bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rescue of Escherichia coli auxotrophy by de novo small proteins
Authors: Babina Arianne M , Surkov Serhiy , Ye Weihua , Jerlström-Hultqvist Jon , Larsson Mårten , Holmqvist Erik , Jemth Per , Andersson Dan I , Knopp Michael
Published: March 2023

Increasing numbers of small proteins with diverse physiological roles are being identified and characterized in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, but the origins and evolution of these proteins remain unclear. Recent genomic sequence analyses in several organisms suggest that new functions encoded by small open reading frames (sORFs) may emerge de novo from noncoding sequences. However, experimental data demonstrating if and how randomly generated sORFs can confer beneficial effects to cells are limited. Here, we show that by upregulating hisB expression, de novo small proteins (≤50 amino acids in length) selected from random sequence libraries can rescue Escherichia coli cells that lack the conditionally essential SerB enzyme. The recovered small proteins are hydrophobic and confer their rescue effect by binding to the 5′ end regulatory region of the his operon mRNA, suggesting that protein binding promotes structural rearrangements of the RNA that allow increased hisB expression. This study adds RNA regulatory elements as another interacting partner for de novo proteins isolated from random sequence libraries and provides further experimental evidence that small proteins with selective benefits can originate from the expression of nonfunctional sequences.
Neural circuits underlying habituation of visually evoked escape behaviors in larval zebrafish
Authors: Fotowat Haleh , Engert Florian
Published: March 2023

Larval zebrafish that are exposed repeatedly to dark looming stimuli will quickly habituate to these aversive signals and cease to respond with their stereotypical escape swims. A dark looming stimulus can be separated into two independent components: one that is characterized by an overall spatial expansion, where overall luminance is maintained at the same level, and a second, that represents an overall dimming within the whole visual field in the absence of any motion energy. Using specific stimulation patterns that isolate these independent components, we first extracted the behavioral algorithms that dictate how these separate information channels interact with each other and across the two eyes during the habituation process. Concurrent brain wide imaging experiments then permitted the construction of circuit models that suggest the existence of two separate neural pathways. The first is a looming channel which responds specifically to expanding edges presented to the contralateral eye and relays that information to the brain stem escape network to generate directed escapes. The second is a dimming-specific channel that could be either monocular or binocularly responsive, and that appears to specifically inhibit escape response when activated. We propose that this second channel is under strong contextual modulation and that it is primarily responsible for the incremental silencing of successive dark looming-evoked escapes.
A lncRNA identifies Irf8 enhancer element in negative feedback control of dendritic cell differentiation
Authors: Xu Huaming , Li Zhijian , Kuo Chao-Chung , Götz Katrin , Look Thomas , de Toledo Marcelo AS , Seré Kristin , Costa Ivan G , Zenke Martin
Published: March 2023

Transcription factors play a determining role in lineage commitment and cell differentiation. Interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is a lineage determining transcription factor in hematopoiesis and master regulator of dendritic cells (DC), an important immune cell for immunity and tolerance. IRF8 is prominently upregulated in DC development by autoactivation and controls both DC differentiation and function. However, it is unclear how Irf8 autoactivation is controlled and eventually limited. Here, we identified a novel long non-coding RNA transcribed from the +32 kb enhancer downstream of Irf8 transcription start site and expressed specifically in mouse plasmacytoid DC (pDC), referred to as lncIrf8. The lncIrf8 locus interacts with the lrf8 promoter and shows differential epigenetic signatures in pDC versus classical DC type 1 (cDC1). Interestingly, a sequence element of the lncIrf8 promoter, but not lncIrf8 itself, is crucial for mouse pDC and cDC1 differentiation, and this sequence element confers feedback inhibition of Irf8 expression. Taken together, in DC development Irf8 autoactivation is first initiated by flanking enhancers and then second controlled by feedback inhibition through the lncIrf8 promoter element in the +32 kb enhancer. Our work reveals a previously unrecognized negative feedback loop of Irf8 that orchestrates its own expression and thereby controls DC differentiation.
An herbal drug combination identified by knowledge graph alleviates the clinical symptoms of plasma cell mastitis patients: A nonrandomized controlled trial
Authors: Liu Caigang , Yu Hong , Chen Guanglei , Yang Qichao , Wang Zichu , Niu Nan , Han Ling , Zhao Dongyu , Wang Manji , Liu Yuanyuan , Yang Yongliang
Published: March 2023

Background:

Plasma cell mastitis (PCM) is a nonbacterial breast inflammation with severe and intense clinical manifestation, yet treatment methods for PCM are still rather limited. Although the mechanism of PCM remains unclear, mounting evidence suggests that the dysregulation of immune system is closely associated with the pathogenesis of PCM. Drug combinations or combination therapy could exert improved efficacy and reduced toxicity by hitting multiple discrete cellular targets.

Methods:

We have developed a knowledge graph architecture toward immunotherapy and systematic immunity that consists of herbal drug–target interactions with a novel scoring system to select drug combinations based on target-hitting rates and phenotype relativeness. To this end, we employed this knowledge graph to identify an herbal drug combination for PCM and we subsequently evaluated the efficacy of the herbal drug combination in clinical trial.

Results:

Our clinical data suggests that the herbal drug combination could significantly reduce the serum level of various inflammatory cytokines, downregulate serum IgA and IgG level, reduce the recurrence rate, and reverse the clinical symptoms of PCM patients with improvements in general health status.

