bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic insight into the growth of nanoscale inclusion of Al-deoxidation in Fe–O–Al melt
Authors: Lei Hong , Xiao Yuanyou , Wang Guocheng , Zhang Hongwei , Jin Wei , Zhang Lifeng 
Published: October 2020

AbstractProducts of Al-deoxidation reaction in iron melt are the most common inclusions and play an important effect on steel performance. Understanding the thermodynamics on nano-alumina (or nano-hercynite) is very critical to explore the relationship between Al-deoxidation reaction and products growth in iron melt. In present study, a thermodynamic modeling of nano-alumina inclusions in Fe–O–Al melt has been developed. The thermodynamic results show that the Gibbs free energy changes for the formation of nano-Al2O3 and nano-FeAl2O4 decrease with the increasing size and increase with the increasing temperature. The Gibbs free energy changes for transformation of nano-Al2O3 into bulk-Al2O3 increase with the increasing size and temperature. The thermodynamic curve of nano-alumina (or nano-hercynite) and the equilibrium curve of bulk-alumina (or bulk-hercynite) obtained in this work are agree with the published experimental data of Al-deoxidation equilibria in liquid iron. In addition, the thermodynamic coexisting points about Al2O3 and FeAl2O4 in liquid iron are in a straight line and coincide with the various previous data. It suggested that these scattered experimental data maybe in the different thermodynamic state of Al-deoxidized liquid iron and the reaction products for most of the previous Al-deoxidation experiments are nano-alumina (or nano-hercynite).
Sources of predictive information in dynamical neural networks
Authors: Candadai Madhavun , Izquierdo Eduardo J. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBehavior involves the ongoing interaction between an organism and its environment. One of the prevailing theories of adaptive behavior is that organisms are constantly making predictions about their future environmental stimuli. However, how they acquire that predictive information is still poorly understood. Two complementary mechanisms have been proposed: predictions are generated from an agent’s internal model of the world or predictions are extracted directly from the environmental stimulus. In this work, we demonstrate that predictive information, measured using bivariate mutual information, cannot distinguish between these two kinds of systems. Furthermore, we show that predictive information cannot distinguish between organisms that are adapted to their environments and random dynamical systems exposed to the same environment. To understand the role of predictive information in adaptive behavior, we need to be able to identify where it is generated. To do this, we decompose information transfer across the different components of the organism-environment system and track the flow of information in the system over time. To validate the proposed framework, we examined it on a set of computational models of idealized agent-environment systems. Analysis of the systems revealed three key insights. First, predictive information, when sourced from the environment, can be reflected in any agent irrespective of its ability to perform a task. Second, predictive information, when sourced from the nervous system, requires special dynamics acquired during the process of adapting to the environment. Third, the magnitude of predictive information in a system can be different for the same task if the environmental structure changes.
Comparison of wavelength selection methods for in-vitro estimation of lactate: a new unconstrained, genetic algorithm-based wavelength selection
Authors: Mamouei Mohammad , Budidha Karthik , Baishya Nystha , Qassem Meha , Kyriacou Panayiotis 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBiochemical and medical literature establish lactate as a fundamental biomarker that can shed light on the energy consumption dynamics of the body at cellular and physiological levels. It is therefore, not surprising that it has been linked to many critical conditions ranging from the morbidity and mortality of critically ill patients to the diagnosis and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke, septic shock, lung injuries, insulin resistance in diabetic patients, and cancer. Currently, the gold standard for the measurement of lactate requires blood sampling. The invasive and costly nature of this procedure severely limits its application outside intensive care units. Optical sensors can provide a non-invasive, inexpensive, easy-to-use, continuous alternative to blood sampling. Previous efforts to achieve this have shown significant potential, but have been inconclusive. A measure that has been previously overlooked in this context, is the use of variable selection methods to identify regions of the optical spectrum that are most sensitive to and representative of the concentration of lactate. In this study, several wavelength selection methods are investigated and a new genetic algorithm-based wavelength selection method is proposed. This study shows that the development of more accurate and parsimonious models for optical estimation of lactate is possible. Unlike many existing methods, the proposed method does not impose additional locality constraints on the spectral features and therefore helps provide a much more granular interpretation of wavelength importance.
