bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of G protein-biased agonists of μ-opioid receptor on addiction-related behaviors
Authors: Kudla Lucja , Przewlocki Ryszard
Published: April 2021

Opioid analgesics remain a gold standard for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. However, their clinical utility is seriously limited by a range of adverse effects. Among them, their high-addictive potential appears as very important, especially in the context of the opioid epidemic. Therefore, the development of safer opioid analgesics with low abuse potential appears as a challenging problem for opioid research. Among the last few decades, different approaches to the discovery of novel opioid drugs have been assessed. One of the most promising is the development of G protein-biased opioid agonists, which can activate only selected intracellular signaling pathways. To date, discoveries of several biased agonists acting via μ-opioid receptor were reported. According to the experimental data, such ligands may be devoid of at least some of the opioid side effects, such as respiratory depression or constipation. Nevertheless, most data regarding the addictive properties of biased μ-opioid receptor agonists are inconsistent. A global problem connected with opioid abuse also requires the search for effective pharmacotherapy for opioid addiction, which is another potential application of biased compounds. This review discusses the state-of-the-art on addictive properties of G protein-biased μ-opioid receptor agonists as well as we analyze whether these compounds can diminish any symptoms of opioid addiction. Finally, we provide a critical view on recent data connected with biased signaling and its implications to in vivo manifestations of addiction.

Graphic abstract
A cross-national analysis of cultural representations in English textbooks used in China and Germany
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Su Xiaoli
Published: April 2021

Culture learning is complicated in teaching English as an international language (EIL), given the global contexts in which English is being used for various purposes. This study aims to examine cultural representations in four series of high school English language textbooks distributed in China and Germany. It categorized cultures into four cultural types and four cultural elements within each type of culture in order to question the breadth and depth of cultural representations. The findings indicate that China’s English textbooks seem to balance among different cultures, but they still present factual knowledge and static information. The underlying value orientations are therefore underestimated. Germany’s English textbooks encompass the majority of contents about the target culture and put the emphasis on students' multicultural perspectives, communicative competence and intercultural skills. Thus, target cultures dominate cultural contents and source cultures are rare in Germany’s textbooks. Lastly, the findings are discussed and some recommendations for textbook writers and English teachers are suggested.
Differential Self-control Effects: Moral Filtering and the Subsidiary Relevance of Self-control
Authors: Hirtenlehner Helmut , Leitgöb Heinz
Published: April 2021

Criminological research has identified low self-control as major cause of criminal activity. However, astonishingly little is known about the individual and situational characteristics that affect the functioning of self-control in relation to crime. Recent theorizing, especially in the context of Situational Action Theory, suggests that the interplay of personal and contextual morality creates a morally preselected choice set whose composition determines the relevance of self-control. Guided by the ideas of differential self-control effects and a moral filtering of action alternatives, the present inquiry investigates whether the role of self-control in crime causation depends on the power of moral factors to exclude crime from the set of the considered behavioral options. We argue that the significance of an individual’s capacity for self-control increases with a growing weakness of the moral filter, reaching its maximum when both personal and setting morality encourage criminal activity. Analyses of self-report data on adolescent vandalism delinquency provide support for differential self-control effects. The general picture is that self-control ability matters most when the strength of the moral filter hits a low, which is when both an individual’s own moral rules and the moral norms of the setting facilitate offending. Further evidence suggests that crime contemplation is highest when individual morality and setting morality jointly encourage vandalism. There is also indication that trait self-control has a greater effect on vandalism delinquency at higher levels of crime contemplation. All these results accord with the notion of a subsidiary relevance of control.
Correction to: Strong field physics pursued with petawatt lasers
Authors: Pathak Vishwa Bandhu , Lee Seong Ku , Pae Ki Hong , Hojbota Calin Ioan , Kim Chul Min , Nam Chang Hee
Published: April 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Probability and Forensic Evidence
Authors: Meester Ronald , Slooten Klaas
Published: April 2021

This book addresses the role of statistics and probability in the evaluation of forensic evidence, including both theoretical issues and applications in legal contexts. It discusses what evidence is and how it can be quantified, how it should be understood, and how it is applied (and, sometimes, misapplied). After laying out their philosophical position, the authors begin with a detailed study of the likelihood ratio. Following this grounding, they discuss applications of the likelihood ratio to forensic questions, in the abstract and in concrete cases. The analysis of DNA evidence in particular is treated in great detail. Later chapters concern Bayesian networks, frequentist approaches to evidence, the use of belief functions, and the thorny subject of database searches and familial searching. Finally, the authors provide commentary on various recommendation reports for forensic science. Written to be accessible to a wide audience of applied mathematicians, forensic scientists, and scientifically-oriented legal scholars, this book is a must-read for all those interested in the mathematical and philosophical foundations of evidence and belief.
The Feedback of Cold Wakes on Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Karnauskas Kristopher B. , Zhang Lei , Emanuel Kerry A.
Published: April 2021

