bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mutual structural effects of unmodified and pyroglutamylated amyloid β peptides during aggregation
Authors: Abedin Faisal , Tatulian Suren A.
Published: February 2021

Amyloid β (Aβ) peptide aggregates are linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Posttranslationally pyroglutamylated Aβ (pEAβ) occurs in AD brains in significant quantities and is hypertoxic, but the underlying structural and aggregation properties remain poorly understood. Here, the structure and aggregation of Aβ1–40 and pEAβ3–40 are analyzed separately and in equimolar combination. Circular dichroism data show that Aβ1–40, pEAβ3–40, and their combination assume α‐helical structure in dry state and transition to unordered structure in aqueous buffer. Aβ1–40 and the 1:1 combination gradually acquire β‐sheet structure while pEAβ3–40 adopts an α‐helix/β‐sheet conformation. Thioflavin‐T fluorescence studies suggest that the two peptides mutually inhibit fibrillogenesis. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identifies the presence of β‐turn and α‐helical structures in addition to β‐sheet structure in peptides in aqueous buffer. The kinetics of transitions from the initial α‐helical structure to β‐sheet structure were resolved by slow hydration of dry peptides by D2O vapor, coupled with isotope‐edited FTIR. These data confirmed the mutual suppression of β‐sheet formation by the two peptides. Remarkably, pEAβ3–40 maintained a significant fraction of α‐helical structure in the combined sample, implying a reduced β‐sheet propensity of pEAβ3–40. Altogether, the data imply that the combination of unmodified and pyroglutamylated Aβ peptides resists fibrillogenesis and favors the prefibrillar state, which may underlie hypertoxicity of pEAβ.
Body in migration: Bodily experiences and strategies amongst foreign scholars in China
Authors: Wang Bingyu
Published: February 2021

Taking an embodied approach, this paper conducts ethnographic research on foreign scholars working at Sino‐foreign universities. First, it examines both bodily comfort and dissonance they encounter while living in China. Second, it investigates how some scholars deploy bodily strategies at everyday and transnational level to overcome bodily discomfort and reframe lived experiences. As such, the paper demonstrates that embodiments, especially in the context of migration, are always, and necessarily, situated, multiple and ever‐changing, as they are structurally positioned, agentively reconstructed and temporally/spatially distributed. Critically, with a focus on the newly emerged academic mobility pattern moving from the Global North to the South, this paper brings a bodily sensitive theoretical framework into academic migration studies, unpacking the interacting dynamics between places, migrant bodies, agency and subjectivities. It thus expands the analytic utility of the approach of bodies/embodiments and further facilitates the body turn in migration studies in new theoretical and empirical directions.
Vertical‐organic‐nanocrystal‐arrays for crossbar memristors with tuning switching dynamics toward neuromorphic computing
Authors: Yang Fangxu , Sun Lingjie , Duan Qingxi , Dong Huanli , Jing Zhaokun , Yang Yuchao , Li Rongjin , Zhang Xiaotao , Hu Wenping , Chua Leon
Published: February 2021

Memristors proposed by Leon Chua provide a new type of memory device for novel neuromorphic computing applications. However, the approaching of distinct multi‐intermediate states for tunable switching dynamics, the controlling of conducting filaments (CFs) toward high device repeatability and reproducibility, and the ability for large‐scale preparation devices, remain full of challenges. Here, we show that vertical‐organic‐nanocrystal‐arrays (VONAs) could make a way toward the challenges. The perfect one‐dimensional structure of the VONAs could confine the CFs accurately with fine‐tune resistance states in a broad range of 103 ratios. The availability of large‐area VONAs makes the fabrication of large‐area crossbar memristor arrays facilely, and the analog switching characteristic of the memristors is to effectively imitate different kinds of synaptic plasticity, indicating their great potential in future applications.
Machine Learning Method Reveals Hidden Strong Metal‐Support Interaction in Microscopy Datasets
Authors: Blum Thomas , Graves Jeffery , Zachman Michael J. , Polo‐Garzon Felipe , Wu Zili , Kannan Ramakrishnan , Pan Xiaoqing , Chi Miaofang
Published: February 2021

Forming an ultra‐thin, permeable encapsulation oxide‐support layer on a metal catalyst surface is considered an effective strategy for achieving a balance between high stability and high activity in heterogenous catalysts. The success of such a design relies not only on the thickness, ideally one to two atomic layers thick, but also on the morphology and chemistry of the encapsulation layer. Reliably identifying the presence and chemical nature of such a trace layer has been challenging. Electron energy‐loss spectroscopy (EELS) performed in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), the primary technique utilized for such studies, is limited by a weak signal on overlayers when using conventional analysis methods, often leading to misinterpreted or missed information. Here, a robust, unsupervised machine learning data analysis method is developed to reveal trace encapsulation layers that are otherwise overlooked in STEM‐EELS datasets. This method provides a reliable tool for analyzing encapsulation of catalysts and is generally applicable to any spectroscopic analysis of materials and devices where revealing a trace signal and its spatial distribution is challenging.
Micronanostructured Design of Dendrite‐Free Zinc Anodes and Their Applications in Aqueous Zinc‐Based Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Cui Bing-Feng , Han Xiao-Peng , Hu Wen-Bin
Published: February 2021

