bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Principal Oscillation Pattern Analysis of the Circulation Variability in the California Current System Associated With the El Niño Southern Oscillation
Authors: Crawford William J. , Moore Andrew M. , Fiechter Jerome , Edwards Christopher A.
Published: November 2019

A linear inverse model of the circulation of the California Current System was constructed from a 31‐year sequence of circulation estimates based on a data assimilative configuration of the Regional Ocean Modeling System. Principal oscillation pattern (POP) analysis of the linear inverse model has identified several distinct dynamical modes, one with an oscillation period of 3.6 years that describes much of the observed circulation variability of the California Current System associated with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This POP captures not only the circulation changes due to large amplitude ENSO events but also that associated with many of the weak‐to‐moderate events as well. The POP describes both nearshore and offshore variability and captures many of the previously identified phase relations between different circulation variables, unifying them as part of a coherent three‐dimensional time‐evolving mode of the circulation. The connection between the POP and the ocean surface forcing was also explored revealing their spatiotemporal connections to the ENSO circulation variability. Analysis of the dynamical balances of POP circulation anomalies reveals fundamentally different dynamical regimes in nearshore and offshore regions and sheds light on the possible role of wind‐induced baroclinic instability in modulating eddy kinetic energy during large ENSO events.
A Factor and Trends Analysis of Multidecadal Lower Tropospheric Observations of Arctic Aerosol Composition, Black Carbon, Ozone, and Mercury at Alert, Canada
Authors: Sharma S. , Barrie L.A. , Magnusson E. , Brattström G. , Leaitch W.R. , Steffen A. , Landsberger S.
Published: November 2019

Observations from 1980 to 2013 of 20 aerosol constituents, ozone and mercury at Alert, Canada (82.50°N, 62.35°W), were analyzed for trends and dominant factors of the Arctic haze during winter and spring. Trends reflect changing emissions in Eurasia, the main source region for surface pollution in the high Arctic. SO42−, H+, NH4+, K+, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, nonsoil V, nonsoil Mn, and equivalent black carbon decreased between 23% and 80% as emissions declined rapidly in northern Eurasia during the early 1990s. NO3− increased by 20% as aerosol acidity declined. Metals were linked to emissions from smelting and fossil fuel combustion. In winter, ozone increased by 5% over 23 years, consistent with other observations and global modeling. Twelve PMF factors emerged for the dark period (November to February) and 13 for the light period (March to May). Eleven PMF factors are common to both dark and light, a twelfth factor was associated with sulfate in the dark and nitrate in the light, and the thirteenth (light period) was related to ozone and gaseous mercury depletion near Alert. IODINE and NITRATE factors, important for Arctic chemistry, changed with sunlight. In the light, 50% of all NO3− was on the NITRATE factor, while in the dark, most was associated with MODIFIED SEA SALT and equivalent black carbon. In the dark (light), 90% (28%) of iodine were found on the factor IODINE and 58% associated with SEA‐SALT and MODIFIED SEA‐SALT. These results help in understanding the role of atmospheric chemistry in weather and climate processes.
Regional Variability of Precipitation in Tropical Cyclones Over the Western North Pacific Revealed by the GPM Dual‐Frequency Precipitation Radar and Microwave Imager
Authors: Chen Fengjiao , Fu Yunfei , Yang Yuanjian
Published: November 2019

A knowledge of precipitation microphysics of tropical cyclones (TCs) is crucial for forecasts of the TC track and intensity using numerical weather models. Based on five years of measurements of TCs over the western North Pacific from the dual‐frequency precipitation radar and the microwave imager on board the Global Precipitation Measurement satellite, the precipitation characteristics and microphysical processes in different regions of TCs and their associations with ice scattering signals are investigated. In the region close to the TC center, the storm top height (STH) and near‐surface rain rate are high, and the hydrometeors have a high concentration and a relatively low mass‐weighted mean diameter (Dm). In the outer TC region, the distributions of the reflectivity factor (Ze) and Dm become broader as the mean Dm increases. Ze and Dm values generally increase below the melting layer, indicating the predominant role of collision–coalescence processes. The occurrence probability of collision–coalescence is greater than 90% when STH is less than 5 km and the polarization‐corrected temperature at 89 GHz is greater than 250 K. When the STH exceeds 5 km, the collision–coalescence process is also predominant in the eyewall region; however, the influence of the breakup process increases in the rainband regions.
Comment on “Comparing Paleomagnetic Study Means With Apparent Wander Paths: A Case Study and Paleomagnetic Test of the Greater India Versus Greater Indian Basin Hypotheses” by David B. Rowley
Authors: van Hinsbergen Douwe J.J.
Published: November 2019

Key Points

The paper by Rowley incorrectly argues that paleomagnetic data do not support a Greater India Basin Hypothesis

The APWP predicted by a fully continental Greater India hypothesis is systematically offset from and thus inconsistent with the data

Paleomagnetic data render the chance that continental Greater India was ever thousands of kilometers wide negligible
Strain partitioning in highly oblique rift settings: Inferences from the southwestern margin of the Gulf of California (Baja California Sur, México)
Authors: Bonini Marco , Cerca Mariano , Moratti Giovanna , López‐Martínez Margarita , Corti Giacomo , Gracia‐Marroquín Diego
Published: November 2019

