bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Small Satellite Mission Concepts for Space Weather Research and as Pathfinders for Operations
Authors: Caspi Amir , Barthelemy M. , Bussy‐Virat C. D. , Cohen I. J. , DeForest C. E. , Jackson D. R. , Vourlidas A. , Nieves‐Chinchilla T.
Published: November 2021

Recent advances in miniaturization and commercial availability of critical satellite subsystems and detector technology have made small satellites (SmallSats, including CubeSats) an attractive, low‐cost potential solution for space weather research and operational needs. Motivated by the first International Workshop on SmallSats for Space Weather Research and Forecasting, held in Washington, DC on 1–4 August 2017, we discuss the need for advanced space weather measurement capabilities, driven by analyses from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and how SmallSats can efficiently fill these measurement gaps. We present some current, recent missions and proposed/upcoming mission concepts using SmallSats that enhance space weather research and provide prototyping pathways for future operational applications; how they relate to the WMO requirements; and what challenges remain to be overcome to meet the WMO goals and operational needs in the future. With additional investment from cognizant funding agencies worldwide, SmallSats—including standalone missions and constellations—could significantly enhance space weather research and, eventually, operations, by reducing costs and enabling new measurements not feasible from traditional, large, monolithic missions.
Wintertime Submesoscale Offshore Events Overcoming Wind‐Driven Onshore Currents in the East China Sea
Authors: Xuan Jiliang , Ding Ruibin , Ni Xiaobo , Huang Daji , Chen Jianfang , Zhou Feng
Published: November 2021

Coastal offshore currents transport terrestrial materials from coastal areas to continental shelf areas in the upper layer; these currents are regarded as unimportant in winter when wind‐driven onshore currents are dominant. In this paper, both long‐term observations and high‐resolution simulations in the East China Sea reveal unique wintertime offshore currents in the upper layer that are widespread in the 30–70‐m isobath area and even overcome the wind‐driven onshore currents at the 50–70‐m isobaths. The mixed layer instabilities, frontogenesis and turbulent thermal wind, which constitute a mechanism in the generation of submesoscale offshore currents, have a growth rate that is fast enough to compete with the wind‐driven dynamics when the winter monsoon is relatively weak (<10 m/s). The alternation of the weak‐wind and strong‐wind modes during the winter monsoons provides a general condition for the repeated occurrence of remarkable submesoscale cross‐shore transport and carbon sequestration in coastal seas.
Mapping MMS Observations of Solitary Waves in Earth's Magnetic Field
Authors: Hansel P. J. , Wilder F. D. , Malaspina D. M. , Ergun R. E. , Ahmadi N. , Holmes J. C. , Goodrich K. A. , Fuselier S. , Giles B. , Russell C. T. , Torbert R. , Strangeway R. , Khotyaintsev Y. , Lindqvist P. ‐A. , Burch J.
Published: November 2021

Electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) are a type of nonlinear time‐domain plasma structure (TDS) generally defined by bipolar electric fields and propagation parallel to the local magnetic field. Formation mechanisms for TDSs in the magnetosphere have been studied extensively and are associated with plasma boundary layers and the braking of bursty bulk flows (BBFs). However, the rapid timescales over which these TDSs occur (<2 ms) make them infeasible to count by eye over large time periods. Furthermore, high‐cadence data are not always available. The Solitary Wave Detector (SWD) on NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission quantifies the occurrence and amplitude of TDS throughout the constellation's orbit; analysis of burst (65 kS/s) parallel electric field data indicates that the SWD captures approximately 60% of all bipolar TDS encountered in the tail region, enabling large‐scale examination of their occurrence. Maps of TDS occurrence rates during several years of the MMS mission were generated from SWD data, showing enhanced TDS density in the tail region between 6 and 9 Re; enhance occurrence in or near shocks; and an unexpected enhancement in the dawn side of the tail and in the radiation belt.
Cell-type- and region-specific modulation of cocaine seeking by micro-RNA-1 in striatal projection neurons
Authors: Forget Benoit , Garcia Elena Martin , Godino Arthur , Rodriguez Laura Domingo , Kappes Vincent , Poirier Pierre , Andrianarivelo Andry , Marchan Eric Senabre , Allichon Marie-Charlotte , Marias Mélanie , Vanhoutte Peter , Girault Jean-Antoine , Maldonado Rafael , Caboche Jocelyne
Published: November 2021

The persistent and experience-dependent nature of drug addiction may result in part from epigenetic alterations, including non-coding micro-RNAs (miRNAs), which are both critical for neuronal function and modulated by cocaine in the striatum. Two major striatal cell populations, the striato-nigral and striato-pallidal projection neurons, express, respectively, the D1 (D1-SPNs) and D2 (D2-SPNs) dopamine receptor, and display distinct but complementary functions in drug-evoked responses. However, a cell-type-specific role for miRNAs action has yet to be clarified. Here, we evaluated the expression of a subset of miRNAs proposed to modulate cocaine effects in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and dorsal striatum (DS) upon sustained cocaine exposure in mice and showed that these selected miRNAs were preferentially upregulated in the NAc. We focused on miR-1 considering the important role of some of its predicted mRNA targets, Fosb and Npas4, in the effects of cocaine. We validated these targets in vitro and in vivo. We explored the potential of miR-1 to regulate cocaine-induced behavior by overexpressing it in specific striatal cell populations. In DS D1-SPNs miR-1 overexpression downregulated Fosb and Npas4 and reduced cocaine-induced CPP reinstatement, but increased cue-induced cocaine seeking. In DS D2-SPNs miR-1 overexpression reduced the motivation to self-administer cocaine. Our results indicate a role of miR1 and its target genes, Fosb and Npas4, in these behaviors and highlight a precise cell-type- and region-specific modulatory role of miR-1, illustrating the importance of cell-specific investigations.
Bi-allelic variants in human WDR63 cause male infertility via abnormal inner dynein arms assembly
Authors: Lu Shuai , Gu Yayun , Wu Yifei , Yang Shenmin , Li Chenmeijie , Meng Lanlan , Yuan Wenwen , Jiang Tao , Zhang Xin , Li Yang , Wang Cheng , Liu Mingxi , Ye Lan , Guo Xuejiang , Shen Hongbing , Yang Xiaoyu , Tan Yueqiu , Hu Zhibin
Published: November 2021

