bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrological Drought Instantaneous Propagation Speed Based on the Variable Motion Relationship of Speed‐Time Process
Authors: Wu Jiefeng , Chen Xiaohong , Yao Huaxia , Liu Zhiyong , Zhang Dejian
Published: October 2018

It is difficult to predict and track the propagation of a hydrological drought because it is hard to determine its propagation speed. We propose a useful framework for calculating the hydrological drought instantaneous propagation speed which includes the instantaneous development speed (IDS) and instantaneous recovery speed (IRS). First, the run theory was applied to subdivide the propagation of individual hydrological drought events into the development and recovery stages and to determine the individual propagation times (drought development duration and drought recovery duration). Then the hydrological drought instantaneous propagation speed of each hydrological drought event, including the IDS and IRS, were determined based on the variable motion relationship of speed‐time process commonly applied in physics. Finally, the optimal theoretical values of the IDS and IRS were evaluated using a cross‐validation method. Three hydrometric stations, located at the upstream catchment with less human activities influence, were chosen from different countries (China, the United States, and Germany) to demonstrate the satisfactory performance of this proposed framework. The results indicate that the variable motion relationship of speed‐time process can provide an assessment of the overall hydrological drought propagation and perform well for identifying the propagation time in these study areas. The optimal theoretical values of IDS (or IRS) obtained by the variable motion relationship can simulate the actual drought development duration (or drought recovery duration) of hydrological drought well. The sensitivity of IDS (or IRS) of hydrological drought is correlated with climate, catchment characteristics, and human activities that should be explored to improve hydrological drought propagation prediction.
Effect of Elastic Deformation and Rough Grain Surface on Heat Conduction in Partially Saturated Granular Porous Media
Authors: Ikram Muhammad Fowaz , Askari Roohollah , Hejazi S. Hossein , Sahimi Muhammad
Published: October 2018

Accurate prediction of the effective thermal properties of partially saturated rock, soil, and other types of porous media is essential to a wide variety of phenomena and processes in engineering and natural sciences. The effective thermal conductivity of porous media depends strongly on the morphology of the media and the fluid distribution in the pore space, as well as on geomechanical processes such as dilation and microcracking. A precursor to such processes is the deformation of the grains' surface due to the overburden pressure that is dependent on pore‐scale features, such as the surface texture of the grains. We report on the results of the extensive two‐dimensional computer simulations of heat conduction of granular porous media in which the grains have rough, self‐affine fractal surface, and water partially saturates the pore space, and the media are subjected to an external compressive pressure. The Young's modulus of the grains and the fractal dimension of their surface profile dictate the contact area for the deformation. The spatial distribution of the fluids and the resulting saturation is generated by a lattice Boltzmann method, while the conduction process is simulated by a thermal lattice Boltzmann. Two essentially linear dependence of the effective thermal conductivity on the water saturation emerge, separated at a critical water saturation Sc that signals the formation of percolation clusters of water‐filled pores. One interval, below Sc, is dominated by heat conduction through the solid phase, assisted by conducting water globules that bridge the noncontacting grains. The second interval emerges above Sc in which the water‐filled pores create a percolating conductive cluster that dominates heat conduction through the medium. The effect of various factors on the conduction process is studied in detail.
Development of a Fully Coupled Biogeochemical Reactive Transport Model to Simulate Microbial Oxidation of Organic Carbon and Pyrite Under Nitrate‐Reducing Conditions
Authors: Knabe Dustin , Kludt Christoph , Jacques Diederik , Lichtner Peter , Engelhardt Irina
Published: October 2018

In regions with intensive agriculture nitrate is one of the most relevant contaminants in groundwater. Denitrification reduces elevated nitrate concentrations in many aquifers, yet the denitrification potential is limited by the concentration of available electron donors. The aim of this work was to study the denitrification potential and its limitation in natural sediments. A column experiment was conducted using sediments with elevated concentrations of organic carbon (total organic carbon 3,247 mg C/kg) and pyrite (chromium reducible sulfur 150 mg/kg). Groundwater with high nitrate concentration (100 mg/L) was injected. Measurements were taken over 160 days at five different depths including N‐ and S‐isotope analysis for selected samples. A reactive transport model was developed, which couples nitrate reduction with the oxidation of organic carbon (heterotrophic denitrification) and pyrite (autolithotrophic denitrification), and considers also transport and growth of denitrifying microbes. The denitrification pathway showed a temporal sequence from initially heterotrophic to autolithotrophic. However, maximum rates were lower for heterotrophic (11 mmol N/(L*a)) than for autolithotrophic denitrification (48 mmol N/(L*a)). The modeling showed that denitrifying microbes initially preferred highly reactive organic carbon as the electron donor for denitrification but were also able to utilize pyrite. The results show that after 160 days nitrate increased again to 50 mg/L. At this time only 0.5% of the total organic carbon and 46% of the available pyrite was oxidized. This indicates that denitrification rates strongly decrease before the electron donors are depleted either by a low reactivity (total organic carbon) or a diminishing reactive surface possibly due to the presence of coatings (pyrite).
An Automatic Snow Depth Probe for Field Validation Campaigns
Authors: Sturm Matthew , Holmgren Jon
Published: October 2018

