bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carascynol A, a hybrid of caryophyllane-type terpenoid and a C6 unit degraded by polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum ascyron
Authors: Hu Ya-Li , Li Xing-Ren , Xu Gang
Published: November 2022

Carascynol A, an unprecedented 4/9/8 ring system hybrid with a peroxide bridge, was characterized from Hypericum ascyron. The architecture contains a caryophyllane-type moiety and a C6 unit derived from polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols. Its structure and absolute configuration were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction data. Biologically, compound 1 inhibited cell proliferation in LoVo, SW480, and HCT116 cell lines (IC50 = 12.30–24.57 µM).

Graphical Abstract
Toward Interoperable Multi-hazard Modeling: A Disaster Management System for Disaster Model Service Chain
Authors: Jiang Wenyu , Wang Fei , Zheng Xiaocui , Zheng Xinxin , Qiao Xiaohui , Li Xin , Meng Qingxiang
Published: November 2022

A natural hazard-related disaster event often causes a series of secondary disasters, forming a disaster chain. Modeling the evolution of disaster chains in multi-hazard scenarios is crucial for risk governance and urban resilience. However, existing multi-hazard models are limited by complex model design and fixed disaster types, making it impossible to ensure flexible reactions to complex and diverse scenarios. This study presents a disaster management system for disaster model service chain (DMSC) to implement interoperable multi-hazard modeling. To achieve efficient model interaction in the DMSC, a management module is designed to normalize heterogeneous single-hazard models based on disaster system theory and the Open Geospatial Consortium standards, enabling them to be accessible, reusable, and interoperable. The normalized models are then adaptively orchestrated through an orchestration module to establish optimal executable DMSCs for different multi-hazard scenarios. Taking an earthquake disaster chain as a case study, we demonstrate that the disaster management system shows stable and flexible performance for multi-hazard modeling.
Application of geothermometric and hydrochemical methods to the investigation of thermal water of sources in the Northeastern of Algeria case of Setif city
Authors: Samir Djemmal , Khemissi Chamekh
Published: November 2022

Thermal water in northeastern Algeria (Setif) is a promising, sustainable resource of energy. To date, thermal water has not been used as a source of renewable energy in Algeria as no clear strategy has yet been developed for its use. In this study, eight samples of thermal water springs distributed within the area of Setif city were assessed, and their physical and chemical parameters (such as temperature, potential of hydrogen, electrical conductivity, and major ionic composition, including the K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, SO42− and HCO3−) were measured. The results show that the temperature, potential of hydrogen and the electrical conductivity range between 30 and 52 °C (as measured in field), 6.92 and 7.35, and 1170 and 3160 µS/cm, respectively. Furthermore, the results indicate the existence of four hydrogeochemical facies dominating the hydrogeological system, which are SO4–Ca, Na–SO4, HCO3–Na and Cl–Na. The interaction with Jurassic limestone and the existence of evaporates along the upwelling system, respectively, control this. Due to the high variation of temperature, different geothermometers were used to estimate the geothermal reservoir temperature, the application of silica geothermometer (Quartz), because it is the most suitable in our case, gives temperatures estimated at the origin of the order of 80° C. It is higher than that measured at emergence, it reflects an average dissipation of 48° C. According to an analysis of these findings and the geothermal gradient in the area, two aquifer systems of the thermal complex are supplied by a reservoir that is stored in fissured Jurassic limestone that is more than 2600 m deep.
Left by the left? The politics of poverty alleviation
Authors: Lierse Hanna , Seelkopf Laura
Published: November 2022

Research shows that low-income groups are increasingly left behind economically and excluded from the policy-making process of advanced democratic societies. This suggests that governments do not sufficiently address the needs of the poor. In this article, we explore to what extent labour power positively influences redistribution and policies for society overall and for the poor in specific. Following standard political economy arguments, a powerful working class leads to more egalitarian forms of capitalism as they are the main beneficiaries from redistribution. But do social-democratic parties and trade unions also represent the poorest in society, those who participate less in political decision-making and whose jobs are often not covered by collective bargaining agreements? Using comparative time-series data for 23 OECD countries since the 1980s, the findings suggest a positive role of the Left, at least for trade unions on poverty reduction, but less for specific policies benefiting the poor.
Por dentro da Engesa-Engenheiros Especializados, 1974–1990: Armas, negócios e inserção internacional de uma empresa brasileira
Authors: Domínguez Avila Carlos Federico
Published: November 2022

O artigo examina a ascensão e a queda da empresa Engesa-Engenheiros Especializados, especialmente entre 1974 e 1990. O artigo é resultado de pesquisa com fontes documentais recentemente desclassificadas pelo Arquivo Nacional. A documentação consultada sugere que, na fase de ascensão, a Engesa foi impulsionada por uma eficiente vinculação entre indústria de defesa, exportação de armamento e política externa brasileira, principalmente durante os governos burocrático-autoritários de Ernesto Geisel e João Figueiredo. Entretanto, fragilidades financeiras e administrativas, junto a uma infrutuosa e dispendiosa tentativa de salto tecnológico, acabaram colocando a empresa em uma situação insustentável, conduzindo finalmente à sua queda e falência no início da década de 1990. A experiência da Engesa constitui um exemplo significativo nas pesquisas sobre inovação tecnológica, estudos estratégicos e relações internacionais.
Stimulated political decisions: local leadership turnover and firm subsidies in China
Authors: Hou Yue , Li Siyao
Published: November 2022

