bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acoustic probing of the particle concentration in turbulent granular suspensions in air
Authors: van den Wildenberg S. , Jia X. , Roche O.
Published: October 2020

Dilute gas–particle suspensions in which the particles are carried by the fluid are found in various industrial and geophysical contexts. One fundamental issue that limits our understanding of such systems is the difficulty to obtain information on the particle concentration inside these often optically opaque suspensions. To overcome this difficulty, we develop ultrasonic spectroscopy to monitor the local particle concentration $$\phi$$
ϕ
of glass particles (with diameters $$d\sim$$

d
∼

77 $$\upmu$$
μ
m or 155 $$\upmu$$
μ
m) suspended in air. First, we determine the minimal air velocity, $$U^*$$

U
∗

, necessary to suspend the particles from the maximum decrease in the transmitted wave amplitude and velocity of ultrasound propagating through the suspension. Next, setting the air velocity at $$U^*$$

U
∗

, we increase the mass of particles and monitor acoustically the local solid volume fraction, $$\phi$$
ϕ
, by measuring the ultrasound wave attenuation coefficient and phase velocity as a function of frequency on the basis of classical scattering and hydrodynamic models. For the frequency ranges and suspensions considered here, the viscous dissipation dominates over scattering and thermal conduction losses. We show that, for a characteristic air velocity $$U^*$$

U
∗

, the locally measured $$\phi$$
ϕ
reaches a critical value, in agreement with a recent study on turbulent gas–particle mixtures. Moreover, we find that this critical $$\phi$$
ϕ
increases with the size of the particles. Finally, analysis of the temporal fluctuations of the locally measured solid volume fraction, suggests that high density regions (clusters) are present even in suspensions with concentrations below the critical concentration. This differs from the current hypothesis according to which the critical concentration coincides with the onset of cluster formation.
Circulating branched-chain amino acids and long-term risk of obesity-related cancers in women
Authors: Tobias Deirdre K. , Hazra Aditi , Lawler Patrick R. , Chandler Paulette D. , Chasman Daniel I. , Buring Julie E. , Lee I-Min , Cheng Susan , Manson JoAnn E. , Mora Samia
Published: October 2020

Obesity is a risk factor for > 13 cancer sites, although it is unknown whether there is a common mechanism across sites. Evidence suggests a role for impaired branched-chain amino acid (BCAAs; isoleucine, leucine, valine) metabolism in obesity, insulin resistance, and immunity; thus, we hypothesized circulating BCAAs may be associated with incident obesity-related cancers. We analyzed participants in the prospective Women’s Health Study without a history of cancer at baseline blood collection (N = 26,711, mean age = 54.6 years [SD = 7.1]). BCAAs were quantified via NMR spectroscopy, log-transformed, and standardized. We used Cox proportional regression models adjusted for age, race, smoking, diet, alcohol, physical activity, menopausal hormone use, Body Mass Index (BMI), diabetes, and other risk factors. The endpoint was a composite of obesity-related cancers, defined per the International Agency for Research on Cancer 2016 report, over a median 24 years follow-up. Baseline BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 compared with BMI 18.5–25.0 kg/m2 was associated with 23% greater risk of obesity-related cancers (n = 2751 events; multivariable HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.11–1.37). However, BCAAs were not associated with obesity-related cancers (multivariable HR per SD = 1.01 [0.97–1.05]). Results for individual BCAA metabolites suggested a modest association for leucine with obesity-related cancers (1.04 [1.00–1.08]), and no association for isoleucine or valine (0.99 [0.95–1.03] and 1.00 [0.96–1.04], respectively). Exploratory analyses of BCAAs with individual sites included positive associations between leucine and postmenopausal breast cancer, and isoleucine with pancreatic cancer. Total circulating BCAAs were unrelated to obesity-related cancer incidence although an association was observed for leucine with incident obesity-related cancer.
Structural insights into rice SalTol QTL located SALT protein
Authors: Kaur Navdeep , Sagar Amin , Sharma Pankaj , Ashish  , Pati Pratap Kumar
Published: October 2020

Salinity is one of the major stresses affecting rice production worldwide, and various strategies are being employed to increase salt tolerance. Recently, there has been resurgence of interest to characterize SalTol QTL harbouring number of critical genes involved in conferring salt stress tolerance in rice. The present study reports the structure of SALT, a SalTol QTL encoded protein by X-ray crystallography (PDB ID: 5GVY; resolution 1.66 Å). Each SALT chain was bound to one mannose via 8 hydrogen bonds. Compared to previous structure reported for similar protein, our structure showed a buried surface area of 900 Å2 compared to only 240 Å2 for previous one. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data analysis showed that the predominant solution shape of SALT protein in solution is also dimer characterized by a radius of gyration and maximum linear dimension of 2.1 and 6.5 nm, respectively. The SAXS profiles and modelling confirmed that the dimeric association and relative positioning in solution matched better with our crystal structure instead of previously reported structure. Together, structural/biophysical data analysis uphold a tight dimeric structure for SALT protein with one mannose bound to each protein, which remains novel to date, as previous structures indicated one sugar unit sandwiched loosely between two protein chains.
Transcriptome analysis uncovers the diagnostic value of miR-192-5p/HNF1A-AS1/VIL1 panel in cervical adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xu Junfen , Zou Jian , Wu Luyao , Lu Weiguo
Published: October 2020

