bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Olfactory Sex Discrimination Persists, Whereas the Preference for Urinary Odorants from Estrous Females Disappears in Male Mice after Vomeronasal Organ Removal
Authors: Pankevich Diana E. , Baum Michael J. , Cherry James A.
Published: October 2004

Based on observed changes in the social context for the display of ultrasonic vocalizations, scent marking, aggression, and mounting behavior by male mice with a null mutation of the transient receptor potential 2 ion channel, it was proposed recently that a primary function of the mouse vomeronasal organ (VNO)/accessory olfactory system is sex discrimination. We tested this hypothesis directly by studying the ability of male mice to discriminate between urinary odors of conspecifics of the two sexes and in different endocrine states using habituation-dishabituation tests. Male mice from which the VNO had been surgically removed (VNOx) resembled sham-operated controls (VNOi) in their ability to discriminate between volatile urinary odors from estrous females versus gonadally intact males, as well as between urinary odors from estrous versus ovariectomized females and from gonadally intact versus castrated males. When physical access to stimuli was permitted, VNOi control males strongly preferred to investigate volatile and nonvolatile urinary odorants from estrous females as opposed to intact males, whereas VNOx males showed no such preference. Mating performance in tests with estrous females was equivalent in VNOi and VNOx subjects. Both groups of males preferred to mount an estrous female instead of a castrated male. Our results suggest that the VNO is not required for sex discrimination but instead detects the nonvolatile components of opposite-sex urine that may be used to help prolong contact with individuals that produce these chemosignals.
Induction of a Parafacial Rhythm Generator by Rhombomere 3 in the Chick Embryo
Authors: Coutinho Ana P. , Borday Caroline , Gilthorpe Jonathan , Jungbluth Stefan , Champagnat Jean , Lumsden Andrew , Fortin Gilles
Published: October 2004

Observations of knock-out mice suggest that breathing at birth requires correct development of a specific hindbrain territory corresponding to rhombomeres (r) 3 and 4. Focusing on this territory, we examined the development of a neuronal rhythm generator in the chick embryo. We show that rhythmic activity in r4 is inducible after developmental stage 10 through interaction with r3. Although the nature of this interaction remains obscure, we find that the expression ofKrox20, a segmentation gene responsible for specifying r3 and r5, is sufficient to endow other rhombomeres with the capacity to induce rhythmic activity in r4. Induction is robust, because it can be reproduced with r2 and r6 instead of r4 and with any hindbrain territory that normally expressesKrox20(r3, r5) or can be forced to do so (r1, r4). Interestingly, the interaction between r4 and r3/r5 that results in rhythm production can only take place through the anterior border of r4, revealing a heretofore unsuspected polarity in individual rhombomeres. The r4 rhythm generator appears to be homologous to a murine respiratory parafacial neuronal system developing in r4 under the control ofKrox20andHoxa1. These results identify a late role forKrox20at the onset of neurogenesis.
Pronounced Cell Death in the Absence of NMDA Receptors in the Developing Somatosensory Thalamus
Authors: Adams Suzanne M. , de Rivero Vaccari Juan Carlos , Corriveau Roderick A.
Published: October 2004

Genetic deletion of NMDA glutamate receptors disrupts development of whisker-related neuronal patterns in the somatosensory system. Independent studies have shown that NMDA receptor antagonists increase cell death among developing neurons. Here, we report that a dramatic feature of the developing somatosensory system in newborn NMDA receptor 1 (NMDAR1) knock-out mice is increased cell death in the ventrobasal nucleus (VB) of the thalamus. Sections were subject to terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining for apoptotic DNA fragmentation, thionine staining for pyknotic nuclei, silver staining for degenerating cells, and immunostaining for caspase-3. All four methods demonstrated that deletion of NMDAR1 causes a large (on the order of threefold to fivefold) increase in cell death in the VB. The NMDA receptor antagonists dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) and phencyclidine also increase cell death in this structure. The onset of increased cell death in the VB in the absence of NMDA receptor function is approximately the time of birth, overlaps with naturally occurring cell death and synaptogenesis, and displays some anatomical specificity. For example, there was no increase in cell death in the hippocampus or neocortex of NMDAR1 knock-out mice at any of the time points examined: embryonic day 15.5 (E15.5), E17.5, and postnatal day 0. We also report a significant reduction in the size of the VB that is evident starting at E17.5. The results indicate that NMDA receptors play a major role in cell survival during naturally occurring cell death in the VB and demonstrate that cell death is a consideration in NMDA receptor knock-out studies.
Cultural Meaning for Women Composers: Charlotte (“Minna”) Brandes and the Beautiful Dead in the German Enlightenment
Authors: Head Matthew
Published: October 2004