Inner dynein arm (IDA), composed of a series of protein complex, is necessary to cilia and flagella bend formation and beating. Previous studies indicated that defects of IDA protein complex result in multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagellum (MMAF) and male infertility. However, the genetic causes and molecular mechanisms in the IDAs need further exploration. Here we identified two loss-of-function variants of WDR63 in both MMAF and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) affected cohorts. WDR63 encodes an IDA-associated protein that is dominantly expressed in testis. We next generated Wdr63-knockout (Wdr63-KO) mice through the CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Remarkably, Wdr63-KO induced decreased sperm number, abnormal flagellar morphology and male infertility. In addition, transmission electron microscopy assay showed severely disorganized “9 + 2” axoneme and absent inner dynein arms in the spermatozoa from Wdr63-KO male mice. Mechanistically, we found that WDR63 interacted with WDR78 mainly via WD40-repeat domain and is necessary for IDA assembly. Furthermore, WDR63-associated male infertility in human and mice could be overcome by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that bi-allelic variants of WDR63 cause male infertility via abnormal inner dynein arms assembly and flagella formation and can be used as a genetic diagnostic indicator for infertility males.
Equivalence of sessile droplet dynamics under periodic and steady electric fields
Authors: Kainikkara Muhamed Ashfak , Pillai Dipin S. , Sahu Kirti Chandra
Published: November 2021

The electrohydrodynamics of a sessile droplet under the influence of periodic and steady electric fields in microgravity conditions is theoretically investigated using an inertial lubrication model. Previous studies have revealed that a freely suspended spherical droplet with unequal conductivity and permittivity ratios exhibits distinct dynamics under periodic and equivalent steady forcing in the root mean-square sense. However, it is unclear when (if at all) such distinct dynamics occur for periodic and equivalent steady forcing in the case of sessile droplets. The equivalence between periodic and steady forcing is shown to be governed by the interfacial charge buildup, which further depends on the competition between the charge relaxation and forcing timescales. A circulation-deformation map is introduced for the sessile droplet that acts as a guideline to achieve electric field-induced wetting or dewetting as the case may be. We also demonstrate that a droplet may be rendered either more or less wetting solely by tuning the forcing frequency.
Cholecystectomy and subsequent risk of Parkinson’s disease: a nationwide retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kim Ryul , Lee Jee-Young , Park Sanghyun , Han Kyungdo , Shin Cheol Min
Published: November 2021

Growing evidence has suggested that the gut-brain axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD), and that this role is mediated by the interactions between bile acids (BAs) and intestinal microbiota. Given that cholecystectomy can lead to alterations in BAs and gut microbiota, we investigated whether cholecystectomy is linked to a higher risk of PD. We constructed a cohort of patients with an operation code of cholecystectomy from 2010 to 2015 (n = 161,838) and age- and sex-matched control subjects without cholecystectomy (n = 286,135) using the National Health Insurance Service database. Incident PD was traced over a maximum observation period of 7 years. We identified 1404 incident PD cases during 1,631,265 person-years of follow-up. The cholecystectomy group showed an elevated risk of PD compared to the control group, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.27). When the data were split by sex, the risk elevation was significant in men (adjusted HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06–1.41), but not in women (adjusted HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.88–1.22). Our results provide evidence that cholecystectomy is associated with an increased risk of developing PD. This association differed between men and women, suggesting sex-specific effects of cholecystectomy on the risk of PD.
Fifteen shades of clay: distinct microbial community profiles obtained from bentonite samples by cultivation and direct nucleic acid extraction
Authors: Vachon Melody A. , Engel Katja , Beaver Rachel C. , Slater Greg F. , Binns W. Jeffrey , Neufeld Josh D.
Published: November 2021

Characterizing the microbiology of swelling bentonite clays can help predict the long-term behaviour of deep geological repositories (DGRs), which are proposed as a solution for the management of used nuclear fuel worldwide. Such swelling clays represent an important component of several proposed engineered barrier system designs and, although cultivation-based assessments of bentonite clay are routinely conducted, direct nucleic acid detection from these materials has been difficult due to technical challenges. In this study, we generated direct comparisons of microbial abundance and diversity captured by cultivation and direct nucleic acid analyses using 15 reference bentonite clay samples. Regardless of clay starting material, the corresponding profiles from cultivation-based approaches were consistently associated with phylogenetically similar sulfate-reducing bacteria, denitrifiers, aerobic heterotrophs, and fermenters, demonstrating that any DGR-associated growth may be consistent, regardless of the specific bentonite clay starting material selected for its construction. Furthermore, dominant nucleic acid sequences in the as-received clay microbial profiles did not correspond with the bacteria that were enriched or isolated in culture. Few core taxa were shared among cultivation and direct nucleic acid analysis profiles, yet those in common were primarily affiliated with Streptomyces, Micrococcaceae, Bacillus, and Desulfosporosinus genera. These putative desiccation-resistant bacteria associated with diverse bentonite clay samples can serve as targets for experiments that evaluate microbial viability and growth within DGR-relevant conditions. Our data will be important for global nuclear waste management organizations, demonstrating that identifying appropriate design conditions with suitable clay swelling properties will prevent growth of the same subset of clay-associated bacteria, regardless of clay origin or processing conditions.
Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD regulates the growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Koizumi Mitsuhito , Watanabe Takao , Masumoto Junya , Sunago Kotaro , Imamura Yoshiki , Kanemitsu Kozue , Kumagi Teru , Hiasa Yoichi
Published: November 2021

Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) is a key adaptor protein of inflammasomes and a proapoptotic molecule; however, its roles in signal transduction in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells remain unknown. Here, we clarified the role and mechanisms of action of ASC in PDAC using clinical evidence and in vitro data. ASC expression in PDAC tissues was analyzed using public tumor datasets and immunohistochemistry results of patients who underwent surgery, and PDAC prognosis was investigated using the Kaplan–Meier Plotter. ASC expression in PDAC cells was downregulated using small-interfering RNA, and gene expression was assessed by RNA sequencing. Review of the Oncomine database and immunostaining of surgically removed tissues revealed elevated ASC expression in PDAC tumors relative to non-tumor tissue, indicating poor prognosis. We observed high ASC expression in multiple PDAC cells, with ASC silencing subsequently inhibiting PDAC cell growth and altering the expression of cell cycle-related genes. Specifically, ASC silencing reduced cyclin D1 levels and stopped the cell cycle at the G1 phase but did not modulate the expression of any apoptosis-related molecules. These results show that ASC inhibited tumor progression via cell cycle modulation in PDAC cells and could be a potential therapeutic target.
Impact of oxygen tension according to embryo stage of development: a prospective randomized study
Authors: Herbemont C. , Labrosse J. , Bennani-Smires B. , Cedrin-Durnerin I. , Peigne M. , Sermondade N. , Sarandi S. , Vivot A. , Vicaut E. , Talib Z. , Grynberg M. , Sifer C.
Published: November 2021

Human embryo culture under 2–8% O2 is recommended by ESHRE revised guidelines for good practices in IVF labs. Nevertheless, notably due to the higher costs of embryo culture under hypoxia, some laboratories perform embryo culture under atmospheric O2 tension (around 20%). Furthermore, recent meta-analyses concluded with low evidence to a superiority of hypoxia on IVF/ICSI outcomes. Interestingly, a study on mice embryos suggested that oxidative stress (OS) might only have an adverse impact on embryos at cleavage stage. Hence, we aimed to demonstrate for the first time in human embryos that OS has a negative impact only at cleavage stage and that sequential culture conditions (5% O2 from Day 0 to Day 2/3, then «conventional» conditions at 20% O2 until blastocyst stage) might be a valuable option for human embryo culture. 773 IVF/ICSI cycles were included in this randomized clinical trial from January 2016 to April 2018. At Day 0 (D0), patients were randomized using a 1:2 allocation ratio between group A (20% O2; n = 265) and group B (5% O2; n = 508). Extended culture (EC) was performed when ≥ 5 Day 2-good-quality-embryos were available (n = 88 in group A (20% O2)). In subgroup B, 195 EC cycles were randomized again at Day 2 (using 1:1 ratio) into groups B’ (5% O2 until Day 6 (n = 101)) or C (switch to 20% O2 from Day 2 to Day 6 (n = 94). Fertilization rate, cleavage-stage quality Day 2-top-quality-embryo (D2-TQE), blastocyst quality (Day 5-top-quality-blastocyst (D5-TQB) and implantation rate (IR) were compared between groups A and B (= cleavage-stage analysis), or A(20% O2), B’(5% O2) and C(5%-to-20% O2). Overall, characteristics were similar between groups A and B. Significantly higher rates of early-cleaved embryos, top-quality and good-quality embryos on Day 2 were obtained in group B compared to group A (P < 0.05). This association between oxygen tension and embryo quality at D2 was confirmed using an adjusted model (P < 0.05). Regarding blastocyst quality, culture under 20% O2 from Day 0 to Day 6 (group A) resulted in significantly lower Day 5-TQB number and rates (P < 0.05) compared to both groups B’ and C. Furthermore, blastocyst quality was statistically equivalent between groups B’ and C (P = 0.45). At Day 6, TQB numbers and rates were also significantly higher in groups B’ and C compared to group A (P < 0.05). These results were confirmed analyzing adjusted mean differences for number of Day 5 and Day 6 top quality embryos obtained in group A when compared to those respectively in groups B’ and C (P < 0.05). No difference in clinical outcomes following blastocyst transfers was observed. These results would encourage to systematically culture embryos under hypoxia at least during early development stages, since OS might be detrimental exclusively before embryonic genome activation.
Lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation disrupts functional connectivity and community structure in primary cortical microtissues
Authors: Atherton Elaina , Brown Sophie , Papiez Emily , Restrepo Maria I. , Borton David A.
Published: November 2021