Despite the fact that the incidence of cervical squamous cell carcinoma has decreased, there is an increase in the incidence of cervical adenocarcinoma. However, our knowledge on cervical adenocarcinoma is largely unclear. Transcriptome sequencing was conducted to compare 4 cervical adenocarcinoma tissue samples with 4 normal cervical tissue samples. mRNA, lncRNA, and miRNA signatures were identified to discriminate cervical adenocarcinoma from normal cervix. The expression of VIL1, HNF1A-AS1, MIR194-2HG, SSTR5-AS1, miR-192-5p, and miR-194-5p in adenocarcinoma were statistically significantly higher than that in normal control samples. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that combination of miR-192-5p, HNF1A-AS1, and VIL1 yielded a better performance (AUC = 0.911) than any single molecule -and could serve as potential biomarkers for cervical adenocarcinoma. Of note, the combination model also gave better performance than TCT test for cervical adenocarcinoma diagnosis. However, there was no correlation between miR-192-5p or HNF1A-AS1 and HPV16/18 E6 or E7. VIL1 was weakly correlated with HPV18 E7 expression. In summary, our study has identified miR-192-5p/HNF1A-AS1/VIL1 panel that accurately discriminates adenocarcinoma from normal cervix. Detection of this panel may provide considerable clinical value in the diagnosis of cervical adenocarcinoma.
Perfusion reduces bispecific antibody aggregation via mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction-induced glutathione oxidation and ER stress in CHO cells
Authors: Sinharoy Pritam , Aziz Aaron H. , Majewska Natalia I. , Ahuja Sanjeev , Handlogten Michael W.
Published: October 2020

One major challenge observed for the expression of therapeutic bispecific antibodies (BisAbs) is high product aggregates. Aggregates increase the risk of immune responses in patients and therefore must be removed at the expense of purification yields. BisAbs contain engineered disulfide bonds, which have been demonstrated to form product aggregates, if mispaired. However, the underlying intracellular mechanisms leading to product aggregate formation remain unknown. We demonstrate that impaired glutathione regulation underlies BisAb aggregation formation in a CHO cell process. Aggregate formation was evaluated for the same clonal CHO cell line producing a BisAb using fed-batch and perfusion processes. The perfusion process produced significantly lower BisAb aggregates compared to the fed-batch process. Perfusion bioreactors attenuated mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress resulting in a favorable intracellular redox environment as indicated by improved reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio. Conversely, mitochondrial dysfunction-induced glutathione oxidation and ER stress disrupted the intracellular redox homeostasis, leading to product aggregation in the fed-batch process. Combined, our results demonstrate that mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress impaired glutathione regulation leading to higher product aggregates in the fed-batch process. This is the first study to utilize perfusion bioreactors as a tool to demonstrate the intracellular mechanisms underlying product aggregation formation.
A global class reunion with multiple groups feasting on the declining insect smorgasbord
Authors: Vesterinen Eero J. , Kaunisto Kari M. , Lilley Thomas M.
Published: October 2020

We report a detection of a surprising similarity in the diet of predators across distant phyla. Though just a first glimpse into the subject, our discovery contradicts traditional aspects of biology, as the earliest notions in ecology have linked the most severe competition of resources with evolutionary relatedness. We argue that our finding deserves more research, and propose a plan to reveal more information on the current biodiversity loss around the world. While doing so, we expand the recently proposed conservation roadmaps into a parallel study of global interaction networks.
A simple RNA preparation method for SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR
Authors: Wozniak Aniela , Cerda Ariel , Ibarra-Henríquez Catalina , Sebastian Valentina , Armijo Grace , Lamig Liliana , Miranda Carolina , Lagos Marcela , Solari Sandra , Guzmán Ana María , Quiroga Teresa , Hitschfeld Susan , Riveras Eleodoro , Ferrés Marcela , Gutiérrez Rodrigo A. , García Patricia
Published: October 2020

The technique RT-qPCR for viral RNA detection is the current worldwide strategy used for early detection of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. RNA extraction is a key pre-analytical step in RT-qPCR, often achieved using commercial kits. However, the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic is causing disruptions to the global supply chains used by many diagnostic laboratories to procure the commercial kits required for RNA extraction. Shortage in these essential reagents is even more acute in developing countries with no means to produce kits locally. We sought to find an alternative procedure to replace commercial kits using common reagents found in molecular biology laboratories. Here we report a method for RNA extraction that takes about 40 min to complete ten samples, and is not more laborious than current commercial RNA extraction kits. We demonstrate that this method can be used to process nasopharyngeal swab samples and yields RT-qPCR results comparable to those obtained with commercial kits. Most importantly, this procedure can be easily implemented in any molecular diagnostic laboratory. Frequent testing is crucial for individual patient management as well as for public health decision making in this pandemic. Implementation of this method could maintain crucial testing going despite commercial kit shortages.
HMGR overexpression and interference affect the expression of steroidogenic genes and cholesterol content in bovine intramuscular adipocytes
Authors: Lin Haichao , Wei Chen , Zhang Xianglun , You Wei , Jin Qing , Tan Xiuwen , Zhao Hongbo , Zhang Chen , Liu Xiaomu , Liu Guifen
Published: October 2020

