bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interference and management of herbicide-resistant crop volunteers
Authors: Jhala Amit J. , Beckie Hugh J. , Peters Thomas J. , Culpepper A. Stanley , Norsworthy Jason K.
Published: January 2021

Since the commercialization of herbicide-resistant (HR) crops, primarily glyphosate-resistant crops, their adoption has increased rapidly. Multiple herbicide resistance traits in crops such as canola (Brassica napusL.), corn (Zea maysL.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.), and soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] have become available in recent years, and management of their volunteers needs attention to prevent interference and yield loss in rotational crops. The objectives of this review were to summarize HR crop traits in barley (Hordeum vulgareL.), canola, corn, cotton, rice (Oryza sativaL.), soybean, sugarbeet (Beta vulgarisL.), and wheat (Triticum aestivumL.); assess their potential for volunteerism; and review existing literature on the interference of HR crop volunteers, yield loss, and their management in rotational crops. HR crop volunteers are problem weeds in agronomic cropping systems, and the impact of volunteerism depends on several factors, such as crop grown in rotation, the density of volunteers, management practices, and microclimate. Interference of imidazolinone-resistant (IR) barley or wheat volunteers can be a problem in rotational crops, particularly when IR crops such as canola or wheat are grown. HR canola volunteers are abundant in the Northern Great Plains due to high fecundity, seed loss before or during harvest, and secondary seed dormancy, and they can interfere in crops grown in rotation such as flax (Linum usitatissimumL.), field peas (Pisum sativumL.), and soybean. HR corn volunteers are competitive in crops grown in rotation such as corn, cotton, soybean, and sugarbeet, with yield loss depending on the density of HR corn volunteers. Volunteers of HR cotton, rice, soybean, and sugarbeet are not major concerns and can be controlled with existing herbicides. Herbicide options would be limited if the crop volunteers are multiple HR; therefore, recording the cultivar planted the previous year and selecting the appropriate herbicide are important. The increasing use of 2,4-D, dicamba, glufosinate, and glyphosate in North American cropping systems requires research on herbicide interactions and alternative herbicides or methods for controlling multiple HR crop volunteers.
Lernverlaufsdiagnostik im Rechtschreibunterricht der Grundschule
Authors: Blumenthal Stefan , Sikora Simon , Mahlau Kathrin
Published: January 2021

Zusammenfassung. Aktuelle Studien zeigen eine besorgniserregende Situation zu rechtschriftlichen Leistungen von Kindern. Eine Möglichkeit, um rechtschriftliche Minderleistungen im inklusiven Unterricht schnell zu erfassen und systematisch die Wirksamkeit der eingesetzten Interventionen zu überprüfen, stellen Verfahren zur Lernverlaufsdiagnostik dar. In diesem Beitrag wird die Entwicklung eines Verfahrens zur Lernverlaufsdiagnostik im Bereich Rechtschreibung vorgestellt, die Erarbeitung des dafür notwendigen Wordpools beschrieben und umfassend seine psychometrische Güte geprüft. Die notwendigen Daten wurden längsschnittlich innerhalb von 2 Schuljahren erhoben. Insgesamt konnten die Ergebnisse von 2 888 Kindern erster bis vierter Klassen aus 28 Schulen berücksichtigt werden. Um Aussagen über die Itemkennwerte treffen zu können, wurde ein eindimensionales Raschmodell über alle Klassenstufen und Messzeitpunkte berechnet. Anschließend wurden Itemparameter sowie Personenkennwerte für die jeweiligen Messzeitpunkte geschätzt. Zur Einschätzung der Güte der Verfahren wurden darüber hinaus Reliabilitäts- sowie Validitätskoeffizienten berechnet. Neben der psychometrischen Eignung wird abschließend auch die schulpraktische Relevanz des Verfahrens diskutiert.
Längsschnittliche Messung numerischer Kompetenzen von Kindergartenkindern
Authors: Geeler Susanne Kuratli , Grob Urs , Heinze Aiso , Leuchter Miriam , Lindmeier Anke , Vogt Franziska , Opitz Elisabeth Moser
Published: January 2021

Zusammenfassung. Wird ein Instrument für längsschnittliche Messungen eingesetzt, muss es zusätzlich zu üblichen messtheoretischen Anforderungen die Voraussetzung zeitbezogener Messinvarianz erfüllen. Dies ist für die Erfassung numerischer Kompetenzen im Kindergartenalter aufgrund des hohen Entwicklungstempos herausfordernd. Ziel des vorliegenden Beitrags ist, anhand einer Stichprobe von 894 Kindergartenkindern aus der Schweiz ( n = 523) und Deutschland ( n = 371) zu untersuchen, ob auf Grundlage des TEDI-MATH-Itempools die Entwicklung numerischer Kompetenzen von Kindergartenkindern reliabel und unverzerrt erfassbar ist. In einer Skalierung mittels des Raschmodells erwies sich das Instrument nach Ausschluss von 17 Items mit zeitbezogenen differenziellen Itemfunktionen (DIF) als überzeitlich reliabel. Eine anschließende CFA zeigte jedoch auf, dass die faktorielle Struktur zwar theoriekonform, über die Zeit jedoch nicht vollständig strukturstabil war. Zudem wies das gekürzte Instrument DIF auf Ebene der Länderteilstichproben auf: Diese Unterschiede könnten durch unterschiedliche Kindergarten-Förderkonzepte in den Ländern bedingt sein, was bereits für das Kindergartenalter die Frage der Kontextabhängigkeit von Leistungsmessungen aufwirft.
In norming we trust
Authors: Gary Sebastian , Lenhard Wolfgang
Published: January 2021

