bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cloudiness and Solar Radiation During the Longest Total Solar Eclipse of the 21st Century at Tianhuangping (Zhejiang), China
Authors: Peñaloza‐Murillo Marcos A. , Pasachoff Jay M. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe lack of comprehensive solar radiation monitoring during the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century at Tianhuangping (Zhejiang), China, on 22 July 2009, has led to this investigation in order to evaluate the cloudiness contribution in estimating the impact on global solar radiation throughout this phenomenon. In doing so, we applied a cloud cover empirical model to obtain the global solar radiation and, at the same time, we deduced a theoretical model to get the direct solar radiation in which both the occultation and obscuration functions of this eclipse are included. We took limb darkening and atmospheric transmission into account. Though the weather during our eclipse observations agreed with the forecasts for that day, clouds and some rain, we were nonetheless able to observe all phases of the eclipse from our observation site at Tianhuangping. This experience suggests that for coming eclipses a record of the in situ observation protocol of cloudiness is mandatory. Our results for comparing global solar radiation models indicate that our total solar eclipse radiation model is quite acceptable and representative of that which could have happened at that time.
Long noncoding RNA AC003092.1 promotes temozolomide chemosensitivity through miR-195/TFPI-2 signaling modulation in glioblastoma
Authors: Xu Ningbo , Liu Boyang , Lian Changlin , Doycheva Desislava Met , Fu Zhao , Liu Yanting , Zhou Jian , He Zhenyan , Yang Zhao , Huang Qiongzhen , Zeng Huijun , Guo Hongbo 
Published: November 2018

AbstractTemozolomide (TMZ) and radiation therapy combination for glioblastoma (GB) patients has been considered as the most effective therapy after surgical procedure. However, the overall clinical prognosis remains unsatisfactory due to intrinsic or developing resistance to TMZ. Recently, increasing evidence suggested that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in various biological processes of tumors, and have been implicated in resistance to various drugs. However, the role of lncRNAs in TMZ resistance is poorly understood. Here, we found that the expression of lncRNA AC003092.1 was markedly decreased in TMZ resistance (TR) of GB cells (U87TR and U251TR) compared with their parental cells (U87 and U251). In patients with glioma, low levels of lncRNA AC003092.1 were correlated with increased TMZ resistance, higher risk of relapse, and poor prognosis. Overexpression of lncRNA AC003092.1 enhances TMZ sensitivity, facilitates cell apoptosis, and inhibits cell proliferation in TMZ-resistant GB cells. In addition, we identified that lncRNA AC003092.1 regulates TMZ chemosensitivity through TFPI-2-mediated cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, further investigation revealed that lncRNA AC003092.1 regulates TFPI-2 expression through miR-195 in GB. Taken together, these data suggest that lncRNA AC003092.1 could inhibit the function of miR-195 by acting as an endogenous CeRNA, leading to increased expression of TFPI-2; this promotes TMZ-induced apoptosis, thereby making GB cells more sensitive to TMZ. Our findings indicate that overexpression of lncRNA AC003092.1 may be a potential therapy to overcome TMZ resistance in GB patients.
Structural snapshot of a bacterial phytochrome in its functional intermediate state
Authors: Schmidt Andrea , Sauthof Luisa , Szczepek Michal , Lopez Maria Fernandez , Escobar Francisco Velazquez , Qureshi Bilal M. , Michael Norbert , Buhrke David , Stevens Tammo , Kwiatkowski Dennis , von Stetten David , Mroginski Maria Andrea , Krauß Norbert , Lamparter Tilman , Hildebrandt Peter , Scheerer Patrick 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPhytochromes are modular photoreceptors of plants, bacteria and fungi that use light as a source of information to regulate fundamental physiological processes. Interconversion between the active and inactive states is accomplished by a photoinduced reaction sequence which couples the sensor with the output module. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is yet not fully understood due to the lack of structural data of functionally relevant intermediate states. Here we report the crystal structure of a Meta-F intermediate state of an Agp2 variant from Agrobacterium fabrum. This intermediate, the identity of which was verified by resonance Raman spectroscopy, was formed by irradiation of the parent Pfr state and displays significant reorientations of almost all amino acids surrounding the chromophore. Structural comparisons allow identifying structural motifs that might serve as conformational switch for initiating the functional secondary structure change that is linked to the (de-)activation of these photoreceptors.
Probing quantum features of photosynthetic organisms
Authors: Krisnanda Tanjung , Marletto Chiara , Vedral Vlatko , Paternostro Mauro , Paterek Tomasz 
Published: November 2018