Tropical cyclones (TCs) cause negative sea surface temperature anomalies by vertical mixing and other processes. Such cold wakes can cover substantial areas and persist for a month or longer. It has long been hypothesized that cold wakes left behind by intense TCs reduce the likelihood of subsequent TC development. Here, we combine satellite observations, a global atmospheric model, and a high‐resolution TC downscaling model to test this hypothesis and examine the feedback of cold wakes on subsequent TC tracks and intensities. Overall, cold wakes reduce the frequency of weak to moderate events but increase the incidence of very intense events. There is large spatial heterogeneity in the TC response, such as a southward shift of track density in response to cold wakes similar to that generated by Florence (2018). Cold wakes may be important for modeling and forecasting TCs, interpreting historical records and understanding feedbacks in a changing climate.
Radiometric Temperature Determination in Nongray Bridgmanite: Applications to Melting Curve and Post‐Perovskite Transition Boundary in the Lower Mantle
Authors: Lobanov Sergey S. , Speziale Sergio , Lin Jung‐Fu , Schifferle Lukas , Schreiber Anja
Published: April 2021

Experiments in laser‐heated diamond anvil cells (LH DACs) are conducted to assess phase diagrams of planetary materials at high pressure‐temperature (P‐T) conditions; thus, reliable determination of temperature in LH DAC experiments is essential. Radiometric temperature determination in LH DACs relies on the assumption of sample's wavelength‐independent optical properties (graybody assumption), which is not justified for major lower mantle materials. The result is that experimental phase diagrams contain systematic unconstrained errors. Here we estimate the systematic error in radiometric temperature of nongray polycrystalline bridgmanite (Bgm; Mg0.96Fe2+0.036Fe3+0.014Si0.99O3) in a LH DAC by modeling emission and absorption of thermal radiation in a sample with experimentally‐constrained optical properties. A comparison to experimental data validates the models and reveals that thermal spectra measured in LH DAC experiments record the interaction of radiation with the hot nongray sample. The graybody assumption in the experiments on translucent Bgm (light extinction coefficient, k < ∼250 cm‐1 at 500–900 nm) yields temperatures ∼5% higher than the maximum temperature in the sample heated to ∼1900 K. In contrast, the graybody temperature of dark Bgm (k > ∼1500 cm−1), such as that produced upon melt quenching in LH DACs, underestimates the maximum temperature by ∼10%. Our experimental results pose quantitative constraints on the effect of nongray optical properties on the uncertainty of radiometric temperature determination in Bgm in the LH DACs. Evaluating nongray temperature in the future would enable a revision of the Bgm to post‐perovskite phase transition and the high‐pressure melting curve of Bgm.
Thank You to Our 2020 Reviewers
Authors: East Amy E. , Finnegan Noah J. , Hoitink A. J. F. (Ton) , Sergienko Olga V.
Published: April 2021

Key Points

The editors thank the 2020 peer reviewers
Interactions between PDA-associated polymorphisms and genetic ancestry alter ductus arteriosus gene expression
Authors: Clyman Ronald I. , Hills Nancy K. , Dagle John M. , Murray Jeffrey C. , Kelsey Keegan
Published: April 2021

Background

DNA polymorphisms in PTGIS and TFAP2B have been identified as risk factors for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in a population composed of preterm infants with European genetic ancestry but not in more genetically diverse populations.

Goal

To determine if the effects of TFAP2B and PTGIS polymorphisms on ductus arteriosus (DA) gene expression differ based on genetic ancestry.

Methods

DA from 273 human second trimester fetuses were genotyped for TFAP2B and PTGIS polymorphisms and for polymorphisms distributing along genetic ancestry lines. RT-PCR was used to measure the RNA expression of 49 candidate genes involved with DA closure.

Results

Seventeen percent of the DA analyzed were of European ancestry. In multivariable regression analyses we found consistent associations between four PDA-related TFAP2B polymorphisms (rs2817399(A), rs987237(G), rs760900(C), and rs2817416(C)) and expression of the following genes: EPAS1, CACNB2, ECE1, KCNA2, ATP2A3, EDNRA, EDNRB, BMP9, and BMP10, and between the PTGIS haplotype rs493694(G)/rs693649(A) and PTGIS and NOS3. These changes only occurred in DA with European ancestry. No consistent positive or negative associations were found among DA samples unless an interaction between the polymorphisms and genetic ancestry was taken into account.

Conclusion

PTGIS and TFAP2B polymorphisms were associated with consistent changes in DA gene expression when present in fetuses with European ancestry.

Impact

DNA polymorphisms in PTGIS and TFAP2B have been identified as risk factors for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in a population composed primarily of preterm infants with European genetic ancestry but not in more genetically diverse populations.

The same PTGIS and TFAP2B polymorphisms are associated with changes in ductus gene expression when present in ductus from fetuses with European genetic ancestry.

No consistent associations with gene expression can be found unless an interaction between the polymorphisms and genetic ancestry is taken into account.
Cannabis, schizophrenia genetic risk, and psychotic experiences: a cross-sectional study of 109,308 participants from the UK Biobank
Authors: Wainberg Michael , Jacobs Grace R. , di Forti Marta , Tripathy Shreejoy J.
Published: April 2021

