bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Störungen durch Substanzgebrauch und abhängige Verhaltensweisen in der ICD-11
Authors: Arnaud Nicolas , Thomasius Rainer
Published: August 2020

Zusammenfassung. Der Beitrag informiert über die Eingliederung der Suchtstörungen in die 11. Auflage der International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO). Die Revision der ICD soll einem gewandelten Verständnis der Suchtstörungen und deren Diagnostik Rechnung tragen und die klinische Anwendbarkeit vereinfachen. Im Bereich der substanzbezogenen und nicht substanzbezogenen Störungen sind gegenüber der Vorgängerversion erhebliche Neuerungen eingeführt worden. Die wichtigsten Änderungen betreffen ein erweitertes Angebot an Stoffklassen, deutliche (vereinfachende) Anpassungen in den konzeptuellen und diagnostischen Leitlinien der substanzbezogenen Störungsbilder und insbesondere der „Abhängigkeit“, sowie die Einführung der Kategorie der „abhängigen Verhaltensweisen“ und damit verbunden die Zuordnung der „Glücksspielstörung“ zu den Suchtstörungen sowie die Aufnahme der neuen (bildschirmbezogenen) „Spielstörung“. Zudem findet eine Erweiterung der diagnostischen Optionen für frühe, präklinische Phänotypen der Suchtstörungen („Episodisch Schädlicher Gebrauch“) erstmals Eingang in den ICD-Katalog. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden die Änderungen Episodisch schädlicher Gebrauch für den Bereich der Suchtstörungen aus kinder- und jugendpsychiatrischer Sicht zusammenfassend dargestellt und diskutiert.
Solar Wind Conditions During the First 42 Months of Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission
Authors: Lai H. R. , Russell C. T. , Jia Y. D. , Blanco‐Cano X.
Published: August 2020

Knowledge of the solar wind conditions is important to study the magnetosphere by missions, such as Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) and the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS). We examine the magnetic field and plasma data obtained by three solar wind monitors, ACE, Wind, and DSCOVR to check the consistency and survey the statistical properties of the solar wind during 2015–2018, the first 42 months of the MMS mission. In the consistency study, we exclude the effect of limited cross‐flow correlation lengths of solar wind properties and confirmed that the magnetic field measurements from different spacecraft are consistent on average. We also suggest that ACE and Wind measurements are best used for the temperature and velocity data; while for density measurements, DSCOVR and Wind data should be used when available. In the statistical study, by comparing the recent data with that in 2008, we find that the magnetic field conditions are generally the same but the plasma properties have changed. On average, the MMS measurements are obtained when Earth is in a lower dynamic pressure and smaller plasma beta solar wind than that of previous studies. These 2015–2018 conditions favor the occurrence of magnetic reconnection, which assumes a great role in driving the dynamics of the magnetosphere.
Hedging for Privacy in Smart Water Meters
Authors: Salomons Elad , Sela Lina , Housh Mashor
Published: August 2020

Smart water meters at household connections are being installed in large numbers throughout the world due to the benefits they are expected to bring to the water utilities and water consumers. Smart metering provides high‐resolution readings and promises benefits to the water utilities, such as demand forecasting, regulating time‐of‐use watering, and making intelligent operation and planning decisions. For the consumers, smart metering promises improved billing and demand reduction by providing detailed and timely information about their water use and early notification of possible water leaks in their premises. However, the fine‐grained information collected by smart meters raises growing concerns of privacy invasion due to personal behavior exposure (private activity, daily routine, etc.). Nevertheless, there is no readily available technology for protecting water consumers from revealing their in‐home private activities. Thus, a viable argument in favor of smart metering technologies will not be possible without proactively accounting for the associated privacy challenges. Here, we present a practical technology coupling a dedicated apparatus with a control model for increasing personal privacy. We quantify the level of privacy achieved using information‐theoretic criterion and an empirically based occupancy detection method between the smart meter readings and actual water use. Furthermore, we evaluate and compare privacy protection using the best effort approach previously developed for masking activities revealed from smart electricity meters. The main results reveal that simple control actions can disguise personal behavior patterns and, thus, hedge against privacy breach in smart water meters. Furthermore, we quantify the trade‐off between the size of the apparatus and the level of privacy protection it provides. Our results demonstrate how “privacy friendly” smart water metering technology could be implemented in real‐life systems and reduce the privacy concerns of water consumers.
Severe ineffective erythropoiesis discriminates prognosis in myelodysplastic syndromes: analysis based on 776 patients from a single centre
Authors: Huang Huijun , Xu Changlu , Gao Jie , Li Bing , Qin Tiejun , Xu Zefeng , Ren Sirui , Zhang Yudi , Jiao Meng , Qu Shiqiang , Pan Lijuan , Hu Naibo , Liu Jinqin , Cai Wenyu , Zhang Yingnan , Wu Dan , Zhang Peihong , Gale Robert Peter , Huang Gang , Zhou Jiaxi , Shi Lihong , Xiao Zhijian
Published: August 2020

