bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consortia of bioactives in supercritical carbon dioxide extracts of mustard and small cardamom seeds lower serum cholesterol levels in rats: new leads for hypocholesterolaemic supplements from spices
Authors: Chakraborty Soumi , Paul Kaninika , Mallick Priyanka , Pradhan Shrabani , Das Koushik , Chakrabarti Saikat , Nandi Dilip Kumar , Bhattacharjee Paramita
Published: September 2019

Melatonin-rich and 1,8-cineole-rich extracts have been successfully obtained from yellow mustard (YM) and small cardamom (SC) seeds, respectively, employing green technology of supercritical CO2(SC-CO2) extraction. Chemical profiling confirmed the presence of melatonin and 1,8-cineole and co-extractants in the respective extracts. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy attested strong antioxidant activities of the extracts foregoing pan-assay interference compounds involved in spectroscopic analysis. These extracts also exhibited synergistic efficacies greater than unity confirming antioxidant synergy among the co-extracted bioactives therein. To ascertain hypocholesterolaemic efficacies, these extracts were co-administered orally with Triton X (at the pre-optimised dose of 175 mg/kg body weight (BW)) to Wistar albino rats at doses of 550, 175 and 55 mg/kg BW. Serum total cholesterol levels in the rats were monitored on days 3, 7, 15 and 21. On day 21, total cholesterol level reduced appreciably by 49·44 % in rats treated with YM seed extract and by 48·95 % in rats treated with SC seed extract, comparable with atorvastatin-administered rats (51·09 %). Either extract demonstrated inhibitory effects on hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity. A molecular docking exercise identified specific compounds in the extracts which possessed binding affinities comparable with therapeutically used HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.In silicoandin vivostudies concertedly concluded that the consortium of bioactive components in the extracts cannot be considered as invalid metabolic panaceas and therefore these ‘green’ extracts could be safely subjected to clinical studies as preventive biotherapeutics for hypercholesterolaemia. These extracts could be consumedper seas hypocholesterolaemic supplements or could be ingredients of new spice-based therapeutic foods.
Distant Quake Triggered Slow Slip on Southern San Andreas
Authors: Cook Terri
Published: September 2019

A high-resolution map of surface displacements indicates that the 2017 Chiapas earthquake caused substantial creep along a segment of the San Andreas Fault, located 3,000 kilometers away.
PPA1 promotes NSCLC progression via a JNK- and TP53-dependent manner
Authors: Luo Dehong , Liu Daishun , Shi Wen , Jiang Huimin , Liu Wei , Zhang Xiaoyuan , Bao Yonghua , Yang Wancai , Wang Xiaojun , Zhang Chaoyang , Wang Hui , Yuan Liying , Chen Yanpei , Qu Tianyin , Ou Dong , Shen Wenzhi , Yang Shuang
Published: September 2019

Inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPA1) promotes tumor progression in several tumor types. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we disclosed that PPA1 expression is markedly upregulated in lung carcinoma tissue versus normal lung tissue. We also found that the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines show increased PPA1 expression levels versus normal lung cell line control. Moreover, the knockdown of PPA1 promotes cell apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation. Whereas, the ectopic expression of PPA1 reduces cell apoptosis and enhances cell proliferation. Most interestingly, the expression of mutant PPA1 (D117A) significantly abolishes PPA1-mediated effect on cell apoptosis and proliferation. The underlying mechanism demonstrated that TP53 expression deficiency or JNK inhibitor treatment could abolish PPA1-mediated NSCLC progression. In summary, the aforementioned findings in this study suggest a new pathway the PPA1 mediates NSCLC progression either via TP53 or JNK. Most important, the pyrophosphatase activity is indispensible for PPA1-mediated NSCLC progression. This may provide a promising target for NSCLC therapy.
A fully automated pipeline for mining abdominal aortic aneurysm using image segmentation
Authors: Lareyre Fabien , Adam Cédric , Carrier Marion , Dommerc Carine , Mialhe Claude , Raffort Juliette
Published: September 2019

Imaging software have become critical tools in the diagnosis and the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The aim of this study was to develop a fully automated software system to enable a fast and robust detection of the vascular system and the AAA. The software was designed from a dataset of injected CT-scans images obtained from 40 patients with AAA. Pre-processing steps were performed to reduce the noise of the images using image filters. The border propagation based method was used to localize the aortic lumen. An online error detection was implemented to correct errors due to the propagation in anatomic structures with similar pixel value located close to the aorta. A morphological snake was used to segment 2D or 3D regions. The software allowed an automatic detection of the aortic lumen and the AAA characteristics including the presence of thrombus and calcifications. 2D and 3D reconstructions visualization were available to ease evaluation of both algorithm precision and AAA properties. By enabling a fast and automated detailed analysis of the anatomic characteristics of the AAA, this software could be useful in clinical practice and research and be applied in a large dataset of patients.
Patterns of Anatomic Injury in Critically Injured Combat Casualties: A Network Analysis
Authors: Janak Jud C. , Mazuchowski Edward L. , Kotwal Russ S. , Stockinger Zsolt T. , Howard Jeffrey T. , Butler Frank K. , Sosnov Jonathan A. , Gurney Jennifer M. , Shackelford Stacy A.
Published: September 2019

