bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioprocess of astaxanthin extraction from shrimp waste via the common microorganisms Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus acidophilus in comparison to the chemical method
Authors: Hamdi Salwa A. H. , Ghonaim Ghadeer M. , El Sayed Rana R. , Rodríguez-Couto Susana , Abd El-Ghany Mohamed N.
Published: July 2022

This study compared microbiological and chemical methods used in astaxanthin extraction from the exoskeleton of the shrimp species Penaeus japonicus and Penaeus semisulcatus. The microbiological method was performed using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (bakery yeast) or Lactobacillus acidophilus (from yogurt), followed by solvent extraction with hexane and acetone at different ratios (1:1, 1:2, and 1:3). The chemical method was performed traditionally using hexane. The highest astaxanthin yield from P. japonicus exoskeleton was obtained using either S. cerevisiae or L. acidophilus followed by solvent extraction with hexane and acetone at a ratio of 1:1 (8.5 and 8.1 mg/g waste, respectively) as well as by the chemical method (8.4 mg/g waste). Likewise, the highest astaxanthin yield from P. semisulcatus exoskeleton was obtained using either S. cerevisiae or L. acidophilus followed by solvent extraction with hexane and acetone at a ratio of 1:1 (3.0 and 4.1 mg/g waste, respectively) as well as by the chemical method (3.2 mg/g waste). The values obtained from P. semisulcatus exoskeleton were considerably lower than those attained from P. japonicus exoskeleton. In addition, the nuclear magnetic resonance (C-NMR) analysis confirmed that astaxanthin was the main carotenoid present in the extract. In conclusion, the pretreatment of exoskeleton wastes of P. japonicus using S. cerevisiae followed by solvent extraction with hexane and acetone at a ratio of 1:1 as well as the classical chemical treatment led to the highest astaxanthin content.
Enantiomeric Cephalotaxus alkaloids from seeds of Cephalotaxus oliveri
Authors: Yu Guang-Xing , Wu Jing , Shi Bao-Bao , Bao Mei-Fen , Cai Xiang-Hai
Published: July 2022

Five undescribed alkaloids were isolated from the seeds of Cephalotaxus oliveri along with 27 known ones. The new structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR, MS and calculated ECD spectra. Among them, (+)-acetylcephalofortine C was an enantiomeric Cephalotaxine alkaloids. The performed bioassay revealed that those alkaloids were not cytotoxic against cancer cells and had no neuroprotective properties in the HEI-OC-1 cells model.
Acid–Base Homeostasis and Implications to the Phenotypic Behaviors of Cancer
Authors: Zhou Yi , Chang Wennan , Lu Xiaoyu , Wang Jin , Zhang Chi , Xu Ying
Published: July 2022

Acid–base homeostasis is a fundamental property of living cells, and its persistent disruption in human cells can lead to a wide range of diseases. In this study, we conducted a computational modeling analysis of transcriptomic data of 4750 human tissue samples of 9 cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Built on our previous study, we quantitatively estimated the average production rate of OH− by cytosolic Fenton reactions, which continuously disrupt the intracellular pH (pHi) homeostasis. Our predictions indicate that all or at least a subset of 43 reprogrammed metabolisms (RMs) are induced to produce net protons (H+) at comparable rates of Fenton reactions to keep the pHi stable. We then discovered that a number of well-known phenotypes of cancers, including increased growth rate, metastasis rate, and local immune cell composition, can be naturally explained in terms of the Fenton reaction level and the induced RMs. This study strongly suggests the possibility to have a unified framework for studies of cancer-inducing stressors, adaptive metabolic reprogramming, and cancerous behaviors. In addition, strong evidence is provided to demonstrate that a popular view that Na+/H+ exchangers along with lactic acid exporters and carbonic anhydrases are responsible for the intracellular alkalization and extracellular acidification in cancer may not be justified.
Arabic Sociolinguistics
Authors: Al-Wer Enam , Horesh Uri , Herin Bruno , De Jong Rudolf
Published: July 2022

Written by four leading experts, this book provides a comprehensive overview of sociolinguistic variation and linguistic change in Arabic. It introduces sociolinguistic theory, methods, and data step-by-step, using accessible language and extensive examples throughout. Topics covered include sociolinguistic methodology, social variables, language change, spatial variation, and contact and diffusion. Each topic is explained and illustrated using empirical data drawn from a wide array of Arabic-speaking communities in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as other parts of the world where Arabic is or was spoken, to provide a rich resource of individual dialects, as well as a comparative view of variation in Arabic. Each chapter also contains annotated suggestions for further reading and elaborate exercises. It is an essential resource for students studying Arabic in its social context, as well as anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of variation in Arabic.
Banishing the inner Econ and justifying paternalistic nudges
Authors: Hausman Daniel M.
Published: July 2022

Paternalistic nudging and framing aim to correct flaws in deliberation by relying on the same cognitive mechanisms that create those flaws. Regarding some choices as flawed and in need of correction requires some standard of correctness. In their well-known book, Nudge, Thaler and Sunstein take the individual's own “purified” preferences to be that standard, which is inconsistent with the finding of behavioral economics that individuals do not have a stable preference ranking of alternatives, but instead construct their preferences when faced with a choice. This essay defends an alternative, readily usable standard to judge whether individuals are choosing badly and whether nudges can help them to choose better.
The Chern classes and Euler characteristic of the moduli spaces of Abelian differentials
Authors: Costantini Matteo , Möller Martin , Zachhuber Jonathan
Published: July 2022

For the moduli spaces of Abelian differentials, the Euler characteristic is one of the most intrinsic topological invariants. We give a formula for the Euler characteristic that relies on intersection theory on the smooth compactification by multi-scale differentials. It is a consequence of a formula for the full Chern polynomial of the cotangent bundle of the compactification.

