bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cluster Analysis of Marine Terraces and Quantitative Seismotectonic Interpretation of the Boso Peninsula, Central Japan
Authors: Komori Junki , Ando Ryosuke , Shishikura Masanobu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractSubjectivity frequently arises in the classification of marine terraces using conventional methods, impacting the robustness of geodynamic inferences made based on those terraces. This paper proposes a new method for classifying marine terraces using a digital elevation model (DEM) and a statistical clustering analysis which provides us quantitative data sets of prehistorical crustal deformations along the subduction zones. We focus on the characteristics of marine terraces with paleoshoreline angles (the bases of abandoned erosional cliffs) that are approximately parallel to each other in an elevation view and adopt modified K‐means clustering to group them. This method can simultaneously provide observational data on various geomorphological parameters of marine terraces, such as the width of the terrace platforms, the curvature of cliffs, and accurate elevation distributions of the paleo–sea levels. We applied this method to the Holocene marine terraces developed on the Boso Peninsula, central Japan, called Numa terraces, which are formed by recurrent interplate earthquakes. Four Numa terrace levels are successfully distinguished by this method solely based on objective processing. We evaluated the degree of weathering of the terrace landform and found it matches with terrace age. By quantifying elevations of Numa terraces and their spatial variation, we see the cumulativeness of tilting of the terrace elevations, dipping up toward the trough axis, and that the relative terrace heights are similar despite different time intervals between terraces. These findings are inconsistent with the prediction of a previously proposed dislocation model and provide essential new constraints for the slip source of the paleo‐earthquakes.
Feedback improves compliance of pressure relief activities in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury
Authors: Hubli Michèle , Zemp Roland , Albisser Urs , Camenzind Franziska , Leonova Olena , Curt Armin , Taylor William R. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Study design
Prospective cross-sectional pre-post pilot study.

Objectives
This pilot study aimed to evaluate the potential for improving pressure relief behaviour in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI) using a novel feedback system based on textile pressure sensor technology.

Setting
In- and out-patient clinic of the Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.

Methods
Nine wheelchair users with SCI (3 females, 50 ± 12 years of age, 2 tetra- and 7 paraplegics) were equipped with a feedback system (sensomativewheelchair) for three continuous weeks. The system consists of a textile pressure mat and a mobile smartphone application that reminds participants to perform missing pressure reliefs during regular and unobserved wheelchair usage in a customized manner. Pressure reliefs were detected using a subject-specific random forest classifier. Improvements of relief quality, duration and frequency were analysed by comparing week 1 (baseline) with no feedback, i.e., only pressure data recorded, against week 2 (with feedback). Carry-over effects of improved relief behaviour were studied in week 3 (no feedback, pressure data only recorded).

Results
All participants increased their relief frequency and performed in median 82% (IQRs: 55%–99%) of the required reliefs while using the feedback system, whereas the median relief frequency was only 11% (IQRs: 10%–31%) during the baseline condition. Every participant who did not perform reliefs of sufficient duration (based on the recommendations of the therapist) during week 1 showed a significant improvement while using the feedback system.

Conclusion
Subject-specific feedback using the novel feedback system may have the potential for improving the regularity of an individual’s relief activities, and may ultimately be an instrument for reducing the risk of developing pressure ulcers.
Collective near-field coupling and nonlocal phenomena in infrared-phononic metasurfaces for nano-light canalization
Authors: Li Peining , Hu Guangwei , Dolado Irene , Tymchenko Mykhailo , Qiu Cheng-Wei , Alfaro-Mozaz Francisco Javier , Casanova Fèlix , Hueso Luis E. , Liu Song , Edgar James H. , Vélez Saül , Alu Andrea , Hillenbrand Rainer 
Published: July 2020