An automatic snow depth probe (magnaprobe) patented in 1999 (United States Patent 5,864,059, 1999) and produced commercially by Snow‐Hydro LLC has now been used to obtain more than a million simultaneous snow depths (up to 140 cm) and GPS measurements during a wide range of field validation campaigns. The magnaprobe consists of a ski pole‐like rod housing a magnetostrictive device along which a basket and magnet assembly slides. The rod is inserted to the base of the snow, the basket floats on the snow, and when a button is pushed, the distance between rod tip and basket is measured while a position is acquired. The nature of the substrate beneath the snow controls the snow depth accuracy with errors ranging from near zero for hard bases to +5 cm in soft vegetation. The Wide Area Augmentation System‐enabled GPS provides a position accurate to ±2.5 m. The probe increases the speed with which a depth and position measurement can be obtained by a factor of 10 compared to measuring with a traditional ruler probe and writing down the results. The highest boost in snow depth measurement efficiency occurs when the distance between measuring locations is kept relatively small (<10 m). Magnaprobes have materially improved our ability to evaluate airborne and satellite‐based snow depth products and are likely to see continued heavy use over the next decade as efforts to develop satellite systems for monitoring snow remotely are tested in various field settings.
Experimental optical phase measurement approaching the exact Heisenberg limit
Authors: Daryanoosh Shakib , Slussarenko Sergei , Berry Dominic W. , Wiseman Howard M. , Pryde Geoff J.
Published: October 2018

The use of quantum resources can provide measurement precision beyond the shot-noise limit (SNL). The task of ab initio optical phase measurement—the estimation of a completely unknown phase—has been experimentally demonstrated with precision beyond the SNL, and even scaling like the ultimate bound, the Heisenberg limit (HL), but with an overhead factor. However, existing approaches have not been able—even in principle—to achieve the best possible precision, saturating the HL exactly. Here we demonstrate a scheme to achieve true HL phase measurement, using a combination of three techniques: entanglement, multiple samplings of the phase shift, and adaptive measurement. Our experimental demonstration of the scheme uses two photonic qubits, one double passed, so that, for a successful coincidence detection, the number of photon-passes is N = 3. We achieve a precision that is within 4% of the HL. This scheme can be extended to higher N and other physical systems.
Targeting IFNα to tumor by anti-PD-L1 creates feedforward antitumor responses to overcome checkpoint blockade resistance
Authors: Liang Yong , Tang Haidong , Guo Jingya , Qiu Xiangyan , Yang Zecheng , Ren Zhenhua , Sun Zhichen , Bian Yingjie , Xu Lily , Xu Hairong , Shen Jiao , Han Yanfei , Dong Haidong , Peng Hua , Fu Yang-Xin
Published: October 2018

Many patients remain unresponsive to intensive PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy despite the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. We propose that impaired innate sensing might limit the complete activation of tumor-specific T cells after PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Local delivery of type I interferons (IFNs) restores antigen presentation, but upregulates PD-L1, dampening subsequent T-cell activation. Therefore, we armed anti-PD-L1 antibody with IFNα (IFNα-anti-PD-L1) to create feedforward responses. Here, we find that a synergistic effect is achieved to overcome both type I IFN and checkpoint blockade therapy resistance with the least side effects in advanced tumors. Intriguingly, PD-L1 expressed in either tumor cells or tumor-associated host cells is sufficient for fusion protein targeting. IFNα-anti-PD-L1 activates IFNAR signaling in host cells, but not in tumor cells to initiate T-cell reactivation. Our data suggest that a next-generation PD-L1 antibody armed with IFNα improves tumor targeting and antigen presentation, while countering innate or T-cell-driven PD-L1 upregulation within tumor.
Alleviating oxygen evolution from Li-excess oxide materials through theory-guided surface protection
Authors: Shin Yongwoo , Kan Wang Hay , Aykol Muratahan , Papp Joseph K. , McCloskey Bryan D. , Chen Guoying , Persson Kristin A.
Published: October 2018

Li-excess cathodes comprise one of the most promising avenues for increasing the energy density of current Li-ion technology. However, the first-cycle surface oxygen release in these materials causes cation densification and structural reconstruction of the surface region, leading to encumbered ionic transport and increased impedance. In this work, we use the first principles Density Functional Theory to systematically screen for optimal cation dopants to improve oxygen-retention at the surface. The initial dopant set includes all transition metal, post-transition metal, and metalloid elements. Our screening identifies Os, Sb, Ru, Ir, or Ta as high-ranking dopants considering the combined criteria, and rationalization based on the electronic structure of the top candidates are presented. To validate the theoretical screening, a Ta-doped Li1.3Nb0.3Mn0.4O2 cathode was synthesized and shown to present initial improved electrochemical performance as well as significantly reduced oxygen evolution, as compared with the pristine, un-doped, system.
Identification of browning-related microRNAs and their targets reveals complex miRNA-mediated browning regulatory networks in Luffa cylindrica
Authors: Xu Yuanyuan , Liu Zhe , Lou Lina , Su Xiaojun
Published: October 2018