A mortality review of death caused by injury requires a determination of injury survivability prior to a determination of death preventability. If injuries are nonsurvivable, only non-medical primary prevention strategies have potential to prevent the death. Therefore, objective measures are needed to empirically inform injury survivability from complex anatomic patterns of injury. As a component of injury mortality reviews, network structures show promise to objectively elucidate survivability from complex anatomic patterns of injury resulting from explosive and firearm mechanisms. In this network analysis of 5,703 critically injured combat casualties, patterns of injury among fatalities from explosive mechanisms were associated with both a higher number and severity of anatomic injuries to regions such as the extremities, abdomen, and thorax. Patterns of injuries from a firearm were more isolated to individual body regions with fatal patterns involving more severe injuries to the head and thorax. Each injury generates a specific level of risk as part of an overall anatomic pattern to inform injury survivability not always captured by traditional trauma scoring systems. Network models have potential to further elucidate differences between potentially survivable and nonsurvivable anatomic patterns of injury as part of the mortality review process relevant to improving both the military and civilian trauma care systems.
Thiirane linkers directed histone H2A diubiquitination suggests plasticity in 53BP1 recognition
Authors: Liang Jun , Gong Qingyue , Li Ying , Zheng Yong , Zheng Ji-Shen , Tian Changlin , Li Jia-Bin
Published: September 2019

Four diubiquitinated H2A analogues were newly synthesized and used to reveal the plasticity of ubiquitin chains in 53BP1 recognition.
How to understand very weak Cr–Cr double bonds and negative spin populations in trinuclear Cr complexes: theoretical insight
Authors: Nakagaki Masayuki , Nakatani Naoki , Sakaki Shigeyoshi
Published: September 2019

Trinuclear Cr(ii) complex [Cr3(dpa)4Cl2] (Hdpa = dipyridylamine) has two Cr–Cr double bonds linked with each other but [Cr3(dpa)4(N3)2] has one Cr–Cr quadruple bond. CASCF/CASPT2 studies provide understanding of these Cr–Cr bonds and β-spin population on the center Cr.
The solvation effect on the rattling behaviour of the hydrated excess proton in water
Authors: Dong Shaonan , Bi Shuping
Published: September 2019

Quantum chemical cluster modeling suggests that both a symmetrical solvation environment and bulk solvent are necessary for proton rattling in water.
Structure–thermodynamics relationship of schoepite from first-principles
Authors: Weck Philippe F. , Jové-Colón Carlos F. , Kim Eunja
Published: September 2019

The relationship between the structure and thermodynamic properties of schoepite, an important uranyl phase with formula [(UO2)8O2(OH)12]·12H2O formed upon corrosion of UO2, has been investigated with density functional perturbation theory.
Periodically-arrayed ferroelectric nanostructures induced by dislocation structures in strontium titanate
Authors: Masuda Kairi , Lich Le Van , Shimada Takahiro , Kitamura Takayuki
Published: September 2019

A new engineering method of ferroelectric nanostructures: ferroelectric nanostructures induced and controlled by dislocation arrangements in SrTiO3.
Impact of intentional photo-oxidation of a donor polymer and PC70BM on solar cell performance
Authors: Blazinic Vanja , Ericsson Leif K. E. , Levine Igal , Hansson Rickard , Opitz Andreas , Moons Ellen
Published: September 2019

Bond breaking in the PC70BM cage and gap state formation explain inefficient charge collection upon photooxidation.
Cu/SAPO-34 prepared by a facile ball milling method for enhanced catalytic performance in the selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3
Authors: Chang Huazhen , Qin Xuan , Ma Lei , Zhang Tao , Li Junhua
Published: September 2019

Cu/SAPO-34 catalysts were prepared by different solid-state ion exchange methods, i.e., mechanical mixing (Cu/SAPO-34-M) and ball milling (Cu/SAPO-34-B), and were used for selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3 (NH3-SCR) reaction.
Rhodols – synthesis, photophysical properties and applications as fluorescent probes
Authors: Poronik Yevgen M. , Vygranenko Kateryna V. , Gryko Dorota , Gryko Daniel T.
Published: September 2019

The favorable photophysical properties enabled the rapid growth of classical, π-expanded and heteroatom substituted rhodols in fluorescent imaging.
Improved population operators for multi-state nonadiabatic dynamics with the mixed quantum-classical mapping approach
Authors: Saller Maximilian A. C. , Kelly Aaron , Richardson Jeremy O.
Published: September 2019

Application to the 7-state Frenkel-exciton Hamiltonian for the Fenna–Matthews–Olson complex shows that using a different representation of the electronic population operators can drastically improve the accuracy of the quasiclassical mapping approach without increasing the computational effort.
Antiscattering X-ray fluorescence analysis for large-area samples
Authors: Zhao Wenyang , Hirano Keiichi , Sakurai Kenji
Published: September 2019

The scattering background in large-area X-ray fluorescence analysis (more than one square centimeter) has been greatly reduced by using highly polarized X-rays and by inserting a collimator plate between the sample and the detector.
A new multinebulizer for spectrochemical analysis: wear metal determination in used lubricating oils by on-line standard dilution analysis (SDA) using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES)
Authors: García Miriam , Aguirre Miguel Ángel , Canals Antonio
Published: September 2019

