bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimating Methane Emissions From Underground Coal and Natural Gas Production in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Authors: Barkley Z. R. , Lauvaux T. , Davis K. J. , Deng A. , Fried A. , Weibring P. , Richter D. , Walega J. G. , DiGangi J. , Ehrman S. H. , Ren X. , Dickerson R. R. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractProduction of coal and natural gas is responsible for one third of anthropogenic methane (CH4) emissions in the United States. Here we examine CH4 emissions from coal and natural gas production in southwestern Pennsylvania. Using a top‐down methodology combining measurements of CH4 and ethane, we conclude that while Environmental Protection Agency inventories appear to report emissions from coal accurately, emissions from unconventional natural gas are underreported in the region by a factor of 5 (±3). However, production‐scaled CH4 emissions from unconventional gas production in the Marcellus remain small compared to other basins due to its large production per well. After normalizing emissions by energy produced, total greenhouse gas emissions from Pennsylvania unconventional natural gas production produce half the carbon footprint compared to regionally produced coal, with carbon dioxide emissions from combustion being the dominant source of greenhouse gas emissions for both sources.
Towards precision medicine for stress disorders: diagnostic biomarkers and targeted drugs
Authors: Le-Niculescu H. , Roseberry K. , Levey D. F. , Rogers J. , Kosary K. , Prabha S. , Jones T. , Judd S. , McCormick M. A , Wessel A. R. , Williams A. , Phalen P. L. , Mamdani F. , Sequeira A. , Kurian S. M. , Niculescu A. B. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe biological fingerprint of environmental adversity may be key to understanding health and disease, as it encompasses the damage induced as well as the compensatory reactions of the organism. Metabolic and hormonal changes may be an informative but incomplete window into the underlying biology. We endeavored to identify objective blood gene expression biomarkers for psychological stress, a subjective sensation with biological roots. To quantify the stress perception at a particular moment in time, we used a simple visual analog scale for life stress in psychiatric patients, a high-risk group. Then, using a stepwise discovery, prioritization, validation, and testing in independent cohort design, we were successful in identifying gene expression biomarkers that were predictive of high-stress states and of future psychiatric hospitalizations related to stress, more so when personalized by gender and diagnosis. One of the top biomarkers that survived discovery, prioritization, validation, and testing was FKBP5, a well-known gene involved in stress response, which serves as a de facto reassuring positive control. We also compared our biomarker findings with telomere length (TL), another well-established biological marker of psychological stress and show that newly identified predictive biomarkers such as NUB1, APOL3, MAD1L1, or NKTR are comparable or better state or trait predictors of stress than TL or FKBP5. Over half of the top predictive biomarkers for stress also had prior evidence of involvement in suicide, and the majority of them had evidence in other psychiatric disorders, providing a molecular underpinning for the effects of stress in those disorders. Some of the biomarkers are targets of existing drugs, of potential utility in patient stratification, and pharmacogenomics approaches. Based on our studies and analyses, the biomarkers with the best overall convergent functional evidence (CFE) for involvement in stress were FKBP5, DDX6, B2M, LAIR1, RTN4, and NUB1. Moreover, the biomarker gene expression signatures yielded leads for possible new drug candidates and natural compounds upon bioinformatics drug repurposing analyses, such as calcium folinate and betulin. Our work may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for stress disorders such as PTSD, that result in decreased quality of life and adverse outcomes, including addictions, violence, and suicide.
Dynamic emission Stokes shift and liquid-like dielectric solvation of band edge carriers in lead-halide perovskites
Authors: Guo Yinsheng , Yaffe Omer , Hull Trevor D. , Owen Jonathan S. , Reichman David R. , Brus Louis E. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractLead-halide perovskites have emerged as promising materials for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications. Their significantly anharmonic lattice motion, in contrast to conventional harmonic semiconductors, presents a conceptual challenge in understanding the genesis of their exceptional optoelectronic properties. Here we report a strongly temperature dependent luminescence Stokes shift in the electronic spectra of both hybrid and inorganic lead-bromide perovskite single crystals. This behavior stands in stark contrast to that exhibited by more conventional crystalline semiconductors. We correlate the electronic spectra with the anti-Stokes and Stokes Raman vibrational spectra. Dielectric solvation theories, originally developed for excited molecules dissolved in polar liquids, reproduce our experimental observations. Our approach, which invokes a classical Debye-like relaxation process, captures the dielectric response originating from the incipient anharmonicity of the LO phonon at about 20 meV (160 cm−1) in the lead-bromide framework. We reconcile this liquid-like model incorporating thermally-activated dielectric solvation with more standard solid-state theories of the emission Stokes shift in crystalline semiconductors.
