bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Suprathermal Electron Acceleration in a Reconnecting Magnetotail: Large‐Scale Kinetic Simulation
Authors: Zhou Meng , El‐Alaoui Mostafa , Lapenta Giovanni , Berchem Jean , Richard Robert L. , Schriver David , Walker Raymond J. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractElectron acceleration in the magnetotail has been investigated intensively. A major location for this process is the reconnection region. How electrons are accelerated to suprathermal energy in a realistic three‐dimensional reconnection geometry, as opposed to an idealized configuration, is not fully understood. In this study, we employed a three‐dimensional implicit particle‐in‐cell (iPIC3D) simulation and a large‐scale kinetic simulation to address this problem. We simulated a near‐Earth reconnection event observed by THEMIS spacecraft using an iPIC3D simulation with initial and boundary conditions set by a global magnetohydrodynamic simulation of Earth's magnetosphere. The simulated near‐Earth reconnection was characterized by a primary X line and a nearby ion‐scale flux rope. Using large‐scale kinetic, we then followed millions of test electrons using the electromagnetic fields from the iPIC3D simulation. We found that magnetotail reconnection can substantially heat the electrons and generate a large number of suprathermal electrons. The small‐scale flux rope played an essential role in energizing these suprathermal electrons, which were predominantly produced inside the flux rope. We identified several acceleration mechanisms that were responsible for energizing these electrons: parallel electric fields, betatron and Fermi acceleration, and nonadiabatic acceleration by the perpendicular electric field. It is found that the parallel electric field was the dominant cause of electron acceleration to suprathermal energy. We suggest that three‐dimensional and time‐dependent structures must be taken into account to understand electron acceleration during magnetic reconnection.
Seasonal Cycle and Annual Reversal of the Somali Current in an Eddy‐Resolving Global Ocean Model
Authors: Wang He , McClean Julie L. , Talley Lynne D. , Yeager Stephen 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe annual cycle of the Somali Current is studied using a forced strongly eddy‐active global ocean general circulation model. The annual cycle and timing of the reversal of the Somali Current differ depending on the location along the coast of northeastern Africa. A momentum budget analysis calculated from the model output shows that both annual Rossby waves and the life cycle of the Great Whirl impact the northern part of the Somali Current (roughly 5°N to 10°N). In particular, the nonlinear term is of leading order importance when the Great Whirl is present. This is in contrast to the leading‐order geostrophic balance between 2°N and 5°N. South of 2°N, equatorial dynamics prevail, and the nonlinear term is again important, and its reversal is strongly affected by the northward flowing East African Coastal Current. Alongshore wind forcing is influential at all latitudes, but only the transition in flow direction during boreal spring between 2°N and 5°N directly follows that of the wind.
A Hybrid Regression‐Neural Network (HR‐NN) Method for Forecasting the Solar Activity
Authors: Okoh D. I. , Seemala G. K. , Rabiu A. B. , Uwamahoro J. , Habarulema J. B. , Aggarwal M. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe Sun is the major driver of space weather events, and as a result, most applications requiring modeling/forecasting of space weather phenomena depend largely on the activities of Sun. Accurate modeling of solar activity parameters like the sunspot number (SSN) is therefore considered significant for the quantitative modeling of space weather phenomena. Sunspot number forecasts are applied in ionospheric models like the International Reference Ionosphere model and in several other projects requiring prediction of space weather phenomena. A method called Hybrid Regression‐Neural Network that combines regression analysis and neural network learning is used for forecasting the SSN. Considering the geomagnetic Ap index during the end of the previous cycle (known as the precursor Ap index) as a reliable measurement, we predict the end of solar cycle 24 to be in March 2020 (±7 months), with monthly SSN 5.4 (±5.5). Using an estimated value of precursor Ap index as 5.6 nT for solar cycle 25, we predict the maximum SSN to be 122.1 (±18.2) in January 2025 (±6 months) and the minimum to be 6.0 (±5.5) in April 2031 (±5 months). We found from the model that on changing the assumed value of precursor Ap index (5.6 nT) by ±1 nT, the predicted peak of solar cycle 25 changes by about 11 sunspots for every 1‐nT change in the assumed precursor Ap index.