The underlying mechanisms and clinical significance of ineffective erythropoiesis in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) remain to be fully defined. We conducted the ex vivo erythroid differentiation of megakaryocytic-erythroid progenitors (MEPs) from MDS patients and discovered that patient-derived erythroblasts exhibit precocity and premature aging phenotypes, partially by inducing the pro-aging genes, like ERCC1. Absolute reticulocyte count (ARC) was chosen as a biomarker to evaluate the severity of ineffective erythropoiesis in 776 MDS patients. We found that patients with severe ineffective erythropoiesis displaying lower ARC (<20 × 109/L), were more likely to harbor complex karyotypes and high-risk somatic mutations (p < 0.05). Lower ARCs are associated with shorter overall survival (OS) in univariate analysis (p < 0.001) and remain significant in multivariable analysis. Regardless of patients of lower-risk who received immunosuppressive therapy or higher-risk who received decitabine treatment, patients with lower ARC had shorter OS (p < 0.001). Whereas no difference in OS was found between patients receiving allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (Allo-HSCT) (p = 0.525). Our study revealed that ineffective erythropoiesis in MDS may be partially caused by premature aging and apoptosis during erythroid differentiation. MDS patients with severe ineffective erythropoiesis have significant shorter OS treated with immunosuppressive or hypo-methylating agents, but may benefit from Allo-HSCT.
Ischemia induces autophagy of endothelial cells and stimulates angiogenic effects in a hindlimb ischemia mouse model
Authors: Jeong In-Hye , Bae Woom-Yee , Choi Jae-Sun , Jeong Joo-Won
Published: August 2020

Although peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a major health problem, there have been limited advances in medical therapies. In PAD patients, angiogenesis is regarded as a promising therapeutic strategy to promote new arterial vessels and improve perfusion of ischemic tissue. Autophagy plays a critical role in catabolic processes for cell survival under normal and stressful conditions and plays fundamental biological roles in various cellular functions. In the present study, we showed that autophagy in endothelial cells is important for the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues. In a hindlimb ischemia mouse model, autophagy was stimulated in endothelial cells of the quadriceps muscle, and adjacent cells proliferated and regenerated. The autophagy pathway was induced under prolonged hypoxia in endothelial cells, and autophagy increased angiogenic activities. Moreover, conditioned media from endothelial cells blocked autophagy and inhibited the proliferation of muscle cells, suggesting that autophagic stimulation in endothelial cells affects the survival of adjacent cells, such as muscle. Collectively, hypoxia/ischemia-induced autophagy angiogenesis, and the damaged tissue surrounded by neo-vessels was regenerated in an ischemia model. Therefore, we strongly suggest that stimulation of autophagy in endothelial cells may be a potent therapeutic strategy in severe vascular diseases, including PAD.
BRD4 prevents the accumulation of R-loops and protects against transcription–replication collision events and DNA damage
Authors: Lam Fred C. , Kong Yi Wen , Huang Qiuying , Vu Han Tu-Lan , Maffa Amanda D. , Kasper Ekkehard M. , Yaffe Michael B.
Published: August 2020

Proper chromatin function and maintenance of genomic stability depends on spatiotemporal coordination between the transcription and replication machinery. Loss of this coordination can lead to DNA damage from increased transcription-replication collision events. We report that deregulated transcription following BRD4 loss in cancer cells leads to the accumulation of RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops) and collisions with the replication machinery causing replication stress and DNA damage. Whole genome BRD4 and γH2AX ChIP-Seq with R-loop IP qPCR reveals that BRD4 inhibition leads to accumulation of R-loops and DNA damage at a subset of known BDR4, JMJD6, and CHD4 co-regulated genes. Interference with BRD4 function causes transcriptional downregulation of the DNA damage response protein TopBP1, resulting in failure to activate the ATR-Chk1 pathway despite increased replication stress, leading to apoptotic cell death in S-phase and mitotic catastrophe. These findings demonstrate that inhibition of BRD4 induces transcription-replication conflicts, DNA damage, and cell death in oncogenic cells.
Quantitative tRNA-sequencing uncovers metazoan tissue-specific tRNA regulation
Authors: Pinkard Otis , McFarland Sean , Sweet Thomas , Coller Jeff
Published: August 2020

Transfer RNAs (tRNA) are quintessential in deciphering the genetic code; disseminating nucleic acid triplets into correct amino acid identity. While this decoding function is clear, an emerging theme is that tRNA abundance and functionality can powerfully impact protein production rate, folding, activity, and messenger RNA stability. Importantly, however, the expression pattern of tRNAs is obliquely known. Here we present Quantitative Mature tRNA sequencing (QuantM-tRNA seq), a technique to monitor tRNA abundance and sequence variants secondary to RNA modifications. With QuantM-tRNA seq, we assess the tRNA transcriptome in mammalian tissues. We observe dramatic distinctions in isodecoder expression and known tRNA modifications between tissues. Remarkably, despite dramatic changes in tRNA isodecoder gene expression, the overall anticodon pool of each tRNA family is similar across tissues. These findings suggest that while anticodon pools appear to be buffered via an unknown mechanism, underlying transcriptomic and epitranscriptomic differences suggest a more complex tRNA regulatory landscape.
Fast electrical modulation of strong near-field interactions between erbium emitters and graphene
Authors: Cano Daniel , Ferrier Alban , Soundarapandian Karuppasamy , Reserbat-Plantey Antoine , Scarafagio Marion , Tallaire Alexandre , Seyeux Antoine , Marcus Philippe , Riedmatten Hugues de , Goldner Philippe , Koppens Frank H. L. , Tielrooij Klaas-Jan
Published: August 2020

