bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Robust $${\bf{P}}{\bf{T}}$$ symmetry of two-dimensional fundamental and vortex solitons supported by spatially modulated nonlinearity
Authors: Luz Eitam , Lutsky Vitaly , Granot Er’el , Malomed Boris A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe real spectrum of bound states produced by $${\bf{P}}{\bf{T}}$$
P
T
-symmetric Hamiltonians usually suffers breakup at a critical value of the strength of gain-loss terms, i.e., imaginary part of the complex potential. The breakup essentially impedes the use of $${\bf{P}}{\bf{T}}$$
P
T
-symmetric systems for various applications. On the other hand, it is known that the $${\bf{P}}{\bf{T}}$$
P
T
symmetry can be made unbreakable in a one-dimensional (1D) model with self-defocusing nonlinearity whose strength grows fast enough from the center to periphery. The model is nonlinearizable, i.e., it does not have a linear spectrum, while the (unbreakable) $${\bf{P}}{\bf{T}}$$
P
T
symmetry in it is defined by spectra of continuous families of nonlinear self-trapped states (solitons). Here we report results for a 2D nonlinearizable model whose $${\bf{P}}{\bf{T}}$$
P
T
symmetry remains unbroken for arbitrarily large values of the gain-loss coefficient. Further, we introduce an extended 2D model with the imaginary part of potential ~xy in the Cartesian coordinates. The latter model is not a $${\bf{P}}{\bf{T}}$$
P
T
-symmetric one, but it also supports continuous families of self-trapped states, thus suggesting an extension of the concept of the $${\bf{P}}{\bf{T}}$$
P
T
symmetry. For both models, universal analytical forms are found for nonlinearizable tails of the 2D modes, and full exact solutions are produced for particular solitons, including ones with the unbreakable $${\bf{P}}{\bf{T}}$$
P
T
symmetry, while generic soliton families are found in a numerical form. The $${\bf{P}}{\bf{T}}$$
P
T
-symmetric system gives rise to generic families of stable single- and double-peak 2D solitons (including higher-order radial states of the single-peak solitons), as well as families of stable vortex solitons with m = 1, 2, and 3. In the model with imaginary potential ~xy, families of single- and multi-peak solitons and vortices are stable if the imaginary potential is subject to spatial confinement. In an elliptically deformed version of the latter model, an exact solution is found for vortex solitons with m = 1.
Complement component 1q subcomponent binding protein in the brain of the rat
Authors: Barna János , Dimén Diána , Puska Gina , Kovács Dávid , Csikós Vivien , Oláh Szilvia , Udvari Edina B. , Pál Gabriella , Dobolyi Árpád 
Published: March 2019

AbstractComplement component 1q subcomponent binding protein (C1qbp) is a multifunctional protein involved in immune response, energy homeostasis of cells as a plasma membrane receptor, and a nuclear, cytoplasmic or mitochondrial protein. Recent reports suggested its neuronal function, too, possibly in axon maintenance, synaptic function, and neuroplasticity. Therefore, we addressed to identify C1qbp in the rat brain using in situ hybridization histochemistry and immunolabelling at light and electron microscopic level. C1qbp has a topographical distribution in the brain established by the same pattern of C1qbp mRNA-expressing and protein-containing neurons with the highest abundance in the cerebral cortex, anterodorsal thalamic nucleus, hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) and arcuate nuclei, spinal trigeminal nucleus. Double labelling of C1qbp with the neuronal marker NeuN, with the astrocyte marker S100, and the microglia marker Iba1 demonstrated the presence of C1qbp in neurons but not in glial cells in the normal brain, while C1qbp appeared in microglia following their activation induced by focal ischemic lesion. Only restricted neurons expressed C1qbp, for example, in the PVN, magnocellular neurons selectively contained C1qbp. Further double labelling by using the mitochondria marker Idh3a antibody suggested the mitochondrial localization of C1qbp in the brain, confirmed by correlated light and electron microscopy at 3 different brain regions. Post-embedding immunoelectron microscopy also suggested uneven C1qbp content of mitochondria in different brain areas but also heterogeneity within single neurons. These data suggest a specific function of C1qbp in the brain related to mitochondria, such as the regulation of local energy supply in neuronal cells.
