bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dimensionality engineering of hybrid halide perovskite light absorbers
Authors: Gao Peng , Bin Mohd Yusoff Abd Rashid , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Khaja 
Published: November 2018

AbstractHybrid halide perovskite solar cells were first demonstrated in 2009 with cell efficiency quickly soaring from below 10% to more than 23% in a few years. Halide perovskites have the desirable processing simplicity but are very fragile when exposed to water and heat. This fragility represents a great challenge for the achievement of their full practical potential in photovoltaic technologies. To address this problem, here we review the recent development of the mixed-dimensional perovskites, whereby the trade-off between power conversion efficiency and stability of the material can be finely tuned using organic amine cations with different sizes and functionalities.
Selective expansion of myeloid and NK cells in humanized mice yields human-like vaccine responses
Authors: Douam Florian , Ziegler Carly G. K. , Hrebikova Gabriela , Fant Bruno , Leach Robert , Parsons Lance , Wang Wei , Gaska Jenna M. , Winer Benjamin Y. , Heller Brigitte , Shalek Alex K. , Ploss Alexander 
Published: November 2018

AbstractMice engrafted with components of a human immune system have become widely-used models for studying aspects of human immunity and disease. However, a defined methodology to objectively measure and compare the quality of the human immune response in different models is lacking. Here, by taking advantage of the highly immunogenic live-attenuated yellow fever virus vaccine YFV-17D, we provide an in-depth comparison of immune responses in human vaccinees, conventional humanized mice, and second generation humanized mice. We demonstrate that selective expansion of human myeloid and natural killer cells promotes transcriptomic responses akin to those of human vaccinees. These enhanced transcriptomic profiles correlate with the development of an antigen-specific cellular and humoral response to YFV-17D. Altogether, our approach provides a robust scoring of the quality of the human immune response in humanized mice and highlights a rational path towards developing better pre-clinical models for studying the human immune response and disease.
MRP3 is a sex determining gene in the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata
Authors: Russo Monia T. , Vitale Laura , Entrambasaguas Laura , Anestis Konstantinos , Fattorini Neri , Romano Filomena , Minucci Carmen , De Luca Pasquale , Biffali Elio , Vyverman Wim , Sanges Remo , Montresor Marina , Ferrante Maria I. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA broad diversity of sex-determining systems has evolved in eukaryotes. However, information on the mechanisms of sex determination for unicellular microalgae is limited, including for diatoms, key-players of ocean food webs. Here we report the identification of a mating type (MT) determining gene for the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata. By comparing the expression profile of the two MTs, we find five MT-biased genes, of which one, MRP3, is expressed exclusively in MT+ strains in a monoallelic manner. A short tandem repeat of specific length in the region upstream of MRP3 is consistently present in MT+ and absent in MT− strains. MRP3 overexpression in an MT− strain induces sex reversal: the transgenic MT− can mate with another MT− strain and displays altered regulation of the other MT-biased genes, indicating that they lie downstream. Our data show that a relatively simple genetic program is involved in defining the MT in P. multistriata.
CLIP-170 is essential for MTOC repositioning during T cell activation by regulating dynein localisation on the cell surface