A Ranking of Hydrological Signatures Based on Their Predictability in Space
Authors: Addor N. , Nearing G. , Prieto C. , Newman A. J. , Le Vine N. , Clark M. P. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractHydrological signatures are now used for a wide range of purposes, including catchment classification, process exploration, and hydrological model calibration. The recent boost in the popularity and number of signatures has however not been accompanied by the development of clear guidance on signature selection. Here we propose that exploring the predictability of signatures in space provides important insights into their drivers and their sensitivity to data uncertainties and is hence useful for signature selection. We use three complementary approaches to compare and rank 15 commonly used signatures, which we evaluate in 600+ U.S. catchments from the Catchment Attributes and MEteorology for Large‐sample Studies (CAMELS) data set. First, we employ machine learning (random forests) to explore how attributes characterizing the climatic conditions, topography, land cover, soil, and geology influence (or not) the signatures. Second, we use simulations of the Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting model to benchmark the random forest predictions. Third, we take advantage of the large sample of CAMELS catchments to characterize the spatial autocorrelation (using Moran's I) of the signature field. These three approaches lead to remarkably similar rankings of the signatures. We show (i) that signatures with the noisiest spatial pattern tend to be poorly captured by hydrological simulations, (ii) that their relationship to catchments attributes are elusive (in particular they are not well explained by climatic indices), and (iii) that they are particularly sensitive to discharge uncertainties. We suggest that a better understanding of the drivers of hydrological signatures and a better characterization of their uncertainties would increase their value in hydrological studies.
ER-associated ubiquitin ligase HRD1 programs liver metabolism by targeting multiple metabolic enzymes
Authors: Wei Juncheng , Yuan Yanzhi , Chen Lu , Xu Yuanming , Zhang Yuehui , Wang Yajun , Yang Yanjie , Peek Clara Bien , Diebold Lauren , Yang Yi , Gao Beixue , Jin Chaozhi , Melo-Cardenas Johanna , Chandel Navdeep S. , Zhang Donna D. , Pan Hui , Zhang Kezhong , Wang Jian , He Fuchu , Fang Deyu 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe HMG-CoA reductase degradation protein 1 (HRD1) has been identified as a key enzyme for endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation of misfolded proteins, but its organ-specific physiological functions remain largely undefined. Here we show that mice with HRD1 deletion specifically in the liver display increased energy expenditure and are resistant to HFD-induced obesity and liver steatosis and insulin resistance. Proteomic analysis identifies a HRD1 interactome, a large portion of which includes metabolic regulators. Loss of HRD1 results in elevated ENTPD5, CPT2, RMND1, and HSD17B4 protein levels and a consequent hyperactivation of both AMPK and AKT pathways. Genome-wide mRNA sequencing revealed that HRD1-deficiency reprograms liver metabolic gene expression profiles, including suppressing genes involved in glycogenesis and lipogenesis and upregulating genes involved in glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation. We propose HRD1 as a liver metabolic regulator and a potential drug target for obesity, fatty liver disease, and insulin resistance associated with the metabolic syndrome.
Data-driven approach for the prediction and interpretation of core-electron loss spectroscopy
Authors: Kiyohara Shin , Miyata Tomohiro , Tsuda Koji , Mizoguchi Teruyasu 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSpectroscopy is indispensable for determining atomic configurations, chemical bondings, and vibrational behaviours, which are crucial information for materials development. Despite their importance, the interpretation of spectra using “human-driven” methods, such as the manual comparison of experimental spectra with reference/simulated spectra, is difficult due to the explosive increase in the number of experimental spectra to be observed. To overcome the limitations of the “human-driven” approach, we develop a new “data-driven” approach based on machine learning techniques by combining the layer clustering and decision tree methods. The proposed method is applied to the 46 oxygen-K edges of the ELNES/XANES spectra of oxide compounds. With this method, the spectra can be interpreted in accordance with the material information. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our method can predict spectral features from the material information. Our approach has the potential to provide information about a material that cannot be determined manually as well as predict a plausible spectrum from the geometric information alone.
