bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
20(S)-ginsenoside Rh2 as agent for the treatment of LMN-CRC via regulating epithelial–mesenchymal transition
Authors: Yuan Yihang , Wang Jue , Xu Ming , Zhang Yunpeng , Wang Zhiqiang , Liang Leilei , Sun Peng
Published: March 2020

The lymph node metastasis of colorectal cancer (LMN-CRC) seriously threatens the prognosis of patients. Chemotherapy, as the most common treatment, results in severe bone marrow suppression. 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh2 (SGRh2), a major effective constituent of ginseng, has demonstrated therapeutic effects on a variety of diseases, including some tumours. SGRh2 treatment had no effect on other organs. Therefore, ginsenosides are considered a safe and effective antineoplastic drug. However, the effects of SGRh2 on LMN-CRC remain unknown. The present study investigated the potential effect of SGRh2 on LMN-CRC in vitro and in vivo. SW480 and CoLo205 cell lines were treated with SGRh2. SGRh2 dose-dependently decreased CRC cell proliferation by CCK-8, colony formation and Edu assays. The Transwell and scratch assays revealed that SGRh2 inhibits the migratory and invasive abilities of CRC cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the results of Western blotting revealed that SGRh2 decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP9. In terms of the underlying mechanisms, SGRh2 regulates CRC metastasis by affecting epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which significantly up-regulated epithelial biomarkers (E-cadherin) and down-regulated mesenchymal biomarkers (N-cadherin and vimentin) and EMT transcriptional factors (Smad-3, Snail-1, and Twist-1). In vivo, SGRh2 significantly inhibited LMN-CRC without affecting other normal organs. Immunohistochemical results showed that SGRh2 treats LMN-CRC by regulating EMT. These results demonstrate that SGRh2 has therapeutic potential for LMN-CRC.
DHA inhibits Gremlin-1-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via ERK suppression in human breast cancer cells
Authors: Sung Nam Ji , Kim Na Hui , Bae Na Young , Jo Hyo Sik , Park Sin-Aye
Published: March 2020

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid abundant in fish oils. It is known to have an inhibitory effect on various diseases such as inflammation, diabetes, and cancer. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process that epithelial cells gain migratory property to become mesenchymal cells involved in wound healing, organ fibrosis, and cancer progression. Gremlin-1 (GREM1) is a bone morphogenetic protein antagonist known to play a role in EMT. However, the role of GREM1 in the induction of EMT in human breast cancer cells and the effect of DHA on GREM1-induced EMT remain unclear. Establishment of GREM1 knockdown cell lines was performed using lentiviral shRNAs. Expression of EMT markers was determined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Effect of GREM1 and/or DHA on cell migration was investigated using wound healing assay. The level of GREM1 expression in human breast cancer tissues was determined by Oncomine database mining. GREM1 induced the expression of genes including N-cadherin, vimentin, and Slug. GREM1 promoted the migration of human breast cancer cells. GREM1 enhanced the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) and the ERK activation was involved in EMT. Interestingly, DHA reduced the expression of GREM1. DHA also inhibited the expression of mesenchymal cell-associated genes and cell migration induced by GREM1. Furthermore, DHA suppressed the expression of p-ERK induced by GREM1. These results indicate that GREM1–ERK axis plays a role in EMT in human breast cancer cells and DHA is a putative compound that can inhibit EMT by inhibiting GREM1 signal transduction.
ODUSSEAS: a machine learning tool to derive effective temperature and metallicity for M dwarf stars
Authors: Antoniadis-Karnavas A. , Sousa S. G. , Delgado-Mena E. , Santos N. C. , Teixeira G. D. C. , Neves V.
Published: March 2020

Aims. The derivation of spectroscopic parameters for M dwarf stars is very important in the fields of stellar and exoplanet characterization. The goal of this work is the creation of an automatic computational tool able to quickly and reliably derive the Teff and [Fe/H] of M dwarfs using optical spectra obtained by different spectrographs with different resolutions.

Methods. ODUSSEAS (Observing Dwarfs Using Stellar Spectroscopic Energy-Absorption Shapes) is based on the measurement of the pseudo equivalent widths for more than 4000 stellar absorption lines and on the use of the machine learning Python package “scikit-learn” for predicting the stellar parameters.

Results. We show that our tool is able to derive parameters accurately and with high precision, having precision errors of ~30 K for Teff and ~0.04 dex for [Fe/H]. The results are consistent for spectra with resolutions of between 48 000 and 115 000 and a signal-to-noise ratio above 20.
Trans-iron Ge, As, Se, and heavier elements in the dwarf metal-poor stars HD 19445, HD 84937, HD 94028, HD 140283, and HD 160617
Authors: Peterson R. C. , Barbuy B. , Spite M.
Published: March 2020

Context. The spectra of unevolved metal-poor halo stars uniquely reflect the elemental abundances incorporated during the earliest Galactic epoch. Their heavy-element content is well understood as the products of neutron capture on iron-peak elements. However, for the lightest trans-iron elements with atomic number 30 <  Z <  52, they show striking abundance patterns that defy model predictions. Understanding their sources may illuminate the diverse halo, thick disk, or extragalactic origins of metal-poor stars.

Aims. The primary goal is the derivation of halo dwarf abundances and their uncertainties for six trans-iron elements from UV spectra, plus optical abundances for four additional trans-Fe elements and two well-understood heavier elements.