Authors: Lim Wei Ming , Ito Yuma , Sakata-Sogawa Kumiko , Tokunaga Makio 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe microtubule-organizing centre (MTOC) is repositioned to the centre of the contacted cell surface, the immunological synapse, during T cell activation. However, our understanding of its molecular mechanism remains limited. Here, we found that the microtubule plus-end tracking cytoplasmic linker protein 170 (CLIP-170) plays a novel role in MTOC repositioning using fluorescence imaging. Inhibition of CLIP-170 phosphorylation impaired both MTOC repositioning and interleukin-2 (IL-2) expression. T cell stimulation induced some fraction of dynein to colocalise with CLIP-170 and undergo plus-end tracking. Concurrently, it increased dynein in minus-end-directed movement. It also increased dynein relocation to the centre of the contact surface. Dynein not colocalised with CLIP-170 showed both an immobile state and minus-end-directed movement at a velocity in good agreement with the velocity of MTOC repositioning, which suggests that dynein at the immunological synapse may pull the microtubules and the MTOC. Although CLIP-170 is phosphorylated by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) irrespective of stimulation, phosphorylated CLIP-170 is essential for dynein recruitment to plus-end tracking and for dynein relocation. This indicates that dynein relocation results from coexistence of plus-end- and minus-end-directed translocation. In conclusion, CLIP-170 plays an indispensable role in MTOC repositioning and full activation of T cells by regulating dynein localisation.
Nanofocusing of X-ray free-electron laser using wavefront-corrected multilayer focusing mirrors
Authors: Matsuyama S. , Inoue T. , Yamada J. , Kim J. , Yumoto H. , Inubushi Y. , Osaka T. , Inoue I. , Koyama T. , Tono K. , Ohashi H. , Yabashi M. , Ishikawa T. , Yamauchi K. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA method of fabricating multilayer focusing mirrors that can focus X-rays down to 10 nm or less was established in this study. The wavefront aberration induced by multilayer Kirkpatrick–Baez mirror optics was measured using a single grating interferometer at a photon energy of 9.1 keV at SPring-8 Angstrom Compact Free Electron Laser (SACLA), and the mirror shape was then directly corrected by employing a differential deposition method. The accuracies of these processes were carefully investigated, considering the accuracy required for diffraction-limited focusing. The wavefront produced by the corrected multilayer focusing mirrors was characterized again in the same manner, revealing that the root mean square of the wavefront aberration was improved from 2.7 (3.3) rad to 0.52 (0.82) rad in the vertical (horizontal) direction. A wave-optical simulator indicated that these wavefront-corrected multilayer focusing mirrors are capable of achieving sub-10-nm X-ray focusing.
IMB-T130 targets 3-dehydroquinate synthase and inhibits Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Zhu Ningyu , Wang Xia , Li Dongsheng , Lin Yuan , You Xuefu , Jiang Jiandong , Xu Yanni , Jiang Wei , Si Shuyi 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe anti-tuberculosis (TB) agent IMB-T130 was speculated to be a multi-target compound. In this research, we found that IMB-T130 inhibits the catalytic activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 3-dehydroquinate synthase (MtDHQS), the enzyme in the second step of the shikimate pathway. IMB-T130 was identified as a selective inhibitor of MtDHQS with an IC50 value of 0.87 μg/mL. The interaction between the compound and protein was analysed by surface plasmon resonance and circular dichroism. Based on the in silico molecular docking results, the essential amino acids in the binding pocket were then confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. Overexpression of DHQS reduced the antibacterial activity of IMB-T130 in cells, verifying that DHQS is the target of IMB-T130. IMB-T130 inhibited standard and drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains by targeting DHQS. Our findings improve our understanding of MtDHQS and make it to be a potential target for new anti-TB drug discovery.
Highly Sensitive AgNP/MWCNT/Nafion Modified GCE-Based Sensor for the Determination of Heavy Metals in Organic and Non-organic Vegetables
Authors: Palisoc Shirley Tiong , Natividad Michelle Tiamzon , De Jesus Nico , Carlos Joshua 
Published: November 2018