This article explores the cultural meanings of female musical authorship in the late German Enlightenment through a case study of Charlotte (“Minna”) Brandes, a composer, keyboardist, and opera singer. With Minna's death in 1788 at the age of twenty-three, her father, the playwright Johann Christian Brandes, and her close friend and teacher Johann Friedrich Höönicke prepared two memorials to her memory, a biography and a collection of her music, the latter titled Musikalische Nachlass von Minna Brandes (Hamburg, 1788). These memorials situated her authorship in the contexts of pedagogy and education, the composition of occasional works for the home, and the solace offered by music amidst bereavement and illness. The principal discourse was of death itself. Minna's memorialization shared with the novels of Goethe a topos of the beautiful female dead in which the female corpse (or its representation) was exhibited as a beautiful artifact. Death turned Minna from composer into a passive, aestheticized object of male authorship. These discursive contexts contained Minna's activities as a composer within a framework of bourgeois femininity. Both Minna's father and her teacher were at pains to stress that she sought neither fame nor fortune from her compositions. However, such representations of Minna were misleading. Her collected works suggest she was working toward a published collection of strophic German songs and toward the composition of operatic music for her own performance. The idealizing tropes of the memorials are also challenged by Johann Christian's later memoirs in which his daughter's turn to composition is situated in what he described as her multiple breaches of deferential daughterly conduct. Minna's reported profligacy during her final illness may have stimulated the posthumous publication of her music, which was possibly a form of fund raising for her multiply bereaved father, a corrective to his emotional and financial loss. The healthy list of 518 subscribers indicates that youthful female death was marketable as a topos occasioning the pleasures of melancholy.
Uncanny Resemblances: Tonal Signification in the Freudian Age
Authors: Cohn Richard
Published: October 2004

Early twentieth-century psychological theorists (Ernst Jentsch, Sigmund Freud) associated the uncanny with the occlusion of the boundary between real and imaginary, and with the defamiliarization of the familiar. Their music-theoretic contemporaries (Heinrich Schenker, Ernst Kurth, Alfred Lorenz) associated reality with consonance, imagination with dissonance. Late Romantic composers frequently depicted uncanny phenomena (in opera, song, and programmatic instrumental music) through hexatonic poles, a triadic juxtaposition that inherently undermines the consonant status of one or both constituents. Quintessentially familiar harmonies become defamiliarized liminal phenomena that hover between consonance and dissonance, thereby embodying the characteristics they are called upon by composers to depict. Examples of uncanny triadic juxtapositions are drawn from music of Gesualdo, Monteverdi, Haydn, Wagner, Mahler, Grieg, Richard Strauss, Sibelius, Puccini, Ravel, and Schoenberg.
Schubert: Family Matters
Authors: Solomon Maynard
Published: October 2004

Certain anomalous events in the history of Franz Schubert's family raise the possibility that he and his family inhabited a more tumultuous and conflict-ridden domestic universe than has been suspected. Among these are a series of painful losses in his mother's early life, the out-of-wedlock conception of Schubert's eldest brother, Ignaz, and Ignaz's subsequent omission from a schedule of heirs to some family property, along with his extended relegation to the lowly post of assistant teacher for more than a quarter century, until the death of his father, Franz Theodor Schubert, in 1830. In the background of these anomalies is the young Franz Theodor's unexpectedly rapid rise to prosperity in his profession, in which he and his sons had the decisive support of Bishop Josef Spendou, Vienna's superintendent of elementary schools, who was regarded as their "benefactor." Spendou's remarkably extensive devotion to the family's interestsÑincluding supplying a "scholarship" for Ignaz and a valued schoolteacher's post for young FerdinandÑopens for inspection several possibilities--that he may have been Ignaz's biological father, and that he and Schubert's parents may have entered into an arrangement whereby he furnished material and professional support to them in exchange for their raising his son as their own. Ultimately, when Franz Theodor died, Ignaz became the sole inheritor of the family's prosperous school, perhaps thereby closing the circle of pledges and obligations that bound Bishop Spendou and the Schuberts together. Left unexamined here are the potential reactions of Schubert and his siblings to their presumed knowledge of these veiled arrangements.
Effects of Shift Work on Autonomic and Neuromotor Functions in Female Nurses
Authors: Ishii Noriko , Iwata Toyoto , Dakeishi Miwako , Murata Katsuyuki
Published: October 2004

Effects of Shift Work on Autonomic and Neuromotor Functions in Female Nurses: Noriko Ishii, et al. Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Social Medicine, Akita University School of Medicine—Thirty‐seven nurses with shift work, working under a rotating three‐shift system, and 37 nurses without shift work, having worked during the daytime for one or more years prior to this study, were examined to assess the effects of shift work on cardiac autonomic and neuromotor functions. Their ages ranged from 25 to 58 yr. The electrocardiographic (ECG) R‐R interval variability, %LF and %HF (i.e., proportions of sympathetic and parasympathetic activities, respectively), and LF/HF ratio were computed by means of autoregressive spectral and component analyses. The %LF and LF/ HF ratio were significantly larger in the nurses with shift work than in those without shift work, although there was no significant difference in the heart rate‐corrected QT interval on ECG between them. And, hand‐ear coordination differed significantly between the nurses with shift work and those without. Despite the presence of potential selection bias, it is suggested that shift work in nurses may cause not only a long‐term sympathodominant state but also some neuromotor impairment.
Association between Cigarette Consumption and Proteinuria in Healthy Japanese Men and Women from an Occupational Population
Authors: Yamada Yuichi , Noborisaka Yuka , Ishizaki Masao , Honda Ryumon , Tsuritani Ikiko , Yamada Seiji
Published: October 2004

