bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling new quantum phases in the Shastry-Sutherland compound SrCu2(BO3)2 up to the saturation magnetic field
Authors: Nomura T. , Corboz P. , Miyata A. , Zherlitsyn S. , Ishii Y. , Kohama Y. , Matsuda Y. H. , Ikeda A. , Zhong C. , Kageyama H. , Mila F.
Published: June 2023

Under magnetic fields, quantum magnets often undergo exotic phase transitions with various kinds of order. The discovery of a sequence of fractional magnetization plateaus in the Shastry-Sutherland compound SrCu2(BO3)2 has played a central role in the high-field research on quantum materials, but so far this system could only be probed up to half the saturation value of the magnetization. Here, we report the first experimental and theoretical investigation of this compound up to the saturation magnetic field of 140 T and beyond. Using ultrasound and magnetostriction techniques combined with extensive tensor-network calculations (iPEPS), several spin-supersolid phases are revealed between the 1/2 plateau and saturation (1/1 plateau). Quite remarkably, the sound velocity of the 1/2 plateau exhibits a drastic decrease of -50%, related to the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic instability of the checkerboard-type magnon crystal. The unveiled nature of this paradigmatic quantum system is a new milestone for exploring exotic quantum states of matter emerging in extreme conditions.
Hedgehog signaling via its ligand DHH acts as cell fate determinant during skeletal muscle regeneration
Authors: Norris Alessandra M. , Appu Ambili Bai , Johnson Connor D. , Zhou Lylybell Y. , McKellar David W. , Renault Marie-Ange , Hammers David , Cosgrove Benjamin D. , Kopinke Daniel
Published: June 2023

Successful muscle regeneration relies on the interplay of multiple cell populations. However, the signals required for this coordinated intercellular crosstalk remain largely unknown. Here, we describe how the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway controls the fate of fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), the cellular origin of intramuscular fat (IMAT) and fibrotic scar tissue. Using conditional mutagenesis and pharmacological Hh modulators in vivo and in vitro, we identify DHH as the key ligand that acts as a potent adipogenic brake by preventing the adipogenic differentiation of FAPs. Hh signaling also impacts muscle regeneration, albeit indirectly through induction of myogenic factors in FAPs. Our results also indicate that ectopic and sustained Hh activation forces FAPs to adopt a fibrogenic fate resulting in widespread fibrosis. In this work, we reveal crucial post-developmental functions of Hh signaling in balancing tissue regeneration and fatty fibrosis. Moreover, they provide the exciting possibility that mis-regulation of the Hh pathway with age and disease could be a major driver of pathological IMAT formation.
Nuclear myosin VI maintains replication fork stability
Authors: Shi Jie , Hauschulte Kristine , Mikicic Ivan , Maharjan Srijana , Arz Valerie , Strauch Tina , Heidelberger Jan B. , Schaefer Jonas V. , Dreier Birgit , Plückthun Andreas , Beli Petra , Ulrich Helle D. , Wollscheid Hans-Peter
Published: June 2023

The actin cytoskeleton is of fundamental importance for cellular structure and plasticity. However, abundance and function of filamentous actin in the nucleus are still controversial. Here we show that the actin-based molecular motor myosin VI contributes to the stabilization of stalled or reversed replication forks. In response to DNA replication stress, myosin VI associates with stalled replication intermediates and cooperates with the AAA ATPase Werner helicase interacting protein 1 (WRNIP1) in protecting these structures from DNA2-mediated nucleolytic attack. Using functionalized affinity probes to manipulate myosin VI levels in a compartment-specific manner, we provide evidence for the direct involvement of myosin VI in the nucleus and against a contribution of the abundant cytoplasmic pool during the replication stress response.
Quantum emulation of the transient dynamics in the multistate Landau-Zener model
Authors: Stehli Alexander , Brehm Jan David , Wolz Tim , Schneider Andre , Rotzinger Hannes , Weides Martin , Ustinov Alexey V.
Published: June 2023

Quantum simulation is one of the most promising near term applications of quantum computing. Especially, systems with a large Hilbert space are hard to solve for classical computers and thus ideal targets for a simulation with quantum hardware. In this work, we study experimentally the transient dynamics in the multistate Landau-Zener model as a function of the Landau-Zener velocity. The underlying Hamiltonian is emulated by superconducting quantum circuit, where a tunable transmon qubit is coupled to a bosonic mode ensemble comprising four lumped element microwave resonators. We investigate the model for different initial states: Due to our circuit design, we are not limited to merely exciting the qubit, but can also pump the harmonic modes via a dedicated drive line. Here, the nature of the transient dynamics depends on the average photon number in the excited resonator. The greater effective coupling strength between qubit and higher Fock states results in a quasi-adiabatic transition, where coherent quantum oscillations are suppressed without the introduction of additional loss channels. Our experiments pave the way for more complex simulations with qubits coupled to an engineered bosonic mode spectrum.
Chromosome-level assemblies of cultivated water chestnut Trapa bicornis and its wild relative Trapa incisa
Authors: Qu Minghao , Fan Xiangrong , Hao Chenlu , Zheng Yi , Guo Sumin , Wang Sen , Li Wei , Xu Yanqin , Gao Lei , Chen Yuanyuan
Published: June 2023