Three-dimensional (3D) neural microtissues are a powerful in vitro paradigm for studying brain development and disease under controlled conditions, while maintaining many key attributes of the in vivo environment. Here, we used primary cortical microtissues to study the effects of neuroinflammation on neural microcircuits. We demonstrated the use of a genetically encoded calcium indicator combined with a novel live-imaging platform to record spontaneous calcium transients in microtissues from day 14–34 in vitro. We implemented graph theory analysis of calcium activity to characterize underlying functional connectivity and community structure of microcircuits, which are capable of capturing subtle changes in network dynamics during early disease states. We found that microtissues cultured for 34 days displayed functional remodeling of microcircuits and that community structure strengthened over time. Lipopolysaccharide, a neuroinflammatory agent, significantly increased functional connectivity and disrupted community structure 5–9 days after exposure. These microcircuit-level changes have broad implications for the role of neuroinflammation in functional dysregulation of neural networks.
Computer-assisted classification of contrarian claims about climate change
Authors: Coan Travis G. , Boussalis Constantine , Cook John , Nanko Mirjam O.
Published: November 2021

A growing body of scholarship investigates the role of misinformation in shaping the debate on climate change. Our research builds on and extends this literature by (1) developing and validating a comprehensive taxonomy of climate contrarianism, (2) conducting the largest content analysis to date on contrarian claims, (3) developing a computational model to accurately classify specific claims, and (4) drawing on an extensive corpus from conservative think-tank (CTTs) websites and contrarian blogs to construct a detailed history of claims over the past 20 years. Our study finds that the claims utilized by CTTs and contrarian blogs have focused on attacking the integrity of climate science and scientists and, increasingly, has challenged climate policy and renewable energy. We further demonstrate the utility of our approach by exploring the influence of corporate and foundation funding on the production and dissemination of specific contrarian claims.
Hierarchical porous materials made by stereolithographic printing of photo-curable emulsions
Authors: Kleger Nicole , Minas Clara , Bosshard Patrick , Mattich Iacopo , Masania Kunal , Studart André R.
Published: November 2021

Porous materials are relevant for a broad range of technologies from catalysis and filtration, to tissue engineering and lightweight structures. Controlling the porosity of these materials over multiple length scales often leads to enticing new functionalities and higher efficiency but has been limited by manufacturing challenges and the poor understanding of the properties of hierarchical structures. Here, we report an experimental platform for the design and manufacturing of hierarchical porous materials via the stereolithographic printing of stable photo-curable Pickering emulsions. In the printing process, the micron-sized droplets of the emulsified resins work as soft templates for the incorporation of microscale porosity within sequentially photo-polymerized layers. The light patterns used to polymerize each layer on the building stage further generate controlled pores with bespoke three-dimensional geometries at the millimetre scale. Using this combined fabrication approach, we create architectured lattices with mechanical properties tuneable over several orders of magnitude and large complex-shaped inorganic objects with unprecedented porous designs.
Development and internal validation of an algorithm to predict intraoperative risk of inadvertent hypothermia based on preoperative data
Authors: Wallisch C. , Zeiner S. , Scholten P. , Dibiasi C. , Kimberger O.
Published: November 2021

Intraoperative hypothermia increases perioperative morbidity and identifying patients at risk preoperatively is challenging. The aim of this study was to develop and internally validate prediction models for intraoperative hypothermia occurring despite active warming and to implement the algorithm in an online risk estimation tool. The final dataset included 36,371 surgery cases between September 2013 and May 2019 at the Vienna General Hospital. The primary outcome was minimum temperature measured during surgery. Preoperative data, initial vital signs measured before induction of anesthesia, and known comorbidities recorded in the preanesthetic clinic (PAC) were available, and the final predictors were selected by forward selection and backward elimination. Three models with different levels of information were developed and their predictive performance for minimum temperature below 36 °C and 35.5 °C was assessed using discrimination and calibration. Moderate hypothermia (below 35.5 °C) was observed in 18.2% of cases. The algorithm to predict inadvertent intraoperative hypothermia performed well with concordance statistics of 0.71 (36 °C) and 0.70 (35.5 °C) for the model including data from the preanesthetic clinic. All models were well-calibrated for 36 °C and 35.5 °C. Finally, a web-based implementation of the algorithm was programmed to facilitate the calculation of the probabilistic prediction of a patient’s core temperature to fall below 35.5 °C during surgery. The results indicate that inadvertent intraoperative hypothermia still occurs frequently despite active warming. Additional thermoregulatory measures may be needed to increase the rate of perioperative normothermia. The developed prediction models can support clinical decision-makers in identifying the patients at risk for intraoperative hypothermia and help optimize allocation of additional thermoregulatory interventions.
Detection of single nucleotide and copy number variants in the Fabry disease-associated GLA gene using nanopore sequencing
Authors: Nowak Albina , Murik Omer , Mann Tzvia , Zeevi David A. , Altarescu Gheona
Published: November 2021

More than 900 variants have been described in the GLA gene. Some intronic variants and copy number variants in GLA can cause Fabry disease but will not be detected by classical Sanger sequence. We aimed to design and validate a method for sequencing the GLA gene using long-read Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology. Twelve Fabry patients were blindly analyzed, both by conventional Sanger sequence and by long-read sequencing of a 13 kb PCR amplicon. We used minimap2 to align the long-read data and Nanopolish and Sniffles to call variants. All the variants detected by Sanger (including a deep intronic variant) were also detected by long-read sequencing. One patient had a deletion that was not detected by Sanger sequencing but was detected by the new technology. Our long-read sequencing-based method was able to detect missense variants and an exonic deletion, with the added advantage of intronic analysis. It can be used as an efficient and cost-effective tool for screening and diagnosing Fabry disease.
Cancer classification using machine learning and HRV analysis: preliminary evidence from a pilot study
Authors: Vigier Marta , Vigier Benjamin , Andritsch Elisabeth , Schwerdtfeger Andreas R.
Published: November 2021

