bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Post-polymerisation functionalisation of conjugated polymer backbones and its application in multi-functional emissive nanoparticles
Authors: Creamer Adam , Wood Christopher S. , Howes Philip D. , Casey Abby , Cong Shengyu , Marsh Adam V. , Godin Robert , Panidi Julianna , Anthopoulos Thomas D. , Burgess Claire H. , Wu Tingman , Fei Zhuping , Hamilton Iain , McLachlan Martyn A. , Stevens Molly M. , Heeney Martin 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackbone functionalisation of conjugated polymers is crucial to their performance in many applications, from electronic displays to nanoparticle biosensors, yet there are limited approaches to introduce functionality. To address this challenge we have developed a method for the direct modification of the aromatic backbone of a conjugated polymer, post-polymerisation. This is achieved via a quantitative nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reaction on a range of fluorinated electron-deficient comonomers. The method allows for facile tuning of the physical and optoelectronic properties within a batch of consistent molecular weight and dispersity. It also enables the introduction of multiple different functional groups onto the polymer backbone in a controlled manner. To demonstrate the versatility of this reaction, we designed and synthesised a range of emissive poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT)-based polymers for the creation of mono and multifunctional semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) capable of two orthogonal bioconjugation reactions on the same surface.
Creating solvation environments in heterogeneous catalysts for efficient biomass conversion
Authors: Sun Qi , Wang Sai , Aguila Briana , Meng Xiangju , Ma Shengqian , Xiao Feng-Shou 
Published: August 2018

AbstractChemical transformations are highly sensitive toward changes in the solvation environment and solvents have long been used to control their outcome. Reactions display unique performance in solvents like ionic liquids or DMSO, however, isolating products from them is cumbersome and energy-consuming. Here, we develop promising alternatives by constructing solvent moieties into porous materials, which in turn serve as platforms for introducing catalytic species. Due to the high density of the solvent moieties, these porous solid solvents (PSSs) retain solvation ability, which greatly influences the performance of incorporated active sites via concerted non-covalent substrate–catalyst interactions. As a proof-of-concept, the -SO3H-incorporated PSSs exhibit high yields of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in THF, which exceeds the best results reported using readily separable solvents and even rivals those in ionic liquids or DMSO. Given the wide application, our strategy provides a step forward towards sustainable synthesis by eliminating the concerns with separation unfriendly solvents.
Pan-cancer deconvolution of tumour composition using DNA methylation
Authors: Chakravarthy Ankur , Furness Andrew , Joshi Kroopa , Ghorani Ehsan , Ford Kirsty , Ward Matthew J. , King Emma V. , Lechner Matt , Marafioti Teresa , Quezada Sergio A. , Thomas Gareth J. , Feber Andrew , Fenton Tim R. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe nature and extent of immune cell infiltration into solid tumours are key determinants of therapeutic response. Here, using a DNA methylation-based approach to tumour cell fraction deconvolution, we report the integrated analysis of tumour composition and genomics across a wide spectrum of solid cancers. Initially studying head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, we identify two distinct tumour subgroups: ‘immune hot’ and ‘immune cold’, which display differing prognosis, mutation burden, cytokine signalling, cytolytic activity and oncogenic driver events. We demonstrate the existence of such tumour subgroups pan-cancer, link clonal-neoantigen burden to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte infiltration, and show that transcriptional signatures of hot tumours are selectively engaged in immunotherapy responders. We also find that treatment-naive hot tumours are markedly enriched for known immune-resistance genomic alterations, potentially explaining the heterogeneity of immunotherapy response and prognosis seen within this group. Finally, we define a catalogue of mediators of active antitumour immunity, deriving candidate biomarkers and potential targets for precision immunotherapy.
