bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elongated Magma Plumbing System Beneath the Coso Volcanic Field, California, Constrained by Seismic Reflection Tomography
Authors: Wang Dongdong , Wu Shucheng , Li Tianjue , Tong Ping , Gao Yongxin
Published: May 2022

The magma plumbing in the lower crust beneath the Coso volcanic field (CVF) remains controversial, largely because of the absence of high‐resolution lower crustal velocity models. For the first time, we develop a high‐resolution crustal P‐wave velocity model for the Coso‐Ridgecrest region by jointly inverting 137,992 first P and 8,636 PmP travel‐time data using an eikonal equation‐based seismic reflection tomography method. More than half of the PmP travel times are picked from earthquakes after the 2019 Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake. Such abundant PmP travel times significantly improve the resolution of the lower crust. Our final velocity model reveals a prominent low‐velocity body sitting right beneath the CVF at 5–20 km depths, which we interpret as a rhyolite magma reservoir that supplies heat flux to the hot springs and also feeds the volcanic activities at Coso. We find that the upper‐middle crustal low‐velocity body dips southwards into the lower crust, extending to regions beneath the Indian Wells Valley and the Garlock Fault at depth greater than 20 km. We ascribe the lower crustal low‐velocity body (more than 4% Vp reduction) to a basaltic magma reservoir that connects the melts in the uppermost mantle with the eruptible rhyolitic reservoir at shallower depths. The basaltic magma reservoir constitutes an important part of a continuous N‐S elongated crustal magma plumbing system beneath the CVF, formed as a combined result of local extension, faulting, and stress distribution.
Early History of Space Science Department at Rice University—An Autobiographical Account
Authors: Dessler Alexander J.
Published: May 2022

Why a Space Science Department at Rice? A one sentence answer: Because President Kennedy came to Rice University to give a speech about the US going to the Moon, and Rice's President decided that Rice should show a response.
Dissolved and Particulate Barium Distributions Along the US GEOTRACES North Atlantic and East Pacific Zonal Transects (GA03 and GP16): Global Implications for the Marine Barium Cycle
Authors: Rahman Shaily , Shiller Alan M. , Anderson Robert F. , Charette Matthew A. , Hayes Christopher T. , Gilbert Melissa , Grissom Karen R. , Lam Phoebe J. , Ohnemus Daniel C. , Pavia Frank J. , Twining Benjamin S. , Vivancos Sebastian M.
Published: May 2022

Processes controlling dissolved barium (dBa) were investigated along the GEOTRACES GA03 North Atlantic and GP16 Eastern Tropical Pacific transects, which traversed similar physical and biogeochemical provinces. Dissolved Ba concentrations are lowest in surface waters (∼35–50 nmol kg−1) and increase to 70–80 and 140–150 nmol kg−1 in deep waters of the Atlantic and Pacific transects, respectively. Using water mass mixing models, we estimate conservative mixing that accounts for most of dBa variability in both transects. To examine nonconservative processes, particulate excess Ba (pBaxs) formation and dissolution rates were tracked by normalizing particulate excess 230Th activities. Th‐normalized pBaxs fluxes, with barite as the likely phase, have subsurface maxima in the top 1,000 m (∼100–200 μmol m−2 year−1 average) in both basins. Barite precipitation depletes dBa within oxygen minimum zones from concentrations predicted by water mass mixing, whereas inputs from continental margins, particle dissolution in the water column, and benthic diffusive flux raise dBa above predications. Average pBaxs burial efficiencies along GA03 and GP16 are ∼37% and 17%–100%, respectively, and do not seem to be predicated on barite saturation indices in the overlying water column. Using published values, we reevaluate the global freshwater dBa river input as 6.6 ± 3.9 Gmol year−1. Estuarine mixing processes may add another 3–13 Gmol year−1. Dissolved Ba inputs from broad shallow continental margins, previously unaccounted for in global marine summaries, are substantial (∼17 Gmol year−1), exceeding terrestrial freshwater inputs. Revising river and shelf dBa inputs may help bring the marine Ba isotope budget more into balance.
Spatio‐Temporal Complexity of Aftershocks in the Apennines Controlled by Permeability Dynamics and Decarbonization
Authors: Gunatilake Thanushika , Miller Stephen A.
Published: May 2022

In 2016, a series of large normal faulting earthquakes in the Apennines filled the seismic gap between the 1997 Colfiorito and 2009 L’Aquila earthquakes. These earthquakes, known as the Amatrice‐Visso‐Norcia (AVN) sequence, spawned hundreds of thousand of aftershocks in the first year, extending about 60 km along strike. The Colfiorito and L’Aquila aftershocks showed a significant high fluid‐pressure component in their aftershock genesis, and here we show evidence that the AVN aftershocks also include a significant high pressure CO2 component. This CO2 is both deeply‐derived, and internally generated by thermal decomposition. Using a simple model of non‐linear diffusion with a source term, we compare model results with the observed cumulative number of aftershocks, and also spatial comparisons between the calculated fluid pressure and the hypocenters of about 35,000 well‐located events. The good comparisons between model and observations provide evidence that the AVN sequence includes a contribution (additional fluid source) from co‐seismic decarbonization. Our results suggest that internal fluid generation through devolitization or decarbonization is responsible for non‐Omori type aftershock behavior such as observed for the AVN sequence and for the 2011 Mw 9.1 Tohoku (Japan) and the 2014 Iquique (Chile) Mw 8.2 megathrust subduction zone earthquakes.
Systematic characterization of cleanroom-free fabricated macrovalves, demonstrating pumps and mixers for automated fluid handling tuned for organ-on-chip applications
Authors: Bossink Elsbeth G. B. M. , Vollertsen Anke R. , Loessberg-Zahl Joshua T. , van der Meer Andries D. , Segerink Loes I. , Odijk Mathieu
Published: May 2022

