bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sensory conflict disrupts circadian rhythms in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis
Authors: Berger Cory A , Tarrant Ann M
Published: April 2023

Circadian clocks infer time of day by integrating information from cyclic environmental factors called zeitgebers, including light and temperature. Single zeitgebers entrain circadian rhythms, but few studies have addressed how multiple, simultaneous zeitgeber cycles interact to affect clock behavior. Misalignment between zeitgebers (‘sensory conflict’) can disrupt circadian rhythms, or alternatively clocks may privilege information from one zeitgeber over another. Here, we show that temperature cycles modulate circadian locomotor rhythms in Nematostella vectensis, a model system for cnidarian circadian biology. We conduct behavioral experiments across a comprehensive range of light and temperature cycles and find that Nematostella’s circadian behavior is disrupted by chronic misalignment between light and temperature, which involves disruption of the endogenous clock itself rather than a simple masking effect. Sensory conflict also disrupts the rhythmic transcriptome, with numerous genes losing rhythmic expression. However, many metabolic genes remained rhythmic and in-phase with temperature, and other genes even gained rhythmicity, implying that some rhythmic metabolic processes persist even when behavior is disrupted. Our results show that a cnidarian clock relies on information from light and temperature, rather than prioritizing one signal over the other. Although we identify limits to the clock’s ability to integrate conflicting sensory information, there is also a surprising robustness of behavioral and transcriptional rhythmicity.
Increased public health threat of avian-origin H3N2 influenza virus caused by its evolution in dogs
Authors: Chen Mingyue , Lyu Yanli , Wu Fan , Zhang Ying , Li Hongkui , Wang Rui , Liu Yang , Yang Xinyu , Zhou Liwei , Zhang Ming , Tong Qi , Sun Honglei , Pu Juan , Liu Jinhua , Sun Yipeng
Published: April 2023

Influenza A viruses in animal reservoirs repeatedly cross species barriers to infect humans. Dogs are the closest companion animals to humans, but the role of dogs in the ecology of influenza viruses is unclear. H3N2 avian influenza viruses were transmitted to dogs around 2006 and have formed stable lineages. The long-term epidemic of avian-origin H3N2 virus in canines offers the best models to investigate the effect of dogs on the evolution of influenza viruses. Here, we carried out a systematic and comparative identification of the biological characteristics of H3N2 canine influenza viruses (CIVs) isolated worldwide over 10 years. We found that, during adaptation in dogs, H3N2 CIVs became able to recognize the human-like SAα2,6-Gal receptor, showed gradually increased hemagglutination (HA) acid stability and replication ability in human airway epithelial cells, and acquired a 100% transmission rate via respiratory droplets in a ferret model. We also found that human populations lack immunity to H3N2 CIVs, and even preexisting immunity derived from the present human seasonal influenza viruses cannot provide protection against H3N2 CIVs. Our results showed that canines may serve as intermediates for the adaptation of avian influenza viruses to humans. Continuous surveillance coordinated with risk assessment for CIVs is necessary.
The rostral intralaminar nuclear complex of the thalamus supports striatally mediated action reinforcement
Authors: Cover Kara K , Lieberman Abby G , Heckman Morgan M , Mathur Brian N
Published: April 2023

The dorsal striatum (DS) mediates the selection of actions for reward acquisition necessary for survival. Striatal pathology contributes to several neuropsychiatric conditions, including aberrant selection of actions for specific rewards in addiction. A major source of glutamate driving striatal activity is the rostral intralaminar nuclei (rILN) of the thalamus. Yet, the information that is relayed to the striatum to support action selection is unknown. Here, we discovered that rILN neurons projecting to the DS are innervated by a range of cortical and subcortical afferents and that rILN→DS neurons stably signaled at two time points in mice performing an action sequence task reinforced by sucrose reward: action initiation and reward acquisition. In vivo activation of this pathway increased the number of successful trials, whereas inhibition decreased the number of successful trials. These findings illuminate a role for the rostral intralaminar nuclear complex in reinforcing actions.
A new method to identifying optimal adjustment strategy when the car cockpit is uncomfortable: optimal state distance method
Authors: Chen Fei , Shi Hongbo , Yang Jianjun , Lai Yu , Han Jiahao , Chen Yimeng
Published: April 2023

With the rapid development of the automobile industry, the comfort of the cockpit has become the standard for judging the quality of the car. People have also put forward higher requirements for cockpit comfort. In the process of driving, the cockpit environment will constantly change, and the comfort will also change. When the comprehensive comfort level of the cockpit decreases and the occupants feel uncomfortable, the cockpit comfort should be adjusted. In this article, a cockpit comfort evaluation model is established to realize the evaluation of cockpit comfort. In addition, we elaborate the theory of optimal state distance, where the numerical magnitude of the optimal state distance is used to reflect the extent to which an indicator deviates from its optimal state. Also, a cockpit optimal adjustment strategy identification model is established based on the theory, which can obtain the optimal adjustment strategy in a certain cockpit operating environment, facilitate the timely adjustment of the corresponding actuator, and realize the dynamic monitoring and adjustment of cockpit comfort. This project provides a reference direction for cockpit comfort adjustment, which is of great significance for future research and development of automotive cockpit comfort.
Association between statin use and risk of gallstone disease and cholecystectomy: a meta-analysis of 590,086 patients
Authors: Chang Yu , Lin Hong-Min , Chi Kuan-Yu , Lin Wan-Ying , Chou Tsung-Ching
Published: April 2023

Background

Statins have been reported to reduce the risk of gallstone disease. However, the impacts of different durations of statin use on gallstone disease have not been clarified. The aim of this study is toperform a systematic review with meta-analysis to update and to elucidate the association between statin use and the risk of gallstone disease and cholecystectomy.

