bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lichen phycobiomes as source of biodiversity for microalgae of the Stichococcus-like genera
Authors: Chiva Salvador , Moya Patricia , Barreno Eva
Published: November 2022

The term phycobiome was recently introduced to designate all the microalgae (primary or non-primary) associated with lichen symbioses. Abundant non-primary symbiotic microalgae are usually obtained from lichen isolations, confirming that thalli are a source of biodiversity and new species. In this study, microalgae were isolated from thalli of Buellia zoharyi, Ramalina farinacea and Parmotrema pseudotinctorum collected in the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands. Excluding Trebouxia phycobionts, 17 strains similar to Stichococcus (Prasiola clade) were obtained. Molecular identification was carried out by nuclear ITS sequencing, and a phylogenetic tree was generated from these sequences, and grouping them into 4 clades: Diplosphaera chodatti, Diplosphaera sp.1. Deuterostichocuccus sp.1. and Tritostichococcus coniocybes. It is also noteworthy that Diplosphaera sp.1 was detected and isolated from three phylogenetically distant lichenized fungi (B. zoharyi, R. farinacea and P. pseudotinctorum), which were sampled in ecologically different localities, namely Tenerife, La Gomera and Castellón. These results reinforce the idea of the constant presence of certain microalgae associated with the lichen thalli which, despite not being the main primary photobiont, probably form part of the lichen’s phycobiomes.
On the (Non-)Rationality of Human Enhancement and Transhumanism
Authors: Lyreskog David M. , McKeown Alex
Published: November 2022

The human enhancement debate has over the last few decades been concerned with ethical issues in methods for improving the physical, cognitive, or emotive states of individual people, and of the human species as a whole. Arguments in favour of enhancement defend it as a paradigm of rationality, presenting it as a clear-eyed, logical defence of what we stand to gain from transcending the typical limits of our species. If these arguments are correct, it appears that adults should in principle be able to make rational and informed decisions about enhancing themselves. In this paper, however, we suggest that a rational and informed choice to enhance oneself may in some cases be impossible. Drawing on L. A. Paul’s work on ‘transformative experience’, we argue that some enhancements—such as certain moral or cognitive modifications—may give rise to unbridgeable epistemic gaps in key domains. Importantly, such gaps could prove to be not merely contingently unbridgeable due to a lack of information at a given moment, but radically unbridgeable, making someone in a non-enhanced state inherently unable to conceive of what it would be like to be enhanced in a particular way. Where this experience is key to understanding what values are being pursued by the enhancement itself, it may prove impossible for a person to be sufficiently informed, and to make a rational decision about whether or not to enhance herself. This poses a challenge for human enhancement proponents in general, and for transhumanists in particular.
Numerical evaluation of the use of vegetation as a shelterbelt for enhancing the wind and thermal comfort in peripheral and lateral-type skygardens in highrise buildings
Authors: Mohammadi Murtaza , Tien Paige Wenbin , Calautit John Kaiser
Published: November 2022

Skygardens or skycourts are a unique architectural intervention in the built environment, enhancing the social, economic, and environmental values of the building. It allows occupants to connect and experience outdoor freshness within a semi-enclosed environment. However, skygardens located on a highrise building may generate intense wind gusts, endangering the safety of occupants. Using a validated computational fluid dynamics model, this study investigates the potential of various vegetative barriers or shelterbelts in attenuating the high wind speeds encountered in such spaces and the impact on wind and thermal comfort. Three skygarden configurations were investigated with and without vegetative barriers, simplified and modelled as porous zones, and their effect was studied on the velocity and temperature profile at the occupants’ level. The results indicate that while hedges and trees can offer resistance to airflow, trees provide higher temperature reduction. However, a combination of vegetative and geometrical barriers provides the most optimal condition in the skygarden. The study has identified the importance of assessing wind attenuation characteristics of tree plantations on highrise skygarden, and the results can be used in designing intervention strategies. Moreover, vegetation can attenuate pollutants and mitigate poor air quality by surface deposition, and future studies should investigate in that direction.
De nieuwe volksgezondheidsexpert als gamechanger in een stevige preventie-infrastructuur
Authors: Fransen Gerdine , Pieters Moniek , Ter Bogt Maud , Mulder Geraldine , Mourits Kristine , Jonkman Harrie , Molleman Gerard , Hosman Clemens
Published: November 2022

Samenvatting

De afgelopen decennia is vooral aandacht besteed aan het
ontwikkelen van de inhoud van het vak van preventie en
gezondheidsbevordering (GB). Er is nauwelijks geïnvesteerd in de
professional zelf en in voldoende professionals om preventie en
GB impact te laten hebben. De huidige complexe
volksgezondheidsproblemen vragen echter om kundige professionals
die weten hoe complexe vraagstukken aangepakt kunnen worden. De
gamechanger voor de volksgezondheid 2030 die wij voorstellen is een netwerk van een nieuw type volksgezondheidsexperts die vanuit een collectieve benadering en gesteund door een stevige preventiestructuur collectieve impact kunnen realiseren.
BAP1 in cancer: epigenetic stability and genome integrity
Authors: Caporali Sabrina , Butera Alessio , Amelio Ivano
Published: November 2022