Cannabis is known to produce acute, transient psychotic-like experiences. However, it is unclear whether cannabis disproportionately increases the risk of specific types of psychotic experiences and whether genetic predisposition influences the relationship between cannabis use and psychotic experiences. In this cross-sectional study of 109,308 UK Biobank participants, we examined how schizophrenia polygenic risk modulates the association between self-reported cannabis use and four types of self-reported psychotic experiences (auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, persecutory delusions, and delusions of reference). Cohort-wide, we found a strong, dose-dependent relationship between cannabis use and all four types of psychotic experiences, especially persecutory delusions. Cannabis users’ psychotic experiences tended to be earlier-onset and cause greater distress than non-users’, but were not more likely to lead to help-seeking. Participants with high schizophrenia polygenic risk scores showed stronger associations between cannabis use and auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, and delusions of reference, as well as psychotic experiences overall. For instance, cannabis ever-use was associated with 67% greater adjusted odds of delusions of reference among individuals in the top fifth of polygenic risk, but only 7% greater adjusted odds among the bottom fifth. Our results suggest that cannabis use is a predictive risk factor for psychotic experiences, including early-onset and distressing experiences. Individuals genetically predisposed to schizophrenia may be especially vulnerable to psychotic experiences as a result of using cannabis, supporting a long-postulated hypothesis. This study exemplifies the utility of population-scale biobanks for elucidating gene-by-environment interactions relating substance use to neuropsychiatric outcomes and points to the translational potential of using polygenic risk scores to inform personalized harm reduction interventions.
LncRNA-FKBP1C regulates muscle fiber type switching by affecting the stability of MYH1B
Authors: Yu Jia-ao , Wang Zhijun , Yang Xin , Ma Manting , Li Zhenhui , Nie Qinghua
Published: April 2021

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are well-known to participate in a variety of important regulatory processes in myogenesis. In our previous RNA-seq study (accession number GSE58755), we found that lncRNA-FKBP1C was differentially expressed between White Recessive Rock (WRR) and Xinghua (XH) chicken. Here, we have further demonstrated that lncRNA-FKBP1C interacted directly with MYH1B by biotinylated RNA pull-down assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). Protein stability and degradation experiments identified that lncRNA-FKBP1C enhanced the protein stability of MYH1B. Overexpression of lncRNA-FKBP1C inhibited myoblasts proliferation, promoted myoblasts differentiation, and participated in the formation of skeletal muscle fibers. LncRNA-FKBP1C could downregulate the fast muscle genes and upregulate slow muscle genes. Conversely, its interference promoted cell proliferation, repressed cell differentiation, and drove the transformation of slow-twitch muscle fibers to fast-twitch muscle fibers. Similar results were observed after knockdown of the MYH1B gene, but the difference was that the MYH1B gene had no effects on fast muscle fibers. In short, these data demonstrate that lncRNA-FKBP1C could bound with MYH1B and enhance its protein stability, thus affecting proliferation, differentiation of myoblasts and conversion of skeletal muscle fiber types.
Publisher Correction: A computational reward learning account of social media engagement
Authors: Lindström Björn , Bellander Martin , Schultner David T. , Chang Allen , Tobler Philippe N. , Amodio David M.
Published: April 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22067-6
Climate signals in river flood damages emerge under sound regional disaggregation
Authors: Sauer Inga J. , Reese Ronja , Otto Christian , Geiger Tobias , Willner Sven N. , Guillod Benoit P. , Bresch David N. , Frieler Katja
Published: April 2021

Climate change affects precipitation patterns. Here, we investigate whether its signals are already detectable in reported river flood damages. We develop an empirical model to reconstruct observed damages and quantify the contributions of climate and socio-economic drivers to observed trends. We show that, on the level of nine world regions, trends in damages are dominated by increasing exposure and modulated by changes in vulnerability, while climate-induced trends are comparably small and mostly statistically insignificant, with the exception of South & Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Asia. However, when disaggregating the world regions into subregions based on river-basins with homogenous historical discharge trends, climate contributions to damages become statistically significant globally, in Asia and Latin America. In most regions, we find monotonous climate-induced damage trends but more years of observations would be needed to distinguish between the impacts of anthropogenic climate forcing and multidecadal oscillations.
Net-zero emission targets for major emitting countries consistent with the Paris Agreement
Authors: van Soest Heleen L. , den Elzen Michel G. J. , van Vuuren Detlef P.
Published: April 2021

Over 100 countries have set or are considering net-zero emissions or neutrality targets. However, most of the information on emissions neutrality (such as timing) is provided for the global level. Here, we look at national-level neutrality-years based on globally cost-effective 1.5 °C and 2 °C scenarios from integrated assessment models. These results indicate that domestic net zero greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions in Brazil and the USA are reached a decade earlier than the global average, and in India and Indonesia later than global average. These results depend on choices like the accounting of land-use emissions. The results also show that carbon storage and afforestation capacity, income, share of non-CO2 emissions, and transport sector emissions affect the variance in projected phase-out years across countries. We further compare these results to an alternative approach, using equity-based rules to establish target years. These results can inform policymakers on net-zero targets.
GCG inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication by disrupting the liquid phase condensation of its nucleocapsid protein
Authors: Zhao Ming , Yu Yu , Sun Li-Ming , Xing Jia-Qing , Li Tingting , Zhu Yunkai , Wang Miao , Yu Yin , Xue Wen , Xia Tian , Cai Hong , Han Qiu-Ying , Yin Xiaoyao , Li Wei-Hua , Li Ai-Ling , Cui Jiuwei , Yuan Zhenghong , Zhang Rong , Zhou Tao , Zhang Xue-Min , Li Tao
Published: April 2021