AbstractSilver nanoparticles/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Nafion modified glassy carbon electrodes (AgNPs/MWCNTs/Nafion-GCE) were fabricated and were used as working electrode in anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) for trace level determination of lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+). The fabricated electrodes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The amounts of the electrode modifiers and the ASV parameters were optimized. It was found that the electrode modified with 1 mg AgNPs and 2 mg MWCNTs exhibited the best analytical response towards the determination of Pb2+ and Cd2+. The optimized ASV parameters were 60 s for the deposition time, 90 s for the accumulation time, and 100 mV/s for the scan rate. The electrode exhibited linearity from 0.493 ppb to 157.2 ppb for Pb2+ and 1.864 ppb to 155.1 ppb for Cd2+. The limit of detection was found to be 0.216 ppb for Pb2+ and 0.481 ppb for Cd2+. Real sampling analysis was carried out using organic vegetables from Sitio San Ysiro, Antipolo and Daraitan, Rizal and commercially available vegetables from Divisoria, all in Luzon, Philippines. Trace amounts of lead, cadmium, and copper were detected in the samples. Unwashed vegetables contained more heavy metal concentration compared to the washed vegetables. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was performed to validate the presence of the heavy metals in the vegetables.
Increased seroprevalence of HAV and parvovirus B19 in children and of HEV in adults at diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Taubert Richard , Diestelhorst Jana , Junge Norman , Kirstein Martha M. , Pischke Sven , Vogel Arndt , Bantel Heike , Baumann Ulrich , Manns Michael P. , Wedemeyer Heiner , Jaeckel Elmar 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPreceding viral infections have mostly been described in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in single cases. We aimed to identify viral infections that potentially trigger AIH, as suggested for hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections. Therefore, antibodies against hepatitis A (HAV), B, C and E viruses; hepatotropic herpesviruses; and parvovirus B19 (PVB19) were analyzed retrospectively in 219 AIH patients at diagnosis, 356 patients with other liver diseases and 89 children from our center. Untreated adult AIH (aAIH) patients showed higher anti-HEV seroprevalences at diagnosis than patients with other liver diseases. Untreated aAIH patients had no increased incidence of previous hepatitis A, B or C. Antibodies against hepatotropic herpesviruses in untreated AIH were in the range published for the normal population. Untreated pediatric AIH (pAIH) patients had evidence of more previous HAV and PVB19 infections than local age-matched controls. The genetic AIH risk factor HLA DRB1*03:01 was more frequent in younger patients, and DRB1*04:01 was more frequent in middle-aged patients without an obvious link to virus seropositivities. Pediatric and adult AIH seem to be distinct in terms of genetic risk factors and preceding viral infections. While associations cannot prove causal relations, the results suggest that hepatotropic virus infections could be involved in AIH pathogenesis.
Mapping deuterated methanol toward L1544
Authors: Chacón-Tanarro A. , Caselli P. , Bizzocchi L. , Pineda J. E. , Sipilä O. , Vasyunin A. , Spezzano S. , Punanova A. , Giuliano B. M. , Lattanzi V. 
Published: November 2018

Context. The study of deuteration in pre-stellar cores is important in order to understand the initial physical and chemical conditions in the process of star formation. In particular, observations toward pre-stellar cores of methanol and deuterated methanol, solely formed on the surface of dust grains, may provide useful insights into surface processes at low temperatures.
Aims. Here we analyze maps of CO, methanol, formaldehyde, and their deuterated isotopologues toward a well-known pre-stellar core. This study allows us to test current gas–dust chemical models.
Methods. Single-dish observations of CH3OH, CH2DOH, H2CO, H213 CO, HDCO, D2CO, and C17O toward the prototypical pre-stellar core L1544 were performed at the IRAM 30 m telescope. We analyze their column densities and distributions, and compare these observations with gas–grain chemical models.
Results. The maximum deuterium fraction derived for methanol is [CH2DOH]/[CH3OH] ~ 0.08 ± 0.02, while the measured deuterium fractions of formaldehyde at the dust peak are [HDCO]/[H2CO] ~ 0.03 ± 0.02, [D2CO]/[H2CO] ~ 0.04 ± 0.03, and [D2CO]/[HDCO] ~ 1.2 ± 0.3. Observations differ significantly from the predictions of models, finding discrepancies between a factor of 10 and a factor of 100 in most cases. It is clear though that to efficiently produce methanol on the surface of dust grains, quantum tunneling diffusion of H atoms must be switched on. It also appears that the currently adopted reactive desorption efficiency of methanol is overestimated and/or that abstraction reactions play an important role. More laboratory work is needed to shed light on the chemistry of methanol, an important precursor of complex organic molecules in space.
Magnetic field estimates from the X-ray synchrotron emitting rims of the 30 Dor C superbubble and the implications for the nature of 30 Dor C’s TeV emission
Authors: Kavanagh Patrick J. , Vink Jacco , Sasaki Manami , Chu You-Hua , Filipović Miroslav D. , Ohm Stefan , Haberl Frank , Manojlovic Perica , Maggi Pierre 
Published: November 2018