AbstractRecent experiments have demonstrated strong coupling between living bacteria and light. Here we propose a scheme capable of revealing non-classical features of the bacteria (quantum discord of light–bacteria correlations) without exact modelling of the organisms and their interactions with external world. The scheme puts the bacteria in a role of mediators of quantum entanglement between otherwise non-interacting probing light modes. We then propose a plausible model of this experiment, using recently achieved parameters, demonstrating the feasibility of the scheme. Within this model we find that the steady-state entanglement between the probes, which does not depend on the initial conditions, is accompanied by entanglement between the probes and bacteria, and provides independent evidence of the strong coupling between them.
Cancellation of Bessel beam side lobes for high-contrast light sheet microscopy
Authors: Di Domenico Giuseppe , Ruocco Giancarlo , Colosi Cristina , DelRe Eugenio , Antonacci Giuseppe 
Published: November 2018

AbstractAn ideal illumination for light sheet fluorescence microscopy entails both a localized and a propagation invariant optical field. Bessel beams and Airy beams satisfy these conditions, but their non-diffracting feature comes at the cost of the presence of high-energy side lobes that notably degrade the imaging contrast and induce photobleaching. Here, we demonstrate the use of a light droplet illumination whose side lobes are suppressed by interfering Bessel beams of specific k-vectors. Our droplet illumination readily achieves more than 50% extinction of the light distributed across the Bessel side lobes, providing a more efficient energy localization without loss in transverse resolution. In a standard light sheet fluorescence microscope, we demonstrate a two-fold contrast enhancement imaging micron-scale fluorescent beads. Results pave the way to new opportunities for rapid and deep in vivo observations of large-scale biological systems.
Differential impacts of different keyboard inputting methods on reading and writing skills
Authors: Siok Wai Ting , Liu Chun Yin 
Published: November 2018

AbstractNowadays, typewriting has become an important mode of written communication. A report that typewriting may hinder Chinese children’s reading development has sparked substantial concern about whether typing on electronic devices would increase the rate of reading disorders, wherein children used a pronunciation-based input system that associates alphabet letters with phonemes in standard Chinese (Putonghua) and may conflict with the traditional visuomotor-based learning processes for written Chinese. If orthographic-based input methods that require good awareness of the orthographic structure of characters are used, different outcomes might be observed. This study examined the impact of participants’ experience in different typewriting methods on the literacy abilities of fluent Chinese-English bilingual readers. We found that orthographic-based typewriting measures correlated positively with Chinese reading measures, whereas pronunciation-based typewriting measures did not correlate with Chinese reading measures but correlated positively with English reading and spelling performance. Orthographic-based typewriters also performed better than pronunciation-based typewriters in Chinese reading and dictation when their age, typewriting skills and pre-University language ability were statistically controlled. Our findings based on two contrastive writing systems suggest that typewriting methods that tally with the learning principles of a writing system should be used to promote and preserve literacy skills in the digital era.
Freshwater lake ecosystem shift caused by social-economic transitions in Yangtze River Basin over the past century
Authors: Zhang Ke , Yang Xiangdong , Kattel Giri , Lin Qi , Shen Ji 
Published: November 2018

