bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative assessment of the production of radioactive materials by the Mevion S250i Hyperscan proton therapy system: a year-long survey
Authors: Chiang Bing-Hao , Chen Yong , MacDurmon George , Ahmad Salahuddin
Published: July 2020

Introduction:

This technical note describes a quantitative assessment of the production of radioactive materials during a year-long clinical operation of a Mevion S250i Hyperscan proton therapy system. The production of accumulated radioactive materials plays an important role in determining radiation safety in and around the proton therapy facilities.

Methods:

We have conducted a weekly room survey, every week for a year, during normal clinical operation.

Results and conclusions:

We estimated the accumulated activity from secondary neutron activation on aluminium structures at 3 m away from isocentre in the beamline to be less than 300 μCi.
Genetics and Not Shared Environment Explains Familial Resemblance in Adult Metabolomics Data
Authors: Pool René , Hagenbeek Fiona A. , Hendriks Anne M. , van Dongen Jenny , Willemsen Gonneke , de Geus Eco ,   BBMRI Metabolomics Consortium, Willems van Dijk Ko , Verhoeven Aswin , Suchiman H. Eka , Beekman Marian , Slagboom P. Eline , Harms Amy C. , Hankemeier Thomas , Boomsma Dorret I.
Published: July 2020

Metabolites are small molecules involved in cellular metabolism where they act as reaction substrates or products. The term ‘metabolomics’ refers to the comprehensive study of these molecules. The concentrations of metabolites in biological tissues are under genetic control, but this is limited by environmental factors such as diet. In adult mono- and dizygotic twin pairs, we estimated the contribution of genetic and shared environmental influences on metabolite levels by structural equation modeling and tested whether the familial resemblance for metabolite levels is mainly explained by genetic or by environmental factors that are shared by family members. Metabolites were measured across three platforms: two based on proton nuclear magnetic resonance techniques and one employing mass spectrometry. These three platforms comprised 237 single metabolic traits of several chemical classes. For the three platforms, metabolites were assessed in 1407, 1037 and 1116 twin pairs, respectively. We carried out power calculations to establish what percentage of shared environmental variance could be detected given these sample sizes. Our study did not find evidence for a systematic contribution of shared environment, defined as the influence of growing up together in the same household, on metabolites assessed in adulthood. Significant heritability was observed for nearly all 237 metabolites; significant contribution of the shared environment was limited to 6 metabolites. The top quartile of the heritability distribution was populated by 5 of the 11 investigated chemical classes. In this quartile, metabolites of the class lipoprotein were significantly overrepresented, whereas metabolites of classes glycerophospholipids and glycerolipids were significantly underrepresented.
Unterschiedliche Wege ins Lehramt – unterschiedliche Kompetenzen?
Authors: Lucksnat Christin , Richter Eric , Klusmann Uta , Kunter Mareike , Richter Dirk
Published: July 2020

Zusammenfassung. In den vergangenen Jahren nahm die Zahl der nicht-traditionell ausgebildeten Lehrkräfte in Deutschland kontinuierlich zu. Vor diesem Hintergrund untersucht der vorliegende Beitrag, inwiefern sich Quereinsteiger und traditionell ausgebildete Lehramtsanwärter im Vorbereitungsdienst hinsichtlich ihrer professionellen Kompetenz unterscheiden. Die dafür genutzten Daten stammen aus dem Projekt COACTIV-R, in dem 770 traditionell ausgebildete Lehramtsanwärter und 72 Quereinsteiger für das Fach Mathematik untersucht wurden. Multivariate Kovarianzanalysen zeigen, dass Quereinsteiger über ein ähnliches fachliches und fachdidaktisches Wissen verfügen, aber niedrigere Werte im Test zum pädagogisch-psychologischen Wissen aufweisen als traditionell ausgebildete Lehramtsanwärter. Keine signifikanten Unterschiede zeigen sich in den motivationalen Orientierungen und in den Überzeugungen. Signifikante Unterschiede zeigen sich jedoch in den selbstregulativen Fähigkeiten. Die Ergebnisse werden vor dem Hintergrund aktueller Befunde bezüglich der Lehrkräfteausbildung und der Rekrutierung von Lehrkräften diskutiert.
HPV-assoziierte Oropharynxkarzinome: Update zu Diagnose und Management
Authors: Broglie Däppen Martina A.
Published: July 2020

Zusammenfassung. In den vergangenen Jahren konnte auch in der Schweiz eine Zunahme von Plattenepithelkarzinomen im Oropharynx festgestellt werden. Schon seit mehr als zwanzig Jahren wird ein Zusammenhang zwischen einer Infektion mit Hochrisikotypen des humanen Papillomvirus (HR-HPV) und der Entstehung von Oropharynxkarzinomen (OPSCC) vermutet. Vor allem bei jüngeren Patienten ohne die Risikofaktoren Rauchen und Alkoholkonsum wird eine erhöhte Prävalenz dieser Tumoren festgestellt. HPV-assoziierte Karzinome entstehen hauptsächlich im lymphatischen Gewebe des Oropharynx und stellen klinisch und molekularbiologisch eine eigenständige Entität dar. Sie zeigen ein signifikant besseres Therapieansprechen und haben eine bessere Prognose im Vergleich zu den noxenassoziierten Tumoren, unabhängig von der durchgeführten Therapie. Vermutet wird eine vergleichbare Tumorentstehung wie beim Zervixkarzinom über Vorstufenläsionen bis zum invasiven Karzinom. Bisher wurden aber im Pharynx keine HPV-assoziierten Vorstufen gefunden. Das in der Zervix etablierte weltweite Screeningprogramm hat zu einer signifikanten Reduktion der Inzidenz von Zervixkarzinomen geführt, sodass der Anteil HPV-assoziierter Tumoren im Oropharynx die Zahl derer in der Zervix überschreiten wird. Seit 2017 ist eine immunhistochemisch nachweisbare Überexpression des Zellzyklusproteins p16 als Surrogatmarker für HPV ein entscheidender Faktor bei der Tumor-Klassifikation des Oropharynxkarzinoms. Eine klare, international gültige Definition eines HPV-assoziierten Tumors fehlt aber bisher. Die alleinige Detektion von HPV-DNA oder der isolierte Einsatz der p16-Immunhistochemie im Tumorgewebe weisen eine ungenügende Sensitivität und Spezifität auf. Die Kombination dieser Parameter erhöht die Zuverlässigkeit im Vergleich zum Goldstandard RNA. Eine für die Diagnostik valide Alternative ist der serologische Nachweis von Antikörpern gegen HPV-Onkoproteine, der sich auch als prädiktiver und prognostischer Marker zu bewähren scheint.
CME-Rheuma 21: Präzisionsmedizin – Synovialbiopsie in der Rheumatologie
Authors: Manigold Tobias , Tamborrini Giorgio
Published: July 2020