Integrated valves enable automated control in microfluidic systems, as they can be applied for mixing, pumping and compartmentalization purposes. Such automation would be highly valuable for applications in organ-on-chip (OoC) systems. However, OoC systems typically have channel dimensions in the range of hundreds of micrometers, which is an order of magnitude larger than those of typical microfluidic valves. The most-used fabrication process for integrated, normally open polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) valves requires a reflow photoresist that limits the achievable channel height. In addition, the low stroke volumes of these valves make it challenging to achieve flow rates of microliters per minute, which are typically required in OoC systems. Herein, we present a mechanical ‘macrovalve’ fabricated by multilayer soft lithography using micromilled direct molds. We demonstrate that these valves can close off rounded channels of up to 700 µm high and 1000 µm wide. Furthermore, we used these macrovalves to create a peristaltic pump with a pumping rate of up to 48 µL/min and a mixing and metering device that can achieve the complete mixing of a volume of 6.4 µL within only 17 s. An initial cell culture experiment demonstrated that a device with integrated macrovalves is biocompatible and allows the cell culture of endothelial cells over multiple days under continuous perfusion and automated medium refreshment.
Transfer of microRNA-22-3p by M2 macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles facilitates the development of ankylosing spondylitis through the PER2-mediated Wnt/β-catenin axis
Authors: Liu Chong , Liang Tuo , Zhang Zide , Chen Jiarui , Xue Jang , Zhan Xinli , Ren Liang
Published: May 2022

Pathological osteogenesis and inflammation possess critical significance in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The current study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms regarding extracellular vesicle (EV)-packaged microRNA-22-3p (miR-22-3p) from M2 macrophages in the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in AS. EVs were initially isolated from M2 macrophages, which had been treated with either restored or depleted miR-22-3p. AS-BMSCs were subsequently treated with M2 macrophage-derived EVs to detect osteogenic differentiation in BMSCs using gain- or loss-of-function experiments. The binding affinity among miR-22-3p, period circadian protein 2 (PER2), and Wnt7b was identified. Finally, AS mouse models were established for testing the effects of M2-EV-miR-22-3p on the bone metastatic microenvironment in vivo. miR-22-3p from M2 macrophages could be transferred into BMSCs via EVs, which promoted the osteogenic differentiation of AS-BMSCs. miR-22-3p inhibited PER2, while PER2 blocked the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via Wnt7b inhibition. M2-EV-shuttled miR-22-3p facilitated alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular matrix mineralization via PER2-regulated Wnt/β-catenin axis, stimulating the BMSC osteogenic differentiation. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that miR-22-3p in M2 macrophage-released EVs downregulates PER2 to facilitate the osteogenesis of MSCs via Wnt/β-catenin axis.
Signal requirement for cortical potential of transplantable human neuroepithelial stem cells
Authors: Varga Balazs V. , Faiz Maryam , Pivonkova Helena , Khelifi Gabriel , Yang Huijuan , Gao Shangbang , Linderoth Emma , Zhen Mei , Karadottir Ragnhildur Thora , Hussein Samer M. , Nagy Andras
Published: May 2022

The cerebral cortex develops from dorsal forebrain neuroepithelial progenitor cells. Following the initial expansion of the progenitor cell pool, these cells generate neurons of all the cortical layers and then astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Yet, the regulatory pathways that control the expansion and maintenance of the progenitor cell pool are currently unknown. Here we define six basic pathway components that regulate proliferation of cortically specified human neuroepithelial stem cells (cNESCs) in vitro without the loss of cerebral cortex developmental potential. We show that activation of FGF and inhibition of BMP and ACTIVIN A signalling are required for long-term cNESC proliferation. We also demonstrate that cNESCs preserve dorsal telencephalon-specific potential when GSK3, AKT and nuclear CATENIN-β1 activity are low. Remarkably, regulation of these six pathway components supports the clonal expansion of cNESCs. Moreover, cNESCs differentiate into lower- and upper-layer cortical neurons in vitro and in vivo. The identification of mechanisms that drive the neuroepithelial stem cell self-renewal and differentiation and preserve this potential in vitro is key to developing regenerative and cell-based therapeutic approaches to treat neurological conditions.
Structural insights into the mechanism of archaellar rotational switching
Authors: Altegoer Florian , Quax Tessa E. F. , Weiland Paul , Nußbaum Phillip , Giammarinaro Pietro I. , Patro Megha , Li Zhengqun , Oesterhelt Dieter , Grininger Martin , Albers Sonja-Verena , Bange Gert
Published: May 2022

