bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeting mutations to the plastidial psbA gene of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii without direct positive selection
Authors: Shmidt Volha , Kaftan David , Scherz Avigdor , Danon Avihai
Published: May 2019

Targeting mutations to specific genomic loci is invaluable for assessing in vivo the effect of these changes on the biological role of the gene in study. Here, we attempted to introduce a mutation that was previously implicated in an increased heat stability of the mesophilic cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 via homologous recombination to the psbA gene of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. For that, we established a strategy for targeted mutagenesis that was derived from the efficient genome-wide homologous-recombination-based methodology that was used to target individual genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. While the isolated mutants did not show any benefit under elevated temperature conditions, the new strategy proved to be efficient for C. reinhardtii even in the absence of direct positive selection.
A phase II study of ENMD-2076 in advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS)
Authors: Veitch Zachary , Zer Alona , Loong Herbert , Salah Samer , Masood Maryam , Gupta Abha , Bradbury Penelope A. , Hogg David , Wong Andrew , Kandel Rita , Charames George S. , Abdul Razak Albiruni R.
Published: May 2019

ENMD-2076, an aurora-A kinase inhibitor with anti-angiogenic properties, has shown activity in solid and hematologic malignancies. We investigated oral ENMD-2076 in an open-label, single-arm phase II study using 275 mg daily on a 28-day cycle in patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) receiving ≤1 line of prior therapy. Primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) with ≤15% indicating no interest, and ≥40% indicating further interest in ENMD-2076. Secondary/exploratory endpoints included clinical benefit (CBR ≥6-months) and objective response (ORR) rates, PFS, OS, safety, and whole-exome sequencing (WES) for potentially associated biomarkers. Overall, 23/25 (92%) patients receiving ENMD-2076 were efficacy evaluable with median follow-up of 14 months (range 2.2–39.5). Common subtypes were leiomyosarcoma (n = 10), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (n = 3), angiosarcoma (n = 3), and alveolar soft-part sarcoma (n = 3). The 6-month PFS was 20.8% (95% CI:3.2–38.4) with a CBR of 17% (95% CI:1.55–33.23) and ORR of 9% (95% CI:3.08–20.46). Median PFS was 2.5 months (95% CI:2.20–4.47) and OS was 14.1 months (95% CI:6.07–20.07). The most common high-grade treatment-related adverse event was hypertension (60%). WES identified PTPRB mutations in 3/4 patients (p = 0.018) benefiting from ENMD-2076. Although this study failed to meet its primary endpoint, occasional responses and prolonged stable disease was noted. ENMD-2076 evaluation in PTPRB mutated tumors and/or angiosarcoma is warranted.
Parasympathetic activity correlates with subjective and brain responses to rectal distension in healthy subjects but not in non-constipated patients with irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Kano Michiko , Yoshizawa Makoto , Kono Keiji , Muratsubaki Tomohiko , Morishita Joe , Van Oudenhove Lukas , Yagihashi Mao , Mugikura Shunji , Dupont Patrick , Takase Kei , Kanazawa Motoyori , Fukudo Shin
Published: May 2019

The nociceptive and autonomic nervous systems (ANS) are significantly intertwined. Decoupling of these systems may occur in pathological pain conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We investigated ANS activity and its association with visceral perception and brain activity during rectal distention in 27 patients with non-constipated IBS and 33 controls by assessing heart rate variability (HRV) using electrocardiography at rest, before, and during colorectal distention. Brain responses to colorectal distention were measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging and correlated with individual ANS function parameters. The IBS group displayed blunted sympathovagal balance [low/high-frequency ratio (LF:HF) of HRV] in response to colorectal distention compared with controls (P = 0.003). In controls, basal parasympathetic tone (HF component of HRV) was significantly negatively correlated with toleration threshold to the rectal distention, but not in patients with IBS (group comparison P = 0.04). Further, a positive correlation between baseline HF values and neural responses to rectal distension was found in the right caudate, bilateral dorsolateral anterior cingulate cortex, and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex in the control group but not in the IBS group. The results indicate abnormal interactions between ANS activity and the brain mechanisms underlying visceral perception in patients with IBS.
Early maturing Bt cotton requires more potassium fertilizer under water deficiency to augment seed-cotton yield but not lint quality
Authors: Shahzad Ahmad Naeem , Rizwan Muhammad , Asghar Malik Ghulam , Qureshi Muhammad Kamran , Bukhari Syed Asad Hussain , Kiran Aysha , Wakeel Abdul
Published: May 2019

Exhaustive crops such as cotton require potassium (K) in copious amounts as compared to other crops. High yielding cultivars in cotton-wheat cropping system, have further increased its demand in cotton growing areas of Pakistan. As cotton is grown in arid and semiarid areas, therefore often prone to water deficiency. The reproductive growth particularly flowering and boll setting are highly sensitive to low soil water potentials, where enough K supply can play a vital role. In this two-year field studies, three cultivars (early, mid and late maturing) were cultivated at two K fertilizer levels 100, 200 kg K ha−1 along with control with no K fertilizer application at two irrigation levels. In first irrigation level, water was applied as per full irrigation schedule, while in water deficit irrigation water was applied at deficit irrigation schedule started after flowering till harvesting. It has been revealed that K application has impact on boll setting as well as seed cotton yield, however early and mid-maturing cultivars are more responsive to K fertilization. Furthermore, irrigation level had significant impact against K fertilization and relatively better response was observed in deficit irrigation as compared to full irrigation. Nevertheless, fiber quality parameters were unaffected by K fertilization. Considering the best benefit cost ratio under water deficiency, it is concluded that 100 kg K2O ha−1 should be applied at the time of seed bed preparation for economical seed-cotton yield of early maturing Bt cotton.
Calcium phosphate mineralization in bone tissues directly observed in aqueous liquid by atmospheric SEM (ASEM) without staining: microfluidics crystallization chamber and immuno-EM
Authors: Sato Chikara , Yamazaki Daiju , Sato Mari , Takeshima Hiroshi , Memtily Nassirhadjy , Hatano Yuri , Tsukuba Takayuki , Sakai Eiko
Published: May 2019

