bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age-related brain deviations and aggression
Authors: Holz Nathalie E. , Floris Dorothea L. , Llera Alberto , Aggensteiner Pascal M. , Kia Seyed Mostafa , Wolfers Thomas , Baumeister Sarah , Böttinger Boris , Glennon Jeffrey C. , Hoekstra Pieter J. , Dietrich Andrea , Saam Melanie C. , Schulze Ulrike M. E. , Lythgoe David J. , Williams Steve C. R. , Santosh Paramala , Rosa-Justicia Mireia , Bargallo Nuria , Castro-Fornieles Josefina , Arango Celso , Penzol Maria J. , Walitza Susanne , Meyer-Lindenberg Andreas , Zwiers Marcel , Franke Barbara , Buitelaar Jan , Naaijen Jilly , Brandeis Daniel , Beckmann Christian , Banaschewski Tobias , Marquand Andre F.
Published: April 2022

Background

Disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) are heterogeneous at the clinical and the biological level. Therefore, the aims were to dissect the heterogeneous neurodevelopmental deviations of the affective brain circuitry and provide an integration of these differences across modalities.

Methods

We combined two novel approaches. First, normative modeling to map deviations from the typical age-related pattern at the level of the individual of (i) activity during emotion matching and (ii) of anatomical images derived from DBD cases (n= 77) and controls (n= 52) aged 8–18 years from the EU-funded Aggressotype and MATRICS consortia. Second, linked independent component analysis to integrate subject-specific deviations from both modalities.

Results

While cases exhibited on average a higher activity than would be expected for their age during face processing in regions such as the amygdala when compared to controls these positive deviations were widespread at the individual level. A multimodal integration of all functional and anatomical deviations explained 23% of the variance in the clinical DBD phenotype. Most notably, the top marker, encompassing the default mode network (DMN) and subcortical regions such as the amygdala and the striatum, was related to aggression across the whole sample.

Conclusions

Overall increased age-related deviations in the amygdala in DBD suggest a maturational delay, which has to be further validated in future studies. Further, the integration of individual deviation patterns from multiple imaging modalities allowed to dissect some of the heterogeneity of DBD and identified the DMN, the striatum and the amygdala as neural signatures that were associated with aggression.
Missing Incomes in the UK: Evidence and Policy Implications
Authors: ADVANI ARUN , OOMS TAHNEE , SUMMERS ANDY
Published: April 2022

Policymakers are liable to ‘treasure what is measured’ and overlook phenomena that are not. In an era of increased reliance on administrative data, existing policies also often determine what is measured in the first place. We explore this two-way interaction between measurement and policy in the context of the investment incomes and capital gains that are missing from the UK’s official income statistics. We show that these ‘missing incomes’ change the established picture of economic inequality over the past decade, revealing rising top income shares during the period of austerity. The underestimation of these forms of income in official statistics has hidden the impact of tax policies that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest. We urge a renewed focus on how policy affects and is affected by measurement.
Improved fuzzy sliding mode control in flexible manipulator actuated by PMAs
Authors: Li Fang , Zhang Zheng , Wu Yang , Chen Yining , Liu Kai , Yao Jiafeng
Published: April 2022

Pneumatic muscle actuator (PMA) similar to biological muscle is a new type of pneumatic actuator. The flexible manipulator based on PMAs was constructed to simulate the actual movement of the human upper arm. Considering the model errors and external disturbances, the fuzzing sliding mode control based on the saturation function was proposed. Compared with other fuzzy control methods, fuzzy control and saturation function are used to adjust the robust terms to improve the tracking accuracy and reduce the high-frequency chattering.
Annual and perennial crop composition impacts on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics at two different depths
Authors: Means Megan , Crews Timothy , Souza Lara
Published: April 2022

The sustainability of an agricultural field is largely influenced by crop growth habit and management practices such as tillage. Both strongly interact to shape ecosystem properties such as the fluxes and stocks of carbon and nitrogen. Recently, researchers have worked to develop perennial grain crops in order to enhance key ecosystem processes, such as carbon cycling and nitrogen fixation, with the use of perennial crops rather than traditionally used annual crops. In this study, we aimed to understand how soil disturbance combined with vegetation type [annual monoculture crops vs. perennial monocultures (intermediate wheatgrass (IWG)) vs restored native vegetation (RNV)] influenced the soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. We collected soil samples at two depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) from each vegetation treatment and incubated the soils in the laboratory for 120 days to determine the efflux of carbon and also analyzed the mineralization of both carbon and nitrogen. The results demonstrated the soils from the IWG had the greatest carbon flux, as well as carbon and nitrogen storage (annual monoculture < RNV < IWG). The differences in carbon flux, carbon and nitrogen storage from the IWG to the annual monoculture were 27, 40, 20%, respectively, while the IWG to the RNV was 11, 20, 10%. Shallow soil samples exhibited greater differences in all C and N comparisons between treatments compared to deeper soil samples. Taken together, our findings indicate that crop vegetation type and soil depth strongly influence carbon and nitrogen dynamics.
Party Control, Intraparty Competition, and the Substantive Focus of Women's Parliamentary Questions: Evidence from Belgium
Authors: de Vet Benjamin , Devroe Robin
Published: April 2022