Combining the quantum optical properties of single-photon emitters with the strong near-field interactions available in nanophotonic and plasmonic systems is a powerful way of creating quantum manipulation and metrological functionalities. The ability to actively and dynamically modulate emitter-environment interactions is of particular interest in this regard. While thermal, mechanical and optical modulation have been demonstrated, electrical modulation has remained an outstanding challenge. Here we realize fast, all-electrical modulation of the near-field interactions between a nanolayer of erbium emitters and graphene, by in-situ tuning the Fermi energy of graphene. We demonstrate strong interactions with a  >1000-fold increased decay rate for  ~25% of the emitters, and electrically modulate these interactions with frequencies up to 300 kHz – orders of magnitude faster than the emitter’s radiative decay (~100 Hz). This constitutes an enabling platform for integrated quantum technologies, opening routes to quantum entanglement generation by collective plasmon emission or photon emission with controlled waveform.
CryoEM structure of the low-complexity domain of hnRNPA2 and its conversion to pathogenic amyloid
Authors: Lu Jiahui , Cao Qin , Hughes Michael P. , Sawaya Michael R. , Boyer David R. , Cascio Duilio , Eisenberg David S.
Published: August 2020

hnRNPA2 is a human ribonucleoprotein (RNP) involved in RNA metabolism. It forms fibrils both under cellular stress and in mutated form in neurodegenerative conditions. Previous work established that the C-terminal low-complexity domain (LCD) of hnRNPA2 fibrillizes under stress, and missense mutations in this domain are found in the disease multisystem proteinopathy (MSP). However, little is known at the atomic level about the hnRNPA2 LCD structure that is involved in those processes and how disease mutations cause structural change. Here we present the cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) structure of the hnRNPA2 LCD fibril core and demonstrate its capability to form a reversible hydrogel in vitro containing amyloid-like fibrils. Whereas these fibrils, like pathogenic amyloid, are formed from protein chains stacked into β-sheets by backbone hydrogen bonds, they display distinct structural differences: the chains are kinked, enabling non-covalent cross-linking of fibrils and disfavoring formation of pathogenic steric zippers. Both reversibility and energetic calculations suggest these fibrils are less stable than pathogenic amyloid. Moreover, the crystal structure of the disease-mutation-containing segment (D290V) of hnRNPA2 suggests that the replacement fundamentally alters the fibril structure to a more stable energetic state. These findings illuminate how molecular interactions promote protein fibril networks and how mutation can transform fibril structure from functional to a pathogenic form.
Transition metal-like carbocatalyst
Authors: Luo Zhicheng , Nie Renfeng , Nguyen Vy T. , Biswas Abhranil , Behera Ranjan K. , Wu Xun , Kobayashi Takeshi , Sadow Aaron , Wang Bin , Huang Wenyu , Qi Long
Published: August 2020

Catalytic cleavage of strong bonds including hydrogen-hydrogen, carbon-oxygen, and carbon-hydrogen bonds is a highly desired yet challenging fundamental transformation for the production of chemicals and fuels. Transition metal-containing catalysts are employed, although accompanied with poor selectivity in hydrotreatment. Here we report metal-free nitrogen-assembly carbons (NACs) with closely-placed graphitic nitrogen as active sites, achieving dihydrogen dissociation and subsequent transformation of oxygenates. NACs exhibit high selectivity towards alkylarenes for hydrogenolysis of aryl ethers as model bio-oxygenates without over-hydrogeneration of arenes. Activities originate from cooperating graphitic nitrogen dopants induced by the diamine precursors, as demonstrated in mechanistic and computational studies. We further show that the NAC catalyst is versatile for dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene and tetrahydroquinoline as well as for hydrogenation of common unsaturated functionalities, including ketone, alkene, alkyne, and nitro groups. The discovery of nitrogen assembly as active sites can open up broad opportunities for rational design of new metal-free catalysts for challenging chemical reactions.
A single dose of an adenovirus-vectored vaccine provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge
Authors: Wu Shipo , Zhong Gongxun , Zhang Jun , Shuai Lei , Zhang Zhe , Wen Zhiyuan , Wang Busen , Zhao Zhenghao , Song Xiaohong , Chen Yi , Liu Renqiang , Fu Ling , Zhang Jinlong , Guo Qiang , Wang Chong , Yang Yilong , Fang Ting , Lv Peng , Wang Jinliang , Xu Junjie , Li Jianmin , Yu Changming , Hou Lihua , Bu Zhigao , Chen Wei
Published: August 2020

The unprecedented coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has created a worldwide public health emergency, and there is an urgent need to develop an effective vaccine to control this severe infectious disease. Here, we find that a single vaccination with a replication-defective human type 5 adenovirus encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (Ad5-nCoV) protect mice completely against mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 infection in the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Additionally, a single vaccination with Ad5-nCoV protects ferrets from wild-type SARS-CoV-2 infection in the upper respiratory tract. This study suggests that the mucosal vaccination may provide a desirable protective efficacy and this delivery mode is worth further investigation in human clinical trials.
Equi–size nesting of Platonic and Archimedean metal–organic polyhedra into a twin capsid
Authors: Gan Hongmei , Xu Na , Qin Chao , Sun Chunyi , Wang Xinlong , Su Zhongmin
Published: August 2020

