bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The scaled-invariant Planckian metal and quantum criticality in Ce1−xNdxCoIn5
Authors: Chang Yung-Yeh , Lei Hechang , Petrovic C. , Chung Chung-Hou
Published: February 2023

The mysterious Planckian metal state, showing perfect T-linear resistivity associated with universal scattering rate, 1/τ = αkBT/ℏ with α ~ 1, has been observed in the normal state of various strongly correlated superconductors close to a quantum critical point. However, its microscopic origin and link to quantum criticality remains an outstanding open problem. Here, we observe quantum-critical T/B-scaling of the Planckian metal state in resistivity and heat capacity of heavy-electron superconductor Ce1−xNdxCoIn5 in magnetic fields near the edge of antiferromagnetism at the critical doping xc ~ 0.03. We present clear experimental evidences of Kondo hybridization being quantum critical at xc. We provide a generic microscopic mechanism to qualitatively account for this quantum critical Planckian state within the quasi-two dimensional Kondo-Heisenberg lattice model near Kondo breakdown transition. We find α is a non-universal constant and depends inversely on the square of Kondo hybridization strength.
Cryo-EM structure supports a role of AQP7 as a junction protein
Authors: Huang Peng , Venskutonytė Raminta , Prasad Rashmi B. , Ardalani Hamidreza , de Maré Sofia W. , Fan Xiao , Li Ping , Spégel Peter , Yan Nieng , Gourdon Pontus , Artner Isabella , Lindkvist-Petersson Karin
Published: February 2023

Aquaglyceroporin 7 (AQP7) facilitates glycerol flux across the plasma membrane with a critical physiological role linked to metabolism, obesity, and associated diseases. Here, we present the single-particle cryo-EM structure of AQP7 determined at 2.55 Å resolution adopting two adhering tetramers, stabilized by extracellularly exposed loops, in a configuration like that of the well-characterized interaction of AQP0 tetramers. The central pore, in-between the four monomers, displays well-defined densities restricted by two leucine filters. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) results show that the AQP7 sample contains glycerol 3-phosphate (Gro3P), which is compatible with the identified features in the central pore. AQP7 is shown to be highly expressed in human pancreatic α- and β- cells suggesting that the identified AQP7 octamer assembly, in addition to its function as glycerol channel, may serve as junction proteins within the endocrine pancreas.
A sweat-responsive covalent organic framework film for material-based liveness detection and sweat pore analysis
Authors: Hao Qing , Ren Xiao-Rui , Chen Yichen , Zhao Chao , Xu Jingyi , Wang Dong , Liu Hong
Published: February 2023

Covalent organic frameworks have shown considerable application potential and exceptional properties in the construction of stimulus-responsive materials. Here, we designed a sweat-responsive covalent organic framework film for material-based fingerprint liveness detection. When exposed to human sweat, the COFTPDA-TFPy film can transform from yellow to red. The COFTPDA-TFPy film, when touched by living fingers, can produce the naked-eye-identified fingerprint pattern through the sweat-induced color change, while artificial fake fingerprints cannot. This technique, which we named material-based liveness detection, can thus intuitively discern living fingers from fake fingerprints with a 100% accuracy rate. Additionally, the distribution of sweat pores on human skin can also be collected and analyzed by shortening the contact time. By merely washing them with ethanol, all the samples can be utilized again. This work inventively accomplished material-based liveness detection and naked-eye-identified sweat pore analysis and highlighted their potential for use in clinical research and personal identification.
Emergence of a proton exchange-based isomerization and lactonization mechanism in the plant coumarin synthase COSY
Authors: Kim Colin Y. , Mitchell Andrew J. , Kastner David W. , Albright Claire E. , Gutierrez Michael A. , Glinkerman Christopher M. , Kulik Heather J. , Weng Jing-Ke
Published: February 2023

Plants contain rapidly evolving specialized enzymes that support the biosynthesis of functionally diverse natural products. In coumarin biosynthesis, a BAHD acyltransferase-family enzyme COSY was recently discovered to accelerate coumarin formation as the only known BAHD enzyme to catalyze an intramolecular acyl transfer reaction. Here we investigate the structural and mechanistic basis for COSY’s coumarin synthase activity. Our structural analyses reveal an unconventional active-site configuration adapted to COSY’s specialized activity. Through mutagenesis studies and deuterium exchange experiments, we identify a unique proton exchange mechanism at the α-carbon of the o-hydroxylated trans-hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA substrates during the catalytic cycle of COSY. Quantum mechanical cluster modeling and molecular dynamics further support this key mechanism for lowering the activation energy of the rate-limiting trans-to-cis isomerization step in coumarin production. This study unveils an unconventional catalytic mechanism mediated by a BAHD-family enzyme, and sheds light on COSY’s evolutionary origin and its recruitment to coumarin biosynthesis in eudicots.
Homeotic compartment curvature and tension control spatiotemporal folding dynamics
Authors: Villedieu Aurélien , Alpar Lale , Gaugué Isabelle , Joudat Amina , Graner François , Bosveld Floris , Bellaïche Yohanns
Published: February 2023

