bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing the polar auxin transport model with a selective plasma membrane H+‐ATPase inhibitor
Authors: Yang Yongqing , Liu Xiaohui , Guo Wei , Liu Wei , Shao Wei , Zhao Jun , Li Junhong , Dong Qing , Ma Liang , He Qun , Li Yingzhang , Han Jianyong , Lei Xiaoguang
Published: March 2022

Auxin is unique among plant hormones in that its function requires polarized transport across plant cells. A chemiosmotic model was proposed to explain how polar auxin transport is derived by the H+ gradient across the plasma membrane (PM) established by PM H+‐adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases). However, a classical genetic approach by mutations in PM H+‐ATPase members did not result in the ablation of polar auxin distribution, possibly due to functional redundancy in this gene family. To confirm the crucial role of PM H+‐ATPases in the polar auxin transport model, we employed a chemical genetic approach. Through a chemical screen, we identified protonstatin‐1 (PS‐1), a selective small‐molecule inhibitor of PM H+‐ATPase activity that inhibits auxin transport. Assays with transgenic plants and yeast strains showed that the activity of PM H+‐ATPases affects auxin uptake as well as acropetal and basipetal polar auxin transport. We propose that PS‐1 can be used as a tool to interrogate the function of PM H+‐ATPases. Our results support the chemiosmotic model in which PM H+‐ATPase itself plays a fundamental role in polar auxin transport.
BAK1 plays contrasting roles in regulating abscisic acid‐induced stomatal closure and abscisic acid‐inhibited primary root growth in Arabidopsis
Authors: Deng Jinping , Kong Lingyao , Zhu Yinhua , Pei Dan , Chen Xuexue , Wang Yu , Qi Junsheng , Song Chunpeng , Yang Shuhua , Gong Zhizhong
Published: March 2022

The mechanisms that balance plant growth and stress responses are poorly understood, but they appear to involve abscisic acid (ABA) signaling mediated by protein kinases. Here, to explore these mechanisms, we examined the responses of Arabidopsis thaliana protein kinase mutants to ABA treatment. We found that mutants of BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1‐ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (BAK1) were hypersensitive to the effects of ABA on both seed germination and primary root growth. The kinase OPEN STOMATA 1 (OST1) was more highly activated by ABA in bak1 mutant than the wild type. BAK1 was not activated by ABA treatment in the dominant negative mutant abi1‐1 or the pyr1 pyl4 pyl5 pyl8 quadruple mutant, but it was more highly activated by this treatment in the abi1‐2 abi2‐2 hab1‐1 loss‐of‐function triple mutant than the wild type. BAK1 phosphorylates OST1 T146 and inhibits its activity. Genetic analyses suggested that BAK1 acts at or upstream of core components in the ABA signaling pathway, including PYLs, PP2Cs, and SnRK2s, during seed germination and primary root growth. Although the upstream brassinosteroid (BR) signaling components BAK1 and BR INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) positively regulate ABA‐induced stomatal closure, mutations affecting downstream components of BR signaling, including BRASSINOSTEROID‐SIGNALING KINASEs (BSKs) and BRASSINOSTEROID‐INSENSITIVE 2 (BIN2), did not affect ABA‐mediated stomatal movement. Thus, our study uncovered an important role of BAK1 in negatively regulating ABA signaling during seed germination and primary root growth, but positively modulating ABA‐induced stomatal closure, thus optimizing the plant growth under drought stress.
‘Paper care not patient care’: Nurse and patient experiences of comprehensive risk assessment and care plan documentation in hospital
Authors: Paterson Catherine , Roberts Cara , Bail Kasia
Published: March 2022

Aims and Objectives

To explore organisation‐wide experiences of person‐centred care and risk assessment practices using existing healthcare organisation documentation.

Background

There is increasing emphasis on multidimensional risk assessments during hospital admission. However, little is known about how nurses use multidimensional assessment documentation in clinical practice to address preventable harms and optimise person‐centred care.

Design

A qualitative descriptive study reported according to COREQ.

Methods

Metropolitan tertiary hospital and rehabilitation hospital servicing a population of 550,000. A sample of 111 participants (12 patients, 4 family members/carers, 94 nurses and 1 allied health professional) from a range of wards/clinical locations. Semi‐structured interviews and focus groups were conducted at two time points. The audio recording was transcribed, and an inductive thematic analysis was used to provide insight from multiple perspectives.

Results

Three main themes emerged: (1) ‘What works well in practice’ included: efficiency in the structure of the documentation; the Introduction, Situation, Background Assessment, Recommendation (ISBAR) framework and prompting for clinical decision‐making were valued by nurses; and direct patient care is always prioritised. (2) ‘What does not work well in practice’: obtaining the patient's signature on daily care plans; multidisciplinary (MDT) involvement; duplication of paperwork and person‐centred goals are not well‐captured in care plan documentation. (3) ‘Experience of care’; satisfaction of person‐centred care; communication in the MDT was important, but sometimes insufficient; patients had variable involvement in their daily care plan; and inadequate integration of care between MDT team which negatively impacted patients.

Conclusions

Efficient and streamlined documentation systems should herald feedback from nurses to address their clinical workflow needs and can support, and capture, their decision‐making that enables partnership with patients to improve the individualisation of care provision.

