1. |
- Klionsky, Daniel J., et al.
(author)
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Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
- 2012
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In: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8635 .- 1554-8627. ; 8:4, s. 445-544
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.
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2. |
- Blunden, Jessica, et al.
(author)
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State of the Climate in 2012
- 2013
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In: Bulletin of The American Meteorological Society - (BAMS). - 0003-0007 .- 1520-0477. ; 94:8, s. S1-S258
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- For the first time in serveral years, the El Nino-Southern Oscillation did not dominate regional climate conditions around the globe. A weak La Ni a dissipated to ENSOneutral conditions by spring, and while El Nino appeared to be emerging during summer, this phase never fully developed as sea surface temperatures in the eastern conditions. Nevertheless, other large-scale climate patterns and extreme weather events impacted various regions during the year. A negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation from mid-January to early February contributed to frigid conditions in parts of northern Africa, eastern Europe, and western Asia. A lack of rain during the 2012 wet season led to the worst drought in at least the past three decades for northeastern Brazil. Central North America also experienced one of its most severe droughts on record. The Caribbean observed a very wet dry season and it was the Sahel's wettest rainy season in 50 years. Overall, the 2012 average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces ranked among the 10 warmest years on record. The global land surface temperature alone was also among the 10 warmest on record. In the upper atmosphere, the average stratospheric temperature was record or near-record cold, depending on the dataset. After a 30-year warming trend from 1970 to 1999 for global sea surface temperatures, the period 2000-12 had little further trend. This may be linked to the prevalence of La Ni a-like conditions during the 21st century. Heat content in the upper 700 m of the ocean remained near record high levels in 2012. Net increases from 2011 to 2012 were observed at 700-m to 2000-m depth and even in the abyssal ocean below. Following sharp decreases in to the effects of La Ni a, sea levels rebounded to reach records highs in 2012. The increased hydrological cycle seen in recent years continued, with more evaporation in drier locations and more precipitation in rainy areas. In a pattern that has held since 2004, salty areas of the ocean surfaces and subsurfaces were anomalously salty on average, while fresher areas were anomalously fresh. Global tropical cyclone activity during 2012 was near average, with a total of 84 storms compared with the 1981-2010 average of 89. Similar to 2010 and 2011, the North Atlantic was the only hurricane basin that experienced above-normal activity. In this basin, Sandy brought devastation to Cuba and parts of the eastern North American seaboard. All other basins experienced either near-or below-normal tropical cyclone activity. Only three tropical cyclones reached Category 5 intensity-all in Bopha became the only storm in the historical record to produce winds greater than 130 kt south of 7 N. It was also the costliest storm to affect the Philippines and killed more than 1000 residents. Minimum Arctic sea ice extent in September and Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent in June both reached new record lows. June snow cover extent is now declining at a faster rate (-17.6% per decade) than September sea ice extent (-13.0% per decade). Permafrost temperatures reached record high values in northernmost Alaska. A new melt extent record occurred on 11-12 July on the Greenland ice sheet; 97% of the ice sheet showed some form of melt, four times greater than the average melt for this time of year. The climate in Antarctica was relatively stable overall. The largest maximum sea ice extent since records begain in 1978 was observed in September 2012. In the stratosphere, warm air led to the second smallest ozone hole in the past two decades. Even so, the springtime ozone layer above Antarctica likely will not return to its early 1980s state until about 2060. Following a slight decline associated with the global 2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production reached a record 9.5 +/- 0.5 Pg C in 2011 and a new record of 9.7 +/- 0.5 Pg C is estimated for 2012. Atmospheric CO2 concentrations increased by 2.1 ppm in 2012, to 392.6 ppm. In spring 2012, 2 concentration exceeded 400 ppm at 7 of the 13 Arctic observation sites. Globally, other greenhouse gases including methane and nitrous oxide also continued to rise in concentration and the combined effect now represents a 32% increase in radiative forcing over a 1990 baseline. Concentrations of most ozone depleting substances continued to fall.
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3. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
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Measurement of the $D\to K^-\pi^+$ strong phase difference in $\psi(3770)\to D^0\overline{D}{}^0$
- 2014
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In: PHYSICS LETTERS B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 734
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We study $D^0\overline{D}{}^0$ pairs produced in $e^+e^-$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=3.773$ GeV using a data sample of 2.92 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the BESIII detector. We measure the asymmetry $\mathcal{A}^{CP}_{K\pi}$ of the branching fractions of $D \to K^-\pi^+$ in $CP$-odd and $CP$-even eigenstates to be $(12.7\pm1.3\pm0.7)\times10^{-2}$. $\mathcal{A}^{CP}_{K\pi}$ can be used to extract the strong phase difference $\delta_{K\pi}$ between the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed process $\overline{D}{}^{0}\to K^-\pi^+$ and the Cabibbo-favored process $D^0\to K^- \pi^+$. Using world-average values of external parameters, we obtain $\cos\delta_{K\pi} = 1.02\pm0.11\pm0.06\pm0.01$. Here, the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively, while the third uncertainty arises from the external parameters. This is the most precise measurement of $\delta_{K\pi}$ to date.
