bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
2D and 3D convolutional neural networks for outcome modelling of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Starke Sebastian , Leger Stefan , Zwanenburg Alex , Leger Karoline , Lohaus Fabian , Linge Annett , Schreiber Andreas , Kalinauskaite Goda , Tinhofer Inge , Guberina Nika , Guberina Maja , Balermpas Panagiotis , von der Grün Jens , Ganswindt Ute , Belka Claus , Peeken Jan C. , Combs Stephanie E. , Boeke Simon , Zips Daniel , Richter Christian , Troost Esther G. C. , Krause Mechthild , Baumann Michael , Löck Steffen
Published: September 2020

For treatment individualisation of patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with primary radiochemotherapy, we explored the capabilities of different deep learning approaches for predicting loco-regional tumour control (LRC) from treatment-planning computed tomography images. Based on multicentre cohorts for exploration (206 patients) and independent validation (85 patients), multiple deep learning strategies including training of 3D- and 2D-convolutional neural networks (CNN) from scratch, transfer learning and extraction of deep autoencoder features were assessed and compared to a clinical model. Analyses were based on Cox proportional hazards regression and model performances were assessed by the concordance index (C-index) and the model’s ability to stratify patients based on predicted hazards of LRC. Among all models, an ensemble of 3D-CNNs achieved the best performance (C-index 0.31) with a significant association to LRC on the independent validation cohort. It performed better than the clinical model including the tumour volume (C-index 0.39). Significant differences in LRC were observed between patient groups at low or high risk of tumour recurrence as predicted by the model ($$p=0.001$$

p
=
0.001

). This 3D-CNN ensemble will be further evaluated in a currently ongoing prospective validation study once follow-up is complete.
Author Correction: Aerosol and surface contamination of SARS-CoV-2 observed in quarantine and isolation care
Authors: Santarpia Joshua L. , Rivera Danielle N. , Herrera Vicki L. , Morwitzer M. Jane , Creager Hannah M. , Santarpia George W. , Crown Kevin K. , Brett-Major David M. , Schnaubelt Elizabeth R. , Broadhurst M. Jana , Lawler James V. , Reid St. Patrick , Lowe John J.
Published: September 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Cilia interactome with predicted protein–protein interactions reveals connections to Alzheimer’s disease, aging and other neuropsychiatric processes
Authors: Karunakaran Kalyani B. , Chaparala Srilakshmi , Lo Cecilia W. , Ganapathiraju Madhavi K.
Published: September 2020

Cilia are dynamic microtubule-based organelles present on the surface of many eukaryotic cell types and can be motile or non-motile primary cilia. Cilia defects underlie a growing list of human disorders, collectively called ciliopathies, with overlapping phenotypes such as developmental delays and cognitive and memory deficits. Consistent with this, cilia play an important role in brain development, particularly in neurogenesis and neuronal migration. These findings suggest that a deeper systems-level understanding of how ciliary proteins function together may provide new mechanistic insights into the molecular etiologies of nervous system defects. Towards this end, we performed a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis of known intraflagellar transport, BBSome, transition zone, ciliary membrane and motile cilia proteins. Known PPIs of ciliary proteins were assembled from online databases. Novel PPIs were predicted for each ciliary protein using a computational method we developed, called High-precision PPI Prediction (HiPPIP) model. The resulting cilia “interactome” consists of 165 ciliary proteins, 1,011 known PPIs, and 765 novel PPIs. The cilia interactome revealed interconnections between ciliary proteins, and their relation to several pathways related to neuropsychiatric processes, and to drug targets. Approximately 184 genes in the cilia interactome are targeted by 548 currently approved drugs, of which 103 are used to treat various diseases of nervous system origin. Taken together, the cilia interactome presented here provides novel insights into the relationship between ciliary protein dysfunction and neuropsychiatric disorders, for e.g. interconnections of Alzheimer’s disease, aging and cilia genes. These results provide the framework for the rational design of new therapeutic agents for treatment of ciliopathies and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Long-term motor skill training with individually adjusted progressive difficulty enhances learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity
Authors: Christiansen Lasse , Larsen Malte Nejst , Madsen Mads Just , Grey Michael James , Nielsen Jens Bo , Lundbye-Jensen Jesper
Published: September 2020

Motor skill acquisition depends on central nervous plasticity. However, behavioural determinants leading to long lasting corticospinal plasticity and motor expertise remain unexplored. Here we investigate behavioural and electrophysiological effects of individually tailored progressive practice during long-term motor skill training. Two groups of participants practiced a visuomotor task requiring precise control of the right digiti minimi for 6 weeks. One group trained with constant task difficulty, while the other group trained with progressively increasing task difficulty, i.e. continuously adjusted to their individual skill level. Compared to constant practice, progressive practice resulted in a two-fold greater performance at an advanced task level and associated increases in corticospinal excitability. Differences were maintained 8 days later, whereas both groups demonstrated equal retention 14 months later. We demonstrate that progressive practice enhances motor skill learning and promotes corticospinal plasticity. These findings underline the importance of continuously challenging patients and athletes to promote neural plasticity, skilled performance, and recovery.
Iodine nanoparticle radiotherapy of human breast cancer growing in the brains of athymic mice
Authors: Hainfeld James F. , Ridwan Sharif M. , Stanishevskiy F. Yaroslav , Smilowitz Henry M.
Published: September 2020