Zusammenfassung. Die Synovialbiopsie hält zunehmend Einzug in die Diagnostik der Medizin des Bewegungsapparats. Zum einen können hierdurch unklare Arthritiden umfassend abgeklärt werden. Zum anderen mehren sich die Publikationen, die zeigen, dass die Bestimmung der Histologie, der zellulären Zusammensetzung und der RNA-Expression im Synovialgewebe eine Subtypisierung der rheumatoiden Arthritis mit unterschiedlichem Therapieansprechen zulässt. Wir geben hier einen kurzen Überblick über die Gelenkbiopsietechnik, die Beurteilung der Histologie und die Perspektive der Anwendung der Synovialbiopsie.
Investigating Wetland and Nonwetland Soil Methane Emissions and Sinks Across the Contiguous United States Using a Land Surface Model
Authors: Shu Shijie , Jain Atul K. , Kheshgi Haroon S.
Published: July 2020

We estimated the distribution of CH4 emissions and sinks from wetlands (including freshwater and coastal wetlands) and nonwetland (including wet and dry soils) with a newly developed vertically resolved soil CH4 model, integrated into a global land surface model (ISAM). We calibrated and tested this integrated model with CH4 observations at test sites in the Contiguous United States (CONUS). ISAM is applied across the CONUS to estimate CH4 emissions and sinks given both recent past observed climate and wetland extent, and future climate and wetland extent driven by two scenarios, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Estimated net CH4 emissions for the 2000s are 13.8 TgCH4 yr−1, mostly from wetland soils. Estimated net emissions under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 are 30% and 64% higher, respectively, in the 2090s than in the 2000s due to (1) higher temperature and seasonal wetland extent (driven by higher precipitation in the climate scenarios), which increase modeled methanogenic activity more than methanotrophic activity in soils and (2) altered transport in the soil column and exchange with the atmosphere by modeled transport processes (diffusion, ebullition, and aerenchyma transport). Nonwetland soils emit CH4 (1.4 TgCH4 yr−1) in some areas and take up CH4 (−2.9 TgCH4 yr−1) in other areas, resulting in a net estimated sink for the 2000s; the net nonwetland soil sink increases by 15% and 46% by the 2090s under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively, mainly due to drier soil conditions, which enhances methanotrophic activity and oxidation of CH4 diffused into soil from a future atmosphere with higher CH4 concentration.
Meridional Ocean Carbon Transport
Authors: Aldama‐Campino Aitor , Fransner Filippa , Ödalen Malin , Groeskamp Sjoerd , Yool Andrew , Döös Kristofer , Nycander Jonas
Published: July 2020

The ocean's ability to take up and store CO2 is a key factor for understanding past and future climate variability. However, qualitative and quantitative understanding of surface‐to‐interior pathways, and how the ocean circulation affects the CO2 uptake, is limited. Consequently, how changes in ocean circulation may influence carbon uptake and storage and therefore the future climate remains ambiguous. Here we quantify the roles played by ocean circulation and various water masses in the meridional redistribution of carbon. We do so by calculating streamfunctions defined in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and latitude coordinates, using output from a coupled biogeochemical‐physical model. By further separating DIC into components originating from the solubility pump and a residual including the biological pump, air‐sea disequilibrium, and anthropogenic CO2, we are able to distinguish the dominant pathways of how carbon enters particular water masses. With this new tool, we show that the largest meridional carbon transport occurs in a pole‐to‐equator transport in the subtropical gyres in the upper ocean. We are able to show that this pole‐to‐equator DIC transport and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC)‐related DIC transport are mainly driven by the solubility pump. By contrast, the DIC transport associated with deep circulation, including that in Antarctic bottom water and Pacific deep water, is mostly driven by the biological pump. As these two pumps, as well as ocean circulation, are widely expected to be impacted by anthropogenic changes, these findings have implications for the future role of the ocean as a climate‐buffering carbon reservoir.
Hydrologic Export Is a Major Component of Coastal Wetland Carbon Budgets
Authors: Bogard Matthew J. , Bergamaschi Brian A. , Butman David E. , Anderson Frank , Knox Sara H. , Windham‐Myers Lisamarie
Published: July 2020