A novel multinebulizer allows a high mixing efficiency between two liquids, since the mixing takes place under turbulent conditions.
Oxygen vacancy-mediated WO3 nanosheets by etched {200} facets and the efficient visible-light photocatalytic oxygen evolution
Authors: Yang Yurong , Chen Jiaming , Liu Xuelian , Qiu Min , Liu Li , Gao Fan
Published: September 2019

The abundant oxygen vacancies in WO3 nanosheets result in the significant improvement of the photocatalytic O2 evolution.
Quantifying the effects of engineered nanomaterials on endothelial cell architecture and vascular barrier integrity using a cell pair model
Authors: Eweje Feyisayo , Ardoña Herdeline Ann M. , Zimmerman John F. , O'Connor Blakely B. , Ahn Seungkuk , Grevesse Thomas , Rivera Karla N. , Bitounis Dimitrios , Demokritou Philip , Parker Kevin Kit
Published: September 2019

Micropatterned endothelial cell pairs enable the analysis of the impact of nanomaterial exposure on cellular-level remodeling processes and vascular barrier integrity.
Novel monomers in radical ring-opening polymerisation for biodegradable and pH responsive nanoparticles
Authors: Folini Jenny , Huang Chao-Hung , Anderson James C. , Meier Wolfgang P. , Gaitzsch Jens
Published: September 2019

We report the first amine-bearing cyclic ketene acetals (CKAs) for radical ring-opening polymerisation (RROP). The resulting polyesters and their corresponding nanoparticles were biodegradable and showed the desired pH sensitive behaviour.
The sugar code: letters and vocabulary, writers, editors and readers and biosignificance of functional glycan–lectin pairing
Authors: Kaltner Herbert , Abad-Rodríguez José , Corfield Anthony P. , Kopitz Jürgen , Gabius Hans-Joachim
Published: September 2019

Ubiquitous occurrence in Nature, abundant presence at strategically important places such as the cell surface and dynamic shifts in their profile by diverse molecular switches qualifies the glycans to serve as versatile biochemical signals. However, their exceptional structural complexity often prevents one noting how simple the rules of objective-driven assembly of glycan-encoded messages are. This review is intended to provide a tutorial for a broad readership. The principles of why carbohydrates meet all demands to be the coding section of an information transfer system, and this at unsurpassed high density, are explained. Despite appearing to be a random assortment of sugars and their substitutions, seemingly subtle structural variations in glycan chains by a sophisticated enzymatic machinery have emerged to account for their specific biological meaning. Acting as ‘readers’ of glycan-encoded information, carbohydrate-specific receptors (lectins) are a means to turn the glycans’ potential to serve as signals into a multitude of (patho)physiologically relevant responses. Once the far-reaching significance of this type of functional pairing has become clear, the various modes of spatial presentation of glycans and of carbohydrate recognition domains in lectins can be explored and rationalized. These discoveries are continuously revealing the intricacies of mutually adaptable routes to achieve essential selectivity and specificity. Equipped with these insights, readers will gain a fundamental understanding why carbohydrates form the third alphabet of life, joining the ranks of nucleotides and amino acids, and will also become aware of the importance of cellular communication via glycan–lectin recognition.
Secondary structure of caveolins: a mini review
Authors: Root Kyle T. , Julien Jeffrey A. , Glover Kerney Jebrell
Published: September 2019

Caveolae are 50–100 nm invaginations found within the plasma membrane of cells. Caveolae are involved in many processes that are essential for homeostasis, most notably endocytosis, mechano-protection, and signal transduction. Within these invaginations, the most important proteins are caveolins, which in addition to participating in the aforementioned processes are structural proteins responsible for caveolae biogenesis. When caveolin is misregulated or mutated, many disease states can arise which include muscular dystrophy, cancers, and heart disease. Unlike most integral membrane proteins, caveolin does not have a transmembrane orientation; instead, it is postulated to adopt an unusual topography where both the N- and C-termini lie on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane, and the hydrophobic span adopts an intramembrane loop conformation. While knowledge concerning the biology of caveolin has progressed apace, fundamental structural information has proven more difficult to obtain. In this mini-review, we curate as well as critically assess the structural data that have been obtained on caveolins to date in order to build a robust and compelling model of the caveolin secondary structure.
A radio census of the massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1
Authors: Andrews H. , Fenech D. , Prinja R. K. , Clark J. S. , Hindson L.
Published: September 2019

Context. Massive stars and their stellar winds are important for a number of feedback processes. The mass lost in the stellar wind can help determine the end-point of the star as a neutron star (NS) or a black hole (BH). However, the impact of mass loss on the post-main sequence evolutionary stage of massive stars is not well understood. Westerlund 1 is an ideal astrophysical laboratory in which to study massive stars and their winds in great detail over a large range of different evolutionary phases.

Aims. We aim to study the radio emission from Westerlund 1, in order to measure radio fluxes from the population of massive stars, and determine mass-loss rates and spectral indices where possible.

Methods. Observations were carried out in 2015 and 2016 with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at 5.5 and 9 GHz using multiple configurations, with maximum baselines ranging from 750 m to 6 km.

Results. Thirty stars are detected in the radio from the fully concatenated dataset, ten of which are Wolf-Rayet stars (WRs) (predominantly late type WN stars), five yellow hypergiants (YHGs), four red supergiants (RSGs), one luminous blue variable (LBV), the sgB[e] star W9, and several OB supergiants. New source detections in the radio are found for five WR stars, and five OB supergiants. These detections lead to evidence for three new OB supergiant binary candidates, which is inferred from derived spectral index limits.