Association between Cigarette Consumption and Proteinuria in Healthy Japanese Men and Women from an Occupational Population: Yuichi Yamada, et al. Department of Social and Environmental Medicine (Hygiene), Kanazawa Medical University—The association between cigarette consumption and prevalence of mild proteinuria (30–99 mg/dl of albumin) was analyzed in 11,569 male and 4,715 female workers aged 18–67 yr recruited from an occupational population. Proteinuria was found in 274 (2.4%) of the total male workers and in 50 (1.1%) of the total females. Stepwise logistic regression analyses showed that sex, suspected diabetes mellitus, blood pressure (BP) and Brinkman Index (BI) levels (0, 1–199, 200–499, 500–799, 800–) were significantly related to proteinuria, and that the odds ratio of each BI level for proteinuria was 1.11 (C.I.: 1.01–1.67). In the subjects aged 50 yr or older, after excluding those suspected of having hypertension and/ or diabetes mellitus, the odds ratio reached 1.37 (C.I.: 1.15–1.63), with the gender difference then no longer significant. The odds ratio for proteinuria was calculated as 5.44 (C.I.: 2.27–13.0) in male and female smokers having a BI of 500 or above and normal‐high BP (130–139/85–89 mmHg) in comparison with nonsmokers having normal BP (<130/85 mmHg). These results suggest that heavy cigarette consumption represented by a BI of 500 or above is a risk factor of proteinuria even in healthy Japanese workers, particularly in those aged 50 yr or older and having normal‐high BP.
Work‐Related Factors Associated with Visiting a Doctor for a Medical Diagnosis after a Worksite Screening for Diabetes Mellitus in Japanese Male Employees
Authors: Tsuda Kaho , Tsutsumi Akizumi , Kawakami Norito
Published: October 2004

Work‐Related Factors Associated with Visiting a Doctor for a Medical diagnosis after a Worksite Screening for Diabetes Mellitus in Japanese Male Employees: Kaho Tsuda, et al. Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry—This paper aims to investigate the work‐related factors that affect whether Japanese male employees will seek a medical diagnosis after being screened for diabetes mellitus. Participants in this study received a questionnaire two months after receiving the results of their physical checkup. The analysis focused on 213 regular employees of small and medium‐sized companies who were aged 35–64 and who had tested positive for diabetes in a screening. Only 42% of the subjects visited a doctor for medical diagnosis during an average follow‐up period of 47.5 d. Cox's proportional hazard regression was used to analyze the length of time between the employees’ receipt of the results and their first visit to a doctor's office. The employees who could comfortably take a day off, compared to those who found it difficult to do so, were more likely to visit a doctor (hazard ratio (HR) 1.94; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85, 4.42; p for trend 0.05). In addition, employees with a high level of psychological job control, compared to those with low level of job control, were more likely to visit a doctor (HR 1.80; 95%CI 0.94, 3.45; p for trend 0.08). Employees who worked the longest (61 h per week or more) were less likely to visit a doctor than those working from 41 to 60 h weekly (HR 0.41; 95%CI 0.17, 0.98). The findings suggest that a flexible work schedule, autonomy at work, and no excessive working hours tend to improve the chance of visiting a doctor after screening for diabetes mellitus.
The Effect of Lung Burden on Biopersistence and Pulmonary Effects in Rats Exposed to Potassium Octatitanate Whiskers by Inhalation
Authors: Oyabu Takako , Yamato Hiroshi , Ogami Akira , Morimoto Yasuo , Akiyama Izumi , Ishimatsu Sumiyo , Hori Hajime , Tanaka Isamu
Published: October 2004

The Effect of Lung Burden on Biopersistence and Pulmonary Effects in Rats Exposed to Potassium Octatitanate Whiskers by Inhalation: Takako Oyabu, et al. Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan—The effect of lung burden on biopersistence and histopathological changes caused by potassium octatitanate whiskers (POW) which is one of the asbestos substitutes were investigated for 1‐yr and 4‐wk inhalation periods. In the 1‐yr inhalation experiment, male Wistar rats were exposed to POW (TW) for 6 h/d, 5 d/wk under the same conditions as a previous study of POW (PT1, JFM fiber) which is made by different manufacturer. The exposure concentration was 1.9 ± 0.7 mg/m3 and the mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) in the chamber were 1.6 µm and 2.9. Rats were sacrificed at 3 d and 1 yr after the inhalation experiment and TW deposits in the lungs were determined by ICP‐AES. Lung burden at 3 d and 1 yr after the inhalation was 2.39 ± 0.50 mg and 1.37 ± 0.96 mg, respectively, the deposition fraction was 8.1% and biological half time (BHT) was 15 months. Aggregated dust cells and mild fibrotic changes around these dust cells were observed in the exposed rat lung. These results were almost the same as those obtained in the previous 1‐yr PT1 study. In the 4‐wk inhalation experiment, to investigate the effect of lung burden on biopersistence and histopathological change, male Wistar rats were exposed to PT1. The exposure concentration was 102 ± 21 mg/m3, MMAD (GSD), the geometiric mean length and diameter (GSD) of the PT1 in the chamber were 1.6 µm (3.0), 2.2 µm (1.8) and 0.33 µm (1.5), respectively. Rats were sacrificed at 3 d, 1 wk, and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the inhalation experiment. The lung burden of POW at 3 d after 4 wk inhalation was 1.49 ± 0.19 mg, which was close to the estimated amount of overload. The BHT of the total mass (4.1 months) was not prolonged, but aggregated dust cells were observed in the subpleural region and around the bronchioles and mild fibrotic changes were observed only around the dust cells at one year after the 4‐wk inhalation. It is considered that the excessive exposure which impairs the function of alveolar macrophage mediated clearance may cause the aggregation of dust cells and fibrotic changes.
Ethnic Differences in Disability Risk between Dutch and Turkish Scaffolders
Authors: Elders L.A.M. , Burdorf A. , Öry F.G.
Published: October 2004

