bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strong pathogen competition in neonatal gut colonisation
Authors: Mäklin Tommi , Thorpe Harry A. , Pöntinen Anna K. , Gladstone Rebecca A. , Shao Yan , Pesonen Maiju , McNally Alan , Johnsen Pål J. , Samuelsen Ørjan , Lawley Trevor D. , Honkela Antti , Corander Jukka
Published: December 2022

Opportunistic bacterial pathogen species and their strains that colonise the human gut are generally understood to compete against both each other and the commensal species colonising this ecosystem. Currently we are lacking a population-wide quantification of strain-level colonisation dynamics and the relationship of colonisation potential to prevalence in disease, and how ecological factors might be modulating these. Here, using a combination of latest high-resolution metagenomics and strain-level genomic epidemiology methods we performed a characterisation of the competition and colonisation dynamics for a longitudinal cohort of neonatal gut microbiomes. We found strong inter- and intra-species competition dynamics in the gut colonisation process, but also a number of synergistic relationships among several species belonging to genusKlebsiella, which includes the prominent human pathogenKlebsiella pneumoniae. No evidence of preferential colonisation by hospital-adapted pathogen lineages in either vaginal or caesarean section birth groups was detected. Our analysis further enabled unbiased assessment of strain-level colonisation potential of extra-intestinal pathogenicEscherichia coli(ExPEC) in comparison with their propensity to cause bloodstream infections. Our study highlights the importance of systematic surveillance of bacterial gut pathogens, not only from disease but also from carriage state, to better inform therapies and preventive medicine in the future.
Growth of alpine grassland will start and stop earlier under climate warming
Authors: Möhl Patrick , von Büren Raphael S. , Hiltbrunner Erika
Published: December 2022

Alpine plants have evolved a tight seasonal cycle of growth and senescence to cope with a short growing season. The potential growing season length (GSL) is increasing because of climate warming, possibly prolonging plant growth above- and belowground. We tested whether growth dynamics in typical alpine grassland are altered when the natural GSL (2–3 months) is experimentally advanced and thus, prolonged by 2–4 months. Additional summer months did not extend the growing period, as canopy browning started 34–41 days after the start of the season, even when GSL was more than doubled. Less than 10% of roots were produced during the added months, suggesting that root growth was as conservative as leaf growth. Few species showed a weak second greening under prolonged GSL, but not the dominant sedge. A longer growing season under future climate may therefore not extend growth in this widespread alpine community, but will foster species that follow a less strict phenology.
An integrated resource for functional and structural connectivity of the marmoset brain
Authors: Tian Xiaoguang , Chen Yuyan , Majka Piotr , Szczupak Diego , Perl Yonatan Sanz , Yen Cecil Chern-Chyi , Tong Chuanjun , Feng Furui , Jiang Haiteng , Glen Daniel , Deco Gustavo , Rosa Marcello G. P. , Silva Afonso C. , Liang Zhifeng , Liu Cirong
Published: December 2022

Comprehensive integration of structural and functional connectivity data is required to model brain functions accurately. While resources for studying the structural connectivity of non-human primate brains already exist, their integration with functional connectivity data has remained unavailable. Here we present a comprehensive resource that integrates the most extensive awake marmoset resting-state fMRI data available to date (39 marmoset monkeys, 710 runs, 12117 mins) with previously published cellular-level neuronal tracing data (52 marmoset monkeys, 143 injections) and multi-resolution diffusion MRI datasets. The combination of these data allowed us to (1) map the fine-detailed functional brain networks and cortical parcellations, (2) develop a deep-learning-based parcellation generator that preserves the topographical organization of functional connectivity and reflects individual variabilities, and (3) investigate the structural basis underlying functional connectivity by computational modeling. This resource will enable modeling structure-function relationships and facilitate future comparative and translational studies of primate brains.
The coordination of anti-phage immunity mechanisms in bacterial cells
Authors: Arias Clemente F. , Acosta Francisco J. , Bertocchini Federica , Herrero Miguel A. , Fernández-Arias Cristina
Published: December 2022

Bacterial cells are equipped with a variety of immune strategies to fight bacteriophage infections. Such strategies include unspecific mechanisms directed against any phage infecting the cell, ranging from the identification and cleavage of the viral DNA by restriction nucleases (restriction-modification systems) to the suicidal death of infected host cells (abortive infection, Abi). In addition, CRISPR-Cas systems generate an immune memory that targets specific phages in case of reinfection. However, the timing and coordination of different antiviral systems in bacterial cells are poorly understood. Here, we use simple mathematical models of immune responses in individual bacterial cells to propose that the intracellular dynamics of phage infections are key to addressing these questions. Our models suggest that the rates of viral DNA replication and cleavage inside host cells define functional categories of phages that differ in their susceptibility to bacterial anti-phage mechanisms, which could give raise to alternative phage strategies to escape bacterial immunity. From this viewpoint, the combined action of diverse bacterial defenses would be necessary to reduce the chances of phage immune evasion. The decision of individual infected cells to undergo suicidal cell death or to incorporate new phage sequences into their immune memory would be determined by dynamic interactions between the host’s immune mechanisms and the phage DNA. Our work highlights the importance of within-cell dynamics to understand bacterial immunity, and formulates hypotheses that may inspire future research in this area.
Intermittent scavenging of storage lesion from stored red blood cells by electrospun nanofibrous sheets enhances their quality and shelf-life
Authors: Pandey Subhashini , Mahato Manohar , Srinath Preethem , Bhutani Utkarsh , Goap Tanu Jain , Ravipati Priusha , Vemula Praveen Kumar
Published: December 2022