Rotations of macromolecules affect nonspecific biological responses to magnetic fields
Authors: Binhi Vladimir N. , Prato Frank S. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractWe have previously proposed that there are at least two initial molecular transduction mechanisms needed to explain specific and nonspecific biological effects of weak magnetic fields. For the specific effect associated with animal magnetic navigation, the radical pair mechanism is the leading hypothesis; it associates the specialised magnetic sense with the radical pairs located in the eye retina. In contrast to the magnetic sense, nonspecific effects occur through the interaction of magnetic fields with magnetic moments dispersed over the organism. However, it is unlikely that the radical pair mechanism can explain such nonspecific phenomena. In order to explain these, we further develop our physical model for the case of magnetic moments residing in rotating molecules. It is shown that, in some conditions, the precession of the magnetic moments that reside on rotating molecules can be slowed relative to the immediate biophysical structures. In terms of quantum mechanics this corresponds to the mixing of the quantum levels of magnetic moments. Hence this mechanism is called the Level Mixing Mechanism, or the LMM. The results obtained are magnetic field-dependences that are in good agreement with known experiments where biological effects arise in response to the reversal of the magnetic field vector.
Platelet activation and prothrombotic properties in a mouse model of peritoneal sepsis
Authors: Vardon Bounes Fanny , Mémier Vincent , Marcaud Marina , Jacquemin Aemilia , Hamzeh-Cognasse Hind , Garcia Cédric , Series Jennifer , Sié Pierre , Minville Vincent , Gratacap Marie-Pierre , Payrastre Bernard 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSepsis is associated with thrombocytopenia and microvascular thrombosis. Studies have described platelets implication in this pathology but their kinetics of activation and behavior remain poorly known. We show in a mouse model of peritonitis, the appearance of platelet-rich thrombi in organ microvessels and organ damage. Complementary methods are necessary to characterize platelet activation during sepsis as circulating soluble markers and platelet-monocyte aggregates revealed early platelet activation, while surface activation markers were detected at later stage. A microfluidic based ex-vivo thrombosis assay demonstrated that platelets from septic mice have a prothrombotic behavior at shear rate encountered in microvessels. Interestingly, we found that even though phosphoinositide-3-kinase β−deficient platelet mice formed less thrombi in liver microcirculation, peritoneal sepsis activates a platelet alternative pathway to compensate the otherwise mandatory role of this lipid-kinase to form stable thrombi at high shear rate. Platelets are rapidly activated during sepsis. Thrombocytopenia can be attributed in part to platelet-rich thrombi formation in capillaries and platelet-leukocytes interactions. Platelets from septic mice have a prothrombotic phenotype at a shear rate encountered in arterioles. Further studies are necessary to unravel molecular mechanisms leading to this prothrombotic state of platelets in order to guide the development of future treatments of polymicrobial sepsis.
Effects of Vaspin on Insulin Resistance in Rats and Underlying Mechanisms
Authors: Liu Shiwei , Duan Ruixue , Wu Yaru , Du Fang , Zhang Jiaxin , Li Xin , Guo Shenghui , Wang Meimei , Zhang Qi , Li Yuanbin , Li Naishi 
Published: September 2018

AbstractInsulin resistance (IR) is the main pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and a shared pathophysiological change in conditions such as diabetes mellitus, adiposity, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Visceral adipose tissue-derived serpin (Vaspin) is a newly discovered adipocytokine with insulin-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory effects. To examine if vaspin can improve insulin resistance in rats fed a high-fat diet via the insulin receptor substrate/phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B/glucose transport (IRS/PI3K/Akt/Glut) and inhibitory κB alpha/nuclear factor-kappa B (IκBα/NF-κB) signalling pathways, thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: the normal control group (NC group, n = 10), high-fat diet group (HFD group, n = 10) and vaspin intervention group (HFD + vaspin group, n = 10). Results showed that intervention with vaspin significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FINS) concentrations in HFD − fed rats without significantly affecting body weight or triglyceride (TG) or total cholesterol (TC) levels. The areas under the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and the insulin tolerance test (ITT) curves were significantly decreased in HFD + vaspin group compared with the HFD group, and the glucose infusion rate (GIR) showed the same trends. Western blot, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining showed that vaspin could improve insulin resistance in liver, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue by activating the IRS/PI3K/Akt/Glut signalling pathway and inhibiting the IκBα/NF-κB signalling pathway.
