bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Case of Love and Hate: Four Faces of Alienation Among Young Lawyers in France and Switzerland
Authors: Boni-Le Goff Isabel , Lépinard Eléonore , Le Feuvre Nicky , Mallard Grégoire
Published: February 2020

Over the past three decades, the legal profession has experienced globalization, the rise of mega-law firms, and intensified competition. These transformations have been associated with declining career perspectives, the hyper-specialization of legal work, and increased levels of stress. We argue that the concept of alienation offers valuable insights into these changes by providing an original analysis of the objective and subjective experiences of early career lawyers at work. We elaborate a multidimensional typology that covers the content and retributions of legal work. By categorizing experiences of alienation along these two axes, we identify four ideal-types of alienation: powerlessness, purposelessness, time deprivation, and unfairness. Based on qualitative studies carried out in France and Switzerland, we illustrate how young lawyers differentially experience each type of alienation, according to gender, status, and firm size. We conclude by suggesting how these factors combine to produce long-terms effects, such as the high female attrition rates observed in the Swiss and French legal professions.
THE SOUNDS OF NATIONALISM: MUSIC, MOROCCANISM, AND THE MAKING OF SAMY ELMAGHRIBI
Authors: Silver Christopher
Published: February 2020

Samy Elmaghribi was a mid-twentieth century Moroccan superstar. From his debut in 1948 through his professional zenith in 1956, the Jewish musician was a ubiquitous presence on radio and in concert. His popularity owed to his pioneering of modern Moroccan music and to his performance of Moroccan nationalism through song and on stage. Elmaghribi's brand of anti-colonial nationalism, however, was not that of any particular political party. Instead, he espoused what might be termed, “Moroccanism,” a territorial nationalism that placed Sultan Mohamed ben Youssef at its center. Like Elmaghribi, it enjoyed widespread support. This study demonstrates that a focus on musical culture gives voice to mainstream forms of Moroccan nationalism that have received little scholarly attention to date. It also points to the active participation of Jews in postwar MENA societies. Finally, this article reconsiders the dynamics of decolonization through study of Elmaghribi's career, which spanned colony and independent nation.
The broken plural in Soqotri
Authors: Kogan Leonid
Published: February 2020

The article investigates the broken pural in the Modern South Arabian language Soqotri (island of Soqotra, Gulf of Aden, Yemen). It is based on extensive field research and rich collections of lexical evidence. Primarily synchronic in its approach, the article pays attention to historical problems of Modern South Arabian and Semitic phonology and morphology whenever appropriate.
The solitude of the Orphan: Ǧābir b. Ḥayyān and the Shiite heterodox milieu of the third/ninth–fourth/tenth centuries
Authors: Capezzone Leonardo
Published: February 2020

The community of Shiite alchemists gathered under the pen name of Ǧābir b. Ḥayyān produced an important corpus first studied by Paul Kraus, who dated it between the third/ninth and fourth/tenth centuries. The religious, doctrinal and political issues of the corpus – especially in the last two collections – show that the Ǧābireans were a real sectarian trend unknown to heresiographers. Kraus, along with some scholars after him, understood the Ǧābirean community to be an expression of Ismaili thought. This paper aims to reconsider: a) the religious and political affiliation of Ǧābir's alchemical community in the light of textual comparisons that show a close connection between the Ǧābireans and the esoteric tenets characterizing the Shiiteġuluwwas mirrored in the heresiographic sources of the late third/ninth and early fourth/tenth centuries, and in theĠulātliterary sources; and b) the last collection of the Ǧābirean corpus as a polemical outcome specific to the Shiite milieu between the lesser and the greater Occultation of the twelfth Imam.
Assessing the effectiveness of interactional feedback for L2 acquisition: Issues and challenges
Authors: Nassaji Hossein
Published: February 2020

How to correct learner errors has long been of interest to both language teachers and second language acquisition (SLA) researchers. One way of doing so is through interactional feedback, which refers to feedback provided on learners' erroneous utterances during conversational interaction. Various theoretical claims have been made regarding the beneficial effects of interactional feedback, and over the years a considerable body of research has examined its effectiveness. In this context, a central and challenging question has always been how to determine whether such feedback is effective for language learning. Studies investigating the role of feedback have used various measures to assess its usefulness. In this paper, I will begin with a brief overview of the recent studies examining interactional feedback, with a focus on how its effectiveness has been assessed. I will then examine the various measures used in both descriptive and experimental research and discuss the issues associated with such measures. I will conclude with what continues to pose us a challenge in assessing the role of feedback and offer some recommendations to inform future research in this area.
Powder X-ray diffraction of trimethoprim Form I, C14H18N4O3
Authors: Hong Jerry , Golab Joseph T. , Kaduk James A. , Gindhart Amy M. , Blanton Thomas N.
Published: February 2020

