bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rare single-nucleotide DAB1 variants and their contribution to Schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder susceptibility
Authors: Nawa Yoshihiro , Kimura Hiroki , Mori Daisuke , Kato Hidekazu , Toyama Miho , Furuta Sho , Yu Yanjie , Ishizuka Kanako , Kushima Itaru , Aleksic Branko , Arioka Yuko , Morikawa Mako , Okada Takashi , Inada Toshiya , Kaibuchi Kozo , Ikeda Masashi , Iwata Nakao , Suzuki Michio , Okahisa Yuko , Egawa Jun , Someya Toshiyuki , Nishimura Fumichika , Sasaki Tsukasa , Ozaki Norio
Published: November 2020

Disabled 1 (DAB1) is an intracellular adaptor protein in the Reelin signaling pathway and plays an essential role in correct neuronal migration and layer formation in the developing brain. DAB1 has been repeatedly reported to be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia (SCZ) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in genetic, animal, and postmortem studies. Recently, increasing attention has been given to rare single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) found by deep sequencing of candidate genes. In this study, we performed exon-targeted resequencing of DAB1 in 370 SCZ and 192 ASD patients using next-generation sequencing technology to identify rare SNVs with a minor allele frequency <1%. We detected two rare missense mutations (G382C, V129I) and then performed a genetic association study in a sample comprising 1763 SCZ, 380 ASD, and 2190 healthy control subjects. Although no statistically significant association with the detected mutations was observed for either SCZ or ASD, G382C was found only in the case group, and in silico analyses and in vitro functional assays suggested that G382C alters the function of the DAB1 protein. The rare variants of DAB1 found in the present study should be studied further to elucidate their potential functional relevance to the pathophysiology of SCZ and ASD.
An endoribonuclease-based feedforward controller for decoupling resource-limited genetic modules in mammalian cells
Authors: Jones Ross D. , Qian Yili , Siciliano Velia , DiAndreth Breanna , Huh Jin , Weiss Ron , Del Vecchio Domitilla
Published: November 2020

Synthetic biology has the potential to bring forth advanced genetic devices for applications in healthcare and biotechnology. However, accurately predicting the behavior of engineered genetic devices remains difficult due to lack of modularity, wherein a device’s output does not depend only on its intended inputs but also on its context. One contributor to lack of modularity is loading of transcriptional and translational resources, which can induce coupling among otherwise independently-regulated genes. Here, we quantify the effects of resource loading in engineered mammalian genetic systems and develop an endoribonuclease-based feedforward controller that can adapt the expression level of a gene of interest to significant resource loading in mammalian cells. Near-perfect adaptation to resource loads is facilitated by high production and catalytic rates of the endoribonuclease. Our design is portable across cell lines and enables predictable tuning of controller function. Ultimately, our controller is a general-purpose device for predictable, robust, and context-independent control of gene expression.
Systemic brain tumor delivery of synthetic protein nanoparticles for glioblastoma therapy
Authors: Gregory Jason V. , Kadiyala Padma , Doherty Robert , Cadena Melissa , Habeel Samer , Ruoslahti Erkki , Lowenstein Pedro R. , Castro Maria G. , Lahann Joerg
Published: November 2020

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive form of brain cancer, has witnessed very little clinical progress over the last decades, in part, due to the absence of effective drug delivery strategies. Intravenous injection is the least invasive drug delivery route to the brain, but has been severely limited by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Inspired by the capacity of natural proteins and viral particulates to cross the BBB, we engineered a synthetic protein nanoparticle (SPNP) based on polymerized human serum albumin (HSA) equipped with the cell-penetrating peptide iRGD. SPNPs containing siRNA against Signal Transducer and Activation of Transcription 3 factor (STAT3i) result in in vitro and in vivo downregulation of STAT3, a central hub associated with GBM progression. When combined with the standard of care, ionized radiation, STAT3i SPNPs result in tumor regression and long-term survival in 87.5% of GBM-bearing mice and prime the immune system to develop anti-GBM immunological memory.
Direct conversion of methane to formaldehyde and CO on B2O3 catalysts
Authors: Tian Jinshu , Tan Jiangqiao , Zhang Zhaoxia , Han Peijie , Yin Min , Wan Shaolong , Lin Jingdong , Wang Shuai , Wang Yong
Published: November 2020

Direct oxidation of methane to value-added C1 chemicals (e.g. HCHO and CO) provides a promising way to utilize natural gas sources under relatively mild conditions. Such conversions remain, however, a key selectivity challenge, resulting from the facile formation of undesired fully-oxidized CO2. Here we show that B2O3-based catalysts are selective in the direct conversion of methane to HCHO and CO (~94% selectivity with a HCHO/CO ratio of ~1 at 6% conversion) and highly stable (over 100 hour time-on-stream operation) conducted in a fixed-bed reactor (550 °C, 100 kPa, space velocity 4650 mL gcat−1 h−1). Combined catalyst characterization, kinetic studies, and isotopic labeling experiments unveil that molecular O2 bonded to tri-coordinated BO3 centers on B2O3 surfaces acts as a judicious oxidant for methane activation with mitigated CO2 formation, even at high O2/CH4 ratios of the feed. These findings shed light on the great potential of designing innovative catalytic processes for the direct conversion of alkanes to fuels/chemicals.
Using the president’s tweets to understand political diversion in the age of social media
Authors: Lewandowsky Stephan , Jetter Michael , Ecker Ullrich K. H.
Published: November 2020