Nanofiber network with adjustable nanostructure controlled by PVP content for an excellent microwave absorption
Authors: Lv Jing , Gu Weihua , Cui Xiaoqing , Dai Sisi , Zhang Baoshan , Ji Guangbin 
Published: March 2019

AbstractCarbon nanofibers were widely utilized to improve microwave absorption properties since they are a promising lightweight candidate. Adjustable conductive nanostructures of carbon nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning technique. The conductive network is controlled by the polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) content due to the special hygroscopicity of PVP. The increased adhesive contacts of nanofibers provide more transmission paths for electrons to reduce the effect of air dielectric. Satisfactorily, the carbon nanofibers that carbonized from the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and PVP (the mass ratio is 6:4) show excellent microwave absorption performance. The minimum reflection loss (RL) value is −51.3 dB at 15.2 GHz and the maximum effective absorption frequency width (<−10 dB) is 5.1 GHz with the matching thickness of only 1.8 mm. Thereby, we believe that this research may offer an effective way to synthesize lightweight carbon nanofibers microwave absorbents.
Deletion of tumour necrosis factor α receptor 1 elicits an increased TH17 immune response in the chronically inflamed liver
Authors: Berkhout Laura , Barikbin Roja , Schiller Birgit , Ravichandran Gevitha , Krech Till , Neumann Katrin , Sass Gabriele , Tiegs Gisa 
Published: March 2019

AbstractTumour necrosis factor α receptor 1 (TNFR1) activation is known to induce cell death, inflammation, and fibrosis but also hepatocyte survival and regeneration. The multidrug resistance protein 2 knockout (Mdr2−/) mice are a model for chronic hepatitis and inflammation-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. This study analysed how the absence of TNFR1 mediated signalling shapes cytokine and chemokine production, immune cell recruitment and ultimately influences liver injury and fibrotic tissue remodelling in the Mdr2−/− mouse model. We show that Tnfr1−/−/Mdr2−/− mice displayed increased plasma levels of ALT, ALP, and bilirubin as well as a significantly higher collagen content, and markers of fibrosis than Mdr2−/− mice. The expression profile of inflammatory cytokines (Il1b, Il23, Tgfb1, Il17a), chemokines (Ccl2, Cxcl1, Cx3cl1) and chemokine receptors (Ccr6, Cxcr6, Cx3cr1) in livers of Tnfr1−/−/Mdr2−/− mice indicated TH17 cell infiltration. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that the aggravated tissue injury in Tnfr1−/−/Mdr2−/− mice strongly correlated with increased hepatic recruitment of TH17 cells and enhanced IL-17 production in the injured liver. Moreover, we observed increased hepatic activation of RIPK3 in Tnfr1−/−/Mdr2−/− mice, which was not related to necroptotic cell death. Rather, frequencies of infiltrating CX3CR1+ monocytes increased over time in livers of Tnfr1−/−/Mdr2−/− mice, which expressed significantly higher levels of Ripk3 than those of Mdr2−/− mice. Overall, we conclude that the absence of TNFR1-mediated signalling did not improve the pathological phenotype of Mdr2−/− mice. It instead caused enhanced infiltration of TH17 cells and CX3CR1+ monocytes into the injured tissue, which was accompanied by increased RIPK3 activation and IL-17 production.