Ethnic Differences in Disability Risk between Dutch and Turkish Scaffolders: L.A.M. Elders, et al. Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands—The number of native Dutch and Turkish workers receiving a permanent disability pension in the Netherlands is still rising. To assess ethnic differences in disability risk between Dutch and Turkish scaffolders, a retrospective study was conducted within a large scaffolding company. Medical files for the period 1981– 2000 were used to gather information on ethnicity, age at entering service, age at becoming disabled, years of employment, the year to receive a disability pension, the disability diagnosis, and the percentage rating of the disability pension. In the past 20 yr, 131 Turkish and 125 Dutch scaffolders have become disabled. Musculoskeletal disorders were the primary reason for the diagnosis. No differences in diagnoses were observed, except for a small difference in cardiovascular disease. Turkish scaffolders started their work at an older age, received the disability pension at an older age, and had a longer duration of employment. Turkish scaffolders faced disability 2.48 (95% confidence interval 1.94–3.18) times more often than their Dutch colleagues, adjusted for age. Explanations for the differences in disability risk between Dutch and Turkish scaffolders are sought in the older age at start of employment, lower mobility in the labour market, and less access to medical and social care. In future, employers, general practitioners, occupational health physicians and social security workers, as stakeholders in reintegration, should sufficiently attune their activities concerning care and cure for Turkish construction workers on long‐term sick leave or during reintegration into other work.
Effect of Occupational Exposure to Rayon Manufacturing Chemicals on Skin Barrier to Evaporative Water Loss
Authors: Chou Tzu‐Chieh , Shih Tung‐Sheng , Tsai Jui‐Chen , Wu Jyun‐De , Sheu Hamm‐Min , Chang Ho‐Yuan
Published: October 2004

Effect of Occupational Exposure to Rayon Manufacturing Chemicals on Skin Barrier to Evaporative Water Loss: Tzu‐Chieh Chou, et al. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health—To evaluate the effects of the occupational exposure to rayon manufacturing chemicals (RMC, containing predominantly carbon disulfide (CS2) and minor sulfuric acid) in a rayon factory on the basal transepidermal water loss (TEWL), barrier integrity (BI), and sequential increasing TEWL profiles. Six Thais and five Chinese workers in the spinning department of a rayon manufacturing plant and five healthy unexposed controls were recruited as the test subjects. An area of 4.5 × 5.5 cm on the mid‐side of the volar forearm on the right hand was stripped by means of moderate pressure with commercially available adhesive tape by the same technician throughout the experiment. The skin was progressively stripped until glistening. TEWL was measured at every three and five tape strips on the right hand. The corresponding site on the left hand was measured parallel as the self‐control. We found significant differences in basal TEWL and in BI between Chinese workers and Chinese controls, and between Thai workers and Chinese workers, respectively. Two‐stage patterns of progressive TEWL profiles were found in such a chronic and repeated occupational exposure to RMC containing CS2. The occupational exposure to RMC could result in the perturbation of the skin barrier function. Basal TEWL might be more sensitive to chronic skin irritant exposure. The TEWL profile achieved to the glistening stage might be necessary to avoid erroneous pattern estimation. Due to the lack of Thais control in this study, the racial difference in response to the RMC warrants further study.
Environmental Mycological Study and Respiratory Disease Investigation in Tussah Silk Processing Workers
Authors: Chen Jie , Shi Jin , Wang Shusen , Yang Sufen , Lou Jiezhi , Liu Zhenlin
Published: October 2004

Environmental Mycological Study and Respiratory Disease Investigation in Tussah Silk Processing Workers: Jie Chen, et al. Division of Pneumoconiosis, School of Public Health, China Medical University, P. R. China—This study presents the results of an investigation of respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function and chest X‐ray examinations, and analysis of antibodies to fungi of 197 tussah silk‐processing workers and 40 control workers. An industrial hygiene survey and environmental mycological studies were also conducted. The dust concentrations in tussah silk processing workshops were less than 5.1 mg/m3 on average, with a maximum of 7.8 mg/m3 below the national health limit of 10 mg/ m3. Most dusts in all tussah silk processing workshops contained less than 1.2% silica. Numbers of isolated fungi in tussah silk processing workshops [755–6,544 cfu/m3 (colony forming unit/m3), were significantly higher than those in control environments (63–472 cfu/ m3). The prevalences of respiratory symptoms in tussah silk processing workers were higher than those in control workers. The prevalences of respiratory symptoms in exposed male non‐smoking workers were 44.4% with chronic cough, and 38.9% with chronic phlegm respectively, which were significantly higher than those (12.5%, 12.5% respectively) in male nonsmoking control workers (p<0.05). The prevalences in exposed male smoking workers were 42.9% with dyspnea, and 38.1% with chest tightness respectively, which were significantly higher than those (16.7%, 8.3% respectively) in male smoking control workers (p<0.01). The prevalences of respiratory symptoms in exposed female workers were 25.3% with chronic cough, 38.0% with chronic phlegm, 31.0% with dyspnea, and 29.1% with chest tightness respectively, which were significantly higher than those (10.0%, 10.0%, 10.0%, 5.0% respectively) in female control workers (p<0.01). Fifteen exposed workers often suffered from fever. Five X‐rays were abnormal and four cases had nodular or patchy shadows. The prevalences of pulmonary function abnormalities in the exposed female group were significantly higher than those in control groups (p<0.01). The OD450nm values for antibodies to fungi in tussah silk processing workers were significantly higher than those of control workers (p<0.05). The positive rates of anti‐fungal antibodies in tussah silk‐processing workers were also significantly higher than those of control workers (p<0.01). The results suggested that fungi might be one of the main allergens in respiratory diseases in the tussah silk processing workers.
Links between melanoma germline risk loci, driver genes and comorbidities: insight from a tissue‐specific multi‐omic analysis
Authors: Pudjihartono Michael , Golovina Evgeniia , Fadason Tayaza , O'Sullivan Justin M. , Schierding William
Published: February 2024

