliconical tilt angles of oligomeric liquid crystals
Authors: Mandle Richard J. , Goodby John W.
Published: March 2019

Twist-bend (TB) phases possess a local helical structure with a pitch length of a few nanometers. X-ray scattering experiments on aligned samples of dimeric and oligomeric materials allows the orientational order parameters, orientational distribution functions and heliconical tilt angles to be calculated.
Polybasic peptide–levofloxacin conjugates potentiate fluoroquinolones and other classes of antibiotics against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria
Authors: Berry Liam , Domalaon Ronald , Brizuela Marc , Zhanel George G. , Schweizer Frank
Published: March 2019

To address the rising threat of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, new therapeutic strategies must be developed.
Chemically reactive protein nanoparticles for synthesis of a durable and deformable superhydrophobic material
Authors: Shome Arpita , Rather Adil Majeed , Manna Uttam
Published: March 2019

A naturally derived approach is introduced for the synthesis of a nature-inspired, highly compressible and extremely water repellent material. The BSA protein derived highly tolerant superhydrophobic cotton was successfully applied in eco-friendly remediation of various oil contaminants selectively from aqueous phases.
Correction: Influence of carbonization conditions on luminescence and gene delivery properties of nitrogen-doped carbon dots
Authors: Claudel Mickaël , Fan Jiahui , Rapp Mickaël , Pons Françoise , Lebeau Luc
Published: March 2019

Correction for ‘Influence of carbonization conditions on luminescence and gene delivery properties of nitrogen-doped carbon dots’ by Mickaël Claudel et al., RSC Adv., 2019, 9, 3493–3502.
Zn(O,S)-based electron-selective contacts with tunable band structure for silicon heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Pan Guangyou , Chen Jianhui , Ge Kunpeng , Yang Linlin , Li Feng , Wang Ziqian , Shi Sihan , Yang Xueliang , Zhou Zhiqiang , Tang Andong , Liu Wei , Sun Yun
Published: March 2019

Novel ESCs is constructed by tunable energy band structure Zn(O,S) materials and incorporated in SHJ cells contributing to device performance.
Deprotonation and vacancies at the CH3NH3PbI3/ZnO and CH3NH3PbI3/GaN interfaces, detected in their theoretical XANES
Authors: Wierzbowska Małgorzata
Published: March 2019

Fingerprints of dehydrogenation and atomic vacancies at the MAPbI3/ZnO and MAPbI3/GaN interfaces in their theoretical XANES.
Online video object segmentation via LRS representation
Authors: Gu Song , Wang Jian , Du Yingjie , Zhang Weirui , Hao Wei , Zhou Dongmei
Published: March 2019

Video object segmentation has been extensively investigated in computer vision recently because of its wide range of applications. The key factor of the segmentation is the construction of the spatiotemporal coherence. Inaccurate motion approximation as a measurement of the coherence usually leads to an inaccurate segmentation result. To obtain an accurate segmentation result, a low‐rank sparse (LRS)‐based approach is proposed. Regarding each superpixel as an element, this algorithm has a good segmentation accuracy compared with other pixel‐level algorithms. Each element can be represented by the sparse linear combinations of dictionary templates, and this algorithm capitalises on the inherent low‐rank structure of representations that are learnt jointly. The represented coefficients construct an affinity matrix which measures the elements’ similarity between the current frame and the templates in the dictionary. For video object segmentation, a principled spatiotemporal objective function that uses LRS saliency term to propagate information between frames. Furthermore, an online parameter updating scheme is proposed to enhance the system's robustness. The online model propagates information forward without the need to access future frames. Evaluations on many challenging sequences demonstrate that the authors' approach outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art methods in terms of object segmentation accuracy.
Thresholding gradient methods in Hilbert spaces: support identification and linear convergence
Authors: Garrigos Guillaume , Rosasco Lorenzo , Villa Silvia
Published: March 2019

We study theℓ1regularized least squares optimization problem in a separable Hilbert space. We show that the iterative soft-thresholding algorithm (ISTA) converges linearly, without making any assumption on the linear operator into play or on the problem. The result is obtained combining two key concepts: the notion ofextended support, a finite set containing the support, and the notion ofconditioning over finite-dimensional sets. We prove that ISTA identifies the solution extended support after a finite number of iterations, and we derive linear convergence from the conditioning property, which is always satisfied forℓ1regularized least squares problems. Our analysis extends to the entire class of thresholding gradient algorithms, for which we provide a conceptually new proof of strong convergence, as well as convergence rates.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty versus intragastric balloon insertion: efficacy, durability, and safety
Authors: Fayad Lea , Cheskin Lawrence J. , Adam Atif , Badurdeen Dilhana S. , Hill Christine , Agnihotri Abhishek , Dunlap Margo , Simsek Cem , Khashab Mouen A. , Kalloo Anthony N. , Kumbhari Vivek
Published: March 2019

Background Intragastric balloon (IGB) placement and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) are reported to be safe and effective endoscopic bariatric therapies. This study aimed to compare the patient demographics and therapeutic outcomes between the IGB and ESG procedures.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from consecutive patients between December 2015 and October 2017 who underwent IGB or ESG at a single academic center. Fluid-filled IGBs implanted for a 6-month duration were used. IGB and ESG patients were subjected to identical post-procedure dietary instructions and follow-up protocols. Body weight was recorded at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-procedure.