Conclusions:

In summary, we reported that an herbal drug combination identified by knowledge graph can alleviate the clinical symptoms of PCM patients. We demonstrated that the herbal drug combination holds great promise as an effective remedy for PCM, acting through the regulation of immunoinflammatory pathways and improvement of systematic immune level. In particular, the herbal drug combination could significantly reduce the recurrence rate of PCM, a major obstacle to PCM treatment. Our data suggests that the herbal drug combination is expected to feature prominently in future PCM treatment.

Funding:

C. Liu’s lab was supported by grants from the Public Health Science and Technology Project of Shenyang (grant: 22-321-32-18); Y. Yang’s laboratory was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant: 81874301), the Fundamental Research Funds for Central University (grant: DUT22YG122), and the Key Research project of ‘be Recruited and be in Command’ in Liaoning Province (2021JH1/10400050).

Clinical trial number:

NCT05530226.
Supply Responses to Acreage of Major Oilseed Crops in Rajasthan, India
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Sharma Madhu , Shekhawat Ravindra Singh , Awais Mohamad , Verma Banshi Lal
Published: March 2023

Oilseed crops are the second most important determinant of the agricultural economy, next only to cereals within the segment of field crops.  Self-sufficiency in oilseeds was attained through “The Yellow Revolution” during the early 1990s and the major ones are soybean, groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, sesame, sunflower, castor, safflower, linseed and niger. Among the nine oilseed crops in India, the highest average contribution to total production of oilseeds is soybean followed by rapeseed & mustard and groundnut. Similarly, the highest average area contribution to the total oilseed area is of soybean (44%) followed by rapeseed & mustard (24%) and groundnut (20%). Against this backdrop, the present study attempts to employ the Nerlovian lagged adjustment function for significant oilseed crops in Rajasthan to estimate the degree of acreage/supply responsiveness analyses. For the study secondary data from 1997-98 to 2020-21 were collected to obtain the results of acreage responsiveness of oilseed crops like groundnut, rapeseed & mustard and soybean in Bikaner, Alwar and Baran districts respectively.
Variations in Fat-mass and Obesity-associated (FTO) Genes and Allelic Distribution in Some Selected Ethnic Populations in Niger Delta, Nigeria
Authors: Ekpete N. O. , Elekima I. , Brown H. , Osaji E. E. , Igbinaduwa B. O. , Nnanna P. T. , Nwachuku E. O.
Published: March 2023

Aim: To evaluate variations in FTO genes and allelic distribution in some ethnic populations in Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Study Design:  Case-controlled observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State and Safety Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Enugu, Nigeria, between March 2020 and February 2022.

Methodology: The association between sixteen (16) Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the FTO gene and some biomarkers of obesity and type 2 diabetes subjects (78 cases and 20 controls) from four different tribes in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria. Multistage sampling method was employed in the subject selection. The subjects were first separated into two groups – new cases (less than a year of diagnosis as Diabetic) and old cases (one year & above). Equal number of samples was then randomly collected from each of the cluster groups. Ten millilitres of blood were collected into EDTA for genotyping using Illumina NextSeq 2000 sequencing platform. Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium statistical test was used to determine the variation in distribution of the alleles and genotypes within the study population while allelic frequencies were calculated by gene counting. Chi-square (and fisher’s test where chi-square was not applicable) and Odd Ratio (OR) were performed to determine the significant differences and associated risks respectively of the allelic and genotypic frequencies of Type 2 diabetic (T2D) and non-diabetic subjects of the FTO gene variants.

Results: The results of Hardy-Weinberg Statistical Test, Genotype and Allelic Distribution of FTO gene Variants in Obese/T2D Subjects in Different Tribes of Niger Delta are presented in Tables(1-4) for rs73609956 (C>T), rs116753298 (T>C), rs201041270 (A>G), rs531215275 (A>C), rs146056278 (C>T), rs1410999299 (G>A), rs79206939 (A>G), rs145884431(G>A), rs61743972 (G>A), rs201496428 (C>T), rs146138389 (T>C), rs886052102 (A>G), rs144743617 (G>A), rs886052103 (T>A), rs9939609 (A>T) and rs8050136 (A>C). However, no significant differences in analyzed genotype frequencies were found between T2D and healthy controls.

Conclusion:  Knowledge of the dominant SNPs in some ethnic groups, may provide platform to delay its expression through informed wise choice of lifestyle change and proper dieting.
Challenges Facing Women Vegetable Vendors in Arusha, Tanzania: A Case of the Tengeru Market
Authors: Mkwizu Noel Y.
Published: March 2023

The study aimed to analyse the challenges that women vegetable vendors face in Arusha, Tanzania, with a focus on Tengeru market. A cross-sectional research design was adopted in this study. A case study, as opposed to a broad statistical survey, focuses on a specific circumstance. It refers to the process of getting an understanding of a topic without including the entire population. The survey's findings showed that the majority of respondents were female due to the nature of the study, were in their 21s to 25s, and had only completed primary education. The study's findings again showed that the majority of respondents sold vegetables in their local community markets to generate revenue. Also, the majority of these people were participating in vegetable vending activities due to persuasion from their families, spouses, local government officials, societal seminars, and other groups. Furthermore, it was found that a few individuals claimed that the income they were generating from their activities was insufficient to satisfy their households' requirements or other socioeconomic activities.