Mutations in BAP1 have been identified in a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome and in sporadic tumours. Individuals carrying familiar BAP1 monoallelic mutations display hypersusceptibility to exposure-associated cancers, such as asbestos-driven mesothelioma, thus BAP1 status has been postulated to participate in gene-environment interaction. Intriguingly, BAP1 functions display also a high degree of tissue dependency, associated to a peculiar cancer spectrum and cell types of specific functions. Mechanistically, BAP1 functions as an ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase (UCH) and controls regulatory ubiquitination of histones as well as degradative ubiquitination of a range of protein substrates. In this article we provide an overview of the most relevant findings on BAP1, underpinning its tissue specific tumour suppressor function. We also discuss the importance of its epigenetic role versus the control of protein stability in the regulation of genomic integrity.
Human-Robot Body Experience: An Artificial Intelligence Perspective
Authors: Beckerle Philipp
Published: November 2022

Human body experience is remarkably flexible, which enables us to integrate passive tools as well as intelligent robotic devices into our body representation. Accordingly, it can serve as a role model to make (assistive) robots interact seamlessly with their users or to provide (humanoid) robots with a human-like self-perception and behavior generation. This article discusses the potential of understanding human body experience and applying it to robotics. Particular focus is set on how to use artificial intelligence techniques and create intelligent artificial agents from insights about human body experience. The discussion is based on a summary of the author’s habilitation thesis and combines theoretical and experimental perspectives from psychology, cognitive science and neuroscience as well as computer science, engineering, and artificial intelligence. From this, it derives directions for future developments towards creating artificial body intelligence with human-like capabilities.
Experimental and Numerical Dynamic Behavior of Bending-Torsion Coupled Box-Beam
Authors: Patuelli Cesare , Polla Alessandro , Cestino Enrico , Frulla Giacomo
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Structural configurations related to new green aircraft design require high efficiency and low weight. As a consequence, moderate-to-large deformation under operating loads arise and aeroelastic instabilities different with respect to rigid counterpart are possible. Coupled structural configurations can provide the right mean to overcome such a critical situations selecting the right coupling parameters and structural performance. In this work, the dynamic behaviour of stiffened box-beam architecture with selected optimal stiffener orientation to emphasize the bending-torsion coupling characteristics has been investigated.

Methods

An extensive experimental activity has been performed for a validation and confirmation of the numerical results. Two cantilever beams produced with different technologies and materials have been tested. Modal performance has been determined by means of a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV), while Finite-Element Method (FEM) numerical simulation based on solid elements and equivalent single layer approach have been applied and compared. Experimental/numerical comparison have been presented pointing out the specific coupling performance of this architecture with respect to natural frequencies and modal shapes.

Results

The activity demonstrates a good correlation in natural frequencies that remains mostly under 4$$\%$$
%
. Modal assurance criterion (MAC) has been considered in comparing experimental and numerical modal shapes.

Conclusion

The proposed innovative configuration demonstrates its capability to be used in aeroelastic critical problem as a mean to reduce their influence in aircraft design. The numerical procedure used for equivalencing the stiffened parts of the box-beam has also been validated in dynamical response confirming the possibility to be used in design phase.
Income, education, and hospitalization in Canada: results from linked census and administrative data
Authors: Godley Jenny , Tang Karen L.
Published: November 2022

Background

Addressing population health inequities begins with quantifying how social factors affect the health and health care utilization of individuals. Such quantification relies on the availability of detailed health and demographic data. Unfortunately, administrative health care data rarely includes detailed demographic information. Data linkage, which combines administrative health data with national-level census or survey data, enables researchers to examine socio-economic inequalities in health care utilization in greater detail.

Data and methods

With access to a unique Canadian dataset linking data from the Hospital Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) from 2006 to 2007 with detailed individual-level socio-demographic data from the 2006 Canadian Census, we are able to examine the patterning of hospitalization in Canada in the early 2000s across a variety of socio-demographic variables. We examine the association of education and income, controlling for immigration status, rural residence, marital status and ethnicity, with hospitalization rates for both ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) and non-ambulatory care sensitive conditions (non-ACSCs) for children and youth, working-age adults, and older adults, in models stratified by sex.

Results

Age standardized hospitalization rates show that there is a clear socio-economic gradient in hospitalization in Canada in the 2000s. Education and income are independently, inversely associated with hospitalization for males and females across three broad age groups. These associations are stronger for ACSCs than non-ACSCs. The association of other socio-demographic variables, such as immigrant status, and rural residence is also stronger for hospitalization for ACSCs. The association of socio-economic status with hospitalization for ACSCs is strongest for working age women and men, and is somewhat attenuated for older adults.

