bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revealing the role of lattice distortions in the hydrogen-induced metal-insulator transition of SmNiO3
Authors: Chen Jikun , Mao Wei , Ge Binghui , Wang Jiaou , Ke Xinyou , Wang Vei , Wang Yiping , Döbeli Max , Geng Wentong , Matsuzaki Hiroyuki , Shi Jian , Jiang Yong
Published: February 2019

The discovery of hydrogen-induced electronic phase transitions in strongly correlated materials such as rare-earth nickelates has opened up a new paradigm in regulating materials’ properties for both fundamental study and technological applications. However, the microscopic understanding of how protons and electrons behave in the phase transition is lacking, mainly due to the difficulty in the characterization of the hydrogen doping level. Here, we demonstrate the quantification and trajectory of hydrogen in strain-regulated SmNiO3 by using nuclear reaction analysis. Introducing 2.4% of elastic strain in SmNiO3 reduces the incorporated hydrogen concentration from ~1021 cm−3 to ~1020 cm−3. Unexpectedly, despite a lower hydrogen concentration, a more significant modification in resistivity is observed for tensile-strained SmNiO3, substantially different from the previous understanding. We argue that this transition is explained by an intermediate metastable state occurring in the transient diffusion process of hydrogen, despite the absence of hydrogen at the post-transition stage.
Flexible, transparent nanocellulose paper-based perovskite solar cells
Authors: Gao Lei , Chao Lingfeng , Hou Meihui , Liang Jin , Chen Yonghua , Yu Hai-Dong , Huang Wei
Published: February 2019

Recently perovskite solar cells (PSCs), as photoelectric conversion devices, exhibit excellent power conversion efficiency (PCE) and low-processing cost, and have become one of the most promising devices to replace conventional silicon-based solar cells and address current pressing energy issues. Among them, the flexible PSCs are especially more widely applicable and may propel the rapid advancements of wearable electronics, causing a significant paradigm shift in consumer electronics. Current flexible PSCs use non-biodegradable petroleum-based polymer substrates, discarding of which will aggravate “white pollution”. Therefore, development of green, biodegradable and low-cost flexible substrates will provide a great alternative to flexible PSCs. Here we have developed transparent nanocellulose paper (NCP) with coating of acrylic resin as substrates to fabricate flexible PSCs, which are biodegradable and easily disposable. The PCE of these NCP-based PSCs reached 4.25%, while the power per weight (the ratio of power to device weight) was as high as 0.56 W g–1. The flexible PSCs also showed good stability, retaining >80% of original efficiency after 50 times of bending. The NCP-based substrates can also be applied to other electronic systems, which may prosper next-generation green flexible electronics.
Occurrence and public-perceived risk of endocrine disrupting compounds in drinking water
Authors: Wee Sze Yee , Aris Ahmad Zaharin
Published: February 2019

Access to safe water is a crucial factor in determining environmental sustainability, public health, and economic prosperity. Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are an environmental contaminant of growing concern, which undermine the safety of drinking water. The potential health issues of EDCs are not fully understood yet due to there being relatively scarce research on their exposure and associated risks via drinking water consumption. Because of ineffective drinking water supply systems and unknown risk perceptions of EDCs in drinking water, the role of perceived risks in ensuring access to safe drinking water remains unknown, contributing to the occurrence of such potential risks in the global water system. Integrating preventive measures with a multibarrier approach to safe drinking water is highly challenging because of the relatively low public awareness and political responsibility, as well as the nature and characteristics of EDCs themselves. In addition to reviewing the occurrence and public-perceived risks of EDCs in drinking water, this article focuses on building bases of knowledge and awareness for a better understanding of drinking water quality issues relative to the hazards surrounding EDCs from the perspectives of human exposure and health risk. A conceptual model illustrates the factors that potentially influence risk perception on drinking water quality in regard to not only EDCs but also other issues. Ensuring safe access to drinking water requires interventions that incorporate risk communication and governance, providing insights into political, economic, social, and environmental changes.
The role of defects in organic image sensors for green photodiode
Authors: Kim Seong Heon , lee Jooho , Cho Eunae , Lee Junho , Yun Dong-Jin , Lee Dongwook , Kim Yongsung , Ro Takkyun , Heo Chul-Joon , Lee Gae Hwang , Jin Yong Wan , Kim Sunghan , Park Kyung-Bae , Heo Sung
Published: February 2019

Controlling defect states in a buffer layer for organic photo devices is one of the vital factors which have great influence on the device performance. Defect states in silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy) buffer layer for organic photo devices can be controlled by introducing appropriate dopant materials. We performed ab initio simulations to identify the effect on doping SiOxNy with carbon (C), boron (B), and phosphorous (P) atoms. The results unveil that hole defects in the SiOxNy layer diminish with the phosphorous doping. Based on the simulation results, we fabricate the small molecule organic photodetector (OPD) including the phosphorous-doped SiOxNy buffer layer and the active film of blended naphthalene-based donor and C60 acceptor molecules, which shows excellent enhancement in the external quantum efficiency (EQE). The results of our charge-based deep level transient spectroscopy (Q-DLTS) measurements confirmed that the EQE enhancement originates from the decrease of the hole traps induced by the reduced hole defects. The method of controlling the defect states in SiOxNy buffer layers by the doping can be used to improve the performance in various organic photo devices.
Transcranial Current Stimulation During Sleep Facilitates Insight into Temporal Rules, but does not Consolidate Memories of Individual Sequential Experiences
Authors: Lerner Itamar , Ketz Nicholas A. , Jones Aaron P. , Bryant Natalie B. , Robert Bradley , Skorheim Steven W. , Hartholt Arno , Rizzo Albert S. , Gluck Mark A. , Clark Vincent P. , Pilly Praveen K.
Published: February 2019