Linear and circular-polarization conversion in X-band using anisotropic metasurface
Authors: Khan M. Ismail , Khalid Zobaria , Tahir Farooq A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAn ultrathin single-layer metasurface manifesting both linear cross-polarization conversion (CPC) and linear-to-circular polarization (LP-to-CP) conversion in X-band is presented in this research. The designed metasurface acts as a multifunctional metasurface achieving CPC over a fractional bandwidth of 31.6% (8–11 GHz) with more than 95% efficiency while linear-to-circular polarization conversion is realized over two frequency bands from 7.5–7.7 GHz and 11.5–11.9 GHz. Moreover, the overall optimized structure of the unit cell results in a stable polarization transformation against changes in the incidence angle up to 45° both for transverse-electric (TE) and transverse-magnetic (TM) polarizations. The proposed metasurface with simple structure, compact size, angular stability and multifunctional capability qualifies for many applications in communication and polarization manipulating devices.
Predictors of Initial Smear-Negative Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis with Acute Early Stage Lung Injury by High-Resolution Computed Tomography and Clinical Manifestations: An Auxiliary Model in Critical Patients
Authors: Yeh Jun-Jun 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis study evaluated the diagnostic use of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), chest X-ray (CXR), and clinical manifestations (CM) to identify initial smear-negative (iSN) active pulmonary tuberculosis (aPTB) [iSN-aPTB] in patients with iSN-pulmonary diseases (PD) and acute lung injury (ALI). In the derivation cohort, the [iSN-PD] with ALI patients were divided into the [iSN-aPTB] (G1, n = 26) and [non-aPTB-PD] (G2, n = 233) groups. Lung morphology, number, and lobar (segmental) distribution were evaluated using CXR and HRCT. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent variables associated with G1, which were used to generate predictive score models for G1. The predictive model was validated in a separate population of patients (n = 372) with [iSN-PD] and (ALI). The validated model for [HRCT (CXR + Hypoalbuminemia)] had 93.5% (25.8%) sensitivity, 99.5% (89.4%) specificity, and a negative predictive value of 99.5% (93.0%). For [iSN-aPTB], the post-test probability in the derivation cohort (prevalence = 10%), validation cohort (prevalence = 8.3%), and the given prevalence (prevalence = 1%) was 88.7%, 94.4%, and 41.5%, respectively. The HRCT model effectively identified the [iSN-aPTB] subjects among the [iSN-PD] with ALI, regardless of CM. The [non-aPTB-PD] were also correctly classified by the HRCT and [CXR + Hypoalbuminemia] models.
Timing Information Propagation in Interactive Networks
Authors: Hafnaoui Imane , Nicolescu Gabriela , Beltrame Giovanni 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAnimal behavior is greatly influenced by interaction between peers as well as with the environment. Understanding the flow of information between individuals can help decipher their behavior. This applies to both the microscopic and macroscopic levels, from cellular communication to coordinated actions by humans. The aim of this work is to provide a simple but sufficient model of information propagation to learn from natural coordinated behavior, and apply this knowledge to engineered systems. We develop a probabilistic model to infer the information propagation in a network of communicating agents with different degrees of interaction affinity. Another focus of the work is estimating the time needed to reach an agreement between all agents. We experiment using swarms of robots to emulate the communication of biological and social media groups for which we are able to provide upper bounds for the time needed to reach a global consensus, as well as to identify individuals that are responsible for slow convergence.
The Parkinson’s disease-linked Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is required for insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4
Authors: Funk Natalja , Munz Marita , Ott Thomas , Brockmann Kathrin , Wenninger-Weinzierl Andrea , Kühn Ralf , Vogt-Weisenhorn Daniela , Giesert Florian , Wurst Wolfgang , Gasser Thomas , Biskup Saskia 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMutations within Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are associated with late-onset Parkinson’s disease. The physiological function of LRRK2 and molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenic role of LRRK2 mutations remain uncertain. Here, we investigated the role of LRRK2 in intracellular signal transduction. We find that deficiency of Lrrk2 in rodents affects insulin-dependent translocation of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4). This deficit is restored during aging by prolonged insulin-dependent activation of protein kinase B (PKB, Akt) and Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160), and is compensated by elevated basal expression of GLUT4 on the cell surface. Furthermore, we find a crucial role of Rab10 phosphorylation by LRRK2 for efficient insulin signal transduction. Translating our findings into human cell lines, we find comparable molecular alterations in fibroblasts from Parkinson’s patients with the known pathogenic G2019S LRRK2 mutation. Our results highlight the role of LRRK2 in insulin-dependent signalling with potential therapeutic implications.
