bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Great tits who remember more accurately have difficulty forgetting, but variation is not driven by environmental harshness
Authors: Hermer Ethan , Murphy Ben , Chaine Alexis S. , Morand-Ferron Julie
Published: May 2021

The causes of individual variation in memory are poorly understood in wild animals. Harsh environments with sparse or rapidly changing food resources are hypothesized to favour more accurate spatial memory to allow animals to return to previously visited patches when current patches are depleted. A potential cost of more accurate spatial memory is proactive interference, where accurate memories block the formation of new memories. This relationship between spatial memory, proactive interference, and harsh environments has only been studied in scatter-hoarding animals. We compare spatial memory accuracy and proactive interference performance of non-scatter hoarding great tits (Parus major) from high and low elevations where harshness increases with elevation. In contrast to studies of scatter-hoarders, we did not find a significant difference between high and low elevation birds in their spatial memory accuracy or proactive interference performance. Using a variance partitioning approach, we report the first among-individual trade-off between spatial memory and proactive interference, uncovering variation in memory at the individual level where selection may act. Although we have no evidence of harsh habitats affecting spatial memory, our results suggest that if elevation produced differences in spatial memory between elevations, we could see concurrent changes in how quickly birds can forget.
Strong anisotropic enhancement of photoluminescence in WS2 integrated with plasmonic nanowire array
Authors: Han Chunrui , Wang Yu , Zhou Weihu , Liang Minpeng , Ye Jianting
Published: May 2021

Layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have shown great potential for a wide range of applications in photonics and optoelectronics. Nevertheless, valley decoherence severely randomizes its polarization which is important to a light emitter. Plasmonic metasurface with a unique way to manipulate the light-matter interaction may provide an effective and practical solution. Here by integrating TMDCs with plasmonic nanowire arrays, we demonstrate strong anisotropic enhancement of the excitonic emission at different spectral positions. For the indirect bandgap transition in bilayer WS2, multifold enhancement can be achieved with the photoluminescence (PL) polarization either perpendicular or parallel to the long axis of nanowires, which arises from the coupling of WS2 with localized or guided plasmon modes, respectively. Moreover, PL of high linearity is obtained in the direct bandgap transition benefiting from, in addition to the plasmonic enhancement, the directional diffraction scattering of nanowire arrays. Our method with enhanced PL intensity contrasts to the conventional form-birefringence based on the aspect ratio of nanowire arrays where the intensity loss is remarkable. Our results provide a prototypical plasmon-exciton hybrid system for anisotropic enhancement of the PL at the nanoscale, enabling simultaneous control of the intensity, polarization and wavelength toward practical ultrathin photonic devices based on TMDCs.
Dilute pilocarpine test for diagnosis of Adie’s tonic pupil
Authors: Yoo Yung-Ju , Hwang Jeong-Min , Yang Hee Kyung
Published: May 2021

We have compared the diagnostic ability of different concentrations of 0.125% and 0.0625% dilute pilocarpine for detecting denervation supersensitivity in unilateral Adie’s tonic pupil. This retrospective, observational, case–control study involved 117 subjects, consisting of 56 patients with unilateral Adie’s tonic pupil and 61 controls with other causes of unilateral dilated pupils. Subjects underwent the dilute pilocarpine test with one of the two concentrations, 0.125% or 0.0625%. Pupillary light reflex was recorded with a dynamic pupillometer at baseline and at 30–40 min after instilling one of the two concentrations of dilute pilocarpine. Diagnostic accuracy of two different concentrations of the dilute pilocarpine test, 0.125% group versus 0.0625% group, were compared by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Diagnostic ability of the dilute pilocarpine test for detecting denervation supersensitivity in unilateral Adie’s tonic pupil was significantly better in the 0.0625% group than in the 0.125% group (AUC = 0.954 vs. 0.840, respectively, P = 0.047). In the 0.0625% group, the change in maximal pupil diameter of ≥ 0.5 mm after topical pilocarpine instillation showed 100% sensitivity and 82.8% specificity for detecting Adie’s tonic pupil. This study confirmed that pupillary constriction with 0.0625% pilocarpine is better than 0.125% pilocarpine for detecting denervation supersensitivity in Adie’s tonic pupil. Digital pupillometry is a reliable method for assessing denervation supersensitivity in Adie's tonic pupil.
Application of the antitussive agents oxelaidin and butamirate as anti-glioma agents
Authors: Lee Sook-Ja , Yeom Seon-Yong , Lee Jee-Young , Park Chaehwa
Published: May 2021

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with a strong tendency of relapse and resistance to chemotherapy, but we currently lack non-toxic agents that effectively treat GBM. In this study, high-throughput screening of FDA-approved drugs was performed to identify safe and effective molecules and test their effect on GBM cell lines, LN229, U87 and T98G. Cough suppressants, oxelaidin and butamirate inhibited GBM growth. A Ras family GTPase, Ras-related associated with diabetes (RRAD), contributes to activation of STAT3, which is essential for survival and growth of many cancer types. Interestingly, oxelaidin and butamirate did not affect proliferation in RRAD negative GBM cells. Docking simulation analyses revealed selective interactions between oxelaidin and RRAD. The mechanism by which butamirate and oxelaidin inhibits GBM cell growth involves the suppression of STAT3 transcriptional activity, leading to down-regulation of cyclin D1 and survivin. In addition, components of RRAD-associated signaling cascades, including p-EGFR, p-Akt, and p-STAT3, were inhibited upon oxelaidin treatment. Intraperitoneal administration of oxelaidin or butamirate markedly suppressed tumor growth in a glioblastoma xenograft mouse model without significant adverse effects. Our collective findings indicate that oxelaidin and butamirate exert anti-tumor effects in glioblastoma, supporting its utility as a novel therapeutic candidate for glioblastoma.
Effects of 1.5 and 4.3 GHz microwave radiation on cognitive function and hippocampal tissue structure in Wistar rats
Authors: Zhu Ruiqing , Wang Hui , Xu Xinping , Zhao Li , Zhang Jing , Dong Ji , Yao Binwei , Wang Haoyu , Zhou Hongmei , Gao Yabing , Peng Ruiyun
Published: May 2021

