bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L-Citrulline supplementation attenuates aortic pressure and pressure waves during metaboreflex activation in postmenopausal women
Authors: Dillon Katherine N. , Kang Yejin , Maharaj Arun , Martinez Mauricio A. , Fischer Stephen M. , Figueroa Arturo
Published: September 2023

Postmenopausal women have augmented pressure wave responses to low-intensity isometric handgrip exercise (IHG) due to an overactive metaboreflex (postexercise muscle ischaemia, PEMI), contributing to increased aortic systolic blood pressure (SBP). Menopause-associated endothelial dysfunction via arginine (ARG) and nitric oxide deficiency may contribute to exaggerated exercise SBP responses. L-Citrulline supplementation (CIT) is an ARG precursor that decreases SBP, pulse pressure (PP) and pressure wave responses to cold exposure in older adults. We investigated the effects of CIT on aortic SBP, PP, and pressure of forward (Pf) and backward (Pb) waves during IHG and PEMI in twenty-two postmenopausal women. Participants were randomised to CIT (10 g/d) or placebo (PL) for 4 weeks. Aortic haemodynamics were assessed via applanation tonometry at rest, 2 min of IHG at 30 % of maximal strength, and 3 min of PEMI. Responses were analysed as change (Δ) from rest to IHG and PEMI at 0 and 4 weeks. CIT attenuated ΔSBP (−9 ± 2 v. −1 ± 1 mmHg, P = 0·006), ΔPP (−5 ± 2 v. 0 ± 1 mmHg, P = 0·03), ΔPf (−6 ± 2 v. −1 ± 1 mmHg, P = 0·01) and ΔPb (−3 ± 1 v. 0 ± 1 mmHg, P = 0·02) responses to PEMI v. PL. The ΔPP during PEMI was correlated with ΔPf (r = 0·743, P < 0·001) and ΔPb (r = 0·724, P < 0·001). Citrulline supplementation attenuates the increase in aortic pulsatile load induced by muscle metaboreflex activation via reductions in forward and backward pressure wave amplitudes in postmenopausal women.
Not Hidden but Not Visible: Government Funding of Independent Schools in Canada
Authors: Borwein Sophie , Farney James , Khovrenkov Iryna , White Linda A.
Published: September 2023

A growing body of comparative public policy research examines the effects of delegated delivery of public services and the related emergence of what is labelled a submerged state that obscures the role of government in the provision of public services. Data limitations have constrained investigations of these dynamics in Canada, including for K–12 education. In this research note, we draw on charitable tax records and provincial and federal spending data to present the evolution of provincial and federal financial support for independent schools over time, drawing on the case of British Columbia (BC). By factoring in indirect support through various tax mechanisms, we establish that BC independent schools have seen increasing financial support from both the federal and provincial governments in recent decades, primarily via tax expenditures tied to their charitable status—a “not hidden but not visible” shift in public expenditure that has substantial political, distributive and accountability implications.
First report of molecular confirmation and phylogenetic analysis of ocular seteriasis in buffalo in India using 12S rRNA
Authors: Anandu S. , Chaithra S. N. , Manjusha K. M. , Tiwari V. K. , Tewari A. K. , Tanuj G. N. , Samanta S. , Sankar M.
Published: September 2023

An adult Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) presented with corneal opacity, irritation, and excessive lacrimation from the left eye in the Referral Veterinary Polyclinic-Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex (RVC-TVCC), Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar. Clinical examination revealed a whitish thread-like worm in the left eye’s anterior chamber. The worm was surgically removed from the eye with supportive nerve blocks. Light microscopy was used for parasite morphological identification, which provided insight into the worm as female Setaria sp. Genomic DNA was isolated, and polymerase chain reaction amplification of 12S rRNA was conducted for molecular confirmation of the parasite. The amplicon was sequenced and analysed by bioinformatics software. Sequence data showed an amplicon size of 243 bp. Phylogenetic analysis with reference data from the NCBI Genbank database revealed the worm was S. digitata, with a similarity of 99.17%. The common predilection site of S. digitata is in the peritoneal cavity of natural hosts like cattle and buffalo and is mostly non-pathogenic. The aberrant migration of the parasite larva to the brain and eye commonly occurs in goats, sheep, and horses, causing clinical conditions like cerebrospinal nematodiasis (lumbar paralysis) and ocular setariasis, respectively. Nevertheless, until now, there have been no reports of ocular setariasis in buffalo. This report is the first unusual occurrence of ocular setariasis in buffalo and its molecular confirmation and phylogenetic analysis using 12S rRNA.
S. A. Andrée’s understanding of Arctic ice drift during his 1897 balloon expedition
Authors: Lantz Björn
Published: September 2023