Relevance to clinical practice

The integration of effective MDT involvement in clinical documentation was problematic and resulted in unmet supportive care from the patient's perspective.
Inferior fronto‐occipital fascicle displacement in temporoinsular gliomas using diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Camins Àngels , Naval‐Baudin Pablo , Majós Carles , Sierpowska Joanna , Sanmillan Jose L , Cos Mónica , Rodriguez‐Fornells Antoni , Gabarrós Andreu
Published: March 2022

Background and Purpose

Brain tumors can result in displacement or destruction of important white matter tracts such as the inferior fronto‐occipital fascicle (IFOF). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can assess the extent of this effect and potentially provide neurosurgeons with an accurate map to guide tumor resection; analyze IFOF displacement patterns in temporoinsular gliomas based on tumor grading and topography in the temporal lobe; and assess whether these patterns follow a predictable pattern, to assist in maximal tumor resection while preserving IFOF function.

Methods

Thirty‐four patients with temporal gliomas and available presurgical MRI were recruited. Twenty‐two had insula infiltration. DTI deterministic region of interest (ROI)‐based tractography was performed using commercial software. Tumor topographic imaging characteristics analyzed were as follows: location in the temporal lobe and extent of extratemporal involvement. Qualitative tractographic data obtained from directional DTI color maps included type of involvement (displaced/edematous‐infiltrated/destroyed) and displacement direction. Quantitative tractographic data of ipsi‐ and contralateral IFOF included whole tract volume, fractional anisotropy, and fractional anisotropy of a 2‐dimensional coronal ROI on the tract at the point of maximum tumor involvement.

Results

The most common tract involvement pattern was edematous/infiltrative displacement. Displacement patterns depended on main tumor location in the temporal lobe and presence of insular involvement. All tumors showed superior displacement pattern. In lateral tumors, displacement tendency was medial. In medial tumors, displacement tendency was lateral. When we add insular involvement, the tendency was more medial displacement. A qualitative and quantitative assessment supported these results.

Conclusions

IFOF displacement patterns are reproducible and suitable for temporoinsular gliomas presurgical planning.
Oxacillinases and antimicrobial susceptibility of Ralstonia pickettii from pharmaceutical water systems in Croatia
Authors: Batarilo I. , Maravic-Vlahovicek G. , Bedenic B. , Kazazic S. , Bingulac-Popovic J. , Slade-Vitkovic M. , Katić S. , Jukic I.
Published: March 2022

This study evaluated antibiotic susceptibility and presence of blaOXA22 and blaOXA60 genes in 81 isolates of Ralstonia pickettii obtained from different purified and ultra-pure water systems in two different geographical areas of Croatia. E-test and disc diffusion test were performed to determine antibiotic susceptibility. Polymerase chain reaction was applied to detect genes encoding OXA-22 and OXA-60 oxacillinases previously identified in R. pickettii. The isolates were genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The results revealed variable susceptibility/resistance profiles. Our isolates exhibited high susceptibility rates to ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, piperacillin-tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, cefepime and in lesser extent to ceftazidime. High rates of susceptibility were also observed for sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim and piperacillin. High resistance rates were noticed for ticarcillin-clavulanate, aztreonam and meropenem, as well as for all aminoglycosides tested. Modified Hodge test was positive in 51·9% strains, indicating production of carbapenemases. blaOXA22 and blaOXA60 genes were detected in 37·0 and 80·3% strains, respectively. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis identified three major clusters containing subclusters. R. pickettii should be taken seriously as a possible cause of nosocomial infections to ensure adequate therapy, to prevent the development of resistant strains and to try to reduce the possibility of R. pickettii surviving in clean and ultra clean water systems.
The impact of technology use on adolescents' leisure reading preferences
Authors: Loh Chin Ee , Sun Baoqi
Published: March 2022

There is worldwide concern about the decline in children and adolescent enjoyment of reading as documented by international and national surveys, with smartphones and other technologies often blamed for the decline. Yet, with recent rapid improvements in technologies for reading, the accelerated adoption of devices for learning during the pandemic and increased access to e‐books through the public library system in Singapore, the relationship between adolescent technology use and reading may be more complex than is typically painted in popular press. This mixed‐methods study seeks to make current an understanding of adolescent reading in relation to technology by exploring adolescents' preferred reading devices, their use of technology for reading and their use of public e‐resources for reading. In this study, adolescents preferred using their smartphones over print forms for reading and preferred to read social media online. E‐books accessed freely through the public library were under‐utilised, and adolescents reported lack of knowledge or experience about how to look for reading resources online. Findings suggest an intentional and nuanced approach is needed to create an ecosystem of opportunities for adolescents to have meaningful reading experiences in print and digitally.
Seasonal variation and intra urban heterogeneity of the entomological risk of transmission of dengue and yellow fever in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Guindo‐Coulibaly Négnorogo , Kpan Mintokapieu Didier Stephane , Adja Akré Maurice , Kouadio Affoué Mireille Nadia , Assouho Konan Fabrice , Zoh Dounin Danielle , Azongnibo Konan Rodolphe Mardoché , Remoue Franck , Fournet Florence
Published: March 2022

