bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Debates: Does Information Theory Provide a New Paradigm for Earth Science? Emerging Concepts and Pathways of Information Physics
Authors: Perdigão Rui A.P. , Ehret Uwe , Knuth Kevin H. , Wang Jingfeng 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEntropy and Information are key concepts not only in Information Theory but also in Physics: historically in the fields of Thermodynamics, Statistical and Analytical Mechanics, and, more recently, in the field of Information Physics. In this paper we argue that Information Physics reconciles and generalizes statistical, geometric, and mechanistic views on information. We start by demonstrating how the use and interpretation of Entropy and Information coincide in Information Theory, Statistical Thermodynamics, and Analytical Mechanics, and how this can be taken advantage of when addressing Earth Science problems in general and hydrological problems in particular. In the second part we discuss how Information Physics provides ways to quantify Information and Entropy from fundamental physical principles. This extends their use to cases where the preconditions to calculate Entropy in the classical manner as an aggregate statistical measure are not met. Indeed, these preconditions are rarely met in the Earth Sciences due either to limited observations or the far‐from‐equilibrium nature of evolving systems. Information Physics therefore offers new opportunities for improving the treatment of Earth Science problems.
Optogenetic manipulation of calcium signals in single T cells in vivo
Authors: Bohineust Armelle , Garcia Zacarias , Corre Béatrice , Lemaître Fabrice , Bousso Philippe 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBy offering the possibility to manipulate cellular functions with spatiotemporal control, optogenetics represents an attractive tool for dissecting immune responses. However, applying these approaches to single cells in vivo remains particularly challenging for immune cells that are typically located in scattering tissues. Here, we introduce an improved calcium actuator with sensitivity allowing for two-photon photoactivation. Furthermore, we identify an actuator/reporter combination that permits the simultaneous manipulation and visualization of calcium signals in individual T cells in vivo. With this strategy, we document the consequences of defined patterns of calcium signals on T cell migration, adhesion, and chemokine release. Manipulation of individual immune cells in vivo should open new avenues for establishing the functional contribution of single immune cells engaged in complex reactions.
Nanobody-enabled monitoring of kappa opioid receptor states
Authors: Che Tao , English Justin , Krumm Brian E. , Kim Kuglae , Pardon Els , Olsen Reid H. J. , Wang Sheng , Zhang Shicheng , Diberto Jeffrey F. , Sciaky Noah , Carroll F. Ivy , Steyaert Jan , Wacker Daniel , Roth Bryan L. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractRecent studies show that GPCRs rapidly interconvert between multiple states although our ability to interrogate, monitor and visualize them is limited by a relative lack of suitable tools. We previously reported two nanobodies (Nb39 and Nb6) that stabilize distinct ligand- and efficacy-delimited conformations of the kappa opioid receptor. Here, we demonstrate via X-ray crystallography a nanobody-targeted allosteric binding site by which Nb6 stabilizes a ligand-dependent inactive state. As Nb39 stabilizes an active-like state, we show how these two state-dependent nanobodies can provide real-time reporting of ligand stabilized states in cells in situ. Significantly, we demonstrate that chimeric GPCRs can be created with engineered nanobody binding sites to report ligand-stabilized states. Our results provide both insights regarding potential mechanisms for allosterically modulating KOR with nanobodies and a tool for reporting the real-time, in situ dynamic range of GPCR activity.