The study discovered that vegetable vendors faced numerous challenges, including a lack of assistance from the government or their families, a lack of confidence, a lack of skills and knowledge, and work interruptions due to violence against women. According to the study, the government should assist them by providing loans, enacting laws and regulations, raising awareness, and developing useful materials.
Feasibility Assessment of on Farm Water Harvesting Structures for Livelihood Security of Small and Marginal Farmers
Authors: Mishra Purnima , Babu R. R. , Kumar R. Nagarjun , Rajasekar B.
Published: March 2023

The present study was taken up in the black clay soil zone of Manthani mandal of Peddapalli district Telangana state in which series of on farm water harvesting structures were taken up by small and marginal farmers. The sizes of water harvesting structures, season wise cropping pattern, crop yields, cost of cultivation and net margins were collected from randomly selected farmers.

Thereafter, techno economic feasibility of taking up water harvesting structures was assessed. The field study revealed that these structures are technically feasible and financially viable for effective rainwater harvesting, providing critical irrigation to crops, enhancing crop yields and cropping intensity, resulting in resilience to adverse effects of climate change and consequent improvement in livelihood security of farmers.
Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for Yield and Its Related Traits in Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench)
Authors: Papaiahgari Rahul , Sahi Vaidurya Pratap , Kongari Sunil , Nalla Sandeep
Published: March 2023

An experiment was carried out to study the correlation and path analysis in 40 buckwheat genotypes during Rabi, 2021-2022 at the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, SHIATS, Allahabad in Randomized BlºCk Design with three replications to analyze correlation and path Analysis. Analysis of variance showed significant difference for seed yield and its components indicating presence of large amount of variability in the genotypes. The magnitude of GCV and PCV recorded highest for economic yield, plant height, time of beginning of flowering, number of branches, test weight, days to 50% flowering. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent mean was recorded for economic yield, plant height, time of beginning of flowering, test weight, number of branches, days to 50% flowering, days to 80% maturity. Seed yield per plant showed a highly significant positive correlation with test weight and days to 80% maturity at both the genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path analysis revealed that test weight and time of beginning of flowering registered high and positive direct effect on seed yield per plant. It suggests that there is a true relationship between these traits, and that direct selection for these traits will be beneficial for yield improvement.
Physico-chemical, GC-MS Spectrometry Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of Foeniculum vulgare Seeds Oil
Authors: Ibrahim Munged , Ahmed Fath Elrahman , Fathi ELfaiz
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the physicochemical properties, to investigate the chemical components of the fixed oil from foeniculum vulgare seeds and to appraisal its l antimicrobial activity against six microorganisms (Bacillus subitus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium). The chemical components of foeniculum vulgare seeds oil were specified and quantified using the GC-MS technique, where disc diffusion assays were appointed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities and physicochemical properties by criterion methods. the physicochemical analysis results showed that the seeds oil was green in colour and liquid at room temperature with the iodine, acid, peroxide, saponification, values and free fatty acid at (2.01± 0.01mgKOH/g, 78.36±0.1 gI2/100g, 15.42±0.02mgKOH/g, 18.2±0.01meqH2O2, 5.2mgKOH/g) respectively. The specific gravity, relative density, refractive index and viscosity of the oil were at 0.8808±0.0001 (g/ml), 0.918±0.01, 35.14±0.1 and 1.471±0.1respectively. The GC-MS analysis revealed six components which had been identified and detected revealing the following major components 10-Nonadecanone (79.28%), Estragole (8.61%), 6-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester (7.63%). The oil appeared partial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and inactive against Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Aspergillus niger, but more active against Penicillium as naturally source of antimicrobial activity and justified its uses in traditional medicines.
BRRI Dhan102: An Irrigated Ecosystem-Friendly Zinc-Enriched Rice Variety for Bangladesh
Authors: Kader Md. Abdul , Shalahuddin AKM , Hore Tapas Kumer , Majumder Ratna Rani , Islam SM Tariqul , Haq Md. Ehsanul , Shaha Urmi Rani , Fatema Kaniz , Biswas Partha Sarathi , Iftekharuddaula Khandakar Md.
Published: March 2023

An enhancement over already available zinc-enriched rice varieties for Bangladesh is the recently announced by BRRI dhan102 class of rice, which has long slender grain and is high yielding and ideal for Bangladesh's irrigated ecology. The variety has satisfactorily passed the Proposed Variety Trial (PVT) conducted in the farmers’ field in Boro 2020-21 season. As a result, National Seed Board (NSB) approved this variety for commercial cultivation in the Boro season (dry season) in 2022. It was modern plant type with 103 cm plant height and matures by 150 days. The proposed variety showed 0.27 t/ha higher yield than check variety BRRI dhan29. Identifying characters of this variety are green leaf, intermediate plant height, erect flag leaf, long slender grain, and intermediate leaf senescence grain. In average, it can produce 8.10 t/ha grain yield, but it has potentiality to give 9.55 t/ha grain yield. Thousand grain weight of the variety is 22.7 gm and head rice yield is 62%. The rice has zinc content 25.5 mg/kg, 28% amylose content with 7.5% protein content. Farmers can be benefited financially from growing the zinc-enriched variety BRRI dhan102 and the nation as a whole will be benefited nutritionally from its production throughout the Boro season (dry season).
Disclosing quantitative RT‐PCR raw data during manuscript submission: a call for action
Authors: Untergasser Andreas , Hellemans Jan , Pfaffl Michael W. , Ruijter Jan M. , van den Hoff Maurice J. B. , Dragomir Mihnea P. , Adamoski Douglas , Dias Sandra Martha Gomes , Reis Rui Manuel , Ferracin Manuela , Dias‐Neto Emmanuel , Marsh Ian , Kubista Mikael , Fabbri Muller , Goel Ajay , Slabý Ondřej , Knutsen Erik , Chen Baoqing , Negrini Massimo , Mimori Koshi , Pichler Martin , Papatriantafyllou Maria , Anfossi Simone , Schmittgen Thomas D. , Huggett Jim , Bustin Stephen , Vandesompele Jo , Calin George A. ,   for the HEROIC (tHe initiativE gRoup On qRT dIsClosure) Consortium
Published: March 2023