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have associated 76 loci with the risk of developing melanoma. However, understanding the molecular basis of such associations has remained a challenge because most of these loci are in non‐coding regions of the genome. Here, we integrated data on epigenomic markers, three‐dimensional (3D) genome organization, and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) from melanoma‐relevant tissues and cell types to gain novel insights into the mechanisms underlying melanoma risk. This integrative approach revealed a total of 151 target genes, both near and far away from the risk loci in linear sequence, with known and novel roles in the etiology of melanoma. Using protein–protein interaction networks, we identified proteins that interact—directly or indirectly—with the products of the target genes. The interacting proteins were enriched for known melanoma driver genes. Further integration of these target genes into tissue‐specific gene regulatory networks revealed patterns of gene regulation that connect melanoma to its comorbidities. Our study provides novel insights into the biological implications of genetic variants associated with melanoma risk.
Genetic and non‐genetic drug resistance: Darwin or Lamarck?
Authors: Russo Mariangela
Published: February 2024

Drug resistance represents a major limitation to the long‐term efficacy of anti‐cancer treatments. The commonly accepted view is that the selection of inheritable genetic mechanisms governs the development of secondary resistance. However, compelling evidence suggests an important role for adaptive cell plasticity and non‐genetic mechanisms in the development of therapy resistance. The two phenomena are not mutually exclusive and the interplay between genetic and non‐genetic mechanisms may affect tumor evolution during treatment. A broader characterization of the genetic and non‐genetic mechanisms of drug resistance may pave the way for more precise and effective therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance.
Heating ventilation air‐conditioner system for multi‐regional commercial buildings based on deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Yang Juan , Yu Jing , Wang Shijing
Published: February 2024

In an era of significant energy consumption by commercial building HVAC systems, this study introduces a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) approach to optimize these systems in multi‐zone commercial buildings, targeting reduced energy usage and enhanced user comfort. The research begins with the development of an energy consumption model for multi‐zone HVAC systems, considering the complexity and uncertainty of system parameters. This model informs the creation of a novel DRL‐based optimization algorithm, which incorporates multi‐stage training and a multi‐agent attention mechanism, enhancing stability and scalability. Comparative analysis against traditional control methods shows the proposed algorithm's effectiveness in reducing energy consumption while maintaining indoor comfort. The study presents an innovative DRL strategy for energy management in commercial HVAC systems, offering substantial potential for sustainable practices in building management.
Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Direct Ink Writing (3D Printed) Hexagonal Boron Nitride Reinforced Porous Boehmite Structures
Authors: Ambekar Rushikesh S. , Joseph Antony , Ganji Santosh , Nirmal Ghata , Agrawal Ravi , Tiwary Chandra Sekhar
Published: February 2024

3D printing techniques offer a unique opportunity to build unconventional shapes to enhance operational performance. Boehmite structures that are 3D printed using direct ink writing (DIW) technique are employed as catalytic carriers; however, their inadequate fracture resistance poses a drawback. Therefore, this study aims to improve the mechanical properties of 3D‐printed boehmite structures by reinforcing hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanosheets. Herein, the DIW of boehmite structures is reported where porosity and surface area relevant for industrial applications have been achieved. Since porosity enhancement is a trade‐off with mechanical strength, reinforcement of 3D printing boehmite ink is done with hBN in an effort to increase its fracture strength without compromising porosity. There are varied hBN concentrations in the composite to study its impact on the mechanical strength of 3D‐printed cylindrical structures tested under compression techniques. The as‐developed composite structure with 1% hBN reinforcement has excellent printability and better mechanical strength (19% compression strength enhancement compared to pure boehmite) without compromising functional properties such as thermal stability and surface area.
Magnesium Alloy Composite Water‐Repellent Surface with Durable Corrosion Resistance and Self‐Cleaning Behavior
Authors: Cai Qianqian , Xu Jinkai , Xu Aiqun , Lian Zhongxu , Li Jian , Yu Huadong
Published: February 2024