How do politicians distribute government resources in regimes with no electoral considerations? We propose that new politicians minimize political risks by favoring politically important actors: state-owned enterprises (SOEs), but they adjust their behavior as they establish personal ties with private businesses. Using firm-level subsidies data after the 2008 stimulus in China, we find that new provincial governors, immediately after taking office, distribute a significantly larger proportion of subsidies to SOEs relative to private firms. The effect attenuates as new governors learn about local conditions and establish connections with private firms. We find suggestive evidence that governors who adopt such a strategy are more likely to be promoted. Contrary to conventional wisdom that the state always favors state-owned firms, we show that SOEs benefit from the stimulus packageonlyin the short-run.
On canonical Fano intrinsic quadrics
Authors: Hische Christoff
Published: November 2022

We classify all
$\mathbb{Q}$
-factorial Fano intrinsic quadrics of dimension three and Picard number one having at most canonical singularities.
A hydraulic actuator for joint robots with higher torque to weight ratio
Authors: Li Jiaqi , Cong Dacheng , Yang Yu , Yang ZhiDong
Published: November 2022

Joint actuators with a compact size and high power density are necessary for robots with rotating joints, making the hydraulic actuator (HyA) an ideal actuator candidate. This paper presents a joint HyA with the following characteristics: compact installation size of 70 mm × 92.5 mm × 145 mm, low weight of 1.93 kg, high output torque of 742.2 Nm/531.09 Nm in two directions under 210 bar, high torque to weight ratio of 265.5 Nm/kg, low internal leakage of about 9 mL/min, zero external leakage, low starting pressure of 0.26 MPa/0.39 MPa in two directions, and a large rotation angle of 135 degrees. Compared with HyAs that have been applied in robot joints, the HyA proposed in this paper can greatly reduce the joint weight, reduce the joint size, and ensure the control performance of the joint movement.

In addition, a dynamic model of the HyA is established. Based on this, some dynamic design suggestions are given. Furthermore, a simple position and torque control algorithm for the HyA is proposed. Finally, some experiments are carried out to verify the performance of the HyA.
Partial replacement of red and processed meat with legumes: a modelling study of the impact on nutrient intakes and nutrient adequacy on the population level
Authors: Kaartinen Niina E , Tapanainen Heli , Maukonen Mirkka , Päivärinta Essi , Valsta Liisa M , Itkonen Suvi T , Pajari Anne-Maria , Männistö Satu
Published: November 2022

Objective:

The shift towards plant-based diets with less meat and more legumes is a global target and requires an understanding of the consequences of dietary adequacy on the population level. Our aim was to model the impact of partial replacement of red and processed meat with legumes on nutrient intakes and population shares below dietary reference intakes.

Design:

Modelling study with three scenarios anchored in meat cut-offs: ≤ 70 g/d (Finnish dietary guideline); ≤ 50 g/d (Danish dietary guideline); ≤ 30 g/d (EAT-Lancet recommendation). In all subjects, the amount of meat in grams over the cut-off was replaced with the same amount of legumes. The SPADE method was used to model usual intake distributions. Meaningful differences in average intakes and in population shares below dietary reference intakes compared to the reference (FinDiet) were evaluated based on non-overlapping 95 % CI.

Setting:

Finnish national food consumption survey (FinDiet 2017).

Subjects:

Finnish adults (n 1655) aged18–74 years (47 % men).

Results:

The scenarios introduced increases in the average intakes of fibre, folate, K, Mg, Cu and Fe, and decreases in intakes of saturated fat, niacin, vitamin B12, Se and Zn. Meaningful shifts of the usual intake distributions of fibre and folate towards improvement in intakes emerged already in ‘scenario 70 g’. Overall, distribution shifts towards a higher probability of inadequate intakes of the studied nutrients were not observed.

Conclusions:

These results support the public health message to partly replace meat with legumes and may benefit nutrition policy actions towards sustainable diets in the Nordic countries and beyond.
Climate Change and the Politics of Responsibility
Authors: Goodhart Michael
Published: November 2022

This article theorizes the politics of responsibility—activist struggles over who will be held accountable for structural injustices like the “catastrophic” changes underway in our climate. To do so, it develops a politicized conception of responsibility, one that treats responsibility as a social construct and a terrain of contestation. Building on the work of feminist philosophers of responsibility and on the praxis of “kayaktivism,” this politicized account treats responsibility as a social practice of interrogating and contesting shared ethico-political judgments. On this understanding, taking responsibility or stepping up is a way ofmakingresponsibility—literally of (re)constructing those social practices and judgments through conscious efforts to persuade others, challenge prevailing norms and interpretations, change people’s beliefs about how the world works, revise popular expectations of social actors and institutions, and disrupt business as usual. The article highlights the centrality of norms and power to social practices of responsibility and suggests alternative perspectives on familiar philosophical worries about blame, complexity and agency, and justification.
The remains of a large cercopithecid from the Lower Pleistocene locality of Karnezeika (southern Greece)
Authors: SIANIS Panagiotis D. , ATHANASSIOU Αthanassios , KOSTOPOULOS Dimitris S. , ROUSSIAKIS Socrates , KARGOPOULOS Nikolaos , ILIOPOULOS George
Published: November 2022