The main new technical tools are an Euler sequence for the cotangent bundle of the moduli space of multi-scale differentials and computational tools in the Chow ring, such as a description of normal bundles to boundary divisors.
Reynolds number dependence of Lagrangian dispersion in direct numerical simulations of anisotropic magnetohydrodynamic turbulence
Authors: Pratt J. , Busse A. , Müller W.-C.
Published: July 2022

Large-scale magnetic fields thread through the electrically conducting matter of the interplanetary and interstellar medium, stellar interiors and other astrophysical plasmas, producing anisotropic flows with regions of high-Reynolds-number turbulence. It is common to encounter turbulent flows structured by a magnetic field with a strength approximately equal to the root-mean-square magnetic fluctuations. In this work, direct numerical simulations of anisotropic magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence influenced by such a magnetic field are conducted for a series of cases that have identical resolution, and increasing grid sizes up to

$2048^3$

. The result is a series of closely comparable simulations at Reynolds numbers ranging from 1400 up to 21 000. We investigate the influence of the Reynolds number from the Lagrangian viewpoint by tracking fluid particles and calculating single-particle and two-particle statistics. The influence of Alfvénic fluctuations and the fundamental anisotropy on the MHD turbulence in these statistics is discussed. Single-particle diffusion curves exhibit mildly superdiffusive behaviours that differ in the direction aligned with the magnetic field and the direction perpendicular to it. Competing alignment processes affect the dispersion of particle pairs, in particular at the beginning of the inertial subrange of time scales. Scalings for relative dispersion, which become clearer in the inertial subrange for a larger Reynolds number, can be observed that are steeper than indicated by the Richardson prediction.
Physics of gust response mitigation in open-loop pitching manoeuvres
Authors: Sedky Girguis , Gementzopoulos Antonios , Andreu-Angulo Ignacio , Lagor Francis D. , Jones Anya R.
Published: July 2022

This paper experimentally investigates the flow field development and unsteady loading of three force-mitigating pitch manoeuvres during a transverse gust encounter. The manoeuvres are constructed using varying levels of theoretical and simulation fidelity and implemented as open-loop kinematics in a water towing tank. It is found that pitch actuation during a gust encounter results in two important changes in flow topology: (i) early detachment of the leading-edge vortex (LEV) and (ii) formation of an LEV on the pressure side of the wing upon gust exit. Each of the pitch manoeuvres is found to mitigate a significant portion of the circulatory contribution of the lift force while only manoeuvres with accurate modelling of the added-mass force are found to adequately mitigate the total lift force. The penalty of aerodynamic lift mitigation using pitch manoeuvres was a twofold increase in the pitching moment transients experienced by the wing for all cases. By quantifying changes in the vertical gust momentum before and after the encounter, lift-mitigating manoeuvres were found to reduce the disturbance to the gust's flow field, thereby reducing the momentum exchange between the gust and the wing.
Inversion of a Stokes glacier flow model emulated by deep learning
Authors: Jouvet Guillaume
Published: July 2022

Data assimilation in high-order ice flow modeling is a challenging and computationally costly task, yet crucial to find ice thickness and ice flow parameter distributions that are consistent with ice flow mechanics and mass balance while best matching observations. Failing to find these distributions that are required as initial conditions leads to a disequilibrium between mass balance and ice flow, resulting in nonphysical transient effects in the prognostic model. Here we tackle this problem by inverting an emulator of the Stokes ice flow model based on deep learning. By substituting the ice flow equations using a convolutional neural network emulator, we simplify, make more robust and dramatically speed up the solving of the underlying optimization problem thanks to automatic differentiation, stochastic gradient methods and implementation of graphics processing unit (GPU). We demonstrate this process by simultaneously inferring the ice thickness distribution, ice flow parametrization and ice surface of ten of the largest glaciers in Switzerland. As a result, we obtain a high degree of assimilation while guaranteeing an equilibrium between mass-balance and ice flow mechanics. The code runs very efficiently (optimizing one large-size glacier at 100 m takes < 1 min on a laptop) while it is open-source and publicly available.
Pain, medicine and the monitoring of war violence: the case of rifle bullets (1868–1918)
Authors: Garibian Taline
Published: July 2022