Parliaments are still often criticized for being gendered—that is, for maintaining problematic inequalities between male and female officeholders. While research highlights how female members of parliament (MPs) take the floor less often than men, especially during debates on “hard” policy domains, much remains unknown about the role that political parties play in fostering such differences. Drawing on a novel data set on the use of parliamentary questions in Belgium (N = 180,783), this article examines gendered patterns in the substantive focus of MPs’ parliamentary work. It confirms that differences in the issue concentrations of male and female MPs exist, but they are larger when access to the floor is more restricted and party control is stronger. Our findings yield important insights into the gendered side effects of parliamentary procedure and shed some light on the “choice versus coercion” controversy with regard to women's substantive focus of parliamentary work.
Near‐Bed Sediment Transport During Offshore Bar Migration in Large‐Scale Experiments
Authors: Grossmann Florian , Hurther David , van der Zanden Joep , Cáceres Iván , Sánchez‐Arcilla Agustín , Alsina José M.
Published: April 2022

This study presents novel insights into hydrodynamics and sediment fluxes in large‐scale laboratory experiments with bichromatic wave groups on a relatively steep initial beach slope (1:15). An Acoustic Concentration and Velocity Profiler provided detailed information of velocity and sand concentration near the bed from shoaling up to the outer breaking zone including suspended sediment and sheet flow transport. The morphological evolution was characterized by offshore migration of the outer breaker bar. Decomposition of the total net transport revealed a balance of onshore‐directed, short wave‐related and offshore‐directed, current‐related net transport. The short wave‐related transport mainly occurred as bedload over small vertical extents. It was linked to characteristic intrawave sheet flow layer expansions during short wave crests. The current‐related transport rate featured lower maximum flux magnitudes but occurred over larger vertical extents. As a result, it was larger than the short wave‐related transport rate in all but one cross‐shore position, driving the bar’s offshore migration. Net flux magnitudes of the infragravity component were comparatively low but played a nonnegligible role for total net transport rate in certain cross‐shore positions. Net infragravity flux profiles sometimes featured opposing directions over the vertical. The fluxes were linked to a standing infragravity wave pattern and to the correlation of the short wave envelope, controlling suspension, with the infragravity wave velocity.
Water Mass Transports and Pathways in the North Brazil‐Equatorial Undercurrent Retroflection
Authors: Vallès‐Casanova Ignasi , Fraile‐Nuez Eugenio , Martín‐Rey Marta , van Sebille Erik , Cabré Anna , Olivé‐Abelló Anna , Pelegrí Josep L.
Published: April 2022

The equatorial retroflection of the North Brazil Current (NBC) into the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) and its posterior tropical recirculation is a major regulator for the returning limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Indeed, most surface and thermocline NBC waters retroflect at the equator all the way into the central and eastern Atlantic Ocean, before they recirculate back through the tropics to the western boundary. Here, we use cruise data in the western equatorial Atlantic during April 2010 and reanalysis time series for the equatorial and tropical waters in both hemispheres in order to explore the recirculation pathways and transport variability. During the 1998–2016 period, the annual‐mean EUC transports 15.1 ± 1.3 Sv at 32°W, with 2.8 ± 0.4 Sv from the North Atlantic and 11.4 ± 1.3 Sv from the South Atlantic. At 32°W most of the total EUC transport comes from the western boundary retroflection south of 3°N (7.2 ± 0.9 Sv), a substantial fraction retroflects north of 3°N (5.6 ± 0.4 Sv), and the remaining flow (2.3 Sv) joins through the interior basin. The South Atlantic subtropical waters feed the EUC at all thermocline depths while the North Atlantic and South Atlantic tropical waters do so at the surface and upper‐thermocline levels. The EUC transport at 32°W has a pronounced seasonality, with spring and fall maxima and a range of 8.8 Sv. The 18 yr of reanalysis data shows a weak yet significant correlation with an Atlantic Niño index, and also suggests an enhanced contribution from the South Atlantic tropical waters during 2008–2016 as compared with 1997–2007.
On the Vertical Structure of Oceanic Mesoscale Tracer Diffusivities
Authors: Zhang Wenda , Wolfe Christopher L. P.
Published: April 2022

Isopycnal mixing of tracers is important for ocean dynamics and biogeochemistry. Previous studies have primarily focused on the horizontal structure of mixing, but what controls its vertical structure is still unclear. This study investigates the vertical structure of the isopycnal tracer diffusivity diagnosed by a multiple‐tracer inversion method in an idealized basin circulation model. The first two eigenvalues of the symmetric part of the 3D diffusivity tensor are approximately tangent to isopycnal surfaces. The isopycnal mixing is anisotropic, with principal directions of the large and small diffusivities generally oriented along and across the mean flow direction. The cross‐stream diffusivity can be reconstructed from the along‐stream diffusivity after accounting for suppression of mixing by the mean flow. In the circumpolar channel and the upper ocean in the gyres, the vertical structure of the along‐stream diffusivity follows that of the rms eddy velocity times a depth‐independent local energy‐containing scale estimated from the sea surface height. The diffusivity in the deep ocean in the gyres instead follows the profile of the eddy kinetic energy times a depth‐independent mixing time scale. The transition between the two mixing regimes is attributed to the dominance of nonlinear interactions and linear waves in the upper and deep ocean, respectively, distinguished by a nonlinearity parameter. A formula is proposed that accounts for both regimes and captures the vertical variation of diffusivities better than extant theories. These results inform efforts to parameterize the vertical structure of isopycnal mixing in coarse‐resolution ocean models.
Retention Site Contribution Toward Silver Particle Immobilization in Porous Media
Authors: Patiño Janis E. , Pérez‐Reche Francisco J. , Morales Verónica L.
Published: April 2022

