bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CLASSIC POLICY BENCHMARKS AND INEQUALITY
Authors: Bullard James
Published: February 2023

This note provides a nontechnical summary of a research paper (Bullard and DiCecio [2021, Classical policy benchmarks for economies with substantial inequality, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, unpublished manuscript]) that I presented as the NIESR 2021 Dow Lecture on 9 February 2021. In the paper, we construct a simple benchmark macroeconomic model with substantial heterogeneity among households, enough to generate empirically plausible Gini coefficients for the distributions of consumption, income and financial wealth. The model includes aggregate shocks as well as both permanent and temporary idiosyncratic uncertainties. Four policymakers—implementing monetary, fiscal, labour market and education policies—act in concert to achieve a first-best allocation of resources. We argue that the roles of these policymaker types are ‘classic’ and match up well with observed policymaker roles in OECD countries. We regard this simple economy as a benchmark for the study of other aspects of the interaction between policy and inequality.
A new inner approach for differential subordinations
Authors: Lecko Adam
Published: February 2023

In this paper we introduce and examine the differential subordination of the form
\[ p(z)+zp'(z)\varphi(p(z),zp'(z))\prec h(z),\quad z\in\mathbb{D}:=\{z\in\mathbb{C}:|z|<1\}, \]where $h$ is a convex univalent function with $0\in h(\mathbb {D}).$ The proof of the main result is based on the original lemma for convex univalent functions and offers a new approach in the theory. In particular, the above differential subordination leads to generalizations of the well-known Briot-Bouquet differential subordination. Appropriate applications among others related to the differential subordination of harmonic mean are demonstrated. Related problems concerning differential equations are indicated.
Slavery and Oratory: Frederick Douglass in the History of Rhetoric
Authors: GOODMAN ROB
Published: February 2023

The antislavery and antiracist oratory of Frederick Douglass is a powerful case study of the appropriation and transformation of “the master’s tools.” Douglass’s formative exposure to the classical rhetorical tradition is well known—but just as important are the ways in which he subverted it. He did so by developing a categorically new, hybrid role: the orator-slave. Slavery played an important part in the conceptual apparatus of the Ciceronian rhetoric that Douglass absorbed: it conceived of oratory as a willing, temporary submission to the harms that were commonly associated with slavery. An explanation of the force of Douglass’s oratory should begin with his translation of the orator-slave identification from the metaphorical to the literal plane. Drawing on Douglass’s self-education in rhetorical discipline and artifice, an account of the symbolic uses of slavery in classical rhetoric, and Douglass’s own oratory, I reconstruct his claim to embody classical rhetoric in a uniquely vivid way.
Cardiac manifestations of multisystem inflammatory syndrome of children after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Carmona Carlos A. , Kuziez Mohamed , Freitas Caio F. , Cyrus John W. , Bain Jesse , Karam Oliver
Published: February 2023

This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the prevalence of cardiac manifestations associated with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children worldwide. We conducted electronic searches in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, and the World Health Organization COVID-19 Literature Database from the inception of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to 1 January, 2022. Three authors independently screened the abstracts to determine eligibility, assessed methodology in the full texts, and extracted the data.

We identified 2848 citations; 94 studies (14,932 patients) were included. The prevalence of vasopressors was 48.2% (95% CI 45.1%, 51.3%), left ventricular systolic dysfunction occurred in 37.2% (95% CI 34.1%, 40.3%), myocarditis in 34.1% (95% CI 30.5%, 37.8%), electrocardiographic dysrhythmias and abnormalities detected in 23.1% (95% CI 18.8%, 27.6%), coronary abnormalities identified in 18% (95% CI 16%, 20%), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation deployed in 2.2% (95% CI 1.7%, 2.8%), and mortality rate of 2.2% (95% CI 1.7%, 2.7%). A sensitivity analysis was performed after removing eleven studies with high bias, and the adjusted prevalence was not different than the original evaluation.

In this meta-analysis of the largest cohort of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children patients to date, we established the most accurate prevalence of the most common cardiac manifestations. Providers will subsequently have more precise data to anticipate patient outcomes and approach discussions concerning the frequency of monitoring outside the acute hospital period.
Immigration, skill acquisition, and fiscal redistribution in a search equilibrium model
Authors: Ikhenaode Bright Isaac
Published: February 2023

As recent immigration flows are reshaping the host countries workforce composition, this paper aims to assess whether age composition and skill adjustment dynamics play a relevant role in the welfare impact of immigration. To this end, we build and simulate a search and matching model that allows for endogenous natives’ skill acquisition and intergenerational transfers to analyze the welfare effects of immigration on a selected group of 19 OECD countries. The obtained results are then compared with those obtained under different assumptions on age composition and skill adjustment dynamics. Our comparative statics analysis shows that stronger job creation effects take place when natives adjust their skill in response to immigration. Moreover, taking into account age composition plays a key role in assessing the fiscal impact of immigration, which turns out to be positive when we include intergenerational transfers to retirees and immigration is high-skilled. Finally, we find that our model yields more optimistic welfare effects than standard search models that abstract from skill decision and intergenerational redistribution.
Predicting Covid-19 preventive behaviors based on constructs of health belief model
Authors: Heydari Azadeh , Isfahani Parvaneh , Bagheri Somayeh
Published: February 2023

Introduction and objective:

The prevalence of Covid-19 has become a clinical threat worldwide. However, knowledge about this new virus is limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the preventive behaviors of Covid-19 based on the constructs of health belief model (HBM) in the clients of health centers in Zabol, Iran.