As a non-coding and endogenous small RNA, MicroRNA (miRNA) takes a vital regulatory role in plant growth and development. Long-term storage and processing of many fruits and vegetables, including Luffa, are subject to influences from browning, a common post-harvest problem that adversely affects flavor, aroma, and nutritional value. The browning regulatory networks mediated by miRNA, however, remain largely unexplored. For a systematic identification of browning-responsive miRNAs and the targets, we built two RNA libraries from Luffa pulps of near-isogenic line, with resistant and sensitive browning characteristics respectively, and then sequenced them using Solexa high-throughput technology. We consequently identified 179 known miRNAs that represent 17 non-conserved miRNA families and 24 conserved families, as well as 84 potential novel miRNAs, among which 16 miRNAs (eight known and eight novel miRNAs) were found to exhibit significant differential expressions and were thus identified as browning-related miRNAs. We then studied those browning-responsive miRNAs and the corresponding targets with RT-qPCR and finally validated their expression patterns. The results revealed that the expression patterns are specific to plant development stages and the miRNAs are identified with 39 target transcripts, which involve in plant development, defense response, transcriptional regulation, and signal transduction. After characterizing these miRNAs and their targets, we propose a browning regulatory network model of miRNA-mediatation in this paper. The findings of the work are helpful for the understanding of miRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms of browning in Luffa, and will facilitate genetic improvement of pulp characteristics in Luffa.
Comprehensive Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles and DNA Methylome reveals Oas1, Ppie, Polr2g as Pathogenic Target Genes of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Zhang Yan , Zhang Tiancheng , Chen Yunyan
Published: October 2018

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) has a high incidence of pregnancy, which seriously affects the life quality of pregnant women and fetal health. DNA methylation is one of the most important epigenetic modification that can regulate the gene expression level, and thus affect the occurrence of various diseases. Increasing evidence has shown that gene expression changes caused by DNA methylation play an important role in metabolic diseases. Here we explored the mechanisms and biological processes that affect the occurrence and development of GDM through analyzing the gene expression profiles and DNA methylation data of GDM. We detected 24,577 differential CpG sites mapping to 9339 genes (DMGs, differential methylation gene) and 931 differential expressed genes (DEGs) between normal samples and GDM samples. GO (gene ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway analysis of 326 overlapping genes between DMGs and DEGs showed obvious enrichment in terms related to metabolic disorders and immune responses. We identified Oas1, Ppie, Polr2g as possible pathogenic target genes of GDM by combining protein-protein interaction analysis. Our study provides possible targets for early diagnosis of GDM and information for clinical prevention of abnormal fetal development and type 2 diabetes.
Heat therapy for primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of its effects on pain relief and quality of life
Authors: Jo Junyoung , Lee Sun Haeng
Published: October 2018

Primary dysmenorrhea, which is menstrual pain without pelvic pathology, is the most common gynecologic condition in women. Heat therapy has been used as a treatment. We assessed the evidence on heat therapy as a treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. We searched 11 databases for studies published through July 2018. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that addressed heat therapy for patients with primary dysmenorrhea were included. Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessments were performed by two independent reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Six RCTs met our inclusion criteria. Two RCTs found favorable effects of heat therapy on menstrual pain compared with unheated placebo therapy. Three RCTs found favorable effects of heating pads on menstrual pain compared with analgesic medication (n = 274; SMD −0.72; 95% confidence interval −0.97 to −0.48; P < 0.001; two studies). One RCT showed beneficial effects of heat therapy on menstrual pain compared with no treatment (n = 132; MD −4.04 VAS; 95% CI −4.88 to −3.20; P < 0.001). However, these results are based on relatively few trials with small sample sizes. Our review provided suggestive evidence of the effectiveness of heat therapy for primary dysmenorrhea, but rigorous high-quality trials are still needed to provide robust evidence.
Sweat rate analysis of ivacaftor potentiation of CFTR in non-CF adults
Authors: Kim Jeeyeon , Farahmand Miesha , Dunn Colleen , Milla Carlos E. , Horii Rina I. , Thomas Ewart A. C. , Moss Richard B. , Wine Jeffrey J.
Published: October 2018

To determine if ivacaftor (Kalydeco) influences non-CF human CFTR function in vivo, we measured CFTR-dependent (C-sweat) and CFTR-independent (M-sweat) rates from multiple identified sweat glands in 8 non-CF adults. The two types of sweating were stimulated sequentially with intradermal injections of appropriate reagents; each gland served as its own control via alternating off-on drug tests on both arms, given at weekly intervals with 3 off and 3 on tests per subject. We compared drug effects on C-sweating stimulated by either high or low concentrations of β-adrenergic cocktail, and on methacholine-stimulated M-sweating. For each subject we measured ~700 sweat volumes from ~75 glands per arm (maximum 12 readings per gland), and sweat volumes were log-transformed for statistical analysis. T-tests derived from linear mixed models (LMMs) were more conservative than the familiar paired sample t-tests, and show that ivacaftor significantly increased C-sweating stimulated by both levels of agonist, with a larger effect in the low cocktail condition; ivacaftor did not increase M-sweat. Concurrent sweat chloride tests detected no effect of ivacaftor. We conclude that ivacaftor in vivo increases the open channel probability (PO) of WT CFTR, provided it is not already maximally stimulated.
Hierarchy of quantum correlations using a linear beam splitter
Authors: Qureshi Haleema Sadia , Ullah Shakir , Ghafoor Fazal
Published: October 2018