Slow-wave sleep (SWS) is known to contribute to memory consolidation, likely through the reactivation of previously encoded waking experiences. Contemporary studies demonstrate that when auditory or olfactory stimulation is administered during memory encoding and then reapplied during SWS, memory consolidation can be enhanced, an effect that is believed to rely on targeted memory reactivation (TMR) induced by the sensory stimulation. Here, we show that transcranial current stimulations (tCS) during sleep can also be used to induce TMR, resulting in the facilitation of high-level cognitive processes. Participants were exposed to repeating sequences in a realistic 3D immersive environment while being stimulated with particular tCS patterns. A subset of these tCS patterns was then reapplied during sleep stages N2 and SWS coupled to slow oscillations in a closed-loop manner. We found that in contrast to our initial hypothesis, performance for the sequences corresponding to the reapplied tCS patterns was no better than for other sequences that received stimulations only during wake or not at all. In contrast, we found that the more stimulations participants received overnight, the more likely they were to detect temporal regularities governing the learned sequences the following morning, with tCS-induced beta power modulations during sleep mediating this effect.
Critical roles for the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase isoforms p110β and p110γ in thrombopoietin-mediated priming of platelet function
Authors: Moore Samantha F. , Smith Nina R. , Blair Thomas A. , Durrant Tom N. , Hers Ingeborg
Published: February 2019

Thrombopoietin (TPO) enhances platelet activation through activation of the tyrosine kinase; JAK2 and the lipid kinase phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). The aim of our study was to identify the PI3K isoforms involved in mediating the effect of TPO on platelet function and elucidate the underlying mechanism. We found that p110β plays an essential role in TPO-mediated (i) priming of protease-activated receptor (PAR)-mediated integrin αIIbβ3 activation and α-granule secretion, (ii) synergistic enhancement of PAR-mediated activation of the small GTPase RAP1, a regulator of integrin activation and (iii) phosphorylation of the PI3K effector Akt. More importantly, the synergistic effect of TPO on phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and thromboxane (TxA2) synthesis was dependent on both p110β and p110γ. p110β inhibition/deletion, or inhibition of p110γ, resulted in a partial reduction, whereas inhibiting both p110β and p110γ completely prevented the synergistic effect of TPO on ERK1/2 phosphorylation and TxA2 synthesis. The latter was ablated by inhibition of MEK, but not p38, confirming a role for ERK1/2 in regulating TPO-mediated increases in TxA2 synthesis. In conclusion, the synergistic effect of TPO on RAP1 and integrin activation is largely mediated by p110β, whereas p110β and p110γ contribute to the effect of TPO on ERK1/2 phosphorylation and TxA2 formation.
Learning the Dynamic Treatment Regimes from Medical Registry Data through Deep Q-network
Authors: Liu Ning , Liu Ying , Logan Brent , Xu Zhiyuan , Tang Jian , Wang Yanzhi
Published: February 2019

This paper presents the deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework to estimate the optimal Dynamic Treatment Regimes from observational medical data. This framework is more flexible and adaptive for high dimensional action and state spaces than existing reinforcement learning methods to model real-life complexity in heterogeneous disease progression and treatment choices, with the goal of providing doctors and patients the data-driven personalized decision recommendations. The proposed DRL framework comprises (i) a supervised learning step to predict expert actions, and (ii) a deep reinforcement learning step to estimate the long-term value function of Dynamic Treatment Regimes. Both steps depend on deep neural networks. As a key motivational example, we have implemented the proposed framework on a data set from the Center for International Bone Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) registry database, focusing on the sequence of prevention and treatments for acute and chronic graft versus host disease after transplantation. In the experimental results, we have demonstrated promising accuracy in predicting human experts’ decisions, as well as the high expected reward function in the DRL-based dynamic treatment regimes.
Accelerating small-angle scattering experiments on anisotropic samples using kernel density estimation
Authors: Saito Kotaro , Yano Masao , Hino Hideitsu , Shoji Tetsuya , Asahara Akinori , Morita Hidekazu , Mitsumata Chiharu , Kohlbrecher Joachim , Ono Kanta
Published: February 2019

We propose a method to accelerate small-angle scattering experiments by exploiting spatial correlation in two-dimensional data. We applied kernel density estimation to the average of a hundred short scans and evaluated noise reduction effects of kernel density estimation (smoothing). Although there is no advantage of using smoothing for isotropic data due to the powerful noise reduction effect of radial averaging, smoothing with a statistically and physically appropriate kernel can shorten measurement time by less than half to obtain sector averages with comparable statistical quality to that of sector averages without smoothing. This benefit will encourage researchers not to use full radial average on anisotropic data sacrificing anisotropy for statistical quality. We also confirmed that statistically reasonable estimation of measurement time is feasible on site by evaluating how intensity variances improve with accumulating counts. The noise reduction effect of smoothing will bring benefits to a wide range of applications from efficient use of beamtime at laboratories and large experimental facilities to stroboscopic measurements suffering low statistical quality.
The association between physical and mental chronic conditions and napping
Authors: Léger Damien , Torres Marion J. , Bayon Virginie , Hercberg Serge , Galan Pilar , Chennaoui Mounir , Andreeva Valentina A.
Published: February 2019