This study aims to analyze the modalities of strain accommodation within a highly oblique rift, taking the Gulf of California as a prototype. Rifting in the Gulf of California is accomplished by intra‐Gulf strike‐slip (transform) faults, and mostly dip‐slip displacement on the rift‐margin faults. We have collected fault‐slip data and samples for radiometric dating at selected sites in southeastern Baja California, which is host to the southwestern margin of the rift. We have identified three styles of faulting, particularly (1) WSW‐dipping normal faults, (2) E‐ENE‐dipping normal faults, and (3) steep NNE‐NE‐trending left‐lateral faults. The E‐ENE‐dipping normal faults define the western margin of the Gulf of California rift and are most likely coeval (late Miocene to recent) with both the ~NNE‐NE‐trending left‐lateral faults and some of the WSW‐dipping faults. Fault‐slip data have often been collected on potentially active Gulf of California rift‐margin faults, which invariably display dominant dip‐slip kinematics (generally with minor dextral component). Distribution of extension directions determined from stress inversion of brittle fault kinematic data indicates a peak of 080°–090°, which is strikingly similar to the orientations of T axes from earthquake focal mechanisms of both rift‐margin normal/faults and intra‐Gulf strike‐slip faults. These findings suggest that this stretching may have been occurring throughout the protracted rift history. Furthermore, highly oblique rifts do not show across‐rift variations in the orientation of local extension, which is instead typical of continental rifts with lower obliquity.
MicroRNA-148a/b-3p regulates angiogenesis by targeting neuropilin-1 in endothelial cells
Authors: Kim Hyejeong , Ko Yeongrim , Park Hyojin , Zhang Haiying , Jeong Yoonjeong , Kim Yeomyeong , Noh Minyoung , Park Songyi , Kim Young-Myeong , Kwon Young-Guen
Published: November 2019

MicroRNAs (miRs) are crucial regulators of vascular endothelial cell (EC) functions, including migration, proliferation, and survival. However, the role of most miRs in ECs remains unknown. Using RNA sequencing analysis, we found that miR-148a/b-3p expression was significantly downregulated during the differentiation of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells into outgrowing ECs and that decreased miR-148a/b-3p levels were closely related to EC behavior. Overexpression of miR-148a/b-3p in ECs significantly reduced migration, filamentous actin remodeling, and angiogenic sprouting. Intriguingly, the effects of decreased miR-148a/b-3p levels were augmented by treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Importantly, we found that miR-148a/b-3p directly regulated neuropilin-1 (NRP1) expression by binding to its 3′-untranslated region. In addition, because NRP1 is the coreceptor for VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), overexpression of miR-148a/b-3p inhibited VEGF-induced activation of VEGFR2 and inhibited its downstream pathways, as indicated by changes to phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (FAK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Collectively, our results demonstrate that miR-148a/b-3p is a direct transcriptional regulator of NRP1 that mediates antiangiogenic pathways. These data suggest that miR-148a/b-3p is a therapeutic candidate for overcoming EC dysfunction and angiogenic disorders, including ischemia, retinopathy, and tumor vascularization.
The roles of exosomal miRNAs and lncRNAs in lung diseases
Authors: Li Yang , Yin Zhengrong , Fan Jinshuo , Zhang Siyu , Yang Weibing
Published: November 2019

An increasing number of studies have reported that exosomes released from various cells can serve as mediators of information exchange between different cells. With further exploration of exosome content, a more accurate molecular mechanism involved in the process of cell-to-cell communication has been revealed; specifically, microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are shuttled by exosomes. In addition, exosomal miRNAs and lncRNAs may play vital roles in the pathogenesis of several respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and asthma. Consequently, exosomal miRNAs and lncRNAs show promise as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in several lung diseases. This review will summarize recent knowledge about the roles of exosomal miRNAs and lncRNAs in lung diseases, which has shed light on the discovery of novel diagnostic methods and treatments for these disorders. Because there is almost no published literature about exosomal lncRNAs in COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, or tuberculosis, we summarize the roles of exosomal lncRNAs only in lung cancer in the second section. This may inspire some new ideas for researchers who are interested in whether lncRNAs shuttled by exosomes may play roles in other lung diseases.
A role for spinal cord hypoxia in neurodegeneration
Authors: Hernandez-Gerez Elena , Fleming Ian N. , Parson Simon H.
Published: November 2019

The vascular system of the spinal cord is particularly complex and vulnerable. Damage to the main vessels or alterations to the regulation of blood flow will result in a reduction or temporary cessation of blood supply. The resulting tissue hypoxia may be brief: acute, or long lasting: chronic. Damage to the vascular system of the spinal cord will develop after a traumatic event or as a result of pathology. Traumatic events such as road traffic accidents, serious falls and surgical procedures, including aortic cross-clamping, will lead to an immediate cessation of perfusion, the result of which may not be evident for several days, but may have long-term consequences including neurodegeneration. Pathological events such as arterial sclerosis, venous occlusion and spinal cord compression will result in a progressive reduction of blood flow, leading to chronic hypoxia. While in some situations the initial pathology is exclusively vascular, recent research in neurodegenerative disease has drawn attention to concomitant vascular anomalies in disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy and muscular sclerosis. Understanding the role of, and tissue response to, chronic hypoxia is particularly important in these cases, where inherent neural damage exacerbates the vulnerability of the nervous system to stressors including hypoxia.
Author Correction: Improved Brassica rapa reference genome by single-molecule sequencing and chromosome conformation capture technologies
Authors: Zhang Lei , Cai Xu , Wu Jian , Liu Min , Grob Stefan , Cheng Feng , Liang Jianli , Cai Chengcheng , Liu Zhiyuan , Liu Bo , Wang Fan , Li Song , Liu Fuyan , Li Xuming , Cheng Lin , Yang Wencai , Li Mai-he , Grossniklaus Ueli , Zheng Hongkun , Wang Xiaowu
Published: November 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Renal clearable nanochelators for iron overload therapy
Authors: Kang Homan , Han Murui , Xue Jie , Baek Yoonji , Chang JuOae , Hu Shuang , Nam HaYoung , Jo Min Joo , El Fakhri Georges , Hutchens Michael P. , Choi Hak Soo , Kim Jonghan
Published: November 2019