Methods. For five metal-poor dwarfs, we analyzed high-resolution UV spectra from the Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, supplemented by archival optical echelle spectra. Two independent analyses adopted different programs, models, and line lists, clarifying systematic errors.

Results. The results from the separate UV analyses are in good agreement. The largest source of discrepancy is the placement of the UV continuum. Once rectified, the separate results agree to 0.2 dex for moderately unblended, moderately strong lines. Similar agreement is found with previous works, except where new data and line selection become important, notably our exclusion of trans-Fe lines blended by newly identifed Fe I lines.

Conclusions. Improved line lists lead to low As/Ge ratios that no longer require an early arsenic enhancement. All five stars exhibit a high Mo/Ge abundance ratio, independent of Mo/Fe. The trans-Fe elements show an odd-even effect: an odd-Z element abundance is depressed relative to those of adjacent even-Z elements. Its suggested metallicity dependence is supported by previous studies of Sr-Y-Zr. Some theoretical yields show a metallicity-dependent odd-even effect, but none have predicted a constant Mo/Ge abundance ratio. Our work thus highlights the complexity of predicting the production of light trans-Fe elements in metal-poor stars.
Development of scientific support and prototype multilevel information resource system for creating digital farming systems
Authors: Badenko Vladimir , Fedotov Alexander , Tarakanov Alexander , Terentev Anton , Dev Garg Rahul
Published: March 2020

In the context of changing political, socio-economic, natural and climatic conditions, there is a need for effective tools to manage agricultural activities. Such tools are digital farming systems, which are a set of interconnected agrotechnical, reclamation and organizational measures aimed at the effective use of agricultural landscapes, preservation and improvement of soil fertility, and obtaining high crop yields. The paper describes the basics of development of scientific support and a prototype of the multilevel information resource system for creating digital farming systems.
Testing local isolates of entomopathogenic microorganisms against Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Halyomorpha halys in Georgia
Authors: Burjanadze Medea , Kharabadze Natalia , Сhkhidze Nona
Published: March 2020

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) (BMSB) is an exotic invasive insect which has spread extensively and established in new area of Black sea regions of Georgia. During 2017-2019, infected adults with fungal disease symptoms were found in population of H. halys from different regions of Western Georgia. Three isolates of entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana sensu lato and one of Isaria cf fumosorosea were recovered. Mycoinsecticide Bover-Ge, based on a local strain of B. bassiana-024 (isolated from soil high mountain of Caucasus Range, provide molecular identification in CABI-UK, gave a unique cultural number - IMI # 501797 and keep in CABI Genetic Recourse Collection) two concentrations (1×107 and 1×108 conidia/ml) was tested on the adults of H. halys in laboratory and its efficiency reached 72.0-90.5%. Under laboratory conditions, local isolates of nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema borjomiensis were tested on H. halys adults. At three increasing concentrations (200, 500 and 1000 IJs/mL), H. bacteriophora caused bug mortality at the rates of 33-47%. As for Steinernema borjomiensis, the respective values were 13-33%.
Potential of NanoPro to reduce fungicide rate for control ofMicrodochium nivaleon an annual bluegrass (Poa annua) green
Authors: Espevig Tatsiana , Pettersen Trond O. , Aamlid Trygve S.
Published: March 2020

This is a report on the potential of NanoPro™to reduce the rate of two commonly used fungicides for control of Microdochium patch (Microdochium nivale), the economically most important turfgrass disease in Scandinavia. The experiment was conducted from 14 Sept. 2018 to 1 May 2019 on an annual bluegrass golf green at the NIBIO Turfgrass Research Center Landvik. Use of NanoPro™at a rate of 292 ml/ha in tank mixture with the systemic fungicide Delaro® SC 325 or/and the contact fungicide Medallion® TL produced the same level of disease control with a 30-60% reduction in fungicide dosage as with full fungicide dosage without additive. NanoPro™was more effective with Medallion® TL than with Delaro® SC 325. We conclude that NanoPro™may have a big potential in Scandinavia and other countries where authorities require reduced fungicide use. The experiment should be repeated one more year before giving final recommendations.
Breeding of bread wheat for leaf rust resistance in Russia
Authors: Gultyaeva Elena
Published: March 2020

Leaf rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia triticina Erikss., is one of the most common diseases of wheat in Russia. The paper reviews Lr-genes diversity in Russian commercial wheat varieties. Two hundred and sixty-four winter and one hundred and forty-three spring wheat varieties indexed by the State Register of Breeding Achievements in 2005-2018 were studied. It was found that among new varieties, as many as 5% of winter wheat and 30% of spring wheat possess effective seedling resistance. The wide presence of Lr19 and Lr9 genes was detected in the spring wheat. Besides, the high resistance to leaf rust was found in spring wheat varieties with new alien Lr genes (originated from Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey and Aegilops speltoides Tausch. Over 40% of winter wheat varieties have different levels of field resistance as well. The molecular screening revealed three varieties with effective adult plant resistance gene Lr37. Other winter wheat varieties include a range of ineffective genes (Lr1, Lr3, Lr10, Lr26, and Lr34), alone or in various combinations.
The effect of endophytic colonization of wheat plants by the fungus Beauveria bassiana on the development of the nymphs of the migratory and desert locusts
Authors: Levchenko Maxim , Gerus Aleksei , Malysh Svetlana , Orazova Saltanat , Lednev Georgiy
Published: March 2020

