bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human‐Driven Fire Regime Change in the Seasonal Tropical Forests of Central Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thiet V. , Allen Kathryn J. , Le Nam C. , Truong Cuong Q. , Tenzin Karma , Baker Patrick J.
Published: July 2023

To better understand fire regimes and their relation to climate in the seasonal tropical forests of continental Southeast Asia, we developed the first multi‐century tree‐ring based fire history chronology for the region. The chronology included 776 fire scars collected at Bidoup NuiBa National Park (BNNP) in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and spans the period 1636–2020. Fires were recorded in 116 years, representing 47% of the years covered by the 249‐year period between the first fire scar (1772) and the last (2020). While only 9% of years within the sampled BNNP forests experienced fires before 1905, 70% recorded fires between 1906 and 1963 and 90% showed evidence of fire after 1963. Fire occurrence was highly correlated with climate indices (wet season Nino 3.4 and dry season regional Palmer Drought Severity Index) during the period 1906–1963, but showed no significant correlation after 1963. Our fire reconstruction from BNNP suggests that the fire regime has shifted from one driven primarily by climate to one in which human activities dominate the occurrence of fire within these seasonal tropical landscapes.
Hydrological Object‐Based Flow Direction Model for Constructing a Lake‐Stream Topological System
Authors: Zhao Fei , Xiong Liyang , Zhang Chuzhi , Wei Hong , Liu Kai , Tang Guoan
Published: July 2023

The topological system of lakes and streams is the basis for deriving a multitude of patterns and processes in hydrology, geomorphology and ecology. Flow direction is key to constructing a lake‐stream topological system. However, lakes and streams are important hydrological objects that should be considered since they are linked during the process of material and energy transportation. Therefore, a flow direction algorithm that can clearly express the topological relationship of lakes and streams, was proposed here. Lakes and streams were taken as the hydrological objects in stream networks and coupled into a flow direction algorithm. A topological system was established based on the proposed algorithms. Six areas on the Tibetan Plateau were chosen as sample areas with the MERIT digital elevation model (DEM) as the DEM data source. Streams derived from flow direction data in the HydroSHEDS data set (HYDROSTREAMS) and MERIT hydro data set (MERITSTREAMS), as well as streams derived from flow direction results of the D‐infinity algorithm and priority‐flood algorithm were compared with streams derived from the proposed algorithm. The topological relationship between streams and lakes was clearly expressed by the proposed algorithm. In lake areas, the proposed algorithm showed better performance, and no parallel streams were found. In nonlake areas, the stream networks derived from these algorithms were stable. The proposed algorithm offers an opportunity to treat lakes and streams differently during simulation, thus adding to the authenticity of the simulation.
Effect of Particulate Organic Carbon Deposition on Nitrate Reduction in the Hyporheic Zone
Authors: Ping Xue , Xian Yang , Jin Menggui
Published: July 2023

The hyporheic zone (HZ), where surface water and groundwater interact in sediments beneath streams, presents unique conditions for nutrient dynamics, such as carbon and nitrogen (N) cycling. Organic carbon (OC) in aquatic systems has two distinct forms: dissolved organic carbon and particulate organic carbon (POC). OC affects N reduction and controls the occurrence of denitrification, a primary process by which nitrate (NO3−) is removed as gas (N2 or N2O) to the atmosphere. When POC is the predominant form of OC in streams, how POC influences NO3− reduction within a HZ remains unclear. We established a new reactive transport model incorporating POC transport and filtration processes to assess how POC deposition affects NO3− removal. Sediment permeability decreases as POC is filtrated in the streambed. Nitrate influx is reduced due to POC‐induced sediment clogging. The deposited POC in the shallow streambed serves as an OC source and supports higher biogeochemical reaction kinetics because OC is an important substrate promoting microbial activities. The filtrated POC pool enhances denitrification, thus causing a higher NO3− removal efficiency. In contrast, the POC pool is typically assumed to be distributed homogeneously in sediments, potentially causing a significant underestimation of stream‐borne NO3− removal. A lower hydraulic conductivity, a smaller POC grain size, and a larger POC filtration efficiency and in‐stream POC concentration allow for extensive POC deposition within the shallow streambed that favors nitrate removal. This study provides a better understanding of N processing and an accurate estimation of NO3− removal potential in HZs.
A Theoretical Model of Soil Freezing Characteristic Curve Considering the Freezing of Adsorbed Water and Capillary Water
Authors: Wang Yijie , Hu Liming
Published: July 2023