Results A total of 47 patients underwent IGB insertion and 58 underwent ESG. The IGB cohort had a lower baseline body mass index (BMI) than the ESG (34.5 vs. 41.5 kg/m2; P < 0.001) and a significantly lower proportion of men (2.1 % vs. 41.4 %; P < 0.001). IGB patients showed a mean (standard deviation [SD]) percentage total body weight loss (%TBWL) that was significantly lower than ESG patients at 1 month (6.6 % [2.6 %] vs. 9.9 % [2.4 %]; P < 0.001), 3 months (11.1 % [4.4 %] vs. 14.3 % [4.6 %]; P = 0.004), 6 months (15.0 % [7.6 %] vs. 19.5 % [5.7 %]; P = 0.01), and 12 months (13.9 % [9.0 %] vs. 21.3 % [6.6 %]; P = 0.005). The IGB cohort also experienced significantly more adverse events compared with the ESG (17 % vs. 5.2 %; P = 0.048).

Conclusions IGB placement and ESG result in clinically meaningful weight loss. However, ESG appears to provide clinically superior and more enduring weight loss with fewer adverse events compared with an IGB.
Ponderomotive and resonant effects in the acceleration of particles by electromagnetic modes
Authors: Almansa I. , Russman F. B. , Marini S. , Peter E. , de Oliveira G. I. , Cairns R. A. , Rizzato F. B.
Published: March 2019

In the present analysis, we study the dynamics of charged particles under the action of slowly modulated electromagnetic carrier waves. With the use of a high-frequency laser mode along with a modulated static magnetic wiggler, we show that the ensuing total field effectively acts as a slowly modulated high-frequency beat-wave field typical of inverse free-electron laser schemes. This effective resulting field is capable of accelerating particles in much the same way as space-charge wake fields do in plasma accelerators, with the advantage of being more stable than plasma related methods. Acceleration occurs as particles transition from ponderomotive to resonant regimes, so we develop the ponderomotive formalism needed to examine this problem. The ponderomotive formalism includes terms that, although not discussed in the usual applications of the approximation, are nevertheless of crucial importance in the vicinity of resonant capture. The role of these terms is also briefly discussed in the context of generic laser-plasma interactions.
Development of an automated underwater abrasion rig to determine galvanic effects during the growth and localised breakdown of surface films in CO2-containing solutions
Authors: Barker Richard , Yazdi Rouhollah , Hua Yong , Jackson Andrew , Ghanbarzadeh Ali , Huggan Mick , Charpentier Thibaut , Neville Anne
Published: March 2019

This paper outlines the development of an automated underwater abrasion rig to assist in understanding the galvanic interaction induced by surface films when continuous localised mechanical film breakdown is encountered on the surface of carbon steel in CO2-containing environments. The rig enables the measurement of galvanic current between a small X65 steel pin and a larger steel specimen, as well as the intrinsic corrosion rate of an additional, uncoupled larger specimen. The surface film developed on the pin is removed periodically using an automated reciprocating and rotating shaft with a sand paper grit pad attached to the base, while the surface film is allowed to establish itself undisrupted on the large specimen. The setup essentially simulates a tribo-corrosion process where local removal of material occurs within a carbon steel pipeline as a result of periodic sand particle impingement. Initial results focus on validating the reproducibility of the technique, as well as determining the galvanic effects associated with iron carbide and iron carbonate for two model sets of conditions to highlight the capabilities of the system.
Magnetic iron doping in Cu2SnS3 ceramics for enhanced thermoelectric transport properties
Authors: Zhao Lei , Chen Changchun , Pan Lin , Hu Xiaohui , Lu Chunhua , Wang Yifeng
Published: March 2019

Thermoelectric properties of Fe-doped Cu2SnS3 (Cu2Sn1−xFexS3, x = 0–0.25) ceramics were studied in relation to magnetoelectric interaction. Phase composition changed from monoclinic-dominating to cubic-and-tetragonal-dominating with increasing x. Electrical conductivity improved effectively with a metallic behavior below 520 K, while it increased unusually at higher temperatures with x over 0.15, caused by an increased carrier concentration as a result of the ferro-to-paramagnetism transition in heavily doped samples. Benefiting from the Fe-induced spin entropy and the enhanced density of states due to the participation of Fe-3d orbitals, the Seebeck coefficient is much higher than that for non-magnetism doping, leading to a large power factor of 1.15 mW m−1 K−2. With a low lattice thermal conductivity owing to cation-disordering and soft bonding, a maximal ZT of ∼0.75 has been achieved at 723 K in the x = 0.15 sample, which stands one among the top of Cu-based ternary chalcogenides.
Simulation study of the influence of experimental variations on the structure and quality of plasma liners
Authors: Shih Wen , Samulyak Roman , Hsu Scott C. , Langendorf Samuel J. , Yates Kevin C. , Thio Y. C. Francis
Published: March 2019