Water chestnut (Trapa L.) is a floating-leaved aquatic plant with high edible and medicinal value. In this study, we presented chromosome-level genome assemblies of cultivated large-seed species Trapa bicornis and its wild small-seed relative Trapa incisa by using PacBio HiFi long reads and Hi-C technology. The T. bicornis and T. incisa assemblies consisted of 479.90 Mb and 463.97 Mb contigs with N50 values of 13.52 Mb and 13.77 Mb, respectively, and repeat contents of 62.88% and 62.49%, respectively. A total of 33,306 and 33,315 protein-coding genes were predicted in T. bicornis and T. incisa assemblies, respectively. There were 159,232 structural variants affecting more than 11 thousand genes detected between the two genomes. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the lineage leading to Trapa was diverged from the lineage to Sonneratia approximately 23 million years ago. These two assemblies provide valuable resources for future evolutionary and functional genomic research and molecular breeding of water chestnut.
Comparison of DNA extraction methods for 16S rRNA gene sequencing in the analysis of the human gut microbiome
Authors: Elie Céline , Perret Magali , Hage Hayat , Sentausa Erwin , Hesketh Amy , Louis Karen , Fritah-Lafont Asmaà , Leissner Philippe , Vachon Carole , Rostaing Hervé , Reynier Frédéric , Gervasi Gaspard , Saliou Adrien
Published: June 2023

The gut microbiome is widely analyzed using high-throughput sequencing, such as 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing (SMS). DNA extraction is known to have a large impact on the metagenomic analyses. The aim of this study was to compare DNA extraction protocols for 16S sequencing. In that context, four commonly used DNA extraction methods were compared for the analysis of the gut microbiota. Commercial versions were evaluated against modified protocols using a stool preprocessing device (SPD, bioMérieux) upstream DNA extraction. Stool samples from nine healthy volunteers and nine patients with a Clostridium difficile infection were extracted with all protocols and 16S sequenced. Protocols were ranked using wet- and dry-lab criteria, including quality controls of the extracted genomic DNA, alpha-diversity, accuracy using a mock community of known composition and repeatability across technical replicates. SPD improved overall efficiency of three of the four tested protocols compared with their commercial version, in terms of DNA extraction yield, sample alpha-diversity, and recovery of Gram-positive bacteria. The best overall performance was obtained for the S-DQ protocol, SPD combined with the DNeasy PowerLyser PowerSoil protocol from QIAGEN. Based on this evaluation, we strongly believe that the use of such stool preprocessing device improves both the standardization and the quality of the DNA extraction in the human gut microbiome studies.
Efficient class of estimators for finite population mean using auxiliary attribute in stratified random sampling
Authors: Singh Housila P. , Gupta Anurag , Tailor Rajesh
Published: June 2023

The aim of this paper is to develop more effective methods for estimating population means in sample surveys using auxiliary attributes. To achieve this goal, we introduce a modified version of the estimators proposed by Koyuncu (2013b) and Shahzad et al. (2019), as well as a new class of estimators. We derive expressions for the bias and mean squared error of these new estimators up to the first degree of approximation. Our results show that the suggested classes of estimators perform better than other existing methods, with the lowest mean squared error under optimal conditions. We also conduct an empirical investigation to support our findings.
A stacking ensemble classifier-based machine learning model for classifying pollution sources on photovoltaic panels
Authors: Khan Prince Waqas , Byun Yung Cheol , Jeong Ok-Ran
Published: June 2023

Solar energy is a very efficient alternative for generating clean electric energy. However, pollution on the surface of solar panels reduces solar radiation, increases surface transmittance, and raises the surface temperature. All these factors cause photovoltaic (PV) panels to be less efficient. To address this problem, a stacking ensemble classifier-based machine learning model is proposed. In this study, different sources of pollution on each solar panel are used, and their power generation is recorded. The proposed model includes gradient boost, extra tree, and random forest classifiers, with the extra tree classifier serving as a meta-learner. The model takes into account various weather features during the training process, including irradiance and temperature, aiming to increase its accuracy and robustness in identifying pollution sources on the PV panel. Moreover, the proposed model is evaluated using various methods in order to examine performance metrics such as accuracy, F1 score, and precision. Results show that the model can achieve an accuracy score of 97.37%. The model’s performance is also compared to state-of-the-art machine learning models, demonstrating its superiority in accurately classifying pollution sources on PV panels. By utilizing different sources of pollution and weather features during training, the model can accurately classify different pollution sources, resulting in increased power generation efficiency and the longevity of PV panels. The main results of this study can be used to manage and maintain PV panels since the model can identify PV modules that need to be cleaned to keep producing the most power. Furthermore, the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of PV panels can be further enhanced by the proposed model.
Automatic speaker diarization for natural conversation analysis in autism clinical trials
Authors: O’Sullivan James , Bogaarts Guy , Schoenenberger Philipp , Tillmann Julian , Slater David , Mesgarani Nima , Eule Eckhart , Kilchenmann Timothy , Murtagh Lorraine , Hipp Joerg , Lindemann Michael , Lipsmeier Florian , Cheng Wei-Yi , Nobbs David , Chatham Christopher
Published: June 2023