Inspired by the structures of virus capsids, chemists have long pursued the synthesis of their artificial molecular counterparts through self–assembly. Building nanoscale hierarchical structures to simulate double-shell virus capsids is believed to be a daunting challenge in supramolecular chemistry. Here, we report a double-shell cage wherein two independent metal–organic polyhedra featuring Platonic and Archimedean solids are nested together. The inner (3.2 nm) and outer (3.3 nm) shells do not follow the traditional “small vs. large” pattern, but are basically of the same size. Furthermore, the assembly of the inner and outer shells is based on supramolecular recognition, a behavior analogous to the assembly principle found in double-shell viruses. These two unique nested characteristics provide a new model for Matryoshka–type assemblies. The inner cage can be isolated individually and proves to be a potential molecular receptor to selectively trap guest molecules.
Raman spectra of fine-grained materials from first principles
Authors: Popov Maxim N. , Spitaler Jürgen , Veerapandiyan Vignaswaran K. , Bousquet Eric , Hlinka Jiri , Deluca Marco
Published: August 2020

Raman spectroscopy is an advantageous method for studying the local structure of materials, but the interpretation of measured spectra is complicated by the presence of oblique phonons in polycrystals of polar materials. Whilst group theory considerations and standard ab initio calculations are helpful, they are often valid only for single crystals. In this paper, we introduce a method for computing Raman spectra of polycrystalline materials from first principles. We start from the standard approach based on the (Placzek) rotation invariants of the Raman tensors and extend it to include the effect of the coupling between the lattice vibrations and the induced electric field, and the electro-optic contribution, relevant for polar materials like ferroelectrics. As exemplified by applying the method to rhombohedral BaTiO3, AlN, and LiNbO3, such an extension brings the simulated Raman spectrum to a much better correspondence with the experimental one. Additional advantages of the method are that it is general, permits automation, and thus can be used in high-throughput fashion.
CroSSED sequence, a new tool for 3D processing in geosciences using the free software 3DSlicer
Authors: Dorador Javier , Rodríguez-Tovar Francisco J.
Published: August 2020

The scientific application of 3D imaging has evolved significantly over recent years. These techniques make it possible to study internal features by non-destructive analysis. Despite its potential, the development of 3D imaging in the Geosciences is behind other fields due to the high cost of commercial software and the scarce free alternatives. Most free software was designed for the Health Sciences, and the pre-settled workflows are not suited to geoscientific materials. Thus, an outstanding challenge in the Geosciences is to define workflows using free alternatives for Computed Tomography (CT) data processing, promoting data sharing, reproducibility, and the development of specific extensions. We present CroSSED, a processing sequence for 3D reconstructions of CT data, using 3DSlicer, a popular application in medical imaging. Its usefulness is exemplified in the study of burrows that have low-density contrast with respect to the host sediment. For geoscientists who have access to CT data and wish to reconstruct 3D structures, this method offers a wide range of possibilities and contributes to open-science and applied CT studies.
Sub-trabecular strain evolution in human trabecular bone
Authors: Turunen Mikael J. , Le Cann Sophie , Tudisco Erika , Lovric Goran , Patera Alessandra , Hall Stephen A. , Isaksson Hanna
Published: August 2020

To comprehend the most detrimental characteristics behind bone fractures, it is key to understand the material and tissue level strain limits and their relation to failure sites. The aim of this study was to investigate the three-dimensional strain distribution and its evolution during loading at the sub-trabecular level in trabecular bone tissue. Human cadaver trabecular bone samples were compressed in situ until failure, while imaging with high-resolution synchrotron radiation X-ray tomography. Digital volume correlation was used to determine the strains inside the trabeculae. Regions without emerging damage were compared to those about to crack. Local strains in close vicinity of developing cracks were higher than previously reported for a whole trabecular structure and similar to those reported for single isolated trabeculae. Early literature on bone fracture strain thresholds at the tissue level seem to underestimate the maximum strain magnitudes in trabecular bone. Furthermore, we found lower strain levels and a reduced ability to capture detailed crack-paths with increased image voxel size. This highlights the dependence between the observed strain levels and the voxel size and that high-resolution is needed to investigate behavior of individual trabeculae. Furthermore, low trabecular thickness appears to be one predictor of developing cracks. In summary, this study investigated the local strains in whole trabecular structure at sub-trabecular resolution in human bone and confirmed the high strain magnitudes reported for single trabeculae under loading and, importantly extends its translation to the whole trabecular structure.
Body size and its implications upon resource utilization during human space exploration missions
Authors: Scott Jonathan P. R. , Green David A. , Weerts Guillaume , Cheuvront Samuel N.
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this theoretical study was to estimate the effects of body size and countermeasure (CM) exercise in an all-male crew composed of individuals drawn from a height range representative of current space agency requirements upon total energy expenditure (TEE), oxygen (O2) consumption, carbon dioxide (CO2) and metabolic heat (Hprod) production, and water requirements for hydration, during space exploration missions. Using a height range of 1.50- to 1.90-m, and assuming geometric similarity across this range, estimates were derived for a four-person male crew (age: 40-years; BMI: 26.5-kg/m2; resting VO2and VO2max: 3.3- and 43.4-mL/kg/min) on 30- to 1,080-d missions, without and with, ISS-like CM exercise (modelled as 2 × 30-min aerobic exercise at 75% VO2max, 6-d/week). Where spaceflight-specific data/equations were not available, terrestrial data/equations were used. Body size alone increased 24-h TEE (+ 44%), O2consumption (+ 60%), CO2(+ 60%) and Hprod(+ 60%) production, and water requirements (+ 19%). With CM exercise, the increases were + 29 to 32%, + 31%, + 35%, + 42% and + 23 to 33% respectively, across the height range. Compared with a ‘small-sized’ (1.50-m) crew without CM exercise, a ‘large-sized’ (1.90-m) crew exercising would require an additional 996-MJ of energy, 52.5 × 103-L of O2and 183.6-L of water, and produce an additional 44.0 × 103-L of CO2and 874-MJ of heat each month. This study provides the first insight into the potential implications of body size and the use of ISS-like CM exercise upon the provision of life-support during exploration missions. Whilst closed-loop life-support (O2, water and CO2) systems may be possible, strategies to minimize and meet crew metabolic energy needs, estimated in this study to increase by 996-MJ per month with body size and CM exercise, are required.
Genome-wide identification of meiotic recombination hot spots detected by SLAF in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
Authors: Wang Xiaohua , Xu Ping , Ren Yan , Yin Liang , Li Shuangling , Wang Yan , Shi Yanmao , Li Hui , Cao Xue , Chi Xiaoyuan , Yu Tianyi , Pandey Manish K. , Varshney Rajeev K. , Yuan Mei
Published: August 2020