Social media has arguably shifted political agenda-setting power away from mainstream media onto politicians. Current U.S. President Trump’s reliance on Twitter is unprecedented, but the underlying implications for agenda setting are poorly understood. Using the president as a case study, we present evidence suggesting that President Trump’s use of Twitter diverts crucial media (The New York Times and ABC News) from topics that are potentially harmful to him. We find that increased media coverage of the Mueller investigation is immediately followed by Trump tweeting increasingly about unrelated issues. This increased activity, in turn, is followed by a reduction in coverage of the Mueller investigation—a finding that is consistent with the hypothesis that President Trump’s tweets may also successfully divert the media from topics that he considers threatening. The pattern is absent in placebo analyses involving Brexit coverage and several other topics that do not present a political risk to the president. Our results are robust to the inclusion of numerous control variables and examination of several alternative explanations, although the generality of the successful diversion must be established by further investigation.
Characterization of brown adipose tissue thermogenesis in the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber), a heterothermic mammal
Authors: Oiwa Yuki , Oka Kaori , Yasui Hironobu , Higashikawa Kei , Bono Hidemasa , Kawamura Yoshimi , Miyawaki Shingo , Watarai Akiyuki , Kikusui Takefumi , Shimizu Atsushi , Okano Hideyuki , Kuge Yuji , Kimura Kazuhiro , Okamatsu-Ogura Yuko , Miura Kyoko
Published: November 2020

The naked mole-rat (NMR) is a heterothermic mammal that forms eusocial colonies consisting of one reproductive female (queen), several reproductive males, and subordinates. Despite their heterothermy, NMRs possess brown adipose tissue (BAT), which generally induces thermogenesis in cold and some non-cold environments. Previous studies suggest that NMR-BAT induces thermogenesis by cold exposure. However, detailed NMR-BAT characteristics and whether NMR-BAT thermogenesis occurs in non-cold environments are unknown. Here, we show beta-3 adrenergic receptor (ADRB3)-dependent thermogenic potential of NMR-BAT, which contributes to thermogenesis in the isolated queen in non-cold environments (30 °C). NMR-BAT expressed several brown adipocyte marker genes and showed noradrenaline-dependent thermogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. Although our ADRB3 inhibition experiments revealed that NMR-BAT thermogenesis slightly delays the decrease in body temperature in a cold environment (20 °C), it was insufficient to prevent the decrease in the body temperatures. Even at 30 °C, NMRs are known to prevent the decrease of and maintain their body temperature by heat-sharing behaviors within the colony. However, isolated NMRs maintained their body temperature at the same level as when they are in the colony. Interestingly, we found that queens, but not subordinates, induce BAT thermogenesis in this condition. Our research provides novel insights into NMR thermoregulation.
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor protects against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice by targeting TRAIL receptor-mediated lipoapoptosis via modulating hepatic dipeptidyl peptidase-4 expression
Authors: Lee Minyoung , Shin Eugene , Bae Jaehyun , Cho Yongin , Lee Ji-Yeon , Lee Yong-ho , Lee Byung-Wan , Kang Eun Seok , Cha Bong-Soo
Published: November 2020

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) are antidiabetic medications that prevent cleavage of incretin hormones by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4). DPP4 is ubiquitously expressed, and its hepatic DPP4 expression is upregulated under non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) conditions. We investigated the effect of DPP4i treatment on NASH pathogenesis, as well as its potential underlying molecular mechanisms. Mice were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1, chow-fed mice treated with vehicle for 20 weeks; Group 2, high-fat, high-fructose, and high-cholesterol Amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet-fed mice treated with vehicle for 20 weeks; Group 3, AMLN diet-fed mice treated with vehicle for the first 10 weeks, followed by the DPP4i teneligliptin (20 mg/kg/day) for additional 10 weeks. DPP4i administration reduced serum liver enzyme and hepatic triglyceride levels and markedly improved hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in the AMLN diet-induced NASH model. In vivo, NASH alleviation significantly correlated with the suppression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor-mediated apoptosis and downregulated hepatic DPP4 expression. In vitro, DPP4i treatment significantly decreased the markers of TRAIL receptor-mediated lipoapoptosis and suppressed DPP4 expression in palmitate-treated hepatocytes. In conclusion, DPP4i may efficiently attenuate the pathogenesis of AMLN diet-induced NASH in mice by suppressing lipotoxicity-induced apoptosis, possibly by modulating hepatic DPP4 expression.
Author Correction: Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis reveals correlation between higher WRKY61 expression and reduced symptom severity in Turnip crinkle virus infected Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Gao Ruimin , Liu Peng , Yong Yuhan , Wong Sek-Man
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Lifetime encoding in flow cytometry for bead-based sensing of biomolecular interaction
Authors: Kage Daniel , Hoffmann Katrin , Borcherding Heike , Schedler Uwe , Resch-Genger Ute
Published: November 2020