Trimethoprim crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 (#2) with a = 10.5085(3), b = 10.5417(2), c = 8.05869(13) Å, α = 101.23371(21), β = 112.1787(3), γ = 112.6321(4)°, V = 743.729 Å3, and Z = 2. A reduced cell search in the Cambridge Structural Database yielded three previous structure determinations, using data collected at 100 K, 173 K, and room temperature. In this work, the sample was ordered from the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) and analyzed as-received. The room temperature (295 K) crystal structure was refined using synchrotron (λ = 0.412826 Å) powder diffraction data and optimized using density functional theory techniques. We found similar hydrogen bonding patterns with the previous determinations. In addition, we identified two C–H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which also contribute to the crystal energy. When comparing the previously reported trimethoprim structure determinations, the unit cell length lattice parameters were found to contract at lower temperatures, particularly 100 K. All structures show reasonable agreement, with unit cell length differences ranging between 0.05 and 0.15 Å. The diffraction data for this study were collected on beamline 11-BM at the Advanced Photon Source, and the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the compound has been submitted to ICDD® for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File™ (PDF®).
2018 HES PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: FOLK WISDOM IN ECONOMICS
Authors: Forget Evelyn L.
Published: February 2020

This article highlights the roles played by knowledge brokers in the history of economics. Knowledge creation is the joint product of teams of people engaged in parallel work. Economists do their professional work, whether that involves creating elaborate theories, gathering and interpreting data, or conducting experiments, all the while creating a variety of competing narratives about the economy. Economic agents go about their daily lives creating goods and services, caring for one another, saving and consuming, all the while making decisions based on whatever narratives they believe about how the economy functions. The various narratives between and among economists and economic agents create market opportunities for knowledge brokers, who sell their services to whoever will pay. They popularize economic insights in bestselling books, and work for think tanks or with various organizations, but they are also textbook writers, journal editors, and conference organizers, all of whom jointly contribute to the edifice of economic knowledge and facilitate communication. European beekeeping is used as an analogy.
Constructional competition and network reconfiguration: investigatingsum(e)in Old, Middle and Early Modern English
Authors: SOMMERER LOTTE , HOFMANN KLAUS
Published: February 2020

This article investigates some functions of the determinativesum(e)in Old, Middle and Early Modern English. It traces, quantifies and models the diachronic development ofsum(e)as a pre-head element from a usage-based, cognitive Construction Grammar perspective by postulating several semi-specified but also abstract constructional OE and ME NP-schemas and sketching the observable (changing) network (re)configurations. By analyzing texts from thePenn–Helsinki Parsed Corpus of Middle English(PPCME) and thePenn–Helsinki Parsed Corpus of Early Modern English(PPCEME), the article especially focuses on the demise of the so-called ‘individualizing’ usage with singular nouns and traces the incipient stages ofsum(e)as an indefinite near-article with plural and mass nouns. R was used to calculate correlation coefficients and measures of statistical significance in univariate analyses, and for multivariate regression models to address questions involving more than one predictor variable. It is shown that the usage ofsum(e)with singular nouns became marginalized because of constructional competition with the numeralān. In Old English, the two forms were both occasionally used to mark indefiniteness before singular nouns, but ultimatelyānbecame the default marker of indefiniteness oustingsum(e). We also show that that the usage ofsum(e)as an indefiniteness marker for plural nouns increased drastically from the later ME period onwards, particularly in informal text genres. Moreover, from the earliest periods onwards, there is a strong preference for this function to occur with complex NPs with pre- and post-head modification, which seem to have acted as bridging contexts.
Let Death Seize Upon Them: Populism in Political Prayers of Imprecation
Authors: Burack Cynthia
Published: February 2020

In the United States, religious elites routinely use prayer to set and communicate political agendas, shape the opinions of Christian publics, and mobilize political activism. Among political prayers distributed to believers, imprecation is rare. In this paper, I examine a set of cases of imprecatory political prayers publicized since the turn of millennium that have undeniable U.S. political subtexts and objects. Using the work of James Scott and Jan-Werner Müller, I argue that most political prayers of imprecation can fruitfully be read as manifestations of right-wing populism. These prayers reveal a hidden transcript of rage aimed not only at mainstream political arrangements and political elites but also at the comparatively polite discourse characteristic of mainstream U.S. Christian traditions, including much Christian conservatism.
Tidal Variations in the Ionosphere and Mesosphere Over Eastern China During 2014
Authors: Gu Sheng‐Yang , Qi Jiahui , Zhou Chen , Yang Chengyun , Jia Mingjiao , Li Guozhu , Ning Baiqi , Dou Xiankang
Published: February 2020

The sources for the variabilities of the ionospheric tidal oscillations are complex and not totally understood yet. In this paper, both the seasonal and short‐term variations of the ionospheric diurnal and semidiurnal oscillations over a meteor radar chain (Wuhan [114.4°E, 30.6°N], Beijing [116.5°E, 39.9°N], and Mohe [121.1°E, 50.1°N]) are investigated with critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) observations during 2014. The collocated mesospheric horizontal winds, the daily 10.7‐cm solar flux, and the daily Ap index are also examined to determine the sources of the ionospheric tidal variabilities from the lower atmosphere, solar and geomagnetic activities, respectively. We found that the seasonal variations of the ionospheric tidal oscillations at the three sites are consistent, which are not in‐phase with the seasonal variations of mesospheric tides at the same location. This indicates that mesospheric tides are unlikely the main cause of the seasonal variations of the ionospheric tides. Besides, the ionospheric tidal oscillations show clear periodical signals, which could correspond well with those in the local mesospheric wind or Ap index. Nevertheless, the periodical solar flux oscillation does not induce similar short‐term ionospheric tidal variabilities. We also found that the influence of geomagnetic activities on the ionospheric tidal variabilities is with either enhancement or depression patterns during geomagnetic storms.
Electron Precipitation From the Outer Radiation Belt During the St. Patrick's Day Storm 2015: Observations, Modeling, and Validation
Authors: Clilverd Mark A. , Rodger Craig J. , van de Kamp Max , Verronen Pekka T.
Published: February 2020