A scavenger receptor B (CD36)-like protein is a potential mediator of intestinal heme absorption in the hematophagous ectoparasite Lepeophtheirus salmonis
Authors: Heggland Erna Irene , Eichner Christiane , Støve Svein Isungset , Martinez Aurora , Nilsen Frank , Dondrup Michael 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIntestinal absorption of heme has remained enigmatic for years, even though heme provides the most bioavailable form of iron. The salmon louse,Lepeophtheirus salmonis, is a heme auxotrophic ectoparasite feeding on large quantities of blood from its host, the salmon. Here we show that a scavenging CD36-like receptor is a potential mediator of heme absorption in the intestine of the salmon louse. The receptor was characterized by a heme binding assay using recombinantly expressed protein,in situhybridization and immunohistochemistry, as well as functional knockdown studies in the louse. A computational structural model of the receptor predicted a binding pocket for heme, as also supported byin silicodocking. The mRNA and protein were expressed exclusively in the intestine of the louse. Further, knocking down the transcript resulted in lower heme levels in the adult female louse, production of shorter egg strings, and an overall lower hatching success of the eggs. Finally, starving the lice caused the transcript expression of the receptor to decrease. To our knowledge, this is the first time a CD36-like protein has been suggested to be an intestinal heme receptor.
Nanogap Engineering for Enhanced Transmission of Wire Grid Polarizers in Mid-Wavelength Infrared Region
Authors: Kim Wonyoung , Kim Minsuk , Kim Tae Young , Choi Hyunjin , Jin Myung-Jong , Lee Kyu-Tae , Lee Minbaek , Hwangbo Chang Kwon 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWire-grid polarizers (WGPs) have been widely used in various fields, such as polarimetry, imaging, display, spectroscopy, and optical isolation. However, conventional WGPs used in diverse mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) applications show high reflection losses, which intrinsically arise from high refractive indices of their IR-transmitting substrates, such as silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge). This study demonstrated the enhanced transmittance of a transverse magnetic (TM) wave that surpassed ~80% over the entire MWIR range from 3000 to 5000 nm in a narrow air gap of a WGP, where aluminum (Al) was selectively deposited on a nanopatterned Si substrate using an oblique angle deposition method. Moreover, a higher TM wave transmittance was achieved by reducing the air gaps of the WGPs in the nanopatterns, which were distinctly different from the traditional WGPs comprising metal wires patterned directly on a flat substrate. A finite-difference time-domain simulation was performed to investigate optical properties of the proposed WGPs, which showed that the electric field in the air nanogap was remarkably enhanced. The characteristic performances were further investigated using a combination of an effective medium approximation and an admittance diagram, revealing that the broadband transmission enhancement could be attributed to a combined effect of a strong electric field and a better admittance matching. The approach and results described in this paper hold promise for the design and the fabrication of high-quality WGPs, as well as their numerous applications.
Brain functional connectivity is altered in patients with Takotsubo Syndrome
Authors: Silva Ana Rita , Magalhães Ricardo , Arantes Carina , Moreira Pedro Silva , Rodrigues Mariana , Marques Paulo , Marques Jorge , Sousa Nuno , Pereira Vitor Hugo 
Published: March 2019

AbstractTakotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute, reversible cardiomyopathy. The central autonomic nervous system (ANS) is believed to play a role in this disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the patterns of brain functional connectivity in a sample of patients who had experienced a previous episode of TTS. Brain functional connectivity, both at rest and in response to the stressful stimulus of topical cold stimulation, was explored using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), network-based statistics (NBS) and graph theory analysis (GTA) in a population consisting of eight patients with a previous episode of TTS and eight sex- and age-matched controls. At rest, a network characterized by increased connectivity in the TTS group compared to controls and comprising elements of the central ANS was identified. GTA revealed increased local efficiency, clustering and strength in regions of the bilateral hippocampus in subjects with a previous episode of TTS. When stressed by local exposure to cold, the TTS group differed significantly from both a pre-stress baseline interval and from the control group, showing increased connectivity in a network that included the left amygdala and the right insula. Based on the results, patients with TTS display a reorganization of cortical and subcortical networks, including areas associated with the emotional response and autonomic regulation. The findings tend to support the hypothesis that a deregulation of autonomic control at the central level plays a significant role in this syndrome.