Conclusions

Lower socio-economic status is associated with a higher likelihood of hospitalization for men and women in Canada across three broad age groups in the 2000s. These associations are stronger for ACSCs, suggesting that in addition to increased likelihood of disease, decreased access to preventative care may be driving up hospitalization rates for marginalized groups. We conclude with the recommendation that in order to track progress in reducing health inequities, health systems should either collect detailed individual-level socio-demographic data or link their administrative health data to existing demographic data sets.
Entwicklung und Validierung des Essener Tests zur Erfassung des standardorientierten bildungswissenschaftlichen Wissens (ESBW)
Authors: Müser Sinja , Fleischer Jens , Leutner Detlev
Published: November 2022

Zusammenfassung: Die Kompetenzziele im Lehramtsstudium sind für die einzelnen Professionswissensbereiche sowohl in universitätsspezifischen Dokumenten als auch in externen Standards ausdifferenziert. Gleichzeitig fehlen jedoch praxisnah einsetzbare Messinstrumente zur Überprüfung dieser Kompetenzziele. Dieser Beitrag stellt hierzu ein neu entwickeltes Testinstrument vor. Das Konzept des bildungswissenschaftlichen Wissens wird dabei im Sinne der KMK-Standards für die Lehrkräftebildung ( KMK, 2019 ) definiert. Diese Standards beschreiben Kompetenzen, über die Lehramtsstudierende und Lehrkräfte verfügen sollen, und umfassen die Bereiche Unterrichten, Erziehen, Beurteilen und Innovieren. In einer Pilotstudie weist das Messinstrument eine gute psychometrische Qualität auf, die belegt wird durch hinreichend hohe Reliabilität, gute Modellpassung sowie Validitätshinweise, die die intendierte Interpretation und Nutzung der Testergebnisse stützen.
The Arid Regolith of the Moon
Authors: Hodges R. R. , Farrell W. M.
Published: November 2022

In the original hypothesis of ice in lunar polar cold traps, it was presumed that meteoritic water acquired by the lunar surface would be concentrated in cold traps by exospheric lateral transport. That supposition is proven to be false by the absence of evidence of exospheric water in data obtained by the neutral mass spectrometer on the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft. The upper limit for exospheric water at the lunar surface, ∼3 molecules cm−3, is deficient by several orders of magnitude in accounting for transport of the present influx of meteoritic water to cold traps. The proffered process for removal of meteoritic water from the lunar regolith is solar wind sputter. This LADEE result does not rule out the possibly of past impulsive exospheric events like cometary impacts but does place a rigid constraint on the modern day water cycling.
Nonlinear Earthquake Response of Marine Sediments With Distributed Acoustic Sensing
Authors: Viens Loïc , Bonilla Luis Fabian , Spica Zack J. , Nishida Kiwamu , Yamada Tomoaki , Shinohara Masanao
Published: November 2022

Soft sediment layers can significantly amplify seismic waves from earthquakes. Large dynamic strains can trigger a nonlinear response of shallow soils with low strength, which is characterized by a shift of resonance frequencies, ground motion deamplification, and in some cases, soil liquefaction. We investigate the response of marine sediments during earthquake ground motions recorded along a fiber‐optic cable offshore the Tohoku region, Japan, with distributed acoustic sensing (DAS). We compute AutoCorrelation Functions (ACFs) of the ground motions from 105 earthquakes in different frequency bands. We detect time delays in the ACF waveforms that are converted to relative velocity changes (dv/v).dv/vdrops, which characterize soil nonlinearity, are observed during the strongest ground motions and exhibit a large variability along the cable. This study demonstrates that DAS can be used to infer the dynamic properties of the shallow Earth with an unprecedented spatial resolution.
Challenging Radiocarbon Chronostratigraphies in Central Arctic Ocean Sediment
Authors: Hillaire‐Marcel C. , de Vernal A. , Rong Y. , Roberge P. , Song T.
Published: November 2022

Based on the analysis of fish otolith assemblages from surface sediments of the Lomonosov Ridge (Arctic Ocean), we demonstrate that the very low Holocene sedimentation rates and winnowing of fine sediments result in the mixing of the whole Holocene populations at the sediment surface. Specimens from the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 or older could even be recovered in the surface due to a sedimentary hiatus at some locations in the central Arctic during the last glacial maximum. Two examples illustrate that 14C‐stratigraphies from planktic foraminifers in underlying cored sediments reflect the mixing between Holocene and MIS 3 or older populations, thus invalidating continuous age‐depth inferences based on 14C ages. Hence, much caution is required when attempting to set paleoceanographic reconstructions based on 14C chronologies in a low sediment accumulation rate environment such as the central Arctic Ocean. Already published paleoceanographic reconstructions from this area might thus require some revisions.
Simultaneous Cross‐Energy Ion Response and Wave Generation After the Impact of an Interplanetary Shock
Authors: Li Yu‐Xuan , Yue Chao , Ma Qianli , Liu Jianjun , Zong Qiu‐Gang , Zhou Xu‐Zhi , Hu Zejun , Li Li , Ren Jie , Wang Yong‐Fu , Liu Ying
Published: November 2022

Interplanetary (IP) shocks have substantial impact on particles and electromagnetic fields when arriving at the Earth's magnetosphere. In this study, we have examined the dynamics of cross‐energy ions and plasma waves observed by Van Allen Probe B near the equator at the noon sector inside the geosynchronous orbit after the impact of an IP shock on 27 February 2014. We found that the Ultra‐Low Frequency (ULF) and electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are induced, and the differential fluxes of protons of various energies have different responses after the IP shock arrival. The perpendicular flux increased dramatically for low‐energy ions (10–100 eV) due to the electric field drift and betatron acceleration. These adiabatic processes also accounted for the evident proton flux decrease at 30–80 keV energies and increase at energies higher than 100 keV, caused by the positive or negative gradient in phase space density before the IP shock arrival. The short‐lived ULF waves triggered by the IP shock also interacted with the ∼100 keV protons, resulting in the stripes in their pitch angle distribution. The anisotropic distribution of >50 keV protons excited EMIC waves after the shock arrival. This study provides a comprehensive picture of the IP shock effects on the ions of different energies and plasma waves inside the geosynchronous orbit, which shed new lights on the cross‐energy responses of ions and plasma waves in the inner magnetosphere to solar wind discontinuities.
Structural and Electronic Transitions in Liquid FeO Under High Pressure
Authors: Morard Guillaume , Antonangeli Daniele , Bouchet Johann , Rivoldini Attilio , Boccato Silvia , Miozzi Francesca , Boulard Eglantine , Bureau Hélène , Mezouar Mohamed , Prescher Clemens , Chariton Stella , Greenberg Eran
Published: November 2022