Challenges in social communication is one of the core symptom domains in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Novel therapies are under development to help individuals with these challenges, however the ability to show a benefit is dependent on a sensitive and reliable measure of treatment effect. Currently, measuring these deficits requires the use of time-consuming and subjective techniques. Objective measures extracted from natural conversations could be more ecologically relevant, and administered more frequently—perhaps giving them added sensitivity to change. While several studies have used automated analysis methods to study autistic speech, they require manual transcriptions. In order to bypass this time-consuming process, an automated speaker diarization algorithm must first be applied. In this paper, we are testing whether a speaker diarization algorithm can be applied to natural conversations between autistic individuals and their conversational partner in a natural setting at home over the course of a clinical trial. We calculated the average duration that a participant would speak for within their turn. We found a significant correlation between this feature and the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS) expressive communication score (r = 0.51, p = 7 × 10–5). Our results show that natural conversations can be used to obtain measures of talkativeness, and that this measure can be derived automatically, thus showing the promise of objectively evaluating communication challenges in ASD.
Hyperphagia of female UCP1-deficient mice blunts anti-obesity effects of FGF21
Authors: Klein Hazebroek Marlou , Laterveer Rutger , Kutschke Maria , Ramšak Marčeta Vida , Barthem Clarissa S. , Keipert Susanne
Published: June 2023

Increasing energy expenditure through uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) activity in thermogenic adipose tissue is widely investigated to correct diet-induced obesity (DIO). Paradoxically, UCP1-deficient male mice are resistant to DIO at room temperature. Recently, we uncovered a key role for fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a promising drug target for treatment of metabolic disease, in this phenomenon. As the metabolic action of FGF21 is so far understudied in females, we aim to investigate potential sexual dimorphisms. Here, we confirm that male UCP1 KO mice display resistance to DIO in mild cold, without significant changes in metabolic parameters. Surprisingly, females gained the same amount of body fat as WT controls. Molecular regulation was similar between UCP1 KO males and females, with an upregulation of serum FGF21, coinciding with beiging of inguinal white adipose tissue and induced lipid metabolism. While energy expenditure did not display significant differences, UCP1 KO females significantly increased their food intake. Altogether, our results indicate that hyperphagia is likely counteracting the beneficial effects of FGF21 in female mice. This underlines the importance of sex-specific studies in (pre)clinical research for personalized drug development.
Causes of death among patients with cutaneous melanoma: a US population-based study
Authors: Sadeq Mohammed Ahmed , Ashry Mohamed Hady , Ghorab Reem Mohammed Farouk , Afify Abdelrahman Yousry
Published: June 2023

Research on mortality outcomes and non-cancer-related causes of death in patients with cutaneous melanoma (CM) remains limited. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of non-cancer-related deaths following CM diagnosis. The data of 224,624 patients diagnosed with malignant CM in the United States between 2000 and 2019 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. We stratified our cohort based on their melanoma stage at diagnosis and further calculated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for each cause of death, comparing their relative risk to that of the general US population. The total number of fatalities among melanoma patients was 60,110, representing 26.8% of the total cases. The percentage of deaths is directly proportional to the disease stage, reaching 80% in distant melanoma. The highest fatalities among the localized melanoma group (25,332; 60.5%) occurred from non-cancer causes, followed by melanoma-attributable deaths (10,817; 25.8%). Conversely, melanoma is the leading cause of death in regional and distant melanoma cohorts. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were the most prevalent non-cancer causes of death among the three disease-stage cohorts. Compared to the general population, we did not observe an increased risk of death due to non-cancer causes in the localized CM cohort, while patients diagnosed with regional and distant CMs had a statistically significant higher risk of death from all the reported major causes of death.
Adaptive constraints by morphological operations for single-shot digital holography
Authors: Xu Danlin , Huang Zhengzhong , Cao Liangcai
Published: June 2023

Digital holography provides access to quantitative measurement of the entire complex field, which is indispensable for the investigation of wave-matter interactions. The emerging iterative phase retrieval approach enables to solve the inverse imaging problem only from the given intensity measurements and physical constraints. However, enforcing imprecise constraints limits the reconstruction accuracy and convergence speed. Here, we propose an advanced iterative phase retrieval framework for single-shot in-line digital holography that incorporates adaptive constraints, which achieves optimized convergence behavior, high-fidelity and twin-image-free reconstruction. In conjunction with morphological operations which can extract the object structure while eliminating the irrelevant part such as artifacts and noise, adaptive constraints allow the support region to be accurately estimated and automatically updated at each iteration. Numerical reconstruction of complex-valued objects and the capability of noise immunity are investigated. The improved reconstruction performance of this approach is experimentally validated. Such flexible and versatile framework has promising applications in biomedicine, X-ray coherent diffractive imaging and wavefront sensing.
AiKPro: deep learning model for kinome-wide bioactivity profiling using structure-based sequence alignments and molecular 3D conformer ensemble descriptors
Authors: Park Hyejin , Hong Sujeong , Lee Myeonghun , Kang Sungil , Brahma Rahul , Cho Kwang-Hwi , Shin Jae-Min
Published: June 2023

The discovery of selective and potent kinase inhibitors is crucial for the treatment of various diseases, but the process is challenging due to the high structural similarity among kinases. Efficient kinome-wide bioactivity profiling is essential for understanding kinase function and identifying selective inhibitors. In this study, we propose AiKPro, a deep learning model that combines structure-validated multiple sequence alignments and molecular 3D conformer ensemble descriptors to predict kinase-ligand binding affinities. Our deep learning model uses an attention-based mechanism to capture complex patterns in the interactions between the kinase and the ligand. To assess the performance of AiKPro, we evaluated the impact of descriptors, the predictability for untrained kinases and compounds, and kinase activity profiling based on odd ratios. Our model, AiKPro, shows good Pearson’s correlation coefficients of 0.88 and 0.87 for the test set and for the untrained sets of compounds, respectively, which also shows the robustness of the model. AiKPro shows good kinase-activity profiles across the kinome, potentially facilitating the discovery of novel interactions and selective inhibitors. Our approach holds potential implications for the discovery of novel, selective kinase inhibitors and guiding rational drug design.
Attitudinal analysis of vaccination effects to lead endemic phases
Authors: Ku Donggyun , Kim Gahyun , Peck Kyong Ran , Park In Kwon , Chang Rakwoo , Kim Donghan , Lee Seungjae
Published: June 2023