Zusammenfassung. Ziel der Untersuchung war ein systematischer Vergleich verschiedener Verfahren zur Normdatenmodellierung. Der auf Taylor-Polynomen basierende semi-parametrische Normierungsansatz (SPCN) mittels cNORM ( Lenhard, Lenhard & Gary, 2018 ) wurde parametrischen Anpassungen basierend auf Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS; Stasinopoulos et al., 2018 ) gegenübergestellt und die Normierungsgüte in Abhängigkeit der Faktoren Normstichprobengröße ( n = 525, 700, 1 050, 1 750), Itemanzahl (i = 10, 20, 40) sowie Itemschwierigkeit analysiert. Die Modellierung erfolgte kreuzvalidiert auf der Basis simulierter Rohdaten von Normierungs- und Validierungsstichproben: Mittels der verschiedenen Verfahren wurden auf der Basis der Normierungsstichprobe statistische Modelle berechnet und auf die Validierungsstichprobe übertragen, um die jeweils vorhergesagten mit den tatsächlichen Normwerten zu vergleichen. Der semi-parametrische Ansatz lieferte in den meisten Fällen den geringsten Normierungsfehler und damit das beste Normierungsergebnis. Die deutlichsten Unterschiede fanden sich bei leichten bzw. schweren Testskalen in Verbindung mit einer kleinen Itemanzahl. Der Einfluss der Normstichprobengröße war bei allen Methoden vergleichbar.
Overturning in the Pacific May Have Enabled a “Standstill” in Beringia
Authors: den Hond Bas
Published: January 2021

During the last glacial period, a vanished ocean current may have made the land bridge between Asia and the Americas into a place where humans could wait out the ice.
Autophagy regulation by acetylation—implications for neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Son Sung Min , Park So Jung , Fernandez-Estevez Marian , Rubinsztein David C.
Published: January 2021

Posttranslational modifications of proteins, such as acetylation, are essential for the regulation of diverse physiological processes, including metabolism, development and aging. Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved catabolic process that involves the highly regulated sequestration of intracytoplasmic contents in double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes, which are subsequently degraded after fusing with lysosomes. The roles and mechanisms of acetylation in autophagy control have emerged only in the last few years. In this review, we describe key molecular mechanisms by which previously identified acetyltransferases and deacetylases regulate autophagy. We highlight how p300 acetyltransferase controls mTORC1 activity to regulate autophagy under starvation and refeeding conditions in many cell types. Finally, we discuss how altered acetylation may impact various neurodegenerative diseases in which many of the causative proteins are autophagy substrates. These studies highlight some of the complexities that may need to be considered by anyone aiming to perturb acetylation under these conditions.
Decoding the temporal nature of brain GR activity in the NFκB signal transition leading to depressive-like behavior
Authors: Han Young-Min , Kim Min Sun , Jo Juyeong , Shin Daiha , Kwon Seung-Hae , SEO Jong Bok , Kang Dongmin , Lee Byoung Dae , Ryu Hoon , Hwang Eun Mi , Kim Jae-Min , Patel Paresh D. , Lyons David M. , Schatzberg Alan F. , Her Song
Published: January 2021

The fine-tuning of neuroinflammation is crucial for brain homeostasis as well as its immune response. The transcription factor, nuclear factor-κ-B (NFκB) is a key inflammatory player that is antagonized via anti-inflammatory actions exerted by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). However, technical limitations have restricted our understanding of how GR is involved in the dynamics of NFκB in vivo. In this study, we used an improved lentiviral-based reporter to elucidate the time course of NFκB and GR activities during behavioral changes from sickness to depression induced by a systemic lipopolysaccharide challenge. The trajectory of NFκB activity established a behavioral basis for the NFκB signal transition involved in three phases, sickness-early-phase, normal-middle-phase, and depressive-like-late-phase. The temporal shift in brain GR activity was differentially involved in the transition of NFκB signals during the normal and depressive-like phases. The middle-phase GR effectively inhibited NFκB in a glucocorticoid-dependent manner, but the late-phase GR had no inhibitory action. Furthermore, we revealed the cryptic role of basal GR activity in the early NFκB signal transition, as evidenced by the fact that blocking GR activity with RU486 led to early depressive-like episodes through the emergence of the brain NFκB activity. These results highlight the inhibitory action of GR on NFκB by the basal and activated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis during body-to-brain inflammatory spread, providing clues about molecular mechanisms underlying systemic inflammation caused by such as COVID-19 infection, leading to depression.
The HSP GRP94 interacts with macrophage intracellular complement C3 and impacts M2 profile during ER stress
Authors: Chaumonnot Killian , Masson Sophie , Sikner Hugo , Bouchard Alexanne , Baverel Valentin , Bellaye Pierre-Simon , Collin Bertrand , Garrido Carmen , Kohli Evelyne
Published: January 2021