Accuracy and transparency of scientific data are becoming more and more relevant with the increasing concern regarding the evaluation of data reproducibility in many research areas. This concern is also true for quantifying coding and noncoding RNAs, with the remarkable increase in publications reporting RNA profiling and sequencing studies. To address the problem, we propose the following recommendations: (a) accurate documentation of experimental procedures in Materials and methods (and not only in the supplementary information, as many journals have a strict mandate for making Materials and methods as visible as possible in the main text); (b) submission of RT‐qPCR raw data for all experiments reported; and (c) adoption of a unified, simple format for submitted RT‐qPCR raw data. The Real‐time PCR Data Essential Spreadsheet Format (RDES) was created for this purpose.
Fixed time robust control for tower cranes with unmatched disturbances and input saturation
Authors: Gu Xiutao , Li Yuanqi , Hong Mengqing , Ye Song , Guo Yu
Published: March 2023

To address the challenging problem of fixed‐time anti‐sway and positioning control for tower cranes with uncertain disturbances and input saturation, a novel fixed‐time anti‐saturation robust algorithm is proposed. First, on the basis of a newly designed fixed‐time convergence system, a fixed‐time disturbance observer (FTDO) is developed to estimate the matched and unmatched disturbances. Then, an anti‐saturation compensator is employed to deal with the input saturation and make the control input leave the saturated region rapidly. Upon which, a novel non‐singular fast terminal sliding mode surface is presented. Furthermore, in order to ensure the stability of each subsystem, a hierarchical sliding mode surface taking into account unmatched disturbances and input saturation is designed. Finally, the FTDO based hierarchical sliding mode control law is introduced to improve the transient control performance and robustness of tower cranes. The fixed‐time convergence of the closed‐loop system is proved by Lyapunov technique. Numerical simulations for four scenarios demonstrate the validity of the presented control scheme and fastest convergence speed in comparison to the recently proposed fixed‐time control methods.
A Neuron‐Readable Artificial Photoreceptor Composed of Photodeformable Liquid Crystal Polymers and Piezoelectric Materials
Authors: Peng Bo , Chen Xueli , Yu Guodong , Xu Fan , Yang Ruyi , Yu Zhenghang , Wei Jia , Zhu Guodong , Qin Lang , Zhang Jiayi , Shen Qundong , Yu Yanlei
Published: March 2023

Artificial photoreceptors are extensively developed to help the patients with serious eye diseases by converting light into electric signals. However, the existing systems still suffer from poor output signals, restricting signal transduction to cells. Here, a neuron‐readable artificial photoreceptor with significant voltage output is constructed by using photodeformable liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) and polyvinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene (P(VDF‐TrFE)). The significant voltage output originates from light‐stress‐electricity conversion, where the photo‐induced stress is attributed to the free volume expansion of the photodeformable LCPs and subsequently converts them into strong electric signals by the P(VDF‐TrFE) layer. The photo‐induced open‐circuit voltage reaches up to 0.79 ± 0.02 V, which is, to the knowledge, 19 times higher than the maximum voltage (0.04 V) that has been reported to date. Hence, such artificial photoreceptor successfully transduces photo‐induced electric signals to cells and tissues, communicates with the neurons, and triggers spiking activities in blind retinas. Besides, visual image recognition is demonstrated in a pixelated matrix by analyzing electric signals of each unit. This artificial photoreceptor opens new opportunities for the combination of the photodeformability and piezoelectricity, providing an avenue to develop neuron‐readable artificial retinas and implantable sensors.
High‐rate Decoupled Water Electrolysis System Integrated with α‐MoO3 as a Redox Mediator with Fast Anhydrous Proton Kinetics
Authors: Ma Zihan , Lu Xiaofei , Park Sunghyun , Shinagawa Tatsuya , Okubo Masashi , Takanabe Kazuhiro , Yamada Atsuo
Published: March 2023

Hydrogen is a promising alternative to fossil fuels that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Decoupled water electrolysis system using a reversible proton storage redox mediator, where the oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction are separated in time and space, is an effective approach to producing hydrogen gas with high purity, high flexibility, and low cost. To realize fast hydrogen production in such a system, a redox mediator capable of releasing protons rapidly is required. Herein, α‐MoO3, with an ultrafast proton transfer property that can be explained by a dense hydrogen bond network in the lattice oxygen arrays of HxMoO3, is examined as a high‐rate redox mediator for fast hydrogen production in acidic electrolytes. The α‐MoO3 redox mediator shows both a large capacity of 204 mAh g−1 and fast hydrogen production at a current rate of 10 A cm−2(≈153 A g−1), outperforming most of the previously reported solid‐state redox mediators.
In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Lu Jianing , Zhang Zhi , Zheng Yifan , Gao Yihua
Published: March 2023