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4. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
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Observation of e(+)e(-) -> pi(0)pi(0)h(c) and a Neutral Charmoniumlike Structure Z(c)(4020)(0)
- 2014
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In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 113:21, s. 212002-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider at center-of-mass energies of root s = 4.23, 4.26, and 4.36 GeV, we observe e(+)e(-) -> pi(0)pi(0)h(c) for the first time. The Born cross sections are measured and found to be about half of those of e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-)h(c) within less than 2 sigma. In the pi(0)h(c) mass spectrum, a structure at 4.02 GeV/c(2) is found. It is most likely to be the neutral isospin partner of the Z(c)(4020)(+/-) observed in the process of e(+)e(-) -> pi(+)pi(-)h(c) being found. A fit to the pi(0)h(c) invariant mass spectrum, with the width of the Z(c)(4020)(0) fixed to that of its charged isospin partner and possible interferences with non-Z(c)(4020)(0) amplitudes neglected, gives a mass of (4023.9 +/- 2.2 +/- 3.8) MeV/c(2) for the Z(c)(4020)(0), where the first error is statistical and the second systematic.
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5. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
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Observation of $e^+e^− → γX$(3872) at BESIII
- 2014
-
In: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS. - 1079-7114. ; 112:9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- With data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring at center-of-mass energies from 4.009 to 4.420 GeV, the process $e^{+} e^{-} \to \gamma X(3872)$ is observed for the first time with a statistical significance of $6.3\sigma$. The measured mass of the $X(3872)$ is ($3871.9\pm 0.7_{\rm stat.}\pm 0.2_{\rm sys.}$) MeV/$c^2$, in agreement with previous measurements. Measurements of the product of the cross section $\sigma[e^{+} e^{-} \to \gamma X(3872)]$ and the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}[X(3872) \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} J/\psi]$ at center-of-mass energies 4.009, 4.229, 4.260, and 4.360 GeV are reported. Our measurements are consistent with expectations for the radiative transition process $Y(4260) \to \gamma X(3872)$.
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6. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
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Observation of electromagnetic Dalitz decays J/\psi \to P e^+e^-
- 2014
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In: PHYSICAL REVIEW D. - 2470-0010 .- 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 89:9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Based on a sample of (225.3\pm2.8)\times 10^{6} J/\psi events collected with the BESIII detector, the electromagnetic Dalitz decays of J/\psi \to P e^+e^-(P=\eta'/\eta/\pi^0) are studied. By reconstructing the pseudoscalar mesons in various decay modes, the decays J/\psi \to \eta' e^+e^-, J/\psi \to \eta e^+e^- and J/\psi \to \pi^0 e^+e^- are observed for the first time. The branching fractions are determined to be \mathcal{B}(J/\psi\to \eta' e^+e^-) = (5.81\pm0.16\pm0.31)\times10^{-5}, \mathcal{B}(J/\psi\to \eta e^+e^-) = (1.16\pm0.07\pm0.06)\times10^{-5}, and \mathcal{B}(J/\psi\to \pi^0 e^+e^-)=(7.56\pm1.32\pm0.50)\times10^{-7}, where the first errors are statistical and the second ones systematic.
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7. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
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Precision measurements of $B(D^+ \rightarrow \mu^+ \nu_{\mu})$, the pseudoscalar decay constant $f_{D^+}$, and the quark mixing matrix element $|V_{\rm cd}|$
- 2014
-
In: PHYSICAL REVIEW D. - 2470-0010 .- 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 89:5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report a measurement of the branching fraction $B(D^+ \rightarrow \mu^+ \nu_{\mu}) = [3.71 \pm 0.19 (\rm stat) \pm 0.06 (\rm sys)]\times 10^{-4}$ based on 2.92 ${\rm fb^{-1}}$ of data accumulated at $\sqrt{s}=3.773$ GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. This measurement, in conjunction with the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element $|V_{\rm cd}|$ determined from a global Standard Model fit, implies a value for the weak decay constant $f_{D^+}=(203.2 \pm 5.3 \pm 1.8)$ MeV. Additionally, using this branching fraction measurement together with a Lattice QCD prediction for $f_{D^+}$, we find $|V_{\rm cd}|=0.2210\pm 0.0058 \pm 0.0047$. In either case, these are the most precise results for these quantities to date.
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8. |
- Ablikim, M., et al.
(author)
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Search for the weak decays J/psi -> D-s(()*()-) e(+)nu(e) + c.c.