Conclusions. Spectral indices and index limits were determined for massive stars in Westerlund 1. For cluster members found to have partially optically thick emission, mass-loss rates were calculated. Under the approximation of a thermally emitting stellar wind and a steady mass-loss rate, clumping ratios were then estimated for eight WRs. Diffuse radio emission was detected throughout the cluster. Detections of knots of radio emission with no known stellar counterparts indicate the highly clumped structure of this intra-cluster medium, likely shaped by a dense cluster wind.
Heavy metals pollution of a solid waste landfill
Authors: Blokhina Tatiana K. , Karpenko Oksana A.
Published: September 2019

The article is devoted to the problems of pollution of a solid waste landfill. Heavy metals are not only pollutants, but also natural micro components of soils. Their contents are caused by the mechanical and chemical composition of the soil breed and also by the nature of soil creating processes. In our article we will estimate extent of pollution by heavy metals of the solid waste landfill “Kuchino” which is located in 7 km to the east from the Moscow. The total area of land branches is –54,5001 hectares. The analysis of the importance of polyelement pollution of soils of a zone of influence of Kuchino solid waste landfill showed that more than 50% of the surveyed points are characterized by the admissible level of total accumulation, dangerous category is noted in 8% of the tested positions, extra dangerous – in 37%. The authors proposed the construction of the system of a beam drainage on solid waste landfill is one of possible ways of decrease in negative impact of heavy metals on the environment.
Analysis of photovoltaic system with battery storage in winter period
Authors: Lokar Jan , Virtič Peter
Published: September 2019

Energy sources as a solar, wind and water energy are used in production of electrical energy. Their biggest advantage is that they are renewable and they are sustainable. On the other hand, production from renewable energy sources is limited by environmental conditions. Production of photovoltaic systems are dependent on solar radiation, temperature, incidence angle, shadowing and other variable quantities. That is why designing of photovoltaic system is complex. In this paper a photovoltaic system production analysis and consumption analysis in residential house are presented. With real measured data the consumption and production are compared and energy balance equations, battery charge and discharge model are defined and behaviour of battery storage system through the one day are analysed. In addition, the reactive energy production and consumption are also analysed.
Temperature and airflow setting in dual-duct ventilation systems
Authors: Przydrozny Edward , Przydrozna Aleksandra
Published: September 2019

Past experiences of excess energy consumption and malfunctioning controls introduced prejudice when considering dual-duct ventilation systems during design stages. Modern technologies, however, can be used to improve performance and control of dual-duct systems, thus making these a sensible and safe design option. In the paper, we discuss challenges associated with setting the warm and cold supply air temperatures and how these set-points affect the airflows. We present limitations in temperature settings, due to instantaneous room thermal conditions and the individual design temperature requirements. Portions of warm and cold air (the ratio of these in the ventilating airflow) affect the transport costs of ventilating airflow. In many cases, rational control of warm and cold air temperature set-points, in a yearly cycle, enables distribution of similar portions of warm and cold air within the system. Even airflows in warm and cold air installations minimise the overall flow resistance, so that the air transport costs are minimal. Simultaneously, apart from minimising the energy for air transport, the primary energy demand for air treatment should be controlled and minimised.
A Surface Radio Array for the Enhancement of IceTop and its Science Prospects
Authors: Balagopal V. Aswathi , Haungs Andreas , Huber Thomas , Huege Tim , Kleifges Matthias , Renschler Max , Schieler Harald , Schröder Frank G. , Weindl Andreas
Published: September 2019

Radio detection of air showers in the current era has progressed immensely to effectively extract the properties of these air showers. Primary cosmic rays with energies of hundreds of PeV have been successfully measured with the method of radio detection. There are also attempts to observe high-energy neutrinos with this technique. Current radio experiments measuring cosmic-ray air showers mostly operate in the frequency range of 30-80 MHz. An optimization of the frequency band of operation can be done for maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio that can be achieved by an array of radio antennas at the South Pole, operated along with IceTop. Such an array can improve the reconstruction of air showers performed with IceTop. The prospect of using such an optimized radio array for measuring gamma rays of PeV energies from the Galactic Center is discussed.
Personalized Tour Recommender through Geotagged Photo Mining and LSTM Neural Networks
Authors: Tsai Chieh-Yuan , Paniagua Gerardo , Chen Yu-Jen , Lo Chih-Chung , Yao Liguo
Published: September 2019

In this study, a tour recommendation system based on social media photos is proposed. The proposed recommendation system can generate trip tours considering both the user’s current location and interests. First, we exploited the geotagged photo dataset from social media websites, which includes photo related information such as user ID numbers, timestamps, hashtags, and GPS coordinates. With this information, the second step is to group photos and identify those places that could be considered relevant for travellers using clustering algorithms. The third step characterizes the resulting clusters by grouping them into different categories using latent dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modelling approach. The last step is the generation of tours using a long-short term memory neural network (LSTM). The experiments show that the proposed system can be efficient to advise future travellers about the places they would be more likely to visit and arrange trips for them.
The Possibility of Using BCI Applications in Physiotherapy
Authors: Koudelkova Zuzana , Dankova Sarka , Filip Michal , Dabrovska Marcela
Published: September 2019