AbstractPolaritons – coupled excitations of photons and dipolar matter excitations – can propagate along anisotropic metasurfaces with either hyperbolic or elliptical dispersion. At the transition from hyperbolic to elliptical dispersion (corresponding to a topological transition), various intriguing phenomena are found, such as an enhancement of the photonic density of states, polariton canalization and hyperlensing. Here, we investigate theoretically and experimentally the topological transition, the polaritonic coupling and the strong nonlocal response in a uniaxial infrared-phononic metasurface, a grating of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanoribbons. By hyperspectral infrared nanoimaging, we observe a synthetic transverse optical phonon resonance (strong collective near-field coupling of the nanoribbons) in the middle of the hBN Reststrahlen band, yielding a topological transition from hyperbolic to elliptical dispersion. We further visualize and characterize the spatial evolution of a deeply subwavelength canalization mode near the transition frequency, which is a collimated polariton that is the basis for hyperlensing and diffraction-less propagation.
Ethanol exposure increases mutation rate through error-prone polymerases
Authors: Voordeckers Karin , Colding Camilla , Grasso Lavinia , Pardo Benjamin , Hoes Lore , Kominek Jacek , Gielens Kim , Dekoster Kaat , Gordon Jonathan , Van der Zande Elisa , Bircham Peter , Swings Toon , Michiels Jan , Van Loo Peter , Nuyts Sandra , Pasero Philippe , Lisby Michael , Verstrepen Kevin J. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractEthanol is a ubiquitous environmental stressor that is toxic to all lifeforms. Here, we use the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae to show that exposure to sublethal ethanol concentrations causes DNA replication stress and an increased mutation rate. Specifically, we find that ethanol slows down replication and affects localization of Mrc1, a conserved protein that helps stabilize the replisome. In addition, ethanol exposure also results in the recruitment of error-prone DNA polymerases to the replication fork. Interestingly, preventing this recruitment through mutagenesis of the PCNA/Pol30 polymerase clamp or deleting specific error-prone polymerases abolishes the mutagenic effect of ethanol. Taken together, this suggests that the mutagenic effect depends on a complex mechanism, where dysfunctional replication forks lead to recruitment of error-prone polymerases. Apart from providing a general mechanistic framework for the mutagenic effect of ethanol, our findings may also provide a route to better understand and prevent ethanol-associated carcinogenesis in higher eukaryotes.
ATP-powered molecular recognition to engineer transient multivalency and self-sorting 4D hierarchical systems
Authors: Deng Jie , Walther Andreas 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBiological systems organize multiple hierarchical structures in parallel, and create dynamic assemblies and functions by energy dissipation. In contrast, emerging artificial non-equilibrium self-assembling systems have remained relatively simplistic concerning hierarchical design, and non-equilibrium multi-component systems are uncharted territory. Here we report a modular DNA toolbox allowing to program transient non-equilibrium multicomponent systems across hierarchical length scales by introducing chemically fueled molecular recognition orchestrated by reaction networks of concurrent ATP-powered ligation and cleavage of freely programmable DNA building blocks. Going across hierarchical levels, we demonstrate transient side-chain functionalized nucleic acid polymers, and further introduce the concept of transient cooperative multivalency as a key to bridge length scales to pioneer fuel-driven encapsulation, self-assembly of colloids, and non-equilibrium transient narcissistic colloidal self-sorting on a systems level. The fully programmable and functionalizable DNA components pave the way to design chemically fueled 4D (3 space, 1 time) molecular multicomponent systems and autonomous materials.
Identification of a unique temporal signature in blood and BAL associated with IPF progression
Authors: Norman Katy C. , O’Dwyer David N. , Salisbury Margaret L. , DiLillo Katarina M. , Lama Vibha N. , Xia Meng , Gurczynski Stephen J. , White Eric S. , Flaherty Kevin R. , Martinez Fernando J. , Murray Susan , Moore Bethany B. , Arnold Kelly B. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and heterogeneous interstitial lung disease of unknown origin with a low survival rate. There are few treatment options available due to the fact that mechanisms underlying disease progression are not well understood, likely because they arise from dysregulation of complex signaling networks spanning multiple tissue compartments. To better characterize these networks, we used systems-focused data-driven modeling approaches to identify cross-tissue compartment (blood and bronchoalveolar lavage) and temporal proteomic signatures that differentiated IPF progressors and non-progressors. Partial least squares discriminant analysis identified a signature of 54 baseline (week 0) blood and lung proteins that differentiated IPF progression status by the end of 80 weeks of follow-up with 100% cross-validation accuracy. Overall we observed heterogeneous protein expression patterns in progressors compared to more homogenous signatures in non-progressors, and found that non-progressors were enriched for proteomic processes involving regulation of the immune/defense response. We also identified a temporal signature of blood proteins that was significantly different at early and late progressor time points (p < 0.0001), but not present in non-progressors. Overall, this approach can be used to generate new hypothesis for mechanisms associated with IPF progression and could readily be translated to other complex and heterogeneous diseases.
Characterization of two types of cesium-bearing microparticles emitted from the Fukushima accident via multiple synchrotron radiation analyses
Authors: Miura Hikaru , Kurihara Yuichi , Yamamoto Masayoshi , Sakaguchi Aya , Yamaguchi Noriko , Sekizawa Oki , Nitta Kiyofumi , Higaki Shogo , Tsumune Daisuke , Itai Takaaki , Takahashi Yoshio 
Published: July 2020