Beam splitters are important components in numerous tasks of quantum information protocols used either in simple or in an interferometric arrangement or together with other quantum systems. This report shows interesting aspects of the quantum correlations of two-mode Gaussian state (TMGS) for the photons retrieved via a linear beam splitter when they are initially employed at the input of either pure or mixed two single-mode Gaussian states (TSMGSs). The quantum correlations obey the boundaries of quantum non-locality, steering, entanglement and discord for pure input states. Though Bell inequality does not violate, quantum steering, entanglement and discord exist in the quantum state evolved by the beam splitter when input states become mixed. Specifically, the quantum steering, entanglement and discord persist to some degrees against the thermal photon number, the Bell inequality is, nonetheless, obeyed by the quantum state except in a very sharp regime.
IC-Tagging methodology applied to the expression of viral glycoproteins and the difficult-to-express membrane-bound IGRP autoantigen
Authors: Barreiro-Piñeiro Natalia , Lostalé-Seijo Irene , Varela-Calviño Rubén , Benavente Javier , Martínez-Costas José M.
Published: October 2018

We have previously developed a methodology to produce protein microspheres (MS) that can be loaded with proteins of interest in living cells through their C or N-terminal tagging with the so-called IC-Tag. The IC-Tagging method has many applications ranging from the production of immobilized enzymes for industrial use to the production of subunit vaccines due to its intrinsic adjuvancy. Here we show the adaptation of the IC-Tagging to work inside the endoplasmic reticulum and bacteria, allowing us to produce properly modified viral glycoproteins. Additionally, we were able to express the Islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP), whose expression remained elusive to date possibly due to its toxicity when over-expressed. IGRP is an antigen of enormous pharmaceutical interest as it is specifically targeted during the autoimmune response taking place in both the Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) mice and type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients leading to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells.
Dysregulation of Neuronal Cholesterol Homeostasis upon Exposure to HIV-1 Tat and Cocaine Revealed by RNA-Sequencing
Authors: Mohseni Ahooyi Taha , Shekarabi Masoud , Torkzaban Bahareh , Langford T. Dianne , Burdo Tricia H. , Gordon Jennifer , Datta Prasun K. , Amini Shohreh , Khalili Kamel
Published: October 2018

HIV-1 Tat protein is released from HIV-1-infected cells and can enter non-permissive cells including neurons. Tat disrupts neuronal homeostasis and may contribute to the neuropathogenesis in people living with HIV (PLWH). The use of cocaine by PLWH exacerbates neuronal dysfunction. Here, we examined the mechanisms by which Tat and cocaine facilitate alterations in neuronal homeostatic processes. Bioinformatic interrogation of the results from RNA deep sequencing of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to Tat alone indicated the dysregulation of several genes involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism. Following exposure to Tat and cocaine, the activation of cholesterol biosynthesis genes led to increased levels of free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters in rat neurons. Results from lipid metabolism arrays validated upregulation of several processes implicated in the biogenesis of β-amyloid and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including sterol o-acyltransferase 1/acetyl-coenzyme A acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1/ACAT1), sortilin-related receptor L1 (SORL1) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 12 (LRP12). Further studies in Tat-treated primary neuronal cultures and brain tissues from HIV-1 transgenic mice as well as SIV-infected macaques confirmed elevated levels of SOAT1/ACAT 1 proteins. Our results offer novel insights into the molecular events involved in HIV and cocaine-mediated neuronal dysfunction that may also contribute to neuropathogenic events associated with the development of AD.
Combining morpho-taxonomy and metabarcoding enhances the detection of non-indigenous marine pests in biofouling communities
Authors: Ammon Ulla von , Wood Susanna A. , Laroche Olivier , Zaiko Anastasija , Tait Leigh , Lavery Shane , Inglis Graeme J. , Pochon Xavier
Published: October 2018

Marine infrastructure can favor the spread of non-indigenous marine biofouling species by providing a suitable habitat for them to proliferate. Cryptic organisms or those in early life stages can be difficult to distinguish by conventional morphological taxonomy. Molecular tools, such as metabarcoding, may improve their detection. In this study, the ability of morpho-taxonomy and metabarcoding (18S rRNA and COI) using three reference databases (PR2, BOLD and NCBI) to characterize biodiversity and detect non-indigenous species (NIS) in biofouling was compared on 60 passive samplers deployed over summer and winter in a New Zealand marina. Highest resolution of metazoan taxa was identified using 18S rRNA assigned to PR2. There were higher assignment rates to NCBI reference sequences, but poorer taxonomic identification. Using all methods, 48 potential NIS were identified. Metabarcoding detected the largest proportion of those NIS: 77% via 18S rRNA/PR2 and NCBI and 35% via COI/BOLD and NCBI. Morpho-taxonomy detected an additional 14% of all identified NIS comprising mainly of bryozoan taxa. The data highlight several on-going challenges, including: differential marker resolution, primer biases, incomplete sequence reference databases, and variations in bioinformatic pipelines. Combining morpho-taxonomy and molecular analysis methods will likely enhance the detection of NIS from complex biofouling.
PMA inhibits endothelial cell migration through activating the PKC-δ/Syk/NF-κB-mediated up-regulation of Thy-1
Authors: Wen Heng-Ching , Huo Yen Nien , Chou Chih-Ming , Lee Wen-Sen
Published: October 2018