Dengue and yellow fever are prevalent in Côte d'Ivoire and Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus), (Diptera: Culicidae), is known as the main vector. We aimed to assess seasonal variation and spatial heterogeneity in the transmission of both arbovirus diseases in Abidjan. Entomological surveys targeting larvae of A. aegypti, were carried out between November 2015 and August 2016 covering the four climatic seasons including a cohort of 100 houses randomly selected in three neighbourhoods. A. aegypti was the predominant species (96.6%) of mosquitoes resulting from the rearing of harvested larvae, and the only vector of dengue and yellow fever recorded during the study period. The highest proportion of water storage containers (45.5%) which represented the major breeding sites infested by the larvae of A. aegypti, was observed in Anoumabo. The house indices >5% and/or Breteau indices >20 recorded in each neighbourhood, during the different climatic seasons, indicated that there was, a high and permanent, heterogeneity in the transmission risk of dengue and yellow fever between the three neighbourhoods. In terms of transmission risk, Anoumabo was the neighbourhood with the highest risk compared to the two others, then, particular attention should be paid to this site in terms of surveillance by vector control programme in Abidjan.
Disentangling the effects of trait and state worry on error‐related brain activity: Results from a randomized controlled trial using worry manipulations
Authors: Härpfer Kai , Carsten Hannes Per , Löwisch Kim , Westermann Nele , Riesel Anja
Published: March 2022

Enhanced amplitudes of the error‐related negativity (ERN) have been suggested to be a transdiagnostic neural risk marker for internalizing psychopathology. Previous studies propose worry to be an underlying mechanism driving the association between enhanced ERN and anxiety. The present preregistered study focused on disentangling possible effects of trait and state worry on the ERN by utilizing a cross sectional observational and a longitudinal randomized controlled experimental design. To this end, we examined the ERN of n = 90 students during a flanker task (T0), which were then randomly assigned to one of three groups (worry induction, worry reduction, passive control group). Following the intervention, participants performed another flanker task (T1) to determine potential alterations of their ERN. Manipulation checks revealed that compared to the control group, state worry increased in the induction but also in the reduction group. ERN amplitudes did not vary as a function of state worry. An association of trait worry with larger ERN amplitudes was only observed in females. Furthermore, we found larger ERN amplitudes in participants with a current or lifetime diagnosis of internalizing disorders. In summary, our findings suggest that the ERN seems to be insensitive to variations in state worry, but that an elevated ERN is associated with the trait‐like tendency to worry and internalizing psychopathology, which is consistent with the notion that the ERN likely represents a trait‐like neural risk associated with anxiety.
Hemodiafiltration in developing countries
Authors: Kusirisin Prit , Srisawat Nattachai
Published: March 2022

Hemodiafiltration (HDF) is a promising kidney replacement therapy modality for patients with end‐stage kidney disease. The principle of uremic toxin clearance by combining convection and diffusion can lead to greater benefits compared to conventional hemodialysis. Evidence is building that supports the advantages of HDF with short‐term outcomes such as greater intradialytic hemodynamic stability, improved nutritional status, attenuation of anemia, and reduction of inflammatory cytokines which produce improved key long‐term impacts including survival and cardiovascular outcomes. Very little is known about the prevalence of HDF treatments in developing countries due to a shortage of national kidney registries. HDF experience is limited in many countries due to the cost of dialysis treatments, availability of online HDF machines, and reimbursement policies. These obstacles have led to nephrologists developing innovations, for example, convective control HDF (CC‐HDF), simple mid‐dilution, and simple mixed‐dilution methods, which may be as effective as commercially available HDF machines. In this article, we will focus on the experience of HDF practice and barriers to adoption in developing countries. Results can guide clinical practice recommendations for implementing HDF in resource‐limited settings.
Research hotspots and emerging trends of automated peritoneal dialysis: A bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2020
Authors: Tong Yan , Wang Hong , Cao Xueying , Cai Guangyan , Chen Xiangmei , Zhou Jianhui
Published: March 2022

Background

The implementation of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) has considerably increased in many countries. We conducted a bibliometric analysis to evaluate the accumulating studies on APD in the last two decades quantitatively and qualitatively.

Methods

Publications regarding APD research between 2000 and 2020 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database by using the index term “automated peritoneal dialysis.” CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and an online platform were employed to analyze the number of publications and the collaboration relationships between countries, institutions, authors, and co‐cited journals. Cluster analysis and burst keywords detection were performed on co‐cited references and keywords, respectively.

Results

We obtained a record of 545 publications related to APD in total. The United States was the country that contributes most, and Baxter Healthcare Corporation was the leading institution. Peritoneal Dialysis International was the most active journals in this field. Claudio Ranco was the most productive author, and Simon J Davies ranked the first in the cited authors. Co‐cited reference cluster analysis and high frequency keywords showed that survival, ultrafiltration and peritonitis are continuous hot topics. While remote monitoring (RM) and telemedicine may be APD research frontiers according to burst keywords detection.

