bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantifying Seasonal‐to‐Interannual‐Scale Storm Impacts on Morphology Along a Cuspate Coast With a Hybrid Empirical Orthogonal Function Approach
Authors: Conlin Matthew P. , Adams Peter N. , Jaeger John M. , MacKenzie Richard
Published: October 2020

The direct impacts of storms on beaches have been well studied; less well understood are the controls of storms on their seasonal‐interannual evolution. We apply a novel empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis to a 5‐year data set of monthly subaerial beach topography at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, to extract dominant spatiotemporal topographic patterns. Our hybrid surface EOF (SEOF) approach applies 1‐D EOF techniques to a data set varying in two dimensions, thereby extracting topographic patterns in the longshore and cross‐shore simultaneously while preserving the analytical simplicity of 1‐D approaches. These topographic patterns are then linked to observations of storm impacts. Our approach comprehensively illustrates that storms influenced local topographic evolution over event‐to‐interannual‐timescales. The first mode of topographic variability captures an interannual‐scale change in behavior triggered by the impact of Hurricane Sandy (2012), whereby a cape feature began and sustained rapid aggradation following the event. This pattern is likely linked to storm‐response processes and pre‐existing morphodynamic feedbacks, illustrating that storm response can dictate poststorm recovery processes. This pattern overwhelmed a spatially uniform, seasonal topographic signal, which we attribute to seasonal variability in water level and storminess forcings. The third mode shows links to local framework geology and suggests that some storms can create and/or destroy subaerial berms at this site, where spatial variability of berm existence in discrete longshore compartments can remain stable until a future event. Our results illustrate mechanisms by which storms can create persistent topographic imprints that remain visible for months‐years following events, potentially influencing response to future storms.
Dynamics of Marsh‐Derived Sediments in Lagoon‐Type Estuaries
Authors: Donatelli Carmine , Kalra Tarandeep Singh , Fagherazzi Sergio , Zhang Xiaohe , Leonardi Nicoletta
Published: October 2020

Salt marshes are valuable ecosystems that must trap sediments and accrete in order to counteract the deleterious effect of sea level rise. Previous studies have shown that the capacity of marshes to build up vertically depends on both autogenous and exogenous processes including ecogeomorphic feedbacks and sediment supply from in‐land and coastal ocean. There have been numerous efforts to quantify the role played by the sediments coming from marsh edge erosion on the resistance of salt marshes to sea level rise. However, the majority of existing studies investigating the interplay between lateral and vertical dynamics use simplified modeling approaches, and they do not consider that marsh retreat can affect the regional‐scale hydrodynamics and sediment retention in back‐barrier basins. In this study, we evaluated the fate of the sediments originating from marsh lateral loss by using high‐resolution numerical model simulations of Jamaica Bay, a small lagoonal estuary located in New York City. Our findings show that up to 42% of the sediment released during marsh edge erosion deposits on the shallow areas of the basin and over the vegetated marsh platforms, contributing positively to the sediment budget of the remaining salt marshes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that with the present‐day sediment supply from the ocean, the system cannot keep pace with sea level rise even accounting for the sediment liberated in the bay through marsh degradation. Our study highlights the relevance of multiple sediment sources for the maintenance of the marsh complex.
Human cerebral organoids establish subcortical projections in the mouse brain after transplantation
Authors: Dong Xin , Xu Shi-Bo , Chen Xin , Tao Mengdan , Tang Xiao-Yan , Fang Kai-Heng , Xu Min , Pan Yufeng , Chen Yuejun , He Shuijin , Liu Yan
Published: October 2020

Numerous studies have used human pluripotent stem cell-derived cerebral organoids to elucidate the mystery of human brain development and model neurological diseases in vitro, but the potential for grafted organoid-based therapy in vivo remains unknown. Here, we optimized a culturing protocol capable of efficiently generating small human cerebral organoids. After transplantation into the mouse medial prefrontal cortex, the grafted human cerebral organoids survived and extended projections over 4.5 mm in length to basal brain regions within 1 month. The transplanted cerebral organoids generated human glutamatergic neurons that acquired electrophysiological maturity in the mouse brain. Importantly, the grafted human cerebral organoids functionally integrated into pre-existing neural circuits by forming bidirectional synaptic connections with the mouse host neurons. Furthermore, compared to control mice, the mice transplanted with cerebral organoids showed an increase in freezing time in response to auditory conditioned stimuli, suggesting the potentiation of the startle fear response. Our study showed that subcortical projections can be established by microtransplantation and may provide crucial insights into the therapeutic potential of human cerebral organoids for neurological diseases.
Integrated phosphoproteomic and metabolomic profiling reveals perturbed pathways in the hippocampus of gut microbiota dysbiosis mice
Authors: Wang Haiyang , Liu Lanxiang , Rao Xuechen , Zeng Benhua , Yu Ying , Zhou Chanjuan , Zeng Li , Zheng Peng , Pu Juncai , Xu Shaohua , Cheng Ke , Zhang Hanping , Ji Ping , Wei Hong , Xie Peng
Published: October 2020