FeO represents an important end‐member for planetary interiors mineralogy. However, its properties in the liquid state under high pressure are poorly constrained. Here, in situ high‐pressure and high‐temperature X‐ray diffraction experiments, ab initio simulations, and thermodynamic calculations are combined to study the local structure and density evolution of liquid FeO under extreme conditions. Our results highlight a strong shortening of the Fe‐Fe distance, particularly pronounced between ambient pressure and ∼40 GPa, possibly related with the insulator to metal transition occurring in solid FeO over a similar pressure range. Liquid density is smoothly evolving between 60 and 150 GPa from values calculated for magnetic liquid to those calculated for non‐magnetic liquid, compatibly with a continuous spin crossover in liquid FeO. The present findings support the potential decorrelation between insulator/metal transition and the high‐spin to low‐spin continuous transition, and relate the changes in the microscopic structure with macroscopic properties, such as the closure of the Fe‐FeO miscibility gap. Finally, these results are used to construct a parameterized thermal equation of state for liquid FeO providing densities up to pressure and temperature conditions expected at the Earth's core‐mantle boundary.
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 31 (SCA31)
Authors: Ishikawa Kinya
Published: November 2022

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 31 (SCA31) is one of the most common forms of autosomal-dominant cerebellar ataxia in Japan. SCA31 has a strong founder effect, which is consistent with the fact that this disease is basically absent in other ethnicities. After searching the entire founder region of a 2-megabase (Mb), we finally identified a 2.5 to 3.8 kb-long complex penta-nucleotide repeat containing (TGGAA)n, (TAGAA)n, (TAAAA)n and (TAAAATAGAA)n as the only genetic change segregating SCA31 individuals from normal people. Furthermore, (TGGAA)n was isolated as the only repeat explaining the pathogenesis because other repeats were encountered in control Japanese. From the genomic point of view, the complex penta-nucleotide repeat lies in an intronic segment shared by two genes, BEAN1 (brain expressed, associated with Nedd4) and TK2 (thymidine kinase 2) transcribed in mutually opposite directions. While TK2 is ubiquitously expressed, BEAN1 is transcribed only in the brain. Thus, the complex repeat is bi-directionally transcribed exclusively in the brain, as two independent non-coding repeats. Furthermore, the complex repeat containing (UGGAA)n was found to form abnormal RNA structures, called RNA foci, in cerebellar Purkinje cell nuclei of SCA31 patients’ brains. Subsequent investigation by over-expressing (UGGAA)n in Drosophila revealed that the RNA containing (UGGAA)n exerts toxicity in a length- and expression level-dependent manner, whereas its toxicity could be dampened by (UGGAA)n-binding proteins, TDP-43, FUS and hnRNP A2/B1. It seems rational to formulate a treatment strategy through enhancing the role of RNA-binding proteins against (UGGAA)n-toxicity in SCA31.
An Fc variant with two mutations confers prolonged serum half-life and enhanced effector functions on IgG antibodies
Authors: Ko Sanghwan , Park Sora , Sohn Myung Ho , Jo Migyeong , Ko Byoung Joon , Na Jung-Hyun , Yoo Hojin , Jeong Ae Lee , Ha Kyungsoo , Woo Ju Rang , Lim Chungsu , Shin Jung Hyu , Lee Dohyun , Choi So-Young , Jung Sang Taek
Published: November 2022

The pH-selective interaction between the immunoglobulin G (IgG) fragment crystallizable region (Fc region) and the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is critical for prolonging the circulating half-lives of IgG molecules through intracellular trafficking and recycling. By using directed evolution, we successfully identified Fc mutations that improve the pH-dependent binding of human FcRn and prolong the serum persistence of a model IgG antibody and an Fc-fusion protein. Strikingly, trastuzumab-PFc29 and aflibercept-PFc29, a model therapeutic IgG antibody and an Fc-fusion protein, respectively, when combined with our engineered Fc (Q311R/M428L), both exhibited significantly higher serum half-lives in human FcRn transgenic mice than their counterparts with wild-type Fc. Moreover, in a cynomolgus monkey model, trastuzumab-PFc29 displayed a superior pharmacokinetic profile to that of both trastuzumab-YTE and trastuzumab-LS, which contain the well-validated serum half-life extension Fcs YTE (M252Y/S254T/T256E) and LS (M428L/N434S), respectively. Furthermore, the introduction of two identified mutations of PFc29 (Q311R/M428L) into the model antibodies enhanced both complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity activity, which are triggered by the association between IgG Fc and Fc binding ligands and are critical for clearing cancer cells. In addition, the effector functions could be turned off by combining the two mutations of PFc29 with effector function-silencing mutations, but the antibodies maintained their excellent pH-dependent human FcRn binding profile. We expect our Fc variants to be an excellent tool for enhancing the pharmacokinetic profiles and potencies of various therapeutic antibodies and Fc-fusion proteins.
Impact of host age on viral and bacterial communities in a waterbird population
Authors: Hill Sarah C , François Sarah , Thézé Julien , Smith Adrian L , Simmonds Peter , Perrins Christopher M , van der Hoek Lia , Pybus Oliver G
Published: November 2022