Previous studies have shown that single-frequency microwave radiation can lead to cognitive decline in rats. However, few studies have focused on the combined effects of irradiation with different frequencies of microwaves. Our research aimed to investigate the effects of 1.5 GHz and 4.3 GHz microwave radiation, singly and in combination, on cognitive function and hippocampal tissue structure in rats. A total of 140 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the S group (sham radiation group), L10 group (10 mW/cm2 1.5 GHz group), C10 group (10 mW/cm2 4.3 GHz band group) and LC10 group (10 mW/cm2 1.5 and 4.3 GHz multi-frequency radiation group). For 1–28 days after microwave radiation, we analyzed the average escape latency for the Morris water maze task, electroencephalograms, change in hippocampal tissue structure and ultrastructure, content of the Nissl body in the hippocampus, and activities of lactate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase. Compared to the S group, all exposure groups showed varying degrees of learning and memory decline and hippocampal structural damage. The results showed that 1.5 GHz and 4.3 GHz microwave radiation was able to induce cognitive impairment and hippocampal tissue damage in rats and combined radiation with both frequencies caused more serious injuries, but none of these damaging effects varied with microwave frequency.
Kinetic information from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI enables prediction of residual cancer burden and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer: a retrospective study
Authors: Yamaguchi Ayane , Honda Maya , Ishiguro Hiroshi , Kataoka Masako , Kataoka Tatsuki R. , Shimizu Hanako , Torii Masae , Mori Yukiko , Kawaguchi-Sakita Nobuko , Ueno Kentaro , Kawashima Masahiro , Takada Masahiro , Suzuki Eiji , Nakamoto Yuji , Kawaguchi Kosuke , Toi Masakazu
Published: May 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the predictions of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), especially with residual disease (RD) after preoperative chemotherapy. This retrospective analysis included 74 TNBC patients who received preoperative chemotherapy. DCE-MRI findings from three timepoints were examined: at diagnosis (MRIpre), at midpoint (MRImid) and after chemotherapy (MRIpost). These findings included cancer lesion size, washout index (WI) as a kinetic parameter using the difference in signal intensity between early and delayed phases, and time-signal intensity curve types. Distant disease-free survival was analysed using the log-rank test to compare RD group with and without a fast-washout curve. The diagnostic performance of DCE-MRI findings, including positive predictive value (PPV) for pathological responses, was also calculated. RD without fast washout curve was a significantly better prognostic factor, both at MRImid and MRIpost (hazard ratio = 0.092, 0.098, p < 0.05). PPV for pathological complete remission at MRImid was 76.7% by the cut-off point at negative WI value or lesion size = 0, and 66.7% at lesion size = 0. WI and curve types derived from DCE-MRI at the midpoint of preoperative chemotherapy can help not only assess tumour response but also predict prognosis.
A polyaniline/platinum coated fiber optic surface plasmon resonance sensor for picomolar detection of 4-nitrophenol
Authors: Antohe Iulia , Iordache Iuliana , Antohe Vlad-Andrei , Socol Gabriel
Published: May 2021

The paper reports for the first time an innovative polyaniline (PANI)/platinum (Pt)-coated fiber optic-surface plasmon resonance (FO-SPR) sensor used for highly-sensitive 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) pollutant detection. The Pt thin film was coated over an unclad core of an optical fiber (FO) using a DC magnetron sputtering technique, while the 4-NP responsive PANI layer was synthetized using a cost-effective electroless polymerization method. The presence of the electrolessly-grown PANI on the Pt-coated FO was observed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and subsequently evidenced by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. These FO-SPR sensors with a demonstrated bulk sensitivity of 1515 nm/RIU were then employed for 4-NP sensing, exhibiting an excellent limit-of-detection (LOD) in the low picomolar range (0.34 pM). The proposed sensor’s configuration has many other advantages, such as low-cost production, small size, immunity to electromagnetic interferences, remote sensing capability, and moreover, can be operated as a “stand-alone device”, making it thus well-suited for applications such as “on-site” screening of extremely low-level trace pollutants.
Neocortical substrates of feelings evoked with music in the ACC, insula, and somatosensory cortex
Authors: Koelsch Stefan , Cheung Vincent K. M. , Jentschke Sebastian , Haynes John-Dylan
Published: May 2021