This work investigates the role that pore structure plays in colloid retention across scales with a novel methodology based on image analysis. Experiments were designed to quantify–with robust statistics–the contribution from commonly proposed retention sites toward colloid immobilization. Specific retention sites include solid‐water interface, air‐water interface, air‐water‐solid triple point, grain‐to‐grain contacts, and thin films. Variable conditions for pore‐water content, velocity, and chemistry were tested in a model glass bead porous medium with silver microspheres. Concentration signals from effluent breakthrough and spatial profiles of retained particles from micro X‐ray Computed Tomography were used to compute mass balances and enumerate pore‐scale regions of interest in three dimensions. At the Darcy‐scale, retained colloids follow non‐monotonic deposition profiles, which implicates effects from flow‐stagnation zones. The spatial distribution of immobilized colloids along the porous medium depth was analyzed by retention site, revealing depth‐independent partitioning of colloids. At the pore‐scale, dominance and overall saturation of all retention sites considered indicated that the solid‐water interface and wedge‐shaped regions associated with flow‐stagnation (grain‐to‐grain contacts in saturated and air‐water‐solid triple points in unsaturated conditions) are the greatest contributors toward retention under the tested conditions. At the interface‐scale, xDLVO energy profiles were in agreement with pore‐scale observations. Our calculations suggest favorable interactions for colloids and solid‐water interfaces and for weak flocculation (e.g., at flow‐stagnation zones), but unfavorable interactions between colloids and air‐water interfaces. Overall, we demonstrate that pore‐structure plays a critical role in colloid immobilization and that Darcy‐, pore‐ and interface‐scales are consistent when the pore structure is taken into account.
Early Prosperity of Iron Bacteria at the End of the Paleoproterozoic Era
Authors: Qiu Yifan , Qin Liping , Huang Fang , Zhao Taiping , Li Yiliang
Published: April 2022

Various iron formation (IFs) document the interplay between the geosphere and the early biosphere during their co‐evolution. At the transition between the Paleo‐ and Mesoproterozoic eras, the oxidation of the atmosphere and ocean resulted in the waning of the typical marine deposited banded IFs. Here, we report the ∼1.7 Ga Yunmengshan IF at the southern margin of the North China Craton deposited in the intertidal to upper subtidal zone belonging to river delta of coastal environments. The combined REE + Y patterns and negative δ56Fe with positive δ53Cr values reveal terrestrial precipitation of iron oxide and an enhanced continental oxidative weathering at the end of Paleoproterozoic era due to increased atmospheric oxygen level. The oxygen level happened to have facilitated the early prosperity of microaerophilic Fe(II)‐oxidation bacteria on Earth's terrestrial surface, which is recorded by the coastal shallow water iron deposits globally characterized by their small scale and subaerial features.
A new horizon of precision medicine: combination of the microbiome and extracellular vesicles
Authors: Yang Jinho , Shin Tae-Seop , Kim Jong Seong , Jee Young-Koo , Kim Yoon-Keun
Published: April 2022

Over several decades, the disease pattern of intractable disease has changed from acute infection to chronic disease accompanied by immune and metabolic dysfunction. In addition, scientific evidence has shown that humans are holobionts; of the DNA in humans, 1% is derived from the human genome, and 99% is derived from microbial genomes (the microbiome). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-delimited nanoparticles and key messengers in cell-to-cell communication. Many publications indicate that microbial EVs are both positively and negatively involved in the pathogenesis of various intractable diseases, including inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancers. Microbial EVs in feces, blood, and urine show significant differences in their profiles between patients with a particular disease and healthy subjects, demonstrating the potential of microbial EVs as biomarkers for disease diagnosis, especially for assessing disease risk. Furthermore, microbial EV therapy offers a variety of advantages over live biotherapeutics and human cell EV (or exosome) therapy for the treatment of intractable diseases. In summary, microbial EVs are a new tool in medicine, and microbial EV technology might provide us with innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions in precision medicine.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate hinders the osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells in association with AKT signaling pathways
Authors: Choi Bongkun , Kim Ji-Eun , Park Si-On , Kim Eun-Young , Oh Soyoon , Choi Hyuksu , Yoon Dohee , Min Hyo-Jin , Kim Hyung-Ryong , Chang Eun-Ju
Published: April 2022

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is an important lipid mediator that regulates a diverse range of intracellular cell signaling pathways that are relevant to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, the precise function of S1P in dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and its osteogenic differentiation remains unclear. We here investigated the function of S1P/S1P receptor (S1PR)-mediated cellular signaling in the osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs and clarified the fundamental signaling pathway. Our results showed that S1P-treated DPSCs exhibited a low rate of differentiation toward the osteogenic phenotype in association with a marked reduction in osteogenesis-related gene expression and AKT activation. Of note, both S1PR1/S1PR3 and S1PR2 agonists significantly downregulated the expression of osteogenic genes and suppressed AKT activation, resulting in an attenuated osteogenic capacity of DPSCs. Most importantly, an AKT activator completely abrogated the S1P-mediated downregulation of osteoblastic markers and partially prevented S1P-mediated attenuation effects during osteogenesis. Intriguingly, the pro-inflammatory TNF-α cytokine promoted the infiltration of macrophages toward DPSCs and induced S1P production in both DPSCs and macrophages. Our findings indicate that the elevation of S1P under inflammatory conditions suppresses the osteogenic capacity of the DPSCs responsible for regenerative endodontics.
Effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review
Authors: Granado-Casas Minerva , Solà Ivan , Hernández Marta , Rojo-López Marina Idalia , Julve Josep , Mauricio Didac
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) has an integral role in overall diabetes management. During adolescence, consideration of physiological and psychosocial changes is essential for implementing an optimal diabetes treatment.