Aqueous zinc‐based rechargeable batteries are considered to be one of the most promising new energy storage systems due to their unique advantages (e.g., low cost, high safety, environmental friendliness, and high energy density). However, the formation of zinc dendrites at the anode during the operation can puncture the separator and even cause short circuit of batteries, which is one of the serious problems in Zn‐based batteries. Therefore, understanding the growth process of dendrites and suppressing the formation of zinc dendrites are necessary for the further development and large‐scale applications of Zn‐based batteries. Herein, the growth mechanism and the influence factors of zinc dendrites are first introduced in detail by combining the experimental and theoretical results. Moreover, the effective strategies for suppressing dendrites through micronanostructured design are summarized, including surface modification, alloying, and substrate selection/porous structure engineering. In the end, the challenges in the further development of high‐performance dendrite‐free zinc anode are discussed, and the research frontiers trends are prospected as well. It is aimed to shed light on the rational design and structure tuning of high‐performance zinc electrode materials for advanced zinc‐based secondary batteries for clean energy storage technologies.
The Journey to Precious‐Metal‐Free Organic Phosphors from Single‐Benzene‐Cored Fluorophores
Authors: Shimizu Masaki
Published: February 2021

This article takes a look back over our research on the development of organic fluorophores that efficiently emit light in the solid state and precious‐metal‐free phosphors that emit light at room temperature. In particular, we place an emphasis on the prehistory of each project and the relationship between the established molecular designs. Our story starts from the serendipitous discovery of a luminophore with a single benzene core and follows the molecular design and characterization of 2,5‐dipiperidyl‐1,4‐bis(acceptor‐substituted ethenyl)benzenes that exhibit solid‐state fluorescence with high‐to‐excellent quantum yields in the blue‐to‐red region. In addition, the design concepts, luminescence characteristics, and applications of eight novel classes of fluorophores are described, and the discovery, design, and luminescent properties of precious‐metal‐free compounds that show efficient room‐temperature phosphorescence are presented.
Emergent gravity from hidden sectors and TT deformations
Authors: Betzios P. , Kiritsis E. , Niarchos V.
Published: February 2021

Abstract

We investigate emergent gravity extending the paradigm of the AdS/CFT correspondence. The emergent graviton is associated to the (dynamical) expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor. We derive the general effective description of such dynamics, and apply it to the case where a hidden theory generates gravity that is coupled to the Standard Model. In the linearized description, generically, such gravity is massive with the presence of an extra scalar degree of freedom. The propagators of both the spin-two and spin-zero modes are positive and well defined. The associated emergent gravitational theory is a bi-gravity theory, as is (secretly) the case in holography. The background metric on which the QFTs are defined, plays the role of dark energy and the emergent theory has always as a solution the original background metric. In the case where the hidden theory is holographic, the overall description yields a higher-dimensional bulk theory coupled to a brane. The effective graviton on the brane has four-dimensional characteristics both in the UV and IR and is always massive.
New AdS4 vacua in dyonic ISO(7) gauged supergravity
Authors: Bobev Nikolay , Fischbacher Thomas , Gautason Fridrik Freyr , Pilch Krzysztof
Published: February 2021

Abstract

We identify 219 AdS4 solutions in four-dimensional dyonically gauged ISO(7) $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 8 supergravity and present some of their properties. One of the new solutions preserves $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 supersymmetry and provides a rare explicit example of an AdS4 vacuum dual to a 3d SCFT with no continuous global symmetry. There are also two new non-supersymmetric solutions for which all 70 scalar fields in the supergravity theory have masses above the BF bound. All of these AdS4 solutions can be uplifted to massive type IIA supergravity. Motivated by this we present the low lying operator spectra of the dual 3d CFTs for all known supersymmetric AdS4 solutions in the theory and organize them into superconformal multiplets.
Thermodynamics of de Sitter black holes with conformally coupled scalar fields
Authors: Simovic Fil , Fusco Danny , Mann Robert B.
Published: February 2021

Abstract

We investigate the thermodynamic properties of 3+1 dimensional black holes in asymptotically de Sitter spacetimes, conformally coupled to a real scalar field. We use a Euclidean action approach, where boundary value data is specified at a finite radius ‘cavity’ outside the black hole, working in the extended phase space where the cosmological constant is treated as a thermodynamic pressure. We examine the phase structure of these black holes through their free energy. For the MTZ subclass of solutions, we find Hawking-Page-like phase transitions from a black hole spacetime to thermal de Sitter with a scalar field. In the more general case, Hawking-Page-like phase transitions are also present, whose existence depends further on a particular cosmic censorship bound.
Traveling Quasi-periodic Water Waves with Constant Vorticity
Authors: Berti M. , Franzoi L. , Maspero A.
Published: February 2021

We prove the first bifurcation result of time quasi-periodictravelingwave solutions for space periodic water waves with vorticity. In particular, we prove the existence of small amplitude time quasi-periodic solutions of the gravity-capillary water waves equations withconstant vorticity, for a bidimensional fluid over a flat bottom delimited by a space-periodic free interface. These quasi-periodic solutions exist for all the values of depth, gravity and vorticity, and restrict the surface tension to a Borel set of asymptotically full Lebesgue measure.
Origin of Sex-Biased Mental Disorders: An Evolutionary Perspective
Authors: Singh Rama S. , Singh Karun K. , Singh Shiva M.
Published: February 2021