Neurobiological models of emotion focus traditionally on limbic/paralimbic regions as neural substrates of emotion generation, and insular cortex (in conjunction with isocortical anterior cingulate cortex, ACC) as the neural substrate of feelings. An emerging view, however, highlights the importance of isocortical regions beyond insula and ACC for the subjective feeling of emotions. We used music to evoke feelings of joy and fear, and multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) to decode representations of feeling states in functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) data of n = 24 participants. Most of the brain regions providing information about feeling representations were neocortical regions. These included, in addition to granular insula and cingulate cortex, primary and secondary somatosensory cortex, premotor cortex, frontal operculum, and auditory cortex. The multivoxel activity patterns corresponding to feeling representations emerged within a few seconds, gained in strength with increasing stimulus duration, and replicated results of a hypothesis-generating decoding analysis from an independent experiment. Our results indicate that several neocortical regions (including insula, cingulate, somatosensory and premotor cortices) are important for the generation and modulation of feeling states. We propose that secondary somatosensory cortex, which covers the parietal operculum and encroaches on the posterior insula, is of particular importance for the encoding of emotion percepts, i.e., preverbal representations of subjective feeling.
Global optimization of an encapsulated Si/SiO$$_2$$ L3 cavity with a 43 million quality factor
Authors: Vasco J. P. , Savona V.
Published: May 2021

We optimize a silica-encapsulated silicon L3 photonic crystal cavity for ultra-high quality factor by means of a global optimization strategy, where the closest holes surrounding the cavity are varied to minimize out-of-plane losses. We find an optimal value of $$Q_c=4.33\times 10^7$$

Q
c

=
4.33
×

10
7

, which is predicted to be in the 2 million regime in presence of structural imperfections compatible with state-of-the-art silicon fabrication tolerances.
Functional display of bioactive peptides on the vGFP scaffold
Authors: Chee Sharon Min Qi , Wongsantichon Jantana , Yi Lau Sze , Sana Barindra , Frosi Yuri , Robinson Robert C. , Ghadessy Farid J.
Published: May 2021

Grafting bioactive peptides into recipient protein scaffolds can often increase their activities by conferring enhanced stability and cellular longevity. Here, we describe use of vGFP as a novel scaffold to display peptides. vGFP comprises GFP fused to a bound high affinity Enhancer nanobody that potentiates its fluorescence. We show that peptides inserted into the linker region between GFP and the Enhancer are correctly displayed for on-target interaction, both in vitro and in live cells by pull-down, measurement of target inhibition and imaging analyses. This is further confirmed by structural studies highlighting the optimal display of a vGFP-displayed peptide bound to Mdm2, the key negative regulator of p53 that is often overexpressed in cancer. We also demonstrate a potential biosensing application of the vGFP scaffold by showing target-dependent modulation of intrinsic fluorescence. vGFP is relatively thermostable, well-expressed and inherently fluorescent. These properties make it a useful scaffold to add to the existing tool box for displaying peptides that can disrupt clinically relevant protein–protein interactions.
Random forest-based prediction of stroke outcome
Authors: Fernandez-Lozano Carlos , Hervella Pablo , Mato-Abad Virginia , Rodríguez-Yáñez Manuel , Suárez-Garaboa Sonia , López-Dequidt Iria , Estany-Gestal Ana , Sobrino Tomás , Campos Francisco , Castillo José , Rodríguez-Yáñez Santiago , Iglesias-Rey Ramón
Published: May 2021

We research into the clinical, biochemical and neuroimaging factors associated with the outcome of stroke patients to generate a predictive model using machine learning techniques for prediction of mortality and morbidity 3-months after admission. The dataset consisted of patients with ischemic stroke (IS) and non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) admitted to Stroke Unit of a European Tertiary Hospital prospectively registered. We identified the main variables for machine learning Random Forest (RF), generating a predictive model that can estimate patient mortality/morbidity according to the following groups: (1) IS + ICH, (2) IS, and (3) ICH. A total of 6022 patients were included: 4922 (mean age 71.9 ± 13.8 years) with IS and 1100 (mean age 73.3 ± 13.1 years) with ICH. NIHSS at 24, 48 h and axillary temperature at admission were the most important variables to consider for evolution of patients at 3-months. IS + ICH group was the most stable for mortality prediction [0.904 ± 0.025 of area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC)]. IS group presented similar results, although variability between experiments was slightly higher (0.909 ± 0.032 of AUC). ICH group was the one in which RF had more problems to make adequate predictions (0.9837 vs. 0.7104 of AUC). There were no major differences between IS and IS + ICH groups according to morbidity prediction (0.738 and 0.755 of AUC) but, after checking normality with a Shapiro Wilk test with the null hypothesis that the data follow a normal distribution, it was rejected with W = 0.93546 (p-value < 2.2e−16). Conditions required for a parametric test do not hold, and we performed a paired Wilcoxon Test assuming the null hypothesis that all the groups have the same performance. The null hypothesis was rejected with a value < 2.2e−16, so there are statistical differences between IS and ICH groups. In conclusion, machine learning algorithms RF can be effectively used in stroke patients for long-term outcome prediction of mortality and morbidity.
Evolution of Old World Equus and origin of the zebra-ass clade
Authors: Cirilli Omar , Pandolfi Luca , Rook Lorenzo , Bernor Raymond L.
Published: May 2021