The malformation and disordered remodeling of bones induce various diseases, including osteoporosis. We have developed atmospheric SEM (ASEM) to directly observe aldehyde-fixed bone tissue immersed in radical scavenger buffer without thin sectioning. The short procedure realized the observation of bone mineralization surrounded by many cells and matrices in natural aqueous buffer, decreasing the risk of changes. In osteoblast primary cultures, mineralization was visible without staining. Correlative energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry indicated the formation of calcium phosphate mineral. Fixed bone was sectioned, and the section surface was inspected by ASEM. Mineralized trabeculae of talus spongy bone were directly visible. Associated large and small cells were revealed by phosphotungstic acid staining, suggesting remodeling by bone-absorbing osteoclasts and bone-rebuilding osteoblasts. In tibia, cortical bone layer including dense grains, was bordered by many cells with protrusions. Tissue immuno-EM performed in solution for the first time and anti-cathepsin-K antibody, successfully identified osteoclasts in femur spongy bone. A microfluidics chamber fabricated on the silicon nitride film window of an ASEM dish allowed mineralization to be monitored in vitro; calcium phosphate crystals as small as 50 nm were imaged. ASEM is expected to be widely applied to study bio-mineralization and bone-remodeling, and to help diagnose bone-related diseases.
Tumour-treating fields (TTFields): Investigations on the mechanism of action by electromagnetic exposure of cells in telophase/cytokinesis
Authors: Berkelmann Lukas , Bader Almke , Meshksar Saba , Dierks Anne , Hatipoglu Majernik Gökce , Krauss Joachim K. , Schwabe Kerstin , Manteuffel Dirk , Ngezahayo Anaclet
Published: May 2019

Tumour-treating fields (TTFields) use alternating electric fields which interfere with dividing cells, thereby reducing tumour growth. Previous reports suggest that electrical forces on cell structure proteins interfered with the chromosome separation during mitosis and induced apoptosis. In the present report we evaluate electromagnetic exposure of cells in telophase/cytokinesis in order to further analyse the mechanism of action on cells. We performed numerical electromagnetic simulations to analyse the field distribution in a cell during different mitotic phases. Based thereon, we developed an electric lumped element model of the mitotic cell. Both the electromagnetic simulation and the lumped element model predict a local increase of the specific absorption rate (SAR) as a measure of the electromagnetically induced power absorption density at the mitotic furrow which may help to explain the anti-proliferative effect. In accordance with other reports, cell culture experiments confirmed that TTFields reduce the proliferation of different glioma cell lines in a field strength- and frequency-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found an additional dependence on the commutation time of the electrical fields. The report gives new insights into TTFields’ anti-proliferative effect on tumours, which could help to improve future TTFields application systems.
High-Performance Copper Oxide Visible-Light Photodetector via Grain-Structure Model
Authors: Song Hyeon-Joo , Seo Min-Ho , Choi Kwang-Wook , Jo Min-Seung , Yoo Jae-Young , Yoon Jun-Bo
Published: May 2019

Recently, copper oxide (CuO)-based visible-light photodetectors have attracted great interest due to their narrow bandgap (1.2 eV), low cost, and ease of fabrication. However, there has been insufficient theoretical analysis and study of CuO-based photodetectors, resulting in inferior performance in terms of responsivity, detectivity, and response speed. This work develops a method to enhance the performance of CuO photodetectors by engineering a grain structure based on a newly-developed theoretical model. In the developed theoretical grain-structure model, the grain size and the connections between grains are considered because they can strongly affect the optoelectronic characteristics of CuO photodetectors. Based upon the proposed model, the engineered CuO device achieves enhanced optoelectronic performance. The engineered device shows high responsivity of 15.3 A/W and detectivity of 1.08 × 1011 Jones, which are 18 and 50 times better than those of the unoptimized device, and also shows fast rising and decaying response speeds of 0.682 s and 1.77 s, respectively. In addition, the proposed method is suitable for the mass-production of performance-enhanced, reliable photodetectors. By using a conventional semiconductor fabrication process, a photodetector-array is demonstrated on a 4-inch wafer. The fabricated devices show uniform, high, and stable optoelectronic performance for a month.
Quantified forces between HepG2 hepatocarcinoma and WA07 pluripotent stem cells with natural biomaterials correlate with in vitro cell behavior
Authors: Harjumäki Riina , Nugroho Robertus Wahyu N. , Zhang Xue , Lou Yan-Ru , Yliperttula Marjo , Valle-Delgado Juan José , Österberg Monika
Published: May 2019