Lack of detailed knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 infection has been hampering the development of treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we report that RNA triggers the liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, N. By analyzing all 29 proteins of SARS-CoV-2, we find that only N is predicted as an LLPS protein. We further confirm the LLPS of N during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among the 100,849 genome variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the GISAIDdatabase, we identify that ~37% (36,941) of the genomes contain a specific trio-nucleotide polymorphism (GGG-to-AAC) in the coding sequence of N, which leads to the amino acid substitutions, R203K/G204R. Interestingly, NR203K/G204Rexhibits a higher propensity to undergo LLPS and a greater effect onIFNinhibition. By screening the chemicals known to interfere with N-RNA binding in other viruses, we find that (-)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG), a polyphenol from green tea, disrupts the LLPS of N and inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication. Thus, our study reveals that targeting N-RNA condensation with GCG could be a potential treatment for COVID-19.
A bacterial small RNA regulates the adaptation of Helicobacter pylori to the host environment
Authors: Kinoshita-Daitoku Ryo , Kiga Kotaro , Miyakoshi Masatoshi , Otsubo Ryota , Ogura Yoshitoshi , Sanada Takahito , Bo Zhu , Phuoc Tuan Vo , Okano Tokuju , Iida Tamako , Yokomori Rui , Kuroda Eisuke , Hirukawa Sayaka , Tanaka Mototsugu , Sood Arpana , Subsomwong Phawinee , Ashida Hiroshi , Binh Tran Thanh , Nguyen Lam Tung , Van Khien Vu , Ho Dang Quy Dung , Nakai Kenta , Suzuki Toshihiko , Yamaoka Yoshio , Hayashi Tetsuya , Mimuro Hitomi
Published: April 2021

Long-term infection of the stomach with Helicobacter pylori can cause gastric cancer. However, the mechanisms by which the bacteria adapt to the stomach environment are poorly understood. Here, we show that a small non-coding RNA of H. pylori (HPnc4160, also known as IsoB or NikS) regulates the pathogen’s adaptation to the host environment as well as bacterial oncoprotein production. In a rodent model of H. pylori infection, the genomes of bacteria isolated from the stomach possess an increased number of T-repeats upstream of the HPnc4160-coding region, and this leads to reduced HPnc4160 expression. We use RNA-seq and iTRAQ analyses to identify eight targets of HPnc4160, including genes encoding outer membrane proteins and oncoprotein CagA. Mutant strains with HPnc4160 deficiency display increased colonization ability of the mouse stomach, in comparison with the wild-type strain. Furthermore, HPnc4160 expression is lower in clinical isolates from gastric cancer patients than in isolates derived from non-cancer patients, while the expression of HPnc4160’s targets is higher in the isolates from gastric cancer patients. Therefore, the small RNA HPnc4160 regulates H. pylori adaptation to the host environment and, potentially, gastric carcinogenesis.
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the mesangial identity and species diversity of glomerular cell transcriptomes
Authors: He Bing , Chen Ping , Zambrano Sonia , Dabaghie Dina , Hu Yizhou , Möller-Hackbarth Katja , Unnersjö-Jess David , Korkut Gül Gizem , Charrin Emmanuelle , Jeansson Marie , Bintanel-Morcillo Maria , Witasp Anna , Wennberg Lars , Wernerson Annika , Schermer Bernhard , Benzing Thomas , Ernfors Patrik , Betsholtz Christer , Lal Mark , Sandberg Rickard , Patrakka Jaakko
Published: April 2021

Molecular characterization of the individual cell types in human kidney as well as model organisms are critical in defining organ function and understanding translational aspects of biomedical research. Previous studies have uncovered gene expression profiles of several kidney glomerular cell types, however, important cells, including mesangial (MCs) and glomerular parietal epithelial cells (PECs), are missing or incompletely described, and a systematic comparison between mouse and human kidney is lacking. To this end, we use Smart-seq2 to profile 4332 individual glomerulus-associated cells isolated from human living donor renal biopsies and mouse kidney. The analysis reveals genetic programs for all four glomerular cell types (podocytes, glomerular endothelial cells, MCs and PECs) as well as rare glomerulus-associated macula densa cells. Importantly, we detect heterogeneity in glomerulus-associated Pdgfrb-expressing cells, including bona fide intraglomerular MCs with the functionally active phagocytic molecular machinery, as well as a unique mural cell type located in the central stalk region of the glomerulus tuft. Furthermore, we observe remarkable species differences in the individual gene expression profiles of defined glomerular cell types that highlight translational challenges in the field and provide a guide to design translational studies.
A biomimetic neural encoder for spiking neural network
Authors: Subbulakshmi Radhakrishnan Shiva , Sebastian Amritanand , Oberoi Aaryan , Das Sarbashis , Das Saptarshi
Published: April 2021

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) promise to bridge the gap between artificial neural networks (ANNs) and biological neural networks (BNNs) by exploiting biologically plausible neurons that offer faster inference, lower energy expenditure, and event-driven information processing capabilities. However, implementation of SNNs in future neuromorphic hardware requires hardware encoders analogous to the sensory neurons, which convert external/internal stimulus into spike trains based on specific neural algorithm along with inherent stochasticity. Unfortunately, conventional solid-state transducers are inadequate for this purpose necessitating the development of neural encoders to serve the growing need of neuromorphic computing. Here, we demonstrate a biomimetic device based on a dual gated MoS2field effect transistor (FET) capable of encoding analog signals into stochastic spike trains following various neural encoding algorithms such as rate-based encoding, spike timing-based encoding, and spike count-based encoding. Two important aspects of neural encoding, namely, dynamic range and encoding precision are also captured in our demonstration. Furthermore, the encoding energy was found to be as frugal as ≈1–5 pJ/spike. Finally, we show fast (≈200 timesteps) encoding of the MNIST data set using our biomimetic device followed by more than 91% accurate inference using a trained SNN.
Tuning the reactivity of alkoxyl radicals from 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer to 1,2-silyl transfer
Authors: Yang Zhaoliang , Niu Yunhong , He Xiaoqian , Chen Suo , Liu Shanshan , Li Zhengyu , Chen Xiang , Zhang Yunxiao , Lan Yu , Shen Xiao
Published: April 2021