The soil freezing characteristic curve (SFCC) represents the constitutive relationship between sub‐zero temperature and unfrozen water content in soil. It governs the hydrologic and mechanical behaviors associated with freezing soil. Numerous studies have investigated the mechanisms of soil water freezing and attempted to predict SFCC using soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) and Clapeyron equation. However, limited attention has been given to the physical disparities between adsorbed and capillary water during freezing, including variations in pressures and water‐ice interfaces. In this study, we present a novel theoretical model for predicting SFCC. The model determines the freezing point by calculating the chemical potential of soil water and ice with their respective pressures, thus capturing the distinctions in freezing behaviors between adsorbed and capillary water. All model parameters possess clear physical interpretations, and the model solely relies on the SWCC as input. The validity of the proposed model was confirmed through experimental measurements involving the water phase diagram, SWCCs, and the corresponding SFCCs of sandy, silty, and clayey soils. The model exhibits strong capabilities in predicting SFCC regardless of the soil type and outperforms the conventional method in predicting the SFCC of soil with high adsorbed water content. Model analyses were performed to investigate the effects of individual pore size, soil type, and initial water content on the freezing process, revealing the distinct contributions of adsorption and capillarity in soil water freezing. This study elucidates the mechanisms underlying soil water freezing, offering a theoretical framework for the analysis and prediction of frozen soil behaviors.
A Novel Methodology for the Stochastic Integration of Geophysical and Hydrogeological Data in Geologically Consistent Models
Authors: Neven Alexis , Renard Philippe
Published: July 2023

To address groundwater issues, it is often necessary to develop geological and hydrogeological models. Combining geological, geophysical and hydrogeological data available on a site to build such models is often a challenge. This paper presents a methodology to integrate such data within a geologically consistent model with robust error estimation. The methodology combines the Ensemble Smoother with Multiple Data Assimilation (ESMDA) algorithm with a hierarchical geological modeling approach (ArchPy). Geophysical and hydrogeological field data are jointly assimilated in a stochastic ESMDA framework. To speed up the inversion process, forward responses are computed in lower‐dimensional spaces relevant to each physical problem. By doing so, the final models take into account multiple data sources and regional conceptual geological knowledge. This study illustrates the applicability of this novel approach using actual data from the upper Aare Valley, Switzerland. The results of cross‐validation show that the combination of different data types, each sensitive to different spatial dimensions, enhances the quality of the model within a reasonable computing time. The proposed methodology allows the automatic generation of groundwater models with robust uncertainty estimation and could be applied to a wide variety of hydrogeological issues.
Teleportation goes to Hertz rate
Authors: Yan Zhihui , Jia Xiaojun
Published: July 2023

Quantum teleportation has been developed to simultaneously realize the Hertz rate and the 64-km distance through fiber channels, which is essential to real-world application of quantum network.
Control of sustained attention and impulsivity by Gq-protein signalling in parvalbumin interneurons of the anterior cingulate cortex
Authors: Jendryka Martin M. , Lewin Uwe , van der Veen Bastiaan , Kapanaiah Sampath K. T. , Prex Vivien , Strahnen Daniel , Akam Thomas , Liss Birgit , Pekcec Anton , Nissen Wiebke , Kätzel Dennis
Published: July 2023

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been implicated in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). More specifically, an appropriate balance of excitatory and inhibitory activity in the ACC may be critical for the control of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and sustained attention which are centrally affected in ADHD. Hence, pharmacological augmentation of parvalbumin- (PV) or somatostatin-positive (Sst) inhibitory ACC interneurons could be a potential treatment strategy. We, therefore, tested whether stimulation of Gq-protein-coupled receptors (GqPCRs) in these interneurons could improve attention or impulsivity assessed with the 5-choice-serial reaction-time task in male mice. When challenging impulse control behaviourally or pharmacologically, activation of the chemogenetic GqPCR hM3Dq in ACC PV-cells caused a selective decrease of active erroneous—i.e. incorrect and premature—responses, indicating improved attentional and impulse control. When challenging attention, in contrast, omissions were increased, albeit without extension of reward latencies or decreases of attentional accuracy. These effects largely resembled those of the ADHD medication atomoxetine. Additionally, they were mostly independent of each other within individual animals. GqPCR activation in ACC PV-cells also reduced hyperactivity. In contrast, if hM3Dq was activated in Sst-interneurons, no improvement of impulse control was observed, and a reduction of incorrect responses was only induced at high agonist levels and accompanied by reduced motivational drive. These results suggest that the activation of GqPCRs expressed specifically in PV-cells of the ACC may be a viable strategy to improve certain aspects of sustained attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity in ADHD.
HOXC13-driven TIMM13 overexpression promotes osteosarcoma cell growth
Authors: Han Qicai , Yan Penghui , Song Ruipeng , Liu Feifei , Tian Qing
Published: July 2023

TIMM13 (translocase of inner mitochondrial membrane 13) located at the mitochondrial intermembrane space is vital for the integrity and function of mitochondria. We found that the mitochondrial protein TIMM13 is upregulated in human OS tissues and cells. In patient-derived primary OS cells and established cell lines, TIMM13 shRNA or knockout provoked mitochondrial dysfunction, causing mitochondrial depolarization, reactive oxygen species production, and oxidative injury, as well as lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and ATP depletion. Moreover, TIMM13 depletion provoked OS cell apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation and migration. Conversely, ectopic TIMM13 overexpression increased ATP contents, enhancing OS cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, we discovered that Akt-mTOR activation was inhibited with TIMM13 depletion in primary OS cells. Further studies revealed that HOXC13 (Homeobox C13)-dependent TIMM13 transcription was significantly increased in OS tissues and cells. Whereas TIMM13 transcription and expression were decreased following HOXC13 silencing in primary OS cells. In vivo, TIMM13 KO potently inhibited OS xenograft growth in the proximal tibia of nude mice. TIMM13 KO also induced Akt-mTOR inactivation, ATP depletion, oxidative injury, and apoptosis in the in situ OS tumors. Together, upregulation of the mitochondrial protein TIMM13 is important for OS cell growth, representing a novel and promising therapeutic target.
The role of m6A demethylase FTO in chemotherapy resistance mediating acute myeloid leukemia relapse
Authors: Zhang Zhi-Wei , Zhao Xiao-Su , Guo Huidong , Huang Xiao-Jun
Published: July 2023