Simulation studies of a section of a spherically imploding plasma liner, formed by the merger of six hypersonic plasma jets, have been performed at conditions relevant to the Plasma Liner Experiment (PLX) [S. C. Hsu et al., IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 46, 1951–1961 (2018)]. The main aim of simulations was to study the sensitivity of the detailed structure of plasma liners and their global properties to experimental mass variations and timing jitter across the six plasma jets. Experimentally observable synthetic quantities have been computed using simulation data and compared with the available experimental data. Simulations predicted that the primary oblique shock wave structure is preserved at small experimental variations. At later phases of the liner implosion, primary shocks and, especially, secondary shocks are more sensitive to experimental variations. These conclusions follow from the simulation data and experimental CCD camera images. Small displacements of shock wave structures may also cause significant changes in the synthetic interferometer data at early time. Our studies showed that such global properties of the plasma liners such as the averaged Mach number and averaged ram pressure along the leading edges of plasma liners are less sensitive to experimental variations. Simulation data of the liner structure were largely confirmed by the PLX experimental data.
Manipulating hydrogen atoms using permanent magnets: Characterisation of a velocity-filtering guide
Authors: Toscano Jutta , Hejduk Michal , McGhee Henry G. , Heazlewood Brianna R.
Published: March 2019

A Halbach array composed of 12 permanent magnets in a hexapole configuration is employed to deflect hydrogen atoms as they exit a Zeeman decelerator. The ability to preferentially manipulate H atoms is very useful, as there are currently very few techniques that are appropriate for purifying a beam of H atoms from precursor molecules (such as molecular hydrogen or ammonia), seed gases, and other contaminant species. The extent to which hydrogen atoms are deflected by a single Halbach array when it is tilted or shifted off the main beam axis is characterised experimentally and interpreted with the aid of a simple mathematical model. A radical beam filter is subsequently introduced, where four Halbach arrays arranged in series serve to deflect H atoms away from the main beam axis and around skimming blades; all other components of the incoming beam are blocked by the blades and are thus not transmitted through the magnetic guide. The properties of the guide, as established by experimental measurements and complemented by detailed simulations, confirm that it is a highly effective beam filter—successfully generating a pure and velocity-selected beam of H atoms.
Light-controlled assembly of active colloidal molecules
Authors: Schmidt Falko , Liebchen Benno , Löwen Hartmut , Volpe Giovanni
Published: March 2019

Thanks to a constant energy input, active matter can self-assemble into phases with complex architectures and functionalities such as living clusters that dynamically form, reshape, and break-up, which are forbidden in equilibrium materials by the entropy maximization (or free energy minimization) principle. The challenge to control this active self-assembly has evoked widespread efforts typically hinging on engineering of the properties of individual motile constituents. Here, we provide a different route, where activity occurs as an emergent phenomenon only when individual building blocks bind together in a way that we control by laser light. Using experiments and simulations of two species of immotile microspheres, we exemplify this route by creating active molecules featuring a complex array of behaviors, becoming migrators, spinners, and rotators. The possibility to control the dynamics of active self-assembly via light-controllable nonreciprocal interactions will inspire new approaches to understand living matter and to design active materials.
An efficient method to reconstruct free energy profiles for diffusive processes in transition interface sampling and forward flux sampling simulations
Authors: Qin Lin , Dellago Christoph , Kozeschnik Ernst
Published: March 2019

We propose a Reweighted Partial Path (RPP) method to compute free energy profiles for diffusive processes in single Transition Interface Sampling (TIS) or Forward Flux Sampling (FFS) simulations. The method employs a partial path reweighting strategy, based on the memory loss assumption for diffusive systems, to derive the equilibrium distribution of states along a chosen order parameter from TIS or FFS trajectories. No additional calculations such as reverse TIS or umbrella sampling are required. The application of the RPP method is demonstrated by calculating the nucleation free energy of early-stage Cu precipitates in a dilute Fe-Cu alloy.
The curl operator on odd-dimensional manifolds
Authors: Bär Christian
Published: March 2019

We study the spectral properties of curl, a linear differential operator of first order acting on differential forms of appropriate degree on an odd-dimensional closed oriented Riemannian manifold. In three dimensions, its eigenvalues are the electromagnetic oscillation frequencies in vacuum without external sources. In general, the spectrum consists of the eigenvalue 0 with infinite multiplicity and further real discrete eigenvalues of finite multiplicity. We compute the Weyl asymptotics and study the ζ-function. We give a sharp lower eigenvalue bound for positively curved manifolds and analyze the equality case. Finally, we compute the spectrum for flat tori, round spheres, and 3-dimensional spherical space forms.
A rate-doubled 10-GHz fiducial comb generator for precision optical timing calibration
Authors: Bittle W. A. , Bock M. , Boni R. , Kendrick J. , Sorce A. , Sorce C.
Published: March 2019