In vitro cell culture or tissue models that mimic in vivo cellular response have potential in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and are a more economical and accurate option for drug toxicity tests than animal experimentation. The design of in vivo-like cell culture models should take into account how the cells interact with the surrounding materials and how these interactions affect the cell behavior. Cell-material interactions are furthermore important in cancer metastasis and tumor progression, so deeper understanding of them can support the development of new cancer treatments. Herein, the colloidal probe microscopy technique was used to quantify the interactions of two cell lines (human pluripotent stem cell line WA07 and human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2) with natural, xeno-free biomaterials of different chemistry, morphology, and origin. Key components of extracellular matrices –human collagens I and IV, and human recombinant laminin-521−, as well as wood-derived, cellulose nanofibrils –with evidenced potential for 3D cell culture and tissue engineering– were analysed. Both strength of adhesion and force curve profiles depended on biomaterial nature and cell characteristics. The successful growth of the cells on a particular biomaterial required cell-biomaterial adhesion energies above 0.23 nJ/m. The information obtained in this work supports the development of new materials or hybrid scaffolds with tuned cell adhesion properties for tissue engineering, and provides a better understanding of the interactions of normal and cancerous cells with biomaterials in the human body.
Proof of principle study of a detailed whole-body image analysis technique, “Imiomics”, regarding adipose and lean tissue distribution
Authors: Lind Lars , Kullberg Joel , Ahlström Håkan , Michaëlsson Karl , Strand Robin
Published: May 2019

This “proof-of-principle” study evaluates if the recently presented “Imiomics” technique could visualize how fat and lean tissue mass are associated with local tissue volume and fat content at high/unprecedented resolution. A whole-body quantitative water-fat MRI scan was performed in 159 men and 167 women aged 50 in the population-based POEM study. Total fat and lean mass were measured by DXA. Fat content was measured by the water-fat MRI. Fat mass and distribution measures were associated to the detailed differences in tissue volume and fat concentration throughout the body using Imiomics. Fat mass was positively correlated (r > 0.50, p < 0.05) with tissue volume in all subcutaneous areas of the body, as well as volumes of the liver, intraperitoneal fat, retroperitoneal fat and perirenal fat, but negatively to lung volume. Fat mass correlated positively with volumes of paravertebral muscles, and muscles in the ventral part of the thigh and lower limb. Fat mass was distinctly correlated with the fat content in subcutaneous adipose tissue at the trunk. Lean mass was positively related to the large skeletal muscles and the skeleton. The present study indicates the Imiomics technique to be suitable for studies of fat and lean tissue distribution, and feasible for large scale studies.
A comparison of coffee floral traits under two different agricultural practices
Authors: Prado Sara Guiti , Collazo Jaime A. , Stevenson Philip C. , Irwin Rebecca E.
Published: May 2019

Floral traits and rewards are important in mediating interactions between plants and pollinators. Agricultural management practices can affect abiotic factors known to influence floral traits; however, our understanding of the links between agricultural practices and floral trait expression is still poorly understood. Variation in floral morphological, nectar, and pollen traits of two important agricultural species, Coffea arabica and C. canephora, was assessed under different agricultural practices (sun and shade). Corolla diameter and corolla tube length were larger and pollen total nitrogen content greater in shade plantations of C. canephora than sun plantations. Corolla tube length and anther filament length were larger in shade plantations of C. arabica. No effect of agricultural practice was found on nectar volume, sugar or caffeine concentrations, or pollen production. Pollen total nitrogen content was lower in sun than shade plantations of C. canephora, but no difference was found between sun and shade for C. arabica. This study provides baseline data on the influence of agronomic practices on C. arabica and C. canephora floral traits and also helps fill a gap in knowledge about the effects of shade trees on floral traits, which can be pertinent to other agroforestry systems.
TET1 contributes to allergic airway inflammation and regulates interferon and aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling pathways in bronchial epithelial cells
Authors: Burleson J. D. , Siniard Dylan , Yadagiri Veda K. , Chen Xiaoting , Weirauch Matthew T. , Ruff Brandy P. , Brandt Eric B. , Hershey Gurjit K. Khurana , Ji Hong
Published: May 2019

Previous studies have suggested a role for Tet1 in the pathogenesis of childhood asthma. However, how Tet1 contributes to asthma remains unknown. Here we used mice deficient for Tet1 in a well-established model of allergic airway inflammation and demonstrated that loss of Tet1 increased disease severity including airway hyperresponsiveness and lung eosinophilia. Increased expression of Muc5ac, Il13, Il33, Il17a, Egfr, and Tff2 were observed in HDM-challenged Tet1-deficient mice compared to Tet1+/+ littermates. Further, transcriptomic analysis of lung RNA followed by pathway and protein network analysis showed that the IFN signaling pathway was significantly upregulated and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway was significantly downregulated in HDM-challenged Tet1−/− mice. This transcriptional regulation of the IFN and AhR pathways by Tet1 was also present in human bronchial epithelial cells at base line and following HDM challenges. Genes in these pathways were further associated with changes in DNA methylation, predicted binding of transcriptional factors with relevant functions in their promoters, and the presence of histone marks generated by histone enzymes that are known to interact with Tet1. Collectively, our data suggest that Tet1 inhibits HDM-induced allergic airway inflammation by direct regulation of the IFN and AhR pathways.
Rapid environmental change in games: complications and counter-intuitive outcomes
Authors: Trimmer Pete C. , Barrett Brendan J. , McElreath Richard , Sih Andrew
Published: May 2019