The role of GRP94, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress protein with both pro- and anti-inflammatory functions, has not been investigated in macrophages during ER stress, whereas ER stress has been reported in many diseases involving macrophages. In this work, we studied GRP94 in M1/LPS + IFNγ and M2/IL-4 primary macrophages derived from human monocytes (isolated from buffy coats), in basal and ER stress conditions induced by thapsigargin (Tg), an inducer of ER calcium depletion and tunicamycin (Tm), an inhibitor of N-glycosylation. We found that GRP94 was expressed on the membrane of M2 but not M1 macrophages. In M2, Tg, but not Tm, while decreased GRP94 content in the membrane, it induced its secretion. This correlated with the induction of a pro-inflammatory profile, which was dependent on the UPR IRE1α arm activation and on a functional GRP94. As we previously reported that GRP94 associated with complement C3 at the extracellular level, we analyzed C3 and confirmed GRP94-C3 interaction in our experimental model. Further, Tg increased this interaction and, in these conditions, C3b and cathepsin L were detected in the extracellular medium where GRP94 co-immunoprecipitated with C3 and C3b. Finally, we showed that the C3b inactivated fragment, iC3b, only present on non-stressed M2, depended on functional GRP94, making both GRP94 and iC3b potential markers of M2 cells. In conclusion, our results show that GRP94 is co-secreted with C3 under ER stress conditions which may facilitate its cleavage by cathepsin L, thus contributing to the pro-inflammatory profile observed in stressed M2 macrophages.
Role and dynamics of vacuolar pH during cell-in-cell mediated death
Authors: Su Yan , Ren He , Tang Meng , Zheng You , Zhang Bo , Wang Chenxi , Hou Xinyu , Niu Zubiao , Wang Zhongyi , Gao Xiaoyan , Gao Lihua , Jiang Hong , Chen Zhaolie , Luo Tianzhi , Sun Qiang
Published: January 2021

The nonautonomous cell death by entosis was mediated by the so-called cell-in-cell structures, which were believed to kill the internalized cells by a mechanism dependent on acidified lysosomes. However, the precise values and roles of pH critical for the death of the internalized cells remained undetermined yet. We creatively employed keima, a fluorescent protein that displays different excitation spectra in responding to pH changes, to monitor the pH dynamics of the entotic vacuoles during cell-in-cell mediated death. We found that different cells varied in their basal intracellular pH, and the pH was relatively stable for entotic vacuoles containing live cells, but sharply dropped to a narrow range along with the inner cell death. In contrast, the lipidation of entotic vacuoles by LC3 displayed previously underappreciated complex patterns associated with entotic and apoptotic death, respectively. The pH decline seemed to play distinct roles in the two types of inner cell deaths, where apoptosis is preceded with moderate pH decline while a profound pH decline is likely to be determinate for entotic death. Whereas the cancer cells seemed to be lesser tolerant to acidified environments than noncancerous cells, manipulating vacuolar pH could effectively control inner cell fates and switch the ways whereby inner cell die. Together, this study demonstrated for the first time the pH dynamics of entotic vacuoles that dictate the fates of internalized cells, providing a rationale for tuning cellular pH as a potential way to treat cell-in-cell associated diseases such as cancer.
CSN6 promotes melanoma proliferation and metastasis by controlling the UBR5-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of CDK9
Authors: Zhang Yanli , Hou Jianbing , Shi Shaomin , Du Juan , Liu Yudong , Huang Pan , Li Qian , Liu Lichao , Hu Huanrong , Ji Yacong , Guo Leiyang , Shi Yaqiong , Liu Yaling , Cui Hongjuan
Published: January 2021

As a critical subunit of the constitutive photomorphogenesis 9 (COP9) signalosome (CSN), CSN6 is upregulated in some human cancers and plays critical roles in tumorigenesis and progression, but its biological functions and molecular mechanisms in melanoma remain unknown. Our study showed that CSN6 expression was upregulated in melanoma patients and cells, and correlated with poor survival in melanoma patients. In melanoma cells, CSN6 knockdown remarkably inhibited cell proliferation, tumorigenicity, migration, and invasion, whereas CSN6 recovery rescued the proliferative and metastatic abilities. Notably, we identified that CSN6 stabilized CDK9 expression by reducing CDK9 ubiquitination levels, thereby activating CDK9-mediated signaling pathways. In addition, our study described a novel CSN6-interacting E3 ligase UBR5, which was negatively regulated by CSN6 and could regulate the ubiquitination and degradation of CDK9 in melanoma cells. Furthermore, in CSN6-knockdown melanoma cells, UBR5 knockdown abrogated the effects caused by CSN6 silencing, suggesting that CSN6 activates the UBR5/CDK9 pathway to promote melanoma cell proliferation and metastasis. Thus, this study illustrates the mechanism by which the CSN6-UBR5-CDK9 axis promotes melanoma development, and demonstrate that CSN6 may be a potential biomarker and anticancer target in melanoma.
The Hippo pathway component Wwc2 is a key regulator of embryonic development and angiogenesis in mice
Authors: Hermann Anke , Wu Guangming , Nedvetsky Pavel I. , Brücher Viktoria C. , Egbring Charlotte , Bonse Jakob , Höffken Verena , Wennmann Dirk Oliver , Marks Matthias , Krahn Michael P. , Schöler Hans , Heiduschka Peter , Pavenstädt Hermann , Kremerskothen Joachim
Published: January 2021