AbstractA part of radiocesium emitted during the Fukushima nuclear accident was incorporated in glassy water-resistant microparticles, called Type-A particles, which are spherical with ~ 0.1 to 10 µm diameter and ~ 10–2 to 102 Bq cesium-137 (137Cs) radioactivity; they were emitted from Unit 2 or 3 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Meanwhile, Type-B particles, having various shapes, 50–400 µm diameter, and 101–104 Bq 137Cs radioactivity, were emitted from Unit 1. The chemical properties of these radioactive particles have been reported in detail, but previous studies investigated only a small number of particles, especially Type-B particles. We tried to understand radioactive particles systematically by analyzing a large number of particles. Micro-X-ray computed tomography combined with X-ray fluorescence analysis revealed the presence of many voids and iron-rich part within Type-B particles. The 137Cs concentration (Bq mm–3) of Type-A particles was ~ 10,000 times higher than that of Type-B particles. Among the Type-B particles, the spherical ones had higher concentration of volatile elements than the non-spherical ones. These differences suggested that Type-A particles were formed through gas condensation, whereas Type-B particles were formed through melt solidification. These findings might contribute to the safe decommissioning of reactors and environmental impact assessment.
Avidin grafted dextran nanostructure enables a month-long intra-discal retention
Authors: Wagner Erica K. , Vedadghavami Armin , Jacobsen Timothy D. , Goel Shakti A. , Chahine Nadeen O. , Bajpayee Ambika G. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractLow back pain is often the direct result of degeneration of the intervertebral disc. A wide range of therapeutics including anti-catabolic, pro-anabolic factors and chemo-attractants that can stimulate resident cells and recruit endogenous progenitors are under consideration. The avascular nature and the dense matrix of this tissue make it challenging for systemically administered drugs to reach their target cells inside the nucleus pulposus (NP), the central gelatinous region of the intervertebral disc (IVD). Therefore, local intra-discal injection of therapeutic drugs directly into the NP is a clinically relevant delivery approach, however, suffers from rapid and wide diffusion outside the injection site resulting in short lived benefits while causing systemic toxicity. NP has a high negative fixed charge density due to the presence of negatively charged aggrecan glycosaminoglycans that provide swelling pressures, compressive stiffness and hydration to the tissue. This negative fixed charge density can also be used for enhancing intra-NP residence time of therapeutic drugs. Here we design positively charged Avidin grafted branched Dextran nanostructures that utilize long-range binding effects of electrostatic interactions to bind with the intra-NP negatively charged groups. The binding is strong enough to enable a month-long retention of cationic nanostructures within the NP following intra-discal administration, yet weak and reversible to allow movement to reach cells dispersed throughout the tissue. The branched carrier has multiple sites for drug conjugation and can reduce the need for multiple injections of high drug doses and minimize associated side-effects, paving the way for effective clinical translation of potential therapeutics for treatment of low back pain and disc degeneration.
Fatty acid analyses provide novel insights on hippo defecation and consequences for aquatic food webs
Authors: Dawson Jessica , Pillay Deena , Perissinotto Renzo , Richoux Nicole B. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBy defecating grasses into aquatic systems at massive scales and intensities, hippos can initiate complex changes to aquatic ecosystems. However, consequent effects on food webs are not well understood, particularly regarding shifts in basal resource contributions to consumer diets and their physiological condition. Here, we use fatty acid analysis to show that dense hippo aggregations and high dung loading are associated with (1) alterations to basal resource pools, (2) reduced quality of sediment organic matter and (3) increases in terrestrial and bacterial biomarker levels, but declines in those of diatoms in estuarine secondary consumers. While hippo defecation can increase boundary permeability between terrestrial and aquatic systems, our findings indicate that this may lead to a shift from a microphytobenthic food web base to one with increasing bacterial contributions to higher consumers. Our findings expand understanding of the mechanisms by which an iconic African megaherbivore indirectly structures aquatic ecosystems.
Intruder traits modulate aggressive behavior of territory owners
Authors: Miyai Caio Akira , Sanches Fábio Henrique Carretero , Costa Tânia Márcia , Barreto Rodrigo Egydio 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe prior residence effect consists of a higher probability of territory owners to win a fight against intruders, as observed in several territorial species across animal kingdom. However, in investigations on territorial behavior, intruder traits have been assumed as fixed. Thus, we used a territorial species as experimental model to evaluate the effect of intruder traits on aggressive behavior of territory owners. During fights staged between territory owners and intruders, intruder traits, linked with visual signals of social status (dominant-subordinate position), modulate fighting behavior of territory owners, but prior residence effect still occurred. Intruder traits must be addressed more effectively for improving the theoretical understanding of territoriality.
Insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in different hepatoma cell lines deviate from hepatocyte physiology toward a convergent aberrant phenotype
Authors: Molinaro Angela , Becattini Barbara , Solinas Giovanni 
Published: July 2020