The dysbiosis of gut microbiota is an important environmental factor that can induce mental disorders, such as depression, through the microbiota–gut–brain axis. However, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are complex and not completely understood. Here we utilized mass spectrometry to identify the global phosphorylation dynamics in hippocampus tissue in germ-free mice and specific pathogen-free mice (GF vs SPF), fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) model (“depression microbiota” and the “healthy microbiota” recipient mice). As a result, 327 phosphosites of 237 proteins in GF vs SPF, and 478 phosphosites of 334 proteins in “depression microbiota” vs “healthy microbiota” recipient mice were identified as significant. These phosphorylation dysregulations were consistently associated with glutamatergic neurotransmitter system disturbances. The FMT mice exhibited disturbances in lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism in both the periphery and brain through integrating phosphoproteomic and metabolomic analysis. Moreover, CAMKII-CREB signaling pathway, in response to these disturbances, was the primary common perturbed cellular process. In addition, we demonstrated that the spliceosome, never directly implicated in mental disorders previously, was a substantially neuronal function disrupted by gut microbiota dysbiosis, and the NCBP1 phosphorylation was identified as a novel pathogenic target. These results present a new perspective to study the pathologic mechanisms of gut microbiota dysbiosis related depression and highlight potential gut-mediated therapies for depression.
Synergistic tumor inhibition of colon cancer cells by nitazoxanide and obeticholic acid, a farnesoid X receptor ligand
Authors: Yu Junhui , Yang Kui , Zheng Jianbao , Zhao Wei , Sun Xuejun
Published: October 2020

The tumor-suppressive role of Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in colorectal tumorigenesis supports restoring FXR expression as a novel therapeutic strategy. However, the complicated signaling network and tumor heterogeneity hinder the effectiveness of FXR agonists in the clinical setting. These difficulties highlight the importance of identifying drug combinations with potency and specificity to enhance the antitumor effects of FXR agonists. In this study, we found that the β-catenin level affected the antitumor effects of the FXR agonist OCA on colon cancer cells. Mechanistic studies identified a novel FXR/β-catenin complex in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, the depletion of β-catenin expedited FXR nuclear localization and enhanced its occupancy of the SHP promoter and thereby sensitized colon cancer cells to OCA. Furthermore, we utilized a drug combination study and identified that the antiparasitic drug nitazoxanide (NTZ) abrogated β-catenin expression and acted synergistically with OCA in colon cancer cells. The combination of OCA plus NTZ exerts synergistic tumor inhibition in CRC both in vitro and in vivo by cooperatively upregulating SHP expression. In conclusion, our study offers useful evidence for the clinical use of FXR agonists combined with β-catenin inhibitors in combating CRC.
NLRP3-dependent microglial training impaired the clearance of amyloid-beta and aggravated the cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: He Xiao-fei , Xu Jing-hui , Li Ge , Li Ming-yue , Li Li-li , Pei Zhong , Zhang Li-ying , Hu Xi-quan
Published: October 2020

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is marked by progressive cognitive decline, deposition of misfolded amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Recently, microglial training has emerged as an important contributor to neurological diseases, which augments the subsequent inflammation. However, how it affects the pathology of AD remains unknown. Here, using a mouse model of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (SAD) induced by streptozotocin injection, we demonstrated that microglial training exacerbated Aβ accumulation, neuronal loss, and cognitive impairment. In addition, we injected MCC950 to inhibit NLRP3 activation and used an inducible Cre recombinase to delete the NLRP3 gene in microglia. Inhibition or depletion of microglial NLRP3 could protect against the pathologies of SAD and abolish the effects of microglial training. Our results identified microglial training as an important modifier of neuropathology in SAD and demonstrated that activation of NLRP3 inflammasome contributed to the pathologies and microglial training in SAD. Therefore, NLRP3 could be a potential therapeutic target for SAD treatment.
Impact of varied combinatorial mixture of non-fishmeal ingredients on growth, metabolism, immunity and gut microbiota of Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) fry
Authors: Gupta Sanjay K. , Fotedar Ravi , Foysal Md. Javed , Priyam Manisha , Siddik Muhammad A. B. , Chaklader Md. Reaz , Dao Thi Thanh Thuy , Howieson Janet
Published: October 2020

The search for suitable fish meal replacements in aqua-diets is a salient agenda in the constant effort of making aquaculture practices more sustainable. In this study, we tested four customised diets composed by systematic inclusion of pre-selected fish meal substitutes, lupin kernel meal, BSF meal, TH and PBM on growth, metabolism, cytokine profile, gut morphology and microbiota of juvenile Lates calcarifer. Five isoproteic and isoenergetic diets were prepared viz. FM100 as a control (without fish meal substitute), while FM75, FM50, FM25 and FM0 indicates replacement of fish meal (FM) at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, respectively by a mixture of four different pre-selected non-fish meal (NFM) ingredients. Fish fed FM100, FM75, FM50, FM25 exhibited consistent growth and haematological response, while the fish fed no fishmeal (FM0) showed significant decline in final body weight (FBW) and specific growth rate (SGR). The poor growth performance was correlated with a decrease in villous width, microvilli height and goblet cells density. A significant shift in abundance profile of Psychrobacter in the gut microbial profile of fish fed FM50 was noticed compared to fish fed FM100. The results of qRT-PCR showed up-regulated expression of innate immune responsive genes in the FM50 group. The adverse impacts on growth performance and gut health of fish fed FM0 suggest that the complete substitution of fishmeal is not advisable and the inclusion range of these alternatives should be decided for a species only after examining their effect on maximal physiological performance.
Publisher Correction: Dysregulation of ghrelin in diabetes impairs the vascular reparative response to hindlimb ischemia in a mouse model; clinical relevance to peripheral artery disease
Authors: Neale Joshua P. H. , Pearson James T. , Thomas Kate N. , Tsuchimochi Hirotsugu , Hosoda Hiroshi , Kojima Masayasu , Sato Takahiro , Jones Gregory T. , Denny Adam P. , Daniels Lorna J. , Chandrasekera Dhananjie , Liu Ping , van Rij Andre M. , Katare Rajesh , Schwenke Daryl O.
Published: October 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Survival prediction of patients with sepsis from age, sex, and septic episode number alone
Authors: Chicco Davide , Jurman Giuseppe
Published: October 2020