The WW-and-C2-domain-containing (WWC) protein family is involved in the regulation of cell differentiation, cell proliferation, and organ growth control. As upstream components of the Hippo signaling pathway, WWC proteins activate the Large tumor suppressor (LATS) kinase that in turn phosphorylates Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its paralog Transcriptional coactivator-with-PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) preventing their nuclear import and transcriptional activity. Inhibition of WWC expression leads to downregulation of the Hippo pathway, increased expression of YAP/TAZ target genes and enhanced organ growth. In mice, a ubiquitous Wwc1 knockout (KO) induces a mild neurological phenotype with no impact on embryogenesis or organ growth. In contrast, we could show here that ubiquitous deletion of Wwc2 in mice leads to early embryonic lethality. Wwc2 KO embryos display growth retardation, a disturbed placenta development, impaired vascularization, and finally embryonic death. A whole-transcriptome analysis of embryos lacking Wwc2 revealed a massive deregulation of gene expression with impact on cell fate determination, cell metabolism, and angiogenesis. Consequently, a perinatal, endothelial-specific Wwc2 KO in mice led to disturbed vessel formation and vascular hypersprouting in the retina. In summary, our data elucidate a novel role for Wwc2 as a key regulator in early embryonic development and sprouting angiogenesis in mice.
Systematic evaluation of IgG responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-derived peptides for monitoring COVID-19 patients
Authors: Li Yang , Lai Dan-yun , Lei Qing , Xu Zhao-wei , Wang Feng , Hou Hongyan , Chen Lingyun , Wu Jiaoxiang , Ren Yan , Ma Ming-liang , Zhang Bo , Chen Hong , Yu Caizheng , Xue Jun-biao , Zheng Yun-xiao , Wang Xue-ning , Jiang He-wei , Zhang Hai-nan , Qi Huan , Guo Shu-juan , Zhang Yandi , Lin Xiaosong , Yao Zongjie , Pang Pengfei , Shi Dawei , Wang Wei , Yang Xiao , Zhou Jie , Sheng Huiming , Sun Ziyong , Shan Hong , Fan Xionglin , Tao Sheng-ce
Published: January 2021

Serological tests play an essential role in monitoring and combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Recombinant spike protein (S protein), especially the S1 protein, is one of the major reagents used for serological tests. However, the high cost of S protein production and possible cross-reactivity with other human coronaviruses pose unavoidable challenges. By taking advantage of a peptide microarray with full spike protein coverage, we analyzed 2,434 sera from 858 COVID-19 patients, 63 asymptomatic patients and 610 controls collected from multiple clinical centers. Based on the results, we identified several S protein-derived 12-mer peptides that have high diagnostic performance. In particular, for monitoring the IgG response, one peptide (aa 1148–1159 or S2–78) exhibited a sensitivity (95.5%, 95% CI 93.7–96.9%) and specificity (96.7%, 95% CI 94.8–98.0%) comparable to those of the S1 protein for the detection of both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. Furthermore, the diagnostic performance of the S2–78 (aa 1148–1159) IgG was successfully validated by ELISA in an independent sample cohort. A panel of four peptides, S1–93 (aa 553–564), S1–97 (aa 577–588), S1–101 (aa 601–612) and S1–105 (aa 625–636), that likely will avoid potential cross-reactivity with sera from patients infected by other coronaviruses was constructed. The peptides identified in this study may be applied independently or in combination with the S1 protein for accurate, affordable, and accessible COVID-19 diagnosis.
Carbon-based SERS biosensor: from substrate design to sensing and bioapplication
Authors: Liang Xiu , Li Ning , Zhang Runhao , Yin Penggang , Zhang Chenmeng , Yang Nan , Liang Kang , Kong Biao
Published: January 2021

The sensing of bioactive molecules based on photochemical techniques has become one of the fastest-growing scientific fields. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a highly sensitive technique for the detection of low-concentration molecules, including DNA, microRNA, proteins, blood, and bacteria; single-cell detection and identification; bioimaging; and disease diagnosis, providing abundant structural information for biological analytes. One rapidly developing field of SERS biosensor design is the use of carbon-based nanomaterials as substrate materials, such as zero-dimensional carbon quantum dots, one-dimensional carbon nanotubes, two-dimensional graphene, and graphene oxide (GO) and three-dimensional spatial carbon nanomaterials or carbon-based core-shell nanostructures. In this review, we describe the recent developments in SERS biosensors, in particular carbon-based SERS, for the detection of bioactive molecules. We systematically survey recent developments in carbon nanomaterial-based SERS biosensors, focusing on fundamental principles for carbon-based materials for SERS biosensor design, fabrication, and operation, and provide insights into their rapidly growing future potential in the fields of biomedical and biological engineering, in situ analysis, quantitative analysis, and flexible photoelectric functional materials. As such, this review can play the role of a roadmap to guide researchers toward concepts that can be used in the design of next-generation SERS biosensors while also highlighting current advancements in this field.
Detection of aberrant splicing events in RNA-seq data using FRASER
Authors: Mertes Christian , Scheller Ines F. , Yépez Vicente A. , Çelik Muhammed H. , Liang Yingjiqiong , Kremer Laura S. , Gusic Mirjana , Prokisch Holger , Gagneur Julien
Published: January 2021

Aberrant splicing is a major cause of rare diseases.  However, its prediction from genome sequence alone remains in most cases inconclusive. Recently, RNA sequencing has proven to be an effective complementary avenue to detect aberrant splicing. Here, we develop FRASER, an algorithm to detect aberrant splicing from RNA sequencing data. Unlike existing methods, FRASER captures not only alternative splicing but also intron retention events. This typically doubles the number of detected aberrant events and identified a pathogenic intron retention in MCOLN1 causing mucolipidosis. FRASER automatically controls for latent confounders, which are widespread and affect sensitivity substantially. Moreover, FRASER is based on a count distribution and multiple testing correction, thus reducing the number of calls by two orders of magnitude over commonly applied z score cutoffs, with a minor loss of sensitivity. Applying FRASER to rare disease diagnostics is demonstrated by reprioritizing a pathogenic aberrant exon truncation in TAZ from a published dataset. FRASER is easy to use and freely available.
Global patterns and climatic controls of forest structural complexity
Authors: Ehbrecht Martin , Seidel Dominik , Annighöfer Peter , Kreft Holger , Köhler Michael , Zemp Delphine Clara , Puettmann Klaus , Nilus Reuben , Babweteera Fred , Willim Katharina , Stiers Melissa , Soto Daniel , Boehmer Hans Juergen , Fisichelli Nicholas , Burnett Michael , Juday Glenn , Stephens Scott L. , Ammer Christian
Published: January 2021

