bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Co6Se8(PEt3)6 superatoms as tunable chemical dopants for two-dimensional semiconductors
Authors: Reber Arthur C. , Khanna Shiv N. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractElectronic, optoelectronic, and other functionalities of semiconductors are controlled by the nature and density of carriers, and the location of the Fermi energy. Developing strategies to tune these parameters holds the key to precise control over semiconductors properties. We propose that ligand exchange on superatoms can offer a systematic strategy to vary these properties. We demonstrate this by considering a WSe2 surface doped with ligated metal chalcogenide Co6Se8(PEt3)6 clusters. These superatoms are characterized by valence quantum states that can readily donate multiple electrons. We find that the WSe2 support binds more strongly to the Co6Se8 cluster than the PEt3 ligand, so ligand exchange between the phosphine ligand and the WSe2 support is energetically favorable. The metal chalcogenide superatoms serves as a donor that may transform the WSe2 p-type film into an n-type semiconductor. The theoretical findings complement recent experiments where WSe2 films with supported Co6Se8(PEt3)6 are indeed found to undergo a change in behavior from p- to n-type. We further show that by replacing the PEt3 ligands by CO ligands, one can control the electronic character of the surface and deposited species.
Single-base resolution methylome analysis shows epigenetic changes in Arabidopsis seedlings exposed to microgravity spaceflight conditions on board the SJ-10 recoverable satellite
Authors: Xu Peipei , Chen Haiying , Jin Jing , Cai Weiming 
Published: July 2018