Previously, we found that mevalonic acid stimulates 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) expression in bovine intramuscular adipocytes to influence adipocyte differentiation. However, any direct links among HMGR, steroidogenic genes, and cholesterol content remain unclear. RNA-Seq was conducted to determine the differences between the gene expression profiles of bovine adipocytes containing different HMGR expression constructs. In total, 10,234 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found. Of these, 35 and 6 DEGs between the control and the overexpression groups were functionally related to lipid and energy metabolism, respectively. In addition, 43 and 8 DEGs between the control and the HMGR inhibition groups were related to lipid and energy metabolism, respectively. Several DEGs related to lipid and energy metabolism were also identified between the HMGR overexpression group and the HMGR interference group, and many DEGs were correlated positively or negatively with the overexpression or inhibition of HMGR. We also found that, following the activation or inhibition of the HMGR gene, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin type 1 (SIRT1) had opposite expression patterns in bovine intramuscular adipocytes. Interestingly, the HMGR gene was downregulated when HMGR was overexpressed, and upregulated when HMGR was inhibited. Our findings establish a theoretical understanding of signaling pathways involved in cholesterol synthesis by elucidating the relationships between key genes.
The effect of aldosterone and aldosterone blockade on the progression of chronic kidney disease: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Minakuchi Hitoshi , Wakino Shu , Urai Hidenori , Kurokochi Arata , Hasegawa Kazuhiro , Kanda Takeshi , Tokuyama Hirobumi , Itoh Hiroshi
Published: October 2020

The progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) cannot be completely inhibited. We first explored factors contributing to CKD progression in patients with CKD in a prospective observational study. In the next phase, we focused on the effects of aldosterone, conducting a single-blinded placebo-controlled study using the selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), eplerenone (25 mg/day). We recruited patients with CKD stage 2 and 3 whose plasma aldosterone concentration was above 15 ng/dL based on the prior data of a prospective observational study. In the CKD cohort study (n = 141), baseline plasma aldosterone concentration was identified as an independent contributory factor for the future rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). When the cut-off value for aldosterone was set at 14.5 ng/dL, the decline rate was significantly higher in patients with higher plasma aldosterone concentration (− 1.22 ± 0.39 ml/min/1.73 m2/year vs. 0.39 ± 0.40 ml/min/1.73 m2/year, p = 0.0047). In the final intervention study, in the eplerenone group, eGFR dropped at 6 months after the initiation of the study, and thereafter eGFR was maintained until the end of the study. At 24 months and 36 months, eGFR was significantly higher in the eplerenone group than in the placebo group. In conclusion, MRA can be an effective strategy in preventing CKD progression, especially in patients with high plasma aldosterone.
Extensive fragmentation and re-organization of transcription in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Ntasis Vasilis F. , Panousis Nikolaos I. , Tektonidou Maria G. , Dermitzakis Emmanouil T. , Boumpas Dimitrios T. , Bertsias George K. , Nikolaou Christoforos
Published: October 2020

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is the prototype of autoimmune diseases, characterized by extensive gene expression perturbations in peripheral blood immune cells. Circumstantial evidence suggests that these perturbations may be due to altered epigenetic profiles and chromatin accessibility but the relationship between transcriptional deregulation and genome organization remains largely unstudied. In this work we propose a genomic approach that leverages patterns of gene coexpression from genome-wide transcriptome profiles in order to identify statistically robust Domains of Co-ordinated gene Expression (DCEs). Application of this method on a large transcriptome profiling dataset of 148 SLE patients and 52 healthy individuals enabled the identification of significant disease-associated alterations in gene co-regulation patterns, which also correlate with SLE activity status. Low disease activity patient genomes are characterized by extensive fragmentation leading to overall fewer DCEs of smaller size. High disease activity genomes display extensive redistribution of co-expression domains with expanded and newly-appearing (emerged) DCEs. The dynamics of domain fragmentation and redistribution are associated with SLE clinical endophenotypes, with genes of the interferon pathway being highly enriched in DCEs that become disrupted and with functions associated to more generalized symptoms, being located in domains that emerge anew in high disease activity genomes. Our results suggest strong links between the SLE phenotype and the underlying genome structure and underline an important role for genome organization in shaping gene expression in SLE.
Best diagnostic accuracy of sepsis combining SIRS criteria or qSOFA score with Procalcitonin and Mid-Regional pro-Adrenomedullin outside ICU
Authors: Spoto Silvia , Nobile Edoardo , Carnà Emanuele Paolo Rafano , Fogolari Marta , Caputo Damiano , De Florio Lucia , Valeriani Emanuele , Benvenuto Domenico , Costantino Sebastiano , Ciccozzi Massimo , Angeletti Silvia
Published: October 2020