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to identify, summarize, and interpret the published literature about MNT in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

The Medline (PubMed) and EMBASE databases were searched from January 1959 to December 2021. The inclusion criteria were interventional studies with MNT in adolescents with type 1 diabetes with a disease duration over 1 year, including the following outcomes: dietary intake and daily eating patterns (assessed with validated tools, two or more 24 h dietary recall or 3-day dietary records), the diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES), glycemic control, lipid profile and body mass index (BMI). The exclusion criteria were studies without a control group (except for pre-post studies), the lack of randomization and those studies that assessed only a single nutrient, food or meal consumption, as well as reviews, and in-vitro/in-vivo studies. The risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. A narrative synthesis was performed to present the results. The quality of evidence was assessed with the GRADE guidance.

RESULTS

From a total of 5377 records, 12 intervention studies (9 RCT and 3 pre-post intervention studies) were included. The data were assessed in order to perform a meta-analysis; however, the studies were too heterogeneous. The studies showed conflicting results about the effectiveness of MNT on dietary pattern, DSMES, glycemic control, lipid profile and BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical research studies on the effectiveness of MNT in adolescents with type 1 diabetes are scarce. The limited number of studies with a high risk of bias precludes establishing robust conclusions on this issue. Further research is warranted.
Cisplatin resistance can be curtailed by blunting Bnip3-mediated mitochondrial autophagy
Authors: Vianello Caterina , Cocetta Veronica , Catanzaro Daniela , Dorn Gerald W , De Milito Angelo , Rizzolio Flavio , Canzonieri Vincenzo , Cecchin Erika , Roncato Rossana , Toffoli Giuseppe , Quagliariello Vincenzo , Di Mauro Annabella , Losito Simona , Maurea Nicola , Scaffa Cono , Sales Gabriele , Scorrano Luca , Giacomello Marta , Montopoli Monica
Published: April 2022

Cisplatin (CDDP) is commonly used to treat a multitude of tumors including sarcomas, ovarian and cervical cancers. Despite recent investigations allowed to improve chemotherapy effectiveness, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of CDDP resistance remain a major goal in cancer research. Here, we show that mitochondrial morphology and autophagy are altered in different CDDP resistant cancer cell lines. In CDDP resistant osteosarcoma and ovarian carcinoma, mitochondria are fragmented and closely juxtaposed to the endoplasmic reticulum; rates of mitophagy are also increased. Specifically, levels of the mitophagy receptor BNIP3 are higher both in resistant cells and in ovarian cancer patient samples resistant to platinum-based treatments. Genetic BNIP3 silencing or pharmacological inhibition of autophagosome formation re-sensitizes these cells to CDDP. Our study identifies inhibition of BNIP3-driven mitophagy as a potential therapeutic strategy to counteract CDDP resistance in ovarian carcinoma and osteosarcoma.
HJURP regulates cell proliferation and chemo-resistance via YAP1/NDRG1 transcriptional axis in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Mao Misha , Jia Yunlu , Chen Yongxia , Yang Jingjing , Xu Ling , Zhang Xun , Zhou Jichun , Li Zhaoqing , Chen Cong , Ju Siwei , Wang Linbo
Published: April 2022

Triple-negative breast cancer is still a difficult point in clinical treatment at present, and a deep study of its pathogenesis has great clinical value. Therefore, our research mainly focuses on exploring the progression of triple-negative breast cancer and determines the important role of the HJURP/YAP1/NDRG1 transcriptional regulation axis in triple-negative breast cancer. We observed significantly increased HJURP expression levels in triple-negative breast cancer compared to other subtypes. HJURP could affect the level of ubiquitination modification of YAP1 protein and then regulate its downstream transcriptional activity. Mechanistically, we found that YAP1 positively regulates NDRG1 transcription by binding the promoter region of the NDRG1 gene. And HJURP/YAP1/NDRG1 axis could affect cell proliferation and chemotherapy sensitivity in triple-negative breast cancer. Taken together, these findings provide insights into the transcriptional regulation axis of HJURP/YAP1/NDRG1 in triple-negative breast cancer progression and therapeutic response.
Preparation of dual-cross network polymers by the knitting method and evaluation of their mechanical properties
Authors: Kawai Yusaku , Park Junsu , Ishii Yoshiki , Urakawa Osamu , Murayama Shunsuke , Ikura Ryohei , Osaki Motofumi , Ikemoto Yuka , Yamaguchi Hiroyasu , Harada Akira , Inoue Tadashi , Washizu Hitoshi , Matsuba Go , Takashima Yoshinori
Published: April 2022