Recently, a model for medium‐energy (30–1000 keV) radiation belt‐driven electron precipitation (ApEEP) has been put forward for use in decadal to century‐long climate model runs as part of the Climate Modelling Intercomparison Project, phase 6 (CMIP6). The ApEEP model is based on directly observed precipitation data spanning 2002–2012 from the constellation of low‐Earth‐orbiting Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES). Here, we test the ApEEP model's ability using its magnetic local time variant, ApEEP_MLT, to accurately represent electron precipitation fluxes from the radiation belts during a large geomagnetic storm that occurred outside of the span of the development data set. In a study of narrowband subionospheric very low frequency (VLF) transmitter data collected during March 2015, continuous phase observations have been analyzed throughout the entire St. Patrick's Day geomagnetic storm period for the first time. Using phase data from the U.K. transmitter, call‐sign GVT (22.1 kHz), received in Reykjavik, Iceland, electron precipitation fluxes from L = 2.8 to 5.4 are calculated around magnetic local noon (12 MLT) and magnetic midnight (00 MLT). VLF‐inferred >30‐keV fluxes are similar to the equivalent directly observed POES fluxes. The ApEEP_MLT >30‐keV fluxes for L < 5.5 describe the overall St. Patrick's Day geomagnetic storm‐driven flux enhancement well, although they are a factor of 1.7 (1.3) lower than POES (VLF‐inferred) fluxes during the recovery phase. Such close agreement in >30‐keV flux levels during a large geomagnetic storm, using three different techniques, indicates this flux forcing are appropriate for decadal climate simulations for which the ApEEP model was created.
Effect of the nano/microscale structure of biomaterial scaffolds on bone regeneration
Authors: Zhu Lisha , Luo Dan , Liu Yan
Published: February 2020

Natural bone is a mineralized biological material, which serves a supportive and protective framework for the body, stores minerals for metabolism, and produces blood cells nourishing the body. Normally, bone has an innate capacity to heal from damage. However, massive bone defects due to traumatic injury, tumor resection, or congenital diseases pose a great challenge to reconstructive surgery. Scaffold-based tissue engineering (TE) is a promising strategy for bone regenerative medicine, because biomaterial scaffolds show advanced mechanical properties and a good degradation profile, as well as the feasibility of controlled release of growth and differentiation factors or immobilizing them on the material surface. Additionally, the defined structure of biomaterial scaffolds, as a kind of mechanical cue, can influence cell behaviors, modulate local microenvironment and control key features at the molecular and cellular levels. Recently, nano/micro-assisted regenerative medicine becomes a promising application of TE for the reconstruction of bone defects. For this reason, it is necessary for us to have in-depth knowledge of the development of novel nano/micro-based biomaterial scaffolds. Thus, we herein review the hierarchical structure of bone, and the potential application of nano/micro technologies to guide the design of novel biomaterial structures for bone repair and regeneration.
Correction: Guideline levels for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water: the role of scientific uncertainty, risk assessment decisions, and social factors
Authors: Cordner Alissa , De La Rosa Vanessa Y. , Schaider Laurel A. , Rudel Ruthann A. , Richter Lauren , Brown Phil
Published: February 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Mitotic slippage is determined by p31comet and the weakening of the spindle-assembly checkpoint
Authors: Lok Tsun Ming , Wang Yang , Xu Wendy Kaichun , Xie Siwei , Ma Hoi Tang , Poon Randy Y. C.
Published: February 2020

Mitotic slippage involves cells exiting mitosis without proper chromosome segregation. Although degradation of cyclin B1 during prolonged mitotic arrest is believed to trigger mitotic slippage, its upstream regulation remains obscure. Whether mitotic slippage is caused by APC/CCDC20 activity that is able to escape spindle-assembly checkpoint (SAC)-mediated inhibition, or is actively promoted by a change in SAC activity remains an outstanding issue. We found that a major culprit for mitotic slippage involves reduction of MAD2 at the kinetochores, resulting in a progressive weakening of SAC during mitotic arrest. A further level of control of the timing of mitotic slippage is through p31comet-mediated suppression of MAD2 activation. The loss of kinetochore MAD2 was dependent on APC/CCDC20, indicating a feedback control of APC/C to SAC during prolonged mitotic arrest. The gradual weakening of SAC during mitotic arrest enables APC/CCDC20 to degrade cyclin B1, cumulating in the cell exiting mitosis by mitotic slippage.
Beta secretase 1-dependent amyloid precursor protein processing promotes excessive vascular sprouting through NOTCH3 signalling
Authors: Durrant Claire S. , Ruscher Karsten , Sheppard Olivia , Coleman Michael P. , Özen Ilknur
Published: February 2020

