bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene expression signatures in PCB-exposed Slovak children in relation to their environmental exposures and socio-physical characteristics
Authors: Mondal Tanmoy , Loffredo Christopher A. , Trnovec Tomas , Palkovicova Murinova Lubica , Noreen Zarish , Nnanabu Thomas , Conka Kamil , Drobna Beata , Ghosh Somiranjan
Published: April 2022

Our previous gene expression studies in a PCB-exposed cohort of young children in Slovakia revealed that early-life exposures to PCBs and other organochlorine compounds were associated with significant alterations across several pathogenetic pathways. The present study was undertaken to further explore the high-throughput qRT-PCR-based gene expression effects by using TaqMan low-density array (TLDA) for selected genes in a sample of 55 children from the cohort. We analyzed the transcriptional changes of 11 genes in relation to PCB and organochlorine pesticide exposure levels (including DDT, DDE, HCH, and HCB), and to BMI and ethnicity in this cohort. The results indicated an overall downregulation of expression of these genes. Maximum downregulation (in fold change) was observed in the ENTPD3 gene, and the minimum level of downregulation was in CYP2D6. As per our multinomial regression model study, downregulation of LEPR gene was significantly directly correlated with all the exposure variables. Downregulation of APC, ARNT, CYP2D6, LEPR, LRP12, and MYC genes was directly correlated with BMI (kg/m2) of the individuals. Gender-specific differences in gene expression were observed in CYP2D6 (p-value 0.0001) and LEPR (p-value 0.028), while downregulation of CYP2D6 (p-value 0.01), LEPR (p-value 0.02), LRP12 (p-value 0.04), and MYC (p-value 0.02) genes was consistently observed in Roma children compared to Caucasians. The investigation of such health disparities must be emphasized in future research, together with interventions to reduce the health consequences of PCB exposures. In this context, we emphasize the importance of biomarker-based approaches to future research on genetic susceptibility to the effects of these compounds.
The effect of laboratory-verified smoking on SARS-CoV-2 infection: results from the Troina sero-epidemiological survey
Authors: Tomaselli Venera , Ferrara Pietro , Cantone Giulio G. , Romeo Alba C. , Rust Sonja , Saitta Daniela , Caraci Filippo , Romano Corrado , Thangaraju Murugesan , Zuccarello Pietro , Rose Jed , Ferrante Margherita , Belsey Jonathan , Cibella Fabio , Caci Grazia , Ferri Raffaele , Polosa Riccardo
Published: April 2022

Previous research yielded conflicting results on the association between cigarette smoking and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Since the prevalence of smoking is high globally, the study of its impact on COVID-19 pandemic may have considerable implications for public health. This study is the first to investigate the association between the SARS-CoV-2 antibody sero-positivity and biochemically verified smoking status, to refine current estimates on this association. SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and serum cotinine levels (a well-known marker of tobacco exposure) were assessed in a large sero-epidemiological survey conducted in the town of Troina (Sicily, Italy). A propensity score matching was carried out to reduce the effect of possible factors on SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among study participants. Of the 1785 subjects included in our study, one-third was classified as current smokers, based on serum cotinine levels. The overall proportion of subjects with positive serology for SARS-CoV-2 IgG was 5.4%. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity and previous COVID-19 diagnosis were reduced in smokers. This reduced prevalence persisted after adjusting for possible confounders (such as sex, age, previous infection, chronic conditions, and risk group) at regression analyses, and the point estimates based on the PS-matched models resulted consistent with those for the unmatched population. This study found a lower proportion of positive SARS-CoV-2 serology among current smokers, using direct laboratory measures of tobacco exposure and thus avoiding possible bias associated with self-reported smoking status. Results may also serve as a reference for future clinical research on potential pharmaceutical role of nicotine or nicotinic-cholinergic agonists against COVID-19.
Verschwörungstheorien und paranoider Wahn: Lassen sich Aspekte kognitionspsychologischer Modelle zu Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung von paranoiden Wahnüberzeugungen auf Verschwörungstheorien übertragen?
Authors: Mehl Stephanie
Published: April 2022

Der vorliegende narrative Übersichtsartikel stellt zunächst verschiedene Definitionen von Verschwörungstheorien und Verschwörungsmentalität vor und präsentiert Studien zu Zusammenhängen zwischen Persönlichkeitseigenschaften, Symptomen psychischer Störungen und Verschwörungstheorien. Anschließend werden die Kontinuumshypothese des Wahns sowie neuere Konzeptualisierungen von allgemeinem und paranoiden Wahn diskutiert, des Weiteren werden typische kognitionspsychologische Modelle präsentiert, die die Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung von Wahnüberzeugungen durch eine Interaktion von biologischen Vulnerabilitätsfaktoren, psychologischen Faktoren und sozialen Faktoren erklären. In diesen Modellen mediieren sowohl kognitive Verarbeitungsstile („cognitive biases“) als auch emotionale Prozesse die Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung von Wahn, beispielsweise die Tendenz, voreilige Schlussfolgerungen zu treffen („jumping to conclusions bias“), sowie externale Kontrollüberzeugungen und ein externalisierender personalisierender Kausalattributionsstil. Anschließend wird diskutiert, ob Menschen, die Verschwörungstheorien zugeneigt sind, ebenfalls ähnliche kognitive Verarbeitungsstile aufweisen, die auch bei Personen zu finden sind, die paranoiden Wahnüberzeugungen zustimmen und unter psychotischen Störungen leiden. Parallelen bestehen zwischen beiden Personengruppen beispielsweise im Hinblick auf eine Neigung zu externalen Kontrollüberzeugungen und einen external personalisierenden Kausalattributionsstil. Auch bestehen Ähnlichkeiten in der Neigung, voreilige Schlussfolgerungen zu treffen. Fragen nach Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschieden zwischen beiden Phänomenen sollten in weiteren präregistrierten experimentellen Studien quer- sowie längsschnittlich untersucht werden. Möglicherweise könnten moderne niedrigschwellige Interventionsmethoden der kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie von Psychosen (CBTp) in die Beratung oder Prävention von Verschwörungstheorien implementiert werden.
No faces, just body movements—Effects of perceived emotional valence of body kinetics and psychological factors on interpersonal distance behavior within an immersive virtual environment
Authors: Sammer Gebhard , Ruprecht Christoph
Published: April 2022