We previously showed that overexpression of Thy-1 inhibited and knock-down of Thy-1 enhanced endothelial cell migration. Here, we used phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) as an inducer for Thy-1 expression to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying Thy-1 up-regulation. Our data showed that increased levels of Thy-1 mRNA and protein in endothelial cells were observed at 14–18 hours and 20–28 hours after PMA treatment, respectively. Treatment with PMA for 32 hours induced Thy-1 up-regulation and inhibited capillary-like tube formation and endothelial cell migration. These effects were abolished by Röttlerin (a PKC-δ inhibitor), but not Gö6976 (a PKC-α/β inhibitor). Moreover, pre-treatment with Bay 61–3606 (a Syk inhibitor) or Bay 11-7082 (a NF-κB inhibitor) abolished the PMA-induced Thy-1 up-regulation and migration inhibition in endothelial cells. Using the zebrafish model, we showed that PMA up-regulated Thy-1 and inhibited angiogenesis through the PKC-δ-mediated pathway. Surprisingly, we found that short-term (8–10 hours) PMA treatment enhanced endothelial cell migration. However, this effect was not observed in PMA-treated Thy-1-overexpressed endothelial cells. Taken together, our results suggest that PMA initially enhanced endothelial cell migration, subsequently activating the PKC-δ/Syk/NF-κB-mediated pathway to up-regulate Thy-1, which in turn inhibited endothelial cell migration. Our results also suggest that Thy-1 might play a role in termination of angiogenesis.
N6-Methyladenine DNA modification in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola genome
Authors: Xiao Chuan-Le , Xie Shang-Qian , Xie Qing-Biao , Liu Zhao-Yu , Xing Jian-Feng , Ji Kai-Kai , Tao Jun , Dai Liang-Ying , Luo Feng
Published: October 2018

DNA N6-methyladenine (6mA) modifications expand the information capacity of DNA and have long been known to exist in bacterial genomes. Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzicola (Xoc) is the causative agent of bacterial leaf streak, an emerging and destructive disease in rice worldwide. However, the genome-wide distribution patterns and potential functions of 6mA in Xoc are largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the levels and global distribution patterns of 6mA modification in genomic DNA of seven Xoc strains (BLS256, BLS279, CFBP2286, CFBP7331, CFBP7341, L8 and RS105). The 6mA modification was found to be widely distributed across the seven Xoc genomes, accounting for percent of 3.80, 3.10, 3.70, 4.20, 3.40, 2.10, and 3.10 of the total adenines in BLS256, BLS279, CFBP2286, CFBP7331, CFBP7341, L8, and RS105, respectively. Notably, more than 82% of 6mA sites were located within gene bodies in all seven strains. Two specific motifs for 6 mA modification, ARGT and AVCG, were prevalent in all seven strains. Comparison of putative DNA methylation motifs from the seven strains reveals that Xoc have a specific DNA methylation system. Furthermore, the 6 mA modification of rpfC dramatically decreased during Xoc infection indicates the important role for Xoc adaption to environment.
Forecasting extreme atmospheric events with a recurrence-interval-analysis-based autoregressive conditional duration model
Authors: Dai Yue-Hua , Jiang Zhi-Qiang , Zhou Wei-Xing
Published: October 2018

With most city dwellers in China subjected to air pollution, forecasting extreme air pollution spells is of paramount significance in both scheduling outdoor activities and ameliorating air pollution. In this paper, we integrate the autoregressive conditional duration model (ACD) with the recurrence interval analysis (RIA) and also extend the ACD model to a spatially autoregressive conditional duration (SACD) model by adding a spatially reviewed term to quantitatively explain and predict extreme air pollution recurrence intervals. Using the hourly data of six pollutants and the air quality index (AQI) during 2013–2016 collected from 12 national air quality monitoring stations in Beijing as our test samples, we attest that the spatially reviewed recurrence intervals have some general explanatory power over the recurrence intervals in the neighbouring air quality monitoring stations. We also conduct a one-step forecast using the RIA-ACD(1,1) and RIA-SACD(1,1,1) models and find that 90% of the predicted recurrence intervals are smaller than 72 hours, which justifies the predictive power of the proposed models. When applied to more time lags and neighbouring stations, the models are found to yield results that are consistent with reality, which evinces the feasibility of predicting extreme air pollution events through a recurrence-interval-analysis-based autoregressive conditional duration model. Moreover, the addition of a spatial term has proved effective in enhancing the predictive power.
Highly efficient single-stack hybrid cool white OLED utilizing blue thermally activated delayed fluorescent and yellow phosphorescent emitters
Authors: Kim Gyeong Woo , Bae Hyeong Woo , Lampande Raju , Ko Ik Jang , Park Jin Hwan , Lee Chae Young , Kwon Jang Hyuk
Published: October 2018

Highly efficient single-stack hybrid cool white organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) having blue-yellow-blue multiple emitting layers (EMLs) are designed and constructed by utilizing blue thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) and yellow phosphorescent emitters. The out-coupling efficiencies of yellow and blue emissions are maximized by tuning the ITO and total device thickness that satisfies both of antinode positions for yellow and blue emissions in a limited multiple EML thickness. To obtain a cool white emission, the exciton formation ratio in the blue-yellow-blue multiple EML system is controlled by manipulating the recombination zone through charge conductivity variation of host medium in the blue TADF EML. The resulting device exhibits cool white emission with very high maximum external quantum efficiency of 23.1% and CIE color coordinates of (0.324, 0.337). We anticipate that the studied approach will raise the viability of single-stack hybrid cool white OLEDs for high performance display applications.
Crystal Structure of Human Nocturnin Catalytic Domain
Authors: Estrella Michael A. , Du Jin , Korennykh Alexei
Published: October 2018