AbstractGlobal lake systems have undergone rapid degradation over the past century. Scientists and managers are struggling to manage the highly degraded lake systems to cope with escalating anthropogenic pressures. Improved knowledge of how lakes and social systems co-evolved up to the present is vital for understanding, modeling, and anticipating the current and future ecological status of lakes. Here, by integrating paleoenvironmental, instrumental and historical documentary resources at multi-decadal scales, we demonstrate how a typical shallow lake system evolved over the last century in the Yangtze River Basin, an urbanized region containing thousands of shallow lakes. We find abrupt ecological shift happened in the lake ecosystem around the 1970s, with the significant reorganization of macrophyte, diatom and cladocera communities. The lake social-ecological system went through three stages as the local society transformed from a traditional agricultural before 1950s to an urbanized and industrialized society during the recent thirty years. The timing and interaction between social, economic and ecological feedbacks govern the transient and long-term dynamics of the freshwater ecosystem. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for the long-term dynamics and feedbacks between ecological, social and economic changes when defining safe operating spaces for sustainable freshwater ecosystem management.
DolFin: an innovative digital platform for studying Risso’s dolphins in the Northern Ionian Sea (North-eastern Central Mediterranean)
Authors: Maglietta Rosalia , Renò Vito , Cipriano Giulia , Fanizza Carmelo , Milella Annalisa , Stella Ettore , Carlucci Roberto 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe Risso’s dolphin is a widely distributed species, found in deep temperate and tropical waters. Estimates of its abundance are available in a few regions, details of its distribution are lacking, and its status in the Mediterranean Sea is ranked as Data Deficient by the IUCN Red List. In this paper, a synergy between bio-ecological analysis and innovative strategies has been applied to construct a digital platform,DolFin. It contains a collection of sighting data and geo-referred photos ofGrampus griseus, acquired from 2013 to 2016 in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, North-eastern Central Mediterranean Sea), and the first automated tool forSmart Photo Identification of the Risso’s dolphin(SPIR). This approach provides the capability to collect and analyse significant amounts of data acquired over wide areas and extended periods of time. This effort establishes the baseline for future large-scale studies, essential to providing further information on the distribution ofG. griseus. Our data and analysis results corroborate the hypothesis of a resident Risso’s dolphin population in the Gulf of Taranto, showing site fidelity in a relatively restricted area characterized by a steep slope to around 800 m in depth, north of the Taranto Valley canyon system.
Comparative survival analysis of preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy in stage II-III rectal cancer on the basis of long-term population data
Authors: Lim Yu Jin , Kim Youngkyong , Kong Moonkyoo 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThis study compared long-term population-based survival outcomes of preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy (RT) approaches in rectal cancer. Patients with stage II-III rectal cancer between 1998 and 2013 were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were estimated in propensity-matched study population according to the use of RT. Among the 28,320 eligible patients, a total of 18,400 patients were identified from propensity score matching process balancing the distribution of prognostic covariates. The 10-year OS and DSS rates were higher in patients with preoperative RT than the postoperative group (51.6% vs. 49.8% with P < 0.001, and 65.4% vs. 64.8% with P = 0.037, respectively). However, in multivariate analysis, selection of combined RT sequence did not affect the survival (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04 and 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98−1.10 for OS; HR 0.97 and 95% CI 0.90−1.05 for DSS). Regarding hazard rate functions of cancer-specific mortality, the overall time-course risks after preoperative and postoperative RT were comparable. This study provides additional insight into the long-term prognostic implications of the two RT strategies, suggesting that the sequence of RT does not lead to differential survival in stage II-III rectal cancer.
Interplay among steroids, body condition and immunity in response to long-term captivity in toads
Authors: Titon Stefanny Christie Monteiro , Titon Junior Braz , Assis Vania Regina , Kinker Gabriela Sarti , Fernandes Pedro Augusto Carlos Magno , Gomes Fernando Ribeiro 
Published: November 2018