The complexity of forest structures plays a crucial role in regulating forest ecosystem functions and strongly influences biodiversity. Yet, knowledge of the global patterns and determinants of forest structural complexity remains scarce. Using a stand structural complexity index based on terrestrial laser scanning, we quantify the structural complexity of boreal, temperate, subtropical and tropical primary forests. We find that the global variation of forest structural complexity is largely explained by annual precipitation and precipitation seasonality (R² = 0.89). Using the structural complexity of primary forests as benchmark, we model the potential structural complexity across biomes and present a global map of the potential structural complexity of the earth´s forest ecoregions. Our analyses reveal distinct latitudinal patterns of forest structure and show that hotspots of high structural complexity coincide with hotspots of plant diversity. Considering the mechanistic underpinnings of forest structural complexity, our results suggest spatially contrasting changes of forest structure with climate change within and across biomes.
Soft subdermal implant capable of wireless battery charging and programmable controls for applications in optogenetics
Authors: Kim Choong Yeon , Ku Min Jeong , Qazi Raza , Nam Hong Jae , Park Jong Woo , Nam Kum Seok , Oh Shane , Kang Inho , Jang Jae-Hyung , Kim Wha Young , Kim Jeong-Hoon , Jeong Jae-Woong
Published: January 2021

Optogenetics is a powerful technique that allows target-specific spatiotemporal manipulation of neuronal activity for dissection of neural circuits and therapeutic interventions. Recent advances in wireless optogenetics technologies have enabled investigation of brain circuits in more natural conditions by releasing animals from tethered optical fibers. However, current wireless implants, which are largely based on battery-powered or battery-free designs, still limit the full potential of in vivo optogenetics in freely moving animals by requiring intermittent battery replacement or a special, bulky wireless power transfer system for continuous device operation, respectively. To address these limitations, here we present a wirelessly rechargeable, fully implantable, soft optoelectronic system that can be remotely and selectively controlled using a smartphone. Combining advantageous features of both battery-powered and battery-free designs, this device system enables seamless full implantation into animals, reliable ubiquitous operation, and intervention-free wireless charging, all of which are desired for chronic in vivo optogenetics. Successful demonstration of the unique capabilities of this device in freely behaving rats forecasts its broad and practical utilities in various neuroscience research and clinical applications.
Fetuin-A is a HIF target that safeguards tissue integrity during hypoxic stress
Authors: Rudloff Stefan , Janot Mathilde , Rodriguez Stephane , Dessalle Kevin , Jahnen-Dechent Willi , Huynh-Do Uyen
Published: January 2021

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with reduced kidney size at birth, accelerated renal function decline, and increased risk for chronic kidney and cardiovascular diseases in adults. Precise mechanisms underlying fetal programming of adult diseases remain largely elusive and warrant extensive investigation. Setting up a mouse model of hypoxia-induced IUGR, fetal adaptations at mRNA, protein and cellular levels, and their long-term functional consequences are characterized, using the kidney as a readout. Here, we identify fetuin-A as an evolutionary conserved HIF target gene, and further investigate its role using fetuin-A KO animals and an adult model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Beyond its role as systemic calcification inhibitor, fetuin-A emerges as a multifaceted protective factor that locally counteracts calcification, modulates macrophage polarization, and attenuates inflammation and fibrosis, thus preserving kidney function. Our study paves the way to therapeutic approaches mitigating mineral stress-induced inflammation and damage, principally applicable to all soft tissues.
Nonreciprocal charge transport up to room temperature in bulk Rashba semiconductor α-GeTe
Authors: Li Yan , Li Yang , Li Peng , Fang Bin , Yang Xu , Wen Yan , Zheng Dong-xing , Zhang Chen-hui , He Xin , Manchon Aurélien , Cheng Zhao-Hua , Zhang Xi-xiang
Published: January 2021

Nonmagnetic Rashba systems with broken inversion symmetry are expected to exhibit nonreciprocal charge transport, a new paradigm of unidirectional magnetoresistance in the absence of ferromagnetic layer. So far, most work on nonreciprocal transport has been solely limited to cryogenic temperatures, which is a major obstacle for exploiting the room-temperature two-terminal devices based on such a nonreciprocal response. Here, we report a nonreciprocal charge transport behavior up to room temperature in semiconductor α-GeTe with coexisting the surface and bulk Rashba states. The combination of the band structure measurements and theoretical calculations strongly suggest that the nonreciprocal response is ascribed to the giant bulk Rashba spin splitting rather than the surface Rashba states. Remarkably, we find that the magnitude of the nonreciprocal response shows an unexpected non-monotonical dependence on temperature. The extended theoretical model based on the second-order spin–orbit coupled magnetotransport enables us to establish the correlation between the nonlinear magnetoresistance and the spin textures in the Rashba system. Our findings offer significant fundamental insight into the physics underlying the nonreciprocity and may pave a route for future rectification devices.
CTLA-4 expression by B-1a B cells is essential for immune tolerance
Authors: Yang Yang , Li Xiao , Ma Zhihai , Wang Chunlin , Yang Qunying , Byrne-Steele Miranda , Hong Rongjian , Min Qing , Zhou Gao , Cheng Yong , Qin Guang , Youngyunpipatkul Justin V. , Wing James B. , Sakaguchi Shimon , Toonstra Christian , Wang Lai-Xi , Vilches-Moure Jose G. , Wang Denong , Snyder Michael P. , Wang Ji-Yang , Han Jian , Herzenberg Leonore A.
Published: January 2021