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted tremendous attentions in recent years due to the abundance and wide distribution of Na resource on the earth. However, SIBs still face the critical issues of low energy density and unsatisfactory cyclic stability at present. The enhancement of electrochemical performance of SIBs depends on comprehensive and precise understanding of the underlying sodium storage mechanism. Although extensive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations have been performed to reveal the sodium storage property and mechanism of SIBs, a dedicated review on the in situ TEM investigations of SIBs has not been reported. In this review, recent progress in the in situ TEM investigations on the morphological, structural, and chemical evolutions of cathode materials, anode materials, and solid‐electrolyte interface during the sodium storage of SIBs is comprehensively summarized. The detailed relationship between structure/composition of electrode materials and electrochemical performance of SIBs has been clarified. This review aims to provide insights into the effective selection and rational design of advanced electrode materials for high‐performance SIBs.
Synthesis and Plasmonic Chiroptical Properties of Double‐Helical Gold Nanorod Enantiomers
Authors: Zhang Ning‐Ning , Shen Zhi‐Li , Gao Shu‐Yang , Peng Fei , Cao Zi‐Jun , Wang Yan , Wang Zizhun , Zhang Wei , Yang Yang , Liu Kun , Sun Tianmeng
Published: March 2023

Chiroplasmonic nanostructures have drawn increasing attention in the applications of photonics, biosensing, and asymmetric catalysis owing to their intense chiroptical activities. However, the types of plasmonic nanoparticles with the intrinsic chiral shapes are still rare now. Herein, the authors report a seed‐mediated strategy for synthesis of chiral‐morphology gold nanorods (GNRs) with a novel 222 symmetry as same as that of DNA double helixes. The chiral GNRs with their sides twisted into a double‐helical‐strip shape are synthesized by the formation of high‐Miller‐index side surfaces through the regrowth of GNRs. The chiral GNRs exhibit an excellent plasmonic circular dichroism response in the visible and near‐infrared regions, which is consistent with the finite‐difference time‐domain simulations. Moreover, by adjusting synthetic parameters, the shape and chiroptical response of 222‐symmetry chiral GNRs can be tuned. This work holds a promise for the fabrication of chiroplasmonic nanoparticles with tailored shapes toward chiroptical applications.
Protein‐basierte Nanopartikel: Von Wirkstofftransport zu Bildgebung, Nanokatalyse und Proteintherapie
Authors: Kaltbeitzel Jonas , Wich Peter R.
Published: March 2023

Proteine und Enzyme sind äußerst vielseitige Biomaterialien, die aufgrund ihrer hohen Spezifität für Rezeptoren und Substrate, ihrer Abbaubarkeit, geringen Toxizität und insgesamt guten Biokompatibilität hervorragend für ein breites Spektrum medizinischer Anwendungen geeignet sind. Durch die Anordnung mehrerer nativer oder modifizierter Proteine zu nanometergroßen Protein‐Nanopartikeln können zusätzliche vorteilhafte Eigenschaften wie eine erhöhte Stabilität im Blutstrom erreicht werden. In diesem Aufsatz konzentrieren wir uns auf künstliche Nanopartikelsysteme, bei denen Proteine das Hauptstrukturelement sind und nicht nur als eingeschlossene Wirkstoffe transportiert werden. Während unter natürlichen Bedingungen lediglich bestimmte Proteine definierte Aggregate und Nanopartikel bilden, können durch chemische Modifikationen oder Veränderungen in der physikalischen Umgebung Nanopartikel aus vielen verschiedenen globulären Proteinen und Enzymen hergestellt werden. Fortschritte bei den Herstellungsmethoden von proteinbasierten Nanopartikeln haben zu einer neuen Generation von Nanosystemen geführt, die über einfache Wirkstofftransporter hinausgehen und vielfältige Anwendungen ermöglichen, wie z.B. gezielte Arzneimittelabgabe, Theranostik, Nanokatalyse und Proteintherapie.
Struktur und Bindung im amorphen roten Phosphor**
Authors: Zhou Yuxing , Elliott Stephen R. , Deringer Volker L.
Published: March 2023

Amorpher roter Phosphor (a‐P) stellt eine der verbleibenden Herausforderungen in der Strukturchemie der Elemente dar. In diesem Beitrag klären wir Struktur, Stabilität und chemische Bindung im a‐P auf Grundlage voraussetzungsfreier Rechnungen auf, indem wir maschinelles Lernen und dichtefunktionaltheoretische (DFT‐) Methoden kombinieren. Wir zeigen, dass die Energien von a‐P‐Strukturen leicht höher liegen als jene von Phosphor‐Nanostäben, mit denen sie eng verwandt sind, und dass die Stabilität von a‐P mit dem Grad an struktureller Relaxation und mittelreichweitiger Ordnung verknüpft ist. Wir vervollständigen damit die Stabilitätsreihe der Phosphorallotrope [Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 11629], indem wir die bislang unvollständig verstandene amorphe Phase hinzufügen, und wir quantifizieren die kovalenten und van‐der‐Waals‐Wechselwirkungen in allen wichtigen Phasen des Phosphors. Wir untersuchen darüberhinaus die elektronische Zustandsdichte, einschließlich jener des wasserstoffhaltigen a‐P. Über die vorliegende Arbeit hinaus erwarten wir, dass unsere Strukturmodelle weiterführende voraussetzungsfreie Untersuchungen ermöglichen werden – beispielsweise zu a‐P‐basierten Batteriematerialien.
Precise Synthesis of Optically Active and Thermo‐degradable Poly(trifluoromethyl methylene) with Circularly Polarized Luminescence
Authors: Xu Xun‐Hui , Kang Shu‐Ming , Gao Run‐Tan , Chen Zheng , Liu Na , Wu Zong‐Quan
Published: March 2023