The objectives of this study were to assess the associations among various physical and mental chronic conditions and napping. A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was proposed within the NutriNet-Santé population-based e-cohort launched in France in 2009. Participants were 43,060 French volunteers aged 18 y and over with Internet access. A self-report questionnaire assessing sleep characteristics was administered in 2014. The main outcome (dependent) variable was weekday or weekend napping (yes/no). The main exposure (independent) variables were overweight/obesity, hypertension, diabetes, anxiety and depressive disorders, incident major cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina), and incident cancer (breast and prostate). The associations of interest were investigated with multivariable logistic regression analysis. No significant associations were found between major cardiovascular diseases or breast or prostate cancer and napping. Instead, we found that napping was more common among males (46.1%) than among females 36.9% (p < 0.0001). Individuals who were overweight or obese or had hypertension, diabetes, depression or anxiety disorders had an increased likelihood of napping compared with their healthy peers. The adjusted ORs ranged from 1.14 to 1.28″. In conclusion, most chronic conditions were independently associated with napping. Future longitudinal analyses are needed to elucidate causality.
Increasing cellular lifespan with a flow system in organotypic culture of the Laterodorsal Tegmentum (LDT)
Authors: Romero-Leguizamón César R. , Elnagar Mohamed R. , Kristiansen Uffe , Kohlmeier Kristi A.
Published: February 2019

Organotypic brain culture is an experimental tool widely used in neuroscience studies. One major drawback of this technique is reduced neuronal survival across time, which is likely exacerbated by the loss of blood flow. We have designed a novel, tube flow system, which is easily incorporated into the commonly-used, standard semi-permeable membrane culture methodology which has significantly enhanced neuronal survival in a brain stem nucleus involved in control of motivated and arousal states: the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT). Our automated system provides nutrients and removes waste in a comparatively aseptic environment, while preserving temperature, and oxygen levels. Using immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology, our system was found superior to standard techniques in preserving tissue quality and survival of LDT cells for up to 2 weeks. In summary, we provide evidence for the first time that the LDT can be preserved in organotypic slice culture, and further, our technical improvements of adding a flow system, which likely enhanced perfusion to the slice, were associated with enhanced neuronal survival. Our perfusion system is expected to facilitate organotypic experiments focused on chronic stimulations and multielectrode recordings in the LDT, as well as enhance neuronal survival in slice cultures originating from other brain regions.
Interplay between lipid lateral diffusion, dye concentration and membrane permeability unveiled by a combined spectroscopic and computational study of a model lipid bilayer
Authors: Jan Akhunzada Muhammad , D’Autilia Francesca , Chandramouli Balasubramanian , Bhattacharjee Nicholus , Catte Andrea , Di Rienzo Roberto , Cardarelli Francesco , Brancato Giuseppe
Published: February 2019

Lipid lateral diffusion in membrane bilayers is a fundamental process exploited by cells to enable complex protein structural and dynamic reorganizations. For its importance, lipid mobility in both cellular and model bilayers has been extensively investigated in recent years, especially through the application of time-resolved, fluorescence-based, optical microscopy techniques. However, one caveat of fluorescence techniques is the need to use dye-labeled variants of the lipid of interest, thus potentially perturbing the structural and dynamic properties of the native species. Generally, the effect of the dye/tracer molecule is implicitly assumed to be negligible. Nevertheless, in view of the widespread use of optically modified lipids for studying lipid bilayer dynamics, it is highly desirable to well assess this point. Here, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been combined together to uncover subtle structural and dynamic effects in DOPC planar membranes enriched with a standard Rhodamine-labeled lipid. Our findings support a non-neutral role of the dye-labeled lipids in diffusion experiments, quantitatively estimating a decrease in lipid mobility of up to 20% with respect to the unlabeled species. Moreover, results highlight the existing interplay between dye concentration, lipid lateral diffusion and membrane permeability, thus suggesting possible implications for future optical microscopy studies of biophysical processes occurring at the membrane level.
Diversity of spotted fever group rickettsiae and their association with host ticks in Japan
Authors: Thu May June , Qiu Yongjin , Matsuno Keita , Kajihara Masahiro , Mori-Kajihara Akina , Omori Ryosuke , Monma Naota , Chiba Kazuki , Seto Junji , Gokuden Mutsuyo , Andoh Masako , Oosako Hideo , Katakura Ken , Takada Ayato , Sugimoto Chihiro , Isoda Norikazu , Nakao Ryo
Published: February 2019

Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae are obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria mainly associated with ticks. In Japan, several hundred cases of Japanese spotted fever, caused byRickettsia japonica, are reported annually. OtherRickettsiaspecies are also known to exist in ixodid ticks; however, their phylogenetic position and pathogenic potential are poorly understood. We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey on questing ticks to understand the overall diversity of SFG rickettsiae in Japan. Out of 2,189 individuals (19 tick species in 4 genera), 373 (17.0%) samples were positive forRickettsiaspp. as ascertained by real-time PCR amplification of the citrate synthase gene (gltA). Conventional PCR and sequencing analyses ofgltAindicated the presence of 15 different genotypes of SFG rickettsiae. Based on the analysis of five additional genes, we characterised fiveRickettsiaspecies;R.asiatica,R.helvetica,R.monacensis(formerly reported asRickettsiasp. In56 in Japan),R.tamurae, andCandidatusR. tarasevichiae and several unclassified SFG rickettsiae. We also found a strong association between rickettsial genotypes and their host tick species, while there was little association between rickettsial genotypes and their geographical origins. These observations suggested that most of the SFG rickettsiae have a limited host range and are maintained in certain tick species in the natural environment.
The RGD motif is involved in CD97/ADGRE5-promoted cell adhesion and viability of HT1080 cells
Authors: Tjong Wen-Ye , Lin Hsi-Hsien
Published: February 2019