Solid-state optical fiducial timing pulse generators provide a convenient and accurate method to include timing fiducials in a streak-camera image for time-base correction. Current commercially available vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) emitting in the visible range can be amplitude modulated up to 5 GHz. An optically passive method is utilized to interleave a time-delayed path of the 5-GHz pulsed light with itself, producing a 10-GHz pulsed fiducial, or comb. Comb pulse rates at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 GHz can also be selected. The instrument presented is a self-contained and portable generator with primary use for streak-camera temporal calibration. Applications can also be extended to many other optical timing needs. The VCSEL output is fiber optic coupled at a wavelength of 680 nm (visible red) with a nearly Gaussian pulse shape. The peak power of each ∼50-ps full width at half maximum (FWHM) comb pulse at 5-GHz operation, or picket, is approximately 5 mW. The low phase noise of the internal microwave modulation drive source provides low pulse to pulse jitter. An external reference frequency standard can be utilized to synchronize the output to external timing equipment. A selectable internal reference frequency crystal oscillator is incorporated for stand-alone operation.
Abrupt and gradual onset of synchronized oscillations due to dynamical quorum sensing in the single-cathode multi-anode nickel electrodissolution system
Authors: Hankins Michael J. , Gáspár Vilmos , Kiss István Z.
Published: March 2019

The nonlinear dynamics of an oscillatory Ni electrodissolution–hydrogen ion reduction system are explored in a multi-electrode anode–single cathode system. A mathematical analysis of the charge balance equations reveals that the coupling scheme is similar to dynamical quorum sensing, where the number of anode wires affects a parameter related to the population density. In a parameter region where the large population exhibits stationary behavior, with sufficiently strong coupling (with small individual resistances attached to the anode wires), synchronized oscillations emerge abruptly with decreasing the number of anodes. Therefore, an “inverse” dynamical quorum sensing takes place. With weak coupling the transition is gradual. The experiments are supported by numerical simulation of a kinetic model of the process. The results thus show that the description of nontrivial cathode-anode interactions in the form of dynamical quorum sensing provides an efficient way of analyzing the dynamical response of complex, interacting electrochemical reactions.
Impact of barrier layer on HfO2-based conductive bridge random access memory
Authors: Lin Chun-An , Huang Chu-Jie , Tseng Tseung-Yuen
Published: March 2019

In this letter, we report the impact of the barrier layer on the performance of HfO2-based conductive bridge RAM (CBRAM) devices with TeTiW as the source layer. The considerable improvement of retention in the CBRAM device using TiW as the barrier layer is attributed to the lower amount of oxygen vacancies in the switching layer, which is justified from the O1s core level in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. Therefore, the diffusion of Te in the resistive layer of the device with the TiW barrier layer is limited even at high temperature. The TeTiW/TiW/HfO2/TiN CBRAM device provides an excellent endurance of more than 104 cycles, with an on/off ratio of 200. Such a device also features long retention for up to 104 s at 200 °C.
Generation of multiple beams carrying different orbital angular momentum modes based on anisotropic holographic metasurfaces in the radio-frequency domain
Authors: Meng Xiangshuai , Wu Jiaji , Wu Zhensen , Yang Lin , Huang Li , Li Xi , Qu Tan , Wu Zhe
Published: March 2019

In this paper, an anisotropic holographic metasurface design is proposed, fabricated, and measured, to demonstrate that it can generate multiple beams with different orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes in the radio-frequency domain. The anisotropic holographic metasurface is composed of an array of quasi-periodic square particles with a rectangular slot in the upper metallic layer covered with a dielectric ground. The classic leaky-wave theory and a microwave holography method are introduced to construct the holograms that interfere with the surface waves excited by a monopole antenna and the objective waves represented by the desired multiple beams carrying different OAM modes. Moreover, the numerical simulations and experimental results are in very good agreement, which demonstrates the excellent performance of the design and provides a method of generating multiple OAM modes simultaneously. This lays a solid foundation for a channel-multiplexing method based on OAM-mode multiplexing to expand the capacity of wireless communication systems.
Determination of the optimum arginine : lysine ratio in broiler diets
Authors: Sirathonpong O. , Ruangpanit Y. , Songserm O. , Koo E. J. , Attamangkune S.
Published: March 2019

The study was conducted to determine the optimum dietary concentration of arginine relative to lysine on the basis of the performance, carcass traits and blood characteristics of 1–35-day-old broilers using a randomised complete block design. One-day-old broilers (n = 1200) were allocated to five dietary treatment groups receiving different arginine:lysine (Arg:Lys) ratios, where the proportion of Arg was progressively increased by increments of 10%, and the concentration of lysine was kept constant; the final ratios were 0.85, 0.95, 1.05, 1.16 and 1.26. Each diet treatment was composed of eight replicates (4 males and 4 females), with 30 chickens each replicate. All broilers were fed in three phases, namely starter, grower and finisher, at 1–10, 11–24 and 25–35 days of age respectively. An increase in the Arg:Lys ratio in the diet from 0.85 to 1.26 linearly (P < 0.001) increased bodyweight gain by 7% and improved feed conversion ratio by 6%. Feed intake and mortality were not significantly (P > 0.05) different among the treatments. Increasing the Arg:Lys ratio in the diet linearly (P < 0.0001) and quadratically (P < 0.05) improved the carcass yield and relative chilled carcass weight respectively. The percentages of breast meat and creatinine and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations also linearly (P < 0.0001) increased by 5.5%, 23.0% and 18.0% respectively, with an increasing dietary Arg:Lys ratio. The results of the present study indicated that the highest dietary Arg:Lys ratio (1.26) improved bodyweight gain, feed conversion ratio, breast meat, creatinine and insulin-like growth factor-1. However, the optimum dietary Arg:Lys ratio to improve carcass yield and weight gain in the grower phase (Days 11–24 of age) was at 1.05.
Large-scale analysis of test–retest reliabilities of self-regulation measures
Authors: Enkavi A. Zeynep , Eisenberg Ian W. , Bissett Patrick G. , Mazza Gina L. , MacKinnon David P. , Marsch Lisa A. , Poldrack Russell A.
Published: March 2019