In an immersive virtual environment, it was investigated how the perception of body kinetics contributes to social distance behavior when the facial expression and other physical properties of a social interaction partner cannot be perceived. Based on point light displays, both the subject and the social interaction partner were depicted as stick figures, both moving simultaneously in the same space. In addition, the effects of relevant psychological factors of the perceiver on social distance behavior were examined. The results were consistent with those from studies with facial expressions or realistic full-body interactants. A greater distance was maintained from characters with emotionally negative expressions of body kinetics. Stationary objects stimuli, which were also included in the study, were mostly passed closer than neutral agents. However, the results are not entirely clear and require further investigation. Depressive symptom burden and factors mainly related to anxiety and avoidance showed effects on social distance in an IVE. The CID, a test often used to assess the interpersonal distance at which a person is comfortable, correlated with that overt behavior. In summary, the results of the study provide experimental evidence that the perception of body kinetics has a similarly significant influence on the regulation of social distance as, for example, facial affect. Implementing this study in real life would be incredibly complex, if not impossible. It is interesting to see that the comparatively simple method used in this study to create and operate an immersive virtual environment turned out to be suitable for studying at least simple types of social behavior based on body movements.
Sleep quality, valence, energetic arousal, and calmness as predictors of device-based measured physical activity during a three-week mHealth intervention
Authors: Fiedler Janis , Seiferth Caroline , Eckert Tobias , Woll Alexander , Wunsch Kathrin
Published: April 2022

Physical inactivity is known to be a risk factor for several noncommunicable diseases and has a high prevalence in today’s society. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the psychological factors associated with physical activity (PA). Recent developments in the field of ambulatory assessment and technological advances are promising to enhance our understanding of this relationship by analyzing longitudinal data within- and between-persons. These analyses can reveal important factors to design behavior change interventions to enhance PA. Therefore, this study used an ecological momentary assessment during the 3‑week intervention period in the SMARTFAMILY2.0 trial and aimed to investigate whether valence, calmness, energetic arousal, and sleep quality predict daily steps and moderate to vigorous PA. Overall, 49 adults (35–60 years) and 40 children (5–19 years) were included in this analysis and self-rated their mental state within our smartphone application while also wearing a hip-worn accelerometer for 21 consecutive days (996 days included) during the intervention period. Multilevel analyses were conducted to predict daily PA while considering covariables (e.g., child/adult and non-wear time) both within- and between-persons. The results indicated that higher than average ratings of a person’s valence and energetic arousal on one day predicted increased PA while higher than average calmness predicted decreased PA at the same day within this person. Sleep quality and between-person effects of the affective states showed no clear associations to PA. Overall, these results showed that within-person associations of valence, calmness, and energetic arousal should be considered when designing PA interventions for both children and adults. The influence of sleep quality, as well as between-person effects, should be further explored by future studies.
Digitale Ordnungspolitik – Haftung und Verantwortung
Authors: Wagner Gerhard
Published: April 2022

Privatrechtliche Haftung ist ein wichtiges Steuerungsinstrument einer dezentral organisierten Wirtschaftsordnung. Anders als Regulierung, die potenziell gefährliche Tätigkeiten ex ante steuert, greift Haftung ex post ein, nachdem ein Schaden oder eine Gefährdungslage bereits eingetreten ist. Die wohlfahrtsmindernde Überregulierung von Tätigkeiten, die in Wahrheit gar nicht oder nur in geringem Umfang schadensträchtig sind, lässt sich dadurch vermeiden. Trotzdem generiert auch Haftung Anreize zum sorgfältigen, schadensvermeidenden Verhalten ex ante. Für die Wirksamkeit des Steuerungseffekts ist es essentiell, dass diejenigen Akteure haftungsrechtlich adressiert werden, die zur Kontrolle der jeweiligen Gefahr am besten in der Lage sind. Die Digitalisierung stellt das Haftungsrecht insofern vor Herausforderungen als neue Akteure die Bühne betreten, die als potenzielle Haftungssubjekte infrage kommen, nämlich Roboter und andere autonome Systeme sowie Plattformen, die das Internet erschließen und Nutzer miteinander in Kontakt bringen. Der folgende Beitrag analysiert die Haftungsverfassung digitaler Märkte im Hinblick auf die Verantwortung für autonome Systeme und digitale Plattformen.
Self-esteem and Social Media Dependency: a Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Comparing Primary Welsh and Non-Welsh Speakers
Authors: Jones Richard , Reppa Irene , Reed Phil
Published: April 2022