Transfusion of healthy red blood cells (RBCs) is a lifesaving process. However, upon storing RBCs, a wide range of damage-associate molecular patterns (DAMPs), such as cell-free DNA, nucleosomes, free-hemoglobin, and poly-unsaturated-fatty-acids are generated. DAMPs can further damage RBCs; thus, the quality of stored RBCs declines during the storage and limits their shelf-life. Since these DAMPs consist of either positive or negative charged species, we developed taurine and acridine containing electrospun-nanofibrous-sheets (Tau-AcrNFS), featuring anionic, cationic charges and an DNA intercalating group on their surfaces. We show that Tau-AcrNFS are efficient in scavenging DAMPs from stored human and mice RBCs ex vivo. We find that intermittent scavenging of DAMPs by Tau-AcrNFS during the storage reduces the loss of RBC membrane integrity and reduces discocytes-to-spheroechinocytes transformation in stored-old-RBCs. We perform RBC-transfusion studies in mice to reveal that intermittent removal of DAMPs enhances the quality of stored-old-RBCs equivalent to freshly collected RBCs, and increases their shelf-life by ~22%. Such prophylactic technology may lead to the development of novel blood bags or medical device, and may therefore impact healthcare by reducing transfusion-related adverse effects.
Targeted A-to-G base editing of chloroplast DNA in plants
Authors: Mok Young Geun , Hong Sunghyun , Bae Su-Ji , Cho Sung-Ik , Kim Jin-Soo
Published: December 2022

Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) encodes up to 315 (typically, 120–130) genes1, including those for essential components in photosystems I and II and the large subunit of RuBisCo, which catalyses CO2 fixation in plants. Targeted mutagenesis in cpDNA will be broadly useful for studying the functions of these genes in molecular detail and for developing crops and other plants with desired traits. Unfortunately, CRISPR–Cas9 and CRISPR-derived base editors, which enable targeted genetic modifications in nuclear DNA, are not suitable for organellar DNA editing2, owing to the difficulty of delivering guide RNA into organelles. CRISPR-free, protein-only base editors (including DddA-derived cytosine base editors3–8 and zinc finger deaminases9), originally developed for mitochondrial DNA editing in mammalian cells, can be used for C-to-T, rather than A-to-G, editing in cpDNA10–12. Here we show that heritable homoplasmic A-to-G edits can be induced in cpDNA, leading to phenotypic changes, using transcription activator-like effector-linked deaminases13.
Safety and efficacy of HSP90 inhibitor ganetespib for neoadjuvant treatment of stage II/III breast cancer
Authors: Lang Julie E. , Forero-Torres Andres , Yee Douglas , Yau Christina , Wolf Denise , Park John , Parker Barbara A. , Chien A. Jo , Wallace Anne M. , Murthy Rashmi , Albain Kathy S. , Ellis Erin D. , Beckwith Heather , Haley Barbara B. , Elias Anthony D. , Boughey Judy C. , Yung Rachel L. , Isaacs Claudine , Clark Amy S. , Han Hyo S. , Nanda Rita , Khan Qamar J. , Edmiston Kristen K. , Stringer-Reasor Erica , Price Elissa , Joe Bonnie , Liu Minetta C. , Brown-Swigart Lamorna , Petricoin Emanuel F. , Wulfkuhle Julia D. , Buxton Meredith , Clennell Julia L. , Sanil Ashish , Berry Scott , Asare Smita M. , Wilson Amy , Hirst Gillian L. , Singhrao Ruby , Asare Adam L. , Matthews Jeffrey B. , Melisko Michelle , Perlmutter Jane , Rugo Hope S. , Symmans W. Fraser , van ‘t Veer Laura J. , Hylton Nola M. , DeMichele Angela M. , Berry Donald A. , Esserman Laura J.
Published: December 2022

HSP90 inhibitors destabilize oncoproteins associated with cell cycle, angiogenesis, RAS-MAPK activity, histone modification, kinases and growth factors. We evaluated the HSP90-inhibitor ganetespib in combination with standard chemotherapy in patients with high-risk early-stage breast cancer. I-SPY2 is a multicenter, phase II adaptively randomized neoadjuvant (NAC) clinical trial enrolling patients with stage II-III breast cancer with tumors 2.5 cm or larger on the basis of hormone receptors (HR), HER2 and Mammaprint status. Multiple novel investigational agents plus standard chemotherapy are evaluated in parallel for the primary endpoint of pathologic complete response (pCR). Patients with HER2-negative breast cancer were eligible for randomization to ganetespib from October 2014 to October 2015. Of 233 women included in the final analysis, 140 were randomized to the standard NAC control; 93 were randomized to receive 150 mg/m2 ganetespib every 3 weeks with weekly paclitaxel over 12 weeks, followed by AC. Arms were balanced for hormone receptor status (51–52% HR-positive). Ganetespib did not graduate in any of the biomarker signatures studied before reaching maximum enrollment. Final estimated pCR rates were 26% vs. 18% HER2-negative, 38% vs. 22% HR-negative/HER2-negative, and 15% vs. 14% HR-positive/HER2-negative for ganetespib vs control, respectively. The predicted probability of success in phase 3 testing was 47% HER2-negative, 72% HR-negative/HER2-negative, and 19% HR-positive/HER2-negative. Ganetespib added to standard therapy is unlikely to yield substantially higher pCR rates in HER2-negative breast cancer compared to standard NAC, and neither HSP90 pathway nor replicative stress expression markers predicted response. HSP90 inhibitors remain of limited clinical interest in breast cancer, potentially in other clinical settings such as HER2-positive disease or in combination with anti-PD1 neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer.

Trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01042379
Thermodynamical and topological properties of metastable Fe3Sn
Authors: Shen Chen , Samathrakis Ilias , Hu Kun , Singh Harish K. , Fortunato Nuno , Liu Huashan , Gutfleisch Oliver , Zhang Hongbin
Published: December 2022

The Fe–Sn-based kagome compounds attract intensive attention due to its attractive topological transport and rich magnetic properties. Combining experimental data, first-principles calculations, and Calphad assessment, thermodynamic and topological transport properties of the Fe–Sn system were investigated. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to evaluate the intermetallics’ finite-temperature heat capacity (Cp). A consistent thermodynamic assessment of the Fe–Sn phase diagram was achieved by using the experimental and DFT results, together with all available data from previous publications. Here, we report that the metastable phase Fe3Sn was introduced into the current metastable phase diagram, and corrected phase locations of Fe5Sn3 and Fe3Sn2 under the newly measured corrected temperature ranges. Furthermore, the anomalous Hall conductivity and anomalous Nernst conductivity of Fe3Sn were calculated, with magnetization directions and doping considered as perturbations to tune such transport properties. It was observed that the enhanced anomalous Hall and Nernst conductivities originate from the combination of nodal lines and small gap areas that can be tuned by doping Mn at Fe sites and varying magnetization direction.
Angiopoietin-like 3-derivative LNA043 for cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis: a randomized phase 1 trial
Authors: Gerwin Nicole , Scotti Celeste , Halleux Christine , Fornaro Mara , Elliott Jimmy , Zhang Yunyu , Johnson Kristen , Shi Jian , Walter Sandra , Li Yufei , Jacobi Carsten , Laplanche Nelly , Belaud Magali , Paul Jochen , Glowacki Gustavo , Peters Thomas , Wharton Keith A. , Vostiar Igor , Polus Florine , Kramer Ina , Guth Sabine , Seroutou Abdelkader , Choudhury Subhajit , Laurent Didier , Gimbel Joseph , Goldhahn Jörg , Schieker Matthias , Brachat Sophie , Roubenoff Ronenn , Kneissel Michaela
Published: December 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, debilitating, chronic disease with no disease-modifying drug approved to date. We discovered LNA043—a derivative of angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3)—as a potent chondrogenesis inducer using a phenotypic screen with human mesenchymal stem cells. We show that LNA043 promotes chondrogenesis and cartilage matrix synthesis in vitro and regenerates hyaline articular cartilage in preclinical OA and cartilage injury models in vivo. LNA043 exerts at least part of these effects through binding to the fibronectin receptor, integrin α5β1on mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes. In a first-in-human (phase 1), randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose, single-center trial (NCT02491281; sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals), 28 patients with knee OA were injected intra-articularly with LNA043 or placebo (3:1 ratio) either 2 h, 7 d or 21 d before total knee replacement. LNA043 met its primary safety endpoint and showed short serum pharmacokinetics, cartilage penetration and a lack of immunogenicity (secondary endpoints). Post-hoc transcriptomics profiling of cartilage revealed that a single LNA043 injection reverses the OA transcriptome signature over at least 21 d, inducing the expression of hyaline cartilage matrix components and anabolic signaling pathways, while suppressing mediators of OA progression. LNA043 is a novel disease-modifying OA drug candidate that is currently in a phase 2b trial (NCT04864392) in patients with knee OA.
A Dataset with Multibeam Forward-Looking Sonar for Underwater Object Detection
Authors: Xie Kaibing , Yang Jian , Qiu Kang
Published: December 2022

Multibeam forward-looking sonar (MFLS) plays an important role in underwater detection. There are several challenges to the research on underwater object detection with MFLS. Firstly, the research is lack of available dataset. Secondly, the sonar image, generally processed at pixel level and transformed to sector representation for the visual habits of human beings, is disadvantageous to the research in artificial intelligence (AI) areas. Towards these challenges, we present a novel dataset, the underwater acoustic target detection (UATD) dataset, consisting of over 9000 MFLS images captured using Tritech Gemini 1200ik sonar. Our dataset provides raw data of sonar images with annotation of 10 categories of target objects (cube, cylinder, tyres, etc). The data was collected from lake and shallow water. To verify the practicality of UATD, we apply the dataset to the state-of-the-art detectors and provide corresponding benchmarks for its accuracy and efficiency.
Mass cytometry analysis of blood from peanut-sensitized tolerant and clinically allergic infants
Authors: Tursi Amanda R. , Saba Nicholas K. , Dunham Diane , Manohar Monali , Peters Rachel L. , Saffery Richard , Koplin Jennifer J. , Nadeau Kari C. , Neeland Melanie R. , Andorf Sandra
Published: December 2022