The experiments were aimed at evaluation of the effect of feeding with wheat colonized by the fungus Beauveria bassiana on the development of locusts. The seeds were treated with fungal conidia and 90 days after sowing, the plant parts were fed to II instar nymphs of laboratory colonies of migratory and desert locusts within the period of 18 days. The mortality levels between experimental and control (fed with untreated wheat) groups were not significantly different though a tendency of an increase in variants with contaminated fodder was observed. Two weeks after the beginning of the bioassay, insect mortality was 20-30% and 15% in control. As many as 50% of migratory locust and 40% of desert locust cadavers were covered by a fungal mycelium. Sequencing of two diagnostic DNA loci has confirmed attribution of the reisolate to the genotype of the initial Beauveria bassiana strain BBK-1. It can be therefore concluded that the endophyte fungus is capable of causing classical pathogenesis of mycosis in locust nymphs. Moreover, the nymphal development was retarded by feeding with the fungus-colonized plants.
Influence of some rol genes on sugar content in Nicotiana and Vaccinium
Authors: Matveeva Tatiana , Berezina Ekaterina , Isaeva Irina , Dymo Alina , Sokornova Sofia
Published: March 2020

In natural conditions, insertion of Agrobacterium T-DNA into the plant genome and its subsequent transfer via sexual reproduction has been shown for several dozens of species, including species from genera Nicotiana and Vaccinium. In the framework of investigation of possible function of cT-DNA in naturally transgenic species we have shown, that increasing of expression of rolC in Nicotiana tabacum is associated with increase of amount of glucose and total sugar content. Similar trend was observed for rolB/C-like gene in Vaccinium.
Molecular characterization of stolbur phytoplasmas in pepper and tomato from Bulgaria
Authors: Sakalieva Dimitriyka
Published: March 2020

Tomato and pepper are the main vegetable crops cultivated in Bulgaria. Phytoplasma diseases, mainly stolbur, are important plant diseases for these crops in Bulgaria. The goal of the present paper was to verify association of phytoplasmas with the observed disease symptoms in tomato and pepper and to identify the phytoplasmas detected using RFLP analysis of conserved genes and other uncharacterised phytoplasma chromosomal regions. The presence of phytoplasmas was confirmed in all the samples of tomato and pepper showing typical stolbur symptoms. A phytoplasm sample, which caused severe symptoms, showed the same pattern as the reference strain Mol, while all other phytoplasmic reference strains showed different polymorphisms. RFLP profiles were found useful in distinguishing phytoplasmas in stolbur subgroup (16SrXII-A) in natural plant hosts.
The influence of the carbohydrate levels on viability of Stagonospora cirsii drying mycelium
Authors: Sokornova Sofia , Frolova Galina , Shavarda Alexey , Pavlova Natalia , Berestetskiy Alexander
Published: March 2020

The Stagonospora cirsii mycelium is considered as the infectious basis of a potential mycoherbicide for the control of Canadian thistle and perennial sow thistle. Successful commercialization of mycoherbicides is often constrained by poor drying survival. In this study was shown that the highest viability of mycelium S. cirsii during drying is achieved in the stationary phase of growth. The mycelium in the stationary phase is characterized by maximum level of carbohydrates. We suggest the level of arabitol as a criterion evaluation of the mycelium resistance to drying. Culturing conditions, and especially the fermentation time, allow prediction of polyols and trehalose levels, which are very critical in enhancing the storage life and efficacy of biological control agent.
Pheromone responses of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) from north of its range in Europe
Authors: Zhukovskaya Marianna I. , Selitskaya Oksana G. , Shchenikova Anna V. , Frolov Andrey N.
Published: March 2020

The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) has recently become very harmful to maize in the North of its range in Europe, primarily in Belarus. Conventional pheromone-trapping methods however show very low effectiveness. Our electrophysiological study did not reveal any impairment in peripheral sensitivity, but flight-tunnel responses were low. The reason for such discrepancy could lie in breeding of the Z race of moth coming with maize from south with local populations of the pest.
Manger ou parler
Authors: Couly Gérard
Published: March 2020

L’ingestion nutritionnelle oro-pharyngée humaine est ancienne, comme celle des mammifères, depuis 150 millions d’années. Cette fonction est assurée et coordonnée par le système nerveux central et périphérique. Or, Manger et parler utilisent les mêmes conduits et voies anatomiques. L’aire praxique du langage de Broca est contigüe à celle de la commande motrice de la mastication et de la déglutition dans le cortex moteur cérébral. Cette aire praxique de Broca, innovation récente de l’évolution humaine, s’est connectée aux voies motrices anciennes de l’oralité alimentaire qui préexistaient. Le connectome cérébral et le gène Foxp2 ont contribué de manière décisive à ce raccordement pour l’avènement du langage.
On Bernstein–Kantorovich invariance principle in Hölder spaces and weighted scan statistics
Authors: Račkauskas Alfredas , Suquet Charles
Published: March 2020