CD97/ADGRE5 is an adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (aGPCR) involved in tumor cell adhesion, migration, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. CD97 has been shown previously to stimulate angiogenesis by interacting with integrins on endothelial cells via an Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid (RGD) motif. In this report, the role of the RGD motif in tumor cell adhesion and apoptosis was investigated using a previously-established HT1080 cell-based system. We found that the RGD motif is critical in CD97-promoted cell adhesion, in part due to the up-regulation of αvβ5 and α2β1 integrins, and that CD97 mediates its anti-apoptotic effect in extrinsic apoptosis via RGD-dependent cell adhesion. In contrast, CD97-modulated anti-apoptotic effect in intrinsic apoptosis is mediated by RGD-independent, N-cadherin-induced homotypic cell aggregation. Hence, CD97 promotes tumorigenesis via RGD-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
Adaboost-SVM-based probability algorithm for the prediction of all mature miRNA sites based on structured-sequence features
Authors: Wang Ying , Ru Jidong , Jiang Yueqiu , Zhang Jian
Published: February 2019

The significant role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in various biological processes and diseases has been widely studied and reported in recent years. Several computational methods associated with mature miRNA identification suffer various limitations involving canonical biological features extraction, class imbalance, and classifier performance. The proposed classifier, miRFinder, is an accurate alternative for the identification of mature miRNAs. The structured-sequence features were proposed to precisely extract miRNA biological features, and three algorithms were selected to obtain the canonical features based on the classifier performance. Moreover, the center of mass near distance training based on K-means was provided to improve the class imbalance problem. In particular, the AdaBoost-SVM algorithm was used to construct the classifier. The classifier training process focuses on incorrectly classified samples, and the integrated results use the common decision strategies of the weak classifier with different weights. In addition, the all mature miRNA sites were predicted by different classifiers based on the features of different sites. Compared with other methods, the performance of the classifiers has a high degree of efficacy for the identification of mature miRNAs. MiRFinder is freely available at https://github.com/wangying0128/miRFinder.
Hierarchical Fe3O4-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite grown on NaCl crystals for triiodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Harnchana Viyada , Chaiyachad Sujinda , Pimanpang Samuk , Saiyasombat Chatree , Srepusharawoot Pornjuk , Amornkitbamrung Vittaya
Published: February 2019

Cost-effective reduced graphene oxide sheets decorated with magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (Fe3O4-rGO) are successfully fabricated via a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique using iron (III) nitrate as an iron precursor, with glucose and CH4 as carbon sources, and NaCl as a supporting material. TEM analysis and Raman spectroscopy reveal hierarchical nanostructures of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) decorated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Fe K-edge x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra confirm that the nanoparticles are Fe3O4 with a slight shift of the pre-edge peak position toward higher energy suggesting that the fabricated Fe3O4 nanoparticles have a higher average oxidation state than that of a standard Fe3O4 compound. The hierarchical Fe3O4-rGO is found to exhibit an excellent catalytic activity toward the reduction of triiodide to iodide in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and can deliver a solar cell efficiency of 6.65%, which is superior to a Pt-based DSSC (6.37%).
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Noise tailoring for quantum circuits via unitary 2t-design
Authors: Zhang Linxi , Yu Yan , Zhu Changhua , Pei Changxing
Published: February 2019

Because of environmental variations and imperfect operations, real-world quantum computers produce different coherent errors that are difficult to estimate. Here, we propose a method whereby the twirled noise over a unitary 2t-design (a set of unitary matrices that approximate the entire unitary group) for quantum circuits can be tailored into stochastic noise. Then, we prove that local random circuits for twirling separable noisy channel over the Clifford group can be used to construct a unitary 2t-design, which is easy to implement in experiments. Moreover, we prove that our method is robust to gate-dependent and gate-independent noise. The stochastic noise can be both estimated by average fidelity and directly obtained by randomized benchmarking via unitary 2t-designs. Obtaining such tailored noise is an important guarantee for achieving fault-tolerant quantum computation.
Human macrophages survive and adopt activated genotypes in living zebrafish
Authors: Paul Colin D. , Devine Alexus , Bishop Kevin , Xu Qing , Wulftange William J. , Burr Hannah , Daly Kathryn M. , Lewis Chaunte , Green Daniel S. , Staunton Jack R. , Choksi Swati , Liu Zheng-Gang , Sood Raman , Tanner Kandice
Published: February 2019