About 30% of breast cancers metastasize to the brain; those widely disseminated are fatal typically in 3–4 months, even with the best available treatments, including surgery, drugs, and radiotherapy. To address this dire situation, we have developed iodine nanoparticles (INPs) that target brain tumors after intravenous (IV) injection. The iodine then absorbs X-rays during radiotherapy (RT), creating free radicals and local tumor damage, effectively boosting the local RT dose at the tumor. Efficacy was tested using the very aggressive human triple negative breast cancer (TNBC, MDA-MB-231 cells) growing in the brains of athymic nude mice. With a well-tolerated non-toxic IV dose of the INPs (7 g iodine/kg body weight), tumors showed a heavily iodinated rim surrounding the tumor having an average uptake of 2.9% iodine by weight, with uptake peaks at 4.5%. This is calculated to provide a dose enhancement factor of approximately 5.5 (peaks at 8.0), the highest ever reported for any radiation-enhancing agents. With RT alone (15 Gy, single dose), all animals died by 72 days; INP pretreatment resulted in longer-term remissions with 40% of mice surviving 150 days and 30% surviving > 280 days.
Site-selective mapping of metastable states using electron-beam induced luminescence microscopy
Authors: Kumar R. , Martin L. I. D. J. , Poelman D. , Vandenberghe D. , De Grave J. , Kook M. , Jain M.
Published: September 2020

Metastable states created by electron or hole capture in crystal defects are widely used in dosimetry and photonic applications. Feldspar, the most abundant mineral in the Earth’s crust (> 50%), generates metastable states with lifetimes of millions of years upon exposure to ionizing radiation. Although feldspar is widely used in dosimetry and geochronometry, the creation of metastable states and charge transfer across them is poorly understood. Understanding such phenomena requires next-generation methods based on high-resolution, site-selective probing of the metastable states. Recent studies using site-selective techniques such as photoluminescence (PL), and radioluminescence (RL) at 7 K have revealed that feldspar exhibits two near-infrared (NIR) emission bands peaking at 880 nm and 955 nm, which are believed to arise from the principal electron-trapping states. Here, we map for the first time the electron-trapping states in potassium-rich feldspar using spectrally-resolved cathodoluminescence microscopy at a spatial resolution of ~ 6 to 22 µm. Each pixel probed by a scanning electron microscope provides us a cathodoluminescence spectrum (SEM-CL) in the range 600–1000 nm, and elemental data from energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. We conclude that the two NIR emissions are spatially variable and, therefore, originate from different sites. This conclusion contradicts the existing model that the two emissions arise from two different excited states of a principal trap. Moreover, we are able to link the individual NIR emission peaks with the geochemical variations (K, Na and Fe concentration), and propose a model that explains the quenching of the NIR emission by Fe4+. Our study contributes to an improved understanding of charge storage in feldspathic minerals, with implications for developing sub-single grain (micrometer scale) measurement techniques in radiation dosimetry.
Novel targets identified by integrated proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis in spermatogenesis of swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Authors: Huang Yu-lin , Zhang Peng-fei , Fu Qiang , He Weng-tan , Xiao Kai , Zhang Ming
Published: September 2020

To understand mechanisms of spermatogenesis, the proteome and the phosphoproteome in prepubertal and pubertal swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) testes were analyzed using tandem mass tag (TMT) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). In prepubertal testes, 80 proteins were overexpressed, 148 proteins were underexpressed, and 139 and 142 protein sites had higher and lower phosphorylation, respectively, compared to the levels in pubertal testes. Several of these proteins were associated with reproductive processes such as sexual reproduction, spermatogenesis, fertilization, and spermatid development. In particular, outer dense fiber protein 1 (ODF1), protein maelstrom homolog (MAEL), actin-like protein 7B (ACTL7B), tyrosine-(Y)-phosphorylation regulated (CABYR), and tripartite motif containing 36 (TRIM36) were upregulated with age at both the proteome and phosphoproteome levels. Combining proteome and phosphoproteome analysis can be effectively applied to study the protein/phosphorylation patterns of buffalo testes. These data provide new regulatory candidates and evidence for a complex network in spermatogenesis in buffalo testes, and serve as an important resource for exploring the physiological mechanism of spermatogenesis in mammals.
Automated rotator cuff tear classification using 3D convolutional neural network
Authors: Shim Eungjune , Kim Joon Yub , Yoon Jong Pil , Ki Se-Young , Lho Taewoo , Kim Youngjun , Chung Seok Won
Published: September 2020