Methods:

This descriptive–analytical (cross-sectional) study was performed on 160 people referring to health centers in Zabol by the available method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS20 software and appropriate statistical tests.

Results:

A positive and significant correlation was observed between preventive behaviors of Covid-19 and perceived benefit constructs (r = 0.29, P = 0.0001) and self-efficacy (r = 0.39, P = 0.0001). HBM constructs were able to predict about 36% of the variance of Covid-19 disease preventive behaviors, with self-efficacy (B = 0.134) being the strongest predictor.

Conclusion:

Since no specific and definitive treatment for Corona has been found yet, taking preventive measures can be the best way to prevent the spread of this disease in the community. Therefore, this can be achieved by raising awareness and preventive behaviors through health education.
Experimenting Musically with Democracy in Late Francoist and Post-Francoist Spain
Authors: ZUBILLAGA IGOR CONTRERAS
Published: February 2023

This article examines how musical practices in 1970s Spain formed ways of imagining democracy and how they participated in the wider social struggle to define freedom and equality for the final years of Franco's dictatorship and its immediate aftermath. I shall analyse two case studies: a large-scale experimental art festival held in the streets of Pamplona in 1972 and a grassroots musical collective created in 1973 on the initiative of the composer Llorenç Barber. Drawing on previous studies on the relationship between music and democracy, participatory art and the politics of spectatorship, and the insights of political science and philosophy into democracy, I offer a critical reassessment of the Pamplona festival and explore the relationship between grassroots collaboration and ideas of participatory democracy, and analyse the significance of this relationship in 1970s Spain.
Rethinking Post-Authoritarian Chile through Its Popular Music
Authors: PARTY DANIEL
Published: February 2023

This article is a study of Chilean popular music produced during the 1990s, the first decade following the end of the Pinochet dictatorship. The return of democracy and a period of strong economic growth contributed to a boom in the Chilean music industry. A wealth of music was recorded and the opportunities for listening to live music multiplied. The article's main objectives are to illuminate the ways in which Chilean popular music addressed democracy's inspiring promises and frustrating limits and to consider how Chileans used popular music to foster new post-authoritarian identities. First, it argues that music was used to reclaim national symbols that had been coopted by the dictatorship. Second, it considers the music of two generations of musicians who returned to the country after living in exile. Finally, it focuses on punk and hip-hop, the styles that produced the most significant examples of protest music in the post-authoritarian period.
Low-profile closely coupled dual-band MIMO antenna using double layer metasurface
Authors: Qiao Dayu , Han Liping , Liu Yufeng , Zhang Wenmei ,   Member, IEEE
Published: February 2023

A two-element low-profile closely coupled dual-band MIMO antenna is demonstrated for WiMAX applications. Based on the principle of metasurface (MTS) decoupling, a double-layer MTS consisting of pairs of elliptic patches with two different sizes is proposed. The MTS is loaded above a coupled dual-band MIMO antenna, and the mutual coupling in the lower and upper band is reduced by the larger and smaller elliptic patches, respectively. The edge-to-edge distance of antenna elements is only 0.01λ0 (λ0 is the free-space wavelength at 2.6 GHz). The measured results show that the working bandwidths of the MIMO antenna are 2.5–2.69 and 3.4–3.69 GHz. The −10 dB impedance bandwidths in two bands are 8.83% (2.49–2.72 GHz) and 8.50% (3.38–3.68 GHz), and the isolation between antenna elements is enhanced by 13.5 and 18.4 dB in two bands, respectively. Moreover, broadside radiation performances in two bands are obtained.
The Dynamics of Hidden Partisanship and Crossover Voting in Semi-Closed Primaries
Authors: Thornburg Matthew P.
Published: February 2023

Among US states with party registration, many allow the unaffiliated to choose either the Democratic or Republican primary. States with these semi-closed rules thus provide an option to voters with greater choice than registering with a single political party. Using the synthetic control method, I find that the introduction of semi-closed primaries is associated with growth in unaffiliated registration. However, the likelihood of unaffiliated registration is not even across the electorate in semi-closed states. I show that it is most common where a voter’s party is not competitive and the access unaffiliated registration provides to the strong party’s primary is valuable. Consistent with this instrumental motive, unaffiliated voters in semi-closed states use their freedom of choice to vote in the primary of the stronger party in the electorate. This leads to significant crossover voting among unaffiliated voters who do not identify with that party such as Democrats in red states or Republicans in blue states. These findings show the unintended consequences of electoral institutions and find primary crossover voting is more common under some circumstances than others.
Revolutionary Refugee Policy: Salvadorans and Statecraft in Sandinista Nicaragua (1979–1990)
Authors: De La Cruz Rachael
Published: February 2023