Sexual dimorphism or sex bias in diseases and mental disorders have two biological causes: sexual selection and sex hormones. We review the role of sexual selection theory and bring together decades of molecular studies on the variation and evolution of sex-biased genes and provide a theoretical basis for the causes of sex bias in disease and health. We present a Sexual Selection-Sex Hormone theory and show that male-driven evolution, including sexual selection, leads to: (1) increased male vulnerability due to negative pleiotropic effects associated with male-driven sexual selection and evolution; (2) increased rates of male-driven mutations and epimutations in response to early fitness gains and at the cost of late fitness; and (3) enhanced female immunity due to antagonistic responses to mutations that are beneficial to males but harmful to females, reducing female vulnerability to diseases and increasing the thresholds for disorders such as autism. Female-driven evolution, such as reproduction-related fluctuation in female sex hormones in association with stress and social condition, has been shown to be associated with increased risk of certain mental disorders such as major depression disorder in women. Bodies have history, cells have memories. An evolutionary framework, such as the Sexual Selection–Sex Hormone theory, provides a historical perspective for understanding how the differences in the sex-biased diseases and mental disorders have evolved over time. It has the potential to direct the development of novel preventive and treatment strategies.
Excimerlaser-gestützte DALK: Ein Fallbericht aus dem Homburger Keratokonus Center (HKC)
Authors: Daas Loay , Hamon Loïc , Ardjomand Navid , Safi Tarek , Seitz Berthold
Published: February 2021

Indikationen

Ziel der Excimerlaser-gestützten DALK (Excimer-DALK) ist, wie bei der mechanischen DALK, die Behandlung von Keratektasien (Keratokonus und pellucide marginale Degeneration), stromalen Narben oder stromalen Hornhautdystrophien. Voraussetzung für die Operation ist die Abwesenheit von (prä)descemetalen Narben sowie ein gesundes Endothel.

Operationstechnik

Nach der Excimerlaser-gestützten Trepanation auf 80 % der kornealen Dicke an der Trepanationsstelle, einer intrastromalen Lufteingabe (sog. „Big-Bubble“) sowie einer lamellären Hornhautpräparation erfolgt eine lamelläre anteriore Transplantation des endothelfreien Spendergewebes. Diese Technik kombiniert die Vorteile einer DALK und einer Excimerlaser-Trepanation. Wir beschreiben die Schritte einer Excimer-DALK aus unserem Homburger Keratokonus Center (HKC).

Schlussfolgerungen

Die Excimer-DALK stellt bei Patienten mit gutem Endothel eine gute Behandlungsmöglichkeit dar. Bei einer intraoperativen Perforation bleibt die Möglichkeit einer sog. Konversion zur Excimer-PKP mit allen Vorteilen der Excimerlaser-Trepanation.
Effect of low-iron micronutrient powder (MNP) on the composition of gut microbiota of Bangladeshi children in a high-iron groundwater setting: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rahman Sabuktagin , Kortman Guus A. M. , Boekhorst Jos , Lee Patricia , Khan Moududur R. , Ahmed Faruk
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Adverse effects of iron fortification/supplements such as Micronutrient Powder (MNP) on gut microbiota have previously been found in infection-prone African settings. This study examined the adversaries of a low-iron MNP compared with the standard MNP on the composition of gut microbiota in Bangladeshi children exposed to a high concentration of iron from potable groundwater.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2- to 5-year-old children, drinking groundwater with a high concentration of iron (≥ 2 mg/L). Children were randomized to receive one sachet per day of either standard MNP (12.5 mg iron) or low-iron MNP (5 mg iron), for 2 months. A sub-sample of 53 children was considered for paired assessment of the gut microbiome by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.

Results

At baseline, the gut microbiota consisted of Bifidobacteriaceae (15.6%), Prevotellaceae (12.2%), Lactobacillaceae (3.6%), Clostridiaceae (4.1%) and Enterobacteriaceae (2.8%). Overall, there was no significant treatment effect of the low-iron MNP compared to the standard MNP. However, an apparent treatment effect was observed in children with a relative adult-like microbiota, with a higher relative abundance of potentially pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae after receiving the standard MNP compared to the low-iron MNP. This effect, however, was statistically non-significant (p = 0.07).

Conclusion

In Bangladeshi children drinking iron-rich groundwater, a low-iron MNP supplementation did not have a significant impact on their gut microbiota profile/composition compared to the standard MNP.

The trial registration number is ISRCTN60058115; Date of registration 03/07/2019; retrospectively registered.
Self-reported taste and smell alterations and the liking of oral nutritional supplements with sensory-adapted flavors in cancer patients receiving systemic antitumor treatment
Authors: de Haan Jacco J. , Renken Remco J. , Moshage Yvette , Kluifhooft Daniëlle A. , Corbier Camille , Daly Louise E. , Blanchard Hélène , Reyners Anna K. L.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Taste and smell alterations (TAs and SAs) are often reported by patients with cancer receiving systemic antitumor therapy and can negatively impact food intake and quality of life. This study aimed to examine the occurrence of TAs and SAs and investigate the impact of TAs on overall liking of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) with warming and cooling sensations.

Methods

Patients receiving systemic antitumor therapy completed a questionnaire on sensory alterations and evaluated overall liking of 5 prototype flavors of Nutridrink® Compact Protein (hot tropical ginger (HTG), hot mango (HM), cool red fruits (CRF), cool lemon (CL), and neutral (N)) on a 10-point scale via a sip test. Differences between patients with and without TAs were investigated using permutation analysis.