The St Petersburg declaration, signed in 1868, is a milestone in the history of warfare and humanitarian law, as it prohibits the use of explosive bullets, which are considered to cause unnecessary suffering. As this article shows, the framing of this declaration that put suffering at its centre, as well as the development of the humanitarian movement, favoured the birth of a new field of expertise: wound ballistics. The wars that broke out after the declaration was signed are the subject of intense scrutiny, while the advances in weaponry, and notably, the creation by the British of a new expansive bullet, provided physicians with new fields of investigation. Numerous experiments have attempted to reproduce the effects of bullets on different materials, including corpses. Based on numerous medical reports and publications, as well as military archives from France and the United Kingdom, this investigation critically examines the notion of pain, its assessment and its use in the monitoring of war violence. It argues that, paradoxically, the greater attention paid to suffering has resulted in a need to objectify pain. This rationalisation and the quest for the quantification of suffering have not been without bias and have shifted attention away from care and treatment.
How alternative splicing changes the properties of plant proteins
Authors: Kashkan Ivan , Timofeyenko Ksenia , Růžička Kamil
Published: July 2022

Most plant primary transcripts undergo alternative splicing (AS), and its impact on protein diversity is a subject of intensive investigation. Several studies have uncovered various mechanisms of how particular protein splice isoforms operate. However, the common principles behind the AS effects on protein function in plants have rarely been surveyed. Here, on the selected examples, we highlight diverse tissue expression patterns, subcellular localization, enzymatic activities, abilities to bind other molecules and other relevant features. We describe how the protein isoforms mutually interact to underline their intriguing roles in altering the functionality of protein complexes. Moreover, we also discuss the known cases when these interactions have been placed inside the autoregulatory loops. This review is particularly intended for plant cell and developmental biologists who would like to gain inspiration on how the splice variants encoded by their genes of interest may coordinately work.
Dual-channel LIDAR searching, positioning, tracking and landing system for rotorcraft from ships at sea
Authors: Zeng Tao , Wang Hua , Sun Xiucong , Li Hui , Lu Zhen , Tong Feifei , Cheng Hao , Zheng Canlun , Zhang Mengying
Published: July 2022

To address the shortcomings of existing methods for rotorcraft searching, positioning, tracking and landing on a ship at sea, a dual-channel LIDAR searching, positioning, tracking and landing system (DCLSPTLS) is proposed in this paper, which utilises the multi-pulse laser echoes accumulation method and the physical phenomenon that the laser reflectivity of the ship deck in the near-infrared band is four orders of magnitude higher than that of the sea surface. The DCLSPTLS searching and positioning model, tracking model and landing model are established, respectively. The searching and positioning model can provide estimates of the azimuth angle, the distance of the ship relative to the rotorcraft and the ship's course. With the above parameters as inputs, the total tracking time and the direction of the rotorcraft tracking speed can be obtained by using the tracking model. The landing model can calculate the pitch and the roll angles of the ship's deck relative to the rotorcraft by using the least squares method and the laser irradiation coordinates. The simulation shows that the DCLSPTLS can realise the functions of rotorcraft searching, positioning, tracking and landing by using the above parameters. To verify the effectiveness of the DCLSPTLS, a functional test is performed using a rotorcraft and a model ship on a lake. The test results are consistent with the results of the simulation.
The optimal cyclical design for a target benefit pension plan
Authors: Chen Lv , Li Danping , Wang Yumin , Zhu Xiaobai
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we derive the optimal cyclical design of a target benefit (TB) pension plan that balances the sustainability and the benefit stability using the optimal control approach. The optimal design possesses a linear risk sharing structure with cyclical parameters. We observe that the optimal design should be pro-cyclical in the usual circumstances, but counter-cyclical when the pension plan is severely in deficit. We compare the TB plans with the defined benefit plans and conclude that a more aggressive investment strategy should be adopted for the TB plans. In the end, we provide a cautionary note on the optimal control approach in the study of the TB plans.
A Consequential Partnership
Authors: Bilz Ludwig , Fischer Saskia M. , Hoppe-Herfurth Anne-Cathrin , John Nancy
Published: July 2022

Abstract. Many studies have focused on the effects of teachers’ well-being on the development of students, in particular their academic achievement. To date, little is known about the association between teachers’ well-being and students’ well-being. In the present study, we analyzed this relationship and examined the mediating role of teacher support using linked data from 2,686 students and 805 teachers from 48 schools in Germany. Multilevel regression analyses showed a relationship between teachers’ emotional exhaustion and students’ subjective health complaints and between teachers’ psychological well-being and students’ satisfaction with school. The latter association was mediated by teacher support as perceived by students. This study extends current knowledge about the relevance of teachers’ well-being to their students’ socio-emotional development and the mechanisms that underlie this association. Implications for promoting of mental health in schools and for future research are discussed.
A Lubrication‐Based Solver for Shear‐Thinning Flow in Rough Fractures
Authors: Lenci A. , Putti M. , Di Federico V. , Méheust Y.
Published: July 2022