Signal transduction via phosphorylated CheY towards the flagellum and the archaellum involves a conserved mechanism of CheY phosphorylation and subsequent conformational changes within CheY. This mechanism is conserved among bacteria and archaea, despite substantial differences in the composition and architecture of archaellum and flagellum, respectively. Phosphorylated CheY has higher affinity towards the bacterial C-ring and its binding leads to conformational changes in the flagellar motor and subsequent rotational switching of the flagellum. In archaea, the adaptor protein CheF resides at the cytoplasmic face of the archaeal C-ring formed by the proteins ArlCDE and interacts with phosphorylated CheY. While the mechanism of CheY binding to the C-ring is well-studied in bacteria, the role of CheF in archaea remains enigmatic and mechanistic insights are absent. Here, we have determined the atomic structures of CheF alone and in complex with activated CheY by X-ray crystallography. CheF forms an elongated dimer with a twisted architecture. We show that CheY binds to the C-terminal tail domain of CheF leading to slight conformational changes within CheF. Our structural, biochemical and genetic analyses reveal the mechanistic basis for CheY binding to CheF and allow us to propose a model for rotational switching of the archaellum.
Origins of direction selectivity in the primate retina
Authors: Kim Yeon Jin , Peterson Beth B. , Crook Joanna D. , Joo Hannah R. , Wu Jiajia , Puller Christian , Robinson Farrel R. , Gamlin Paul D. , Yau King-Wai , Viana Felix , Troy John B. , Smith Robert G. , Packer Orin S. , Detwiler Peter B. , Dacey Dennis M.
Published: May 2022

From mouse to primate, there is a striking discontinuity in our current understanding of the neural coding of motion direction. In non-primate mammals, directionally selective cell types and circuits are a signature feature of the retina, situated at the earliest stage of the visual process. In primates, by contrast, direction selectivity is a hallmark of motion processing areas in visual cortex, but has not been found in the retina, despite significant effort. Here we combined functional recordings of light-evoked responses and connectomic reconstruction to identify diverse direction-selective cell types in the macaque monkey retina with distinctive physiological properties and synaptic motifs. This circuitry includes an ON-OFF ganglion cell type, a spiking, ON-OFF polyaxonal amacrine cell and the starburst amacrine cell, all of which show direction selectivity. Moreover, we discovered that macaque starburst cells possess a strong, non-GABAergic, antagonistic surround mediated by input from excitatory bipolar cells that is critical for the generation of radial motion sensitivity in these cells. Our findings open a door to investigation of a precortical circuitry that computes motion direction in the primate visual system.
Complex dynamics in a synchronized cell-free genetic clock
Authors: Aufinger Lukas , Brenner Johann , Simmel Friedrich C.
Published: May 2022

Complex dynamics such as period doubling and chaos occur in a wide variety of non-linear dynamical systems. In the context of biological circadian clocks, such phenomena have been previously found in computational models, but their experimental study in biological systems has been challenging. Here, we present experimental evidence of period doubling in a forced cell-free genetic oscillator operated in a microfluidic reactor, where the system is periodically perturbed by modulating the concentration of one of the oscillator components. When the external driving matches the intrinsic period, we experimentally find period doubling and quadrupling in the oscillator dynamics. Our results closely match the predictions of a theoretical model, which also suggests conditions under which our system would display chaotic dynamics. We show that detuning of the external and intrinsic period leads to more stable entrainment, suggesting a simple design principle for synchronized synthetic and natural genetic clocks.
Prediction of protein–ligand binding affinity from sequencing data with interpretable machine learning
Authors: Rube H. Tomas , Rastogi Chaitanya , Feng Siqian , Kribelbauer Judith F. , Li Allyson , Becerra Basheer , Melo Lucas A. N. , Do Bach Viet , Li Xiaoting , Adam Hammaad H. , Shah Neel H. , Mann Richard S. , Bussemaker Harmen J.
Published: May 2022

Protein–ligand interactions are increasingly profiled at high throughput using affinity selection and massively parallel sequencing. However, these assays do not provide the biophysical parameters that most rigorously quantify molecular interactions. Here we describe a flexible machine learning method, called ProBound, that accurately defines sequence recognition in terms of equilibrium binding constants or kinetic rates. This is achieved using a multi-layered maximum-likelihood framework that models both the molecular interactions and the data generation process. We show that ProBound quantifies transcription factor (TF) behavior with models that predict binding affinity over a range exceeding that of previous resources; captures the impact of DNA modifications and conformational flexibility of multi-TF complexes; and infers specificity directly from in vivo data such as ChIP-seq without peak calling. When coupled with an assay called KD-seq, it determines the absolute affinity of protein–ligand interactions. We also apply ProBound to profile the kinetics of kinase–substrate interactions. ProBound opens new avenues for decoding biological networks and rationally engineering protein–ligand interactions.
Characterizing storm-induced coastal change hazards along the United States West Coast
Authors: Shope James B. , Erikson Li H. , Barnard Patrick L. , Storlazzi Curt D. , Serafin Katherine , Doran Kara , Stockdon Hilary , Reguero Borja , Mendez Fernando , Castanedo Sonia , Cid Alba , Cagigal Laura , Ruggiero Peter
Published: May 2022

Traditional methods to assess the probability of storm-induced erosion and flooding from extreme water levels have limited use along the U.S. West Coast where swell dominates erosion and storm surge is limited. This effort presents methodology to assess the probability of erosion and flooding for the U.S. West Coast from extreme total water levels (TWLs), but the approach is applicable to coastal settings worldwide. TWLs were derived from 61 years of wave and water level data at shore-perpendicular transects every 100-m along open coast shorelines. At each location, wave data from the Global Ocean Waves model were downscaled to the nearshore and used to empirically calculate wave run-up. Tides were simulated using the Oregon State University’s tidal data inversion model and non-tidal residuals were calculated from sea-surface temperature and pressure anomalies. Wave run-up was combined with still water levels to generate hourly TWL estimates and extreme TWLs for multiple return periods. Extremes were compared to onshore morphology to determine erosion hazards and define the probability of collision, overwash, and inundation.
Chitosan-EDTA-Cellulose network as a green, recyclable and multifunctional biopolymeric organocatalyst for the one-pot synthesis of 2-amino-4H-pyran derivatives
Authors: Rostami Negin , Dekamin Mohammad G. , Valiey Ehsan , Fanimoghadam Hamidreza
Published: May 2022