Human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC) has recently led to alterations in the fitness and behavior of many organisms. Game theory is an important tool of behavioral ecology for analyzing evolutionary situations involving multiple individuals. However, game theory bypasses the details by which behavioral phenotypes are determined, taking the functional perspective straight from expected payoffs to predicted frequencies of behaviors. In contrast with optimization approaches, we identify that to use existing game theoretic models to predict HIREC effects, additional mechanistic details (or assumptions) will often be required. We illustrate this in relation to the hawk-dove game by showing that three different mechanisms, each of which support the same ESS prior to HIREC (fixed polymorphism, probabilistic choice, or cue dependency), can have a substantial effect on behavior (and success) following HIREC. Surprisingly, an increase in the value of resources can lead to a reduction in payoffs (and vice versa), both in the immediate- and long-term following HIREC. An increase in expected costs also increases expected payoffs. Along with these counter-intuitive findings, this work shows that simply understanding the behavioral payoffs of existing games is insufficient to make predictions about the effects of HIREC.
Kinesin-6 Klp9 plays motor-dependent and -independent roles in collaboration with Kinesin-5 Cut7 and the microtubule crosslinker Ase1 in fission yeast
Authors: Yukawa Masashi , Okazaki Masaki , Teratani Yasuhiro , Furuta Ken’ya , Toda Takashi
Published: May 2019

Bipolar mitotic spindles play a critical part in accurate chromosome segregation. During late mitosis, spindle microtubules undergo drastic elongation in a process called anaphase B. Two kinesin motors, Kinesin-5 and Kinesin-6, are thought to generate outward forces to drive spindle elongation, and the microtubule crosslinker Ase1/PRC1 maintains structural integrity of antiparallel microtubules. However, how these three proteins orchestrate this process remains unknown. Here we explore the functional interplay among fission yeast Kinesin-5/Cut7, Kinesin-6/Klp9 and Ase1. Using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we show that Klp9 forms homotetramers and that Klp9 is a processive plus end-directed motor. klp9Δase1Δ is synthetically lethal. Surprisingly, this lethality is not ascribable to the defective motor activity of Klp9; instead, it is dependent upon a nuclear localisation signal and coiled coil domains within the non-motor region. We isolated a cut7 mutant (cut7-122) that displays temperature sensitivity only in the absence of Klp9. Interestingly, cut7-122 alone is impaired in spindle elongation during anaphase B, and furthermore, cut7-122klp9Δ double mutants exhibit additive defects. We propose that Klp9 plays dual roles during anaphase B; one is motor-dependent that collaborates with Cut7 in force generation, while the other is motor-independent that ensures structural integrity of spindle microtubules together with Ase1.
A self-assembled plasmonic optical fiber nanoprobe for label-free biosensing
Authors: Liang Yuzhang , Yu Zhiyong , Li Lixia , Xu Ting
Published: May 2019

The plasmonic optical fiber sensors have attracted wide attention for label-free biosensing application because of their high integration, small footprint and point-of-care measurement. However, the integration of plasmonic nanostructures on optical fiber probes always relies on the top-down nanofabrication approaches, which have several inherent shortcomings, including high cost, time-consuming, and low yields. Here, we develop a plasmonic nanohole-patterned multimode optical fiber probe by self-assembly nanosphere lithography technique with low fabrication cost and high yields. The multimode optical fiber possesses large facet area and high numerical aperture, which not only simplifies fabrication process, but also increases coupling efficiency of incident light. Originating from the resonant coupling of plasmonic modes, the plasmonic fiber nanoprobe has a distinct reflection dip in the spectrum and exhibits strong near-field electromagnetic enhancement. We experimentally investigate the sensing performances of plasmonic fiber nanoprobe, and further demonstrate it in real-time monitoring specific binding of protein molecules. The experimental results imply that the nanohole-patterned multimode optical fiber probe is a good candidate for developing miniaturized and portable biosensing systems.
Analysis of systemic lupus erythematosus-related interstitial pneumonia: a retrospective multicentre study
Authors: Enomoto Noriyuki , Egashira Ryoko , Tabata Kazuhiro , Hashisako Mikiko , Kitani Masashi , Waseda Yuko , Ishizuka Tamotsu , Watanabe Satoshi , Kasahara Kazuo , Izumi Shinyu , Shiraki Akira , Miyamoto Atsushi , Kishi Kazuma , Kishaba Tomoo , Sugimoto Chikatosi , Inoue Yoshikazu , Kataoka Kensuke , Kondoh Yasuhiro , Tsuchiya Yutaka , Baba Tomohisa , Sugiura Hiroaki , Tanaka Tomonori , Sumikawa Hiromitsu , Suda Takafumi
Published: May 2019

Thoracic diseases in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially interstitial pneumonia (SLE-IP), are rare and have been poorly studied. The aims of this multicentre study were to evaluate SLE-IP and elucidate its clinical characteristics and prognosis. Fifty-five patients with SLE-IP who had attended the respiratory departments of participating hospitals were retrospectively evaluated in this multicentre study. Clinical information, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and surgical lung biopsy/autopsy specimens were analysed by respiratory physicians, pulmonary radiologists, and pulmonary pathologists. IP patterns on HRCT and lung specimens were classified based on the international classification statement/guideline for idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. The most frequent form of SLE-IP at diagnosis was chronic IP (63.6%), followed by subacute (20.0%), and acute IP (12.7%). Radiologically, the most common HRCT pattern was “Unclassifiable” (54%). Histologically, “Unclassifiable” was the most frequently found (41.7%) among 12 patients with histologically proven IP. Interestingly, accompanying airway diseases were present in nine of these patients (75%). In multivariate analysis, current smoking (hazard ratio [HR] 6.105, p = 0.027), thrombocytopenia (HR 7.676, p = 0.010), anti-double-strand DNA titre (HR 0.956, p = 0.027), and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) + organizing pneumonia (OP) pattern on HRCT (vs. NSIP, HR 0.089, p = 0.023) were significant prognostic factors. In conclusion, chronic IP was the most frequent form of IP in patients with SLE-IP, and “Unclassifiable” was the commonest pattern radiologically and histologically.
High dispersal levels and lake warming are emergent drivers of cyanobacterial community assembly in peri-Alpine lakes
Authors: Monchamp Marie-Eve , Spaak Piet , Pomati Francesco
Published: May 2019