Developing high performance and environment‐friendly fluoropolymers is greatly desired. In this work, we found that 2‐diazo‐1,1,1‐trifluoroethane can be polymerized by air‐stable alkyne‐palladium(II) catalysts following a living polymerization mechanism, affording a fluoropolymer, poly(trifluoromethyl methylene) in high yield with controlled molar mass and low dispersity. This polymer bears trifluoromethyl on every main chain atom and thus has good resistance to chemical corrosion, high hydrophobicity, and excellent dielectric constant with low dielectric loss. Due to the steric hindrance between the trifluoromethyl pendants, the synthetic poly(trifluoromethyl methylene) can twist into a stable helix. The one‐handed preferred helices synthesized using chiral PdII‐catalysts exhibit high optical activity and circularly polarized luminescence. Remarkably, such polymer can be completely degraded to (E)‐1,1,1,4,4,4‐hexafluorobut‐2‐ene at high temperatures (>280 °C). Additionally, taking advantage of the living chain end, the polymer can be further modified.
Multiscale Dot‐Wire‐Sheet Heterostructured Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Dots‐Ti3C2Tx/Silk Nanofibers for High‐Performance Fiber‐Shaped Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhou Zhenjie , Li Peng , Man Zengming , Zhu Xiaolin , Ye Siyuan , Lu Wangyang , Wu Guan , Chen Wenxing
Published: March 2023

Fiber‐shaped supercapacitors (FSCs) have become one of the significantly strategical flexible energy‐storage materials towards future wearable textile electronics and metaverse technologies. Here, we develop the high‐performance FSCs based on multiscale dot‐wire‐sheet heterostructure microfiber of nitrogen‐doped carbon dots‐Ti3C2Tx/silk nanofibers (NCDs‐Ti3C2Tx/SNFs) hybrids via microfluidic fabrication. Due to the enlarged interlayer spacing, plentiful porous channels, accelerated H+ ion transport dynamics, large electrical conductivity and excellent mechanical strength/flexibility, the NCDs‐Ti3C2Tx/SNFs possesses high volumetric capacitance (2218.7 F cm−3) and reversible charge–discharge stability in 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte. Furthermore, the solid‐state FSCs present high energy density (57.9 mWh cm−3), good capacitance (1157 F cm−3), long‐life cycles (82.3 % capacitance retention after 40000 cycles), which realize the actual energy‐supply applications (powering lamp, watch and toy car).
Do altmetric scores reflect article quality? Evidence from the UK Research Excellence Framework 2021
Authors: Thelwall Mike , Kousha Kayvan , Abdoli Mahshid , Stuart Emma , Makita Meiko , Wilson Paul , Levitt Jonathan
Published: March 2023

Altmetrics are web‐based quantitative impact or attention indicators for academic articles that have been proposed to supplement citation counts. This article reports the first assessment of the extent to which mature altmetrics from Altmetric.com and Mendeley associate with individual article quality scores. It exploits expert norm‐referenced peer review scores from the UK Research Excellence Framework 2021 for 67,030+ journal articles in all fields 2014–2017/2018, split into 34 broadly field‐based Units of Assessment (UoAs). Altmetrics correlated more strongly with research quality than previously found, although less strongly than raw and field normalized Scopus citation counts. Surprisingly, field normalizing citation counts can reduce their strength as a quality indicator for articles in a single field. For most UoAs, Mendeley reader counts are the best altmetric (e.g., three Spearman correlations with quality scores above 0.5), tweet counts are also a moderate strength indicator in eight UoAs (Spearman correlations with quality scores above 0.3), ahead of news (eight correlations above 0.3, but generally weaker), blogs (five correlations above 0.3), and Facebook (three correlations above 0.3) citations, at least in the United Kingdom. In general, altmetrics are the strongest indicators of research quality in the health and physical sciences and weakest in the arts and humanities.
Rh(III)‐Catalyzed C−H Annulation of Sulfoxonium Ylides and 1,3‐Diynes: A Rapid Access to Alkynyl‐1‐Naphthol Derivatives
Authors: Kumar Sanjeev , Borkar Vaishnavi , Nunewar Saiprasad , Yadav Shashank , Kanchupalli Vinaykumar
Published: March 2023

An effective redox‐neutral strategy to synthesize aryl/alkynyl and alkyl/alkynyl substituted 1‐naphthol derivatives has been efficaciously developed by Rh(III)‐catalyzed [4+2]‐annulation of sulfoxonium ylides and 1,3‐diynes with excellent regio‐ and chemoselectivity. Subsequently, the same strategy was extended to furnish various unsymmetrical binaphthol motifs in one‐pot manner. Interestingly, the TMS‐derived 1,3‐diyne predominantly delivered the 3‐alkynyl‐1‐naphthol via desilylation pathway. The salient features such as traceless directing group, broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and operationally simple conditions made the present protocol more valuable and appealing.
Extended dissipative output‐feedback control for discrete‐time bidirectional associative memory neural networks via delay‐partitioning approach
Authors: Adhira B. , Nagamani G.
Published: March 2023