Results

Fifty patients with various cancer types and treatments were included. Thirty patients (60%) reported TAs and 13 (26%) experienced SAs. Three flavors were rated highly with a liking score > 6 (CRF 6.8 ± 1.7; N 6.5 ± 1.9; HTG 6.0 ± 2.0). Larger variation in ONS liking scores was observed in patients with TAs with or without SAs (4.5–6.9 and 4.6–7.2, respectively) vs. patients without TAs (5.9–6.5). TAs were associated with increased liking of CRF (Δ = + 0.9) and N (Δ = + 1.0) flavors.

Conclusions

TAs and SAs are common in patients with cancer undergoing systemic antitumor therapy. Patients with TAs were more discriminant in liking of ONS flavors compared to patients without TAs, and sensory-adapted flavors appeared to be appreciated. The presence of TAs should be considered when developing or selecting ONS for patients with cancer.

Trial registration

Registration at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03525236) on 26 April 2018.
Unsupervised detection of botnet activities using frequent pattern tree mining
Authors: Hao Siqiang , Liu Di , Baldi Simone , Yu Wenwu
Published: February 2021

A botnet is a network of remotely-controlled infected computers that can send spam, spread viruses, or stage denial-of-service attacks, without the consent of the computer owners. Since the beginning of the 21st century, botnet activities have steadily increased, becoming one of the major concerns for Internet security. In fact, botnet activities are becoming more and more difficult to be detected, because they make use of Peer-to-Peer protocols (eMule, Torrent, Frostwire, Vuze, Skype and many others). To improve the detectability of botnet activities, this paper introduces the idea of association analysis in the field of data mining, and proposes a system to detect botnets based on the FP-growth (Frequent Pattern Tree) frequent item mining algorithm. The detection system is composed of three parts: packet collection processing, rule mining, and statistical analysis of rules. Its characteristic feature is the rule-based classification of different botnet behaviors in a fast and unsupervised fashion. The effectiveness of the approach is validated in a scenario with 11 Peer-to-Peer host PCs, 42063 Non-Peer-to-Peer host PCs, and 17 host PCs with three different botnet activities (Storm, Waledac and Zeus). The recognition accuracy of the proposed architecture is shown to be above 94%. The proposed method is shown to improve the results reported in literature.
Rapid and sensitive analysis of benzyl isothiocyanate in peel, pulp, and seeds of Carica papaya Linn. by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Authors: Ma Yinzheng , Wen Yingying , Chen Jinping , Zhang Yunxia , Zhang Haiying , Sui Jinlei , Yi Guohui , He Xiaowen
Published: February 2021

A rapid and sensitive headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC–MS) method was established for the determination of benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) in the peel, pulp, and seeds of Carica papaya Linn. Tween 80 solution with a concentration of 0.002% (w/v) was chosen as a headspace medium for solving the poor solubility of BITC in water without using organic solvents and ensuring high headspace efficiencies. Extraction parameters had been evaluated and optimized by using an orthogonal design with an OA9(34) table. Optimal headspace conditions were obtained when vials were equilibrated at 80 °C for 20 min at a stirring speed of 375 rpm. The calibration curve obtained by using GC–MS was linear in a concentration range of 10–320 ng/mL. The recoveries of peel, pulp, and seeds ranged from 97.3 to 100.6% with RSDs less than 3.0%. The method is simple, rapid, sensitive, and environmentally friendly. It is suitable for analyzing BITC in papaya fruit and is expected to have important application potential in the extraction of water-insoluble volatile components in foods, plants, medicines, and other samples.
Precipitation and temperature response to sea salt injection into low marine clouds over West Africa
Authors: Adeniyi Mojisola O. , Bassey Blessing E. I.
Published: February 2021

Sea salt injection into the tropical marine clouds is evaluated for its potentials to reduce the negative impact of the prevailing global warming over West Africa. Radiative forcing is determined as the intercept of the regression of response of radiation parameter to that of surface air temperature. The seasonal responses of temperature and precipitation to geoengineering over West Africa are analysed using temperature and precipitation outputs from IPSL-M5A-LR with three different forcing scenarios. The three scenarios are historical greenhouse gas concentrations, Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 W/m2 scenario (RCP4.5) and combination of RCP4.5 and geoengineering forcing (sea salt climate engineering, G5). 20-year means in the middle of G5 (2045–2064) are considered for the future period, and the historical climatology from 1986 to 2005 is used. Net downward flux and top of atmosphere outgoing shortwave radiation have negative forcing only at the western Sahel. The G5 reduces the warming in the RCP4.5 scenario over the whole of West Africa. It also shifts ITCZ northward with respect to RCP4.5, thereby increasing wetness over most of the land areas. The areas with wetness response have anomalous westerly with respect to RCP 4.5 and latitudinal location below anomalous easterly wind. Results show that G5 is effective in reducing the RCP4.5 projected warming up to 1.2 K and increasing wetness over most land areas. The G5 has a damaging effect on the temperature pattern at the southern ocean and coastal areas, while it has damaging effect on precipitation patterns at some parts of the Sahel.
Judging Rationally
Authors: Hoffmaster Barry
Published: February 2021

Sophisticated realists, uncompromising positivists, and postmodernists created much of the law in the last century. Judges, lawyers, and philosophers now are continuing to clarify, improve, and use the law. The law is often clear. But it can be indeterminate because it is indefinite, indistinct, or vague. Two examples are provided.
Extinction and coming down from infinity of continuous-state branching processes with competition in a Lévy environment
Authors: Leman H. , Pardo J. C.
Published: February 2021