The Lower Pleistocene Karnezeika locality, lies in the Peloponnese, southern Greece, and its fauna corresponds to the Middle Villafranchian biochronological unit (MN17). The recovered mammal assemblage includes, among others, a few remains of a large Cercopithecid. Herein, we describe this material, including an upper second molar, a partially preserved proximal radius and, possibly, an upper first incisor. The teeth show advanced stages of wear but retain their typical papionin characters, such as a strong lingual cleft and four bilophodont cusps in the molar. The general morphology and wear pattern of the teeth rules out the possibility that the remains belong to the genus Theropithecus, while the general size of the corresponding material excludes the possibility of a Macaca representative as well. On the contrary, the studied material better fits the size range of Paradolichopithecus. Even though this genus is likely represented in the Villafranchian of Europe by a single species, Par. arvernensis, the scarcity of the studied material imposes reservations and thus the Karnezeika papionin is referred at the moment to cf. Paradolichopithecus sp. As in the rest of Europe, the Paradolichopithecus record is rare in Greece, having been found in only two localities, Vatera and Dafnero. Despite its scarcity, the new material from Karnezeika indicates a wide distribution of this important taxon in the Greek peninsula.
The risks of autonomous weapons: An analysis centred on the rights of persons with disabilities
Authors: Díaz Figueroa Mariana , Henao Orozco Anderson , Martínez Jesús , Muñoz Jaime Wanda
Published: November 2022

Autonomous weapons systems have been the subject of heated debate since 2010, when Philip Alston, then Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions, brought the issue to the international spotlight in his interim report to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly 65th Session. Alston affirmed that “automated technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and artificial intelligence reasoning and decision-making abilities are actively being researched and receive significant funding. States’ militaries and defence industry developers are working to develop ‘fully autonomous capability’, such that technological advances in artificial intelligence will enable unmanned aerial vehicles to make and execute complex decisions, including the identification of human targets and the ability to kill them.”1 Later, in 2013, Christof Heyns, who was Special Rapporteur for Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions at the time, published a report that elaborated further on the issues raised by what he called “lethal autonomous robotics”.2 Following a recommendation by Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters at the UN General Assembly 68th Session, the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, as amended on 21 December 2021, started discussing autonomous weapons systems in 2014. Then, the Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (GGE on LAWS)3 was created in 2016 to focus on this issue.4 While the group has kept meeting since then, no clear steps have been taken yet towards a normative framework on autonomous weapons as of September 2022.

In all these years, persons with disabilities – including conflict survivors – have not been included in discussions, nor has the disability perspective been reflected in international debate on autonomous weapons. Only recently has there been any effort to consider the rights of persons with disabilities when examining ethical questions related to artificial intelligence (AI). In this article, we will examine how and why autonomous weapons have a disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities, because of the discrimination that results from a combination of factors such as bias in AI, bias in the military and the police, barriers to justice and humanitarian assistance in situations of armed conflict, and the lack of consultation and participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations on issues related to autonomy in weapons systems.
A Tsunami Generated by a Strike‐Slip Event: Constraints From GPS and SAR Data on the 2018 Palu Earthquake
Authors: Simons Wim , Broerse Taco , Shen Lin , Kleptsova Olga , Nijholt Nicolai , Hooper Andrew , Pietrzak Julie , Morishita Yu , Naeije Marc , Lhermitte Stef , Herman Matthew , Sarsito Dina Anggreni , Efendi Joni , Sofian  , Govers Rob , Vigny Christophe , Abidin Hasanuddin Zainal , Pramono Gatot Haryo , Nugroho Cahyo , Visser Pieter , Riva Riccardo
Published: November 2022

A devastating tsunami struck Palu Bay in the wake of the 28 September 2018 Mw = 7.5 Palu earthquake (Sulawesi, Indonesia). With a predominantly strike‐slip mechanism, the question remains whether this unexpected tsunami was generated by the earthquake itself, or rather by earthquake‐induced landslides. In this study we examine the tsunami potential of the co‐seismic deformation. To this end, we present a novel geodetic data set of Global Positioning System and multiple Synthetic Aperture Radar‐derived displacement fields to estimate a 3D co‐seismic surface deformation field. The data reveal a number of fault bends, conforming to our interpretation of the tectonic setting as a transtensional basin. Using a Bayesian framework, we provide robust finite fault solutions of the co‐seismic slip distribution, incorporating several scenarios of tectonically feasible fault orientations below the bay. These finite fault scenarios involve large co‐seismic uplift (>2 m) below the bay due to thrusting on a restraining fault bend that connects the offshore continuation of two parallel onshore fault segments. With the co‐seismic displacement estimates as input we simulate a number of tsunami cases. For most locations for which video‐derived tsunami waveforms are available our models provide a qualitative fit to leading wave arrival times and polarity. The modeled tsunamis explain most of the observed runup. We conclude that co‐seismic deformation was the main driver behind the tsunami that followed the Palu earthquake. Our unique geodetic data set constrains vertical motions of the sea floor, and sheds new light on the tsunamigenesis of strike‐slip faults in transtensional basins.
Fluorescence polarization modulation super-resolution imaging provides refined dynamics orientation processes in biological samples
Authors: Brasselet Sophie
Published: November 2022