Rotator cuff tear (RCT) is one of the most common shoulder injuries. When diagnosing RCT, skilled orthopedists visually interpret magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan data. For automated and accurate diagnosis of RCT, we propose a full 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) based method using deep learning. This 3D CNN automatically diagnoses the presence or absence of an RCT, classifies the tear size, and provides 3D visualization of the tear location. To train the 3D CNN, the Voxception-ResNet (VRN) structure was used. This architecture uses 3D convolution filters, so it is advantageous in extracting information from 3D data compared with 2D-based CNNs or traditional diagnosis methods. MRI data from 2,124 patients were used to train and test the VRN-based 3D CNN. The network is trained to classify RCT into five classes (None, Partial, Small, Medium, Large-to-Massive). A 3D class activation map (CAM) was visualized by volume rendering to show the localization and size information of RCT in 3D. A comparative experiment was performed for the proposed method and clinical experts by using randomly selected 200 test set data, which had been separated from training set. The VRN-based 3D CNN outperformed orthopedists specialized in shoulder and general orthopedists in binary accuracy (92.5% vs. 76.4% and 68.2%), top-1 accuracy (69.0% vs. 45.8% and 30.5%), top-1±1 accuracy (87.5% vs. 79.8% and 71.0%), sensitivity (0.92 vs. 0.89 and 0.93), and specificity (0.86 vs. 0.61 and 0.26). The generated 3D CAM provided effective information regarding the 3D location and size of the tear. Given these results, the proposed method demonstrates the feasibility of artificial intelligence that can assist in clinical RCT diagnosis.
Publisher Correction: Systemically-delivered biodegradable PLGA alters gut microbiota and induces transcriptomic reprogramming in the liver in an obesity mouse model
Authors: Chaplin Alice , Gao Huiyun , Asase Courteney , Rengasamy Palanivel , Park Bongsoo , Skander Danielle , Bebek Gürkan , Rajagopalan Sanjay , Maiseyeu Andrei
Published: September 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Quantum circuit optimization using quantum Karnaugh map
Authors: Bae J.-H. , Alsing Paul M. , Ahn Doyeol , Miller Warner A.
Published: September 2020

Every quantum algorithm is represented by set of quantum circuits. Any optimization scheme for a quantum algorithm and quantum computation is very important especially in the arena of quantum computation with limited number of qubit resources. Major obstacle to this goal is the large number of elemental quantum gates to build even small quantum circuits. Here, we propose and demonstrate a general technique that significantly reduces the number of elemental gates to build quantum circuits. This is impactful for the design of quantum circuits, and we show below this could reduce the number of gates by 60% and 46% for the four- and five-qubit Toffoli gates, two key quantum circuits, respectively, as compared with simplest known decomposition. Reduced circuit complexity often goes hand-in-hand with higher efficiency and bandwidth. The quantum circuit optimization technique proposed in this work would provide a significant step forward in the optimization of quantum circuits and quantum algorithms, and has the potential for wider application in quantum computation.
Development and validation of a prediction model on severe maternal outcomes among pregnant women with pre-eclampsia: a 10-year cohort study
Authors: Tan Jing , Yang Min , Liao Yuan , Qi Yana , Ren Yan , Liu Chunrong , Huang Shiyao , Thabane Lehana , Liu Xinghui , Sun Xin
Published: September 2020

Pre-eclampsia is a severe hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and could lead to severe maternal morbidities and death. Our study aimed to develop and validate a prognostic prediction model for severe maternal outcomes among Chinese population with pre-eclampsia. We conducted a 10-year cohort study in a referral center by collecting all pregnant women who diagnosed as pre-eclampsia and delivered from 2005 to 2014. A composite of severe maternal outcomes, including maternal near-miss defined by World Health Organization, cortical blindness/retinal detachment, temporary facial paralysis and maternal death, were adopted. We used logistic regression model to develop Model 1 by retaining the predictors of p < 0.05, and further conducted Model 2 by adding quadratic terms and interaction terms to Model 1. We undertook a bootstrapping validation and estimated the model performance. A total of 397 pregnant women suffered from severe maternal outcomes among 2,793 eligible participants, with an incidence of 14.21% (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.91%–15.51%). Of 13 predictors were finally selected in Model 1. Combined with quadratic and interactive terms, the Model 2 showed higher area under the ROC curve (82.2%, 95% CI 79.6%–84.7%) and good calibration. By the bootstrapping validation, similar model performances were present.
Comparison of the incidences of anastomotic leakage when PDSII or LACLON are used in esophago-gastric conduit handsewn anastomosis after esophagectomy
Authors: Sato Yusuke , Motoyama Satoru , Wakita Akiyuki , Kawakita Yuta , Nagaki Yushi , Terata Kaori , Imai Kazuhiro , Minamiya Yoshihiro
Published: September 2020

The incidence of anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy remains around 10%. It was previously reported that PDSII rapidly loses tensile strength at pH 1.0 and pH 8.5. By contrast, LACLON degradation is reportedly insensitive to pH. We therefore compared LACLON with PDSII for esophago-gastric conduit, layer-to-layer, handsewn anastomosis. Between January 2016 and January 2020, 90 patients who received posterior mediastinal gastric conduit reconstruction with layer-to-layer handsewn anastomosis (51 using PDSII and 39 using LACLON) at Akita University Hospital were enrolled. The incidence of anastomotic leakage was significantly lower in the LACLON (2.6%, 1/39 patients) than PDSII group (15.7%, 8/51 patients) (p = 0.0268). Multivariable logistic analysis showed the risk of anastomotic leakage was significantly greater with PDSII than LACLON (odds ratio 11.01; 95% CI 1.326–277.64; p = 0.024). The percentages of time the pH was higher than 8 on the gastric conduit side of the anastomosis were 3.1%, 5.7%, 20.9% and 80.5%, respectively, in the four most recent patients. The present study showed that pH at the anastomosis soon after esophagectomy tends to be alkaline rather than acidic, which raises the possibility that this alkalinity facilitates the deterioration of surgical sutures including PDSII.
Dysregulation of metabolic pathways by carnitine palmitoyl-transferase 1 plays a key role in central nervous system disorders: experimental evidence based on animal models
Authors: Trabjerg Michael Sloth , Mørkholt Anne Skøttrup , Lichota Jacek , Oklinski Michal Krystian Egelund , Andersen Dennis Christian , Jønsson Katrine , Mørk Kasper , Skjønnemand Marie-Louise Nibelius , Kroese Lona John , Pritchard Colin Eliot Jason , Huijbers Ivo Johan , Gazerani Parisa , Corthals Angelique , Nieland John Dirk Vestergaard
Published: September 2020

