bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taylor–Culick retractions and the influence of the surroundings
Authors: Sanjay Vatsal , Sen Uddalok , Kant Pallav , Lohse Detlef
Published: September 2022

When a freely suspended liquid film ruptures, it retracts spontaneously under the action of surface tension. If the film is surrounded by air, the retraction velocity is known to approach the constant Taylor–Culick velocity. However, when surrounded by an external viscous medium, the dissipation within that medium dictates the magnitude of the retraction velocity. In the present work, we study the retraction of a liquid (water) film in a viscous oil ambient (two-phase Taylor–Culick retractions), and that sandwiched between air and a viscous oil (three-phase Taylor–Culick retractions). In the latter case, the experimentally measured retraction velocity is observed to have a weaker dependence on the viscosity of the oil phase as compared with the configuration where the water film is surrounded completely by oil. Numerical simulations indicate that this weaker dependence arises from the localization of viscous dissipation near the three-phase contact line. The speed of retraction only depends on the viscosity of the surrounding medium and not on that of the film. From the experiments and the numerical simulations, we reveal unprecedented regimes for the scaling of the Weber number${We}_{f}$of the film (based on its retraction velocity) or the capillary number${Ca}_{s}$of the surroundings versus the Ohnesorge number${Oh}_{s}$of the surroundings in the regime of large viscosity of the surroundings (${Oh}_{s} \gg 1$), namely${We}_{f} \sim {Oh}_{s}^{-2}$and${Ca}_{s} \sim {Oh}_{s}^{0}$for the two-phase Taylor–Culick configuration, and${We}_{f} \sim {Oh}_{s}^{-1}$and${Ca}_{s} \sim {Oh}_{s}^{1/2}$for the three-phase Taylor–Culick configuration.
An Ethnic Security Dilemma in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Civic Pride and Civics Education
Authors: Becker Matthew T.
Published: September 2022

This article attempts to explore the link between education and democracy. Education is supposed to serve as a unifying factor and socialization agent among citizens of a state; teaching them who they are and what their country expects of them. The role of the educational system is important for the state in building a civic identity and patriotism among students. In Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), students complete a “Democracy and Human Rights” civics education course in primary and secondary schools; however, the current pedagogical implementation of instilling a civic identity is low, with little attention paid to civic identity promotion. This article examines the notions of civic pride and education among high school seniors in BiH via statistical analysis of original field data (n=5,749 surveys; 78 high schools in 53 towns). Identity politics and ethnic saliency are explored, with concluding views on the lack of (perceived) rights among the Croat student population. Cross-cutting cleavages and interpersonal trust are low, with the ethnic promoted over the civic.
Governing the “Unmarked” Citizens: Romania’s Roma in the Grip of Socialist Technologies of Power
Authors: Anghel Ionuț-Marian
Published: September 2022

While many scholarly contributions have documented the socialist state policies deployed toward the Roma from Central and Eastern Europe, less attention was paid to how discourses and policies have aimed to turn the “non-European,” “backward Roma” into reformed and modernized subjects that were supposed to conform to an “European,” sedentary way of life. Thus, I discuss proletarization and sedentarization not as state policies but as programs and technologies of power, specific to a socialist governmentality. The article interrogates the programs, technologies of power and biopolitical regulations that allowed the state authorities to legitimize their intervention in the daily lives of the Roma, with profound depoliticizing effects. I analyze political programs, governmental reports on Roma and ministry regulations as instruments of governmentality through which the governance of the “Roma question” took shape. Special attention is given to data/knowledge production. Finally, the research pinpoints that the micro-scale and the everyday workings of the socialist technologies of power might explain the different trajectories of socio-economic adaptation among Roma groups, which some studies have revealed during post-socialism.
Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Nippotaenia mogurndae Yamaguti and Miyata, 1940 (Cestoda: Nippotaeniidae)
Authors: Cao Ze-Yi , Xi Bing-Wen , Li Shao-Wu , Chen Kai , Xie Jun
Published: September 2022