Coastal wetlands are among the most productive habitats on Earth and sequester globally significant amounts of atmospheric carbon (C). Extreme rates of soil C accumulation are widely assumed to reflect efficient C storage. Yet the fraction of wetland C lost via hydrologic export has not been directly quantified, since comprehensive budgets including direct estimates of lateral C loss are lacking. We present a complete net ecosystem C budget (NECB), demonstrating that lateral losses of C are a major component of the NECB for the largest stable brackish tidal marsh on the U.S. Pacific coast. Mean annual net ecosystem exchange of CO2 with the atmosphere (NEE = −185 g C m2 year−1, negative NEE denoting ecosystem uptake) was compared to long‐term soil C burial (87–110 g C m2 year−1), suggesting only 47–59% of fixed atmospheric C accumulates in soils. Consistently, direct monitoring in 2017–2018 showed NEE of −255 g C m−2 year−1, and hydrologic export of 105 g C m−2 year−1 (59% of NEE remaining on site). Despite their high C sequestration capacity, lateral losses from coastal wetlands are typically a larger fraction of the NECB when compared to other terrestrial ecosystems. Loss of inorganic C (the least measured NECB term) was 91% of hydrologic export and may be the most important term limiting C sequestration. The high productivity of coastal wetlands thus serves a dual function of C burial and estuarine export, and the multiple fates of fixed C must be considered when evaluating wetland capacity for C sequestration.
Advective Controls on the North Atlantic Anthropogenic Carbon Sink
Authors: Ridge S. M. , McKinley G. A.
Published: July 2020

Though it is clear that the North Atlantic is the site of the highest storage of anthropogenic carbon (Cant) per area, it is uncertain whether the air‐sea Cant fluxes contributing to North Atlantic Cant storage occur in the subpolar gyre or upstream in the subtropical gyre. Using data and models, we show that air‐sea Cant uptake capacity is advected into the subpolar gyre along the same subsurface pathway as nutrients. This pathway is known as the nutrient stream. On the A22 section between Woods Hole and Bermuda, nutrient stream waters are the oldest in the upper 2,000 m and contain low Cant. These northward moving waters are sufficiently depleted in Cant such that they could sustain a subpolar air‐sea Cant flux of −0.19 Pg Cant year−1. The ocean hindcast model used here indicates that despite some subtropical re‐circulation, uptake capacity is transported into the subpolar gyre where it sustains subpolar air‐sea Cant uptake. With this model, we show that high‐ and low‐end estimates of subpolar air‐sea Cant flux are reconciled by accounting for a factor of two difference in their respective study areas. If half of the observed air‐sea Cant uptake capacity transport at A22 is ventilated in the subpolar region, it can fully support high‐end estimates of the subpolar air‐sea Cant sink (−0.09±0.01 Pg Cant year−1).
Effects of Snow Grain Shape and Mixing State of Snow Impurity on Retrieval of Snow Physical Parameters From Ground‐Based Optical Instrument
Authors: Tanikawa T. , Kuchiki K. , Aoki T. , Ishimoto H. , Hachikubo A. , Niwano M. , Hosaka M. , Matoba S. , Kodama Y. , Iwata Y. , Stamnes K.
Published: July 2020

We proposed new snow grain model and snow impurity mixture models for the purpose of accurate retrievals of snow grain size and concentration of light‐absorbing particles (LAP) in snow from the optical remote sensing data. Two kinds of ice crystal models, irregularly shaped Voronoi columns, and Voronoi aggregates were employed. LAP can be captured by the snow through two processes: dry and wet deposition. Two different snow impurity mixture models were proposed. One is an external mixture model. We employed a coated sphere model in which soot were hydrophilic particles to represent a hygroscopic property of aerosol and assumed the hydrophilic soot particles to be externally mixed with snow particles. The other is an internal mixture model. We employed a dynamic effective medium approximation method in which soot particles were randomly located within snow particle with any size distribution and number concentration. Validation of these models is conducted using a ground‐based spectral radiometer system with in situ measurement data. For snow grain size retrievals, a Voronoi mixture model seamlessly representing a geometrical shape and an optical properties of various snow types can provide accurate retrievals. For the retrieval of LAP concentration in snow, employing different mixing state models depending on season and measurement site gives accurate results. We also discussed the uncertainty of retrieved snow parameters on the surface slope involved in the retrieval accuracy. These models are expected to be useful for advanced airborne/satellite remote sensing and climate studies via radiative transfer modeling in the atmosphere‐snow system.
Contribution of IASI to the Observation of Dust Aerosol Emissions (Morning and Nighttime) Over the Sahara Desert
Authors: Chédin A. , Capelle V. , Scott N. A. , Todd M. C.
Published: July 2020

Observing the planet at global scale, twice a day, and measuring the whole infrared atmospheric spectrum (8,461 channels at 0.50 cm−1 resolution), Infrared Atmospheric Sounder Interferometer (IASI)/METOP can concurrently detect clouds, determine the 3‐D atmospheric structure (temperature, water vapor, ozone, etc.), surface properties (emissivity and temperature), as well as dust aerosol AOD and altitude. Observing morning (0930 hr) and nighttime (2130 hr), IASI is in relatively good phase with the most frequent times of occurrence of the main Saharan dust uplift mechanisms reported in the literature. Here we classify IASI dust observations according to both the dust loading (AOD) and the dust layer height, providing a more comprehensive picture of dust characteristics. This classification is analyzed at daily scale and its capability to detect dust uplift events is evaluated through comparisons with results from the particularly well documented June 2011 Fennec campaign. Then, a Dust Emission Index (DEI), specific to IASI, is constructed by selecting AOD‐altitude bins with largest AODs and smallest altitudes likely indicative of freshly emitted dust. Applying this to the 12‐year 2007–2018 period, we determine climatological DEI maps and comparisons are made with other equivalent existing results derived from ground‐based or other satellite observations. Results of these comparisons demonstrate the capability of IASI to document the dust distribution over the whole Earth desert areas over a long period of time. The present approach is also suitable to the processing of the at least hourly observations of the coming Infrared Sounder instrument (IRS), planned on board Meteosat Third Generation (2021).
Postseismic Deformation Following the 2015 Mw7.8 Gorkha (Nepal) Earthquake: New GPS Data, Kinematic and Dynamic Models, and the Roles of Afterslip and Viscoelastic Relaxation
Authors: Liu‐Zeng J. , Zhang Z. , Rollins C. , Gualandi A. , Avouac J.‐P. , Shi H. , Wang P. , Chen W. , Zhang R. , Zhang P. , Wang W. , Li Y. , Wang T. , Li Z.
Published: July 2020