Recombination hot spots (RHP), caused by meiosis, are considered to play crucial roles in improvement and domestication of crop. Cultivated peanut is one of the most important rich-source of oil and protein crops. However, no direct scale of recombination events and RHP have been estimated for peanut. To examine the scale of recombination events and RHP in peanut, a RIL population with 200 lines and a natural population with 49 cultivars were evaluated. The precise integrated map comprises 4837 SLAF markers with genetic length of 2915.46 cM and density of 1.66 markers per cM in whole genome. An average of 30.0 crossover (2.06 cMMb−1) events was detected per RIL plant. The crossover events (CE) showed uneven distribution among B sub-genome (2.32) and A sub-genome (1.85). There were 4.34% and 7.86% of the genome contained large numbers of CE (> 50 cMMb−1) along chromosomes in F6 and natural population, respectively. High density of CE regions called RHP, showed negative relationship to marker haplotypes conservative region but positive to heatmap of recombination. The genes located within the RHP regions by GO categories showed the responding of environmental stimuli, which suggested that recombination plays a crucial role in peanut adaptation to changing environments
Associations of cigarette smoking with psychiatric disorders: evidence from a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Yao Honghui , Larsson Susanna C.
Published: August 2020

We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization study to determine the association of smoking initiation with seven psychiatric disorders. We used 353 independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with cigarette smoking initiation as instrumental variables at genome-wide significance threshold (p < 5 × 10−8) from a recent genome-wide association study in 1,232,091 European-origin participants. Summary-level data for seven psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, insomnia, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide attempts, and schizophrenia, was obtained from large genetic consortia and genome-wide association studies. The odds ratios of genetically predicted smoking initiation were 1.96 for suicide attempts (95% CI 1.70, 2.27;p = 4.5 × 10−20), 1.69 for post-traumatic stress disorder (95% CI 1.32, 2.16;p = 2.5 × 10−5), 1.54 for schizophrenia (95% CI 1.35, 1.75;p = 1.6 × 10−10), 1.41 for bipolar disorder (95% CI 1.25, 1.59;p = 1.8 × 10−8), 1.38 for major depressive disorder (95% CI 1.31, 1.45;p = 2.3 × 10−38), 1.20 for insomnia (95% CI 1.14, 1.25;p = 6.0 × 10−14) and 1.17 for anxiety (95% CI 0.98, 1.40;p = 0.086). Results of sensitivity analyses were consistent and no horizontal pleiotropy was detected in MR-Egger analysis. However, the associations with suicide attempts, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety might be related to possible reverse causality or weak instrument bias. This study found that cigarette smoking was causally associated with increased risks of a number of psychiatric disorders. The causal effects of smoking on suicide attempts, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety needs further research.
Identification and characterization of plant-derived alkaloids, corydine and corydaline, as novel mu opioid receptor agonists
Authors: Kaserer Teresa , Steinacher Theresa , Kainhofer Roman , Erli Filippo , Sturm Sonja , Waltenberger Birgit , Schuster Daniela , Spetea Mariana
Published: August 2020

Pain remains a key therapeutic area with intensive efforts directed toward finding effective and safer analgesics in light of the ongoing opioid crisis. Amongst the neurotransmitter systems involved in pain perception and modulation, the mu-opioid receptor (MOR), a G protein-coupled receptor, represents one of the most important targets for achieving effective pain relief. Most clinically used opioid analgesics are agonists to the MOR, but they can also cause severe side effects. Medicinal plants represent important sources of new drug candidates, with morphine and its semisynthetic analogues as well-known examples as analgesic drugs. In this study, combining in silico (pharmacophore-based virtual screening and docking) and pharmacological (in vitro binding and functional assays, and behavioral tests) approaches, we report on the discovery of two naturally occurring plant alkaloids, corydine and corydaline, as new MOR agonists that produce antinociceptive effects in mice after subcutaneous administration via a MOR-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, corydine and corydaline were identified as G protein-biased agonists to the MOR without inducing β-arrestin2 recruitment upon receptor activation. Thus, these new scaffolds represent valuable starting points for future chemical optimization towards the development of novel opioid analgesics, which may exhibit improved therapeutic profiles.
Valorisation of agricultural biomass-ash with CO2
Authors: Hills Colin D. , Tripathi Nimisha , Singh Raj S. , Carey Paula J. , Lowry Florence
Published: August 2020