Disentangling the relative importance of deterministic and stochastic processes in shaping natural communities is central to ecology. Studies about community assembly over broad temporal and spatial scales in aquatic microorganisms are scarce. Here, we used 16S rDNA sequence data from lake sediments to test for community assembly patterns in cyanobacterial phylogenies across ten European peri-Alpine lakes and over a century of eutrophication and climate warming. We studied phylogenetic similarity in cyanobacterial assemblages over spatial and temporal distance, and over environmental gradients, comparing detected patterns with theoretical expectations from deterministic and stochastic processes. We found limited evidence for deviation of lake communities from a random assembly model and no significant effects of geographic distance on phylogenetic similarity, suggesting no dispersal limitation and high levels of stochastic assembly. We detected a weak influence of phosphorus, but no significant effect of nitrogen levels on deviation of community phylogenies from random. We found however a significant decay of phylogenetic similarity for non-random communities over a gradient of air temperature and water column stability. We show how phylogenetic data from sedimentary archives can improve our understanding of microbial community assembly processes, and support previous evidence that climate warming has been the strongest environmental driver of cyanobacterial community assembly over the past century.
Regional Wind Variability Modulates the Southern Ocean Carbon Sink
Authors: Keppler Lydia , Landschützer Peter
Published: May 2019

The Southern Ocean south of 35°S accounts for approximately half of the annual oceanic carbon uptake, thereby substantially mitigating the effects of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The intensity of this important carbon sink varies considerably on inter-annual to decadal timescales. However, the drivers of this variability are still debated, challenging our ability to accurately predict the future role of the Southern Ocean in absorbing atmospheric carbon. Analysing mapped sea-air CO2 fluxes, estimated from upscaled surface ocean CO2 measurements, we find that the overall Southern Ocean carbon sink has weakened since ~2011, reversing the trend of the reinvigoration period of the 2000s. Although we find significant regional positive and negative responses of the Southern Ocean carbon uptake to changes in the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) over the past 35 years, the net effect of the SAM on the Southern Ocean carbon sink variability is approximately zero, due to the opposing effects of enhanced outgassing in upwelling regions and enhanced carbon uptake elsewhere. Instead, regional shifts in sea level pressure, linked to zonal wavenumber 3 (ZW3) and related changes in surface winds substantially contribute to the inter-annual to decadal variability of the Southern Ocean carbon sink.
Previously unidentified Indonesian Throughflow pathways and freshening in the Indian Ocean during recent decades
Authors: Makarim Salvienty , Sprintall Janet , Liu Zhiyu , Yu Weidong , Santoso Agus , Yan Xiao-Hai , Susanto R. Dwi
Published: May 2019

The Earth has experienced a global surface warming slowdown (GSWS) or so-called “global warming hiatus” since the end of the 20th century. The GSWS was marked by a La Niña-like decadal cooling in the Pacific Ocean that subsequently generated an increase in the transfer of Pacific waters into the Indian Ocean via the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF). How the Pacific water spreads through the interior of the Indian Ocean and the impact of these decadal ITF transport changes on the Indian Ocean water mass transformation and circulation remain largely unknown. Here, we analyze the thermohaline structures and current systems at different depths in the Indian Ocean prior to and during the GSWS period. Our study shows that the GSWS involved extensive changes to the Indo-Pacific ocean teleconnection system, characterized by subsurface warming and freshening in the Indian Ocean. A hitherto unknown Indian Ocean pathway of the ITF was discovered off Sumatra associated with prolonged northwestward flow within the South Java Current. Our analysis uncovers a direct linkage of enhanced ITF waters with the Agulhas Current in the Mozambique Channel from thermocline depths down to intermediate depths, that freshened the Indian Ocean. These changes in the Indian Ocean circulation and water mass characteristics impact climate variability through changing the sea surface temperature (SST) and precipitation patterns that can subsequently affect regional economies.
Genesis and mechanisms controlling tornillo seismo-volcanic events in volcanic areas
Authors: Fazio Marco , Alparone Salvatore , Benson Philip M. , Cannata Andrea , Vinciguerra Sergio
Published: May 2019

Volcanic activity is often preceded or accompanied by different types of seismo-volcanic signals. Among these signals, the so-called tornillo (Spanish for “screw”) events are considered to belong to a unique class of volcano-seismicity characterised by a long-duration coda, amplitude modulation and high-quality factor. These data constitute important evidence for the gas fraction inside magmatic fluids. However, the mechanism behind this unique signal remains not fully understood. Here we report new laboratory evidence showing that two different processes have either scale-invariant or scale-dependent effects in generating tornillo-like events. These processes are respectively the gas pressure gradient, which triggers the event and regulates the slow decaying coda, and the fluid resonance into small scale structures which, in turn, control the frequency content of the signal. Considering that the gas pressure gradient is proportional to the fluid flow, these new findings, as applied to volcanoes, provide new information to better quantify both gas rate and volume, and the dimension of the resonator.
Genetic variation in CADM2 as a link between psychological traits and obesity
Authors: Morris Julia , Bailey Mark E. S. , Baldassarre Damiano , Cullen Breda , de Faire Ulf , Ferguson Amy , Gigante Bruna , Giral Philippe , Goel Anuj , Graham Nicholas , Hamsten Anders , Humphries Steve E. , Johnston Keira J. A. , Lyall Donald M. , Lyall Laura M. , Sennblad Bengt , Silveira Angela , Smit Andries J. , Tremoli Elena , Veglia Fabrizio , Ward Joey , Watkins Hugh , Smith Daniel J. , Strawbridge Rona J.
Published: May 2019