Let ξn be the polygonal line partial sums process built on i.i.d. centered random variables Xi, i ≥ 1. The Bernstein-Kantorovich theorem states the equivalence between the finiteness of E|X1|max(2,r) and the joint weak convergence in C[0, 1] of n−1∕2ξn to a Brownian motion W with the moments convergence of E∥n−1/2ξn∥∞r to E∥W∥∞r. For 0 < α < 1∕2 and p (α) = (1 ∕ 2 - α) -1, we prove that the joint convergence in the separable Hölder space Hαo of n−1∕2ξn to W jointly with the one of E∥n−1∕2ξn∥αr to E∥W∥αr holds if and only if P(|X1| > t) = o(t−p(α)) when r < p(α) or E|X1|r < ∞ when r ≥ p(α). As an application we show that for every α < 1∕2, all the α-Hölderian moments of the polygonal uniform quantile process converge to the corresponding ones of a Brownian bridge. We also obtain the asymptotic behavior of the rth moments of some α-Hölderian weighted scan statistics where the natural border for α is 1∕2 − 1∕p when E|X1|p < ∞. In the case where the Xi’s are p regularly varying, we can complete these results for α > 1∕2 − 1∕p with an appropriate normalization.
Imaging of an Indeterminate Pancreatic Mass
Authors: Eapen Anu , Chandramohan Anuradha , John Reetu , Simon Betty , Putta Tharani , Joseph A. J.
Published: March 2020

Several conditions ranging from neoplasm to inflammatory disorders can present as a pancreatic mass on imaging. While classic imaging features help us make an accurate diagnosis, we are often confronted by indeterminate pancreatic masses that pose diagnostic dilemma. In this review, we describe the typical imaging features of common mass forming conditions of pancreas followed by description of atypical imaging appearances, which make a pancreatic mass indeterminate. We also emphasize on imaging features useful in differentiating one from the other.
Application of Personalized Navigation Templates to Oxford Single Condylar Replacement in a Chinese Population
Authors: Gan Yudong , Zhuang Jian , Jiang Wenxiao , Sun Wei , Zhang Yijun
Published: March 2020

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a novel patient-specific navigational template for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). A total of 120 patients who underwent UKA were randomized and divided into the conventional method and navigational template groups. In the navigational template group, patient-specific navigational templates were designed and used intraoperatively to assist 60 patients with UKA. Information on operation time and blood loss was recorded by an independent operating room nurse. After surgery, the positions of the prostheses were evaluated using X-rays. All navigation templates were found to fit its corresponding biomodel appropriately without any free movement. The navigational template exhibited significantly better accuracy than the conventional method. Statistically significant differences in the femoral prosthesis flip angle, femoral prosthesis flexion angle, and tibial plateau varus and valgus angle were observed between the two groups (p = 0.022, 0.042, 0.043, respectively). In addition, the mean operation time was statistically and significantly lower in the navigational template group than in the conventional group (p = 0.035). This study introduces a novel navigational template to UKA, the accuracy of which is proven by clinical operation. This is a Level III, therapeutic study.
Neonatal Seizures: Diagnosis, Etiologies, and Management
Authors: Ziobro Julie , Shellhaas Renée A.
Published: March 2020

Neonates are exquisitely susceptible to seizures due to several physiologic factors and combination of risks that are uniquely associated with gestation, delivery, and the immediate postnatal period. Neonatal seizures can be challenging to identify; therefore, it is imperative that clinicians have a high degree of suspicion for seizures based on the clinical history or the presence of encephalopathy with or without paroxysmal abnormal movements. Acute symptomatic neonatal seizures are due to an acute brain injury, whereas neonatal-onset epilepsy may be related to underlying structural, metabolic, or genetic disorders. Though initial, acute treatment is similar, long-term treatment and prognosis varies greatly based on underlying seizure etiology. Early identification and treatment are likely important for long-term outcomes in acute symptomatic seizures, though additional studies are needed to understand optimal seizure control metrics and the ideal duration of treatment. Advances in genetic medicine are increasingly expanding our understanding of neonatal-onset epilepsies and will continue to open doors for personalized medicine to optimize outcomes in this fragile population.
Liver Transplantation for Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Kawamura Norio , Taketomi Akinobu
Published: March 2020

Since the Milan criteria were accepted as the gold standard, liver transplantation has been widely performed as a curative treatment for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The outcome of liver transplantation in early-stage HCC is excellent; however, the Milan criteria are strict, and therefore, only limited numbers of patients can benefit from liver transplantation. Many HCC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, which falls outside the Milan criteria, so it has been proposed over the last two decades that liver transplant surgeons should perform liver transplantation in locally advanced HCC, when presenting without recurrence. Several trials exploring the upper limits of liver transplantation have been performed, and extensive research on tumor biology has enabled the expansion of liver transplant indication for HCC. Simultaneously, locoregional therapy for advanced HCC was found to be an effective procedure when used to distinguish potentially transplantable patients. This treatment approach, known as a downstaging strategy, has been developed over the last two decades and became an essential treatment option for locally advanced HCC. In this article, the current strategies of liver transplantation for the treatment of locally advanced HCC are reviewed.
Autopsy Report of a Woman with Infantile Alexander Disease Who Survived 39 Years
Authors: Tsuji Megumi , Tanaka Mio , Tanaka Yukichi , Ikeda Azusa , Tsuyusaki Yu , Goto Tomohide , Iai Mizue
Published: March 2020