CTLA-4 is an important regulator of T-cell function. Here, we report that expression of this immune-regulator in mouse B-1a cells has a critical function in maintaining self-tolerance by regulating these early-developing B cells that express a repertoire enriched for auto-reactivity. Selective deletion of CTLA-4 from B cells results in mice that spontaneously develop autoantibodies, T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and germinal centers (GCs) in the spleen, and autoimmune pathology later in life. This impaired immune homeostasis results from B-1a cell dysfunction upon loss of CTLA-4. Therefore, CTLA-4-deficient B-1a cells up-regulate epigenetic and transcriptional activation programs and show increased self-replenishment. These activated cells further internalize surface IgM, differentiate into antigen-presenting cells and, when reconstituted in normal IgH-allotype congenic recipient mice, induce GCs and Tfh cells expressing a highly selected repertoire. These findings show that CTLA-4 regulation of B-1a cells is a crucial immune-regulatory mechanism.
Biomechanical characterization of human temporal muscle fascia in uniaxial tensile tests for graft purposes in duraplasty
Authors: Zwirner Johann , Ondruschka Benjamin , Scholze Mario , Schulze-Tanzil Gundula , Hammer Niels
Published: January 2021

The human temporal muscle fascia (TMF) is used frequently as a graft material for duraplasty. Encompassing biomechanical analyses of TMF are lacking, impeding a well-grounded biomechanical comparison of the TMF to other graft materials used for duraplasty, including the dura mater itself. In this study, we investigated the biomechanical properties of 74 human TMF samples in comparison to an age-matched group of dura mater samples. The TMF showed an elastic modulus of 36 ± 19 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 3.6 ± 1.7 MPa, a maximum force of 16 ± 8 N, a maximum strain of 13 ± 4% and a strain at failure of 17 ± 6%. Post-mortem interval correlated weakly with elastic modulus (r = 0.255, p = 0.048) and the strain at failure (r =  − 0.306, p = 0.022) for TMF. The age of the donors did not reveal significant correlations to the TMF mechanical parameters. Compared to the dura mater, the here investigated TMF showed a significantly lower elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength, but a larger strain at failure. The human TMF with a post-mortem interval of up to 146 h may be considered a mechanically suitable graft material for duraplasty when stored at a temperature of 4 °C.
In-SEM micro-machining reveals the origins of the size effect in the cutting energy
Authors: Medina-Clavijo Bentejui , Ortiz-de-Zarate Gorka , Sela Andres , Arrieta Iñaki M. , Fedorets Aleksandr , Arrazola Pedro J. , Chuvilin Andrey
Published: January 2021

High-precision metal cutting is increasingly relevant in advanced applications. Such precision normally requires a cutting feed in the micron or even sub-micron dimension scale, which raises questions about applicability of concepts developed in industrial scale machining. To address this challenge, we have developed a device to perform linear cutting with force measurement in the vacuum chamber of an electron microscope, which has been utilised to study the cutting process down to 200 nm of the feed and the tool tip radius. The machining experiments carried out in-operando in SEM have shown that the main classical deformation zones of metal cutting: primary, secondary and tertiary shear zones—were preserved even at sub-micron feeds. In-operando observations and subsequent structural analysis in FIB/SEM revealed a number of microstructural peculiarities, such as: a substantial increase of the cutting force related to the development of the primary shear zone; dependence of the ternary shear zone thickness on the underlaying grain crystal orientation. Measurement of the cutting forces at deep submicron feeds and cutting tool apex radii has been exploited to discriminate different sources for the size effect on the cutting energy (dependence of the energy on the feed and tool radius). It was observed that typical industrial values of feed and tool radius imposes a size effect determined primarily by geometrical factors, while in a sub-micrometre feed range the contribution of the strain hardening in the primary share zone becomes relevant.
INSPECTOR: free software for magnetic resonance spectroscopy data inspection, processing, simulation and analysis
Authors: Gajdošík Martin , Landheer Karl , Swanberg Kelley M. , Juchem Christoph
Published: January 2021

In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a powerful tool for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics, allowing for non-invasive measurement and analysis of small molecules from living tissues. However, currently available MRS processing and analytical software tools are limited in their potential for in-depth quality management, access to details of the processing stream, and user friendliness. Moreover, available MRS software focuses on selected aspects of MRS such as simulation, signal processing or analysis, necessitating the use of multiple packages and interfacing among them for biomedical applications. The freeware INSPECTOR comprises enhanced MRS data processing, simulation and analytical capabilities in a one-stop-shop solution for a wide range of biomedical research and diagnostic applications. Extensive data handling, quality management and visualization options are built in, enabling the assessment of every step of the processing chain with maximum transparency. The parameters of the processing can be flexibly chosen and tailored for the specific research problem, and extended confidence information is provided with the analysis. The INSPECTOR software stands out in its user-friendly workflow and potential for automation. In addition to convenience, the functionalities of INSPECTOR ensure rigorous and consistent data processing throughout multi-experiment and multi-center studies.
Early bilingual experience is associated with change detection ability in adults
Authors: D’Souza Dean , Brady Daniel , Haensel Jennifer X. , D’Souza Hana
Published: January 2021