To demonstrate the potential of time-resolved flow cytometry (FCM) for bioanalysis, clinical diagnostics, and optically encoded bead-based assays, we performed a proof-of-principle study to detect biomolecular interactions utilizing fluorescence lifetime (LT)-encoded micron-sized polymer beads bearing target-specific bioligands and a recently developed prototype lifetime flow cytometer (LT-FCM setup). This instrument is equipped with a single excitation light source and different fluorescence detectors, one operated in the photon-counting mode for time-resolved measurements of fluorescence decays and three detectors for conventional intensity measurements in different spectral windows. First, discrimination of bead-bound biomolecules was demonstrated in the time domain exemplarily for two targets, Streptavidin (SAv) and the tumor marker human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). In a second step, the determination of biomolecule concentration levels was addressed representatively for the inflammation-related biomarker tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) utilizing fluorescence intensity measurements in a second channel of the LT-FCM instrument. Our results underline the applicability of LT-FCM in the time domain for measurements of biomolecular interactions in suspension assays. In the future, the combination of spectral and LT encoding and multiplexing and the expansion of the time scale from the lower nanosecond range to the longer nanosecond and the microsecond region is expected to provide many distinguishable codes. This enables an increasing degree of multiplexing which could be attractive for high throughput screening applications.
A comparative analysis for spatio-temporal spreading patterns of emergency news
Authors: Si Mingjiao , Cui Lizhen , Guo Wei , Li Qingzhong , Liu Lei , Lu Xudong , Lu Xin
Published: November 2020

Understanding the propagation characteristics of online emergency news communication is of great importance to guiding emergency management and supporting the dissemination of vital information. However, existing methods are limited to the analysis of the dissemination of online information pertaining to a specific disaster event. To study the quantification of the general spreading patterns and unique dynamic evolution of emergency-related information, we build a systematic, comprehensive evaluation framework and apply it to 81 million reposts from Sina Weibo, Chinese largest online microblogging platform, and perform a comparative analysis with four other types of online information (political, social, techs, and entertainment news). We find that the spreading of emergency news generally exhibits a shorter life cycle, a shorter active period, and fewer fluctuations in the aftermath of the peak than other types of news, while propagation is limited to a few steps from the source. Furthermore, compared with other types of news, fewer users tend to repost the same piece of news multiple times, while user influence (which depends on the number of fans) has the least impact on the number of reposts for news of emergencies. These comparative results provide insights that will be useful in the context of disaster relief, emergency management, and other communication path prediction applications.
Enhancing protein backbone angle prediction by using simpler models of deep neural networks
Authors: Mataeimoghadam Fereshteh , Newton M. A. Hakim , Dehzangi Abdollah , Karim Abdul , Jayaram B. , Ranganathan Shoba , Sattar Abdul
Published: November 2020

Protein structure prediction is a grand challenge. Prediction of protein structures via the representations using backbone dihedral angles has recently achieved significant progress along with the on-going surge of deep neural network (DNN) research in general. However, we observe that in the protein backbone angle prediction research, there is an overall trend to employ more and more complex neural networks and then to throw more and more features to the neural networks. While more features might add more predictive power to the neural network, we argue that redundant features could rather clutter the scenario and more complex neural networks then just could counterbalance the noise. From artificial intelligence and machine learning perspectives, problem representations and solution approaches do mutually interact and thus affect performance. We also argue that comparatively simpler predictors can more easily be reconstructed than the more complex ones. With these arguments in mind, we present a deep learning method named Simpler Angle Predictor (SAP) to train simpler DNN models that enhance protein backbone angle prediction. We then empirically show that SAP significantly outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods on well-known benchmark datasets: for some types of angles, the differences are above 3 in mean absolute error (MAE). The SAP program along with its data is available from the websitehttps://gitlab.com/mahnewton/sap.
Mode locking suppression in a magneto-optical gyro
Authors: Merzlikin Alexander M. , Puzko Roman S.
Published: November 2020

Integrated ring laser gyroscopes are perfect candidates for small-sized and high-performance gyroscopes. However, the performance of the ring laser gyroscope (RLG) near zero angular velocity is fundamentally restricted by the mode locking effect. In the paper the magneto-optical ring resonator is studied as a sensitive element of the integrated RLG. The counter-propagating waves are generated at the same frequency for resonator at rest and are spatially split. It is shown that the spatial splitting of modes in such a resonator drastically suppresses the mode locking problem even at the near zero angular velocity.
Histogram analysis of T2 mapping for detecting early involvement of extraocular muscles in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
Authors: Liu Ping , Chen Lang , Wang Qiu-xia , Luo Ban , Su Huan-huan , Yuan Gang , Jiang Gui-hua , Zhang Jing
Published: November 2020