AbstractDNA methylation is a very important epigenetic modification that participates in many biological functions. Although many studies of DNA methylation have been reported in various plant species, few studies have assessed the global DNA methylation pattern in plants challenged by exposure to microgravity conditions. In this report, we mapped the Arabidopsis genome methylation pattern changes associated with microgravity conditions on board the Chinese recoverable scientific satellite SJ-10 at single-base resolution. Interestingly, we found epigenetic differences in Arabidopsis seedlings exposed to microgravity in that the Arabidopsis genome exhibits lower methylation levels in the CHG, CHH, and CpG contexts under microgravity conditions. Microgravity stimulation was related to altered methylation of a number of genes, including DNA methylation-associated genes, hormone signaling related genes, cell-wall modification genes and transposable elements (TEs). Relatively unstable DNA methylation of TEs was responsible for the induction of active transposons. These observations suggest that DNA demethylation within TEs may affect the transcription of transposons in response to microgravity conditions. In summary, the results of this investigation are beneficial for understanding the mechanism of plant adaptation to microgravity and improve strategies to allow plants to adapt to space.
Genomic signatures of mitonuclear coevolution across populations of Tigriopus californicus
Authors: Barreto Felipe S. , Watson Eric T. , Lima Thiago G. , Willett Christopher S. , Edmands Suzanne , Li Weizhong , Burton Ronald S. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe copepodTigriopus californicusshows extensive population divergence and is becoming a model for understanding allopatric differentiation and the early stages of speciation. Here, we report a high-quality reference genome for one population (~190 megabases across 12 scaffolds, and ~15,500 protein-coding genes). Comparison with other arthropods reveals 2,526 genes presumed to be specific toT. californicus, with an apparent proliferation of genes involved in ion transport and receptor activity. Beyond the reference population, we report re-sequenced genomes of seven additional populations, spanning the continuum of reproductive isolation. Populations show extreme mitochondrial DNA divergence, with higher levels of amino acid differentiation than observed in other taxa. Across the nuclear genome, we find elevated protein evolutionary rates and positive selection in genes predicted to interact with mitochondrial DNA and the proteins and RNA it encodes in multiple pathways. Together, these results support the hypothesis that rapid mitochondrial evolution drives compensatory nuclear evolution within isolated populations, thereby providing a potentially important mechanism for causing intrinsic reproductive isolation.
A comparison of hydrological and topological watersheds
Authors: Burger B. , Andrade J. S. , Herrmann H. J. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe introduce the hydrological watershed, a watershed where water can penetrate the soil, and compare it with the topological watershed for a two-dimensional landscape. For this purpose, we measure the fractal dimension of the hydrological watershed for different penetration depths and different grid sizes. Through finite size scaling, we find that the fractal dimension is 1.31 ± 0.02 which is significantly higher than the fractal dimension of the topological watershed. This indicates that the hydrological watershed belongs to a new universality class. We also find that, as opposed to the topological watershed, the hydrodynamic watershed can exhibit disconnected islands.
Variation in fluoroquinolone pharmacodynamic parameter values among isolates of two bacterial pathogens of bovine respiratory disease
Authors: Wen Xuesong , Gehring Ronette , Riviere Jim E. , Lubbers Brian V. , Gaire Tara Nath , Wyche Bre’Anna , Fox Breanna , Quichocho Victoria , Volkova Victoriya V. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractTo design an antimicrobial treatment regimen for a bacterial disease, data on the drug pharmacodynamics (PD) against selected drug-susceptible strains of the pathogen are used. The regimen is applied across such strains in the field, assuming the PD parameter values remain the same. We used time-kill experiments and PD modeling to investigate the fluoroquinolone enrofloxacin PD against different isolates of two bovine respiratory disease pathogens: four Mannheimia haemolytica and three Pasteurella multocida isolates. The models were fitted as mixed-effects non-linear regression; the fixed-effects PD parameter values were estimated after accounting for random variation among experimental replicates. There was both inter- and intra- bacterial species variability in the PD parameters Hill-coefficient and Emax (maximal decline of bacterial growth rate), with more variable PD responses among M. haemolytica than among P. multocida isolates. Moreover, the Hill-coefficient was correlated to the isolate’s maximal population growth rate in the absence of antimicrobial exposure (a.k.a. specific growth rate; Spearman’s ρ = 0.98, p-value = 0.003, n = 6 isolates excluding one outlier). Thus, the strain’s properties such as growth potential may impact its PD responses. This variability can have clinical implications. Modifying the treatment regimen depending on phenotypic properties of the pathogen strain causing disease may be a precision medicine approach.
Preliminary study of Cell Wall Structure and its Mechanical Properties of C3H and HCT RNAi Transgenic Poplar Sapling
Authors: Zhou Xianwu , Ren Suhong , Lu Mengzhu , Zhao Shutang , Chen Zhangjing , Zhao Rongjun , Lv Jianxiong 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis research focused on the cell wall structure and its mechanical properties of down-regulated Coumaroyl shikimate 3-hydroxylase (C3H) transgenic poplar and down-regulated hydroxycinnamoyl CoA: shikimate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) transgenic poplar (Populus alba × P. glandulosa cv ‘84 k’). The wood samples with respect to microstructure, the longitudinal elastic modulus (MOE) and hardness of wood fiber secondary cell wall were investigated. The results show that the lignin contents in the two transgenic poplar woods were lower than non-modified wood. The C3H transgenic poplar and HCT transgenic poplar have more than 18.5% and 16.1% cellulose crystalline regions than non-modified poplar respectively. The diameter of the fiber cell and the vessel element of transgenic poplars are smaller. Double radial vessel cell wall thicknesses of both transgenic poplars were smaller than non-modified poplar. Cell wall ratios for the transgenic poplar were higher than non-modified poplar and cell wall density was significantly lower in both C3H and HCT transgenic poplar. The cell wall MOEs of C3H and HCT transgenic poplar was 5.8% and 7.0% higher than non-modified poplar. HCT can be more effective than C3H to modify the trees by considerably increasing mechanical properties of the cell wall.
Wavelength-shifting properties of luminescence nanoparticles for high energy particle detection and specific physics process observation
Authors: Sahi Sunil , Magill Stephen , Ma Lun , Xie Junqi , Chen Wei , Jones Benjamin , Nygren David 
Published: July 2018