AbstractStressful experiences can promote harmful effects on physiology and fitness. However, stress-mediated hormonal and immune changes are complex and may be highly dependent on body condition. Here, we investigated captivity-associated stress effects, over 7, 30, 60, and 90 days on plasma corticosterone (CORT) and testosterone (T) levels, body index, and innate immunity (bacterial killing ability and phagocytosis of peritoneal cells) in toads (Rhinella icterica). Toads in captivity exhibited elevated CORT and decreased T and immunity, without changes in body index. The inter-relationships between these variables were additionally contrasted with those obtained previously for R. schneideri, a related species that exhibited extreme loss of body mass under the same captive conditions. While T and phagocytosis were positively associated in both species, the relationship between CORT and bacterial killing ability was dependent on body index alterations. While CORT and bacterial killing ability were positively associated for toads that maintained body index, CORT was negatively associated with body index in toads that lost body mass over time in captivity. In these same toads, body index was positively associated with bacterial killing ability. These results demonstrate that steroids-immunity inter-relationships arising from prolonged exposure to a stressor in toads are highly dependent on body condition.
Need for high-resolution Genetic Analysis in iPSC: Results and Lessons from the ForIPS Consortium
Authors: Popp Bernt , Krumbiegel Mandy , Grosch Janina , Sommer Annika , Uebe Steffen , Kohl Zacharias , Plötz Sonja , Farrell Michaela , Trautmann Udo , Kraus Cornelia , Ekici Arif B. , Asadollahi Reza , Regensburger Martin , Günther Katharina , Rauch Anita , Edenhofer Frank , Winkler Jürgen , Winner Beate , Reis André 
Published: November 2018

AbstractGenetic integrity of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is essential for their validity as disease models and for potential therapeutic use. We describe the comprehensive analysis in the ForIPS consortium: an iPSC collection from donors with neurological diseases and healthy controls. Characterization included pluripotency confirmation, fingerprinting, conventional and molecular karyotyping in all lines. In the majority, somatic copy number variants (CNVs) were identified. A subset with available matched donor DNA was selected for comparative exome sequencing. We identified single nucleotide variants (SNVs) at different allelic frequencies in each clone with high variability in mutational load. Low frequencies of variants in parental fibroblasts highlight the importance of germline samples. Somatic variant number was independent from reprogramming, cell type and passage. Comparison with disease genes and prediction scores suggest biological relevance for some variants. We show that high-throughput sequencing has value beyond SNV detection and the requirement to individually evaluate each clone.
Origin of the largest South American transcontinental water divide
Authors: Ribeiro Alexandre Cunha , Riccomini Claudio , Leite Jayme Alfredo Dexheimer 
Published: November 2018