Early diagnosis and treatment significantly reduce sepsis mortality. Currently, no gold standard has been yet established to diagnose sepsis outside the ICU. The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of sepsis defined by SIRS Criteria of 1991,
Second Consensus Conference Criteria of 2001, modified Second Consensus Conference Criteria of 2001 (obtaining SIRS Criteria and SOFA score), Third Consensus Conference of 2016, in addition to the dosage of Procalcitonin (PCT) and MR-pro-Adrenomedullin (MR-proADM). In this prospective study, 209 consecutive patients with clinical diagnosis of sepsis were enrolled (May 2014–June 2018) outside intensive care unit (ICU) setting. A diagnostic protocol could include SIRS criteria or qSOFA score evaluation, rapid testing of PCT and MR-proADM, and SOFA score calculation for organ failure definition. Using this approach outside the ICU, a rapid diagnostic and prognostic evaluation could be achieved, also in the case of negative SIRS, qSOFA or SOFA scores with high post-test probability to reduce mortality and improve outcomes.
Molecular changes associated with spontaneous phenotypic variation of Paenibacillus polymyxa, a commonly used biocontrol agent, and temperature-dependent control of variation
Authors: Lee Younmi , Kim Young Soo , Balaraju Kotnala , Seo Young-Su , Park Jungwook , Ryu Choong-Min , Park Seung-Hwan , Kim Jihyun F. , Kang Seogchan , Jeon Yongho
Published: October 2020

There has been a growing interest in deploying plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a biological control agent (BCA) to reduce the use of agrochemicals. Spontaneous phenotypic variation of PGPR, which causes the loss of traits crucial for biocontrol, presents a large obstacle in producing commercial biocontrol products. Here, we report molecular changes associated with phenotypic variation in Paenibacillus polymyxa, a PGPR widely used for biocontrol worldwide, and a simple cultural change that can prevent the variation. Compared to B-type (non-variant) cells of P. polymyxa strain E681, its phenotypic variant, termed as F-type, fails to form spores, does not confer plant growth-promoting effect, and displays altered colony and cell morphology, motility, antagonism against other microbes, and biofilm formation. This variation was observed in all tested strains of P. polymyxa, but the frequency varied among them. RNA-seq analysis revealed differential regulation of many genes involved in sporulation, flagella synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and antimicrobial production in F-type cells, consistent with their pleiotropic phenotypic changes. F-type cells's sporulation was arrested at stage 0, and the key sporulation gene spo0A was upregulated only in B-type cells. The phenotypic variation could be prevented by altering the temperature for growth. When E681 was cultured at 20 °C or lower, it exhibited no variation for 7 days and still reached ~ 108 cfu/mL, the level sufficient for commercial-scale production of biocontrol products.
Continental-scale patterns of hyper-cryptic diversity within the freshwater model taxon Gammarus fossarum (Crustacea, Amphipoda)
Authors: Wattier Remi , Mamos Tomasz , Copilaş-Ciocianu Denis , Jelić Mišel , Ollivier Anthony , Chaumot Arnaud , Danger Michael , Felten Vincent , Piscart Christophe , Žganec Krešimir , Rewicz Tomasz , Wysocka Anna , Rigaud Thierry , Grabowski Michał
Published: October 2020

Traditional morphological diagnoses of taxonomic status remain widely used while an increasing number of studies show that one morphospecies might hide cryptic diversity, i.e. lineages with unexpectedly high molecular divergence. This hidden diversity can reach even tens of lineages, i.e. hyper cryptic diversity. Even well-studied model-organisms may exhibit overlooked cryptic diversity. Such is the case of the freshwater crustacean amphipod model taxon Gammarus fossarum. It is extensively used in both applied and basic types of research, including biodiversity assessments, ecotoxicology and evolutionary ecology. Based on COI barcodes of 4926 individuals from 498 sampling sites in 19 European countries, the present paper shows (1) hyper cryptic diversity, ranging from 84 to 152 Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units, (2) ancient diversification starting already 26 Mya in the Oligocene, and (3) high level of lineage syntopy. Even if hyper cryptic diversity was already documented in G. fossarum, the present study increases its extent fourfold, providing a first continental-scale insight into its geographical distribution and establishes several diversification hotspots, notably south-eastern and central Europe. The challenges of recording hyper cryptic diversity in the future are also discussed.
The age distribution of mortality from novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) suggests no large difference of susceptibility by age
Authors: Omori Ryosuke , Matsuyama Ryota , Nakata Yukihiko
Published: October 2020

Among Italy, Spain, and Japan, the age distributions of COVID-19 mortality show only small variation even though the number of deaths per country shows large variation. To understand the determinant for this situation, we constructed a mathematical model describing the transmission dynamics and natural history of COVID-19 and analyzed the dataset of mortality in Italy, Spain, and Japan. We estimated the parameter which describes the age-dependency of susceptibility by fitting the model to reported data, including the effect of change in contact patterns during the epidemics of COVID-19, and the fraction of symptomatic infections. Our study revealed that if the mortality rate or the fraction of symptomatic infections among all COVID-19 cases does not depend on age, then unrealistically different age-dependencies of susceptibilities against COVID-19 infections between Italy, Japan, and Spain are required to explain the similar age distribution of mortality but different basic reproduction numbers (R0). Variation of susceptibility by age itself cannot explain the robust age distribution in mortality by COVID-19 infections in those three countries, however it does suggest that the age-dependencies of (i) the mortality rate and (ii) the fraction of symptomatic infections among all COVID-19 cases determine the age distribution of mortality by COVID-19.
Robustness of sex-differences in functional connectivity over time in middle-aged marmosets
Authors: Nephew Benjamin C. , Febo Marcelo , Cali Ryan , Workman Kathryn P. , Payne Laurellee , Moore Constance M. , King Jean A. , Lacreuse Agnès
Published: October 2020

Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are an essential research model for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms of neurocognitive aging in our own species. In the present study, we used resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) to investigate the relationship between prefrontal cortical and striatal neural interactions, and cognitive flexibility, in unanaesthetized common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) at two time points during late middle age (8 months apart, similar to a span of 5–6 years in humans). Based on our previous findings, we also determine the reproducibility of connectivity measures over the course of 8 months, particularly previously observed sex differences in rsFC. Male marmosets exhibited remarkably similar patterns of stronger functional connectivity relative to females and greater cognitive flexibility between the two imaging time points. Network analysis revealed that the consistent sex differences in connectivity and related cognitive associations were characterized by greater node strength and/or degree values in several prefrontal, premotor and temporal regions, as well as stronger intra PFC connectivity, in males compared to females. The current study supports the existence of robust sex differences in prefrontal and striatal resting state networks that may contribute to differences in cognitive function and offers insight on the neural systems that may be compromised in cognitive aging and age-related conditions such as mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
Antiviral activity of a novel mixture of natural antimicrobials, in vitro, and in a chicken infection model in vivo
Authors: Balta Igori , Stef Lavinia , Pet Ioan , Ward Patrick , Callaway Todd , Ricke Steven C. , Gundogdu Ozan , Corcionivoschi Nicolae
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study was to test in vitro the ability of a mixture of citrus extract, maltodextrin, sodium chloride, lactic acid and citric acid (AuraShield L) to inhibit the virulence of infectious bronchitis, Newcastle disease, avian influenza, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and bovine coronavirus viruses. Secondly, in vivo, we have investigated its efficacy against infectious bronchitis using a broiler infection model. In vitro, these antimicrobials had expressed antiviral activity against all five viruses through all phases of the infection process of the host cells. In vivo, the antimicrobial mixture reduced the virus load in the tracheal and lung tissue and significantly reduced the clinical signs of infection and the mortality rate in the experimental group E2 receiving AuraShield L. All these effects were accompanied by a significant reduction in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an increase in IgA levels and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in both trachea and lungs. Our study demonstrated that mixtures of natural antimicrobials, such AuraShield L, can prevent in vitro viral infection of cell cultures. Secondly, in vivo, the efficiency of vaccination was improved by preventing secondary viral infections through a mechanism involving significant increases in SCFA production and increased IgA levels. As a consequence the clinical signs of secondary infections were significantly reduced resulting in recovered production performance and lower mortality rates in the experimental group E2.
A glance at the gut microbiota of five experimental animal species through fecal samples
Authors: Xiang Zhiguang , Zhu Hua , Yang Bochao , Fan Hang , Guo Jianguo , Liu Jiangning , Kong Qi , Teng Qingfeng , Shang Haiquan , Su Lei , Qin Chuan
Published: October 2020

Experimental animals including the ferret, marmoset, woodchuck, mini pig, and tree shrew have been used in biomedical research. However, their gut microbiota have not been fully investigated. In this study, the gut microbiota of these five experimental animals were analyzed with 16S rRNA sequencing. The phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Fusobacteria were present in the gut microbiota of all the species. Specific phyla were present in different animals: Proteobacteria in the ferret, Tenericutes in the marmoset, and Spirochaetes in the mini pig. Fusobacterium and unidentified Clostridiales were the dominant genera in the ferret, whereas Libanicoccus, Lactobacillus, Porphyromonas, and Peptoclostridium were specific to marmoset, mini pig, woodchuck, and tree shrew, respectively. A clustering analysis showed that the overall distribution of microbial species in the guts of these species mirrored their mammalian phylogeny, and the microbiota of the marmoset and tree shrew showed the closest bray_curtis distances to that of humans. PICRUSt functional prediction separated the woodchuck from the other species, which may reflect its herbivorous diet. In conclusion, both the evolutionary phylogeny and daily diet affect the gut microbiota of these experimental animals, which should not be neglected for their usage in biomedical research.
From Textile to Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industry: Circular Economy Applied to Silk Manufacturing Wastes
Authors: Sorlini Marzio , Menato Silvia
Published: October 2020

Silk is one of the most valuable and acknowledged materials for textile manufacturing, that also shows remarkable features for applications in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and drug delivery fields. In this chapter, opportunities involving silk upgrading from textile wastes to pharma or cosmetic applications are presented, discussing available technologies, suitable practices and envisaged environmental benefits related to the use of silk by-products in place of raw silk fibres. Such value-adding applications in the addressed industrial fields are expected to combine economic and environmental benefits towards the actual implementation of sustainability, circular economy and industrial symbiosis relevant behaviours.
Antibacterial nanosystems for cancer therapy
Authors: Rao Jingdong , Yang Yuhe , Pan Bei Ho , Tang Chak-Yin , Zhao Xin
Published: October 2020