Conclusion

This bibliometric study provides comprehensive overview on the publications of APD over the past two decades. These findings help to identify the hotspots and explore new directions for future research. RM has become an emerging trend in APD field.
TRUEE; a bioinformatic pipeline to define the functional microRNA targetome of Arabidopsis
Authors: Wong Gigi Y. , Millar Anthony A.
Published: March 2022

Central to plant microRNA (miRNA) biology is the identification of functional miRNA‐target interactions (MTIs). However, the complementarity basis of bioinformatic target prediction results in mostly false positives, and the degree of complementarity does not equate with regulation. Here, we develop a bioinformatic workflow named TRUEE (Targets Ranked Using Experimental Evidence) that ranks MTIs on the extent to which they are subjected to miRNA‐mediated cleavage. It sorts predicted targets into high (HE) and low evidence (LE) groupings based on the frequency and strength of miRNA‐guided cleavage degradome signals across multiple degradome experiments. From this, each target is assigned a numerical value, termed a Category Score, ranking the extent to which it is subjected to miRNA‐mediated cleavage. As a proof‐of‐concept, the 428 Arabidopsis miRNAs annotated in miRBase were processed through the TRUEE pipeline to determine the miRNA ‘targetome’. The majority of high‐ranking Category Score targets corresponded to highly conserved MTIs, validating the workflow. Very few Arabidopsis‐specific, Brassicaceae‐specific, or Conserved‐passenger miRNAs had HE targets with high Category Scores. In total, only several hundred MTIs were found to have Category Scores characteristic of currently known physiologically significance MTIs. Although non‐exhaustive, clearly the number of functional MTIs is much narrower than many studies claim. Therefore, using TRUEE to numerically rank targets  directly on experimental evidence has given insights into the scope of the functional miRNA targetome of Arabidopsis.
Minimising donor‐site morbidity following limbs' injuries with keystone perforator island flap reconstruction
Authors: Virág Timea H. , Muntean Maximilian V. , Georgescu Alexandru V.
Published: March 2022

Plastic surgeons strive to choose better techniques to reconstruct the defects of the limbs, minimising the wound healing problems, improving the aesthetic and functional outcome with less complications. This study refers to the use of keystone perforator island flap (KPIF) in limbs' reconstruction, their harvesting technique to minimise donor‐site morbidity, maximise the functional and cosmetic outcome, and will point on the most important indications and advantages. Between January 2014 and June 2020, a number of 28 cases were treated in our department, with simple or complex defects of the limbs. The database included patients' demographics, comorbidities, aetiology, characteristics of the flap, surgical factors, follow‐up period and flap outcomes. We performed 28 KPIFs, 14 of type I, 12 of type IIA, 1 of type III, and 1 of type IV, with an average size of 69 cm2 (ranged from 1.25 cm2 to 318 cm2). Trauma was the major cause of the defects. One flap exhibited approximately 4% partial superficial necrosis. All donor sites healed without any adverse events. All patients were satisfied with the functional and aesthetic results. The KPIFs provide a simple and effective method of wound closure by using tissues of similar texture, thickness and colour. Preserving the main artery and the underlying muscle, this flap reduces the donor site morbidity. The use of KPIFs seems to be one of the most suitable choices whenever possible.
Formation of cellular close-ended tunneling nanotubes through mechanical deformation
Authors: Chang Minhyeok , Lee O-chul , Bu Gayun , Oh Jaeho , Yunn Na-Oh , Ryu Sung Ho , Kwon Hyung-Bae , Kolomeisky Anatoly B. , Shim Sang-Hee , Doh Junsang , Jeon Jae-Hyung , Lee Jong-Bong
Published: March 2022

Membrane nanotubes or tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) that connect cells have been recognized as a previously unidentified pathway for intercellular transport between distant cells. However, it is unknown how this delicate structure, which extends over tens of micrometers and remains robust for hours, is formed. Here, we found that a TNT develops from a double filopodial bridge (DFB) created by the physical contact of two filopodia through helical deformation of the DFB. The transition of a DFB to a close-ended TNT is most likely triggered by disruption of the adhesion of two filopodia by mechanical energy accumulated in a twisted DFB when one of the DFB ends is firmly attached through intercellular cadherin-cadherin interactions. These studies pinpoint the mechanistic questions about TNTs and elucidate a formation mechanism.
The glucocorticoid receptor associates with the cohesin loader NIPBL to promote long-range gene regulation
Authors: Rinaldi Lorenzo , Fettweis Gregory , Kim Sohyoung , Garcia David A. , Fujiwara Saori , Johnson Thomas A. , Tettey Theophilus T. , Ozbun Laurent , Pegoraro Gianluca , Puglia Michele , Blagoev Blagoy , Upadhyaya Arpita , Stavreva Diana A. , Hager Gordon L.
Published: March 2022

The cohesin complex is central to chromatin looping, but mechanisms by which these long-range chromatin interactions are formed and persist remain unclear. We demonstrate that interactions between a transcription factor (TF) and the cohesin loader NIPBL regulate enhancer-dependent gene activity. Using mass spectrometry, genome mapping, and single-molecule tracking methods, we demonstrate that the glucocorticoid (GC) receptor (GR) interacts with NIPBL and the cohesin complex at the chromatin level, promoting loop extrusion and long-range gene regulation. Real-time single-molecule experiments show that loss of cohesin markedly diminishes the concentration of TF molecules at specific nuclear confinement sites, increasing TF local concentration and promoting gene regulation. Last, patient-derived acute myeloid leukemia cells harboring cohesin mutations exhibit a reduced response to GCs, suggesting that the GR-NIPBL-cohesin interaction is defective in these patients, resulting in poor response to GC treatment.
Comb-type polymer-hybridized MXene nanosheets dispersible in arbitrary polar, nonpolar, and ionic solvents
Authors: Park Gyeong Seok , Ho Dong Hae , Lyu Benzheng , Jeon Seungbae , Ryu Du Yeol , Kim Dae Woo , Lee Namkon , Kim Sungwook , Song Young Jae , Jo Sae Byeok , Cho Jeong Ho
Published: March 2022