Bulk copolymerization of alkyl acrylates and cyclodextrin (CD) host monomers produced a single movable cross-network (SC). The CD units acted as movable crosslinking points in the obtained SC elastomer. Introducing movable crosslinks into a poly(ethyl acrylate/butyl acrylate) copolymer resulted in good toughness (Gf) and stress dispersion. Here, to improve the Young’s modulus (E) and Gf of movable cross-network elastomers, the bulk copolymerization of liquid alkyl acrylate monomer swelling in SC gave another type of movable cross-network elastomer with penetrating polymers (SCPs). Moreover, the bulk copolymerization of alkyl acrylate and the CD monomer in the presence of SC resulted in dual cross-network (DC) elastomers. The Gf of the DC elastomer with a suitable weight % (wt%) of the secondary movable cross-network polymer was higher than those of the SCP or SC elastomers. The combination of suitable hydrophobicity and glass transition of the secondary network was important for improving Gf. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) indicated that the DC elastomers exhibited heterogeneity at the nanoscale. The DC elastomers showed a significantly broader relaxation time distribution than the SC and SCP elastomers. Thus, the nanoscale heterogeneity and broader relaxation time distribution were important to increase Gf. This method to fabricate SCP and DC elastomers with penetrating polymers would be applicable to improve the Gf of conventional polymeric materials.
Robust dual topological insulator phase in NaZnBi
Authors: Lee Hyunggeun , Kang Yoon-Gu , Jung Myung-Chul , Han Myung Joon , Chang Kee Joo
Published: April 2022

Topological insulators are characterized by $${\Bbb Z}_2$$

Z

2

indices, and their metallic surface states are protected by time-reversal symmetry. In topological crystalline insulators, on the other hand, crystal symmetry plays a key role in protecting surface states. Therefore, perturbation breaking time-reversal or crystal symmetry induces a phase transition to a conventional band insulator. In dual topological insulators (DTIs), in which time-reversal and crystal symmetries coexist, the topological character is more robust against perturbation. Here, we propose that NaZnBi is a new DTI with $${\Bbb Z}_2$$

Z

2

invariants $$(\nu _0;\nu _1\nu _2\nu _3) = (1;000)$$

(

ν

0

;

ν

1

ν

2

ν

3

)

=

(

1
;
000

)

and odd mirror Chern numbers ±1. We find that the characteristic Dirac cone is preserved even if either time-reversal or mirror symmetry is broken, verifying the robustness of the DTI phase. Given that gapless surface states can be experimentally observable even under perturbations that break any lattice symmetry or time-reversal, NaZnBi can be a good candidate material for future device applications.
Supraphysiological activation of TAK1 promotes skeletal muscle growth and mitigates neurogenic atrophy
Authors: Roy Anirban , Kumar Ashok
Published: April 2022

Skeletal muscle mass is regulated through coordinated activation of multiple signaling pathways. TAK1 signalosome has been found to be activated in various conditions of muscle atrophy and hypertrophy. However, the role and mechanisms by which TAK1 regulates skeletal muscle mass remain less understood. Here, we demonstrate that supraphysiological activation of TAK1 in skeletal muscle of adult mice stimulates translational machinery, protein synthesis, and myofiber growth. TAK1 causes phosphorylation of elongation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) independent of mTOR. Inactivation of TAK1 disrupts neuromuscular junction morphology and causes deregulation of Smad signaling. Using genetic approaches, we demonstrate that TAK1 prevents excessive loss of muscle mass during denervation. TAK1 favors the nuclear translocation of Smad4 and cytoplasmic retention of Smad6. TAK1 is also required for the phosphorylation of eIF4E in denervated skeletal muscle. Collectively, our results demonstrate that TAK1 supports skeletal muscle growth and prevents neurogenic muscle atrophy in adult mice.
ZNF117 regulates glioblastoma stem cell differentiation towards oligodendroglial lineage
Authors: Liu Jun , Wang Xiaoying , Chen Ann T. , Gao Xingchun , Himes Benjamin T. , Zhang Hongyi , Chen Zeming , Wang Jianhui , Sheu Wendy C. , Deng Gang , Xiao Yang , Zou Pan , Zhang Shenqi , Liu Fuyao , Zhu Yong , Fan Rong , Patel Toral R. , Saltzman W. Mark , Zhou Jiangbing
Published: April 2022

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly disease without effective treatment. Because glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) contribute to tumor resistance and recurrence, improved treatment of GBM can be achieved by eliminating GSCs through inducing their differentiation. Prior efforts have been focused on studying GSC differentiation towards the astroglial lineage. However, regulation of GSC differentiation towards the neuronal and oligodendroglial lineages is largely unknown. To identify genes that control GSC differentiation to all three lineages, we performed an image-based genome-wide RNAi screen, in combination with single-cell RNA sequencing, and identified ZNF117 as a major regulator of GSC differentiation. Using patient-derived GSC cultures, we show that ZNF117 controls GSC differentiation towards the oligodendroglial lineage via the Notch pathway. We demonstrate that ZNF117 is a promising target for GSC differentiation therapy through targeted delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing nanoparticles. Our study suggests a direction to improve GBM treatment through differentiation of GSCs towards various lineages.
Mechanism of sensitivity modulation in the calcium-sensing receptor via electrostatic tuning
Authors: Schamber Michael R. , Vafabakhsh Reza
Published: April 2022