Amyloid beta peptides (Aβ) proteins play a key role in vascular pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) including impairment of the blood–brain barrier and aberrant angiogenesis. Although previous work has demonstrated a pro-angiogenic role of Aβ, the exact mechanisms by which amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and endothelial angiogenic signalling cascades interact in AD remain a largely unsolved problem. Here, we report that increased endothelial sprouting in human-APP transgenic mouse (TgCRND8) tissue is dependent on β-secretase (BACE1) processing of APP. Higher levels of Aβ processing in TgCRND8 tissue coincides with decreased NOTCH3/JAG1 signalling, overproduction of endothelial filopodia and increased numbers of vascular pericytes. Using a novel in vitro approach to study sprouting angiogenesis in TgCRND8 organotypic brain slice cultures (OBSCs), we find that BACE1 inhibition normalises excessive endothelial filopodia formation and restores NOTCH3 signalling. These data present the first evidence for the potential of BACE1 inhibition as an effective therapeutic target for aberrant angiogenesis in AD.
Correction: A patient-derived xenograft pre-clinical trial reveals treatment responses and a resistance mechanism to karonudib in metastatic melanoma
Authors: Einarsdottir Berglind O. , Karlsson Joakim , Söderberg Elin M. V. , Lindberg Mattias F. , Funck-Brentano Elisa , Jespersen Henrik , Brynjolfsson Siggeir F. , Bagge Roger Olofsson , Carstam Louise , Scobie Martin , Koolmeister Tobias , Wallner Olof , Stierner Ulrika , Berglund Ulrika Warpman , Ny Lars , Nilsson Lisa M. , Larsson Erik , Helleday Thomas , Nilsson Jonas A.
Published: February 2020

On Pubmed, the name of co-author Roger Olofsson Bagge appeared incorrectly as “Bagge RO” instead of “Olofsson Bagge, Roger”. This has been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions.
Sexual-dimorphism in human immune system aging
Authors: Márquez Eladio J. , Chung Cheng-han , Marches Radu , Rossi Robert J. , Nehar-Belaid Djamel , Eroglu Alper , Mellert David J. , Kuchel George A. , Banchereau Jacques , Ucar Duygu
Published: February 2020

Differences in immune function and responses contribute to health- and life-span disparities between sexes. However, the role of sex in immune system aging is not well understood. Here, we characterize peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 172 healthy adults 22–93 years of age using ATAC-seq, RNA-seq, and flow cytometry. These data reveal a shared epigenomic signature of aging including declining naïve T cell and increasing monocyte and cytotoxic cell functions. These changes are greater in magnitude in men and accompanied by a male-specific decline in B-cell specific loci. Age-related epigenomic changes first spike around late-thirties with similar timing and magnitude between sexes, whereas the second spike is earlier and stronger in men. Unexpectedly, genomic differences between sexes increase after age 65, with men having higher innate and pro-inflammatory activity and lower adaptive activity. Impact of age and sex on immune phenotypes can be visualized at https://immune-aging.jax.org to provide insights into future studies.
Regulation of lipid saturation without sensing membrane fluidity
Authors: Ballweg Stephanie , Sezgin Erdinc , Doktorova Milka , Covino Roberto , Reinhard John , Wunnicke Dorith , Hänelt Inga , Levental Ilya , Hummer Gerhard , Ernst Robert
Published: February 2020

Cells maintain membrane fluidity by regulating lipid saturation, but the molecular mechanisms of this homeoviscous adaptation remain poorly understood. We have reconstituted the core machinery for regulating lipid saturation in baker’s yeast to study its molecular mechanism. By combining molecular dynamics simulations with experiments, we uncover a remarkable sensitivity of the transcriptional regulator Mga2 to the abundance, position, and configuration of double bonds in lipid acyl chains, and provide insights into the molecular rules of membrane adaptation. Our data challenge the prevailing hypothesis that membrane fluidity serves as the measured variable for regulating lipid saturation. Rather, we show that Mga2 senses the molecular lipid-packing density in a defined region of the membrane. Our findings suggest that membrane property sensors have evolved remarkable sensitivities to highly specific aspects of membrane structure and dynamics, thus paving the way toward the development of genetically encoded reporters for such properties in the future.
Ultrafast 3D printing with submicrometer features using electrostatic jet deflection
Authors: Liashenko Ievgenii , Rosell-Llompart Joan , Cabot Andreu
Published: February 2020

Additive manufacturing technologies based on layer-by-layer deposition of material ejected from a nozzle provide unmatched versatility but are limited in terms of printing speed and resolution. Electrohydrodynamic jetting uniquely allows generating submicrometer jets that can reach speeds above 1 m s−1, but such jets cannot be precisely collected by too slow mechanical stages. Here, we demonstrate that controlling the voltage applied to electrodes located around the jet, its trajectory can be continuously adjusted with lateral accelerations up to 106 m s−2. Through electrostatically deflecting the jet, 3D objects with submicrometer features can be printed by stacking nanofibers on top of each other at layer-by-layer frequencies as high as 2000 Hz. The fast jet speed and large layer-by-layer frequencies achieved translate into printing speeds up to 0.5 m s−1 in-plane and 0.4 mm s−1 in the vertical direction, three to four orders of magnitude faster than techniques providing equivalent feature sizes.
Nucleophilic trifluoromethoxylation of alkyl halides without silver
Authors: Li Yan , Yang Yang , Xin Jinrui , Tang Pingping
Published: February 2020