Serial femtosecond crystallography on in vivo-grown crystals drives elucidation of mosquitocidal Cyt1Aa bioactivation cascade
Authors: Tetreau Guillaume , Banneville Anne-Sophie , Andreeva Elena A. , Brewster Aaron S. , Hunter Mark S. , Sierra Raymond G. , Teulon Jean-Marie , Young Iris D. , Burke Niamh , Grünewald Tilman A. , Beaudouin Joël , Snigireva Irina , Fernandez-Luna Maria Teresa , Burt Alister , Park Hyun-Woo , Signor Luca , Bafna Jayesh A. , Sadir Rabia , Fenel Daphna , Boeri-Erba Elisabetta , Bacia Maria , Zala Ninon , Laporte Frédéric , Després Laurence , Weik Martin , Boutet Sébastien , Rosenthal Martin , Coquelle Nicolas , Burghammer Manfred , Cascio Duilio , Sawaya Michael R. , Winterhalter Mathias , Gratton Enrico , Gutsche Irina , Federici Brian , Pellequer Jean-Luc , Sauter Nicholas K. , Colletier Jacques-Philippe 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCyt1Aa is the one of four crystalline protoxins produced by mosquitocidal bacteriumBacillus thuringiensis israelensis(Bti) that has been shown to delay the evolution of insect resistance in the field. Limiting our understanding ofBtiefficacy and the path to improved toxicity and spectrum has been ignorance of how Cyt1Aa crystallizes in vivo and of its mechanism of toxicity. Here, we use serial femtosecond crystallography to determine the Cyt1Aa protoxin structure from sub-micron-sized crystals produced inBti. Structures determined under various pH/redox conditions illuminate the role played by previously uncharacterized disulfide-bridge and domain-swapped interfaces from crystal formation inBtito dissolution in the larval mosquito midgut. Biochemical, toxicological and biophysical methods enable the deconvolution of key steps in the Cyt1Aa bioactivation cascade. We additionally show that the size, shape, production yield, pH sensitivity and toxicity of Cyt1Aa crystals grown inBtican be controlled by single atom substitution.
DNA metabarcoding and spatial modelling link diet diversification with distribution homogeneity in European bats
Authors: Alberdi Antton , Razgour Orly , Aizpurua Ostaizka , Novella-Fernandez Roberto , Aihartza Joxerra , Budinski Ivana , Garin Inazio , Ibáñez Carlos , Izagirre Eñaut , Rebelo Hugo , Russo Danilo , Vlaschenko Anton , Zhelyazkova Violeta , Zrnčić Vida , Gilbert M. Thomas P. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractInferences of the interactions between species’ ecological niches and spatial distribution have been historically based on simple metrics such as low-resolution dietary breadth and range size, which might have impeded the identification of meaningful links between niche features and spatial patterns. We analysed the relationship between dietary niche breadth and spatial distribution features of European bats, by combining continent-wide DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples with species distribution modelling. Our results show that while range size is not correlated with dietary features of bats, the homogeneity of the spatial distribution of species exhibits a strong correlation with dietary breadth. We also found that dietary breadth is correlated with bats’ hunting flexibility. However, these two patterns only stand when the phylogenetic relations between prey are accounted for when measuring dietary breadth. Our results suggest that the capacity to exploit different prey types enables species to thrive in more distinct environments and therefore exhibit more homogeneous distributions within their ranges.
Van der Waals thin films of WTe2 for natural hyperbolic plasmonic surfaces
Authors: Wang Chong , Huang Shenyang , Xing Qiaoxia , Xie Yuangang , Song Chaoyu , Wang Fanjie , Yan Hugen 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA hyperbolic plasmonic surface supports highly directional propagating polaritons with extremely large density of states. Such plasmon polaritons have been realized in artificially structured metasurfaces. However, the upper bound of the achievable plasmon wave vector is limited by the structure size, which calls for a natural hyperbolic surface without any structuring. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a natural hyperbolic plasmonic surface based on thin films of WTe2 in the light wavelength range of 16 to 23 microns by far infrared absorption spectroscopy. The topological transition from the elliptic to the hyperbolic regime is further manifested by mapping the isofrequency contours of the plasmon. Moreover, the anisotropy character and plasmon frequency exhibit prominent temperature dependence. Our study demonstrates the first natural platform to host 2D hyperbolic plasmons, which opens exotic avenues for the manipulation of plasmon propagation, light-matter interaction and light emission in planar photonics.