The current study examined the impact of using social media in English on associations between social media dependency and self-esteem, depression, social anxiety, and loneliness for Welsh speakers. A total of 836 pupils (317 Welsh speakers; 519 non-Welsh speakers), with a mean age of 13.44 (± .943), attending state-maintained Welsh/bilingual-medium secondary schools throughout Wales, completed scales on social media dependency, self-esteem, depression, social anxiety, and loneliness. A structural equation model approach found that whenever social media dependency was the predictor, its hypothesized associations with depression, loneliness, social anxiety, and self-esteem were stronger for Welsh speakers relative to non-Welsh speakers. The results suggest that a perceived or actual marginalization of a minority language within the social media domain might negatively impact minority language speakers’ self-esteem levels, which potentially impacts related psychological constructs.
Long-term outcome of ligation of inter-sphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) for management of trans-sphincteric anal fistula
Authors: Hegab Ahmed M. , Baheeg Mohamad , Shehata Mahmoud S. , Zaghloul Tarek , Kamel Mohamed Ismail , Hasan Abdulkarim
Published: April 2022

ABSTRACT

Background:

After abscess formation, an anal fistula is a common consequence, with crypto-glandular infection being the most commonly accepted causative cause. The goal of this study was to see how well closure of the inter-sphincteric fistula tract affects the outcome of trans-sphincteric fistula surgery.

Methods:

Patients with perianal trans-sphincteric fistulas who underwent ligation of inter-sphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) were studied prospectively in this cohort study. All patients had the identical anesthetic approach, followed by LIFT with two years’ follow-up.

Results:

length of the fistulous tract had a substantial effect on the result. The presence of piles with fistula among the studied patients has no effect on the outcome. Mean operative time was 36.2 min and post operative pain was mild in most patients and concomitant anal fissure or piles has no effect on final result of LIFT procedure The mean time for wound healing was four weeks. Three patients had hidradenitis suppurativa and no any unusual histopathology results shown in the excised parts.

Conclusion:

LIFT was an effective and straightforward sphincter-preserving technique in treating simple trans-sphincteric anal fistulas with excellent long-term control of trans-sphincteric fistula. More similar studies with a large number of patients are still needed to assess this surgical technique for trans-sphincteric fistula.

Highlights
Frequent Cannabis Use Moderates the Relationship Between Sexual Dysfunction and Depression Among Female German Adults
Authors: Belau Matthias Hans , Wiessner Christian , Becher Heiko , von Rüden Ursula , Briken Peer
Published: April 2022

Background

Sexual dysfunction and heavy substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis) play an important role in the development of depression, while frequent substance use affects sexual dysfunction.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the association between sexual dysfunction and depression among German adults in a nationally representative sample and the effect of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use on this association using moderator analysis.

Methods

Data come from the German Health and Sexuality Survey (GeSiD) with N = 4,955 men and women aged between 18 and 75 years. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to examine the moderation effect of substance use between sexual dysfunction and depression by including an interaction term.

Outcomes

Self-reported diagnosed and treated depression within the last 12 months and the moderation effect of substance use on the association between sexual dysfunction and depression.

Results

Men and women with at least 1 sexual dysfunction were more likely to be affected by depression as compared to those without sexual dysfunction. A moderation effect of frequent cannabis use was found between sexual dysfunction and depression among women.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians and therapists addressing addiction, depression, and dysfunction should keep the complex interactions in mind.

Strengths & Limitations

This study provides new data on the association between sexual dysfunction and depression among German adults in a nationally representative sample and the moderation effect of substance use on this association. Further studies should disentangle the pathways between sexual dysfunction, cannabis use, and depression through moderated mediation analyses.

Conclusion

Frequent cannabis use plays a moderating role in the association between sexual dysfunction and depression among German adult women.
Can the Auroral Kilometric Radiation be a Self‐Organized Criticality System?
Authors: Marek M. , Schreiber R.
Published: April 2022

We present statistical results for the analysis of 240 Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR) dynamical spectra containing 3,750 short–time AKR bursts each, and recorded on‐board Interball–2 mission (POLRAD and MEMO experiments). Data were collected between December 1996 and February 1998. We found that frequency distribution of short AKR bursts as a function of their Power Spectral Density, shows for intense bursts a powerlaw fall. This is the hallmark of the Self–Organized Criticality (SOC) systems. In our case a simple analytical Logistic Growth SOC model can reproduce increments of Electron Cyclotron Maser instability expected for AKR.
Wind/WAVES Observations of Auroral Kilometric Radiation: Automated Burst Detection and Terrestrial Solar Wind ‐ Magnetosphere Coupling Effects
Authors: Fogg A. R. , Jackman C. M. , Waters J. E. , Bonnin X. , Lamy L. , Cecconi B. , Issautier K. , Louis C. K.
Published: April 2022

Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR) is the strongest terrestrial radio emission, and emanates from the same electron acceleration regions from which particles precipitate into the ionosphere, exciting the aurorae and other phenomena. As such, AKR is a barometer for the state of solar wind ‐ magnetosphere ‐ ionosphere coupling. AKR is anisotropically beamed in a hollow cone from a source region generally found at nightside local times, meaning that a single source region cannot be viewed from all local times in the magnetosphere. In radio data such as dynamic spectra, AKR is frequently observed simultaneously to other radio emissions which can have a similar intensity and frequency range, making it difficult to automatically detect. Building on a previously published pipeline to extract AKR emissions from Wind/WAVES data, in this paper a novel automated AKR burst detection technique is presented and applied to Wind/WAVES data. Over a five year interval, about 5000 AKR bursts are detected with median burst length ranging from about 30 to 60 min. During detected burst windows, higher solar wind velocity is observed, and the interplanetary magnetic field clock angle is observed to tend toward BZ < 0, BY < 0, when compared with the entire statistical interval. Additionally, higher geomagnetic activity is observed during burst windows at polar, high and equatorial latitudes.
Real‐Time Earthquake Detection and Magnitude Estimation Using Vision Transformer
Authors: Saad Omar M. , Chen Yunfeng , Savvaidis Alexandros , Fomel Sergey , Chen Yangkang
Published: April 2022

We design a fully automated system for real‐time magnitude estimation based on a vision transformer (ViT) network. ViT is an attention mechanisms, which guides the proposed network to extract the significant features from the input seismic data, leading to robust magnitude estimation performance. We propose to design two separate ViT networks, that is, one for picking the P‐wave arrival time and the other for predicting the earthquake magnitude using a single station. For real‐time application, we pick the P‐wave arrival times and consider them as the reference, based on which the non‐normalized 30‐s (i.e., 1 s before and 29 s after the reference time) three‐component seismograms are used to predict the magnitudes of the corresponding earthquakes. The ViT picking network is first trained and tested using the STanford EArthquake Data set (STEAD) and shows robust picking performance, achieving an average picking error of less than 0.2 s compared to the manual picks. Then, the ViT magnitude estimation network is evaluated using several data sets, including those from California, STEAD repository, and Texas. The ViT demonstrates robust magnitude estimation performance in all these test cases as compared with the benchmark methods. For magnitude estimation, the mean absolute error (MAE) and the standard deviation error (σ) for the testing set of the STEAD data set are 0.112 and 0.164 (as compared with 0.141 and 0.219 for the state‐of‐the‐art MagNet method), respectively. The MAE and σ for the California testing set are 0.079 and 0.120 (as compared with 0.089 and 0.138 for the Magnet method), respectively. As a case study, the new ViT networks are applied to the 24‐hr continuous seismic data of the TexNet‐PB05 station recorded on September 20th. The network successfully picks all the events in the TexNet catalog with a small (<=0.42) magnitude error. The ViT network shows promising magnitude prediction results when tested with 4‐s long seismograms. This highlights its potential in the earthquake early warning (EEW) system for fast and reliable decisions.
A Strategic Framework for Community Engagement in Oceans and Human Health
Authors: Carson Margaret A. , Doberneck Diane M. , Hart Zac , Kelsey Heath , Pierce Jennifer Y. , Porter Dwayne E. , Richlen Mindy L. , Schandera Louisa , Triezenberg Heather A.
Published: April 2022

Over the past two decades, scientific research on the connections between the health and resilience of marine ecosystems and human health, well‐being, and community prosperity has expanded and evolved into a distinct “metadiscipline” known as Oceans and Human Health (OHH), recognized by the scientific community as well as policy makers. OHH goals are diverse and seek to improve public health outcomes, promote sustainable use of aquatic systems and resources, and strengthen community resilience. OHH research has historically included some level of community outreach and partner involvement; however, the increasing disruption of aquatic environments and urgency of public health impacts calls for a more systematic approach to effectively identify and engage with community partners to achieve project goals and outcomes. Herein, we present a strategic framework developed collaboratively by community engagement personnel from the four recently established U.S. Centers for Oceans and Human Health (COHH). This framework supports researchers in defining levels of community engagement and in aligning partners, purpose, activities, and approaches intentionally in their community engagement efforts. Specifically, we describe: (a) a framework for a range of outreach and engagement approaches; (b) the need for identifying partners, purpose, activities, and approaches; and (c) the importance of making intentional alignment among them. Misalignment across these dimensions may lead to wasting time or resources, eroding public trust, or failing to achieve intended outcomes. We illustrate the framework with examples from current COHH case studies and conclude with future directions for strategic community engagement in OHH and other environmental health contexts.
Evidence for widespread alterations in cortical microstructure after 32 h of sleep deprivation
Authors: Voldsbekk Irene , Bjørnerud Atle , Groote Inge , Zak Nathalia , Roelfs Daniel , Maximov Ivan I. , Geier Oliver , Due-Tønnessen Paulina , Bøen Erlend , Kuiper Yvonne S. , Løkken Lise-Linn , Strømstad Marie , Blakstvedt Taran Y. , Bjorvatn Bjørn , Malt Ulrik F. , Westlye Lars T. , Elvsåshagen Torbjørn , Grydeland Håkon
Published: April 2022