We report Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements of postseismic deformation following the 2015 Mw7.8 Gorkha (Nepal) earthquake, including previously unpublished data from 13 continuous GPS stations installed in southern Tibet shortly after the earthquake. We use variational Bayesian Independent Component Analysis (vbICA) to extract the signal of postseismic deformation from the GPS time series, revealing a broad displacement field extending >150 km northward from the rupture. Kinematic inversions and dynamic forward models show that these displacements could have been produced solely by afterslip on the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) but would require a broad distribution of afterslip extending similarly far north. This would require the constitutive parameter (a − b)σ to decrease northward on the MHT to ≤0.05 MPa (an extreme sensitivity of creep rate to stress change) and seems unlikely in light of the low interseismic coupling and high midcrustal temperatures beneath southern Tibet. We conclude that the northward reach of postseismic deformation more likely results from distributed viscoelastic relaxation, possibly in a midcrustal shear zone extending northward from the seismogenic MHT. Assuming a shear zone 5–20 km thick, we estimate an effective shear‐zone viscosity of ~3·1016–3·1017 Pa·s over the first 1.12 postseismic years. Near‐field deformation can be more plausibly explained by afterslip itself and implies (a − b)σ ~ 0.5–1 MPa, consistent with other afterslip studies. This near‐field afterslip by itself would have re‐increased the Coulomb stress by ≥0.05 MPa over >30% of the Gorkha rupture zone in the first postseismic year, and deformation further north would have compounded this reloading.
Anaerobic metabolism of Foraminifera thriving below the seafloor
Authors: Orsi William D , Morard Raphaël , Vuillemin Aurele , Eitel Michael , Wörheide Gert , Milucka Jana , Kucera Michal
Published: July 2020

Foraminifera are single-celled eukaryotes (protists) of large ecological importance, as well as environmental and paleoenvironmental indicators and biostratigraphic tools. In addition, they are capable of surviving in anoxic marine environments where they represent a major component of the benthic community. However, the cellular adaptations of Foraminifera to the anoxic environment remain poorly constrained. We sampled an oxic-anoxic transition zone in marine sediments from the Namibian shelf, where the genera Bolivina and Stainforthia dominated the Foraminifera community, and use metatranscriptomics to characterize Foraminifera metabolism across the different geochemical conditions. Relative Foraminifera gene expression in anoxic sediment increased an order of magnitude, which was confirmed in a 10-day incubation experiment where the development of anoxia coincided with a 20–40-fold increase in the relative abundance of Foraminifera protein encoding transcripts, attributed primarily to those involved in protein synthesis, intracellular protein trafficking, and modification of the cytoskeleton. This indicated that many Foraminifera were not only surviving but thriving, under the anoxic conditions. The anaerobic energy metabolism of these active Foraminifera was characterized by fermentation of sugars and amino acids, fumarate reduction, and potentially dissimilatory nitrate reduction. Moreover, the gene expression data indicate that under anoxia Foraminifera use the phosphogen creatine phosphate as an ATP store, allowing reserves of high-energy phosphate pool to be maintained for sudden demands of increased energy during anaerobic metabolism. This was co-expressed alongside genes involved in phagocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). Foraminifera may use CME to utilize dissolved organic matter as a carbon and energy source, in addition to ingestion of prey cells via phagocytosis. These anaerobic metabolic mechanisms help to explain the ecological success of Foraminifera documented in the fossil record since the Cambrian period more than 500 million years ago.
Long noncoding RNA SNHG12 promotes tumour progression and sunitinib resistance by upregulating CDCA3 in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Liu Yuenan , Cheng Gong , Huang Ziwei , Bao Lin , Liu Jingchong , Wang Cheng , Xiong Zhiyong , Zhou Lijie , Xu Tianbo , Liu Di , Yang Hongmei , Chen Ke , Zhang Xiaoping
Published: July 2020

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most frequently observed malignant tumours in the urinary system and targeted drug resistance is quite common in RCC. Long noncoding RNA SNHG12 (lncRNA SNHG12) has emerged as a key molecule in numerous human cancers, but its functions in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) sunitinib resistance remain unclear. In this study, we found SNHG12 was highly expressed in RCC tissues and in sunitinib-resistant RCC cells and was associated with a poor clinical prognosis. SNHG12 promoted RCC proliferation, migration, invasion and sunitinib resistance via CDCA3 in vitro. Mechanically, SNHG12 bound to SP1 and prevented the ubiquitylation-dependent proteolysis of SP1. Stabilised SP1 bound to a specific region in the promoter of CDCA3 and increased CDCA3 expression. Furthermore, in vivo experiments showed that SNHG12 increased tumour growth and that knocking down SNHG12 could reverse RCC sunitinib resistance. Our study revealed that the lncRNA SNHG12/SP1/CDCA3 axis promoted RCC progression and sunitinib resistance, which could provide a new therapeutic target for sunitinib-resistant RCC.
Oxidized ATM promotes breast cancer stem cell enrichment through energy metabolism reprogram-mediated acetyl-CoA accumulation
Authors: Yang Dan , Peng Meixi , Hou Yixuan , Qin Yilu , Wan Xueying , Zhu Pengpeng , Liu Shuiqing , Yang Liping , Zeng Huan , Jin Ting , Qiu Yuxiang , Li Qiao , Liu Manran
Published: July 2020