IgE-mediated food allergies in infants are a significant health concern, with peanut allergy being of particular interest due to its prevalence and severity. Among individuals who produce peanut-specific IgE some experience no adverse reaction on peanut consumption. This asymptomatic phenotype is known as sensitized tolerance. To elucidate the immune environment of peanut sensitized tolerant and clinically allergic one-year-olds, high-dimensional mass cytometry was conducted as part of the HealthNuts study. The resulting data includes peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 36 participants encompassing non-allergic, peanut sensitized with tolerance, and clinically peanut allergic infants. The raw mass cytometry data is described here and freely available for reuse through the Immunology Database and Analysis Portal (ImmPort). Additional allergy information and serum vitamin D levels of the participants were measured and are also included in the data upload. These high-dimensional mass cytometry data, when combined with clinical information, offer a broad immune profile of peanut allergic and sensitized tolerant infants.
The unpredictable nature of bubble evolution
Authors: Lawless Jack , Keeler Jack , Gaillard Antoine , Hazel Andrew , Juel Anne
Published: December 2022

Unpredictable dynamics arising from a sensitivity to initial conditions is commonly associated with chaos. We demonstrate how similar unpredictability manifests in a nonlinear system that possesses a large number of long-term outcomes, namely the propagation of an air bubble within a viscous fluid-filled channel. The system under investigation supports various stable states of single-bubble propagation. In addition, bubbles can readily break up during their propagation. Upon subjecting steadily-propagating bubbles to finite-amplitude perturbations in the form of localised channel constrictions, we identify localised regions of the driving flow rate for which the resulting evolutions are unpredictable. Visibly-indistinguishable bubbles are observed to evolve towards a multitude of long-term outcomes, including each of the stable states available to the initial bubble and various states of permanently-changed bubble topology. By combining high-precision experimental results with simulations of a depth-averaged lubrication model of the system, we determine that this behaviour is driven by a sensitive dependence on initial conditions within the vicinity of an unstable periodic orbit.
Owl-like plaques of the Copper Age and the involvement of children
Authors: Negro Juan J. , Blanco Guillermo , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Eduardo , Díaz Núñez de Arenas Víctor M.
Published: December 2022

In the Copper Age, slate engraved plaques were produced massively in the southwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula. Researchers have speculated about the function of these palm-sized stone objects for more than a century, although most have favored the idea that they represented goddesses, and served ritual purposes. The plaques are engraved with different designs of varying complexity. In some of them, the ones sporting two large frontal eyes, we clearly see owls modelled after two species present in the area: the little owl (Athene noctua), and the long-eared owl (Asio otus). These two species, living in semi-open habitats, were possibly the most abundant owls around the human settlements and surrounding cultivated fields of the Chalcolithic period. People must have been aware of the owl presence and possibly interacted with them. Why owls but no other animals have been the models may relate to the fact they are the most anthropomorphic of all animals, with large frontally-placed eyes in their enormous heads. In the iconography, owls are systematically represented, even today, with their two eyes staring at the observer, as opposed to the lateral view used for any other animal. Additionally, slate is one of the commonest surface rocks in southwestern Iberia, and it provides a blank canvas for engraving lines using pointed tools made of flint, quartz or copper. The way slates exfoliate makes easy to craft owl-looking plaques. To silhouette animals other than owls in a recognizable way would request extra carving abilities and specific tools. Plaque manufacture and design were simple and did not demand high skills nor intensive labor as demonstrated in replication experiments. Owl engravings could have been executed by youngsters, as they resemble owls painted today by elementary school students. This also suggests that schematic drawings are universal and timeless. We propose that the owl-like slate plaques are the remains of a set of objects used in both playful activities and in ritual ceremonies. The actual engraving of the plaques may have been part of the game. Owlish slate plaques were often perforated twice at the top. We interpret this as insertion points for actual bird feathers added to the plaques, right at the place where tufts emerge in live owls. The frontier among play and ritual is diffuse in liminal societies and there is no contradiction in playing with animal-like toys and, at some point, using them as offerings as part of community rituals related, for instance, to the colossal megalithic tombs so characteristic of the Copper Age.
Risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Deng Luojia , Li Peiqi , Zhang Xuezhixing , Jiang Qianxue , Turner DeAnne , Zhou Chao , Gao Yanxiao , Qian Frank , Zhang Ci , Lu Hui , Zou Huachun , Vermund Sten H. , Qian Han-Zhu
Published: December 2022

This meta-analysis aims to synthesize global evidence on the risk of reinfection among people previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science as of April 5, 2021. We conducted: (1) meta-analysis of cohort studies containing data sufficient for calculating the incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection; (2) systematic review of case reports with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 reinfection cases. The reinfection incidence was pooled by zero-inflated beta distribution. The hazard ratio (HR) between reinfection incidence among previously infected individuals and new infection incidence among infection-naïve individuals was calculated using random-effects models. Of 906 records retrieved and reviewed, 11 studies and 11 case reports were included in the meta-analysis and the systematic review, respectively. The pooled SARS-CoV-2 reinfection incidence rate was 0.70 (standard deviation [SD] 0.33) per 10,000 person-days. The incidence of reinfection was lower than the incidence of new infection (HR = 0.12, 95% confidence interval 0.09–0.17). Our meta-analysis of studies conducted prior to the emergency of the more transmissible Omicron variant showed that people with a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection could be re-infected, and they have a lower risk of infection than those without prior infection. Continuing reviews are needed as the reinfection risk may change due to the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Comparative transcriptomes of nine tissues for the Heilongjiang brown frog (Rana amurensis)
Authors: Li Wanyu , Lan Yue , Wang Lei , He Lewei , Tang Ruixiang , Price Megan , Yue Bisong , Fan Zhenxin
Published: December 2022