Evolution of the genusEquushas been a matter of long debate with a multitude of hypotheses. Currently, there is no consensus on either the taxonomic content nor phylogeny ofEquus.Some hypotheses segregateEquusspecies into three genera,Plesippus,AllohippusandEquus. Also, the evolutionary role of European PleistoceneEquus stenonisin the origin of the zebra-ass clade has been debated. Studies based on skull, mandible and dental morphology suggest an evolutionary relationship between North American PlioceneE. simplicidensand European and African PleistoceneEquus.In this contribution, we assess the validity of the generaPlesippus, AllohippusandEquusby cladistic analysis combined with morphological and morphometrical comparison of cranial anatomy. Our cladistic analysis, based on cranial and postcranial elements (30 taxa, 129 characters), supports the monophyly ofEquus,denies the recognition ofPlesippusandAllohippusand supports the derivation ofEquus grevyiand members of the zebra-ass clade from European stenonine horses. We define the following evolutionary steps directly relevant to the phylogeny of extant zebras and asses:E. simplicidens–E. stenonis–E. koobiforensis–E. grevyi-zebra-ass clade. The North American Pliocene speciesEquus simplicidensrepresents the ancestral stock of Old World PleistoceneEquusand the zebra-ass clade. Our phylogenetic results uphold the most recent genomic outputs which indicate an age of 4.0–4.5 Ma for the origin and monophyly ofEquus.
Hearing brain evaluated using near-infrared spectroscopy in congenital toxoplasmosis
Authors: Bertachini Ana Lívia Libardi , Januario Gabriela Cintra , Novi Sergio Luiz , Mesquita Rickson Coelho , Silva Marco Aurélio Romano , Andrade Gláucia Manzan Queiroz , de Resende Luciana Macedo , de Miranda Débora Marques
Published: May 2021

Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) is a known cause of hearing loss directly caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Hearing loss might result from sensory, neural, or sensorineural lesions. Early treated infants rarely develop hearing loss, but retinochoroidal lesions, intracranial calcifications and hydrocephalus are common. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the brain evoked hemodynamic responses of CT and healthy infants during four auditory stimuli: mother infant directed speech, researcher infant directed speech, mother reading and researcher recorded. Children underwent Transitionally Evoked Otoacoustic Emission Auditory Testing and Automated Brainstem Auditory Response tests with normal auditory results, but with a tendency for greater latencies in the CT group compared to the control group. We assessed brain hemodynamics with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measurements from 61 infants, and we present fNIRS results as frequency maps of activation and deactivation for each stimulus. By evaluating infants in the three first months of life, we observed an individual heterogeneous brain activation pattern in response to all auditory stimuli for both groups. Each channel was activated or deactivated in less than 30% of children for all stimuli. There is a need of prospective studies to evaluate if the neurologic or auditory changes course with compromise of children outcomes.
Visual response of ventrolateral prefrontal neurons and their behavior-related modulation
Authors: Rozzi Stefano , Bimbi Marco , Gravante Alfonso , Simone Luciano , Fogassi Leonardo
Published: May 2021

The ventral part of lateral prefrontal cortex (VLPF) of the monkey receives strong visual input, mainly from inferotemporal cortex. It has been shown that VLPF neurons can show visual responses during paradigms requiring to associate arbitrary visual cues to behavioral reactions. Further studies showed that there are also VLPF neurons responding to the presentation of specific visual stimuli, such as objects and faces. However, it is largely unknown whether VLPF neurons respond and differentiate between stimuli belonging to different categories, also in absence of a specific requirement to actively categorize or to exploit these stimuli for choosing a given behavior. The first aim of the present study is to evaluate and map the responses of neurons of a large sector of VLPF to a wide set of visual stimuli when monkeys simply observe them. Recent studies showed that visual responses to objects are also present in VLPF neurons coding action execution, when they are the target of the action. Thus, the second aim of the present study is to compare the visual responses of VLPF neurons when the same objects are simply observed or when they become the target of a grasping action. Our results indicate that: (1) part of VLPF visually responsive neurons respond specifically to one stimulus or to a small set of stimuli, but there is no indication of a “passive” categorical coding; (2) VLPF neuronal visual responses to objects are often modulated by the task conditions in which the object is observed, with the strongest response when the object is target of an action. These data indicate that VLPF performs an early passive description of several types of visual stimuli, that can then be used for organizing and planning behavior. This could explain the modulation of visual response both in associative learning and in natural behavior.
The lower respiratory tract microbiome of critically ill patients with COVID-19
Authors: Gaibani Paolo , Viciani Elisa , Bartoletti Michele , Lewis Russell E. , Tonetti Tommaso , Lombardo Donatella , Castagnetti Andrea , Bovo Federica , Horna Clara Solera , Ranieri Marco , Viale Pierluigi , Re Maria Carla , Ambretti Simone
Published: May 2021

COVID-19 infection may predispose to secondary bacterial infection which is associated with poor clinical outcome especially among critically ill patients. We aimed to characterize the lower respiratory tract bacterial microbiome of COVID-19 critically ill patients in comparison to COVID-19-negative patients. We performed a 16S rRNA profiling on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples collected between April and May 2020 from 24 COVID-19 critically ill subjects and 24 patients with non-COVID-19 pneumonia. Lung microbiome of critically ill patients with COVID-19 was characterized by a different bacterial diversity (PERMANOVA on weighted and unweighted UniFrac Pr(> F) = 0.001) compared to COVID-19-negative patients with pneumonia. Pseudomonas alcaligenes, Clostridium hiranonis, Acinetobacter schindleri, Sphingobacterium spp., Acinetobacter spp. and Enterobacteriaceae, characterized lung microbiome of COVID-19 critically ill patients (LDA score > 2), while COVID-19-negative patients showed a higher abundance of lung commensal bacteria (Haemophilus influenzae, Veillonella dispar, Granulicatella spp., Porphyromonas spp., and Streptococcus spp.). The incidence rate (IR) of infections during COVID-19 pandemic showed a significant increase of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-Ab) infection. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 infection and antibiotic pressure may predispose critically ill patients to bacterial superinfection due to opportunistic multidrug resistant pathogens.
Mitogenome and phylogenetic analysis of typhlocybine leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)
Authors: Jiang Jia , Chen Xiaoxiao , Li Can , Song Yuehua
Published: May 2021