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common hematopoietic malignancies, and chemotherapy resistance is one of the main causes of relapse. Because of lower survival rate for patients with relapse, it is pivotal to identify etiological factors responsible for chemo-resistance. In this work, direct MeRIP-seq analysis of sequential samples at stage of complete remission (CR) and relapse identifies that dysregulated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is involved in this progression, and hypomethylated RNAs are related to cell differentiation. m6A demethylase FTO is overexpressed in relapse samples, which enhances the drug resistance of AML cells in vivo and in vitro. In addition, FTO knockdown cells exhibit stronger capacity of differentiation towards granules and myeloid lineages after cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) treatment. Mechanistically, FOXO3 is identified as a downstream target of FTO, the hypomethylation of FOXO3 mRNA affects its RNA degradation and further reduces its own expression, which ultimately result in attenuated cell differentiation. Collectively, these results demonstrate that FTO-m6A-FOXO3 is the main regulatory axis to affect the chemotherapy resistance of AML cells and FTO is a potential therapeutic target of chemotherapy resistance in AML.
Germline pathogenic variants in HNRNPU are associated with alterations in blood methylome
Authors: Lee Sunwoo , Ochoa Eguzkine , Badura-Stronka Magdalena , Donnelly Deirdre , Lederer Damien , Lynch Sally A. , Gardham Alice , Morton Jenny , Stewart Helen , Docquier France , Rodger Fay , Martin Ezequiel , Toribio Ana , Maher Eamonn R. , Balasubramanian Meena
Published: July 2023

HNRNPU encodes a multifunctional RNA-binding protein that plays critical roles in regulating pre-mRNA splicing, mRNA stability, and translation. Aberrant expression and dysregulation of HNRNPU have been implicated in various human diseases, including cancers and neurological disorders. We applied a next generation sequencing based assay (EPIC-NGS) to investigate genome-wide methylation profiling for >2 M CpGs for 7 individuals with a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with HNRNPU germline pathogenic loss-of-function variants. Compared to healthy individuals, 227 HNRNPU-associated differentially methylated positions were detected. Both hyper- and hypomethylation alterations were identified but the former predominated. The identification of a methylation episignature for HNRNPU-associated neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) implicates HNPRNPU-related chromatin alterations in the aetiopathogenesis of this disorder and suggests that episignature profiling should have clinical utility as a predictor for the pathogenicity of HNRNPU variants of uncertain significance. The detection of a methylation episignaure for HNRNPU-associated NDD is consistent with a recent report of a methylation episignature for HNRNPK-associated NDD.
Water binding and hygroscopicity in π-conjugated polyelectrolytes
Authors: Tang Cindy Guanyu , Syafiqah Mazlan Nur , Koh Qi-Mian , Ang Mervin Chun-Yi , Choo Kim-Kian , Sun Ming-Ming , Callsen Martin , Feng Yuan-Ping , Chua Lay-Lay , Png Rui-Qi , Ho Peter K. H.
Published: July 2023

The presence of water strongly influences structure, dynamics and properties of ion-containing soft matter. Yet, the hydration of such matter is not well understood. Here, we show through a large study of monovalent π-conjugated polyelectrolytes that their reversible hydration, up to several water molecules per ion pair, occurs chiefly at the interface between the ion clusters and the hydrophobic matrix without disrupting ion packing. This establishes the appropriate model to be surface hydration, not the often-assumed internal hydration of the ion clusters. Through detailed analysis of desorption energies and O–H vibrational frequencies, together with OPLS4 and DFT calculations, we have elucidated key binding motifs of the sorbed water. Type-I water, which desorbs below 50 °C, corresponds to hydrogen-bonded water clusters constituting secondary hydration. Type-II water, which typically desorbs over 50–150 °C, corresponds to water bound to the anion under the influence of a proximal cation, or to a cation‒anion pair, at the cluster surface. This constitutes primary hydration. Type-III water, which irreversibly desorbs beyond 150 °C, corresponds to water kinetically trapped between ions. Its amount varies strongly with processing and heat treatment. As a consequence, hygroscopicity—which is the water sorption capacity per ion pair—depends not only on the ions, but also their cluster morphology.
Blood transcriptomic signatures associated with molecular changes in the brain and clinical outcomes in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Irmady Krithi , Hale Caryn R. , Qadri Rizwana , Fak John , Simelane Sitsandziwe , Carroll Thomas , Przedborski Serge , Darnell Robert B.
Published: July 2023