In this research, cellulose grafted to chitosan by EDTA (Cs-EDTA-Cell) bio-based material is reported and characterized by a series of various methods and techniques such as FTIR, DRS-UV–Vis, TGA, FESEM, XRD and EDX analysis. In fact, the Cs-EDTA-Cell network is more thermally stable than pristine cellulose or chitosan. There is a plenty of both acidic and basic sites on the surface of this bio-based and biodegradable network, as a multifunctional organocatalyst, to proceed three-component synthesis of 2-amino-4H-pyran derivatives at room temperature in EtOH. The Cs-EDTA-Cell nanocatalyst can be easily recovered from the reaction mixture by using filtration and reused for at least five times without significant decrease in its catalytic activity. In general, the Cs-EDTA-Cell network, as a heterogeneous catalyst, demonstrated excellent catalytic activity in an environmentally-benign solvent to afford desired products in short reaction times and required simple experimental and work-up procedure compared to many protocols using similar catalytic systems.
The suppression of spontaneous face touch and resulting consequences on memory performance of high and low self-touching individuals
Authors: Spille Jente L. , Grunwald Martin , Martin Sven , Mueller Stephanie M.
Published: May 2022

Spontaneous touching of one's own face (sFST) is an everyday behavior that occurs primarily in cognitively and emotionally demanding situations, regardless of a persons’ age or gender. Recently, sFST have sparked scientific interest since they are associated with self-inoculation and transmission of respiratory diseases. Several studies addressed the need to reduce sFST behaviors without discussing the underlying functions of this spontaneous behavior. In addition, the question of why this behavior occurs very frequently in some individuals (high self-touching individuals, HT) but less frequently in others (low self-touching individuals, LT) has not yet been addressed. For the first time, we distinguished between HT and LT and investigated the behavioral consequences of sFST suppression in these two groups. For this purpose, we examined performance outcomes of 49 participants depending on sFST behaviors during a haptic working memory task. In addition, we assessed personality traits of HT and LT using the Freiburg Personality Inventory (FPI-R). The results of our study reveal that suppressing sFST in HT is negatively related to memory performance outcomes. Moreover, HT show tendencies to differ from LT in certain personality traits. Our results highlight the relevance of distinguishing between HT and LT in future studies of sFST.
Development and validation of an RNA-seq-based transcriptomic risk score for asthma
Authors: Cao Xuan , Ding Lili , Mersha Tesfaye B.
Published: May 2022

Recent progress in RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) allows us to explore whole-genome gene expression profiles and to develop predictive model for disease risk. The objective of this study was to develop and validate an RNA-seq-based transcriptomic risk score (RSRS) for disease risk prediction that can simultaneously accommodate demographic information. We analyzed RNA-seq gene expression data from 441 asthmatic and 254 non-asthmatic samples. Logistic least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression analysis in the training set identified 73 differentially expressed genes (DEG) to form a weighted RSRS that discriminated asthmatics from healthy subjects with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 in the testing set after adjustment for age and gender. The 73-gene RSRS was validated in three independent RNA-seq datasets and achieved AUCs of 0.70, 0.77 and 0.60, respectively. To explore their biological and molecular functions in asthma phenotype, we examined the 73 genes by enrichment pathway analysis and found that these genes were significantly (p < 0.0001) enriched for DNA replication, recombination, and repair, cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, and eumelanin biosynthesis and developmental disorder. Further in-silico analyses of the 73 genes using Connectivity map shows that drugs (mepacrine, dactolisib) and genetic perturbagens (PAK1, GSR, RBM15 and TNFRSF12A) were identified and could potentially be repurposed for treating asthma. These findings show the promise for RNA-seq risk scores to stratify and predict disease risk.
Effects of physical parameters on fish migration between a reservoir and its tributaries
Authors: Pfauserová Nikola , Brabec Marek , Slavík Ondřej , Horký Pavel , Žlábek Vladimír , Hladík Milan
Published: May 2022

Reservoirs interrupt natural riverine continuity, reduce the overall diversity of the environment, and enhance the spread of non-native fish species through suitable environments. Under favourable conditions, invasive species migrate to tributaries to benefit from local resource supplies. However, the changes in physical conditions in reservoirs that motivate fish species to migrate remain poorly understood. We analysed migration between a reservoir and its tributary in three non-native (asp Leuciscus aspius, ide Leuciscus idus, and bream Abramis brama) and two native (chub Squalius cephalus and pike Esox lucius) species equipped with radio tags. This 5-year study revealed that an increasing day length was the most general predictor of migration into the tributary in all observed species except E. lucius. Only L. aspius responded to the substantially increasing water level in the reservoir, while the migration of L. idus and S. cephalus was attenuated. Abramis brama and S. cephalus occurred more frequently in tributaries with an increase in temperature in the reservoir and vice versa, but if the difference in temperature between the reservoir and its tributary was small, then A. brama did not migrate. Our results showed that migration from the reservoir mainly followed the alterations of daylight, while responses to other parameters were species specific. The interindividual heterogeneity within the species was significant and was not caused by differences in length or sex. Our results contribute to the knowledge of how reservoirs can affect the spread of non-native species that adapt to rapid human-induced environmental changes.
Kinetic and thermodynamic study on the esterification of oleic acid over SO3H-functionalized eucalyptus tree bark biochar catalyst
Authors: Yusuff Adeyinka Sikiru
Published: May 2022