The ability to regulate behavior in service of long-term goals is a widely studied psychological construct known as self-regulation. This wide interest is in part due to the putative relations between self-regulation and a range of real-world behaviors. Self-regulation is generally viewed as a trait, and individual differences are quantified using a diverse set of measures, including self-report surveys and behavioral tasks. Accurate characterization of individual differences requires measurement reliability, a property frequently characterized in self-report surveys, but rarely assessed in behavioral tasks. We remedy this gap by (i) providing a comprehensive literature review on an extensive set of self-regulation measures and (ii) empirically evaluating test–retest reliability of this battery in a new sample. We find that dependent variables (DVs) from self-report surveys of self-regulation have high test–retest reliability, while DVs derived from behavioral tasks do not. This holds both in the literature and in our sample, although the test–retest reliability estimates in the literature are highly variable. We confirm that this is due to differences in between-subject variability. We also compare different types of task DVs (e.g., model parameters vs. raw response times) in their suitability as individual difference DVs, finding that certain model parameters are as stable as raw DVs. Our results provide greater psychometric footing for the study of self-regulation and provide guidance for future studies of individual differences in this domain.
MDA-7/IL-24 regulates the miRNA processing enzyme DICER through downregulation of MITF
Authors: Pradhan Anjan K. , Bhoopathi Praveen , Talukdar Sarmistha , Scheunemann Danielle , Sarkar Devanand , Cavenee Webster K. , Das Swadesh K. , Emdad Luni , Fisher Paul B.
Published: March 2019

Significance

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are indispensable regulators of normal development and mediators of diverse diseases, including cancer, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. As a consequence, the biogenesis of miRNAs is a critical determinant in disease etiology and pathogenesis. Cytoplasmic processing by DICER and downstream modifications of miRNAs are crucial regulators of miRNA biogenesis.
mda-7/IL-24
, a cancer-selective apoptosis-inducing cytokine, specifically downregulates expression of DICER, thereby deregulating miRNA expression. A link among
mda-7/IL-24
, DICER, and reactive oxygen species in cancer cells is described that might be exploited to produce enhanced and effective therapies for cancer. Accordingly, targeting this pathway uncovers exceptional opportunities to potentially eradicate cancer. This study demonstrates that
mda-7/IL-24
effectively downregulates a miRNA processing protein and highlights the importance of the
mda-7/IL-24
-MITF-DICER-miRNA axis in cancer.
Genome mining and biosynthesis of a polyketide from a biofertilizer fungus that can facilitate reductive iron assimilation in plant
Authors: Chen Mengbin , Liu Qikun , Gao Shu-Shan , Young Abbegayle E. , Jacobsen Steven E. , Tang Yi
Published: March 2019

Significance

Extensively used as a biofertilizer in agriculture,
Trichoderma harzianum
t-22 has been shown to promote plant fitness via secreting small molecules that have diverse functions. Tricholignan A, discovered via genome mining in this work, is a redox-active
ortho
-hydroquinone natural product that can facilitate reductive Fe assimilation in plant. The biosynthesis of the
ortho
-hydroquinone structure by a pair of polyketide synthases (PKSs) requires a critical Cα-methylation step that serves as the programming checkpoint. The responsible standalone methyltransferase requires chaperoning by a fused and inactive acyl carrier protein for activity. The use of an inactive carrier protein to regulate PKS function adds another layer of complexity to this already highly enigmatic family of enzymes.
The genetic architecture of teosinte catalyzed and constrained maize domestication
Authors: Yang Chin Jian , Samayoa Luis Fernando , Bradbury Peter J. , Olukolu Bode A. , Xue Wei , York Alessandra M. , Tuholski Michael R. , Wang Weidong , Daskalska Lora L. , Neumeyer Michael A. , Sanchez-Gonzalez Jose de Jesus , Romay Maria Cinta , Glaubitz Jeffrey C. , Sun Qi , Buckler Edward S. , Holland James B. , Doebley John F.
Published: March 2019