Methods

Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched from the inception until August 2022 for relevant articles investigating the difference in the risk of gallstone disease between statin users and non-users (PROSPERO, ID: CRD42020182445). Meta-analyses were conducted using odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to compare the risk of gallstone disease and cholecystectomy between statin user and nonusers.

Results

Eight studies enrolling 590,086 patients were included. Overall, the use of statins was associated with a marginally significant lower risk of gallstone disease than nonusers (OR, 0.91; 95% CI [0.82–1.00]). Further subgroup analysis showed that short-term users, medium-term users, and long-term users were associated with a significantly higher risk (OR, 1.18; 95% CI [1.11–1.25]), comparable risk (OR, 0.93; 95% CI [0.83–1.04]), and significantly lower risk of gallstone diseases (OR, 0.78; 95% CI [0.68–0.90]) respectively, compared to nonusers.

Conclusions

Patients with medium-term or long-term use of statins without discontinuation are at a lower risk of gallstone disease or cholecystectomy.
Construcción e implementación de un presupuesto de gastos para la empresa Piscícola Entre Ríos Ltda.
Authors:   ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Bustamante Seguel Ociel Humberto
Published: April 2023

La administración puede definirse como el proceso de fijar las metas de la entidad y de implementar las actividades para alcanzar esas metas mediante el empleo eficiente de los recursos humanos, los materiales y el capital. Para llevar a cabo esta gestión, el presupuesto de gastos es el cálculo que ayuda a las empresas a realizar un seguimiento de las compras y a delimitar los costos operativos a la cantidad más baja posible. Sin presupuestos de gastos, se corre el riesgo de gastar en exceso, reduciendo o eliminando los márgenes de ganancia. En este proyecto se realizó la construcción e implementación de un presupuesto para la empresa Piscícola Entre Ríos, la que cuenta con cinco centros de cultivo de trucha arcoíris de tipo pan size y su planta de procesos. Cada uno de ellos corresponde a una unidad o centro de costo y para la construcción del presupuesto es primordial que estos estén bien identificados. Cada centro de costos genera gastos para su funcionamiento, los que deben ser registrados y cargados a distintas cuentas contables. Los montos asignados a cada cuenta contable y por tanto a cada centro de costo son la pauta de trabajo o presupuesto de gastos de una empresa. Para el caso de Piscícola Entre Ríos, las facturas son imputadas en un software ERP y los presupuestos monitoreados a través de un software interno de la empresa. El desarrollo del presupuesto de esta empresa permitió identificar donde estaban los mayores costos y trabajar en la reducción de estos; generó que los jefes de área tuvieran mayor independencia para la toma de decisiones; demostró además, que siempre existen contingencias que pueden modificar esta pauta de trabajo, en el caso de este estudio el cambio fue dado por la pandemia del coronavirus.
Diseño arquitectónico integral desde la inercia térmica a la vivienda : una vivienda nueva para el mejoramiento térmico y energético en la ciudad de Valdivia
Authors:   ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Escuela de Arquitectura, Puentes Nazal Paula Macarena
Published: April 2023

En la región de Los Ríos se presentan una serie de problemáticas de distinto carácter vinculados a la pobreza energética, que repercuten en el bienestar de las personas. La pobreza energética corresponde a la desigualdad en el acceso a energía de alta calidad, considerada así a la que dispone de un suministro estable y no presenta un riesgo a las personas, que enfrentan los hogares para cubrir sus necesidades y lograr desarrollarse adecuadamente en su contexto. En la ciudad de Valdivia, un 95% de las viviendas actuales poseen sistemas de calefacción ineficientes, como lo son la estufa a leña y la de combustión lenta, por lo que el nivel de calidad necesario que requiere el hogar para no encontrarse en condiciones de pobreza energética se ve vulnerado. Tales sistemas tienen una carcasa metálica que no retiene el calor y generan una mala combustión que produce altas emisiones de material particulado al ambiente. Esta combustión se produce debido al grado de control que tiene el usuario sobre el acceso de aire a la estufa, y el gran contenido de humedad en la leña utilizada como combustible, que es más asequible que aquella que cumple con un proceso de secado. Por su parte, las viviendas cuentan con una espacialidad interior que dificulta la distribución de calor homogénea, y están conformadas de una estructura liviana que carece de la suficiente inercia térmica, entendida como la capacidad que tienen los materiales para almacenar el calor proporcionado e ir liberándolo paulatinamente, para mantener una temperatura estable. En la presente tesis se establece una investigación proyectual sobre un nuevo diseño arquitectónico integral para la vivienda valdiviana, que vincula los sistemas de calefacción, estructura y espacialidad en su formulación. La propuesta es desarrollada a partir de la calefacción en función a la inercia térmica, que define las estrategias y criterios a seguir en la construcción de la configuración espacial. A través del estudio en la implementación de tales sistemas en el diseño, se inicia una investigación que traza el camino a la configuración de la nueva vivienda con mejor eficiencia y confort térmico, que considera las formas de habitar propias del lugar, favoreciendo la calidad de vida de las personas.
De barrera a sutura : el borde como oportunidad de integración : el caso de la comuna de Renca
Authors:   ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Estudios Urbanos, Miranda Ramírez Antonia
Published: April 2023