The etiology of CNS diseases including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis remains elusive despite decades of research resulting in treatments with only symptomatic effects. In this study, we provide evidence that a metabolic shift from glucose to lipid is a key mechanism in neurodegeneration. We show that, by downregulating the metabolism of lipids through the key molecule carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1), it is possible to reverse or slowdown disease progression in experimental models of autoimmune encephalomyelitis-, SOD1G93A and rotenone models, mimicking these CNS diseases in humans. The effect was seen both when applying a CPT1 blocker or by using a Cpt1a P479L mutant mouse strain. Furthermore, we show that diet, epigenetics, and microbiota are key elements in this metabolic shift. Finally, we present a systemic model for understanding the complex etiology of neurodegeneration and how different regulatory systems are interconnected through a central metabolic pathway that becomes deregulated under specific conditions.
High-resolution crystal structure and biochemical characterization of a GH11 endoxylanase from Nectria haematococca
Authors: Andaleeb Hina , Ullah Najeeb , Falke Sven , Perbandt Markus , Brognaro Hévila , Betzel Christian
Published: September 2020

Enzymatic degradation of vegetal biomass offers versatile procedures to improve the production of alternative fuels and other biomass-based products. Here we present the three-dimensional structure of a xylanase fromNectria haematococca(NhGH11) at 1.0 Å resolution and its functional properties. The atomic resolution structure provides details and insights about the complex hydrogen bonding network of the active site region and allowed a detailed comparison with homologous structures. Complementary biochemical studies showed that the xylanase can catalyze the hydrolysis of complex xylan into simple xylose aldopentose subunits of different lengths. NhGH11 can catalyze the efficient breakdown of beechwood xylan, xylan polysaccharide, and wheat arabinoxylan with turnover numbers of 1730.6 ± 318.1 min−1, 1648.2 ± 249.3 min−1and 2410.8 ± 517.5 min−1respectively. NhGH11 showed maximum catalytic activity at pH 6.0 and 45 °C. The mesophilic character of NhGH11 can be explained by distinct structural features in comparison to thermophilic GH11 enzymes, including the number of hydrogen bonds, side chain interactions and number of buried water molecules. The enzymatic activity of NhGH11 is not very sensitive to metal ions and chemical reagents that are typically present in associated industrial production processes. The data we present highlights the potential of NhGH11 to be applied in industrial biomass degradation processes.
Structural insight into the binding of human galectins to corneal keratan sulfate, its desulfated form and related saccharides
Authors: Miller Michelle C. , Cai Chao , Wichapong Kanin , Bhaduri Sayantan , Pohl Nicola L. B. , Linhardt Robert J. , Gabius Hans-Joachim , Mayo Kevin H.
Published: September 2020

Glycosaminoglycan chains of keratan sulfate proteoglycans appear to be physiologically significant by pairing with tissue lectins. Here, we used NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to characterize interactions of corneal keratan sulfate (KS), its desulfated form, as well as di-, tetra- (N-acetyllactosamine and lacto-N-tetraose) and octasaccharides with adhesion/growth-regulatory galectins, in particular galectin-3 (Gal-3). The KS contact region involves the lectin canonical binding site, with estimated KDvalues in the low µM range and stoichiometry of ~ 8 to ~ 20 galectin molecules binding per polysaccharide chain. Compared to Gal-3, the affinity to Gal-7 is relatively low, signaling preferences among galectins. The importance of the sulfate groups was delineated by using desulfated analogs that exhibit relatively reduced affinity. Binding studies with two related di- and tetrasaccharides revealed a similar decrease that underscores affinity enhancement by repetitive arrangement of disaccharide units. MD-based binding energies of KS oligosaccharide-loaded galectins support experimental data on Gal-3 and -7, and extend the scope of KS binding to Gal-1 and -9N. Overall, our results provide strong incentive to further probe the relevance of molecular recognition of KS by galectins in terms of physiological processes in situ, e.g. maintaining integrity of mucosal barriers, intermolecular (lattice-like) gluing within the extracellular meshwork or synaptogenesis.
Limited effect of radial oxygen loss on ammonia oxidizers in Typha angustifolia root hairs
Authors: Hernández-del Amo Elena , Dolinová Iva , la Ramis-Jorba Gal , Gich Frederic , Bañeras Lluís
Published: September 2020

The benefits of plant–microbe interactions have been exploited extensively for nutrient removal. Radial oxygen loss in aquatic macrophytes potentially promotes nitrification and accelerates nitrogen removal through coupled nitrification–denitrification process. Nitrification is likely the limiting activity for an effective nitrogen removal in wetlands. In this work, we have quantified the effect of radial oxygen losses in Typha angustifolia plants in environments of contrasting salinities, including a temporary lagoon, a constructed wetland, and a river estuary. In all sites, radial oxygen diffusion occurred mainly at a narrow band, from 1 to 5 cm from the root tip, and were almost absent at the tip and basal sections of the root (> 5 cm). Root sections with active oxygen diffusion tended to show higher bacterial and archaeal densities in the rhizoplane according to 16S rRNA gene abundance data, except at higher salinities. Archaeal amoA /bacterial amoA gene ratios were highly variable among sites. Archaeal nitrifiers were only favoured over bacteria on the root surface of Typha collected from the constructed wetland. Collectively, radial oxygen loss had little effect on the nitrifying microbial community at the smaller scale (differences according to root-section), and observed differences were more likely related to prevailing physicochemical conditions of the studied environments or to long-term effects of the root microenvironment (root vs sediment comparisons).
Retrospective unbiased plasma lipidomic of progressive multiple sclerosis patients-identifies lipids discriminating those with faster clinical deterioration
Authors: Amatruda Mario , Petracca Maria , Wentling Maureen , Inbar Benjamin , Castro Kamilah , Chen Emily Y. , Kiebish Michael A. , Edwards Keith , Inglese Matilde , Casaccia Patrizia
Published: September 2020