During the 1980s, more than 20,000 Salvadorans fleeing the violence of the Salvadoran Civil War entered the neighboring country of Nicaragua. Their flight was part of a larger multidirectional migration out of El Salvador in which Salvadorans sought refuge across Central and North America. In response to this unprecedented influx of Salvadoran refugee men, women, and children, the Nicaraguan government—newly under the control of the revolutionary Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)—declared that all refugees would be permitted “the opportunity to survive and produce.” This article argues that the timing of the refugees’ arrival proved mutually beneficial for both the Salvadorans and the FSLN by illustrating how Sandinista officials sought to further agrarian reform projects via refugee integration into agricultural cooperatives. As such, Nicaraguan refugee policy functioned as an integral part of Sandinista statecraft. Through an analysis of refugee-produced sources, government and UNHCR documents, and news reports, this article sheds new light on the entwined histories of Salvadoran refugees and the Sandinista state in the transnational context of the late Cold War period in Central America.
Does the Catalog of California Earthquakes, With Aftershocks Included, Contain Information About Future Large Earthquakes?
Authors: Rundle John B. , Donnellan Andrea , Fox Geoffrey , Ludwig Lisa Grant , Crutchfield James
Published: February 2023

Yes
Adding pieces to the puzzle of differentiated-to-anaplastic thyroid cancer evolution: the oncogene E2F7
Authors: Gugnoni Mila , Lorenzini Eugenia , Faria do Valle Italo , Remondini Daniel , Castellani Gastone , Torricelli Federica , Sauta Elisabetta , Donati Benedetta , Ragazzi Moira , Ghini Francesco , Piana Simonetta , Ciarrocchi Alessia , Manzotti Gloria
Published: February 2023

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (ATC) is the most aggressive and de-differentiated subtype of thyroid cancer. Many studies hypothesized that ATC derives from Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (DTC) through a de-differentiation process triggered by specific molecular events still largely unknown. E2F7 is an atypical member of the E2F family. Known as cell cycle inhibitor and keeper of genomic stability, in specific contexts its function is oncogenic, guiding cancer progression. We performed a meta-analysis on 279 gene expression profiles, from 8 Gene Expression Omnibus patient samples datasets, to explore the causal relationship between DTC and ATC. We defined 3 specific gene signatures describing the evolution from normal thyroid tissue to DTC and ATC and validated them in a cohort of human surgically resected ATCs collected in our Institution. We identified E2F7 as a key player in the DTC-ATC transition and showed in vitro that its down-regulation reduced ATC cells’ aggressiveness features. RNA-seq and ChIP-seq profiling allowed the identification of the E2F7 specific gene program, which is mainly related to cell cycle progression and DNA repair ability. Overall, this study identified a signature describing DTC de-differentiation toward ATC subtype and unveiled an E2F7-dependent transcriptional program supporting this process.
A vector-encoded bispecific killer engager to harness virus-activated NK cells as anti-tumor effectors
Authors: Floerchinger Alessia , Klein Jessica E. , Finkbeiner Maximiliane S. C. , Schäfer Theresa E. , Fuchs Gwendolin , Doerner Johannes , Zirngibl Hubert , Ackermann Maximilian , Kvasnicka Hans M. , Chester Kerry A. , Jäger Dirk , Ball Claudia R. , Ungerechts Guy , Engeland Christine E.
Published: February 2023

Treatment with oncolytic measles vaccines (MV) elicits activation of immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells. However, we found that MV-activated NK cells show only modest direct cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. To specifically direct NK cells towards tumor cells, we developed oncolytic measles vaccines encoding bispecific killer engagers (MV-BiKE) targeting CD16A on NK cells and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a model tumor antigen. MV-BiKE are only slightly attenuated compared to parental MV and mediate secretion of functional BiKE from infected tumor cells. We tested MV-BiKE activity in cocultures of colorectal or pancreatic cancer cells with primary human NK cells. MV-BiKE mediate expression of effector cytokines, degranulation and specific anti-tumor cytotoxicity by NK cells. Experiments with patient-derived pancreatic cancer cultures indicate that efficacy of MV-BiKE may vary between individual tumors with differential virus permissiveness. Remarkably, we confirmed MV-BiKE activity in primaryhuman colorectal carcinoma specimens with autochthonous tumor and NK cells.This study provides proof-of-concept for MV-BiKE as a novel immunovirotherapy to harness virus-activated NK cells as anti-tumor effectors.
Colorectal cancer patient-derived organoids and cell lines harboring ATRX and/or DAXX mutations lack Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT)
Authors: Falcinelli Marta , Dell’Omo Giulia , Grassi Elena , Mariella Elisa , Leto Simonetta Maria , Scardellato Sharon , Lorenzato Annalisa , Arena Sabrina , Bertotti Andrea , Trusolino Livio , Bardelli Alberto , d’Adda di Fagagna Fabrizio
Published: February 2023