We are interested in the property of coming down from infinity of continuous-state branching processes with competition in a Lévy environment. We first study the event of extinction for such a family of processes under Grey’s condition. Moreover, if we add an integrability condition on the competition mechanism then the process comes down from infinity regardless of the long-time behaviour of the environment.
Is the General Factor of Personality Really Related to Frequency of Agreeable, Conscientious, Emotionally Stable, Extraverted, and Open Behavior?
Authors: Bäckström Martin , Björklund Fredrik
Published: February 2021

Abstract. Proponents of the general factor of personality have suggested that it is related to more instances of agreeable, conscientious, emotionally stable, extraverted, and open behavior. We tested this frequency hypothesis by relating the GFP from personality self-ratings to the number of instances of typical Big Five behaviors in real life. For a period of 18 consecutive days, 108 students provided responses to experience sampling items on their mobile phones. The items described concrete behaviors that were rated by experts of the Big Five as typical of either of the five traits and were phrased in a way that made them easy to interpret and respond to. The items were then validated in study 1 and it was found that the behavior correlated with Big Five ratings. In a second study, we tested the hypothesis that GFP is related to a higher frequency of GFP related behavior. The results provided little support for the frequency hypothesis and are more compatible with an interpretation of the GFP in terms of style rather than substance.
Intuition Versus Deliberation
Authors: Zhang Yufeng , Luan Mo , Li Hong , Ren Yiling
Published: February 2021

Abstract. In the present research, we documented a novel but largely ignored the effect of intuition versus deliberation on individuals’ preferences between desirability and feasibility. Our findings in different domains demonstrate that when making a decision involving a tradeoff between desirability and feasibility, intuition leads to a relatively stronger preference for high-desirability-low-feasibility options, whereas deliberation leads to a stronger preference for low-desirability-high-feasibility options. Furthermore, we proposed and found that construal level served as the underlying process of the effect. When individuals are induced by a higher level of construal (e.g., deciding for others or for the distant future), the difference in their preferences between intuition versus deliberation is attenuated. Finally, theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
On the Localization in Strongly Coupled Ensemble Data Assimilation Using a Two‐Scale Lorenz Model
Authors: Shen Zheqi , Tang Youmin , Li Xiaojing , Gao Yanqiu
Published: February 2021

For coupled numerical models with different components (domains), there are two kinds of assimilation strategies applied for producing ocean analysis and initial condition of predictions: the strongly coupled data assimilation (SCDA) and weakly coupled data assimilation (WCDA). The former needs to accurately estimate cross‐component error covariances, which is much challenging, especially when a small ensemble size's Kalman filter‐based algorithm is used and a coupled model has the components of different spatiotemporal scales. In this study, we propose a new scheme for the ensemble adjustment Kalman filter (EAKF) to address cross‐component localization, a critical issue in estimating the cross‐component error covariance in SCDA, based on a two‐scale Lorenz ’96 coupled mode with different temporal and spatial scales. Emphasis places on designing the cross‐component localization factors in the framework of multiple spatial scales. The result shows that the SCDA can provide much more accurate estimations of the states than the WCDA when the new proposed cross‐component localization is used. A further analysis reveals that the advantage of the SCDA over the WCDA is attributed to the assimilation of observations from the small‐scale model in the coupled system, whereas the contribution of the assimilation of observations from the large‐scale model is not obvious. This study offers a useful technique to develop SCDA system in operational prediction models, which is being pursued in the prediction community.
Subduction‐Induced Back‐Arc Extension Versus Far‐Field Stretching: Contrasting Modes for Continental Marginal Break‐Up
Authors: Yang Shuting , Li Zhong‐Hai , Wan Bo , Chen Ling , Kaus Boris J. P.
Published: February 2021

Continental break‐up is an ingredient of plate tectonics and the Wilson cycle. During the evolution of the Tethyan Realm since the Paleozoic, a series of ribbon‐like (micro‐)continents are split from the Gondwana and drifted northwards to the Eurasian continent. The initial opening of the Neo‐Tethys Ocean follows a typical continental marginal break‐up of Cimmeria from Gondwana, which is generally considered to be driven by subduction of the Paleo‐Tethyan plate. Yet, the competition between back‐arc extension and far‐field stretching is matter of a long‐standing debate. Therefore, the authors here present the results of systematic 2‐D numerical simulations. The results reveal four types of subduction‐induced continental marginal break‐ups: back‐arc extension, far‐field stretching, double break‐up, and subduction channel opening. A weak relic suture zone is a prerequisite for continental break‐up and an important factor controlling the mode selection. The back‐arc extension mode occurs for relatively short and shallow dipping highly viscous subducted slabs. The far‐field stretching mode, on the other hand, preferably occurs for spatially long and wide subducted slabs without mid‐ocean ridges. Combining the geological observations, numerical simulations and force balance analyses, the authors propose that the northward, single‐sided Paleo‐Tethys oceanic subduction beneath Laurasia, was most likely responsible for the far‐field break‐up of the Cimmerian terranes from Gondwana. This would have required both pre‐existing relic suture zones and the already subducted mid‐ocean ridge, which thus played an important role in the opening of the Neo‐Tethys Ocean.
Ocean‐Driven and Topography‐Controlled Nonlinear Glacier Retreat During the Holocene: Southwestern Ross Sea, Antarctica
Authors: Jones R. S. , Gudmundsson G. H. , Mackintosh A. N. , McCormack F. S. , Whitmore R. J.
Published: February 2021