La presente investigación estudia el fenómeno de los bordes urbanos, entendidos como elementos generados por factores materiales e inmateriales que, entre sus implicancias, son capaces de cohesionar o fragmentar los barrios en las metrópolis. Así, se estudian una diversidad de bordes en las ciudades junto con sus repercusiones en la vida urbana de sus habitantes, recogiendo la visión de varios autores para llegar a una aproximación propia. Posteriormente, se determina la comuna de Renca como objeto de estudio. Considerada un caso icónico al encontrarse, en tres de sus límites comunales, rodeada por autopistas urbanas, y en su cuarto restante, contenida por la ladera sur de los cerros de Renca, actualmente en un estado alto de degradación. A la vez, se distinguen otros tipos de bordes adyacentes y en su interior. Éstos son: el Río Mapocho (al sur), la antigua línea férrea del tren a Valparaíso y la autopista General Velásquez (ambas al oriente) y grandes franjas industriales (oriente y poniente). Dicha situación provoca que Renca quede en una condición de “comuna amurallada” y adicionalmente de “comuna archipiélago”. Ya que no sólo pierde toda conexión fluida en relación a su contexto, sino que interiormente también aparecen barreras que dividen en múltiples piezas el territorio comunal. Esta sumatoria de bordes, además de tener implicancias directas en la trama urbana, condiciona la movilidad cotidiana de los/as habitantes de dicha comuna, restringe el acceso a bienes urbanos de carácter público y significa un aumento en el costo de la vida diaria. El objetivo de este trabajo es investigar diversas estrategias proyectuales, que sirvan para la articulación de barrios que se han vistos fragmentados por elementos como éstos llamados “bordes”. Con esto, se busca elaborar un proyecto urbano que vaya en esa misma línea pero aplicado al contexto de Renca.
Response of Different Levels of Nitrogen on Growth and Yield of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) Varieties
Authors: Katuwal Dharma Raj , Bhandari Nirajan , Pokhrel Alina
Published: April 2023

Nitrogen is the major limiting nutrient in commercial cauliflower production. The effects of six nitrogen doses (0, 70, 80, 90, 115, 130 kg N/ha) were evaluated in two cauliflower varieties (Snow Mystique and Khumal Jyapu) at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Lamjung Campus from September 2018 to January 2019. This experiment was carried out in a two factorial Completely Randomized Design with twelve treatments and five replications. FYM (25 t/ha), full dose of phosphorus (80 kg/ha) and potassium (60 kg/ha), and half dose of nitrogen were applied as a basal dose and the remaining half dose of nitrogen was applied in two equal split doses at 30 DAT and 60 DAT. The application of 130 kg N/ha gave superior results in plant height (26.32 cm), plant spread (4103 cm2), leaf area (264 cm2), stem diameter (1.96 cm), number of leaves (20.70), root length (26.26 cm), girth of curd (49.46cm) and adjusted yield (21.78 ton/ha). Similarly, the performance of the Snow Mystique variety was significantly superior as compared to Khumal Jypau in terms of growth and yield. Therefore, the combination of an optimum level of nitrogen (130 kg N/ha) and hybrid variety (Snow Mystique) could be recommended for the commercial production of cauliflower.
Effect of the Communities That Care Prevention System on Adolescent Handgun Carrying
Authors: Rowhani-Rahbar Ali , Oesterle Sabrina , Gause Emma L. , Kuklinski Margaret R. , Ellyson Alice M. , Schleimer Julia P. , Dalve Kimberly , Weybright Elizabeth H. , Briney John S. , Hawkins J. David
Published: April 2023

Importance

There is little information on upstream community-based interventions that reduce the prevalence of handgun carrying among adolescents, especially those growing up in rural areas.

Objective

To test whether Communities That Care (CTC), a community-based prevention system focusing on risk and protective factors for behavioral problems early in life, reduces handgun carrying prevalence among adolescents growing up in rural areas.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Community-randomized trial of 24 small towns in 7 states assigned randomly to the CTC or control group with outcomes assessed from 2003 to 2011. Participants were youths attending public schools in grade 5 who received consent from their parents to participate (77% of the eligible population) and were repeatedly surveyed through grade 12 with 92% retention. Analyses were conducted from June to November 2022.

Interventions

A coalition of community stakeholders received training and technical assistance to install CTC, used local epidemiologic data to identify elevated risk factors and low protective factors for adolescent behavioral problems, and implemented tested preventive interventions for youth, their families, and schools.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Handgun carrying (never vs at least once) operationalized in 2 ways: (1) prevalence of past-year handgun carrying, and (2) cumulative prevalence of handgun carrying from grade 6 through grade 12.