The ability to use blood to predict the outcomes of Parkinson’s disease, including disease progression and cognitive and motor complications, would be of significant clinical value. We undertook bulk RNA sequencing from the caudate and putamen of postmortem Parkinson’s disease (n = 35) and control (n = 40) striatum, and compared molecular profiles with clinical features and bulk RNA sequencing data obtained from antemortem peripheral blood. Cognitive and motor complications of Parkinson’s disease were associated with molecular changes in the caudate (stress response) and putamen (endothelial pathways) respectively. Later and earlier-onset Parkinson’s disease were molecularly distinct, and disease duration was associated with changes in caudate (oligodendrocyte development) and putamen (cellular senescence), respectively. Transcriptome patterns in the postmortem Parkinson’s disease brain were also evident in antemortem peripheral blood, and correlated with clinical features of the disease. Together, these findings identify molecular signatures in Parkinson’s disease patients’ brain and blood of potential pathophysiologic and prognostic importance.
Inductively shunted transmons exhibit noise insensitive plasmon states and a fluxon decay exceeding 3 hours
Authors: Hassani F. , Peruzzo M. , Kapoor L. N. , Trioni A. , Zemlicka M. , Fink J. M.
Published: July 2023

Currently available quantum processors are dominated by noise, which severely limits their applicability and motivates the search for new physical qubit encodings. In this work, we introduce the inductively shunted transmon, a weakly flux-tunable superconducting qubit that offers charge offset protection for all levels and a 20-fold reduction in flux dispersion compared to the state-of-the-art resulting in a constant coherence over a full flux quantum. The parabolic confinement provided by the inductive shunt as well as the linearity of the geometric superinductor facilitates a high-power readout that resolves quantum jumps with a fidelity and QND-ness of >90% and without the need for a Josephson parametric amplifier. Moreover, the device reveals quantum tunneling physics between the two prepared fluxon ground states with a measured average decay time of up to 3.5 h. In the future, fast time-domain control of the transition matrix elements could offer a new path forward to also achieve full qubit control in the decay-protected fluxon basis.
Biodiversity of the beneficial soil-borne fungi steered by Trichoderma-amended biofertilizers stimulates plant production
Authors: Wang Yan , Liu Zhengyang , Hao Xinyi , Wang Ziqi , Wang Zhe , Liu Shanshan , Tao Chengyuan , Wang Dongsheng , Wang Bei , Shen Zongzhuan , Shen Qirong , Li Rong
Published: July 2023

The soil microbiota is critical to plant performance. Improving the ability of plant-associated soil probiotics is thus essential for establishing dependable and sustainable crop yields. Although fertilizer applications may provide an effective way of steering soil microbes, it is still unknown how the positive effects of soil-borne probiotics can be maximized and how their effects are mediated. This work aims to seek the ecological mechanisms involved in cabbage growth using bio-organic fertilizers. We conducted a long-term field experiment in which we amended soil with non-sterilized organic or sterilized organic fertilizer either containing Trichoderma guizhouense NJAU4742 or lacking this inoculum and tracked cabbage plant growth and the soil fungal community. Trichoderma-amended bio-organic fertilizers significantly increased cabbage plant biomass and this effect was attributed to changes in the resident fungal community composition, including an increase in the relative abundance and number of indigenous soil growth-promoting fungal taxa. We specifically highlight the fundamental role of the biodiversity and population density of these plant-beneficial fungal taxa in improving plant growth. Together, our results suggest that the beneficial effects of bio-organic fertilizer seem to be a combination of the biological inoculum within the organic amendment as well as the indirect promotion through effects on the diversity and composition of the soil resident plant-beneficial fungal microbiome.
Loss of CDK4/6 activity in S/G2 phase leads to cell cycle reversal
Authors: Cornwell James A. , Crncec Adrijana , Afifi Marwa M. , Tang Kristina , Amin Ruhul , Cappell Steven D.
Published: July 2023

In mammalian cells, the decision to proliferate is thought to be irreversibly made at the restriction point of the cell cycle1,2, when mitogen signalling engages a positive feedback loop between cyclin A2/cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and the retinoblastoma protein3–5. Contrary to this textbook model, here we show that the decision to proliferate is actually fully reversible. Instead, we find that all cycling cells will exit the cell cycle in the absence of mitogens unless they make it to mitosis and divide first. This temporal competition between two fates, mitosis and cell cycle exit, arises because cyclin A2/CDK2 activity depends upon CDK4/6 activity throughout the cell cycle, not just in G1 phase. Without mitogens, mitosis is only observed when the half-life of cyclin A2 protein is long enough to sustain CDK2 activity throughout G2/M. Thus, cells are dependent on mitogens and CDK4/6 activity to maintain CDK2 activity and retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation throughout interphase. Consequently, even a 2-h delay in a cell’s progression towards mitosis can induce cell cycle exit if mitogen signalling is lost. Our results uncover the molecular mechanism underlying the restriction point phenomenon, reveal an unexpected role for CDK4/6 activity in S and G2 phases and explain the behaviour of all cells following loss of mitogen signalling.
SLC38A2 and glutamine signalling in cDC1s dictate anti-tumour immunity
Authors: Guo Chuansheng , You Zhiyuan , Shi Hao , Sun Yu , Du Xingrong , Palacios Gustavo , Guy Cliff , Yuan Sujing , Chapman Nicole M. , Lim Seon Ah , Sun Xiang , Saravia Jordy , Rankin Sherri , Dhungana Yogesh , Chi Hongbo
Published: July 2023