Wildlife harbour pathogens that can harm human or livestock health and are the source of most emerging infectious diseases. It is rarely considered how changes in wildlife population age-structures or how age-stratified behaviours might alter the level of pathogen detection within a species, or risk of spillover to other species. Micro-organisms that occur in healthy animals can be an important model for understanding and predicting the dynamics of pathogens of greater health concern, which are hard to study in wild populations due to their relative rarity. We therefore used a metagenomic approach to jointly characterise viral and prokaryotic carriage in faeces collected from a healthy wild bird population (Cygnus olor; mute swan) that has been subject to long-term study. Using 223 samples from known individuals allowed us to compare differences in prokaryotic and eukaryotic viral carriage between adults and juveniles at an unprecedented level of detail. We discovered and characterised 77 novel virus species, of which 21% belong putatively to bird-infecting families, and described the core prokaryotic microbiome of C. olor. Whilst no difference in microbiota diversity was observed between juveniles and adult individuals, 50% (4/8) of bird-infecting virus families (picornaviruses, astroviruses, adenoviruses and bornaviruses) and 3.4% (9/267) of prokaryotic families (including Helicobacteraceae, Spirochaetaceae and Flavobacteriaceae families) were differentially abundant and/or prevalent between juveniles and adults. This indicates that perturbations that affect population age-structures of wildlife could alter circulation dynamics and spillover risk of microbes, potentially including pathogens.
SOCS5 knockdown suppresses metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by ameliorating HIF-1α-dependent mitochondrial damage
Authors: Luo Dingan , Wang Youpeng , Zhang Mao , Li Haoran , Zhao Deze , Li Hui , Chen Xiaowu , Jin Cheng , Han Bing
Published: November 2022

The Pringle maneuver (PM) is widely used during hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection. However, it inevitably leads to ischemia and hypoxia, which promotes tumor metastasis. In this study, immunohistochemical staining of specimens from 130 HCC patients revealed that long-time PM significantly affected the prognosis of patients with high expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 5 (SOCS5), but did not affect the prognosis of patients with low expression of SOCS5. The TCGA database showed that patients with high expression of SOCS5 had higher hypoxia scores, and it was proved that SOCS5 could promote the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF-1α) protein by clinical tissue samples, cell experiments, lung metastases, and subcutaneous tumorigenesis experiments. Then, we used CoCl2 to construct a hypoxia model, and confirmed that SOCS5 knockdown resisted hypoxia-induced mitochondrial damage by inhibiting the expression of HIF-1α, thereby inhibiting the invasion and migration of HCC cells by immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, migration, invasion, and other experiments. We performed rescue experiments using LY294002 and rapamycin and confirmed that the knockdown of SOCS5-inhibited HCC cell invasion and migration by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling axis. More importantly, we obtained consistent conclusions from clinical, cellular, and animal studies that the hypoxia-induced invasion and migration ability of SOCS5-inhibited HCC were weaker than that of normal HCC. In conclusion, we identified a novel role for SOCS5 in regulating HIF-1α-dependent mitochondrial damage and metastasis through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. The development of a SOCS5-specific inhibitor, an indirect inhibitor of HIF-1α, might be effective at controlling PM-induced tumor micrometastases during HCC resection.
Gut microbiome dysbiosis in antibiotic-treated COVID-19 patients is associated with microbial translocation and bacteremia
Authors: Bernard-Raichon Lucie , Venzon Mericien , Klein Jon , Axelrad Jordan E. , Zhang Chenzhen , Sullivan Alexis P. , Hussey Grant A. , Casanovas-Massana Arnau , Noval Maria G. , Valero-Jimenez Ana M. , Gago Juan , Putzel Gregory , Pironti Alejandro , Wilder Evan ,   Yale IMPACT Research Team, Obaid Abeer , Lu-Culligan Alice , Nelson Allison , Brito Anderson , Nunez Angela , Martin Anjelica , Watkins Annie , Geng Bertie , Kalinich Chaney , Harden Christina , Todeasa Codruta , Jensen Cole , Kim Daniel , McDonald David , Shepard Denise , Courchaine Edward , White Elizabeth B. , Song Eric , Silva Erin , Kudo Eriko , DeIuliis Giuseppe , Rahming Harold , Park Hong-Jai , Matos Irene , Nouws Jessica , Valdez Jordan , Fauver Joseph , Lim Joseph , Rose Kadi-Ann , Anastasio Kelly , Brower Kristina , Glick Laura , Sharma Lokesh , Sewanan Lorenzo , Knaggs Lynda , Minasyan Maksym , Batsu Maria , Petrone Mary , Kuang Maxine , Nakahata Maura , Campbell Melissa , Linehan Melissa , Askenase Michael H. , Simonov Michael , Smolgovsky Mikhail , Sonnert Nicole , Naushad Nida , Vijayakumar Pavithra , Martinello Rick , Datta Rupak , Handoko Ryan , Bermejo Santos , Prophet Sarah , Bickerton Sean , Velazquez Sofia , Alpert Tara , Rice Tyler , Khoury-Hanold William , Peng Xiaohua , Yang Yexin , Cao Yiyun , Strong Yvette , Thorpe Lorna E. , Littman Dan R. , Dittmann Meike , Stapleford Kenneth A. , Shopsin Bo , Torres Victor J. , Ko Albert I. , Iwasaki Akiko , Cadwell Ken , Schluter Jonas
Published: November 2022