The biological properties of molecules containing the trifluoromethoxy group have made these compounds important targets in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, yet their preparation is still a substantial challenge. Herein, we present a practical nucleophilic trifluoromethoxylation of alkyl halides with (E)-O-trifluoromethyl-benzaldoximes (TFBO) as a trifluoromethoxylation reagent in the absence of silver under mild reaction conditions. The trifluoromethoxylation reagent TFBO is easily prepared and thermally stable, and can release CF3O− species in the presence of a base. Furthermore, broad scope and good functional group compatibility are demonstrated by application of the method to the late-stage trifluoromethoxylation of alkyl halides in complex small molecules.
A combination strategy targeting enhancer plasticity exerts synergistic lethality against BETi-resistant leukemia cells
Authors: Guo Lei , Li Jia , Zeng Hongxiang , Guzman Anna G. , Li Tingting , Lee Minjung , Zhou Yubin , Goodell Margaret A. , Stephan Clifford , Davies Peter J. A. , Dawson Mark A , Sun Deqiang , Huang Yun
Published: February 2020

Primary and acquired drug resistance imposes a major threat to achieving optimized clinical outcomes during cancer treatment. Aberrant changes in epigenetic modifications are closely involved in drug resistance of tumor cells. Using BET inhibitor (BETi) resistant leukemia cells as a model system, we demonstrated herein that genome-wide enhancer remodeling played a pivotal role in driving therapeutic resistance via compensational re-expression of pro-survival genes. Capitalizing on the CRISPR interference technology, we identified the second intron of IncRNA, PVT1, as a unique bona fide gained enhancer that restored MYC transcription independent of BRD4 recruitment in leukemia. A combined BETi and CDK7 inhibitor treatment abolished MYC transcription by impeding RNAPII loading without affecting PVT1-mediated chromatin looping at the MYC locus in BETi-resistant leukemia cells. Together, our findings have established the feasibility of targeting enhancer plasticity to overcome drug resistance associated with epigenetic therapies.
Brain microRNAs associated with late-life depressive symptoms are also associated with cognitive trajectory and dementia
Authors: Wingo Thomas S. , Yang Jingjing , Fan Wen , Min Canon Se , Gerasimov Ekaterina Sergeevna , Lori Adriana , Logsdon Benjamin , Yao Bing , Seyfried Nicholas T. , Lah James J. , Levey Allan I. , Boyle Patricia A. , Schneider Julia A. , De Jager Philip L. , Bennett David A. , Wingo Aliza P.
Published: February 2020

Late-life depression is associated with an increased risk for dementia but we have limited knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying this association. Here we investigated whether brain microRNAs, important posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression, contribute to this association. Late-life depressive symptoms were assessed annually in 300 participants of the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project for a mean of 7 years. Participants underwent annual cognitive testing, clinical assessment of cognitive status, and uniform neuropathologic examination after death. microRNAs were profiled from the prefrontal cortex using NanoString platform in the discovery cohort and small RNA sequencing in the replication cohort. A global microRNA association study of late-life depressive symptoms was performed using linear mixed model adjusting for the potential confounding factors. Four brain microRNAs were associated with late-life depressive symptoms at adjusted p < 0.05: miR-484, miR-26b-5p, miR-30d-5p, and miR-197-3p. Lower expression levels of these miRNAs were associated having greater depressive symptoms. Furthermore, lower levels of miR-484 and miR-197-3p were associated with faster decline of cognition over time. Moreover, lower miR-484 level was associated with higher probability of having Alzheimer’s dementia. Importantly, the associations between miR-484 and depressive symptoms and Alzheimer’s dementia, respectively, were replicated in an independent cohort. Lastly, the predicted targets of miR-484 were enriched in a brain protein co-expression module involving synaptic transmission and regulation of synaptic plasticity. This study identified four brain microRNAs associated with late-life depressive symptoms assessed longitudinally. In addition, we found a molecular connection between late-life depression and dementia through miR-484.
Synthesized magnetic field of a sawtooth superradiance lattice in Bose–Einstein condensates
Authors: Wang Pengjun , Chen Liangchao , Mi Chengdong , Meng Zengming , Huang Lianghui , Nawaz Khan Sadiq , Cai Han , Wang Da-Wei , Zhu Shi-Yao , Zhang Jing
Published: February 2020

Ultracold atoms have become one of the most exciting platforms to synthesize novel condensed matter physics. Here we realize a sawtooth superradiance lattice in Bose–Einstein condensates and investigate its chiral edge currents. Based on one-dimensional superradiance lattice (SL) in standing wave-coupled electromagnetically induced transparency, a far-detuned standing-wave field is introduced to synthesize a magnetic field. The relative spatial phase between the two standing-wave coupling fields introduce a magnetic flux in the sawtooth loop transitions of the lattice. This flux determines the moving direction of excitations created in the SL and results in nonsymmetric reflectivities when the SL is probed in two opposite directions. Our work demonstrates an in situ technique to synthesize and detect artificial gauge field in cold atoms.
Characterization and potential mechanisms of highly antibiotic tolerant VBNC Escherichia coli induced by low level chlorination
Authors: Ye Chengsong , Lin Huirong , Zhang Menglu , Chen Sheng , Yu Xin
Published: February 2020