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is an interface connecting the human neural system and computer. This article explains the fundamental principles of BCI and devices, which can be controlled using electroencephalography (EEG). Firstly, this article describes Brain-Computer interface according to obtaining brain activity. After that, the applications of BCI are proposed, which can be used in clinical practice. In the experimental part, the external systems are defined. These external systems are operated by BCI technology. This technology is developed at the Department of Informatics and Artificial Intelligence of the Faculty of Applied Informatics, Tomas Bata University in Zlin. This BCI system contains EEG technology, which is responsible for scanning a brain activity with a fourteen-channel device developed by Emotiv company. In the near future, this design of peripheral systems can be involved in clinical practice in various medical branches, especially physiotherapy.
Simulation of printed circuit boards recycling process
Authors: Janacova Dagmar , Pitel Jan , Vasek Vladimir , Mokrejs Pavel , Viteckova Miluse , Drga Rudolf , Krenek Jiri
Published: September 2019

This paper focused on the modeling of ecological PCB. Due to the high increase in the production of electronic waste, which contains a whole range of usable components, it is necessary to recycle it. About the study of the issue, we have proposed a solution for the separation of conductive paths from plastic and taking into account the legislative approaches and taking into account the existing methods of PCB separation, the composition, and production of PCBs and also the binders used in PCBs. We used the knowledge of process engineering to design a mathematical description of temperature fields in PCB and stress. To a great extent, we have devoted ourselves to the simulation experiments of PCB heating and cooling and the determination of temperature fields and stress due to temperature, cyclic mechanical stresses due to temperature. The simulation is performed in the Pro/ENGINEER and COMSOL Multiphysics® software environments, because of the possibility of solving multi-physical problems. Outputs from computer simulations are the initial stage for designing an eco-friendly way of recycling PCBs. In the future, we will focus on the more difficult issue of recycling multilayer PCBs. The development of new criteria for PCB recycling has opened new possibilities of treatment for used materials.
HV multi-terminal DC lines as the backbone of the energy transmission system – A research plan to tackle challenges
Authors: Christodoulou Christos , Lazarou Stavros , Zafiropoulos Elias , Vita Vasiliki , Ekonomou Lambros
Published: September 2019

Transmission system reinforcement is an issue of great importance, in an effort to handle the increasing renewable power generation. Nevertheless, the upgrade of the transmission system (lines, substations, etc.) is not always attainable, due to techno-economical restrictions. To this context, High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) grids or converting already existing AC lines to DC lines could offer an alternative solution, considering also the interconnection of offshore intermittent renewable generation resources, the connection of remote generation sources to load centers and the inter-continental transfer of large quantities of energy surpassingly an overlay grid. The current work presents a research plan for multi- terminal HVDC grids, in an effort to face technical challenges.
Situation des ressources en eau du bassin versant de la Macta (nord-ouest Algérien)
Authors: Semari K. , Benayada L.
Published: September 2019

Le bassin versant de la Macta est situé au nord-ouest de l’Algérie, il s’étend sur une superficie de 14 389 km2 avec une population de 1 231 824 habitants en 1998 et de 1 724 905 habitants en 2008. Il est caractérisé par un climat semi-aride, les valeurs de pluies moyennes annuelles varient entre 200 et 404 mm durant la période 1980-2011, avec une moyenne de 285 mm. On a déterminé deux périodes distinctes : une période sèche (1981-1995), caractérisée par une tendance à la diminution des précipitations, et une période humide (1996-2011), caractérisée par une tendance à l’augmentation des précipitations. Toutefois, cette augmentation n’a pas un grand effet sur les quantités d’eau écoulées à travers les cours d’eau principaux (oued El Hammam et oued Mekerra), l’écoulement est donc déficitaire. La diminution des potentialités en eaux souterraines et superficielles conduit à une situation hydrique déficitaire pour le bassin versant de la Macta. En effet, les besoins sans cesse croissants en eau, pour tous les secteurs, dépassent les ressources en eau disponibles. Le but de ce travail est d’examiner les causes et les facteurs aggravants du manque d’eau et de proposer des solutions. Afin de réduire les pénuries d’eau, il faut agir sur la demande en eau par la mise en place des programmes de sensibilisation et de tarification des ressources en eau et par la lutte contre les fuites dans les canalisations et le gaspillage de l’eau.
Probing the Reactivity of 2,4-Dichlorofuro[3,4-d]pyrimidin-7-one: A Versatile and Underexploited Scaffold to Generate Substituted or Fused Pyrimidine Derivatives
Authors: Vincetti Paolo , Costantino Gabriele , Martina Maria Grazia , Radi Marco
Published: September 2019

Herein, we describe the results of our investigation on the chemical reactivity and versatility of a poorly explored scaffold: 2,4-dichlorofuro[3,4-d]pyrimidin-7-one (3). Highly functionalized pyrimidines can be obtained with a divergent approach by reacting the key intermediate 3 with different amine nucleophiles under carefully controlled reaction conditions. The set-up of a microwave-assisted one-pot, two- or three-step protocol to rapidly generate 2,4,5,6-tetrasubstituted or fused pyrimidines is also reported.
Asymmetric Synthesis of 2,3,6-Trisubstituted Piperidines via Baylis–Hillman Adducts and Lithium Amide through Domino Reaction
Authors: Salgado Mateo M. , Manchado Alejandro , Nieto Carlos T. , Díez David , Garrido Narciso M.
Published: September 2019