The tragic Andrée balloon expedition of 1897 serves as a haunting reminder of the dangers posed by ice drift during polar exploration. This paper examines Andrée’s initial decision after his balloon flight to march towards Cape Flora in Franz Josef Land, despite its much greater distance compared to the Sjuøyane archipelago. The rationale behind this choice remains unclear, but potential factors include stored supplies, the demonstrated winter survival in Franz Josef Land and the scientific interest in unexplored regions. By analysing historical accounts and employing scenario analyses, this study contributes to a better understanding of Andrée’s perception of ice drift and its impact on their ill-fated journey. The paper explores major forces affecting ice drift, reviews the historical development of understanding ice drift in the area, and presents an analysis of Andrée’s understanding and decision-making. The overall conclusion is that Andrée probably was unaware of the substantial deflection to the right of the direction of the wind that ice drift in the Arctic on average is characterised of due to the Earth’s rotation (the Coriolis effect). Without this deflection, the decision to march towards Cape Flora would have made sense under the assumption of continued northerly winds.
Long-term outcomes of once weekly v. twice weekly sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy for depression
Authors: Bruijniks Sanne J. E. , Hollon Steven D. , Lemmens Lotte H. J. M. , Peeters Frenk P. M. L. , Arntz Arnoud , Cuijpers Pim , Twisk Jos , Dingemanse Pieter , Willems Linda , van Oppen Patricia , van den Boogaard Michael , Spijker Jan , Huibers Marcus J. H.
Published: September 2023

Background

Twice weekly sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for major depressive disorder (MDD) lead to less drop-out and quicker and better response compared to once weekly sessions at posttreatment, but it is unclear whether these effects hold over the long run.

Aims

Compare the effects of twice weekly v. weekly sessions of CBT and IPT for depression up to 24 months since the start of treatment.

Methods

Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, this multicentre study randomized 200 adults with MDD to once or twice weekly sessions of CBT or IPT over 16–24 weeks, up to a maximum of 20 sessions. Main outcome measures were depression severity, measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted.

Results

Compared with patients who received once weekly sessions, patients who received twice weekly sessions showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms up through month 9, but this effect was no longer apparent at month 24. Patients who received CBT showed a significantly larger decrease in depressive symptoms up to month 24 compared to patients who received IPT, but the between-group effect size at month 24 was small. No differential effects between session frequencies or treatment modalities were found in response or relapse rates.

Conclusions

Although a higher session frequency leads to better outcomes in the acute phase of treatment, the difference in depression severity dissipated over time and there was no significant difference in relapse.
What's in the pots? Identifying Possible Extensification in Roman Britain Through Analysis of Organic Residues in Pottery
Authors: Greenwood C.E. , Cramp L.J.E. , Hodos T.
Published: September 2023

This study examined absorbed organic residues in pottery to assess differences in subsistence practices in Roman Britain. Through this approach, we investigated foodways at a major urban site and a range of small towns, villas and farmsteads within its hinterland. The study revealed that consumption at Cirencester differed remarkably to consumption at other sites in the surrounding hinterland, with a greater contribution from pigs and/or chickens. Dairy products were a key contributor to the diet at rural sites, including a high-status villa. We contend that both findings are the result of extensification of food production. Thus, we show how reconstructing broad culinary patterns can reveal possible responses of inhabitants to the challenges of feeding the increasing population of Roman Britain.
The Dogma of Opposing Welfare and Retribution
Authors: Dahan Katz Leora
Published: September 2023

There is a common refrain in the literature on punishment that presumes the mutual exclusivity of defending retribution and adopting a humanistic or welfare-oriented outlook. The refrain, that if we want to be humane, or care about human welfare, we must abandon retributive punishment, anger, and resentment is readily repeated, endorsed, and relied upon. This article suggests that this opposition is false: retribution and welfare-orientation can not only be endorsed concomitantly, but are complimentary projects, and may even be grounded in the same normative basis, such that if we endorse one we are already committed to ideas that ground reason to care about the other.

My primary target will be claims that aim to undermine retributivism by demonstrating the desirability of welfare-orientation. If both can live together, demonstrating the attractiveness of one goes nowhere toward displacing the other. Further, establishing this claim invites further inquiry into classic questions about the “barbaric,” or “morally repugnant” credentials of retributivism. Confronting these claims will elucidate the consistency of adopting both retributive and welfare-oriented views, which, I suggest, can be jointly adopted and pursued.
Live Coding Patterns and a Toolkit for Pure Data
Authors: Brown Andrew R.
Published: September 2023

Creative activities often involve specific processes and techniques that reflect the unique nature of the activity. For live coders, these processes and techniques can be expressed as algorithms and functions in live coding languages. In many fields, these idiomatic processes are referred to as design patterns. Design patterns are important to understand because they can structure thought and direct users towards particular outcomes. This article examines the design patterns in live coding practices and languages, specifically focusing on the Live Coding Toolkit for Pure Data. Pure Data is a visual programming language, but few live coders have traditionally used it. This article explains how the Live Coding Toolkit allows Pure Data to effectively express the patterns of practice required for successful music live coding performance.
A multi-country comparison of jurisdictions with and without mandatory nutrition labelling policies in restaurants: analysis of behaviours associated with menu labelling in the 2019 International Food Policy Study
Authors: Essman Michael , Burgoine Thomas , Cameron Adrian , Jones Andrew , Potvin Kent Monique , Polden Megan , Robinson Eric , Sacks Gary , Smith Richard D , Vanderlee Lana , White Christine , White Martin , Hammond David , Adams Jean
Published: September 2023

Objective:

To examine differences in noticing and use of nutrition information comparing jurisdictions with and without mandatory menu labelling policies and examine differences among sociodemographic groups.

Design:

Cross-sectional data from the International Food Policy Study (IFPS) online survey.

Setting:

IFPS participants from Australia, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and USA in 2019.

Participants:

Adults aged 18–99; n 19 393.