This work is part of a study of different types of plant-based biomass to elucidate their capacity for valorisation via a managed carbonation step involving gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2). The perspectives for broader biomass waste valorisation was reviewed, followed by a proposed closed-loop process for the valorisation of wood in earlier works. The present work newly focusses on combining agricultural biomass with mineralised CO2. Here, the reactivity of selected agricultural biomass ashes with CO2 and their ability to be bound by mineralised carbonate in a hardened product is examined. Three categories of agricultural biomass residues, including shell, fibre and soft peel, were incinerated at 900 ± 25 °C. The biomass ashes were moistened (10% w/w) and moulded into cylindrical samples and exposed to 100% CO2 gas at 50% RH for 24 h, during which they cemented into hardened monolithic products. The calcia in ashes formed a negative relationship with ash yield and the microstructure of the carbonate-cementing phase was distinct and related to the particular biomass feedstock. This work shows that in common with woody biomass residues, carbonated agricultural biomass ash-based monoliths have potential as novel low-carbon construction products.
Circulating cell-free DNA level predicts all-cause mortality independent of other predictors in the Health 2000 survey
Authors: Kananen L. , Hurme M. , Jylhä M. , Härkänen T. , Koskinen S. , Stenholm S. , Kähönen M. , Lehtimäki T. , Ukkola O. , Jylhävä J.
Published: August 2020

Increased levels of circulating cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) are associated with and predict poor health outcomes. However, its predictive ability for mortality in population-based samples remains understudied. We analysed the capability of cf-DNA to predict all-cause mortality and assessed whether it adds predictive value on top of the other risk factors in the Health 2000 survey (n = 1,257, 46–76 years of age, 15-years-follow-up, 18% deceased). When analysed in a multivariate model with the other factors that independently predicted mortality in the sample (age, gender, self-rated health, smoking and plasma levels of glucose and adiponectin), increases in cf-DNA levels were associated with increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR] for 0.1 µg increase in cf-DNA: 1.017, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.008–1.026, p = 0.0003). Inclusion of cf-DNA in the model improved the model fit and discrimination. Stratifying the analysis by cardiovascular disease (CVD) status indicated that cf-DNA predicted mortality equally well in individuals with (HR 1.018, 95% CI 1.008–1.026, p = 0.002) and without (HR 1.018, 95% CI 1.001–1.035, p = 0.033) CVD. In conclusion, our study indicates that cf-DNA level predicts mortality in middle-aged and older individuals, also among those with established CVD, and adds significant value to mortality prediction. Our results thus underscore the role of cf-DNA as a viable marker of health.
Mineral nitrogen captured in field-aged biochar is plant-available
Authors: Haider Ghulam , Joseph Stephen , Steffens Diedrich , Müller Christoph , Taherymoosavi Sarasadat , Mitchell David , Kammann Claudia I.
Published: August 2020

Biochar may serve as a tool to sustainably mitigate climate change via carbon sequestration and by improving soil fertility. Biochar has shown to retain nitrate in its pores, which increases with an organic coating of the inner surfaces and residence time in soil (“aging”). Here we investigated the plant accessibility of the captured nitrate in field-aged biochar, as a pre-requisite for developing carbon-based N fertilization techniques with environmental benefits. Based on previous results, we hypothesized that part of the biochar-captured nitrate would remain unavailable for plants. A two-factorial greenhouse experiment was designed, where the N was applied either as Ca(NO3)2 or as N captured in field-aged biochar at five increasing N doses to quinoa and perennial ryegrass in pots. Interestingly, the biochar-captured N was as plant available as the mineral nitrate, except for the highest dosage. Refuting our hypothesis, no significant amounts of N were extractable at the end of the study from the biochar–soil mixtures with repeated-extraction protocols. Thus, N captured by biochar may improve the N use efficiency in agriculture. Further research should evaluate the role of biochar particle size, root morphology, mycorrhization, and soil moisture (variations) for nitrate retrieval from biochar particles by plants because the captured biochar N was less available in the field as under present controlled conditions.
Influence of ligand’s directional configuration, chrysenes as model compounds, on the binding activity with aryl hydrocarbon receptor
Authors: Kim Taewoo , Zhen Juyuan , Lee Junghyun , Bauer Robert , Lee Changkeun , Kwon Bong-Oh , Chae Keun Hwa , Hong Seongjin , Giesy John P. , Chang Gap Soo , Khim Jong Seong
Published: August 2020

Understanding what and how physico-chemical factors of a ligand configure conditions for ligand-receptor binding is a key to accurate assessment of toxic potencies of environmental pollutants. We investigated influences of the dipole-driven orientation and resulting directional configuration of ligands on receptor binding activities. Using physico-chemical properties calculated by ab initio density functional theory, directional reactivity factors (DRF) were devised as main indicators of toxic potencies, linking molecular ligand-receptor binding to in vitro responses. The directional reactive model was applied to predict variation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated toxic potencies among homologues of chrysene with structural modifications such as the numbers of constituent benzene rings, methylation and hydroxylation. Results of predictive models were consistent with empirical potencies determined by use of the H4IIE-luc transactivation bioassay. The experiment-free approach based on first principles provides an analytical framework for estimating molecular bioactivity in silico and complements conventional empirical approaches to studying molecular initiating events in adverse outcome pathways.
Subwavelength broadband sound absorber based on a composite metasurface
Authors: Long Houyou , Liu Chen , Shao Chen , Cheng Ying , Chen Kai , Qiu Xiaojun , Liu Xiaojun
Published: August 2020