CADM2 has been associated with a range of behavioural and metabolic traits, including physical activity, risk-taking, educational attainment, alcohol and cannabis use and obesity. Here, we set out to determine whether CADM2 contributes to mechanisms shared between mental and physical health disorders. We assessed genetic variants in the CADM2 locus for association with phenotypes in the UK Biobank, IMPROVE, PROCARDIS and SCARFSHEEP studies, before performing meta-analyses. A wide range of metabolic phenotypes were meta-analysed. Psychological phenotypes analysed in UK Biobank only were major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, neuroticism, mood instability and risk-taking behaviour. In UK Biobank, four, 88 and 172 genetic variants were significantly (p < 1 × 10−5) associated with neuroticism, mood instability and risk-taking respectively. In meta-analyses of 4 cohorts, we identified 362, 63 and 11 genetic variants significantly (p < 1 × 10−5) associated with BMI, SBP and CRP respectively. Genetic effects on BMI, CRP and risk-taking were all positively correlated, and were consistently inversely correlated with genetic effects on SBP, mood instability and neuroticism. Conditional analyses suggested an overlap in the signals for physical and psychological traits. Many significant variants had genotype-specific effects on CADM2 expression levels in adult brain and adipose tissues. CADM2 variants influence a wide range of both psychological and metabolic traits, suggesting common biological mechanisms across phenotypes via regulation of CADM2 expression levels in adipose tissue. Functional studies of CADM2 are required to fully understand mechanisms connecting mental and physical health conditions.
Compensation of the trap-induced quadrupole interaction in trapped Rydberg ions
Authors: Simeonov Lachezar S. , Vitanov Nikolay V. , Ivanov Peter A.
Published: May 2019

The quadrupole interaction between the Rydberg electronic states of a Rydberg ion and the radio frequency electric field of the ion trap is analyzed. Such a coupling is negligible for the lowest energy levels of a trapped ion but it is important for a trapped Rydberg ion due to its large electric quadrupole moment. This coupling cannot be neglected by the standard rotating-wave approximation because it is comparable to the frequency of the trapping electric field. We investigate the effect of the quadrupole coupling by performing a suitable effective representation of the Hamiltonian. For a single ion we show that in this effective picture the quadrupole interaction is replaced by rescaled laser intensities and additional Stark shifts of the Rydberg levels. Hence this detrimental quadrupole coupling can be efficiently compensated by an appropriate increase of the Rabi frequencies. Moreover, we consider the strong dipole-dipole interaction between a pair of Rydberg ions in the presence of the quadrupole coupling. In the effective representation we observe reducing of the dipole-dipole coupling as well as additional spin-spin interaction.
The role that choice of model plays in predictions for epilepsy surgery
Authors: Junges Leandro , Lopes Marinho A. , Terry John R. , Goodfellow Marc
Published: May 2019

Mathematical modelling has been widely used to predict the effects of perturbations to brain networks. An important example is epilepsy surgery, where the perturbation in question is the removal of brain tissue in order to render the patient free of seizures. Different dynamical models have been proposed to represent transitions to ictal states in this context. However, our choice of which mathematical model to use to address this question relies on making assumptions regarding the mechanism that defines the transition from background to the seizure state. Since these mechanisms are unknown, it is important to understand how predictions from alternative dynamical descriptions compare. Herein we evaluate to what extent three different dynamical models provide consistent predictions for the effect of removing nodes from networks. We show that for small, directed, connected networks the three considered models provide consistent predictions. For larger networks, predictions are shown to be less consistent. However consistency is higher in networks that have sufficiently large differences in ictogenicity between nodes. We further demonstrate that heterogeneity in ictogenicity across nodes correlates with variability in the number of connections for each node.
Silicon µPCR Chip for Forensic STR Profiling with Hybeacon Probe Melting Curves
Authors: Cornelis Senne , Tytgat Olivier , Fauvart Maarten , Gansemans Yannick , Vander Plaetsen Ann-Sophie , Wiederkehr Rodrigo S. , Deforce Dieter , Van Nieuwerburgh Filip , Stakenborg Tim
Published: May 2019

The demand to perform forensic DNA profiling outside of centralized laboratories and on the crime scene is increasing. Several criminal investigations would benefit tremendously from having DNA based information available in the first hours rather than days or weeks. However, due to the complexity and time-consuming nature of standard DNA fingerprinting methods, rapid and automated analyses are hard to achieve. We here demonstrate the implementation of an alternative DNA fingerprinting method in a single microchip. By combining PCR amplification and HyBeacon melting assays in a silicon Lab-on-a-chip (LoC), a significant step towards rapid on-site DNA fingerprinting is taken. The small form factor of a LoC reduces reagent consumption and increases portability. Additional miniaturization is achieved through an integrated heating element covering 24 parallel micro-reactors with a reaction volume of 0.14 µl each. The high level of parallelization allows the simultaneous analysis of 4 short tandem repeat (STR) loci and the amelogenin gender marker commonly included in forensic DNA analysis. A reference and crime scene sample can be analyzed simultaneously for direct comparison. Importantly, by using industry-standard semiconductor manufacturing processes, mass manufacturability can be guaranteed. Following assay design and optimization, complete 5-loci profiles could be robustly generated on-chip that are on par with those obtained using conventional benchtop real-time PCR thermal cyclers. Together, our results are an important step towards the development of commercial, mass-produced, portable devices for on-site testing in forensic DNA analysis.
Clinical assessment of a non-invasive wearable MEMS pressure sensor array for monitoring of arterial pulse waveform, heart rate and detection of atrial fibrillation
Authors: Kaisti Matti , Panula Tuukka , Leppänen Joni , Punkkinen Risto , Jafari Tadi Mojtaba , Vasankari Tuija , Jaakkola Samuli , Kiviniemi Tuomas , Airaksinen Juhani , Kostiainen Pekka , Meriheinä Ulf , Koivisto Tero , Pänkäälä Mikko
Published: May 2019