Itch suppression in mice and dogs by modulation of spinal α2 and α3GABAA receptors
Authors: Ralvenius William T. , Neumann Elena , Pagani Martina , Acuña Mario A. , Wildner Hendrik , Benke Dietmar , Fischer Nina , Rostaher Ana , Schwager Simon , Detmar Michael , Frauenknecht Katrin , Aguzzi Adriano , Hubbs Jed Lee , Rudolph Uwe , Favrot Claude , Zeilhofer Hanns Ulrich 
Published: August 2018

AbstractChronic itch is a highly debilitating condition affecting about 10% of the general population. The relay of itch signals is under tight control by inhibitory circuits of the spinal dorsal horn, which may offer a hitherto unexploited therapeutic opportunity. Here, we found that specific pharmacological targeting of inhibitory α2 and α3GABAA receptors reduces acute histaminergic and non-histaminergic itch in mice. Systemic treatment with an α2/α3GABAA receptor selective modulator alleviates also chronic itch in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis and in dogs sensitized to house dust mites, without inducing sedation, motor dysfunction, or loss of antipruritic activity after prolonged treatment. Transsynaptic circuit tracing, immunofluorescence, and electrophysiological experiments identify spinal α2 and α3GABAA receptors as likely molecular targets underlying the antipruritic effect. Our results indicate that drugs targeting α2 and α3GABAA receptors are well-suited to alleviate itch, including non-histaminergic chronic itch for which currently no approved treatment exists.
Freeze-on limits bed strength beneath sliding glaciers
Authors: Meyer Colin R. , Downey Anthony S. , Rempel Alan W. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDischarge from sliding outlet glaciers controls uncertainty in projections for future sea level. Remarkably, over 90% of glacial area is subject to gravitational driving stresses below 150 kPa (median ∼70 kPa). Longstanding explanations that appeal to the shear-thinning rheology of ice tend to overpredict driving stresses and are restricted to areas where ice sheets only deform (roughly 50%). Over the more dynamic portions that slide, driving stresses must be balanced by thermo-mechanical interactions that control basal strength. Here we show that median bed strength is comparable to a threshold effective stress set by ice–liquid surface energy and till pore size. Above this threshold, ice infiltrates sediment to produce basal layers of debris-rich ice, even where net melting takes place. We demonstrate that the narrow range of inferred bed strengths can be explained by the mechanical resistance to sliding where roughness is enhanced by heterogeneous freeze-on.
Investigation of the mechanism of chromium removal in (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane functionalized mesoporous silica
Authors: Lee JinHyeong , Kim Jae-Hyun , Choi Keunsu , Kim Hee-Gon , Park Jeong-Ann , Cho So-Hye , Hong Seok Won , Lee Jung-Hyun , Lee Jun Hee , Lee Soonjae , Lee Seung Yong , Choi Jae-Woo 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe are proposed that a possible mechanism for Cr(VI) removal by functionalized mesoporous silica. Mesoporous silica was functionalized with (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) using the post-synthesis grafting method. The synthesized materials were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption analysis, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm the pore structure and functionalization of amine groups, and were subsequently used as adsorbents for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. As the concentration of APTMS increases from 0.01 M to 0.25 M, the surface area of mesoporous silica decreases from 857.9 m2/g to 402.6 m2/g. In contrast, Cr(VI) uptake increases from 36.95 mg/g to 83.50 mg/g. This indicates that the enhanced Cr(VI) removal was primarily due to the activity of functional groups. It is thought that the optimum concentration of APTMS for functionalization is approximately 0.05 M. According to XPS data, NH3+ and protonated NH2 from APTMS adsorbed anionic Cr(VI) by electrostatic interaction and changed the solution pH. Equilibrium data are well fitted by Temkin and Sips isotherms. This research shows promising results for the application of amino functionalized mesoporous silica as an adsorbent to removal Cr(VI) from aqueous solution.