Cancer stem cell (CSC) is a challenge in the therapy of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Intratumoral hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumor. Hypoxia may contribute to the maintenance of CSC, resulting in a poor efficacy of traditional treatment and recurrence of TNBC cases. However, the underlying molecular mechanism involved in hypoxia-induced CSC stemness maintenance remains unclear. Here, we report that hypoxia stimulated DNA double-strand breaks independent of ATM kinase activation (called oxidized ATM in this paper) play a crucial role in TNBC mammosphere formation and stemness maintenance by governing a specific energy metabolism reprogramming (EMR). Oxidized ATM up-regulates GLUT1, PKM2, and PDHa expressions to enhance the uptake of glucose and production of pyruvate rather than lactate products, which facilitates glycolytic flux to mitochondrial pyruvate and citrate, thus resulting in accumulation of cytoplasmic acetyl-CoA instead of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle by regulating ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) activity. Our findings unravel a novel model of TNBC-CSC glucose metabolism and its functional role in maintenance of hypoxic TNBC-CSC stemness. This work may help us to develop new therapeutic strategies for TNBC treatment.
Opposing biological functions of the cytoplasm and nucleus DAXX modified by SUMO-2/3 in gastric cancer
Authors: Chen Chenbin , Sun Xiangwei , Xie Wangkai , Chen Sian , Hu Yuanbo , Xing Dong , Xu Jianfeng , Chen Xiaodong , Zhao Zhiguang , Han Zheng , Xue Xiangyang , Shen Xian , Lin Kezhi
Published: July 2020

Death domain-associated protein (DAXX) is a complex biological multifunctional protein and is involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of multiple cancers. The accumulation of DAXX in the nucleus is a common phenomenon in tumor cells. However, altering the subcellular localizations of DAXX results in different biological functions, and we also found that its nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio (NCR) was associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we investigated the effect of cytoplasmic and nuclear DAXX (cDAXX and nDAXX) in GC and the underlying mechanisms. Immunohistochemical detection performed in 323 GC tissues reveled that cDAXX was associated with a better survival, while high nDAXX expression suggested a poorer prognosis outcome. Upregulation of DAXX in the cytoplasm inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis, whereas downregulation of DAXX in the nucleus displayed opposite effects. Moreover, Transwell assays revealed that DAXX enhanced GC cell migration and invasion. Analysis from the Gene Expression Profile Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database showed that the expression of DAXX was significantly associated with SUMO-2/3 in GC tissues. Co-immunoprecipitation combined with immunofluorescence analysis indicated that DAXX interacted directly with SUMO-2/3. Subsequently, down-regulating the expression of SUMO-2/3 resulted in altered subcellular localization of DAXX. Bioinformatics analysis showed that RanBP2 may act as SUMO E3 ligase to promote nuclear-plasma transport via combining with RanGAP1. Taken together, our results indicated that DAXX plays opposing roles in GC and suggest a new model whereby cDAXX, nDAXX, and SUMO-2/3 form a molecular network that regulates the subcellular localization of DAXX and thereby modulates its opposing biological effects. Thus, our findings provide a foundation for future studies of DAXX as a novel therapeutic target for patients with GC.
SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted via contact and via the air between ferrets
Authors: Richard Mathilde , Kok Adinda , de Meulder Dennis , Bestebroer Theo M. , Lamers Mart M. , Okba Nisreen M. A. , Fentener van Vlissingen Martje , Rockx Barry , Haagmans Bart L. , Koopmans Marion P. G. , Fouchier Ron A. M. , Herfst Sander
Published: July 2020

SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus that emerged in late 2019, has spread rapidly worldwide, and information about the modes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among humans is critical to apply appropriate infection control measures and to slow its spread. Here we show that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted efficiently via direct contact and via the air (via respiratory droplets and/or aerosols) between ferrets, 1 to 3 days and 3 to 7 days after exposure respectively. The pattern of virus shedding in the direct contact and indirect recipient ferrets is similar to that of the inoculated ferrets and infectious virus is isolated from all positive animals, showing that ferrets are productively infected via either route. This study provides experimental evidence of robust transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via the air, supporting the implementation of community-level social distancing measures currently applied in many countries in the world and informing decisions on infection control measures in healthcare settings.
COVID-19 outbreak response, a dataset to assess mobility changes in Italy following national lockdown
Authors: Pepe Emanuele , Bajardi Paolo , Gauvin Laetitia , Privitera Filippo , Lake Brennan , Cattuto Ciro , Tizzoni Michele
Published: July 2020

Italy has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting the highest death toll in Europe as of April 2020. Following the identification of the first infections, on February 21, 2020, national authorities have put in place an increasing number of restrictions aimed at containing the outbreak and delaying the epidemic peak. On March 12, the government imposed a national lockdown. To aid the evaluation of the impact of interventions, we present daily time-series of three different aggregated mobility metrics: the origin-destination movements between Italian provinces, the radius of gyration, and the average degree of a spatial proximity network. All metrics were computed by processing a large-scale dataset of anonymously shared positions of about 170,000 de-identified smartphone users before and during the outbreak, at the sub-national scale. This dataset can help to monitor the impact of the lockdown on the epidemic trajectory and inform future public health decision making.
Chromatin accessibility and transcriptome landscapes of Monomorium pharaonis brain
Authors: Wang Mingyue , Liu Yang , Wen Tinggang , Liu Weiwei , Gao Qionghua , Zhao Jie , Xiong Zijun , Wang Zhifeng , Jiang Wei , Yu Yeya , Wu Liang , Yuan Yue , Wei Xiaoyu , Xu Jiangshan , Cheng Mengnan , Zhang Pei , Li Panyi , Hou Yong , Yang Huanming , Zhang Guojie , Li Qiye , Liu Chuanyu , Liu Longqi
Published: July 2020