Links between physical and chemical weathering inferred from a 65-m-deep borehole through Earth’s critical zone
Authors: Holbrook W. Steven , Marcon Virginia , Bacon Allan R. , Brantley Susan L. , Carr Bradley J. , Flinchum Brady A. , Richter Daniel D. , Riebe Clifford S. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAs bedrock weathers to regolith – defined here as weathered rock, saprolite, and soil – porosity grows, guides fluid flow, and liberates nutrients from minerals. Though vital to terrestrial life, the processes that transform bedrock into soil are poorly understood, especially in deep regolith, where direct observations are difficult. A 65-m-deep borehole in the Calhoun Critical Zone Observatory, South Carolina, provides unusual access to a complete weathering profile in an Appalachian granitoid. Co-located geophysical and geochemical datasets in the borehole show a remarkably consistent picture of linked chemical and physical weathering processes, acting over a 38-m-thick regolith divided into three layers: soil; porous, highly weathered saprolite; and weathered, fractured bedrock. The data document that major minerals (plagioclase and biotite) commence to weather at 38 m depth, 20 m below the base of saprolite, in deep, weathered rock where physical, chemical and optical properties abruptly change. The transition from saprolite to weathered bedrock is more gradational, over a depth range of 11–18 m. Chemical weathering increases steadily upward in the weathered bedrock, with intervals of more intense weathering along fractures, documenting the combined influence of time, reactive fluid transport, and the opening of fractures as rock is exhumed and transformed near Earth’s surface.
Biallelic loss-of-function LACC1/FAMIN Mutations Presenting as Rheumatoid Factor-Negative Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Rabionet Raquel , Remesal Agustín , Mensa-Vilaró Anna , Murías Sara , Alcobendas Rosa , González-Roca Eva , Ruiz-Ortiz Estibaliz , Antón Jordi , Iglesias Estibaliz , Modesto Consuelo , Comas David , Puig Anna , Drechsel Oliver , Ossowski Stephan , Yagüe Jordi , Merino Rosa , Estivill Xavier , Arostegui Juan I. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a complex rheumatic disease with both autoimmune and autoinflammatory components. Recently, familial cases of systemic-onset JIA have been attributed to mutations in LACC1/FAMIN. We describe three affected siblings from a Moroccan consanguineous family with an early-onset chronic, symmetric and erosive arthritis previously diagnosed as rheumatoid factor (RF)-negative polyarticular JIA. Autozygosity mapping identified four homozygous regions shared by all patients, located in chromosomes 3, 6 (n:2) and 13, containing over 330 genes. Subsequent whole exome sequencing identified two potential candidate variants within these regions (in FARS2 and LACC1/FAMIN). Genotyping of a cohort of healthy Moroccan individuals (n: 352) and bioinformatics analyses finally supported the frameshift c.128_129delGT mutation in the LACC1/FAMIN gene, leading to a truncated protein (p.Cys43Tyrfs*6), as the most probable causative gene defect. Additional targeted sequencing studies performed in patients with systemic-onset JIA (n:23) and RF-negative polyarticular JIA (n: 44) revealed no pathogenic LACC1/FAMIN mutations. Our findings support the homozygous genotype in the LACC1/FAMIN gene as the defect underlying the family here described with a recessively inherited severe inflammatory joint disease. Our evidences provide further support to the involvement of LACC1/FAMIN deficiency in different types of JIA in addition to the initially described systemic-onset JIA.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-induced milk fat depression: application of RNA-Seq technology to elucidate mammary gene regulation in dairy ewes
Authors: Suárez-Vega Aroa , Gutiérrez-Gil Beatriz , Toral Pablo G. , Hervás Gonzalo , Arranz Juan José , Frutos Pilar 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMilk fat depression (MFD) is characterized by a reduction in the content of milk fat, presumably caused by the anti-lipogenic effects of rumen biohydrogenation intermediates, such as trans-10 cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). In this study, RNA-Seq technology was used to help elucidate the mammary responses involved in CLA-induced MFD in lactating ewes. To this end, we compared the milk somatic cell transcriptome of ewes suffering from CLA-induced MFD with control ewes (i.e., those without MFD), as well as with ewes fed a diet supplemented with fish oil (FO-MFD) that we previously reported affects the mammary transcriptome. In the differential expression analysis between CLA-MFD and controls, we identified 1,524 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), whereas 653 were detected between CLA- and FO-MFD groups. Although this article focuses on lipid metabolism, CLA affected the expression of many genes related to other biological processes, especially immunity. Among the 55 genes shared by both MFD conditions, some genes linked to fatty acid synthesis, such as ACACA, AACS, ACSS2, or ACSS3, were downregulated. In addition, this study provides a list of candidate genes that are not usually considered in the nutrigenomics of MFD but that may act as key regulators of this syndrome in dairy ewes.