Cancer cells evade T cell-mediated killing through tumour–immune interactions whose mechanisms are not well understood1,2. Dendritic cells (DCs), especially type-1 conventional DCs (cDC1s), mediate T cell priming and therapeutic efficacy against tumours3. DC functions are orchestrated by pattern recognition receptors3–5, although other signals involved remain incompletely defined. Nutrients are emerging mediators of adaptive immunity6–8, but whether nutrients affect DC function or communication between innate and adaptive immune cells is largely unresolved. Here we establish glutamine as an intercellular metabolic checkpoint that dictates tumour–cDC1 crosstalk and licenses cDC1 function in activating cytotoxic T cells. Intratumoral glutamine supplementation inhibits tumour growth by augmenting cDC1-mediated CD8+ T cell immunity, and overcomes therapeutic resistance to checkpoint blockade and T cell-mediated immunotherapies. Mechanistically, tumour cells and cDC1s compete for glutamine uptake via the transporter SLC38A2 to tune anti-tumour immunity. Nutrient screening and integrative analyses show that glutamine is the dominant amino acid in promoting cDC1 function. Further, glutamine signalling via FLCN impinges on TFEB function. Loss of FLCN in DCs selectively impairs cDC1 function in vivo in a TFEB-dependent manner and phenocopies SLC38A2 deficiency by eliminating the anti-tumour therapeutic effect of glutamine supplementation. Our findings establish glutamine-mediated intercellular metabolic crosstalk between tumour cells and cDC1s that underpins tumour immune evasion, and reveal glutamine acquisition and signalling in cDC1s as limiting events for DC activation and putative targets for cancer treatment.
FEM analysis of a new three-way drainage and pressure reduction system for road tunnels
Authors: Teng Zhaolei , Liu Yuanming , Mei Shilong , Zhou Yuhang , He Guohua , Li Yingxiao , Du Bitao
Published: July 2023

For water-rich areas, tunnel elevation arches under high water pressure often cause elevation arch cracking and leakage, bulging and other failures. When the drainage system is not designed properly, these failures occur more frequently, and conventional road tunnel drainage cannot effectively reduce the water pressure at the elevation arch. Therefore, this paper proposes a new concept of "three-way drainage". The three-way drainage system is based on a conventional drainage system with a new drainage inlet at the elevation arch. On this basis, a series of numerical simulation studies are conducted to verify the pressure-reducing performance of the three-way drainage system on the lining. After demonstration and analysis, the three-way drainage concept can not only effectively reduce the water pressure at the elevation arch of the tunnel but also have a significant effect on the overall drainage effect of the tunnel. The factors affecting the performance of the three-way drainage system are assessed by varying the model parameters. It is found that the hydraulic conduction coefficient of the surrounding rock and initial support, the number of reverse diversion holes in the elevation arch, the change in head height, and the change in secondary lining parameters all have a significant effect on the water pressure outside the tunnel.
A short pre-conception bout of predation risk affects both children and grandchildren
Authors: Bhattacharya Sriya , MacCallum Phillip E. , Dayma Mrunal , McGrath-Janes Andrea , King Brianna , Dawson Laura , Bambico Francis R. , Berry Mark D. , Yuan Qi , Martin Gerard M. , Preisser Evan L. , Blundell Jacqueline J.
Published: July 2023

Traumatic events that affect physiology and behavior in the current generation may also impact future generations. We demonstrate that an ecologically realistic degree of predation risk prior to conception causes lasting changes in the first filial (F1) and second filial (F2) generations. We exposed male and female mice to a live rat (predator stress) or control (non-predator) condition for 5 min. Ten days later, stressed males and females were bred together as were control males and females. Adult F1 offspring from preconception-stressed parents responded to a mild stressor with more anxiety-like behavior and hyperarousal than offspring from control parents. Exposing these F1 offspring to the mild stressor increased neuronal activity (cFOS) in the hippocampus and altered glucocorticoid system function peripherally (plasma corticosterone levels). Even without the mild stressor, F1 offspring from preconception-stressed parents still exhibited more anxiety-like behaviors than controls. Cross-fostering studies confirmed that preconception stress, not maternal social environment, determined offspring behavioral phenotype. The effects of preconception parental stress were also unexpectedly persistent and produced similar behavioral phenotypes in the F2 offspring. Our data illustrate that a surprisingly small amount of preconception predator stress alters the brain, physiology, and behavior of future generations. A better understanding of the ‘long shadow’ cast by fearful events is critical for understanding the adaptive costs and benefits of transgenerational plasticity. It also suggests the intriguing possibility that similar risk-induced changes are the rule rather than the exception in free-living organisms, and that such multigenerational impacts are as ubiquitous as they are cryptic.
Data repurposing from digital home cage monitoring enlightens new perspectives on mouse motor behaviour and reduction principle
Authors: Fuochi Sara , Rigamonti Mara , Raspa Marcello , Scavizzi Ferdinando , de Girolamo Paolo , D’Angelo Livia
Published: July 2023