Length-scale dependency of biomimetic hard-soft composites
Authors: Mirzaali M. J. , Edens M. E. , de la Nava A. Herranz , Janbaz S. , Vena P. , Doubrovski E. L. , Zadpoor A. A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBiomimetic composites are usually made by combining hard and soft phases using, for example, multi-material additive manufacturing (AM). Like other fabrication methods, AM techniques are limited by the resolution of the device, hence, setting a minimum length scale. The effects of this length scale on the performance of hard-soft composites are not well understood. Here, we studied how this length scale affects the fracture toughness behavior of single-edge notched specimens made using random, semi-random, and ordered arrangements of the hard and soft phases with five different ratios of hard to soft phases. Increase in the length scale (40 to 960 μm) was found to cause a four-fold drop in the fracture toughness. The effects of the length scale were also modulated by the arrangement and volumetric ratio of both phases. A decreased size of the crack tip plastic zone, a crack path going through the soft phase, and highly strained areas far from the crack tip were the main mechanisms explaining the drop of the fracture toughness with the length scale.
Late Palaeolithic cave art and permafrost in the Southern Ural
Authors: Dublyansky Yuri , Moseley Gina E. , Lyakhnitsky Yuri , Cheng Hai , Edwards Lawrence R. , Scholz Denis , Koltai Gabriella , Spötl Christoph 
Published: August 2018

AbstractShulgan-Tash (also known as Kapova) cave located on the western slope of the Ural Mountains (Russia) is the easternmost European cave art monument of late Palaeolithic age. Radiocarbon dates from cultural layers in the cave suggest an age of about 16.3 to 19.6 ka (cal BP), but dates directly on the paintings were not obtained. In order to constrain the age of this art using an independent method, we performed detailed 230Th-U dating of calcite flowstone underlying and overgrowing the paintings at 22 sites in three halls of the cave. The youngest age for the underlying calcite (i.e., the maximum age of the cave art) is 36.4 ± 0.1 ka, and the oldest overlying calcite (constraining the minimum age of the cave art) is 14.5 ± 0.04 ka. The ca. 21.9 ka-long hiatus in calcite deposition during which the paintings were made is attributed to regional permafrost conditions and sub-zero temperatures inside the cave during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2. This is supported by samples of cryogenic cave calcite, which document seven episodes of freezing and thawing of permafrost associated with stadials and interstadials of MIS 3, respectively.
i-GONAD (improved genome-editing via oviductal nucleic acids delivery), a convenient in vivo tool to produce genome-edited rats
Authors: Takabayashi Shuji , Aoshima Takuya , Kabashima Katsuya , Aoto Kazushi , Ohtsuka Masato , Sato Masahiro 
Published: August 2018

AbstractZygote-microinjection or in vitro electroporation of isolated zygotes are now widely used methods to produce genome-edited mice. However, these technologies require laborious and time-consuming ex vivo handling of fertilized eggs, including zygote isolation, gene delivery into zygotes and embryo transfer into recipients. We recently developed an alternative method called improved genome-editing via oviductal nucleic acids delivery (i-GONAD), which does not require the above-mentioned ex vivo handing of zygotes, but instead involves intraoviductal instillation of genome-editing components, Cas9 protein and synthetic gRNAs, into the oviducts of pregnant females at the late 1-cell embryo stage under a dissecting microscope and subsequent electroporation. With this method, we succeeded in generating genome-edited mice at relatively high efficiencies (for example, knockout alleles were produced at ~97% efficiency). Here, we extended this improved technology to rats, and found that i-GONAD can create genome-edited rats in various strains, including Sprague Dawley and Lewis, and F1 hybrids (between Sprague Dawley and Brown Norway), with efficiencies of ~62% for indel mutations and ~9% for knock-ins. Thus, i-GONAD will be especially useful for the production of genome-edited rats in small laboratories where expensive micromanipulator systems and highly skilled personnel for embryo manipulation are unavailable.