The depth‐averaged (2D) lubrication theory is often adopted to simulate Newtonian flow in rough fractures. This approach, which is computationally much less expensive than using 3D CFD solvers, allows addressing large ensembles of stochastic fracture realizations. For creeping flow, the degree of approximation introduced is limited as long as the apertures vary relatively smoothly. We propose the first generalization of this approach addressing the flow of fluids whose rheology, described by the Ellis model, is shear‐thinning (ST) above a crossover shear stress and Newtonian (of viscosity μ0) below. The resulting nonlinear Reynolds equation for pressures is solved for a vast range of realistic rheological parameter values using a novel and specifically designed finite volume‐based numerical model. The spatial discretization takes inspiration from the graph p‐Laplacian to yield a symmetric Newton Jacobian, allowing for a highly efficient inexact implementation of the preconditioned conjugate gradient‐based Newton‐Krylov method. This is combined with a parameter continuation strategy to increase code robustness and ensure global convergence for flow indices as low as 0.1 with an excellent efficiency. This original solver is used to investigate realistic synthetic rough fracture geometries, which exhibits both self‐affinity and a correlation length. The results show that the ST rheology mitigates the effects of aperture heterogeneities, increasing fracture transmissivity by several orders of magnitudes as compared to the Newtonian flow of viscosity μ0 if the imposed macroscopic gradient is sufficiently large, and even rendering the rough fracture up to 10 times more permeable than a smooth fracture of identical mean aperture.
Deep-ultraviolet nonlinear optical crystals: concept development and materials discovery
Authors: Kang Lei , Lin Zheshuai
Published: July 2022

Deep-ultraviolet (DUV, wavelength λ < 200 nm) nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal is the core component of frequency conversion to generate DUV laser, which plays an important role in cutting-edge laser technology and fundamental science. Significant progress has been made in both experimental exploration and theoretical design in the field of DUV NLO crystals over the past three decades. In-depth insight into “structure-property correlations”, in particular, allows for rigorous and precise identification of DUV NLO crystals. In this article, we reviewed the current experimental and theoretical research progress while elucidating the core concepts and stringent criteria of qualified DUV phase-matched second-harmonic generation crystals. We also discussed the development of the DUV NLO “structure-property correlations” from first principles and how it has sparked interest in related materials, as well as future directions for obtaining potential DUV NLO crystals.
Extensible on-chip mode manipulations based on metamaterials
Authors: Zhang Xuanru , Cui Tie Jun
Published: July 2022

An extensible framework is proposed for on-chip spatial-mode manipulations based on metamaterial building blocks, which enables the excitation of arbitrarily high-order spatial modes in silicon waveguides. It makes a significant step towards the comprehensive and on-chip manipulations of spatial lights, and may provide promising opportunities for complex photonic functionalities.
B cell receptor signaling drives APOBEC3 expression via direct enhancer regulation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells
Authors: Wang Zhiquan , Yan Huihuang , Boysen Justin C. , Secreto Charla R. , Tschumper Renee C. , Ali Dania , Guo Qianqian , Zhong Jian , Zhou Jiaqi , Gan Haiyun , Yu Chuanhe , Jelinek Diane F. , Slager Susan L. , Parikh Sameer A. , Braggio Esteban , Kay Neil E.
Published: July 2022

Constitutively activated B cell receptor (BCR) signaling is a primary biological feature of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The biological events controlled by BCR signaling in CLL are not fully understood and need investigation. Here, by analysis of the chromatin states and gene expression profiles of CLL B cells from patients before and after Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) ibrutinib treatment, we show that BTKi treatment leads to a decreased expression of APOBEC3 family genes by regulating the activity of their enhancers. BTKi treatment reduces enrichment of enhancer marks (H3K4me1 and H3K27ac) and chromatin accessibility at putative APOBEC3 enhancers. CRISPR-Cas9 directed deletion or inhibition of the putative APOBEC3 enhancers leads to reduced APOBEC3 expression. We further find that transcription factor NFATc1 couples BCR signaling with the APOBEC3 enhancer activity to control APOBEC3 expression. We also find that enhancer-regulated APOBEC3 expression contributes to replication stress in malignant B cells. In total we demonstrate a novel mechanism for BTKi suppression of APOBEC3 expression via direct enhancer regulation in an NFATc1-dependent manner, implicating BCR signaling as a potential regulator of leukemic genomic instability.
Segmentation of macular neovascularization and leakage in fluorescein angiography images in neovascular age-related macular degeneration using deep learning
Authors: Holomcik David , Seeböck Philipp , Gerendas Bianca S. , Mylonas Georgios , Najeeb Bilal Haj , Schmidt-Erfurth Ursula , Deak Gabor
Published: July 2022

Background/objectives

We aim to develop an objective fully automated Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for MNV lesion size and leakage area segmentation on fluorescein angiography (FA) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Subjects/methods

Two FA image datasets collected form large prospective multicentre trials consisting of 4710 images from 513 patients and 4558 images from 514 patients were used to develop and evaluate a deep learning-based algorithm to detect CNV lesion size and leakage area automatically. Manual segmentation of was performed by certified FA graders of the Vienna Reading Center. Precision, Recall and F1 score between AI predictions and manual annotations were computed. In addition, two masked retina experts conducted a clinical-applicability evaluation, comparing the quality of AI based and manual segmentations.

Results

For CNV lesion size and leakage area segmentation, we obtained F1 scores of 0.73 and 0.65, respectively. Expert review resulted in a slight preference for the automated segmentations in both datasets. The quality of automated segmentations was slightly more often judged as good compared to manual annotations.

