bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Orbitofrontal control of visual cortex gain promotes visual associative learning
Authors: Liu Dechen , Deng Juan , Zhang Zhewei , Zhang Zhi-Yu , Sun Yan-Gang , Yang Tianming , Yao Haishan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) encodes expected outcomes and plays a critical role in flexible, outcome-guided behavior. The OFC projects to primary visual cortex (V1), yet the function of this top-down projection is unclear. We find that optogenetic activation of OFC projection to V1 reduces the amplitude of V1 visual responses via the recruitment of local somatostatin-expressing (SST) interneurons. Using mice performing a Go/No-Go visual task, we show that the OFC projection to V1 mediates the outcome-expectancy modulation of V1 responses to the reward-irrelevant No-Go stimulus. Furthermore, V1-projecting OFC neurons reduce firing during expectation of reward. In addition, chronic optogenetic inactivation of OFC projection to V1 impairs, whereas chronic activation of SST interneurons in V1 improves the learning of Go/No-Go visual task, without affecting the immediate performance. Thus, OFC top-down projection to V1 is crucial to drive visual associative learning by modulating the response gain of V1 neurons to non-relevant stimulus.
Four-dimensional surface motions of the Slumgullion landslide and quantification of hydrometeorological forcing
Authors: Hu Xie , Bürgmann Roland , Schulz William H. , Fielding Eric J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractLandslides modify the natural landscape and cause fatalities and property damage worldwide. Quantifying landslide dynamics is challenging due to the stochastic nature of the environment. With its large area of ~1 km2and perennial motions at ~10–20 mm per day, the Slumgullion landslide in Colorado, USA, represents an ideal natural laboratory to better understand landslide behavior. Here, we use hybrid remote sensing data and methods to recover the four-dimensional surface motions during 2011–2018. We refine the boundaries of an area of ~0.35 km2below the crest of the prehistoric landslide. We construct a mechanical framework to quantify the rheology, subsurface channel geometry, mass flow rate, and spatiotemporally dependent pore-water pressure feedback through a joint analysis of displacement and hydrometeorological measurements from ground, air and space. Our study demonstrates the importance of remotely characterizing often inaccessible, dangerous slopes to better understand landslides and other quasi-static mass fluxes in natural and industrial environments, which will ultimately help reduce associated hazards.
Learning excited states from ground states by using an artificial neural network
Authors: Kiyohara Shin , Tsubaki Masashi , Mizoguchi Teruyasu 
Published: June 2020

AbstractExcited states are different quantum states from their ground states, and spectroscopy methods that can assess excited states are widely used in materials characterization. Understanding the spectra reflecting excited states is thus of great importance for materials science. However, understanding such spectra remains difficult because excited states have usually different atomic or electronic configurations from their corresponding ground states. If excited states could be predicted from ground states, the knowledge of the excited states would be improved. Here, we used an artificial neural network to predict the excited states of the core-electron absorption spectra from their ground states. Consequently, our model correctly learned and predicted the excited states from their ground states, providing several thousand times computational efficiency. Furthermore, it showed excellent transferability to other materials. Also, we found two physical insights about excited states: core-hole effects of amorphous silicon oxides are stronger than those of crystalline silicon oxides, and the excited-ground states relationships of some metal oxides are similar to those of the silicon oxides, which could not be obtained by conventional spectral simulation nor found until using machine leaning.