Shape is a conspicuous and fundamental property of biological systems entailing the function of organs and tissues. While much emphasis has been put on how tissue tension and mechanical properties drive shape changes, whether and how a given tissue geometry influences subsequent morphogenesis remains poorly characterized. Here, we explored how curvature, a key descriptor of tissue geometry, impinges on the dynamics of epithelial tissue invagination. We found that the morphogenesis of the fold separating the adult Drosophila head and thorax segments is driven by the invagination of the Deformed (Dfd) homeotic compartment. Dfd controls invagination by modulating actomyosin organization and in-plane epithelial tension via the Tollo and Dystroglycan receptors. By experimentally introducing curvature heterogeneity within the homeotic compartment, we established that a curved tissue geometry converts the Dfd-dependent in-plane tension into an inward force driving folding. Accordingly, the interplay between in-plane tension and tissue curvature quantitatively explains the spatiotemporal folding dynamics. Collectively, our work highlights how genetic patterning and tissue geometry provide a simple design principle driving folding morphogenesis during development.
Engineering β-ketoamine covalent organic frameworks for photocatalytic overall water splitting
Authors: Yang Yan , Chu Xiaoyu , Zhang Hong-Yu , Zhang Rui , Liu Yu-Han , Zhang Feng-Ming , Lu Meng , Yang Zhao-Di , Lan Ya-Qian
Published: February 2023

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an emerging type of crystalline and porous photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution, however, the overall water splitting activity of COFs is rarely known. In this work, we firstly realized overall water splitting activity of β-ketoamine COFs by systematically engineering N-sites, architecture, and morphology. By in situ incorporating sub-nanometer platinum (Pt) nanoparticles co-catalyst into the pores of COFs nanosheets, both Pt@TpBpy-NS and Pt@TpBpy-2-NS show visible-light-driven overall water splitting activity, with the optimal H2 and O2 evolution activities of 9.9 and 4.8 μmol in 5 h for Pt@TpBpy-NS, respectively, and a maximum solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 0.23%. The crucial factors affecting the activity including N-sites position, nano morphology, and co-catalyst distribution were systematically explored. Further mechanism investigation reveals the tiny diversity of N sites in COFs that induces great differences in electron transfer as well as reaction potential barriers.
Engineered tissue vascularization and engraftment depends on host model
Authors: Brady Eileen L. , Prado Olivia , Johansson Fredrik , Mitchell Shannon N. , Martinson Amy M. , Karbassi Elaheh , Reinecke Hans , Murry Charles E. , Davis Jennifer , Stevens Kelly R.
Published: February 2023

Developing vascular networks that integrate with the host circulation and support cells engrafted within engineered tissues remains a key challenge in tissue engineering. Most previous work in this field has focused on developing new methods to build human vascular networks within engineered tissues prior to their implant in vivo, with substantively less attention paid to the role of the host in tissue vascularization and engraftment. Here, we assessed the role that different host animal models and anatomic implant locations play in vascularization and cardiomyocyte survival within engineered tissues. We found major differences in the formation of graft-derived blood vessels and survival of cardiomyocytes after implantation of identical tissues in immunodeficient athymic nude mice versus rats. Athymic mice supported robust guided vascularization of human microvessels carrying host blood but relatively sparse cardiac grafts within engineered tissues, regardless of implant site. Conversely, athymic rats produced substantive inflammatory changes that degraded grafts (abdomen) or disrupted vascular patterning (heart). Despite disrupted vascular patterning, athymic rats supported > 3-fold larger human cardiomyocyte grafts compared to athymic mice. This work demonstrates the critical importance of the host for vascularization and engraftment of engineered tissues, which has broad translational implications across regenerative medicine.
Machine learning to improve frequent emergency department use prediction: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chiu Yohann M. , Courteau Josiane , Dufour Isabelle , Vanasse Alain , Hudon Catherine
Published: February 2023

Frequent emergency department use is associated with many adverse events, such as increased risk for hospitalization and mortality. Frequent users have complex needs and associated factors are commonly evaluated using logistic regression. However, other machine learning models, especially those exploiting the potential of large databases, have been less explored. This study aims at comparing the performance of logistic regression to four machine learning models for predicting frequent emergency department use in an adult population with chronic diseases, in the province of Quebec (Canada). This is a retrospective population-based study using medical and administrative databases from the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec. Two definitions were used for frequent emergency department use (outcome to predict): having at least three and five visits during a year period. Independent variables included sociodemographic characteristics, healthcare service use, and chronic diseases. We compared the performance of logistic regression with gradient boosting machine, naïve Bayes, neural networks, and random forests (binary and continuous outcome) using Area under the ROC curve, sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Out of 451,775 ED users, 43,151 (9.5%) and 13,676 (3.0%) were frequent users with at least three and five visits per year, respectively. Random forests with a binary outcome had the lowest performances (ROC curve: 53.8 [95% confidence interval 53.5–54.0] and 51.4 [95% confidence interval 51.1–51.8] for frequent users 3 and 5, respectively) while the other models had superior and overall similar performance. The most important variable in prediction was the number of emergency department visits in the previous year. No model outperformed the others. Innovations in algorithms may slightly refine current predictions, but access to other variables may be more helpful in the case of frequent emergency department use prediction.
Evaluation of the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization in vaccinated and previously infected subjects based on real world data
Authors: Rossi Maicol Andrea , Cena Tiziana , Binala Jefferson , Alessi Daniela , Scotti Lorenza , Faggiano Fabrizio
Published: February 2023