Solution-based processing of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials is highly desirable, especially for the low-temperature large-area fabrication of flexible multifunctional devices. MXenes, an emerging family of 2D materials composed of transition metal carbides, carbonitrides, or nitrides, provide excellent electrical and electrochemical properties through aqueous processing. Here, we further expand the horizon of MXene processing by introducing a polymeric superdispersant for MXene nanosheets. Segmented anchor-spacer structures of a comb-type polymer, polycarboxylate ether (PCE), provide polymer grafting–like steric spacings over the van der Waals range of MXene surfaces, thereby reducing the colloidal interactions by the order of 10
3
, regardless of solvent. An unprecedented broad dispersibility window for Ti
3
C
2
T

x

MXene, covering polar, nonpolar, and even ionic solvents, was achieved. Furthermore, close PCE entanglements in MXene@PCE composite films resulted in highly robust properties upon prolonged mechanical and humidity stresses.
Intrinsically stretchable electronics with ultrahigh deformability to monitor dynamically moving organs
Authors: Wang Shaolei , Nie Yuanyuan , Zhu Hangyu , Xu Yurui , Cao Shitai , Zhang Jiaxue , Li Yanyan , Wang Jianhui , Ning Xinghai , Kong Desheng
Published: March 2022

Intrinsically stretchable electronics represent an attractive platform for next-generation implantable devices by reducing the mechanical mismatch and the immune responses with biological tissues. Despite extensive efforts, soft implantable electronic devices often exhibit an obvious trade-off between electronic performances and mechanical deformability because of limitations of commonly used compliant electronic materials. Here, we introduce a scalable approach to create intrinsically stretchable and implantable electronic devices featuring the deployment of liquid metal components for ultrahigh stretchability up to 400% tensile strain and excellent durability against repetitive deformations. The device architecture further shows long-term stability under physiological conditions, conformal attachments to internal organs, and low interfacial impedance. Successful electrophysiological mapping on rapidly beating hearts demonstrates the potential of intrinsically stretchable electronics for widespread applications in health monitoring, disease diagnosis, and medical therapies.
CHK1 phosphorylates PRIMPOL to promote replication stress tolerance
Authors: Mehta Kavi P. M. , Thada Vaughn , Zhao Runxiang , Krishnamoorthy Archana , Leser Micheal , Lindsey Rose Kristie , Cortez David
Published: March 2022

Replication-coupled DNA repair and damage tolerance mechanisms overcome replication stress challenges and complete DNA synthesis. These pathways include fork reversal, translesion synthesis, and repriming by specialized polymerases such as PRIMPOL. Here, we investigated how these pathways are used and regulated in response to varying replication stresses. Blocking lagging-strand priming using a POLα inhibitor slows both leading- and lagging-strand synthesis due in part to RAD51-, HLTF-, and ZRANB3-mediated, but SMARCAL1-independent, fork reversal. ATR is activated, but CHK1 signaling is dampened compared to stalling both the leading and lagging strands with hydroxyurea. Increasing CHK1 activation by overexpressing CLASPIN in POLα-inhibited cells promotes replication elongation through PRIMPOL-dependent repriming. CHK1 phosphorylates PRIMPOL to promote repriming irrespective of the type of replication stress, and this phosphorylation is important for cellular resistance to DNA damage. However, PRIMPOL activation comes at the expense of single-strand gap formation, and constitutive PRIMPOL activity results in reduced cell fitness.
Paleozoic origins of cheilostome bryozoans and their parental care inferred by a new genome-skimmed phylogeny
Authors: Orr Russell J. S. , Di Martino Emanuela , Ramsfjell Mali H. , Gordon Dennis P. , Berning Björn , Chowdhury Ismael , Craig Sean , Cumming Robyn L. , Figuerola Blanca , Florence Wayne , Harmelin Jean-Georges , Hirose Masato , Huang Danwei , Jain Sudhanshi S. , Jenkins Helen L. , Kotenko Olga N. , Kuklinski Piotr , Lee Hannah E. , Madurell Teresa , McCann Linda , Mello Hannah L. , Obst Matthias , Ostrovsky Andrew N. , Paulay Gustav , Porter Joanne S. , Shunatova Natalia N. , Smith Abigail M. , Souto-Derungs Javier , Vieira Leandro M. , Voje Kjetil L. , Waeschenbach Andrea , Zágoršek Kamil , Warnock Rachel C. M. , Liow Lee Hsiang
Published: March 2022

Phylogenetic relationships and the timing of evolutionary events are essential for understanding evolution on longer time scales. Cheilostome bryozoans are a group of ubiquitous, species-rich, marine colonial organisms with an excellent fossil record but lack phylogenetic relationships inferred from molecular data. We present genome-skimmed data for 395 cheilostomes and combine these with 315 published sequences to infer relationships and the timing of key events among c. 500 cheilostome species. We find that named cheilostome genera and species are phylogenetically coherent, rendering fossil or contemporary specimens readily delimited using only skeletal morphology. Our phylogeny shows that parental care in the form of brooding evolved several times independently but was never lost in cheilostomes. Our fossil calibration, robust to varied assumptions, indicates that the cheilostome lineage and parental care therein could have Paleozoic origins, much older than the first known fossil record of cheilostomes in the Late Jurassic.
Soft robotic origami crawler
Authors: Ze Qiji , Wu Shuai , Nishikawa Jun , Dai Jize , Sun Yue , Leanza Sophie , Zemelka Cole , Novelino Larissa S. , Paulino Glaucio H. , Zhao Ruike Renee
Published: March 2022