Nocturnin (NOCT) helps the circadian clock to adjust metabolism according to day and night activity. NOCT is upregulated in early evening and it has been proposed that NOCT serves as a deadenylase for metabolic enzyme mRNAs. We present a 2.7-Å crystal structure of the catalytic domain of human NOCT. Our structure shows that NOCT has a close overall similarity to CCR4 deadenylase family members, PDE12 and CNOT6L, and to a DNA repair enzyme TDP2. All the key catalytic residues present in PDE12, CNOT6L and TDP2 are conserved in NOCT and have the same conformations. However, we observe substantial differences in the surface properties of NOCT, an unexpectedly narrow active site pocket, and conserved structural elements in the vicinity of the catalytic center, which are unique to NOCT and absent in the deadenylases PDE12/CNOT6L. Moreover, we show that in contrast to human PDE12 and CNOT6L, NOCT is completely inactive against poly-A RNA. Our work thus reveals the structure of an intriguing circadian protein and suggests that NOCT has considerable differences from the related deadenylases, which may point to a unique cellular function of this enzyme.
Olanzapine plus aprepitant, palonosetron, and dexamethasone for nausea and vomiting in patients with breast cancer receiving anthracycline: A retrospective study
Authors: Kawazoe Hitoshi , Uozumi Ryuji , Murakami Akari , Yamashita Michiko , Kobayashi-Taguchi Kana , Kusakabe Erina , Yamasawa Haruna , Yakushijin Yoshihiro , Nakamura Tomonori , Kamei Yoshiaki
Published: October 2018

This study aimed to compare the antiemetic efficacy and safety of a four-drug combination with those of a standard three-drug combination in Japanese patients with breast cancer treated with anthracycline. We retrospectively analyzed data from Japanese patients with breast cancer, who had received their first cycle of anthracycline and were treated with aprepitant, palonosetron, and dexamethasone with or without olanzapine. This retrospective observational study was performed at Ehime University Hospital using the electronic medical records. Multivariable and propensity score-adjusted analyses were performed to compare the onset of complete response (CR) failure between the groups. One-hundred and thirty patients were included in this study and the four- and three-drug group had 22 and 108 patients, respectively. Similar to multivariable logistic regression analysis, propensity-adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that the four-drug group was markedly associated with a decreased odds of CR failure in the overall, acute, and delayed phases (odds ratio [OR]: 0.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10–0.73; OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.10–0.76; and OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.04–0.57, respectively). Additionally, treatment-related adverse events were well tolerated in both the groups. These findings suggest that the antiemetic efficacy of the four-drug combination is superior to that of the standard three-drug combination.
Chronic exposure to imidacloprid or thiamethoxam neonicotinoid causes oxidative damages and alters carotenoid-retinoid levels in caged honey bees (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Gauthier Maxime , Aras Philippe , Paquin Joanne , Boily Monique
Published: October 2018

Over the last decade, the persistent dwindling of the populations of honey bees has become a growing concern. While this phenomenon is partly attributed to neonicotinoids (NEOCs), chronic exposures to these insecticides at environmentally-relevant concentrations are needed to fully estimate their implications. In this study, honey bees were orally exposed for 10 days to low field-realistic concentrations of NEOCs known for their effects on the cholinergic system (imidacloprid – IMI or thiamethoxam – THM). Selected biomarkers were measured such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), α-tocopherol as well as several forms of vitamin A (retinoids) and carotenoids. Bees exposed to IMI showed lower levels of two carotenoids (α-carotene and α-cryptoxanthin) and α-tocopherol. The THM exposure increased the oxidized vitamin A metabolites in bees conjointly with the LPO. These results could be the consequence of a pro-oxidant effect of NEOCs and were observed at levels where no effects were recorded for AChE activity. This study reveals that exposure to low levels of NEOCs alters the carotenoid-retinoid system in honey bees. This would merit further investigation as these compounds are important in various aspects of bees’ health. Overall, this study contributes to the development of biomonitoring tools for the health of bees and other pollinators.
Enhanced method for High Spatial Resolution surface imaging and analysis of fungal spores using Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Venkatesh Babu Gopal , Perumal Palani , Muthu Sakthivel , Pichai Sridhar , Sankar Narayan Karthik , Malairaj Sathuvan
Published: October 2018