Iron chelators have been widely used to remove excess toxic iron from patients with secondary iron overload. However, small molecule-based iron chelators can cause adverse side effects such as infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney failure, and liver fibrosis. Here we report renal clearable nanochelators for iron overload disorders. First, after a singledose intravenous injection, the nanochelator shows favorable pharmacokinetic properties, such as kidney-specific biodistribution and rapid renal excretion (>80% injected dose in 4 h), compared to native deferoxamine (DFO). Second, subcutaneous (SC) administration of nanochelators improves pharmacodynamics, as evidenced by a 7-fold increase in efficiency of urinary iron excretion compared to intravenous injection. Third, daily SC injections of the nanochelator for 5 days to iron overload mice and rats decrease iron levels in serum and liver. Furthermore, the nanochelator significantly reduces kidney damage caused by iron overload without demonstrating DFO’s own nephrotoxicity. This renal clearable nanochelator provides enhanced efficacy and safety.
Towards a fully automated algorithm driven platform for biosystems design
Authors: HamediRad Mohammad , Chao Ran , Weisberg Scott , Lian Jiazhang , Sinha Saurabh , Zhao Huimin
Published: November 2019

Large-scale data acquisition and analysis are often required in the successful implementation of the design, build, test, and learn (DBTL) cycle in biosystems design. However, it has long been hindered by experimental cost, variability, biases, and missed insights from traditional analysis methods. Here, we report the application of an integrated robotic system coupled with machine learning algorithms to fully automate the DBTL process for biosystems design. As proof of concept, we have demonstrated its capacity by optimizing the lycopene biosynthetic pathway. This fully-automated robotic platform, BioAutomata, evaluates less than 1% of possible variants while outperforming random screening by 77%. A paired predictive model and Bayesian algorithm select experiments which are performed by Illinois Biological Foundry for Advanced Biomanufacturing (iBioFAB). BioAutomata excels with black-box optimization problems, where experiments are expensive and noisy and the success of the experiment is not dependent on extensive prior knowledge of biological mechanisms.
A network-based approach to uncover microRNA-mediated disease comorbidities and potential pathobiological implications
Authors: Jin Shuting , Zeng Xiangxiang , Fang Jiansong , Lin Jiawei , Chan Stephen Y. , Erzurum Serpil C. , Cheng Feixiong
Published: November 2019

Disease–disease relationships (e.g., disease comorbidities) play crucial roles in pathobiological manifestations of diseases and personalized approaches to managing those conditions. In this study, we develop a network-based methodology, termed meta-path-based Disease Network (mpDisNet) capturing algorithm, to infer disease–disease relationships by assembling four biological networks: disease–miRNA, miRNA–gene, disease–gene, and the human protein–protein interactome. mpDisNet is a meta-path-based random walk to reconstruct the heterogeneous neighbors of a given node. mpDisNet uses a heterogeneous skip-gram model to solve the network representation of the nodes. We find that mpDisNet reveals high performance in inferring clinically reported disease–disease relationships, outperforming that of traditional gene/miRNA-overlap approaches. In addition, mpDisNet identifies network-based comorbidities for pulmonary diseases driven by underlying miRNA-mediated pathobiological pathways (i.e., hsa-let-7a- or hsa-let-7b-mediated airway epithelial apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine pathways) as derived from the human interactome network analysis. The mpDisNet offers a powerful tool for network-based identification of disease–disease relationships with miRNA-mediated pathobiological pathways.
Mechanical Properties of Human Dura Mater in Tension – An Analysis at an Age Range of 2 to 94 Years
Authors: Zwirner Johann , Scholze Mario , Waddell John Neil , Ondruschka Benjamin , Hammer Niels
Published: November 2019

Realistic human head models are of great interest in traumatic brain injury research and in the forensic pathology courtroom and teaching. Due to a lack of biomechanical data, the human dura mater is underrepresented in head models. This study provides tensile data of 73 fresh human cranial dura mater samples retrieved from an area between the anterior middle and the posterior middle meningeal artery. Tissues were adapted to their native water content using the osmotic stress technique. Tensile tests were conducted under quasi-static uniaxial testing conditions with simultaneous digital image correlation. Human temporal dura mater is mechanically highly variable with regards to its elastic modulus of 70 ± 44 MPa, tensile strength of 7 ± 4 MPa, and maximum strain of 11 ± 3 percent. Mechanical properties of the dura mater did not vary significantly between side nor sex and decreased with the age of the cadaver. Both elastic modulus and tensile strength appear to have constant mechanical parameters within the first 139 hours post mortem. The mechanical properties provided by this study can help to improve computational and physical human head models. These properties under quasi-static conditions do not require adjustments for side nor sex, whereas adjustments of tensile properties accompanied with normal aging may be of interest.
Virtual-source imaging and repeatability for complex near surface
Authors: Zhao Yang , Liu Tao , Tang Genyang , Zhang Houzhu , Sengupta Madhumita
Published: November 2019