Results:

Participants in jurisdictions with mandatory policies were significantly more likely to notice and use nutrition information, order something different, eat less of their order and change restaurants compared to jurisdictions without policies. For noticed nutrition information, the differences between policy groups were greatest comparing older to younger age groups and comparing high education (difference of 10·7 %, 95 % CI 8·9, 12·6) to low education (difference of 4·1 %, 95 % CI 1·8, 6·3). For used nutrition information, differences were greatest comparing high education (difference of 4·9 %, 95 % CI 3·5, 6·4) to low education (difference of 1·8 %, 95 % CI 0·2, 3·5). Mandatory labelling was associated with an increase in ordering something different among the majority ethnicity group and a decrease among the minority ethnicity group. For changed restaurant visited, differences were greater for medium and high education compared to low education, and differences were greater for higher compared to lower income adequacy.

Conclusions:

Participants living in jurisdictions with mandatory nutrition information in restaurants were more likely to report noticing and using nutrition information, as well as greater efforts to modify their consumption. However, the magnitudes of these differences were relatively small.
The first weed science textbooks in the United States (Part 1)
Authors: Byrd John Dukes , Russell David P. , Broster Kayla
Published: September 2023

This article reviews the first textbooks focused on weed identification published in the United States. We go on to discuss those species considered the most troublesome weeds in agriculture. Common and scientific names written in the original texts have been cross referenced to current common and scientific names.
Organic‐Matter Accumulation and Degradation in Holocene Permafrost Deposits Along a Central Alaska Hillslope
Authors: Marshall Leah P. , Kaufman Darrell S. , Anderson R. Scott , McKay Nicholas P. , Schuur Edward A. G.
Published: September 2023

The quantity and preservation of carbon‐rich organic matter (OM) underlying permafrost uplands, and the evolution of carbon accumulation with millennial climate change, are large sources of uncertainty in carbon cycle feedbacks on climate change. We investigated permafrost OM accumulation and degradation over the Holocene using a transect of sediment cores dating back to at least c. 6 ka, from a hillslope in the Eight Mile Lake watershed, central Alaska. We find decimeter‐scale organic‐rich (111 ± 45 kg C m−3) and organic‐poor (49 ± 30 kg C m−3) layers below an upper peat, which store 35% ± 11% and 41% ± 20% of the carbon in the upper 1 m, respectively. In organic‐poor layers, scattered 14C ages of plant macrofossils and higher percentages of degraded Alnus and Betula pollen indicate reworking by cryoturbation and hillslope processes. Whereas organic carbon to nitrogen ratios generally indicate OM freshening up‐core, amino acid bacterial biomarkers, including d‐enantiomers and gamma‐aminobutyric acid, suggest enhanced degradation prior to 5 ka. Carbon accumulation rates increased from ∼4 to 14 g C m−2 year−1 from c. 8 to 0.2 ka, coinciding with decreasing temperatures and increasing moisture regionally, which may have promoted OM accumulation. Carbon stocks within the upper 1 m average 66 ± 13 kg C m−2, varying from 77 kg C m−2 in a buried depression on the upper slope to 48 kg C m−2 downslope. We conclude that heterogeneity in preserved OM reflects a combination of hillslope geomorphic processes, cryoturbation, and climatic variations over the Holocene.
Non‐Migrating Structures in the Northern Midlatitude Thermosphere During December Solstice Using ICON/MIGHTI and FPI Observations
Authors: Navarro L. A. , Makela J. J. , Forbes J. M. , Harding B. J. , Englert C. R. , Harlander J. M. , Marr K. D. , Kerr R. , Noto J. , Wu Q. , Benkhaldoun Z. , Kaab M. , Immel T. J.
Published: September 2023

Midlatitude thermospheric wind observations from the Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging on board the Ionospheric Connections Explorer (ICON/MIGHTI) and from the ground‐based Boulder, Urbana, Millstone Hill and Morocco Fabry‐Perot interferometers (FPIs) are used to study a distinct solar local time (SLT) evolution in the nighttime wind field around the December solstice period. Our results show, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, strong non‐migrating tides in midlatitude thermospheric winds using coincident from different observing platforms. These observations exhibited a structure of strong (∼50–150 m/s) eastward and southward winds in the pre‐midnight sector (20:00–23:00 SLT) and in the post‐midnight sector (02:00–03:00 SLT), with a strong suppression around midnight. Tidal analysis of ICON/MIGHTI data revealed that the signature before midnight was driven by diurnal (D0, DE1, DE2, DW2) and semidiurnal (SE2, SE3, SW1, SW4) tides, and that strong terdiurnal (TE2, TW1, TW2, TW5) and quatradiurnal (QW2, QW3, QW6) tides were important contributors in the mid‐ and post‐midnight sectors. ICON/MIGHTI tidal reconstructions successfully reproduced the salient structures observed by the FPI and showed a longitudinal dual‐peak variation with peak magnitudes around 200°–120°W and 30°W–60°E. The signature of the structure extended along the south‐to‐north direction from lower latitudes, migrated to earlier local times with increasing latitude, and strengthened above 30°N. Tidal analysis using historical FPI data revealed that these structures were often seen during previous December solstices, and that they are much stronger for lower solar flux conditions, consistent with an upward‐propagating tidal origin.
Wall Fracturing Versus Mechanical Instability as Competing Intrusion Mechanisms of Dikes: Insights From Laboratory Experiments
Authors: Biswas Uddalak , Mitra Atin Kumar , Mandal Nibir
Published: September 2023