The objective of our study was to determine the joint protective effect of a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination on the risk of a new infection and hospitalization. Two case–control studies nested in a cohort of COVID-19 patients cared for by the Local Health Unit (LHU) of Vercelli, Italy, were performed, one to estimate the risk of infection and the second to estimate the risk of hospitalization. Each new infection and hospitalization was matched with up to 4 disease-free subjects who were the same age, sex and index date (i.e., controls). Study subjects were followed up from cohort entry date to disease outcome, end of follow-up or emigration. Vaccination was associated with a 36% (OR 0.64; 95%CI 0.62–0.66) and 90% (OR 0.10; 95%CI 0.07–0.14) reduction in the risk of infection and hospitalization, respectively. Prior infection was associated with a 65% (OR 0.35; 95%CI 0.30–0.40) and 90% (OR 0.10; 95%CI 0.07–0.14) reduction in the risk of infection and hospitalization, respectively. Vaccinated and recovered subjects showed a 63% (OR 0.37; 95%CI 0.34–0.14) and 98% (OR 0.02; 95%CI 0–0.13) reduction in the risk of infection and hospitalization, respectively. Vaccination remains an essential public health tool for preventing severe forms of COVID-19. Our study shows that vaccination or previous infection has a strong protective effect against Sars-CoV-2 hospitalization. The protective role against infection appears to be present although with a lower efficacy rate than that presented in the RCTs.
Exploring finite temperature properties of materials with quantum computers
Authors: Powers Connor , Bassman Oftelie Lindsay , Camps Daan , de Jong Wibe A.
Published: February 2023

Thermal properties of nanomaterials are crucial to not only improving our fundamental understanding of condensed matter systems, but also to developing novel materials for applications spanning research and industry. Since quantum effects arise at the nano-scale, these systems are difficult to simulate on classical computers. Quantum computers can efficiently simulate quantum many-body systems, yet current quantum algorithms for calculating thermal properties of these systems incur significant computational costs in that they either prepare the full thermal state on the quantum computer, or they must sample a number of pure states from a distribution that grows with system size. Canonical thermal pure quantum (TPQ) states provide a promising path to estimating thermal properties of quantum materials as they neither require preparation of the full thermal state nor require a growing number of samples with system size. Here, we present an algorithm for preparing canonical TPQ states on quantum computers. We compare three different circuit implementations for the algorithm and demonstrate their capabilities in estimating thermal properties of quantum materials. Due to its increasing accuracy with system size and flexibility in implementation, we anticipate that this method will enable finite temperature explorations of relevant quantum materials on near-term quantum computers.
A circulating microRNA panel as a novel dynamic monitor for oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Piao Yudan , Jung Seung-Nam , Lim Mi Ae , Oh Chan , Jin Yan Li , Kim Hae Jong , Nguyen Quoc Khanh , Chang Jae Won , Won Ho-Ryun , Koo Bon Seok
Published: February 2023

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has high recurrence and mortality rates despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new biomarkers for early detection, efficient monitoring, and prognosis prediction. Since microRNA (miRNA) is stable and detectable in serum, it has been reported to inform the diagnosis and monitor disease progression through liquid biopsy. In this study, a circulating specific miRNA panel in OSCC patients was developed, and its usefulness as
a dynamic monitor was validated. Small RNAs were extracted from the serum of OSCC patients (n = 4) and normal controls (n = 6) and profiled using next-generation sequencing. NGS identified 42 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) in serum between patients with OSCC and healthy controls, with threefold differences (p < 0.05). Combining the 42 DEmiRNAs and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases OSCC cohort, 9 overlapping DEmiRNAs were screened out. Finally, 4 significantly up-regulated miRNAs (miR-92a-3p, miR-92b-3p, miR-320c and miR-629-5p) were identified from OSCC patients via validation in the Chungnam National University Hospital cohort. Application of the specific miRNA panel for distinguishing OSCC patients from healthy controls produced specificity and sensitivity of 97.8 and 74%, respectively. In addition, the serum levels of these 4 miRNAs significantly decreased after complete surgical resection and increased after recurrence. We suggest that circulating 4-miRNA panel might be promising non-invasive predictors for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of patients with OSCC.
Dynamics of fatty acid and non-volatile polar metabolite profiles in colostrum and milk depending on the lactation stage and parity number of sows
Authors: Settachaimongkon Sarn , Homyog Kunaporn , Mekboonsonglarp Wanwimon , Soonoue Pitikorn , Lerdamnuaylarp Theerawat , Prayoonpeeraput Poonradit , Theil Peter Kappel , Nuntapaitoon Morakot
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of lactation stage and parity number on fatty acid and non-volatile polar metabolite profiles in sow colostrum and milk using a metabolomics approach. A total number of 63 colostrum, transient and mature milk were collected from primiparous and multiparous Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred sows. Macrochemical, fatty acid and non-volatile polar metabolite compositions of samples were analyzed using infrared spectrometry, gas chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated significant impacts of lactation stage and parity number on colostrum and milk compositions. Chemometric analysis revealed significant influences of sow parity on the distinction in fatty acid profiles of mature milk while the distinction in non-volatile polar metabolite profiles was more evident in colostrum. Alterations in the concentration of linoleic (C18:2n6), lignoceric (C24:0), behenic (C22:0), caprylic (C8:0) and myristoleic (C14:1) acid together with those of creatine, creatinine phosphate, glutamate and glycolate were statistically suggested to be mainly affected by sow parity number. Variations in the concentration of these compounds reflected the physiological function of sow mammary gland influenced. This information could be applied for feed and feeding strategies in lactating sows and improving lactating performances.
Differentially expression analyses in fruit of cultivated and wild species of grape and peach
Authors: Huang Weijian , Li Meng , Zhang Huangwei , Wu Juyou , Dunwell Jim M. , Zhang Shaoling
Published: February 2023