Biomimetic soft robotic crawlers have attracted extensive attention in various engineering fields, owing to their adaptivity to different terrains. Earthworm-like crawlers realize locomotion through in-plane contraction, while inchworm-like crawlers exhibit out-of-plane bending-based motions. Although in-plane contraction crawlers demonstrate effective motion in confined spaces, miniaturization is challenging because of limited actuation methods and complex structures. Here, we report a magnetically actuated small-scale origami crawler with in-plane contraction. The contraction mechanism is achieved through a four-unit Kresling origami assembly consisting of two Kresling dipoles with two-level symmetry. Magnetic actuation is used to provide appropriate torque distribution, enabling a small-scale and untethered robot with both crawling and steering capabilities. The crawler can overcome large resistances from severely confined spaces by its anisotropic and magnetically tunable structural stiffness. The multifunctionality of the crawler is explored by using the internal cavity of the crawler for drug storage and release. The magnetic origami crawler can potentially serve as a minimally invasive device for biomedical applications.
The role of user preference in the customized control of robotic exoskeletons
Authors: Ingraham K. A. , Remy C. D. , Rouse E. J.
Published: March 2022

User preference is a promising objective for the control of robotic exoskeletons because it may capture the multifactorial nature of exoskeleton use. However, to use it, we must first understand its characteristics in the context of exoskeleton control. Here, we systematically measured the control preferences of individuals wearing bilateral ankle exoskeletons during walking. We investigated users’ repeatability identifying their preferences and how preference changes with walking speed, device exposure, and between individuals with different technical backgrounds. Twelve naive and 12 knowledgeable nondisabled participants identified their preferred assistance in repeated trials by simultaneously self-tuning the magnitude and timing of peak torque. They were blinded to the control parameters and relied solely on their perception of the assistance to guide their tuning. We found that participants’ preferences ranged from 7.9 to 19.4 newton-meters and 54.1 to 59.2 percent of the gait cycle. Across trials, participants repeatably identified their preferences with a mean standard deviation of 1.7 newton-meters and 1.5 percent of the gait cycle. Within a trial, participants converged on their preference in 105 seconds. As the experiment progressed, naive users preferred higher torque magnitude. At faster walking speeds, these individuals were more precise at identifying the magnitude of their preferred assistance. Knowledgeable users preferred higher torque than naive users. These results highlight that although preference is a dynamic quantity, individuals can reliably identify their preferences. This work motivates strategies for the control of lower limb exoskeletons in which individuals customize assistance according to their unique preferences and provides meaningful insight into how users interact with exoskeletons.
Preclinical upper limb neurorobotic platform to assess, rehabilitate, and develop therapies
Authors: Pasquini Maria , James Nicholas D. , Dewany Inssia , Coen Florent-Valéry , Cho Newton , Lai Stefano , Anil Selin , Carpaneto Jacopo , Barraud Quentin , Lacour Stéphanie P. , Micera Silvestro , Courtine Grégoire
Published: March 2022

Numerous neurorehabilitative, neuroprosthetic, and repair interventions aim to address the consequences of upper limb impairments after neurological disorders. Although these therapies target widely different mechanisms, they share the common need for a preclinical platform that supports the development, assessment, and understanding of the therapy. Here, we introduce a neurorobotic platform for rats that meets these requirements. A four-degree-of-freedom end effector is interfaced with the rat’s wrist, enabling unassisted to fully assisted execution of natural reaching and retrieval movements covering the entire body workspace. Multimodal recording capabilities permit precise quantification of upper limb movement recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI), which allowed us to uncover adaptations in corticospinal tract neuron dynamics underlying this recovery. Personalized movement assistance supported early neurorehabilitation that improved recovery after SCI. Last, the platform provided a well-controlled and practical environment to develop an implantable spinal cord neuroprosthesis that improved upper limb function after SCI.
The trillion dollar vaccine gap
Authors: Pecetta Simone , Tortorice Daniel , Scorza Francesco Berlanda , Pizza Mariagrazia , Dougan Gordon , Hatchett Richard , Black Steve , Bloom David E. , Rappuoli Rino
Published: March 2022

New technologies and unprecedented public investment have transformed vaccine development and allowed fast delivery of safe and efficacious COVID-19 vaccines, mitigating the impact of the pandemic on health and the economy. A quantum change in public investment for vaccine development and widespread vaccine distribution are necessary to achieve global pandemic preparedness.
The Stickland Reaction Precursor
trans
-4-Hydroxy-
l
-Proline Differentially Impacts the Metabolism of Clostridioides difficile and Commensal
Clostridia
Authors: Reed A. D. , Fletcher J. R. , Huang Y. Y. , Thanissery R. , Rivera A. J. , Parsons R. J. , Stewart A. K. , Kountz D. J. , Shen A. , Balskus E. P. , Theriot C. M.
Published: March 2022

Proline is an essential environmental amino acid that
C. difficile
uses to support growth and cause significant disease. A posttranslationally modified form, hydroxyproline, is highly abundant in collagen, which is degraded by host proteases in response to
C. difficile
toxin activity.
Effects of COVID-19 on Blood Culture Contamination at a Tertiary Care Academic Medical Center
Authors: Sacchetti Brianna , Travis Justin , Steed Lisa L. , Webb Ginny
Published: March 2022