Combining polarization modulation Fourier analysis and spatial information in a joint reconstruction algorithm for polarization-resolved fluorescence imaging provides not only a gain in spatial resolution but also a sensitive readout of anisotropy in cell samples.
Comparison of lithium levels between suicide and non-suicide fatalities: Cross-sectional study
Authors: Ando Shuntaro , Suzuki Hideto , Matsukawa Takehisa , Usami Satoshi , Muramatsu Hisanori , Fukunaga Tatsushige , Yokoyama Kazuhito , Okazaki Yuji , Nishida Atsushi
Published: November 2022

Ecological studies have suggested the protective effect of micro-dose lithium in drinking water against suicide, however, the association between body lithium level and suicide is unknown. We aimed to compare body lithium levels between suicide and non-suicide fatalities. This cross-sectional study included 12 suicides and 16 non-suicides who were examined or dissected at the Tokyo Medical Examiner’s Office from March 2018 to June 2021. The aqueous humor lithium concentration was measured twice using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare the lithium concentration between suicides and non-suicides. Mixed-effects model was conducted to account for all lithium concentration data. The aqueous humor lithium concentration did not change after death (t(7) = −0.70, $$\bar v = - 0.02$$

v

¯

=
−
0.02

, SE = 0.03, 95% CI = [−0.09, 0.05], P = 0.51, Cohen’s d = 0.01). The aqueous humor lithium concentration was lower in suicides (mean 0.50 μg/L (variance s2 0.04)) than in non-suicides (mean 0.92 μg/L (s2 0.07)) (t(26) = 4.47, $$\bar v = 0.42$$

v

¯

=
0.42

, SE = 0.09, 95% CI = [0.22 to 0.61], P < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.71). The ANCOVA showed that death by suicide was significantly associated with lower lithium concentration (F(1, 24) = 8.57, P = 0.007), and the effect size was large (ηp2 = 0.26). The random intercept model showed a significant effect of suicide on aqueous humor lithium concentration (b = −0.261, SE = 0.102, 95% CI = [−0.471 to −0.051], t(24) = −2.568, P = 0.017). The results of this study demonstrate that even micro-dose lithium is associated with suicide death. Clinical studies are warranted to examine the effects of micro-dose lithium on suicide prevention.
EGFR tyrosine kinase activity and Rab GTPases coordinate EGFR trafficking to regulate macrophage activation in sepsis
Authors: Zhang Xuedi , Chen Cuiping , Ling Chunxiu , Luo Shuhua , Xiong Ziying , Liu Xiaolei , Liao Chaoxiong , Xie Pengyun , Liu Youtan , Zhang Liangqing , Chen Zhanghui , Liu Zhifeng , Tang Jing
Published: November 2022

EGFR phosphorylation is required for TLR4-mediated macrophage activation during sepsis. However, whether and how intracellular EGFR is transported during endotoxemia have largely been unknown. Here, we show that LPS promotes high levels cell surface expression of EGFR in macrophages through two different transport mechanisms. On one hand, Rab10 is required for EEA1-mediated the membrane translocation of EGFR from the Golgi. On the other hand, EGFR phosphorylation prevents its endocytosis in a kinase activity-dependent manner. Erlotinib, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, significantly reduced membrane EGFR expression in LPS-activated macrophage. Mechanistically, upon LPS induced TLR4/EGFR phosphorylation, MAPK14 phosphorylated Rab7a at S72 impaired membrane receptor late endocytosis, which maintains EGFR membrane localization though blocking its lysosomal degradation. Meanwhile, Rab5a is also involved in the early endocytosis of EGFR. Subsequently, inhibition of EGFR phosphorylation switches M1 phenotype to M2 phenotype and alleviates sepsis-induced acute lung injury. Mechanistic study demonstrated that Erlotinib suppressed glycolysis-dependent M1 polarization via PKM2/HIF-1ɑ pathway and promoted M2 polarization through up-regulating PPARγ induced glutamine metabolism. Collectively, our data elucidated a more in-depth mechanism of macrophages activation, and provided stronger evidence supporting EGFR as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of sepsis.
Splicing factor SRSF3 represses translation of p21cip1/waf1 mRNA
Authors: Kim Jeeho , Park Ra Young , Kee Younghoon , Jeong Sunjoo , Ohn Takbum
Published: November 2022

Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3) is an RNA binding protein that most often regulates gene expression at the splicing level. Although the role of SRSF3 in mRNA splicing in the nucleus is well known, its splicing-independent role outside of the nucleus is poorly understood. Here, we found that SRSF3 exerts a translational control of p21 mRNA. Depletion of SRSF3 induces cellular senescence and increases the expression of p21 independent of p53. Consistent with the expression patterns of SRSF3 and p21 mRNA in the TCGA database, SRSF3 knockdown increases the p21 mRNA level and its translation efficiency as well. SRSF3 physically associates with the 3′UTR region of p21 mRNA and the translational initiation factor, eIF4A1. Our study proposes a model in which SRSF3 regulates translation by interacting with eIF4A1 at the 3′UTR region of p21 mRNA. We also found that SRSF3 localizes to the cytoplasmic RNA granule along with eIF4A1, which may assist in translational repression therein. Thus, our results provide a new mode of regulation for p21 expression, a crucial regulator of the cell cycle and senescence, which occurs at the translational level and involves SRSF3.
CircFOXO3 protects against osteoarthritis by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating PI3K/AKT-mediated autophagy
Authors: Zhao Chen , Li Xiaodong , Sun Guantong , Liu Pengcheng , Kong Keyu , Chen Xuzhuo , Yang Fei , Wang Xiaoqing
Published: November 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disorder causing pain and functional disability. Emerging evidence reveals that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play essential roles in OA progression and development. This study aimed to investigate the role of a novel circRNA factor, circFOXO3, in the progression of OA and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanism. The function of circFOXO3 in OA and interaction between circFOXO3 and its downstream mRNA target, forkhead box O3 (FOXO3), were evaluated by western blot (WB), immunofluorescence (IF), RNA immunoprecipitation, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Upregulation of circFOXO3 and autophagic flux were detected both in vivo and in vitro by WB, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), IF, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). A mouse model of OA was also used to confirm the role of circFOXO3 in OA pathogenesis in vivo. Decreased expression of circFOXO3 in OA cartilage tissues was directly associated with excessive apoptosis and imbalance between anabolic and catabolic factors of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Mechanistically, circFOXO3 functioned in cartilage by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating autophagy. Intra-articular injection of lentivirus-circFOXO3 alleviated OA in the mouse model. In conclusion, our results reveal the key role played by circFOXO3 in OA progression; circFOXO3 overexpression may alleviate apoptosis of chondrocytes and promote anabolism of the ECM via activation of FOXO3 and autophagy, providing a potentially effective novel therapeutic strategy for OA.
Necroptosis-mediated HMGB1 secretion of keratinocytes as a key step for inflammation development in contact hypersensitivity
Authors: Lian Ni , Chen Yujie , Chen Sihan , Xiao Ta , Song Changjun , Ke Yangying , Wei Xuecui , Gong Chunyan , Yu Hui , Gu Heng , Chen Qing , Li Min , Chen Xu
Published: November 2022

Keratinocyte necroptosis (with proinflammatory characteristic) is required for epidermal damage in contact hypersensitivity (CHS). In DNCB-induced CHS mice model, we observed the aggravated keratinocyte death and increased phosphorylation level of MLKL, RIPK3 and RIPK1. However, CHS skin lesion did not present in keratinocyte-specific Mlkl knockout mice. We validated that MLKL-mediated keratinocyte necroptosis is required for epidermal damage in response to immune microenvironment in CHS. Moreover, MLKL-mediated necroptosis deficiency or inhibition resulted in blocking recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells in CHS via reducing HMGB1 release in keratinocytes. This study suggests that MLKL-mediated keratinocyte necroptosis functions as a self-amplified actor in inflammatory responses and could be considered as an effective therapeutic target. It proposes an innovative prospective that inhibiting keratinocyte necroptosis can prevent the development of epidermal damage in CHS.
Social interactions lead to motility-induced phase separation in fire ants
Authors: Anderson Caleb , Fernandez-Nieves Alberto
Published: November 2022

Collections of fire ants are a form of active matter, as the ants use their internal metabolism to self-propel. In the absence of aligning interactions, theory and simulations predict that active matter with spatially dependent motility can undergo motility-induced phase separation. However, so far in experiments, the motility effects that drive this process have come from either crowding or an external parameter. Though fire ants are social insects that communicate and cooperate in nontrivial ways, we show that the effect of their interactions can also be understood within the framework of motility-induced phase separation. In this context, the slowing down of ants when they approach each other results in an effective attraction that can lead to space-filling clusters and an eventual formation of dynamical heterogeneities. These results illustrate that motility-induced phase separation can provide a unifying framework to rationalize the behavior of a wide variety of active matter systems.
Polarization-controlled tunable directional spin-driven photocurrents in a magnetic metamaterial with threefold rotational symmetry
Authors: Matsubara Masakazu , Kobayashi Takatsugu , Watanabe Hikaru , Yanase Youichi , Iwata Satoshi , Kato Takeshi
Published: November 2022

Future spintronics and quantum technologies will require a portfolio of techniques for manipulating electron spins in functional nanodevices. Especially, the establishment of the methods to control spin current is the key ingredient essential for the transfer and processing of information, enabling faster and low-energy operation. However, a universal method for manipulating spin currents with full-directional controllability and tunable magnitude has not been established. Here we show that an artificial material called a magnetic metamaterial (MM), which possesses a novel spintronic functionality not exhibited by the original substance, generates photo-driven ultrafast spin currents at room temperature via the magneto-photogalvanic effect. By tuning the polarization state of the excitation light, these spin currents can be directed with tunable magnitude along an arbitrary direction in the two-dimensional plane of the MM. This new concept may guide the design and creation of artificially engineered opto-spintronic functionalities beyond the limitations of conventional material science.
An epifluidic electronic patch with spiking sweat clearance for event-driven perspiration monitoring
Authors: Kim Sangha , Park Seongjin , Choi Jina , Hwang Wonseop , Kim Sunho , Choi In-Suk , Yi Hyunjung , Kwak Rhokyun
Published: November 2022