The inflammatory response, modulated both by tissue resident macrophages and recruited monocytes from peripheral blood, plays a critical role in human diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we sought a model to interrogate human immune behavior in vivo. We determined that primary human monocytes and macrophages survive in zebrafish for up to two weeks. Flow cytometry revealed that human monocytes cultured at the physiological temperature of the zebrafish survive and differentiate comparable to cohorts cultured at human physiological temperature. Moreover, key genes that encode for proteins that play a role in tissue remodeling were also expressed. Human cells migrated within multiple tissues at speeds comparable to zebrafish macrophages. Analysis of gene expression of in vivo educated human macrophages confirmed expression of activated macrophage phenotypes. Here, human cells adopted phenotypes relevant to cancer progression, suggesting that we can define the real time immune modulation of human tumor cells during the establishment of a metastatic lesion in zebrafish.
Palaeogenomics of the Hydrocarbon Producing Microalga Botryococcus braunii
Authors: Tennant Richard K. , Lux Thomas M. , Sambles Christine M. , Kuhn Nikolaus J. , Petticrew Ellen L. , Oldfield Richard , Parker David A. , Hatton Jackie , Moore Karen A. , Lee Rob , Turney Chris S. M. , Jones Richard T. , Love John
Published: February 2019

Botryococcus braunii is a colonial microalga that appears early in the fossil record and is a sensitive proxy of environmental and hydroclimatic conditions. Palaeozoic Botryococcus fossils which contribute up to 90% of oil shales and approximately 1% of crude oil, co-localise with diagnostic geolipids from the degradation of source-signature hydrocarbons. However more recent Holocene sediments demonstrate no such association. Consequently, Botryococcus are identified in younger sediments by morphology alone, where potential misclassifications could lead to inaccurate paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Here we show that a combination of flow cytometry and ancient DNA (aDNA) sequencing can unambiguously identify Botryococcus microfossils in Holocene sediments with hitherto unparalleled accuracy and rapidity. The application of aDNA sequencing to microfossils offers a far-reaching opportunity for understanding environmental change in the recent geological record. When allied with other high-resolution palaeoenvironmental information such as aDNA sequencing of humans and megafauna, aDNA from microfossils may allow a deeper and more precise understanding of past environments, ecologies and migrations.
Higher abundance of enterovirus A species in the gut of children with islet autoimmunity
Authors: Kim Ki Wook , Horton Jessica L. , Pang Chi Nam Ignatius , Jain Komal , Leung Preston , Isaacs Sonia R. , Bull Rowena A. , Luciani Fabio , Wilkins Marc R. , Catteau Jacki , Lipkin W. Ian , Rawlinson William D. , Briese Thomas , Craig Maria E.
Published: February 2019

Enteroviruses (EVs) are prime candidate environmental triggers of islet autoimmunity (IA), with potential as vaccine targets for type 1 diabetes prevention. However, the use of targeted virus detection methods and the selective focus on EVs by most studies increases the risk for substantial investigation bias and an overestimated association between EV and type 1 diabetes. Here we performed comprehensive virome-capture sequencing to examine all known vertebrate-infecting viruses without bias in 182 specimens (faeces and plasma) collected before or at seroconversion from 45 case children with IA and 48 matched controls. From >2.6 billion reads, 28 genera of viruses were detected and 62% of children (58/93) were positive for ≥1 vertebrate-infecting virus. We identified 129 viruses as differentially abundant between the gut of cases and controls, including 5 EV-A types significantly more abundant in the cases. Our findings further support EV’s hypothesised contribution to IA and corroborate the proposal that viral load may be an important parameter in disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, our data indicate a previously unrecognised association of IA with higher EV-A abundance in the gut of children and provide a catalog of viruses to be interrogated further to determine a causal link between virus infection and type 1 diabetes.
Flexible PVC materials grafted with castor oil derivative containing synergistic flame retardant groups of nitrogen and phosphorus
Authors: Jia Puyou , Ma Yufeng , Zhang Meng , Hu Lihong , Li Qiaoguang , Yang Xiaohui , Zhou Yonghong
Published: February 2019

Internally plasticized PVC by replacement of chlorine with castor oil derivative containing synergistic flame retardant groups of nitrogen and phosphorus, that is, castor oil derivative grafted onto PVC matrix, is reported. Low glass transition temperature (Tg) of modified PVC was produced although thermal stability was reduced. However, the migration was completely suppressed. The combination of castor oil derivative containing synergistic flame retardant groups of nitrogen and phosphorus with PVC matrix through modifying PVC materials with click reaction prepared flexible PVC materials with zero migration and enhanced flame retardant property.
IL1RL1 is dynamically expressed on Cbfb-MYH11+ leukemia stem cells and promotes cell survival
Authors: Wang Yiqian , Richter Lisa , Becker Michelle , Amador Catalina , Hyde R. Katherine
Published: February 2019

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is often characterized by the presence of specific, recurrent chromosomal abnormalities. One of the most common aberrations, inversion of chromosome 16 [inv(16)], generates the fusion oncogene CBFB-MYH11. Previously, we used a mouse knock-in model to show that Cbfb-MYH11 induces changes in gene expression and results in the accumulation of abnormal myeloid cells, a subset of which are enriched for leukemia stem cell (LSC) activity. One gene upregulated by Cbfb-MYH11 encodes the cytokine receptor IL1RL1 (ST2). IL1RL1 and its ligand IL-33 are known regulators of mature myeloid cells, but their roles in AML are not known. Here, we use Cbfb-MYH11 knock-in mice to show that IL1RL1 is expressed by cell populations with high LSC activity, and that the cell surface expression of IL1RL1 is dynamic, implying that the expression of IL1RL1 is not restricted to a specific stage of differentiation. We also show that treatment with IL-33 increased serial replating ability and expression of pro-survival proteins in vitro. Finally, we show that IL1RL1+ cells can survive chemotherapy better than IL1RL1− cells in vivo. Collectively, our results indicate that IL1RL1 is dynamically expressed in Cbfb-MYH11+ leukemia cells and promotes their survival.
The Amazon rain forest plant Uncaria tomentosa (cat’s claw) and its specific proanthocyanidin constituents are potent inhibitors and reducers of both brain plaques and tangles
Authors: Snow Alan D. , Castillo Gerardo M. , Nguyen Beth P. , Choi Paula Y. , Cummings Joel A. , Cam Judy , Hu Qubai , Lake Thomas , Pan Weihong , Kastin Abba J. , Kirschner Daniel A. , Wood Steven G. , Rockenstein Edward , Masliah Eliezer , Lorimer Stephen , Tanzi Rudolph E. , Larsen Lesley
Published: February 2019

Brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease both demonstrate the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein containing “plaques” and tau protein containing “tangles” that contribute to accelerated memory loss and cognitive decline. In the present investigation we identified a specific plant extract and its constituents as a potential alternative natural solution for preventing and reducing both brain “plaques and tangles”. PTI-00703 cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa from a specific Peruvian source), a specific and natural plant extract from the Amazon rain forest, was identified as a potent inhibitor and reducer of both beta-amyloid fibrils (the main component of “plaques”) and tau protein paired helical filaments/fibrils (the main component of “tangles”). PTI-00703 cat’s claw demonstrated both the ability to prevent formation/aggregation and disaggregate preformed Aβ fibrils (1–42 and 1–40) and tau protein tangles/filaments. The disaggregation/dissolution of Aβ fibrils occurred nearly instantly when PTI-00703 cat’s claw and Aβ fibrils were mixed together as shown by a variety of methods including Thioflavin T fluorometry, Congo red staining, Thioflavin S fluorescence and electron microscopy. Sophisticated structural elucidation studies identified the major fractions and specific constituents within PTI-00703 cat’s claw responsible for both the observed “plaque” and “tangle” inhibitory and reducing activity. Specific proanthocyanidins (i.e. epicatechin dimers and variants thereof) are newly identified polyphenolic components within Uncaria tomentosa that possess both “plaque and tangle” reducing and inhibitory activity. One major identified specific polyphenol within PTI-00703 cat’s claw was epicatechin-4β-8-epicatechin (i.e. an epicatechin dimer known as proanthocyanidin B2) that markedly reduced brain plaque load and improved short-term memory in younger and older APP “plaque-producing” (TASD-41) transgenic mice (bearing London and Swedish mutations). Proanthocyanidin B2 was also a potent inhibitor of brain inflammation as shown by reduction in astrocytosis and gliosis in TASD-41 transgenic mice. Blood-brain-barrier studies in Sprague-Dawley rats and CD-1 mice indicated that the major components of PTI-00703 cat’s claw crossed the blood-brain-barrier and entered the brain parenchyma within 2 minutes of being in the blood. The discovery of a natural plant extract from the Amazon rain forest plant (i.e. Uncaria tomentosa or cat’s claw) as both a potent “plaque and tangle” inhibitor and disaggregator is postulated to represent a potential breakthrough for the natural treatment of both normal brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
A new model for predicting intravenous immunoglobin-resistant Kawasaki disease in Chongqing: a retrospective study on 5277 patients
Authors: Tan Xu-Hai , Zhang Xiao-Wei , Wang Xiao-Yun , He Xiang-Qian , Fan Chu , Lyu Tie-Wei , Tian Jie
Published: February 2019

Accurate evaluation of individual risk of intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG)-resistance is critical for adopting regimens for the first treatment and prevention of coronary artery lesions (CALs) in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods: The KD patients hospitalized in Chongqing Children’s Hospital, in west China, from October 2007 to December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Data were collected and compared between IVIG-resistant group and IVIG-responsive group. The independent risk factors were determined using multivariate regression analysis. A new prediction model was built and compared with the previous models. Results: A total of 5277 subjects were studied and eight independent risk factors were identified including higher red blood cell distribution width (RDW), lower platelet count (PLT), lower percentage of lymphocyte (P-LYM), higher total bile acid (TBA), lower albumin, lower serum sodium level, higher degree of CALs (D-CALs) and younger age. The new predictive model showed an AUC of 0.74, sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 59%. For individual’s risk probability of IVIG-resistance, an equation was given. Conclusions: IVIG-resistance could be predicted by RDW, PLT, P-LYM, TBA, albumin, serum sodium level, D-CALs and age. The new model appeared to be superior to those previous models for KD population in Chongqing city.
Peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerase activity on the cell surface correlates with extracellular matrix development
Authors: Lin Weilin , Bonin Malte , Boden Annett , Wieduwild Robert , Murawala Priyanka , Wermke Martin , Andrade Helena , Bornhäuser Martin , Zhang Yixin
Published: February 2019

Interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) dictate cell fates. However, the complexity of dense ECM network and cell-surface molecules prevent the study of their dynamic interaction at the molecular level on living cells. Here, we focus on peptidyl prolylcis/transisomerases (PPIases) to dissect prolyl isomerization from other dynamic events. We reveal the contribution of PPIase on the mechanical properties of various ECM materials and on the dynamic cell–ECM interaction. To avoid complications associated with the existing spectroscopy-based methods such as light scattering, an assay was developed for detecting PPIase activity on living cell surface. This assay allows us to correlate PPIase activity with ECM development, and with the physiological and pathological states of the cells, including the functional properties of cancer cells and immune effector cells.
Disproving hidden variable models with spin magnitude conservation
Authors: Kurzyński Paweł , Laskowski Wiesław , Kołodziejski Adrian , Pál Károly F. , Ryu Junghee , Vértesi Tamás
Published: February 2019