Igneous dike intrusion is a primary crust‐forming process at the Earth's plate boundaries. Understanding its mechanism is thus crucially important in lithospheric studies. Our present article combines experimental and field observations to investigate the problem of dike emplacement from a mechanical perspective. Scaled laboratory experiments were conducted by injecting immiscible liquids into visco‐elastic and visco‐elasto‐plastic host materials at varying volumetric flow rates (VFR = 0.100 to 1.670 ml s−1). Another set of experiments used different injecting liquid–host combinations to set their viscosity ratios (η*) at low (105), moderate (106), and high (109) values. These two lines of experiments allow us to recognize three principal mechanisms of liquid pathways: tensile fracturing of the host, wave instability at the liquid‐host interface, and coupled fracturing‐wave instability process. The three mechanisms give rise to a wide variation in intrusion geometry, ranging from planar structures with elliptical outlines to typical bulbous geometry, with intermediate patterns characterized by in‐plane and off‐plane wavy interfaces with the host. This study uses the experimental data to constrain the VFR conditions that determine the fracturing versus wave instability‐controlled mechanisms. It is also shown from the experiments that η* can significantly influence the evolution of three‐dimensional intrusive geometry. The Chotonagpur Granite Gneiss Complex in eastern India is chosen as a field study area to validate our laboratory findings using a 2D shape analysis of the intrusive boundaries in terms of their fractal dimensions (D) and skewness‐kurtosis estimates.
The Temporal Improvement of Earth's Mass Transport Estimated by Coupling GRACE‐FO With a Chinese Polar Gravity Satellite Mission
Authors: Yan Zhengwen , Ran Jiangjun , Xiao Yun , Xu Zheyu , Wu Haotian , Deng Xiao‐Le , Du Lan , Zhong Min
Published: September 2023

Over the past 20 years, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), and its successor mission, GRACE‐Follow On (GRACE‐FO) have made significant contributions to time‐variable gravity field modeling. A Chinese low‐low satellite‐to‐satellite tracking gravimetry mission (i.e., Chinese future gravimetry mission) has been confirmed to be selected as the polar‐orbiting satellite gravimetry mission for China, because of the capability to collect gravity data globally. However, the analysis of potential contributions to geosciences from GRACE‐FO coupling with the Chinese future gravimetry mission is still limited. This study combines GRACE‐FO and Chinese future gravimetry missions as the Dual GRACE‐like Polar satellite Constellation (DGPC). By carefully choosing the initial orbit parameters of the Chinese future gravimetry mission with the differential evolution algorithm, the DGPC is expected to mitigate the temporal aliasing effects by improving the temporal resolution of time‐variable gravity solutions (i.e., 1‐day and 3‐day solutions). Regarding the spectral‐domain evaluation, zonal, tesseral, and sectorial coefficients estimated by the DGPC show approximately 6.01%–13.42% noise reductions compared with GRACE‐FO. Regarding the spatial‐domain evaluation, the DGPC can suppress noises of about 39.44% and 31.12% in annual amplitude and long‐term trend, respectively. On this basis, this paper analyzes the effectiveness of the DGPC in potential contributions to geosciences (e.g., hydrology, glaciology, and seismology). Specifically, the DGPC can improve accuracy by about 36.96%, 25.85%, and 33.16% with respect to GRACE‐FO for signals in the subhumid basin, signals of ice‐sheet mass balance over Greenland, and coseismic displacement of the fault zone, respectively. In general, the potential capability for high‐frequency signals recovery of the DGPC would facilitate contributions of satellite gravimetry to geosciences.
Stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment: accomplices of tumor progression?
Authors: Zhao Yan , Shen Meili , Wu Liangqiang , Yang Haiqin , Yao Yixuan , Yang Qingbiao , Du Jianshi , Liu Linlin , Li Yapeng , Bai Yuansong
Published: September 2023

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is made up of cells and extracellular matrix (non-cellular component), and cellular components include cancer cells and non-malignant cells such as immune cells and stromal cells. These three types of cells establish complex signals in the body and further influence tumor genesis, development, metastasis and participate in resistance to anti-tumor therapy. It has attracted scholars to study immune cells in TME due to the significant efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) in solid tumors and hematologic tumors. After more than 10 years of efforts, the role of immune cells in TME and the strategy of treating tumors based on immune cells have developed rapidly. Moreover, ICI have been recommended by guidelines as first- or second-line treatment strategies in a variety of tumors. At the same time, stromal cells is another major class of cellular components in TME, which also play a very important role in tumor metabolism, growth, metastasis, immune evasion and treatment resistance. Stromal cells can be recruited from neighboring non-cancerous host stromal cells and can also be formed by transdifferentiation from stromal cells to stromal cells or from tumor cells to stromal cells. Moreover, they participate in tumor genesis, development and drug resistance by secreting various factors and exosomes, participating in tumor angiogenesis and tumor metabolism, regulating the immune response in TME and extracellular matrix. However, with the deepening understanding of stromal cells, people found that stromal cells not only have the effect of promoting tumor but also can inhibit tumor in some cases. In this review, we will introduce the origin of stromal cells in TME as well as the role and specific mechanism of stromal cells in tumorigenesis and tumor development and strategies for treatment of tumors based on stromal cells. We will focus on tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), tumor-associated adipocytes (CAAs), tumor endothelial cells (TECs) and pericytes (PCs) in stromal cells.
In vitro CRISPR screening uncovers CRTC3 as a regulator of IFN-γ-induced ferroptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Li Li , Xing Tao , Chen Yiran , Xu Weiran , Fan Bo , Ju Gaoda , Zhao Jing , Lin Li , Yan Cihui , Liang Jun , Ren Xiubao
Published: September 2023