Most cancer patients exhibit autonomic dysfunction with attenuated heart rate variability (HRV) levels compared to healthy controls. This research aimed to create and evaluate a machine learning (ML) model enabling discrimination between cancer patients and healthy controls based on 5-min-ECG recordings. We selected 12 HRV features based on previous research and compared the results between cancer patients and healthy individuals using Wilcoxon sum-rank test. Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) identified the top five features, averaged over 5 min and employed them as input to three different ML. Next, we created an ensemble model based on a stacking method that aggregated the predictions from all three base classifiers. All HRV features were significantly different between the two groups. SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50%, HRV triangular index, and SD1 were selected by RFE and used as an input to three different ML. All three base-classifiers performed above chance level, RF being the most efficient with a testing accuracy of 83%. The ensemble model showed a classification accuracy of 86% and an AUC of 0.95. The results obtained by ML algorithms suggest HRV parameters could be a reliable input for differentiating between cancer patients and healthy controls. Results should be interpreted in light of some limitations that call for replication studies with larger sample sizes.
Comparison of heads up three dimensional visualization system to conventional microscope in retinopathy of prematurity related tractional retinal detachment
Authors: AlZaid Abdulrahman , Alsakran Wael A. , Alsulaiman Sulaiman M. , Mura Marco
Published: November 2021

To report the outcomes, advantages and disadvantages of a heads-up three-dimensional (3D) visualization system compared to the conventional microscope in pediatric tractional retinal detachment (TRD) surgery secondary to advanced stage retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Medical records of patients with ROP stage 4 or 5 who underwent surgery for tractional retinal detachment at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital between September 2017 and July 2019 were identified and reviewed. Eyes were divided into 2 groups, eyes that underwent surgery with a 3D heads-up platform (3D group) and eyes that underwent surgery with a conventional microscope (conventional group). Data were collected on neonatal history, visual acuity, intraoperative complications and success rates between groups.Eighteen eyes of 14 patients who underwent surgical repair of TRD related to ROP. Postoperative outcomes were compared between 10 eyes (7 patients) in the 3D group and 8 eyes (7 patients) in the conventional group There was no statistically significant difference in success rate between both groups (75% conventional group vs 70% 3D group). Partial or complete reattachment was achieved in 7 eyes in 3D group compared to 6 eyes in conventional group. Lower postmenstrual age at the time of the first surgery and presence of retinal breaks were associated with poorer surgical outcome. Heads up 3D visualization system is feasible in tractional retinal detachment related to ROP with similar success rate and no increased risk of complications when compared to conventional microscope. This system may be advantageous in advanced pediatric tractional retinal detachment surgeries.
Climate change affects the parasitism rate and impairs the regulation of genes related to oxidative stress and ionoregulation of Colossoma macropomum
Authors: da Costa Jaqueline Custodio , de Souza Samara Silva , Castro Jonatas da Silva , Amanajás Renan Diego , Val Adalberto Luis
Published: November 2021

Global climate change represents a critical threat to the environment since it influences organismic interactions, such as the host-parasite systems, mainly in ectotherms including fishes. Rising temperature and CO2are predicted to affect this interaction other and critical physiological processes in fish. Herein, we investigated the effects of different periods of exposure to climate change scenarios and to two degrees of parasitism by monogeneans in the host-parasite interaction, as well as the antioxidant and ionoregulatory responses of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), an important species in South American fishing and aquaculture. We hypothesized that temperature and CO2changes in combination with parasite infection would interfere with the host’s physiological processes that are related to oxidative stress and ionoregulation. We experimentally exposedC. macropomumto low and high levels of parasitism in the current and extreme climate scenarios (4.5 °C and 900 ppm CO2above current levels) for periods of seven and thirty days and we use as analyzed factors; the exposure time, the climate scenario and parasitism level in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial through a three-way ANOVA as being fish the experimental unit (n = 8). An analysis of gill enzymatic and gene expression profile was performed to assess physiological (SOD, GPx and Na+/K+-ATPase enzymes) and molecular (Nrf2, SOD1, HIF-1αandNKAα1a genes) responses. A clear difference in the parasitism levels of individuals exposed to the extreme climate scenario was observed with a rapid and aggressive increase that was higher after 7 days of exposure though showed a decrease after 30 days. The combination of exposure to the extreme climate change scenario and parasitism caused oxidative stress and osmoregulatory disturbance, which was observed through the analysis of gene expression (Nrf2, SOD1, HIF-1αandNKAα1a) and antioxidant and ionoregulatory enzymes (SOD, GPx and Na+/K+-ATPase) on the host, possibly linked to inflammatory processes caused by the high degree of parasitism. In the coming years, these conditions may result in losses of performance for this species, and as such will represent ecological damage and economical losses, and result in a possible vulnerability in relation to food security.
Loss of ZNF677 expression is a predictive biomarker for lymph node metastasis in Middle Eastern Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Siraj Abdul K. , Parvathareddy Sandeep Kumar , Siraj Nabil , Al-Obaisi Khadija , Aldughaither Saud M. , AlManea Hadeel M. , AlHussaini Hussah F. , Al-Dayel Fouad , Al-Kuraya Khawla S.
Published: November 2021