To achieve endemic phases, repeated vaccinations are necessary. However, individuals may grapple with whether to get vaccinated due to potential side effects. When an individual is already immune due to previous infections or vaccinations, the perceived risk from vaccination is often less than the risk of infection. Yet, repeated rounds of vaccination can lead to avoidance, impeding the establishment of endemic phases. We explore this phenomenon using an individual-based Monte Carlo simulation, validating our findings with game theory. The Nash equilibrium encapsulates individuals' non-cooperative behavior, while the system's optimal value represents the societal benefits of altruistic cooperation. We define the difference between these as the price of anarchy. Our simulations reveal that the price of anarchy must fall below a threshold of 12.47 for endemic phases to be achieved in a steady state. This suggests that for a basic reproduction number of 10, a consistent vaccination rate greater than 89% is required. These findings offer new insights into vaccination-related decision-making and can inform effective strategies to tackle infectious diseases.
Enyne acetogenins from Porcelia macrocarpa displayed anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity and cause a reduction in the intracellular calcium level
Authors: Thevenard Fernanda , Brito Ivanildo A. , Costa-Silva Thais A. , Tempone Andre G. , Lago João Henrique G.
Published: June 2023

Natural products are a promising source of new compounds with a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties, including antiprotozoal activities. Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is one of several neglected tropical diseases with reduced options for treatment, which presents limitations such as toxicity and ineffectiveness in the chronic stage of the disease. Aiming to investigate the Brazilian flora for the discovery of new anti-T. cruzi compounds, the MeOH extract from Porcelia macrocarpa R.E. Fries (Annonaceae) fruit peels displayed potent activity against trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes and was subjected to bioactivity-guided fractionation. Using different chromatographic steps, a fraction composed of a mixture of four new chemically related acetogenins was obtained. The compounds were characterized as (2S*,3R*,4R*)-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(n-octadeca-13′,17′-dien-11′-inil)butanolide (1), (2S*,3R*,4R*)-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(n-eicosa-13′,19′-dien-11′-inil)butanolide (2), (2S*,3R*,4R*)-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(n-octadec-13′-en-11′-inil)butanolide (3), and (2S*,3R*,4R*)-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(n-eicosa-13′-en-11′-inil)butanolide (4) by NMR analysis and UHPLC/ESI-HRMS data. The mixture of compounds 1–4, displayed an EC50 of 4.9 and 2.5 µg/mL against trypomastigote and amastigote forms of T. cruzi, respectively, similar to the standard drug benznidazole (EC50 of 4.8 and 1.4 µg/mL). Additionally, the mixture of compounds 1–4 displayed no mammalian toxicity for murine fibroblasts (CC50 > 200 µg/mL), resulting in a SI > 40.8 and > 83.3 against trypomastigotes and amastigotes, respectively. Based on these results, the mechanism of action of this bioactive fraction was investigated. After a short-time incubation with the trypomastigotes, no alterations in the cell membrane permeability were observed. However, it was verified a decrease in the intracellular calcium of the parasites, without significant pH variations of the acidocalcisomes. The intracellular damages were followed by an upregulation of the reactive oxygen species and ATP, but no depolarization effects were observed in the mitochondrial membrane potential. These data suggest that the mixture of compounds 1–4 caused an irreversible oxidative stress in the parasites, leading to death. If adequately studied, these acetogenins can open new insights for the discovery of new routes of death in T. cruzi.
Maternal acrylamide exposure changes intestinal epithelium, immunolocalization of leptin and ghrelin and their receptors, and gut barrier in weaned offspring
Authors: Muszyński Siemowit , Hułas-Stasiak Monika , Dobrowolski Piotr , Arciszewski Marcin B. , Hiżewska Ligia , Donaldson Janine , Mozel Sylwia , Rycerz Karol , Kapica Małgorzata , Puzio Iwona , Tomaszewska Ewa
Published: June 2023

Acrylamide (ACR) is an amide formed as a byproduct in many heat-processed starchy-rich foods. In utero ACR exposure has been associated with restricted fetal growth, but its effects of postnatal functional development of small intestine is completely unknown. The current study investigated the time- and segment-dependent effects of prenatal ACR exposure on morphological and functional development of small intestine in weaned rat offspring. Four groups of pregnant female Wistar rats were exposed to ACR (3 mg/kg b.w./day) for 0, 5, 10 and 15 days during pregnancy. Basal intestinal morphology, immunolocalization of gut hormones responsible for food intake and proteins of intestinal barrier, activity of the intestinal brush border disaccharidases, apoptosis and proliferation in intestinal mucosa were analyzed in offspring at weaning (postnatal day 21). The results showed that in utero ACR exposure disturbs offspring gut structural and functional postnatal development in a time- and segment-depended manner and even a short prenatal exposure to ACR resulted in changes in intestinal morphology, immunolocalization of leptin and ghrelin and their receptors, barrier function, activity of gut enzymes and upregulation of apoptosis and proliferation. In conclusion, prenatal ACR exposure disturbed the proper postnatal development of small intestine.
Impact of satellite thickness data assimilation on bias reduction in Arctic sea ice concentration
Authors: Lee Jeong-Gil , Ham Yoo-Geun
Published: June 2023