Highly efficient photon detection systems for noble liquid detectors based on perovskite quantum dots
Authors: Datta Amlan , Barman Biplob , Magill Stephen , Motakef Shariar 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWavelength shifting photon detection systems (PDS) are the critical functioning components in noble liquid detectors used for high energy physics (HEP) experiments and dark matter search. The vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) scintillation light emitted by these Liquid argon (LAr) and liquid Xenon (LXe) detectors are shifted to higher wavelengths resulting in its efficient detection using the state-of-the-art photodetectors such as silicon photomultipliers (SiPM). The currently used organic wavelength shifting materials [such as 1,1,4,4 Tetraphenyl Butadiene (TPB)] have several disadvantages and are unreliable for longterm use. In this study, we demonstrate the application of the inorganic perovskite cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) quantum dots (QDs) as highly efficient wavelength shifters. The absolute photoluminescence quantum yield of the PDS fabricated using these QDs exceeds 70%. CsPbBr3-based PDS demonstrated an enhancement in the SiPM signal enhancement by up to 3 times when compared to a 3 µm-thick TPB-based PDS. The emission spectrum from the QDs was optimized to match the highest quantum efficiency region of the SiPMs. In addition, we have demonstrated the deposition of the QD-based wavelength shifting material on a large area PDS substrate using low capital cost and widely scalable solution-based techniques providing a pathway appropriate for meter-scale PDS fabrication and widespread use for other wavelength shifting applications.
Molecular dynamics of the histamine H3 membrane receptor reveals different mechanisms of GPCR signal transduction
Authors: Herrera-Zúñiga Leonardo David , Moreno-Vargas Liliana Marisol , Ballaud Luck , Correa-Basurto José , Prada-Gracia Diego , Pastré David , Curmi Patrick A. , Arrang Jean Michel , Maroun Rachid C. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn this work, we studied the mechanisms of classical activation and inactivation of signal transduction by the histamine H3 receptor, a 7-helix transmembrane bundle G-Protein Coupled Receptor through long-time-scale atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the receptor embedded in a hydrated double layer of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline, a zwitterionic polysaturated ordered lipid. Three systems were prepared: the apo receptor, representing the constitutively active receptor; and two holo-receptors—the receptor coupled to the antagonist/inverse agonist ciproxifan, representing the inactive state of the receptor, and the receptor coupled to the endogenous agonist histamine and representing the active state of the receptor. An extensive analysis of the simulation showed that the three states of H3R present significant structural and dynamical differences as well as a complex behavior given that the measured properties interact in multiple and interdependent ways. In addition, the simulations described an unexpected escape of histamine from the orthosteric binding site, in agreement with the experimental modest affinities and rapid off-rates of agonists.
Three-dimensional data capture and analysis of intact eye lenses evidences emmetropia-associated changes in epithelial cell organization
Authors: Kalligeraki Alexia A. , Isted Archie , Jarrin Miguel , Uwineza Alice , Pal Robert , Saunter Christopher D. , Girkin John M. , Obara Boguslaw , Quinlan Roy A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractOrgan and tissue development are highly coordinated processes; lens growth and functional integration into the eye (emmetropia) is a robust example. An epithelial monolayer covers the anterior hemisphere of the lens, and its organization is the key to lens formation and its optical properties throughout all life stages. To better understand how the epithelium supports lens function, we have developed a novel whole tissue imaging system using conventional confocal light microscopy and a specialized analysis software to produce three-dimensional maps for the epithelium of intact mouse lenses. The open source software package geometrically determines the anterior pole position, the equatorial diameter, and three-dimensional coordinates for each detected cell in the epithelium. The user-friendly cell maps, which retain global lens geometry, allow us to document age-dependent changes in the C57/BL6J mouse lens cell distribution characteristics. We evidence changes in epithelial cell density and distribution in C57/BL6J mice during the establishment of emmetropia between postnatal weeks 4–6. These epithelial changes accompany a previously unknown spheroid to lentoid shape transition of the lens as detected by our analyses. When combined with key findings from previous mouse genetic and cell biological studies, we suggest a cytoskeleton-based mechanism likely underpins these observations.