Controlling the reactivity of reactive intermediates is essential to achieve selective transformations. Due to the facile 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), alkoxyl radicals have been proven to be important synthetic intermediates for the δ-functionalization of alcohols. Herein, we disclose a strategy to inhibit 1,5-HAT by introducing a silyl group into the α-position of alkoxyl radicals. The efficient radical 1,2-silyl transfer (SiT) allows us to make various α-functionalized products from alcohol substrates. Compared with the direct generation of α-carbon radicals from oxidation of α-C-H bond of alcohols, the 1,2-SiT strategy distinguishes itself by the generation of alkoxyl radicals, the tolerance of many functional groups, such as intramolecular hydroxyl groups and C-H bonds next to oxygen atoms, and the use of silyl alcohols as limiting reagents.
Coding and non-coding roles of MOCCI (C15ORF48) coordinate to regulate host inflammation and immunity
Authors: Lee Cheryl Q. E. , Kerouanton Baptiste , Chothani Sonia , Zhang Shan , Chen Ying , Mantri Chinmay Kumar , Hock Daniella Helena , Lim Radiance , Nadkarni Rhea , Huynh Vinh Thang , Lim Daryl , Chew Wei Leong , Zhong Franklin L. , Stroud David Arthur , Schafer Sebastian , Tergaonkar Vinay , St John Ashley L. , Rackham Owen J. L. , Ho Lena
Published: April 2021

Mito-SEPs are small open reading frame-encoded peptides that localize to the mitochondria to regulate metabolism. Motivated by an intriguing negative association between mito-SEPs and inflammation, here we screen for mito-SEPs that modify inflammatory outcomes and report a mito-SEP named “Modulator of cytochrome C oxidase during Inflammation” (MOCCI) that is upregulated during inflammation and infection to promote host-protective resolution. MOCCI, a paralog of the NDUFA4 subunit of cytochrome C oxidase (Complex IV), replaces NDUFA4 in Complex IV during inflammation to lower mitochondrial membrane potential and reduce ROS production, leading to cyto-protection and dampened immune response. The MOCCI transcript also generates miR-147b, which targets the NDUFA4 mRNA with similar immune dampening effects as MOCCI, but simultaneously enhances RIG-I/MDA-5-mediated viral immunity. Our work uncovers a dual-component pleiotropic regulation of host inflammation and immunity by MOCCI (C15ORF48) for safeguarding the host during infection and inflammation.
Floquet-enhanced spin swaps
Authors: Qiao Haifeng , Kandel Yadav P. , Dyke John S. Van , Fallahi Saeed , Gardner Geoffrey C. , Manfra Michael J. , Barnes Edwin , Nichol John M.
Published: April 2021

The transfer of information between quantum systems is essential for quantum communication and computation. In quantum computers, high connectivity between qubits can improve the efficiency of algorithms, assist in error correction, and enable high-fidelity readout. However, as with all quantum gates, operations to transfer information between qubits can suffer from errors associated with spurious interactions and disorder between qubits, among other things. Here, we harness interactions and disorder between qubits to improve a swap operation for spin eigenstates in semiconductor gate-defined quantum-dot spins. We use a system of four electron spins, which we configure as two exchange-coupled singlet–triplet qubits. Our approach, which relies on the physics underlying discrete time crystals, enhances the quality factor of spin-eigenstate swaps by up to an order of magnitude. Our results show how interactions and disorder in multi-qubit systems can stabilize non-trivial quantum operations and suggest potential uses for non-equilibrium quantum phenomena, like time crystals, in quantum information processing applications. Our results also confirm the long-predicted emergence of effective Ising interactions between exchange-coupled singlet–triplet qubits.
Mature Andean forests as globally important carbon sinks and future carbon refuges
Authors: Duque Alvaro , Peña Miguel A. , Cuesta Francisco , González-Caro Sebastián , Kennedy Peter , Phillips Oliver L. , Calderón-Loor Marco , Blundo Cecilia , Carilla Julieta , Cayola Leslie , Farfán-Ríos William , Fuentes Alfredo , Grau Ricardo , Homeier Jürgen , Loza-Rivera María I. , Malhi Yadvinder , Malizia Agustina , Malizia Lucio , Martínez-Villa Johanna A. , Myers Jonathan A. , Osinaga-Acosta Oriana , Peralvo Manuel , Pinto Esteban , Saatchi Sassan , Silman Miles , Tello J. Sebastián , Terán-Valdez Andrea , Feeley Kenneth J.
Published: April 2021