Transfer of information across membranes is fundamental to the function of all organisms and is primarily initiated by transmembrane receptors. For many receptors, how ligand sensitivity is fine-tuned and how disease associated mutations modulate receptor conformation to allosterically affect receptor sensitivity are unknown. Here we map the activation of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) - a dimeric class C G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and responsible for maintaining extracellular calcium in vertebrates. We show that CaSR undergoes unique conformational rearrangements compared to other class C GPCRs owing to specific structural features. Moreover, by analyzing disease associated mutations, we uncover a large permissiveness in the architecture of the extracellular domain of CaSR, with dynamics- and not specific receptor topology- determining the effect of a mutation. We show a structural hub at the dimer interface allosterically controls CaSR activation via focused electrostatic repulsion. Changes in the surface charge distribution of this hub, which is highly variable between organisms, finely tune CaSR sensitivity. This is potentially a general tuning mechanism for other dimeric receptors.
Chromatin profiling in human neurons reveals aberrant roles for histone acetylation and BET family proteins in schizophrenia
Authors: Farrelly Lorna A. , Zheng Shuangping , Schrode Nadine , Topol Aaron , Bhanu Natarajan V. , Bastle Ryan M. , Ramakrishnan Aarthi , Chan Jennifer C , Cetin Bulent , Flaherty Erin , Shen Li , Gleason Kelly , Tamminga Carol A. , Garcia Benjamin A. , Li Haitao , Brennand Kristen J. , Maze Ian
Published: April 2022

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a psychiatric disorder with complex genetic risk dictated by interactions between hundreds of risk variants. Epigenetic factors, such as histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs), have been shown to play critical roles in many neurodevelopmental processes, and when perturbed may also contribute to the precipitation of disease. Here, we apply an unbiased proteomics approach to evaluate combinatorial histone PTMs in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived forebrain neurons from individuals with SZ. We observe hyperacetylation of H2A.Z and H4 in neurons derived from SZ cases, results that were confirmed in postmortem human brain. We demonstrate that the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein, BRD4, is a bona fide ‘reader’ of H2A.Z acetylation, and further provide evidence that BET family protein inhibition ameliorates transcriptional abnormalities in patient-derived neurons. Thus, treatments aimed at alleviating BET protein interactions with hyperacetylated histones may aid in the prevention or treatment of SZ.
Bifunctional zeolites-silver catalyst enabled tandem oxidation of formaldehyde at low temperatures
Authors: Li Na , Huang Bin , Dong Xue , Luo Jinsong , Wang Yi , Wang Hui , Miao Dengyun , Pan Yang , Jiao Feng , Xiao Jianping , Qu Zhenping
Published: April 2022

Bifunctional catalysts with tandem processes have achieved great success in a wide range of important catalytic processes, however, this concept has hardly been applied in the elimination of volatile organic compounds. Herein, we designed a tandem bifunctional Zeolites-Silver catalyst that enormously boosted formaldehyde oxidation at low temperatures, and formaldehyde conversion increased by 50 times (100%versus2%) at 70 °C compared to that of monofunctional supported silver catalyst. This is enabled by designing a bifunctional catalyst composed of acidic ZSM-5 zeolite and silver component, which provides two types of active sites with complementary functions. Detached acidic ZSM-5 activates formaldehyde to generate gaseous intermediates of methyl formate, which is more easily oxidized by subsequent silver component. We anticipate that the findings here will open up a new avenue for the development of formaldehyde oxidation technologies, and also provide guidance for designing efficient catalysts in a series of oxidation reactions.
Spillover effects of food recalls: A milk recall scenario experiment in China
Authors: Hao Na , Zhang Yi , Zheng Qiujie , Wetzstein Michael
Published: April 2022

Food recall is a major ingredient in food safety with existing literature focusing mainly on its direct impacts. Few studies focus on possible spillover effects. It is hypothesized that food recalls have a spillover effect on the recalled brand and purchase channel. As a test of this hypothesis, a 2-purchase channel by 3-recall strategy scenario experiment was conducted on spillover effects of a milk recall in Beijing, China. The results indicate that food-safety scares have significant negative impacts on consumers’ purchase intention on the recalled brand and purchase channel, and the impacts are more significant for online than offline marketing. However, voluntary recalls by online firms help mitigate these negative effects and restore consumers’ purchase intention more than offline voluntary recalls. An online food incident creates an issue of trust toward general online platforms. Online vendors should take greater care in guaranteeing food safety and actively take restorative actions such as voluntary recalls after a food safety incident. Results provide empirical evidence for industry organizations and governments to stipulate a strict food safety and incident resolution system for e-commerce.
Expanding energy envelope in holographic display via mutually coherent multi-directional illumination
Authors: Lee Dukho , Bang Kiseung , Nam Seung-Woo , Lee Byounghyo , Kim Dongyeon , Lee Byoungho
Published: April 2022

Holographic display is considered as the most promising three-dimensional (3D) display due to its unique feature of reconstructing arbitrary wavefronts. However, the limited étendue, which hinders the immersive experience of observers, remains a major unresolved issue in holographic display technique. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to tweak the constraints of étendue by expanding the energy envelope in holographic display via mutually coherent multi-illumination. The proposed concept contains both a light source design for generating a mutually coherent multi-directional wave and a computer-generated hologram optimization framework for providing high-resolution 3D holograms. To verify the proposed approach, a benchtop prototype of a holographic near-eye display providing an intrinsic large exit-pupil is implemented. The experimental results clearly show that the exit-pupil is effectively expanded by four times and an appropriate viewpoint image is reconstructed according to the view position.
Clinical study of skill assessment based on time sequential measurement changes
Authors: Yamaguchi Tomoko , Nakamura Ryoichi , Kuboki Akihito , Otori Nobuyoshi
Published: April 2022