Based on seismic interferometry, the virtual source (VS) method is able to produce virtual gathers at buried receiver locations by crosscorrelating the direct-downgoing waves with corresponding reflected-upgoing waves from surface-source gathers. Theoretically, the VS records can improve seismic quality with less negative impact from overburdened complexities. However, shallow complex structures and weathering layers at near surface not only severely distort the wavepaths, but also introduce multiples, surface waves, scattering noise, and interference among different wave modes. These additional seismic responsescontaminate both direct-downgoing and reflected-upgoing wavefields. As a result, the VS gathers experience spurious events and unbalanced illuminations associated with distorted radiation patterns. Conventional stacking operator can produce significant artifacts for sources associated with ineffective-wavepath cancellation. We review three publications and summarize a comprehensive workflow to address these issues using data-driven offset stacking, wavelet-crosscorrelation filtering, and radiation-pattern correction. A data-driven offset stacking theme, with each individual source contribution is weighted by certain quality measures, is applied for available offsets. The wavelet crosscorrelation transforms time-offset data into local time-frequency and local time-frequency-wavenumber domains. Filters are designed for the power-spectrum in each domain. The radiation-pattern correction spatially alters the contaminated direct-wavefields using a zero-phase matched filter, such that the filtered wavefield is consistent with the model-based direct P-wavefields observed at buried receiver locations. Our proposed workflow produces significant improvement as demonstrated in the 13 time-lapse field surveys that included substantial repeatability problems across a 17-month survey gap.
Investigation of protein-protein interactions and hot spot region between PD-1 and PD-L1 by fragment molecular orbital method
Authors: Lim Hocheol , Chun Jungho , Jin Xuemei , Kim Jongwan , Yoon JeongHyeok , No Kyoung Tai
Published: November 2019

Inhibitors to interfere protein-protein interactions (PPI) between programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) block evasion of cancers from immune surveillance. Analyzing hot spot residues in PPI is important for small-molecule drug development. In order to find out hot spots on PPI interface in PD-1/PD-L1 complex, we analyzed PPI in PD-1/PD-L1 with a new analysis method, 3-dimensional scattered pair interactions energies (3D-SPIEs), which assorts significant interactions with fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method. By additionally analyzing PPI in PD-1/antibody and PD-L1/antibody complexes, and small-ligand interactions in PD-L1/peptide and PD-L1/small-molecule complexes, we narrowed down the hot spot region with 3D-SPIEs-based interaction map, which integrates PPI and small-ligand interactions. Based on the map, there are two hot spot regions in PPI of PD-1/PD-L1 and the first hot spot region is important for inhibitors. In particular, LY56, LE58, and LN66 in the first hot spot of PD-L1 are important for PD-L1-antibodies and small-inhibitors in common, while LM115 is important for small-inhibitors. Therefore, the 3D-SPIEs-based map would provide valuable information for designing new small-molecule inhibitors to inhibit PPI of PD-1/PD-L1 and the FMO/3D-SPIEs method provides an effectual tool to understand PPI and integrate PPI and small-ligand interactions at a quantum mechanical level.
Bovine pericardial extracellular matrix niche modulates human aortic endothelial cell phenotype and function
Authors: Shklover Jeny , McMasters James , Alfonso-Garcia Alba , Higuita Manuela Lopera , Panitch Alyssa , Marcu Laura , Griffiths Leigh
Published: November 2019

Xenogeneic biomaterials contain biologically relevant extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and organization, making them potentially ideal surgical grafts and tissue engineering scaffolds. Defining the effect of ECM niche (e.g., basement membrane vs. non-basement membrane) on repopulating cell phenotype and function has important implications for use of xenogeneic biomaterials, particularly in vascular applications. We aim to understand how serous (i.e., basement membrane) versus fibrous (i.e., non-basement membrane) ECM niche of antigen-removed bovine pericardium (AR-BP) scaffolds influence human aortic endothelial cell (hAEC) adhesion, growth, phenotype, inflammatory response and laminin production. At low and moderate seeding densities hAEC proliferation was significantly increased on the serous side. Similarly, ECM niche modulated cellular morphology, with serous side seeding resulting in a more rounded aspect ratio and intact endothelial layer formation. At moderate seeding densities, hAEC production of human laminin was enhanced following serous seeding. Finally, inflammatory marker and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression decreased following long-term cell growth regardless of seeding side. This work demonstrates that at low and moderate seeding densities AR-BP sidedness significantly impacts endothelial cell growth, morphology, human laminin production, and inflammatory state. These findings suggest that ECM niche has a role in modulating response of repopulating recipient cells toward AR-BP scaffolds for vascular applications.
The effects of mechanical tactile stimulation on corticospinal excitability and motor function depend on pin protrusion patterns
Authors: Kojima Sho , Miyaguchi Shota , Sasaki Ryoki , Tsuiki Shota , Saito Kei , Inukai Yasuto , Otsuru Naofumi , Onishi Hideaki
Published: November 2019