Escherichia coli is an important pathogenic indicator in drinking water. Viable but non-culturable (VBNC) E. coli induced by low level chlorination was found to have higher antibiotic tolerance. The emerging of VBNC bacteria in drinking water systems is posing challenges to the control of bio-safety. It is necessary to study the underlying mechanisms of VBNC state E. coli under actual residual chlorine condition of drinking water pipe network. In this study, we investigated the changes of morphology and gene expressions that might present such state. The results indicated that the size of VBNC E. coli was not remarkably changed or recovered culturability under favorable environmental conditions. Results from transcriptomic analysis revealed that the regulated genes related to fimbrial-like adhesin protein, putative periplasmic pilin chaperone, regulators of the transcriptional regulation, antibiotic resistance genes and stress-induced genes, rendering VBNC cells more tolerant to adverse environmental conditions. In total of 16 genes were significantly up-regulated under the VBNC state, including three genes encoding toxic protein (ygeG, ibsD, shoB), indicating that VBNC E. coil was still a threat to human. The work is of great relevance in the context of better understanding this poorly understood physiological state.
Phylogeography of Kyasanur Forest Disease virus in India (1957–2017) reveals evolution and spread in the Western Ghats region
Authors: Yadav Pragya D. , Patil Savita , Jadhav Santoshkumar M. , Nyayanit Dimpal A. , Kumar Vimal , Jain Shilpi , Sampath Jagadish , Mourya Devendra T. , Cherian Sarah S.
Published: February 2020

The Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) has become a major public health problem in the State of Karnataka, India where the disease was first identified and in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Goa covering the Western Ghats region of India. The incidence of positive cases and distribution of the Kyasanur Forest Disease virus (KFDV) in different geographical regions raises the need to understand the evolution and spatiotemporal transmission dynamics. Phylogeography analysis based on 48 whole genomes (46 from this study) and additionally 28 E-gene sequences of KFDV isolated from different regions spanning the period 1957–2017 was thus undertaken. The mean evolutionary rates based the E-gene was marginally higher than that based on the whole genomes. A subgroup of KFDV strains (2006–2017) differing from the early Karnataka strains (1957–1972) by ~2.76% in their whole genomes and representing spread to different geographical areas diverged around 1980. Dispersal from Karnataka to Goa and Maharashtra was indicated. Maharashtra represented a new source for transmission of KFDV since ~2013. Significant evidence of adaptive evolution at site 123 A/T located in the vicinity of the envelope protein dimer interface may have functional implications. The findings indicate the need to curtail the spread of KFDV by surveillance measures and improved vaccination strategies.
Effect of graphene oxide on modifying polyethersulfone membrane performance and its application in wastewater treatment
Authors: Marjani Azam , Nakhjiri Ali Taghvaie , Adimi Maryam , Jirandehi Hassan Fathinejad , Shirazian Saeed
Published: February 2020

In the present paper, Graphene Oxide (GO) particles were prepared via Hummer method, and used in synthesis of composite membranes. Polyethersulfone (PES) nanocomposite membranes were synthesized via wet phase inversion technique, and using water as non-solvent. The membrane morphology was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Change in the membrane surface hydrophilicity after modification was studied using contact angle measurements. The performance of fabricated PES nanocomposite membranes was measured by evaluating pure water flux, salt rejection, dye retention and heavy metals removal. The results indicated that by increasing the filler percentage up to 5 wt.%, the contact angle between the water droplet and the membrane surface was decreased and the droplet was more dispersed on the membrane surface which implies higher hydrophilicity of the prepared nanocomposite membranes. Moreover, the experimental results corroborated that addition of GO to the membrane significantly improved the pure water flux, salt rejection and heavy metals removal, and can be used as a novel methodology for preparation of high performance membranes in water treatment.
Urodynamics mixed type urinary incontinence with advanced pelvic organ prolapse, management and outcomes
Authors: Lo Tsia-Shu , Uy-Patrimonio Ma. Clarissa , Kao Chuan Chi , Chua Sandy , Huang Ting-Xuan , Wu Ming-Ping
Published: February 2020

Patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) often have accompanying lower urinary tract symptoms. Symptoms such as stress urinary incontinence(SUI-UD) and detrusor overactivty(DO) would co-exist in a number of patients. Management entails relieving the obstructive element. To determine the clinical outcome of patients with urodynamics mixed type urinary incontinence(MUI-U) after vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery(PRS), a retrospective study was conducted. MUI-U was defined as having urodynamic findings of both of DO/DOI (derusor overactivity incontinence) and SUI-UD. Main outcome measures: Objective cure- absence of involuntary detrusor contraction on filling cystometry and no demonstrable leakage of urine during increased abdominal pressure; Subjective cure- assessment index score of <1 on UDI-6 question #2 and #3. Of the 82 patients evaluated, 14 underwent vaginal PRS with concomitant mid-urethral sling(MUS) insertion while 68 had vaginal PRS alone. Pre-operatively, 49(60%) patients had stage III and 33(40%) had stage IV prolapse. Post-operatively, 1-year data shows an objective cure of 56% (46/82) and subjective cure of 54% (44/82). MUI-U was significantly improved. Improvement of SUIUD and results of the 1-hour pad test were more pronounced in patients with concomitant MUS insertion. Ergo, vaginal PRS cures symptoms of MUI-U in >50% of patients and concomitant MUS can be offered to SUI predominant MUI.
Selection and evaluation of appropriate reference genes for RT-qPCR based expression analysis in Candida tropicalis following azole treatment
Authors: Paul Saikat , Singh Shreya , Chakrabarti Arunaloke , Rudramurthy Shivaprakash M. , Ghosh Anup K
Published: February 2020