Magnesium (Mg) alloys have poor corrosion resistance, higher requirements for corrosion resistance of the coating, and the changes in the environment in the actual application are complicated and diverse. Therefore, it is urgent to develop bio‐inspired water‐repellent surfaces (WRSs) with long‐lasting corrosion resistance and multiple excellent properties for Mg alloys. In this study, a composite water‐repellent surface (CWRS) with long‐lasting corrosion resistance and self‐cleaning behavior is prepared by combining laser processing, hydrothermal treatment, and immersion method on the Mg alloy surface. The effect of ambient temperature changes on the wettability and corrosion resistance of the CWRS is investigated. The experimental results showed that a uniform and dense CWRS with a film thickness of 36 μm could be prepared on the Mg alloy surface at an ambient temperature of 180 °C, demonstrating excellent corrosion resistance and self‐cleaning behavior. In addition, in the harsh salt spray test, it is found that even if the superhydrophobicity of the CWRS was lost, the surface still has good corrosion resistance. Multifunctional CWRSs have become a research hotspot, and it is of great significance to promote the application of Mg alloys in actual working conditions.
Functional Amyloids: The Biomaterials of Tomorrow?
Authors: Peña‐Díaz Samuel , Olsen William Pallisgaard , Wang Huabing , Otzen Daniel E.
Published: February 2024

Functional amyloid (FAs), particularly the bacterial proteins CsgA and FapC, have many useful properties as biomaterials: high stability, efficient, and controllable formation of a single type of amyloid, easy availability as extracellular material in bacterial biofilm and flexible engineering to introduce new properties. CsgA in particular has already demonstrated its worth in hydrogels for stable gastrointestinal colonization and regenerative tissue engineering, cell‐specific drug release, water‐purification filters, and different biosensors. It also holds promise as catalytic amyloid; existing weak and unspecific activity can undoubtedly be improved by targeted engineering and benefit from the repetitive display of active sites on a surface. Unfortunately, FapC remains largely unexplored and no application is described so far. Since FapC shares many common features with CsgA, this opens the window to its development as a functional scaffold. The multiple imperfect repeats in CsgA and FapC form a platform to introduce novel properties, e.g., in connecting linkers of variable lengths. While exploitation of this potential is still at an early stage, particularly for FapC, a thorough understanding of their molecular properties will pave the way for multifunctional fibrils which can contribute toward solving many different societal challenges, ranging from CO2 fixation to hydrolysis of plastic nanoparticles.
Tough Hydro‐Aerogels with Cation Specificity Enabled Ultra‐High Stability for Multifunctional Sensing and Quasi‐Solid‐State Electrolyte Applications
Authors: Zhou Hao , Wei Xiaohan , Liu Andeng , Wang Senjing , Chen Bingqi , Chen Zhuomin , Lyu Miaoqiang , Guo Wenxi , Cao Xuezheng , Ye Meidan
Published: February 2024

The anion‐specific effects of the salting‐in and salting‐out phenomena are extensively observed in hydrogels, whereas the cation specificity of hydrogels is rarely reported. Herein, a multi‐step strategy including borax pre‐gelation, saline soaking, freeze‐drying, and rehydrating is developed to fabricate polyvinyl alcohol gels with cation specificity, exhibiting the specific ordering of effects on the mechanical properties of gels as Ca2+ > Li+ > Mg2+ >> Fe3+ > Cu2+ >> Co2+ ≈ Ni2+ ≈ Zn2+. The multiple effects of the fabrication strategy, including the electrostatic repulsion among cations, skeleton support function of graphene oxide nanosheets, and water absorption and retention of ions, endow the gels with the dual characteristics of hydrogels and aerogels (i.e., hydro‐aerogels). The hydro‐aerogels prepared with the cationic salting‐out effect display attractive pressure sensing performance with excellent stability over 90 days and enable continuous monitoring of ambient humidity in real‐time and effective work in seawater to detect various parameters (e.g., depth, salinity, and temperature). The hydro‐aerogels prepared without borax pretreatment or using the cationic salting‐in effect can serve as quasi‐solid‐state electrolytes in supercapacitors, with 99.59% capacitance retention after 10 000 cycles. This study realizes cation specificity in hydrogels and designs multifunctional hydro‐aerogels for promising applications in various fields.
External Field‐Responsive Ternary Non‐Noble Metal Oxygen Electrocatalyst for Rechargeable Zinc‐Air Batteries
Authors: Gu Fan , Guo Wengai , Yuan Yifei , Deng Ya‐Ping , Jin Huile , Wang Jichang , Chen Zhongwei , Pan Shuang , Chen Yihuang , Wang Shun
Published: February 2024

Despite the increasing effort in advancing oxygen electrocatalysts for zinc‐air batteries (ZABs), the performance development gradually reaches a plateau via only ameliorating the electrocatalyst materials. Herein, a new class of external field‐responsive electrocatalyst comprising Ni0.5Mn0.5Fe2O4 stably dispersed on N‐doped Ketjenblack (Ni0.5Mn0.5Fe2O4/N‐KB) is developed via polymer‐assisted strategy for practical ZABs. Briefly, the activity indicator ΔE is significantly decreased to 0.618 V upon photothermal assistance, far exceeding most reported electrocatalysts (generally >0.680 V). As a result, the photothermal electrocatalyst possesses comprehensive merits of excellent power density (319 mW cm−2), ultralong lifespan (5163 cycles at 25 mA cm−2), and outstanding rate performance (100 mA cm−2) for liquid ZABs, and superb temperature and deformation adaptability for flexible ZABs. Such improvement is attributed to the photothermal‐heating‐enabled synergy of promoted electrical conductivity, reactant‐molecule motion, active area, and surface reconstruction, as revealed by operando Raman and simulation. The findings open vast possibilities toward more‐energy‐efficient energy applications.
Photoinduced C−O Bond Formation through C−C Bond Cleavage of Alcohols by Suppressing Alcohol Oxidation
Authors: Wu Qiang , Hu Peng
Published: February 2024