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by an exaggerated reaction of the body to an infection, that leads to organ failure or even death. Since sepsis can kill a patient even in just one hour, survival prediction is an urgent priority among the medical community: even if laboratory tests and hospital analyses can provide insightful information about the patient, in fact, they might not come in time to allow medical doctors to recognize an immediate death risk and treat it properly. In this context, machine learning can be useful to predict survival of patients within minutes, especially when applied to few medical features easily retrievable. In this study, we show that it is possible to achieve this goal by applying computational intelligence algorithms to three features of patients with sepsis, recorded at hospital admission: sex, age, and septic episode number. We applied several data mining methods to a cohort of 110,204 admissions of patients, and obtained high prediction scores both on this complete dataset (top precision-recall area under the curve PR AUC = 0.966) and on its subset related to the recent Sepsis-3 definition (top PR AUC = 0.860). Additionally, we tested our models on an external validation cohort of 137 patients, and achieved good results in this case too (top PR AUC = 0.863), confirming the generalizability of our approach. Our results can have a huge impact on clinical settings, allowing physicians to forecast the survival of patients by sex, age, and septic episode number alone.
Low frequency oscillations assessed by diffuse speckle contrast analysis for foot angiosome concept
Authors: Yeo Chaebeom , Jung Hanbeen , Lee Kijoon , Song Cheol
Published: October 2020

An angiosome refers to a 3D tissue volume that is vascularized by a single artery and is a relatively new concept that is useful in vascular surgery; however, the direct relationship between arterial blood flow and micro-perfusion is still controversial. Here, we propose a diffuse speckle contrast analysis (DSCA), which is an emerging tissue perfusion monitoring modality, to investigate the correlations among low frequency oscillations (LFOs) measured from different areas on the feet of healthy subjects. We obtained reproducible results from the correlation analyses of LFOs, and their physiological implications were discussed. In order to confirm the changes in the frequency oscillations, we analyzed and compared the power spectral density changes due to heart rate variability in the electrocardiographic signal during reactive hyperemia and head-up tilt protocols.
Exploration into biomarker potential of region-specific brain gene co-expression networks
Authors: Hang Yuqing , Aburidi Mohammed , Husain Benafsh , Hickman Allison R. , Poehlman William L. , Feltus F. Alex
Published: October 2020

The human brain is a complex organ that consists of several regions each with a unique gene expression pattern. Our intent in this study was to construct a gene co-expression network (GCN) for the normal brain using RNA expression profiles from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project. The brain GCN contains gene correlation relationships that are broadly present in the brain or specific to thirteen brain regions, which we later combined into six overarching brain mini-GCNs based on the brain’s structure. Using the expression profiles of brain region-specific GCN edges, we determined how well the brain region samples could be discriminated from each other, visually with t-SNE plots or quantitatively with the Gene Oracle deep learning classifier. Next, we tested these gene sets on their relevance to human tumors of brain and non-brain origin. Interestingly, we found that genes in the six brain mini-GCNs showed markedly higher mutation rates in tumors relative to matched sets of random genes. Further, we found that cortex genes subdivided Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSC) tumors and Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma (PCPG) tumors into distinct groups. The brain GCN and mini-GCNs are useful resources for the classification of brain regions and identification of biomarker genes for brain related phenotypes.
Circulating antibodies against age-modified proteins in patients with coronary atherosclerosis
Authors: Korça Edina , Piskovatska Veronika , Börgermann Jochen , Navarrete Santos Alexander , Simm Andreas
Published: October 2020

Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) are formed in a series of non-enzymatic reactions between reducing sugars and the amino groups of proteins and accumulate during aging, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease and other chronic diseases. Accumulation of AGE-modifications alters protein structure and function, transforming these molecules into potential targets of the immune system, presumably triggering the production of autoantibodies against AGEs. In this study, we detected autoantibodies against AGE-modified proteins with ELISA in plasma samples of 91 patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD), who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Patients with high levels of autoantibodies had a higher body mass index (BMI 28.6 vs 27.1 kg/m2; p = 0.046), were more likely to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD 30% vs 9.8%; p = 0.018), and more likely to need dialysis after the surgery (10% vs 0%; p = 0.037). Our findings show a weak link between the levels of autoantibodies against AGEs and diabetes mellitus (DM 44% vs 24.4%; p = 0.05). In a small subpopulation of patients, antibodies against native bovine serum albumin (BSA) were detected. A growing body of research explores the potential role of antibodies against AGE-modified proteins in pathogenesis of different chronic diseases; our data confirms the presence of AGE-autoantibodies in patients with CAD and that in parallel to the AGEs themselves, they may have a potential role in concomitant clinical conditions in patients undergoing CABG surgery. Further research is necessary to verify the molecular role of these antibodies in different pathological conditions.
Healthcare resources attributable to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus orthopedic surgical site infections
Authors: Fukuda Haruhisa , Sato Daisuke , Iwamoto Tetsuya , Yamada Koji , Matsushita Kazuhiko
Published: October 2020