The squares of the three components of the spin-s operators sum up to s(s + 1). However, a similar relation is rarely satisfied by the set of possible spin projections onto mutually orthogonal directions. This has fundamental consequences if one tries to construct a hidden variable (HV) theory describing measurements of spin projections. We propose a test of local HV models in which spin magnitudes are conserved. These additional constraints imply that the corresponding inequalities are violated within quantum theory by larger classes of correlations than in the case of standard Bell inequalities. We conclude that in any HV theory pertaining to measurements on a spin one can find situations in which either HV assignments do not represent a physical reality of a spin vector, but rather provide a deterministic algorithm for prediction of the measurement outcomes, or HV assignments represent a physical reality, but the spin cannot be considered as a vector of fixed length.
Resource recovery and wastewater treatment modelling
Authors: Solon Kimberly , Volcke Eveline I. P. , Spérandio Mathieu , van Loosdrecht Mark C. M.
Published: February 2019

This paper discusses the extent to which new unit processes applied for resource recovery can be modelled with conventional ASMs, the additional modelling challenges being faced, while providing recommendations on how to address current modelling research gaps.
Activated TNF-α/RIPK3 signaling is involved in prolonged high fat diet-stimulated hepatic inflammation and lipid accumulation: inhibition by dietary fisetin intervention
Authors: Xu Minxuan , Ge Chenxu , Qin Yuting , Gu Tingting , Lv Jinxiao , Wang Sujun , Ma Yongjie , Lou Deshuai , Li Qiang , Hu Linfeng , Nie Xuyuan , Wang Mingxing , Huang Ping , Tan Jun
Published: February 2019

Increasing evidence indicates that high-fat diet (HFD) is a predisposing factor for metabolic syndrome-associated systemic inflammation and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Fabrication of BSA-Pinus koraiensis polyphenol-chitosan nanoparticles and their release characteristics under in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion
Authors: Wang Lu , Li Xiaoyu , Wang Hongchao
Published: February 2019

BSA and chitosan were used to prepare nanoparticles of polyphenols from the pine cones of Pinus koraiensis (PKP-NPs).
Biological properties of plant-derived extracellular vesicles
Authors: Rome Sophie
Published: February 2019

Unsuspected functions of plant-derived extracellular vesicles for therapeutic strategies and drug vectorization.
Control of the compositions and morphologies of uranium oxide nanocrystals in the solution phase: multi-monomer growth and self-catalysis
Authors: Yan Qiang , Mao Yiwu , Zhou Xiaosong , Liang Jianhua , Peng Shuming , Ye Minyou
Published: February 2019

Both the composition and morphology of uranium oxide micro/nanocrystals are controlled easily by adjusting the pH value.
Tuning bimetallic catalysts for a selective growth of SWCNTs
Authors: Forel Salomé , Castan Alice , Amara Hakim , Florea Ileana , Fossard Frédéric , Catala Laure , Bichara Christophe , Mallah Talal , Huc Vincent , Loiseau Annick , Cojocaru Costel-Sorin
Published: February 2019

Recent advances in structural control during the synthesis of SWCNTs have in common the use of bimetallic nanoparticles as catalysts, despite the fact that their exact role is not fully understood.
In situ construction of the BiOCl/Bi2Ti2O7 heterojunction with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity
Authors: Niu Siying , Zhang Ruoyu , Zhang Zhiyu , Zheng Jiming , Jiao Yang , Guo Chongfeng
Published: February 2019

Herein, a BiOCl/Bi2Ti2O7 heterojunction was prepared as an efficient visible light-driven photocatalyst through an in situ hydrothermal method, and its photocatalytic properties were investigated via a comparable method.
Interactions of neutral gold nanoparticles with DPPC and POPC lipid bilayers: simulation and experiment
Authors: Zolghadr Amin Reza , Moosavi Sedigheh Saddat
Published: February 2019

Molecular dynamics simulations of neutral gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) interacting with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) membranes were studied using a model system.
Shedding light on the structural properties of lipid bilayers using molecular dynamics simulation: a review study
Authors: Moradi Sajad , Nowroozi Amin , Shahlaei Mohsen
Published: February 2019

This review gives an overview about the some of the most important possible analyzes, technical challenges, and existing protocols that can be performed on the biological membrane by the molecular dynamics simulation.
Effectiveness of AOS–iron on iron deficiency anemia in rats
Authors: He Hong , Huang Qun , Liu Cancan , Jia Shirong , Wang Yiwei , An Fengping , Song Hongbo
Published: February 2019

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the most serious nutritional problems.
Simultaneous capture of methyl orange and chromium(vi) from complex wastewater using polyethylenimine cation decorated magnetic carbon nanotubes as a recyclable adsorbent
Authors: Chen Bo , Yue Wenli , Zhao Huinan , Long Fengxia , Cao Yangrui , Pan Xuejun
Published: February 2019

An MWCNTs@Fe3O4/PEI composite was facilely fabricated as a robust adsorbent for simultaneously capturing methyl orange (MO) and Cr(vi) from complex wastewater.
Copper-nanoparticle-dispersed amorphous BaTiO3 thin films as hole-trapping centers: enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability
Authors: Zhang Su-Wei , Li Shun , Zhang Bo-Ping , Yu Dongfang , Zhang Zuotai , Li Jing-Feng
Published: February 2019