Mitogenomes have been widely used to estimate phylogenetic relationships among insects and provide data useful for augmenting traditional morphological characters in delimiting species. Here, complete mitogenome sequences of two closely related typhlocybine leafhoppers, Cassianeuracassiae (Ahmed, 1970) and C. bimaculata Dworakowska, 1984, were obtained and found to be 15,423 bp and 14,597 bp in length, respectively. The gene order was found to be similar to other published leafhopper mitogenomes, but the control region of C.bimaculata is the shortest among known leafhoppers and lacks tandem repeats. Phylogenetic analysis of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), the first and second codons of 13 PCGs, 13 PCGs and two rRNAs formed three well-supported tree topologies. The topologies of phylogenetic trees inferred from three datasets were almost identical, which was consistent with previous molecular phylogenies of this group. Comparative morphological study of the ovipositors revealed several characters potentially useful for diagnosing genera and resolving their phylogenetic relationships. Phylogenetic analysis of these and other morphological characters yielded a tree that is mostly consistent with the tree obtained from analysis of mitogenome sequences. In both molecular and morphological phylogenenies, Typhlocybini and Zyginellini clustered into one clade, but neither was recovered as monophyletic.
Spatial and temporal analysis of cumulative environmental effects of offshore wind farms in the North Sea basin
Authors: Gușatu Laura Florentina , Menegon Stefano , Depellegrin Daniel , Zuidema Christian , Faaij André , Yamu Claudia
Published: May 2021

The North Sea basin is one of the busiest maritime areas globally with a considerable number of anthropogenic pressures impacting the functioning of the marine ecosystem. Due to growing EU ambitions for the deployment of large offshore wind farm projects (OWF), as part of the 2050 renewable energy roadmap, there is a key need for a holistic understanding of OWF potential impacts on the marine ecosystem. We propose a holistic Cumulative Effect Assessment methodology, applied using a geo-spatial open-source software, to assess impacts of OWF related pressures on selected seabed habitats, fish, seabird and mammal species. We take into account pressures specific to the three OWF development phases, spanning 1999–2050, for the entire North Sea basin. Our results underline 2022 as the peak year of cumulative impacts for the approved OWFs, followed by a considerable increase in potential impacts of the planned 212GWs, by 2050. The spatio-temporal analysis of the OWF environmental impacts presents the shift between highly impacted areas over the studied timeline and distinguishes between concentrated areas of high impacts (S–E of UK) and dispersed areas of high impacts (Germany). Our results can inform decision-makers and the OWF industry in a joint effort to mitigate the environmental impacts of future large OWF developments.
Clinical course and risk factors of fatal adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients in Korea: a nationwide retrospective cohort study
Authors: Song Juhyun , Park Dae Won , Cha Jae-hyung , Seok Hyeri , Kim Joo Yeong , Park Jonghak , Cho Hanjin
Published: May 2021

We investigated association between epidemiological and clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and clinical outcomes in Korea. This nationwide retrospective cohort study included 5621 discharged patients with COVID-19, extracted from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) database. We compared clinical data between survivors (n = 5387) and non-survivors (n = 234). We used logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards model to explore risk factors of death and fatal adverse outcomes. Increased odds ratio (OR) of mortality occurred with age (≥ 60 years) [OR 11.685, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.655–34.150, p < 0.001], isolation period, dyspnoea, altered mentality, diabetes, malignancy, dementia, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The multivariable regression equation including all potential variables predicted mortality (AUC = 0.979, 95% CI 0.964–0.993). Cox proportional hazards model showed increasing hazard ratio (HR) of mortality with dementia (HR 6.376, 95% CI 3.736–10.802, p < 0.001), ICU admission (HR 4.233, 95% CI 2.661–6.734, p < 0.001), age ≥ 60 years (HR 3.530, 95% CI 1.664–7.485, p = 0.001), malignancy (HR 3.054, 95% CI 1.494–6.245, p = 0.002), and dyspnoea (HR 1.823, 95% CI 1.125–2.954, p = 0.015). Presence of dementia, ICU admission, age ≥ 60 years, malignancy, and dyspnoea could help clinicians identify COVID-19 patients with poor prognosis.
Life cycle impact assessment of metal production industries in Australia
Authors: Strezov Vladimir , Zhou Xiaoteng , Evans Tim J.
Published: May 2021

Metal production industries are associated with positive economic benefits, however their activities are significantly resource and energy intensive, contributing to emission of pollutants and greenhouse gases to the environment. The balance between the economic inputs and environmental footprint of the metal production industries determines their contribution to sustainability. This work provides environmental impact assessment of the production of aluminium, copper, gold, iron and steel, lead, nickel and zinc, and considers their contribution to the economy. The emissions of selected representative industries in Australia were sourced from public national emission inventories and used as input parameters in the openLCA software. ReCiPe midpoint and endpoint hierarchist impact assessment methods were used to investigate the environmental impacts of the selected industries. The results indicate that lead, followed by aluminium and nickel production had the largest environmental impacts. The work further revealed the specific emissions for better control for each industry taking into consideration their relative environmental and economic impacts. For instance, adoption of renewable energy sources would significantly decrease the greenhouse gas emissions and the associated environmental impacts of the copper, zinc, gold, and iron and steel production industries. Improvement of sustainability of the production of lead would require further control of trace metal emissions, while for aluminium and nickel production, improved control of emissions of particles and the acidic gases SO2 and NOx.
Insights into the taxonomic and functional characterization of agricultural crop core rhizobiomes and their potential microbial drivers
Authors: Castellano-Hinojosa Antonio , Strauss Sarah L.
Published: May 2021