AbstractUltraviolet (UV) photon detection is becoming increasingly important in the quest to understand the fundamental building blocks of our universe. Basic properties of neutrinos and Dark Matter are currently being explored through interactions with noble elements. In response to interactions with fundamental particles, these elements emit scintillation photons in the UV range. However, most available detectors have poor response in the UV so it is typically necessary to shift UV to a wavelength, matching the sensitivity of the viable detectors. We report on development of UV-enhanced photosensors using wavelength-shifting properties of nanoparticles. Several nanoparticle coatings were tested for absorption of UV light with subsequent emission in the visible wavelength for high energy particle detection. ZnS:Mn,Eu, ZnS:Mn, CuCy (Copper Cysteamine) and CdTe nanoparticles all exhibited enhanced detection for wavelengths in the range 200–320 nm in several different tests, while ZnS:Ag and CdS nanoparticle showed little or no enhancement in that range. In addition, various LaF3:Ce nanoparticle concentrations in approximately constant thickness of 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO)/polystyrene bases were also tested to optimize the nanoparticle concentration for the best outcome. Our studies indicated that ZnS:Mn,Eu, ZnS:Mn, Cu-Cy, CdTe and LaF3:Ce nanoparticles show potential for light detection from fundamental particle interactions.
Resting-state fMRI study on drug-naive patients of essential tremor with and without head tremor
Authors: Wang Ling , Lei Du , Suo Xueling , Li Nannan , Lu Zhongjiao , Li Junying , Peng Jiaxin , Gong Qiyong , Peng Rong 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis study used resting-state functional MRI (r-fMRI) to evaluate intrinsic brain activity in drug-naive patients with essential tremor (ET) with and without head tremor. We enrolled 20 patients with ET with hand and head tremor (h-ET), 27 patients with ET without head tremor (a-ET), and 27 healthy controls (HCs). All participants underwent r-fMRI scans on a 3-T MR system. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) of blood oxygen level-dependent signals was used to characterize regional cerebral function. We identified increased ALFF value in the bilateral posterior lobe of cerebellum in the h-ET patients relative to a-ET and HCs and demonstrated that h-ET is related to abnormalities in the cerebello-cortical areas, while the a-ET is related to abnormalities in the thalamo-cortical areas. In addition, we observed the ALFF abnormality in the cerebellum (left cerebellum VIII and right cerebellum VI) correlated with the tremor score in h-ET patients and abnormal ALFF in the left precentral gyrus correlated with the age at onset and disease duration in h-ET patients. These findings may be helpful for facilitating further understanding of the potential mechanisms underlying different subtypes of ET.
IDPpi: Protein-Protein Interaction Analyses of Human Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
Authors: Perovic Vladimir , Sumonja Neven , Marsh Lindsey A. , Radovanovic Sandro , Vukicevic Milan , Roberts Stefan G. E. , Veljkovic Nevena 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIntrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are characterized by the lack of a fixed tertiary structure and are involved in the regulation of key biological processes via binding to multiple protein partners. IDPs are malleable, adapting to structurally different partners, and this flexibility stems from features encoded in the primary structure. The assumption that universal sequence information will facilitate coverage of the sparse zones of the human interactome motivated us to explore the possibility of predicting protein-protein interactions (PPIs) that involve IDPs based on sequence characteristics. We developed a method that relies on features of the interacting and non-interacting protein pairs and utilizes machine learning to classify and predict IDP PPIs. Consideration of both sequence determinants specific for conformational organizations and the multiplicity of IDP interactions in the training phase ensured a reliable approach that is superior to current state-of-the-art methods. By applying a strict evaluation procedure, we confirm that our method predicts interactions of the IDP of interest even on the proteome-scale. This service is provided as a web tool to expedite the discovery of new interactions and IDP functions with enhanced efficiency.
Quantum phase transition in a realistic double-quantum-dot system
Authors: Kleeorin Yaakov , Meir Yigal 
Published: July 2018