Using histogram analysis of T2 values to detect early involvement of extraocular muscles (EOMs) in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Five EOMs of each orbit were analyzed for 45 TAO patients and 22 healthy controls (HCs). Patients’ EOMs were grouped into involved or normal-appearing EOMs (NAEOMs). Histogram parameters and signal intensity ratios (SIRs) of EOMs were compared; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to differentiate NAEOMs from EOMs of HCs. 24 patients were reassessed following immunosuppressive treatment. For SIRs, involved muscles showed higher values than those of NAEOMs and HCs (p < 0.05); there were no differences between NAEOMs and HCs (p = 0.26). Parameters of involved muscles showed no different from those of NAEOMs excluding 25th, 50th percentiles, and standard deviation (SD) (p < 0.05). NAEOMs displayed higher values of 90th, 95th percentiles, SD, skewness, inhomogeneity, and entropy than HCs (p < 0.05). ROC curve analysis of entropy yielded the best area under the ROC curve (AUC; 0.816) for differentiating NAEOMs and HCs. After treatment, histogram parameters including 5th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles, SD, kurtosis, inhomogeneity, and entropy were reduced in NAEOMs (p < 0.05). T2 histogram analysis could detect early involvement of EOMs in TAO prior to detection on conventional orbital MRI.
Numerical study of the effect of channel aspect ratio on particle focusing in acoustophoretic devices
Authors: Spigarelli L. , Vasile N. S. , Pirri C. F. , Canavese G.
Published: November 2020

Acoustophoretic microfluidic devices are promising non-contact and high-throughput tools for particle manipulation. Although the effectiveness of this technique has been widely demonstrated for applications based on micrometer-sized particles, the manipulation and focusing of sub-micrometer ones is challenging due to the presence of acoustic streaming. In this article, our study has the aim to investigate and understand which geometrical parameters could be changed to limit the acoustic streaming effect. We numerically study the well-known rectangular cross section of a microfluidic channel and perform a parametric study of the aspect ratio for several particle sizes. The efficiency of the focusing, is explored for different sized particles in order to identify a trend for which the acoustic streaming does not drastically influence the focusing motion of the particles. The possibility to efficiently separate different solid components in liquid suspensions, i.e. the whole blood, is crucial for all applications that require a purified medium such as plasmapheresis or an increase of the concentration of specific subpopulation as the outcome, such as proteomics, cancer biomarker detections and extracellular vesicles separation.
Impaired ability of Nef to counteract SERINC5 is associated with reduced plasma viremia in HIV-infected individuals
Authors: Toyoda Mako , Kamori Doreen , Tan Toong Seng , Goebuchi Kageaki , Ohashi Jun , Carlson Jonathan , Kawana-Tachikawa Ai , Gatanaga Hiroyuki , Oka Shinichi , Pizzato Massimo , Ueno Takamasa
Published: November 2020

HIV-1 Nef plays an essential role in enhancing virion infectivity by antagonizing the host restriction molecule SERINC5. Because Nef is highly polymorphic due to the selective forces of host cellular immunity, we hypothesized that certain immune-escape polymorphisms may impair Nef’s ability to antagonize SERINC5 and thereby influence viral fitness in vivo. To test this hypothesis, we identified 58 Nef polymorphisms that were overrepresented in HIV-infected patients in Japan sharing the same HLA genotypes. The number of immune-associated Nef polymorphisms was inversely correlated with the plasma viral load. By breaking down the specific HLA allele-associated mutations, we found that a number of the HLA-B*51:01-associated Y120F and Q125H mutations were most significantly associated with a reduced plasma viral load. A series of biochemical experiments showed that the double mutations Y120F/Q125H, but not either single mutation, impaired Nef’s ability to antagonize SERINC5 and was associated with decreasing virion infectivity and viral replication in primary lymphocytes. In contrast, other Nef functions such as CD4, CCR5, CXCR4 and HLA class I downregulation and CD74 upregulation remained unchanged. Taken together, our results suggest that the differential ability of Nef to counteract SERINC5 by naturally occurring immune-associated mutations was associated with the plasma viral load in vivo.
Correlation of objective image quality and working length measurements in different CBCT machines: An ex vivo study
Authors: Wolf T. G. , Fischer F. , Schulze R. K. W.
Published: November 2020

To investigate potential correlations between objective CBCT image parameters and accuracy in endodontic working length determination ex vivo. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and spatial resolution (SR) as fundamental objective image parameters were examined using specific phantoms in seven different CBCT machines. Seven experienced observers were instructed and calibrated. The order of the CBCTs was randomized for each observer and observation. To assess intra-operator reproducibility, the procedure was repeated within six weeks with a randomized order of CBCT images. Multivariate analysis (MANOVA) did not reveal any influence of the combined image quality factors CNR and SR on measurement accuracy. Inter-operator reproducibility as assessed between the two observations was poor, with a mean intra-class correlation (ICC) of 0.48 (95%-CI  0.38, 0.59) for observation No. 1. and 0.40 (95%-CI 0.30, 0.51) for observation No. 2. Intra-operator reproducibility pooled over all observers between both observations was only moderate, with a mean ICC of 0.58 (95%-CI 0.52 to 0.64). Within the limitations of the study, objective image quality measures and exposure parameters seem not to have a significant influence on accuracy in determining endodontic root canal lengths in CBCT scans. The main factor of variance is the observer.
Immobilization of alcohol dehydrogenase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae onto carboxymethyl dextran-coated magnetic nanoparticles: a novel route for biocatalyst improvement via epoxy activation
Authors: Vasić Katja , Knez Željko , Leitgeb Maja
Published: November 2020