The disease course of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) is uncertain. In an attempt to identify potential signaling pathways involved in the evolution of the disease, we conducted an exploratory unbiased lipidomic analysis of plasma from non-diseased controls (n = 8) and patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS, n = 19) and either a rapid (PPMS-P, n = 9) or slow (PPMS-NP, n = 10) disease course based on worsening disability and/or MRI-visible appearance of new T2 lesions over a one-year-assessment. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis of the MS/MSALL lipidomic dataset, identified lipids driving the clustering of the groups. Among these lipids, sphingomyelin-d18:1/14:0 and mono-hexosylceramide-d18:1/20:0 were differentially abundant in the plasma of PPMS patients compared to controls and their levels correlated with MRI signs of disease progression. Lyso-phosphatidic acid-18:2 (LPA-18:2) was the only lipid with significantly lower abundance in PPMS patients with a rapidly deteriorating disease course, and its levels inversely correlated with the severity of the neurological deficit. Decreased levels of LPA-18:2 were detected in patients with more rapid disease progression, regardless of therapy and these findings were validated in an independent cohort of secondary progressive (SPMS) patients, but not in a third cohorts of relapsing–remitting (RRMS) patients. Collectively, our analysis suggests that sphingomyelin-d18:1/14:0, mono-hexosylceramide-d18:1/20:0, and LPA-18:2 may represent important targets for future studies aimed at understanding disease progression in MS.
Emergence of complex structures from nonlinear interactions and noise in coevolving networks
Authors: Raducha Tomasz , San Miguel Maxi
Published: September 2020

We study the joint effect of the non-linearity of interactions and noise on coevolutionary dynamics. We choose the coevolving voter model as a prototype framework for this problem. By numerical simulations and analytical approximations we find three main phases that differ in the absolute magnetisation and the size of the largest component: a consensus phase, a coexistence phase, and a dynamical fragmentation phase. More detailed analysis reveals inner differences in these phases, allowing us to divide two of them further. In the consensus phase we can distinguish between a weak or alternating consensus and a strong consensus, in which the system remains in the same state for the whole realisation of the stochastic dynamics. In the coexistence phase we distinguish a fully-mixing phase and a structured coexistence phase, where the number of active links drops significantly due to the formation of two homogeneous communities. Our numerical observations are supported by an analytical description using a pair approximation approach and an ad-hoc calculation for the transition between the coexistence and dynamical fragmentation phases. Our work shows how simple interaction rules including the joint effect of non-linearity, noise, and coevolution lead to complex structures relevant in the description of social systems.
Investigating PM2.5 responses to other air pollutants and meteorological factors across multiple temporal scales
Authors: Fu Haiyue , Zhang Yiting , Liao Chuan , Mao Liang , Wang Zhaoya , Hong Nana
Published: September 2020

It remains unclear on how PM2.5 interacts with other air pollutants and meteorological factors at different temporal scales, while such knowledge is crucial to address the air pollution issue more effectively. In this study, we explored such interaction at various temporal scales, taking the city of Nanjing, China as a case study. The ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) method was applied to decompose time series data of PM2.5, five other air pollutants, and six meteorological factors, as well as their correlations were examined at the daily and monthly scales. The study results show that the original PM2.5 concentration significantly exhibited non-linear downward trend, while the decomposed time series of PM2.5 concentration by EEMD followed daily and monthly cycles. The temporal pattern of PM10, SO2 and NO2 is synchronous with that of PM2.5. At both daily and monthly scales, PM2.5 was positively correlated with CO and negatively correlated with 24-h cumulative precipitation. At the daily scale, PM2.5 was positively correlated with O3, daily maximum and minimum temperature, and negatively correlated with atmospheric pressure, while the correlation pattern was opposite at the monthly scale.
T. gondii infection induces IL-1R dependent chronic cachexia and perivascular fibrosis in the liver and skeletal muscle
Authors: Melchor Stephanie J. , Hatter Jessica A. , Castillo Érika A. LaTorre , Saunders Claire M. , Byrnes Kari A. , Sanders Imani , Abebayehu Daniel , Barker Thomas H. , Ewald Sarah E.
Published: September 2020