- 2014
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In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 90:11, s. 112014-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using a sample of 2.25 x 10(8) J/psi events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we search for the J/psi semileptonic weak decay J/psi -> D-s(-) e(+)nu(e) +c.c. with a much higher sensitivity than previous searches. We also perform the first search for J/psi -> D-s(*-) e(+) nu(e) + c.c. No significant excess of a signal above background is observed in either channel. At the 90% confidence level, the upper limits are determined to be B(J/psi -> D-s(-) e(+) nu(e) + c.c.) < 1.3 x 10(-6) and B(J/psi -> D-s*(-) e(+) nu(e) + c.c.) < 1.8 x 10(-6), respectively. Both are consistent with Standard Model predictions.
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9. |
- Blunden, Jessica, et al.
(author)
-
State of the climate in 2013
- 2014
-
In: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. - 0003-0007. ; 95
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2014, American Meteorological Society. All rights reserved. In 2013, the vast majority of the monitored climate variables reported here maintained trends established in recent decades. ENSO was in a neutral state during the entire year, remaining mostly on the cool side of neutral with modest impacts on regional weather patterns around the world. This follows several years dominated by the effects of either La Niña or El Niño events. According to several independent analyses, 2013 was again among the 10 warmest years on record at the global scale, both at the Earth’s surface and through the troposphere. Some regions in the Southern Hemisphere had record or near-record high temperatures for the year. Australia observed its hottest year on record, while Argentina and New Zealand reported their second and third hottest years, respectively. In Antarctica, Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station reported its highest annual temperature since records began in 1957. At the opposite pole, the Arctic observed its seventh warmest year since records began in the early 20th century. At 20-m depth, record high temperatures were measured at some permafrost stations on the North Slope of Alaska and in the Brooks Range. In the Northern Hemisphere extratropics, anomalous meridional atmospheric circulation occurred throughout much of the year, leading to marked regional extremes of both temperature and precipitation. Cold temperature anomalies during winter across Eurasia were followed by warm spring temperature anomalies, which were linked to a new record low Eurasian snow cover extent in May. Minimum sea ice extent in the Arctic was the sixth lowest since satellite observations began in 1979. Including 2013, all seven lowest extents on record have occurred in the past seven years. Antarctica, on the other hand, had above-average sea ice extent throughout 2013, with 116 days of new daily high extent records, including a new daily maximum sea ice area of 19.57 million km2 reached on 1 October. ENSO-neutral conditions in the eastern central Pacific Ocean and a negative Pacific decadal oscillation pattern in the North Pacific had the largest impacts on the global sea surface temperature in 2013. The North Pacific reached a historic high temperature in 2013 and on balance the globally-averaged sea surface temperature was among the 10 highest on record. Overall, the salt content in nearsurface ocean waters increased while in intermediate waters it decreased. Global mean sea level continued to rise during 2013, on pace with a trend of 3.2 mm yr-1 over the past two decades. A portion of this trend (0.5 mm yr-1) has been attributed to natural variability associated with the Pacific decadal oscillation as well as to ongoing contributions from the melting of glaciers and ice sheets and ocean warming. Global tropical cyclone frequency during 2013 was slightly above average with a total of 94 storms, although the North Atlantic Basin had its quietest hurricane season since 1994. In the Western North Pacific Basin, Super Typhoon Haiyan, the deadliest tropical cyclone of 2013, had 1-minute sustained winds estimated to be 170 kt (87.5 m s-1) on 7 November, the highest wind speed ever assigned to a tropical cyclone. High storm surge was also associated with Haiyan as it made landfall over the central Philippines, an area where sea level is currently at historic highs, increasing by 200 mm since 1970. In the atmosphere, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide all continued to increase in 2013. As in previous years, each of these major greenhouse gases once again reached historic high concentrations. In the Arctic, carbon dioxide and methane increased at the same rate as the global increase. These increases are likely due to export from lower latitudes rather than a consequence of increases in Arctic sources, such as thawing permafrost. At Mauna Loa, Hawaii, for the first time since measurements began in 1958, the daily average mixing ratio of carbon dioxide exceeded 400 ppm on 9 May. The state of these variables, along with dozens of others, and the 2013 climate conditions of regions around the world are discussed in further detail in this 24th edition of the State of the Climate series.
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10. |
- Chen, Peng, et al.
(author)
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Assembly of Graphene Oxide and Au(0.7)Ag(0.3) Alloy Nanoparticles on SiO(2): A New Raman Substrate with Ultrahigh Signal-to-Background Ratio
- 2011
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In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society. - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 115:49, s. 24080-24084
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) often suffers from the large fluorescence background which obscures the much weaker Raman scattering. To address this fundamental problem, a novel Raman substrate has been fabricated by adsorption of Au(0.7)Ag(0.3) alloy nanoparticles (NPs) on a graphene oxide (GO) coated SiO(2) surface, which offers both excellent Raman enhancement and fluorescence quenching. Our experimental data reveal that a Raman to fluorescence background intensity ratio of 1.6 can be obtained for a highly fluorescent dye like Alexa fluor 488. Moreover, we demonstrate that the Raman enhancement mainly originates from the Au(0.7)Ag(0.3) alloy NPs and that the fluorescence quenching mainly arises from the underlying functionalized GO (FGO) substrate.
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