Herein, esterification of oleic acid (OA) over tosylic acid functionalized eucalyptus bark biochar (TsOH-MBC) to synthesize fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) was investigated. The TsOH-MBC catalyst was prepared via pyrolysis-activation-sulfonation process at various impregnation ratios and was characterized by SEM, FTIR, EDX, XRD, BET, TGA and acid site density techniques. The catalytic performance of the sulfonated biochar catalyst was described in terms of acidity and FAME yield. 6 g of sulfonic acid loaded on 10 g of MBC (6TsOH-MBC) appeared to be most appropriate combination to achieve a highly active catalyst for the esterification of OA with 96.28% conversion to FAME at 80 °C for 5 h with catalyst loading of 4.0 wt% and 8:1 methanol/OA molar ratio. The catalytic reaction kinetic data were very well described by the second-order model, with a rate coefficient of 0.223 mL mol−1 h−1at 80 °C and activation energy of 81.77 kJ mol−1. The thermodynamic parameters such as$$\Delta H$$ΔH,$$\Delta S$$ΔSand$$\Delta G$$ΔGwere determined to be 78.94 kJ mol−1, 135.3 J mol−1 K−1and 33.03 kJ mol−1, respectively. This research provided an environmentally friendly procedure for FAME production that could be replicated on a commercial scale.
Design and manufacture of a scaled railway track with mechanically variable geometry
Authors: Chamorro Rosario , Aceituno Javier F. , Urda Pedro , del Pozo Enrique , Escalona José L.
Published: May 2022

The objective of this article is to present the design and manufacture of a scaled railroad track to be used as a laboratory track for the study of different railway applications. It could be a guideline for future laboratory railroad tracks. The ideal concept was based on possible future studies and, according to them, design requirements have been specified. The main characteristic of the track is that its geometry can be mechanically modified and irregularities can be introduced under controlled conditions in any kind of track sections: straight, curved and transition ones. Finally, the current installed track is shown and the performed quality controls are described.
Gauss curvature-based unique signatures of individual large earthquakes and its implications for customized data-driven prediction
Authors: Cho In Ho
Published: May 2022

Statistical descriptions of earthquakes offer important probabilistic information, and newly emerging technologies of high-precision observations and machine learning collectively advance our knowledge regarding complex earthquake behaviors. Still, there remains a formidable knowledge gap for predicting individual large earthquakes’ locations and magnitudes. Here, this study shows that the individual large earthquakes may have unique signatures that can be represented by new high-dimensional features—Gauss curvature-based coordinates. Particularly, the observed earthquake catalog data are transformed into a number of pseudo physics quantities (i.e., energy, power, vorticity, and Laplacian) which turn into smooth surface-like information via spatio-temporal convolution, giving rise to the new high-dimensional coordinates. Validations with 40-year earthquakes in the West U.S. region show that the new coordinates appear to hold uniqueness for individual large earthquakes ($$M_w \ge 7.0$$

M
w

≥
7.0

), and the pseudo physics quantities help identify a customized data-driven prediction model. A Bayesian evolutionary algorithm in conjunction with flexible bases can identify a data-driven model, demonstrating its promising reproduction of individual large earthquake’s location and magnitude. Results imply that an individual large earthquake can be distinguished and remembered while its best-so-far model can be customized by machine learning. This study paves a new way to data-driven automated evolution of individual earthquake prediction.
Effects of inhalable gene transfection as a novel gene therapy for non-small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Ichikawa Misa , Muramatsu Naomi , Matsunaga Wataru , Ishikawa Takahiro , Okuda Tomoyuki , Okamoto Hirokazu , Gotoh Akinobu
Published: May 2022

Gene therapy using vectors has attracted attention in recent years for the treatment of cancers caused by gene mutations. Besides, new treatments are imperative for lung cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), due to its high mortality. We developed a minimally invasive and orally inhalable tumor suppressor gene drug (SFD-p16 and SFD-p53) with non-viral vectors for lung cancer treatment by combining tumor suppressor genes with an inhalant powder that can deliver active ingredients directly to the lung. We used NSCLC (A549 and H1299) and MPM (H2052) cell lines in an air–liquid interface culture. Transfection of A549 and H2052 cells with SFD-p16 significantly increased p16 mRNA expression levels and decreased cell proliferation in both cell lines. Similar results were obtained with transfection of H1299 with the inhalable gene drug SFD-p53. In an in vivo experiment, a mouse model of lung cancer with orthotopically transplanted luciferase-expressing A549 cells was subjected to intratracheal insufflation of SFD-p16. Consequently, SFD-p16 effectively and directly affected lung cancer. This study suggests that inhalable gene drugs are effective treatments for NSCLC and MPM. We expect inhalable gene drugs to present a novel gene therapy agent for lung cancer that patients can self-administer.
Response of drought index to land use types in the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi, China
Authors: Wang Weixuan , Cui Chenfeng , Yu Weihua , Lu Liang
Published: May 2022