Through agronomic traits and sequencing data, the cultivated and wild varieties of grapes and peaches were analyzed and compared in terms of fruit size, fruit flavor, fruit resistance, and fruit color. Cultivated grapes and peaches have advantages in fruit size, soluble sugar content, sugar and acid ratio, etc. Wild grapes and peaches have utility value in resistance. The results showed that there were 878 and 301 differentially expressed genes in cultivated and wild grapes and peaches in the three growth stages, respectively based on the next-generation sequencing study. Ten and twelve genes related to the differences between cultivated and wild grapes and peaches were found respectively. Among them, three genes, namely chalcone synthase (CHS), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH1) were present in both cultivated and wild grapes and peaches.
TEMPRANILLO homologs in apple regulate flowering time in the woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
Authors: Dejahang Ata , Maghsoudi Naeimeh , Mousavi Amir , Farsad-Akhtar Nader , Matias-Hernandez Luis , Pelaz Soraya , Folta Kevin , Mahna Nasser
Published: February 2023

The long juvenile period of fruit trees makes their breeding costly and time-consuming. Therefore, flowering time engineering and shortening the juvenile phase have become a breeding priority for the genetic improvement of fruit tree crops. Many economically valuable fruit trees belong to theRosaceaefamily including apples and strawberries.TEMPRANILLO(TEM) acts as a key player in flowering time control through inhibitingFTfunction. Two genes with high sequence similarity with theArabidopsis TEMgenes were isolated from apple (Malus domestica). Due to the complexity of carrying out functional studies in apple, we characterized their function in woodland strawberry as well as their expression in apple. The expression ofMdTEMgenes in apple tissues from juvenile plants was dramatically higher than that in the tissues from adult trees. In woodland strawberry, the overexpression ofMdTEMgenes down-regulatedFvFT1,FvGA3OX1, andFvGA3OX2genes in strawberry. TheMdTEM-overexpressing lines exhibited delayed flowering, in terms of days to flowering and the number of leaves at flowering. While,RNAi-mediatedsilencing ofTEMresulted in five days earlier flowering, with a lower number of leaves, a higher trichome density, and in some cases, caused in vitro flowering. According to these results and in silico analyses, it can be concluded thatMdTEM1andMdTEM2can be considered as orthologs ofFvTEMand probablyAtTEMgenes, which play an important role in regulating the juvenile phase and flowering time through regulatingFTand GA biosynthetic pathway.
Low frequency electrical waves in ensembles of proteinoid microspheres
Authors: Mougkogiannis Panagiotis , Adamatzky Andrew
Published: February 2023

Proteinoids (thermal proteins) are produced by heating amino acids to their melting point and initiation of polymerisation to produce polymeric chains. Amino acid-like molecules, or proteinoids, can condense at high temperatures to create aggregation structures called proteinoid microspheres, which have been reported to exhibit strong electrical oscillations. When the amino acids L-glutamic acid (L-Glu) and L-aspartic acid (L-Asp) were combined with electric fields of varying frequencies and intensities, electrical activity resulted. We recorded electrical activity of the proteinoid microspheres’ ensembles via a pair of differential electrodes. This is analogous to extracellular recording in physiology or EEG in neuroscience but at micro-level. We discovered that the ensembles produce spikes of electrical potential, an average duration of each spike is 26 min and average amplitude is 1 mV. The spikes are typically grouped in trains of two spikes. The electrical activity of the ensembles can be tuned by external stimulation because ensembles of proteinoid microspheres can generate and propagate electrical activity when exposed to electric fields.
Graphene-based optofluidic tweezers for refractive-index and size-based nanoparticle sorting, manipulation, and detection
Authors: Gholizadeh Elnaz , Jafari Behnam , Golmohammadi Saeed
Published: February 2023