Deciphering the Odorant Binding, Activation, and Discrimination Mechanism of Dhelobp21 from Dastarus Helophoroides
Authors: Yu Guang-Qiang , Li Dong-Zhen , Lu Yu-Lin , Wang Ya-Qi , Kong De-Xin , Wang Man-Qun 
Published: September 2018

AbstractOdorant-binding proteins (OBPs) play a pivotal role in transporting odorants through the sensillar lymph of insect chemosensory sensilla and increasing the sensitivity of the olfactory system. To address the ligand binding, activation, and release mechanisms of OBPs, we performed a set of conventional molecular dynamics simulations for binding of the odorant-binding protein DhelOBP21 fromDastarcus helophoroideswith 18 ligands (1-NPN and 17 volatiles), as well as four constant-pH molecular dynamics simulations. We found that the open pocket DhelOBP21 at pH 5.0 could bind volatiles and form a closed pocket complex via transformation of its N-terminus into regular Helix at pH 7.0 and vice versa. Moreover, the discrimination of volatiles (selectivity and promiscuity) was determined by the characteristics of both the volatiles and the ‘essential’ and ‘selective’ amino acid residues in OBP binding pockets, rather than the binding affinity of the volatiles. This study put forward a new hypothesis that during the binding of volatiles there are two transitions for the DhelOBP21 amino-terminus: pH- and odorant binding-dependent random-coil-to-helix. Another important finding is providing a framework for the exploration of the complete coil-to-helix transition process and theoretically analyzing its underlying causes at molecular level.
In vivo functional characterisation of pheromone binding protein-1 in the silkmoth, Bombyx mori
Authors: Shiota Yusuke , Sakurai Takeshi , Daimon Takaaki , Mitsuno Hidefumi , Fujii Takeshi , Matsuyama Shigeru , Sezutsu Hideki , Ishikawa Yukio , Kanzaki Ryohei 
Published: September 2018

AbstractMale moths detect sex pheromones emitted by conspecific females with high sensitivity and specificity by the olfactory sensilla on their antennae. Pheromone binding proteins (PBPs) are highly enriched in the sensillum lymph of pheromone sensitive olfactory sensilla and are supposed to contribute to the sensitivity and selectivity of pheromone detection in moths. However, the functional role of PBPs in moth sex pheromone detection in vivo remains obscure. In the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, female moths emit bombykol as a single attractive sex pheromone component along with a small amount of bombykal that negatively modulates the behavioural responses to bombykol. A pair of olfactory receptor neurons, specifically tuned to bombykol or bombykal, co-localise in the trichodeum sensilla, the sensillum lymph of which contains a single PBP, namely, BmPBP1. We analysed the roles of BmPBP1 using BmPBP1-knockout silkmoth lines generated by transcription activator-like effector nuclease-mediated gene targeting. Electroantennogram analysis revealed that the peak response amplitudes of BmPBP1-knockout male antennae to bombykol and bombykal were significantly reduced by a similar percentage when compared with those of the wild-type males. Our results indicate that BmPBP1 plays a crucial role in enhancing the sensitivity, but not the selectivity, of sex pheromone detection in silkmoths.
Sex-specific patterns of gene expression following influenza vaccination
Authors: Wen Feng , Guo Jinyue , Li Zhili , Huang Shujian 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSex-based variations in the immune response to the influenza vaccines was reported, however, the genetic basis responsible for the sex variations in the immune response toward the influenza vaccines remains unclear. Here, the genes responsible for sex-specific responses after vaccination with trivalent inactivated influenza virus were identified. These genes were enriched in virus response pathways, especially interferon signaling. A list of genes showing different responses to the vaccine between females and males were obtained next. Our results demonstrated that females generate stronger immune responses to seasonal influenza vaccines within 24 hours than males. However, most of these genes with variability between sexes had the opposite expression levels after three days, suggesting that males retained the immune responses longer than female. To summary, our study identified genes responsible for the sex variations toward influenza vaccination. Our findings might provide insights into the development of the sex-dependent influenza vaccines.