Recent ice sheet mass loss in Antarctica has been attributed to an influx of warm ocean waters, which drove grounding‐line retreat and ice thinning. Episodic retreat and rapid thinning also occurred in the southwestern Ross Sea during the Holocene, which today accommodates cold ocean waters. We applied finite element ice‐flow modeling to investigate the roles of ocean temperature and bed topography in the deglaciation of this region. First, our experiments demonstrate that bed topography controlled the spatial pattern of grounding‐line retreat. Topographic pinning points limited the rate of ice loss until retreat progressed beyond a bathymetric threshold. Second, ocean thermal forcing determined the timing of this ice loss. Enhanced ocean‐driven melt is required during the Early‐to‐Mid Holocene to replicate geological records of deglaciation, possibly indicating that warm ocean waters were once present in this region. On multi‐centennial timescales, ocean temperature drove, while bed topography controlled, nonlinear rates of ice mass loss.
Magnetic Anomalies Caused by 2D Polygonal Structures With Uniform Arbitrary Polarization: New Insights From Analytical/Numerical Comparison Among Available Algorithm Formulations
Authors: Ghirotto Alessandro , Zunino Andrea , Armadillo Egidio , Mosegaard Klaus
Published: February 2021

Since the '60s of the last century, the calculation of the magnetic anomalies caused by 2D uniformly polarized bodies with polygonal cross‐section has been mainly performed using the popular algorithm of Talwani and Heirtzler (1962, 1964). Recently, Kravchinsky et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082767) claimed errors in the above algorithm formulation, proposing new corrective formulas and questioning the effectiveness of almost 60 years of magnetic calculations. Here we show that the two approaches are equivalent and Kravchinsky et al.'s formulas simply represent an algebraic variant of those of Talwani and Heirtzler. Moreover, we analyze a large amount of random magnetic scenarios, involving both changing‐shape polygons and a realistic geological model, showing a complete agreement among the magnetic responses of the two discussed algorithms and the one proposed by Won and Bevis (1987, https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1442298). We release the source code of the algorithms in Julia and Python languages.
Is Preconditioning Effect On Strong Positive Indian Ocean Dipole by a Preceding Central Pacific El Niño Deterministic?
Authors: Yang Kai , Cai Wenju , Huang Gang , Ng Benjamin , Wang Guojian
Published: February 2021

The 2018 Central Pacific (CP) El Niño preceded the 2019 strong positive Indian Ocean Dipole (pIOD). The robustness of a CP El Niño preconditioning a strong pIOD has not been investigated. Here, we show that March‐April‐May (MAM) easterly anomalies over the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) induced by a preceding CP El Niño drive a thermocline shallowing conducive to an early equatorial EIO cooling. However, the same winds also generate off‐equatorial downwelling Rossby waves in the southern EIO, which reflect as downwelling Kelvin waves, able to weaken the initial anomalies. Furthermore, zonal winds in June‐July‐August (JJA) can either be beneficial or unfavorable for the developing pIOD. Only when the equatorial easterlies, EIO cooling, and thermocline shallowing are sufficiently amplified by JJA does a strong pIOD occur. Despite this, a multi‐century model simulation suggests that development of majority of strong pIOD events is facilitated by a preceding CP El Niño.
Convective System Dynamics Viewed in 3D Over the Oceans
Authors: La Tran Vu , Messager Christophe
Published: February 2021

Previous studies indicated a relationship between deep convection and sea surface wind patterns; however, it remains difficult to remotely observe a deep Convective System (CS) and its dynamics above the ocean due to the lack of data at the mid atmospheric levels. To collect the details of the CS dynamics, some nearly simultaneous data of three CS features, that is, cloud brightness temperature, vertical wind at the midlevels, and horizontal wind at the sea surface, can be now obtained by a combination of sensors from a geostationary (Meteosat) and two polar‐orbiting satellites (Sentinel‐1 and Aeolus), having corresponding acquisition time and orbit track matching. This work thus illustrates a nearly three‐dimensional view of the CS atmospheric dynamics over the sea, including deep convective clouds observed by Meteosat, intense downdrafts measured by Aeolus, and strong surface winds estimated by Sentinel‐1.
Nanobody-based chimeric antigen receptor T cells designed by CRISPR/Cas9 technology for solid tumor immunotherapy
Authors: Mo Fengzhen , Duan Siliang , Jiang Xiaobing , Yang Xiaomei , Hou Xiaoqiong , Shi Wei , Carlos Cueva Jumbo Juan , Liu Aiqun , Yin Shihua , Wang Wu , Yao Hua , Yu Zihang , Tang Zhuoran , Xie Shenxia , Ding Ziqiang , Zhao Xinyue , Hammock Bruce D. , Lu Xiaoling
Published: February 2021