Drought is influenced by numerous factors, and traditional studies have only considered meteorological factors, but human activities are also an important influencing factor. From 1980 to 2010, the reform and opening up and the project of returning farmland to forest have largely changed the land use type of Loess Plateau in Shaanxi. In order to study the influence of land use types on drought in the study area, 8 stations with different land use types were selected based on remote sensing data and meteorological data. Based on univariate linear regression, the response of the drought index SPI to land use types was analyzed sequentially in each of the five time stages. The results showed that from 1980 to 2000, forest had the greatest drought intensity, followed by arable land and town and country. However, the response of arable land to the drought index was the greatest, followed by town and country. Forest had the weakest response to the drought index. From 2000 to 2010, the greatest degree of drought was observed in forest, followed by town and country and arable land. And forest has the strongest response to the drought index, followed by town and country, and finally, arable land. The area of forest, grass and town and country keeps increasing. The area of arable land is decreasing year by year. Land use types are constantly undergoing complex transformations. The drought index responds strongly to the change of both arable land to grass and arable land to town and country, while it responds weakly to the mutual transformation of both grass and town and country. In the areas where meteorological conditions are difficult to change, the local drought is considered to be improved by changing the substrate type.
Combination of fecal calprotectin and initial coronary dimensions to predict coronary artery lesions persistence in Kawasaki disease
Authors: Fabi Marianna , Filice Emanuele , Andreozzi Laura , Mattesini Bianca Elisa , Rizzello Alessia , Palleri Daniela , Dajti Elton , Zagari Rocco Maurizio , Lanari Marcello
Published: May 2022

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is systemic vasculitis involving medium-sized vessels in children. The aim of our study is to determine if fecal calprotectin (FC) could be useful in predicting the development or persistence of coronary artery lesions (CALs) in KD. We conducted a prospective monocentric study including all consecutive diagnoses of. Clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic data were recorded during the acute and subacute phase, including FC. Correlations among laboratory values, FC, clinical manifestations, IVIG-responsiveness and CALs development were investigated. We enrolled 26 children (76.9% boys; median age 34.5 months). The combination of FC > 250 microg/g and z-score > 2 during the acute phase was associated with the persistence of CALs (p = 0.022). A z-score > 2 alone during the acute phase was not related to CALs during the subacute stage (p > 0.05). A neutrophil percentage > 70% and WBC > 15,000/mmc during the acute phase significantly correlated with the presence of CALs during the subacute phase (p = 0.008). C-reactive protein (CRP) > 13 mg/dL at KD onset was significantly associated with the presence of CALs during the acute (p = 0.017) and subacute phase (p = 0.001). The combination of FC > 250 microg/g and a z-score > 2 during the acute phase of KD may be used as a predictor of CALs persistence. It can be useful especially in children with an initial CRP < 13 mg/dl.
Yeast-based directed-evolution for high-throughput structural stabilization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)
Authors: Meltzer M. , Zvagelsky T. , Hadad U. , Papo Niv , Engel Stanislav
Published: May 2022

The immense potential of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as targets for drug discovery is not fully realized due to the enormous difficulties associated with structure elucidation of these profoundly unstable membrane proteins. The existing methods of GPCR stability-engineering are cumbersome and low-throughput; in addition, the scope of GPCRs that could benefit from these techniques is limited. Here, we present a yeast-based screening platform for a single-step isolation of GRCR variants stable in the presence of short-chain detergents, a feature essential for their successful crystallization using vapor diffusion method. The yeast detergent-resistant cell wall presents a unique opportunity for compartmentalization, to physically link the receptor's phenotype to its encoding DNA, and thus enable discovery of stable GPCR variants with unprecedent efficiency. The scope of mutations identified by the method reveals a surprising amenability of the GPCR scaffold to stabilization, and suggests an intriguing possibility of amending the stability properties of GPCR by varying the structural status of the C-terminus.
Renal peritumoral adipose tissue undergoes a browning process and stimulates the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in human renal cells
Authors: Ferrando Matías , Bruna Flavia Alejandra , Romeo Leonardo Rafael , Contador David , Moya-Morales Daiana Lorena , Santiano Flavia , Zyla Leila , Gomez Silvina , Lopez-Fontana Constanza Matilde , Calvo Juan Carlos , Carón Rubén Walter , Toneatto Judith , Pistone-Creydt Virginia
Published: May 2022

Tumor cells can interact with neighboring adipose cells and adipocyte dedifferentiation appears to be an important aspect of tumorigenesis. We evaluated the size of adipocytes in human adipose explants from normal (hRAN) and kidney cancer (hRAT); changes in the expression of WAT and BAT/beige markers in hRAN and hRAT; the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) cell markers in human kidney tumor (786-O, ACHN and Caki-1); and non-tumor (HK-2) epithelial cell lines incubated with the conditioned media (CMs) of hRAN and hRAT. We observed that hRAT adipocytes showed a significantly minor size compared to hRAN adipocytes. Also, we observed that both Prdm16 and Tbx1 mRNA and the expression of UCP1, TBX1, PPARγ, PCG1α, c/EBPα LAP and c/EBPα LIP was significantly higher in hRAT than hRAN. Finally, we found an increase in vimentin and N-cadherin expression in HK-2 cells incubated for 24 h with hRAT-CMs compared to hRAN- and control-CMs. Furthermore, desmin and N-cadherin expression also increased significantly in 786-O when these cells were incubated with hRAT-CMs compared to the value observed with hRAN- and control-CMs. We observed a significant decrease in E-cadherin expression in the ACHN cell line incubated with hRAT-CMs versus hRAN- and control-CMs. However, we did not observe changes in E-cadherin expression in HK-2, 786-O or Caki-1. The results obtained, together with the results previously published by our group, allow us to conclude that perirenal white adipose tissue browning contributes to tumor development in kidney cancer. In addition, hRAT-CMs increases the expression of mesenchymal markers in renal epithelial cells, which could indicate a regulation of EMT due to this adipose tissue.
Longitudinal analysis of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG antibodies before and after the third dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine
Authors: Lo Sasso Bruna , Agnello Luisa , Giglio Rosaria Vincenza , Gambino Caterina Maria , Ciaccio Anna Maria , Vidali Matteo , Ciaccio Marcello
Published: May 2022