Cortical microstructure is influenced by circadian rhythm and sleep deprivation, yet the precise underpinnings of these effects remain unclear. The ratio between T1-weighted and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images (T1w/T2w ratio) has been linked to myelin levels and dendrite density and may offer novel insight into the intracortical microstructure of the sleep deprived brain. Here, we examined intracortical T1w/T2w ratio in 41 healthy young adults (26 women) before and after 32 h of either sleep deprivation (n = 18) or a normal sleep-wake cycle (n = 23). Linear models revealed significant group differences in T1w/T2w ratio change after 32 h in four clusters, including bilateral effects in the insular, cingulate, and superior temporal cortices, comprising regions involved in attentional, auditory and pain processing. Across clusters, the sleep deprived group showed an increased T1w/T2w ratio, while the normal sleep-wake group exhibited a reduced ratio. These changes were not explained by in-scanner head movement, and 95% of the effects across clusters remained significant after adjusting for cortical thickness and hydration. Compared with a normal sleep-wake cycle, 32 h of sleep deprivation yields intracortical T1w/T2w ratio increases. While the intracortical changes detected by this study could reflect alterations in myelin or dendritic density, or both, histological analyses are needed to clarify the precise underlying cortical processes.
Lamin A and the LINC complex act as potential tumor suppressors in Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Chiarini Francesca , Paganelli Francesca , Balestra Tommaso , Capanni Cristina , Fazio Antonietta , Manara Maria Cristina , Landuzzi Lorena , Petrini Stefania , Evangelisti Camilla , Lollini Pier-Luigi , Martelli Alberto M. , Lattanzi Giovanna , Scotlandi Katia
Published: April 2022

Lamin A, a main constituent of the nuclear lamina, is involved in mechanosignaling and cell migration through dynamic interactions with the LINC complex, formed by the nuclear envelope proteins SUN1, SUN2 and the nesprins. Here, we investigated lamin A role in Ewing Sarcoma (EWS), an aggressive bone tumor affecting children and young adults. In patients affected by EWS, we found a significant inverse correlation between LMNA gene expression and tumor aggressiveness. Accordingly, in experimental in vitro models, low lamin A expression correlated with enhanced cell migration and invasiveness and, in vivo, with an increased metastatic load. At the molecular level, this condition was linked to altered expression and anchorage of nuclear envelope proteins and increased nuclear retention of YAP/TAZ, a mechanosignaling effector. Conversely, overexpression of lamin A rescued LINC complex organization, thus reducing YAP/TAZ nuclear recruitment and preventing cell invasiveness. These effects were also obtained through modulation of lamin A maturation by a statin-based pharmacological treatment that further elicited a more differentiated phenotype in EWS cells. These results demonstrate that drugs inducing nuclear envelope remodeling could be exploited to improve therapeutic strategies for EWS.
USP15 negatively regulates lung cancer progression through the TRAF6-BECN1 signaling axis for autophagy induction
Authors: Kim Mi-Jeong , Min Yoon , Jeong Soo-Kyung , Son Juhee , Kim Ji Young , Lee Ji Su , Kim Duk-Hwan , Lee Joo Sang , Chun Eunyoung , Lee Ki-Young
Published: April 2022

TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6)-BECN1 signaling axis plays a pivotal role in autophagy induction through ubiquitination of BECN1, thereby inducing lung cancer migration and invasion in response to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) stimulation. Herein, we provide novel molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the negative effect of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 15 (USP15) on lung cancer progression. Clinical data of the TCGA and primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (n = 41) revealed that the expression of USP15 was significantly downregulated in lung cancer patients. Importantly,USP15-knockout (USP15KO) A549 andUSP15KO H1299 lung cancer cells generated with CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology showed increases in cancer migration and invasion with enhanced autophagy induction in response to TLR4 stimulation. In addition, biochemical studies revealed that USP15 interacted with BECN1, but not with TRAF6, and induced deubiquitination of BECN1, thereby attenuating autophagy induction. Notably, in primary NSCLC patients (n = 4) with low expression ofUSP15, 10 genes (CCNE1, MMP9, SFN, UBE2C, CCR2, FAM83A, ETV4, MYO7A, MMP11,andGSDMB) known to promote lung cancer progression were significantly upregulated, whereas 10 tumor suppressor genes (FMO2, ZBTB16, FCN3, TCF21, SFTPA1B, HPGD, SOSTDC1, TMEM100, GDF10, andWIF1) were downregulated, providing clinical relevance of the functional role of USP15 in lung cancer progression. Taken together, our data demonstrate that USP15 can negatively regulate the TRAF6-BECN1 signaling axis for autophagy induction. Thus, USP15 is implicated in lung cancer progression.
Adaptive responses of marine diatoms to zinc scarcity and ecological implications
Authors: Kellogg Riss M. , Moosburner Mark A. , Cohen Natalie R. , Hawco Nicholas J. , McIlvin Matthew R. , Moran Dawn M. , DiTullio Giacomo R. , Subhas Adam V. , Allen Andrew E. , Saito Mak A.
Published: April 2022

Scarce dissolved surface ocean concentrations of the essential algal micronutrient zinc suggest that Zn may influence the growth of phytoplankton such as diatoms, which are major contributors to marine primary productivity. However, the specific mechanisms by which diatoms acclimate to Zn deficiency are poorly understood. Using global proteomic analysis, we identified two proteins (ZCRP-A/B, Zn/Co Responsive Protein A/B) among four diatom species that became abundant under Zn/Co limitation. Characterization using reverse genetic techniques and homology data suggests putative Zn/Co chaperone and membrane-bound transport complex component roles for ZCRP-A (a COG0523 domain protein) and ZCRP-B, respectively. Metaproteomic detection of ZCRPs along a Pacific Ocean transect revealed increased abundances at the surface (<200 m) where dZn and dCo were scarcest, implying Zn nutritional stress in marine algae is more prevalent than previously recognized. These results demonstrate multiple adaptive responses to Zn scarcity in marine diatoms that are deployed in low Zn regions of the Pacific Ocean.
Light triggered nanoscale biolistics for efficient intracellular delivery of functional macromolecules in mammalian cells
Authors: Fraire Juan C. , Shaabani Elnaz , Sharifiaghdam Maryam , Rombaut Matthias , Hinnekens Charlotte , Hua Dawei , Ramon Jana , Raes Laurens , Bolea-Fernandez Eduardo , Brans Toon , Vanhaecke Frank , Borghgraef Peter , Huang Chaobo , Sauvage Félix , Vanhaecke Tamara , De Kock Joery , Xiong Ranhua , De Smedt Stefaan , Braeckmans Kevin
Published: April 2022