Zinc-finger proteins are transcription factors with a “finger-like” domain that are widely involved in many biological processes. The zinc-finger protein 677 (ZNF677) belongs to the zinc-finger protein family. Previous reports have highlighted the tumor suppressive role of ZNF677 in thyroid and lung cancer. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been explored. ZNF677 protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in a large cohort of 1158 CRC patients. ZNF677 loss of expression was more frequent in CRC tissues (45.3%, 525/1158), when compared to that of normal tissue (5.1%, 11/214) (p < 0.0001) and was associated with mucinous histology (p = 0.0311), advanced pathological stage (p < 0.0001) and lymph node (LN) metastasis (p = 0.0374). Further analysis showed ZNF677 loss to be significantly enriched in LN metastatic CRC compared to overall cohort (p = 0.0258). More importantly, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ZNF677 loss is an independent predictor of LN metastasis in CRC (Odds ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval 1.05–1.87; p = 0.0203).The gain- and loss-of-function studies in CRC cell lines demonstrated that loss of ZNF677 protein expression prominently increased cell proliferation, progression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and conferred chemoresistance, whereas its overexpression reversed the effect. In conclusion, loss of ZNF677 protein expression is common in Middle Eastern CRC and contributes to the prediction of biological aggressiveness of CRC. Therefore, ZNF677 could not only serve as a marker in predicting clinical prognosis in patient with CRC but also as a potential biomarker for personalized targeted therapy.
Identification and field verification of an aggregation pheromone from the white-spotted flower chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis Lewis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Authors: Zhang Xiaofang , Wang Liuyang , Liu Chunqin , Liu Yongqiang , Mei Xiangdong , Wang Zhongyue , Zhang Tao
Published: November 2021

The white-spotted flower chafer (WSFC), Protaetia brevitarsis Lewis, is native to East Asia. Although their larvae are considered a potential resource insect for degrading plant residues, producing protein fodder, and processing to traditional medicine, adult WSFCs inflict damage to dozens of fruit and economic crops. The control of the WSFC still relies heavily on pesticides and the inefficient manual extraction of adults. Here, we report the identification and evaluation of the aggregation pheromone of WSFCs. From the headspace volatiles emitted from WSFC adults, anisole, 4-methylanisole, 2-heptanone and 2-nonanone were identified as WSFC-specific components. However, only anisole and 4-methylanisole elicited positive dose–response relationship in electroantennography tests, and only 4-methylanisole significantly attracted WSFCs of both sexes in olfactometer bioassays and field experiments. These results concluded that 4-methylanisole is the aggregation pheromone of WSFCs. Furthermore, we developed polyethylene vials as long-term dispensers of 4-methylanisole to attract and kill WSFCs. The polyethylene vial lures could effectively attracted WSFCs for more than four weeks. Pheromone-based lures can be developed as an environmentally friendly protocol for monitoring and controlling WSFC adults.
Structure of the bacterial flagellar hook cap provides insights into a hook assembly mechanism
Authors: Matsunami Hideyuki , Yoon Young-Ho , Imada Katsumi , Namba Keiichi , Samatey Fadel A.
Published: November 2021

Assembly of bacterial flagellar hook requires FlgD, a protein known to form the hook cap. Symmetry mismatch between the hook and the hook cap is believed to drive efficient assembly of the hook in a way similar to the filament cap helping filament assembly. However, the hook cap dependent mechanism of hook assembly has remained poorly understood. Here, we report the crystal structure of the hook cap composed of five subunits of FlgD from Salmonella enterica at 3.3 Å resolution. The pentameric structure of the hook cap is divided into two parts: a stalk region composed of five N-terminal domains; and a petal region containing five C-terminal domains. Biochemical and genetic analyses show that the N-terminal domains of the hook cap is essential for the hook-capping function, and the structure now clearly reveals why. A plausible hook assembly mechanism promoted by the hook cap is proposed based on the structure.
The neural representation of absolute direction during mental navigation in conceptual spaces
Authors: Viganò Simone , Rubino Valerio , Buiatti Marco , Piazza Manuela
Published: November 2021

When humans mentally “navigate” bidimensional uniform conceptual spaces, they recruit the same grid-like and distance codes typically evoked when exploring the physical environment. Here, using fMRI, we show evidence that conceptual navigation also elicits another kind of spatial code: that of absolute direction. This code is mostly localized in the medial parietal cortex, where its strength predicts participants’ comparative semantic judgments. It may provide a complementary mechanism for conceptual navigation outside the hippocampal formation.
Modulation of AggR levels reveals features of virulence regulation in enteroaggregative E. coli
Authors: Prieto Alejandro , Bernabeu Manuel , Sánchez-Herrero José Francisco , Pérez-Bosque Anna , Miró Lluïsa , Bäuerl Christine , Collado Carmen , Hüttener Mário , Juárez Antonio
Published: November 2021