The number of orthopedic surgeries is increasing as populations steadily age, but surgical site infection (SSI) rates remain relatively consistent. This study aimed to quantify the healthcare resources attributable to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) SSIs in orthopedic surgical patients. The analysis was conducted using a national claims database comprising data from almost all Japanese residents. We examined patients who underwent any of the following surgeries between April 2012 and March 2018: amputation (AMP), spinal fusion (FUSN), open reduction of fracture (FX), hip prosthesis (HPRO), knee prosthesis (KPRO), and laminectomy (LAM). Propensity score matching was performed to identify non-SSI control patients, and generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the differences in outcomes between the case and control groups. The numbers of MRSA SSI cases (infection rates) ranged from 64 (0.03%) to 1,152 (2.33%). MRSA SSI-attributable increases in healthcare expenditure ranged from $11,630 ($21,151 vs. $9,521) for LAM to $35,693 ($50,122 vs. $14,429) for FX, and increases in hospital stay ranged from 40.6 days (59.2 vs. 18.6) for LAM to 89.5 days (122.0 vs. 32.5) for FX. In conclusion, MRSA SSIs contribute to substantial increases in healthcare resource utilization, emphasizing the need to implement effective infection prevention measures for orthopedic surgeries.
Family history of diabetes is associated with diabetic foot complications in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Xiong Xiao-fen , Wei Ling , Xiao Ying , Han Ya-Chun , Yang Jinfei , Zhao Hao , Yang Ming , Sun Lin
Published: October 2020

To investigate the relationship between diabetic foot complications (DFCs) and clinical characteristics, especially the number and types of first-degree family members with diabetes. A total of 8909 type 2 diabetes patients were enrolled. The clinical characteristics of these patients, including DFCs and family history of diabetes (FHD), were collected from medical records. Multiple regression was used to investigate the association between FHD and DFCs after adjusting for confounding factors. The patients with one and more than one first-degree family member with diabetes accounted for 18.7% and 12.8%, respectively. The proportions of the participants with a father with diabetes, a mother with diabetes, both parents with diabetes, siblings with diabetes, father and siblings with diabetes, mother and siblings with diabetes, and both parents and siblings with diabetes were 3.5%, 6.2%, 1.1%, 14.4%, 1.5%, 4%, and 0.7%, respectively. The multiple regression analysis showed that the number of family members with diabetes was positively associated with DFCs. However, among the different types of FHD, only the patients with a mother with diabetes showed a statistical association with DFCs. In addition to FHD, other factors, including gender, body mass index, platelet count, hemoglobin levels, albumin levels, high-density cholesterol levels, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and the use of lipid-lowering agents, oral hypoglycemic agents, and insulin, were also associated with DFCs. DFCs were associated with different numbers of family members with diabetes and types of FHD. This association reveals the importance of genetic and environmental factors in DFCs and highlights the importance of adding FHD to public health strategies targeting detecting and preventing the disease.
EEG microstates of dreams
Authors: Bréchet Lucie , Brunet Denis , Perogamvros Lampros , Tononi Giulio , Michel Christoph M.
Published: October 2020

Why do people sometimes report that they remember dreams, while at other times they recall no experience? Despite the interest in dreams that may happen during the night, it has remained unclear which brain states determine whether these conscious experiences will occur and what prevents us from waking up during these episodes. Here we address this issue by comparing the EEG activity preceding awakenings with recalled vs. no recall of dreams using the EEG microstate approach. This approach characterizes transiently stable brain states of sub-second duration that involve neural networks with nearly synchronous dynamics. We found that two microstates (3 and 4) dominated during NREM sleep compared to resting wake. Further, within NREM sleep, microstate 3 was more expressed during periods followed by dream recall, whereas microstate 4 was less expressed. Source localization showed that microstate 3 encompassed the medial frontal lobe, whereas microstate 4 involved the occipital cortex, as well as thalamic and brainstem structures. Since NREM sleep is characterized by low-frequency synchronization, indicative of neuronal bistability, we interpret the increased presence of the “frontal” microstate 3 as a sign of deeper local deactivation, and the reduced presence of the “occipital” microstate 4 as a sign of local activation. The latter may account for the occurrence of dreaming with rich perceptual content, while the former may account for why the dreaming brain may undergo executive disconnection and remain asleep. This study demonstrates that NREM sleep consists of alternating brain states whose temporal dynamics determine whether conscious experience arises.
Concomitant singularities of Yb-valence and magnetism at a critical lattice parameter of icosahedral quasicrystals and approximants
Authors: Imura Keiichiro , Yamaoka Hitoshi , Yokota Shinjirou , Sakamoto Kazushi , Yamamoto Yoshiya , Kawai Takuma , Namba Keisuke , Hirokawa Shinnosuke , Deguchi Kazuhiko , Hiraoka Nozomu , Ishii Hirofumi , Mizuki Jun’ichiro , Ishimasa Tsutomu , Sato Noriaki K.
Published: October 2020