The emergence of social organization (eusociality) is a major event in insect evolution. Although previous studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying caste differentiation and social behavior of eusocial insects including ants and honeybees, the molecular circuits governing sociality in these insects remain obscure. In this study, we profiled the transcriptome and chromatin accessibility of brain tissues in three Monomorium pharaonis ant castes: queens (including mature and un-mated queens), males and workers. We provide a comprehensive dataset including 16 RNA-sequencing and 16 assay for transposase accessible chromatin (ATAC)-sequencing profiles. We also demonstrate strong reproducibility of the datasets and have identified specific genes and open chromatin regions in the genome that may be associated with the social function of these castes. Our data will be a valuable resource for further studies of insect behaviour, particularly the role of brain in the control of eusociality.
A map of African humid tropical forest aboveground biomass derived from management inventories
Authors: Ploton Pierre , Mortier Frédéric , Barbier Nicolas , Cornu Guillaume , Réjou-Méchain Maxime , Rossi Vivien , Alonso Alfonso , Bastin Jean-François , Bayol Nicolas , Bénédet Fabrice , Bissiengou Pulchérie , Chuyong Georges , Demarquez Benoît , Doucet Jean-Louis , Droissart Vincent , Kamdem Narcisse Guy , Kenfack David , Memiaghe Hervé , Moses Libalah , Sonké Bonaventure , Texier Nicolas , Thomas Duncan , Zebaze Donatien , Pélissier Raphaël , Gourlet-Fleury Sylvie
Published: July 2020

Forest biomass is key in Earth carbon cycle and climate system, and thus under intense scrutiny in the context of international climate change mitigation initiatives (e.g. REDD+). In tropical forests, the spatial distribution of aboveground biomass (AGB) remains, however, highly uncertain. There is increasing recognition that progress is strongly limited by the lack of field observations over large and remote areas. Here, we introduce the Congo basin Forests AGB (CoFor-AGB) dataset that contains AGB estimations and associated uncertainty for 59,857 1-km pixels aggregated from nearly 100,000 ha of in situ forest management inventories for the 2000 – early 2010s period in five central African countries. A comprehensive error propagation scheme suggests that the uncertainty on AGB estimations derived from c. 0.5-ha inventory plots (8.6–15.0%) is only moderately higher than the error obtained from scientific sampling plots (8.3%). CoFor-AGB provides the first large scale view of forest AGB spatial variation from field data in central Africa, the second largest continuous tropical forest domain of the world.
Music, Language, and The N400: ERP Interference Patterns Across Cognitive Domains
Authors: Calma-Roddin Nicole , Drury John E.
Published: July 2020

Studies of the relationship of language and music have suggested these two systems may share processing resources involved in the computation/maintenance of abstract hierarchical structure (syntax). One type of evidence comes from ERP interference studies involving concurrent language/music processing showing interaction effects when both processing streams are simultaneously perturbed by violations (e.g., syntactically incorrect words paired with incongruent completion of a chord progression). Here, we employ this interference methodology to target the mechanisms supporting long term memory (LTM) access/retrieval in language and music. We used melody stimuli from previous work showing out-of-key or unexpected notes may elicit a musical analogue of language N400 effects, but only for familiar melodies, and not for unfamiliar ones. Target notes in these melodies were time-locked to visually presented target words in sentence contexts manipulating lexical/conceptual semantic congruity. Our study succeeded in eliciting expected N400 responses from each cognitive domain independently. Among several new findings we argue to be of interest, these data demonstrate that: (i) language N400 effects are delayed in onset by concurrent music processing only when melodies are familiar, and (ii) double violations with familiar melodies (but not with unfamiliar ones) yield a sub-additive N400 response. In addition: (iii) early negativities (RAN effects), which previous work has connected to musical syntax, along with the music N400, were together delayed in onset for familiar melodies relative to the timing of these effects reported in the previous music-only study using these same stimuli, and (iv) double violation cases involving unfamiliar/novel melodies also delayed the RAN effect onset. These patterns constitute the first demonstration of N400 interference effects across these domains and together contribute previously undocumented types of interactions to the available pool of findings relevant to understanding whether language and music may rely on shared underlying mechanisms.
A simple and useful method for evaluation of oxidative stress in vivo by spectrofluorometric estimation of urinary pteridines
Authors: Wakabayashi Ichiro , Nakanishi Mamoru , Ohki Makoto , Suehiro Akira , Uchida Kagehiro
Published: July 2020