Exploitation of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as a platform for anti-metastatic drug testing
Authors: Pawlikowska P. , Tayoun T. , Oulhen M. , Faugeroux V. , Rouffiac V. , Aberlenc A. , Pommier A. L. , Honore A. , Marty V. , Bawa O. , Lacroix L. , Scoazec J. Y. , Chauchereau A. , Laplace-Builhe C. , Farace F. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe establishment of clinically relevant models for tumor metastasis and drug testing is a major challenge in cancer research. Here we report a physiologically relevant assay enabling quantitative analysis of metastatic capacity of tumor cells following implantation into the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Engraftment of as few as 103 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines was sufficient for both primary tumor and metastasis formation. Standard 2D-imaging as well as 3D optical tomography imaging were used for the detection of fluorescent metastatic foci in the chick embryo. H2228- and H1975-initiated metastases were confirmed by genomic analysis. We quantified the inhibitory effect of docetaxel on LNCaP, and that of cisplatin on A549- and H1299-initiated metastatic growths.
The CAM assay also mimicked the sensitivity of ALK-rearranged H2228 and EGFR-mutated H1975 NSCLC cells to tyrosine kinase inhibitors crizotinib and gefitinib respectively, as well as sensitivity of LNCaP cells to androgen-dependent enzalutamide therapy. The assay was suggested to reconstitute the bone metastatic tropism of PCa cells. We show that the CAM chick embryo model may be a powerful preclinical platform for testing and targeting of the metastatic capacity of cancer cells.
Monolithic focus-tunable lens technology enabled by disk-type dielectric-elastomer actuators
Authors: Park Bong Je , Park Suntak , Choi Meejeong , Park Seung Koo , Yun Sungryul , Shin Eunjin , Yoon Jae Woong 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe propose a monolithic focus-tunable lens structure based on the dielectric-elastomer actuator (DEA) technology. In our focus-tunable lens, a soft lens and radial in-plane actuator mimicking the ocular focal-tuning mechanism are constructed in a single body of an optimized dielectric-elastomer film. We provide device fabrication methods including elastomer synthesis, structure formation, and packaging process steps. Performance test measurements show 93% focal tunability and 7 ms response time under static and dynamic electrical driving conditions, respectively. These performance characteristics are substantially enhanced from the previous polylithic DEA tunable lens by a factor 1.4 for the focal tunability and a factor 9.4 for the dynamic tuning-speed limit. Therefore, we obtain greatly enhanced focal tuning control in a remarkably simple and compact device structure.