Non-Fermi-liquid (NFL), a significant deviation from Fermi-liquid theory, usually emerges near an order-disorder phase transition at absolute zero. Recently, a diverging susceptibility toward zero temperature was observed in a quasicrystal (QC). Since an electronic long-range ordering is normally absent in QCs, this anomalous behaviour should be a new type of NFL. Here we study high-resolution partial-fluorescence-yield x-ray absorption spectroscopy on Yb-based intermediate-valence icosahedral QCs and cubic approximant crystals (ACs), some of which are new materials, to unveil the mechanism of the NFL. We find that for both forms of QCs and ACs, there is a critical lattice parameter where Yb-valence and magnetism concomitantly exhibit singularities, suggesting a critical-valence-fluctuation-induced NFL. The present result provides an intriguing structure–property relationship of matter; size of a Tsai-type cluster (that is a common local structure to both forms) tunes the NFL whereas translational symmetry (that is present in ACs but absent in QCs) determines the nature of the NFL against the external/chemical pressure.
Dystrophin Dp71ab is monoclonally expressed in human satellite cells and enhances proliferation of myoblast cells
Authors: Farea Manal , Rani Abdul Qawee Mahyoob , Maeta Kazuhiro , Nishio Hisahide , Matsuo Masafumi
Published: October 2020

Dystrophin Dp71 is the smallest isoform of the DMD gene, mutations in which cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Dp71 has also been shown to have roles in various cellular processes. Stem cell-based therapy may be effective in treating DMD, but the inability to generate a sufficient number of stem cells remains a significant obstacle. Although Dp71 is comprised of many variants, Dp71 in satellite cells has not yet been studied. Here, the full-length Dp71 consisting of 18 exons from exons G1 to 79 was amplified by reverse transcription-PCR from total RNA of human satellite cells. The amplified product showed deletion of both exons 71 and 78 in all sequenced clones, indicating monoclonal expression of Dp71ab. Western blotting of the satellite cell lysate showed a band corresponding to over-expressed Dp71ab. Transfection of a plasmid expressing Dp71ab into human myoblasts significantly enhanced cell proliferation when compared to the cells transfected with the mock plasmid. However, transfection of the Dp71 expression plasmid encoding all 18 exons did not enhance myoblast proliferation. These findings indicated that Dp71ab, but not Dp71, is a molecular enhancer of myoblast proliferation and that transfection with Dp71ab may generate a high yield of stem cells for DMD treatment.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in the Han Chinese population: molecular characterization and genotype–phenotype association throughout an activity distribution
Authors: He Ying , Zhang Yinhui , Chen Xionghao , Wang Qiong , Ling Lifen , Xu Yuhong
Published: October 2020

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common hereditary disorder in China. The existing prevalence and molecular epidemiology of G6PD deficiency in China were geographically limited. In this study, the spectrum of G6PD gene mutations was well characterized in a large and diverse population all over the country; and the correlation of genotype and enzyme activity phenotype was explored for the first time. The results showed that the overall prevalence of G6PD deficiency in China was 2.10% at the national level. The top six common mutations were c.1388 G>A, c.1376 G>T, c.95 A>G, c.392 G>T, c.871 G>A and c.1024 C>T, accounting for more than 90% of G6PD deficient alleles. Compound mutation patterns were frequently observed in females with severe deficiency. The distribution of G6PD activities depended on the type of mutation patterns and genders. Hemizygote, homozygote, and compound heterozygote were predominantly associated with severe G6PD deficiency, whereas heterozygotes with single mutation mainly presented moderate enzyme deficiency. A significant gap between G6PD activities in hemizygous and normal males was observed, and yet, the overall distribution of that in females carrying missense mutations was a continuum from G6PD severely deficient to normal. This is the first report of discussing the association between G6PD genetic variants in the Chinese and enzyme activity phenotypes.
Dielectric tetrahedrons as terahertz resonators switched from perfect absorber to reflector
Authors: Chen Haosheng , Zhou Chenchen , Li Yongjian , Liang Shuaishuai , Li Jiang
Published: October 2020

Tetrahedrons are basic building blocks in natural and artificial materials, while the terahertz response of micro tetrahedrons has been little explored. Here we fabricate subwavelength ceramic tetrahedrons for use in the terahertz frequency range, and find that the three-dimensional geometry significantly affects their terahertz properties. The transmission spectra are independent of the orientation of the tetrahedrons, while the first magnetic resonance disappears in the reflection spectra when an upright tetrahedron is flipped upside down on the metallic substrate, which changes it from a perfect absorber to a perfect reflector. This is attributed to the destructive interference between two magnetic dipoles induced respectively by the incident and the reflected wave. The study brings new insights in the materials design with 3D building blocks to realize more interesting and exotic terahertz properties.
eQTL mapping of the 12S globulin cruciferin gene PGCRURSE5 as a novel candidate associated with starch content in potato tubers
Authors: Sołtys-Kalina Dorota , Szajko Katarzyna , Stefańczyk Emil , Smyda-Dajmund Paulina , Śliwka Jadwiga , Marczewski Waldemar
Published: October 2020