Pteridine derivatives are intermediate metabolites of folic acid and its cofactors. Oxidized-form pteridines, but not reduced-form pteridines, are fluorescent substances. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether oxidized-form pteridine level in urine, estimated by spectrofluorometry, reflects oxidative stress in vivo. The subjects were healthy middle-aged men (n = 258). Urinary pteridine level was estimated by spectrofluorometry with an excitation wavelength of 360 nm and an emission wavelength of 450 nm. Relationships of urinary pteridines with oxidative stress markers (urinary DNA/RNA oxidation products and 15-isoprostane F2t) and with smoking were analyzed. Concentrations of pteridines, DNA/RNA oxidation products and 15-isoprostane F2t were used after logarithmic transformation in linear analyses. Pteridine levels were significantly correlated with levels of DNA/RNA oxidation products (Pearson’s correlation coefficient: 0.626, p < 0.01) and 15-isoprostane F2t (Pearson’s correlation coefficient: 0.695, p < 0.01). These correlations were not confounded by age, body mass index, history of smoking and estimated glomerular filtration rate in multivariate analysis. The mean urinary pteridine level was significantly higher in heavy smokers (16 cigarettes or more per day) than in nonsmokers and light smokers (less than 16 cigarettes per day) and was higher in light smokers than in nonsmokers. Thus, urinary fluorometric pteridine levels were shown to be associated with known biomarkers of oxidative stress as well as smoking, which causes oxidative stress in vivo. We propose spectrofluorometrical estimation of urinary pteridines as a simple and useful method for evaluation of oxidative stress in vivo.
Cerebellar transcranial alternating current stimulation in the gamma range applied during the acquisition of a novel motor skill
Authors: Wessel Maximilian J. , Draaisma Laurijn R. , de Boer Anne F. W. , Park Chang-hyun , Maceira-Elvira Pablo , Durand-Ruel Manon , Koch Philipp J. , Morishita Takuya , Hummel Friedhelm C.
Published: July 2020

The development of novel strategies to augment motor training success is of great interest for healthy persons and neurological patients. A promising approach is the combination of training with transcranial electric stimulation. However, limited reproducibility and varying effect sizes make further protocol optimization necessary. We tested the effects of a novel cerebellar transcranial alternating current stimulation protocol (tACS) on motor skill learning. Furthermore, we studied underlying mechanisms by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation and analysis of fMRI-based resting-state connectivity. N = 15 young, healthy participants were recruited. 50 Hz tACS was applied to the left cerebellum in a double-blind, sham-controlled, cross-over design concurrently to the acquisition of a novel motor skill. Potential underlying mechanisms were assessed by studying short intracortical inhibition at rest (SICIrest) and in the premovement phase (SICImove), intracortical facilitation at rest (ICFrest), and seed-based resting-state fMRI-based functional connectivity (FC) in a hypothesis-driven motor learning network. Active stimulation did not enhance skill acquisition or retention. Minor effects on striato-parietal FC were present. Linear mixed effects modelling identified SICImovemodulation and baseline task performance as the most influential determining factors for predicting training success. Accounting for the identified factors may allow to stratify participants for future training-based interventions.
Comparative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses provide insights into functional genes for hypoxic adaptation in embryos of Tibetan chickens
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zheng Xiaotong , Zhang Yawen , Zhang Hongliang , Zhang Xuyuan , Zhang Hao
Published: July 2020

The Tibetan chicken is a unique breed that has adapted to the high-altitude hypoxic conditions of the Tibetan plateau. A number of positively selected genes have been reported in these chickens; however, the mechanisms of gene expression for hypoxia adaptation are not fully understood. In the present study, eggs from Tibetan and Chahua chickens were incubated under hypoxic and normoxic conditions, and vascularization in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of embryos was observed. We found that the vessel density index in the CAM of Tibetan chickens was lower than in Chahua chickens under hypoxia conditions. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of CAM tissues were performed in Tibetan and Chahua chicken embryos under hypoxic incubation using RNA-Seq and iTRAQ. We obtained 160 differentially expressed genes and 387 differentially expressed proteins that were mainly enriched in angiogenesis, vasculature development, blood vessel morphogenesis, blood circulation, renin-angiotensin system, and HIF-1 and VEGF signaling pathways. Twenty-six genes involved in angiogenesis and blood circulation, two genes involved in ion transport, and six genes that regulated energy metabolism were identified as candidate functional genes in regulating hypoxic adaptation of chicken embryos. This research provided insights into the molecular mechanism of hypoxia adaptation in Tibetan chickens.
A novel filtration system based on ceramic silver-impregnated pot filter combined with adsorption processes to remove waterborne bacteria
Authors: Rivera-Sánchez Sandra Patricia , Ocampo-Ibáñez Iván Darío , Silva-Leal Jorge Antonio , Flórez-Elvira Liliana Janeth , Castaño-Hincapié Ana Valentina , Dávila-Estupiñan Andreina , Martínez-Rivera Jorge Iván , Pérez-Vidal Andrea
Published: July 2020

Halving the proportion of the people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation is among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Lack of access to safe drinking water has been associated with the prevalence of waterborne diseases. Due to this reported association, the development of household water treatment devices has been an alternative to improve the quality supply of domestic water. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of a ceramic silver-impregnated pot filter (CSF) system coupled with an adsorption process, composed of silver-impregnated granular activated carbon and zeolite (CSF + GAC-Z), to remove waterborne bacteria Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. from spiked water. The performance of this system was compared with the conventional CSF system. In this respect, we evaluated six CSF and six CSF + GAC-Z using spiked water with 103 and 102 CFU/mL of E. coli and Salmonella spp. The mean percentage of removals ranged between 98% and 99.98%. The highest bacterial removal efficiency was recorded by the CSF + GAC-Z (99%) and CSF (99.98%) for E. coli and Salmonella spp., respectively, but no significant statistical differences were found between filtration systems. Our findings suggest that the CSF + GAC-Z system was effective in the removal of waterborne bacteria from spiked water.
With complements of the ligands: an unusual S-shaped [Mn7]2 assembly from tethered calixarenes
Authors: Coletta Marco , Sanz Sergio , Brechin Euan K. , Dalgarno Scott J.
Published: July 2020