Results

Overall, the 4407 study participants’ mean (SD) age was 12 (.4) years in both CTC (2405 participants) and control (2002 participants) communities in grade 6; about one-half of participants in each group were female (1220 [50.7 %] in the CTC group and 962 [48.1%] in the control group). From grade 6 through grade 12, 15.5% of participants in CTC communities and 20.7% of those in control communities reported carrying a handgun at least once. Youths in CTC communities were significantly less likely to report handgun carrying at a given grade than those in control communities (odds ratio [OR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.65-0.82). The most pronounced effects were observed in grade 7 (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.42-0.99), grade 8 (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.41-0.74), and grade 9 (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.39-0.91). Cumulatively from grade 6 through grade 12, youths in CTC communities were significantly less likely to report handgun carrying at least once than those in control communities (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.70-0.84). Overall, CTC reduced the prevalence of past-year handgun carrying by 27% at a given grade and by 24% cumulatively through grade 12.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, CTC reduced the prevalence of adolescent handgun carrying in participating communities.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01088542
Enrollment Barriers for Molecular Targeted Trials
Authors: Paydary Koosha , DeLuca Alli , Aggarwal Rahul , Wall Lauren , Stadler Walter M.
Published: April 2023

This quality improvement study examines the difficulties of patient accrual among patients with cancer and SETD2 variants.
A Review on the Application‐Focused Assessment of Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) Coatings Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Dilimon Vijayan Sobhana , Shibli Sheik Muhammadhu Aboobakar
Published: April 2023

The plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings have different applications, and their modifications or developments are generally with a specific application target. Therefore, the PEO coating assessments often envisage that particular application without considering other possibilities or infeasibilities of developed PEO coatings from a different perspective. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a powerful technique for PEO coating assessment, is manifold because it can assess almost every structural, morphological, chemical, and electrochemical feature of PEO coatings. Therefore, a review paper describing an all‐purpose EIS behavior of PEO coatings is essential for researchers and engineers for a complete PEO coating assessment beyond their target application. Herein, the relevant PEO coating literature reports sufficient to understand the PEO coating assessment fundamentals are included in this review for researchers and engineers from all perspectives without compiling all literature reports on EIS studies of PEO coatings.
Liquid‐Superspreading‐Boosted High‐Performance Jet‐Flow Boiling for Enhancement of Phase‐Change Cooling
Authors: Xu Zhe , Zhang Peng , Yu Chuanghui , Miao Weining , Chang Qiankun , Qiu Ming , Li Yulong , Tian Ye , Jiang Lei
Published: April 2023

Enhanced boiling heat transfer via surface engineering is a topic of general interest for its great demand in industrial fields. However, as a dynamic interfacial phenomenon, a deep understanding of its process and mechanism, including liquid re‐wetting and vapor departure, is still challenging. Herein, a micro‐/nanostructured Cu surface containing a periodic microgroove/pyramid array with rich nanowrinkles is designed, where superspreading (<134.1 ms) of organic cooling agents highly boosts the liquid re‐wetting process, causing a discontinuous solid–liquid–vapor three‐phase contact line and ultralow under‐liquid bubble adhesion force (≈1.3 µN). Therefore, a characteristic, ultrafast jet‐flow boiling (bubbles rapidly ejected in multiple strips) is obtained on this surface, giving a priority to nucleation (superheat ≈ 1.5 °C) and simultaneously enhancing the critical heat flux and heat‐transfer coefficient by up to 80% and 608%, respectively, compared with a flat surface. In situ observation and analysis of the nucleation, growth, and departure of micro‐sized jet‐flow bubbles reflects that microgrooves/pyramids with nanowrinkles promote the latent heat exchange process by superspreading‐induced ultrafast liquid re‐wetting and constant vapor film coalescing. Based on the designed structures, high‐performance phase‐change cooling for central processing unit heat management in supercomputer centers is accomplished with an ultralow power usage effectiveness (PUE < 1.04).
Universal Renaissance Strategy of Metal Fluoride in Secondary Ion Batteries Enabled by Liquid Metal Gallium
Authors: Yang Jinghao , Zhou Wei , Hu Jiaming , Jiang Ruohan , Sun Guangai , Zhao Jie , Wang Fei , Fang Fang , Song Yun , Sun Dalin
Published: April 2023

All‐solid‐state alkali ion batteries represent a future trend in battery technology, as well as provide an opportunity for low‐cost metal fluoride electrode materials, if certain intrinsic problems can be resolved. In this work, a liquid metal activation strategy is proposed in which liquid Ga elements are generated in situ and doped into the LiF crystal structure by introducing a small amount of GaF3. Benefiting from these two Ga states of existence, in which the liquid metal Ga can continuously maintain conformable ion/electron‐transport networks, while doped Ga in the LiF crystal structure catalyzes LiF splitting, the lithium‐ion storage capacity of MnF2 significantly increases by 87%. A similar effect can be obtained in FeF3, where the sodium‐ion storage capacity is enhanced by 33%. This universal strategy with few restrictions can be used to realize a complete renaissance of metal fluorides, as well as offer an opportunity for the new application of liquid metals in the field of energy storage.
The Indenyl Effect: Accelerated C−H Amidation of Arenes via Ind*RhIII Nitrene Transfer Catalysis**
Authors: Atkin Liselle , Priebbenow Daniel L.
Published: April 2023

Investigations into C−H amidation reactions catalysed by cationic half‐sandwich d6 metal complexes revealed that the indenyl‐derived catalyst [Ind*RhCl2]2 significantly accelerated the directed ortho C−H amidation of benzoyl silanes using 1,4,2‐dioxazol‐5‐ones. Ring slippage involving a haptotropic η5 to η3 rearrangement of the indenyl complex proposedly enables ligand substitution at the metal centre to proceed via associative, rather than dissociative pathways, leading to significant rate and yield enhancements. Intriguingly, this phenomenon appears specific for C−H amidation reactions involving weakly coordinating carbonyl‐based directing groups with no acceleration observed for the corresponding reactions involving strongly coordinating nitrogen‐based directing groups.
Delayed Doublet Emission in a Cerium(III) Complex
Authors: Fang Peiyu , Liu Jiawen , Liu Huanyu , Yu Gang , Fu Pengxiang , Wang Bingwu , Qu Jianglan , Huang Yanyi , Bian Zuqiang , Liu Zhiwei
Published: April 2023