The process of evolution under domestication has been studied using phylogenetics, population genetics–genomics, quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, gene expression assays, and archaeology. Here, we apply an evolutionary quantitative genetic approach to understand the constraints imposed by the genetic architecture of trait variation in teosinte, the wild ancestor of maize, and the consequences of domestication on genetic architecture. Using modern teosinte and maize landrace populations as proxies for the ancestor and domesticate, respectively, we estimated heritabilities, additive and dominance genetic variances, genetic-by-environment variances, genetic correlations, and genetic covariances for 18 domestication-related traits using realized genomic relationships estimated from genome-wide markers. We found a reduction in heritabilities across most traits, and the reduction is stronger in reproductive traits (size and numbers of grains and ears) than vegetative traits. We observed larger depletion in additive genetic variance than dominance genetic variance. Selection intensities during domestication were weak for all traits, with reproductive traits showing the highest values. For 17 of 18 traits, neutral divergence is rejected, suggesting they were targets of selection during domestication. Yield (total grain weight) per plant is the sole trait that selection does not appear to have improved in maize relative to teosinte. From a multivariate evolution perspective, we identified a strong, nonneutral divergence between teosinte and maize landrace genetic variance–covariance matrices (

G

-matrices). While the structure of

G

-matrix in teosinte posed considerable genetic constraint on early domestication, the maize landrace

G

-matrix indicates that the degree of constraint is more unfavorable for further evolution along the same trajectory.
YaskoT 7OKM EL3aSKaR
Authors: Raish Michael
Published: March 2019

This paper presents an analysis of the linguistic contents of political protest signs that were erected at sit-in sites in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt, during the summer of 2011. Sign authors employed a wide variety of linguistic codes and symbolic visual resources to subvert state authority, urge fellow citizens to action, and advocate a number of other political goals. Drawing on the methodology of Linguistic Landscape (LL) studies, the current effort investigates the relationship between linguistic code and factors such as sign location, medium, length, and thematic content. Multinomial logistic regression analysis reveals a significant relationship between sign code and medium, for example, as handwritten signs show more linguistic diversity than printed signs. Qualitative analysis focuses on sign authors, use of the symbolic and semiotic resources associated with these codes. This study of the ephemeral, transitory LL of Egyptian sit-in sites demonstrates the many and varied ways in which citizen sign authors manipulate concepts of formality, code choice, and imagery to encourage audiences to take up their messages as resources for social action in their own worlds.
Impaired αVβ8 and TGFβ signaling lead to microglial dysmaturation and neuromotor dysfunction
Authors: Arnold Thomas D. , Lizama Carlos O. , Cautivo Kelly M. , Santander Nicolas , Lin Lucia , Qiu Haiyan , Huang Eric J. , Liu Chang , Mukouyama Yoh-suke , Reichardt Louis F. , Zovein Ann C. , Sheppard Dean
Published: March 2019

Microglia play a pivotal role in the coordination of brain development and have emerged as a critical determinant in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases; however, the role of microglia in the onset and progression of neurodevelopmental disorders is less clear. Here we show that conditional deletion of αVβ8 from the central nervous system (Itgb8ΔCNS mice) blocks microglia in their normal stepwise development from immature precursors to mature microglia. These “dysmature” microglia appear to result from reduced TGFβ signaling during a critical perinatal window, are distinct from microglia with induced reduction in TGFβ signaling during adulthood, and directly cause a unique neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by oligodendrocyte maturational arrest, interneuron loss, and spastic neuromotor dysfunction. Consistent with this, early (but not late) microglia depletion completely reverses this phenotype. Together, these data identify novel roles for αVβ8 and TGFβ signaling in coordinating microgliogenesis with brain development and implicate abnormally programmed microglia or their products in human neurodevelopmental disorders that share this neuropathology.
Critical window variable selection: estimating the impact of air pollution on very preterm birth
Authors: Warren Joshua L , Kong Wenjing , Luben Thomas J , Chang Howard H
Published: March 2019

Understanding the impact that environmental exposure during different stages of pregnancy has on the risk of adverse birth outcomes is vital for protection of the fetus and for the development of mechanistic explanations of exposure–disease relationships. As a result, statistical models to estimate critical windows of susceptibility have been developed for several different reproductive outcomes and pollutants. However, these current methods fail to adequately address the primary objective of this line of research; how to statistically identify a critical window of susceptibility. In this article, we introduce critical window variable selection (CWVS), a hierarchical Bayesian framework that directly addresses this question while simultaneously providing improved estimation of the risk parameters. Through simulation, we show that CWVS outperforms existing competing techniques in the setting of highly temporally correlated exposures in terms of (i) correctly identifying critical windows and (ii) accurately estimating risk parameters. We apply all competing methods to a case/control analysis of pregnant women in North Carolina, 2005–2008, with respect to the development of very preterm birth and exposure to ambient ozone and particulate matter $<$ 2.5 $\mu$m in aerodynamic diameter, and identify/estimate the critical windows of susceptibility. The newly developed method is implemented in the R package CWVS.
Revisiting Reinhart and Rogoff after the crisis: a time series perspective
Authors: Amann Juergen , Middleditch Paul
Published: March 2019