The impact of assimilating satellite-retrieved Arctic sea ice thickness (SIT) on simulating sea ice concentration (SIC) climatology in CICE5 is examined using a data assimilation (DA) system based on the ensemble optimal interpolation. The DA of the SIT satellite data of CryoSat-2 and SMOS during 2011–2019 significantly reduces the climatological bias of SIC and SIT in both sea ice melting and growing seasons. Moreover, the response of SIC to SIT change is strongly dependent on the seasons and latitudinal locations. The SIT in the inner ice zone thickens due to the SIT DA during the boreal winter wherein the SIT observation is available; the ice melting throughout the subsequent seasons is attenuated to increase SIC during the boreal summer to reduce the simultaneous SIC bias. In marginal ice zones, the positive SIT bias depicted in the control simulation is significantly reduced by SIT DA, which reduces the positive SIC bias. The idealized experiments of reducing the SIT show that the enhanced ice bottom melting process plays a crucial role in reducing the SIC; the prescribed SIT thinning increases the ice bulk salinity due to the weak gravity drainage of brine and increases the ice bulk temperature due to the decrease of the sea ice albedo. The augmentation of the ice salinity and temperature contributes to the shrinkage of the ice enthalpy, boosting the bottom melting process, which leads to SIC decrease.
Structural and dynamical investigation of histone H2B in well-hydrated nucleosome core particles by solid-state NMR
Authors: Shi Xiangyan , Kannaian Bhuvaneswari , Prasanna Chinmayi , Soman Aghil , Nordenskiöld Lars
Published: June 2023

H2A-H2B dimer is a key component of nucleosomes and an important player in chromatin biology. Here, we characterized the structure and dynamics of H2B in precipitated nucleosome core particles (NCPs) with a physiologically relevant concentration using solid-state NMR. Our recent investigation of H3-H4 tetramer determined its unique dynamic properties and the present work provides a deeper understanding of the previously observed dynamic networks in NCP that is potentially functionally significant. Nearly complete 13C, 15N assignments were obtained for H2B R30-A121, which permit extracting unprecedented detailed structural and amino-acid site-specific dynamics. The derived structure of H2B in the well-hydrated NCP sample agrees well with that of X-ray crystals. Dynamics at different timescales were determined semi-quantitatively for H2B in a site-specific manner. Particularly, higher millisecond-microsecond dynamics are observed for H2B core regions including partial α1, L1, partial α2, and partial L3. The analysis of these regions in the context of the tertiary structure reveals the clustering of dynamical residues. Overall, this work fills a gap to a complete resonance assignment of all four histones in nucleosomes and delineates that the dynamic networks in NCP extend to H2B, which suggests a potential mechanism to couple histone core with distant DNA to modulate the DNA activities.
Thermochemical oxidation of methane by manganese oxides in hydrothermal sediments
Authors: Huang Qin , Jiang Shao-Yong , Pi Dao-Hui , Konhauser Kurt O. , Wen Xing-Ping , Lu Liu-Yi , Yan Hao
Published: June 2023

Microbial anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to the reduction of Mn(IV)-oxides, typically MnO2, derived from continental weathering and riverine transport has been proposed as a globally important sink of methane. However, the potential role of hydrothermal Mn(IV) oxide-rich sediments as a methane sink, and the mechanisms of underpinning methane oxidation at high-temperature hydrothermal fields remain poorly understood. Here, we report the occurrence of almost pure rhodochrosite with extremely negative δ13CPDB values (as low as –76.4‰) in direct association with hausmannite formed through hydrothermal activity in the Late Triassic Heqing Mn deposit in Southern China. Based on detailed petrography and geochemistry, this rhodochrosite is interpreted as the result of the thermochemical oxidation of methane by hausmannite during early diagenesis. Given high hydrothermal Mn2+ and CH4 release coupled to low sulfate concentration observed in the Archean oceans, we propose that hydrothermal Mn(IV) oxides may have been effective methane sinks in Earth’s ancient oceans.
Interkingdom interaction: the soil isopod Porcellio scaber stimulates the methane-driven bacterial and fungal interaction
Authors: Heffner Tanja , Brami Semi A , Mendes Lucas W , Kaupper Thomas , Hannula Emilia S , Poehlein Anja , Horn Marcus A , Ho Adrian
Published: June 2023

Porcellio scaber (woodlice) are (sub-)surface-dwelling isopods, widely recognized as “soil bioengineers”, modifying the edaphic properties of their habitat, and affecting carbon and nitrogen mineralization that leads to greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, the impact of soil isopods on methane-cycling processes remains unknown. Using P. scaber as a model macroinvertebrate in a microcosm study, we determined how the isopod influences methane uptake and the associated interaction network in an agricultural soil. Stable isotope probing (SIP) with 13C-methane was combined to a co-occurrence network analysis to directly link activity to the methane-oxidizing community (bacteria and fungus) involved in the trophic interaction. Compared to microcosms without the isopod, P. scaber significantly induced methane uptake, associated to a more complex bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-fungi interaction, and modified the soil nutritional status. Interestingly, 13C was transferred via the methanotrophs into the fungi, concomitant to significantly higher fungal abundance in the P. scaber-impacted soil, indicating that the fungal community utilized methane-derived substrates in the food web along with bacteria. Taken together, results showed the relevance of P. scaber in modulating methanotrophic activity with implications for bacteria-fungus interaction.
FTIR microscopy for direct observation of conformational changes on immobilized ω-transaminase: effect of water activity and organic solvent on biocatalyst performance
Authors: Rădoi Iulia-Ioana , Bedolla Diana Eva , Vaccari Lisa , Todea Anamaria , Zappaterra Federico , Volkov Alexey , Gardossi Lucia
Published: June 2023