Tuber starch content (TSC) is a very important trait in potato(Solanum tuberosumL.). This study is the first to use expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) mapping of transcript-derived markers for TSC in potato. Thirty-four differentially expressed genes were selected by comparing the RNA-seq data of contrasting bulked segregants. For the 11 candidate genes, we determined their relative expression levels across the segregating diploid potato population using RT-qPCR. We detected 36 eQTL as candidate genes distributed on all twelve potato chromosomes, and nine of them overlapped with QTL for TSC. Peaks for two eQTL, eAGPaseS-a and ePGRCRURSE5, were close to the corresponding loci of the large subunit of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPaseS-a) and the 12S globulin cruciferin gene (PGCRURSE5), respectively. The eQTL peaks forAGPaseS-aandPGRCRURSE5explained 41.0 and 28.3% of the phenotypic variation at the transcript level. We showed the association of the DNA markers forAGPaseS-aandPGRCRURSE5with QTL for TSC, and significant correlation between the expression level ofPGRCRURSE5and TSC. We did not observe a significant correlation between the expression level ofAGPaseS-aand TSC. We concluded that the cruciferin genePGRCRURSE5is a novel candidate involved in the regulation of starch content in potato tubers.
MHC/class-II-positive cells inhibit corticosterone of adrenal gland cells in experimental arthritis: a role for IL-1β, IL-18, and the inflammasome
Authors: Stangl Hubert , Krammetsvogl Anita , Lesiak Martin , Wolff Christine , Straub Rainer H.
Published: October 2020

In experimental arthritis, glucocorticoid secretion is inadequate relative to inflammation. We hypothesized that IL-1 is a key factor for inadequate glucocorticoid secretion in arthritic rats. Collagen type II—induced arthritis (CIA) in DA rats was the model to study effects of IL-1 on adrenal function. In the CIA model, an increase of intraadrenal MHCII-positive cells was observed. MHCII-positive cells or bone marrow-derived dendritic cells inhibited glucocorticoid secretion of adrenal gland cells. IL-1, but also IL-18 and the inflammasome were critical in glucocorticoid inhibition. Arthritic compared to control adrenal gland cells produced higher amounts of CXC chemokines from MHCII+ adrenal cells, particularly CINC-2, which is strongly dependent on presence of IL-1. In CIA, macrophages and/or dendritic cells inhibit glucocorticoid secretion via IL-1 in adrenal glands. These findings show that activated macrophages and/or dendritic cells inhibit glucocorticoid secretion in experimental arthritis and that IL-1β is a decisive factor.
Author Correction: Long-term field comparison of multiple low-cost particulate matter sensors in an outdoor urban environment
Authors: Bulot Florentin M. J. , Johnston Steven J. , Basford Philip J. , Easton Natasha H. C. , Apetroaie-Cristea Mihaela , Foster Gavin L. , Morris Andrew K. R. , Cox Simon J. , Loxham Matthew
Published: October 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Lack of tocilizumab effect on mortality in COVID19 patients
Authors: Holt Gregory E. , Batra Mayank , Murthi Mukunthan , Kambali Shweta , Santos Kayo , Bastidas Maria Virginia Perez , Asif Huda , Haddadi Sara , Arias Sixto , Mirsaeidi Mehdi
Published: October 2020

Off-label tocilizumab use in COVID-19 patients reflects concern for cytokine release syndrome. Comparison of matched COVID-19 pneumonia patients found elevated IL-6 levels correlated with mortality that did not change with tocilizumab administration. Correlating mortality with increased IL-6 doesn’t imply causality however lack of improvement by tocilizumab requires further clinical trial alterations.
Ultra stable, inkjet-printed pseudo reference electrodes for lab-on-chip integrated electrochemical biosensors
Authors: Papamatthaiou Sotirios , Zupancic Uros , Kalha Curran , Regoutz Anna , Estrela Pedro , Moschou Despina
Published: October 2020

Lab-on-Chip technology comprises one of the most promising technologies enabling the widespread adoption of Point-of-Care testing in routine clinical practice. However, until now advances in Lab-on-Chip have not been translated to the anticipated degree to commercialized tools, with integrated device mass manufacturing cost still not at a competitive level for several key clinical applications. Lab-on-PCB is currently considered as a candidate technology addressing this issue, owing to its intuitive compatibility with electronics, seamless integration of electrochemical biosensors and the extensive experience regarding industrial manufacturing processes. Inkjet-printing in particular is a compatible fabrication method, widening the range of electronic materials available and thus enabling seamlessly integrated ultrasensitive electronic detection. To this end, in this work stable pseudo-reference electrodes are fabricated for the first time by means of commercial inkjet-printing on a PCB-integrated electrochemical biosensing platform. SEM and XPS analysis are employed to characterize the electrodes’ structure and composition and identify any special characteristics, compared to published work on alternative substrates. Additionally, this paper analyzes integrated reference electrodes from a new perspective, focusing mainly on their characteristics in real-life operation: chemical sintering as opposed to high budget thermal one, stability under continuous flow, pH dependency and bias stress effects on electrode instability, a parameter often overlooked in electrochemical biosensors.
An LC-MS/MS analysis of opiate residues on Thomas Chatterton's (1752–1770) memorandum book – Did he die from a laudanum overdose?
Authors: Gates Paul J. , Doble Michael L.
Published: October 2020

250 years after his death, Thomas Chatterton continues to enchant and create discussion. Did he commit suicide, or did he accidentally overdose on Laudanum? UPLC-MS/MS is used to try to solve the mystery of his untimely death.
Time-gated fluorescence signalling under dissipative conditions
Authors: Cardona Maria A. , Chen Rui , Maiti Subhabrata , Fortunati Ilaria , Ferrante Camilla , Gabrielli Luca , Das Krishnendu , Prins Leonard J.
Published: October 2020