Chimeric antigen receptor-based T-cell immunotherapy is a promising strategy for treatment of hematological malignant tumors; however, its efficacy towards solid cancer remains challenging. We therefore focused on developing nanobody-based CAR-T cells that treat the solid tumor. CD105 expression is upregulated on neoangiogenic endothelial and cancer cells. CD105 has been developed as a drug target. Here we show the generation of a CD105-specific nanobody, an anti-human CD105 CAR-T cells, by inserting the sequences for anti-CD105 nanobody-linked standard cassette genes into AAVS1 site using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Co-culture with CD105+ target cells led to the activation of anti-CD105 CAR-T cells that displayed the typically activated cytotoxic T-cell characters, ability to proliferate, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the specific killing efficacy against CD105+ target cells in vitro. The in vivo treatment with anti-CD105 CAR-T cells significantly inhibited the growth of implanted CD105+ tumors, reduced tumor weight, and prolonged the survival time of tumor-bearing NOD/SCID mice. Nanobody-based CAR-T cells can therefore function as an antitumor agent in human tumor xenograft models. Our findings determined that the strategy of nanobody-based CAR-T cells engineered by CRISPR/Cas9 system has a certain potential to treat solid tumor through targeting CD105 antigen.
Lentivirus-mediated gene therapy for Fabry disease
Authors: Khan Aneal , Barber Dwayne L. , Huang Ju , Rupar C. Anthony , Rip Jack W. , Auray-Blais Christiane , Boutin Michel , O’Hoski Pamela , Gargulak Kristy , McKillop William M. , Fraser Graeme , Wasim Syed , LeMoine Kaye , Jelinski Shelly , Chaudhry Ahsan , Prokopishyn Nicole , Morel Chantal F. , Couban Stephen , Duggan Peter R. , Fowler Daniel H. , Keating Armand , West Michael L. , Foley Ronan , Medin Jeffrey A.
Published: February 2021

Enzyme and chaperone therapies are used to treat Fabry disease. Such treatments are expensive and require intrusive biweekly infusions; they are also not particularly efficacious. In this pilot, single-arm study (NCT02800070), five adult males with Type 1 (classical) phenotype Fabry disease were infused with autologous lentivirus-transduced, CD34+-selected, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells engineered to express alpha-galactosidase A (α-gal A). Safety and toxicity are the primary endpoints. The non-myeloablative preparative regimen consisted of intravenous melphalan. No serious adverse events (AEs) are attributable to the investigational product. All patients produced α-gal A to near normal levels within one week. Vector is detected in peripheral blood and bone marrow cells, plasma and leukocytes demonstrate α-gal A activity within or above the reference range, and reductions in plasma and urine globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb3) are seen. While the study and evaluations are still ongoing, the first patient is nearly three years post-infusion. Three patients have elected to discontinue enzyme therapy.
Beverage bottle capacity, packaging efficiency, and the potential for plastic waste reduction
Authors: Becerril-Arreola R. , Bucklin R. E.
Published: February 2021

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue because authorities struggle to contain and process the enormous amount of waste produced. We study the potential for reducing plastic waste by examining the efficiency with which different polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles deliver beverages. We find that 80% of the variation in bottle weight is explained by bottle capacity, 16% by product category, and 1% by brand. Bottle weight is quadratic and convex function of capacity, which implies that medium capacity bottles are most efficient at delivering consumable product. Local data on PET bottle sales and municipal waste recovery validate the findings. A 20% shift in consumption from smaller to larger bottles could reduce the production of PET waste by over 10,000 t annually in the U.S. alone.
Palaeoenvironmental evolution of formation of Bayanjargalan oil shale: evidence from trace elements and biomarkers
Authors: Sun Youhong , Tsolmon Demchig , Shan Xuanlong , He Wentong , Guo Wei
Published: February 2021

The genetic type of the Bayanerhet Formation oil shale in the Bayanjargalan mine area is an inland lacustrine oil shale deposit. Inorganic element analysis and organic geochemical testing of oil shale samples collected in three boreholes show that the Bayanerhet Formation oil shale has relatively high organic contents, e.g., average TOC values of 6.53, 7.32 and 8.84 (corresponding to oil contents of 5.49%, 6.07% and 7.50%) in boreholes BJ3807, BJ3405 and BJ3005, respectively. Analysis of organic matter sources with biomarkers indicates that lower aquatic organisms such as algae contribute more to the organic matter than higher plants do. According to research on the values of Fe2O3/FeO, Rb/Sr and w (La) n/w (Yb)n in cores from the three boreholes, the Bayanjargalan oil shale is inferred to have formed in a humid paleoclimate with a relatively high sedimentation rate. In research on the evolution of the paleoaquifer in which the oil shale formed, the values of Fe3+/Fe2+, V/V + Ni, Ni/V, Ceanom and δCe are applied as sensitive indicators of the redox conditions in the aqueous medium. These values indicate that the Bayanjargalan oil shale formed in a water body with a weak redox environment. Moreover, the values of Ca/(Ca + Fe) and Sr/Ba and the values of gammacerane/αβC30 hopane in biomarkers show that the oil shale was formed in a saltwater environment. Analysis of Mo and U shows high endogenous lake productivity, corresponding to high TOC, which suggests that the lacustrine productivity played an important role in organic matter enrichment. The Lower Cretaceous Bayanerhet Formation (K1bt) in the Bayanjargalan mine area encompasses a complete sequence and was formed during lowstand, transgression, highstand and regression periods. The dominant oil shale deposits were formed in the transgression system tract and high stand system tract, and these oil shales have a high oil content and stable occurrence. A large set of thick, high-TOC and high-oil-content oil shales in the second member of the Bayanerhet Formation was deposited under such conditions. The abundant terrigenous supply under warm and humid conditions significantly promoted the primitive biological productivity, and the weak redox saltwater environment had relatively high productivity. All the favorable conditions promoted the formation of high-quality oil shale.
Interaction of Plasmodium falciparum apicortin with α- and β-tubulin is critical for parasite growth and survival
Authors: Chakrabarti Malabika , Joshi Nishant , Kumari Geeta , Singh Preeti , Shoaib Rumaisha , Munjal Akshay , Kumar Vikash , Behl Ankita , Abid Mohammad , Garg Swati , Gupta Sonal , Singh Shailja
Published: February 2021