Cachexia is a progressive muscle wasting disease that contributes to death in a wide range of chronic diseases. Currently, the cachexia field lacks animal models that recapitulate the long-term kinetics of clinical disease, which would provide insight into the pathophysiology of chronic cachexia and a tool to test therapeutics for disease reversal.Toxoplasma gondii(T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite that uses conserved mechanisms to infect rodents and human hosts. Infection is lifelong and has been associated with chronic weight loss and muscle atrophy in mice. We have recently shown thatT. gondii-induced muscle atrophy meets the clinical definition of cachexia. Here, the longevity of theT. gondii-induced chronic cachexia model revealed that cachectic mice develop perivascular fibrosis in major metabolic organs, including the adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver by 9 weeks post-infection. Development of cachexia, as well as liver and skeletal muscle fibrosis, is dependent on intact signaling through the type I IL-1R receptor. IL-1α is sufficient to activate cultured fibroblasts and primary hepatic stellate cells (myofibroblast precursors in the liver) in vitro, and IL-1α is elevated in the sera and liver of cachectic, suggesting a mechanism by which chronic IL-1R signaling could be leading to cachexia-associated fibrosis.
Ultrasounds could be considered as a future tool for probing growing bone properties
Authors: Lefevre Emmanuelle , Baron Cécile , Gineyts Evelyne , Bala Yohann , Gharbi Hakim , Allain Jean-Marc , Lasaygues Philippe , Pithioux Martine , Follet Hélène
Published: September 2020

Juvenile bone growth is well described (physiological and anatomical) but there are still lacks of knowledge on intrinsic material properties. Our group has already published, on different samples, several studies on the assessment of intrinsic material properties of juvenile bone compared to material properties of adult bone. The purpose of this study was finally to combine different experimental modalities available (ultrasonic measurement, micro-Computed Tomography analysis, mechanical compression tests and biochemical measurements) applied on small cubic bone samples in order to gain insight into the multiparametric evaluation of bone quality. Differences were found between juvenile and adult groups in term of architectural parameters (Porosity Separation), Tissue Mineral Density (TMD), diagonal stiffness coefficients (C33, C44, C55, C66) and ratio between immature and mature cross-links (CX). Diagonal stiffness coefficients are more representative of the microstructural and biochemical parameters of child bone than of adult bone. We also found that compression modulus E was highly correlated with several microstructure parameters and CX in children group while it was not at all correlated in the adult group. Similar results were found for the CX which was linked to several microstructure parameters (TMD and E) only in the juvenile group. To our knowledge, this is the first time that, on a same sample, ultrasonic measurements have been combined with the assessment of mechanical and biochemical properties. It appears that ultrasonic measurements can provide relevant indicators of child bone quality (microstructural and biochemical parameters) which is promising for clinical application since, B-mode ultrasound is the preferred first-line modality over other more constraining imaging modalities (radiation, parent–child accessibility and access to the patient's bed) for pediatric patients.
Glucocorticoid-induced cell-derived matrix modulates transforming growth factor β2 signaling in human trabecular meshwork cells
Authors: Yemanyi Felix , Vranka Janice , Raghunathan Vijay Krishna
Published: September 2020

Aberrant remodeling of trabecular meshwork (TM) extracellular matrix (ECM) may induce ocular hypertensive phenotypes in human TM (hTM) cells to cause ocular hypertension, via a yet unknown mechanism. Here, we show that, in the absence of exogenous transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGFβ2), compared with control matrices (VehMs), glucocorticoid-induced cell-derived matrices (GIMs) trigger non-Smad TGFβ2 signaling in hTM cells, correlated with overexpression/activity of structural ECM genes (fibronectin, collagen IV, collagen VI, myocilin), matricellular genes (connective tissue growth factor [CTGF], secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine), crosslinking genes/enzymes (lysyl oxidase, lysyl oxidase-like 2–4, tissue transglutaminase-2), and ECM turnover genes/enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases-MMP2,14 and their inhibitors-TIMP2). However, in the presence of exogenous TGFβ2, VehMs and GIMs activate Smad and non-Smad TGFβ2 signaling in hTM cells, associated with overexpression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and differential upregulation of aforementioned ECM genes/proteins with new ones emerging (collagen-I, thrombospondin-I, plasminogen activator inhibitor, MMP1, 9, ADAMTS4, TIMP1); with GIM-TGFβ2-induced changes being mostly more pronounced. This suggests dual glaucomatous insults potentiate profibrotic signaling/phenotypes. Lastly, we demonstrate type I TGFβ receptor kinase inhibition abrogates VehM-/GIM- and/or TGFβ2-induced upregulation of α-SMA and CTGF. Collectively, pathological TM microenvironments are sufficient to elicit adverse cellular responses that may be ameliorated by targeting TGFβ2 pathway.
A novel lung alveolar cell model for exploring volatile biomarkers of particle-induced lung injury
Authors: Chuang Hsiao-Chi , Tsai Shih-Wei , Shie Ruei-Hao , Lu Yi-Chia , Song Sheng-Rong , Huang Sheng-Hsiu , Peng Hsin-Yi , Yang Hsiao-Yu
Published: September 2020

Quartz can increase oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and inflammation. The objective of this study was to explore the volatile biomarkers of quartz-induced lung injury using a lung alveolar cell model. We exposed the human alveolar A549 cell line to 0, 200, and 500 μg/mL quartz particles for 24 h and used gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to measure the volatile metabolites in the headspace air of cells. We identified ten volatile metabolites that had concentration–response relationships with particles exposure, including 1,2,4-oxadiazole, 5-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl- (CAS: 28825-12-9), 2,6-dimethyl-6-trifluoroacetoxyoctane (CAS: 61986-67-2), 3-buten-1-amine, N,N-dimethyl- (CAS: 55831-89-5), 2-propanol, 2-methyl- (CAS: 75-65-0), glycolaldehyde dimethyl acetal (CAS: 30934-97-5), propanoic acid, 2-oxo-, ethyl ester (CAS: 617-35-6), octane (CAS: 111-65-9), octane, 3,3-dimethyl- (CAS: 4110-44-5), heptane, 2,3-dimethyl- (CAS: 3074-71-3) and ethanedioic acid, bis(trimethylsilyl) ester (CAS: 18294-04-7). The volatile biomarkers are generated through the pathways of propanoate and nitrogen metabolism. The volatile biomarkers of the alkanes and methylated alkanes are related to oxidative and lipid peroxidation of the cell membrane. The lung alveolar cell model has the potential to explore the volatile biomarkers of particulate-induced lung injury.
Transcriptome of peanut kernel and shell reveals the mechanism of calcium on peanut pod development
Authors: Yang Sha , Wang Jianguo , Tang Zhaohui , Guo Feng , Zhang Ye , Zhang Jialei , Meng Jingjing , Zheng Lei , Wan Shubo , Li Xinguo
Published: September 2020