This paper offers a straightforward and descriptive contribution to the recent and busy debate on fiscal discipline made popular by the seminal Reinhart and Rogoff (2010; Growth in a time of debt. American Economic Review, vol. 100, no. 2, 573–78) paper, after policymakers have sought foundation and justification for a policy known as austerity measures, following on from the sovereign debt crisis of 2010. We revisit the debate on whether or not higher debt levels impede growth rates and offer a time series perspective of a corrected data set and a more recent higher-frequency source. We find that with further hindsight, and from a time series perspective, there is little to no support for the view that higher levels of debt cause reductions in economic activity. In contrast to Reinhart and Rogoff (2010), we suggest that economic slumps tend to cause debt build-ups rather than vice versa.
Atherosclerosis is aggravated by iron overload and ameliorated by dietary and pharmacological iron restriction
Authors: Vinchi Francesca , Porto Graca , Simmelbauer Andreas , Altamura Sandro , Passos Sara T , Garbowski Maciej , Silva André M N , Spaich Sebastian , Seide Svenja E , Sparla Richard , Hentze Matthias W , Muckenthaler Martina U
Published: March 2019

Aims

Whether and how iron affects the progression of atherosclerosis remains highly debated. Here, we investigate susceptibility to atherosclerosis in a mouse model (ApoE−/− FPNwt/C326S), which develops the disease in the context of elevated non-transferrin bound serum iron (NTBI).

Methods and results

Compared with normo-ferremic ApoE−/− mice, atherosclerosis is profoundly aggravated in iron-loaded ApoE−/− FPNwt/C326S mice, suggesting a pro-atherogenic role for iron. Iron heavily deposits in the arterial media layer, which correlates with plaque formation, vascular oxidative stress and dysfunction. Atherosclerosis is exacerbated by iron-triggered lipid profile alterations, vascular permeabilization, sustained endothelial activation, elevated pro-atherogenic inflammatory mediators, and reduced nitric oxide availability. NTBI causes iron overload, induces reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis in cultured vascular cells, and stimulates massive MCP-1-mediated monocyte recruitment, well-established mechanisms contributing to atherosclerosis. NTBI-mediated toxicity is prevented by transferrin- or chelator-mediated iron scavenging. Consistently, a low-iron diet and iron chelation therapy strongly improved the course of the disease in ApoE−/− FPNwt/C326S mice. Our results are corroborated by analyses of serum samples of haemochromatosis patients, which show an inverse correlation between the degree of iron depletion and hallmarks of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrate that NTBI-triggered iron overload aggravates atherosclerosis and unravel a causal link between NTBI and the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Our findings support clinical applications of iron restriction in iron-loaded individuals to counteract iron-aggravated vascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis.
Biological diversity of carbon assimilation among isolates of the yeastDekkera bruxellensisfrom wine and fuel-ethanol industrial processes
Authors: da Silva Jackeline Maria , da Silva Gilberto Henrique Teles Gomes , Parente Denise Castro , Leite Fernanda Cristina Bezerra , Silva Carolina Santos , Valente Patrícia , Ganga Angélica Maria , Simões Diogo Ardaillon , de Morais Jr Marcos Antonio
Published: March 2019

Dekkera bruxellensis is considered a spoilage yeast in winemaking, brewing and fuel-ethanol production. However, there is growing evidence in the literature of its biotechnological potential. In this work, we surveyed 29 D. bruxellensis isolates from three countries and two different industrial origins (winemaking and fuel-ethanol production) for the metabolization of industrially relevant sugars. The isolates were characterized by the determination of their maximum specific growth rates, and by testing their ability to grow in the presence of 2-deoxy-d-glucose and antimycin A. Great diversity was observed among the isolates, with fuel-ethanol isolates showing overall higher specific growth rates than wine isolates. Preferences for galactose (three wine isolates) and for cellobiose or lactose (some fuel-ethanol isolates) were observed. Fuel-ethanol isolates were less sensitive than wine isolates to glucose catabolite repression (GCR) induction by 2-deoxy-d-glucose. In strictly anaerobic conditions, isolates selected for having high aerobic growth rates were able to ferment glucose, sucrose and cellobiose at fairly high rates without supplementation of casamino acids or yeast extract in the culture medium. The phenotypic diversity found among wine and fuel-ethanol isolates suggests adaptation to these environments. A possible application of some of the GCR-insensitive, fast-growing isolates in industrial processes requiring co-assimilation of different sugars is considered.
Associated Form Morphism
Authors: Fedorchuk Maksym , Isaev Alexander
Published: March 2019

We study the geometry of the morphism that sends a smooth hypersurface of degree $d+1$ in ${\mathbb{P}}^{n-1}$ to its associated hypersurface of degree $n(d-1)$ in the dual space $\bigl ({\mathbb{P}}^{n-1}\bigr )^\vee $.
The SAMI Galaxy Survey: Bayesian inference for gas disc kinematics using a hierarchical Gaussian mixture model
Authors: Varidel Mathew R , Croom Scott M , Lewis Geraint F , Brewer Brendon J , Di Teodoro Enrico M , Bland-Hawthorn Joss , Bryant Julia J , Federrath Christoph , Foster Caroline , Glazebrook Karl , Goodwin Michael , Groves Brent , Hopkins Andrew M , Lawrence Jon S , López-Sánchez Ángel R , Medling Anne M , Owers Matt S , Richards Samuel N , Scalzo Richard , Scott Nicholas , Sweet Sarah M , Taranu Dan S , van de Sande Jesse
Published: March 2019