AbstractHepatoma cell lines are widely used to model the hepatocyte for insulin signaling and fatty liver disease. However, a direct comparison of insulin action in primary hepatocytes and in hepatoma cell lines is needed to validate this model and to better understand liver cancer. Here we have investigated insulin signaling, gluconeogenic gene expression, glucose production, and fatty acid synthase abundance in primary hepatocytes and in HepG2, Hepa 1–6, and McARH7777 hepatoma cell lines. Differences in the electrophoretic profiles of protein extracts from human and mouse primary hepatocytes and the hepatoma cells lines are shown. Compared to primary hepatocytes, hepatoma cells showed high basal phosphorylation of AKT at Thr 308 and constitutively activated RAS-MAPK signaling, which were resistant to the dominant negative Ras mutant H-Ras17N. Hepatoma cell lines also showed defective expression of gluconeogenic enzymes, insulin unresponsive GSK phosphorylation, and marginal glucose production. Hepatoma cells also showed lower protein levels of fatty acid synthase and a largely distinct protein electrophoresis profile from hepatocytes but similar between different hepatoma lines. We conclude that hepatoma cell lines do not accurately model the hepatocyte for insulin action but may be valuable tools to investigate the proteomic changes conferring to hepatocellular carcinoma its peculiar metabolisms.
Pro-angiogenic scaffold-free Bio three-dimensional conduit developed from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells promotes peripheral nerve regeneration
Authors: Mitsuzawa Sadaki , Zhao Chengzhu , Ikeguchi Ryosuke , Aoyama Tomoki , Kamiya Daisuke , Ando Maki , Takeuchi Hisataka , Akieda Shizuka , Nakayama Koichi , Matsuda Shuichi , Ikeya Makoto 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAlthough autologous nerve grafting is widely accepted as the gold standard treatment for segmental nerve defects, harvesting autologous nerves is highly invasive and leads to functional loss of the ablated part. In response, artificial nerve conduits made of artificial materials have been reported, but the efficacy of the nerve regeneration still needs improvement. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of the Bio three-dimensional (3D) conduit composed of xeno-free human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs). The 5-mm nerve gap of the sciatic nerve in immunodeficient rats was bridged with the Bio 3D conduit or silicone tube. Functional and histological recovery were assessed at 8 weeks after surgery. The regenerated nerve in the Bio 3D group was significantly superior to that in the silicone group based on morphology, kinematics, electrophysiology, and wet muscle weight. Gene expression analyses demonstrated neurotrophic and angiogenic factors. Macroscopic observation revealed neovascularization both inside and on the surface of the Bio 3D conduit. Upon their subcutaneous implantation, iMSCs could induce angiogenesis. The Bio 3D conduit fabricated from iMSCs are an effective strategy for nerve regeneration in animal model. This technology will be useful in future clinical situations.
Cyclic di-GMP cyclase SSFG_02181 from Streptomyces ghanaensis ATCC14672 regulates antibiotic biosynthesis and morphological differentiation in streptomycetes
Authors: Nuzzo Desirèe , Makitrynskyy Roman , Tsypik Olga , Bechthold Andreas 
Published: July 2020