Conclusions

CNV lesion size and leakage area can be segmented by our automated model at human-level performance, its output being well-accepted during clinical applicability testing. The results provide proof-of-concept that an automated deep learning approach can improve efficacy of objective biomarker analysis in FA images and will be well-suited for clinical application.
Clinical enrollment assay to detect preexisting neutralizing antibodies to AAV6 with demonstrated transgene expression in gene therapy trials
Authors: Cao Liching , Ledeboer Annemarie , Pan Yonghua , Lu Yanmei , Meyer Kathleen
Published: July 2022

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are the leading platform for gene delivery for a variety of clinical applications. Patients with preexisting antibodies to AAV are currently excluded from most AAV gene therapy trials to avoid vector neutralization and ensure response to therapy. Anti-AAV neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are typically assessed by in vitro cell-based transduction inhibition (TI) assays. However, clinical relevance of the determined enrollment cutoff and the inherent variability of a cell-based assay present challenges for use as an enrollment screening test. Here, we describe an enrollment cutoff that was clinically validated and strategies to overcome assay challenges to enable long-term stable performance. A validated anti-AAV6 cell-based TI assay was used to support clinical enrollment across multiple investigational gene therapies and to evaluate AAV6 seroprevalence in healthy and disease populations. The clinical enrollment cutoff was determined statistically using samples collected from healthy donors, applying a 0.1% false error rate with the inclusion of a minimum significant ratio (MSR) metric and in consideration of results from in vivo mouse passive transfer studies. Our strategy for long-term monitoring and control of assay performance employed plate quality control samples flanking the predefined cutoff. An approach using donor samples was implemented to bridge different lots of critical reagents without the need to redefine the cutoff.
Nanoparticle suspensions from carbon-rich fluid make high-grade gold deposits
Authors: Petrella Laura , Thébaud Nicolas , Fougerouse Denis , Tattitch Brian , Martin Laure , Turner Stephen , Suvorova Alexandra , Gain Sarah
Published: July 2022

Economic gold deposits result from a 100- to 10,000-fold enrichment in gold relative to crustal background. In hydrothermal systems, this enrichment is achieved through the transport and accumulation of metals via deeply sourced fluids to a site of deposition. However, the generally low metal solubility of Au in aqueous solutions in orogenic systems requires additional processes in order to explain high-grade gold formation. Reports of Au nanoparticles in high-grade gold veins infer that their formation is linked to mineralisation. However, processes leading to nanoparticle nucleation and deposition remain poorly understood. Here we show that formation of metal nanoparticles (Au, AuAg, Cu, Ag2O) is one of the essential contributors to efficient and focused gold deposition. We report systematic and previously unrecognized metal nanoparticles preserved in amorphous silica and/or carbonic phases in five high-grade deposits. The association of metal, silica and carbonic phases helps to constrain the multiple reactive processes involved in Au, Cu and Ag metallogenesis and formation of high-grade gold mineralisation.
Rapid Eocene diversification of spiny plants in subtropical woodlands of central Tibet
Authors: Zhang Xinwen , Gélin Uriel , Spicer Robert A. , Wu Feixiang , Farnsworth Alexander , Chen Peirong , Del Rio Cédric , Li Shufeng , Liu Jia , Huang Jian , Spicer Teresa E. V. , Tomlinson Kyle W. , Valdes Paul J. , Xu Xiaoting , Zhang Shitao , Deng Tao , Zhou Zhekun , Su Tao
Published: July 2022

Spinescence is an important functional trait possessed by many plant species for physical defence against mammalian herbivores. The development of spinescence must have been closely associated with both biotic and abiotic factors in the geological past, but knowledge of spinescence evolution suffers from a dearth of fossil records, with most studies focusing on spatial patterns and spinescence-herbivore interactions in modern ecosystems. Numerous well-preserved Eocene (~39 Ma) plant fossils exhibiting seven different spine morphologies discovered recently in the central Tibetan Plateau, combined with molecular phylogenetic character reconstruction, point not only to the presence of a diversity of spiny plants in Eocene central Tibet but a rapid diversification of spiny plants in Eurasia around that time. These spiny plants occupied an open woodland landscape, indicated by numerous megafossils and grass phytoliths found in the same deposits, as well as numerical climate and vegetation modelling. Our study shows that regional aridification and expansion of herbivorous mammals may have driven the diversification of functional spinescence in central Tibetan woodlands, ~24 million years earlier than similar transformations in Africa.
Manipulating polariton condensates by Rashba-Dresselhaus coupling at room temperature
Authors: Li Yao , Ma Xuekai , Zhai Xiaokun , Gao Meini , Dai Haitao , Schumacher Stefan , Gao Tingge
Published: July 2022

Spin-orbit coupling plays an important role in the spin Hall effect and topological insulators. Bose-Einstein condensates with spin-orbit coupling show remarkable quantum phase transition. In this work we control an exciton polariton condensate – a macroscopically coherent state of hybrid light and matter excitations – by virtue of the Rashba-Dresselhaus (RD) spin-orbit coupling. This is achieved in a liquid-crystal filled microcavity where CsPbBr3 perovskite microplates act as the gain material at room temperature. Specifically, we realize an artificial gauge field acting on the CsPbBr3 exciton polariton condensate, splitting the condensate fractions with opposite spins in both momentum and real space. Besides the ground states, higher-order discrete polariton modes can also be split by the RD effect. Our work paves the way to manipulate exciton polariton condensates with a synthetic gauge field based on the RD spin-orbit coupling at room temperature.
Global stocks and capacity of mineral-associated soil organic carbon
Authors: Georgiou Katerina , Jackson Robert B. , Vindušková Olga , Abramoff Rose Z. , Ahlström Anders , Feng Wenting , Harden Jennifer W. , Pellegrini Adam F. A. , Polley H. Wayne , Soong Jennifer L. , Riley William J. , Torn Margaret S.
Published: July 2022