Calcium is not only a nutrient necessary for plant growth but also a ubiquitous central element of different signaling pathways. Ca2+ deficiency in soil may cause embryo abortion, which can eventually lead to abnormal development of peanut pods during the harvest season. To further study the mechanisms by which Ca2+ affects the shells and kernels of peanuts, transcriptome sequencing was used to explore the genes differentially expressed in shells and kernels during the early stage of peanut pod development between Ca2+ sufficient and deficient treatments. In this study, 38,894 expressed genes were detected. RNA-seq based gene expression profiling showed a large number of genes at the transcriptional level that changed significantly in shells and kernels between the Ca2+ sufficient and deficient treatments, respectively. Genes encoding key proteins involved in Ca2+ signal transduction, hormones, development, ion transport, and nutrition absorption changed significantly. Meanwhile, in the early stage of pod development, calcium first promoted nutrient absorption and development of shells, which has less effect on the formation of seed kernels. These results provide useful information for understanding the relationship between Ca2+ absorption and pod development.
Author Correction: Magneto-Hybrid Nanofluids Flow via Mixed Convection past a Radiative Circular Cylinder
Authors: EL-Zahar E. R. , Rashad A. M. , Saad W. , Seddek L. F.
Published: September 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Background luminance effects on pupil size associated with emotion and saccade preparation
Authors: Cherng Yih-Giun , Baird Talia , Chen Jui-Tai , Wang Chin-An
Published: September 2020

Pupil dilation is consistently evoked by affective and cognitive processing, and this dilation can result from sympathetic activation or parasympathetic inhibition. The relative contributions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems on the pupillary response induced by emotion and cognition may be different. Sympathetic and parasympathetic activity is regulated by global luminance level. Higher luminance levels lead to greater activation of the parasympathetic system while lower luminance levels lead to greater activation of the sympathetic system. To understand the contributions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems to pupillary responses associated with emotion and saccade preparation, emotional auditory stimuli were presented following the fixation cue whose color indicated instruction to perform a pro- or anti-saccade while varying the background luminance level. Pupil dilation was evoked by emotional auditory stimuli and modulated by arousal level. More importantly, greater pupil dilation was observed with a dark background, compared to a bright background. In contrast, pupil dilation responses associated with saccade preparation were larger with the bright background than the dark background. Together, these results suggest that arousal-induced pupil dilation was mainly mediated by sympathetic activation, but pupil dilation related to saccade preparation was primarily mediated by parasympathetic inhibition.
A short guide for medical professionals in the era of artificial intelligence
Authors: Meskó Bertalan , Görög Marton
Published: September 2020

Artificial intelligence (A.I.) is expected to significantly influence the practice of medicine and the delivery of healthcare in the near future. While there are only a handful of practical examples for its medical use with enough evidence, hype and attention around the topic are significant. There are so many papers, conference talks, misleading news headlines and study interpretations that a short and visual guide any medical professional can refer back to in their professional life might be useful. For this, it is critical that physicians understand the basics of the technology so they can see beyond the hype, evaluate A.I.-based studies and clinical validation; as well as acknowledge the limitations and opportunities of A.I. This paper aims to serve as a short, visual and digestible repository of information and details every physician might need to know in the age of A.I. We describe the simple definition of A.I., its levels, its methods, the differences between the methods with medical examples, the potential benefits, dangers, challenges of A.I., as well as attempt to provide a futuristic vision about using it in an everyday medical practice.
Untethered and ultrafast soft-bodied robots
Authors: Wang Xu , Mao Guoyong , Ge Jin , Drack Michael , Cañón Bermúdez Gilbert Santiago , Wirthl Daniela , Illing Rico , Kosub Tobias , Bischoff Lothar , Wang Changan , Fassbender Jürgen , Kaltenbrunner Martin , Makarov Denys
Published: September 2020

Acting at high speed enables creatures to survive in their harsh natural environments. They developed strategies for fast actuation that inspire technological embodiments like soft robots. Here, we demonstrate a series of simulation-guided lightweight, durable, untethered, small-scale soft-bodied robots that perform large-degree deformations at high frequencies up to 100 Hz, are driven at very low magnetic fields down to 0.5 mT and exhibit a specific energy density of 10.8 kJ m−3 mT−1. Unforeseen asynchronous strongly nonlinear cross-clapping behavior of our robots is observed in experiments and analyzed by simulation, breaking ground for future designs of soft-bodied robots. Our robots walk, swim, levitate, transport cargo, squeeze into a vessel smaller than their dimensions and can momentarily close around a living fly. Such ultrafast soft robots can rapidly adapt to varying environmental conditions, inspire biomedical applications in confined environments, and serve as model systems to develop complex movements inspired by nature.
Interrogating helical nanorod self-assembly with fractionated cellulose nanocrystal suspensions
Authors: Honorato-Rios Camila , Lagerwall Jan P. F.
Published: September 2020