AbstractObserving quantum phase transitions in mesoscopic systems is a daunting task, thwarted by the difficulty of experimentally varying the magnetic interactions, the typical driving force behind these phase transitions. Here we demonstrate that in realistic coupled double-dot systems, the level energy difference between the two dots, which can be easily tuned experimentally, can drive the system through a phase transition, when its value crosses the difference between the intra- and inter-dot Coulomb repulsion. Using the numerical renormalization group and the semi-analytic slave-boson mean-field theory, we study the nature of this phase transition, and demonstrate, by mapping the Hamiltonian into an even-odd basis, that indeed the competition between the dot level energy difference and the difference in repulsion energies governs the sign and magnitude of the effective magnetic interaction. The observational consequences of this transition are discussed.
Plant-expressed bacteriophage lysins control pathogenic strains of Clostridium perfringens
Authors: Kazanavičiūtė Vaiva , Misiūnas Audrius , Gleba Yuri , Giritch Anatoli , Ražanskienė Aušra 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe anaerobic spore-forming bacterium Clostridium perfringens is a source of one of the most common food-borne illnesses in the United States and Europe. The costs associated with disease management are high and interventions are limited; therefore, effective and safe antimicrobials are needed to control food contamination by C. perfringens. A viable solution to this problem could be bacteriophage lysins used as food additives or food processing aids. Such antimicrobials could be produced cost-effectively and in ample supply in green plants. By using edible plant species as production hosts the need for expensive product purification can be reduced or obviated. We describe the first successful expression in plants of C. perfringens-specific bacteriophage lysins. We demonstrate that six lysins belonging to two different families (N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase and glycosyl hydrolase 25) are active against a panel of enteropathogenic C. perfringens strains under salinity and acidity conditions relevant to food preparation environments. We also demonstrate that plant-expressed lysins prevent multiplication of C. perfringens on cooked meat matrices far better than nisin, the only currently approved bacteriocin food preservative to control this pathogen.
Incidence, causes and risk factors for 30-day readmission after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a retrospective study of 2,023 patients
Authors: Xiao Hua , Quan Hu , Pan Shuguang , Yin Bin , Luo Wei , Tang Ming , Ouyang Yongzhong , Tang Wei 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the incidence of, causes and risk factors for readmission to hospital ≤30 days after discharge of patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. A total of 2,023 patients underwent radical gastrectomy operations from November 2010 to July 2017 in our hospital. Of these, 60 patients (3.0%) were readmitted within 30 days after their original discharge. The median time span between the index discharge and readmission was 14 days and the median time for readmission was 8 days. The main reasons for readmission were intestinal obstruction (n = 10, 16.7%), intra-abdominal fluid collection (n = 9, 15.0%), abdominal pain (n = 7, 11.7%), nutritional difficulty (n = 4, 6.7%) and anastomotic leakage (n = 4, 6.7%). Five patients (8.3%) required intensive care and 4 patients (6.7%) died from sudden cardiac arrest, gastrointestinal bleeding, sepsis or multiple organ dysfunctions. Multivariate analysis revealed that post-operative complications (Odds Ratio = 5.116, 95% confidence interval: 2.885–9.073, P < 0.001) was the only independent risk factor for readmission. Thus, appropriate strategies on discharge and close follow-ups for these high-risk patients should be drawn up in order to enhance significantly their quality of care.
3D surface morphology imaging of opaque microstructures via light-field microscopy
Authors: Da Sie Yong , Lin Chun-Yu , Chen Shean-Jen 
Published: July 2018