Patients with infantile Alexander disease (AxD) usually do not survive beyond their early teens without life support care because of progressive central hypoventilation. We present the autopsy report of a woman with infantile AxD carrying an R239C mutation in the glial fibrillary acidic protein gene, who survived 39 years. She presented with psychomotor retardation in infancy and regressed after age 5. Brain computed tomography scans showed bilateral low frontal white matter density. She became quadriplegic with bulbar palsy and was intellectually handicapped after a measles infection at age 7. Tube feeding was introduced because of dysphagia at age 15. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation was required due to central hypoventilation in her early thirties. She died of neurogenic respiratory failure at 39 years. Autopsy findings revealed a markedly atrophic brain (709 g, −6.0 standard deviation), especially in the frontal lobe, cerebellum, and brainstem portions. We found demyelination, gliosis, and cystic lesions throughout the brain, and we saw Rosenthal fibers accumulating in the perivascular spaces. We also identified a variety of abnormalities in other organs such as pancreatic necrosis, completely desquamated epithelium in the lower esophagus and stomach, foreign-body giant cells in the colon submucosa, glomerular sclerosis, and multiple bladder stones. This is the first autopsied case report of a patient with infantile AxD with long survival, who showed not only central nervous system characteristic findings, but also unexpected pathological changes in other organs.
A 5-Month-Old Infant with Cardiorespiratory Arrest Caused by Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome to Cow's Milk Proteins
Authors: Quattromani Martina , Calzedda Roberta , Monti Giovanna
Published: March 2020

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a nonimmunoglobulin E cell-mediated food allergy, which occurs predominantly in infants and young children. The most commonly incriminated triggers are cow's milk (CM), soy, and grains. Acute FPIES can be potentially life-threatening and culminate in shock requiring fluid resuscitation in at least 15% of the cases. To our knowledge, there have been no reports in literature of cardiorespiratory arrest induced by acute FPIES. We describe the first case of cardiorespiratory arrest occurred after accidental ingestion of a CM-based formula in a 5-month-old infant with previous diagnosis of FPIES to CM.
Versatile high-speed confocal microscopy using a single laser beam
Authors: Straub Benedikt B. , Lah David C. , Schmidt Henrik , Roth Marcel , Gilson Laurent , Butt Hans-Jürgen , Auernhammer Günter K.
Published: March 2020

We present a new flexible high speed laser scanning confocal microscope and its extension by an astigmatism particle tracking velocimetry (APTV) device. Many standard confocal microscopes use either a single laser beam to scan the sample at a relatively low overall frame rate or many laser beams to simultaneously scan the sample and achieve a high overall frame rate. The single-laser-beam confocal microscope often uses a point detector to acquire the image. To achieve high overall frame rates, we use, next to the standard 2D probe scanning unit, a second 2D scan unit projecting the image directly onto a 2D CCD-sensor (re-scan configuration). Using only a single laser beam eliminates crosstalk and leads to an imaging quality that is independent of the frame rate with a lateral resolution of 0.235 µm. The design described here is suitable for a high frame rate, i.e., for frame rates well above the video rate (full frame) up to a line rate of 32 kHz. The dwell time of the laser focus on any spot in the sample (122 ns) is significantly shorter than those in standard confocal microscopes (in the order of milli- or microseconds). This short dwell time reduces phototoxicity and bleaching of fluorescent molecules. The new design opens up further flexibility and facilitates coupling to other optical methods. The setup can easily be extended by an APTV device to measure three dimensional dynamics while being able to show high resolution confocal structures. Thus, one can use the high resolution confocal information synchronized with an APTV dataset.
Cryogenic goniometer for measurements in pulsed magnetic fields fabricated via additive manufacturing technique
Authors: Willis Ximone , Ding Xiaxin , Singleton John , Balakirev Fedor F.
Published: March 2020

Complex high-precision mechanical devices can be fabricated using a three-dimensional printing technology with the help of computer-aided design. Using 3D stereolithography, we have constructed a cryogenic goniometer for measurements in pulsed magnetic fields of up to 100 T, at temperatures as low as 0.5 K. We review the properties of several materials tested in developing the goniometer and report on its design and performance. The goniometer allows samples to be rotated in situ to a precision of 0.2° so that the field can be applied at many different angles to the samples’ symmetry directions. Following its success, we establish that 3D printing is now a viable technology for pulsed field and other cryogenic probes.
A pulsed positronium beam using a positron buffer gas trap
Authors: Machacek J. R. , Buckman S. J. , Sullivan J. P.
Published: March 2020

We describe the operation of a pulsed positronium beam based on a two-stage buffer gas positron trap (BGT) or a Surko trap. The BGT allows the areal density and temporal spread of the positron beam to be tailored. This tailored positron beam is used to form a positronium beam via charge exchange with an atomic or molecular gas. The resulting positronium beam is energy tunable, and the collimated beam relies on the angular differential positronium production cross section of the atomic or molecular gas used.
Structural localization in the classical and quantum Fermi–Pasta–Ulam model
Authors: Amati Graziano , Schilling Tanja
Published: March 2020

We study the statistics and short-time dynamics of the classical and the quantum Fermi–Pasta–Ulam chain in the thermal equilibrium. We analyze the distributions of single-particle configurations by integrating out the rest of the system. At low temperatures, we observe a systematic increase in the mobility of the chain when transitioning from classical to quantum mechanics due to zero-point energy effects. We analyze the consequences of quantum dispersion on the dynamics at short times of configurational correlation functions.
Impact of electron–phonon scattering on the strain-induced current-blocking effect in graphene field-effect transistors
Authors: Souma Satofumi , Ogawa Matsuto
Published: March 2020