Somatosensory stimulation modulates corticospinal excitability. Mechanical tactile stimulation (MS) activates cortical activity depending on tactile stimulation patterns. In this study, we examined whether the effects of mechanical tactile stimulation on corticospinal excitability and motor function depend on different pin protrusions patterns. This single-blind study included 18 healthy subjects. Two types of MS interventions were used: repetitive global stimulus (RGS) intervention was used to stimulate the finger by using 24 pins installed on a finger pad, and sequential stepwise displacement stimulus (SSDS) intervention was used to stimulate the finger by moving a row of 6 pins between the left and right sides on the finger pad. MS interventions were applied to the right index finger for 20 min (stim on/stim off, 1 s/5 s) at a frequency of 20 Hz. After RGS intervention, motor evoked potentials (MEPs) by transcranial magnetic stimulation were observed to be significantly smaller than pre-intervention MEPs; however, motor function using the grooved pegboard task remained unchanged. After SSDS intervention, MEPs were significantly larger and motor function significantly improved compared with pre-intervention values. Our results demonstrated that MS intervention can modulate corticospinal excitability and motor function and that the effects of MS intervention depend on MS intervention patterns.
Author Correction: Pore water pressure responses in silty sediment bed under random wave action
Authors: Niu Jianwei , Xu Jishang , Dong Ping , Li Guangxue
Published: November 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Sensitive and non-invasive cholesterol determination in saliva via optimization of enzyme loading and platinum nano-cluster composition
Authors: Eom Kyu Shik , Lee Yi Jae , Seo Hye Won , Kang Ji Yoon , Shim Joon Sub , Lee Soo Hyun
Published: November 2019

To provide rapid and accurate determination of cholesterol, we have developed a simple, disposable, enzyme-based salivary cholesterol biosensor.
Fabrication of uniform Ru-doped NiFe2O4 nanosheets as an efficient hydrogen evolution electrocatalyst
Authors: Niu Siqi , Li Siwei , Hu Jing , Li Yuzhi , Du Yunchen , Han Xijiang , Xu Ping
Published: November 2019

Ru-doped NiFe2O4 nanosheets exhibit outstanding electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity and stability.
Asymmetric coupling of Au nanospheres on TiO2 nanochannel membranes for NIR-gated artificial ionic nanochannels
Authors: Yang Lingling , Qu Kuanzhi , Guo Junli , Xu Huijie , Dai Zhenqing , Gao Zhi-Da , Song Yan-Yan
Published: November 2019

Au nanospheres are selectively formed at one tip of TiO2 nanochannels by combining a photocatalytic reaction with limited penetration of light. The closed–open switching behavior of the temperature-responsive polymer is achieved under NIR irradiation.
Extremely twisted and bent pyrene-fused N-heterocyclic germylenes
Authors: Krantz Kelsie E. , Weisflog Sarah L. , Yang Wenlong , Dickie Diane A. , Frey Nathan C. , Webster Charles Edwin , Gilliard Robert J.
Published: November 2019

The first examples of pyrene-fused Janus-type N-heterocyclic germylenes (NHGe) are reported.
PEGylation within a confined hydrophobic cavity of a protein
Authors: Munasinghe Aravinda , Mathavan Akshay , Mathavan Akash , Lin Ping , Colina Coray M.
Published: November 2019

The conjugation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to proteins, known as PEGylation, has increasingly been employed to expand the efficacy of therapeutic drugs.
Superparamagnetic nanoarchitectures for disease-specific biomarker detection
Authors: Masud Mostafa Kamal , Na Jongbeom , Younus Muhammad , Hossain Md. Shahriar A. , Bando Yoshio , Shiddiky Muhammad J. A. , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: November 2019

Synthesis, bio-functionalization, and multifunctional activities of superparamagnetic-nanostructures have been extensively reviewed with a particular emphasis on their uses in a range of disease-specific biomarker detection and associated challenges.
Hydroxides Ni(OH)2&Ce(OH)3 as a novel hole storage layer for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Wang Yuanpeng , Wang Guorong , Zhang Lijun , Jin Zhiliang , Zhao Tiansheng
Published: November 2019

In this work, a novel photocatalyst Ni(OH)2&Ce(OH)3@P-CdS was synthesized successfully by phosphorization of CdS and in situ loading of Ni(OH)2&Ce(OH)3 on the surface of P-CdS.
Methylformate from CO2: an integrated process combining catalytic hydrogenation and reactive distillation
Authors: Scott Martin , Westhues Christian G. , Kaiser Teresa , Baums Janine C. , Jupke Andreas , Franciò Giancarlo , Leitner Walter
Published: November 2019

Catalyst immobilization in decane and repetitive hydrogenation of CO2 to HCOOH-amine with subsequent reactive distillation of the resulting methanolic solution.
An environmentally responsible 3-pot, 5-step synthesis of the antitumor agent sonidegib using ppm levels of Pd catalysis in water
Authors: Takale Balaram S. , Thakore Ruchita R. , Kong Fan Yi , Lipshutz Bruce H.
Published: November 2019

Sonidegib is a representative example of a valued pharmaceutical prepared under environmentally responsible conditions.
Cell lysisviaacoustically oscillating sharp edges
Authors: Wang Zeyu , Huang Po-Hsun , Chen Chuyi , Bachman Hunter , Zhao Shuaiguo , Yang Shujie , Huang Tony J.
Published: November 2019