Doublet emission from open‐shell molecules has demonstrated its research and application value in recent years. However, understandings of the photoluminescence mechanism of open‐shell molecules are far less than that of closed‐shell molecules, leading to challenges in molecular design of efficient doublet emission systems. Here we report a cerium(III) 4‐(9H‐carbozol‐9‐yl)phenyl‐tris(pyrazolyl)borate complex Ce(CzPhTp)3 with a new luminescence mechanism of delayed doublet emission, which also represents the first example with metal‐centered delayed photoluminescence. The energy gap between the doublet and triplet excited states of Ce(CzPhTp)3 is reduced by the management of the inner and outer coordination spheres, thereby promoting efficient energy transfer between the two excited states and activating the delayed emission. The photoluminescence mechanism discovered may provide a new way for the design of efficient doublet emission and bring insights into rational molecular design and energy level regulation in open‐shell molecules.
Insight into Bioactivity of In‐situ Trapped Enzyme‐Covalent‐Organic Frameworks
Authors: Liang Jieying , Ruan Juanfang , Njegic Bosiljka , Rawal Aditya , Scott Jason , Xu Jiangtao , Boyer Cyrille , Liang Kang
Published: April 2023

Selecting a suitable support material for enzyme immobilization with excellent biocatalytic activity and stability is a critical aspect in the development of functional biosystems. The highly stable and metal‐free properties of covalent‐organic frameworks (COFs) make them ideal supports for enzyme immobilization. Herein, we constructed three kinds of COFs via a biofriendly and one‐pot synthetic strategy at room temperature in aqueous solution. Among the three developed COFs (COF‐LZU1, RT‐COF‐1 and ACOF‐1), the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)‐incorporated COF‐LZU1 is found to retain the highest activity. Structural analysis reveals that a weakest interaction between the hydrated enzyme and COF‐LZU1, an easiest accessibility by the COF‐LZU1 to the substrate, as well as an optimal conformation of enzyme together promote the bioactivity of HRP‐COF‐LZU1. Furthermore, the COF‐LZU1 is revealed to be a versatile nanoplatform for encapsulating multiple enzymes. The COF‐LZU1 also offers superior protection for the immobilized enzymes under harsh conditions and during recycling. The comprehensive understanding of interfacial interactions of COF host and enzyme guest, the substrate diffusion, as well as the enzyme conformation alteration within COF matrices represents an opportunity to design the ideal biocatalysts and opens a broad range of applications of these nanosystems.
Controlled Continuous Evolution of Enzymatic Activity Screened at Ultrahigh Throughput Using Drop‐Based Microfluidics
Authors: Rosenthal R. G. , Diana Zhang X. , Đurđić K. Ilić , Collins J. J. , Weitz D. A.
Published: April 2023

Enzymes are highly specific catalysts delivering improved drugs and greener industrial processes. Naturally occurring enzymes must typically be optimized which is often accomplished through directed evolution; however, this is still a labor‐ and capital‐intensive process, due in part to multiple molecular biology steps including DNA extraction, in vitro library generation, transformation, and limited screening throughput. We present an effective and broadly applicable continuous evolution platform that enables controlled exploration of fitness landscape to evolve enzymes at ultrahigh throughput based on direct measurement of enzymatic activity. This drop‐based microfluidics platform cycles cells between growth and mutagenesis followed by screening with minimal human intervention, relying on the nCas9 chimera with mutagenesis polymerase to produce in vivo gene diversification using sgRNAs tiled along the gene. We evolve alditol oxidase to change its substrate specificity towards glycerol, turning a waste product into a valuable feedstock. We identify a variant with a 10.5‐fold catalytic efficiency.
Activation of NR1H3 attenuates the severity of septic myocardial injury by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome
Authors: Deng Chao , Liu Qiong , Zhao Huadong , Qian Lu , Lei Wangrui , Yang Wenwen , Liang Zhenxing , Tian Ye , Zhang Shaofei , Wang Changyu , Chen Ying , Yang Yang
Published: April 2023

Most sepsis deaths are due to the development of multiple organ failure, in which heart failure is a recognized manifestation of sepsis. To date, the role of liver X receptors α (NR1H3) in sepsis is still uncertain. Here, we hypothesized that NR1H3 mediates multiple essential sepsis‐related signalings to attenuate septic heart failure. Adult male C57BL/6 or Balbc mice and HL‐1 myocardial cell line were performed for in vivo and in vitro experiments, respectively. NR1H3 knockout mice or NR1H3 agonist T0901317 was applied to evaluate the impact of NR1H3 on septic heart failure. We found decreased myocardial expression levels of NR1H3‐related molecules while increased NLRP3 level in septic mice. NR1H3 knockout worsensed cardiac dysfunction and injury in mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), in association with exacerbated NLRP3‐mediated inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis‐related markers. The administration of T0901317 reduced systemic infection and improve cardiac dysfunction in septic mice. Moreover, Co‐IP assays, luciferase reporter assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis, confirmed that NR1H3 directly repressed NLRP3 activity. Finally, RNA‐seq detection further clarified an overview of the roles of NR1H3 in sepsis. In general, our findings indicate that NR1H3 had a significant protective effect against sepsis and sepsis‐induced heart failure.
Neoadjuvant therapy with camrelizumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin for patients with muscle‐invasive bladder cancer: A multi‐center, single‐arm, phase 2 study
Authors: Han Sujun , Ji Zhigang , Jiang Junhui , Fan Xinrong , Ma Qi , Hu Linjun , Zhang Wen , Ping Hao , Wang Jiansong , Xu Wanhai , Shi Benkang , Wang Wei , Wang Haifeng , Wang Honglei , Chen Shouzhen , Hu Hailong , Guo Jianming , Zhang Shen , Jiang Shuai , Zhou Quan , Xing Nianzeng
Published: April 2023