Telomere maintenance is necessary to maintain cancer cell unlimited viability. However, the mechanisms maintaining telomere length in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not been extensively investigated. Telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM) include the re-expression of telomerase or alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). ALT is genetically associated with somatic alterations in alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation X-linked (ATRX) and death domain-associated protein (DAXX) genes. Cells displaying ALT present distinctive features including C-circles made of telomeric DNA, long and heterogenous telomeric tracts, and telomeric DNA co-localized with promyelocytic leukemia (PML) bodies forming so-called ALT-associated PML bodies (APBs). Here, we identified mutations in ATRX and/or DAXX genes in an extensive collection of CRC samples including 119 patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and 232 established CRC cell lines. C-circles measured in CRC PDOs and cell lines showed low levels overall. We also observed that CRC PDOs and cell lines did not display a significant accumulation of APBs or long telomeres with no appreciable differences between wild-type and mutated ATRX/DAXX samples. Overall, our extensive analyses indicate that CRC is not prone to engage ALT, even when carrying genetic lesions in ATRX and/or DAXX, and support the notion that ATRX/DAXX genomic footprints are not reliable predictors of ALT.
Elevated fatty acid β-oxidation by leptin contributes to the proinflammatory characteristics of fibroblast-like synoviocytes from RA patients via LKB1-AMPK pathway
Authors: Wei Jing , Huang Xinxin , Zhang Xing , Chen Guanghong , Zhang Cheng , Zhou Xinyang , Qi Jingjing , Zhang Yan , Li Xia
Published: February 2023

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) maintain chronic inflammation leading to joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) regulates cell function. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of FAO enhanced by leptin on the characteristics of RA-FLS and elucidate the potential metabolic mechanism. Key enzymes involved in lipid metabolism were detected with qPCR in HSF, MH7A cell line and isolated RA-FLS treated with RA or healthy control (HC) serum. In some experiments, FAO inhibitor, etomoxir (ETO) or anti-leptin antibody were added into serum-treated RA-FLS. In other experiments, RA-FLS were stimulated with leptin together with ETO or AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor compound C (CC) or silencing liver kinase B1 (LKB1). Cell proliferation, proinflammatory factor production, pro-angiogenesis, chemoattractive potential, FAO-related key enzymes, AMPK and LKB1 in FLS were analyzed. FAO-related key enzymes were evaluated in serum-treated RA-FLS with or without anti-leptin antibody. Related functions of leptin-stimulated RA-FLS were examined in the presence or absence of ETO. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and liver kinase B1 (LKB1) in leptin-stimulated RA-FLS were tested with western blot. Activation of AMPK in leptin-stimulated RA-FLS was detected after silencing LKB1. We found that MH7A cell line and RA serum-treated FLS exhibited upregulated FAO, and ETO could inhibit the proinflammatory phenotypes of RA-FLS. The addition of anti-leptin antibody suppressed the elevation of FAO mediated by RA serum. More importantly, leptin promoted the proinflammatory characteristics of RA-FLS, which was reversed by ETO. Leptin activated AMPK by upregulating LKB1. CC impaired leptin-induced CPT-1A expression in RA-FLS. Our study uncovers that elevated FAO mediated by leptin drives abnormal function of RA-FLS and suggests leptin or FAO inhibition may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for RA.
Bile salt hydrolase in non-enterotoxigenic Bacteroides potentiates colorectal cancer
Authors: Sun Lulu , Zhang Yi , Cai Jie , Rimal Bipin , Rocha Edson R. , Coleman James P. , Zhang Chenran , Nichols Robert G. , Luo Yuhong , Kim Bora , Chen Yaozong , Krausz Kristopher W. , Harris Curtis C. , Patterson Andrew D. , Zhang Zhipeng , Takahashi Shogo , Gonzalez Frank J.
Published: February 2023

Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) in Bacteroides is considered a potential drug target for obesity-related metabolic diseases, but its involvement in colon tumorigenesis has not been explored. BSH-expressing Bacteroides is found at high abundance in the stools of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients  with overweight and in the feces of a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced CRC mouse model. Colonization of B. fragilis 638R, a strain with low BSH activity, overexpressing a recombinant bsh gene from B. fragilis NCTC9343 strain, results in increased unconjugated bile acids in the colon and accelerated progression of CRC under HFD treatment. In the presence of high BSH activity, the resultant elevation of unconjugated deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid activates the G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor, resulting in increased β-catenin-regulated chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 28 (CCL28) expression in colon tumors. Activation of the β-catenin/CCL28 axis leads to elevated intra-tumoral immunosuppressive CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells. Blockade of the β-catenin/CCL28 axis releases the immunosuppression to enhance the intra-tumoral anti-tumor response, which decreases CRC progression under HFD treatment. Pharmacological inhibition of BSH reduces HFD-accelerated CRC progression, coincident with suppression of the β-catenin/CCL28 pathway. These findings provide insights into the pro-carcinogenetic role of Bacteroides in obesity-related CRC progression and characterize BSH as a potential target for CRC prevention and treatment.
Nanotopography reveals metabolites that maintain the immunomodulatory phenotype of mesenchymal stromal cells
Authors: Ross Ewan A. , Turner Lesley-Anne , Donnelly Hannah , Saeed Anwer , Tsimbouri Monica P. , Burgess Karl V. , Blackburn Gavin , Jayawarna Vineetha , Xiao Yinbo , Oliva Mariana A. G. , Willis Jennifer , Bansal Jaspreet , Reynolds Paul , Wells Julia A. , Mountford Joanne , Vassalli Massimo , Gadegaard Nikolaj , Oreffo Richard O. C. , Salmeron-Sanchez Manuel , Dalby Matthew J.
Published: February 2023