Antibacterial activity of ovatodiolide isolated from Anisomeles indica against Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Lien Hsiu-Man , Wu Hui-Yu , Hung Chiu-Lien , Chen Chih-Jung , Wu Chia-Lin , Chen Kuan-Wen , Huang Chao-Lu , Chang Sheau-Jiun , Chen Chia-Chang , Lin Hwai-Jeng , Lai Chih-Ho 
Published: March 2019

AbstractHelicobacter pylori infection is associated with high incidence of gastric diseases. The extensive therapy of H. pylori infection with antibiotics has increased its resistance rates worldwide. Ovatodiolide, a pure constituent isolated from Anisomeles indica, has been demonstrated to possess bactericidal activity against H. pylori. In this study, ovatodiolide inhibited the growth of both H. pylori reference strain and clinical multidrug-resistant isolates. Docking analysis revealed that ovatodiolide fits into the hydrophobic pocket of a ribosomal protein, RpsB. Furthermore, ovatodiolide inhibited bacterial growth by reducing levels of RpsB, which plays a crucial role in protein translation. Our results demonstrate that ovatodiolide binds to a ribosomal protein and interferes with protein synthesis. This study provides evidence that ovatodiolide has the potential to be developed into a potent therapeutic agent for treating H. pylori infection.
Frequency-specific activation of the peripheral auditory system using optoacoustic laser stimulation
Authors: Stahn Patricia , Lim Hubert H. , Hinsberger Marius P. , Sorg Katharina , Pillong Lukas , Kannengießer Marc , Schreiter Cathleen , Foth Hans-Jochen , Langenbucher Achim , Schick Bernhard , Wenzel Gentiana I. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractHearing impairment is one of the most common sensory deficits in humans. Hearing aids are helpful to patients but can have poor sound quality or transmission due to insufficient output or acoustic feedback, such as for high frequencies. Implantable devices partially overcome these issues but require surgery with limited locations for device attachment. Here, we investigate a new optoacoustic approach to vibrate the hearing organ with laser stimulation to improve frequency bandwidth, not requiring attachment to specific vibratory structures, and potentially reduce acoustic feedback. We developed a laser pulse modulation strategy and simulated its response at the umbo (1–10 kHz) based on a convolution-based model. We achieved frequency-specific activation in which non-contact laser stimulation of the umbo, as well as within the middle ear at the round window and otic capsule, induced precise shifts in the maximal vibratory response of the umbo and neural activation within the inferior colliculus of guinea pigs, corresponding to the targeted, modelled and then stimulated frequency. There was also no acoustic feedback detected from laser stimulation with our experimental setup. These findings open up the potential for using a convolution-based optoacoustic approach as a new type of laser hearing aid or middle ear implant.
Crotoxin promotes macrophage reprogramming towards an antiangiogenic phenotype
Authors: de Araújo Pimenta Luciana , de Almeida Maíra Estanislau S. , Bretones Marisa Langeani , Cirillo Maria Cristina , Curi Rui , Sampaio Sandra Coccuzzo 
Published: March 2019

AbstractCrotoxin (CTX) is the primary toxin of South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus venom. CTX reduces tumour mass, and tumour cell proliferation and these effects seem to involve the formation of new vessels. Angiogenesis has a key role in tumour growth and progression and is regulated by macrophage secretory activity. Herein, the effect of CTX on macrophage secretory activity associated with angiogenesis was investigated in vitro. Thymic endothelial cells (EC) were incubated in the presence of macrophages treated with CTX (12.5 nM) or supernatants of CTX-treated macrophages and endothelial cell proliferation, migration and adhesion activities, and the capillary-like tube formation in the matrigel-3D matrix was measured. Angiogenic mediators (MMP-2, VEGF and TNF-α) were measured in the cell culture medium. Macrophages pre-treated with CTX and supernatant of CTX-treated macrophages inhibited EC proliferation, adhesion to its natural ligands, and migration (as evaluated in a wound-healing model and Time Lapse assay) activities. Decreased capillary-like tube formation and MMP-2, VEGF and TNF-α levels in the supernatant of macrophages treated with CTX was also described. CTX promotes macrophage reprogramming towards an antiangiogenic phenotype.
High fabrication-tolerant narrowband perfect graphene absorber based on guided-mode resonance in distributed Bragg reflector
Authors: Lee Sangjun , Heo Hyungjun , Kim Sangin 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe propose the narrowband perfect absorbers with enormously high fabrication tolerance, which consists of a low-contrast grating and a finite distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) layer with an ultrathin absorbing medium (graphene). It is numerically shown that the proposed perfect absorber outperforms the previously proposed schemes in fabrication tolerance. According to the rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) and coupled mode theory (CMT) fitting, over a considerably wide range of grating width and thickness, the proposed absorber provides a proper ratio of leakage rate to loss rate while preserving resonant condition, so that almost perfect absorption (>99.9%) can be obtained. This result is attributed to the strong electric field confinement in the DBR region rather than the grating layer owing to lower index of grating compared to DBR. In addition, without degrading the fabrication tolerance, the bandwidth of the proposed absorber can be controlled by the DBR thickness (the number of pairs) and a narrow absorbing bandwidth of sub-nanometer is achieved with 8.5 Si/SiO2 pair stacked DBR.