Soil is the largest terrestrial reservoir of organic carbon and is central for climate change mitigation and carbon-climate feedbacks. Chemical and physical associations of soil carbon with minerals play a critical role in carbon storage, but the amount and global capacity for storage in this form remain unquantified. Here, we produce spatially-resolved global estimates of mineral-associated organic carbon stocks and carbon-storage capacity by analyzing 1144 globally-distributed soil profiles. We show that current stocks total 899 Pg C to a depth of 1 m in non-permafrost mineral soils. Although this constitutes 66% and 70% of soil carbon in surface and deeper layers, respectively, it is only 42% and 21% of the mineralogical capacity. Regions under agricultural management and deeper soil layers show the largest undersaturation of mineral-associated carbon. Critically, the degree of undersaturation indicates sequestration efficiency over years to decades. We show that, across 103 carbon-accrual measurements spanning management interventions globally, soils furthest from their mineralogical capacity are more effective at accruing carbon; sequestration rates average 3-times higher in soils at one tenth of their capacity compared to soils at one half of their capacity. Our findings provide insights into the world’s soils, their capacity to store carbon, and priority regions and actions for soil carbon management.
Comparing high versus low-altitude populations to test human adaptations for increased ventilation during sustained aerobic activity
Authors: Callison W. Éamon , Kiyamu Melisa , Villafuerte Francisco C. , Brutsaert Tom D. , Lieberman Daniel E.
Published: July 2022

Despite aerobic activity requiring up to tenfold increases in air intake, human populations in high-altitude hypoxic environments can sustain high levels of endurance physical activity. While these populations generally have relatively larger chest and lung volumes, how thoracic motions actively increase ventilation is unknown. Here we show that rib movements, in conjunction with chest shape, contribute to ventilation by assessing how adulthood acclimatization, developmental adaptation, and population-level adaptation to high-altitude affect sustained aerobic activity. We measured tidal volume, heart rate, and rib-motion during walking and running in lowland individuals from Boston (~ 35 m) and in Quechua populations born and living at sea-level (~ 150 m) and at high altitude (> 4000 m) in Peru. We found that Quechua participants, regardless of birth or testing altitudes, increase thoracic volume 2.0–2.2 times more than lowland participants (p < 0.05). Further, Quechua individuals from hypoxic environments have deeper chests resulting in 1.3 times greater increases in thoracic ventilation compared to age-matched, sea-level Quechua (p < 0.05). Thus, increased thoracic ventilation derives from a combination of acclimatization, developmental adaptation, and population-level adaptation to aerobic demand in different oxygen environments, demonstrating that ventilatory demand due to environment and activity has helped shape the form and function of the human thorax.
MR lymphangiography of lymphatic abnormalities in children and adults with Noonan syndrome
Authors: Pieper C. C. , Wagenpfeil J. , Henkel A. , Geiger S. , Köster T. , Hoss K. , Luetkens J. A. , Hart C. , Attenberger U. I. , Müller A.
Published: July 2022

Noonan syndrome is associated with complex lymphatic abnormalities. We report dynamic-contrast enhanced MR lymphangiography (DCMRL) findings in children and adults with Noonan syndrome to further elucidate this complex disease spectrum. A retrospective evaluation of patients with confirmed Noonan syndrome and clinical signs of lymphatic dysfunction undergoing DCMRL between 01/2019 and 04/2021 was performed. MRL included T2-weighted imaging (T2w) and DCMRL. Clinical history/presentation and genetic variants were recorded. T2w-imaging was evaluated for central lymphatic abnormalities and edema distribution. DCMRL was evaluated regarding the presence of cisterna chyli/thoracic duct, lymphatic leakages, pathological lymphatic reflux and abnormal lymphatic perfusion. The time from start of contrast-injection to initial enhancement of the thoracic duct venous junction was measured to calculate the speed of contrast propagation. Eleven patients with Noonan syndrome with lymphatic abnormalities (5 female, 6 male; 7 infants, 4 adults; mean age 10.8 ± 16.4 years) were identified (PTPN11 n = 5/11 [45.5%], RIT1 n = 5/11 [45.5%], KRAS n = 1/11 [9%]). Patients had a chylothorax (n = 10/11 [91%]) and/or pulmonary lymphangiectasia [dilated pulmonary lymph vessels] (n = 9/11 [82%]). Mediastinal/pulmonary edema was depicted in 9/11 (82%) patients. The thoracic duct (TD) was (partially) absent in 10/11 (91%) cases. DCMRL showed lymphatic reflux into intercostal (n = 11/11 [100%]), mediastinal (n = 9/11 [82%]), peribronchial (n = 8/11 [73%]), peripheral (n = 5/11 [45.5%]) and genital lymphatics (n = 4/11 [36%]). Abnormal pulmonary/pleural lymphatic perfusion was seen in 8/11 patients (73%). At infancy peripheral/genital edema was more prevalent in patients with RIT1 than PTPN11 (n = 3/5 vs. n = 0/5). Compared to patients with PTPN11 who had fast lymphatic enhancement in 4/5 patients, enhancement took markedly longer in 4/5 patients with RIT1-mutations. Thoracic duct dysplasia, intercostal reflux and pulmonary/pleural lymphatic perfusion are characteristic findings in patients with Noonan syndrome presenting with chylothorax and/or pulmonary lymphangiectasia. Central lymphatic flow abnormalities show possible phenotypical differences between PTPN11 and RIT1-mutations.
Low predictive power of clinical features for relapse prediction after antidepressant discontinuation in a naturalistic setting
Authors: Berwian Isabel M. , Wenzel Julia G. , Kuehn Leonie , Schnuerer Inga , Seifritz Erich , Stephan Klaas E. , Walter Henrik , Huys Quentin J. M.
Published: July 2022