AbstractStreptomycetes are filamentous bacteria famous for their ability to produce a vast majority of clinically important secondary metabolites. Both complex morphogenesis and onset of antibiotic biosynthesis are tightly linked in streptomycetes and require series of specific signals for initiation. Cyclic dimeric 3′–5′ guanosine monophosphate, c-di-GMP, one of the well-known bacterial second messengers, has been recently shown to govern morphogenesis and natural product synthesis in Streptomyces by altering the activity of the pleiotropic regulator BldD. Here we report a role of the heme-binding diguanylate cyclase SSFG_02181 from Streptomyces ghanaensis in the regulation of the peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase inhibitor moenomycin A biosynthesis. Deletion of ssfg_02181 reduced the moenomycin A accumulation and led to a precocious sporulation, while the overexpression of the gene blocked sporogenesis and remarkably improved antibiotic titer. We also demonstrate that BldD negatively controls the expression of ssfg_02181, which stems from direct binding of BldD to the ssfg_02181 promoter. Notably, the heterologous expression of ssfg_02181 in model Streptomyces spp. arrested morphological progression at aerial mycelium level and strongly altered the production of secondary metabolites. Altogether, our work underscores the significance of c-di-GMP-mediated signaling in natural product biosynthesis and pointed to extensively applicable approach to increase antibiotic production levels in streptomycetes.
Experimental proof of emergent subharmonic attenuation zones in a nonlinear locally resonant metamaterial
Authors: Zega Valentina , Silva Priscilla B. , Geers Marc G. D. , Kouznetsova Varvara G. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractHigh-performance locally resonant metamaterials represent the next frontier in materials technology due to their extraordinary properties obtained through materials design, enabling a variety of potential applications. The most exceptional feature of locally resonant metamaterials is the subwavelength size of their unit cells, which allows to overcome the limits in wave focusing, imaging and sound/vibration isolation. To respond to the fast evolution of these artificial materials and the increasing need for advanced and exceptional properties, the emergence of a new mechanism for wave mitigation and control consisting in a nonlinear interaction between propagating and evanescent waves has recently been theoretically demonstrated. Here, we present the experimental proof of this phenomenon: the appearance of a subharmonic transmission attenuation zone due to energy exchange induced by autoparametric resonance. These results pave the path to a new generation of nonlinear locally resonant metamaterials.
Tuning layered superstructures in precision polymers
Authors: Danke Varun , Reimann Sophie , Binder Wolfgang H. , Gupta Gaurav , Beiner Mario 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAn approach to influence and control layered superstructures by varying the methylene sequence length between two consecutive functional groups in linear precision polymers containing 2,6-diaminopyridine (DAP) groups is presented. Layered superstructures with repeating units involving three monomeric units along the chain direction with very high coherence lengths upto 110 nm are observed in case of shorter alkyl segments, (16 and 18 $${\hbox {CH}}_{2}$$CH2 units), while more conventional layer superstructures incorporating only one monomer are found for related polymers with 20 $${\hbox {CH}}_{2}$$CH2 units per methylene sequence. A building block model explaining the unusually large periodicity of three monomeric units is proposed wherein layers containing crystalline or amorphous methylene sequences occur in different combinations. Occurrence of different layered structures depending on crystallization conditions, methylene sequence length as well as functional group type is explained by a competition of H-interactions between the DAP groups and the van der Waal forces between the hydrophobic methylene groups.