Understanding factors that contribute to blood culture contamination is important in order to take steps to limit contamination events. Here, we examine the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on blood culture contamination rates and specifically detail the effects based on the staff, draw types, and unit types. The conclusions provided here can be used as hospitals and laboratories navigate the COVID-19 pandemic or other times of high patient volume.
Genetic Diversity and Pathogenic Features in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from Patients with Pyogenic Liver Abscess and Pneumonia
Authors: Gan Lin , Yan Chao , Cui Jinghua , Xue Guanhua , Fu Hanyu , Du Bing , Zhao Hanqing , Feng Junxia , Feng Yanling , Fan Zheng , Mao Pan , Fu Tongtong , Xu Ziying , Du Shuheng , Liu Shiyu , Zhang Rui , Zhang Qun , Li Nannan , Cui Xiaohu , Li Xiaoran , Zhou Yao , Huang Lei , Yuan Jing
Published: March 2022

While
Klebsiella pneumoniae
is a common cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections, including pneumonia and pyogenic liver abscess, little is known about the population structure of this bacterium. We collected 232 isolates from carriers, pyogenic liver abscess patients, and pneumonia patients, and the isolates from different sources had their own sequence types.
Update on SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant of Concern and Its Peculiar Mutational Profile
Authors: Alkhatib Mohammad , Salpini Romina , Carioti Luca , Ambrosio Francesca Alessandra , D’Anna Stefano , Duca Leonardo , Costa Giosuè , Bellocchi Maria Concetta , Piermatteo Lorenzo , Artese Anna , Santoro Maria Mercedes , Alcaro Stefano , Svicher Valentina , Ceccherini-Silberstein Francesca
Published: March 2022

The Omicron variant of concern (VOC) has a peculiar spectrum of mutations characterized by the acquisition of mutations or deletions rarely detected in previously identified variants, particularly in the spike glycoprotein. Such mutations, mostly residing in the receptor-binding domain, could play a pivotal role in enhancing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectivity (by increasing binding affinity for ACE2), jeopardizing spike recognition by therapeutic and vaccine-induced antibodies and causing diagnostic assay failure.
Ictal aphasia inLGI1-related autosomal dominant epilepsy with auditory features
Authors: Moloney Patrick B , McHugh John , O’Byrne James , Llamas Yudy , Lynch Tim , McGovern Eavan
Published: March 2022

Autosomal dominant epilepsy with auditory features (OMIM 600512) is characterised by focal seizures with distinctive auditory auras and/or ictal aphasia. We describe a 17-year-old girl with recurrent attacks of ictal aphasia and rare nocturnal convulsions. She had a four-generation paternal family history of epilepsy. Her father and aunt perceived bells ringing at the onset of seizures. Sequence analysis of the leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) gene identified a novel heterozygous variant in the proband and her father.LGI1-related genetic epilepsy has a benign clinical course with a favourable response to anti-seizure medications. Auditory or vertiginous seizures may be mistaken for peripheral audio-vestibular symptoms, while complex auditory ictal symptoms may be misattributed to primary psychiatric disorders. Recognising this distinctive inherited syndrome should prompt targeted analysis of theLGI1gene.
Experimental and CFD simulation of interactions between water droplets with different surface features to understand water droplet erosion
Authors: Jing Ming , Gujba Abdullahi K. , Medraj Mamoun
Published: March 2022

Water droplet erosion (WDE) has received considerable attention in recent years. Different approaches have been proposed to understand WDE and find lasting solutions. Among them is understanding the interaction between the droplet impacts and the target surface, especially at the erosion initiation stage. For this reason, we studied the interactions between water droplets and different surface features to understand WDE. These surface features included flat smooth surfaces and grooved and porous samples. For the grooved samples, depths of 1.0 and 0.5 mm were studied and their WDE performance was evaluated. The 0.5 mm groove showed a longer incubation period than the flat reference sample. This work suggested that a thin water film is formed in the groove, which aids in dampening the impacts of subsequent water droplets. However, the maximum erosion rate is not affected by introducing these grooves. The WDE performance of the porous samples is better than that of the solid material. This is because the porous structure dissipates the impact energy of the water droplets. The simulation results were in agreement with the experimental observations in this work. Furthermore, the simulation showed that the water droplet impacting patterns on different surface features are attributed to the effect of radial and axial airflows.
Can electron and muon $$g-2$$ anomalies be jointly explained in SUSY?
Authors: Li Song , Xiao Yang , Yang Jin Min
Published: March 2022

The FNAL+BNL measurements for muon $$g-2$$

g
-
2

is $$4.2\sigma $$

4.2
σ

above the SM prediction, and the Berkeley $$^{133}$$

133

Cs measurement for the fine-structure constant $$\alpha _\mathrm{em}$$

α
em

leads to the SM prediction for electron $$g-2$$

g
-
2

which is $$2.4\sigma $$

2.4
σ

above the experimental value. Hence, a joint explanation of both anomalies requires a positive contribution to muon $$g-2$$

g
-
2

and a negative contribution to electron $$g-2$$

g
-
2

, which is rather challenging. In this work we explore the possibility of such a joint explanation in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). Assuming no universality between smuon and selectron soft masses, we find out a part of parameter space for a joint explanation at $$2\sigma $$