Endoscopic sinus surgery is a common procedure for chronic sinusitis; however, complications have been reported in some cases. Improving surgical outcomes requires an improvement in a surgeon’s skills. In this study, we used surgical workflow analysis to automatically extract “errors,” indicating whether there was a large difference in the comparative evaluation of procedures performed by experts and residents. First, we quantified surgical features using surgical log data, which contained surgical instrument information (e.g., tip position) and time stamp. Second, we created a surgical process model (SPM), which represents the temporal transition of the surgical features. Finally, we identified technical issues by creating an expert standard SPM and comparing it to the novice SPM. We verified the performance of our methods by using the clinical data of 39 patients. In total, 303 portions were detected as an error, and they were classified into six categories. Three risky operations were overlooked, and there were 11 overdetected errors. We noted that most errors detected by our method involved dangers. The implementation of our methods of automatic improvement points detection may be advantageous. Our methods may help reduce the time for reviewing and improving the surgical technique efficiently.
Generation of 3D retinal tissue from human pluripotent stem cells using a directed small molecule-based serum-free microwell platform
Authors: Rashidi Hassan , Leong Yeh Chwan , Venner Kerrie , Pramod Hema , Fei Qi-Zhen , Jones Owen J. R. , Moulding Dale , Sowden Jane C.
Published: April 2022

Retinal degenerative diseases are a leading cause of blindness worldwide with debilitating life-long consequences for the affected individuals. Cell therapy is considered a potential future clinical intervention to restore and preserve sight by replacing lost photoreceptors and/or retinal pigment epithelium. Development of protocols to generate retinal tissue from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC), reliably and at scale, can provide a platform to generate photoreceptors for cell therapy and to model retinal disease in vitro. Here, we describe an improved differentiation platform to generate retinal organoids from hPSC at scale and free from time-consuming manual microdissection steps. The scale up was achieved using an agarose mould platform enabling generation of uniform self-assembled 3D spheres from dissociated hPSC in microwells. Subsequent retinal differentiation was efficiently achieved via a stepwise differentiation protocol using a number of small molecules. To facilitate clinical translation, xeno-free approaches were developed by substituting Matrigel™ and foetal bovine serum with recombinant laminin and human platelet lysate, respectively. Generated retinal organoids exhibited important features reminiscent of retinal tissue including correct site-specific localisation of proteins involved in phototransduction.
Maternal breast milk microbiota and immune markers in relation to subsequent development of celiac disease in offspring
Authors: Štšepetova Jelena , Simre Kärt , Tagoma Aili , Uibo Oivi , Peet Aleksandr , Siljander Heli , Tillmann Vallo , Knip Mikael , Mändar Reet , Uibo Raivo
Published: April 2022

The potential impact of the composition of maternal breast milk is poorly known in children who develop celiac disease (CD). The aim of our study was to compare the microbiota composition and the concentrations of immune markers in breast milk from mothers whose offspring carried the genetic predisposition to CD, and whether they did or did not develop CD during follow-up for the first 3 years of life. Maternal breast milk samples [CD children (n = 6) and healthy children (n = 18)] were collected 3 months after delivery. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure TGF-β1, TGF-β2, sIgA, MFG-E8 and sCD14. For microbiota analysis, next generation (Illumina) sequencing, real-time PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis were used. Phylotype abundance and the Shannon ‘H’ diversity index were significantly higher in breast milk samples in the CD group. There was higher prevalence of the phylaBacteroidetesandFusobacteria, the classesClostridiaandFusobacteriia, and the generaLeptotrichia,Anaerococcus,Sphingomonas,ActynomycesandAkkermansiain the CD group. The immunological markers were differently associated with some Gram-negative bacterial genera and species (Chryseobacterium,Sphingobium) as well as Gram-positive species (Lactobacillusreuteri,Bifidobacteriumanimalis). In conclusion, the microbiota in breast milk from mothers of genetically predisposed offspring who presented CD showed a higher bacterial phylotype abundance and diversity, as well as a different bacterial composition, as compared with the mothers of unaffected offspring. These immune markers showed some associations with bacterial composition and may influence the risk for development of CD beyond early childhood.
The Cincinnati incision is safe and effective for revision surgery for insertional tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon
Authors: Maffulli Nicola , Gougoulias Nikolaos , Maffulli Gayle D. , Oliva Francesco , Migliorini Filippo
Published: April 2022

The present study reports the outcomes of revision surgery using a Cincinnati incision with tendon debridement and calcaneoplasty for insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) in a cohort of patients at 24-month follow-up. Patients undergoing revision surgery following failed previous surgery for IAT were prospectively recruited. Patients were assessed pre-operatively and at 3, 6,12 and 24 months. The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Scale for Achilles Tendinopathy (VISA-A), the EQ5D questionnaire and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were used for evaluation. Data from 33 patients with a mean age of 43.9 years old are reported. 27% (9 of 33 patients) were female. The left side was involved in 58% (19/33) of patients. No clinically relevant complications were reported in any of the patients. Most of subscales of EQ5D improved at last follow-up: Usual Activities (P = 0.01), Mobility (P = 0.03), Pain/Discomfort (P = 0.001), Thermometer (P = 0.04). No statistically significant change for the subscales Self-Care (P = 0.08) and Anxiety-Depression (P = 0.1) was evidenced. The VISA-A score improved significantly at last follow-up (P < 0.0001), as did the VAS score (P < 0.0001). These results indicated that a Cincinnati incision followed by tendon debridement and calcaneoplasty for revision surgery for IAT is feasible and reliable, achieving clinically relevant improvement in the VISA-A, EQ5D and VAS at 24 months follow-up.
Solution-based synthesis of wafer-scale epitaxial BiVO4 thin films exhibiting high structural and optoelectronic quality
Authors: Kunzelmann Viktoria F. , Jiang Chang-Ming , Ihrke Irina , Sirotti Elise , Rieth Tim , Henning Alex , Eichhorn Johanna , Sharp Ian D.
Published: April 2022