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells that are of considerable clinical potential in transplantation and anti-inflammatory therapies due to their capacity for tissue repair and immunomodulation. However, MSCs rapidly differentiate once in culture, making their large-scale expansion for use in immunomodulatory therapies challenging. Although the differentiation mechanisms of MSCs have been extensively investigated using materials, little is known about how materials can influence paracrine activities of MSCs. Here, we show that nanotopography can control the immunomodulatory capacity of MSCs through decreased intracellular tension and increasing oxidative glycolysis. We use nanotopography to identify bioactive metabolites that modulate intracellular tension, growth and immunomodulatory phenotype of MSCs in standard culture and during larger scale cell manufacture. Our findings demonstrate an effective route to support large-scale expansion of functional MSCs for therapeutic purposes.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor promotes angiogenesis through Sp1/Sp3-mediated inhibition of notch signaling in male mice
Authors: Lu Hanlin , Yuan Peidong , Ma Xiaoping , Jiang Xiuxin , Liu Shaozhuang , Ma Chang , Philipsen Sjaak , Zhang Qunye , Yang Jianmin , Xu Feng , Zhang Cheng , Zhang Yun , Zhang Wencheng
Published: February 2023

Angiogenesis is a critical pathophysiological process involved in organ growth and various diseases. Transcription factors Sp1/Sp3 are necessary for fetal development and tumor growth. Sp1/Sp3 proteins were downregulated in the capillaries of the gastrocnemius in patients with critical limb ischemia samples. Endothelial-specific Sp1/Sp3 knockout reduces angiogenesis in retinal, pathological, and tumor models and induced activation of the Notch1 pathway. Further, the inactivation of VEGFR2 signaling by Notch1 contributes to the delayed angiogenesis phenotype. Mechanistically, endothelial Sp1 binds to the promoter of Notch1 and inhibits its transcription, which is enhanced by Sp3. The proangiogenic effect of ACEI is abolished in Sp1/Sp3-deletion male mice. We identify USP7 as an ACEI-activated deubiquitinating enzyme that translocated into the nucleus binding to Sp1/Sp3, which are deacetylated by HDAC1. Our findings demonstrate a central role for endothelial USP7-Sp1/Sp3-Notch1 signaling in pathophysiological angiogenesis in response to ACEI treatment.
Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal elastomers as moldable shape-programmable material
Authors: Bobnar Matej , Derets Nikita , Umerova Saide , Domenici Valentina , Novak Nikola , Lavrič Marta , Cordoyiannis George , Zalar Boštjan , Rešetič Andraž
Published: February 2023

The current development of soft shape-memory materials often results in materials that are typically limited to the synthesis of thin-walled specimens and usually rely on complex, low-yield manufacturing techniques to fabricate macro-sized, solid three-dimensional objects. However, such geometrical limitations and slow production rates can significantly hinder their practical implementation. In this work, we demonstrate a shape-memory composite material that can be effortlessly molded into arbitrary shapes or sizes. The composite material is made from main-chain liquid crystal elastomer (MC-LCE) microparticles dispersed in a silicone polymer matrix. Shape-programmability is achieved via low-temperature induced glassiness and hardening of MC-LCE inclusions, which effectively freezes-in any mechanically instilled deformations. Once thermally reset, the composite returns to its initial shape and can be shape-programmed again. Magnetically aligning MC-LCE microparticles prior to curing allows the shape-programmed artefacts to be additionally thermomechanically functionalized. Therefore, our material enables efficient morphing among the virgin, thermally-programmed, and thermomechanically-controlled shapes.
Global patterns of water storage in the rooting zones of vegetation
Authors: Stocker Benjamin D. , Tumber-Dávila Shersingh Joseph , Konings Alexandra G. , Anderson Martha C. , Hain Christopher , Jackson Robert B.
Published: February 2023

The rooting-zone water-storage capacity—the amount of water accessible to plants—controls the sensitivity of land–atmosphere exchange of water and carbon during dry periods. How the rooting-zone water-storage capacity varies spatially is largely unknown and not directly observable. Here we estimate rooting-zone water-storage capacity globally from the relationship between remotely sensed vegetation activity, measured by combining evapotranspiration, sun-induced fluorescence and radiation estimates, and the cumulative water deficit calculated from daily time series of precipitation and evapotranspiration. Our findings indicate plant-available water stores that exceed the storage capacity of 2-m-deep soils across 37% of Earth’s vegetated surface. We find that biome-level variations of rooting-zone water-storage capacities correlate with observed rooting-zone depth distributions and reflect the influence of hydroclimate, as measured by the magnitude of annual cumulative water-deficit extremes. Smaller-scale variations are linked to topography and land use. Our findings document large spatial variations in the effective root-zone water-storage capacity and illustrate a tight link among the climatology of water deficits, rooting depth of vegetation and its sensitivity to water stress.
Surfactants alter mosquito’s flight and physical condition
Authors: Kato-Namba Aya , Iida Toshiaki , Ohta Kazumi , Suzuki Masahiro , Saito Kazuma , Takeuchi Kohei , Sakamoto Maki , Kazama Hokto , Nakagawa Takao
Published: February 2023