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) strains are one of the diarrheagenic pathotypes. EAEC strains harbor a virulence plasmid (pAA2) that encodes, among other virulence determinants, the aggR gene. The expression of the AggR protein leads to the expression of several virulence determinants in both plasmids and chromosomes. In this work, we describe a novel mechanism that influences AggR expression. Because of the absence of a Rho-independent terminator in the 3′UTR, aggR transcripts extend far beyond the aggR ORF. These transcripts are prone to PNPase-mediated degradation. Structural alterations in the 3′UTR result in increased aggR transcript stability, leading to increased AggR levels. We therefore investigated the effect of increased AggR levels on EAEC virulence. Upon finding the previously described AggR-dependent virulence factors, we detected novel AggR-regulated genes that may play relevant roles in EAEC virulence. Mutants exhibiting high AggR levels because of structural alterations in the aggR 3′UTR show increased mobility and increased pAA2 conjugation frequency. Furthermore, among the genes exhibiting increased fold change values, we could identify those of metabolic pathways that promote increased degradation of arginine, fatty acids and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. In this paper, we discuss how the AggR-dependent increase in specific metabolic pathways activity may contribute to EAEC virulence.
Limited-resource preparable chitosan magnetic particles for extracting amplification-ready nucleic acid from complex biofluids
Authors: Tripathy Sayantan , Chalana Ashish Kumar , Talukdar Arunansu , Rajesh P. V. , Saha Abhijit , Pramanik Goutam , Ghosh Souradyuti
Published: November 2021

We present methods for limited-resource-friendly preparation of chitosan magnetic particles that are amenable to ultrasensitive downstream isothermal and conventional nucleic acid amplification tests.
Cell-SELEX-based selection of ssDNA aptamers for specifically targeting BRAF V600E-mutated melanoma
Authors: Li Wanming , Bing Tao , Wang Rui , Jin Sihan , Shangguan Dihua , Chen Hang
Published: November 2021

Malignant melanoma is regarded as the most aggressive form of skin cancer, and is responsible for most death caused by skin cancer.
Copper fumarate with high-bifunctional nanozyme activities at different pH values for glucose and epinephrine colorimetric detection in human serum
Authors: Ying Meihui , Yang Guizeng , Xu Yuanjie , Ye Huiling , Lin Xing , Lu Yi , Pan Haibo , Bai Yang , Du Min
Published: November 2021

A colorimetric sensor based on Cu MOFs with fumaric acid as the ligand shows bifunctional enzyme activities, namely laccase activity at pH = 8 and peroxidase activity at pH = 4.
Multi-tailoring of a modified MOF-derived CuxO electrochemical transducer for enhanced hydrogen peroxide sensing
Authors: Li Junji , Lu Kun-Kun , Xu Lian-Hua , Li Yi-Xuan , Li Han , Shu Guofang , Zhang Xue-Ji , Marks Robert S. , Cosnier Serge , Shan Dan
Published: November 2021

Reasonable control of the redox states within the catalytic units together with the interconnection degrees of the substrate is of great significance in the modulation of a well-performing transducer.
An enhanced fluorescent probe through the strategy of using MgWO4 nanosheets to enhance terbium ion luminescence for highly sensitive and point-of-care visual quantitative testing of ciprofloxacin integrated with a low-cost smartphone-based platform
Authors: Zhang Jingfei , Zhang Yu , Shi Guoyue
Published: November 2021

Schematic representation of the mechanism of Tb3+–MgWO4 enhanced fluorescent probe for point-of-care visual quantitative detection of ciprofloxacin using a smartphone-based portable platform.
In vivo evaluation of bioprinted cardiac patches composed of cardiac-specific extracellular matrix and progenitor cells in a model of pediatric heart failure
Authors: Bejleri Donald , Robeson Matthew J. , Brown Milton E. , Hunter Jervaughn , Maxwell Joshua T. , Streeter Benjamin W. , Brazhkina Olga , Park Hyun-Ji , Christman Karen L. , Davis Michael E.
Published: November 2021

Patches composed of cardiac-specific extracellular matrix and progenitor cells were implanted in a model of heart failure. Matrix inclusion was the most influential parameter driving cardiac therapeutic improvements, with or without cell inclusion.
Slippery nanoemulsion-infused porous surfaces (SNIPS): anti-fouling coatings that can host and sustain the release of water-soluble agents
Authors: Agarwal Harshit , Polaske Thomas J. , Sánchez-Velázquez Gabriel , Blackwell Helen E. , Lynn David M.
Published: November 2021

We report ‘slippery’ nanoemulsion-infused surfaces that are anti-fouling to a range of substances and can host and release water-soluble agents.
Ir-catalyzed proximal and distal C–H borylation of arenes
Authors: Haldar Chabush , Hoque Md Emdadul , Chaturvedi Jagriti , Hassan Mirja Md Mahamudul , Chattopadhyay Buddhadeb
Published: November 2021

Over the past two decades, the C–H bond activation and functionalization reaction has been known as a prevailing method for the construction of carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bonds using various transition metal catalysts.
Discovery of an olivine-type lithium manganese thiophosphate, LiMnPS4, via a building block approach
Authors: Balijapelly Srikanth , Ghosh Kartik , Chernatynskiy Aleksandr V. , Choudhury Amitava
Published: November 2021

An olivine-type orthothiophospate LiMnPS4 has been synthesized for the first time through a building block approach by reacting preformed ternary lithium thiophospate with MnCl2.
A new metal–organic framework based on rare [Zn4F4] cores for efficient separation of C2H2
Authors: Shi Wen-Juan , Li Yong-Zhi , Chen Jing , Su Run-Han , Hou Lei , Wang Yao-Yu , Zhu Zhonghua
Published: November 2021

Assembly via 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate linker and Zn2+ ions afforded a new MOF containing novel [Zn4F4] cubane cores, showing excellent C2H2 separation from C2H2–CO2 and C2H2–CH4 mixtures.
Controlling the unpaired electron by electrostatic attraction in the solid state
Authors: Cui Haiyan , Wang Liting , Ruan Huapeng , Liu Min , Feng Zhongtao , Wang Jie , Zhao Yue , Wang Xinping
Published: November 2021