Sensory neurons generate spike patterns upon receiving external stimuli and encode key information to the spike patterns, enabling energy-efficient external information processing. Herein, we report an epifluidic electronic patch with spiking sweat clearance using a sensor containing a vertical sweat-collecting channel for event-driven, energy-efficient, long-term wireless monitoring of epidermal perspiration dynamics. Our sweat sensor contains nanomesh electrodes on its inner wall of the channel and unique sweat-clearing structures. During perspiration, repeated filling and abrupt emptying of the vertical sweat-collecting channel generate electrical spike patterns with the sweat rate and ionic conductivity proportional to the spike frequency and amplitude over a wide dynamic range and long time (> 8 h). With such ‘spiking’ sweat clearance and corresponding electronic spike patterns, the epifluidic wireless patch successfully decodes epidermal perspiration dynamics in an event-driven manner at different skin locations during exercise, consuming less than 0.6% of the energy required for continuous data transmission. Our patch could integrate various on-skin sensors and emerging edge computing technologies for energy-efficient, intelligent digital healthcare.
Multi-scale organization in communicating active matter
Authors: Ziepke Alexander , Maryshev Ivan , Aranson Igor S. , Frey Erwin
Published: November 2022

The emergence of collective motion among interacting, self-propelled agents is a central paradigm in non-equilibrium physics. Examples of such active matter range from swimming bacteria and cytoskeletal motility assays to synthetic self-propelled colloids and swarming microrobots. Remarkably, the aggregation capabilities of many of these systems rely on a theme as fundamental as it is ubiquitous in nature: communication. Despite its eminent importance, the role of communication in the collective organization of active systems is not yet fully understood. Here we report on the multi-scale self-organization of interacting self-propelled agents that locally process information transmitted by chemical signals. We show that this communication capacity dramatically expands their ability to form complex structures, allowing them to self-organize through a series of collective dynamical states at multiple hierarchical levels. Our findings provide insights into the role of self-sustained signal processing for self-organization in biological systems and open routes to applications using chemically driven colloids or microrobots.
SAMHD1 deacetylation by SIRT1 promotes DNA end resection by facilitating DNA binding at double-strand breaks
Authors: Kapoor-Vazirani Priya , Rath Sandip K. , Liu Xu , Shu Zhen , Bowen Nicole E. , Chen Yitong , Haji-Seyed-Javadi Ramona , Daddacha Waaqo , Minten Elizabeth V. , Danelia Diana , Farchi Daniela , Duong Duc M. , Seyfried Nicholas T. , Deng Xingming , Ortlund Eric A. , Kim Baek , Yu David S.
Published: November 2022

Sterile alpha motif and HD domain-containing protein 1 (SAMHD1) has a dNTPase-independent function in promoting DNA end resection to facilitate DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair by homologous recombination (HR); however, it is not known if upstream signaling events govern this activity. Here, we show that SAMHD1 is deacetylated by the SIRT1 sirtuin deacetylase, facilitating its binding with ssDNA at DSBs, to promote DNA end resection and HR. SIRT1 complexes with and deacetylates SAMHD1 at conserved lysine 354 (K354) specifically in response to DSBs. K354 deacetylation by SIRT1 promotes DNA end resection and HR but not SAMHD1 tetramerization or dNTPase activity. Mechanistically, K354 deacetylation by SIRT1 promotes SAMHD1 recruitment to DSBs and binding to ssDNA at DSBs, which in turn facilitates CtIP ssDNA binding, leading to promotion of genome integrity. These findings define a mechanism governing the dNTPase-independent resection function of SAMHD1 by SIRT1 deacetylation in promoting HR and genome stability.
Molecular differences between younger versus older ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancers
Authors: Qing Tao , Karn Thomas , Rozenblit Mariya , Foldi Julia , Marczyk Michal , Shan Naing Lin , Blenman Kim , Holtrich Uwe , Kalinsky Kevin , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Pusztai Lajos
Published: November 2022

The RxPONDER and TAILORx trials demonstrated benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in patients age ≤ 50 with node-positive breast cancer and Recurrence Score (RS) 0–26, and in node-negative disease with RS 16–25, respectively, but no benefit in older women with the same clinical features. We analyzed transcriptomic and genomic data of ER+/HER2− breast cancers with in silico RS < 26 from TCGA (n = 530), two microarray cohorts (A: n = 865; B: n = 609), the METABRIC (n = 867), and the SCAN-B (n = 1636) datasets. There was no difference in proliferation-related gene expression between age groups. Older patients had higher mutation burden and more frequent ESR1 copy number gain, but lower frequency of GATA3 mutations. Younger patients had higher rate of ESR1 copy number loss. In all datasets, younger patients had significantly lower mRNA expression of ESR1 and ER-associated genes, and higher expression of immune-related genes. The ER- and immune-related gene signatures showed negative correlation and defined three subpopulations in younger women: immune-high/ER-low, immune-intermediate/ER-intermediate, and immune-low/ER-intermediate. We hypothesize that in immune-high cancers, the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapy may drive the benefit, whereas in immune-low/ER-intermediate cancers chemotherapy induced ovarian suppression may play important role.
Microfluidics-integrated spaceflight hardware for measuring muscle strength of Caenorhabditis elegans on the International Space Station
Authors: Soni Purushottam , Anupom Taslim , Lesanpezeshki Leila , Rahman Mizanur , Hewitt Jennifer E. , Vellone Matthew , Stodieck Louis , Blawzdziewicz Jerzy , Szewczyk Nathaniel J. , Vanapalli Siva A.
Published: November 2022