Single-administration, thermostable human papillomavirus vaccines prepared with atomic layer deposition technology
Authors: Garcea Robert L. , Meinerz Natalie M. , Dong Miao , Funke Hans , Ghazvini Saba , Randolph Theodore W. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCold-chain requirements affect worldwide distribution of many vaccines. In addition, vaccines requiring multiple doses impose logistical and financial burdens, as well as patient compliance barriers. To address such limitations, we have developed new technologies to prepare thermostable, single-shot, prime-boost microparticle vaccines. Antigen/adjuvant formulations containing glass-forming polymers and trehalose first are spray-dried to form glassy microparticles that confer thermostability. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) reactions conducted in fluidized beds are then used to coat the microparticles with defined numbers of molecular layers of alumina that modulate the timed release of the internalized antigen and act as adjuvants. We have used a model HPV16 L1 capsomere antigen to evaluate the properties of these technologies. Thermostabilized powders containing HPV16 L1 capsomeres were prepared by spray-drying, coated by ALD with up to 500 molecular layers of alumina, and injected into mice. Antigen distribution was assessed by live-animal IR dye tracking of injected labeled antigen. Antibody responses were measured weekly by ELISA, and neutralizing antibodies were measured by pseudovirus neutralization assays at selected time points. Thermostability was evaluated by measuring antibody responses after incubating ALD-coated antigen powders for one month at 50 °C. Single doses of the ALD-coated vaccine formulations elicited a prime-boost immune response, and produced neutralizing responses and antibody titers that were equivalent or superior to conventional prime-boost doses of liquid formulations. Antibody titers were unaffected by month-long incubation of the formulations at 50 °C. Single-dose, thermostable antigen preparations may overcome current limitations in HPV vaccine delivery as well as being widely applicable to other antigens.
Landscape of immune cell gene expression is unique in predominantly WHO grade 1 skull base meningiomas when compared to convexity
Authors: Zador Zsolt , Landry Alexander P. , Balas Michael , Cusimano Michael D. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractModulation of tumor microenvironment is an emerging frontier for new therapeutics. However in meningiomas, the most frequent adult brain tumor, the correlation of microenvironment with tumor phenotype is scarcely studied. We applied a variety of systems biology approaches to bulk tumor transcriptomics to explore the immune environments of both skull base and convexity (hemispheric) meningiomas. We hypothesized that the more benign biology of skull base meningiomas parallels the relative composition and activity of immune cells that oppose tumor growth and/or survival. We firstly applied gene co-expression networks to tumor bulk transcriptomics from 107 meningiomas (derived from 3 independent studies) and found immune processes to be the sole biological mechanism correlated with anatomical location while correcting for tumour grade. We then derived tumor immune cell fractions from bulk transcriptomics data and examined the immune cell-cytokine interactions using a network-based approach. We demonstrate that oncolytic Gamma-Delta T cells dominate skull base meningiomas while mast cells and neutrophils, known to play a role in oncogenesis, show greater activity in convexity tumors. Our results are the first to suggest the importance of tumor microenvironment in meningioma biology in the context of anatomic location and immune landscape. These findings may help better inform surgical decision making and yield location-specific therapies through modulation of immune microenvironment.
Substitution of warthog NF-κB motifs into RELA of domestic pigs is not sufficient to confer resilience to African swine fever virus
Authors: McCleary Stephen , Strong Rebecca , McCarthy Ronan R. , Edwards Jane C. , Howes Emma L. , Stevens Lisa M. , Sánchez-Cordón Pedro J. , Núñez Alejandro , Watson Samantha , Mileham Alan J. , Lillico Simon G. , Tait-Burkard Christine , Proudfoot Chris , Ballantyne Maeve , Whitelaw C. Bruce A. , Steinbach Falko , Crooke Helen R. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAfrican swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a lethal, haemorrhagic disease in domestic swine that threatens pig production across the globe. Unlike domestic pigs, warthogs, which are wildlife hosts of the virus, do not succumb to the lethal effects of infection. There are three amino acid differences between the sequence of the warthog and domestic pig RELA protein; a subunit of the NF-κB transcription factor that plays a key role in regulating the immune response to infections. Domestic pigs with all 3 or 2 of the amino acids from the warthog RELA orthologue have been generated by gene editing. To assess if these variations confer resilience to ASF we established an intranasal challenge model with a moderately virulent ASFV. No difference in clinical, virological or pathological parameters were observed in domestic pigs with the 2 amino acid substitution. Domestic pigs with all 3 amino acids found in warthog RELA were not resilient to ASF but a delay in onset of clinical signs and less viral DNA in blood samples and nasal secretions was observed in some animals. Inclusion of these and additional warthog genetic traits into domestic pigs may be one way to assist in combating the devastating impact of ASFV.