A convenient asymmetric synthesis of methyl (2S,3S,6R)-6-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-piperidine-3-carboxylate is described, starting from Baylis–Hillman adducts. The route involves a domino process: allylic acetate rearrangement, stereoselective Ireland–Claisen rearrangement and asymmetric Michael addition, which provides a δ-amino acid derivative with full stereochemical control. A subsequent chemoselective transformation of one of the side-chain groups allows an effective cyclization leading to biologically interesting polysubstituted piperidines in which the 2,6-aryl groups could be attached sequentially.
Cavum Septum Pellucidum: Significance and Management
Authors: Bora Santanu , Tirpude Amit Purushottam , Gaikwad Manisha , Sahu Rabi N , Chinzah Lalsangzuala , Kujur Babita , Haldar Arpan
Published: September 2019

Cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) is a cystic midline brain malformation; it is mostly congenital but can also be acquired. CSP is mostly asymptomatic. Symptomatic CSP is very rare. Clinical presentation is usually nonspecific which may be due to increased intracranial pressure as a result of obstructive hydrocephalus or due to direct compression of the nearby structures. Diagnosis of CSP is not very easy specially relating its contribution to the presenting symptoms is difficult. However, once diagnosis is established surgery remains the treatment of choice. Nowadays endoscopic fenestration of the cyst is the surgical modality of choice. The outcome after surgical intervention is very promising with relief of obstructive symptoms along with improvement of cognitive function and behavioral symptoms.
Pairing electrostatic levitation with triboelectric transduction for high-performance self-powered MEMS sensors and actuators
Authors: Pallay Mark , Ibrahim Alwathiqbellah I. , Miles Ronald N. , Towfighian Shahrzad
Published: September 2019

We demonstrate that an electrostatic levitation microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switch can be operated by applying mechanical pressure to a triboelectric generator. The toggling mechanism of the switch draws no current but requires a high actuating voltage, while the generator can supply a high voltage but only produces microwatts of power. The synergistic combination results in an entirely self-powered sensor and switch; the normally closed MEMS switch can be toggled open by applying a threshold force to the generator without the need for any outside power or supplementary circuitry. A model of the MEMS switch and electrostatic force is validated with experimental data. An output voltage vs input force relationship for the generator is experimentally extracted.
No evidence for critical slowing down prior to human epileptic seizures
Authors: Wilkat Theresa , Rings Thorsten , Lehnertz Klaus
Published: September 2019

There is an ongoing debate whether generic early warning signals for critical transitions exist that can be applied across diverse systems. The human epileptic brain is often considered as a prototypical system, given the devastating and, at times, even life-threatening nature of the extreme event epileptic seizure. More than three decades of international effort has successfully identified predictors of imminent seizures. However, the suitability of typically applied early warning indicators for critical slowing down, namely, variance and lag-1 autocorrelation, for indexing seizure susceptibility is still controversially discussed. Here, we investigated long-term, multichannel recordings of brain dynamics from 28 subjects with epilepsy. Using a surrogate-based evaluation procedure of sensitivity and specificity of time-resolved estimates of early warning indicators, we found no evidence for critical slowing down prior to 105 epileptic seizures.
Improving resolution of solid state NMR in dense molecular hydrogen
Authors: Meier Thomas , Khandarkhaeva Saiana , Jacobs Jeroen , Dubrovinskaia Natalia , Dubrovinsky Leonid
Published: September 2019

Recent advancements in radio frequency resonator designs have led to the implementation of nuclear magnetic resonance in diamond anvil cells (DACs) at pressures well above 100 GPa. However, a relatively low resolution and the absence of decoupling sequences complicate the analysis of the results of solid state NMR in DACs. Here, we present the first application of homonuclear Lee-Goldburg (LG) decoupling on high density molecular hydrogen up to 64 GPa. Lenz lens based two-dimensional resonator structures were found to generate a homogeneous B1 field across sample cavities as small as 12 pl, a prerequisite for optimal decoupling. At ideal LG conditions, the broad 1H resonance of molecular ortho-hydrogen was narrowed 1600-fold, resulting in linewidths of 3.1 ppm.
Transferrin receptor binds virus capsid with dynamic motion
Authors: Lee Hyunwook , Callaway Heather M. , Cifuente Javier O. , Bator Carol M. , Parrish Colin R. , Hafenstein Susan L.
Published: September 2019

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is an important pathogen causing severe diseases in dogs, including acute hemorrhagic enteritis, myocarditis, and cerebellar disease. Cross-species transmission of CPV occurs as a result of mutations on the viral capsid surface that alter the species-specific binding to the host receptor, transferrin receptor type-1 (TfR). The interaction between CPV and TfR has been extensively studied, and previous analyses have suggested that the CPV–TfR complex is asymmetric. To enhance the understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms, we determined the CPV–TfR interaction using cryo-electron microscopy to solve the icosahedral (3.0-Å resolution) and asymmetric (5.0-Å resolution) complex structures. Structural analyses revealed conformational variations of the TfR molecules relative to the binding site, which translated into dynamic molecular interactions between CPV and TfR. The precise footprint of the receptor on the virus capsid was identified, along with the identity of the amino acid residues in the virus–receptor interface. Our “rock-and-roll” model provides an explanation for previous findings and gives insights into species jumping and the variation in host ranges associated with new pandemics in dogs.
Apparent thinning of human visual cortex during childhood is associated with myelination
Authors: Natu Vaidehi S. , Gomez Jesse , Barnett Michael , Jeska Brianna , Kirilina Evgeniya , Jaeger Carsten , Zhen Zonglei , Cox Siobhan , Weiner Kevin S. , Weiskopf Nikolaus , Grill-Spector Kalanit
Published: September 2019