The Heilongjiang brown frog (Rana amurensis) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. In particular, the oviduct and skin have been developed into various health products. However, limited numbers of complete genomes of amphibian species have been reported, excluding the Heilongjiang brown frog. Here, the transcriptomes of 45 samples from the liver, spleen, heart, ovaries, thigh muscles, skin, oviduct, stomach and intestine of five Heilongjiang brown frog were reassembled and analyzed. A total of 1,085,532 unigenes with an average length of 676.6 bp and N50 of 722 bp were obtained. Comparative transcriptomics of different tissues detected tissue-specific expression. There were 3248 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ovary, and the number of unique DEGs between the ovary and spleen was the largest. The results of DEGs enrichment showed there were many pathways and items related to protein synthesis and metabolism in the oviduct. The DEGs of the skin were enriched with many bacterial defense items, indicating that there were a large number of antimicrobial peptides in the skin. Thus, these were suitable as biological sources for the development and extraction of antimicrobial peptides. Through the assembly of transcriptome sequencing data and functional annotation of the Heilongjiang brown frog genome, this study provides reference materials for further exploring and utilizing functional gene resources of frogs and lays a foundation for medical research and the development of new products.
Bioenhancing effects of piperine and curcumin on triterpenoid pharmacokinetics and neurodegenerative metabolomes from Centella asiatica extract in beagle dogs
Authors: Boonyarattanasoonthorn Tussapon , Kongratanapasert Teetat , Maiuthed Arnatchai , Hamlin Robert , Kijtawornrat Anusak , Khemawoot Phisit
Published: December 2022

Centell-S is a water-soluble extract ofCentella asiaticacontaining more than 80% w/w triterpenoid glycosides. Madecassoside and asiaticoside are two major components of the extract and can be converted into active metabolites, triterpenic acids in large mammal species. In this study, the pharmacokinetic profiles and metabolomic changes generated by the bioactive triterpenoids of Centell-S alone, and in combination with the bioenhancers piperine and curcumin, were investigated in beagle dogs. The test substances were orally administered over multiple doses for 7 consecutive days. At day 1 and 7 after receiving the test compounds, the level of major bioactive triterpenoids and related metabolites were measured using triple quadrupole and high-resolution accurate mass orbitrap models of LCMS to determine pharmacokinetic and metabolomic profiles, respectively. Centell-S was well tolerated, alone and in all combination groups. The combination of Centell-S and piperine significantly increased (p < 0.05) the systemic exposure of madecassoside on day 1 and asiatic acid on day 7, by approximately 1.5 to 3.0-fold of Cmaxand AUC values as compared to the Centell-S alone, while the addition of curcumin did not provide a significant improvement. Several metabolomic changes were observed from pre-dose to 4 h post-dose, with some biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases includingl-glutamine, lysophosphatidylcholine (17:0), taurochenodeoxycholic acid, uric acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, and lactic acid showing good correlation with the systemic exposure of the bioactive triterpenoids (asiatic acid). Thus, the combining of piperine to Centell-S exhibits the improvement of bioactive triterpenoids which are related to the biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases. These promising results might be useful for the development of this standardised extract to become a more effective phytomedicine for neurodegenerative diseases.
Accelerated 23-h enhanced recovery protocol for colon surgery: the CHASE-study
Authors: Tweed Thaís T. T. , Sier Misha A. T. , Daher Imane , Bakens Maikel J. A. M. , Nel Johan , Bouvy Nicole D. , van Bastelaar James , Stoot Jan H. M. B.
Published: December 2022

The introduction of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program has radically improved postoperative outcomes in colorectal surgery. Optimization of ERAS program to an accelerated recovery program may further improve these said outcomes. This single-center, prospective study investigated the feasibility and safety of a 23-h accelerated enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) for colorectal cancer patients (ASA I–II) undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery. The 23-h accelerated ERP consisted of adjustments in pre-, peri- and postoperative care; this was called the CHASE-protocol. This group was compared to a retrospective cohort of colorectal cancer patients who received standard ERAS care. Patients were discharged within 23 h after surgery if they met the discharge criteria. Primary outcome was the rate of the successful discharge within 23 h. Successful discharge within the CHASE-cohort was realized in 33 out of the 41 included patients (80.5%). Compared to the retrospective cohort (n = 75), length of stay was significantly shorter in the CHASE-cohort (p = 0.000), and the readmission rate was higher (p = 0.051). Complication rate was similar, severe complications were observed less frequently in the CHASE-cohort (4.9% vs. 8.0%). Findings from this study support the feasibility and safety of the accelerated 23-h accelerated ERP with the CHASE-protocol in selected patients.
Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC): a new biomarker for high-altitude pulmonary edema in the Ecuadorian Andes
Authors: Sánchez Karen , Ramírez-Cando Lenin , Machado Wilfre , Villafuerte Anita , Ballaz Santiago
Published: December 2022