Extensive genomic diversity among Mycobacterium marinum strains revealed by whole genome sequencing
Authors: Das Sarbashis , Pettersson B. M. Fredrik , Behra Phani Rama Krishna , Mallick Amrita , Cheramie Martin , Ramesh Malavika , Shirreff Lisa , DuCote Tanner , Dasgupta Santanu , Ennis Don G. , Kirsebom Leif. A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractMycobacterium marinum is the causative agent for the tuberculosis-like disease mycobacteriosis in fish and skin lesions in humans. Ubiquitous in its geographical distribution, M. marinum is known to occupy diverse fish as hosts. However, information about its genomic diversity is limited. Here, we provide the genome sequences for 15 M. marinum strains isolated from infected humans and fish. Comparative genomic analysis of these and four available genomes of the M. marinum strains M, E11, MB2 and Europe reveal high genomic diversity among the strains, leading to the conclusion that M. marinum should be divided into two different clusters, the “M”- and the “Aronson”-type. We suggest that these two clusters should be considered to represent two M. marinum subspecies. Our data also show that the M. marinum pan-genome for both groups is open and expanding and we provide data showing high number of mutational hotspots in M. marinum relative to other mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This high genomic diversity might be related to the ability of M. marinum to occupy different ecological niches.
The role of Chinese Milk Vetch as cover crop in complex soil nitrogen dynamics in rice rotation system of South China
Authors: Xie Zhijian , Zhou Chunhuo , Shah Farooq , Iqbal Amjad , Ni GuoRong 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe effect of Chinese Milk Vetch (CMV) residues as a cover crop on the performance of rice plants and nitrogen mobilization and mineralization in paddy soil was evaluated in a pot-culture experiment. Three treatments were included in the trial, i.e. without exogenous-N (Control or CK), urea fertilizer as the sole N-source (N) and urea plus CMV (NM). The results revealed higher amounts of total-N, inorganic-N, acid hydrolysable-N and non-acid hydrolysable-N in the soil under NM, followed by N and CK treatments at tillering, booting and maturity stages of rice. A similar trend was observed for various soil ammonia oxidizing bacteria, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Correlation coefficients exhibited a negative correlation of residual exogenous-15N with only amino acid nitrogen (P < 0.01). Moreover, low abundance of the key functional gene amoA in rice was found in CK treatment. From the results it can be concluded that the nitrogen from organic source can improve the availability of total-N, inorganic-N and NH4 in the soil, especially at the later stages of rice growth.
Groundwater depletion causing reduction of baseflow triggering Ganges river summer drying
Authors: Mukherjee Abhijit , Bhanja Soumendra Nath , Wada Yoshihide 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIn summer (pre-monsoon) of recent years, low water level among the last few decades, has been observed in several lower Indian reaches of the Ganges (or Ganga) river (with estimated river water level depletion rates at the range of −0.5 to −38.1 cm/year between summers of 1999 and 2013 in the studied reaches). Here, we show this Ganges river depletion is related to groundwater baseflow reduction caused by ongoing observed groundwater storage depletion in the adjoining Gangetic aquifers (Ganges basin, −0.30 ± 0.07 cm/year or −2.39 ± 0.56 km3/year). Our estimates show, 2016-baseflow amount (~1.0 × 106 m3/d) has reduced by ~59%, from the beginning of the irrigation-pumping age of 1970s (2.4 × 106 m3/d) in some of the lower reaches. The net Ganges river water reduction could jeopardize domestic water supply, irrigation water requirements, river transport, ecology etc. of densely populated northern Indian plains. River water reduction has direct impact on food production indicating vulnerability to more than 100 million of the population residing in the region. The results of this study could be used to decipher the groundwater-linked river water depletion as well as the regional water security in other densely populated parts of the globe.
Fragile aspects of topological transition in lossy and parity-time symmetric quantum walks
Authors: Harter Andrew K. , Saxena Avadh , Joglekar Yogesh N. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractQuantum walks often provide telling insights about the structure of the system on which they are performed. In $${\mathscr{P}}{\mathscr{T}}$$
P
T
-symmetric and lossy dimer lattices, the topological properties of the band structure manifest themselves in the quantization of the mean displacement of such a walker. We investigate the fragile aspects of a topological transition in these two dimer models. We find that the transition is sensitive to the initial state of the walker on the Bloch sphere, and the resultant mean displacement has a robust topological component and a quasiclassical component. In $${\mathscr{P}}{\mathscr{T}}$$
P
T
symmetric dimer lattices, we also show that the transition is smeared by nonlinear effects that become important in the $${\mathscr{P}}{\mathscr{T}}$$
P
T
-symmetry broken region. By carrying out consistency checks via analytical calculations, tight-binding results, and beam-propagation-method simulations, we show that our predictions are easily testable in today’s experimental systems.