A large S-shaped [MnIII5MnII2]2 assembly (∼40 Å top to tail) has been formed with bis-p-tBu-calix[4]arene and 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine as a co-ligand, with the former existing unusually in both syn and anti-conformations (as shown).
A porous Zn(ii)-coordination polymer based on a tetracarboxylic acid exhibiting selective CO2 adsorption and iodine uptake
Authors: Arici Mürsel , Alp Arici Tuğba , Demiral Hakan , Taş Murat , Yeşilel Okan Zafer
Published: July 2020

A 3D porous Zn(ii)-coordination polymer with a sqc5381 net adsorbed selectively CO2 over N2 and CH4 at 273 K and also 19.99% and 30.26% iodine in solution and vapor phase. X-ray result and Raman spectra showed iodine units in the pores of framework.
Engineering coordination polymer-derived one-dimensional porous S-doped Co3O4 nanorods with rich oxygen vacancies as high-performance electrode materials for hybrid supercapacitors
Authors: Li Youjing , Li Weiwei , Yang Cui , Tao Kai , Ma Qingxiang , Han Lei
Published: July 2020

1D porous S-doped Co3O4 nanorods with rich oxygen vacancies and enhanced energy storage capability were engineered by a coordination polymer-engaged strategy.
Adjusting the lipid–water distribution coefficient of iridium(iii) complexes to enhance the cellular penetration and treatment efficacy to antagonize cisplatin resistance in cervical cancer
Authors: Huang Wei , Chen Zhen , Hou Liyuan , Feng Pengju , Li Yiqun , Chen Tianfeng
Published: July 2020

The effective design of metal complexes to manipulate their lipid–water distribution coefficient is an appealing strategy for improving their cellular penetration and treatment efficacy.
Tracking ion intercalation into layered Ti3C2 MXene films across length scales
Authors: Gao Qiang , Sun Weiwei , Ilani-Kashkouli Poorandokht , Tselev Alexander , Kent Paul R. C. , Kabengi Nadine , Naguib Michael , Alhabeb Mohamed , Tsai Wan-Yu , Baddorf Arthur P. , Huang Jingsong , Jesse Stephen , Gogotsi Yury , Balke Nina
Published: July 2020

Enhancing the energy stored and power delivered by layered materials relies strongly on improved understanding of the intricate interplay of electrolyte ions, solvents, and electrode interactions as well as the role of confinement.
Rapid, high-sensitivity analysis of oxyhalides by non-suppressed ion chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry: application to ClO4−, ClO3−, ClO2−, and BrO3− quantification during sunlight/chlorine advanced oxidation
Authors: Young Tessora R. , Cheng Shi , Li Wentao , Dodd Michael C.
Published: July 2020

A novel, non-suppressed ion chromatography-mass spectrometry method enables rapid analysis of all regulated oxyhalides at sub-μg L−1 levels in natural waters and waters subjected to chlorination and sunlight/chlorine advanced oxidation.
Tuning the pore structures and photocatalytic properties of a 2D covalent organic framework with multi-branched photoactive moieties
Authors: Wang Xuan , Dong Ming-Jie , Wu Chuan-De
Published: July 2020

An effective strategy to incorporate accessible metalloporphyrin photoactive sites into 2D COFs by establishing a 3D local connection for highly efficient photocatalysis was developed.
Heat- or light-induced acylarylation of unactivated alkenes towards 3-(α-acyl) indolines
Authors: Li Yanni , Ying Fengyuan , Fu Tingfeng , Yang Ruihan , Dong Ying , Lin Liqing , Han Yinghui , Liang Deqiang , Long Xianhao
Published: July 2020

A heat- or photoredox/iron dual catalysis-enabled rare example of radical acylation across unactivated alkenes with aldehydes.
Divergence of polycondensation by a tandem reaction based on sequential conjugate substitutions
Authors: Hagiwara Keito , Kohsaka Yasuhiro
Published: July 2020

Polycondensation, which was based on sequential conjugate substitution (SN2′) reactions of β-bromo-α-(bromomethyl)acrylates and dithiol, afforded diverse structures of polysulfides with exo- and endo-olefin units.
The evolution of molecular machines through interfacial nanoarchitectonics: from toys to tools
Authors: Ariga Katsuhiko
Published: July 2020

Molecular machines can be made more useful with interfacial nanoarchitectonics.
Plasma microRNA-720 may predict prognosis and diagnosis in glioma patients
Authors: Chen Peng , Zhang Guangying , Zhou Qin , Li Zhanzhan
Published: July 2020

We enrolled 122 patients with glioma who received surgery treatment in our hospital from June 2010 to May 2012, and 60 healthy individuals. We found that the plasma miR-720 in the glioma group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (3.19 ± 1.26 vs 0.98 ± 0.65, P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity were 71.3% (95%CI: 62.4–79.1%) and 83.3% (71.5–91.7%), respectively. The results indicated that the plasma miR-720 level was associated with tumor grade (t = 104.418, P<0.001). The advanced tumor tended to have higher miR-720 expression level. No significant association was found between miR-720 and age, sex, tumor size, KPS and tumor position (P=0.438, 0.514, 0.518, 0.058, 0.226). The multivariate cox analysis indicated that the high expression of miR-720 (HR = 1.48, 95%CI: 1.12–2.97, P=0.023) was independently predictors of adverse prognosis in patients with glioma. The high expression of miR-720 was also associated with recurrence or development in patients with glioma (HR = 1.47, 95%CI: 1.18–3.14, P=0.012). Plasma miR-720 has a moderate diagnostic ability in early diagnostic of glioma and may be a potential tumor biomarker. The high plasma miR-720 was related to adverse prognosis in patients with glioma and could be a prognosis predictor of glioma patients.