Although microbial populations in the gut microbiome are associated with COVID-19 severity, a causal impact on patient health has not been established. Here we provide evidence that gut microbiome dysbiosis is associated with translocation of bacteria into the blood during COVID-19, causing life-threatening secondary infections. We first demonstrate SARS-CoV-2 infection induces gut microbiome dysbiosis in mice, which correlated with alterations to Paneth cells and goblet cells, and markers of barrier permeability. Samples collected from 96 COVID-19 patients at two different clinical sites also revealed substantial gut microbiome dysbiosis, including blooms of opportunistic pathogenic bacterial genera known to include antimicrobial-resistant species. Analysis of blood culture results testing for secondary microbial bloodstream infections with paired microbiome data indicates that bacteria may translocate from the gut into the systemic circulation of COVID-19 patients. These results are consistent with a direct role for gut microbiome dysbiosis in enabling dangerous secondary infections during COVID-19.
Remote energy sources for mixing in the Indonesian Seas
Authors: Pang Chengyuan , Nikurashin Maxim , Pena-Molino Beatriz , Sloyan Bernadette M.
Published: November 2022

The role of the Indonesian Seas in climate is attributed to the intense mixing observed throughout the region. Mixing cools the surface temperature and hence modifies the atmospheric convection centered over the region. Mixing also controls the heat exchange between the Pacific and Indian Oceans by transforming water-mass properties while they transit through the region. Mixing in the Indonesian Seas has long been identified to be driven locally by tides. Here we show that the observed mixing can also be powered by the remotely generated planetary waves and eddies. We use a regional ocean model to show that the Indonesian Seas are a sink of the energy generated in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. We estimate that 1.7 GW of the remotely generated energy enters the region across all straits. The energy flux is surface intensified and characterized by a convergence, implying dissipation and mixing, within the straits and along topography. Locally, energy convergence associated with this process is comparable in magnitude to tidal energy dissipation, which dominates the deep ocean.
Unsupervised learning of aging principles from longitudinal data
Authors: Avchaciov Konstantin , Antoch Marina P. , Andrianova Ekaterina L. , Tarkhov Andrei E. , Menshikov Leonid I. , Burmistrova Olga , Gudkov Andrei V. , Fedichev Peter O.
Published: November 2022

Age is the leading risk factor for prevalent diseases and death. However, the relation between age-related physiological changes and lifespan is poorly understood. We combined analytical and machine learning tools to describe the aging process in large sets of longitudinal measurements. Assuming that aging results from a dynamic instability of the organism state, we designed a deep artificial neural network, including auto-encoder and auto-regression (AR) components. The AR model tied the dynamics of physiological state with the stochastic evolution of a single variable, the “dynamic frailty indicator” (dFI). In a subset of blood tests from the Mouse Phenome Database, dFI increased exponentially and predicted the remaining lifespan. The observation of the limiting dFI was consistent with the late-life mortality deceleration. dFI changed along with hallmarks of aging, including frailty index, molecular markers of inflammation, senescent cell accumulation, and responded to life-shortening (high-fat diet) and life-extending (rapamycin) treatments.
Small molecule-assisted assembly of multifunctional ceria nanozymes for synergistic treatment of atherosclerosis
Authors: Fu Xiaoxue , Yu Xiaojuan , Jiang Junhao , Yang Jiaxin , Chen Lu , Yang Zhangyou , Yu Chao
Published: November 2022

Considering that intravascular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation are two characteristic features of the atherosclerotic microenvironment, developing an appropriate strategy to treat atherosclerosis by synergistically regulating ROS and inflammation has attracted widespread attention. Herein, a special molecule, zoledronic acid, containing imidazole and bisphosphonate groups, was selected for the first time to assist the assembly of cerium ions and produce functionalized ceria-zoledronic acid nanocomposites (CZ NCs). It not only serves as a new carrier for different kinds of drugs (e.g. probucol, PB) but also exerts an efficient multienzyme activity to achieve collaborative therapy. More importantly, platelet membrane-coated biomimetic nanoplatform (PCZ@PB NCs) specifically accumulate at inflammatory atherosclerotic lesions, synergistically regulate ROS levels and inflammation, and efficiently inhibit foam cell formation. This novel assembly method can also be applied in the treatment of many other diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.
Janus regulation of ice growth by hyperbranched polyglycerols generating dynamic hydrogen bonding
Authors: Lee Sang Yup , Kim Minseong , Won Tae Kyung , Back Seung Hyuk , Hong Youngjoo , Kim Byeong-Su , Ahn Dong June
Published: November 2022