In this review, we introduce anti-bacterial nanosystems for cancer therapy in the aspects of spontaneous and triggered anti-bacterial action.
Smart dual T1 MRI-optical imaging agent based on a rhodamine appended Fe(iii)-catecholate complex
Authors: Maheshwaran Duraiyarasu , Nagendraraj Thavasilingam , Sekar Balaji T. , Kumaresan Ganesan , Senthil Kumaran S. , Mayilmurugan Ramasamy
Published: October 2020

The high spin Fe(iii) complex Fe(RhoCat)3 is reported as a smart dual-modal T1 MRI-optical imaging probe to visualize the NO molecule and an acidic pH environment.
Palladium complexes with an annellated mesoionic carbene (MIC) ligand: catalytic sequential Sonogashira coupling/cyclization reaction for one-pot synthesis of benzofuran, indole, isocoumarin and isoquinolone derivatives
Authors: Tyagi Akshi , Reshi Noor U Din , Daw Prosenjit , Bera Jitendra K.
Published: October 2020

A Pd(ii) complex containing a mesoionic carbene and phosphine ligands is an efficient catalyst for tandem coupling/cyclization reaction.
Radical cyclizations of enynes/dienes with alcohols in water using a green oxidant
Authors: Wang Dong-Kai , Fang Yi-Lin , Zhang Jian , Guan Yu-Tao , Huang Xun-Jie , Zhang Jianfeng , Li Qiang , Wei Wen-Ting
Published: October 2020

A simple, eco-friendly, and efficient methodology for performing radical cyclizations of enynes/dienes with alcohols in water has been established.
Selective extraction and determination of beryllium in real samples using amino-5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone functionalized magnetic MIL-53 as a novel nanoadsorbent
Authors: Rezabeyk Soheyla , Manoochehri Mahboobeh
Published: October 2020

Functionalized magnetic MIL-53(Fe) consisting of 2-amino-5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4@ADHNQ) was synthesized, and utilized for magnetic solid phase extraction of trace amounts of beryllium.
Intrinsic kinetic study of 1-butene isomerization over magnesium oxide catalyst via a Berty stationary catalyst basket reactor
Authors: Ountaksinkul Khunnawat , Wannakao Sippakorn , Praserthdam Piyasan , Assabumrungrat Suttichai
Published: October 2020

The intrinsic kinetics of 1-butene isomerization over a commercial MgO catalyst was studied by using a Berty-type reactor (gradient-less recycle reactor) without limitations of heat-, external mass-, and internal mass-transfers.
Green synthesis of silver nanoplates using the special category of plant leaves showing the lotus effect
Authors: Agarwal Sangeeta , Gogoi Manisha , Talukdar Smritirekha , Bora Pinky , Basumatary Tarun Kumar , Devi N. Nirjanta
Published: October 2020

This work is the first report on the green synthesis of silver nanoplates using an extract of plant leaves showing the lotus effect.
The radical scavenging activity of moracins: theoretical insights
Authors: Vo Quan V. , Hoa Nguyen Thi
Published: October 2020

The antiradical properties of moracin M in the gas-phase and in physiological environments were examined by thermodynamic and kinetic calculations.
Advances in chemistry and composition of soft materials for drug releasing contact lenses
Authors: Chatterjee Subir , Upadhyay Prashant , Mishra Manjul , M. Srividya , Akshara M. R. , N. Kamali , Zaidi Zahra Sifat , Iqbal Sayeda F. , Misra Santosh K.
Published: October 2020

Contact lens as controllable route for ocular drug delivery.
A novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering method for simultaneous detection of ketamine and amphetamine
Authors: Sun Shijiao , Guan Ming , Guo Chang , Ma Li , Zhou Hao , Wang Xiaomei , Mi Fang , Li Jiutong
Published: October 2020

Successfully synthesized Au-4MBA@Ag and Au-XP013@Ag. By detecting the Raman signal on the magnetic beads, the ketamine and amphetamine simultaneous detection was finally realized.
Degradation of fluorescent organic light emitting diodes caused by quenching of singlet and triplet excitons
Authors: Le Duy Cong , Nguyen Duong Dai , Lloyd Savanna , Suzuki Toshi-kazu , Murata Hideyuki
Published: October 2020

The initial luminescence loss of fluorescent OLEDs utilizing triplet–triplet annihilation is not only caused by quenching of singlet exciton with neutral quenchers but also by that of triplet excitons with positively charged quenchers.
Effects of Fundamental Frequency Contours on Sentence Recognition in Mandarin-Speaking Children With Cochlear Implants
Authors: Huang Wanting , Wong Lena L. N. , Chen Fei , Liu Haihong , Liang Wei
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Fundamental frequency (F0) is the primary acoustic cue for lexical tone perception in tonal languages but is processed in a limited way in cochlear implant (CI) systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of F0 contours in sentence recognition in Mandarin-speaking children with CIs and find out whether it is similar to/different from that in age-matched normal-hearing (NH) peers.

Method

Age-appropriate sentences, with F0 contours manipulated to be either natural or flattened, were randomly presented to preschool children with CIs and their age-matched peers with NH under three test conditions: in quiet, in white noise, and with competing sentences at 0 dB signal-to-noise ratio.