Herein, we present a photoinduced deconstructive alkoxyamination of alkyl alcohols catalyzed by iron salts. This transformation involves the initiation of alkoxy radicals through chlorine radical‐induced alkoxy radical formation, followed by β‐scission and trapping of the resulting carbon radicals with 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl (TEMPO). This reaction exhibits a broad substrate scope (40 examples), including primary and secondary alcohols that are prone to oxidation by the combination of TEMPO and iron. Mechanistic investigations have revealed that enhanced coordination of the chloride ion with the iron center inhibits the OH oxidation process, thereby enabling the tolerance of primary and secondary alcohols.
NAMPT‐Driven M2 Polarization of Tumor‐Associated Macrophages Leads to an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Hong Sun Mi , Lee A‐Yeon , Kim Byeong‐Ju , Lee Jeong‐Eun , Seon Su‐Yeon , Ha Yu‐Jin , Ng Jestlin Tianthing , Yoon Gyesoon , Lim Su Bin , Morgan Michael J. , Cha Jong‐Ho , Lee Dakeun , Kim You‐Sun
Published: February 2024

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a metabolic enzyme with key roles in inflammation. Previous studies have examined the consequences of its upregulated expression in cancer cells themselves, but studies are limited with respect to its role in the other cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) during colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. Using single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) data, it is founded that NAMPT is highly expressed in SPP1+ tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs), a unique subset of TAMs associated with immunosuppressive activity. A NAMPThigh gene signature in SPP1+ TAMs correlated with worse prognostic outcomes in CRC patients. The effect of Nampt deletion in the myeloid compartment of mice during CRC development is explored. NAMPT deficiency in macrophages resulted in HIF‐1α destabilization, leading to reduction in M2‐like TAM polarization. NAMPT deficiency caused significant decreases in the efferocytosis activity of macrophages, which enhanced STING signaling and the induction of type I IFN‐response genes. Expression of these genes contributed to anti‐tumoral immunity via potentiation of cytotoxic T cell activity in the TME. Overall, these findings suggest that NAMPT‐initiated TAM‐specific genes can be useful in predicting poor CRC patient outcomes; strategies aimed at targeting NAMPT may provide a promising therapeutic approach for building an immunostimulatory TME in CRC progression.
A Novel Approach Utilizing Domain Adversarial Neural Networks for the Detection and Classification of Selective Sweeps
Authors: Song Hui , Chu Jinyu , Li Wangjiao , Li Xinyun , Fang Lingzhao , Han Jianlin , Zhao Shuhong , Ma Yunlong
Published: February 2024

The identification and classification of selective sweeps are of great significance for improving the understanding of biological evolution and exploring opportunities for precision medicine and genetic improvement. Here, a domain adaptation sweep detection and classification (DASDC) method is presented to balance the alignment of two domains and the classification performance through a domain‐adversarial neural network and its adversarial learning modules. DASDC effectively addresses the issue of mismatch between training data and real genomic data in deep learning models, leading to a significant improvement in its generalization capability, prediction robustness, and accuracy. The DASDC method demonstrates improved identification performance compared to existing methods and excels in classification performance, particularly in scenarios where there is a mismatch between application data and training data. The successful implementation of DASDC in real data of three distinct species highlights its potential as a useful tool for identifying crucial functional genes and investigating adaptive evolutionary mechanisms, particularly with the increasing availability of genomic data.
A Single‐Atom Manganese Nanozyme Mn‐N/C Promotes Anti‐Tumor Immune Response via Eliciting Type I Interferon Signaling
Authors: Qiao Wen , Chen Jingqi , Zhou Huayuan , Hu Cegui , Dalangood Sumiya , Li Hanjun , Yang Dandan , Yang Yu , Gui Jun
Published: February 2024

Tumor microenvironment (TME)‐induced nanocatalytic therapy is a promising strategy for cancer treatment, but the low catalytic efficiency limits its therapeutic efficacy. Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) are a new type of nanozyme with incredible catalytic efficiency. Here, a single‐atom manganese (Mn)‐N/C nanozyme is constructed. Mn‐N/C catalyzes the conversion of cellular H2O2 to ∙OH through a Fenton‐like reaction and enables the sufficient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) of tumor cells and significantly promotes CD8+T anti‐tumor immunity. Moreover, RNA sequencing analysis reveals that Mn‐N/C treatment activates type I interferon (IFN) signaling, which is critical for Mn‐N/C‐mediated anti‐tumor immune response. Mechanistically, the release of cytosolic DNA and Mn2+ triggered by Mn‐N/C collectively activates the cGAS‐STING pathway, subsequently stimulating type I IFN induction. A highly efficient single‐atom nanozyme, Mn‐N/C, which enhances anti‐tumor immune response and exhibits synergistic therapeutic effects when combined with the anti‐PD‐L1 blockade, is proposed.
Mechanochemical Activation of DNAzyme by Ultrasound
Authors: Rath Wolfgang H. , Göstl Robert , Herrmann Andreas
Published: February 2024