This work proposes a novel design composed of graphene nanoribbons-based optofluidic tweezers to manipulate and sort bio-particles with radii below 2.5 nm. The suggested structure has been numerically investigated by the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method employing Maxwell's stress tensor analysis (MST). The finite element method (FEM) has been used to obtain the electrostatic response of the proposed structure. The tweezer main path is a primary channel in the center of the structure, where the microfluidic flow translates the nanoparticle toward this channel. Concerning the microfluid's drag force, the nanoparticles tend to move along the length of the main channel. The graphene nanoribbons are fixed near the main channel at different distances to exert optical forces on the moving nanoparticles in the perpendicular direction. In this regard, sub-channels embedding in the hBN layer on the Si substrate deviate bio-particles from the main path for particular nanoparticle sizes and indices. Intense hotspots with electric field enhancements up to 900 times larger than the incident light are realized inside and around the graphene ribbons. Adjusting the gap distance between the graphene nanoribbon and the main channel allows us to separate the individual particle with a specific size from others, thus guiding that in the desired sub-channel. Furthermore, we demonstrated that in a structure with a large gap between channels, particles experience weak field intensity, leading to a low optical force that is insufficient to detect, trap, and manipulate nanoparticles. By varying the chemical potential of graphene associated with the electric field intensity variations in the graphene ribbons, we realized tunability in sorting nanoparticles while structural parameters remained constant. In fact, by adjusting the graphene Fermi level via the applied gate voltage, nanoparticles with any desired radius will be quickly sorted. Moreover, we exhibited that the proposed structure could sort nanoparticles based on their refractive indices. Therefore, the given optofluidic tweezer can easily detect bio-particles, such as cancer cells and viruses of tiny size.
Gut microbial signature in lung cancer patients highlights specific taxa as predictors for durable clinical benefit
Authors: Haberman Yael , Kamer Iris , Amir Amnon , Goldenberg Sapir , Efroni Gilat , Daniel-Meshulam Inbal , Lobachov Anastasiya , Daher Sameh , Hadar Rotem , Gantz-Sorotsky Hadas , Urban Damien , Braun Tzipi , Bar Jair
Published: February 2023

We aimed to determine microbial signature linked with lung cancer (LC) diagnosis and to define taxa linked with durable clinical benefit (DCB) of advanced LC patients. Stool samples for microbial 16S amplicon sequencing and clinical data were collected from 75 LC patients (50 of which were treated with checkpoint inhibitors) and 31 matched healthy volunteers. We compared LC to healthy controls and patients with DCB to those without. LC patients had lower α-diversity and higher between-subject diversity. Random Forests model to differentiate LC cases from controls ROC-AUC was 0.74. Clostridiales, Lachnospiraceae, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii taxa abundance was decreased in LC compared to controls. High Akkermansia muciniphila correlated with DCB (HR 4.26, 95% CI 1.98–9.16), not only for the immunotherapy-treated patients. In addition, high Alistipes onderdonkii (HR 3.08, 95% CI 1.34–7.06) and high Ruminococcus (HR 7.76, 95% CI 3.23–18.65) correlated with DCB.Our results support the importance of gut microbiome in LC. We have validated the apparent predictive value of Akkermansia muciniphila, and highlighted Alistipes onderdonkii and Ruminococcus taxa correlation with DCB. Upon additional validations those can be used as biomarkers or as targets for future therapeutic interventions.
Simulation-based architecture of a stable large-area $$JDBD$$ atmospheric plasma source
Authors: Roshan M. V. , Razaghi S. , Singh A.
Published: February 2023

Unified jet-DBD design, $$JDBD$$

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, proposed in this work presents large-scale plasma in an unbounded region of atmospheric air, without any need for the flow of gas, offering efficient exposure to sizable and complex objects. This is a simulation-based architecture for stable non-thermal plasma source with notable experimental results. $$JDBD$$

JDBD

geometry optimizes the electric field and charge distribution for a diffuse discharge in the steady air by a key design parameter of $$efficient \; insulation$$

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Comparison of [18F]FIMP, [11C]MET, and [18F]FDG PET for early-phase assessment of radiotherapy response
Authors: Nozaki Satoshi , Nakatani Yuka , Mawatari Aya , Shibata Nina , Hume William E. , Hayashinaka Emi , Wada Yasuhiro , Doi Hisashi , Watanabe Yasuyoshi
Published: February 2023

Several limitations of [18F]FDG have been reported, such as nonspecific uptake of inflammation foci. Moreover, [11C]MET has been found to accumulate in normal and inflammatory tissues as well as tumors. To increase specificity to tumor tissues, PET probes with tumor-specific molecular targets have been actively developed. [18F]FIMP was found to be highly accumulated in LAT1-positive tumors but not in inflamed tissue. The aim of this study was to explore whether [18F]FIMP can be used for the early-phase evaluation of radiotherapy accompanied by inflammation, and compare its effectiveness with those of [11C]MET and [18F]FDG. Tumor uptake of [18F]FIMP decreased at day 1 after irradiation, and remained low until day 14. Comparatively, that of [18F]FDG initially decreased at day 3 but was transiently elevated at day 7 and then decreased again at day 10. Decreased tumor uptake of [11C]MET was observed at day 10. In line with the uptake of [18F]FIMP, the ratio of Ki-67 immuno-positive cells in tumor tissues significantly decreased at day 1, 7, and 10 as compared with that in the control. These findings suggest that [18F]FIMP may be a PET probe involved in the early detection and prediction of radiotherapy efficacy, although further clarification is needed.
Emotional and behavioral changes in French children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective study
Authors: Landman Benjamin , Cohen Alicia , Khoury Elie , Trebossen Vincent , Bouchlaghem Nesrine , Poncet-Kalifa Hélène , Acquaviva Eric , Lefebvre Aline , Delorme Richard
Published: February 2023