This paper is concerned with the analysis of an extended dissipativity performance for a class of bidirectional associative memory (BAM) neural networks (NNs) having time‐varying delays. To achieve this, the idea of the delay‐partitioning approach is used, where the range of time‐varying delay factors is partitioned into a finite number of equidistant subintervals. A delay‐partitioning based Lyapunov–Krasovskii function is introduced on these intervals, and some new delay‐dependent extended dissipativity results are established in terms of linear matrix inequalities, which also depend on the partition size of the delay factor. Further, numerical examples are performed to acknowledge the extended dissipativity performance of delayed discrete‐time BAM NN; further, four case studies were explored with their simulations to validate the impact of the delay‐partitioning approach.
Revisiting the emission line source detection problem in integral field spectroscopic data
Authors: Herenz Edmund Christian
Published: March 2023

We present a 3‐dimensional matched filtering approach for the blind search of faint emission‐line sources in integral‐field spectroscopic datasets. The filter is designed to account for the spectrally rapidly varying background noise due to the telluric air glow spectrum. A software implementation of this matched filtering search is implemented in an updated version of the Line Source Detection Cataloguing tool (LSDCat2.0). Using public data from the MUSE‐Wide survey we show how the new filter design provides higher detection significances for faint emission line sources buried in between atmospheric [OH]‐bands at Å. We also show how, for a given source parameterization, the selection function of the improved algorithm can be derived analytically from the variances of the data. We verify this analytic solution against source insertion and recovery experiments in the recently released dataset of the MUSE eXtreme Deep Field (MXDF). We then illustrate how the selection function has to be rescaled for 3D emission line source profiles that are not fully congruent with the template. This procedure alleviates the construction of realistic selection functions by removing the need for computationally cumbersome source insertion and recovery experiments.
Viability of non‐edible oilseed plants and agricultural wastes as feedstock for biofuels production: a techno‐economic review from an African perspective
Authors: Kichonge Baraka , Kivevele Thomas
Published: March 2023

Given the benefits of biofuels over conventional fuels, there is concern that widespread production of biofuels from edible feedstocks to meet demand will lead to food insecurity and other socioeconomic challenges. Thus, the goal of this research is to look into the techno‐economic potential of non‐edible oilseed plants and agricultural wastes as primary feedstocks for biofuel production in Africa. The inability of biofuel to cope in the fuel market has been demonstrated to be due to the high production costs, which limit profitability because the end price is heavily influenced by that of conventional fuel. However, the high production costs are entirely due not only to components such as feedstock, conversion processes, and infrastructure but also to a lack of techno‐economic assessment (TEA). African biofuel production can be competitively industrialized through the adoption of strong supportive policies and programs. Adoption of these policies and programs is critical for capitalizing on the benefits of non‐edible feedstocks in biofuel production while also boosting rural development through job creation. Techno‐economic assessment of conversion processes and infrastructure is recommended to provide a clear picture of the techno‐economic aspects, serving as a blueprint for the design of biofuel production facilities. Further, TEA has been shown to be a useful tool in the development process of new technologies aimed at lowering overall production costs and making biofuel more affordable. The combination of TEA and enabling policies and programs will increase the price competitiveness of biofuels, allowing them to capture a sizable share of the fuel market. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Cross‐linked polystyrene and polydivinylbenzene release significant amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen at ambient temperature
Authors: Thanh Nguyen Huu , Shaariikhuu Erdenechimeg , Nguyen Thi Xuyen , Hossain Muhammad Sarwar , Tae Eunju Lee , Reddy Guda Dinneswara , Yoon Kyung Byung
Published: March 2023

Cross‐linked polystyrene and polydivinylbenzene (PDVB) have unreacted pendant vinyl groups. They readily undergo aging or oxidation with air even at room temperature, giving rise to formation of OH and  (CO)CH3 groups within the polymers. We now report that the aging process involves the release of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) in significant amounts at 40 °C and the rate increases with time and temperature. The amounts of CO and H2 released from PDVB at a given temperature can be expressed using a polynomial equation of Aa = Bt + Ct2, where Aa is the accumulated amount, t is the time in the unit of day, and B and C are the coefficients. The coefficients B and D increase with increasing temperature. This result shows that the storage rooms for the above polymers and their composites should be well ventilated to prevent inhalation of CO by the workers and H2‐induced potential hazards.
Depressive symptoms, perceived social support, and anticipated HIV stigma among HIV‐negative/unknown men who have sex with men in China during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A multicenter online cross‐sectional study
Authors: Dai Zhenwei , Fu Jiaqi , Qu Yimin , Wu Yijin , Si Mingyu , Chen Xu , Wang Hao , Xiao Weijun , Huang Yiman , Yu Fei , Mi Guodong , Su Xiaoyou
Published: March 2023

Objective

To investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐negative/unknown men who have sex with men (MSM) in China and explore the relationship between perceived social support, anticipated HIV stigma, and depressive symptoms.

Methods

Participants in this study were recruited from a gay social networking app (Blued) in China by convenience sampling from December 16, 2020 to March 1, 2021. Perceived Social Support Questionnaire, Anticipated HIV Stigma Questionnaire, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were used to measure the social support, anticipated HIV stigma, and depressive symptoms of participants. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess the reliability and validity of the measurement model. Structural equation modeling was employed to evaluate the association of perceived social support, anticipated HIV stigma, and depressive symptoms, as well as the mediation effects.