Mosquitoes carry lethal pathogens for humans and hundreds of thousands of people are killed by mosquito-borne diseases every year. Therefore, controlling mosquitoes is essential to protect the lives of people around the world. Insecticides are highly effective in controlling mosquitoes and have been used extensively worldwide. However, they have potentially harmful effects on biodiversity and environment, and some mosquitoes are resistant to insecticide ingredients and survive upon their application. Therefore, there is a demand for a method to control mosquitoes without using conventional insecticide ingredients. Here, we used Aedes albopictus to test whether solutions with low surface tension, particularly surfactant solutions can alter mosquito behavior by spreading over the hydrophobic cuticle of mosquitoes. We found that solutions with low surface tension indeed attached to mosquitoes flying or resting on the wall, and made them fall. In addition, solutions with yet lower surface tension covered the mosquito surface more quickly and widely, knocking down or killing mosquitoes. These results suggest that surfactants such as sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate can be used to alter mosquito behavior without relying on conventional insecticides.
Association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D with risk of overall and colorectal cancer among Japanese using a Mendelian randomization approach
Authors: Katagiri Ryoko , Goto Atsushi , Nakano Shiori , Nakatochi Masahiro , Koyanagi Yuriko N. , Iwagami Masao , Hanyuda Akiko , Yamaji Taiki , Sawada Norie , Nakamura Yohko , Nakamura Sho , Kuriki Kiyonori , Suzuki Sadao , Imoto Issei , Momozawa Yukihide , Oze Isao , Ito Hidemi , Tsugane Shoichiro , Wakai Kenji , Matsuo Keitaro , Iwasaki Motoki
Published: February 2023

The association between vitamin D and total and colorectal cancer risk was inconsistent in observational studies. We conducted Mendelian randomization approach in which the effect of confounding might be reduced. 110 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were systematically selected according to the “GWAS Catalog” from all ethnic populations. For the SNP-vitamin D concentration association, 3978 individuals from two Japanese cohorts were included. Regarding SNP-total and colorectal cancer association, 4543 cancer cases and 14,224 controls and 7936 colorectal cancer cases and 38,042 controls, respectively were included from the Japanese Consortium of Genetic Epidemiology and other studies in Japan. There was no significant association between the genetically predicted plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and total or colorectal cancer in any of the MR analyses. Odds ratios per doubling in vitamin D concentration were 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–1.09) for total cancer and 1.00 (95% CI 0.80–1.24) for colorectal cancer in inverse variance weighted method, 0.83 (95% CI 0.57–1.19) for total cancer and 1.01 (95% CI 0.75–1.37) for colorectal cancer in MR-Egger method. Consistent with previous MR analyses among European ancestries, there was no significant association identified between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and total or colorectal cancer among Asians.
Patterns of Arc mRNA expression in the rat brain following dual recall of fear- and reward-based socially acquired information
Authors: Agee Laura A. , Hilz Emily N. , Jun Dohyun , Nemchek Victoria , Lee Hongjoo J. , Monfils Marie-H.
Published: February 2023

Learning can occur via direct experience or through observation of another individual (i.e., social learning). While research focused on understanding the neural mechanisms of direct learning is prevalent, less work has examined the brain circuitry mediating the acquisition and recall of socially acquired information. Here, we aimed to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying recall of socially acquired information by having male and female rats sequentially recall a socially transmitted food preference (STFP) and a fear association via fear conditioning by-proxy (FCbP). Brain tissue was processed for mRNA expression of the immediate early gene (IEG)Arc, which expresses in the nucleus following transcription before migrating to the cytoplasm over the next 25 min. Given this timeframe, we could identify whetherArctranscription was triggered by STFP recall, FCbP recall, or both. Contrary to past research, we found no differences in anyArcexpression measures across a number of prefrontal regions and the ventral CA3 of the hippocampus between controls, demonstrators, and observers. We theorize that these results may indicate that relatively littleArc-dependent neural restructuring is taking place in the prefrontal cortices and ventral CA3 following recall of recently socially acquired information or directly acquired fear associations in these areas.
Assessing overdiagnosis of fecal immunological test screening for colorectal cancer with a digital twin approach
Authors: Lin Ting-Yu , Chiu Sherry Yueh-Hsia , Liao Ling-Chun , Chen Sam Li-Sheng , Chiu Han-Mo , Chen Tony Hsiu-Hsi
Published: February 2023

Evaluating the magnitude of overdiagnosis associated with stool-based service screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) beyond a randomized controlled trial is often intractable and understudied. We aim to estimate the proportion of overdiagnosis in population-based service screening programs for CRC with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). The natural process of overdiagnosis-embedded disease was first built up to learn transition parameters that quantify the pathway of non-progressive and progressive screen-detected cases calibrated with sensitivity, while also taking competing mortality into account. The Markov algorithms were then developed for estimating these transition parameters based on Taiwan FIT service CRC screening data on 5,417,699 residents aged 50–69 years from 2004 to 2014. Following the digital twin design with the parallel universe structure for emulating the randomized controlled trial, the screened twin, mirroring the control group without screening, was virtually recreated by the application of the above-mentioned trained parameters to predict CRC cases containing overdiagnosis. The ratio of the predicted CRCs derived from the screened twin to the observed CRCs of the control group minus 1 was imputed to measure the extent of overdiagnosis. The extent of overdiagnosis for invasive CRCs resulting from FIT screening is 4.16% (95% CI: 2.61–5.78%). The corresponding figure is increased to 9.90% (95% CI: 8.41–11.42%) for including high grade dysplasia (HGD) and further inflated to 15.83% (95% CI: 15.23–16.46%) when the removal adenoma is considered. The modest proportion of overdiagnosis modelled by the digital twin method, dispensing with the randomized controlled trial design, suggests the harm done to population-based FIT service screening is negligible.
The Importance of Ecological Traits in Assessing Seabird Vulnerability to Environmental Risks
Authors: Zhou Can , Browder Joan A. , Jiao Yan
Published: February 2023