COVID-19 outbreak caused severe disruptions in daily life, partly due to limitations implemented to prevent the spreading. In France, it included school closures during a national lockdown, then a reopening of schools, with access depending on viral status of students and teachers. Those changes had an impact on children's mental health. We conducted an online cross-sectional study using a parental self-administered survey in December 2021 to explore the emotional and behavioral changes (EBC) during this 5th wave (W5) and retrospectively since the first one (W1) in their children and their multidimensionality with principal factor analysis (PCA) and stability analysis. Out of 4552 parent responders, 62.4% (n = 2839) noticed negative EBC during W1 and 54.1% (n = 2462) during W5 of the pandemic. Only 10.0% of the responders noticed negative EBC at W1 but not during the W5. In younger children (3–6 years old) with significant EBC, PCA revealed three main dimensions at W1 and W5: restlessness, depression and anxiety. In older children (7–13 years old), PCA showed partially similar dimensions: depression-suicidality, anxiety and withdrawal. Almost all correlations between dimensions at W1 and W5 were significantly positive. Every EBC was stable across waves, except for one. Recall bias concerning the EBC during W1 and lack of data concerning parental mental health should be taken into account. Our stability analysis found a strong correlation between dimensions at W1 and W5. Our results highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on children's mental health and the predictive aspect of its early deterioration.
The effect of mindfulness-based intervention on neurobehavioural functioning and its association with white-matter microstructural changes in preterm young adolescents
Authors: Siffredi Vanessa , Liverani Maria Chiara , Van De Ville Dimitri , Freitas Lorena G. A. , Borradori Tolsa Cristina , Hüppi Petra Susan , Ha-Vinh Leuchter Russia
Published: February 2023

Very preterm (VPT) young adolescents are at high risk of executive, behavioural and socio-emotional difficulties. Previous research has shown significant evidence of the benefits of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on these abilities. This study aims to assess the association between the effects of MBI on neurobehavioral functioning and changes in white-matter microstructure in VPT young adolescents who completed an 8-week MBI program. Neurobehavioural assessments (i.e., neuropsychological testing, parents- and self-reported questionnaires) and multi-shell diffusion MRI were performed before and after MBI in 32 VPT young adolescents. Combined diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) measures were extracted on well-defined white matter tracts (TractSeg). A multivariate data-driven approach (partial least squares correlation) was used to explore associations between MBI-related changes on neurobehavioural measures and microstructural changes. The results showed an enhancement of global executive functioning using parent-reported questionnaire after MBI that was associated with a general pattern of increase in fractional anisotropy (FA) and decrease in axonal dispersion (ODI) in white-matter tracts involved in executive processes. Young VPT adolescents with lower gestational age at birth showed the greatest gain in white-matter microstructural changes after MBI.
Narrowing the coordination solution space during motor learning standardizes individual patterns of search strategy but diversifies learning rates
Authors: Komar John , Seifert Ludovic , Vergne Nicolas , Newell Karl M.
Published: February 2023

Constraints on practice can benefit motor learning by guiding the learner towards efficient coordination patterns, but can also narrow the potential solution space of coordination and control. The aim of this paper was to investigate whether narrowing the solution space through more restrictive task constraints limits the expression of potential exploratory behaviours during the learning process, identified using Drifting Markov Models. In a breaststroke swimming task, the change in interlimb coordination of 7 learners practicing for 16 lessons over 2 months was analysed to quantify motor exploration and identify periods of metastable regimes of coordination. Results showed that the observed exploratory dynamics were highly individual both in terms of range of exploration and in the patterns of search. The more restrictive task constraints did not impair the amount of exploration but rather channelled the exploration around a few selected patterns. In addition, restraining the nature of the exploratory process increased the inter-individual differences of the learning rate. Although manipulating the task constraints during learning can help learners to escape from the behavioural consequences of their intrinsic dynamics, maintaining a broad solution space for a diversity of coordination patterns to emerge was key to fostering effective exploration of individual coordination solutions.
Influence of pneumatization on morphology of temporal bone-related vasculatures and their morphometric relationship with ear regions: a computed tomography study
Authors: Aladeyelu Okikioluwa Stephen , Olojede Samuel Oluwaseun , Lawal Sodiq Kolawole , Mbatha Wonder-Boy Eumane , Sibiya Andile Lindokuhle , Rennie Carmen Olivia
Published: February 2023