Enzyme immobilization is a key strategy to expand the scope of enzyme applications and to enable the recycling of biocatalysts, resulting in greener and more cost-efficient processes.
New insights into defects and magnetic interactions inducing lattice disordering in Co2Fe0.5Cr0.5Al
Authors: Yadav Ravi Kumar , Govindaraj R. , Vinod K. , Sreepriya T. , Mythili R.
Published: June 2023

This study shows the important role of the magnetic interactions between Fe, Co and Cr atoms in Co2Fe0.5Cr0.5Al elucidating for the first time the striking correlation of the effective value of the hyperfine field with the degree of ordering/disordering of the lattice.
Renal tissue engineering for regenerative medicine using polymers and hydrogels
Authors: Syed Mohamed Syed Mohammad Daniel , Welsh Gavin I. , Roy Ipsita
Published: June 2023

The kidney regeneration strategies by tissue engineering using polymers and hydrogels, creating functional cell material scaffolds. AKD (acute kidney disease), CKD (chronic kidney disease), and ESRD (end-stage renal disease). (Created with BioRender).
Delivery of gold nanoparticle-conjugated M2e influenza vaccine in mice using coated microneedles
Authors: Nesovic Lazar D. , Roach Carsen J. , Joshi Gaurav , Gill Harvinder Singh
Published: June 2023

Microneedles coated with a gold-nanoparticle based broadly protective influenza vaccine stimulates protective immunity in mice.
Facile fabrication of boron-doped titanium carbide for efficient electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction
Authors: Leiming Tao , Kui Pang , Wen Qin , Liming Huang , Linhai Duan , Guanhua Zhu , Qiuye Li , Changlin Yu
Published: June 2023

Boron-doped titanium carbide is a promising strategy for optimizing electrochemical performance for NRR. The Ti3C2-B exhibited an NH3yield of 39.64 μg h−1mg−1at −0.55 V and a FE of 11.89% at −0.45 V. DFT suggested that B doping of Ti3C2reduced the free energy obstacle.
A far-red-emitting ZnAl1.95Cr0.05O4 phosphor for plant growth LED applications
Authors: Elhamdi I. , Mselmi F. , Kammoun S. , Dhahri E. , Carvalho A. J. , Tavares P. , Costa B. F. O.
Published: June 2023

ZnAl2−xCrxO4 (x = 0 and 0.05) samples were synthesized via a high-temperature solid-state reaction method.
An aliphatic MOF with a molecular sieving effect for efficient C2H2/C2H4 separation
Authors: Li Xianzhen , Cao Chen , Fan Ziwen , Liu Jianfa , Pham Tony , Forrest Katherine A. , Niu Zheng
Published: June 2023

An alkyl MOF with a molecular sieving effect exhibits great C2H2 adsorption capability and C2H2/C2H4 separation performance.
Amorphous vanadium-doped cobalt oxyborate as an efficient electrocatalyst for urea-assisted H2production from urine sewage
Authors: Ahmed Tanbir , Bhattacharjee Sukanya , Roy Poulomi
Published: June 2023

The optimum vanadium doping in cobalt oxyborate with its amorphous phase was evidenced to be an excellent electrocatalyst towards energy-saving urea-assisted hydrogen production even in alkaline bovine urine electrolyte as an extreme sewage medium.
Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to multicarbon (C2+) products: challenges and perspectives
Authors: Chang Bin , Pang Hong , Raziq Fazal , Wang Sibo , Huang Kuo-Wei , Ye Jinhua , Zhang Huabin
Published: June 2023

This review analyzes advanced catalysts and C2+ synthesis mechanisms based on theoretical explorations and in situ/operando characterizations. Triphasic interface optimization is discussed for the potential of industry-compatible stability.
Investigation of the reliability of nano-nickel/niobium oxide-based multilayer thin films deposited on polymer substrates for flexible electronic applications
Authors: Sahay Rahul , Tu Yen-Cheng , Aziz Izzat , Budiman Arief S. , Tan Cher Ming , Lee Pooi See , Thomas Olivier , Raghavan Nagarajan
Published: June 2023

Novel fracture/fatigue resistant nickel–niobium oxide (crystalline–amorphous) sandwich nanolayers on a polyimide (PI) substrate as a potential candidate for electrodes or interconnects for flexible electronic or energy devices.
An ecofriendly and universal strategy to balance the active sites and electrical conductivity of biomass-derived carbon for superior lithium storage
Authors: Chen Xi , Zhang Yanmeng , Zhang Heng , Yang Song , Li Tao , Sun Bing , Ni Shibing
Published: June 2023

An ecofriendly and universal strategy is developed to balance the active sites and conductivity of biomass-derived carbon by B, O dual doping, which delivers superior lithium storage properties, boosting its commercialization in energy storage field.
Progress on the in situ imaging of growth dynamics of two-dimensional materials
Authors: Zhu Xiaokai , Wang Honggang , Wang Kangkang , Xie Liming
Published: June 2023

This review has summarized the recent progress on the in situ investigations of the growth dynamics of 2D materials.
Two-dimensional MN4 materials as effective multifunctional electrocatalysts for the hydrogen-evolution, oxygen-evolution, and oxygen-reduction reactions
Authors: Zhang Xian , Luo Zhifen , Fan Jiayi , Cao Tengfei , Shi Junqin , Fan Xiaoli
Published: June 2023