Seabirds play a key role in ecosystem functioning, and they may serve as a useful indicator of its health status. The lack of predictive performance to extrapolate the toxicity results of model species to native species is a major source of uncertainty in an environmental risk assessment approach, calling for the use of non-conventional model species. The focus of this chapter is on the analysis of the external exposure stage of risk factor/s in an environmental risk assessment. Here, we explore different approaches to assessing the vulnerability of seabirds to environmental risks, discuss current challenges, propose a trait-based solution to these challenges and explore additional complicating factors in using non-model species in environmental risk assessments. The trait-based approach is an ecological dimension reduction technique to make sense of datasets with a high species dimension. This approach exists hand-in-hand with additional experimental approaches that investigate the internal response of a specific biological receptor of interest to risk factors given a prescribed level of exposure. When combined, these approaches should provide a more complete picture of the impact of risk factor/s to native species and their communities. Integrating non-conventional species in environmental risk assessments is one important step toward this goal.
A Review of the Levels and Distribution Patterns of Organochlorine Pesticides in the Eggs of Wild Birds in India
Authors: Venugopal Dhananjayan , Samidurai Jayakumar , Palaniyappan Jayanthi , Rajamani Jayakumar , Subramanian Muralidharan
Published: February 2023

The presence of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the eggs of avifauna is considered to be a significant tool for identifying the risk linked with the prevalence and persistent nature of OCPs. The eggs of wild birds represent an ideal selection for documenting the toxic effects of OCPs in natural ecosystems. Among the detected OCP residues, the frequency of detection was in the order of total hexachlorocyclohexanes (ΣHCHs) > total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (ΣDDTs)>cyclodienes (dieldrin and heptachlor epoxide (HCE)). The residues of DDT and its metabolites represented the major share (60%). Besides, p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p′-DDE) residues exceeded the threshold levels of toxicity in the eggs of wild birds. Among the eggs of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) analysed for ΣOCP residues, 28% of the samples contained p,p′-DDE residues, which lead to their reproductive impairment. However, the magnitude of residue accumulation did not show any significant difference with respect to species and feeding habits. As a whole, around 5% of the egg samples contained p,p′-DDE and HCE exceeding its prescribed threshold level. These inferences hence uphold the inevitable need for systemic toxicity studies and real-time biomonitoring programmes towards the assessment of the harmful effects of toxic contaminants on the biotic components of our environment.
Current Progress in Developing Standardized Methods for Reptilian Toxicity Testing to Inform Ecological Risk Assessment
Authors: Weir Scott M. , Youssif Monica R. , Anderson Taylor , Salice Christopher J.
Published: February 2023

Reptiles remain the least studied vertebrate taxon in ecotoxicology and a lack of standardized methods and government regulations has hindered progress. Here we provide an overview of the history of reptile ecotoxicology with particular emphasis on toxicity testing methods. Oral dosing has received the most attention, but there have been important reports of significant dermal exposures and toxicity in reptiles as well. We report on recent efforts to adapt oral dosing with gelatin capsules in a small gecko. We also summarize recent efforts to expand on previous methods for oral dosing as well as husbandry of Anolis lizards for use in ecotoxicological experiments. Previously published methods combined with our current efforts provide a framework for repeatable, environmentally relevant, and consistent dosing of reptiles. Future efforts should focus on trying to create a standardized testing protocol that can be put through validation methods to be acceptable for government regulations. This would greatly increase the opportunity for performing reptile toxicity testing in the future. Finally, the toxicity testing literature has focused heavily on lizards and more research is needed to establish standardized methods for snakes and turtles.
Nanoparticle surface decoration mediated efficient protein and peptide co-encapsulation with precise ratiometric control for self-regulated drug release
Authors: Huo Qingqing , Zhou Jun , Tang Hui , Wu Wenbo , Hu Shuai , Dong Enpeng , Huang Yang , Zhou Yunyi , Gao Yue , Bai Yuancheng , Liu Dongfei
Published: February 2023

Surface decoration uniformed the surface properties of different types of protein and peptide nanoparticles and enabled efficient encapsulation.
First principles study of 2D ring-Te and its electrical contact with a topological Dirac semimetal
Authors: Singh Jaspreet , Kumar Ashok
Published: February 2023

Novel 2D ring-Te monolayer and its van der Waals heterostructure (vdWH) with topological Dirac semimetal (sq-Te) shows tunable Schottky barriers with perpendicular electric field for nanoscale electronic devices.
Performance of the nanopost single-photon source: beyond the single-mode model
Authors: Jacobsen Martin Arentoft , Wang Yujing , Vannucci Luca , Claudon Julien , Gérard Jean-Michel , Gregersen Niels
Published: February 2023

The nanopost single-photon source exhibits surprisingly high collection efficiency, despite its geometrical simplicity, due to beneficial scattering into radiation modes.
Concentration–modulated global organizational chirality at the liquid/solid interface
Authors: Li Shu-Ying , Chen Ting , Chen Qi , Wang Dong , Zhu Guangshan
Published: February 2023