Dynamics of porous and amorphous magnesium borohydride to understand solid state Mg-ion-conductors
Authors: Heere Michael , Hansen Anna-Lena , Payandeh SeyedHosein , Aslan Neslihan , Gizer Gökhan , Sørby Magnus H. , Hauback Bjørn C. , Pistidda Claudio , Dornheim Martin , Lohstroh Wiebke 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRechargeable solid-state magnesium batteries are considered for high energy density storage and usage in mobile applications as well as to store energy from intermittent energy sources, triggering intense research for suitable electrode and electrolyte materials. Recently, magnesium borohydride, Mg(BH4)2, was found to be an effective precursor for solid-state Mg-ion conductors. During the mechanochemical synthesis of these Mg-ion conductors, amorphous Mg(BH4)2 is typically formed and it was postulated that this amorphous phase promotes the conductivity. Here, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of as-received γ-Mg(BH4)2 and ball milled, amorphous Mg(BH4)2 confirmed that the conductivity of the latter is ~2 orders of magnitude higher than in as-received γ-Mg(BH4)2 at 353 K. Pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of the local structure shows striking similarities up to a length scale of 5.1 Å, suggesting similar conduction pathways in both the crystalline and amorphous sample. Up to 12.27 Å the PDF indicates that a 3D net of interpenetrating channels might still be present in the amorphous phase although less ordered compared to the as-received γ-phase. However, quasi elastic neutron scattering experiments (QENS) were used to study the rotational mobility of the [BH4] units, revealing a much larger fraction of activated [BH4] rotations in amorphous Mg(BH4)2. These findings suggest that the conduction process in amorphous Mg(BH4)2 is supported by stronger rotational mobility, which is proposed to be the so-called “paddle-wheel” mechanism.
Transcriptome Analysis by RNA–Seq Reveals Genes Related to Plant Height in Two Sets of Parent-hybrid Combinations in Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum)
Authors: Howlader Jewel , Robin Arif Hasan Khan , Natarajan Sathishkumar , Biswas Manosh Kumar , Sumi Kanij Rukshana , Song Cheon Young , Park Jong–In , Nou Ill–Sup 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this study, two different hybrids of Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum), obtained from two cross combinations, along with their four parents were sequenced by high–throughput RNA–sequencing (RNA–Seq) to find out differentially expressed gene in parent-hybrid combinations. The leaf mRNA profiles of two hybrids and their four parents were RNA–sequenced with a view to identify the potential candidate genes related to plant height heterosis. In both cross combinations, based to morphological traits mid–parent heterosis (MPH) was higher than high–parent heterosis (HPH) for plant height, leaf length, and number of flowers whereas HPH was higher than MPH for flowering time. A total of 4,327 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified through RNA–Seq between the hybrids and their parents based on fold changes (FC) ≥ 2 for up– and ≤ –2 for down–regulation. Venn diagram analysis revealed that there were 703 common DEGs in two hybrid combinations, those were either up– or down–regulated. Most of the commonly expressed DEGs exhibited higher non–additive effects especially overdominance (75.9%) rather than additive (19.4%) and dominance (4.76%) effects. Among the 384 functionally annotated DEGs identified through Blast2GO tool, 12 DEGs were up–regulated and 16 of them were down–regulated in a similar fashion in both hybrids as revealed by heat map analysis. These 28 universally expressed DEGs were found to encode different types of proteins and enzymes those might regulate heterosis by modulating growth, development and stress–related functions in lily. In addition, gene ontology (GO) analysis of 260 annotated DEGs revealed that biological process might play dominant role in heterotic expression. In this first report of transcriptome sequencing in Easter lily, the notable universally up-regulated DEGs annotated ABC transporter A family member–like, B3 domain–containing, disease resistance RPP13/1, auxin–responsive SAUR68–like, and vicilin–like antimicrobial peptides 2–2 proteins those were perhaps associated with plant height heterosis. The genes expressed universally due to their overdominace function perhaps influenced MPH for greater plant height― largely by modulating biological processes involved therein. The genes identified in this study might be exploited in heterosis breeding for plant height of L. longiflorum.