In this longitudinal study we compare between and within-strain variation in the home-cage spatial preference of three widely used and commercially available mice strains—C57BL/6NCrl, BALB/cAnNCrl and CRL:CD1(ICR)—starting from the first hour post cage-change until the next cage-change, for three consecutive intervals, to further profile the circadian home-cage behavioural phenotypes. Cage-change can be a stressful moment in the life of laboratory mice, since animals are disturbed during the sleeping hours and must then rapidly re-adapt to a pristine environment, leading to disruptions in normal motor patterns. The novelty of this study resides in characterizing new strain-specific biological phenomena, such as activity along the cage walls and frontality, using the vast data reserves generated by previous experimental data, thus introducing the potential and exploring the applicability of data repurposing to enhance Reduction principle when running in vivo studies. Our results, entirely obtained without the use of new animals, demonstrate that also when referring to space preference within the cage, C57BL/6NCrl has a high variability in the behavioural phenotypes from pre-puberty until early adulthood compared to BALB/cAnNCrl, which is confirmed to be socially disaggregated, and CRL:CD1(ICR) which is conversely highly active and socially aggregated. Our data also suggest that a strain-oriented approach is needed when defining frequency of cage-change as well as maximum allowed animal density, which should be revised, ideally under the EU regulatory framework as well, according to the physiological peculiarities of the strains, and always avoiding the “one size fits all” approach.
Comparison of a high-definition three-dimensional digital camera system with a conventional state-of-the-art operation microscope for microsurgical anastomoses
Authors: Fichter Andreas M. , Wolff Constantin T. , Grabenhorst Alex , Koss Leonard H. , von Bomhard Achim , Nieberler Markus , Wolff Klaus-Dietrich , Ritschl Lucas M.
Published: July 2023

Since its clinical implementation, microvascular surgery has depended on the continuous improvement of magnification tools. One of the more recent developments is a high-definition three-dimensional (3D) digital system (exoscope), which provides an alternative to the state-of-the-art operating microscopes. This study aimed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this technology and compare it with its predecessor. The study included 14 surgeons with varying levels of experience, none of which had used a 3D optical system previously. Six of these surgeons performed five arterial and five venous anastomoses in the chicken thigh model with both the VITOM 3D exoscope-guided system and the Pentero operating microscope. These anastomoses were then evaluated for their quality and anastomosis time. The participants and the other eight surgeons, who had used the digital 3D camera system for microsurgical training exercises and vascular sutures, answered a questionnaire. The anastomosis time and number of complications were lower with the conventional microscope. Participants rated the image quality with the conventional microscope as higher, whereas the field of view and ergonomics were favorable in the digital 3D camera system. Exoscopes are optics suitable for performing simple microvascular procedures and are superior to classical microscopes ergonomically. Thus far, they are inferior to classical microscopes in terms of image quality and 3D imaging.
A comprehensive analysis of lung cancer highlighting epidemiological factors and psychiatric comorbidities from the All of Us Research Program
Authors: Shaw Vikram R. , Byun Jinyoung , Pettit Rowland W. , Han Younghun , Hsiou David A. , Nordstrom Luke A. , Amos Christopher I.
Published: July 2023

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. Investigating epidemiological and clinical parameters can contribute to an improved understanding of disease development and management. In this cross-sectional, case–control study, we used the All of Us database to compare healthcare access, family history, smoking-related behaviors, and psychiatric comorbidities in light smoking controls, matched smoking controls, and primary and secondary lung cancer patients. We found a decreased odds of primary lung cancer patients versus matched smoking controls reporting inability to afford follow-up or specialist care. Additionally, we found a significantly increased odds of secondary lung cancer patients having comorbid anxiety and insomnia when compared to matched smoking controls. Our study provides a profile of the psychiatric disease burden in lung cancer patients and reports key epidemiological factors in patients with primary and secondary lung cancer. By using two controls, we were able to separate smoking behavior from lung cancer and identify factors that were mediated by heavy smoking alone or by both smoking and lung cancer.
Ultrastructure and fractal property of chromosomes in close-to-native yeast nuclei visualized using X-ray laser diffraction
Authors: Uezu So , Yamamoto Takahiro , Oide Mao , Takayama Yuki , Okajima Koji , Kobayashi Amane , Yamamoto Masaki , Nakasako Masayoshi
Published: July 2023

Genome compaction and activity in the nucleus depend on spatiotemporal changes in the organization of chromatins in chromosomes. However, the direct imaging of the chromosome structures in the nuclei has been difficult and challenging. Herein, we directly visualized the structure of chromosomes in frozen-hydrated nuclei of budding yeast in the interphase using X-ray laser diffraction. The reconstructed projection electron density maps revealed inhomogeneous distributions of chromosomes, such as a 300 nm assembly and fibrous substructures in the elliptic-circular shaped nuclei of approximately 800 nm. In addition, from the diffraction patterns, we confirmed the absence of regular arrangements of chromosomes and chromatins with 400–20 nm spacing, and demonstrated that chromosomes were composed of self-similarly assembled substructural domains with an average radius of gyration of 58 nm and smooth surfaces. Based on these analyses, we constructed putative models to discuss the organization of 16 chromosomes, carrying DNA of 4.1 mm in 800 nm ellipsoid of the nucleus at the interphase. We anticipate the structural parameters on the fractal property of chromosomes and the experimental images to be a starting point for constructing more sophisticated 3D structural models of the nucleus.
An attempt to model the causal structure behind white matter aging and cognitive decline
Authors: Koten Jan Willem , Koschutnig Karl , Wood Guilherme
Published: July 2023