While our understanding of plant–microbe interactions in the rhizosphere microbiome (rhizobiome) has increased, there is still limited information on which taxa and functions drive these rhizobiome interactions. Focusing on the core rhizobiome (members common to two or more microbial assemblages) of crops may reduce the number of targets for determining these interactions, as they are expected to have greater influence on soil nutrient cycling and plant growth than the rest of the rhizobiome. Here, we examined whether the characterization of a core rhizobiome on the basis of only taxonomic or functional traits rather than the combined analysis of taxonomic and functional traits provides a different assessment of the core rhizobiome of agricultural crops. Sequences of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene from six globally important crops were analyzed using two different approaches in order to identify and characterize the taxonomic and functional core rhizobiome. For all crops examined, we found significant differences in the taxonomic and functional composition between the core rhizobiomes, and different phyla, genera, and predicted microbial functions were dominant depending on the core rhizobiome type. Network analysis indicated potentially important taxa were present in both taxonomic and functional core rhizobiomes. A subset of genera and predicted functions were exclusively or predominately present in only one type of core rhizobiome while others were detected in both core rhizobiomes. These results highlight the necessity of including both taxonomy and function when assessing the core rhizobiome, as this will enhance our understanding of the relationships between microbial taxa and soil health, plant growth, and agricultural sustainability.
Sex-dependent effects of forced exercise in the body composition of adolescent rats
Authors: Kutsenko Y. , Barreda A. , Toval A. , Garrigos D. , Martínez-Morga M. , Ribeiro Do Couto B. , Ferran J. L.
Published: May 2021

Determining the body composition during adolescence can predict diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndromes later in life; and physical activity became an effective way to restore changes in body composition. However, current available literature assessing the body composition before, during and after adolescence in female and male rodents by in vivo techniques is scarce. Thus, by using computerized tomography, we aimed to define the baseline of the weight and body composition during the adolescence and young adulthood of female and male Sprague–Dawley rats (on P30, P60 and P90) under standard diet. Then, we determined the effect of 18 days of forced exercise on the body weight and composition during the early adolescence (P27-45). The highest percentual increments in weight, body volume and relative adipose contents occurred during the female and male adolescence. Forced running during the early adolescence decreased weight, body volume and relative adipose delta and increment values in males only. The adolescence of rats is a period of drastic body composition changes, where exercise interventions have sex-dependent effects. These results support a model that could open new research windows in the field of adolescent obesity.
Low SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in the Austrian capital after an early governmental lockdown
Authors: Breyer Marie-Kathrin , Breyer-Kohansal Robab , Hartl Sylvia , Kundi Michael , Weseslindtner Lukas , Stiasny Karin , Puchhammer-Stöckl Elisabeth , Schrott Andrea , Födinger Manuela , Binder Michael , Fiedler Markus , Wouters Emiel F. M. , Burghuber Otto C.
Published: May 2021

We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in a large, well-described representative Viennese cohort after an early governmental lockdown with respect to the occurrence of symptoms and household transmission. Participants of the LEAD Study, a population-based cohort study from Vienna, Austria, were invited along with their household members (April 20th to May20th 2020). Sera were analyzed using anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay including a neutralization test as a confirmatory assay. A total of 12,419 individuals participated (5984 LEAD participants; 6435 household members), 163 (1.31%; 59 LEAD cohort members) of whom were SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive. The estimated number of COVID-19 cases projected from our findings by age and sex for Vienna was 21,504 (1.13%). Cumulative number of positively tested cases in Vienna until May 20th 2020 was 3020, hence 7.1 times (95% confidence interval 5.5–9.1) lower than projected. Relative risk (RR) of seropositivity by age was highest for children aged 6–9 years [RR compared to age group 20–49: 1.21 (CI 0.37–4.01)], lowest for ≥ 65 years [RR 0.47 (CI 0.21–1.03)]. Half of the positive individuals developed no or mild symptoms. In a multivariate analysis, taste and smell disturbances were most strongly related to SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Infection probability within households with one confirmed SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody-positive person was 31%. Although seroprevalence was very low (1.13%) for a central European capital city, due to an early governmental lockdown, SARS-CoV-2 infections were more prevalent than officially reported polymerase chain reaction-positive cases. Of note, seroprevalence was highest in young children. Half of SARS-CoV-2 antibody-positive subjects had no or only mild symptoms. Taste and smell disturbances were most prominent, possibly guiding clinicians in diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The anesthetic sevoflurane induces tau trafficking from neurons to microglia
Authors: Dong Yuanlin , Liang Feng , Huang Lining , Fang Fang , Yang Guang , Tanzi Rudolph E. , Zhang Yiying , Quan Qimin , Xie Zhongcong
Published: May 2021