Shear stress induced by acoustic vibrating sharp edges lyse cells mechanically.
Nanocomposite based on restacked crystallites of β-NiS and Ppy for the determination of theophylline and uric acid on screen-printed electrodes
Authors: Muthukumaran P. , Ramya R. , Thivya P. , Wilson J. , Ravi G.
Published: November 2019

We synthesized calcinated β-NiS with a highly crystalline porous nature and mixed it with Ppy to prepare a nanocomposite, which exhibited high electrocatalytic activity and this was then used to detect theophylline and uric acid with high sensitivity and stability.
Large-yield exfoliation of few-layer black phosphorus nanosheets in liquid
Authors: Su Shengpei , Xu Beiyu , Ding Jiheng , Yu Haibin
Published: November 2019

A novel method for large-scale, few-layer phosphorus nanosheets and their potential antibacterial application.
Rationally assembled nonanuclear lanthanide clusters: Dy9 displays slow relaxation of magnetization and Tb9 serves as luminescent sensor for Fe3+, CrO42− and Cr2O72−
Authors: Huang Yuan , Qin Yaru , Ge Yu , Cui Yanfeng , Zhang Xiamei , Li Yahong , Yao Jinlei
Published: November 2019

The utilization of a Schiff base ligand 2-((2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzylideneamino)methyl)phenol (H2L) afforded five nonanuclear lanthanide(iii) clusters. Dy9 displays slow relaxation of magnetization and Tb9 serves as luminescent sensor for Fe3+, CrO42− and Cr2O72−.
A facile synthesis of hybrid silicon quantum dots and fluorescent detection of bovine hemoglobin
Authors: Li Dongyan , Xu Xinrui , Zhou Pengyu , Huang Yihao , Feng Yueqi , Gu Yue , Wang Meimei , Liu Youlin
Published: November 2019

A new type of hybrid SiQDs was synthesized with a higher nitrogen content, fluorescence intensity and longer fluorescence lifetime.
Fluorescence enhancement of fungicide thiabendazole by van der Waals interaction with transition metal dichalcogenide nanosheets for highly specific sensors
Authors: Blanco Elías , Martínez José I. , Parra-Alfambra Ana María , Petit-Domínguez María Dolores , del Pozo María , Martín-Gago José A. , Casero Elena , Quintana Carmen
Published: November 2019

Many molecules quench their fluorescence upon adsorption on surfaces. However, thiabendazole enhances its emission properties when being adsorbed onto different transition metal dichalcogenides nanolayers.
Synthesis of water-soluble hypervalent iodine reagents for fluoroalkylation of biological thiols
Authors: Klimánková Iveta , Hubálek Martin , Matoušek Václav , Beier Petr
Published: November 2019

New activated and water-soluble hypervalent iodine reagents were synthesized and used for fluoroalkyl group transfer to cysteine and in reactions with disulfides.
Microphase separation of highly amphiphilic, low N polymers by photoinduced copper-mediated polymerization, achieving sub-2 nm domains at half-pitch
Authors: Hancox Ellis , Liarou Evelina , Town James S. , Jones Glen R. , Layton Siân A. , Huband Steven , Greenall Martin J. , Topham Paul D. , Haddleton David M.
Published: November 2019

Fluoro-polyacrylic acid block copolymers with vary narrow dispersity are shown to have sub-2 nm domain sizes on phase separation.
Supramolecular complexation between chain-folding poly(ester-imide)s and polycyclic aromatics: a fractal-based pattern of NMR ring-current shielding
Authors: Knappert Marcus , Jin Tianqi , Midgley Scott D. , Wu Guanglu , Scherman Oren A. , Grau-Crespo Ricardo , Colquhoun Howard M.
Published: November 2019

Supramolecular complexation of pyrene with a chain-folding, NDI-based co-poly(ester-imide) generates a 1H NMR pattern showing fractal-type character.
Is silver a mere terminal oxidant in palladium catalyzed C–H bond activation reactions?
Authors: Bhaskararao Bangaru , Singh Sukriti , Anand Megha , Verma Pritha , Prakash Prafull , C Athira , Malakar Santanu , Schaefer Henry F. , Sunoj Raghavan B.
Published: November 2019

We disclose an intriguing and a potentially general role for one of the most commonly used silver salt additives whose molecular understanding continues to remain rather vague in the contemporary practice of palladium catalysis.
Correction: Electrochromic triphenylamine-based cobalt(ii) complex nanosheets
Authors: Liu Yurong , Sakamoto Ryota , Ho Cheuk-Lam , Nishihara Hiroshi , Wong Wai-Yeung
Published: November 2019

Correction for ‘Electrochromic triphenylamine-based cobalt(ii) complex nanosheets’ by Yurong Liu et al., J. Mater. Chem. C, 2019, 7, 9159–9166.
γδT cells contribute to type 2 inflammatory profiles in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: Li Xia , Wang Zhiyuan , Chang Lihong , Chen Xiaohong , Yang Luoying , Lai Xiaoping , Li Shuaixiang , Huang Jiancong , Huang Zizhen , Wu Xifu , Bellanti Joseph A , Zheng Song Guo , Zhang Gehua
Published: November 2019

Eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (ECRS) is a condition linked with type 2 inflammation, poor treatment outcomes, and high recurrence tendency. Although γδT cells have been reported to induce type 2 immune responses and eosinophilic infiltration in several diseases, their role in ECRS has not been fully explored. We aimed to evaluate the association of γδT cells with the type 2 inflammatory profiles in ECRS. Nasal tissue samples obtained from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) (51 eosinophilic and 48 non-eosinophilic), 50 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), and 58 control subjects were examined for γδT cells, inflammatory markers and eosinophils using HE, RT-qPCR, ELISA, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. In parallel, studies were also conducted in an ECRS murine model induced by anti-γδT cells neutralizing antibody administration. γδT cells expression was significantly increased in tissues from patients with ECRS compared with non-ECRS, CRSsNP and control subjects. Moreover, inflammatory markers including type 2 proinflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), GATA3, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and eotaxin levels were also increased in nasal tissues of patients with ECRS, and Vγ1+ γδT cells mRNA expression was positively correlated with type 2 cytokines, GATA3, and ECP. In the ECRS murine model, anti-Vγ1+ γδT antibody treatment reduced the infiltration of eosinophils and expression of type 2 cytokines, GATA3, and ECP in nasal mucosae. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that γδT cells play a crucial role in the type 2 inflammatory profiles and nasal tissue eosinophilic infiltration in patients with ECRS.
A tangled tale of microRNA and cardiac fibrosis
Authors: Chandy Mark
Published: November 2019

Cardiac fibrosis is important for wound healing, regeneration and producing the extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides the scaffold for cells. In pathological situations, fibroblasts are activated and remodel the ECM. In volume 133, issue 17 of Clinical Science, Yang et al. discovered that the miR-214-3p/NLRC5 axis is important for fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT) and ECM remodelling in a pressure overload model of fibrosis [Clin. Sci. (2019) 133(17), 1845–1856]. This discovery helps to explain the complicated regulation of cardiac fibrosis. It also underscores the need for more investigation into the mechanisms of cardiac fibrosis to develop better diagnostic modalities and therapeutic options in heart failure.
Altered HDL metabolism in metabolic disorders: insights into the therapeutic potential of HDL
Authors: Hui Nicholas , Barter Philip J. , Ong Kwok-Leung , Rye Kerry-Anne
Published: November 2019

Metabolic disorders are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and are commonly characterized by a low plasma level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Although cholesterol lowering medications reduce CVD risk in these patients, they often remain at increased risk of CVD. Therapeutic strategies that raise HDL-C levels and improve HDL function are a potential treatment option for reducing residual CVD risk in these individuals. Over the past decade, understanding of the metabolism and cardioprotective functions of HDLs has improved, with preclinical and clinical studies both indicating that the ability of HDLs to mediate reverse cholesterol transport, inhibit inflammation and reduce oxidation is impaired in metabolic disorders. These cardioprotective effects of HDLs are supported by the outcomes of epidemiological, cell and animal studies, but have not been confirmed in several recent clinical outcome trials of HDL-raising agents. Recent studies suggest that HDL function may be clinically more important than plasma levels of HDL-C. However, at least some of the cardioprotective functions of HDLs are lost in acute coronary syndrome and stable coronary artery disease patients. HDL dysfunction is also associated with metabolic abnormalities. This review is concerned with the impact of metabolic abnormalities, including dyslipidemia, obesity and Type 2 diabetes, on the metabolism and cardioprotective functions of HDLs.
Age at Full-Time Use Predicts Language Outcomes Better Than Age of Surgery in Children Who Use Cochlear Implants
Authors: Park Lisa R. , Gagnon Erika B. , Thompson Erin , Brown Kevin D.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The aims of this study were to (a) determine a metric for describing full-time use (FTU), (b) establish whether age at FTU in children with cochlear implants (CIs) predicts language at 3 years of age better than age at surgery, and (c) describe the extent of FTU and length of time it took to establish FTU in this population.

Method

This retrospective analysis examined receptive and expressive language outcomes at 3 years of age for 40 children with CIs. Multiple linear regression analyses were run with age at surgery and age at FTU as predictor variables. FTU definitions included 8 hr of device use and 80% of average waking hours for a typically developing child. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the establishment and degree of FTU.

Results

Although 8 hr of daily wear is typically considered FTU in the literature, the 80% hearing hours percentage metric accounts for more variability in outcomes. For both receptive and expressive language, age at FTU was found to be a better predictor of outcomes than age at surgery. It took an average of 17 months for children in this cohort to establish FTU, and only 52.5% reached this milestone by the time they were 3 years old.

Conclusions

Children with normal hearing can access spoken language whenever they are awake, and the amount of time young children are awake increases with age. A metric that incorporates the percentage of time that children with CIs have access to sound as compared to their same-aged peers with normal hearing accounts for more variability in outcomes than using an arbitrary number of hours. Although early FTU is not possible without surgery occurring at a young age, device placement does not guarantee use and does not predict language outcomes as well as age at FTU.
Understanding Jupiter’s deep interior: the effect of a dilute core
Authors: Ni Dongdong
Published: November 2019

Context. The Juno spacecraft has significantly improved the accuracy of low-order even gravitational harmonics. It has been demonstrated that a dilute core is helpful to interpret Juno’s gravity measurements. However, introducing a dilute core adds a new degree of freedom to Jupiter’s interior models in addition to the uncertainties in the equations of state for hydrogen and helium.