The low density receptor-related protein 1 plays a significant role in ricin-mediated intoxication of lung cells
Authors: Falach Reut , Sapoznikov Anita , Gal Yoav , Elhanany Eytan , Evgy Yentl , Shifman Ohad , Aftalion Moshe , Ehrlich Sharon , Lazar Shlomi , Sabo Tamar , Kronman Chanoch , Mazor Ohad 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRicin, a highly lethal plant-derived toxin, is a potential biological threat agent due to its high availability, ease of production and the lack of approved medical countermeasures for post-exposure treatment. To date, no specific ricin receptors were identified. Here we show for the first time, that the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) is a major target molecule for binding of ricin. Pretreating HEK293 acetylcholinesterase-producer cells with either anti-LRP1 antibodies or with Receptor-Associated Protein (a natural LRP1 antagonist), or using siRNA to knock-down LRP1 expression resulted in a marked reduction in their sensitivity towards ricin. Binding assays further demonstrated that ricin bound exclusively to the cluster II binding domain of LRP1, via the ricin B subunit. Ricin binding to the cluster II binding domain of LRP1 was significantly reduced by an anti-ricin monoclonal antibody, which confers high-level protection to ricin pulmonary-exposed mice. Finally, we tested the contribution of LRP1 receptor to ricin intoxication of lung cells derived from mice. Treating these cells with anti-LRP1 antibody prior to ricin exposure, prevented their intoxication. Taken together, our findings clearly demonstrate that the LRP1 receptor plays an important role in ricin-induced pulmonary intoxications.
Black widows as plastic wallflowers: female choosiness increases with indicators of high mate availability in a natural population
Authors: Scott Catherine E. , McCann Sean , Andrade Maydianne C. B. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractFemale choice is an important driver of sexual selection, but can be costly, particularly when choosy females risk remaining unmated or experience delays to reproduction. Thus, females should reduce choosiness when mate encounter rates are low. We asked whether choosiness is affected by social context, which may provide reliable information about the local availability of mates. This has been demonstrated in the lab, but rarely under natural conditions. We studied western black widow spiders (Latrodectus hesperus) in the field, placing experimental final-instar immature females so they were either ‘isolated’ or ‘clustered’ near naturally occurring conspecifics (≥10 m or ≤1 m, respectively, from a microhabitat occupied by at least one other female). Upon maturity, females in both treatments were visited by similar numbers of males, but clustered females were visited by males earlier and in more rapid succession than isolated females, confirming that proximity to conspecifics reduces the risk of remaining unmated. As predicted, isolated females were less choosy in staged mating trials, neither rejecting males nor engaging in pre-copulatory cannibalism, in contrast to clustered females. These results demonstrate that exposure of females to natural variation in demography in the field can alter choosiness of adults. Thus, female behaviour in response to cues of local population density can affect the intensity of sexual selection on males in the wild.
Biomagnification and body distribution of ivermectin in dung beetles
Authors: Verdú José R. , Cortez Vieyle , Ortiz Antonio J. , Lumaret Jean-Pierre , Lobo Jorge M. , Sánchez-Piñero Francisco 
Published: June 2020

AbstractA terrestrial test system to investigate the biomagnification potential and tissue-specific distribution of ivermectin, a widely used parasiticide, in the non-target dung beetle Thorectes lusitanicus (Jekel) was developed and validated. Biomagnification kinetics of ivermectin in T. lusitanicus was investigated by following uptake, elimination, and distribution of the compound in dung beetles feeding on contaminated faeces. Results showed that ivermectin was biomagnified in adults of T. lusitanicus when exposed to non-lethal doses via food uptake. Ivermectin was quickly transferred from the gut to the haemolymph, generating a biomagnification factor (BMFk) three times higher in the haemolymph than in the gut after an uptake period of 12 days. The fat body appeared to exert a major role on the biomagnification of ivermectin in the insect body, showing a BMFk 1.6 times higher than in the haemolymph. The results of this study highlight that the biomagnification of ivermectin should be investigated from a global dung-based food web perspective and that the use of these antiparasitic substances should be monitored and controlled on a precautionary basis. Thus, we suggest that an additional effort be made in the development of standardised regulatory recommendations to guide biomagnification studies in terrestrial organisms, but also that it is necessary to adapt existing methods to assess the effects of such veterinary medical products.