Ascent to high altitude (> 3000 m height above sea level or m.a.s.l) exposes people to hypobaric atmospheric pressure and hypoxemia, which provokes mountain sickness and whose symptoms vary from the mild acute mountain sickness to the life-threatening, high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). This study analysed the risk factors underlying HAPE in dwellers and travellers of the Ecuadorian Andes after sojourning over 3000 m height. A group of HAPE patients (N = 58) was compared to a NO HAPE group (N = 713), through demographic (ethnicity, sex, and age), red blood cell parameters (erythrocytes counts, hematocrit, median corpuscular volume, median corpuscular haemoglobin, and median corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)), altitude (threshold: 3000 m.a.s.l.), and health status (vital signs) variables. Analysis of Deviance for Generalised Linear Model Fits (logit regression) revealed patterns of significant associations. High-altitude dwellers, particularly children and elder people, were HAPE-prone, while women were more tolerant of HAPE than men. Interestingly, HAPE prevalence was strongly related to an increment of MCH. The residence at middle altitude was inversely related to the odds of suffering HAPE. Ethnicity did not have a significant influence in HAPE susceptibility. Elevated MCHC emerges like a blood adaptation of Andean highlanders to high altitude and biomarker of HAPE risk.
Free convective trickling over a porous medium of fractional nanofluid with MHD and heat source/sink
Authors: Lin Yuanjian , Rehman Sadique , Akkurt Nevzat , Shedd Tim , Kamran Muhammad , Qureshi Muhammad Imran , Botmart Thongchai , Alharbi Abdulaziz N. , Farooq Aamir , Khan Ilyas
Published: December 2022

Nanofluids are considered as smart fluids that can improve heat and mass transfer and have numerous applications in industry and engineering fields such as electronics, manufacturing, and biomedicine. For this reason, blood-based nanofluids with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as nanoparticles in the presence of a magnetic field are discussed. The nanofluid traverses the porous medium. The nanofluids move on a vertical plate that can be moved. The free convection heat transfer mode is considered when the heat source and heat fluxes are constant. Convective flows are often used in engineering processes, especially in heat removal, such as geothermal and petroleum extraction, building construction, and so on. Heat transfer is used in chemical processing, power generation, automobile manufacturing, air conditioning, refrigeration, and computer technology, among others. Heat transfer fluids such as water, methanol, air and glycerine are used as heat exchange media because these fluids have low thermal conductivity compared to other metals. We have studied the effects of MHD on the heat and velocity of nanofluids keeping efficiency in mind. Laplace transform is used to solve the mathematical model. The velocity and temperature profiles of MHD flow with free convection of nanofluids were described using Nusselt number and skin friction coefficient. An accurate solution is obtained for both the velocity and temperature profiles. The graph shows the effects of the different parameters on the velocity and temperature profiles. The temperature profile improved with increasing estimates of the fraction parameter and the volume friction parameter. The velocity of the nanofluid is also a de-escalating function with the increasing values of the magnetic parameter and the porosity parameter. The thickness of the thermal boundary layer decreases with increasing values of the fractional parameter.
Evaluation of the mineral composition, phytochemical and proximate constituents of three culinary spices in Nigeria: a comparative study
Authors: Evuen Uduenevwo Francis , Okolie Ngozi Paulinus , Apiamu Augustine
Published: December 2022

Spices are prolific sources of phytochemicals of pharmaceutical and nutritional importance. They have been employed for centuries in the treatment of various maladies, in cuisines, and as inhibitors of oxidative degradation in foods. On this premise, a comparative assessment of the quantitative mineral composition, phytochemical and proximate constituents ofXylopia aethiopica(fruits), Piper guineense(seeds), andRhaphiostylis beninensis(roots) was done using standard protocols. Subsequently, methanol extracts of the spices were subjected to Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. Mineral analysis of the culinary spices revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the spices’ magnesium, zinc, iron, selenium, copper, calcium, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, and sodium contents. In the phytochemical analysis, flavonoids, phenols, and alkaloids (4.04%, 2.92%, 2.23%) predominate inX. aethiopica. Similarly, proximate analysis shows a preponderance of carbohydrates (81.24%) and proteins (4.83%) inR. beninensisandP. guineenserespectively. However, values for the selenium (0.25 mg/L), saponin (0.23%), and moisture (0.71%) contents forR. beninensiswere the lowest among the three spices. Results from the GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of thirteen, twelve, and thirteen phytoconstituents ofX. aethiopica, P. guineense, andR. beninensisrespectively. Prominent among them are hydrocarbons, acids, and esters with renowned biological attributes such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. These findings indicate that the spices are notable wellsprings of bioactive components and justify their plethoric applications in Nigeria. Therefore, they could serve as lead compounds in the search for natural ingredients for drugs and nutraceuticals formulation.
Future tree survival in European forests depends on understorey tree diversity
Authors: Billing Maik , Thonicke Kirsten , Sakschewski Boris , von Bloh Werner , Walz Ariane
Published: December 2022

Climate change heavily threatens forest ecosystems worldwide and there is urgent need to understand what controls tree survival and forests stability. There is evidence that biodiversity can enhance ecosystem stability (Loreau and de Mazancourt in Ecol Lett 16:106–115, 2013; McCann in Nature 405:228–233, 2000), however it remains largely unclear whether this also holds for climate change and what aspects of biodiversity might be most important. Here we apply machine learning to outputs of a flexible-trait Dynamic Global Vegetation Model to unravel the effects of enhanced functional tree trait diversity and its sub-components on climate-change resistance of temperate forests (http://www.pik-potsdam.de/~billing/video/Forest_Resistance_LPJmLFIT.mp4). We find that functional tree trait diversity enhances forest resistance. We explain this with 1. stronger complementarity effects (~ 25% importance) especially improving the survival of trees in the understorey of up to + 16.8% (± 1.6%) and 2. environmental and competitive filtering of trees better adapted to future climate (40–87% importance). We conclude that forests containing functionally diverse trees better resist and adapt to future conditions. In this context, we especially highlight the role of functionally diverse understorey trees as they provide the fundament for better survival of young trees and filtering of resistant tree individuals in the future.
Energy transition minerals and their intersection with land-connected peoples
Authors: Owen John R. , Kemp Deanna , Lechner Alex M. , Harris Jill , Zhang Ruilian , Lèbre Éléonore
Published: December 2022