Suppressing broadband low-frequency sound has great scientific and engineering significance. However, normal porous acoustic materials backed by a rigid wall cannot really play its deserved role on low-frequency sound absorption. Here, we demonstrate that an ultrathin sponge coating can achieve high-efficiency absorptions if backed by a metasurface with moderate surface impedance. Such a metasurface is constructed in a wide frequency range by integrating three types of coiled space resonators. By coupling an ultrathin sponge coating with the designed metasurface, a deep-subwavelength broadband absorber with high absorptivity ($${>}80\%$$

>
80
%

) exceeding one octave from  185 Hz to  385 Hz (with wavelength $$\lambda $$
λ
from 17.7 to 8.5 times of thickness of the absorber) has been demonstrated theoretically and experimentally. The construction mechanism is analyzed via coupled mode theory. The study provides a practical way in constructing broadband low-frequency sound absorber.
Oxidative status and intestinal health of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) juveniles fed diets with different ARA/EPA/DHA ratios
Authors: Magalhães R. , Guerreiro I. , Santos R. A. , Coutinho F. , Couto A. , Serra C. R. , Olsen R. E. , Peres H. , Oliva-Teles A.
Published: August 2020

The present work assessed the effects of dietary ratios of essential fatty acids, arachidonic (ARA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on liver and intestine oxidative status, intestinal histomorphology and gut microbiota of gilthead sea bream. Four isoproteic and isolipidic plant-based diets were formulated containing a vegetable oil blend as the main lipid source. Diets were supplemented with ARA/EPA/DHA levels (%DM) equivalent to: 2%:0.2%:0.1% (Diet A); 1.0%:0.4%:0.4% (Diet B); 0%:0.6%:0.6% (Diet C); 0%:0.3%:1.5% (Diet D) and tested in triplicate groups for 56 days. Lipid peroxidation was higher in fish fed diets C and D while no differences were reported between diets regarding total, oxidized, and reduced glutathione, and oxidative stress index. Glutathione reductase was higher in fish fed diet A than diets C and D. No histological alterations were observed in the distal intestine. Lower microbiota diversity was observed in intestinal mucosa of fish fed diet C than A, while diets C and D enabled the proliferation of health-promoting bacteria from Bacteroidetes phylum (Asinibacterium sp.) and the absence of pathogenic species like Edwardsiella tarda. Overall, results suggest that a balance between dietary ARA/EPA + DHA promotes gilthead sea bream juveniles’ health however higher dietary content of n-3 LC-PUFA might limited the presence of microbial pathogens in intestinal mucosa.
The Anopheles coluzzii microbiome and its interaction with the intracellular parasite Wolbachia
Authors: Straub Timothy J. , Shaw W. Robert , Marcenac Perrine , Sawadogo Simon P. , Dabiré Roch K. , Diabaté Abdoulaye , Catteruccia Flaminia , Neafsey Daniel E.
Published: August 2020

Wolbachia, an endosymbiotic alpha-proteobacterium commonly found in insects, can inhibit the transmission of human pathogens by mosquitoes. Biocontrol programs are underway usingAedes aegyptimosquitoes trans-infected with a non-naturalWolbachiastrain to reduce dengue virus transmission. Less is known about the impact ofWolbachiaon the biology and vectorial capacity ofAnophelesmosquitoes, the vectors of malaria parasites. A naturally occurring strain ofWolbachia,wAnga, infects populations of the major malaria vectorsAnopheles gambiaeandAnopheles coluzziiin Burkina Faso. Previous studies foundwAnga infection was negatively correlated withPlasmodiuminfection in the mosquito andwAnga influenced mosquito egg-laying behavior. Here, we investigatewAnga in natural populations ofAn. coluzziiand its interactions with other resident microbiota using targeted 16S sequencing. Though we find no major differences in microbiota composition associated withwAnga infection, we do find several taxa that correlate with the presence or absence ofwAnga in female mosquitoes following oviposition, with the caveat that we could not rule out batch effects due to the unanticipated impact ofwAnga on oviposition timing. These data suggestwAnga may influence or interact with theAnophelesmicrobiota, which may contribute to the impact ofwAnga onAnophelesbiology and vectorial capacity.
Circadian regulation of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain and the underlying transcriptomic landscape
Authors: Kim Hee Kee , Lee Sun-Yeul , Koike Nobuya , Kim Eunju , Wirianto Marvin , Burish Mark J. , Yagita Kazuhiro , Lee Hyun Kyoung , Chen Zheng , Chung Jin Mo , Abdi Salahadin , Yoo Seung-Hee
Published: August 2020