High-purity recycling of hematite and Zn/Cu mixture from waste smelting slag
Authors: Huo Yang , Song Xiang , Zhu Suiyi , Chen Yu , Lin Xue , Wu Yaqiong , Qu Zhan , Su Ting , Xie Xinfeng 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this study, Zn/Cu-bearing smelting slag was recycled via an integrated acid dissolution and hematite precipitation method. The slag was dissolved in nitric acid to generate an acid solution containing 23.5 g/L Fe, 4.45 g/L Zn and 2.81 g/L Cu, which was subjected to hydrothermal treatment with the addition of levulinic acid (LA). More than 99.95% of the initial Fe content was removed as hematite particles with diameters of approximately 200 nm, and the residual Fe concentration in the acid was 0.43 mg/L. The generated hematite contained 97.3% Fe2O3, 0.64% ZnO and 0.58% CuO. Greater than 99% of the initial Zn and Cu was retained in the acid and further precipitated as Zn/Cu-bearing solids by adjusting the solution pH to 9. The precipitated Zn/Cu-bearing solids contained 33.6% Zn and 21.7% Cu, whereas the Fe content was less than 0.2%. This paper is the first report of an environmentally friendly approach for recycling smelting slag without generating any hazardous waste.
Real-time in-situ distributed fiber core temperature measurement in hundred-watt fiber laser oscillator pumped by 915/976 nm LD sources
Authors: Lou Zhaokai , Yang Baolai , Han Kai , Wang Xiaolin , Zhang Hanwei , Xi Xiaoming , Liu Zejin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this manuscript, we studied the thermal properties of hundred-watt fiber laser oscillator by real-time in-situ distributed temperature measurement. Optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) was introduced to measure the temperature distribution of gain fiber core. The fiber laser oscillator operated at 1080 nm and the wavelength of detecting signal from OFDR was ~1550 nm. The maximum output power of this fiber oscillator was 100 W. The fiber core temperature distributions in experiment agree well with our theoretical simulation. The temperature measurement of gain fiber core in oscillator has always been a problem because the backward laser from the oscillator may reduce the signal-to-noise ratio in OFDR. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first temperature distribution measurement of fiber core in hundred-watt oscillator. By the experimental measurement and theoretical model, we also analyzed the thermal properties of laser oscillator respectively pumped by 915 nm and 976 nm LD sources. We found fiber laser oscillator pumped by 976 nm LD sources experienced not only higher maximum thermal load but also higher average thermal load than that pumped by 915 nm LD sources at the same level output power. We also analyzed the fiber core temperature of other components in system, such as combiners and fiber Bragg gratings (FBG). These results are meaningful for us to improve the thermal design and management in fiber lasers.
Decadal predictability of North Atlantic blocking and the NAO
Authors: Athanasiadis Panos J. , Yeager Stephen , Kwon Young-Oh , Bellucci Alessio , Smith David W. , Tibaldi Stefano 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCan multi-annual variations in the frequency of North Atlantic atmospheric blocking and mid-latitude circulation regimes be skilfully predicted? Recent advances in seasonal forecasting have shown that mid-latitude climate variability does exhibit significant predictability. However, atmospheric predictability has generally been found to be quite limited on multi-annual timescales. New decadal prediction experiments from NCAR are found to exhibit remarkable skill in reproducing the observed multi-annual variations of wintertime blocking frequency over the North Atlantic and of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) itself. This is partly due to the large ensemble size that allows the predictable component of the atmospheric variability to emerge from the background chaotic component. The predictable atmospheric anomalies represent a forced response to oceanic low-frequency variability that strongly resembles the Atlantic Multi-decadal Variability (AMV), correctly reproduced in the decadal hindcasts thanks to realistic ocean initialization and ocean dynamics. The occurrence of blocking in certain areas of the Euro-Atlantic domain determines the concurrent circulation regime and the phase of known teleconnections, such as the NAO, consequently affecting the stormtrack and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Therefore, skilfully predicting the decadal fluctuations of blocking frequency and the NAO may be used in statistical predictions of near-term climate anomalies, and it provides a strong indication that impactful climate anomalies may also be predictable with improved dynamical models.