Immunosurveillance by evaluating anti-spike protein receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) antibodies represents a useful tool to estimate the long immunity against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the kinetics of antibody response in vaccine recipients. We measured anti-S-RBD IgG levels by indirect chemiluminescence immunoassay on Maglumi 800 (SNIBE, California) in 1013 healthy individuals naïve to SARS-CoV2 infection after two and three COVID-19 vaccine doses. We found that anti-S-RBD IgG levels are higher in females than males. Antibody levels gradually decrease to a steady state after four months since the peak, and the decay is independent of age, sex, vaccine doses, and baseline antibodies titer. The third dose induces a high anti-S-RBD IgG reactivity in individuals with previous high responses and triggers a moderate-high anti-S-RBD IgG reactivity. The assessment of anti-S-RBD IgG levels is essential for monitoring long-term antibody response. A third SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose is associated with a significant immunological response. Thus, our results support the efficacy of the vaccine programs and the usefulness of the third dose.
A precision medicine approach to metabolic therapy for breast cancer in mice
Authors: Akingbesote Ngozi D. , Norman Aaron , Zhu Wanling , Halberstam Alexandra A. , Zhang Xinyi , Foldi Julia , Lustberg Maryam B. , Perry Rachel J.
Published: May 2022

Increasing evidence highlights approaches targeting metabolism as potential adjuvants to cancer therapy. Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are the newest class of antihyperglycemic drugs. To our knowledge, SGLT2 inhibitors have not been applied in the neoadjuvant setting as a precision medicine approach for this devastating disease. Here, we treat lean breast tumor-bearing mice with the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin as monotherapy and in combination with paclitaxel chemotherapy. We show that dapagliflozin enhances the efficacy of paclitaxel, reducing tumor glucose uptake and prolonging survival. Further, the ability of dapagliflozin to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy correlates with its effect to reduce circulating insulin in some but not all breast tumors. Our data suggest a genetic signature for breast tumors more likely to respond to dapagliflozin in combination with paclitaxel. In the current study, tumors driven by mutations upstream of canonical insulin signaling pathways responded to this combined treatment, whereas tumors driven by mutations downstream of canonical insulin signaling did not. These data demonstrate that dapagliflozin enhances the response to chemotherapy in mice with breast cancer and suggest that patients with driver mutations upstream of canonical insulin signaling may be most likely to benefit from this neoadjuvant approach.
Chemical fixation creates nanoscale clusters on the cell surface by aggregating membrane proteins
Authors: Ichikawa Takehiko , Wang Dong , Miyazawa Keisuke , Miyata Kazuki , Oshima Masanobu , Fukuma Takeshi
Published: May 2022

Chemical fixations have been thought to preserve the structures of the cells or tissues. However, given that the fixatives create crosslinks or aggregate proteins, there is a possibility that these fixatives create nanoscale artefacts by aggregation of membrane proteins which move around freely to some extent on the cell surface. Despite this, little research has been conducted about this problem, probably because there has been no method for observing cell surface structures at the nanoscale. In this study, we have developed a method to observe cell surfaces stably and with high resolution using atomic force microscopy and a microporous silicon nitride membrane. We demonstrate that the size of the protrusions on the cell surface is increased after treatment with three commonly used fixatives and show that these protrusions were created by the aggregation of membrane proteins by fixatives. These results call attention when observing fixed cell surfaces at the nanoscale.
An experimental and theoretical charge density study of theophylline and malonic acid cocrystallization
Authors: Hawkins Bryson A. , Du Jonathan J. , Lai Felcia , Stanton Stephen A. , Williams Peter A. , Groundwater Paul W. , Platts James A. , Overgaard Jacob , Hibbs David E.
Published: May 2022

In this study, the 1:1 cocrystal of theophylline and malonic acid originally engineered by Trask undergoes charge density analysis to rationalise the chemical change process seen throughout crystallisation.
Gaining control over conjugated polymer morphology to improve the performance of organic electronics
Authors: Kukhta Nadzeya A. , Luscombe Christine K.
Published: May 2022

Conjugated polymer (CP) microstructure plays a crucial role in determining the characteristics of a target device. Here, we provide an overview of the key aspects of the CP microstructure-property relationship carried out in our group.
Conjugated polymers for biomedical applications
Authors: Lin Hongrui , Bai Haotian , Yang Zhiwen , Shen Qi , Li Mingyu , Huang Yiming , Lv Fengting , Wang Shu
Published: May 2022

This review highlighted some latest developments of conjugated polymers (CPs) in biotherapy, biological regulation, biological response and bioprinting applications, and also discussed the referred challenges and outlooks for biomedical applications.
New di-n-butyltin(iv)-bis-(1-alkoxy-isoquinoline-4-nitrile thiolate): crystallographic and computational studies
Authors: Singh Amita , Singh Ayushi , Srivastava Devyani , Kociok-Köhn Gabriele , Köhn Randolf D. , Kumar Abhinav , Muddassir Mohd.
Published: May 2022