Caenorhabditis elegansis a low-cost genetic model that has been flown to the International Space Station to investigate the influence of microgravity on changes in the expression of genes involved in muscle maintenance. These studies showed that genes that encode muscle attachment complexes have decreased expression under microgravity. However, it remains to be answered whether the decreased expression leads to concomitant changes in animal muscle strength, specifically across multiple generations. We recently reported the NemaFlex microfluidic device for the measurement of muscle strength ofC. elegans(Rahman et al., Lab Chip, 2018). In this study, we redesign our original NemaFlex device and integrate it with flow control hardware for spaceflight investigations considering mixed animal culture, constraints on astronaut time, crew safety, and on-orbit operations. The technical advances we have made include (i) a microfluidic device design that allows animals of a given size to be sorted from unsynchronized cultures and housed in individual chambers, (ii) a fluid handling protocol for injecting the suspension of animals into the microfluidic device that prevents channel clogging, introduction of bubbles, and crowding of animals in the chambers, and (iii) a custom-built worm-loading apparatus interfaced with the microfluidic device that allows easy manipulation of the worm suspension and prevents fluid leakage into the surrounding environment. Collectively, these technical advances enabled the development of new microfluidics-integrated hardware for spaceflight studies inC. elegans. Finally, we report Earth-based validation studies to test this new hardware, which has led to it being flown to the International Space Station.
Feasibility of novel adult tuberculosis vaccination in South Africa: a cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis
Authors: Jayawardana Sahan , Weerasuriya Chathika K. , Pelzer Puck T. , Seeley Janet , Harris Rebecca C. , Tameris Michele , Tait Dereck , White Richard G. , Asaria Miqdad
Published: November 2022

Early trials of novel vaccines against tuberculosis (TB) in adults have suggested substantial protection against TB. However, little is known about the feasibility and affordability of rolling out such vaccines in practice. We conducted expert interviews to identify plausible vaccination implementation strategies for the novel M72/AS01E vaccine candidate. The strategies were defined in terms of target population, coverage, vaccination schedule and delivery mode. We modelled these strategies to estimate long-term resource requirements and health benefits arising from vaccination over 2025–2050. We presented these to experts who excluded strategies that were deemed infeasible, and estimated cost-effectiveness and budget impact for each remaining strategy. The four strategies modelled combined target populations: either everyone aged 18–50, or all adults living with HIV, with delivery strategies: either a mass campaign followed by routine vaccination of 18-year olds, or two mass campaigns 10 years apart. Delivering two mass campaigns to all 18–50-year olds was found to be the most cost-effective strategy conferring the greatest net health benefit of 1.2 million DALYs averted having a probability of being cost-effective of 65–70%. This strategy required 38 million vaccine courses to be delivered at a cost of USD 507 million, reducing TB-related costs by USD 184 million while increasing ART costs by USD 79 million. A suitably designed adult TB vaccination programme built around novel TB vaccines is likely to be cost-effective and affordable given the resource and budget constraints in South Africa.
Intron-encoded cistronic transcripts for minimally invasive monitoring of coding and non-coding RNAs
Authors: Truong Dong-Jiunn Jeffery , Armbrust Niklas , Geilenkeuser Julian , Lederer Eva-Maria , Santl Tobias Heinrich , Beyer Maren , Ittermann Sebastian , Steinmaßl Emily , Dyka Mariya , Raffl Gerald , Phlairaharn Teeradon , Greisle Tobias , Živanić Milica , Grosch Markus , Drukker Micha , Westmeyer Gil Gregor
Published: November 2022

Despite their fundamental role in assessing (patho)physiological cell states, conventional gene reporters can follow gene expression but leave scars on the proteins or substantially alter the mature messenger RNA. Multi-time-point measurements of non-coding RNAs are currently impossible without modifying their nucleotide sequence, which can alter their native function, half-life and localization. Thus, we developed the intron-encoded scarless programmable extranuclear cistronic transcript (INSPECT) as a minimally invasive transcriptional reporter embedded within an intron of a gene of interest. Post-transcriptional excision of INSPECT results in the mature endogenous RNA without sequence alterations and an additional engineered transcript that leaves the nucleus by hijacking the nuclear export machinery for subsequent translation into a reporter or effector protein. We showcase its use in monitoring interleukin-2 (IL2) after T cell activation and tracking the transcriptional dynamics of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1 during CRISPR interference-mediated perturbation. INSPECT is a method for monitoring gene transcription without altering the mature lncRNA or messenger RNA of the target of interest.
MINSTED nanoscopy enters the Ångström localization range
Authors: Weber Michael , von der Emde Henrik , Leutenegger Marcel , Gunkel Philip , Sambandan Sivakumar , Khan Taukeer A. , Keller-Findeisen Jan , Cordes Volker C. , Hell Stefan W.
Published: November 2022