There is an unmet clinical need for a low cost and easy to use wearable devices for continuous cardiovascular health monitoring. A flexible and wearable wristband, based on microelectromechanical sensor (MEMS) elements array was developed to support this need. The performance of the device in cardiovascular monitoring was investigated by (i) comparing the arterial pressure waveform recordings to the gold standard, invasive catheter recording (n = 18), (ii) analyzing the ability to detect irregularities of the rhythm (n = 7), and (iii) measuring the heartrate monitoring accuracy (n = 31). Arterial waveforms carry important physiological information and the comparison study revealed that the recordings made with the wearable device and with the gold standard device resulted in almost identical (r = 0.9–0.99) pulse waveforms. The device can measure the heart rhythm and possible irregularities in it. A clustering analysis demonstrates a perfect classification accuracy between atrial fibrillation (AF) and sinus rhythm. The heartrate monitoring study showed near perfect beat-to-beat accuracy (sensitivity = 99.1%, precision = 100%) on healthy subjects. In contrast, beat-to-beat detection from coronary artery disease patients was challenging, but the averaged heartrate was extracted successfully (95% CI: −1.2 to 1.1 bpm). In conclusion, the results indicate that the device could be useful in remote monitoring of cardiovascular diseases and personalized medicine.
The preparation of MgO nanopowders synthesized via an improved polyacrylamide gel method
Authors: Zhao Xiaojun , Yang Haitang , Wu Pengfei , Huang Xiaozhong , Wang Xiaofeng
Published: May 2019

In order to address the issue of metal ion incorporation during polymerization, citric acid was used as a chelating agent to improve the polyacrylamide gel route.
A Co–Fe Prussian blue analogue for efficient Fenton-like catalysis: the effect of high-spin cobalt
Authors: Zhao Chunxiao , Liu Biao , Li Xuning , Zhu Kaixin , Hu Ruisheng , Ao Zhimin , Wang Junhu
Published: May 2019

We, for the first time, demonstrated using experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations that high-spin CoIIexhibits excellent Fenton-like activity.
Carbon-incorporated NiO/Co3O4 concave surface microcubes derived from a MOF precursor for overall water splitting
Authors: Wei Xijun , Zhang Yunhuai , He Huichao , Gao Di , Hu Jingrui , Peng Huarong , Peng Li , Xiao Shenghuan , Xiao Peng
Published: May 2019

Carbon-incorporated NiO/Co3O4 concave surface microcubes (denoted as NCMC) are successfully developed from a precursor of Ni3[Co(CN)6]2 for the first time.
Bifunctional nickel oxide-based nanosheets for highly efficient overall urea splitting
Authors: Wu Fengchi , Ou Gang , Yang Jun , Li Henan , Gao Yanxia , Chen Fuming , Wang Ye , Shi Yumeng
Published: May 2019

2D Ni0.9Fe0.1Ox nanosheet assembled porous and hollow microspheres were synthesized for efficient overall urea splitting.
[Bi7M3(CO)3]2− (M = Co, Rh): a new architype of 10-vertex deltahedral hybrids by the unprecedented polycyclic η5-coordination addition of Bi73− and trimetallic fragments
Authors: Li Zhenyu , Ouyang Dan , Xu Li
Published: May 2019

A new prototype of 10-vertex deltahedral clusters, [Bi7M3(CO)3]2− (M = Co, 1a; M = Rh, 2a), have been synthesized and characterized, resulting from the unprecedented polycyclic η5-coordination addition of a Bi73− cage and trimetallic fragments.
Circularly polarized luminescence of achiral open-shell π-radicals
Authors: Jin Qingxian , Chen Sanxu , Sang Yutao , Guo Haoqing , Dong Shengzhi , Han Jianlei , Chen Wenjie , Yang Xuefeng , Li Feng , Duan Pengfei
Published: May 2019

Doublet emission-based circularly polarized luminescence was successfully realized in luminescent π-radicals by applying three kinds of approaches, namely, induction by a longitudinal magnetic field, supramolecular chiral co-assembly, and doping into chiral liquid crystals.
High-performance TiO2 photocatalyst produced by the versatile functions of the tiny bimetallic MOF-derived NiCoS-porous carbon cocatalyst
Authors: Gao Li-Min , Zhao Jia-Hui , Li Tao , Li Rui , Xie Hai-Quan , Zhu Pei-Lin , Niu Xin-Yue , Li Kui
Published: May 2019

Bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate framework (NiCo-ZIF)-templated NiCoS-porous carbon (PC) at only 0.2 at% exhibited versatile effects on the morphology as well as the photocatalytic hydrogen performance of TiO2 nanocrystals.
ReS2-Based electrode materials for alkali-metal ion batteries
Authors: Xie Xuan , Mao Minglei , Qi Shihan , Ma Jianmin
Published: May 2019