It is largely unknown how South America’s Andean forests affect the global carbon cycle, and thus regulate climate change. Here, we measure aboveground carbon dynamics over the past two decades in 119 monitoring plots spanning a range of >3000 m elevation across the subtropical and tropical Andes. Our results show that Andean forests act as strong sinks for aboveground carbon (0.67 ± 0.08 Mg C ha−1y−1) and have a high potential to serve as future carbon refuges. Aboveground carbon dynamics of Andean forests are driven by abiotic and biotic factors, such as climate and size-dependent mortality of trees. The increasing aboveground carbon stocks offset the estimated C emissions due to deforestation between 2003 and 2014, resulting in a net total uptake of 0.027 Pg C y−1. Reducing deforestation will increase Andean aboveground carbon stocks, facilitate upward species migrations, and allow for recovery of biomass losses due to climate change.
Spatio-temporal evolution and influencing mechanism of the COVID-19 epidemic in Shandong province, China
Authors: Shi Jinlong , Gao Xing , Xue Shuyan , Li Fengqing , Nie Qifan , Lv Yangfan , Wang Jiaobei , Xu Tingting , Du Guoxu , Li Gang
Published: April 2021

The novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) outbreak that emerged in late 2019 has posed a severe threat to human health and social and economic development, and thus has become a major public health crisis affecting the world. The spread of COVID-19 in population and regions is a typical geographical process, which is worth discussing from the geographical perspective. This paper focuses on Shandong province, which has a high incidence, though the first Chinese confirmed case was reported from Hubei province. Based on the data of reported confirmed cases and the detailed information of cases collected manually, we used text analysis, mathematical statistics and spatial analysis to reveal the demographic characteristics of confirmed cases and the spatio-temporal evolution process of the epidemic, and to explore the comprehensive mechanism of epidemic evolution and prevention and control. The results show that: (1) the incidence rate of COVID-19 in Shandong is 0.76/100,000. The majority of confirmed cases are old and middle-aged people who are infected by the intra-province diffusion, followed by young and middle-aged people who are infected outside the province. (2) Up to February 5, the number of daily confirmed cases shows a trend of “rapid increase before slowing down”, among which, the changes of age and gender are closely related to population migration, epidemic characteristics and intervention measures. (3) Affected by the regional economy and population, the spatial distribution of the confirmed cases is obviously unbalanced, with the cluster pattern of “high–low” and “low–high”. (4) The evolution of the migration pattern, affected by the geographical location of Wuhan and Chinese traditional culture, is dominated by “cross-provincial” and “intra-provincial” direct flow, and generally shows the trend of “southwest → northeast”. Finally, combined with the targeted countermeasures of “source-flow-sink”, the comprehensive mechanism of COVID-19 epidemic evolution and prevention and control in Shandong is revealed. External and internal prevention and control measures are also figured out.
View-tuned and view-invariant face encoding in IT cortex is explained by selected natural image fragments
Authors: Nam Yunjun , Sato Takayuki , Uchida Go , Malakhova Ekaterina , Ullman Shimon , Tanifuji Manabu
Published: April 2021

Humans recognize individual faces regardless of variation in the facial view. The view-tuned face neurons in the inferior temporal (IT) cortex are regarded as the neural substrate for view-invariant face recognition. This study approximated visual features encoded by these neurons as combinations of local orientations and colors, originated from natural image fragments. The resultant features reproduced the preference of these neurons to particular facial views. We also found that faces of one identity were separable from the faces of other identities in a space where each axis represented one of these features. These results suggested that view-invariant face representation was established by combining view sensitive visual features. The face representation with these features suggested that, with respect to view-invariant face representation, the seemingly complex and deeply layered ventral visual pathway can be approximated via a shallow network, comprised of layers of low-level processing for local orientations and colors (V1/V2-level) and the layers which detect particular sets of low-level elements derived from natural image fragments (IT-level).
The total solar irradiance during the recent solar minimum period measured by SOHO/VIRGO
Authors: Finsterle W. , Montillet J. P. , Schmutz W. , Šikonja R. , Kolar L. , Treven L.
Published: April 2021

Various space missions have measured the total solar irradiance (TSI) since 1978. Among them the experiments Precision Monitoring of Solar Variability (PREMOS) on the PICARD satellite (2010–2014) and the Variability of Irradiance and Gravity Oscillations (VIRGO) on the mission Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, which started in 1996 and is still operational. Like most TSI experiments, they employ a dual-channel approach with different exposure rates to track and correct the inevitable degradation of their radiometers. Until now, the process of degradation correction has been mostly a manual process based on assumed knowledge of the sensor hardware. Here we present a new data-driven process to assess and correct instrument degradation using a machine-learning and data fusion algorithm, that does not require deep knowledge of the sensor hardware. We apply the algorithm to the TSI records of PREMOS and VIRGO and compare the results to the previously published results. The data fusion part of the algorithm can also be used to combine data from different instruments and missions into a composite time series. Based on the fusion of the degradation-corrected VIRGO/PMO6 and VIRGO/DIARAD time series, we find no significant change (i.e $$-0.17\pm 0.29$$