Context. The 30 Dor C superbubble is unique for its synchrotron X-ray shell, as well as being the first superbubble to be detected in TeV γ-rays, though which is the dominant TeV emission mechanism, leptonic or hadronic, is still unclear.
Aims. We aim to use new Chandra observations of 30 Dor C to resolve the synchrotron shell in unprecedented detail and to estimate the magnetic (B) field in the postshock region, a key discriminator between TeV γ-ray emission mechanisms.
Methods. We extracted radial profiles in the 1.5–8 keV range from various sectors around the synchrotron shell and fitted these with a projected and point spread function convolved postshock volumetric emissivity model to determine the filament widths. We then calculated the postshock magnetic field strength from these widths.
Results. We find that most of the sectors were well fitted with our postshock model and the determined B-field values were low, all with best fits ≲20 μG. Upper limits on the confidence intervals of three sectors reached ≳30 μG though these were poorly constrained. The generally low B-field values suggests a leptonic-dominated origin for the TeV γ-rays. Our postshock model did not provide adequate fits to two sectors. We find that one sector simply did not provide a clean enough radial profile, while the other could be fitted with a modified postshock model where the projected profile falls off abruptly below ~0.8 times the shell radius, yielding a postshock B-field of 4.8 (3.7–11.8) μG which is again consistent with the leptonic TeV γ-ray mechanism. Alternatively, the observed profiles in these sectors could result from synchrotron enhancements around a shock–cloud interaction as suggested in previous works.
Conclusions. The average postshock B-field determined around the X-ray synchrotron shell of 30 Dor C suggests the leptonic scenario as the dominant emission mechanism for the TeV γ-rays.
Acute postoperative pain after arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery: A review of methods of pain assessment
Authors: Rasmussen Jacob Korsbæk , Nikolajsen Lone , Bjørnholdt Karen Toftdahl 
Published: November 2018

Introduction: Pain can be severe during the first days after arthroscopic surgery, and acute pain is an important outcome in clinical trials of surgical technique or anaesthetic strategy. A standardized, validated method of assessing acute postoperative pain would improve the quality of clinical studies, and facilitate systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A step on the way towards this standard is to investigate the methods most commonly used in recent literature.
Methods: PubMed and CINAHL databases were searched, including studies of arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery with a primary pain-related outcome during the first postoperative week, published in English from 2012 to 2017.
Results: A total of 47 studies were included, all measuring pain intensity using a pain rating scale. Most frequently used was the visual analogue scale using the anchors “no pain” and “worst pain imaginable”, with recordings at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. A total of 34 studies recorded analgesic consumption, usually as average cumulated consumption in mg. Time to first analgesic request or first pain were recorded in 11 studies, and 4 different starting points were used.
Discussion: This review describes the currently most common methods of assessing acute postoperative pain in clinical trials of arthroscopic shoulder surgery involving rotator cuff repair, and the large variety of methods applied. Based on this study and international guidelines, several recommendations on how to measure and report postoperative pain outcomes in future trials are proposed.
Never seen before? Opisthorchiasis and Clonorchiasis
Authors: Dietrich Christoph , Atkinson Nathan , Lee W. , Kling Kerstin , Neumayr Andreas , Braden Barbara , Richter Joachim , Akpata Robert , Southisavath Phonesavanh , Schreiber-Dietrich Dagmar , Dong Yi 
Published: November 2018