A lag time between addition of a trigger and the emergence of a fluorescence signal is observed in an ATP-fueled self-assembly process under dissipative conditions.
Hydrophobic domain flexibility enables morphology control of amphiphilic systems in aqueous media
Authors: Helmers Ingo , Bäumer Nils , Fernández Gustavo
Published: October 2020

In this work, we unravel the impact of hydrophobic domain flexibility on the self-assembly pathways and aggregate morphology of amphiphilic systems in aqueous media.
Thermal expansion and dimensionality of a hydrogen bond network: a case study on dimorphic oxalic acid
Authors: Bhattacharya Suman
Published: October 2020

Between 156 K–298 K the  oxalic acid polymorphs, α-C2 and β-C2 exhibit comparable volumetric thermal expansions which are correlated to the respective crystal packing and intermolecular interactions in the two forms.
Iron and oxygen vacancies at the hematite surface: pristine case and with a chlorine adatom
Authors: da Silva Alvim Raphael , Ribeiro Fabio Negreiros , Dalpian Gustavo Martini
Published: October 2020

Charged Fe vacancies should be more frequent and active than the O vacancies mainly in presence of adsorbed chlorine impurity and in operating conditions (wet hematite surface).
Unusual magnetotransport properties in graphene fibers
Authors: Sagar Rizwan Ur Rehman , Lifang Chen , Ali Ayaz , Khan Muhammad Farooq , Abbas Mudassar , Malik Muhamad Imran , Khan Karim , Zeng Jinming , Anwar Tauseef , Liang Tongxiang
Published: October 2020

Herein, magnetotransport properties of graphene fibers (GrFib) are investigated in detail and compared with other morphologies of graphene such as 2D-graphene and 3D-graphene foam.
NiO supported on Y2Ti2O7pyrochlore for CO2reforming of CH4: insight into the monolayer dispersion threshold effect on coking resistance
Authors: Xia Lianghui , Yang Menghe , Li Shuobin , Zhuo Yan , Fang Xiuzhong , Xu Xianglan , Xu Junwei , Gao Zhixian , Wang Xiang
Published: October 2020

An evident monolayer dispersion threshold effect on coking resistance is observed for NiO/Y2Ti2O7catalysts in DRM reaction. A catalyst with the best activity and anti-coking ability can be fabricated at the monolayer dispersion capacity.
Mimicking bone–metal exchanges with synthetic nanocrystalline apatites
Authors: Wang Jingxian , Bourgeois Damien , Meyer Daniel
Published: October 2020

A chemical system accounting for metallic cation exchange between blood plasma and bone mineral has been developed. After a first step ensuring Ca and P equilibria, the model has been employed to characterize U(vi) interaction with bone mineral.
The effect of precursor structure on porous carbons produced by iron-catalyzed graphitization of biomass
Authors: Hunter Robert D. , Rowlandson Jemma L. , Smales Glen J. , Pauw Brian R. , Ting Valeska P. , Kulak Alexander , Schnepp Zoe
Published: October 2020

Glucose, starch and cellulose produce porous graphitic carbons with distinctly different properties due to different rates of catalyst formation.
Preparation and properties of a microfibrillated cellulose reinforced pectin/fenugreek gum biocomposite
Authors: Jayaprada M. , Umapathy M. J.
Published: October 2020

A pectin/fenugreek gum biocomposite was reinforced with MFC, and infused with plant extracts to produce a sustainable food packaging film.
Electrochemically grown MnO2nanowires for supercapacitor and electrocatalysis applications
Authors: Raut Siddheshwar D. , Mane Hrishikesh R. , Shinde Nanasaheb M. , Lee Damin , Shaikh Shoyebmohamad F. , Kim Kwang Ho , Kim Hee-Je , Al-Enizi Abdullah M. , Mane Rajaram S.
Published: October 2020

In this study, MnO2nanowires are electrochemically grown over a 3D nickel foam (NF) substrate using cyclicvoltammetry at 27 °C; furthermore, their potential for applications in supercapacitors and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is highlighted.
Yttrium and lanthanide (Ln = La and Gd) complexes with cucurbit[10]uril: crystals transforming from supramolecular frameworks to coordination nanotubes
Authors: Zhang Yingjie , Liu Ming , Karatchevtseva Inna , Price Jason R. , Tao Zhu , Wei Gang
Published: October 2020

Yttrium and lanthanide complexes with cucurbit[10]uril have been investigated with crystals transforming from supramolecular structures to coordination nanotubes being revealed.
A simple and fast protocol for the synthesis of 2-amino-4-(4-formylphenyl)-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile to develop an optical immunoassay for the quantification of botulinum neurotoxin type F
Authors: Shenbagavalli Kathiravan , Yadav Shiv Kumar , Ananthappan Periyasamy , Sundaram Ellairaja , Ponmariappan Sarkaraisamy , Vasantha Vairathevar Sivasamy
Published: October 2020

In this study, a novel optical immunoassay platform using (S)-2-amino-4-(4-formylphenyl)-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile, which was synthesized by an ultra-sonication method, as an optical probe.
Structures and magnetic properties of novel Ln(iii)-based pentanuclear clusters: magnetic refrigeration and single-molecule magnet behavior
Authors: Wang Wen-Min , Zhang Tian-Tian , Wang Dan , Cui Jian-Zhong
Published: October 2020