Candida tropicalisarises as one of the predominant non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species causing invasive candidiasis in Asian countries. A rise in reports ofC. tropicaliswith a parallel increase in fluconazole resistance has also been observed. The genes and underlying pathways associated with azole antifungal resistance inC. tropicalisis still not properly understood. The RT-qPCR is the most promising approach for expression analysis of target genes to understand the mechanisms of resistance. The reliability and reproducibility of this technique depend on the selection of suitable reference genes for the normalization in expression study. The present study investigated the expression stability levels of ten genes includingACT1,EF1,GAPDH,PGK1,RDN5.8,RDN18,RDN28,SDHA,TUB1, andUBC13for their suitability in fluconazole treated/untreatedC. tropicalis. The stability levels of these genes were examined by the ∆∆CT, ΔCT, Pfaffl methods and five independent software including hkgFinder, geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder software. We report, theEF1andACT1were the most stable reference genes for normalization and can be used for the gene expression analysis inC. tropicalis. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to select and validate the reference genes inC. tropicalisfor RT-qPCR based expression analysis.
Forward flight stability in a drone-fly
Authors: Zhu Hao Jie , Meng Xue Guang , Sun Mao
Published: February 2020

Previous studies on forward flight stability in insects are for low to medium flight-speeds. In the present work, we investigated the stability problem for the full range of flight speeds (0–8.6 m/s) of a drone-fly. Our results show the following: The longitudinal derivatives due to the lateral motion are approximately 3 orders of magnitude smaller than the other longitudinal derivatives. Thus, we can decouple these two motions of the insect, as commonly done for a conventional airplane. At hovering flight, the motion of the dronefly is weakly unstable owing to two unstable natural modes of motion, a longitudinal one and a lateral one. At low (1.6 m/s) and medium (3.1 m/s) flight-speeds, the unstable modes become even weaker and the flight is approximately neutral. At high flight-speeds (4.6 m/s, 6.9 m/s and 8.6 m/s), the flight becomes more and more unstable due to an unstable longitudinal mode. At the highest flight speed, 8.6 m/s, the instability is so strong that the time constant representing the growth rate of the instability (disturbance-doubling time) is only 10.1 ms, which is close to the sensory reaction time of a fly (approximately 11 ms). This indicates that strong instability may play a role in limiting the flight speed of the insect.
Self-reported sleep disturbance in Crohn’s disease is not confirmed by objective sleep measures
Authors: Iskandar Heba N. , Linan Emily E. , Patel Ami , Moore Renee , Lasanajak Yi , Gyawali C. Prakash , Sayuk Gregory S. , Ciorba Matthew A.
Published: February 2020

Sleep disturbance and fatigue are commonly reported among patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). In this prospective study, we aimed to define sleep quality in CD patients at various disease activity states and compare to healthy controls using objective and subjective measures. A prospective observational cohort study of CD patients seen at a tertiary academic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) clinic was compared to healthy volunteers. CD activity was assessed using the Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and objectively over 1-week using actigraphy (motion-based) and morning urinary melatonin metabolite. 121 subjects (CD patients N = 61; controls N = 60) completed the study. 34 had active CD (HBI > 4). Sleep disturbance was more frequently reported by CD subjects than controls (PSQI: 57% vs. 35%, p = 0.02) and in patients with active CD versus in remission state (PSQI 75.8% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.01; ESS: 45.5% vs. 19%, p = 0.03). Sleep parameters as measured by actigraphy and urine melatonin metabolite did not vary by group. Crohn’s patients report significantly more disturbed sleep than controls. However, poor sleep was not confirmed by objective measures of sleep quality. Excessive daytime sleepiness in CD patients may be driven by factors beyond objectively measured poor sleep.
GaAs1-xBix growth on Ge: anti-phase domains, ordering, and exciton localization
Authors: Paulauskas Tadas , Pačebutas Vaidas , Geižutis Andrejus , Stanionytė Sandra , Dudutienė Evelina , Skapas Martynas , Naujokaitis Arnas , Strazdienė Viktorija , Čechavičius Bronislovas , Čaplovičová Mária , Vretenár Viliam , Jakieła Rafał , Krotkus Arūnas
Published: February 2020

The dilute bismide alloy GaAs1-xBix has drawn significant attention from researchers interested in its fundamental properties and the potential for infrared optoelectronics applications. To extend the study of bismides, molecular-beam heteroepitaxy of nominally 1.0 eV bandgap bismide on Ge substrates is comprehensively investigated. Analysis of atomic-resolution anti-phase domain (APD) images in the direct-epitaxy revealed a high-density of Ga vacancies and a reduced Bi content at their boundaries. This likely played a key role in the preferential dissolution of Bi atoms from the APD interiors and Bi spiking in Ge during thermal annealing. Introduction of GaAs buffer on offcut Ge largely suppressed the formation of APDs, producing high-quality bismide with single-variant CuPtB-type ordered domains as large as 200 nm. Atomic-resolution X-ray imaging showed that 2-dimensional Bi-rich (111) planes contain up to x = 9% Bi. The anomalously early onset of localization found in the temperature-dependent photoluminescence suggests enhanced interactions among Bi states, as compared to non-ordered samples. Growth of large-domain single-variant ordered GaAs1-xBix films provides new prospects for detailed analysis of the structural modulation effects and may allow to further tailor properties of this alloy for optoelectronic applications.
Sensory neurons that respond to sex and aggregation pheromones in the nymphal cockroach
Authors: Tateishi Kosuke , Nishimura Yukihiro , Sakuma Masayuki , Yokohari Fumio , Watanabe Hidehiro
Published: February 2020