In this study, a new phenomenon describing the Janus effect on ice growth by hyperbranched polyglycerols, which can align the surrounding water molecules, has been identified. Even with an identical polyglycerol, we not only induced to inhibit ice growth and recrystallization, but also to promote the growth rate of ice that is more than twice that of pure water. By investigating the polymer architecture and population, we found that the stark difference in the generation of quasi-structured H2O molecules at the ice/water interface played a crucial role in the outcome of these opposite effects. Inhibition activity was induced when polymers at nearly fixed loci formed steady hydrogen bonding with the ice surface. However, the formation-and-dissociation dynamics of the interfacial hydrogen bonds, originating from and maintained by migrating polymers, resulted in an enhanced quasi-liquid layer that facilitated ice growth. Such ice growth activity is a unique property unseen in natural antifreeze proteins or their mimetic materials.
Use of a glycomics array to establish the anti-carbohydrate antibody repertoire in type 1 diabetes
Authors: Tran Paul M. H. , Dong Fran , Kim Eileen , Richardson Katherine P. , Tran Lynn K. H. , Waugh Kathleen , Hopkins Diane , Cummings Richard D. , Wang Peng George , Rewers Marian J. , She Jin-Xiong , Purohit Sharad
Published: November 2022

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by the presence of autoantibodies to protein and non-protein antigens. Here we report the identification of specific anti-carbohydrate antibodies (ACAs) that are associated with pathogenesis and progression to T1D. We compare circulatory levels of ACAs against 202 glycans in a cross-sectional cohort of T1D patients (n = 278) and healthy controls (n = 298), as well as in a longitudinal cohort (n = 112). We identify 11 clusters of ACAs associated with glycan function class. Clusters enriched for aminoglycosides, blood group A and B antigens, glycolipids, ganglio-series, and O-linked glycans are associated with progression to T1D. ACAs against gentamicin and its related structures, G418 and sisomicin, are also associated with islet autoimmunity. ACAs improve discrimination of T1D status of individuals over a model with only clinical variables and are potential biomarkers for T1D.
Biosorption removal of iron from water by Aspergillus niger
Authors: Zareh M. M. , El-Sayed Ashraf S. , El-Hady Dina M.
Published: November 2022

The expulsion of iron from water is an essential issue. Exceeding iron concentrations in water, it become more toxic and cause several troubles for human health and environment. The biosorption is the upcoming mechanism to treat the iron from wastewater. Microorganisms perform an important function in the bioremediation of wastewater. This study was conducted to investigate the removal of iron by dried biomass of Aspergillus niger (A.niger). The dried A. niger was tested as a sorbent for the removal of iron from wastewater. The effects of various experimental parameters as initial iron concentration, amount of biomass, contact time and the initial pH solution were examined and optimal experimental conditions were obtained. The obtained adsorption results were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin equations. The study showed that dried A. Niger biomass in high concentration 4 g/100 ml was found to be more effective in the removal of iron from water at pH 3 with contact time 60 min. the A. Niger successfully removed iron and has ability to be regenerated and reused in the removal process.
Non-fasting changes of Hs-CRP level in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease after a daily meal
Authors: Lin Qiu-Zhen , Zang Xue-Yan , Fu Yan , Wen Xingyu , Liu Qi-Ming , Liu Ling
Published: November 2022

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a key inflammatory factor in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. In Chinese patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), the changes in hs-CRP levels after a daily meal and the effect of statins on those were never explored. A total of 300 inpatients with CHD were included in this study. Hs-CRP levels were measured in the fasting and non-fasting states at 2 h and 4 h after a daily breakfast. All inpatients were divided into two groups according to fasting hs-CRP ≤ 3 mg/L or not. Group with fasting hs-CRP ≤ 3 mg/L had a significantly higher percentage of patients with statins using ≥ 1 month (m) before admission than that with fasting hs-CRP > 3 mg/L (51.4% vs. 23.9%, P < 0.05). Hs-CRP levels increased significantly in the non-fasting state in two groups (P < 0.05). About 32% of patients with non-fasting hs-CRP > 3 mg/L came from those with fasting hs-CRP ≤ 3 mg/L. In conclusion, hs-CRP levels increased significantly in CHD patients after a daily meal. It suggested that the non-fasting hs-CRP level could be a better parameter to evaluate the inflammation state of CHD patients rather than fasting hs-CRP level.
Comparative hydrodynamic characterisation of two hydroxylated polymers based on α-pinene- or oleic acid-derived monomers for potential use as archaeological consolidants
Authors: Cutajar Michelle , Machado Fabricio , Cuzzucoli Crucitti Valentina , Braovac Susan , Stockman Robert A. , Howdle Steven M. , Harding Stephen E.
Published: November 2022