Quantitative phase imaging unravels new insight into dynamics of mesenchymal and amoeboid cancer cell invasion
Authors: Tolde Ondřej , Gandalovičová Aneta , Křížová Aneta , Veselý Pavel , Chmelík Radim , Rosel Daniel , Brábek Jan 
Published: August 2018

AbstractObservation and analysis of cancer cell behaviour in 3D environment is essential for full understanding of the mechanisms of cancer cell invasion. However, label-free imaging of live cells in 3D conditions is optically more challenging than in 2D. Quantitative phase imaging provided by coherence controlled holographic microscopy produces images with enhanced information compared to ordinary light microscopy and, due to inherent coherence gate effect, enables observation of live cancer cells’ activity even in scattering milieu such as the 3D collagen matrix. Exploiting the dynamic phase differences method, we for the first time describe dynamics of differences in cell mass distribution in 3D migrating mesenchymal and amoeboid cancer cells, and also demonstrate that certain features are shared by both invasion modes. We found that amoeboid fibrosarcoma cells’ membrane blebbing is enhanced upon constriction and is also occasionally present in mesenchymally invading cells around constricted nuclei. Further, we demonstrate that both leading protrusions and leading pseudopods of invading fibrosarcoma cells are defined by higher cell mass density. In addition, we directly document bundling of collagen fibres by protrusions of mesenchymal fibrosarcoma cells. Thus, such a non-invasive microscopy offers a novel insight into cellular events during 3D invasion.
Fire-induced structural changes and long-term stability of burned historical rag papers
Authors: Ahn Kyujin , Schedl Andreas , Zweckmair Thomas , Rosenau Thomas , Potthast Antje 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWhen a fire strikes libraries or archives, physical deterioration of the paper is so severe that its chemical properties are often regarded as less important. However, knowledge of the chemical changes of the papers upon nearly burning is necessary to design a subsequent conservation treatment. In the present study, we have examined a rag paper object, which partially survived a fire, and analysed its chemical properties by various methods. The polymeric state of cellulose, as well as its low-molar mass degradation products, were assessed. Comparison to an identical, unharmed duplicate provided a more profound understanding of the changes caused by the fire. Light scattering analysis revealed conformational changes of the cellulose molecule after high-temperature impact, and a chemical cross-linking was observed. In our study, we found the integrity of cellulose to depend on the temperature profile induced by the fire. The low thermal conductivity of cellulose protects the material even in close proximity to the burned edges.
Effect of dual task on gait asymmetry in patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Authors: Shi Huijuan , Huang Hongshi , Yu Yuanyuan , Liang Zixuan , Zhang Si , Yu Bing , Liu Hui , Ao Yingfang 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIndividuals who received anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgeries demonstrated lower extremity movement asymmetries. The purpose of this study was to determine if psychological impairment was a contributor to lower extremity movement asymmetries in walking for individuals who received ACL reconstruction surgeries. Three-dimensional videographic and force plate data were collected for 25 males after unilateral ACL reconstruction performing walking without (single-task condition) and with the concurrent cognitive task (dual-task condition). Both uninjured and injured legs had significantly smaller peak knee flexion angle and peak knee extension moment during loading response and mid-stance phases in dual-task condition compared to single task condition (P ≤ 0.012). Walking condition and leg had significant interaction effects on peak hip adduction angle during mid-stance phase (P = 0.042) and peak hip abduction moment during loading response phase (P = 0.048). The inter-leg difference of peak hip adduction angle during mid-stance (P = 0.038) and terminal stance (P = 0.036) phases, and peak hip abduction moment during loading response phase (P = 0.024) were significantly decreased in dual-task condition compared to single-task condition. Psychological factors have significant effects on post-operative movements of both injured and uninjured knees of individuals who received ACL reconstruction surgery. Although physical factors may be primary contributors to the post-operative lower extremity movement asymmetries, psychological factors also contribute to the post-operative hip movement asymmetries.