In the common pest cockroach, Periplaneta americana, behavioural responses to the sex and aggregation pheromones change in an age-dependent manner. Nymphs are attracted by the aggregation pheromone periplanolide-E (PLD-E) but not by the sex pheromone periplanone-B (PB) in faeces. Adults display prominent behaviours to PB but not to PLD-E. Despite the significant behavioural differences depending on postembryonic developmental stages, peripheral codings of the sex and aggregation pheromones have not been studied in the nymph of any insects as far as we know. In this study, we morphologically and electrophysiologically identified antennal sensilla that respond to PB and PLD-E in nymphal cockroaches. Although nymphs lacked the sex pheromone-responsive single-walled B (sw-B) sensilla identified in adult males, we found PB-responsive sensory neurons (PB-SNs) within newly identified sw-A2 sensilla, which exhibit different shapes but have the same olfactory pores as sw-B sensilla. Interestingly, PLD-E-responsive sensory neurons (PLD-E-SNs) were also identified in the same sensillar type, but PB and PLD-E were independently detected by different SNs. Both PB-SNs and PLD-E-SNs showed high sensitivity to their respective pheromones. The hemimetabolous insect nymph has an ability to detect these pheromones, suggesting that behaviours elicited by pheromones might be established in brain centres depending on postembryonic development.
Red versus green leaves: transcriptomic comparison of foliar senescence between two Prunus cerasifera genotypes
Authors: Vangelisti Alberto , Guidi Lucia , Cavallini Andrea , Natali Lucia , Lo Piccolo Ermes , Landi Marco , Lorenzini Giacomo , Malorgio Fernando , Massai Rossano , Nali Cristina , Pellegrini Elisa , Rallo Giovanni , Remorini Damiano , Vernieri Paolo , Giordani Tommaso
Published: February 2020

The final stage of leaf ontogenesis is represented by senescence, a highly regulated process driven by a sequential cellular breakdown involving, as the first step, chloroplast dismantling with consequent reduction of photosynthetic efficiency. Different processes, such as pigment accumulation, could protect the vulnerable photosynthetic apparatus of senescent leaves. Although several studies have produced transcriptomic data on foliar senescence, just few works have attempted to explain differences in red and green leaves throughout ontogenesis. In this work, a transcriptomic approach was used on green and red leaves ofPrunus cerasiferato unveil molecular differences from leaf maturity to senescence. Our analysis revealed a higher gene regulation in red leaves compared to green ones, during leaf transition. Most of the observed DEGs were shared and involved in transcription factor activities, senescing processes and cell wall remodelling. Significant differences were detected in cellular functions: genes related to photosystem I and II were highly down-regulated in the green genotype, whereas transcripts involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, such asUDP glucose-flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase(UFGT) were exclusively up-regulated in red leaves. In addition, cellular functions involved in stress response (glutathione-S-transferase,Pathogen-Related) and sugar metabolism, such as threethrealose-6-phosphate synthases, were activated in senescent red leaves. In conclusion, data suggests thatP. cerasiferared genotypes can regulate a set of genes and molecular mechanisms that cope with senescence, promoting more advantages during leaf ontogenesis than compared to the green ones.
Early dynamics of photosynthetic Lhcf2 and Lhcf15 transcription and mRNA stabilities in response to herbivory-related decadienal in Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Authors: Islam Shahima , Sabharwal Tanya , Wu Samantha , Bullock T. J. , Mehdy Mona C.
Published: February 2020

Abiotic and biotic stresses widely reduce light harvesting complex (LHC) gene expression in higher plants and algae. However, control mechanisms and functions of these changes are not well understood. During herbivory, marine diatom species release oxylipins that impair grazer reproduction and serve as signaling molecules to nearby undamaged diatoms. To examine LHC mRNA regulation by oxylipin exposure, the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum was treated with a sublethal concentration of trans,trans-2,4-decadienal (DD) during the light cycle. Transcriptome analyses revealed extensive suppression of LHC mRNAs and a smaller set of up-regulated LHC mRNAs at 3 h. For two divergently regulated LHCF antennae family mRNAs, in vivo 4-thiouracil metabolic labeling was used to distinguish synthesis and degradation rates. Within 3 h of DD exposure, Lhcf2 mRNA levels and transcription were strongly suppressed and its mRNA half-life decreased. In contrast, Lhcf15 mRNA mainly accumulated between 3–9 h, its transcription increased and its mRNA was highly stabilized. Hence, DD-treated cells utilized transcriptional and mRNA stability control mechanisms which were likely major factors in the differing Lhcf2 and Lhcf15 expression patterns. Widespread LHC mRNA regulation and possible effects on photosynthesis may contribute to enhanced fitness in cells impacted by herbivory and other stresses.