Background

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard of care for patients with muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). However, treatment outcomes are suboptimal. Camrelizumab, a PD‐1 blockade, has shown benefits in several tumors. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant camrelizumab in combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) followed by RC for MIBC patients.

Methods

This was a multi‐center, single‐arm study that enrolled MIBC patients with a clinical stage of T2‐4aN0‐1M0, and scheduled for RC. Patients received three 21‐day cycles of camrelizumab 200 mg on day 1, gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on day 1 and 8, and cisplatin 70 mg/m2 on day 2, followed by RC. The primary endpoint was pathologic complete response (pCR, pT0N0).

Results

From May 2020 to July 2021, 43 patients were enrolled and received study medications at nine centers in China. Three of them were deemed ineligible and excluded from efficacy analysis but included in safety analysis. In total 10 patients were unevaluable as they declined RC (two due to adverse events [AEs] and eight due to patient's willingness). Among 30 evaluable patients, 13 patients (43.3%) achieved pCR, and 16 patients (53.3%) achieved pathologic downstaging. No AEs leading to death were observed. The most common AEs were anemia (69.8%), decreased white blood cell count (65.1%), and nausea (65.1%). Immune‐related AEs were all grade 1 or 2. Pathologic response was not correlated with PD‐L1 expression status or tumor mutation burden. Individual genes as a biomarker for pathologic response were not identified.

Conclusions

Neoadjuvant treatment with camrelizumab and GC regimen demonstrated preliminary anti‐tumor activity for MIBC patients with manageable safety profiles. The study met its primary endpoint, and the following randomized trial is ongoing.
Pannexin 3 activates P2X7 receptor to mediate inflammation and cartilage matrix degradation in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis
Authors: Xiao Jialing , Li Yali , Zhang Jie , Xu Guochao , Zhang Jianxing
Published: April 2023

Pannexin 3 (Panx3) is involved in regulation of the proliferation and differentiation in chondrocytes and pathological process in osteoarthritis, but its role and potential mechanism in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) are still unclear, which are thus explored in our research. We established TMJOA animal model and cell model. In vivo, after silencing Panx3, the pathological changes of condylar cartilage tissue were analyzed by tissue staining, while expressions of Panx3, P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), NLRP3, and cartilage matrix‐related genes were measured by immunohistochemistry (for animal model) or immunofluorescence (for cell model), quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) or western blot. In addition, the activation of inflammation‐related pathways was detected by qRT‐PCR or western blot, and intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level was tested by ATP kit. The role of Panx3 in TMJOA was proved by loss‐ and gain‐of‐function assays. P2X7R antagonist was employed to verify the relationship between Panx3 and P2X7R. Panx3 silencing alleviated the damage of condyle cartilage tissue in TMJOA rats, and reduced expressions of Panx3, P2X7R, cartilage matrix degradation related‐enzymes, and NLRP3 in condyle cartilage tissue. In TMJOA cell model, the expressions of Panx3, P2X7R, cartilage matrix degradation related‐enzymes were increased, and inflammation‐related pathways were activated, meanwhile interleukin‐1β treatment promoted the release of intracellular ATP to the extracellular space. The above‐mentioned response was enhanced by Panx3 overexpression and reversed by Panx3 silencing. P2X7R antagonist reversed the regulation of Panx3 overexpression. In conclusion, Panx3 may activate P2X7R by releasing ATP to mediate inflammation and cartilage matrix degradation in TMJOA.
Electrochemical CO2 Reduction with a Heterogenized Iridium−Pincer Catalyst in Water
Authors: De Tovar Jonathan , Ghosh Ashta C. , Di Santo Tom , Curtil Mathieu , Aldakov Dmitry , Koepf Matthieu , Gennari Marcello
Published: April 2023

Immobilization of well‐defined homogenous (electro)catalysts onto conductive supports offers an attractive strategy for designing advanced functional materials for energy conversion. In this context, this study reports (i) the introduction of a pyrene anchoring group on a PNP−pincer IrI complex previously described as a selective catalyst for the electrodriven CO2 reduction (CO2RR) into CO in DMF/water mixtures, (ii) the comparison of its CO2RR activity in DMF/water mixtures with the ones of two pyrene‐free reference complexes, and (iii) its activity in pure water after immobilization onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Surprisingly, in homogeneous conditions we find HCOO−, instead of CO, as the main CO2 reduction product for the three catalysts. After immobilization on CNTs, even if non‐negligible competitive proton reduction reaction is observed in fully aqueous media, the complex is still able to drive CO2RR and produce HCOO− with a significantly lower overpotential with respect to solution studies.
Electronically Robust Self‐Assembled Supramolecular Gel as a Potential Material in Triboelectric Nanogenerators
Authors: Rachamalla Arun Kumar , Potu Supraja , Rebaka Vara Prasad , Banoo Tohira , Kumar Yogendra , Maheswari C. Uma , Sridharan Vellaisamy , Rajaboina Rakesh Kumar , Nagarajan Subbiah
Published: April 2023