To adapt to their more varied and unpredictable (language) environments, infants from bilingual homes may gather more information (sample more of their environment) by shifting their visual attention more frequently. However, it is not known whether this early adaptation is age-specific or lasts into adulthood. If the latter, we would expect to observe it in adults who acquired their second language early, not late, in life. Here we show that early bilingual adults are faster at disengaging attention to shift attention, and at noticing changes between visual stimuli, than late bilingual adults. In one experiment, participants were presented with the same two visual stimuli; one changed (almost imperceptibly), the other remained the same. Initially, participants looked at both stimuli equally; eventually, they fixated more on the changing stimulus. This shift in looking occurred in the early but not late bilinguals. It suggests that cognitive processes adapt to early bilingual experiences.
Respiratory tract infections in children with allergic asthma on allergen immunotherapy during influenza season
Authors: Li Yuyun , Wang Dongming , Zhi Lili , Zhu Yunmei , Qiao Lan , Zhu Yan , Hu Xin , Wang Qian , Cao Yuan , Gao Yan , Chen Yousheng , Zhang Zeng , Bi Fangjie , Yan Guangxing
Published: January 2021

To describle how respiratory tract infections (RTIs) that occurred in children with allergic asthma (AA) on allergen immunotherapy (AIT) during an influenza season. Data including clinical symptoms and treatment history of children (those with AA on AIT and their siblings under 14 years old), who suffered from RTIs during an influenza season (Dec 1st, 2019–Dec 31st, 2019), were collected (by face to face interview and medical records) and analyzed. Children on AIT were divided into 2 groups: stage 1 (dose increasing stage) and stage 2 (dose maintenance stage). Their siblings were enrolled as control. During the study period, 49 children with AA on AIT (33 patients in stage 1 and 16 patients in stage 2) as well as 49 children without AA ( their siblings ) were included. There were no significant differences in occurrences of RTIs among the three groups (p > 0.05). Compared with children in the other two groups, patients with RTIs in stage 2 had less duration of coughing and needed less medicine. Children on AIT with maintenance doses had fewer symptoms and recovered quickly when they were attacked by RTIs, which suggested that AIT with dose maintenance may enhance disease resistance of the body.
Ultrahigh sensitive refractive index nanosensors based on nanoshells, nanocages and nanoframes: effects of plasmon hybridization and restoring force
Authors: Omrani MirKazem , Mohammadi Hamidreza , Fallah Hamidreza
Published: January 2021

In this study, the effect of the plasmon hybridization mechanism on the performance and refractive index (RI) sensitivity of nanoshell, nanocage and nanoframe structures is investigated using the finite-difference time-domain simulation. To create nanocage structure, we textured the cubic nanoshell surfaces and examined the impact of its key parameters (such as array of cavities, size of cavities and wall thickness) on the nanocage's RI-sensitivity. Synthesis of the designed nanocages is a challenging process in practice, but here the goal is to understand the physics lied behind it and try to answer the question “Why nanoframes are more sensitive than nanocages?”. Our obtained results show that the RI-sensitivity of nanocage structures increases continuously by decreasing the array of cavities. Transforming the nanocage to the nanoframe structure by reducing the array of cavities to a single cavity significantly increases the RI-sensitivity of the nanostructure. This phenomenon can be related to the simultaneous presence of symmetric and asymmetric plasmon oscillations in the nanocage structure and low restoring force of nanoframe compared to nanocage. As the optimized case shows, the proposed single nanoframe with aspect ratio (wall length/wall thickness) of 12.5 shows RI-sensitivity of 1460 nm/RIU, the sensitivity of which is ~ 5.5 times more than its solid counterpart.
Partridge and embryonated partridge egg as new preclinical models for candidiasis
Authors: Tavakkoli Hadi , Khosravi Ahmad , Sharifi Iraj , Salari Zohreh , Salarkia Ehsan , Kheirandish Reza , Dehghantalebi Kazem , Jajarmi Maziar , Mosallanejad Seyedeh Saedeh , Dabiri Shahriar , Keyhani Alireza
Published: January 2021

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the most common cause of candidiasis in humans and animals. This study was established to a new experimental infection model for systemic candidiasis using partridge and embryonated partridge egg. First, we tested the induction of systemic candidiasis in partridge and embryonated partridge egg. Finally, interaction between virulence factors of C. albicans and Bcl-2 family members was predicted. We observed that embryonic infection causes a decrease in survival time and at later embryonic days (11–12th), embryos showed lesions. Morphometric analysis of the extra-embryonic membrane (EEM) vasculature showed that vascular apoptotic effect of C. albicans was revealed by a significant reduction in capillary area. In immunohistochemistry assay, low expression of Bcl-2 and increased expression of Bax confirmed apoptosis. The gene expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was also altered in fungi-exposed EEM. Ourin silico simulation has shown an accurate interaction between aspartic proteinase, polyamine oxidase, Bcl-2 and BAX. We observed that the disease was associated with adverse consequences, which were similar to human candidiasis. Acquired results support the idea that partridge and embryonated partridge egg can be utilized as appropriate preclinical models to investigate the pathological effects of candidiasis.
Effects of carbon nanotubes on expanded glass and silica aerogel based lightweight concrete
Authors: Adhikary Suman Kumar , Rudžionis Žymantas , Tučkutė Simona , Ashish Deepankar Kumar
Published: January 2021