-
0.17
±
0.29

 W/m$$^2$$

2

) between the TSI levels during the two most recent solar minima in 2008/09 and 2019/20. The new algorithm can be applied to any TSI experiment that employs a multi-channel philosophy for degradation tracking. It does not require deep technical knowledge of the individual radiometers.
Reference values for bone metabolism in a Japanese cohort survey randomly sampled from a basic elderly resident registry
Authors: Tokida Ryosuke , Uehara Masashi , Nakano Masaki , Suzuki Takako , Sakai Noriko , Ikegami Shota , Takahashi Jun , Nakamura Yukio , Kato Hiroyuki
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was to provide definitive reference values for bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in the general elderly population. Registered citizens of 50 to 89 years old were targeted for this survey. After random sampling from the resident registry of Obuse town, we established eight groups based on age (50 s, 60 s, 70 s, and 80 s) and gender. A total of 411 people were enrolled. We used a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry device to measure and evaluate BMD. The bone formation marker bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) was measured as a bone turnover marker. Bone quality marker pentosidine, and bone resorption markers including urinary total deoxypyridinoline (DPD), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), and whole parathyroid hormone (PTH) were also measured as bone turnover markers. Sixty-three people (15.3%) were diagnosed as osteoporosis. BMD decreased with age in the femoral neck and total hip. On the other hand, there was no characteristic change with age in the lumber spine. As for bone markers, pentosidine and DPD increased with aging, although 25(OH)D, whole PTH, and BAP showed no characteristic associations with gender and aging. In terms of the relationship between low BMD and bone markers, there was a significant independent association between low BMD and TRACP-5b in females. In conclusions, hip BMD decreased with aging in men and women. However, there was no characteristic decline with aging in the lumbar spine. All bone markers showed no significant independent characteristics associated with age or gender in a multivariate analysis model, except for a significant association between low BMD and TRACP-5b in females. TRACP-5b was a potentially useful marker for the detection of low BMD.
T cell reactivity to regulatory factor X4 in type 1 narcolepsy
Authors: Luo Guo , Yogeshwar Selina , Lin Ling , Mignot Emmanuel Jean-Marie
Published: April 2021

Type 1 narcolepsy is strongly (98%) associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II DQA1*01:02/DQB1*06:02 (DQ0602) and highly associated with T cell receptor (TCR) alpha locus polymorphism as well as other immune regulatory loci. Increased incidence of narcolepsy was detected following the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and linked to Pandemrix vaccination, strongly supporting that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disorder. Although recent results suggest CD4+ T cell reactivity to neuropeptide hypocretin/orexin and cross-reactive flu peptide is involved, identification of other autoantigens has remained elusive. Here we study whether autoimmunity directed against Regulatory Factor X4 (RFX4), a protein co-localized with hypocretin, is involved in some cases of narcolepsy. Studying human serum, we found that autoantibodies against RFX4 were rare. Using RFX4 peptides bound to DQ0602 tetramers, antigen RFX4-86, -95, and -60 specific human CD4+ T cells were detected in 4/10 patients and 2 unaffected siblings, but not in others. Following culture with each cognate peptide, enriched autoreactive TCRαβ clones were isolated by single-cell sorting and TCR sequenced. Homologous clones bearing TRBV4-2 and recognizing RFX4-86 in patients and one twin control of patient were identified. These results suggest the involvement of RFX4 CD4+ T cell autoreactivity in some cases of narcolepsy, but also in healthy donors.
Coronal and axial alignment relationship in Caucasian patients with osteoarthritis of the knee
Authors: León-Muñoz Vicente J. , Manca Silvio , López-López Mirian , Martínez-Martínez Francisco , Santonja-Medina Fernando
Published: April 2021

Individualized pre-operative assessment of the patterns of the lower extremity anatomy and deformities in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty seems essential for a successful surgery. In the present study, we investigated the relationship among the coronal alignment and the rotational profile of the lower extremities in the Caucasian population with end-stage knee osteoarthritis. We conducted a prospective study of 385 knees that underwent a pre-operative three-dimensional computed tomography-based model. The lower extremity alignment was determined (mechanical tibiofemoral or hip-knee-ankle angle, supplementary angle of the femoral lateral distal angle, and proximal medial tibial angle). For each case, the femoral distal rotation (condylar twist angle), the femoral proximal version, and the tibial torsion were determined. As the coronal alignment changed from varus to valgus, the femoral external rotation increased (r = 0.217; p < 0.0005). As the coronal alignment changed from varus to valgus, the external tibial torsion increased (r = 0.248; p < 0.0005). No correlation was found between the global coronal alignment and the femoral version. The present study demonstrates a linear relationship between the coronal alignment and the rotational geometry of the distal femur. This correlation also occurs with the tibial torsion. Perhaps outcomes of total knee arthroplasty surgery might be improved by addressing these deformities as well.
Artificial neural network model for predicting changes in ion channel conductance based on cardiac action potential shapes generated via simulation
Authors: Jeong Da Un , Lim Ki Moo
Published: April 2021

Many studies have revealed changes in specific protein channels due to physiological causes such as mutation and their effects on action potential duration changes. However, no studies have been conducted to predict the type of protein channel abnormalities that occur through an action potential (AP) shape. Therefore, in this study, we aim to predict the ion channel conductance that is altered from various AP shapes using a machine learning algorithm. We perform electrophysiological simulations using a single-cell model to obtain AP shapes based on variations in the ion channel conductance. In the AP simulation, we increase and decrease the conductance of each ion channel at a constant rate, resulting in 1,980 AP shapes and one standard AP shape without any changes in the ion channel conductance. Subsequently, we calculate the AP difference shapes between them and use them as the input of the machine learning model to predict the changed ion channel conductance. In this study, we demonstrate that the changed ion channel conductance can be predicted with high prediction accuracy, as reflected by an F1 score of 0.985, using only AP shapes and simple machine learning.
Coupling compositional data analysis (CoDA) with hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) for preliminary understanding of the dynamics of a complex water distribution system: the Naples (South Italy) case study
Authors: Ebrahimi Pooria , Albanese Stefano , Esposito Leopoldo , Zuzolo Daniela , Cicchella Domenico
Published: April 2021