In this review, we summarize the recent progress on ReS2 as an electrode for alkali-metal ion batteries, mainly focusing on the synthesis method, structures, reaction mechanism, and the corresponding electrochemical performance. Additionally, the perspective and challenges of ReS2 electrodes are also discussed.
Dysprosium-doped iron oxide nanoparticles boosting spin–spin relaxation: a computational and experimental study
Authors: Yin Jinchang , Xu Feihong , Qu Hongbin , Li Chaorui , Liu Shiyi , Liu Lizhi , Shao Yuanzhi
Published: May 2019

This study combines the first-principle calculation and experimental investigation to unveil the physical mechanism of T2-MRI relaxation enhancement of Dy-doped iron oxide nanoparticles.
Critical fracture properties of puckered and buckled arsenenes by molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Yang Bo , Li Maodong , Wang Jiye , Zhang Jingchao , Liao Dongmei , Yue Yanan
Published: May 2019

The mechanical properties of puckered and buckled arsenenes are comprehensively investigated using classical molecular dynamics simulations.
Reaction mechanism and kinetics for ammonia synthesis on the Fe(211) reconstructed surface
Authors: Fuller Jon , Fortunelli Alessandro , Goddard III William A. , An Qi
Published: May 2019

To provide guidelines to accelerate the Haber–Bosch (HB) process for synthesis of ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen, we used Quantum Mechanics (QM) to determine the reaction mechanism and free energy reaction barriers under experimental reaction conditions (400 °C and 20 atm) for all 10 important surface reactions on the Fe(211)R surface.
The enhanced ferromagnetism of single-layer CrX3 (X = Br and I) via van der Waals engineering
Authors: Li Hongxing , Xu Yuan-Kai , Lai Kang , Zhang Wei-Bing
Published: May 2019

The ferromagnetism of CrI3 and CrBr3 is enhanced by interlayer coupling.
Modulating amyloid fibrillation in a minimalist model peptide by intermolecular disulfide chemical reduction
Authors: Sequeira María Alejandra , Herrera María Georgina , Dodero Verónica Isabel
Published: May 2019

By switching the molecular information encoded in the minimalist Ac-Phe-Phe-Cys-NH2, it was possible to modulate the organisation of the amyloid fibrils.
The cooperative effect of Lewis and Brønsted acid sites on Sn-MCM-41 catalysts for the conversion of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone to ethyl lactate
Authors: Kim Kyung Duk , Wang Zichun , Jiang Yijiao , Hunger Michael , Huang Jun
Published: May 2019

Lactic acid and alkyl lactates are widely applied in the production of food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, organic synthesis and biodegradable polymers.
Photocatalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation of hydrazobenzenes to azobenzenes
Authors: Lv Haiping , Laishram Ronibala Devi , Li Jiayan , Zhou Yongyun , Xu Dandan , More Sagar , Dai Yuze , Fan Baomin
Published: May 2019

Visible light mediated oxidative dehydrogenation of hydrazobenzenes under an ambient atmosphere using an organic dye as a photocatalyst was reported for the first time.
Controlled co-precipitation of biocompatible colorant-loaded nanoparticles by microfluidics for natural color drinks
Authors: Kong Linlin , Chen Ran , Wang Xingzheng , Zhao Chun-Xia , Chen Qiushui , Hai Mingtan , Chen Dong , Yang Zhenzhong , Weitz David A.
Published: May 2019

Controlled co-precipitation of biocompatible colorant-loaded nanoparticles in microfluidic channels for natural color drinks.
Influence of cobalt substitution on the crystal structure, band edges and photocatalytic properties of hierarchical Bi2WO6 microspheres
Authors: Kavinkumar Veerappan , Jaihindh Dhayanantha Prabu , Verma Atul , Jothivenkatachalam Kandasamy , Fu Yen-Pei
Published: May 2019

An efficient Bi2WO6 catalyst with Co2+ substitution was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route.
Transition metal molecular glasses by design: mexylaminotriazine-functionalized salicylaldehyde imine ligands
Authors: Jokar Mahboubeh , Cherry Michael , Scott Jennifer , Lebel Olivier
Published: May 2019

Glass-forming ligands and their transition metal complexes can be synthesized by design.
Complex formation of copper(ii), nickel(ii) and zinc(ii) with ethylophosphonoacetohydroxamic acid: solution speciation, synthesis and structural characterization
Authors: Ostrowska Malgorzata , Golenya Irina A. , Haukka Matti , Fritsky Igor O. , Gumienna-Kontecka Elzbieta
Published: May 2019

We present herein the thermodynamic and X-ray characterisation of a novel ethyl phosphonohydroxamic acid-based Cu(ii) metallacrown, predominating in solution in a broad pH range.
A metal–organic framework constructed by a viologen-derived ligand: photochromism and discernible detection of volatile amine vapors
Authors: Dong Zhen-Peng , Zhao Jiao-Jiao , Liu Peng-Yu , Liu Zhi-Liang , Wang Yan-Qin
Published: May 2019

A Co(ii)-MOF based on a viologen-derived ligand was obtained: the Co(ii) compound exhibits photochromism, and allows the visual and differentiable detection of different volatile alkylamines.
Prussian blue nanocubes with an open framework structure coated with polyoxometalates as a highly sensitive platform for ascorbic acid detection in drinks/human urine
Authors: Zhu Di , Zhu Wei , Xin Jianjiao , Tan Lichao , Wang Xinming , Pang Haijun , Ma Huiyuan
Published: May 2019

A novel PB NC@POM platform was constructed and demonstrated high electrochemical response to ascorbic acid due to the excellent synergistic effect.