Controlling the activity of DNAzymes by external triggers is an important task. Here a temporal control over DNAzyme activity through a mechanochemical pathway with the help of ultrasound (US) is demonstrated. The deactivation of the DNAzyme is achieved by hybridization to a complementary strand generated through rolling circle amplification (RCA), an enzymatic polymerization process. Due to the high molar mass of the resulting polynucleic acids, shear force can be applied on the RCA strand through inertial cavitation induced by US. This exerts mechanical force and leads to the cleavage of the base pairing between RCA strand and DNAzyme, resulting in the recovery of DNAzyme activity. This is the first time that this release mechanism is applied for the activation of catalytic nucleic acids, and it has multiple advantages over other stimuli. US has higher penetration depth into tissues compared to light, and it offers a more specific stimulus than heat, which has also limited use in biological systems due to cell damage caused by hyperthermia. This approach is envisioned to improve the control over DNAzyme activity for the development of reliable and specific sensing applications.
CSN6‐SPOP‐HMGCS1 Axis Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via YAP1 Activation
Authors: Li Kai , Zhang Jiayu , Lyu Haiwen , Yang Jinneng , Wei Wenxia , Wang Yuzhi , Luo Haidan , Zhang Yijing , Jiang Xin , Yi Hairong , Wang Mengan , Zhang Caiyun , Wu Kang , Xiao Lishi , Wen Weijie , Xu Hui , Li Guolin , Wan Yunle , Yang Fang , Yang Runxiang , Fu Xinhui , Qin Baifu , Zhou Zhongguo , Zhang Haipeng , Lee Mong‐Hong
Published: February 2024

Cholesterol metabolism has important roles in maintaining membrane integrity and countering the development of diseases such as obesity and cancers. Cancer cells sustain cholesterol biogenesis for their proliferation and microenvironment reprograming even when sterols are abundant. However, efficacy of targeting cholesterol metabolism for cancer treatment is always compromised. Here it is shown that CSN6 is elevated in HCC and is a positive regulator of hydroxymethylglutaryl‐CoA synthase 1 (HMGCS1) of mevalonate (MVA) pathway to promote tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, CSN6 antagonizes speckle‐type POZ protein (SPOP) ubiquitin ligase to stabilize HMGCS1, which in turn activates YAP1 to promote tumor growth. In orthotopic liver cancer models, targeting CSN6 and HMGCS1 hinders tumor growth in both normal and high fat diet. Significantly, HMGCS1 depletion improves YAP inhibitor efficacy in patient derived xenograft models. The results identify a CSN6‐HMGCS1‐YAP1 axis mediating tumor outgrowth in HCC and propose a therapeutic strategy of targeting non‐alcoholic fatty liver diseases‐ associated HCC.
Ultrafast Dynamics Across Pressure‐Induced Electronic State Transitions, Fluorescence Quenching, and Bandgap Evolution in CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots
Authors: Chen Lin , Chu Ya , Qin Xiaxia , Gao Zhijian , Zhang Guozhao , Zhang Haiwa , Wang Qinglin , Li Qian , Guo Haizhong , Li Yinwei , Liu Cailong
Published: February 2024

This work investigates the impact of pressure on the structural, optical properties, and electronic structure of CsPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs) using steady‐state photoluminescence, steady‐state absorption, and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, reaching a maximum pressure of 3.38 GPa. The experimental results indicate that CsPbBr3 QDs undergo electronic state (ES) transitions from ES‐I to ES‐II and ES‐II to ES‐III at 0.38 and 1.08 GPa, respectively. Intriguingly, a mixed state of ES‐II and ES‐III is observed within the pressure range of 1.08–1.68 GPa. The pressure‐induced fluorescence quenching in ES‐II is attributed to enhanced defect trapping and reduced radiative recombination. Above 1.68 GPa, fluorescence vanishes entirely, attributed to the complete phase transformation from ES‐II to ES‐III in which radiative recombination becomes non‐existent. Notably, owing to stronger quantum confinement effects, CsPbBr3 QDs exhibit an impressive bandgap tuning range of 0.497 eV from 0 to 2.08 GPa, outperforming nanocrystals by 1.4 times and bulk counterparts by 11.3 times. Furthermore, this work analyzes various carrier dynamics processes in the pressure‐induced bandgap evolution and electron state transitions, and systematically studies the microphysical mechanisms of optical properties in CsPbBr3 QDs under pressure, offering insights for optimizing optical properties and designing novel materials.
CIRI‐Deep Enables Single‐Cell and Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis of Circular RNAs with Deep Learning
Authors: Zhou Zihan , Zhang Jinyang , Zheng Xin , Pan Zhicheng , Zhao Fangqing , Gao Yuan
Published: February 2024

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a crucial yet relatively unexplored class of transcripts known for their tissue‐ and cell‐type‐specific expression patterns. Despite the advances in single‐cell and spatial transcriptomics, these technologies face difficulties in effectively profiling circRNAs due to inherent limitations in circRNA sequencing efficiency. To address this gap, a deep learning model, CIRI‐deep, is presented for comprehensive prediction of circRNA regulation on diverse types of RNA‐seq data. CIRI‐deep is trained on an extensive dataset of 25 million high‐confidence circRNA regulation events and achieved high performances on both test and leave‐out data, ensuring its accuracy in inferring differential events from RNA‐seq data. It is demonstrated that CIRI‐deep and its adapted version enable various circRNA analyses, including cluster‐ or region‐specific circRNA detection, BSJ ratio map visualization, and trans and cis feature importance evaluation. Collectively, CIRI‐deep's adaptability extends to all major types of RNA‐seq datasets including single‐cell and spatial transcriptomic data, which will undoubtedly broaden the horizons of circRNA research.