We demonstrate that the unpaired electron of an organic radical in the solid state can be efficiently controlled by electrostatic attraction.
Intramolecular G-quadruplex-hairpin loop structure competition of a GC-rich exon region in the TMPRSS2 gene
Authors: Sugimoto Wataru , Kinoshita Natsuki , Nakata Minori , Ohyama Tatsuya , Tateishi-Karimata Hisae , Nishikata Takahito , Sugimoto Naoki , Miyoshi Daisuke , Kawauchi Keiko
Published: November 2021

We identified cytosine-rich regions adjacent to guanine-rich regions in the TMPRSS2 gene, which showed structural competition between a G-quadruplex and a hairpin loop. Furthermore, this competition significantly affected transcription efficiency.
Facile formation of giant elastin-like polypeptide vesicles as synthetic cells
Authors: Sharma Bineet , Ma Yutao , Hiraki Harrison L , Baker Brendon M , Ferguson Andrew L , Liu Allen P
Published: November 2021

We demonstrate the facile and robust generation of giant peptide vesicles by using an emulsion transfer method.
Intermediates and mechanism in iron-catalyzed C–H methylation with trimethylaluminum
Authors: Bhatia Shilpa , DeMuth Joshua C. , Neidig Michael L.
Published: November 2021

Iron-catalyzed C–H methylation with organoaluminum reagents accesses reactive cyclometalated iron(ii) intermediates.
cis-3-Azido-2-methoxyindolines as safe and stable precursors to overcome the instability of fleeting 3-azidoindoles
Authors: Yamashiro Toshiki , Abe Takumi , Tanioka Masaru , Kamino Shinichiro , Sawada Daisuke
Published: November 2021

We have developed 3-azido-2-methoxyindolines (AZINs) as user-friendly, bench-stable, thermally stable and reactive 3-azidoindole surrogates for the first time.
Acid-catalysed iterative generation of o-quinone methides for the synthesis of dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes: total synthesis of myristicyclins A–B
Authors: Gharpure Santosh J. , Jegadeesan S. , Vishwakarma Dharmendra S.
Published: November 2021

An iterative generation of o-QM/[4+2] cycloaddition/intermolecular Michael addition/cyclative acetalization cascade for the synthesis of dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane is developed. It was used in gram-scale total synthesis of (±)-myristicyclins A–B.
Translational dependence of the geometry of metallic mono- and bilayers optimized on semi-ionic supports: the cases of Pd on γ-Al2O3(110), monoclinic ZrO2(001), and rutile TiO2(001)
Authors: Rybakov A. A. , Larin V. A. , Trubnikov D. N. , Todorova S. , Larin A. V.
Published: November 2021

Geometries and cohesion energies while shifting (by 1 Å)/optimizing the Pd24 monolayer (2 × 2 unit cells) at γ-Al2O3(110) along the OX axis.
Photoinduced quasi-2D to 3D phase transformation in hybrid halide perovskite nanoplatelets
Authors: Roy Mrinmoy , Vikram  , Bhawna  , Alam Aftab , Aslam M.
Published: November 2021

Photoinduced phase transformation of hybrid halide perovskites from few-monolayer nanoplatelets to bulk phase.
Strain-engineering on GeSe: Raman spectroscopy study
Authors: Wang Jin-Jin , Zhao Yi-Feng , Zheng Jun-Ding , Wang Xiao-Ting , Deng Xing , Guan Zhao , Ma Ru-Ru , Zhong Ni , Yue Fang-Yu , Wei Zhong-Ming , Xiang Ping-Hua , Duan Chun-Gang
Published: November 2021

GeSe has unique photoelectric properties and an adjustable band gap. We report a detailed anisotropic Raman study of GeSe flakes under uniaxial tension strain. We achieved effective control of the GeSe lattice, modulating its anisotropic electric and optical properties.
Structural and mechanistic insights into low-temperature CO oxidation over a prototypical high entropy oxide by Cu L-edge operando soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Tavani Francesco , Fracchia Martina , Tofoni Alessandro , Braglia Luca , Jouve Andrea , Morandi Sara , Manzoli Maela , Torelli Piero , Ghigna Paolo , D'Angelo Paola
Published: November 2021

The properties of the relevant intermediates towards low-temperature CO oxidation at the surface of a high entropy oxide have been determined with a combined operando XAS and DFT analysis.
Quantum interference in the mechanism of H + LiH+ → H2 + Li+ reaction dynamics
Authors: Sahoo Jayakrushna , Rawat Ajay Mohan Singh , Mahapatra S.
Published: November 2021

Quantum interference due to coherence between partial waves – a tool to elucidate statistical/non-statistical nature of chemical reaction.
Silica nanomaterials and earthworms synergistically regulate maize root metabolite profiles via promoting soil Si bioavailability
Authors: Ma Weisheng , Yue Le , Chen Feiran , Ji Haihua , Fan Ningke , Liu Manqiang , Xiao Zhenggao , Wang Zhenyu
Published: November 2021

Silica nanomaterials and earthworms synergistically increased Si content and reprogrammed sugar and amino acid metabolism in maize root tissues.
Surveillance and seasonal correlation of rotavirus A with coliphages and coliforms in two sewage impacted lakes in highly urbanized regions of western India
Authors: Pisharody Lakshmi , Suresh Sumathi , Mukherji Suparna
Published: November 2021

This is the first study, to the best of our knowledge, to quantify the seasonal variation of viral load in Indian surface water bodies.