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) exerts anti-tumor effects by inducing ferroptosis. Based on CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screening targeting genome-wide protein encoding genes in HepG2 and SK-Hep-1 cell lines, we found that cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) regulated transcription coactivator 3 (CRTC3) protects tumor cells from drug-induced ferroptosis and significantly inhibits the efficacy of IFN-γ treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mechanistically, CRTC3 knockout altered tumor cell lipid patterns and increased the abundance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which enables lipid peroxidation and enhances the susceptibility of HCC cells to ferroptosis inducers. To scavenge for accumulated lipid peroxides (LPO) and maintain redox equilibrium, HCC cells up-regulate SLC7A11 and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) expressions to enhance the activities of glutamate-cystine antiporter (system xc−) and LPO clearance. As IFN-γ inhibiting system xc−, simultaneous treatment with IFN-γ disrupts the compensatory mechanism, and generates a synergistic effect with CRTC3 knockout to facilitate ferroptosis. Sensitizing effects of CRTC3 depletion were confirmed using typical ferroptosis inducers, including RSL3 and erastin. Sorafeinib, a commonly used target drug in HCC, was repeatedly reported as a ferroptosis inducer. We then conducted both in vitro and vivo experiments and demonstrated that CRTC3 depletion sensitized HCC cells to sorafenib treatment. In conclusion, CRTC3 is involved in the regulation of PUFAs metabolism and ferroptosis. Targeting CRTC3 signaling in combination with ferroptosis inducers present a viable approach for HCC treatment and overcoming drug resistance.
Genome-resolved correlation mapping links microbial community structure to metabolic interactions driving methane production from wastewater
Authors: Kieft Brandon , Finke Niko , McLaughlin Ryan J. , Nallan Aditi N. , Krzywinski Martin , Crowe Sean A. , Hallam Steven J.
Published: September 2023

Anaerobic digestion of municipal mixed sludge produces methane that can be converted into renewable natural gas. To improve economics of this microbial mediated process, metabolic interactions catalyzing biomass conversion to energy need to be identified. Here, we present a two-year time series associating microbial metabolism and physicochemistry in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant. By creating a co-occurrence network with thousands of time-resolved microbial populations from over 100 samples spanning four operating configurations, known and novel microbial consortia with potential to drive methane production were identified. Interactions between these populations were further resolved in relation to specific process configurations by mapping metagenome assembled genomes and cognate gene expression data onto the network. Prominent interactions included transcriptionally active Methanolinea methanogens and syntrophic benzoate oxidizing Syntrophorhabdus, as well as a Methanoregulaceae population and putative syntrophic acetate oxidizing bacteria affiliated with Bateroidetes (Tenuifilaceae) expressing the glycine cleavage bypass of the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway.
Lrig1-expression confers suppressive function to CD4+ cells and is essential for averting autoimmunity via the Smad2/3/Foxp3 axis
Authors: Moon Jae-Seung , Ho Chun-Chang , Park Jong-Hyun , Park Kyungsoo , Shin Bo-Young , Lee Su-Hyeon , Sequeira Ines , Mun Chin Hee , Shin Jin-Su , Kim Jung-Ho , Kim Beom Seok , Noh Jin-Wook , Lee Eui-Seon , Son Ji Young , Kim Yuna , lee Yeji , Cho Hee , So SunHyeon , Park Jiyoon , Choi Eunsu , Oh Jong-Won , Lee Sang-Won , Morio Tomohiro , Watt Fiona M. , Seong Rho Hyun , Lee Sang-Kyou
Published: September 2023

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are CD4+ T cells with immune-suppressive function, which is defined by Foxp3 expression. However, the molecular determinants defining the suppressive population of T cells have yet to be discovered. Here we report that the cell surface protein Lrig1 is enriched in suppressive T cells and controls their suppressive behaviors. Within CD4+ T cells, Treg cells express the highest levels of Lrig1, and the expression level is further increasing with activation. The Lrig1+ subpopulation from T helper (Th) 17 cells showed higher suppressive activity than the Lrig1- subpopulation. Lrig1-deficiency impairs the suppressive function of Treg cells, while Lrig1-deficient naïve T cells normally differentiate into other T cell subsets. Adoptive transfer of CD4+Lrig1+ T cells alleviates autoimmune symptoms in colitis and lupus nephritis mouse models. A monoclonal anti-Lrig1 antibody significantly improves the symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In conclusion, Lrig1 is an important regulator of suppressive T cell function and an exploitable target for treating autoimmune conditions.
Search for ambient superconductivity in the Lu-N-H system
Authors: Ferreira Pedro P. , Conway Lewis J. , Cucciari Alessio , Di Cataldo Simone , Giannessi Federico , Kogler Eva , Eleno Luiz T. F. , Pickard Chris J. , Heil Christoph , Boeri Lilia
Published: September 2023