In this study, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome of the tapeworm Nippotaenia mogurndae in the order Nippotaeniidea Yamaguti, 1939. This mitogenome, which is 14,307 base pairs (bp) long with an A + T content of 72.2%, consists of 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two rRNA genes, and two non-coding regions. Most tRNAs have a conventional cloverleaf structure, but trnS1 and trnR lack dihydrouridine arms of tRNA. The two largest non-coding regions, NCR1 (220 bp) and NCR2 (817 bp), are located between trnY and trnS2 and between nad5 and trnG, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of mitogenomic data indicate that N. mogurndae is closely related to tapeworms in the order Cyclophyllidea.
Pandemic paranoia in the general population: international prevalence and sociodemographic profile
Authors: Ellett Lyn , Schlier Björn , Kingston Jessica L. , Zhu Chen , So Suzanne Ho-wai , Lincoln Tania M. , Morris Eric M. J. , Gaudiano Brandon A.
Published: September 2022

Background

The term ‘pandemic paranoia’ has been coined to refer to heightened levels of mistrust and suspicion towards other people specifically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we examine the international prevalence of pandemic paranoia in the general population and its associated sociodemographic profile.

Methods

A representative international sample of general population adults (N = 2510) from five sites (USA N = 535, Germany N = 516, UK N = 512, Australia N = 502 and Hong Kong N = 445) were recruited using stratified quota sampling (for age, sex, educational attainment) and completed the Pandemic Paranoia Scale (PPS).

Results

The overall prevalence rate of pandemic paranoia was 19%, and was highest in Australia and lowest in Germany. On the subscales of the PPS, prevalence was 11% for persecutory threat, 29% for paranoid conspiracy and 37% for interpersonal mistrust. Site and general paranoia significantly predicted pandemic paranoia. Sociodemographic variables (lower age, higher population size and income, being male, employed and no migrant status) explained additional variance and significantly improved prediction of pandemic paranoia.

Conclusions

Pandemic paranoia was relatively common in a representative sample of the general population across five international sites. Sociodemographic variables explained a small but significant amount of the variance in pandemic paranoia.
A DIFFERENT PRODUCT? THE FORMATION AND EXPANSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL MEAT AND LIVE CATTLE MARKET (1850–1939)
Authors: Delgado Pablo , Pinilla Vicente , Aparicio Gema
Published: September 2022

Global agro-food trade grew strongly during the first globalisation. The increase in demand, the fall in trade costs, liberal policies and technological advances explain this expansion in trade. Within this context, this study analyses the formation and evolution of the international market of a special product: meat. It is a peculiar product because it is perishable. Furthermore, it is important to point out that the increase in its trade was based mostly on the strong demand in the United Kingdom, which acquired an almost monopsonist position, and also on the diffusion of mechanical refrigeration. This enabled the countries of the Río de la Plata, particularly Argentina, together with Australia and New Zealand to become world leaders in meat exports.
Prosody and speech act interpretation: The case of French indirect requests
Authors: Ruytenbeek Nicolas , Bergen Benjamin , Trott Sean
Published: September 2022

Some utterances are pragmatically ambiguous. For instance, Tu peux fermer la fenêtre ? (“Can you close the window?”) can be a request for information or an “indirect request” (IR) to close the window. A possible way for speakers to make it clear whether they intend these expressions as a direct or indirect speech act is to use cues such as gestures or prosody. It has been shown for English that participants’ identifications of IRs are predicted by f0 slope, mean f0, and f0 duration. However, the extent to which these findings extend to other languages remains unknown. In this article, we explore the prosodic features associated with French IRs, a language poorly documented from that perspective. We address two research questions: Are listeners’ pragmatic interpretations of French IR constructions predicted by speaker’s original intent? Do prosodic cues play the same role in French modal interrogatives as in declarative remarks? We find, first, that remarks with more positive f0 slope are more likely to be interpreted as requests, but modal interrogatives with more positive f0 slope are more likely to be taken as questions. Second, while longer remarks were more likely to be interpreted as requests, longer modal interrogatives were more likely to be interpreted as questions.
Detection and diagnosis of deviations in distributed systems of autonomous agents
Authors: Nigam Vivek , Kim Minyoung , Mason Ian , Talcott Carolyn
Published: September 2022