AbstractInterbasin arches between hydrographic systems have a heterogeneous geological origin, forming under the influence of several different geomorphological processes. Independent of the underlying processes, these arches compartmentalize present-day river basins, encompassing different water chemistries, habitat types, soil domains, potential energy and, on a geological/evolutionary time scale, aquatic life varieties in the ecosystem. Through most of its length, the water divide between the Amazonian, Paraná-Paraguay, and São Francisco river basins in central South America coincides with an Upper Cretaceous intracontinental igneous alkaline province. This magmatism, independent of its nature, caused intense crustal uplift and influenced hydrological networks at different scales: from continental-scale crustal doming to continental break-up, and finally to local-scale phenomena. The available ages for alkaline rocks indicate a well-defined time-interval between 72.4 to 91 Ma (concentrated between 76 and 88 Ma) period of uplift that contributed to large-scale drainage compartmentalization in the region. Here we show that uplift associated with intrusive magmatism explains the origin and maintenance of the divide between the Amazonian, Paraná-Paraguay, and São Francisco river basins.
Reduced Uteroplacental Perfusion Pressure (RUPP) causes altered trophoblast differentiation and pericyte reduction in the mouse placenta labyrinth
Authors: Natale Bryony V. , Mehta Prutha , Vu Priscilla , Schweitzer Christina , Gustin Katarina , Kotadia Ramie , Natale David R. C. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThis study characterized the effect of the reduced utero-placental perfusion pressure (RUPP) model of placental insufficiency on placental morphology and trophoblast differentiation at mid-late gestation (E14.5). Altered trophoblast proliferation, reduced syncytiotrophoblast gene expression, increased numbers of sinusoidal trophoblast giant cells, decreased Vegfa and decreased pericyte presence in the labyrinth were observed in addition to changes in maternal blood spaces, the fetal capillary network and reduced fetal weight. Further, the junctional zone was characterized by reduced spongiotrophoblast and glycogen trophoblast with increased trophoblast giant cells. Increased Hif-1α and TGF-β-3 in vivo with supporting hypoxia studies in trophoblast stem (TS) cells in vitro, support hypoxia as a contributing factor to the RUPP placenta phenotype. Together, this study identifies altered cell populations within the placenta that may contribute to the phenotype, and thus support the use of RUPP in the mouse as a model of placenta insufficiency. As such, this model in the mouse provides a valuable tool for understanding the phenotypes resulting from genetic manipulation of isolated cell populations to further understand the etiology of placenta insufficiency and fetal growth restriction. Further this study identifies a novel relationship between placental insufficiency and pericyte depletion in the labyrinth layer.
Limited prefrontal cortical regulation over the basolateral amygdala in adolescent rats
Authors: Selleck Ryan A. , Zhang Wei , Mercier Hannah D. , Padival Mallika , Rosenkranz J. Amiel 
Published: November 2018

AbstractCognitive regulation of emotion develops from childhood into adulthood. This occurs in parallel with maturation of prefrontal cortical (PFC) regulation over the amygdala. The cellular substrates for this regulation may include PFC activation of inhibitory GABAergic elements in the amygdala. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PFC regulation over basolateral amygdala area (BLA)in vivois immature in adolescence, and if this is due to immaturity of GABAergic elements or PFC excitatory inputs. Usingin vivoextracellular electrophysiological recordings from anesthetized male rats we found thatin vivosummation of PFC inputs to the BLA was less regulated by GABAergic inhibition in adolescents (postnatal day 39) than adults (postnatal day 72–75). In addition, stimulation of either prelimbic or infralimbic PFC evokes weaker inhibition over basal (BA) and lateral (LAT) nuclei of the BLA in adolescents. This was dictated by both weak recruitment of inhibition in LAT and weak excitatory effects of PFC in BA. The current results may contribute to differences in adolescent cognitive regulation of emotion. These findings identify specific elements that undergo adolescent maturation and may therefore be sensitive to environmental disruptions that increase risk for psychiatric disorders.
Rapid Pulsed Light Sintering of Silver Nanowires on Woven Polyester for personal thermal management with enhanced performance, durability and cost-effectiveness
Authors: Hwang Hyun-Jun , Devaraj Harish , Yang Chen , Gao Zhongwei , Chang Chih-hung , Lee Howon , Malhotra Rajiv 
Published: November 2018

AbstractFabric-based personal heating patches have small geometric profiles and can be attached to selected areas of garments for personal thermal management to enable significant energy savings in built environments. Scalable fabrication of such patches with high thermal performance at low applied voltage, high durability and low materials cost is critical to the widespread implementation of these energy savings. This work investigates a scalable Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) sintering process for fabricating silver nanowire on woven polyester heating patches. Just 300 microseconds of IPL sintering results in 30% lesser electrical resistance, 70% higher thermal performance, greater durability (under bending up to 2 mm radius of curvature, washing, humidity and high temperature), with only 50% the added nanowire mass compared to state-of-the-art. Computational modeling combining electromagnetic and thermal simulations is performed to uncover the nanoscale temperature gradients during IPL sintering, and the underlying reason for greater durability of the nanowire-fabric after sintering. This large-area, high speed, and ambient-condition IPL sintering process represents an attractive strategy for scalably fabricating personal heating fabric-patches with greater thermal performance, higher durability and reduced costs.