The Gd5 cluster displays significant magnetic refrigeration properties, whereas the Dy5 cluster exhibits remarkable SMM behavior. Clusters 2, 4, and 5 display the characteristic lanthanum luminescence.
Photoactive rose bengal-based latex via RAFT emulsion polymerization-induced self-assembly
Authors: Boussiron Charlène , Le Bechec Mickaël , Sabalot Julia , Lacombe Sylvie , Save Maud
Published: October 2020

Rose bengal shell- or core-functionalized acrylic latex synthesized by RAFT emulsion PISA: interfacial photosensitized 1O2 production under visible light.
Acoustic bubble dynamics in a yield-stress fluid
Authors: Saint-Michel Brice , Garbin Valeria
Published: October 2020

Bubbles initially trapped in a yield-stress fluid can be displaced by acoustic forces and exhibit shape oscillations at higher acoustic pressure, but irreversible motion is not observed.
A lubrication replenishment theory for hydrogels
Authors: Porte Elze , Cann Philippa , Masen Marc
Published: October 2020

For soft porous materials, limited contact motion results in a non-replenished lubricant state with high friction.
Detection of genes responsible for cetuximab sensitization in colorectal cancer cells using CRISPR-Cas9
Authors: Hu Ting-ting , Yang Jia-wen , Yan Ye , Chen Ying-ying , Xue Hai-bo , Xiang You-qun , Ye Le-chi
Published: October 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor in digestive tract with highly invasive and metastatic capacity. Drug sensitivity remains a significant obstacle to successful chemotherapy in CRC patients. The present study aimed to explore genes related to cetuximab (CTX) sensitivity in CRC by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9. Celigo image cytometer was used to detect suitable cells and optimal dosage of CTX. Inhibition rate of CTX on Caco-2 cells was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method before and after transfection. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) was performed to explore suitable concentration of puromycin and multiplicity of infection (MOI). CRISPR-Cas9, sequencing data quality analysis and cell viability test were used for the selection of genes related to CTX sensitivity in CRC cells. Finally, the selected genes associated with CTX sensitivity in CRC cells were further validated by colony formation and CCK-8 assays. In the present study, Caco-2 cells had a better prolificacy, and CTX 100 μg/ml exhibited a good inhibition trend on the 7th and 14th days of infection. MTT assay indicated that the minimum lethal concentration of puromycin was 2.5 μg/ml. Forty-six candidate genes were preliminarily screened via sequencing data quality analysis. Subsequently, we found that knockout of any of the four genes (MMP15, MRPL48, CALN1 and HADHB) could enhance CTX sensitivity in Caco-2 cells, which was further confirmed by colony formation assay. In summary, MMP15, MRPL48, CALN1 and HADHB genes are related to the mediation of CTX sensitivity in CRC.
Drops and fibers — how biomolecular condensates and cytoskeletal filaments influence each other
Authors: Wiegand Tina , Hyman Anthony A.
Published: October 2020

The cellular cytoskeleton self-organizes by specific monomer–monomer interactions resulting in the polymerization of filaments. While we have long thought about the role of polymerization in cytoskeleton formation, we have only begun to consider the role of condensation in cytoskeletal organization. In this review, we highlight how the interplay between polymerization and condensation leads to the formation of the cytoskeleton.
Creation and Initial Validation of the Caregiver Analysis of Reported Experiences with Swallowing Disorders (CARES) Screening Tool
Authors: Shune Samantha E. , Resnick Barbara , Zarit Steven H. , Namasivayam-MacDonald Ashwini M.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Dysphagia is a debilitating condition with widespread consequences. Previous research has revealed dysphagia to be an independent predictor of caregiver burden. However, there is currently no systematic method of screening for or identifying dysphagia-related caregiver burden. The aim of this study was to develop a set of questions for a dysphagia-related caregiver burden screening tool, the Caregiver Analysis of Reported Experiences with Swallowing Disorders (CARES), and pilot the tool to establish preliminary validity and reliability.

Method

The questionnaire was developed through an iterative process by a team of clinical researchers with expertise in dysphagia, dysphagia-related and general caregiver burden, and questionnaire design. A heterogenous group of 26 family caregivers of people with dysphagia completed the CARES, along with the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative Functional Diet Scale (IDDSI-FDS), and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Information on construct validity, item fit, convergent validity, internal consistency, and reliability was determined via Rasch analysis model testing, Cronbach's alpha, and Spearman's rho calculations.

Results

The final CARES questionnaire contained 26 items divided across two subscales. The majority of the questionnaire items fit the model, there was evidence of internal consistency across both subscales, and there were significant relationships between dysphagia-specific burden (CARES) and perceived swallowing impairment (EAT-10), general caregiver burden (ZBI), and diet restrictiveness (IDDSI-FDS).

Conclusions

Results from the current study provide initial support for the validity and reliability of the CARES as a screening tool for dysphagia-related burden, particularly among caregivers of adults with swallowing difficulties. While continued testing is needed across larger groups of specific patient populations, it is clear that the CARES can initiate structured conversations about dysphagia-related caregiver burden by identifying potential sources of stress and/or contention. This will allow clinicians to then identify concrete methods of reducing burden and make appropriate referrals, ultimately improving patient care.