A novel method is described for the immobilization of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae onto carboxymethyl dextran (CMD) coated magnetic nanoparticles (CMD-MNPs) activated with epoxy groups, using epichlorohydrin (EClH). EClH was used as an activating agent to bind ADH molecules on the surface of CMD-MNPs. Optimal immobilization conditions (activating agent concentration, temperature, rotation speed, medium pH, immobilization time and enzyme concentration) were set to obtain the highest expressed activity of the immobilized enzyme. ADH that was immobilized onto epoxy-activated CMD-MNPs (ADH-CMD-MNPs) maintained 90% of the expressed activity. Thermal stability of ADH-CMD-MNPS after 24 h at 20 °C and 40 °C yielded 79% and 80% of initial activity, respectively, while soluble enzyme activity was only 19% at 20 °C and the enzyme was non-active at 40 °C. Expressed activity of ADH-CMD-MNPs after 21 days of storage at 4 °C was 75%. Kinetic parameters (KM, vmax) of soluble and immobilized ADH were determined, resulting in 125 mM and 1.2 µmol/min for soluble ADH, and in 73 mM and 4.7 µmol/min for immobilized ADH.
Opioid agonist and antagonist use and the gut microbiota: associations among people in addiction treatment
Authors: Gicquelais Rachel E. , Bohnert Amy S. B. , Thomas Laura , Foxman Betsy
Published: November 2020

Murine models suggest that opioids alter the gut microbiota, which may impact opioid tolerance and psychopathology. We examined how gut microbiota characteristics related to use of opioid agonists and antagonists among people receiving outpatient addiction treatment. Patients (n = 46) collected stool samples and were grouped by use of opioid agonists (heroin, prescription opioids), antagonists (naltrexone), agonist–antagonist combinations (buprenorphine–naloxone), or neither agonists nor antagonists within the month before enrollment. We sequenced the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene using Illumina MiSeq to examine how alpha diversity, enterotypes, and relative abundance of bacterial genera varied by opioid agonist and antagonist exposures. Compared to 31 participants who used neither agonists nor antagonists, 5 participants who used opioid agonists (without antagonists) had lower microbiota diversity, Bacteroides enterotypes, and lower relative abundance of Roseburia, a butyrate producing genus, and Bilophila, a bile acid metabolizing genus. There were no differences in gut microbiota features between those using agonist + antagonists (n = 4), antagonists only (n = 6), and neither agonists nor antagonists. Similar to murine morphine exposure models, opioid agonist use was associated with lower microbiota diversity. Lower abundance of Roseburia and Bilophila may relate to the gut inflammation/permeability and dysregulated bile acid metabolism observed in opioid-exposed mice.
Rearing substrate impacts growth and macronutrient composition of Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae produced at an industrial scale
Authors: Scala Andrea , Cammack Jonathan A. , Salvia Rosanna , Scieuzo Carmen , Franco Antonio , Bufo Sabino A. , Tomberlin Jeffery K. , Falabella Patrizia
Published: November 2020

Organic waste is a rapidly increasing problem due to the growth of the agricultural production needed to meet global food demands. Development of sustainable waste management solutions is essential. Black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) (BSF), larvae are voracious consumers of a wide range of organic materials ranging from fruits and vegetables to animal remains, and manure. Thanks to this ability and considering the larval high protein and lipid content, BSF larvae are a useful additive in animal feeds and biodiesel production. Unfortunately, the feasibility of using the black soldier fly as a tool for waste valorization and feed production has primarily been investigated at the benchtop scale. Thus, mobilization of current practices to an industrial scale is challenging because scaling up from small laboratory studies to large industrial studies is not necessarily linear. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the ability of the BSF to recycle organic waste at an industrial scale. To accomplish this goal, three organic waste streams were used (e.g., apples, bananas, and spent grain from a brewery) to test six diet treatments (1) apple, (2) banana, (3) spent grain, (4) apple and banana, (5) apple and spent grain, and (6) banana and spent grain. Working at scale of 10,000 BSF larvae life history traits, waste valorization, protein and lipid profiles were measured for each diet treatment. Differences were recorded across all variables, except substrate conversion, for larvae fed on fruit and spent grain (alone or with fruit). Growth rate significantly differed across treatments; larvae reared on spent grain grew twice as fast as those fed apples alone, but those reared on the apple and spent grain mixture produced twice as much insect biomass. However, it should be noted that larvae resulting from the apple diet contained 50% more fat than larvae fed the fruit and spent grain mixtures. Commonly-available organic wastes were successfully used at an industrial scale to produce BSF larvae that have the potential to substitute other sources of protein and lipids in different industrial applications. Industrialization efforts are encouraged to assess these impacts when integrating diverse ingredients into larval diets as a means to more precisely predict output, such as larval development time and final larval biomass.
Author Correction: Assessment of the effects of sugammadex on coagulation profiles using thromboelastographic parameters
Authors: Kang Woon-Seok , Lim Hoyoung , Kim Byung-Soo , Lee Yeaji , Hahm Kyung-Don , Kim Seong-Hyop
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Photoinduced metastable dd-exciton-driven metal-insulator transitions in quasi-one-dimensional transition metal oxides
Authors: Asmara Teguh Citra , Lichtenberg Frank , Biebl Florian , Zhu Tao , Das Pranab Kumar , Naradipa Muhammad Avicenna , Fauzi Angga Dito , Diao Caozheng , Yang Ping , Lenzen Philipp , Buchenau Sören , Grimm-Lebsanft Benjamin , Wan Dongyang , Trevisanutto Paolo E. , Breese Mark B. H. , Venkatesan T. , Rübhausen Michael , Rusydi Andrivo
Published: November 2020