Biolistic intracellular delivery of functional macromolecules makes use of dense microparticles which are ballistically fired onto cells with a pressurized gun. While it has been used to transfect plant cells, its application to mammalian cells has met with limited success mainly due to high toxicity. Here we present a more refined nanotechnological approach to biolistic delivery with light-triggered self-assembled nanobombs (NBs) that consist of a photothermal core particle surrounded by smaller nanoprojectiles. Upon irradiation with pulsed laser light, fast heating of the core particle results in vapor bubble formation, which propels the nanoprojectiles through the cell membrane of nearby cells. We show successful transfection of both adherent and non-adherent cells with mRNA and pDNA, outperforming electroporation as the most used physical transfection technology by a factor of 5.5–7.6 in transfection yield. With a throughput of 104-105 cells per second, biolistic delivery with NBs offers scalable and highly efficient transfections of mammalian cells.
MRA-free intracranial vessel localization on MR vessel wall images
Authors: Fan Weijia , Sang Yudi , Zhou Hanyue , Xiao Jiayu , Fan Zhaoyang , Ruan Dan
Published: April 2022

Analysis of vessel morphology is important in assessing intracranial atherosclerosis disease (ICAD). Recently, magnetic resonance (MR) vessel wall imaging (VWI) has been introduced to image ICAD and characterize morphology for atherosclerotic lesions. In order to automatically perform quantitative analysis on VWI data, MR angiography (MRA) acquired in the same imaging session is typically used to localize the vessel segments of interest. However, MRA may be unavailable caused by the lack or failure of the sequence in a VWI protocol. This study aims to investigate the feasibility to infer the vessel location directly from VWI. We propose to synergize an atlas-based method to preserve general vessel structure topology with a deep learning network in the motion field domain to correct the residual geometric error. Performance is quantified by examining the agreement between the extracted vessel structures from the pair-acquired and alignment-corrected angiogram, and the estimated output using a cross-validation scheme. Our proposed pipeline yields clinically feasible performance in localizing intracranial vessels, demonstrating the promise of performing vessel morphology analysis using VWI alone.
Theoretical investigation of the olefin cycle in H-SSZ-13 for the ethanol-to-olefins process using ab initio calculations and kinetic modeling
Authors: Amsler Jonas , Bernart Sarah , Plessow Philipp N. , Studt Felix
Published: April 2022

The formation of the hydrocarbon pool (HCP) in the ethanol-to-olefins (ETO) process catalyzed by H-SSZ-13 is studied in a kinetic model with ab initio computed reaction barriers.
Bayesian progress curve analysis of MicroScale thermophoresis data
Authors: Anindya Atsarina Larasati , Garcia-Bonete Maria-Jose , Jensen Maja , Recktenwald Christian V. , Bokarewa I. Maria , Katona Gergely
Published: April 2022

MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) follows the movement of fluorescent-labelled biomolecules with different sizes along a temperature gradient.
A promising scalable route to construct GO-based laminate membranes for antifouling ultrafiltration
Authors: Meng Yusen , Qiao Yuqing , Zhou Haifeng , Li Jingye , Zhang Bowu
Published: April 2022

Graphene oxide (GO) laminate membranes have been deemed as promising membrane materials for a variety of applications, but they suffer from poor stability in solvents and difficulty in large-scale preparation.
Inkjet 3D-printing of functional layers of solid oxide electrochemical reactors: a review
Authors: Kawale S. S. , Jang I. , Farandos N. M. , Kelsall G. H.
Published: April 2022

The review paper overviews principles of inkjet printing and ink formulation, subsequently a literature summary on inkjet-printed solid oxide electrochemical reactors printed with 2D and 3D structures, followed by challenges limiting the technique.
Biocompatible tumor-targeted GQDs nanocatalyst for chemodynamic tumor therapy
Authors: Wu Zixia , Pan Tonghe , Lin Deqing , Xia Weibo , Shan Jia , Cheng Rumei , Yang Mei , Hu Xuting , Nan Kaihui , Qi Lei
Published: April 2022

To deal with tumor microenvironment, chemodynamic therapy has been developed, which uses nanocatalysts simulating peroxidase to convert high concentration hydrogen peroxide into toxic hydroxyl radicals in situ and effectively kills tumor cells.
Monitoring the water content in NADES extracts from spirulina biomass by means of ATR-IR spectroscopy
Authors: Elderderi Suha , Hilali Soukaina , Wils Laura , Chourpa Igor , Soucé Martin , Clément-Larosière Barbara , Elbashir Abdalla A. , Byrne Hugh J. , Munnier Emilie , Boudesocque-Delaye Leslie , Bonnier Franck
Published: April 2022

Rapid and label free quantification of water in glucose glycerol natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) spirulina extracts by means of attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) coupled with partial least squares regression (PLSR).
Rapid quantitative detection of chloramphenicol in three food products by lanthanide-labeled fluorescent-nanoparticle immunochromatographic strips
Authors: Lu Chunhui , Li Si , Jiang Wei , Liu Qi , Wang Xiaomei , Yang Chen , Wang Quan
Published: April 2022