Accumulation and spread of tau in Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies occur in a prion-like manner. However, the mechanisms and downstream consequences of tau trafficking remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that tau traffics from neurons to microglia via extracellular vesicles (EVs), leading to IL-6 generation and cognitive impairment. We assessed mice and neurons treated with anesthetics sevoflurane and desflurane, and applied nanobeam-sensor technology, an ultrasensitive method, to measure tau/p-tau amounts. Sevoflurane, but not desflurane, increased tau or p-tau amounts in blood, neuron culture medium, or EVs. Sevoflurane increased p-tau amounts in brain interstitial fluid. Microglia from tau knockout mice took up tau and p-tau when treated with sevoflurane-conditioned neuron culture medium, leading to IL-6 generation. Tau phosphorylation inhibitor lithium and EVs generation inhibitor GW4869 attenuated tau trafficking. GW4869 mitigated sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment in mice. Thus, tau trafficking could occur from neurons to microglia to generate IL-6, leading to cognitive impairment.
CellectSeq: In silico discovery of antibodies targeting integral membrane proteins combining in situ selections and next-generation sequencing
Authors: Kelil Abdellali , Gallo Eugenio , Banerjee Sunandan , Adams Jarrett J. , Sidhu Sachdev S.
Published: May 2021

Synthetic antibody (Ab) technologies are efficient and cost-effective platforms for the generation of monoclonal Abs against human antigens. Yet, they typically depend on purified proteins, which exclude integral membrane proteins that require the lipid bilayers to support their native structure and function. Here, we present an Ab discovery strategy, termed CellectSeq, for targeting integral membrane proteins on native cells in complex environment. As proof of concept, we targeted three transmembrane proteins linked to cancer, tetraspanin CD151, carbonic anhydrase 9, and integrin-α11. First, we performed in situ cell-based selections to enrich phage-displayed synthetic Ab pools for antigen-specific binders. Then, we designed next-generation sequencing procedures to explore Ab diversities and abundances. Finally, we developed motif-based scoring and sequencing error-filtering algorithms for the comprehensive interrogation of next-generation sequencing pools to identify Abs with high diversities and specificities, even at extremely low abundances, which are very difficult to identify using manual sampling or sequence abundances.
CRISPRi-mediated functional analysis of NKX2-1-binding sites in the lung
Authors: Stuart William D. , Fink-Baldauf Iris M. , Tomoshige Koichi , Guo Minzhe , Maeda Yutaka
Published: May 2021

The transcription factor NKX2-1/TTF-1 is involved in lung pathophysiology, including breathing, innate defense and tumorigenesis. To understand the mechanism by which NKX2-1 regulates genes involved in such pathophysiology, we have previously performed ChIP-seq and identified genome-wide NKX2-1-binding sites, which revealed that NKX2-1 binds to not only proximal promoter regions but also multiple intra- and inter-genic regions of the genes regulated by NKX2-1. However, the roles of such regions, especially non-proximal ones, bound by NKX2-1 have not yet been determined. Here, using CRISPRi (CRISPR/dCas9-KRAB), we scrutinize the functional roles of 19 regions/sites bound by NKX2-1, which are located in genes involved in breathing and innate defense (SFTPB, LAMP3,SFTPA1, SFTPA2) and lung tumorigenesis (MYBPH, LMO3, CD274/PD-L1). Notably, the CRISPRi approach reveals that a portion of NKX2-1-binding sites are functionally indispensable while the rest are dispensable for the expression of the genes, indicating that functional roles of NKX2-1-binding sites are unequally yoked.
Thrombin immobilized polydopamine–diatom biosilica for effective hemorrhage control
Authors: Mu Yuzhi , Fu Yangmu , Li Jing , Shao Kai , Pang Jianhui , Su Chang , Cai Yibo , Sun Xiaojie , Cong Xin , Chen Xiguang , Feng Chao
Published: May 2021

In this study, an efficient composite hemostatic material (DA-diatom-T) was prepared, using a polydopamine layer as a linker to immobilize thrombin on the surface of diatom biosilica.
Sheltering proteins from protease-mediated degradation and a de novo strategy for preventing acute liver injury
Authors: Shi Pengzhong , Tang Bojiao , Zhou Sijie , Qin Jianghui , Zan Xingjie , Geng Wujun
Published: May 2021

With a de novo strategy under mild conditions, hexahistidine-metal assembly could encapsulate catalase to maintain its bioactivity, protect from proteinase degradation, and deliver them for the prevention of acute liver injury.
A near-infrared light-excitable immunomodulating nano-photosensitizer for effective photoimmunotherapy
Authors: Zheng Yadan , Zhang Zhanzhan , Liu Qi , Wang Ying , Hao Jialei , Kang Ziyao , Wang Chun , Zhao Xinzhi , Liu Yang , Shi Linqi
Published: May 2021

NeINP was demonstrated as a new tool to overcome limitations associated with conventional PDT and to improve photoimmunotherapy. By delivering of drugs and the photodynamic core to tumors, effective ROS production and TME modulation were achieved.
Multiresponsive hydrogels and organogels based on photocaged cysteine
Authors: Rickhoff Jonas , Cornelissen Nicolas V. , Beuse Thomas , Rentmeister Andrea , Jan Ravoo Bart
Published: May 2021

Photocaged cysteine is a potent gelator for water as well as organic solvents and UV irradiation of these gels leads to controlled release of cysteine.
Fabrication of a robust MOF/aerogel composite via a covalent post-assembly method
Authors: Xu Yue , Zhai Xu , Wang Xuan-He , Li Lin-Lin , Chen Huan , Fan Fu-Qiang , Bai Xiao-Jue , Chen Jun-Yi , Fu Yu
Published: May 2021