Rapidly transitioning the global energy system to renewables is considered necessary to combat climate change. Current estimates suggest that at least 30 energy transition minerals and metals (ETMs) form the material base for the energy transition. The inventory of ETMs indicates a high level of intersectionality with territories less impacted by the historic forces of industrialization. To identify the current global footprint, 5,097 ETM projects were geo-located against indicators for indigeneity, human modification of land, food production, water risk, conflict, as well as capacity measures for project permitting, consultation and consent. Study results differentiate ETMs to improve visibility over linkages between technology, resources and sustainability objectives. Our analysis reveals that more than half of the ETM resource base is located on or near the lands of Indigenous and peasant peoples, two groups whose rights to consultation and free prior informed consent are embedded in United Nations declarations.
Gallionella and Sulfuricella populations are dominant during the transition of boreal potential to actual acid sulfate soils
Authors: Högfors-Rönnholm Eva , Lundin Daniel , Brambilla Diego , Christel Stephan , Lopez-Fernandez Margarita , Lillhonga Tom , Engblom Sten , Österholm Peter , Dopson Mark
Published: December 2022

Acid sulfate soils release metal laden, acidic waters that affect the environment, buildings, and human health. In this study, 16S rRNA gene amplicons, metagenomes, and metatranscriptomes all demonstrated distinct microbial communities and activities in the unoxidized potential acid sulfate soil, the overlying transition zone, and uppermost oxidized actual acid sulfate soil. Assembled genomes and mRNA transcripts also suggested abundant oxidized acid sulfate soil populations that aligned within the Gammaproteobacteria and Terracidiphilus. In contrast, potentially acid tolerant or moderately acidophilic iron oxidizing Gallionella and sulfur metabolizing Sulfuricella dominated the transition zone during catalysis of metal sulfide oxidation to form acid sulfate soil. Finally, anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to nitrate, sulfate, and ferric reduction were suggested to occur in the reduced parent sediments. In conclusion, despite comparable metal sulfide dissolution processes e.g., biomining, Gallionella and Sulfuricella dominated the community and activities during conversion of potential to actual acid sulfate soils.
Sexual identity of enterocytes regulates autophagy to determine intestinal health, lifespan and responses to rapamycin
Authors: Regan Jennifer C. , Lu Yu-Xuan , Ureña Enric , Meilenbrock Ralf L. , Catterson James H. , Kißler Disna , Fröhlich Jenny , Funk Emilie , Partridge Linda
Published: December 2022

Pharmacological attenuation of mTOR presents a promising route for delay of age-related disease. Here we show that treatment of Drosophila with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin extends lifespan in females, but not in males. Female-specific, age-related gut pathology is markedly slowed by rapamycin treatment, mediated by increased autophagy. Treatment increases enterocyte autophagy in females, via the H3/H4 histone-Bchs axis, whereas males show high basal levels of enterocyte autophagy that are not increased by rapamycin feeding. Enterocyte sexual identity, determined by transformerFemale expression, dictates sexually dimorphic cell size, H3/H4-Bchs expression, basal rates of autophagy, fecundity, intestinal homeostasis and lifespan extension in response to rapamycin. Dimorphism in autophagy is conserved in mice, where intestine, brown adipose tissue and muscle exhibit sex differences in autophagy and response to rapamycin. This study highlights tissue sex as a determining factor in the regulation of metabolic processes by mTOR and the efficacy of mTOR-targeted, anti-aging drug treatments.
Graphene and its derivatives: “one stone, three birds” strategy for orthopedic implant-associated infections
Authors: Huang Si , Zhong Yongjin , Fu Yu , Zheng Xiaofei , Feng Zeru , Mo Anchun
Published: December 2022

Schematic illustration of GBNs as a “one stone, three birds” strategy for preventing and treating orthopedic IAI.
Correction: DLP printing of a flexible micropattern Si/PEDOT:PSS/PEG electrode for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Ye Xinliang , Wang Chong , Wang Li , Lu Bingheng , Gao Fangliang , Shao Dan
Published: December 2022

Correction for ‘DLP printing of a flexible micropattern Si/PEDOT:PSS/PEG electrode for lithium-ion batteries’ by Xinliang Ye et al., Chem. Commun., 2022, 58, 7642–7645, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC01626E.
A high-performance terahertz absorber based on synthetic-patterned vanadium dioxide metamaterials
Authors: Xue Xiaoju , Chen Dandan , Wang Xiaogang , Wu Jun , Ying Hao , Xu Bijun
Published: December 2022

In this work, we designed a terahertz absorber based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) with tunable and ultra-broadband characteristics.
Discovering atomistic pathways for supply of metal atoms from methyl-based precursors to graphene surface
Authors: Sangiovanni Davide G. , Faccio Ricardo , Gueorguiev Gueorgui Kostov , Kakanakova-Georgieva Anelia
Published: December 2022

Schematic illustration of precursors and reaction products of simulated MOCVD of Trimethyl-Indium on graphene.
On the stability of peptide secondary structures on the TiO2(101) anatase surface: a computational insight
Authors: Pantaleone Stefano , Sodupe Mariona , Ugliengo Piero , Rimola Albert
Published: December 2022