Photoinduced phase transitions in matters have gained tremendous attention over the past few years. However, their ultrashort lifetime makes their study and possible control very challenging. Here, we report on highly anisotropic d-d excitonic excitations yielding photoinduced metal-insulator transitions (MITs) in quasi-one-dimensional metals Sr1-yNbOx using Mueller-Matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry, transient ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy, transient mid-infrared reflectivity and angular-resolved photoemission spectroscopy supported with density functional theory. Interestingly, the MITs are driven by photo-pumping of d-d excitons, causing the metallic a-axis to become insulating while the insulating b- and c-axis concomitantly become a correlated metal. We assign these effects to an interplay between the melting of charge and lattice orderings along the different anisotropic optical axes and Bose-Einstein-like condensation of the photoinduced excitons. The long lifetime in the order of several seconds of the metastable MITs gives greater flexibility to study and manipulate the transient excitonic state for potential applications in exciton-based optoelectronic devices.
Recent advances in electroanalytical drug detection by porphyrin/phthalocyanine macrocycles: developments and future perspectives
Authors: Gonçalves Josué M. , Iglesias Bernardo A. , Martins Paulo R. , Angnes Lúcio
Published: November 2020

Porphyrins and phthalocyanines used to construct sensors for electroanalytical drug detection.
A dispersive solid phase extraction adsorbent based on aptamer modified chitosan nanofibers for zearalenone separation in corn, wheat, and beer samples
Authors: Liu Luying , Ma Yanxia , Zhang Xiaoting , Yang Xixiang , Hu Xiaogang
Published: November 2020

Highly selective separation of trace bio-toxins in food samples has long been a hot topic pursued by analytical chemists.
Harnessing hypervalent iodonium ylides as carbene precursors: C–H activation of N-methoxybenzamides with a Rh(iii)-catalyst
Authors: Mayakrishnan Sivakalai , Tamizmani Masilamani , Maheswari Naryanan Uma
Published: November 2020

The first ever attempt at reacting hypervalent iodonium ylides with readily available N-methoxybenzamides by using a Rh(iii)-catalyst has been well explored.
Electrochemical regioselective selenylation/oxidation of N-alkylisoquinolinium salts via double C(sp2)–H bond functionalization
Authors: Liu Xiang , Wang Yajun , Song Dan , Wang Yuhan , Cao Hua
Published: November 2020

An efficient and environmentally friendly electrochemical regioselective selenylation/oxidation of N-alkylisoquinolinium salts via double C(sp2)–H bond functionalization has been developed.
Dissipative aggregation-induced emission behaviour of an amino-functionalized tetraphenylethene using a pH oscillator
Authors: Liang Enxiang , Su Fang , Liang Yan , Wang Guoxiang , Xu Wenyuan , Li Shan , Yang Caixia , Tang Jianxin , Zhou Ningbo
Published: November 2020

A dissipative aggregation-induced emission system is successfully fabricated by coupling a stimuli-responsive AIE luminogens with a pH oscillator.
MOCVD of AlN on epitaxial graphene at extreme temperatures
Authors: Kakanakova-Georgieva Anelia , Ivanov Ivan G. , Suwannaharn Nattamon , Hsu Chih-Wei , Cora Ildikó , Pécz Béla , Giannazzo Filippo , Sangiovanni Davide G. , Gueorguiev Gueorgui K.
Published: November 2020

Appearance of luminescent centers with narrow spectral emission at room temperature in nanometer thin AlN is reported.
Organic cations directed 1D [Pb3Br10]4− chains: syntheses, crystal structures, and photoluminescence properties
Authors: Jing Chang-Qing , Li Jing-Zhao , Xu Te , Jiang Kuan , Zhao Xue-Jie , Wu Yu-Fang , Xue Nian-Ting , Jing Zhi-Hong , Lei Xiao-Wu
Published: November 2020

To diversify the luminescence properties of 1D perovskites, different organic amine cations were combined with 1D [Pb3Br10]4− chains leading to a series of A2Pb3Br10 homologues, displaying broadband near white-light emissions with highest CRI of 96.
Structural characterization, reactivity, and vibrational properties of silver clusters: a new global minimum for Ag16
Authors: Rodríguez-Kessler Peter L. , Rodríguez-Domínguez Adán R. , MacLeod Carey Desmond , Muñoz-Castro Alvaro
Published: November 2020

In the present work, the lowest energy structures and electronic properties of Agn clusters up to n = 16 are investigated using a successive growth algorithm coupled with density functional theory calculations (DFT).
First-principles calculation of 11B solid-state NMR parameters of boron-rich compounds I: the rhombohedral boron modifications and B12X2 (X = P, As, O)
Authors: Ludwig Martin , Hillebrecht Harald
Published: November 2020

This study reports on solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectra under magic angle spinning conditions of the rhombohedral structures α-B and B12P2 together with parameter sets from first principles calculations on α-B and B12X2 (X = P, As, O).
Fluorinated cobalt catalysts and their use in forming narrowly dispersed polyethylene waxes of high linearity and incorporating vinyl functionality
Authors: Zhang Qiuyue , Li Zilong , Han Mingyang , Xiang Junfeng , Solan Gregory A. , Ma Yanping , Liang Tongling , Sun Wen-Hua
Published: November 2020