We present a numerical study on the impact of electron–phonon scattering on the performance of a strained-graphene field-effect transistor, where the Dirac point of the channel region is shifted along the transverse momentum direction by a strain-induced vector potential and a high on-current/off-current (Ion/Ioff) ratio as well as a subthreshold slope (SS) steeper than 60 mV/dec have been predicted in the absence of the electron–phonon interaction previously. By using the Dirac-type effective Hamiltonian description for strained graphene and the non-equilibrium Green’s function method to systematically account for the electron–phonon scattering, along with Poisson’s equation, we demonstrate that the abovementioned Ion/Ioff ratio and SS value can be maintained even in the presence of electron–phonon scattering, although the Ion/Ioff ratio and the ID range over which the steep SS persists are reduced.
On the multiplicity of axisymmetric Alfvén continuous spectra in tokamaks
Authors: Zhou Deng
Published: March 2020

Axisymmetric Alfvén continuous spectra are derived using the ideal MHD equations. The usual toroidal coupling effect due to the variation of the magnetic field strength is neglected, but the curvature coupling of the pressure fluctuation and the geodesic compressional effect are included. The cylindrical continuous spectrum of Alfvén waves splits into two branches due to these effects. The frequency separation of the two m = 2 branches is much smaller than that of the two m = 1 branches. It is likely that the experimentally observed modes with smaller frequency separation are related to the two m = 1 continuum branches, while the modes with large frequency separation have different poloidal numbers.
Flux-balanced two-field plasma edge turbulence in a channel geometry
Authors: Qi Di , Majda Andrew J.
Published: March 2020

We investigate the drift wave–zonal flow interaction formulated on a channel domain geometry approximating an isolated plasma edge region with zero net radial transport across the boundary. The recent two-field flux-balanced Hasegawa–Wakatani (BHW) model with improved treatment for a parallel electron response is adapted to the channel geometry configuration, which allows for generalized non-uniform zonal density profiles and is valid for the simulation of turbulent fields near the tokamak or stellarator edge regions. New conserved quantities are constructed based on the channel geometry to help the analysis for the competition between zonal states and non-zonal fluctuations. Effective bounds can be found constraining the maximum growth of total fluctuations and the amplitude of the dominant zonal state based on the conserved quantities. Total statistical variance among all the modes can also be estimated depending on the zonal state strength. The theoretical discoveries are confirmed by detailed numerical experiments from simulations in the channel domain. In addition, the channel geometry provides further support for the important advantage of adopting the balanced flux correction in the BHW model by showing a physically consistent growth rate from a stability analysis for the small-amplitude fluctuation interaction with a prescribed zonal mean profile, in comparison with the persistent instability and strong outward transport found in the modified Hasegawa–Wakatani model even with the increasing zonal density profile. This is again confirmed by direct numerical simulations of the two models. The channel domain BHW model framework with attractive features implies many potential applications in the study of the complex phenomena in plasma edge turbulence.
Twisted monolayer black phosphorus nanoribbbons: Tunable electronic and optical properties
Authors: Carmel Santhia , Subramanian Sriram , Rathinam Ramesh , Bhattacharyya Arkaprava
Published: March 2020

Using density functional theory with meta generalized gradient approximation functional, we investigate scalable electronic and optical properties in twisted hydrogen passivated monolayer black phosphorus nanoribbons (PNRs) by twisting around a specified axis while varying the twisting angle up to 5°. We found that after twisting, the electronic tunability is significant for Armchair configuration of PNR (APNR). We have observed that the bandgap variation of H-passivated APNR upon twisting attains a maximum change of 132 meV per degree twist, and the twisted APNR bandgap is close to the bandgap of oxygen passivated non-twisted ones. Similarly, optical properties of APNR vary significantly upon twisting, which was confirmed by analyzing absorption spectra and optical bandgap. The extended spectral region in twisted APNR, which broadens from the mid-infra-red to the visible region, approaches the oxygenated effect. This tunability of electronic bandgaps and optical properties would ameliorate PNR based optoelectronic devices.
Correlated power time series of individual wind turbines: A data driven model approach
Authors: Braun Tobias , Waechter Matthias , Peinke Joachim , Guhr Thomas
Published: March 2020

Wind farms can be regarded as complex systems that are, on the one hand, coupled to the nonlinear, stochastic characteristics of weather and, on the other hand, strongly influenced by supervisory control mechanisms. One crucial problem in this context today is the predictability of wind energy as an intermittent renewable resource with additional non-stationary nature. In this context, we analyze the power time series measured in an offshore wind farm for a total period of one year with a time resolution of 10 min. Applying detrended fluctuation analysis, we characterize the autocorrelation of power time series and find a Hurst exponent in the persistent regime with crossover behavior. To enrich the modeling perspective of complex large wind energy systems, we develop a stochastic reduced-form model of power time series. The observed transitions between two dominating power generation phases are reflected by a bistable deterministic component, while correlated stochastic fluctuations account for the identified persistence. The model succeeds to qualitatively reproduce several empirical characteristics such as the autocorrelation function and the bimodal probability density function.
Optical control of single-photon negative-feedback avalanche diode detector
Authors: Gras Gaëtan , Sultana Nigar , Huang Anqi , Jennewein Thomas , Bussières Félix , Makarov Vadim , Zbinden Hugo
Published: March 2020