We present a novel Bayesian method, referred to as blobby3d, to infer gas kinematics that mitigates the effects of beam smearing for observations using integral field spectroscopy. The method is robust for regularly rotating galaxies despite substructure in the gas distribution. Modelling the gas substructure within the disc is achieved by using a hierarchical Gaussian mixture model. To account for beam smearing effects, we construct a modelled cube that is then convolved per wavelength slice by the seeing, before calculating the likelihood function. We show that our method can model complex gas substructure including clumps and spiral arms. We also show that kinematic asymmetries can be observed after beam smearing for regularly rotating galaxies with asymmetries only introduced in the spatial distribution of the gas. We present findings for our method applied to a sample of 20 star-forming galaxies from the SAMI Galaxy Survey. We estimate the global H α gas velocity dispersion for our sample to be in the range $\bar{\sigma }_v \sim$[7, 30] km s−1. The relative difference between our approach and estimates using the single Gaussian component fits per spaxel is $\Delta \bar{\sigma }_v / \bar{\sigma }_v = - 0.29 \pm 0.18$ for the H α flux-weighted mean velocity dispersion.
The Gaia ultracool dwarf sample – II. Structure at the end of the main sequence
Authors: Smart R L , Marocco F , Sarro L M , Barrado D , Beamín J C , Caballero J A , Jones H R A
Published: March 2019

We identify and investigate known late M, L, and T dwarfs in the Gaia second data release. This sample is being used as a training set in the Gaia data processing chain of the ultracool dwarfs work package. We find 695 objects in the optical spectral range M8–T6 with accurate Gaia coordinates, proper motions, and parallaxes which we combine with published spectral types and photometry from large area optical and infrared sky surveys. We find that 100 objects are in 47 multiple systems, of which 27 systems are published and 20 are new. These will be useful benchmark systems and we discuss the requirements to produce a complete catalogue of multiple systems with an ultracool dwarf component. We examine the magnitudes in the Gaia passbands and find that the GBP magnitudes are unreliable and should not be used for these objects. We examine progressively redder colour–magnitude diagrams and see a notable increase in the main-sequence scatter and a bivariate main sequence for old and young objects. We provide an absolute magnitude – spectral subtype calibration for G and GRP passbands along with linear fits over the range M8–L8 for other passbands.
Urine Metabolites for Estimating Daily Intake of Nicotine From Cigarette Smoking
Authors: Benowitz Neal L , St. Helen Gideon , Nardone Natalie , Cox Lisa Sanderson , Jacob Peyton
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Accurate measurement of nicotine exposure from cigarette smoke is important in studying disease risk and level of dependence. Urine total nicotine equivalents, the molar sum of nicotine and six metabolites (NE7), accounts for more than 90% of a nicotine dose and is independent of individual metabolic differences. However, measuring NE7 is technically difficult and costly. We compared NE7, the gold standard of nicotine intake, with different combinations of fewer urinary nicotine metabolites. We also examined the impact of individual differences in nicotine metabolic rate, sex, and race on strength of association with NE7.

Methods

Urine samples from 796 daily smokers, who participated across five clinical studies, were assayed for nicotine and/or metabolites. Associations with NE7 were assessed by regression and Bland–Altman analyses.

Results

Overall, the molar sum of urine [cotinine + 3′-hydroxycotinine (3HC)] (NE2) and [nicotine +  cotinine + 3HC] (NE3) were strongly correlated with NE7 (r = .97 and .99, respectively). However, in slow metabolizers NE2 was less predictive of NE7, whereas NE3 was equally robust. Urine total cotinine was also strongly correlated with NE7 (r = .87).

Conclusions

Urine NE3 is a robust biomarker of daily nicotine intake, independently of individual metabolic differences, whereas NE2 is less accurate in slow metabolizers. Our findings inform the selection of more rigorous and cost-effective measures to assess nicotine exposure in tobacco research studies.

Implications

The molar sum of urine total nicotine, cotinine and 3HC (NE3) is a robust biomarker of daily nicotine intake, independently of individual metabolic differences, and performs as well as measuring seven nicotine metabolites (NE7). The sum of cotinine and 3HC (NE2) is less accurate in slow metabolizers. Our findings inform the selection of more rigorous and cost-effective measures to assess nicotine exposure in tobacco research studies.
Adding value to real-world data: the role of biomarkers
Authors: Plant Darren , Barton Anne
Published: March 2019

Adding biomarker information to real world datasets (e.g. biomarker data collected into disease/drug registries) can enhance mechanistic understanding of intra-patient differences in disease trajectories and differences in important clinical outcomes. Biomarkers can detect pathologies present early in disease potentially paving the way for preventative intervention strategies, which may help patients to avoid disability, poor treatment outcome, disease sequelae and premature mortality. However, adding biomarker data to real world datasets comes with a number of important challenges including sample collection and storage, study design and data analysis and interpretation. In this narrative review we will consider the benefits and challenges of adding biomarker data to real world datasets and discuss how biomarker data have added to our understanding of complex diseases, focusing on rheumatoid arthritis.