Background-deflection Brillouin microscopy reveals altered biomechanics of intracellular stress granules by ALS protein FUS
Authors: Antonacci Giuseppe , de Turris Valeria , Rosa Alessandro , Ruocco Giancarlo 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAltered cellular biomechanics have been implicated as key photogenic triggers in age-related diseases. An aberrant liquid-to-solid phase transition, observed in in vitro reconstituted droplets of FUS protein, has been recently proposed as a possible pathogenic mechanism for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Whether such transition occurs in cell environments is currently unknown as a consequence of the limited measuring capability of the existing techniques, which are invasive or lack of subcellular resolution. Here we developed a non-contact and label-free imaging method, named background-deflection Brillouin microscopy, to investigate the three-dimensional intracellular biomechanics at a sub-micron resolution. Our method exploits diffraction to achieve an unprecedented 10,000-fold enhancement in the spectral contrast of single-stage spectrometers, enabling, to the best of our knowledge, the first direct biomechanical analysis on intracellular stress granules containing ALS mutant FUS protein in fixed cells. Our findings provide fundamental insights on the critical aggregation step underlying the neurodegenerative ALS disease.
Extreme-mass-ratio inspirals produced by tidal capture of binary black holes
Authors: Chen Xian , Han Wen-Biao 
Published: September 2018

AbstractExtreme-mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) are important gravitational-wave (GW) sources for future space-based detectors. The standard model consists of one stellar-mass black hole spiraling into a supermassive one, and such a process emits low-frequency (~10−3 Hz) GWs, which contain rich information about the space–time geometry around the central massive body. Here we show that the small bodies in EMRIs, in fact, could be binary black holes, which are captured by the massive black holes during earlier close encounters. About 30% of the captured binaries coalesce due to the perturbation by the massive bodies, resulting in a merger rate of 0.03 Gpc3 yr−1 in the most optimistic scenario. The coalescence generates also high-frequency (~102 Hz) GWs detectable by ground-based observatories, making these binary-EMRIs ideal targets for future multi-band GW observations.
Knoblauch zur Gesunderhaltung
Authors: Vlachojannis Julia , Chrubasik-Hausmann Sigrun 
Published: September 2018

ZusammenfassungDie blutdruck-, lipid- und blutzuckersenkende sowie die antiatherogene, antioxidative und antiproliferative Wirkung von Zubereitungen aus weißem, gereiftem oder schwarzem Knoblauch ist in vielen experimentellen Studien untersucht. Die Wirkungsmechanismen für die einzelnen Wirkungen sind plausibel. Doch nicht alle Studien kamen zu einem einheitlich positiven Ergebnis, weshalb weitere Studien erforderlich sind, um die pharmakologischen Wirkungen zu definieren. Im Unterschied zu weißem Knoblauch hat schwarzer Knoblauch nur eine geringe Wirkung auf die Thrombozyten-Aggregation. Alle Zubereitungen aus Knoblauch wirken mehr oder weniger antientzündlich, immunstimulierend, antiallergisch und antibakteriell. Nur weißer Knoblauch wurde bisher experimentell auf spasmolytische, antivirale und antimykotische Wirkung untersucht.Humanpharmakologische Untersuchungen liegen zur blutdrucksenkenden Wirkung, zur Wirkung auf Blutlipide und Homocystein, zur Gerinnungshemmung, zur rheologischen, antioxidativen und karminativen Wirkung vor. Zubereitungen aus Knoblauch sind nicht mutagen. Präklinische Studien zur Sicherheit während der Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit liegen nicht vor. Hohe Dosen von Zubereitungen aus weißem Knoblauch wirkten zytotoxisch und organschädigend, nicht aber Zubereitungen aus gereiftem oder schwarzem Knoblauch.
Phytotherapie in Vietnam
Authors: Kraft Karin , Peters Uwe 
Published: September 2018

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGIn Vietnam ist Phytotherapie ein wichtiger Teil der Behandlung von Patienten auf allen Ebenen des Gesundheitssystems, insbesondere bei Entzündungen und Schmerzen, aber auch beim metabolischen Syndrom. Aufgrund der hohen Selbstbeteiligung bei den Behandlungskosten ist der Anteil der Selbstmedikation mit Phytopharmaka und Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln sehr hoch. Durch die seit Jahren betriebene staatliche Förderung sind der Anbau von Arzneipflanzen und die Entwicklung von entsprechenden Produkten zu einem wichtigen Wirtschaftsfaktor geworden.