This study develops a rapid, sensitive, on-site executable and LFM based strip for the detection of CAP. For blank samples, high fluorescence value could be determined on the strip reader. For positive samples, the fluorescence signal will decrease.
Visible-light-driven sustainable conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol using a metal-free covalent organic framework as a recyclable photocatalyst
Authors: Chakrabortty Pekham , Ghosh Swarbhanu , Das Anjan , Khan Aslam , Islam Sk. Manirul
Published: April 2022

A 2D covalent organic framework (COF) was synthesized by copolymerization between 4,4′-biphenyldicarbaldehyde and 1,3,5-tris-(4-aminophenyl) triazine (TAPT). This COF exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance for the CO2 reduction to methanol.
Intermetallic YIr2nanoparticles with negatively charged Ir active sites for catalytic hydrogenation of cyclohexanone to cyclohexanol
Authors: Kobayashi Yasukazu , Tada Shohei , Kondo Masaru , Fujiwara Kakeru , Mizoguchi Hiroshi
Published: April 2022

Negatively charged iridium species in Laves phase YIr2as highly active sites for hydrogenation of cyclohexanone to cyclohexanol.
Mechanistic insight into the selective catalytic reduction of NOx with propene on the Ce0.875Zr0.125O2 (110) surface
Authors: Cao Xuesong , Zhang Chenxi , Dong Fengshuo , Sun Xiaomin
Published: April 2022

The important adsorbed species and reaction pathways of C3H6 selective catalytic reduction of NO on the Ce0.875Zr0.125O2 (110) surface were investigated, including NO oxidation reaction, C3H6 oxidation reaction, and the SCR process.
Zeolitic imidazolate framework-derived composites with SnO2 and ZnO phase components for electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction
Authors: Guan Yayu , Liu Yuyu , Yi Jin , Zhang Jiujun
Published: April 2022

Zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) and its derivatives have attracted a great deal of attention in the field of electrocatalysis.
Who stole the proton? Suspect general base guanine found with a smoking gun in the pistol ribozyme
Authors: Ekesan Şölen , York Darrin M.
Published: April 2022

Computational structural investigation (CSI) points to a new primary suspect as the general base in pistol ribozyme catalysis.
Visible-light-induced cyclization of cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimines to N-sulfonamide fused imidazolidines
Authors: Wang Xiaotong , Shi Anzai , Huang Xian-Qiang , Chen Xiaolan , Li Tiesheng , Qu Lingbo , Yu Bing
Published: April 2022

An eosin Y-catalyzed annulation reaction of cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimines and N-arylglycines was reported to construct N-sulfonamide-fused imidazolidines under visible-light induced metal-free conditions.
Photoredox-catalyzed fluorodifluoroacetylation of alkenes with FSO2CF2CO2Me and Et3N·3HF
Authors: Zou Song , Luo Xuewei , Chen Chao , Xi Chanjuan
Published: April 2022

Photoredox-catalyzed fluorodifluoroacetylation of alkenes with FSO2CF2CO2Me and Et3N·3HF is disclosed. A range of the aromatic alkenes were transformed to the corresponding γ-fluorinated α,α-difluoroacetates in high yields with high regioselectivities.
Cytotoxic analogues of marine diterpenoid plumisclerin A by shifting the lipophilic branch on the characteristic tricyclic core
Authors: Gao Ming , Yu Bao-Bao , Jia Chen , Yao Zhu-Jun
Published: April 2022

New synthetic analogues 2a, 18 and 21 exhibited comparable inhibitory potencies to those of natural plumisclerin A against the proliferation of cancer cells.
Unparalleled selectivity and electronic structure of heterometallic [LnLn′Ln] molecules as 3-qubit quantum gates
Authors: Maniaki Diamantoula , Garay-Ruiz Diego , Barrios Leoní A. , Martins Daniel O. T. A. , Aguilà David , Tuna Floriana , Reta Daniel , Roubeau Olivier , Bo Carles , Aromí Guillem
Published: April 2022

A unique family of [LnLn′Ln] of heterometallic complexes with high site selectivity are suitable platforms for 3-qubit operations, with good quantum coherence attributes.
A general electron donor–acceptor complex for photoactivation of arenes via thianthrenation
Authors: Sun Kai , Shi Anzai , Liu Yan , Chen Xiaolan , Xiang Panjie , Wang Xiaotong , Qu Lingbo , Yu Bing
Published: April 2022

General photoactivation of EDA complexes between arylsulfonium salts and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane was discovered. This practical mode enables the generation of aryl radicals for C–H functionalization of arenes.
Biofunctionalized metal–organic frameworks and host–guest interactions for advanced biomedical applications
Authors: Menon Dhruv , Bhatia Dhiraj
Published: April 2022

With highly favorable properties such as enormous internal surface areas, high porosity and large flexibility, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising materials for applications such as gas storage and separation, catalysis, wastewater filtration, etc.
Effect of doping TiO2 with Mn for electrocatalytic oxidation in acid and alkaline electrolytes
Authors: Vallez Lauren , Jimenez-Villegas Santiago , Garcia-Esparza Angel T. , Jiang Yue , Park Sangwook , Wu Qianying , Gill Thomas Mark , Sokaras Dimosthenis , Siahrostami Samira , Zheng Xiaolin
Published: April 2022