Growing evidence demonstrates circadian rhythms of pain hypersensitivity in various chronic disorders. In chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), agents such as paclitaxel are known to elicit chronic neuropathic pain in cancer patients and seriously compromise their quality of life. Here, we report that the mechanical threshold for allodynia in paclitaxel-treated rats exhibited a robust circadian oscillation, reaching the nadir during the daytime (inactive phase). Using Per2::LucSV circadian reporter mice expressing a PER2::LUC fusion protein, we isolated dorsal root ganglia (DRG), the primary sensory cell body for peripheral nerve injury generated hypersensitivity, and monitored ex vivo reporter bioluminescence. We observed strong circadian reporter rhythms in DRG neurons which are highly entrainable by external cues. Paclitaxel treatment significantly lengthened DRG circadian periods, with little effects on the amplitude of oscillation. We further observed the core protein BMAL1 and PER2 in DRG neurons and satellite cells. Using DRG and dorsal horn (DH; another key structure for CIPN pain response) tissues from vehicle and paclitaxel treated rats, we performed RNA-sequencing and identified diurnal expression of core clock genes as well as clock-controlled genes in both sites. Interestingly, 20.1% and 30.4% of diurnal differentially expressed genes (DEGs) overlapped with paclitaxel-induced DEGs in the DRG and the DH respectively. In contrast, paclitaxel-induced DEGs displayed only a modest overlap between daytime and nighttime (Zeitgeber Time 8 and 20). Furthermore, paclitaxel treatment induced de novo diurnal DEGs, suggesting reciprocal interaction of circadian rhythms and chemotherapy. Our study therefore demonstrates a circadian oscillation of CIPN and its underlying transcriptomic landscape.
Association of self-regulation with white matter correlates in boys with and without autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Ni Hsing-Chang , Lin Hsiang-Yuan , Tseng Wen-Yih Isaac , Gau Susan Shur-Fen
Published: August 2020

Previous studies demonstrated distinct neural correlates underpinning impaired self-regulation (dysregulation) between individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing controls (TDC). However, the impacts of dysregulation on white matter (WM) microstructural property in ASD and TDC remain unclear. Diffusion spectrum imaging was acquired in 59 ASD and 62 TDC boys. We investigated the relationship between participants’ dysregulation levels and microstructural property of 76 WM tracts in a multivariate analysis (canonical correlation analysis), across diagnostic groups. A single mode of brain-behavior co-variation was identified: participants were spread along a single axis linking diagnosis, dysregulation, diagnosis-by-dysregulation interaction, and intelligence to a specific WM property pattern. This mode corresponds to diagnosis-distinct correlates underpinning dysregulation, which showed higher generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA) associated with less dysregulation in ASD but greater dysregulation in TDC, in the tracts connecting limbic and emotion regulation systems. Moreover, higher GFA of the tracts implicated in memory, attention, sensorimotor processing, and perception associated with less dysregulation in TDC but worse dysregulation in ASD. No shared WM correlates of dysregulation between ASD and TDC were identified. Corresponding to previous studies, we demonstrated that ASD and TDC have broad distinct white matter microstructural property underpinning self-regulation.
Adhesion characteristics of solution treated environmental dust
Authors: Adukwu Johnny Ebaika , Yilbas Bekir Sami , Jalilov Almaz S. , Al-Qahtani H. , Yaqubu Mubarak , Abubakar Abba Abdulhamid , Khaled Mazen
Published: August 2020

Environmental dust is modified towards self-cleaning applications under the gravitational influence. Dust particles are collected in the local area of Dammam in Saudi Arabia and they are treated with a dilute hydrofluoric acid solution. The changes in chemical and adhesion characteristics of the dust particles prior and after the solution treatment are analyzed. Force of adhesion and work required to remove dust from hydrophobic and hydrophilic glass surfaces are assessed, separately, for solution treated and collected dust. We show that aqueous hydrofluoric acid solution treatment modifies some dust components while causing the formation of submicron cracks and nano/submicron porous/pillars like textures on the dust particles. The texture generated on dust surfaces after the solution treatment has a great influence on dust adhesion characteristics. Hence, the solution treated dust particles result in lower adhesion on hydrophobic and hydrophilic glass surfaces as compared to that of untreated dust. The gravitational force enables to remove solution treated dust from inclined glass surfaces, which becomes more apparent for hydrophobic surfaces.
Separation of saccharides using fullerene-bonded silica monolithic columns via π interactions in liquid chromatography
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroshi , Okada Kazuya , Tokuda Shinnosuke , Kanao Eisuke , Masuda Yusuke , Naito Toyohiro , Takaya Hikaru , Yan Mingdi , Kubo Takuya , Otsuka Koji
Published: August 2020

We report on a potential method to separate sugars by using the specific interaction between fullerenes and saccharides in liquid chromatography (LC). Aromatic rings with high electron density are believed to interact strongly with saccharides due to CH–π and/or OH–π interactions. In this study, the fullerene-bonded columns were used to separate saccharides by LC under aqueous conditions. As a result, 2-aminobenzamide-labeled glucose homopolymer (Glcs) was effectively separated by both C60 and C70 columns in the range of Glc-1 to Glc-20 and high blood glucose level being retained in greater quantity. Furthermore, similar separations were identified by LC–mass spectrometry with non-labeled glucose homopolymers. Theoretical study based on molecular dynamics and DFT calculation demonstrated that a supramolecular complex of saccharide–fullerene was formed through CH–π and/or OH–π interactions, and that the interactions between saccharide and fullerene increase with the increase units of the saccharide. Additionally, the C60 column retained disaccharides containing maltose, trehalose, and sucrose. In this case, it was assumed that the retention rates were determined by the difference of the dipole moment in each saccharide. These results suggest that the dipole-induced dipole interaction was dominant, and that maltose—with the higher dipole moment—was more strongly retained compared to other disaccharides having lower dipole moment.