We experimentally demonstrate optical control of negative-feedback avalanche diode detectors using bright light. We deterministically generate fake single-photon detections with a better timing precision than normal operation. This could potentially open a security loophole in quantum cryptography systems. We then show how monitoring the photocurrent through the avalanche photodiode can be used to reveal the detector is being blinded.
Energy-resolved beam-monitoring system for undulator radiation using scattering from a chemical-vapor-deposition diamond film
Authors: Kudo Togo , Sano Mutsumi , Itoga Toshiro , Tajiri Hiroo , Ozaki Kyosuke , Takahashi Sunao
Published: March 2020

With low-emittance synchrotron radiation rings, introducing accurate x-ray beams to a sample is difficult, and ensuring that the direction of the undulator beam is stable is essential. However, measuring the centroid of the undulator photon beam at the beamline front-end (FE) is difficult because the soft x-ray radiation is contaminated by the bending magnets upstream and downstream of the undulator. The x-ray beam position monitors (XBPMs), based on the interaction with the halo of undulator radiation, cannot estimate the centroid of the beam, and they cannot eliminate the effects of the bending magnets. To solve this problem, we have developed an energy-resolved beam-monitoring system for undulator radiation with the scattering from a diamond thin film deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in this study. An undulator x-ray beam is irradiated onto this film, and its elastic and Compton scattering are observed through a 50 μm-diameter pinhole. A beam spot is detected through a pinhole camera system using a direct-detection-type charge-coupled device camera with energy resolution. The peak of the first-order harmonic of the undulator radiation is selectively visualized to measure the centroid of the undulator radiation, as well as the spectrum. The proposed system using a CVD diamond film can provide accurate position information for a photon beam exiting the FE.
Spontaneous and unidirectional transportation of underwater bubbles on superhydrophobic dual rails
Authors: Zhu Suwan , Bian Yucheng , Wu Tao , Li Erqiang , Li Jiawen , Hu Yanlei , Wu Dong , Chu Jiaru
Published: March 2020

Superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic surfaces (SBS/SLS) with excellent water repellency/adhesion are important in both academic research and industrial settings owing to their intriguing functions in tiny droplet and gas bubble manipulation. However, most manipulation strategies involving SBS/SLS are limited to their large-area fabrication or sophisticated morphology designs, which distinctly hinders their practical uses. In this paper, we design and fabricate superhydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane narrowing dual rails (SNDRs) beneath a superhydrophilic stainless steel sheet by one-step femtosecond laser ablation. Our SNDR tracks are capable of transporting gas bubbles in various volumes from wide end to narrow end spontaneously and unidirectionally underwater, even when they are bent. The mechanical analysis for diverse geometrical dual-rail configurations in bubble transportation performance is further discussed. Finally, we experimentally demonstrate the intriguing capability of lossless mixing of gas bubbles at a designed volume ratio on a multiple SNDR combination. This approach is facile and flexible, and will find broad potential applications such as intelligent bubble transport, mixing, and controllable chemical reactions in interfacial science and microfluidics.
Device developed for tuning oxygen tension levels surrounding cancer cells
Authors: Bandari Anashe
Published: March 2020

Because cancer cells proliferate more quickly in low-oxygen environments, controlling oxygen tension can help with cancer treatment.
Alpaca (Vicugna pacos), the first nonprimate species with a phosphoantigen-reactive Vγ9Vδ2 T cell subset
Authors: Fichtner Alina S. , Karunakaran Mohindar M. , Gu Siyi , Boughter Christopher T. , Borowska Marta T. , Starick Lisa , Nöhren Anna , Göbel Thomas W. , Adams Erin J. , Herrmann Thomas
Published: March 2020

Significance

Human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are important mediators of immunosurveillance and targets for cell-based immunotherapy. Activation by small molecular compounds called phosphoantigens is essential for their functions and involvement of butyrophilins (BTN3A) has been shown. However, it is not completely understood how the intracellular recognition of phosphoantigens by BTN3 is translated to the cell surface and finally to Vγ9Vδ2 T cell activation. In addition, phosphoantigen-reactive Vγ9Vδ2 T cells were only identified in primates but not in rodents. In this study, we present a phosphoantigen-reactive Vγ9Vδ2 T cell subset inVicugna pacos(alpaca) and show similarities and instructive differences to the human system that can be applied for future structural and functional Vγ9Vδ2 T cell research and development of nonprimate animal models.
Hydrogen sulfide dysregulates the immune response by suppressing central carbon metabolism to promote tuberculosis
Authors: Rahman Md. Aejazur , Cumming Bridgette M. , Addicott Kelvin W. , Pacl Hayden T. , Russell Shannon L. , Nargan Kievershen , Naidoo Threnesan , Ramdial Pratistadevi K. , Adamson John H. , Wang Rui , Steyn Adrie J. C.
Published: March 2020