Electrochemical oxidation of water and electrolyte ions to produce oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxysulfate in acid and alkaline electrolytes at the surface of manganese-doped titanium dioxide thin films.
Research on cluster operation optimization of multi‐port energy routers
Authors: Xu Xinxing , Tai Nengling , Hu Yan , Zheng Xiaodong , Qing Chen
Published: April 2022

The penetration rate of distributed new energy and DC load increase in the distribution network improve the new energy consumption rate and the reliability of power supply. This paper proposes an AC/DC hybrid system structure with multi‐port energy router (ER) cluster, and compares the advantages of this structure over the AC/DC hybrid microgrid with multiple conversion links. In order to realize the stable, economic, and reliable operation of this structure, the multi‐layer and multi‐time scale control method and communication mode are established. According to the non‐linear characteristics of energy consumption of ER port, the optimization model of the cluster control layer and the control mode of each port in the cluster system are studied. By setting several examples, the rationality of the proposed ER cluster operation control mode and the optimization method and the effectiveness in improving the total energy efficiency of the ER cluster system are verified; the advantages of ER cluster operation in improving the operation energy efficiency of key devices in the distribution network are illustrated.
Investigation of incipient faults in 66 kV oil‐filled cable sealing ends
Authors: Peesapati Vidyadhar , Zachariades Christos , Callender George , Gao Siyu , Cwikowski Oliver , Gardner Richard
Published: April 2022

This paper reports on the investigation of incipient fault mechanisms of a widely used family of Cable Sealing Ends (CSEs) which use an earthed metallic clip on top of the stress cone to fasten the cable termination stress grading. Finite element simulations indicate that the clip is causing localised electric field enhancement which could also cause impurities in the oil to move towards the clip under the influence of the dielectrophoretic force. Accelerated ageing tests of stress cones in the laboratory have corroborated the simulation results, with the high electric field causing degradation of the semi‐conducting tape underneath the clip as well as initiation of tracking on the surface of the stress cone originating from the edges of the clip. Partial discharge (PD) testing using a bespoke test rig in the high voltage laboratory has shown that incipient faults originating from the ageing of the solid CSE materials can only be detected after surface tracking has progressed substantially. Even then, the intermittent nature of PD activity can pose a risk to the accurate condition assessment of CSEs if continuous monitoring is not employed and if the ultra‐high frequency method is used on its own.
ALMA-IMF
Authors: Pouteau Y. , Motte F. , Nony T. , Galván-Madrid R. , Men’shchikov A. , Bontemps S. , Robitaille J.-F. , Louvet F. , Ginsburg A. , Herpin F. , López-Sepulcre A. , Dell’Ova P. , Gusdorf A. , Sanhueza P. , Stutz A. M. , Brouillet N. , Thomasson B. , Armante M. , Baug T. , Bonfand M. , Busquet G. , Csengeri T. , Cunningham N. , Fernández-López M. , Liu H.-L. , Olguin F. , Towner A. P. M. , Bally J. , Braine J. , Bronfman L. , Joncour I. , González M. , Hennebelle P. , Lu X. , Menten K. M. , Moraux E. , Tatematsu K. , Walker D. , Whitworth A. P.
Published: April 2022

Aims. The processes that determine the stellar initial mass function (IMF) and its origin are critical unsolved problems, with profound implications for many areas of astrophysics. The W43-MM2&MM3 mini-starburst ridge hosts a rich young protocluster, from which it is possible to test the current paradigm on the IMF origin.

Methods. The ALMA-IMF Large Program observed the W43-MM2&MM3 ridge, whose 1.3 mm and 3 mm ALMA 12 m array continuum images reach a ~2500 au spatial resolution. We used both the best-sensitivity and the line-free ALMA-IMF images, reduced the noise with the multi-resolution segmentation technique MnGSeg, and derived the most complete and most robust core catalog possible. Using two different extraction software packages, getsf and GExt2D, we identified ~200 compact sources, whose ~100 common sources have, on average, fluxes consistent to within 30%. We filtered sources with non-negligible free-free contamination and corrected fluxes from line contamination, resulting in a W43-MM2&MM3 catalog of 205 getsf cores. With a median deconvolved FWHM size of 3400 au, core masses range from ~0.1 M⊙ to ~70 M⊙ and the getsf catalog is 90% complete down to 0.8 M⊙. Results. The high-mass end of the core mass function (CMF) of W43-MM2&MM3 is top-heavy compared to the canonical IMF. Fitting the cumulative CMF with a single power-law of the form N(> log M) ∝ Mα, we measured α = −0.95 ± 0.04, compared to the canonical α = −1.35 Salpeter IMF slope. The slope of the CMF is robust with respect to map processing, extraction software packages, and reasonable variations in the assumptions taken to estimate core masses. We explore several assumptions on how cores transfer their mass to stars (assuming a mass conversion efficiency) and subfragment (defining a core fragment mass function) to predict the IMF resulting from the W43-MM2&MM3 CMF. While core mass growth should flatten the high-mass end of the resulting IMF, core fragmentation could steepen it.

Conclusions. In stark contrast to the commonly accepted paradigm, our result argues against the universality of the CMF shape. More robust functions of the star formation efficiency and core subfragmentation are required to better predict the resulting IMF, here suggested to remain top-heavy at the end of the star formation phase. If confirmed, the IMFs emerging from starburst events could inherit their top-heavy shape from their parental CMFs, challenging the IMF universality.