MN4 monolayers could be used as multifunctional catalysts for the hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER), oxygen-evolution reaction (OER), and oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR).
A bimetallic metal–organic framework derived MnS/CoS@C heterostructure with enhanced sodium-ion storage
Authors: Jiang Zongyuan , Li Shaohui , Chen Yining , Chen Jingwei , Wei Cong , Xu Qun
Published: June 2023

Due to the synergistic effect of heterojunction design and carbon framework encapsulation, the as-prepared MnS/CoS@C heterostructure anode can deliver superior specific capacity and rate capability for sodium-ion storage.
Secondary ligand-induced orthogonal self-assembly of silver nanoclusters into superstructures with enhanced NIR emission
Authors: Sugi Korath Shivan , Sandra Amritha P. , Nonappa  , Ghosh Debasmita , Mohanty Jyoti Sarita , Paulthangam Kannan Murugesan , Sooraj B. S. , Srikrishnarka Pillalamarri , Roy Jayoti , Dar Wakeel Ahmed , Pradeep Thalappil
Published: June 2023

We present a secondary ligand-induced orthogonal self-assembly of atomically precise silver nanocluster building blocks into complex superstructures with enhanced emission.
Small molecule-derived pH-gated ion transporters
Authors: Kumar Narendra , Madhavan Nandita
Published: June 2023

Correlating pH regulation of ion transport with the molecular structure and pKaof the transporter.
From benzopyrroles to phenylpyrroles: remodeling of indoles enabled by photoredox catalysis
Authors: Xu Wei , Cheng Bin , Zhang Yaoge , Fang Lijing , Zhai Hongbin , Wang Cuiping , Wang Taimin
Published: June 2023

A photocatalyzed facile remodeling of indoles too-aminobiaryls under mild conditions was achieved.
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles with dual-targeting agricultural sources for enhanced cancer treatment via tritherapy
Authors: Huang Yu-Ya , Lee Zui-Harng , Chang Kai-Chi , Wu Zhi-Yuan , Lee Cheng-Chang , Tsou Min-Hsuan , Lin Hsiu-Mei
Published: June 2023

In this study, we introduced dual-targeting folic acid (FA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) modified on the surface of rice husk mesoporous silica nanoparticles (rMSNs). Then use the triple combination therapy of anti-cancer drugs, PDT, and PTT to achieve good treatment efficiency.
Phytochemical-assisted green synthesis of CuFeOx nano-rose electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media
Authors: Sarkar D. K. , Selvanathan V. , Mottakin M. , Hasan A. K. Mahmud , Islam Md. Ariful , Almohamadi Hamad , Alharthi Nabeel H. , Akhtaruzzaman Md.
Published: June 2023

Interconnected nanosheets and higher Fe and Ni content improved OER kinetics and lower the overpotential of the CuFeOx catalyst to only 410 mV to reach 100 mA cm−2. The catalysts exhibited excellent stability for more than 50 hours.
Enhanced stability and tunable photoluminescence in Mn2+-doped one-dimensional hybrid lead halide perovskites for high-performance white light emitting diodes
Authors: Zhang Jie , Sun Kai-Qi , Zhang Zhong-Hui , Wang Ri-Cheng , Lin Zi-Han , Lei Xiao-Wu , Wang Yu-Yin , Ju Ping , He Yuan-Chun
Published: June 2023

The series of Mn2+-doped 1D [AEP]PbCl5·H2O exhibit tunable broadband light emissions in the spectral range from weak blue-white to strong red.
Lead-free europium and ytterbium perovskites
Authors: Tan Chih Shan
Published: June 2023

Halide perovskite is a material with fantastic properties that could substantially impact next-generation optoelectronics.
1,2-Aminoxyalkylation of alkenes with alkyl iodides and TEMPONa through SET- and XAT-processes
Authors: Maity Anirban , Studer Armido
Published: June 2023

1,2-Aminoxyalkylation of alkenes with alkyl iodides and TEMPONa in combination with an aryldiazonium salt as an XAT mediator is reported.
Correction: The influence of chirality on the behavior of oligonucleotides inside cells: revealing the potent cytotoxicity of G-rich l-RNA
Authors: Yu Chen-Hsu , Sczepanski Jonathan T.
Published: June 2023

Correction for ‘The influence of chirality on the behavior of oligonucleotides inside cells: revealing the potent cytotoxicity of G-rich l-RNA’ by Chen-Hsu Yu et al., Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 1145–1154, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SC05511B.
Ion-transfer electroanalytical detection of perfluorooctanoic acid at a liquid–liquid micro-interface array
Authors: Lamichhane Hum Bahadur , Arrigan Damien W. M.
Published: June 2023

Ion transfer voltammetry of de-ionised perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was employed to achieve nanomolar detection and to assess sample matric effects.
A machine learning approach for predicting the performance of oxygen carriers in chemical looping oxidative coupling of methane
Authors: Zeng Dewang , Song Yiwen , Wang Mengmeng , Lu Yingjie , Chen Zehua , Xiao Rui
Published: June 2023

A key focus of chemical looping oxidative coupling of methane is the screening of high-quality oxygen carriers.
The interplay between nucleation and patterning during shear-induced crystallization from solution in a parallel plate geometry
Authors: Devos Cedric , Vananroye Anja , Cardinaels Ruth , Xiouras Christos , Van Gerven Tom , Kuhn Simon
Published: June 2023