The risk of relapse after antidepressant medication (ADM) discontinuation is high. Predictors of relapse could guide clinical decision-making, but are yet to be established. We assessed demographic and clinical variables in a longitudinal observational study before antidepressant discontinuation. State-dependent variables were re-assessed either after discontinuation or before discontinuation after a waiting period. Relapse was assessed during 6 months after discontinuation. We applied logistic general linear models in combination with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and elastic nets to avoid overfitting in order to identify predictors of relapse and estimated their generalisability using cross-validation. The final sample included 104 patients (age: 34.86 (11.1), 77% female) and 57 healthy controls (age: 34.12 (10.6), 70% female). 36% of the patients experienced a relapse. Treatment by a general practitioner increased the risk of relapse. Although within-sample statistical analyses suggested reasonable sensitivity and specificity, out-of-sample prediction of relapse was at chance level. Residual symptoms increased with discontinuation, but did not relate to relapse. Demographic and standard clinical variables appear to carry little predictive power and therefore are of limited use for patients and clinicians in guiding clinical decision-making.
Short term outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants from a multicenter cohort study in Guangdong of China
Authors: Jia Chun-Hong , Feng Zhou-Shan , Lin Xiao-Jun , Cui Qi-Liang , Han Sha-Sha , Jin Ya , Liu Guo-Sheng , Yang Chuan-Zhong , Ye Xiao-Tong , Dai Yi-Heng , Liang Wei-Yi , Ye Xiu-Zhen , Mo Jing , Ding Lu , Wu Ben-Qing , Chen Hong-Xiang , Li Chi-Wang , Zhang Zhe , Rong Xiao , Huang Wei-Min , Shen Wei , Yang Bing-Yan , Lv Jun-Feng , Huo Le-Ying , Huang Hui-Wen , Rao Hong-Ping , Yan Wen-Kang , Yang Yong , Ren Xue-Jun , Liu Dong , Wang Fang-Fang , Diao Shi-Guang , Liu Xiao-Yan , You Chu-Ming , Meng Qiong , Wang Bin , Zhang Li-Juan , Huang Yu-Ge , Ao Dang , Li Wei-Zhong , Chen Jie-Ling , Chen Yan-Ling , Li Wei , Chen Zhi-Feng , Ding Yue-Qin , Li Xiao-Yu , Huang Yue-Fang , Lin Ni-Yang , Cai Yang-Fan , Wan Zhong-He , Ban Yi , Bai Bo , Li Guang-Hong , Yan Yue-Xiu , Wu Fan
Published: July 2022

With the increase in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, their outcome attracted worldwide attention. However, in China, the related studies are rare. The hospitalized records of ELBW infants discharged from twenty-six neonatal intensive care units in Guangdong Province of China during 2008–2017 were analyzed. A total of 2575 ELBW infants were enrolled and the overall survival rate was 55.11%. From 2008 to 2017, the number of ELBW infants increased rapidly from 91 to 466, and the survival rate improved steadily from 41.76% to 62.02%. Increased survival is closely related to birth weight (BW), regional economic development, and specialized hospital. The incidence of complications was neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (85.2%), oxygen dependency at 28 days (63.7%), retinopathy of prematurity (39.3%), intraventricular hemorrhage (29.4%), necrotizing enterocolitis (12.0%), and periventricular leukomalacia (8.0%). Among the 1156 nonsurvivors, 90.0% of infants died during the neonatal period (≤ 28 days). A total of 768 ELBW infants died after treatment withdrawal, for reasons of economic and/or poor outcome. The number of ELBW infants is increasing in Guangdong Province of China, and the overall survival rate is improving steadily.
The role of serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein in the assessment of fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Tajiri Hitoshi , Suzuki Mitsuyoshi , Bessho Kazuhiko , Ito Yoshinori , Murakami Jun , Hatori Reiko , Takano Tomoko , Miyoshi Yoko , Brooks Stephen
Published: July 2022