The Oseberg Viking ship burial is one of the most extensive collections of Viking wooden artefacts ever excavated in Norway. In the early twentieth century, many of these artefacts were treated with alum in order to preserve them, inadvertently leading to their current degraded state. It is therefore crucial to develop new bioinspired polymers which could be used to conserve these artefacts and prevent further disintegration. Two hydroxylated polymers were synthesised (TPA6 and TPA7), using α-pinene- and oleic acid-derived monomers functionalised with an acrylate moiety. Characterisation using biomolecular hydrodynamics (analytical ultracentrifugation and high precision viscometry) has shown that these polymers have properties which would potentially make them good wood consolidants. Conformation analyses with the viscosity increment (ν) universal hydrodynamic parameter and ELLIPS1 software showed that both polymers had extended conformations, facilitating in situ networking when applied to wood. SEDFIT-MSTAR analyses of sedimentation equilibrium data indicates a weight average molar massMwof (3.9 ± 0.8) kDa and (4.2 ± 0.2) kDa for TPA6 and TPA7 respectively. Analyses with SEDFIT (sedimentation velocity) and MultiSig however revealed that TPA7 had a much greater homogeneity and a lower proportion of aggregation. These studies suggest that both these polymers—particularly TPA7—have characteristics suitable for wood consolidation, such as an optimal molar mass, conformation and a hydroxylated nature, making them interesting leads for further research.
Resting-state BOLD signal variability is associated with individual differences in metacontrol
Authors: Zhang Chenyan , Beste Christian , Prochazkova Luisa , Wang Kangcheng , Speer Sebastian P. H. , Smidts Ale , Boksem Maarten A. S. , Hommel Bernhard
Published: November 2022

Numerous studies demonstrate that moment-to-moment neural variability is behaviorally relevant and beneficial for tasks and behaviors requiring cognitive flexibility. However, it remains unclear whether the positive effect of neural variability also holds for cognitive persistence. Moreover, different brain variability measures have been used in previous studies, yet comparisons between them are lacking. In the current study, we examined the association between resting-state BOLD signal variability and two metacontrol policies (i.e., persistence vs. flexibility). Brain variability was estimated from resting-state fMRI (rsfMRI) data using two different approaches (i.e., Standard Deviation (SD), and Mean Square Successive Difference (MSSD)) and metacontrol biases were assessed by three metacontrol-sensitive tasks. Results showed that brain variability measured by SD and MSSD was highly positively related. Critically, higher variability measured by MSSD in the attention network, parietal and frontal network, frontal and ACC network, parietal and motor network, and higher variability measured by SD in the parietal and motor network, parietal and frontal network were associated with reduced persistence (or greater flexibility) of metacontrol (i.e., larger Stroop effect or worse RAT performance). These results show that the beneficial effect of brain signal variability on cognitive control depends on the metacontrol states involved. Our study highlights the importance of temporal variability of rsfMRI activity in understanding the neural underpinnings of cognitive control.
Angle-dependent broadband asymmetric acoustic transmission in a planar device
Authors: Qian Yuhang , Yang Jing , Hu Jie
Published: November 2022

Asymmetric manipulation of acoustic transmission is of fundamental interest for wave physics, and has attracted rapidly-growing attentions owing to the potential applications in diverse scenarios. Here we propose to realize angle-dependent asymmetric acoustic transmission by designing a planar structure comprising a gradient-index layer and a layer of homogeneous medium with relatively-lower index. We analytically derive the working frequency and angle range of the device with unidirectional mechanism. And the simulated results show that the proposed device gives rise to high-efficiency broadband asymmetric transmission by allowing acoustic waves normally incident on one side to pass, while behaving as an acoustic barrier blocking waves obliquely incoming from both directions as angle of incidence exceeds a critical angle. Bearing the advantages of simple design, broad bandwidth and switchable functionality, our scheme opens a route to the design of novel acoustic devices capable of adapting various circumstances, and may find applications in noise control, medical detection, etc.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of dengue prevention between dengue sustained hotspots and non-sustained hotspots in Singapore: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chng Jeth WeiQuan , Parvathi Tamilsalvan , Pang Junxiong
Published: November 2022

Dengue sustained hotspots (SHS) have resulted in a significant public health burden. In our study, we aimed to (1) compare knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) scores between SHS and non-sustained hotspots (NSHS); and (2) identify and describe gaps and factors associated with KAP of dengue prevention among SHS residents residing in Singapore. A cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was conducted using digital survey in randomly selected SHS and NSHS residential areas, consisting of residents aged 21 or older and who had been residing in their existing housing unit in 2019 and 2020. Chi-square test and T-test were used for comparison analysis of categorical and continuous variables, respectively. A total of 466 respondents completed the self-administered, anonymous survey. There were no significant difference in mean scores for Knowledge [SHS(24.66) vs. NSHS(24.37); P: 0.18], Attitudes [SHS(10.38) vs NSHS(10.16); P: 0.08] and Practices [SHS(9.27) vs NSHS(8.80); P: 0.16] sections. Significant SHS-associated factors identified were age group 41–50 years old [95%CI: 1.25–5.03], Malay (95%CI: 0.17–0.98), up to secondary school education (95%CI: 0.07–0.65), private condominium (95%CI: 1.17–3.39), residing in same household unit for 2–5 years (95%CI: 2.44–6.88), respondents who know that mosquito can breed in open container with stagnant water (95%CI: 0.06–0.98), disagree that reducingAedesmosquitoes is the only way to prevent dengue: (95%CI: 1.19–3.00) and go to clinic/hospital even without severe symptoms: (95%CI: 0.39–0.95). These independent factors associated with dengue sustained hotspots may influence the risk of dengue transmission in residential areas.