The photocatalytic degradation activity and photoelectrochemical performance of amorphous BaTiO3 films can be improved after introducing Cu NPs, and the oxidation of Cu is strongly hindered when dispersing in the amorphous BaTiO3 films that serve as h+-trapping centers.
Numerical simulation of oscillatory oblique stagnation point flow of a magneto micropolar nanofluid
Authors: Sadiq Muhammad Adil , Khan Arif Ullah , Saleem S. , Nadeem S.
Published: February 2019

The particular inquiry is made to envision the characteristics of magneto-hydrodynamic oscillatory oblique stagnation point flow of micropolar nanofluid.
Synthesis and characterization of a surface-grafted Pb(ii)-imprinted polymer based on activated carbon for selective separation and pre-concentration of Pb(ii) ions from environmental water samples
Authors: Li Zhenhua , Chen Lihua , Su Qiong , Wu Lan , Wei Xiaohong , Zeng Liang , Li Muchen
Published: February 2019

Even the lowest concentration level of lead (Pb) in the human body is dangerous to health due to its bioaccumulation and high toxicity.
Effect of initial support particle size of MnOx/TiO2 catalysts in the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3
Authors: Yang Yang , Hu Zhun , Mi Rongli , Li Dan , Yong Xiang , Yang Huie , Liu Kunfeng
Published: February 2019

Support particle size could influence the surface Mn4+/Mn ratio of catalysts, promoting the reactivity of bridge nitrate, therefore enhancing SCR performance.
Fabrication of interlayer β-CD/g-C3N4@MoS2 for highly enhanced photodegradation of glyphosate under simulated sunlight irradiation
Authors: He Xiufang , Wu Zhansheng , Xue Yongtao , Gao Zhenzhen , Yang Xia
Published: February 2019

The fabrication of an interlayer β-CD/g-C3N4@MoS2 composite photocatalyst for highly enhanced photodegradation of glyphosate and a toxicity test.
All-aqueous continuous-flow RAFT dispersion polymerisation for efficient preparation of diblock copolymer spheres, worms and vesicles
Authors: Parkinson Sam , Hondow Nicole S. , Conteh John S. , Bourne Richard A. , Warren Nicholas J.
Published: February 2019

A continuous-flow platform enables rapid kinetic profiling and accelerated production of block copolymer nano-objects via RAFT aqueous dispersion polymerization.
Online monitoring by infrared spectroscopy using multivariate analysis – background theory and application to catalytic dehydrogenative coupling of butanol to butyl butyrate
Authors: Violet Léo , Mifleur Alexis , Vanoye Laurent , Nguyen Duc Hanh , Favre-Réguillon Alain , Philippe Régis , Gauvin Régis M. , Fongarland Pascal
Published: February 2019

The monitoring of chemical reactions can be arduous especially when sampling is required with highly reactive compounds.
Cobalt-based ferrites as efficient redox materials for thermochemical two-step CO2-splitting: enhanced performance due to cation diffusion
Authors: Huang Jincheng , Fu Yu , Li Shuqing , Kong Wenbo , Zhang Jun , Sun Yuhan
Published: February 2019

The addition of CoO into CoFe2O4 triggers bulk cation diffusion and thereby leads to higher CO2 splitting reactivity.
Adsorption of amino acids on graphene: assessment of current force fields
Authors: Dasetty Siva , Barrows John K. , Sarupria Sapna
Published: February 2019

We thoroughly investigate the differences in free energy of adsorption and the structures of the amino acids adsorbed on graphene with force fields.
Tetragonal C24: a topological nodal-surface semimetal with potential as an anode material for sodium ion batteries
Authors: Qie Yu , Liu Junyi , Wang Shuo , Sun Qiang , Jena Puru
Published: February 2019

The first topological quantum carbon structure for Na ion battery anode with high capacity and stability.
A one-step deep eutectic solvent assisted synthesis of carbon nitride/metal oxide composites for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation
Authors: Mou Hongyu , Wang Jinfang , Zhang Deliang , Yu Dongkun , Chen Wenjun , Wang Debao , Mu Tiancheng
Published: February 2019

Preparation of g-C3N4/metal oxide composites by a general deep eutectic solvent aided method for photocatalytic reduction of nitrogen at atmospheric environment.
Unraveling the role of structural water in bilayer V2O5 during Zn2+-intercalation: insights from DFT calculations
Authors: Wu Tao , Zhu Kaiyue , Qin Changyong , Huang Kevin
Published: February 2019

Structural water in bilayer V2O5·nH2O could affect the Zn ions intercalation and rebuild a smooth electrostatic environment between V2O5 sheets for fast Zn ions diffusion.
A nitrogen-doped-carbon/ZnO modified Cu foam current collector for high-performance Li metal batteries
Authors: Zhou Ying , Zhao Kai , Han Yu , Sun Zhenhe , Zhang Hongtao , Xu Lingqun , Ma Yanfeng , Chen Yongsheng
Published: February 2019

The two most challenging issues for Li metal anodes are large volume change during the plating/stripping process and the growth of Li dendrites induced by uneven Li deposition.
Capturing the interplay between spin–orbit coupling and non-Condon effects on the photoabsorption spectra of Ru and Os dyes
Authors: Keane Theo , Rees Thomas W. , Baranoff Etienne , Curchod Basile F. E.
Published: February 2019

A theoretical protocol developed to study the low-energy tail of the absorption spectrum of homoleptic biscyclometalated ruthenium and osmium complexes.