This study is aimed to investigate the effect of carbon nanotubes on the properties of lightweight aggregate concrete containing expanded glass and silica aerogel. Combinations of expanded glass (55%) and hydrophobic silica aerogel particles (45%) were used as lightweight aggregates. Carbon nanotubes were sonicated in the water with polycarboxylate superplasticizer by ultrasonication energy for 3 min. Study results show that incorporating multi-wall carbon nanotubes significantly influences the compressive strength and microstructural performance of aerogel based lightweight concrete. The addition of carbon nanotubes gained almost 41% improvement in compressive strength. SEM image of lightweight concrete shows a homogeneous dispersal of carbon nanotubes within the concrete structure. SEM image of the composite shows presence of C–S–H gel surrounding the carbon nanotubes, which confirms the cites of nanotubes for the higher growth of C–S–H gel. Besides, agglomeration of carbon nanotubes and the presence of ettringites was observed in the transition zone between the silica aerogel and cementitious materials. Additionally, flowability, water absorption, microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and semi-adiabatic calorimetry results were analyzed in this study.
Antibiotic resistance plasmid composition and architecture in Escherichia coli isolates from meat
Authors: Darphorn Tania S. , Bel Keshia , Koenders-van Sint Anneland Belinda B. , Brul Stanley , Ter Kuile Benno H.
Published: January 2021

Resistance plasmids play a crucial role in the transfer of antimicrobial resistance from the veterinary sector to human healthcare. In this study plasmids from foodborne Escherichia coli isolates with a known (ES)BL or tetracycline resistance were sequenced entirely with short- and long-read technologies to obtain insight into their composition and to identify driving factors for spreading. Resistant foodborne E. coli isolates often contained several plasmids coding for resistance to various antimicrobials. Most plasmids were large and contained multiple resistance genes in addition to the selected resistance gene. The majority of plasmids belonged to the IncI, IncF and IncX incompatibility groups. Conserved and variable regions could be distinguished in each of the plasmid groups. Clusters containing resistance genes were located in the variable regions. Tetracycline and (extended spectrum) beta-lactamase resistance genes were each situated in separate clusters, but sulphonamide, macrolide and aminoglycoside formed one cluster and lincosamide and aminoglycoside another. In most plasmids, addiction systems were found to maintain presence in the cell.
Tuning the hierarchical pore structure of graphene oxide through dual thermal activation for high-performance supercapacitor
Authors: Kim Jeongpil , Eum Jeong-Hyun , Kang Junhyeok , Kwon Ohchan , Kim Hansung , Kim Dae Woo
Published: January 2021

Herein, we introduce a simple method to prepare hierarchical graphene with a tunable pore structure by activating graphene oxide (GO) with a two-step thermal annealing process. First, GO was treated at 600 °C by rapid thermal annealing in air, followed by subsequent thermal annealing in N2. The prepared graphene powder comprised abundant slit nanopores and micropores, showing a large specific surface area of 653.2 m2/g with a microporous surface area of 367.2 m2/g under optimized conditions. The pore structure was easily tunable by controlling the oxidation degree of GO and by the second annealing process. When the graphene powder was used as the supercapacitor electrode, a specific capacitance of 372.1 F/g was achieved at 0.5 A/g in 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte, which is a significantly enhanced value compared to that obtained using activated carbon and commercial reduced GO. The performance of the supercapacitor was highly stable, showing 103.8% retention of specific capacitance after 10,000 cycles at 10 A/g. The influence of pore structure on the supercapacitor performance was systematically investigated by varying the ratio of micro- and external surface areas of graphene.
Terahertz optics-driven phase transition in two-dimensional multiferroics
Authors: Zhou Jian , Zhang Shunhong
Published: January 2021

Displacive martensitic phase transition is potentially promising in semiconductor-based data storage applications with fast switching speed. In addition to traditional phase transition materials, the recently discovered two-dimensional ferroic materials are receiving a lot of attention owing to their fast ferroic switching dynamics, which could tremendously boost data storage density and enhance read/write speed. In this study, we propose that a terahertz laser with an intermediate intensity and selected frequency can trigger ferroic order switching in two-dimensional multiferroics, which is a damage-free noncontacting approach. Through first-principles calculations, we theoretically and computationally investigate optically induced electronic, phononic, and mechanical responses of two experimentally fabricated multiferroic (with both ferroelastic and ferroelectric) materials, β-GeSe and α-SnTe monolayer. We show that the relative stability of different orientation variants can be effectively manipulated via the polarization direction of the terahertz laser, which is selectively and strongly coupled with the transverse optical phonon modes. The transition from one orientation variant to another can be barrierless, indicating ultrafast transition kinetics and the conventional nucleation-growth phase transition process can be avoidable.
Disorder-specific alterations of tactile sensitivity in neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: He Jason L. , Wodka Ericka , Tommerdahl Mark , Edden Richard A. E. , Mikkelsen Mark , Mostofsky Stewart H. , Puts Nicolaas A. J.
Published: January 2021

Alterations of tactile processing have long been identified in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the extent to which these alterations are disorder-specific, rather than disorder-general, and how they relate to the core symptoms of each disorder, remains unclear. We measured and compared tactile detection, discrimination, and order judgment thresholds between a large sample of children with ASD, ADHD, ASD + ADHD combined and typically developing controls. The pattern of results suggested that while difficulties with tactile detection and order judgement were more common in children with ADHD, difficulties with tactile discrimination were more common in children with ASD. Interestingly, in our subsequent correlation analyses between tactile perception and disorder-specific clinical symptoms, tactile detection and order judgment correlated exclusively with the core symptoms of ADHD, while tactile discrimination correlated exclusively with the symptoms of ASD. When taken together, these results suggest that disorder-specific alterations of lower-level sensory processes exist and are specifically related to higher-level clinical symptoms of each disorder.