Gold Dissolution from Ore with Iodide-Oxidising Bacteria
Authors: Khaing San Yee , Sugai Yuichi , Sasaki Kyuro 
Published: March 2019

AbstractGold leaching from ore using iodide-iodine mixtures is an alternative to gold cyanidation. This study evaluated the ability of iodide-oxidising bacteria to solubilise gold from ore that was mainly composed of gold, pyrite, galena, and chalcopyrite. Eight bacterial strains were successfully isolated from brine. Those strains were incubated in a liquid culture medium containing ore with a gold content of 0.26 wt.% and pulp density of 3.3 w/v% to evaluate their abilities to mediate the dissolution of gold. The gold was solubilised completely within 30 days of incubation in the iodine-iodide lixiviant solution generated by three bacterial strains. One strain, in particular, completed the dissolution of gold within 5 days of incubation and was identified as a member of the genus Roseovarius. Thus, the possibility of bacterial gold leaching using iodide-oxidising bacteria was successfully demonstrated. Bioleaching gold with iodide would likely be more environmentally sustainable than traditional cyanide leaching. Further research is required to evaluate the techno-economic feasibility of this approach.
Electrical stimulation enhances neuronal cell activity mediated by Schwann cell derived exosomes
Authors: Hu Ming , Hong Li , Liu Cheng , Hong Shasha , He Songming , Zhou Min , Huang Guotao , Chen Qian 
Published: March 2019

AbstractElectrical stimulation (ES) therapy has good effects in patients with nervous system injury-related diseases. ES promotes nerve cell regeneration and stimulates Schwann cells to express neurotrophic factors. The incidence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) among elderly people is increasing. Some studies suggest that damage to the pudendal nerve is closely related to the pathogenesis of SUI. It has also been found that pelvic ES can reduce SUI symptoms in a rat model of SUI caused by pudendal nerve injury. Clinically, pelvic floor electrical stimulation is effective in patients with mild to moderate SUI. These studies indicate that ES may ameliorate damage to the pudendal nerve and thus achieve the goal of SUI treatment, although the mechanism of action of this treatment remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationships among ES, neural cells and Schwann cells at the cellular level. We applied ES to nerve cells at 100 mV/mm or 200 mV/mm for 0, 0.5, 1, or 2 h to investigate changes in nerve cell activity. We then co-cultured the nerve cells with Schwann cells to explore the influence of single-culture and co-culture conditions on the nerve cells. Compared to non-ES, ES of the nerve cells increased their activity. Compared to those in single culture, co-cultured nerve cells exhibited an additional increase in activity. We also found that Schwann cell derived exosomes could promote the activity of nerve cells, with glutamate and calcium ions playing a potential role in this process. These results suggest that the mutual regulation of neural cells and Schwann cells plays an important role in the process by which ES ameliorates neurological function, which may provide a basis for subsequent studies.
Optofluidic vapor sensing with free-space coupled 2D photonic crystal slabs
Authors: Liu Yonghao , Wang Shuling , Biswas Priyanka , Palit Prithviraj , Zhou Weidong , Sun Yuze 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe report here a compact vapor sensor based on polymer coated two-dimensional (2D) defect-free photonic crystal slabs (PCS). The sensing mechanism is based on the resonance spectral shift associated with the Fano resonance mode in the PCS due to the vapor molecule adsorption and desorption induced changes in both polymer thickness and polymer refractive index (RI). Sensitivity due to RI and thickness change were theoretically investigated respectively. With three different thicknesses of OV-101 polymer coating, sensitivity and response time were experimentally evaluated for hexane and ethanol vapors. The polymer demonstrated roughly four times higher sensitivity towards the hexane vapor than ethanol vapor. The PCS sensor with thicker polymer coating showed higher sensitivity to both hexane and ethanol vapors but exhibiting longer response time.