A series of self‐assembling gluconamide conjugated naphthalimide amphiphiles (GCNA) was synthesized and the self‐assembly of GCNA into gel rendered an increased electron density in naphthalimide moiety with an overall change in energy of 15.33×10−32 J via J‐type aggregation. SEM analysis and X‐ray diffraction underpinning the nanofibrillar formation, and rheological measurements confirmed the processablity and material fabrication. The enriched electron density in the aggregated GCNA4 via cooperative intermolecular non‐covalent interactions makes it as effective electron donor in the fabrication of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG). The TENG based on GCNA4‐polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) triboelectric pair generated an output voltage, current and power density of ∼250 V, 40 μA and ∼622 mW/m2 respectively, which is almost 2.4 times better in performance than the amorphous GCNA4 based TENG. The fabricated TENG can power‐up 240 LEDs, wrist watch, thermometer, calculator and hygrometer.
Northern Wild Rice (Zizania palustris L.) breeding, genetics, and conservation
Authors: McGilp Lillian , Castell‐Miller Claudia , Haas Matthew , Millas Reneth , Kimball Jennifer
Published: April 2023

Cultivated Northern Wild Rice (NWR; Zizania palustris L.) is a high‐value, small commodity crop grown in irrigated paddies, primarily in Minnesota and California. Domestication of the species began ∼60 years ago as demand for the nutritional grain outpaced hand‐harvesting efforts from lakes and rivers in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. Cultivated NWR cultivars are open‐pollinated and highly heterogeneous and have primarily been bred for seed retention, yield, and seed size. As a lowland crop, NWR's life cycle, particularly its unique seed physiology, poses challenges to breeding efforts, limiting selection cycles per year, and requiring annual grow‐outs of all germplasm. Recent efforts have increased the genomic resources available to NWR researchers, including a reference genome assembly and methodology optimization for genotyping‐by‐sequencing technologies. The species’ close phylogenetic relationship with white rice (Oryza sativa) also provides a unique opportunity to utilize comparative genomic approaches to identify genes conferring agronomic traits of interest in NWR, particularly domestication traits such as seed retention. Z. palustris is an enigmatic species with regional ecological, cultural, and agricultural significance in the Great Lakes. As NWR is grown in both the centers of origin and diversity, it is important for NWR plant breeders to be good stewards of our domesticated plants and include a diversity of stakeholders in our decision‐making processes. In this work, we have aimed to unpack some of the disputes regarding the breeding of cultivated NWR and the science behind our work. Additionally, we have discussed conservation efforts for natural stands of NWR which will help preserve the many ecosystem, nutritional, spiritual, and economic services provided by this important species.
Divide and Conquer: A Novel Dual‐Layered Hydrogel for Atmospheric Moisture Harvesting
Authors: Feng An , Onggowarsito Casey , Mao Shudi , Qiao Greg G. , Fu Qiang
Published: April 2023

Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) has been recognized as a next‐generation technology to alleviate water shortages in arid areas. However, the current AWH materials suffer from insufficient water adsorption capacity and high‐water retention, which hinder the practical application of AWH materials. In this study, we developed a novel dual‐layered hydrogel (DLH) composed of a light‐to‐heat conversion layer (LHL) containing novel polydopamine‐manganese nanoparticles (PDA−Mn NPs) and a water adsorption layer (WAL) made of 2‐(acryloyloxyethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (AEtMA). The WAL has a strong ability to adsorb water molecules in the air and has a high‐water storage capacity, and the PDA−Mn NPs embedded in the LHL have excellent photothermal conversion efficiency, leading to light‐induced autonomous water release. As a result, the DLH displays a high‐water adsorption capacity of 7.73 g g−1 under optimal conditions and could near‐quantitatively release captured water within 4 h sunlight exposure. Coupled with its low cost, we believed that the DLH will be one of the promising AWH materials for practical applications.
Top‐predator carrion is scary: Fight‐and‐flight responses of wild boars to wolf carcasses
Authors: Redondo‐Gómez Daniel , Rossi Luca , Cardello Mattia , De Pasquale Soraya , Martínez‐Carrasco Carlos , Sánchez‐Zapata José A. , Moleón Marcos
Published: April 2023

Predation risk largely constrains prey behavior. However, whether predators may be scary also after death remains unexplored. Here, we describe the “fight‐and‐flight” responses of a prey, the wild boar (Sus scrofa), to carcasses of (a) its main predator, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and (b) a carnivore that very rarely kills wild boars, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), in the western Alps (Italy). We recorded the behavior of wild boars at 10 wolf and 9 fox carcass sites. We found eight “fight‐and‐flight” responses toward wolf carcasses, and none toward fox carcasses. Our results suggest that carnivore carcasses may indeed be scary; fear responses toward them are dependent on the species to which the carcass belongs; and animals approaching the carcasses are feared mainly when the latter are relatively fresh. This emphasizes the multiple and complex roles that carrion plays in the landscape of fear and opens exciting ecological, epidemiological, and evolutionary research avenues.
Pulmonary dysfunction in overweight and obese children with obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: Kasim Aina Salwa , Golbabapour Shahram , Zaini Azriyanti Anuar , Peng Eg Kah , Jalaludin Muhammad Yazid , Nathan Anna Marie , Chinna Karuthan , Thavagnanam Surendran
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Overweight and obese children are at risk of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and abnormal pulmonary function (PF).