The influence of local fluid shear on the nucleation of paracetamol is shown. Furthermore, the interplay between nucleation and patterning of paracetamol crystals in circular patterns on a rotating plate’s surface is discussed.
Soft, flexible pressure sensors for pressure monitoring under large hydrostatic pressure and harsh ocean environments
Authors: Li Yi , Villada Andres , Lu Shao-Hao , Sun He , Xiao Jianliang , Wang Xueju
Published: June 2023

A soft, flexible pressure sensor is developed to measure hydrostatic pressure in the ocean environment, which can be potentially integrated with many platforms including diver equipment and marine animal tags for real-time pressure monitoring.
Modification of 2D materials using MoS2as a model for investigating the Al-storage properties of diverse crystal facets
Authors: Kang Rongkai , Du Yiqun , Zhang Dongmei , Sun Chenyi , Zhou Wei , Wang Han , Chen Guowen , Zhang Jianxin
Published: June 2023

A strategy for 2D materials is applied to the MoS2model to obtain S-MoS2. The intrinsic interaction information of all potential active surfaces in MoS2with Al3+and AlCl4–is investigated.
Simultaneous optimization of the electrical and thermal transport properties of LuNiSb via aliovalent doping
Authors: Miao Pu , Yang Cheng , Han Shen , Dai Shengnan , Li Airan , Xi Lili , Yang Jiong , Zhu Tiejun , Fu Chenguang
Published: June 2023

With the introduction of Sn or Co into half-Heusler compound LuNiSb, it is discovered that aliovalent doping facilitates the simultaneous optimization of electrical and thermal transport properties.
Real-time visualization of butyrylcholinesterase activity using a highly selective and sensitive chemiluminescent probe
Authors: Acari Alperen , Almammadov Toghrul , Dirak Musa , Gulsoy Goktug , Kolemen Safacan
Published: June 2023

A chemiluminescent probe (BCC) was developed to monitor butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity bothin vitroandin vivo.
3D culture of bovine articular chondrocytes in viscous medium encapsulated in agarose hydrogels for investigation of viscosity influence on cell functions
Authors: Zheng Jing , Chen Huajian , Lu Chengyu , Yoshitomi Toru , Kawazoe Naoki , Yang Yingnan , Chen Guoping
Published: June 2023

A 3D culture system was established using agarose hydrogel containers to encapsulate cells and culture medium. The sole role of viscosity in cell functions was disclosed.
Regulating multiple self-trapped exciton emissions in zero-dimensional antimony halides with pyramidal units
Authors: Han Jiang , Li Qian , Xu Bin , Tan Li , Chen Yulin , Quan Zewei
Published: June 2023

The [SbCl5]2− distortions modulate triplet STE emissions. The enhancement of high-energy triplet emission is ascribed to enhanced electron–phonon coupling, promoted intersystem crossing process, as well as restrained nonradiative transitions.
Dispersion characteristics of switching transients from large‐scale experiments in a 1100 kV gas insulated switchgear circuit
Authors: Teng Zihan , Chen Weijiang , Zhang Jiangong , Wan Baoquan , Zhao Jun , Li Kejie , Liao Zhenghai , Gan Zheyuan
Published: June 2023

The switching operation of gas insulated switchgear (GIS) disconnector will produce multiple random spark discharges between the gas gaps of the disconnector. Each spark discharge can be affected by various random factors, such as trapped charge on the load side, the initial operating phase, gap distance and operating speed of the disconnector, leading to dispersion characteristics. At present, some studies have mentioned this dispersion, but its impact is still unclear due to the lack of experimental data, resulting in a deviation between the simulation results and the measured results. In this study, thousands of switching operations were carried out based on the 1100 kV full‐scale GIS circuit in Wuhan ultra‐high voltage alternating current Test Base. The maximal information coefficient analysis, linear regression fitting and other statistical methods were used to discuss the dispersion characteristics of very fast transient overvoltage (VFTO) and transient enclosure voltage (TEV) from large‐scale experimental data. The results show that the dispersion of VFTO and TEV in amplitude aspects both increase gradually as the breakdown voltage increases, with the maximum difference of five times of TEV amplitude at normalised breakdown voltage. In terms of frequency characteristics, the dispersion of different frequency components in TEV is always greater than that of VFTO, especially for the high‐frequency components. Moreover, by comparing the frequency characteristics of TEV at different positions, we notice that the dispersion is almost independent of the spatial position but only determined by the randomness of spark discharges. These discoveries reveal the importance of the dispersion in switching transients and make up for the lack of theoretical understanding of the correlation among them.
Artificial Intelligence in Facial Plastic Surgery: A Review of Current Applications, Future Applications, and Ethical Considerations
Authors: Choi Elizabeth , Leonard Kyle W. , Jassal Japnam S. , Levin Albert M. , Ramachandra Vikas , Jones Lamont R.
Published: June 2023

From virtual chat assistants to self-driving cars, artificial intelligence (AI) is often heralded as the technology that has and will continue to transform this generation. Among widely adopted applications in other industries, its potential use in medicine is being increasingly explored, where the vast amounts of data present in electronic health records and need for continuous improvements in patient care and workflow efficiency present many opportunities for AI implementation. Indeed, AI has already demonstrated capabilities for assisting in tasks such as documentation, image classification, and surgical outcome prediction. More specifically, this technology can be harnessed in facial plastic surgery, where the unique characteristics of the field lends itself well to specific applications. AI is not without its limitations, however, and the further adoption of AI in medicine and facial plastic surgery must necessarily be accompanied by discussion on the ethical implications and proper usage of AI in healthcare. In this article, we review current and potential uses of AI in facial plastic surgery, as well as its ethical ramifications.