Results

The neutralization of F0 contours resulted in a significant reduction in sentence recognition. While this was seen only in noise conditions among NH children, it was observed throughout all test conditions among children with CIs. Moreover, the F0 contour-induced accuracy reduction ratios (i.e., the reduction in sentence recognition resulting from the neutralization of F0 contours compared to the normal F0 condition) were significantly greater in children with CIs than in NH children in all test conditions.

Conclusions

F0 contours play a major role in sentence recognition in both quiet and noise among pediatric implantees, and the contribution of the F0 contour is even more salient than that in age-matched NH children. These results also suggest that there may be differences between children with CIs and NH children in how F0 contours are processed.
Migration jumps of planets in transition discs
Authors: Rometsch Thomas , Rodenkirch Peter J. , Kley Wilhelm , Dullemond Cornelis P.
Published: October 2020

Context. Transition discs form a special class of protoplanetary discs that are characterised by a deficiency of disc material close to the star. In a subgroup, inner holes in these discs can stretch out to a few tens of au while there is still mass accretion onto the central star observed at the same time.

Aims. We analyse the proposition that this type of wide transition disc is generated by the interaction of the disc with a system of embedded planets.

Methods. We performed two-dimensional hydrodynamics simulations of a flat disc. Different equations of state were used including locally isothermal models and more realistic cases that consider viscous heating, radiative cooling, and stellar heating. Two massive planets (with masses of between three and nine Jupiter masses) were embedded in the disc and their dynamical evolution due to disc–planet interaction was followed for over 100 000 yr. The simulations account for mass accretion onto the star and planets. We included models with parameters reminiscent of the system PDS 70. To assess the observability of features in our models we performed synthetic ALMA observations.

Results. For systems with a more massive inner planet, there are phases where both planets migrate outward engaged in a 2:1 mean motion resonance via the Masset-Snellgrove mechanism. In sufficiently massive discs, the resulting formation of a vortex and the interaction with it can trigger rapid outward migration of the outer planet where its distance can increase by tens of au in a few thousand years. After another few thousand years, the outer planet rapidly migrates back inwards into resonance with the inner planet. We call this emerging composite phenomenon a migration jump. Outward migration and the migration jumps are accompanied by a high mass accretion rate onto the star. The synthetic images reveal numerous substructures depending on the type of dynamical behaviour.

Conclusions. Our results suggest that the outward migration of two embedded planets is a prime candidate for the explanation of the observed high stellar mass accretion rate in wide transition discs. The models for PDS 70 indicate it is not currently undergoing a migration jump but might very well be in a phase of outward migration.
The messy merger of a large satellite and a Milky Way-like galaxy
Authors: Koppelman Helmer H. , Bos Roy O. Y. , Helmi Amina
Published: October 2020

Aims. About 10 billion years ago the Milky Way merged with a massive satellite, Gaia-Enceladus. To gain insight into the properties of its debris we analyse in detail a suite of simulations that includes an experiment that produces a good match to the kinematics of nearby halo stars inferred from Gaia data.

Methods. We compare the kinematic distributions of stellar particles in the simulations and study the distribution of debris in orbital angular momentum, eccentricity, and energy, and its relation to the mass loss history of the simulated satellite.

Results. We confirm that Gaia-Enceladus probably fell in on a retrograde, 30° inclination orbit. We find that while 75% of the debris in our preferred simulation has high eccentricity (> 0.8), roughly 9% has eccentricity lower than 0.6. Star particles lost early have large retrograde motions, and a subset of these have low eccentricity. Such stars would be expected to have lower metallicities as they stem from the outskirts of the satellite, and hence naively they could be confused with debris associated with a separate system. These considerations seem to apply to some of the stars from the postulated Sequoia galaxy.

Conclusions. When a massive disc galaxy undergoes a merger event, it leaves behind debris with a complex phase-space structure, a wide range of orbital properties, and a range of chemical abundances. Observationally, this results in substructures with very different properties, which can be misinterpreted as implying independent progeny. Detailed chemical abundances of large samples of stars and tailored hydrodynamical simulations are critical to resolving such conundrums.
Hot Exoplanet Atmospheres Resolved with Transit Spectroscopy (HEARTS)
Authors: Seidel J. V. , Lendl M. , Bourrier V. , Ehrenreich D. , Allart R. , Sousa S. G. , Cegla H. M. , Bonfils X. , Conod U. , Grandjean A. , Wyttenbach A. , Astudillo-Defru N. , Bayliss D. , Heng K. , Lavie B. , Lovis C. , Melo C. , Pepe F. , Ségransan D. , Udry S.
Published: October 2020