Anatomical variations in the location and position of temporal bone-related vasculature are routinely encountered in clinical practice, contributing to clinical syndromes and complexities in ear-related and neurological surgeries. Pneumatization of the temporal bone (TB) is one of several factors that have been hypothesized to influence the variabilities and variations of these vessels. This study aimed to investigate the association between the degree of pneumatization and the morphologies of some TB-related vessels, as well as their morphometrical relationship with ear regions. Observational retrospective chart review of 496 TBs computed tomographic scans were examined. Different degrees of pneumatization were observed, with hyper-pneumatization being the most common and hypo-pneumatization being the least. Various anatomical variants of the sigmoid sinus (SS), jugular bulb (JB), and internal carotid artery (ICA) were observed. Distances of SS and JB to ear regions were observed to have significant differences (p < 0.05) in laterality. These distances increased relative to increased air cells, showing a significant association (p < 0.05). A significant association (p < 0.001) was also observed between the degree of pneumatization and variants of JB and ICA. High JB, JB dehiscence, and ICA dehiscence were significantly associated with increased pneumatization, while flat JB was significantly associated with decreasing pneumatization. However, no significant association (p = 0.070, p = 0.645) was observed between the degree of pneumatization and morphologies of SS. This study concludes that the degree of pneumatization influences only the jugular bulb variants and ICA dehiscence, as well as the distances of SS and JB to ear regions.
Tissue-resident macrophages are major tumor-associated macrophage resources, contributing to early TNBC development, recurrence, and metastases
Authors: Hirano Ryuichiro , Okamoto Koki , Shinke Miyu , Sato Marika , Watanabe Shigeaki , Watanabe Hitomi , Kondoh Gen , Kadonosono Tetsuya , Kizaka-Kondoh Shinae
Published: February 2023

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and highly heterogenous disease with no well-defined therapeutic targets. Treatment options are thus limited and mortality is significantly higher compared with other breast cancer subtypes. Mammary gland tissue-resident macrophages (MGTRMs) are found to be the most abundant stromal cells in early TNBC before angiogenesis. We therefore aimed to explore novel therapeutic approaches for TNBC by focusing on MGTRMs. Local depletion of MGTRMs in mammary gland fat pads the day before TNBC cell transplantation significantly reduced tumor growth and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration in mice. Furthermore, local depletion of MGTRMs at the site of TNBC resection markedly reduced recurrence and distant metastases, and improved chemotherapy outcomes. This study demonstrates that MGTRMs are a major TAM resource and play pivotal roles in the growth and malignant progression of TNBC. The results highlight a possible novel anti-cancer approach targeting tissue-resident macrophages.
Neural fatigue by passive induction: repeated stimulus exposure results in cognitive fatigue and altered representations in task-relevant networks
Authors: Ioannucci Stefano , Chirokoff Valentine , Dilharreguy Bixente , Ozenne Valéry , Chanraud Sandra , Zénon Alexandre
Published: February 2023

Cognitive fatigue is defined by a reduced capacity to perform mental tasks. Despite its pervasiveness, the underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive. Specifically, it is unclear whether prolonged effort affects performance through alterations in over-worked task-relevant neuronal assemblies. Our paradigm based on repeated passive visual stimulation discerns fatigue effects from the influence of motivation, skill and boredom. We induced performance loss and observed parallel alterations in the neural blueprint of the task, by mirroring behavioral performance with multivariate neuroimaging techniques (MVPA) that afford a subject-specific approach. Crucially, functional areas that responded the most to repeated stimulation were also the most affected. Finally, univariate analysis revealed clusters displaying significant disruption within the extrastriate visual cortex. In sum, here we show that repeated stimulation impacts the implicated brain areas’ activity and causes tangible behavioral repercussions, providing evidence that cognitive fatigue can result from local, functional, disruptions in the neural signal induced by protracted recruitment.
Confined environments induce polarized paraspeckle condensates
Authors: Todorovski Vanja , McCluggage Finn , Li Yixuan , Meid Annika , Spatz Joachim P. , Holle Andrew W. , Fox Archa H. , Choi Yu Suk
Published: February 2023

Cancer cells experience confinement as they navigate the tumour microenvironment during metastasis. Recent studies have revealed that the nucleus can function as a ‘ruler’ for measuring physical confinement via membrane tension, allowing for compression-sensitive changes in migration. Cell nuclei contain many nuclear bodies that form when their components phase separate and condense within permissive local regions within the nucleus. However, how sub-nuclear organisation and phase separation changes with cell confinement and compression is largely unknown. Here we focus on paraspeckles, stress-responsive subnuclear bodies that form by phase separation around the long non-coding RNA NEAT1. As cells entered moderate confinement, a significant increase in paraspeckle number and size was observed compared to unconfined cells. Paraspeckle polarization bias towards the leading edge was also observed in confinement, correlating with regions of euchromatin. Increasing paraspeckle abundance resulted in increases in confined migration likelihood, speed, and directionality, as well as an enhancement of paraspeckle polarization towards the leading edge. This polarization of paraspeckle condensates may play a key role in regulating confined migration and invasion in cancer cells, and illustrates the utility of microchannel-based assays for identifying phenomena not observed on 2D or 3D bulk substrates.
Natural Product Biosynthesis
Authors: Walsh Christopher T , Tang Yi
Published: February 2023

Authored by leading experts in the enzymology of natural product biosynthesis, this completely revised and updated edition provides a description of the types of natural products, the biosynthetic pathways that enable the production of these molecules, and an update on the discovery of novel products in the post-genomic era. Although some 500 000 – 600 000 natural products have been isolated and characterized over the past two centuries, there may be a 10-fold greater inventory awaiting immediate exploration based on biosynthetic gene cluster predictions. The approach of this book is to codify the chemical logic that underlies each natural product structural class as they are assembled from building blocks of primary metabolism.