AbstractParasitic diseases are relatively rarely diagnosed and treated in Europe. Therefore, European clinicians are not familiar with their clinical and imaging features. In an era of increased human migration, it is fundamental for clinicians to be able to identify such diseases. We have recently described the features of cystic echinococcosis, schistosomiasis, fascioliasis and ascariasis. Here, we report on the clinical and imaging features as well as on the current therapy options of infections by the small liver flukes: Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini (Southeast Asian liver fluke) and Opisthorchis felineus (cat liver fluke) and other Opisthorchis species prevalent in South Asia.
Achievement of 3B goals among T2DM patients: An experience from Central Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Hari , Shrestha Ashish , Tamrakar Rajendra , Amatya Sanu 
Published: November 2018

Background:Management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) requires comprehensive control of three metabolic parameters: blood glucose, blood pressure (BP), and blood lipid commonly known as 3B. We studied the prevalence of patients reaching the 3B goals in Nepalese context.
Materials and Methods:Patients aged 30 years or above who presented in Dhulikhel Hospital outpatient clinic of internal medicine department of Dhulikhel Hospital with a diagnosis of T2DM diagnosed at least for 6 months were enrolled in this cross-sectional, observational study. Patients with any major illness, surgery, or diabetic ketoacidosis in last 6 months, use of glucocorticoids, post-transplant diabetes, and gestational diabetes were excluded. The study was conducted during the period between January 2015 and June 2015. Chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables. The nonparametric test (2 independent sample tests) was used for quantitative variables.
Results:One hundred and fifty study participants had a mean age of 56 ± 11.88 years, body mass index of 23.97 4.72kg/m 2, and an HbA1c of 8.02 ± 1.78%. The proportion of patients with good glycemic control (HbA1c >7%) was 30%. Only 26% patients had achieved targets for both systolic and diastolic BP (>130/80) and 35% patients had achieved the target of LDL less than 100. In this study, 32 (21.33%) patients had control of blood glucose and blood lipid, whereas 26 (17.33%) patients had control of blood glucose and BP. Likewise, only 19 (12.67%) patients met the target of blood glucose, BP, and blood lipid control.
Conclusion:Our data showed that only 13% of patients achieved the 3B goals. Our study highlights the urgent unmet need, to improve the quality of diabetes care in our center which may be a representative of the country.
Study on bacteriological profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern in patients with diabetic foot ulcers in a tertiary care teaching hospital
Authors: Shareef Javedh , Sunny Sandra , Bhagavan K 
Published: November 2018

Introduction:Diabetic foot ulcer and infections are one of the major complications in diabetic patients leading to frequent hospitalization and increased mortality. Knowledge about the microbes that cause infections will be helpful for providing appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
Aim:To evaluate the bacteriological profile of patients with diabetic foot ulcers and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern.
Methodology:A cross-sectional study was carried out for a period of eight months in the Department of surgery in patients with diabetic foot ulcer at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patient data relevant to the study were collected using a standard data collection form designed as per the need of the study. Details of the organisms isolated and susceptibility pattern were collected from microbiology department.
Results:A total of 122 pathogens were identified from 71 patients with male (63.38%) predominance over females (36.61%). Out of the 71 patients, 38 (53.52%) patients had monomicrobial infections and 33 (46.47%) patients had polymicrobial infections. Of the total 122 organisms, 79(64.75%) organisms were found to be gram negative organisms and 43(35.24%) were gram positive. Pseudomonas aeruginosa found in 22 (18.03%) patients was the predominant pathogen isolated followed by Klebsiella pneumonia found in 18 (14.75%) patients. The gram-positive organisms isolated showed maximum susceptibility towards antibiotics Teicoplanin and Linezolid while the gram-negative organisms showed susceptibility to Imipenem, Meropenem, and Piperacillin/Tazobactum combination.
Conclusion:The study showed a preponderance of gram-negative bacilli among the isolates from the diabetic foot ulcers. It is recommended that antimicrobial sensitivity testing is necessary for initiating appropriate antibiotic regimen which will help to reduce the drug resistance and minimize the healthcare costs.