Aims. We present four-layer structure models for Jupiter where a dilute core region is added above a central compact core of rocks. The effect of the dilute core on the structure and composition of Jupiter is investigated in detail. Combined with current knowledge of Jupiter’s composition and thermal state, we aim to obtain information on the dilute core. Also, we investigate the effect of equations of state for hydrogen and helium on the predictions of the core mass and heavy element abundance.

Methods. In the four-layer structure model, the heavy element abundances in the outer two envelopes and the mass of the compact core were adjusted to reproduce Jupiter’s equatorial radius as well as Juno’s gravity observations. Different dilute core configurations were constructed in terms of its size and composition and different equations of state for hydrogen and helium were used in interior structure calculations. Optimized calculations were then performed to investigate the effect of dilute cores and equations of state on Jupiter’s internal structure and composition.

Results. It is found that the absolute values of J6 and J8 tend to decrease as helium becomes more depleted in the dilute core region. Most interior structure calculations seem to prefer an inward decrease of the helium mass fraction from the metallic envelope to the dilute core region. We also show that the core mass and heavy element abundance in Jupiter are dependent upon the rock-to-ice ratio in the dilute core region, the temperature jump from the molecular to metallic envelope, and the equations of state for hydrogen and helium. The resulting heavy-element mass in the core is generally larger than the three-layer structure models owing to the heavy elements dissolved in the dilute core region, and the global heavy-element abundance is in good agreement with the available dilute-core predictions.
Minimum orbital intersection distance: an asymptotic approach
Authors: Hedo J. M. , Fantino E. , Ruíz M. , Peláez J.
Published: November 2019

The minimum orbital intersection distance (MOID) is used as a measure to assess potential close approaches and collision risks between astronomical objects. Methods to calculate this quantity have been proposed in several previous publications. The most frequent case is that in which both objects have elliptical osculating orbits. When at least one of the two orbits has low eccentricity, the latter can be used as a small parameter in an asymptotic power series expansion. The resulting approximation can be exploited to speed up the computation with negligible cost in terms of accuracy. This contribution introduces two asymptotic procedures into the SDG-MOID method for the computation of the MOID developed by the Space Dynamics Group (SDG) of the Technical University of Madrid and presented in a previous article, it discusses the results of performance tests and their comparisons with previous findings. The best approximate procedure yields a reduction of 40% in computing speed, without degrading the accuracy of the determinations. This result suggests that some benefits can be obtained in applications involving massive distance computations, such as in the analysis of large databases, in Monte Carlo simulations for impact risk assessment, or in the long-time monitoring of the minimum orbital intersection distance between two objects.
Fragmentation and energy dissipation in collisions of polydisperse granular clusters
Authors: Umstätter Philipp , Urbassek Herbert M.
Published: November 2019

Context. Dust aggregates consist of polydisperse grains following a power-law size distribution with an exponent of around 2.5, called the Mathis-Rumpl-Nordsieck (MRN) distribution.

Aims. We compare the outcome of collisions between polydisperse granular aggregates with those of monodisperse aggregates.

Methods. Granular-mechanics simulations were used to study aggregate collisions.

Results. Both with respect to the fragmentation threshold and to energy dissipation, MRN aggregates behave as monodisperse aggregates if their size corresponds approximately to the geometric mean of the largest and smallest radius of the MRN distribution.

Conclusions. Our results allow the polydisperse aggregates to be substituted with monodisperse aggregates, which are easier to simulate.
Multiple nitrogen reservoirs in a protoplanetary disk at the epoch of comet and giant planet formation
Authors: Hily-Blant P. , Magalhaes de Souza V. , Kastner J. , Forveille T.
Published: November 2019

The isotopic ratio of nitrogen measured in primitive Solar System bodies shows a broad range of values, the origin of which remains unknown. One key question is whether these isotopic reservoirs of nitrogen predate the comet formation stage or are posterior to it. Another central question is elucidating the processes that can produce the observed variations in the 14N/15N isotopic ratio. Disks that orbit pre-main-sequence (T Tauri) stars provide unique opportunities for observing the chemical content of analogs of the protosolar nebula and therefore for building a comprehensive scenario that can explain the origin of nitrogen in the Solar System and in planet-forming disks. With ALMA, it has become possible to measure isotopic ratios of nitrogen-bearing species in such environments. We present spectrally and spatially resolved observations of the hyperfine structure of the 4−3 rotational transition of HCN and its main isotopologs H13CN and HC15N in the disk orbiting the 8 Myr old T Tauri star TW Hya. The sensitivity allows directly measuring the HCN/H13CN and HCN/HC15N abundance ratios with minimal assumptions. Averaged spatially over the disks, the ratios are 86 ± 4 and 223 ± 21, respectively. The latter value is significantly lower than the CN/C15N ratio of 323 ± 30 in this disk and thus provides the first evidence that two isotopic reservoirs of nitrogen are present in a disk at the stage of giant planet and comet formation. Furthermore, we find clear evidence for an increase in the ratio of HCN to HC15N with radius. The ratio in the outer disk, at 45 au, is 339 ± 28, in excellent agreement with direct measurements in the local interstellar medium, and with the bulk nitrogen isotopic ratio predicted from galactic evolution calculations. In the comet formation region at r = 20 au, the ratio is a factor ≈3 lower, 121 ± 11. This radial increase qualitatively agrees with the scenario in which selective photodissociation of N2 is the dominant fractionation process. However, our isotopic ratios and kinetic temperature of the HCN-emitting layers quantitatively disagree with models of nitrogen chemistry in disks.