Thermochemistry and Kinetics of the Thermal Degradation of 2-Methoxyethanol as Possible Biofuel Additives
Authors: Abdel-Rahman Mohamed A. , Al-Hashimi Nessreen , Shibl Mohamed F. , Yoshizawa Kazunari , El-Nahas Ahmed M. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractOxygenated organic compounds derived from biomass (biofuel) are a promising alternative renewable energy resource. Alcohols are widely used as biofuels, but studies on bifunctional alcohols are still limited. This work investigates the unimolecular thermal degradation of 2-methoxyethanol (2ME) using DFT/BMK and ab initio (CBS-QB3 and G3) methods. Enthalpies of the formation of 2ME and its decomposition species have been calculated. Conventional transition state theory has been used to estimate the rate constant of the pyrolysis of 2ME over a temperature range of 298–2000 K. Production of methoxyethene via 1,3-H atom transfer represents the most kinetically favored path in the course of 2ME pyrolysis at room temperature and requires less energy than the weakest Cα − Cβ simple bond fission. Thermodynamically, the most preferred channel is methane and glycoladhyde formation. A ninefold frequency factor gives a superiority of the Cα − Cβ bond breaking over the Cγ − Oβ bond fission despite comparable activation energies of these two processes.
Anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus and their association with disease manifestations
Authors: Becker Yann , Loignon Renée-Claude , Julien Anne-Sophie , Marcoux Geneviève , Allaeys Isabelle , Lévesque Tania , Rollet-Labelle Emmanuelle , Benk-Fortin Hadrien , Cloutier Nathalie , Melki Imène , Eder Lihi , Wagner Éric , Pelletier Martin , Hajj Hassan El , Tremblay Marie-Ève , Belleannée Clémence , Hébert Marie-Josée , Dieudé Mélanie , Rauch Joyce , Fortin Paul R. , Boilard Eric 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMitochondria are organelles that govern energy supply and control cell death. Mitochondria also express bacterial features, such as the presence of inner membrane cardiolipin and a circular genome rich in hypomethylated CpG motifs. While mitochondrial extrusion by damaged organs or activated cells is thought to trigger innate immunity, it is unclear whether extracellular mitochondria also stimulate an adaptive immune response. We describe the development of novel assays to detect autoantibodies specific to two distinct components of the mitochondrion: the mitochondrial outer membrane and mitochondrial DNA. Antibodies to these two mitochondrial constituents were increased in both human and murine systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), compared to controls, and were present at higher levels than in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome or primary biliary cirrhosis. In both bi- and multi-variate regression models, antibodies to mitochondrial DNA, but not whole mitochondria, were associated with increased anti-dsDNA antibodies and lupus nephritis. This study describes new and optimized methods for the assessment of anti-mitochondrial antibodies, and demonstrates their presence in both human and murine SLE. These findings suggest that different mitochondrial components are immunogenic in SLE, and support the concept that extracellular mitochondria may provide an important source of circulating autoantigens in SLE.