Significance

MRI data suggest that the thickness of the human cortex appears to decrease during childhood development. However, the underlying microstructural mechanisms are unknown. Using multiple quantitative neuroimaging methods that are sensitive to microstructural tissue content, we found that gray matter tissue and its adjacent white matter in high-level visual cortex show tissue growth related to myelination. Increased myelin alters the contrast between gray and white matter in MRI images and, in turn, affects the apparent cortical boundary. These findings are important because they suggest that cortex does not thin during childhood but instead gets more myelinated. Our data impact understanding of typical and atypical brain development, and clinical conditions implicating myelin including dyslexia, autism, and multiple sclerosis.
Individual and collective encoding of risk in animal groups
Authors: Sosna Matthew M. G. , Twomey Colin R. , Bak-Coleman Joseph , Poel Winnie , Daniels Bryan C. , Romanczuk Pawel , Couzin Iain D.
Published: September 2019

Significance

Many biological systems exhibit an emergent ability to process information about their environment. This collective cognition emerges as a result of both the behavior of system components and their interactions, yet the relative importance of the two is often hard to disentangle. Here, we combined experiments and modeling to examine how fish schools collectively encode information about the external environment. We demonstrate that risk is predominantly encoded in the physical structure of groups, which individuals modulate in a way that augments or dampens behavioral cascades. We show that this modulation is necessary for behavioral cascades to spread and that it allows collective systems to be responsive to their environments even without changes in individual computation.
Crystal structure of
cis
-aconitate decarboxylase reveals the impact of naturally occurring human mutations on itaconate synthesis
Authors: Chen Fangfang , Lukat Peer , Iqbal Azeem Ahmed , Saile Kyrill , Kaever Volkhard , van den Heuvel Joop , Blankenfeldt Wulf , Büssow Konrad , Pessler Frank
Published: September 2019

cis
-Aconitate decarboxylase (CAD, also known as ACOD1 or Irg1) converts
cis
-aconitate to itaconate and plays central roles in linking innate immunity with metabolism and in the biotechnological production of itaconic acid by
Aspergillus terreus
. We have elucidated the crystal structures of human and murine CADs and compared their enzymological properties to CAD from
A. terreus
. Recombinant CAD is fully active in vitro without a cofactor. Murine CAD has the highest catalytic activity, whereas
Aspergillus
CAD is best adapted to a more acidic pH. CAD is not homologous to any known decarboxylase and appears to have evolved from prokaryotic enzymes that bind negatively charged substrates. CADs are homodimers, the active center is located in the interface between 2 distinct subdomains, and structural modeling revealed conservation in zebrafish and
Aspergillus
. We identified 8 active-site residues critical for CAD function and rare naturally occurring human mutations in the active site that abolished CAD activity, as well as a variant (Asn152Ser) that increased CAD activity and is common (allele frequency 20%) in African ethnicity. These results open the way for 1) assessing the potential impact of human CAD variants on disease risk at the population level, 2) developing therapeutic interventions to modify CAD activity, and 3) improving CAD efficiency for biotechnological production of itaconic acid.
Ca isotopes record rapid crystal growth in volcanic and subvolcanic systems
Authors: Antonelli Michael A. , Mittal Tushar , McCarthy Anders , Tripoli Barbara , Watkins James M. , DePaolo Donald J.
Published: September 2019

Significance

Timescale estimates for crystal growth in volcanic systems, which are generally much shorter than absolute crystal ages, are thought to be shortest in mafic (vs. silicic) systems. However, this result may be influenced by assumptions for growth rates and/or methodological biases. We show that Ca isotopes can be used to constrain crystal growth rates in volcanic systems and confirm that large kinetic isotope effects can arise during plagioclase crystallization in natural phenocrystic, orbicular, and experimental samples. Combined with crystal-size distribution analyses, our approach can constrain timescales for phenocryst formation across all major bulk magma compositions, without having to assume crystal growth rates. Our results yield comparable rejuvenation timescales for the silicic and mafic systems studied.
DDX5 helicase resolves G-quadruplex and is involved in
MYC
gene transcriptional activation
Authors: Wu Guanhui , Xing Zheng , Tran Elizabeth J. , Yang Danzhou
Published: September 2019