In this diffusion tension imaging study, voxel wise structural equation modeling was used to unravel the relation between white matter, cognition, and age. Four neurocognitive ageing models describing the interplay between age, white matter integrity, and cognition were investigated but only two models survived an Akaike information criterion-based model selection procedure. The independent factor model predicts that there is no relation between white matter integrity and cognition although both systems are affected by age. The cognitive mediation model predicts that the relation between age and white matter integrity is mediated through cognition. Roughly 60% of the observed voxels were in agreement with the independent factor model while 16% of the observed voxels were in agreement with the cognitive mediation model. Imaging results of the latter model suggest that the deterioration of fibers—that connect the two hemispheres with each other—is partly caused by an age-related decline in cognitive functioning.
TPO as an indicator of lymph node metastasis and recurrence in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Li Xiang , Cheng Ruochuan
Published: July 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and to preliminarily investigate its value as a marker of lymph node metastasis and recurrence in patients with PTC. Clinical data of PTC patients and TPO expression were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database for analysis. We recruited 230 consecutive PTC patients from the Department of Thyroid Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, collected their clinicopathological data, and also performed immunohistochemical analysis of TPO expression on their thyroid specimens to validate the results of bioinformatics analysis. In addition, the construction of protein–protein interaction networks was performed too. Functional enrichment analysis and immuno-infiltration analysis characterized the pathways in which TPO genes may be involved. Data mining based on the TCGA database showed that TPO expression in PTC tissues was significantly lower than in paired normal thyroid tissues. The expression level of TPO in PTC tissues correlated with tumor lymph node metastasis and recurrence. Follow-up data from our center also validated the difference in TPO expression and its relationship with lymph node metastasis in PTC patients. Functional enrichment analysis showed that TPO function was significantly associated with signaling pathways related to amino acid metabolism, gene expression regulation and tumorigenesis. TPO expression was also significantly associated with immune infiltration. Our study showed that reduced TPO expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and recurrence in patients with PTC, and we validated this result in our central cohort. These data suggest that TPO may serve as a prognostic indicator for PTC.
Effects of whole-grain cereals on fecal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in dogs: a comparison of rye, oats and wheat
Authors: Palmqvist Hanna , Höglund Katja , Ringmark Sara , Lundh Torbjörn , Dicksved Johan
Published: July 2023

Dietary fiber in dog food is reported to promote healthy gut microbiota, but few studies have investigated the effects of whole-grain cereals, which contain a variety of fiber types and other bioactive compounds. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of diets containing whole-grain rye (RYE), oats (OAT) and wheat (WHE) on fecal microbiota and short-chain fatty acid production. Eighteen dogs were fed three experimental diets, each for four weeks, in a cross-over design. Fecal samples were collected at the end of each diet period. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons showed that family Lachnospiraceae and genus Bacteroides were the gut microbial groups most affected by diet, with lowest relative abundance following consumption of RYE and a trend for a corresponding increase in genus Prevotella_9. Fecal acetate and propionate concentrations were higher after consumption of RYE compared with OAT. In conclusion, rye had the strongest effect on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids, although the implications for dog gut health are not yet elucidated.
Tumor-related epilepsy and post-surgical outcomes: tertiary hospital experience in Vietnam
Authors: Le Viet-Thang , Nguyen Anh Minh , Pham Tuan Anh , Nguyen Phuc Long
Published: July 2023

Seizures have a significant impact on the quality of life of those who suffer. This study aimed to evaluate the variables that influence the incidence of seizures during the perioperative period and effective measures to enhance epilepsy outcomes among individuals undergoing surgical resection of brain tumors. The authors carried out a prospective observational analysis of all patients who experienced seizures before their brain tumor surgery at UMC, HCMC between 2020 and 2022. 54 cases presented with seizures were enrolled for the study, generalized seizure was the most prevalent seizure type (61.1%), followed by focal seizure (29.6%). The majority of patients presented with seizures are those who were diagnosed with glioma. Low-grade gliomas and frontotemporal lobe tumors increase the postoperative risk of seizure. Other predictive factors are a prolonged history of seizure, especially resistant epilepsy and major peritumoral edema. In contrast, gross total resection reduces postoperative seizure incidence. There was correlation between Ki67 proliferation index and seizure incidence in both low-grade and high-grade gliomas. ECoG made insubstantial difference in enhancing the epilepsy surgery outcome. Overall, 88.9% of patients were seizure-free at 6 months of follow-up (Engel Class I), 7.4% were almost seizure-free (Class II), and 3.7% had significant improvement (Class III), figures for 12-month follow-up were 87.0%, 9.3%, and 3.7% respectively. A shorter history of seizure and gross-total resection appear to be associated with a favorable prognosis for seizure control.
High throughput computations of the effective removal of liquified gases by novel perchlorate hybrid material
Authors: Unimuke Tomsmith O. , Louis Hitler , Ikenyirimba Onyinye J. , Mathias Gideon E. , Adeyinka Adedapo S. , Nasr Chérif Ben
Published: July 2023