Extended insight into the Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus complex through whole genome sequencing of Mycobacterium salmoniphilum outbreak and Mycobacterium salmoniphilum-like strains
Authors: Behra Phani Rama Krishna , Das Sarbashis , Pettersson B. M. Fredrik , Shirreff Lisa , DuCote Tanner , Jacobsson Karl-Gustav , Ennis Don G. , Kirsebom Leif A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMembers of the Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus complex (MCAC) are close to the mycobacterial ancestor and includes both human, animal and fish pathogens. We present the genomes of 14 members of this complex: the complete genomes of Mycobacterium salmoniphilum and Mycobacterium chelonae type strains, seven M. salmoniphilum isolates, and five M. salmoniphilum-like strains including strains isolated during an outbreak in an animal facility at Uppsala University. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis and core gene phylogeny revealed that the M. salmoniphilum-like strains are variants of the human pathogen Mycobacterium franklinii and phylogenetically close to Mycobacterium abscessus. Our data further suggested that M. salmoniphilum separates into three branches named group I, II and III with the M. salmoniphilum type strain belonging to group II. Among predicted virulence factors, the presence of phospholipase C (plcC), which is a major virulence factor that makes M. abscessus highly cytotoxic to mouse macrophages, and that M. franklinii originally was isolated from infected humans make it plausible that the outbreak in the animal facility was caused by a M. salmoniphilum-like strain. Interestingly, M. salmoniphilum-like was isolated from tap water suggesting that it can be present in the environment. Moreover, we predicted the presence of mutational hotspots in the M. salmoniphilum isolates and 26% of these hotspots overlap with genes categorized as having roles in virulence, disease and defense. We also provide data about key genes involved in transcription and translation such as sigma factor, ribosomal protein and tRNA genes.
Dark-exciton valley dynamics in transition metal dichalcogenide alloy monolayers
Authors: Bragança Helena , Riche Flávio , Qu Fanyao , Lopez-Richard Victor , Marques Gilmar Eugenio 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe report a comprehensive theory to describe exciton and biexciton valley dynamics in monolayer Mo1−xWxSe2 alloys. To probe the impact of different excitonic channels, including bright and dark excitons, intravalley biexcitons, intervalley scattering between bright excitons, as well as bright biexcitons, we have performed a systematic study from the simplest system to the most complex one. In contrast to the binary WSe2 monolayer with weak photoluminescence (PL) and high valley polarization at low temperatures and the MoSe2, that presents high PL intensity, but low valley polarization, our results demonstrate that it is possible to set up a ternary alloy with intermediate W-concentration that holds simultaneously a considerably robust light emission and an efficient optical orientation of the valley pseudospin. We find the critical value of W-concentration, xc, that turns alloys from bright to darkish. The dependence of the PL intensity on temperature shows three regimes: while bright monolayer alloys display a usual temperature dependence in which the intensity decreases with rising temperature, the darkish alloys exhibit the opposite behavior, and the alloys with x around xc show a non-monotonic temperature response. Remarkably, we observe that the biexciton enhances significantly the stability of the exciton emission against fluctuations of W-concentration for bright alloys. Our findings pave the way for developing high-performance valleytronic and photo-emitting devices.
An Effective Neutralizing Antibody Against Influenza Virus H1N1 from Human B Cells
Authors: Lee Cheng-Chung , Yang Chih-Ya , Lin Li-Ling , Ko Tzu-Ping , Chang Alarng Hsun-Lang , Chang Stanley Shi-Chung , Wang Andrew H.-J. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractInfluenza is a contagious acute respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus infection. Hemagglutinin (HA) is an important target in the therapeutic treatment and diagnostic detection of the influenza virus. Influenza A virus encompasses several different HA subtypes with different strains, which are constantly changing. In this study, we identified a fully human H1N1 neutralizing antibody (32D6) via an Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized B cell-based technology. 32D6 specifically neutralizes the clinically isolated H1N1 strains after the 2009 pandemic but not the earlier strains. The epitope was identified through X-ray crystallographic analysis of the 32D6-Fab/HA1 complex structure, which revealed a unique loop conformation located on the top surface of HA. The major region is composed of two peptide segments (residues 172–177 and 206–213), which form an abreast loop conformation. The residue T262 between the two loops forms a conformational epitope for recognition by 32D6. Three water molecules were observed at the interface of HA and the heavy chain, and they may constitute a stabilizing element for the 32D6-HA association. In addition, each 32D6-Fab is likely capable of blocking one HA trimer. This study provides important information on the strain specificity of 32D6 for the therapeutic treatment and detection of viral infection.