AbstractObserving dynamic micro-scale phenomena occurring at millisecond time scales, such as organism activity, micron particle flows, or any opaque object observation, requires volumetric microscopy techniques able to achieve high data acquisition rates while maintaining contrast so that measurement of fine micro-scale features is possible. In realizing this purpose, the light-field (LF) technique has already been used on three-dimensional (3D) scene capturing and even for microscopic visualizations. In studying the ability and feasibility of 3D surface morphology reconstruction via LF microscopy, we adopted a lab-made LF microscope and integrated a four-dimensional Fourier slice algorithm and a Markov random field propagation algorithm. Furthermore, for numerical comparison and quantized analysis, the Tenengrad function was utilized to calculate the average contrast of the region of interest. Reflective US Air Force targets and 3D photolithography-made micro-scaffolds coated with 50 nm nickel thin films were adopted for system alignment and calibration. The experimental results demonstrate that the developed LF microscope with the signal processing algorithms can observe the 3D surface morphology of opaque microstructures with one snapshot, and has been preliminary applied to Brownian motion observation with 30 Hz volumetric image rate.
Identification of Uranotaenia sapphirina as a specialist of annelids broadens known mosquito host use patterns
Authors: Reeves Lawrence E. , Holderman Chris J. , Blosser Erik M. , Gillett-Kaufman Jennifer L. , Kawahara Akito Y. , Kaufman Phillip E. , Burkett-Cadena Nathan D. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractFeeding upon vertebrate blood by mosquitoes permits transmission of diverse pathogens, including viruses, protozoa, and nematodes. Despite over a century of intensive study, no mosquito species is known to specialize on non-vertebrate hosts. Using molecular analyses and field observations, we provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that a mosquito,Uranotaenia sapphirina, specializes on annelid hosts (earthworms and leeches) while its sympatric congener,Uranotaenia lowii, feeds only on anurans (frogs and toads). Our results demonstrate thatUr. sapphirinafeeds on annelid hosts (100% of identified blood meals;n = 72; collected throughout Florida), findings that are supported by field observations of these mosquitoes feeding onSparganophilusworms and freshwater leeches. These findings indicate that adult mosquitoes utilize a much broader range of host taxa than previously recognized, with implications for epidemiology and the evolution of host use patterns in mosquitoes.
Audiology Faculty Author Impact Metrics as a Function of Institution
Authors: Stuart Andrew 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to develop a method for the assessment of audiology author impact as a function of institution and compare these results to a recent college ranking of audiology graduate programs.

Method

Scopus author impact metrics (i.e., number of documents, number of citations, and
h
index) from a previous study (Stuart, Faucette, & Thomas, 2017) were generated for 79 accredited graduate programs in audiology in the United States and Canada. Author impact metrics were summed to represent the total institution output, and median values were calculated to reflect a measure of central tendency of individual faculty performance.

Results

Three hundred and seventy-nine audiology faculty members were identified and of those 86.0% (
n
= 326) were found in Scopus. Database presence increased with increasing rank (
p
= .003). Scopus index values were positively skewed. The total summed number of documents, citations, and
h
indices were positively correlated with the total number of faculty in the institutions and with the summed number of coauthors (
p
< .001). The median number of documents, citations, and
h
indices were not significantly correlated with the total number of faculty in the institutions but were positively correlated with the median number of coauthors (
p
< .001). In general, indices were higher for research/doctoral versus nonresearch universities. Higher college program rankings were statistically related with better Scopus index values.

Conclusion
These institutional metrics may be used to serve as a benchmark for institutional production, attracting students, hiring faculty, and assessing allocation of institutional funding.
Forward and Backward Masking of Consonants in School-Age Children and Adults
Authors: Porter Heather L. , Spitzer Emily R. , Buss Emily , Leibold Lori J. , Grose John H. 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
This experiment sought to determine whether children's increased susceptibility to nonsimultaneous masking, particularly backward masking, is evident for speech stimuli.

Method
Five- to 9-year-olds and adults with normal hearing heard nonsense consonant–vowel–consonant targets. In Experiments 1 and 2, those targets were presented between two 250-ms segments of 70-dB-SPL speech-shaped noise, at either −30 dB signal-to-noise ratio (Experiment 1) or at the listener's word recognition threshold (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, the target was presented in steady speech-shaped noise at listener threshold. For all experiments, percent correct was estimated for initial and final consonants.

Results
In the nonsimultaneous noise conditions, child–adult differences were larger for the final consonant than the initial consonant whether listeners were tested at −30 dB signal-to-noise ratio (Experiment 1) or at their individual word recognition threshold (Experiment 2). Children were not particularly susceptible to backward masking relative to adults when tested in a steady masker (Experiment 3).

Conclusions
Child–adult differences were greater for backward than forward masking for speech in a nonsimultaneous noise masker, as observed in previous psychophysical studies using tonal stimuli. Children's greater susceptibility to nonsimultaneous masking, and backward masking in particular, could play a role in their limited ability to benefit from masker envelope modulation when recognizing masked speech.