Cytoskeletal structures of Apicomplexan parasites are important for parasite replication, motility, invasion to the host cell and survival. Apicortin, an Apicomplexan specific protein appears to be a crucial factor in maintaining stability of the parasite cytoskeletal assemblies. However, the function of apicortin, in terms of interaction with microtubules still remains elusive. Herein, we have attempted to elucidate the function of Plasmodium falciparum apicortin by monitoring its interaction with two main components of parasite microtubular structure, α-tubulin-I and β-tubulin through in silico and in vitro studies. Further, a p25 domain binding generic drug Tamoxifen (TMX), was used to disrupt PfApicortin-tubulin interactions which led to the inhibition in growth and progression of blood stage life cycle of P. falciparum.
Real-time observation of microcirculatory leukocytes in patients undergoing major liver resection
Authors: Uz Zühre , Ince C. , Shen L. , Ergin B. , van Gulik T. M.
Published: February 2021

Ischemia/reperfusion injury and inflammation are associated with microcirculatory dysfunction, endothelial injury and glycocalyx degradation. This study aimed to assess microcirculation in the sublingual, intestinal and the (remnant) liver in patients undergoing major liver resection, to define microcirculatory leukocyte activation and its association with glycocalyx degradation. In this prospective observational study, the microcirculation was assessed at the beginning of surgery (T0), end of surgery (T1) and 24 h after surgery (T2) using Incident Dark Field imaging. Changes in vessel density, blood flow and leukocyte behaviour were monitored, as well as clinical parameters. Syndecan-1 levels as a parameter of glycocalyx degradation were analysed. 19 patients were included. Sublingual microcirculation showed a significant increase in the number of rolling leukocytes between T0 and T1 (1.5 [0.7–1.8] vs. 3.7 [1.7–5.4] Ls/C-PCV/4 s respectively, p = 0.001), and remained high at T2 when compared to T0 (3.8 [3–8.5] Ls/C-PCV/4 s, p = 0.006). The microvascular flow decreased at T2 (2.4 ± 0.3 vs. baseline 2.8 ± 0.2, respectively, p < 0.01). Duration of vascular inflow occlusion was associated with significantly higher numbers of sublingual microcirculatory rolling leukocytes. Syndecan-1 increased from T0 to T1 (42 [25–56] vs. 107 [86–164] ng/mL, p < 0.001). The microcirculatory perfusion was characterized by low convection capacity and high number of rolling leukocytes. The ability to sublingually monitor the rolling behaviour of the microcirculatory leukocytes allows for early identification of patients at risk of increased inflammatory response following major liver resection.
Precise higher-order reflectivity and morphology models for early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy using OCT images
Authors: Sharafeldeen A. , Elsharkawy M. , Khalifa F. , Soliman A. , Ghazal M. , AlHalabi M. , Yaghi M. , Alrahmawy M. , Elmougy S. , Sandhu H. S. , El-Baz A.
Published: February 2021

This study proposes a novel computer assisted diagnostic (CAD) system for early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) B-scans. The CAD system is based on fusing novel OCT markers that describe both the morphology/anatomy and the reflectivity of retinal layers to improve DR diagnosis. This system separates retinal layers automatically using a segmentation approach based on an adaptive appearance and their prior shape information. High-order morphological and novel reflectivity markers are extracted from individual segmented layers. Namely, the morphological markers are layerthicknessandtortuositywhile the reflectivity markers are the 1st-order reflectivity of the layer in addition to local and global high-order reflectivity based onMarkov-Gibbs random field (MGRF)andgray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), respectively. The extracted image-derived markers are represented using cumulative distribution function (CDF) descriptors. The constructed CDFs are then described using their statistical measures, i.e., the 10th through 90th percentiles with a 10% increment. For individual layer classification, each extracted descriptor of a given layer is fed to a support vector machine (SVM) classifier with a linear kernel. The results of the four classifiers are then fused using a backpropagation neural network (BNN) to diagnose each retinal layer. For global subject diagnosis, classification outputs (probabilities) of the twelve layers are fused using another BNN to make the final diagnosis of the B-scan. This system is validated and tested on 130 patients, with two scans for both eyes (i.e. 260 OCT images), with a balanced number of normal and DR subjects using different validation metrics:2-folds,4-folds,10-folds, andleave-one-subject-out (LOSO)cross-validation approaches. The performance of the proposed system was evaluated usingsensitivity,specificity,F1-score, andaccuracymetrics. The system’s performance after the fusion of these different markers showed better performance compared with individual markers and other machine learning fusion methods. Namely, it achieved$$96.15\%$$96.15%,$$99.23\%$$99.23%,$$97.66\%$$97.66%, and$$97.69\%$$97.69%, respectively, using the LOSO cross-validation technique. The reported results, based on the integration of morphology and reflectivity markers and by using state-of-the-art machine learning classifications, demonstrate the ability of the proposed system to diagnose the DR early.