Fermi-arc supercurrent oscillations in Dirac semimetal Josephson junctions
Authors: Li Cai-Zhen , Wang An-Qi , Li Chuan , Zheng Wen-Zhuang , Brinkman Alexander , Yu Da-Peng , Liao Zhi-Min 
Published: March 2020

AbstractOne prominent hallmark of topological semimetals is the existence of unusual topological surface states known as Fermi arcs. Nevertheless, the Fermi-arc superconductivity remains elusive. Here, we report the critical current oscillations from surface Fermi arcs in Nb-Dirac semimetal Cd3As2-Nb Josephson junctions. The supercurrent from bulk states are suppressed under an in-plane magnetic field ~0.1 T, while the supercurrent from the topological surface states survives up to 0.5 T. Contrary to the minimum normal-state conductance, the Fermi-arc carried supercurrent shows a maximum critical value near the Dirac point, which is consistent with the fact that the Fermi arcs have maximum density of state at the Dirac point. Moreover, the critical current exhibits periodic oscillations with a parallel magnetic field, which is well understood by considering the in-plane orbital effect from the surface states. Our results suggest the Dirac semimetal combined with superconductivity should be promising for topological quantum devices.
The motor vertical in the absence of gravicentric cues
Authors: Bock Otmar , Bury Nils 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWhen participants are asked to flip an omnidirectional switch “down”, the direction of their responses depends mainly on gravicentric, less so on egocentric and least on visual cues about the vertical (Lackner and DiZio, Exp. Brain Res. 130:2−26, 2000). Here we evaluate response direction when gravicentric cues are not available. Participants flipped an omnidirectional switch “down” when gravito-inertial force acted orthogonally to the response plane on earth (session E), and when it was near zero during parabolic flights (session P). We found that the relative weight of visual cues was similar in both sessions, and it was similar to that in an earlier study where participants stood upright. Across all three data sets, the weight of visual cues averaged 0.09. The relative weight of egocentric cues was also similar in both sessions, averaging 0.87; however, it was significantly lower in the earlier study with upright participants, where it averaged 0.43. We further found that informative and noninformative tactile stimulation had no substantial effects on response direction, which suggests that the earlier reported anchoring effect of tactile signals for the perceived vertical may not extend to the motor vertical. We conclude that the absence of gravicentric cues is compensated by a higher weight of egocentric cues, but not by a higher weight of visual cues. As a consequence, astronauts, divers and persons who work on ground in a horizontal body posture may mishandle equipment because of their strong reliance on egocentric cues.
Motor representations underlie the reading of unfamiliar letter combinations
Authors: Taitz Alan , Assaneo M. Florencia , Shalom Diego E. , Trevisan Marcos A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSilent reading is a cognitive operation that produces verbal content with no vocal output. One relevant question is the extent to which this verbal content is processed as overt speech in the brain. To address this, we acquired sound, eye trajectories and lips’ dynamics during the reading of consonant-consonant-vowel (CCV) combinations which are infrequent in the language. We found that the duration of the first fixations on the CCVs during silent reading correlate with the duration of the transitions between consonants when the CCVs are actually uttered. With the aid of an articulatory model of the vocal system, we show that transitions measure the articulatory effort required to produce the CCVs. This means that first fixations during silent reading are lengthened when the CCVs require a greater laryngeal and/or articulatory effort to be pronounced. Our results support that a speech motor code is used for the recognition of infrequent text strings during silent reading.