Motivated by the recent report of room-temperature superconductivity at near-ambient pressure in N-doped lutetium hydride, we performed a comprehensive, detailed study of the phase diagram of the Lu–N–H system, looking for superconducting phases. We combined ab initio crystal structure prediction with ephemeral data-derived interatomic potentials to sample over 200,000 different structures. Out of the more than 150 structures predicted to be metastable within ~50 meV from the convex hull we identify 52 viable candidates for conventional superconductivity, for which we computed their superconducting properties from Density Functional Perturbation Theory. Although for some of these structures we do predict a finite superconductingTc, none is even remotely compatible with room-temperature superconductivity as reported by Dasenbrock et al. Our work joins the broader community effort that has followed the report of near-ambient superconductivity, confirming beyond reasonable doubt that no conventional mechanism can explain the reportedTcin Lu–N–H.
Large and tunable magnetoresistance in van der Waals ferromagnet/semiconductor junctions
Authors: Zhu Wenkai , Zhu Yingmei , Zhou Tong , Zhang Xianpeng , Lin Hailong , Cui Qirui , Yan Faguang , Wang Ziao , Deng Yongcheng , Yang Hongxin , Zhao Lixia , Žutić Igor , Belashchenko Kirill D. , Wang Kaiyou
Published: September 2023

Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with conventional bulk ferromagnets separated by a nonmagnetic insulating layer are key building blocks in spintronics for magnetic sensors and memory. A radically different approach of using atomically-thin van der Waals (vdW) materials in MTJs is expected to boost their figure of merit, the tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), while relaxing the lattice-matching requirements from the epitaxial growth and supporting high-quality integration of dissimilar materials with atomically-sharp interfaces. We report TMR up to 192% at 10 K in all-vdW Fe3GeTe2/GaSe/Fe3GeTe2 MTJs. Remarkably, instead of the usual insulating spacer, this large TMR is realized with a vdW semiconductor GaSe. Integration of semiconductors into the MTJs offers energy-band-tunability, bias dependence, magnetic proximity effects, and spin-dependent optical-selection rules. We demonstrate that not only the magnitude of the TMR is tuned by the semiconductor thickness but also the TMR sign can be reversed by varying the bias voltages, enabling modulation of highly spin-polarized carriers in vdW semiconductors.
Element selection for functional materials discovery by integrated machine learning of elemental contributions to properties
Authors: Vasylenko Andrij , Antypov Dmytro , Gusev Vladimir V. , Gaultois Michael W. , Dyer Matthew S. , Rosseinsky Matthew J.
Published: September 2023

The unique nature of constituent chemical elements gives rise to fundamental differences in materials. Assessing materials based on their phase fields, defined as sets of constituent elements, before specific differences emerge due to composition and structure can reduce combinatorial complexity and accelerate screening, exploiting the distinction from composition-level approaches. Discrimination and evaluation of novelty of materials classes align with the experimental challenge of identifying new areas of chemistry. To address this, we present PhaseSelect, an end-to-end machine learning model that combines representation, classification, regression and novelty ranking of phase fields. PhaseSelect leverages elemental characteristics derived from computational and experimental materials data and employs attention mechanisms to reflect the individual element contributions when evaluating functional performance of phase fields. We demonstrate this approach for high-temperature superconductivity, high-temperature magnetism, and targeted bandgap energy applications, showcasing its versatility and potential for accelerating materials exploration.
Improvements in naturalistic speech-in-noise comprehension in middle-aged and older adults after 3 weeks of computer-based speechreading training
Authors: Schmitt Raffael , Meyer Martin , Giroud Nathalie
Published: September 2023

Problems in understanding speech in noisy environments are characteristic for age-related hearing loss. Since hearing aids do not mitigate these communication problems in every case, potential alternatives in a clinical rehabilitation plan need to be explored. This study investigates whether a computer-based speechreading training improves audiovisual speech perception in noise in a sample of middle-aged and older adults (N = 62, 47–83 years) with 32 participants completing a speechreading training and 30 participants of an active control group completing a foreign language training. Before and after training participants performed a speech-in-noise task mimicking real-life communication settings with participants being required to answer a speaker’s questions. Using generalized linear mixed-effects models we found a significant improvement in audiovisual speech perception in noise in the speechreading training group. This is of great relevance as these results highlight the potential of a low-cost and easy-to-implement intervention for a profound and widespread problem as speech-in-noise comprehension impairment.
A SAM analogue-utilizing ribozyme for site-specific RNA alkylation in living cells
Authors: Okuda Takumi , Lenz Ann-Kathrin , Seitz Florian , Vogel Jörg , Höbartner Claudia
Published: September 2023