The C. elegans miR-235 regulates the toxicity of graphene oxide via targeting the nuclear hormone receptor DAF-12 in the intestine
Authors: Guo Tiantian , Cheng Lu , Zhao Huimin , Liu Yingying , Yang Yunhan , Liu Jie , Wu Qiuli 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe increased application of graphene oxide (GO), a new carbon-based engineered nanomaterial, has generated a potential toxicity in humans and the environment. Previous studies have identified some dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs), such as up-regulated mir-235, in organisms exposed to GO. However, the detailed mechanisms of the dysregulation of miRNA underlying GO toxicity are still largely elusive. In this study, we employed Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo model to investigate the biological function and molecular basis of mir-235 in the regulation of GO toxicity. After low concentration GO exposure, mir-235 (n4504) mutant nematodes were sensitive to GO toxicity, implying that mir-235 mediates a protection mechanism against GO toxicity. Tissue-specific assays suggested that mir-235 expressed in intestine is required for suppressing the GO toxicity in C. elegans. daf-12, a gene encoding a member of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily, acts as a target gene of mir-235 in the nematode intestine in response to GO treatment, and RNAi knockdown of daf-12 suppressed the sensitivity of mir-235(n4503) to GO toxicity. Further genetic analysis showed that DAF-12 acted in the upstream of DAF-16 in insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway and PMK-1 in p38 MAPK signaling pathway in parallel to regulate GO toxicity. Altogether, our results revealed that mir-235 may activate a protective mechanism against GO toxicity by suppressing the DAF-12-DAF-16 and DAF-12-PMK-1 signaling cascade in nematodes, which provides an important molecular basis for the in vivo toxicity of GO at the miRNA level.
Identification and characterization of mutations responsible for the β-lactam resistance in oxacillin-susceptible mecA-positive Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Boonsiri Tanit , Watanabe Shinya , Tan Xin-Ee , Thitiananpakorn Kanate , Narimatsu Ryu , Sasaki Kosuke , Takenouchi Remi , Sato’o Yusuke , Aiba Yoshifumi , Kiga Kotaro , Sasahara Teppei , Taki Yusuke , Li Feng-Yu , Zhang Yuancheng , Azam Aa Haeruman , Kawaguchi Tomofumi , Cui Longzhu 
Published: October 2020

AbstractStaphylococcus aureus strains that are susceptible to the β-lactam antibiotic oxacillin despite carrying mecA (OS-MRSA) cause serious clinical problems globally because of their ability to easily acquire β-lactam resistance. Understanding the genetic mechanism(s) of acquisition of the resistance is therefore crucial for infection control management. For this purpose, a whole-genome sequencing-based analysis was performed using 43 clinical OS-MRSA strains and 100 mutants with reduced susceptibility to oxacillin (MICs 1.0–256 µg/mL) generated from 26 representative OS-MRSA strains. Genome comparison between the mutants and their respective parent strains identified a total of 141 mutations in 46 genes and 8 intergenic regions. Among them, the mutations are frequently found in genes related to RNA polymerase (rpoBC), purine biosynthesis (guaA, prs, hprT), (p)ppGpp synthesis (relSau), glycolysis (pykA, fbaA, fruB), protein quality control (clpXP, ftsH), and tRNA synthase (lysS, gltX), whereas no mutations existed in mec and bla operons. Whole-genome transcriptional profile of the resistant mutants demonstrated that expression of genes associated with purine biosynthesis, protein quality control, and tRNA synthesis were significantly inhibited similar to the massive transcription downregulation seen in S. aureus during the stringent response, while the levels of mecA expression and PBP2a production were varied. We conclude that a combination effect of mecA upregulation and stringent-like response may play an important role in acquisition of β-lactam resistance in OS-MRSA.
The role of action intentionality and effector in the subjective expansion of temporal duration after saccadic eye movements
Authors: Melcher David , Kumar Devpriya , Srinivasan Narayanan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractVisual perception is based on periods of stable fixation separated by saccadic eye movements. Although naive perception seems stable (in space) and continuous (in time), laboratory studies have demonstrated that events presented around the time of saccades are misperceived spatially and temporally. Saccadic chronostasis, the “stopped clock illusion”, represents one such temporal distortion in which the movement of the clock hand after the saccade is perceived as lasting longer than usual. Multiple explanations for chronostasis have been proposed including action-backdating, temporal binding of the action towards the moment of its effect (“intentional binding”) and post-saccadic temporal dilation. The current study aimed to resolve this debate by using different types of action (keypress vs saccade) and varying the intentionality of the action. We measured both perceived onset of the motor action and perceived onset of an auditory tone presented at different delays after the keypress/saccade. The results showed intentional binding for the keypress action, with perceived motor onset shifted forwards in time and the time of the tone shifted backwards. Saccades resulted in the opposite pattern, showing temporal expansion rather than compression, especially with cued saccades. The temporal illusion was modulated by intentionality of the movement. Our findings suggest that saccadic chronostasis is not solely dependent on a backward shift in perceived saccade onset, but instead reflects a temporal dilation. This percept of an effectively “longer” period at the beginning of a new fixation may reflect the pattern of suppressed, and then enhanced, visual processing around the time of saccades.