Alcohol andn-Bu2Sn2+assisted cyclization of dithiolate yielded two unexpected organotin(iv) products, their reaction mechanism and nature of weak interactions assessed.
Characterizing dark state kinetics and single molecule fluorescence of FusionRed and FusionRed-MQ at low irradiances
Authors: Mukherjee Srijit , Thomas Connor , Wilson Ryan , Simmerman Emma , Hung Sheng-Ting , Jimenez Ralph
Published: May 2022

A new method of characterizing the photophysics of fluorescent proteins under single molecule imaging conditions reveals their dark state dynamics.
Insights into the mechanism of carbon chain growth on zeolite-based Fischer–Tropsch Co/Y catalysts
Authors: Dong Xiuqin , Li Jiaqi , Ma Tianfeng , Wang Lingtao
Published: May 2022

In zeolite-based Fischer–Tropsch bifunctional catalysts, zeolites, as the support of the active metal, can interact with the metal cluster to affect the electronic properties and structural effect of the catalyst, thus affecting the reaction.
The transferability limits of static benchmarks
Authors: Weymuth Thomas , Reiher Markus
Published: May 2022

Since the errors of quantum chemical methods can strongly vary across chemical space, the transferability of traditional benchmarks is limited. This can be overcome by quantifying the uncertainty of quantum chemical results in a system-focused way.
Delicate, a study of the structural changes in ten-coordinated La(iii), Ce(iii), Pr(iii), Nd(iii), Sm(iii) and Eu(iii) sulfates
Authors: Storm Thomsen Maria , Sørensen Thomas Just
Published: May 2022

A study of doped ten-coordinated structures of the lanthanide(iii) crystals series, K6[Ln2(SO4)6] (Ln(iii) = La, Ce, Pr) and K5Na[Ln2(SO4)6] (Ln(iii) = Nd, Sm, Eu) to determine luminescence from Eu(iii) in distorted host lattices.
Electrolyte additive strategy enhancing the electrochemical performance of a soft-packed LiCoO2//graphite full cell
Authors: Su Hongjie , Xie Zezhong , Feng Jin , Wang Qiushi , Zhou Junyi , Fu Qishan , Meng Tao , Huang Binbin , Meng Changgong , Tong Yexiang
Published: May 2022

The electrolyte additive strategies represented by fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) in improving the electrochemical rate performance and stability of commercial LiCoO2//graphite soft-packed full cells.
Poria cocos water-soluble polysaccharide modulates anxiety-like behavior induced by sleep deprivation by regulating the gut dysbiosis, metabolic disorders and TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Dan-dan , Li Hui-jun , Zhang Han-rui , Ye Xiao-chuan
Published: May 2022

PCWP relieves anxiety by modulating the composition of gut microbiota, inhibiting the TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway, and acting on other relevant metabolic pathways.
Separation of nickel from cobalt and manganese in lithium ion batteries using deep eutectic solvents
Authors: Thompson Dana L. , Pateli Ioanna M. , Lei Chunhong , Jarvis Abbey , Abbott Andrew P. , Hartley Jennifer M.
Published: May 2022

Cobalt and manganese were selectively leached from LiNMC using an oxalic acid : choline chloride deep eutectic solvent, resulting in a nickel-enriched solid residue.
Hydrogen bond mediated conversion of benzenenitriles and arylacetonitriles to amides: an “on/in-water” reaction strategy
Authors: Choudhury Shubhranshu Shekhar , Mahapatra Shivam , Biswal Himansu S.
Published: May 2022

H-bond mediated catalysis by choline hydroxide (ChOH): reduction in activation energyviaH-bonding makes ChOH one of the most efficient sustainable catalysts compared to other reported catalysts such as H2SO4or Ru(OH)x/Al2O3.
Silver modified copper foam electrodes for enhanced reduction of CO2 to C2+ products
Authors: Wang Chong , Wang Chengdeng , Xiong Zhihao , Wang Jiashuai , Zhang Wenyuan , Shi Haofeng , Wang Donghua , Gu Yousong , Bai Zhiming , Gao Yan , Yan Xiaoqin
Published: May 2022

Here we report an Ag-modified Cu/CuO (Cu/CuO–Ag) catalyst with a porous 3D structure, which can efficiently electrochemically reduce CO2 to ethylene and other C2+ products.
No competitive inhibition of bicarbonate or carbonate for formate dehydrogenase from Candida boidinii-catalyzed CO2 reduction
Authors: Sato Ryohei , Amao Yutaka
Published: May 2022

It was clarified that bicarbonate and carbonate ions do not act as any inhibitor for the CbFDH-catalyzed CO2 reduction for the first time.
Crystalline multicomponent compounds involving hexaammine cobalt(iii) cations
Authors: Darii Mariana , Beleaev Ecaterina S. , Kravtsov Victor Ch. , Bourosh Paulina , Chumakov Yurii , Hauser Jürg , Decurtins Silvio , Liu Shi-Xia , Sultanova Olga , Baca Svetlana G.
Published: May 2022

Among nine synthesized multicomponent compounds involving hexaammine cobalt(iii) cations and N-, N,O- and O-donor organic moieties, the compound [Co(NH3)6]Cl3·2(phen)·3H2O shows the best biological activity against plant pathogenic bacteria.
A highly sensitive electrochemical biosensor for the detection of hydroquinone based on a magnetic covalent organic framework and enzyme for signal amplification
Authors: Sun Xin , Xie Yao , Chu Huacong , Long Man , Zhang Mengyue , Wang Yang , Hu Xiaoya
Published: May 2022

A novel core–shell-structured composite with a magnetic Fe3O4@COF core and horseradish peroxidase shell was designed for the electrocatalytic detection of hydroquinone.