Post-transcriptional RNA modification methods are in high demand for site-specific RNA labelling and analysis of RNA functions. In vitro-selected ribozymes are attractive tools for RNA research and have the potential to overcome some of the limitations of chemoenzymatic approaches with repurposed methyltransferases. Here we report an alkyltransferase ribozyme that uses a synthetic, stabilized S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) analogue and catalyses the transfer of a propargyl group to a specific adenosine in the target RNA. Almost quantitative conversion was achieved within 1 h under a wide range of reaction conditions in vitro, including physiological magnesium ion concentrations. A genetically encoded version of the SAM analogue-utilizing ribozyme (SAMURI) was expressed in HEK293T cells, and intracellular propargylation of the target adenosine was confirmed by specific fluorescent labelling. SAMURI is a general tool for the site-specific installation of the smallest tag for azide-alkyne click chemistry, which can be further functionalized with fluorophores, affinity tags or other functional probes.
Arctic warming by abundant fine sea salt aerosols from blowing snow
Authors: Gong Xianda , Zhang Jiaoshi , Croft Betty , Yang Xin , Frey Markus M. , Bergner Nora , Chang Rachel Y.-W. , Creamean Jessie M. , Kuang Chongai , Martin Randall V. , Ranjithkumar Ananth , Sedlacek Arthur J. , Uin Janek , Willmes Sascha , Zawadowicz Maria A. , Pierce Jeffrey R. , Shupe Matthew D. , Schmale Julia , Wang Jian
Published: September 2023

The Arctic warms nearly four times faster than the global average, and aerosols play an increasingly important role in Arctic climate change. In the Arctic, sea salt is a major aerosol component in terms of mass concentration during winter and spring. However, the mechanisms of sea salt aerosol production remain unclear. Sea salt aerosols are typically thought to be relatively large in size but low in number concentration, implying that their influence on cloud condensation nuclei population and cloud properties is generally minor. Here we present observational evidence of abundant sea salt aerosol production from blowing snow in the central Arctic. Blowing snow was observed more than 20% of the time from November to April. The sublimation of blowing snow generates high concentrations of fine-mode sea salt aerosol (diameter below 300 nm), enhancing cloud condensation nuclei concentrations up to tenfold above background levels. Using a global chemical transport model, we estimate that from November to April north of 70° N, sea salt aerosol produced from blowing snow accounts for about 27.6% of the total particle number, and the sea salt aerosol increases the longwave emissivity of clouds, leading to a calculated surface warming of +2.30 W m−2 under cloudy sky conditions.
Microwave synthesis of molybdenene from MoS2
Authors: Sahu Tumesh Kumar , Kumar Nishant , Chahal Sumit , Jana Rajkumar , Paul Sumana , Mukherjee Moumita , Tavabi Amir H. , Datta Ayan , Dunin-Borkowski Rafal E. , Valov Ilia , Nayak Alpana , Kumar Prashant
Published: September 2023

Dirac materials are characterized by the emergence of massless quasiparticles in their low-energy excitation spectrum that obey the Dirac Hamiltonian. Known examples of Dirac materials are topological insulators, d-wave superconductors, graphene, and Weyl and Dirac semimetals, representing a striking range of fundamental properties with potential disruptive applications. However, none of the Dirac materials identified so far shows metallic character. Here, we present evidence for the formation of free-standing molybdenene, a two-dimensional material composed of only Mo atoms. Using MoS2 as a precursor, we induced electric-field-assisted molybdenene growth under microwave irradiation. We observe the formation of millimetre-long whiskers following screw-dislocation growth, consisting of weakly bonded molybdenene sheets, which, upon exfoliation, show metallic character, with an electrical conductivity of ~940 S m−1. Molybdenene when hybridized with two-dimensional h-BN or MoS2, fetch tunable optical and electronic properties. As a proof of principle, we also demonstrate applications of molybdenene as a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy platform for molecular sensing, as a substrate for electron imaging and as a scanning probe microscope cantilever.
Evidence of finite-momentum pairing in a centrosymmetric bilayer
Authors: Zhao Dong , Debbeler Lukas , Kühne Matthias , Fecher Sven , Gross Nils , Smet Jurgen
Published: September 2023

A phase characterized by a spatially modulated order parameter is counter-intuitive because of the entropy penalty that the modulations incur. Its possible existence in superconductors was first proposed under the condition that the formation of Cooper pairs is limited to some segments of the Fermi surface and that the Cooper pairs carry momentum above the Pauli limit. This prediction motivated experimental efforts to identify such non-uniform superconducting states in organic superconductors, heavy fermion compounds and cuprates. Here we report evidence of another type of finite-momentum pairing that manifests below the Pauli limit. It is driven by the orbital effect and does not rely on Fermi surface segmentation. We have evidence of this spatially modulated superconducting state in a hexagonal MoS2 bilayer through remote intercalation that offers both balanced doping and firm out-of-plane coherence across both layers.
Preterm births prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: results from the national database
Authors: Charles Charles M’poca , Souza Neto Luiz Alves , Soares Camila Ferreira , Souza Araújo Tacildo , Torezzan Cristiano , Lima Everton Emanuel Campos , Munezero Aline , Bahamondes Luis , Souza Renato Teixeira , Costa Maria Laura , Cecatti José Guilherme , Pacagnella Rodolfo Carvalho
Published: September 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted the health systems between and within countries, and in the course of the pandemic sexual and reproductive health services were the most disrupted. Findings from high-income settings have reported significant changes in preterm birth prevalence during the pandemic period. To understand the possible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on preterm birth numbers at the Brazilian national level. We compare the number of preterm deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020 and 2021) with previous years. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study taking the period from January 2017 to December 2021 to account. We use individual-level live births data from the Brazilian Live Birth Information System (SINASC), and we estimate the odds ratio (OR) of preterm deliveries using propensity score weighting analysis in Brazil and its regions. During the study period (from 2017 to 2021), about 2.7 million live births were recorded per year, and the missing value for gestational age at delivery was less than 1.5%. The preterm birth prevalence slightly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period (11.32% in 2021 vs 11.09% in 2019, p-value < 0.0001). After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the OR of preterm births in Brazil has significantly increased, 4% in 2020 (OR: 1.04 [1.03–1.05] 95% CI, p-value < 0.001), and 2% in 2021(OR: 1.02 [1.01–1.03] 95% CI, p-value < 0.001), compared to 2019. At the regional level, the preterm birth pattern in the South, Southeast and Northeast regions show a similar pattern. The highest odds ratio was observed in the South region (2020 vs 2019, OR: 1.07 [1.05–1.10] 95% CI; 2021 vs 2019, OR: 1.03 [1.01–1.06] 95% CI). However, we also observed a significant reduction in the ORs of preterm births in the northern region during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 vs 2019, OR: 0.96 [0.94–0.98] 95% CI) and (2021 vs 2019, OR: 0.97 [0.95–0.99] 95% CI). Our analysis shows that the pandemic has increased regional variation in the number of preterm births in Brazil in 2020 and 2021 compared to the pre-pandemic years.
Molecular characteristics and therapeutic implications of Toll-like receptor signaling pathway in melanoma
Authors: Guan Hewen , Chen Xu , Liu Jifeng , Sun Jiaao , Guo Hui , Jiang Yuankuan , Zhang Huimin , Zhang Biao , Lin Jingrong , Yuan Qihang
Published: September 2023

Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes and is often considered immunogenic cancer. Toll-like receptor-related genes are expressed differently in most types of cancer, depending on the immune microenvironment inside cancer, and the key function of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) for melanoma has not been fully elucidated. Based on multi-omics data from TCGA and GEO databases, we first performed pan-cancer analysis on TLR, including CNV, SNV, and mRNA changes in TLR-related genes in multiple human cancers, as well as patient prognosis characterization. Then, we divided melanoma patients into three subgroups (clusters 1, 2, and 3) according to the expression of the TLR pathway, and explored the correlation between TLR pathway and melanoma prognosis, immune infiltration, metabolic reprogramming, and oncogene expression characteristics. Finally, through univariate Cox regression analysis and LASSO algorithm, we selected six TLR-related genes to construct a survival prognostic model, divided melanoma patients into the training set, internal validation set 1, internal validation set 2, and external validation set for multiple validations, and discussed the correlation between model genes and clinical features of melanoma patients. In conclusion, we constructed a prognostic survival model based on TLR-related genes that precisely and independently demonstrated the potential to assess the prognosis and immune traits of melanoma patients, which is critical for patients’ survival.
Identification of potential new COVID-19 treatments via RWD-driven drug repurposing
Authors: Liao Yun
Published: September 2023

By utilizing Optum Life Sciences Claims Data, we constructed Real World Data (RWD) cohorts comprising over 3 million patients and simulated a clinical trial observational study design to evaluate over 200 FDA-approved drugs with COVID-19 repurposing potential, and identified a dozen candidates exhibiting significant reduction in the odds of severe COVID-19 outcomes such as death, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, hospitalization and pneumonia. Notably, certain drug combinations demonstrated effects comparable to those of COVID-19 vaccines. Furthermore, our study revealed a novel finding: a quantitative linear relationship between COVID-19 outcomes and overall patient health risks. This discovery enabled a more precise estimation of drug efficacy using the risk adjustment. The top performing drugs identified include emtricitabine, tenofovir, folic acid, progesterone, estradiol, epinephrine, disulfiram, nitazoxanide and some drug combinations including aspirin-celecoxib.
Effects of temperature and precipitation changes on shifts in breeding phenology of an endangered toad
Authors: Dalpasso Andrea , Seglie Daniele , Eusebio Bergò Paolo , Ciracì Andrea , Compostella Mariachiara , Laddaga Lorenzo , Manica Milo , Marino Gaia , Pandolfo Irene , Soldato Giovanni , Falaschi Mattia
Published: September 2023

In the last century, a plethora of species have shown rapid phenological changes in response to climate change. Among animals, amphibians exhibit some of the greatest responses since their activity strongly depends on temperature and rainfall regimes. These shifts in phenology can have negative consequences for amphibian fitness. Thus, understanding phenological changes in amphibians is pivotal to design conservation actions to mitigate climate change effects. We used data on Common Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates fuscus) reproductive migration to wetlands over a period of 8 years in Italy to (i) identify the factors related to breeding migrations, (ii) assess potential phenological shifts in the breeding period, and (iii) determine which climatic factors are related to the observed phenological shifts. Our results showed that toads migrate to spawning sites preferably in early spring, on rainy days with temperatures of 9–14 °C, and with high humidity. Furthermore, despite an increase in average temperature across the study period, we observed a delay in the start of breeding migrations of 12.4 days over 8 years. This counterintuitive pattern was the result of a succession of hot and dry years that occurred in the study area, highlighting that for ephemeral pond breeders, precipitation could have a larger impact than temperature on phenology. Our results belie the strong presumption that climate change will shift amphibian phenology toward an earlier breeding migration and underline the importance of closely investigating the environmental factors related to species phenology.