Providing safe tap water has been a global concern.
Recent developments on MOF-based platforms for antibacterial therapy
Authors: Liu Yiwei , Zhou Luyi , Dong Ying , Wang Rui , Pan Ying , Zhuang Shuze , Liu Dong , Liu Jianqiang
Published: April 2021

The existing shortcomings and future perspectives of the rapidly growing field of antimicrobial therapy addressing patient quality of life issues are also discussed.
Recent update on potential cytotoxicity, biocompatibility and preventive measures of biomaterials used in dentistry
Authors: Bapat Ranjeet Ajit , Parolia Abhishek , Chaubal Tanay , Dharamadhikari Suyog , Abdulla Anshad Mohamed , Sakkir Nasil , Arora Suraj , Bapat Prachi , Sindi Amal M. , Kesharwani Prashant
Published: April 2021

Dental treatment is provided for a wide variety of oral health problems like dental caries, periodontal diseases, periapical infections, replacement of missing teeth and orthodontic problems.
Ethylene oligomerization into linear olefins over cobalt oxide on carbon catalyst
Authors: Jonathan Alvin , Eagan Nathaniel M. , Bruns David L. , Stahl Shannon S. , Lanci Michael P. , Dumesic James A. , Huber George W.
Published: April 2021

Stable heterogeneous cobalt oxide on carbon catalyst for ethylene oligomerization into linear and alpha olefins.
Uniform decoration of UiO-66-NH2 nanooctahedra on TiO2 electrospun nanofibers for enhancing photocatalytic H2 production based on multi-step interfacial charge transfer
Authors: Wang Jie , Sun Zhengang , Jiang Xiaoyi , Yuan Qing , Dong Dapeng , Zhang Peng , Zhang Zhenyi
Published: April 2021

Octahedral UiO-66-NH2 MOFs are uniformly decorated on the surface of TiO2 nanofibers. The intimate Ti–O–Zr hetero-interface provides an effective channel for boosting the electron transfer between UiO-66-NH2 and TiO2 in their heterostructure.
Brown carbon aerosols in the Indo-Gangetic Plain outflow: insights from excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Dey Supriya , Mukherjee Arya , Polana Anuraag J. , Rana Archita , Mao Jingying , Jia Shiguo , Yadav Amit K. , Khillare Pandit. S. , Sarkar Sayantan
Published: April 2021

Characterization of aerosol brown carbon (BrC) composition in the Indian context using excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence coupled with PARAFAC analysis.
Structurally diverse triterpenes obtained from the fruits of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. as inflammation inhibitors by NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors: Ruan Jingya , Sun Fan , Hao Mimi , Han Lifeng , Yu Haiyang , Lin Fanyou , Wang Lijuan , Cao Guohao , Zhang Yi , Wang Tao
Published: April 2021

The phytochemistry, anti-inflammation structural-activity relationships and anti-inflammation mechanism were investigated for the triterpenes from the fruits of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. in this paper.
Polysaccharides from Laminaria japonica: an insight into the current research on structural features and biological properties
Authors: Luan Fei , Zou Junbo , Rao Zhili , Ji Yafei , Lei Ziqin , Peng Lixia , Yang Yan , He Xirui , Zeng Nan
Published: April 2021

A comprehensive review on extraction, separation, and purification methods, structural characteristics, biological activities, clinical settings, toxicities, and structure–activity relationships of Laminaria japonica polysaccharides.
Scalable fluid-spinning nanowire-based inorganic semiconductor yarns for electrochromic actuators
Authors: Li Linpeng , Wang Kun , Fan Hongwei , Zhu Xiangyu , Mu Jiuke , Yu Hao , Zhang Qinghong , Li Yaogang , Hou Chengyi , Wang Hongzhi
Published: April 2021

A unique fluid-spinning method was developed to obtain a series of scalable inorganic semiconductor yarns that have not been explored yet, which can obtain large tensile stroke by electrochemical charge injection-associated multicolor switching.
Ion shuttling between emulsion droplets by crown ether modified gold nanoparticles
Authors: Kunstmann-Olsen Casper , Belić Domagoj , Bradley Dan F. , Danks Stephen P. , Diaz Fernandez Yuri A. , Grzelczak Marcin P. , Hill Alexander P. , Qiao Xiaohang , Raval Rasmita , Sorzabal-Bellido Ioritz , Brust Mathias
Published: April 2021

Crown-ether modified gold nanoparticles act as charge transporters between aqueous droplets. The thermodynamic driving force for this continuous non-equilibrium process is precipitation of BaSO4 in one population of droplets.
Synergetic enhancement of thermoelectric performances by localized carrier and phonon scattering in Cu2Se with incorporated fullerene nanoparticles
Authors: Jin Yingshi , Hwang Junphil , Kim Sujin , Kim Jungwon , Kim Sung-Jin
Published: April 2021

Carrier localization in a C60potential well enhanced the Seebeck coefficient. Phonon scattering by the embedded nano-sized C60reduced the thermal conductivity.
An efficient approach for the synthesis of 1,2-dihydroxanthones enabled by one-pot Claisen condensation/cyclization reactions
Authors: Wu Huaimo , Liu Song , Wang Youyi , Yuan Man , Zhang Hong , Zhou Hua , Xiao Lianbo , Zheng Changwu , Xu Hongxi
Published: April 2021

A mild, efficient method for the synthesis of 1,2-dihydroxanthones by a one-pot reaction was developed under waste-induced relay catalysis.