The helical self-assembly of cholesteric liquid crystals is a powerful motif in nature, enabling exceptional performance in many biological composites. Attempts to mimic these remarkable materials by drying cholesteric colloidal nanorod suspensions often yield films with a non-uniform mosaic-like character, severely degrading optical and mechanical properties. Here we show—using the example of cellulose nanocrystals—that these problems are due to rod length dispersity: uncontrolled phase separation results from a divergence in viscosity for short rods, and variations in pitch can be traced back to a twisting power that scales with rod length. We present a generic, robust and scalable method for fractionating nanorod suspensions, allowing us to interrogate key aspects of cholesteric self-assembly that were previously hidden by colloid dispersity. By controlled drying of fractionated suspensions, we can obtain mosaic-free films that are uniform in colour. Our findings unify conflicting observations and open routes to biomimetic artificial materials with performance that can compete with that of nature’s originals.
Correction: Bimolecular vinylation of arenes by vinyl cations
Authors: Li Zhilong , Gandon Vincent , Bour Christophe
Published: September 2020

Correction for ‘Bimolecular vinylation of arenes by vinyl cations’ by Zhilong Li et al., Chem. Commun., 2020, 56, 6507–6510, DOI: 10.1039/D0CC02300K.
Vertically configured nanostructure-mediated electroporation: a promising route for intracellular regulations and interrogations
Authors: Shokouhi Ali-Reza , Aslanoglou Stella , Nisbet David , Voelcker Nicolas H. , Elnathan Roey
Published: September 2020

Nanostructure-mediated EP platforms based on vertically aligned nanowires (NWs), nanostraws (NSs), and nanotubes (NTs). Left: Intracellular delivery. Middle: Intracellular extraction of biomolecules. Right: Intracellular probing of action potential.
A modular and orthogonally reactive platform for fabrication of polymer–drug conjugates for targeted delivery
Authors: Arslan Mehmet , Bolu Burcu Sumer , Sanyal Rana , Sanyal Amitav
Published: September 2020

Increasing interest in utilization of polymeric systems in targeted drug delivery has necessitated fabrication of polymers that undergo facile functionalization with targeting groups and therapeutic agents in a modular and orthogonal fashion.
Thin, stretchable, universal wireless power transfer system for electric vehicle charging
Authors: Guo Yibing , Zhang Han , Liu Hao , Li Shuang , Yin Shizhen , Cao Peng , Zhang Lijuan , Ping Xuecheng , Guo Liang
Published: September 2020

A novel stretchable wireless power transfer (SWPT) system is developed to integrate the receiving coil on the vehicle roof and hang the transmission coil over the vehicle to shorten the transmission distance and improve the power transfer efficiency.
Co-solvent polarity tuned thermochromic nanotubes of cyclic dipeptide–polydiacetylene supramolecular system
Authors: Khazi Mohammed Iqbal , Balachandra Chenikkayala , Shin Geon , Jang Gang-Hee , Govindaraju Thimmaiah , Kim Jong-Man
Published: September 2020

Co-solvent controlled fabrication of thermo-responsive chromogenic nanotubes of a cyclic dipeptide–polydiacetylene supramolecular system.
Effect of extended short-circuiting in proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Authors: Trogadas Panagiotis , Cho Jason I. S. , Kapil Nidhi , Rasha Lara , Corredera Albert , Brett Dan J. L. , Coppens Marc-Olivier
Published: September 2020

The detrimental effect of extended short-circuiting in the degradation of catalyst layer and performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
A multifunctional oxygen-producing MnO2-based nanoplatform for tumor microenvironment-activated imaging and combination therapy in vitro
Authors: Yang Chunlei , Liu Yazhou , Su Sa , Gao Na , Jing Jing , Zhang Xiaoling
Published: September 2020

A smart nanoplatform (MONs-GOx@MnO2-Ce6) has been constructed herein by the assembly of glucose oxidase (GOx)-coated mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MONs) and MnO2 nanosheets-chlorin e6 (Ce6), which form a nanosystem.
Material properties of disulfide-crosslinked hyaluronic acid hydrogels influence prostate cancer cell growth and metabolism
Authors: Tam Nicky W. , Chung Dudley , Baldwin Samuel J. , Simmons Jeffrey R. , Xu Lingling , Rainey Jan K. , Dellaire Graham , Frampton John P.
Published: September 2020

Studying prostate cancer cells embedded in hyaluronic acid hydrogels provides insight on how metastatic cells might behave in diffusion-limited tissue microenvironments.
Experimental evidence of wide bandgap in triclinic (001)-oriented Sn5O2(PO4)2 thin films on Y2O3 buffered glass substrates
Authors: Fukumoto Michitaka , Yang Chang , Yu Wenlei , Patzig Christian , Höche Thomas , Ruf Thomas , Denecke Reinhard , Lorenz Michael , Grundmann Marius
Published: September 2020

Sn5O2(PO4)2 is a promising p-type transparent semiconducting oxide. The bandgap of the triclinic Sn5O2(PO4)2 film was estimated to be as large as 3.87 eV, which is the first experimental evidence verifying a recent theoretical prediction.