The depicted cobalt catalysts bearingortho-fluorine and fluorinatedortho-benzhydryl substituents displayed a preference for forming highly linear PE waxes; DFT studies have been used to probe this selectivity.
Direct ink writing of energy materials
Authors: Tagliaferri S. , Panagiotopoulos A. , Mattevi C.
Published: November 2020

Direct Ink Writing is a promising technique for the sustainable fabrication of energy devices with arbitrary architectures.
Optical properties and carrier dynamics in Co-doped ZnO nanorods
Authors: K. Sivan Aswathi , Galán-González Alejandro , Di Mario Lorenzo , Tappy Nicolas , Hernández-Ferrer Javier , Catone Daniele , Turchini Stefano , Benito Ana M. , Maser Wolfgang K. , Steinvall Simon Escobar , Fontcuberta i Morral Anna , Gallant Andrew , Zeze Dagou A. , Atkinson Del , Martelli Faustino
Published: November 2020

Optoelectronic and photoelectrochemical characterization of Co-doped ZnO nanorods revealing the crucial role of surface defects for enhanced photoresponse.
Fe7Se8 encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanofibers as a stable anode material for sodium ion batteries
Authors: Hu Le , Shang Chaoqun , Wang Xin , Zhou Guofu
Published: November 2020

Transition metal chalcogenides especially Fe-based selenides for sodium storage have the advantages of high electric conductivity, low cost, abundant active sites, and high theoretical capacity.
The quest for supernatural products: the impact of total synthesis in complex natural products medicinal chemistry
Authors: Wu Zhi-Chen , Boger Dale L.
Published: November 2020

This review summarizes and highlights recent advances in medicinal chemistry of natural products enabled by total synthesis that provide “supernatural products” with improved properties superseding the natural products themselves.
Bacterial terpenome
Authors: Rudolf Jeffrey D. , Alsup Tyler A. , Xu Baofu , Li Zining
Published: November 2020

We highlight the current state of the bacterial terpenome, emphasizing the discoveries, structures, biosynthetic pathways, and biological activities of these terpenoid natural products.
Nanocarriers used as probes for super-resolution microscopy
Authors: Sreedharan Sreejesh , Tiwari Rajeshwari , Tyde Deepak , Aderinto Stephen O. , Pramanik Sumit Kumar , Das Amitava , Thomas James A.
Published: November 2020

Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) has revolutionized cell biology, enabling visualization of cellular structures with nanometric resolution, single-molecule sensitivity, and with multiple colors. Here we review how nanocontainers have been used to enhance these techniques.
Controllable growth of MoS2 nanosheets on TiO2 burst nanotubes and their photocatalytic activity
Authors: Jiang Qiushi , Wang Shang , Li Xue , Han Zhaolian , Zhao Chunli , Di Tingting , Liu Siyuan , Cheng Zhiqiang
Published: November 2020

MoS2 nanosheets were grown on TiO2 nanotubes by the simple hydrothermal method for the first time.
Unexpected reversible and controllable nuclear uptake and efflux of the DNA “light-switching” Ru(ii)-polypyridyl complex in living cellsviaion-pairing with chlorophenolate counter-anions
Authors: Huang Rong , Zhu Jian-Qiang , Tang Miao , Huang Chun-Hua , Zhang Zhi-Hui , Sheng Zhi-Guo , Liu Sijin , Zhu Ben-Zhan
Published: November 2020

An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of cellular uptake and efflux would facilitate the design of metal complexes with not only better functionality and targeted theranostic efficiency, but also with controlled toxicity.
A review ofin vitrocell culture testing methods for bioactive glasses and other biomaterials for hard tissue regeneration
Authors: Jablonská Eva , Horkavcová Diana , Rohanová Dana , Brauer Delia S.
Published: November 2020

Bioactive glasses are used to regenerate bone, and when developing new compositions,in vitrocell culture studies are key. As test parameters vary widely, this review provides an overview, helping researchers to select the appropriate ones.
A dual promotion strategy of interface modification and ion doping for efficient and stable carbon-based planar CsPbBr3 perovskite solar cells
Authors: Wang Chenyang , Long Yongjin , Liu Xiaohui , Fu Shiqiang , Wang Jiahao , Zhang Jing , Hu Ziyang , Zhu Yuejin
Published: November 2020

A novel dual promotion strategy combining interface modification with ion doping is proposed to achieve highly efficient and stable carbon-based planar CsPbBr3 perovskite solar cells.
Membrane protein crystallography in the era of modern structural biology
Authors: Kwan Tristan O. C. , Axford Danny , Moraes Isabel
Published: November 2020