The ubiquitous gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H
2
S) has been recognized to play a crucial role in human health. Using cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE)-deficient mice, we demonstrate an unexpected role of H
2
S in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(
Mtb
) pathogenesis. We showed that
Mtb-
infected CSE
−/−
mice survive longer than WT mice, and support reduced pathology and lower bacterial burdens in the lung, spleen, and liver. Similarly, in vitro
Mtb
infection of macrophages resulted in reduced colony forming units in CSE
−/−
cells. Chemical complementation of infected WT and CSE
−/−
macrophages using the slow H
2
S releaser GYY3147 and the CSE inhibitor DL-propargylglycine demonstrated that H
2
S is the effector molecule regulating
Mtb
survival in macrophages. Furthermore, we demonstrate that CSE promotes an excessive innate immune response, suppresses the adaptive immune response, and reduces circulating IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels in response to
Mtb
infection. Notably,
Mtb
infected CSE
−/−
macrophages show increased flux through glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway, thereby establishing a critical link between H
2
S and central metabolism. Our data suggest that excessive H
2
S produced by the infected WT mice reduce HIF-1α levels, thereby suppressing glycolysis and production of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-12, and increasing bacterial burden. Clinical relevance was demonstrated by the spatial distribution of H
2
S-producing enzymes in human necrotic, nonnecrotic, and cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) lesions. In summary, CSE exacerbates TB pathogenesis by altering immunometabolism in mice and inhibiting CSE or modulating glycolysis are potential targets for host-directed TB control.
Palenquero and Spanish in contact
Authors: Lipski John M.
Published: March 2020

Bilingual speakers are normally aware of what language they are speaking or hearing; there is, however, no widely accepted consensus on the degree of lexical and morphosyntactic similarity that defines the psycholinguistic threshold of distinct languages. This book focuses on the Afro-Colombian creole language Palenquero, spoken in bilingual contact with its historical lexifier, Spanish. Although sharing largely cognate lexicons, the languages are in general not mutually intelligible. For example, Palenquero exhibits no adjective-noun or verb-subject agreement, uses pre-verbal tense-mood-aspect particles, and exhibits unbounded clause-final negation. The present study represents a first attempt at mapping the psycholinguistic boundaries between Spanish and Palenquero from the speakers’ own perspective, including traditional native Palenquero speakers, adult heritage speakers, and young native Spanish speakers who are acquiring Palenquero as a second language. The latter group also provides insights into the possible cognitive cost of “de-activating” Spanish morphological agreement as well as the relative efficiency of pre-verbal vs. clause-final negation. In this study, corpus-based analyses are combined with an array of interactive experimental techniques, demonstrating that externally-imposed classifications do not always correspond to speakers’ own partitioning of language usage in their communities.
Modeling the relationship between utterance fluency and raters’ perceived fluency of consecutive
interpreting
Authors: Han Chao , Chen Sijia , Fu Rongbo , Fan Qin
Published: March 2020

Fluency is an important, yet insufficiently understood, construct in interpreting studies. This article reports on
an empirical study which explored the relationship between utterance fluency measures and raters’ perceived fluency ratings of
English/Chinese consecutive interpreting. It also examined whether such relationship was consistent across interpreting directions
and rater types. The results partially supported the categorization of utterance fluency into breakdown, speed and repair fluency.
It was also found that mean length of unfilled pauses, phonation time ratio, mean length of run and speech rate had fairly strong
correlations with perceived fluency ratings in both interpreting directions and across rater types. Among a number of competing
regression models that were built to predict raters’ fluency ratings, a parsimonious model, using mean length of unfilled pauses
and mean length of run as predictors, accounted for about 60% of the variance of fluency ratings in both directions and across
rater types. These results are expected to help create, rewrite and modify rubrics and scalar descriptors of fluency scales in
rater-mediated interpretation assessment and to inform automated scoring of fluency in interpreting.
Nbr1-regulated autophagy in Lactoferrin-induced osteoblastic differentiation
Authors: Zhang Yang , Zhang Zi-Nan , Li Na , Zhao Li-Jie , Xue Ying , Wu Hao-Jie , Hou Jian-Ming
Published: March 2020

The molecular mechanism of autophagy in Lactoferrin (LF) induced osteoblast differentiation is not fully demonstrated. In this study, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, alizarin red S staining and ELISA were used to study N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) expression. mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenoviruses, mono-dansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, scanning electron microscopy, and western blot analysis was employed to probe the LF induced autophagy. The interaction between autophagy receptor Neighbor of Brca1 gene (Nbr1) and pp38 was studied. 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and chloroquine (CQ) could inhibit the activity of ALP, PINP and the autophagy in LF group. LF treatment could up-regulate and down-regulate the expressions of pp38 and Nbr1with a dose-dependent manner, respectively. LF could inhibit the recognition of pp38 and Nbr1. In addition, LF can prompt Nbr1-medicated autophagy and prevent pp38 degradation by autophagy. LF can induce Nbr1-mediated autophagy and inhibit pp38 entering into autophagy flux in the physiological process of osteoblast differentiation.

Abbreviations: CQ:chloroquine；LF: Lactoferrin; 3-MA: 3-methyladenine; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; ANOVA: Analysis of variance; CCK-8: Cell Counting Kit-8; LC3: Microtubule-associated protein light chain3; MDC: Monodansylcadaverine; Nbr1: neighbor of Brca1 gene; PINP: N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen; PVDF: Polychlorotrifluoroethylene; pp38: phosphorylation p38; RAPA: Rapamycin; SDS: sodium dodecyl sulfate.