WASP-127b is one of the puffiest exoplanets found to date, with a mass of only 3.4 Neptune masses, but a radius larger than that of Jupiter. It is located at the border of the Neptune desert, which describes the lack of highly irradiated Neptune-sized planets, and which remains poorly understood. Its large scale height and bright host star make the transiting WASP-127b a valuable target to characterise in transmission spectroscopy. We used combined EulerCam and TESS light curves to recalculate the system parameters. Additionally, we present an in-depth search for sodium in four transit observations of WASP-127b, obtained as part of the Hot Exoplanet Atmosphere Resolved with Transit Spectroscopy (HEARTS) survey with the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) spectrograph. Two nights from this dataset were analysed independently by another team. The team claimed a detection of sodium that is incompatible with previous studies of data from both ground and space. We show that this strong sodium detection is due to contamination from telluric sodium emissions and the low signal-to-noise ratio in the core of the deep stellar sodium lines. When these effects are properly accounted for, the previous sodium signal is reduced to an absorption of 0.46 ± 0.20% (2.3σ), which is compatible with analyses of WASP-127b transits carried out with other instruments. We can fit a Gaussian to the D2 line, but the D1 line was not detected. This indicates an unusual line ratio if sodium exists in the atmosphere. Follow-up of WASP-127 at high resolution and with high sensitivity is required to firmly establish the presence of sodium and analyse its line shape.
Observability and unique continuation of the adjoint of a linearized simplified compressible fluid-structure model in a 2d channel
Authors: Mitra Sourav
Published: October 2020

We consider a compressible fluid structure interaction model in a 2D channel with a simplified expression of the net force acting on the structure appearing at the fluid boundary. Concerning the structure we will consider a damped Euler-Bernoulli beam located on a portion of the boundary. In the present article we establish an observability inequality for the adjoint of the linearized fluid structure interaction problem under consideration which in principle is equivalent with the null controllability of the linearized system. As a corollary of the derived observability inequality we also obtain a unique continuation property for the adjoint problem.
Modification of optical properties of PC-PBT/Cr2O3and PC-PBT/CdS nanocomposites by gamma irradiation
Authors: Benthami Kaoutar , Barakat Mai ME. , Nouh Samir A.
Published: October 2020

Nanocomposite (NCP) films of polycarbonate-polybutylene terephthalate (PC-PBT) blend as a host material to Cr2O3and CdS nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated by both thermolysis and casting techniques. Samples from the PC-PBT/Cr2O3and PC-PBT/CdS NCPs were irradiated using different doses (20–110 kGy) of γ radiation. The induced modifications in the optical properties of the γ irradiated NCPs have been studied as a function of γ dose using UV Vis spectroscopy and CIE color difference method. Optical dielectric loss and Tauc's model were used to estimate the optical band gaps of the NCP films and to identify the types of electronic transition. The value of optical band gap energy of PC-PBT/Cr2O3NCP was reduced from 3.23 to 3.06 upon γ irradiation up to 110 kGy, while it decreased from 4.26 to 4.14 eV for PC-PBT/CdS NCP, indicating the growth of disordered phase in both NCPs. This was accompanied by a rise in the refractive index for both the PC-PBT/Cr2O3and PC-PBT/CdS NCP films, leading to an enhancement in their isotropic nature. The Cr2O3NPs were found to be more effective in changing the band gap energy and refractive index due to the presence of excess oxygen atoms that help with the oxygen atoms of the carbonyl group in increasing the chance of covalent bonds formation between the NPs and the PC-PBT blend. Moreover, the color intensity, ΔE has been computed; results show that both the two synthesized NCPs have a response to color alteration by γ irradiation, but the PC-PBT/Cr2O3has a more response since the values of ΔE achieved a significant color difference >5 which is an acceptable match in commercial reproduction on printing presses. According to the resulting enhancement in the optical characteristics of the developed NCPs, they can be a suitable candidate as activate materials in optoelectronic devices, or shielding sheets for solar cells.
Method for Determining Repair Tolerance of Civil Aircraft Composite Structure
Authors: Wang Chen , He Erming , Zhao Zhibin , Liu Zhiqi , Xue Xiaofeng , Feng Yunwen
Published: October 2020

In order to solve the problem of repair tolerance in the actual repair process of civil aircraft composite structure, by which it is judged whether to repair or not. Based on the existing results and shortcomings, this paper proposes two complete solutions and procedures for the repair tolerance of composite structure, focusing on how to determine the upper limit of repair under the consideration of both economy and safety. Then taking the composite stiffened wall panel under compression as an example, considering the damage of perforation, combined with finite element analysis, these two methods are used to try to calculate the repair tolerance of the stiffened panel respectively. The results show that the repair tolerance results of the same composite stiffened wall panel obtained by the two schemes are relatively close and reasonable, which proves the feasibility of these two methods, and provides a reference for the engineering damage assessment of civil aircraft composite structure.
UAV's Precise Trajectory Tracking Control Based on Nonlinear Dynamic Inverse and Quaternions
Authors: Song Hongchuan , Zhan Hao , Xia Lu , Zhang Nan
Published: October 2020

The precise tracking 3D trajectory that changes dramatically within the boundary of flight performance is the essential capability of the UAV applied to air combat, which requires that flight control law design be adapted to nonlinear characteristics of flight dynamics and solve the singularities problem during the flight. Continuous trajectory control on the basis of nonlinear dynamic inversion (NDI) is studied. The singularities problem is caused by continuous trajectory expressed by flight velocity and flight-path angles. A sudden change of flight-path axis system happens when aircraft flies along a continuous trajectory which results in singularities. A method for amending flight-path axis system is presented to solve the sudden change problem of flight-path axis system. Finally, the combination of the maneuver generator based on quaternions and amending flight-path axis system realize the precise trajectory tracking control without singularities and obtain excellent tracking characteristics.