Epitaxial, (010)-oriented BiVO4 films on 2′′ wafers synthesized by spin-coating and metalorganic decomposition exhibit remarkably high crystal quality. Spectroscopy reveals a large uniaxial optical anisotropy, confirming theoretical predictions.
Nanoarchitectonics for conductive polymers using solid and vapor phases
Authors: Oaki Yuya , Sato Kosuke
Published: April 2022

New nanoarchitectonics for conductive polymers using solid and vapor phases facilitates formation of homogenous coating, hierarchical morphologies, composites, and copolymers.
Effects of photo-isomerizable side groups on the phase and mechanical properties of main-chain nematic elastomers
Authors: Ohzono Takuya , Koyama Emiko
Published: April 2022

A series of main-chain nematic liquid crystal elastomers containing various photo-isomerizable side groups branching from the main chain were synthesized. The effects of the side groups on the thermal phase and mechanical properties were explored.
TAO-DFT fictitious temperature made simple
Authors: Chen Bo-Jyun , Chai Jeng-Da
Published: April 2022

Optimal system-independent fictitious temperature θ of TAO-GH as a function of the fraction of exact exchange ax.
Correction: Electrocatalytic hydrogen generation using tripod containing pyrazolylborate-based copper(ii), nickel(ii), and iron(iii) complexes loaded on a glassy carbon electrode
Authors: Ibrahim Mohamed M. , Mersal G. A. M. , Fallatah Ahmed M. , Althubeiti Khaled , El-Sheshtawy Hamdy S. , Abou Taleb Manal F. , Das Manash R. , Boukherroub Rabah , Attia Mohamed S. , Amin Mohammed A.
Published: April 2022

Correction for ‘Electrocatalytic hydrogen generation using tripod containing pyrazolylborate-based copper(ii), nickel(ii), and iron(iii) complexes loaded on a glassy carbon electrode’ by Mohamed M. Ibrahim et al., RSC Adv., 2022, 12, 8030–8042, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA08530A.
In situ Raman spectroscopy reveals the structure evolution and lattice oxygen reaction pathway induced by the crystalline–amorphous heterojunction for water oxidation
Authors: Dong Jianing , Qian Zhengxin , Xu Pan , Yue Mu-Fei , Zhou Ru-Yu , Wang Yanjie , Nan Zi-Ang , Huang Siying , Dong Quanfeng , Li Jian-Feng , Fan Feng Ru , Tian Zhong-Qun
Published: April 2022

The amorphous NiOx/crystalline α-Fe2O3 heterojunctions were constructed and exhibited outstanding OER activities. Through the collaboration of multiple characterization techniques, the Lewis acid effect of Fe3+ was revealed at molecular level.
A sustainable approach for the synthesis of recyclable cyclic CO2-based polycarbonates
Authors: Liao Xi , Cui Feng-Chao , He Jiang-Hua , Ren Wei-Min , Lu Xiao-Bing , Zhang Yue-Tao
Published: April 2022

It is highly desirable to reduce the environmental pollution related to the disposal of end-of-life plastics.
Continuous production of 1,4-pentanediol from ethyl levulinate and industrialized furfuryl alcohol over Cu-based catalysts
Authors: Wang Hongxing , Wang Yueqing , Huang Long , Geng Anying , Yi Fengjiao , Zhu Yulei , Li Yongwang
Published: April 2022

An alcoholysis-hydrogenation integrated continuous process for the production of 1,4-PDO from industrialized FOL.
The generalized solubility limit approach for vanadium based cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Mitra Arijit , Gilankar Advait , Das Saptarshi , Jena Sambedan , Das Debasish , Majumder Subhasish B. , Das Siddhartha
Published: April 2022

The issue of active material dissolution in vanadium based cathode materials is mitigated through the use of superconcentrated electrolytes.
Hedgehog-inspired immunomagnetic beads for high-efficient capture and release of exosomes
Authors: Cheng Jia , Zhu Nanhang , Zhang Yujia , Yu Yue , Kang Ke , Yi Qiangying , Wu Yao
Published: April 2022

Encountered with the immunomagnetic hedgehog particles, exosomes were positively selected with an exosomal marker (CD63) and negatively selected by depleting environmental pollutants (protein precipitates, cell debris) with the TiO2 nanospikes.
Tuning the circularly polarized luminescence of polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal films using chiral dopants
Authors: Lu Xiaohui , Zhou Ziqing , Ni Baining , Li Hongkun , Li Yi , Li Baozong , Liu Wei , Wang Yong , Yang Yonggang
Published: April 2022

PSCLC films embedded with a D-A type dye were obtained. Due to the synergetic effects of conformational/stacking chirality of the emissive dye and selective Bragg reflection, tuneable CPL performance was observed.
High performance achieved via core engineering and side-chain engineering in organic solar cells based on the penta-fused-ring acceptor
Authors: Li Fengting , Chen Yongjie , Fan Xin-Heng , Gao Cai-Yan , Zhu Xiaozhang , Yang Lian-Ming
Published: April 2022

Compared with the thiophene-based acceptor, the pyrrole-based acceptor exhibits a strong red-shift and the related device efficiency is significantly improved.