Azlocillin can be the potential drug candidate against drug-tolerant Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto JLB31
Authors: Pothineni Venkata Raveendra , Potula Hari-Hara S. K. , Ambati Aditya , Mallajosyula Venkata Vamsee Aditya , Sridharan Brindha , Inayathullah Mohammed , Ahmed Mohamed Sohail , Rajadas Jayakumar 
Published: March 2020

AbstractLyme disease is one of most common vector-borne diseases, reporting more than 300,000 cases annually in the United States. Treating Lyme disease during its initial stages with traditional tetracycline antibiotics is effective. However, 10–20% of patients treated with antibiotic therapy still shows prolonged symptoms of fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and perceived cognitive impairment. When these symptoms persists for more than 6 months to years after completing conventional antibiotics treatment are called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Though the exact reason for the prolongation of post treatment symptoms are not known, the growing evidence from recent studies suggests it might be due to the existence of drug-tolerant persisters. In order to identify effective drug molecules that kill drug-tolerant borrelia we have tested two antibiotics, azlocillin and cefotaxime that were identified by us earlier. The in vitro efficacy studies of azlocillin and cefotaxime on drug-tolerant persisters were done by semisolid plating method. The results obtained were compared with one of the currently prescribed antibiotic doxycycline. We found that azlocillin completely kills late log phase and 7–10 days old stationary phase B. burgdorferi. Our results also demonstrate that azlocillin and cefotaxime can effectively kill in vitro doxycycline-tolerant B. burgdorferi. Moreover, the combination drug treatment of azlocillin and cefotaxime effectively killed doxycycline-tolerant B. burgdorferi. Furthermore, when tested in vivo, azlocillin has shown good efficacy against B. burgdorferi in mice model. These seminal findings strongly suggests that azlocillin can be effective in treating B. burgdorferi sensu stricto JLB31 infection and furthermore in depth research is necessary to evaluate its potential use for Lyme disease therapy.
Rolling away: a novel context-dependent escape behaviour discovered in ants
Authors: Grasso Donato A. , Giannetti Daniele , Castracani Cristina , Spotti Fiorenza A. , Mori Alessandra 
Published: March 2020

AbstractFor animals facing dangers, the best option to optimize costs and benefits of defence sometimes may be avoidance. Here we report the discovery of a peculiar strategy adopted byMyrmecina graminicola, a cryptic ant living in forest floor. Experiments showed that when disturbed these ants respond with immobility. However, upon perceiving disturbance but under specific inclinations of the substrate, they shift to an active escaping strategy: rolling away. This is a context-dependent behaviour adopted only in appropriate circumstances. During rolling, the ants assume a ball-like shape using antennae and hind legs to obtain an active movement along a stable trajectory. Finally, we assessed the adaptive value of this strategy measuring its effectiveness in defence against enemies. This is the first example of locomotion by rolling discovered in ants and one of the very few among animals, offering opportunities for multidisciplinary research on the adaptations and biomechanics underlying it.
Nutrients, minerals, antioxidant pigments and phytochemicals, and antioxidant capacity of the leaves of stem amaranth
Authors: Sarker Umakanta , Oba Shinya , Daramy Moses Ahmed 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWe evaluated 17 genotypes of stem amaranth (Amaranthus lividus) in terms of dietary fiber, moisture, carbohydrates, fat, ash, gross energy, protein, minerals, phytopigments, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), vitamins, total flavonoids (TFC), total polyphenols (TPC) and their variations. Stem amaranth leaves have abundant dietary fiber, moisture, carbohydrates, and protein. We found significant amount of potassium, calcium, magnesium (9.61, 24.40, and 29.77 mg g−1 DW), iron, manganese, copper, zinc, (1131.98, 269.89, 25.03, and 1006.53 µg g−1 DW), phytopigments such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll ab chlorophyll b, (27.76, 42.06, and 14.30 mg 100 g−1 FW), betalain, betaxanthin, betacyanin (62.92, 31.81, 31.12 µg 100 g−1 FW), total carotenoids, beta-carotene (1675.38, 1289.26 µg g−1 FW), vitamin C (1355.46 µg g−1 FW), TPC, TFC (228.63 GAE and 157.42 RE µg g−1 DW), and TAC (DPPH, ABTS+) (26.61, 51.73 TEAC µg g−1 DW) in the leaves of stem amaranth. Genotypes exhibited a wide range of variations. Three genotypes DS40, DS30, and DS26 could be used as an antioxidant profile enriched stem amaranth. Phenolics, phytopigments, flavonoids, and vitamins of stem amaranth leaves exhibited strong antioxidant activity. Stem amaranth could be a potential source of dietary fiber, moisture, carbohydrates, protein, minerals, phenolics, phytopigments, flavonoids, and vitamins in our daily diet for attaining nutritional and antioxidant sufficiency.