This second edition integrates many new findings into the sets of principles of the first edition that parsed categories of natural product chemistries into the underlying enzymatic mechanisms and the catalytic machinery for building the varied and complex end product metabolites. New chapters include evaluation of a core set of thermodynamically activated but kinetically stable metabolites that power both primary and secondary metabolic pathways. Also, after decades of uncertainty about the existence of various pericyclase classes, a series of genome mining, heterologous expression, and enzymatic activity characterization have validated a plethora of pericyclases over the past decade. The several types of pericyclases are involved in biosynthetic complexity generation of almost every major category of natural products.

This text will serve as a reference point for chemists of every subdiscipline, including synthetic organic chemists and medicinal chemists. It will also be valuable to bioinformatic and computational biologists, pharmacognocists and chemical ecologists, and bioengineers and synthetic biologists.
Forensic Enforcement
Authors: Taylor Glenn
Published: February 2023

Over the last 150 years, the Public Analyst profession has hidden its light under a bushel, with the notable exception of Fredrick Accum, one of the first Public Analysts who published the names and addresses of food adulterers, this group of chemists has quietly protected the public from food fraud and adulteration. Using their forensic skills to find traces of poison and other deleterious materials in our food and guiding the Courts and legal profession through complex scientific evidence, it has undersold itself to the public. It is time to tell their story with this collection of memoirs from many practising and retired Public Analysts. Their accounts of samples submitted to them, how they analysed them, and the tales that unfolded, make for a fascinating insight into the field. This is a timely publication, as funding for this area continues to fall, to the concern of many not just in the UK but throughout Europe. Yet, whilst food adulteration may not be as rife as it was 150 years ago, food fraud and adulteration is now on a global scale with improved communications, the fear of adulteration is probably larger than ever. This funding position does not sit well alongside levels of public interest that have never been higher in food, science in general, and forensic science. And yet research is still needed to find future strategies to maintain a vital service to protect the public and it is important to raise the profile of the role of the Public Analyst, now more than ever, This book, which is not intended as a text book but as a light read, will achieve this aim while simply telling the stories of a collection of Public Analysts, things they have found in food and other materials and their memoirs and anecdotes. It will appeal to those who watch programmes such as Crime Scene Investigates and anyone with an interest in forensic science and science in general.
High Seebeck coefficient thermogalvanic cells via the solvent-sensitive charge additivity of cobalt 1,8-diaminosarcophagine
Authors: Laws Kristine , Buckingham Mark A. , Farleigh Matthew , Ma Michelle , Aldous Leigh
Published: February 2023

This study demonstrates the charge additivity of core valence metal ions with fixed ionic pendant groups can significantly boost the thermoelectrochemical valorisation of waste heat into electricity, but is solvent-specific.
Synthesis and antitumor activities of α-hydroxyamino phosphine oxides by catalyst-free hydrophosphinylation of nitrones
Authors: Zhao Pengfei , Li Peiyuan , Xiao Jian , Wang Yali , Hao Xiaohui , Meng Aiguo , Liu Chunyan
Published: February 2023

An efficient strategy for the synthesis of α-hydroxyamino phosphine oxides by hydrophosphinylation of nitrones under catalyst-free and water-as-solvent conditions is reported.
Impact of Ge clustering on the thermal conductivity of SiGe nanowires: atomistic simulation study
Authors: Kuryliuk Vasyl , Tyvonovych Ostap , Semchuk Sviatoslav
Published: February 2023

This paper reports the effect of Ge clustering on the thermal transport phenomena in SiGe alloy nanowires.
The stochastic wave function method for diffusion of alkali atoms on metallic surfaces
Authors: Torres-Miyares E. E. , Ward D. J. , Rojas-Lorenzo G. , Rubayo-Soneira J. , Allison W. , Miret-Artés S.
Published: February 2023

The stochastic wave function method is proposed to study the diffusion regimes of alkali atoms on metallic surfaces and, in general, surface diffusion.
Role of halogen effects and cyclic imide groups in constructing red and near-infrared room temperature phosphorescence molecules: theoretical perspective and molecular design
Authors: Mu Qingfang , Zhang Kai , Liu Huanling , Xie Zhen , Song Yuzhi , Wang Chuan-Kui , Lin Lili , Xu Yuanyuan , Fan Jianzhong
Published: February 2023

Organic room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) has been widely investigated to realize long-lifetime luminescent materials and improvement in their efficiency is a key focus of research, especially for red and near-infrared (NIR) RTP molecules.
Aggregation-induced emission-active micelles: synthesis, characterization, and applications
Authors: Liu Yuhao , Chen Xueqian , Liu Xiaoting , Guan Weijiang , Lu Chao
Published: February 2023

This review summarizes the synthesis, characterization and applications of AIE-active micelles. It is expected that this review can guide the future design of AIE-active micelle materials with fascinating structures and functionalities.