Efficient, fast and new micro-analytical methods for characterization of ultrastructures of fungal spores with electron microscopy are very much required and essential. SEM analysis of biological materials, especially fungi, requires optimal preparation of the specimen and often requires the usage of dried samples which demands a challenging sample preparation. In the present investigation, we described a fast and improved method for the preparation of fungal specimen for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fungus, Curvularia lunata was grown on the surface of sterile Whatman No.1 filter paper which was overlaid on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium, gold coated immediately after removal from the growth medium and subjected to imaging. Generally, SEM imaging is done with samples that were fixed with chemical fixatives, dehydrated and gold coated specimens, but here we describe an easy and more efficient sample preparation for SEM which enabled enhanced image quality and precision visualization of fungal cells, especially the spores. The developed method has enabled the analysis of even the robust samples like fungal spores that to eliminating special temperature requirement. The ultimate goal was to develop an improved protocol/method applied to analysis of fungal spores with greater coverage about fungal specimen preparation. This method permits the use of rapid sample preparation and will allow us to imaging of individual spore or conidia structures in the context of fungal cell architecture which clarifies our understanding in fungal taxonomy/biology.
UV-shielding and wavelength conversion by centric diatom nanopatterned frustules
Authors: De Tommasi Edoardo , Congestri Roberta , Dardano Principia , De Luca Anna Chiara , Managò Stefano , Rea Ilaria , De Stefano Mario
Published: October 2018

Diatoms can represent the major component of phytoplankton and contribute massively to global primary production in the oceans. Over tens of millions of years they developed an intricate porous silica shell, the frustule, which ensures mechanical protection, sorting of nutrients from harmful agents, and optimization of light harvesting. Several groups of microalgae evolved different strategies of protection towards ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which is harmful for all living organisms mainly through the formation of dimeric photoproducts between adjacent pyrimidines in DNA. Even in presence of low concentrations of UV-absorbing compounds, several diatoms exhibit significant UVR tolerance. We here investigated the mechanisms involved in UVR screening by diatom silica investments focusing on single frustules of a planktonic centric diatom, Coscinodiscus wailesii, analyzing absorption by the silica matrix, diffraction by frustule ultrastructure and also UV conversion into photosynthetically active radiation exerted by nanostructured silica photoluminescence. We identified the defects and organic residuals incorporated in frustule silica matrix which mainly contribute to absorption; simulated and measured the spatial distribution of UVR transmitted by a single valve, finding that it is confined far away from the diatom valve itself; furthermore, we showed how UV-to-blue radiation conversion (which is particularly significant for photosynthetic productivity) is more efficient than other emission transitions in the visible spectral range.
Portland Intensive Insulin Therapy During Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Association with Postreperfusion Hyperglycemia and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Kang RyungA , Han Sangbin , Lee Kyo Won , Kim Gaab Soo , Choi Soo Joo , Ko Justin S. , Lee Sang Hyun , Gwak Mi Sook
Published: October 2018

Many liver transplant recipients experience intraoperative hyperglycemia after graft reperfusion. Accordingly, we introduced the Portland intensive insulin therapy (PoIIT) in our practice to better control blood glucose concentration (BGC). We evaluated the effects of PoIIT by comparing with our conventional insulin therapy (CoIT). Of 128 patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) during the phaseout period of CoIT, 89 were treated with the PoIIT and 39 were treated with CoIT. The primary outcome was hyperglycemia (BGC > 180 mg/dL) during the intraoperative postreperfusion phase. The secondary outcomes were postoperative complications such as infection. The incidence of hyperglycemia (22.5% vs. 53.8%, p = 0.001) and prolonged hyperglycemia for >2 hours (7.9% vs. 30.8%, p = 0.002) was significantly lower in PoIIT group than in CoIT group. A mixed linear model further demonstrated that repeatedly measured BGCs were lower in PoIIT group (p < 0.001). The use of PoIIT was significantly associated with decreases in major infections (OR = 0.23 [0.06–0.85], p = 0.028), prolonged mechanical ventilation (OR = 0.29 [0.09–0.89], p = 0.031), and biliary stricture (OR = 0.23 [0.07–0.78], p = 0.018) after adjustments for age, sex, and diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, the PoIIT is effective for maintaining BGC and preventing hyperglycemia during the intraoperative postreperfusion phase of living donor liver transplantation with potential clinical benefits.
Isotopic resonance at 370 ppm deuterium negatively affects kinetics of luciferin oxidation by luciferase
Authors: Rodin Sergey , Rebellato Paola , Lundin Arne , Zubarev Roman A.
Published: October 2018

Since 1930s, it has been known that some biochemical and biological processes exhibit abnormal kinetics at a deuterium concentration in the local environment of 250–600 ppm, which is 2–4 times higher that the normal concentration of 150 ppm D. We sought to test if the kinetics of firefly luciferase oxidizing luciferin, the reaction widely used as a read-out in various biochemical assays, is also affected by an elevated deuterium content. To this end, both luciferase and luciferin substrate solutions were prepared based on water with extra deuterium added to a concentration ranging from 150 ppm and up to 10,000 ppm (1%). Upon mixing the solutions, the luminescence intensity at different times was compared with that of the corresponding control solutions with 150 ppm D. A broad negative resonance was detected (p < 10−6), with a ≈20% drop in luminescence at 370 ppm D. Given that, on average, about half of hydrogen atoms in proteins are not exchangeable in solution, this value corresponds to ≈260 ppm of deuterium in all enzyme’s hydrogens, in a very good agreement with the prediction of the Isotopic resonance hypothesis.
Spatial compartmentation and food web stability
Authors: Mougi Akihiko
Published: October 2018