Multivariate climate departures have outpaced univariate changes across global lands
Authors: Abatzoglou John T. , Dobrowski Solomon Z. , Parks Sean A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractChanges in individual climate variables have been widely documented over the past century. However, assessments that consider changes in the collective interaction amongst multiple climate variables are relevant for understanding climate impacts on ecological and human systems yet are less well documented than univariate changes. We calculate annual multivariate climate departures during 1958–2017 relative to a baseline 1958–1987 period that account for covariance among four variables important to Earth’s biota and associated systems: annual climatic water deficit, annual evapotranspiration, average minimum temperature of the coldest month, and average maximum temperature of the warmest month. Results show positive trends in multivariate climate departures that were nearly three times that of univariate climate departures across global lands. Annual multivariate climate departures exceeded two standard deviations over the past decade for approximately 30% of global lands. Positive trends in climate departures over the last six decades were found to be primarily the result of changes in mean climate conditions consistent with the modeled effects of anthropogenic climate change rather than changes in variability. These results highlight the increasing novelty of annual climatic conditions viewed through a multivariate lens and suggest that changes in multivariate climate departures have generally outpaced univariate departures in recent decades.
Novel gastrointestinal disease in common marmosets characterised by duodenal dilation: a clinical and pathological study
Authors: Mineshige Takayuki , Inoue Takashi , Yasuda Masahiko , Yurimoto Terumi , Kawai Kenji , Sasaki Erika 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCommon marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are frequently used for biomedical research but gastrointestinal diseases have been major health problems to maintain captive marmosets. We have diagnosed a novel gastrointestinal disease in marmosets, as which we propose to call ‘marmoset duodenal dilation syndrome’; this disease is characterised by proximal duodenal obstruction and dilation. This study aimed to reveal the clinical and pathological findings of this syndrome and establish appropriate diagnostic imaging methods. Animals with the syndrome comprised 21.9% of the necropsy cases at the Central Institute for Experimental Animals in Kawasaki, Japan. The syndrome is characterised by clinical signs included vomiting, bloating, and weight loss. Grossly, all diseased animals exhibited significant dilation of the descending part of the duodenum, which contained a mixture of gas and fluid. The duodenal dilations were definitively diagnosed by contrast radiography. Moreover, a combination of plain radiography and ultrasonography was found to be a viable screening method for diagnosing duodenal dilation. The animals with duodenal dilation characteristically showed adhesions between the descending duodenum and ascending colon with chronic peritonitis. The cause of marmoset duodenal dilation syndrome remains unknown, but was likely multifactorial, including peritoneal adhesion, chronic ulcer, and feeding conditions in this study.
Functions of post-conflict bystander affiliations toward aggressors and victims in bottlenose dolphins
Authors: Yamamoto Chisato , Ishibashi Toshiaki , Kashiwagi Nobuyuki , Amano Masao 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPost-conflict affiliations initiated by bystanders (bystander affiliation) toward aggressors or victims have been suggested to represent the function of conflict management in some social living species. However, the function of bystander affiliations toward aggressors and victims has not been examined in marine mammals. In the present study, we investigated the function of bystander affiliations to aggressors and victims in bottlenose dolphins: self-protection, the substitute of reconciliation, social facilitation and tension relief of opponents. These bystander affiliations did not reduce post-conflict attacks by former opponents against group members. Bystander affiliation to aggressors tended to be performed by a bystander who had an affiliative relationship with the aggressor but not with the victim. Bystander affiliation to victims also tended to be initiated by a bystander who had an affiliative relationship with the victim but not the aggressor and was close to former opponents at the end of aggressions. Affiliation among group members who stayed near former opponents during aggressions did not increase after aggressions compared to that under control conditions. Renewed aggressions between former opponents decreased after bystander affiliations in our previous study. Bystanders who showed social closeness to former opponents may initiate bystander affiliation toward their affiliative former opponents because they may feel emotion, such as anxiety and excitement, of former opponents. Bystander affiliation toward aggressors and victims may function as tension relief between former opponents. Bystanders of bottlenose dolphins, who may have a relaxed dominant style, might initiate post-conflict affiliation to affiliative individuals unaffected by the dominance relationships among them, unlike despotic species.