Results

Overall, 47.70% (665/1394) of the participants had depressive symptoms. Perceived social support could have both direct and indirect effects on depressive symptoms with the mediating role of anticipated HIV stigma among HIV‐negative/unknown MSM.

Conclusion

Tailored interventions regarding perceived social support and anticipated HIV stigma, such as group therapy, mutual support groups and mindfulness training, with the involvement of non‐governmental or governmental organizations, should be taken into account to reduce depressive symptoms and stigma among HIV‐negative/unknown MSM in China.
Do patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma to the lung have improved survival?
Authors: Ebrahimi Aren , Cham Jason , Puglisi Leah , De Shadarevian Melanie , Hermel David J. , Spierling Bagsic Samantha R. , Sigal Darren
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a genetically heterogeneous disease often diagnosed with synchronous metastatic disease involving the liver. Tumors with extra‐abdominal spread that bypass the liver are thought to represent a unique molecular subgroup and those with isolated pulmonary metastatic disease are thought to have a more favorable clinical phenotype.

Method

We conducted a retrospective review of patients with pathologically confirmed PDAC treated between the years 2007 and 2020 at a Scripps Health hospital. The final study sample (N = 205) included patients with isolated pulmonary metastasis (IL), isolated liver metastasis or synchronous liver and lung metastasis (LL), or metastasis to any site other than the liver or lung (NLL). Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Progression‐free survival (PFS) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) were analyzed as secondary endpoints. Each survival outcome was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards tests.

Results

No statistically significant differences were seen between the three groups in OS, PFS, or RFS. Median OS for the IL group was 561 days, 341 days for the LL group, and 441 days for the NLL group. Median RFS was 748 days for the IL group, 574 days for the LL group, and 545 days for the NLL group. Median PFS was 307 for the IL group, 236 for the LL group, and 265 for the NLL group. When comparing only the IL and LL groups, a statistically significant difference in OS was seen favoring the IL group (HR1.59 LL vs IL [ref], CI 1.04–2.41, p = 0.031)

Conclusion

Though statistically significant differences in survival outcomes were not seen in our population, there was a trend toward improved survival for patients with isolated lung metastases. When comparing only the IL to LL group, statistically significant overall survival favoring the IL group was seen. These findings highlight a potential prognostic indicator of metastatic PDAC.
The molecular landscape of breast mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Authors: Venetis Konstantinos , Sajjadi Elham , Ivanova Mariia , Andaloro Silvia , Pessina Simona , Zanetti Chiara , Ranghiero Alberto , Citelli Gabriele , Rossi Chiara , Lucioni Marco , Malapelle Umberto , Pagni Fabio , Barberis Massimo , Guerini‐Rocco Elena , Viale Giuseppe , Fusco Nicola
Published: March 2023

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the breast is an extremely rare salivary gland‐type tumor characterized by epidermoid, basaloid, intermediate, and/or mucinous cells arranged in solid and cystic patterns. Despite their triple‐negative phenotype, breast MECs are generally considered low‐risk malignancies but their biology is largely unexplored; therefore, guidelines for clinical management are lacking. Here, we sought to characterize the molecular landscape of breast MECs. Thirteen cases were histologically reviewed, characterized for tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and were subjected to immunohistochemistry for programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1, clone 22C3), EGFR, and amphiregulin (AREG). Rearrangements in MAML2 and EWSR1 were investigated by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Targeted next‐generation sequencing of 161 genes was performed on eight cases. Most MECs had low histological grade (n = 10, 77%), with the presence of TILs (n = 9/12; 75%) and PD‐L1 combined positive score ranging from 10 to 20 (n = 4/6; 67%). All cases showed EGFR and AREG overexpression and were fusion negative. Enrichment of genetic alterations was observed in PI3K/AKT/mTOR and cell cycle regulation pathways, while only one case harbored TP53 mutations. This is the first study providing extensive molecular data on breast MECs and the largest collection of cases available to date in the literature. Breast MECs lack TP53 mutations found in high‐grade forms of triple‐negative breast cancers and MAML2 or EWSR1 rearrangements pathognomonic of salivary MECs. Triple‐negativity and PD‐L1 positivity suggest a window of opportunity for immunotherapy in these patients. The EGFR/AREG axis activation, coupled with the mutational patterns in PI3K/AKT/mTOR and cell cycle pathways warrants caution in considering MECs as low‐risk neoplasms.
Germacrane‐Type Sesquiterpene Lactones from Achillea millefolium L. and Their Anti‐Inflammatory Activity
Authors: Li Hongliang , Akber Aisa Haji , Li Jun
Published: March 2023

Six undescribed germacrane‐type sesquiterpene lactones, millefoliumons A–F, and two known analogs were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the whole plant of Achillea millefolium L. growing in Xinjiang, China. The structures of these compounds were fully elucidated by their 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and high resolution mass (HR‐ESI‐MS) spectral data, and comparison with literatures. The absolute configurations of millefoliumons A–F were confirmed by experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism data (ECD), and 13C‐NMR calculations and DP4+ probability analysis. All compounds displayed the approximate tendency to inhibit the nitric oxide (NO) release in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced BV2 cells.