Super-resolution techniques have achieved localization precisions in the nanometer regime. Here we report all-optical, room temperature localization of fluorophores with precision in the Ångström range. We built on the concept of MINSTED nanoscopy where precision is increased by encircling the fluorophore with the low-intensity central region of a stimulated emission depletion (STED) donut beam while constantly increasing the absolute donut power. By blue-shifting the STED beam and separating fluorophores by on/off switching, individual fluorophores bound to a DNA strand are localized with σ = 4.7 Å, corresponding to a fraction of the fluorophore size, with only 2,000 detected photons. MINSTED fluorescence nanoscopy with single-digit nanometer resolution is exemplified by imaging nuclear pore complexes and the distribution of nuclear lamin in mammalian cells labeled by transient DNA hybridization. Because our experiments yield a localization precision σ = 2.3 Å, estimated for 10,000 detected photons, we anticipate that MINSTED will open up new areas of application in the study of macromolecular complexes in cells.
A western United States snow reanalysis dataset over the Landsat era from water years 1985 to 2021
Authors: Fang Yiwen , Liu Yufei , Margulis Steven A.
Published: November 2022

Water stored in mountain snowpacks (i.e., snow water equivalent, SWE) represents an important but poorly characterized component of the terrestrial water cycle. The Western United States snow reanalysis (WUS–SR) dataset is novel in its combination of spatial resolution (~500 m), spatial extent (31°–49° N; 102°–125° W), and temporal continuity (daily over 1985–2021). WUS–SR is generated using a Bayesian framework with model-based snow estimates updated through the assimilation of cloud-free Landsat fractional snow-covered area observations. Over the WUS, the peak SWE verification with independent in situ measurements show correlation coefficient, mean difference (MD), and root mean squared difference (RMSD) of 0.77, −0.15 m, and 0.28 m, respectively. The effects of forest cover and Landsat image availability on peak SWE are assessed. WUS–SR peak SWE is well correlated (ranging from 0.75 to 0.91) against independent lidar-derived SWE taken near April 1st, with MD <0.15 m and RMSD <0.38 m. The dataset is useful for characterizing WUS mountain snow storage, and ultimately for improving snow-derived water resources management.
Threat learning impairs subsequent associative inference
Authors: de Vries Olivier T. , Grasman Raoul P. P. P. , Kindt Merel , van Ast Vanessa A.
Published: November 2022

Despite it being widely acknowledged that the most important function of memory is to facilitate the prediction of significant events in a complex world, no studies to date have investigated how our ability to infer associations across distinct but overlapping experiences is affected by the inclusion of threat memories. To address this question, participants (n = 35) encoded neutral predictive associations (A → B). The following day these memories were reactivated by pairing B with a new aversive or neutral outcome (B → CTHREAT/NEUTRAL) while pupil dilation was measured as an index of emotional arousal. Then, again 1 day later, the accuracy of indirect associations (A → C?) was tested. Associative inferences involving a threat learning memory were impaired whereas the initial memories were retroactively strengthened, but these effects were not moderated by pupil dilation at encoding. These results imply that a healthy memory system may compartmentalize episodic information of threat, and so hinders its recall when cued only indirectly. Malfunctioning of this process may cause maladaptive linkage of negative events to distant and benign memories, and thereby contribute to the development of clinical intrusions and anxiety.
A large-scale dataset reveals taxonomic and functional specificities of wild bee communities in urban habitats of Western Europe
Authors: Fauviau Arthur , Baude Mathilde , Bazin Nicolas , Fiordaliso William , Fisogni Alessandro , Fortel Laura , Garrigue Joseph , Geslin Benoît , Goulnik Jérémie , Guilbaud Laurent , Hautekèete Nina , Heiniger Charlène , Kuhlmann Michael , Lambert Olivier , Langlois Dominique , Le Féon Violette , Lopez Vaamonde Carlos , Maillet Grégory , Massol François , Michel Nadia , Michelot-Antalik Alice , Michez Denis , Mouret Hugues , Piquot Yves , Potts Simon G. , Roberts Stuart , Ropars Lise , Schurr Lucie , Van Reeth Colin , Villalta Irène , Zaninotto Vincent , Dajoz Isabelle , Henry Mickaël
Published: November 2022

Wild bees are declining, mainly due to the expansion of urban habitats that have led to land-use changes. Effects of urbanization on wild bee communities are still unclear, as shown by contrasting reports on their species and functional diversities in urban habitats. To address this current controversy, we built a large dataset, merging 16 surveys carried out in 3 countries of Western Europe during the past decades, and tested whether urbanization influences local wild bee taxonomic and functional community composition. These surveys encompassed a range of urbanization levels, that were quantified using two complementary metrics: the proportion of impervious surfaces and the human population density. Urban expansion, when measured as a proportion of impervious surfaces, but not as human population density, was significantly and negatively correlated with wild bee community species richness. Taxonomic dissimilarity of the bee community was independent of both urbanization metrics. However, occurrence rates of functional traits revealed significant differences between lightly and highly urbanized communities, for both urbanization metrics. With higher human population density, probabilities of occurrence of above-ground nesters, generalist and small species increased. With higher soil sealing, probabilities of occurrence of above-ground nesters, generalists and social bees increased as well. Overall, these results, based on a large European dataset, suggest that urbanization can have negative impacts on wild bee diversity. They further identify some traits favored in urban environments, showing that several wild bee species can thrive in cities.