2
σ

level, i.e., $$\mu M_1,\mu M_2<0$$

μ

M
1

,
μ

M
2

<
0

, $$m_{L1}, m_{E2}<200$$

m

L
1

,

m

E
2

<
200

GeV, $$m_{L2}$$

m

L
2

being much larger than the soft masses of other sleptons, $$|M_1|<125$$

|

M
1

|
<
125

GeV and $$\mu <400$$

μ
<
400

GeV. This part of parameter space can survive LHC and LEP constraints, but gives an over-abundance for dark matter if the bino-like lightest neutralino is assumed to be the dark matter candidate. With the assumption that the dark matter candidate is a superWIMP (say a pseudo-goldstino in multi-sector SUSY breaking scenarios, whose mass can be as light as GeV and produced from the late-decay of the thermally freeze-out lightest neutralino), the dark matter problem can be avoided. So, we conclude that the MSSM may give a joint explanation for the muon and electron $$g-2$$

g
-
2

anomalies at $$2\sigma $$

2
σ

level (the muon $$g-2$$

g
-
2

anomaly can be even ameliorated to $$1\sigma $$

1
σ

).
Numerical Study of Flow Structures Through Horizontal Double-Layered Vegetation Consisting of Combined Submergent and Emergent Vegetations
Authors: Abbas Fakhar Muhammad , Tanaka Norio
Published: March 2022

This study addresses the vivid internal flow structure variations through horizontal double-layered vegetation (HDLV) under subcritical flow conditions for an inland tsunami. The computational domain was built in ANSYS Workbench, while post-processing and simulation were performed using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool FLUENT with the three-dimensional (3D) Reynolds stress model (RSM). Two alternative arrangements of HDLV were considered, namely Configuration 1 (short submergent layer [Formula: see text] emergent layer (Lt)) and Configuration 2 (tall emergent layer [Formula: see text] submergent layer (Ls)) along with varying flow depths. Strong inflections in velocity and Reynolds stress profiles were observed at the interface near the top of Ls, Whereas, these profiles were almost constant from bed to the top of vegetations inside Lt. A shear layer zone was formed above the top of Ls, which extended to the downstream region in Configuration 2 while it was restricted by Lt in Configuration 1. The normal Reynolds stresses at the bed were significantly greater within Ls in Configuration 2 than inside Lt in Configuration 1. Hence, Configuration 1 was performed relatively better than Configuration 2 in terms of reducing velocity within the vegetation, while Configuration 2 played a key role in attenuating the increased velocities and confining the shear layer above the short submergent layer.
Quad 3.0: Japan, Indo-Pacific and Minilateralism
Authors: KOGA Kei
Published: March 2022

Japan under the first and second Abe administration in 2006–07 and 2012–20, respectively, played a pivotal leading role in creating and institutionalising the Quad. While Japan has taken on a more supportive role in the post-Abe administrations, there are unique roles that Japan could still play in coordinating and shaping the strategic role of the Quad, such as configuring its institutional relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Innovative Human Motion Sensing With Earbuds
Authors: Ma Dong , Ferlini Andrea , Mascolo Cecilia
Published: March 2022

Earbuds, ear-worn wearables, have attracted growing attention from both industry and academia. This trend has witnessed manufacturers embedding multiple sensors on earbuds to enrich their functionalities. For example, Apple AirPods, Sony WF-1000XM3, and Bose QuietControl 30, have been equipped with accelerometers for tapping interaction or multiple microphones for noise cancellation. On the other hand, the research community regards earbuds as a powerful personal-scale human sensing and computing platform. By integrating sensors like PPG, barometer, and ultrasonic sensors, researchers have been devising a plethora of earable sensing applications, such as blood pressure monitoring [1], facial expression recognition [2], and authentication [3].
The Influence of Monolayer and Multilayer Diazonium Functionalities on the Electrochemical Oxidation of Nanoporous Carbons
Authors: Luong Samantha , Atwa Marwa , Valappil Manila Ozhukil , Birss Viola I
Published: March 2022

High surface area carbon powders are used in many electrochemical applications, e.g., fuel cells, supercapacitors, and batteries. However, despite their advantages, they are susceptible to oxidation and carbon corrosion when exposed to oxidizing potentials. Our goal has been to use diazonium chemistry to attach surface groups to block corrosion-susceptible sites and alter wettability. In prior work, mesoporous colloid imprinted carbons (CICs) with pores of 12–50 nm and still smaller pore necks hindered access of the diazonium precursors and limit mass transport in electrochemical applications. Here, CIC-85 powders (85 nm pores) were modified with -PhF5 or PhSO3H groups to engender hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, respectively. Both groups decrease corrosion-induced surface roughening of the CIC-85 by ∼50% in 0.5 M sulfuric acid. The -PhF5 group decreases irreversible oxidation of carbon to CO2 by a factor of ∼9, while the -PhSO3H group protects the CIC-85 surface by ∼4 times. An analogous free-standing, binder-free 85 nm pore size carbon sheet, exhibiting similar oxidation behavior, was examined by XPS, showing that surface functionalities are fully retained after corrosion. This work offers novel insights on the role, impact, and fate of diazonium-attached surface groups in protecting carbon surfaces during accelerated stress testing in sulfuric acid.