Significance

G-quadruplexes (G4) are 4-stranded nucleic acid secondary structures.
MYC
is a critical oncogene with a G4 in its promoter (MycG4), which acts as a transcription silencer. MycG4 is very stable and the pathological activation of
MYC
in cancers requires its active unfolding. We reveal herein that DDX5, a founding member of the DEAD-box RNA helicase family, can unfold DNA G4s. The unfolding mechanism of DDX5 is distinct from previously characterized G4 helicases. Importantly, DDX5 activates
MYC
gene transcription by proficiently unfolding the promoter MycG4. DDX5 is overexpressed in cancers and the DDX5–MycG4 interaction can be inhibited by small molecules to downregulate
MYC
. Therefore, our results suggest a new molecular target to suppress
MYC
for cancer intervention.
Magnetic field-driven quantum criticality in antiferromagnetic CePtIn
4
Authors: Das Debarchan , Gnida Daniel , Wiśniewski Piotr , Kaczorowski Dariusz
Published: September 2019

Significance

For the past few decades the unsettling thrust to understand the enigmatic physics at the quantum critical point has motivated the condensed-matter research community to explore more about this precarious point of instability. In our attempt to suppress the antiferromagnetic ordering in the compound CePtIn
4
by an applied field, we explored a fascinating magnetic phase diagram where the continuous suppression of

T

N

in a second-order mean field-like manner is terminated at a tricritical point which is also a triple point separating antiferromagnetic, paramagnetic, and intermediate metamagnetic sates. Beyond this point, the transition splits into 2 first-order metamagnetic transitions approaching quantum critical end points as

T
→

0. Thus, our findings on CePtIn
4
evince an extended platform for studying quantum criticality.
Single-molecule localization microscopy as nonlinear inverse problem
Authors: Yu Ji , Elmokadem Ahmed
Published: September 2019

We present a statistical framework to model the spatial distribution of molecules based on a single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) dataset. The latter consists of a collection of spatial coordinates and their associated uncertainties. We describe iterative parameter-estimation algorithms based on this framework, as well as a sampling algorithm to numerically evaluate the complete posterior distribution. We demonstrate that the inverse computation can be viewed as a type of image restoration process similar to the classical image deconvolution methods, except that it is performed on SMLM images. We further discuss an application of our statistical framework in the task of particle fusion using SMLM data. We show that the fusion algorithm based on our model outperforms the current state-of-the-art in terms of both accuracy and computational cost.
Fully 3D-printed carbon nanotube field emission electron sources with in-plane gate electrode
Authors: Perales-Martinez Imperio Anel , Velásquez-García Luis Fernando
Published: September 2019

We report the design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of the first fully additively manufactured carbon nanotube (CNT) field emission electron sources. The devices are created via direct ink writing (DIW)—one of the least expensive and most versatile additive manufacturing methods, capable of creating monolithic multi-material objects. The devices are 2.5 cm by 2.5 cm glass substrates coated with two imprints, i.e. a trace made of a CNT ink (the emitting electrode), symmetrically surrounded on both sides by a trace made of Ag microparticle ink (the in-plane extractor gate). The CNT ink is a mixture of (–COOH)-functionalized multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs), N,N-Dimethylformamide, and ethyl cellulose. Optimization of the formulation of the CNT ink resulted in a MWCNT concentration equal to 0.82 wt% and in imprints with an electrical resistivity equal to 0.78 Ω cm. 3D-printed devices having CNT imprints with active length equal to 25 mm (a single, straight trace with 174.5 μm gap between adjacent Ag microparticle imprints) and 135 mm (a square-loop spiral with 499 μm gap between Ag microparticle adjacent imprints) were characterized in a triode configuration (i.e. using an external anode electrode) at ∼2.5 × 10–7 Torr, yielding emission currents as large as 120 μA (60 μA cm−2), start-up voltages as low as 62 V and gate transmission as high as 99%. The low-cost cold cathode technology is compatible with compact applications such as miniaturized mass spectrometry, handheld x-ray generation, and nanosatellite electric propulsion.
Scaling theory for two-dimensional single domain growth driven by attachment of diffusing adsorbates
Authors: Seki Kazuhiko
Published: September 2019

Epitaxial growth methods are a key technology used in producing large-area thin films on substrates but as a result of various factors controlling growth processes the rational optimization of growth conditions is rather difficult. Mathematical modeling is one approach used in studying the effects of controlling factors on domain growth. The present study is motivated by a recently found scaling relation between the domain radius and time for chemical vapor deposition of graphene. Mathematically, we need to solve the Stefan problem; when the boundary moves, its position should be determined separately from the boundary conditions needed to obtain the spatial profile of diffusing adsorbates. We derive a closed equation for the growth rate constant defined as the domain area divided by the time duration. We obtain approximate analytical expressions for the growth rate; the growth rate constant is expressed as a function of the two-dimensional diffusion constant and the rate constant for the attachment of adsorbates to the solid domain. In experiments, the area is decreased by stopping the source gas flow. The rate of decrease of the area is obtained from theory. The theoretical results presented provide a foundation to study controlling factors for domain growth.
Implementations of more general solid-state (SWAP)

1

/

m

and controlled-(swap)

1

/

m

gates
Authors: Liu Wen-Qiang , Wei Hai-Rui
Published: September 2019

Universal quantum gates are the core elements in quantum information processing. We design two schemes to realize more general (SWAP)1/m
and controlled-(swap)1/m
gates (for integer

m
≥
1

) by directing flying single photons to solid-state quantum dots. The parameter m is easily controlled by adjusting two quarter-wave plates and one half-wave plate. Additional computational qubits are not required to construct the two gates. Evaluations of the gates indicate that our proposals are feasible with current experimental technology.