Five rules for friendly rivalry in direct reciprocity
Authors: Murase Yohsuke , Baek Seung Ki 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDirect reciprocity is one of the key mechanisms accounting for cooperation in our social life. According to recent understanding, most of classical strategies for direct reciprocity fall into one of two classes, ‘partners’ or ‘rivals’. A ‘partner’ is a generous strategy achieving mutual cooperation, and a ‘rival’ never lets the co-player become better off. They have different working conditions: For example, partners show good performance in a large population, whereas rivals do in head-to-head matches. By means of exhaustive enumeration, we demonstrate the existence of strategies that act as both partners and rivals. Among them, we focus on a human-interpretable strategy, named ‘CAPRI’ after its five characteristic ingredients, i.e., cooperate, accept, punish, recover, and defect otherwise. Our evolutionary simulation shows excellent performance of CAPRI in a broad range of environmental conditions.
The influence of the rib cage on the static and dynamic stability responses of the scoliotic spine
Authors: Jia Shaowei , Lin Liying , Yang Hufei , Fan Jie , Zhang Shunxin , Han Li 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe thoracic cage plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the thoracolumbar spine. In this study, the influence of a rib cage on static and dynamic responses in normal and scoliotic spines was investigated. Four spinal finite element (FE) models (T1–S), representing a normal spine with rib cage (N1), normal spine without rib cage (N2), a scoliotic spine with rib cage (S1) and a scoliotic spine without rib cage (S2), were established based on computed tomography (CT) images, and static, modal, and steady-state analyses were conducted. In S2, the Von Mises stress (VMS) was clearly decreased compared to S1 for four bending loadings. N2 and N1 showed a similar VMS to each other, and there was a significant increase in axial compression in N2 and S2 compared to N1 and S1, respectively. The U magnitude values of N2 and S2 were higher than in N1 and S1 for five loadings, respectively. The resonant frequencies of N2 and S2 were lower than those in N1 and S1, respectively. In steady-state analysis, maximum amplitudes of vibration for N2 and S2 were significantly larger than N1 and S1, respectively. This study has revealed that the rib cage improves spinal stability in vibrating environments and contributes to stability in scoliotic spines under static and dynamic loadings.
The KDEL trafficking receptor exploits pH to tune the strength of an unusual short hydrogen bond
Authors: Wu Zhiyi , Newstead Simon , Biggin Philip C. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the main site of protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells and requires a high concentration of luminal chaperones to function. During protein synthesis, ER luminal chaperones are swept along the secretory pathway and must be retrieved to maintain cell viability. ER protein retrieval is achieved by the KDEL receptor, which recognises a C-terminal Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu (KDEL) sequence. Recognition of ER proteins by the KDEL receptor is pH dependent, with binding occurring under acidic conditions in the Golgi and release under conditions of higher pH in the ER. Recent crystal structures of the KDEL receptor in the apo and peptide bound state suggested that peptide binding drives the formation of a short-hydrogen bond that locks the KDEL sequence in the receptor and activates the receptor for COPI binding in the cytoplasm. Using quantum mechanical calculations we demonstrate that the strength of this short hydrogen bond is reinforced following protonation of a nearby histidine, providing a conceptual link between receptor protonation and KDEL peptide binding. Protonation also controls the water networks adjacent to the peptide binding site, leading to a conformational change that ultimately allows the receptor-complex to be recognized by the COPI system.