Aim

Investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), OSA on PF in children.

Materials & Method

Seventy‐four children were recruited. Mixed obstructive apnoea‐hypopnea index (MOAHI), BMI, oxygen saturation (SpO2), forced expiratory volume one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and fractionated exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were measured.

Results

Twenty‐four and thirty children had mild OSA and moderate‐to‐severe OSA respectively. BMI correlated negatively with SpO2 nadir (r = −.363, p = .001). FVC, FEV1 and nadir SpO2 values decreased with OSA severity (p < .001). The odds of a child with OSA having an abnormal spirometry was 3.16 (95% CI: 1.08, 9.22). There was significant association between FeNO and AHI (r = .497, <.001).

Discussion

Overweight and obese children with OSA have significant abnormalities in pulmonary function independent of BMI. OSA severity and elevated FeNO also correlated with diminishing lung function.
Yield spread selection in predicting recession probabilities
Authors: Choi Jaehyuk , Ge Desheng , Kang Kyu Ho , Sohn Sungbin
Published: April 2023

The literature on using yield curves to forecast recessions customarily uses 10‐year–3‐month Treasury yield spread without verification on the pair selection. This study investigates whether the predictive ability of spread can be improved by letting a machine learning algorithm identify the best maturity pair and coefficients. Our comprehensive analysis shows that, despite the likelihood gain, the machine learning approach does not significantly improve prediction, owing to the estimation error. This is robust to the forecasting horizon, control variable, sample period, and oversampling of the recession observations. Our finding supports the use of the 10‐year–3‐month spread.
Antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and anticancer function of Engleromyces goetzei Henn aqueous extract on human intestinal Caco‐2 cells treated with t‐BHP
Authors: Jun Ni , Yi‐Ting Cheng , Yu‐Ting Gao , Cheng‐Fa Zhao , Li‐Juan Li , Rong She , Xiao‐yan Yang , Wen Xiao , Xu Yang
Published: April 2023

High body mass index (high BMI, obesity) is a serious public health problem, and “obesity‐induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer” have become modern epidemic diseases. We carried out this study to explore a functional beverage that may protect against obesity‐induced diseases. The Engleromyces goetzei Henn herbal tea is such a candidate. For this study, we carried out LC–MS analysis of E. goetzei Henn aqueous extract (EgH‐AE); then used the Caco‐2 cell line for the model cells and treated the cells with t‐BHP to form an oxidative stress system. An MTT assay was used for testing the biocompatibility and cytoprotective effects; reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde determination was used for evaluating the antioxidative stress effect; TNF‐α and IL‐1β were used for observing the anti‐inflammatory effect, and 8‐OHdG for monitoring anticancer activity. The results of this study demonstrate that the EgH‐AE has very good biocompatibility with the Caco‐2 cell line and has good cytoprotective, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and anticancer properties. It is clear that EgH‐AE, a kind of ancient herbal tea, may be used to develop a functional beverage that can be given to people with a high BMI to protect against obesity‐induced diseases.
The impact of Sino–US trade war on price discovery of soybean: A double‐edged sword?
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Arunava , Rajib Prabina
Published: April 2023

In 2018, the world witnessed a full‐fledged trade war between United States and China with both countries levying successive tariffs on each other. Though the impact of trade war could be visibly assessed from declining export volume and rising bankruptcy filing from farmers, what went unnoticed was a far‐reaching negative impact at a granular market microstructure level. In this study, the effect of trade war on the leading role of US soybean futures in price discovery has been evaluated. The results corroborate the negative impact of trade war on the information leadership share of US soybean futures market. Moreover, the results shows that the negative impact gets manifested through various sentiment indicators such as Google search trends, hedger's sentiment, and so on. Hence, trade war may have given some temporary economic and strategic benefit to the United States, but it is no less than the proverbial double‐edged sword as it nearly killed the soybean market of the United States.
Decarbonizing Utility Supply Chains
Authors: Eckerman Jamie , Clémençon‐Charles Elena , Brinton Sage
Published: April 2023

Sustainability and decarbonization are growing trends in the energy industry, and electric utilities are no exception to that trend. Currently, 29 out of the 30 largest utilities in the United States have some type of net‐zero carbon goal, committed to reducing and offsetting their emissions across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 by 2050, with some utilities committing to achieve it by 2030. Initial decarbonization efforts focused on meeting these goals by reducing direct (Scope 1) emissions from generation or indirect (Scope 2) emissions by purchasing emission‐free electricity. However, net‐zero commitments and growing requirements for emissions disclosure are driving emission reductions throughout other utility operations, in particular utility supply chains. Scope 3 emissions, or emissions driven by a firm's supply chain, make up the majority of emissions at most organizations. Because of this, companies across industries, including the utility industry, have increased focus and resources to begin reducing Scope 3 emissions to reach their net‐zero goals. Given the large number and diversity of utility suppliers—companies that supply utilities with a product or service—decarbonizing utility supply chains presents significant challenges for utilities and their suppliers. Despite these challenges, there has been significant progress in the last few years in identifying the best practices to ensure companies realize success in reducing Scope 3 emissions within their operations.