The biological activity of proteins is partly due to their secondary structures and conformational states that may change in the presence of mineral surfaces.
Size-dependent photoinduced transparency in colloidal CdTe quantum dots in the strong confinement regime: an inverse linear relationship
Authors: Dos Santos Carlos H. D. , Ferreira Diego L. , Zucolotto Cocca Leandro H. , Mourão Rafael S. , Schiavon Marco A. , Mendonça Cleber R. , De Boni Leonardo , Vivas Marcelo G.
Published: December 2022

Photoinduced transparency connected to the ground-state bleaching of CdTe QDs in a strong confinement regime has an inverse linear relationship with the QD diameter.
Pyrene aggregation at unprecedented low concentrations in (lanthanide metal salt + urea) deep eutectic solvents
Authors: Khokhar Vaishali , Kumar Manish , Pandey Siddharth
Published: December 2022

Unprecedented intermolecular aggregation of pyrene at micromolar concentration level within neat lanthanide metal based-deep eutectic solvents.
Solid–solid chemical bonding featuring targeted defect passivation for efficient perovskite photovoltaics
Authors: Luo Chao , Zheng Guanhaojie , Wang Xianjin , Gao Feng , Zhan Changling , Gao Xingyu , Zhao Qing
Published: December 2022

A solvent-free solid-phase technique was developed for the targeted defect passivation of perovskite films, resulting in an ultra-high PCE of 25.2%.
Porous g-C3N4modified with phenanthroline diamide for efficient and ultrafast adsorption of palladium from simulated high level liquid waste
Authors: Chen Yizhi , Zhang Peng , Yang Yu , Cao Qi , Guo Qiqi , Liu Yusen , Chong Hanbao , Lin Mingzhang
Published: December 2022

The novel g-C3N4–DAPhen adsorbent was synthesized for the selective adsorption of palladium from high level liquid waste.
Improved VRC-3R− model for bulk water residual chlorine decay in the UV/Cl2 process for a water distribution network
Authors: Wang Haipei , Wang Bing , Peng Yi , Crittenden John C. , Pan Haifeng , Wang Lixin
Published: December 2022

We establish an advanced oxidation process kinetic model to account for reaction between free radicals and organic matter on the residual chlorine decay process in UV disinfection.
Membrane degassing with the combination of sweep gas and vacuum pressure for ammonia removal
Authors: Yoon Hongsik , Lee Jiho , Lee Gunhee , Shin Wanho , Min Taijin
Published: December 2022

Schematics of hybrid type membrane degassing process for ammonia removal.
Correction: Clinical correlation between serum cytokines and the susceptibility to Polygonum multiflorum-induced liver injury and an experimental study
Authors: Zhang Le , Niu Ming , Wei Ai-wu , Tang Jin-fa , Li Peng-yan , Song Di , Bai Zhao-fang , Liu You-ping , Xiao Xiao-he , Wang Jia-bo
Published: December 2022

Correction for ‘Clinical correlation between serum cytokines and the susceptibility to Polygonum multiflorum-induced liver injury and an experimental study’ by Le Zhang et al., Food Funct., 2022, 13, 825–833, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1FO03489H.
Exploring how exposure to radiolysis and harsh chemical reagents impact americium-241 extraction chromatography
Authors: Arko Brian T. , Dan David , Adelman Sara , Kimball David B. , Kozimor Stosh A. , Martinez Marki M. , Mastren Tara , Huber Daniel L. , Mocko Veronika , Rim Jung , Shafer Jenifer C. , Stein Benjamin W. , Wylie E. Miller
Published: December 2022

Improving control over radiolysis would advance nuclear technologies, spanning from radiotherapeutics to national security. Herein, we studied the effects of radiolysis on large-scale production of Am-241.
Copper(i) iodide organic–inorganic hybrid luminescent inks for anti-counterfeiting application
Authors: Tong Hua , Zhou Zhennan , Lv Yi , Li Haibo , Liu Wei , Ouyang Gangfeng
Published: December 2022

Copper(i) iodide incorporated organic–inorganic hybrid coating materials represent as a new type of solvent-free anti-counterfeiting inks.
Introduction to the themed collection on fragment-based drug discovery
Authors: Rees David C. , Hirsch Anna K. H. , Erlanson Daniel A.
Published: December 2022

Guest editors David Rees, Anna Hirsch and Daniel Erlanson introduce the RSC Medicinal Chemistry themed collection on fragment-based drug discovery.
Near-infrared photothermal therapy of chiral Au helicoids with broadband optical absorption
Authors: Weng Yulong , Wang Qian , Zhang Cong , He Yulu , Ran Xia , Kuang Yanmin , Liu Renming , Guo Lijun
Published: December 2022

Chiral Au helicoids have broadband optical absorption and a high anisotropy factor from 550 nm to 1100 nm and have a chirality dependent PTT inactivation effect on HeLa cells under NIR CPL.
Design of a Zr-based metal–organic framework as an efficient fosfomycin carrier: a combined experimental and DFT study
Authors: Topuz Berna , Kayı Hakan , Şahin Toygun , Ersoy Feriha Şevval , Günyaktı Ayşe , Karakeçili Ayşe
Published: December 2022

Drug modulated-synthesis and post-synthesis were applied to incorporate fosfomycin to UiO-66. DFT calculations indicated strong interactions between fosfomycin and UiO-66.
Mechano-catalysis boosts glycolaldehyde conversion to tetroses over a new Zn-COF catalyst
Authors: Yang Junxia , Fang Xu , Ren Guoqing , Yu Tie
Published: December 2022

This work reports a new Zn-COF with a three-dimension framework, which presents superior ability toward glycolaldehyde conversion to tetroses under mechano-catalysis conditions.