A lower molecular concentration in solution facilitates more efficient amplification of chirality at the surface, which is successively reproduced by a cooperative 2D equilibrium model derived from Langmuir-type adsorption.
Hydrosilylative reduction of secondary amides to amines catalyzed by geometry-constrained NNN-cobalt complexes
Authors: Dong Shuting , Zong Zhijian , Sun Nan , Hu Baoxiang , Shen Zhenlu , Hu Xinquan , Jin Liqun
Published: February 2023

An efficient Co-catalyzed hydrosilylative reduction of secondary amides to amines was achieved utilizing an N,N,N-donor-coordinated cobalt complex as the precatalyst.
Inexpensive and bench stable diarylmethylium tetrafluoroborates as organocatalysts in the light mediated hydrosulfonylation of unactivated alkenes
Authors: Renzi Polyssena , Azzi Emanuele , Ascensio Sylvain , Parisotto Stefano , Sordello Fabrizio , Pellegrino Francesco , Ghigo Giovanni , Deagostino Annamaria
Published: February 2023

Can a cheap and bench stable salt catalyse the hydrosulfonylation of unactivated alkenes? Yes it does! Just mix a diarylmethylium tetrafluoroborate salt with a sulfinate salt, wait for the formation of the adduct and turn purple light on it.
The role of extracellular vesicles in intercellular communication in human reproduction
Authors: Gonzalez Fernandez Javier , Moncayo Arlandi Javier , Ochando Ana , Simon Carlos , Vilella Felipe
Published: February 2023

Embryo–maternal cross-talk has emerged as a vitally important process for embryo development and implantation, which is driven by secreted factors and extracellular vesicles (EVs). The EV cargo of bioactive molecules significantly influences target cells and primes them for critical stages of reproductive biology, including embryo development, adhesion, and implantation. Recent research has suggested that EVs and their cargo represent a powerful non-invasive tool that can be leveraged to assess embryo and maternal tissue quality during assisted reproduction treatments.

Here, we review the current scientific literature regarding the intercellular cross-talk between embryos and maternal tissues from fertilization to implantation, focusing on human biology and signaling mechanisms identified in animal models.
Simulation‐data‐driven load disaggregation based on multi‐channel neural network for industrial and commercial users
Authors: Yang Xiu , Jiang Qian , Sun Gaiping , Tian Yingjie
Published: February 2023

The immeasurable energy‐saving potential of industrial parks and commercial buildings with unprecedented growth in scale and quantity can be well exploited by load disaggregation, a promising technique for demand‐side refinement management. However, traditional load disaggregation studies mainly focus on residential users and neglect the collection and analysis of industrial and commercial loads. This study employs a simulated response model of versatile load categories with voltage‐dependent load functions to overcome the unavailability of industrial and commercial datasets. Specially, a weighting factors allocation method considering probability statistics of power consumption distribution characteristics is proposed to construct a typical daily multi‐type load aggregation model. Furthermore, an intelligent load disaggregation strategy is developed based on a multi‐channel neural network to constructively improve multi‐feature tracking and convergence efficiency. Finally, the simulation results of the detailed study case confirm the tractability and effectiveness of the proposed approach to carry out load identification among multi‐type users, with an accuracy of 94.9% and errors of individual categories controlled between 3.32% and 10.686%. Moreover, additional interference tests demonstrate that the developed model has superiority over common load disaggregation structures, with better tolerance to exceptional voltage fluctuation and noise.
How the origin of stars in the Galaxy impacts the composition of planetary building blocks
Authors: Cabral N. , Guilbert-Lepoutre A. , Bitsch B. , Lagarde N. , Diakite S.
Published: February 2023

Context. Our Galaxy is composed of different stellar populations with varying chemical abundances, which are thought to imprint the composition of planet building blocks (PBBs). As such, the properties of stars should affect the properties of planets and small bodies formed in their systems. In this context, high-resolution spectroscopic surveys open a window into the chemical links between and their host stars.

Aims. We aim to determine the PBB composition trends for various stellar populations across the Galaxy by comparing the two large spectroscopic surveys APOGEE and GALAH. We assess the reliability of the PBB composition as determined with these surveys with a propagation error study.

Methods. Stellar spectroscopic abundances from the large surveys GALAH-DR3 and APOGEE-DR17 were used as input with a stoichiometric condensation model. We classified stars into different Galactic components and we quantified the PBB composition trends as a function of [Fe/H]. We also analysed the distribution composition patterns in the [α/Fe]–[Fe/H] diagram.

Results. Our propagation error study suggests that the overall trends with [Fe/H] and [α/Fe] are robust, which is supported by the double study of both APOGEE and GALAH. We therefore confirm the existence of a bimodal PBB composition separating the thin disc stars from the thick disc stars. Furthermore, we confirm that the stoichiometric water PBB content is anti-correlated with [Fe/H].

Conclusions. Our results imply that metal-poor stars both in the thin and thick disks are suitable hosts for water-rich PBBs and for ice-rich small bodies. However, for metal-poor stars ([Fe/H]<0), the PBBs around thick disc stars should have a higher water content than that around thin disc stars because of the α-content dependence of the water mass fraction. Given the importance of the initial water abundance of the PBBs in recent planet formation simulations, we expect that the star origin influences the exoplanet population properties across the Galaxy.