At present, noninvasive fibrosis markers are not available for the assessment of liver fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis C. Sixty-three children with chronic hepatitis C were included. Changes in Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein (M2BPGi) levels were evaluated in l3 of 27 treatment-naive patients during the natural course of disease (median 4, range 3–6 years). Changes during treatment were evaluated in 27 of 36 patients for 4 (2–9) years of posttreatment follow-up. There were significant differences in the levels of M2BPGi between control group and HCV F0 group (P = 0.002) and between control group and HCV F1 group (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that to discriminate stage F1 fibrosis from F0, the cut-off value was 0.95 for M2BPGi with a sensitivity of 52%, specificity of 90%, and area under the curve of 0.687. A substantial decrease in M2BPGi levels by treatment was shown from 0.98 ± 0.57 at pretreatment to 0.42 ± 0.15 at posttreatment (P < 0.001) in the 27 treated patients. Our study shows new findings that M2BPGi may be useful to predict the presence of a mild degree of fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis C, and such mild fibrosis may be quickly resolved by treatment.
Metabolic modeling-based drug repurposing in Glioblastoma
Authors: Tomi-Andrino Claudio , Pandele Alina , Winzer Klaus , King John , Rahman Ruman , Kim Dong-Hyun
Published: July 2022

The manifestation of intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity hinders the development of ubiquitous cancer treatments, thus requiring a tailored therapy for each cancer type. Specifically, the reprogramming of cellular metabolism has been identified as a source of potential drug targets. Drug discovery is a long and resource-demanding process aiming at identifying and testing compounds early in the drug development pipeline. While drug repurposing efforts (i.e., inspecting readily available approved drugs) can be supported by a mechanistic rationale, strategies to further reduce and prioritize the list of potential candidates are still needed to facilitate feasible studies. Although a variety of ‘omics’ data are widely gathered, a standard integration method with modeling approaches is lacking. For instance, flux balance analysis is a metabolic modeling technique that mainly relies on the stoichiometry of the metabolic network. However, exploring the network’s topology typically neglects biologically relevant information. Here we introduce Transcriptomics-Informed Stoichiometric Modelling And Network analysis (TISMAN) in a recombinant innovation manner, allowing identification and validation of genes as targets for drug repurposing using glioblastoma as an exemplar.
Impact of deafness on numerical tasks implying visuospatial and verbal processes
Authors: Buyle Margot , Vencato Valentina , Crollen Virginie
Published: July 2022

The literature suggests that deaf individuals lag behind their hearing peers in terms of mathematical abilities. However, it is still unknown how unique sensorimotor experiences, like deafness, might shape number-space interactions. We still do not know either the spatial frame of reference deaf individuals use to map numbers onto space in different numerical tasks. To examine these issues, deaf, hearing signer and hearing control adults were asked to perform a number comparison and a parity judgment task with the hands uncrossed and crossed over the body midline. Deafness appears to selectively affect the performance of the numerical task relying on verbal processes while keeping intact the task relying on visuospatial processes. Indeed, while a classic SNARC effect was found in all groups and in both hand postures of the number comparison task, deaf adults did not show the SNARC effect in both hand postures of the parity judgment task. These results are discussed in light of the spatial component characterizing the counting system used in sign language.
Sp1 induced gene TIMP1 is related to immune cell infiltration in glioblastoma
Authors: Liu Lu , Yang Shuyao , Lin Kefeng , Yu Xiaoman , Meng Jiaqi , Ma Chao , Wu Zheng , Hao Yuchao , Chen Ning , Ge Qi , Gao Wenli , Wang Xiang , Lam Eric W.-F. , Zhang Lin , Li Fangcheng , Jin Bilian , Jin Di
Published: July 2022

Tumor immune microenvironment exerts a profound effect on the population of infiltrating immune cells. Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) is frequently overexpressed in a variety of cells, particularly during inflammation and tissue injury. However, its function in cancer and immunity remains enigmatic. In this study, we find that TIMP1 is substantially up-regulated during tumorigenesis through analyzing cancer bioinformatics databases, which is further confirmed by IHC tissue microarrays of clinical samples. The TIMP1 level is significantly increased in lymphocytes infiltrating the tumors and correlated with cancer progression, particularly in GBM. Notably, we find that the transcriptional factor Sp1 binds to the promoter of TIMP1 and triggers its expression in GBM. Together, our findings suggest that the Sp1-TIMP1 axis can be a potent biomarker for evaluating immune cell infiltration at the tumor sites and therefore, the malignant progression of GBM.
A generalizable framework for spatially explicit exploration of soil organic carbon sequestration on global marginal land
Authors: Albers Ariane , Avadí Angel , Hamelin Lorie
Published: July 2022

Land-based CO2 removal demands changes in management or new suitable areas to sustainably grow additional biomass without reducing food supply or damaging natural ecosystems. The soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration pathway is thought to transfer atmospheric CO2 into a land unit, through plants, plant residues and other organic solids stored as part of the soil organic matter. No previous study explored SOC sequestration potentials on global marginal land. Here we integrated, into a generalizable modelling framework, the mapping of a set of biophysical (climatic and edaphic) and land conservation constraints to (i) identify suitable matches (i.e. biophysically possible combinations) of target areas with plant species, and (ii) to quantify contributions of pairing to long-term SOC sequestration (2020–2100). The proposed framework represents a refinement to previous mapping exercises, which seldom consider biophysical constraints, soil erosion, plant species tolerances to pedoclimatic conditions, and world protected areas. The approach was tested on marginal lands featuring SOC-deficient stocks (≤ 50 Mg SOC ha−1 to 30 cm depth) at 30 arc-sec resolution, consolidated into world regions × global ecological zones based on geo-localised products. The framework was shown to enable better-informed decision-making on interventions at large geographical scales, revealing biophysically realistic options, while management should be determined locally.