The utilization of hybrid materials in separation technology, sorbents, direct air capture (DAC) technology, sensors, adsorbents, and chiral material recognition has increased in the past decade due to the recognized impact of atmospheric pollutants and hazardous industrial gases on climate change. A novel hybrid material, perchlorate hybrid (PClH), has been proposed in this study for the effective sensory detection and trapping of atmospheric pollutants and industrial hazardous gases. The study evaluated the structural properties, adsorption mechanism, electronic sensitivity, and topological analysis of PClH using highly accurate computational methods (M062X-D3BJ/def2-ccpVTZ and DSDPBEP86/def2-ccpVTZ). The computational analysis demonstrated that PClH has considerable adsorption energies and favorable interaction with CO2, NO2, SO2, COCl2, and H2S. PClH is more suitable for detecting liquefiable gases such as COCl2, CO2, and SO2, and can be easily recovered under ambient conditions. Developing such materials can contribute to reducing hazardous gases and pollutants in the atmosphere, leading to a cleaner and safer environment.
The mediating effects of dysfunctional attitudes and moderating effect of sex between stressful life events and depressive symptoms among Chinese college students
Authors: Li Wenfu , Chen Jingting , Liu Yujia , Liu Yanzhi , Hu Xiaoran , Mu Fuqin , Liu Chuanxin , Zhang Ying , Liu Yan
Published: July 2023

Stressful life events (SLEs) closely correlates with depressive symptoms. Although vulnerability-stress model suggests SLEs interacted with dysfunctional attitudes (DA) to predict depression, the mediation role of DA is poorly understood. Therefore, this study intended to investigate the mediating role of DA and the moderating role of sex between SLEs and self-reported depression. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 7769 Chinese college students. Participants were assessed in terms of self-reported SLEs, DA and depression variables. Results showed that there were significant sex differences in both SLE and DA. DA mediated the association between SLE and self-reported depression. The moderated mediation model analysis showed that the interaction of SLEs and sex significantly predicted DA in mediator variable model and self-reported depression in dependent variable model. Results indicated that DA partially mediated the association between SLEs and self-reported depression, and sex moderates the association between SLEs and both DA and self-reported depression, which females have bigger changes of DA and depressive symptoms across low and high levels of SLEs than males.
An ensemble deep learning model for risk stratification of invasive lung adenocarcinoma using thin-slice CT
Authors: Zhou Jing , Hu Bin , Feng Wei , Zhang Zhang , Fu Xiaotong , Shao Handie , Wang Hansheng , Jin Longyu , Ai Siyuan , Ji Ying
Published: July 2023

Lung cancer screening using computed tomography (CT) has increased the detection rate of small pulmonary nodules and early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. It would be clinically meaningful to accurate assessment of the nodule histology by CT scans with advanced deep learning algorithms. However, recent studies mainly focus on predicting benign and malignant nodules, lacking of model for the risk stratification of invasive adenocarcinoma. We propose an ensemble multi-view 3D convolutional neural network (EMV-3D-CNN) model to study the risk stratification of lung adenocarcinoma. We include 1075 lung nodules (≤30 mm and ≥4 mm) with preoperative thin-section CT scans and definite pathology confirmed by surgery. Our model achieves a state-of-art performance of 91.3% and 92.9% AUC for diagnosis of benign/malignant and pre-invasive/invasive nodules, respectively. Importantly, our model outperforms senior doctors in risk stratification of invasive adenocarcinoma with 77.6% accuracy [i.e., Grades 1, 2, 3]). It provides detailed predictive histological information for the surgical management of pulmonary nodules. Finally, for user-friendly access, the proposed model is implemented as a web-based system (https://seeyourlung.com.cn).
The relevance of the unique anatomy of the human prefrontal operculum to the emergence of speech
Authors: Amiez Céline , Verstraete Charles , Sallet Jérôme , Hadj-Bouziane Fadila , Ben Hamed Suliann , Meguerditchian Adrien , Procyk Emmanuel , Wilson Charles R. E. , Petrides Michael , Sherwood Chet C. , Hopkins William D.
Published: July 2023

Identifying the evolutionary origins of human speech remains a topic of intense scientific interest. Here we describe a unique feature of adult human neuroanatomy compared to chimpanzees and other primates that may provide an explanation of changes that occurred to enable the capacity for speech. That feature is the Prefrontal extent of the Frontal Operculum (PFOp) region, which is located in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, adjacent and ventromedial to the classical Broca’s area. We also show that, in chimpanzees, individuals with the most human-like PFOp, particularly in the left hemisphere, have greater oro-facial and vocal motor control abilities. This critical discovery, when combined with recent paleontological evidence, suggests that the PFOp is a recently evolved feature of human cortical structure (perhaps limited to the genus Homo) that emerged in response to increasing selection for cognitive and motor functions evident in modern speech abilities.
The dependence of reduced mobility, ion-neutral collisional cross sections, and alpha values on reduced electric field strengths in ion mobility
Authors: Naylor Cameron N. , Schaefer Christoph , Zimmermann Stefan
Published: July 2023

A homologous series of molecules are measured under low to high field conditions on a drift tube ion mobility spectrometer and the underpinning assumptions made for calculating ionneutral collisional cross sections are compared.