The aim of structural biology has been always the study of biological macromolecules structures and their mechanistic behaviour at molecular level. To achieve its goal, multiple biophysical methods and approaches have become part of the structural biology toolbox. Considered as one of the pillars of structural biology, X-ray crystallography has been the most successful method for solving three-dimensional protein structures at atomic level to date. It is however limited by the success in obtaining well-ordered protein crystals that diffract at high resolution. This is especially true for challenging targets such as membrane proteins (MPs). Understanding structure-function relationships of MPs at the biochemical level is vital for medicine and drug discovery as they play critical roles in many cellular processes. Though difficult, structure determination of MPs by X-ray crystallography has significantly improved in the last two decades, mainly due to many relevant technological and methodological developments. Today, numerous MP crystal structures have been solved, revealing many of their mechanisms of action. Yet the field of structural biology has also been through significant technological breakthroughs in recent years, particularly in the fields of single particle electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs). Here we summarise the most important advancements in the field of MP crystallography and the significance of these developments in the present era of modern structural biology.
The complexity of PRC2 catalysts CLF and SWN in plants
Authors: Shu Jie , Chen Chen , Li Chenlong , Cui Yuhai
Published: November 2020

Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is an evolutionally conserved multisubunit complex essential for the development of eukaryotes. In Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), CURLY LEAF (CLF) and SWINGER (SWN) are PRC2 catalytic subunits that repress gene expression through trimethylating histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3). CLF and SWN function to safeguard the appropriate expression of key developmental regulators throughout the plant life cycle. Recent researches have advanced our knowledge of the biological roles and the regulation of the activity of CLF and SWN. In this review, we summarize these recent findings and highlight the redundant and differential roles of CLF and SWN in plant development. Further, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying CLF and SWN recruitment to specific genomic loci, as well as their interplays with Trithorax-group (TrxG) proteins in plants.
Spatio-temporal regulation of gene expression defines subpopulations of epidermal stem cells
Authors: Aruketty Maneesha , Kurinna Svitlana
Published: November 2020

The search for epidermal stem cells has gained the momentum as they possess unique biological characteristics and a potential in regeneration therapies. Several transcription factors and miRNAs have been identified as epidermal stem cell markers. However, the separation of epidermal stem cells from their progeny remains challenging. The introduction of single-cell transcriptomics pointed to the high degree of heterogeneity in epidermal stem cells imbedded within subpopulations of keratinocytes. Pseudotime inference, RNA velocity, and cellular entropy further enhanced our knowledge of stem cells, allowing for the discovery of the epidermal stem cell plasticity. We explore the main findings that lead to the discovery of the plastic trait within the epidermal stem cells and the implications of cell plasticity in regenerative medicine.
Serological antibody testing in the COVID-19 pandemic: their molecular basis and applications
Authors: Jiang Jiayue-Clara , Zhang Yan
Published: November 2020

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has placed an overwhelming burden on the healthcare system, and caused major disruption to the world economy. COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus that leads to a variety of symptoms in humans, including cough, fever and respiratory failure. SARS-CoV-2 infection can trigger extensive immune responses, including the production of antibodies. The detection of antibody response by serological testing provides a supplementary diagnostic tool to molecular tests. We hereby present a succinct yet comprehensive review on the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as molecular mechanisms behind the strengths and limitations of serological antibody tests. The presence of antibodies can be detected in patient sera within days post symptom onset. Serological tests demonstrate superior sensitivity to molecular tests in some periods of time during disease development. Compared with the molecular tests, serological tests can be used for point-of-care testing, providing faster results at a lower cost. Commercially available serological tests show variable sensitivity and specificity, and the molecular basis of these variabilities are analysed. We discuss assays of different complexities that are used to specifically quantitate neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, which has important implications for vaccine development and herd immunity. Furthermore, we discuss examples of successful applications of serological tests to contact tracing and community-level sero-surveying, which provide invaluable information for pandemic management and assessment.
Faith and development: The role of local religious organization in community change in Papua
Authors: van Burg Elco
Published: November 2020

Religious organizations have an important role in development aid. For a long time, this role was not acknowledged by the main players in the development arena, but this has changed over the last few decades. Yet, this role is not without tensions, as in particular western donors hold secular perspectives on development and find it hard to deal with organizations that want to provide help as well as spread their religion. In this study, I review the literature on faith-based organizations (FBOs) and present a case-study of how churches in rural areas of Indonesia’s Papua province fulfill key roles in local development. To come to a fruitful cooperation between large development organizations and such indigenous churches, an important condition is that the role of religion in daily life of these Papuans needs to be acknowledged.
Wetland management: preparing for climate and coastal change using adaptation pathways
Authors: Gell Peter
Published: November 2020

Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened in the world. The list of threatened species in freshwater ecosystems is greater than that in terrestrial or marine systems and freshwater vertebrates are particularly at risk. Freshwater wetlands have evolved in coastal zones protected from tidal influence by barrier dune systems. Similarly, estuaries have supported zones of low salinity diluted by flows from land, but water resource development has limited these flows and driven ecological change in estuarine systems. These historical uses of river flows, and the impacts of catchment development on water quality and yields, have combined to threaten coastal wetland ecosystems. They are now under increasing threat through climate change driven alterations to hydroclimatic conditions, as well an rising sea levels which risk inundation of low lying coastal regions, including wetlands. Coastal freshwater systems offer considerable ecosystem services to human systems and host significant biodiversity assets. These have been subjected to increased risk through catchment and coastal development, but are now acutely threatened through changed river flows and elevated sea levels that result from climate change. Managing these systems requires an adaptation pathways approach that accommodates human needs, and society’s obligations to global biodiversity.