A robust metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-aerogel composite was prepared by a covalent post-assembly method, which shows outstanding catalytic activity and stability in CO2 cycloaddition and excellent adsorption capacity for dyes.
Correlation between structure, surface defect chemistry and 18O/16O exchange for La2Mo2O9 and La2(MoO4)3
Authors: Porotnikova Natalia M. , Vlasov Maxim I. , Zhukov Yuri , Kirschfeld Christian , Khodimchuk Anna V. , Kurumchin Edhem Kh. , Farlenkov Andrey S. , Khrustov Anton V. , Ananyev Maxim V.
Published: May 2021

The chemical state of the near-surface La2Mo2O9 and La2(MoO4)3 ceramic layers differs from the bulk state, which has a significant influence on the interaction kinetics of the gas-phase oxygen and the surface of the oxide material.
Low-cost batteries based on industrial waste Al–Si microparticles and LiFePO4 for stationary energy storage
Authors: Zhang Nan , Sun Chuangchao , Huang Yiqiang , Lv Ling , Wu Zunchun , Zhu Chunnan , Wang Xuancheng , Xiao Xuezhang , Fan Xiulin , Chen Lixin
Published: May 2021

A low-cost LIB system based on industrial waste Al–Si microparticle anode and commercial LFP cathode was achieved by 2.0 M LiFP6 2-MeTHF electrolyte for stationary energy storage.
Experimental and theoretical studies on gold(iii) carbonyl complexes: reductive C,H- and C,C bond formation
Authors: Ahrens Alexander , Lustosa Danilo M. , Karger Leonhard F. P. , Hoffmann Marvin , Rudolph Matthias , Dreuw Andreas , Hashmi A. Stephen K.
Published: May 2021

Transient cationic (C^C)gold(iii) carbonyls act as electrophiles, leading either to reductive C,H bond formation via a water-gas-shift-type reaction or a reductive C,C bond formation via a gold(iii) carboxylate.
Distribution and fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater treatment facilities
Authors: Tavasoli Elham , Luek Jenna L. , Malley James P. , Mouser Paula J.
Published: May 2021

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from industrial and residential sources enter wastewater treatment facilities where they may be partially transformed, sequestered into sludge solids, or discharged into receiving water bodies.
Nanoparticles of cerium, iron, and silicon oxides change the metabolism of phenols and flavonoids in butterhead lettuce and sweet pepper seedlings
Authors: Kalisz Andrzej , Húska Dalibor , Jurkow Rita , Dvořák Marek , Klejdus Bořivoj , Caruso Gianluca , Sękara Agnieszka
Published: May 2021

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of CeO2, Fe2O3, and SiO2 nanoparticles on the metabolism of phenols and flavonoids and the antioxidant status of butterhead lettuce and sweet pepper seedlings.
The association between carotenoids and subjects with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yao Nan , Yan Shoumeng , Guo Yinpei , Wang Han , Li Xiaotong , Wang Ling , Hu Wenyu , Li Bo , Cui Weiwei
Published: May 2021

Excess body weight, including overweight and obesity, is one of the major factors influencing human health, and plays an important role in the global burden of disease.
Cost and energy efficient cyclic separation of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural from an aqueous solution
Authors: Hsiao Yung Wei , Anastasopoulou Aikaterini , Ierapetritou Marianthi , Vlachos Dionisios G.
Published: May 2021

Selective separation of HMF from the aqueous phase and integration with downstream reactions via a two-stage adsorption and desorption scheme.
A synergistic approach to achieving the high thermoelectric performance of La-doped SnTe using resonance state and partial band convergence
Authors: Mandava Srikanth , Basu Ranita , Khasimsaheb B. , Bathula Sivaiah , Muthukumar V. Sai , Singh Ajay , Neeleshwar S.
Published: May 2021

The synergistic effect of resonance effect and partial band convergence is shown for a high thermoelectric performance of La-doped SnTe as a function of temperature.
Remarkable synergy of borate and interfacial hole transporter on BiVO4 photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water oxidation
Authors: Meng Qijun , Zhang Biaobiao , Yang Hao , Liu Chang , Li Yingzheng , Kravchenko Alexander , Sheng Xia , Fan Lizhou , Li Fusheng , Sun Licheng
Published: May 2021

Benefiting from the synergistic effect of the NiFeV LDH catalyst and borate pretreatment, NiFeV/B-BiVO4 exhibited a high photocurrent density of 4.6 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE and an outstanding onset potential of ∼0.2 VRHE with good long-term stability.
Pt-based nanoparticles decorated by phosphorus-doped CuWO4 to enhance methanol oxidation activity
Authors: Wu Taichun , Gan Mengyu , Ma Li , Wei Shuang , Fu Qinglan , Yang Yanling , Li TingTing , Xie Fei , Zhan Wang , Zhong Xiujuan
Published: May 2021

DMFCs are promising power storage devices, while for methanol oxidation reaction, weak catalysis and carbon monoxide poisoning greatly limit their wide commercialization, so it's greatly necessary to exploit the anode catalysts with high performance.
Strategies for optimizing the luminescence and stability of copper iodide organic–inorganic hybrid structures
Authors: Tong Hua , Li Haibo , Zhou Zhennan , Cidanpuchi  , Wang Fuchen , Liu Wei
Published: May 2021

In this article, the structural characteristics and synthetic methods of copper iodide hybrid materials are introduced, and the strategies for optimizing the stability and luminescence properties of these compounds are reviewed.