An important goal in ecology has been to reveal what enables diverse species to be maintained in natural ecosystems. A particular interaction network structure, compartments, divided subsystems with minimal linkage to other subsystems, has been emphasized as a key stabilizer of community dynamics. This concept inherently includes spatiality because communities are physically separated. Nevertheless, few theoretical studies have explicitly focused on such spatial compartmentation. Here using a meta-community model of a food web, I show that compartments have less effect on community stability than previously thought. Instead, less compartmentation of a food web can greatly increase stability, particularly when subsystems are moderately coupled by species migration. Furthermore, compartmentation has a strong destabilization effect in larger systems. The results of the present study suggest that spatial limitation of species interactions rather than of community interactions plays a key role in ecosystem maintenance.
Substrate specificity of plant nitrilase complexes is affected by their helical twist
Authors: Woodward Jeremy D. , Trompetter Inga , Sewell B. Trevor , Piotrowski Markus
Published: October 2018

Nitrilases are oligomeric, helix-forming enzymes from plants, fungi and bacteria that are involved in the metabolism of various natural and artificial nitriles. These biotechnologically important enzymes are often specific for certain substrates, but directed attempts at modifying their substrate specificities by exchanging binding pocket residues have been largely unsuccessful. Thus, the basis for their selectivity is still unknown. Here we show, based on work with two highly similar nitrilases from the plant Capsella rubella, that modifying nitrilase helical twist, either by exchanging an interface residue or by imposing a different twist, without altering any binding pocket residues, changes substrate preference. We reveal that helical twist and substrate size correlate and when binding pocket residues are exchanged between two nitrilases that show the same twist but different specificities, their specificities change. Based on these findings we propose that helical twist influences the overall size of the binding pocket.
Coral metabolite gradients affect microbial community structures and act as a disease cue
Authors: Ochsenkühn Michael A. , Schmitt-Kopplin Philippe , Harir Mourad , Amin Shady A.
Published: October 2018

Corals are threatened worldwide due to prevalence of disease and bleaching. Recent studies suggest the ability of corals to resist disease is dependent on maintaining healthy microbiomes that span coral tissues and surfaces, the holobiont. Although our understanding of the role endosymbiotic microbes play in coral health has advanced, the role surface-associated microbes and their chemical signatures play in coral health is limited. Using minimally invasive water sampling, we show that the corals Acropora and Platygyra harbor unique bacteria and metabolites at their surface, distinctly different from surrounding seawater. The surface metabolites released by the holobiont create concentration gradients at 0–5 cm away from the coral surface. These molecules are identified as chemo-attractants, antibacterials, and infochemicals, suggesting they may structure coral surface-associated microbes. Further, we detect surface-associated metabolites characteristic of healthy or white syndrome disease infected corals, a finding which may aid in describing effects of diseases.
Persistence of environmental DNA in marine systems
Authors: Collins Rupert A. , Wangensteen Owen S. , O’Gorman Eoin J. , Mariani Stefano , Sims David W. , Genner Martin J.
Published: October 2018

As environmental DNA (eDNA) becomes an increasingly valuable resource for marine ecosystem monitoring, understanding variation in its persistence across contrasting environments is critical. Here, we quantify the breakdown of macrobial eDNA over a spatio-temporal axis of locally extreme conditions, varying from ocean-influenced offshore to urban-inshore, and between winter and summer. We report that eDNA degrades 1.6 times faster in the inshore environment than the offshore environment, but contrary to expectation we find no difference over season. Analysis of environmental covariables show a spatial gradient of salinity and a temporal gradient of pH, with salinity—or the biotic correlates thereof—most important. Based on our estimated inshore eDNA half-life and naturally occurring eDNA concentrations, we estimate that eDNA may be detected for around 48 h, offering potential to collect ecological community data of high local fidelity. We conclude by placing these results in the context of previously published eDNA decay rates.
Atomic-scale tailoring of spin susceptibility via non-magnetic spin-orbit impurities
Authors: Womack F. N. , Adams P. W. , Nam H. , Shih C. K. , Catelani G.
Published: October 2018

Following the discovery of topological insulators, there has been a renewed interest in superconducting systems that have strong spin-orbit (SO) coupling. Here we address the fundamental question of how the spin properties of a otherwise spin-singlet superconducting ground state evolve with increasing SO impurity density. We have mapped out the Zeeman critical field phase diagram of superconducting Al films that were deposited over random Pb cluster arrays of varying density. These phase diagrams give a direct measure of the Fermi liquid spin renormalization, as well as the spin orbit scattering rate. We find that the spin renormalization is a linear function of the average Pb cluster -to- cluster separation and that this dependency can be used to tune the spin susceptibility of the Al over a surprisingly wide range from 0.8χ0 to 4.0χ0, where χ0 is the non-interacting Pauli susceptibility.
Binding for endohedral-metallofullerene superatoms induced by magnetic coupling
Authors: Xie Weiyu , Jiang Wanrun , Gao Yang , Wang Jia , Wang Zhigang
Published: October 2018

The interaction during superatom assembly is studied, and a significant magnetic coupling mechanism explains the different adsorption structures in this system.
Steam-assisted assemblies of {Ni6PW9}-based inorganic–organic hybrid chains: synthesis, crystal structures and properties
Authors: Yin Ying-Xue , Chen Wei-Chao , Yao Wei , Qin Chao , Su Zhong-Min
Published: October 2018

Three hexa-Ni-substituted Keggin phosphotungstate chains have been obtained through the SAC method, where H2N-bdc and unprecedented {(Ni6PW9)PW12} is reported for the first time.