Given the complexity of cyber-physical systems (CPS), such as swarms of drones, often deviations, from a planned mission or protocol, occur which may in some cases lead to harm and losses. To increase the robustness of such systems, it is necessary to detect when deviations happen and diagnose the cause(s) for a deviation. We build on our previous work on soft agents, a formal framework based on using rewriting logic for specifying and reasoning about distributed CPS, to develop methods for diagnosis of CPS at design time. We accomplish this by (1) extending the soft agents framework with Fault Models; (2) proposing a protocol specification language and the definition of protocol deviations; and (3) development of workflows/algorithms for detection and diagnosis of protocol deviations. Our approach is partially inspired by existing work using counterfactual reasoning for fault ascription. We demonstrate our machinery with a collection of experiments.
The Young Finns Party and the Plan for Neoliberal Retasking of the Welfare State in Post-Cold War Finland
Authors: Kärrylä Ilkka
Published: September 2022

This article provides a perspective on liberal political thought in post-Cold War Finland by examining the small Young Finns party. Their political philosophy emphasised individualism against collectivism and criticised Finland's state-centred political culture. Special focus is on the party's ideas of reforming the Finnish welfare state. The Young Finns wanted to retain universal education and healthcare services but pursued radical tax, social security and labour market reforms with ideas inspired by neoliberal thinkers. The article argues that the Young Finns represented a Finnish variant of neoliberalism in their goal of retasking the welfare state into a slimmer enabler of individual freedom.
Insights into the Residue Trapped in Glaze Cracks of Archaeological Ceramics Using Microchemical Analysis
Authors: Li Zihan , Yuan Feng , Cao Jianwen , Hein Anke
Published: September 2022

Searching for residue in the glaze of porcelain or stoneware is a difficult task because these glazes are high-fired, well vitrified, and nonporous. This paper analyzes the chemical composition of residue observed in glaze cracks of porcelain via SEM-EDS to determine how the crackle effect was produced, in particular, if it was intentionally created during production or the result of post-depositional processes. This study offers insights to a specific type of ancient Chinese porcelain called “Ge-type ware”, which has two different types of cracks, and whose origin has been debated for nearly 60 years because it has never been found at any kiln site. This paper analyzes the chemical composition of the two crack types, first using elemental mapping to ascertain the different mechanisms that produced these two crack types of the Heirloom Ge ware, and second using residue analysis and chemical fingerprinting to determine the provenance of this puzzling type of porcelain. In doing so, this paper demonstrates how the residue in the glaze of porcelain can be observed and analyzed via microchemical approaches and hopes to inspire more research using this technique in future.
Ultracellular Imaging of Bronchoalveolar Lavage from Young COVID-19 Patients with Comorbidities Showed Greater SARS-COV-2 Infection but Lesser Ultrastructural Damage Than the Older Patients
Authors: Chaudhary Shikha , Rai Preeti , Joshi Arti , Yadav Pooja , Sesham Kishore , Kumar Shailendra , Mridha Asit Ranjan , Baitha Upendra , Nag Tapas Chandra , Soni Kapil Dev , Trikha Anjan , Yadav Subhash Chandra
Published: September 2022

In this study, we examined the cellular infectivity and ultrastructural changes due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the various cells of bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) from intubated patients of different age groups (≥60 years and <60 years) and with common comorbidities such as diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, and malignancies. BALF of 79 patients (38 cases >60 and 41 cases <60 years) were studied by light microscopy, immunofluorescence, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy to evaluate the ultrastructural changes in the ciliated epithelium, type II pneumocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and anucleated granulocytes. This study demonstrated relatively a greater infection and better preservation of subcellular structures in these cells from BALF of younger patients (<60 years compared with the older patients (≥60 years). The different cells of BALF from the patients without comorbidities showed higher viral load compared with the patients with comorbidities. Diabetic patients showed maximum ultrastructural damage in BALF cells in the comorbid group. This study highlights the comparative effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the different airway and inflammatory cells of BALF at the subcellular levels among older and younger patients and in patients with comorbid conditions.
Palynostratigraphy, biochronology and palaeobathymetry of a section of Awaizombe-1 well, eastern Niger Delta, Nigeria
Authors: CHUKWUMA-ORJI Jacinta N.
Published: September 2022

Ditch cuttings (69 samples) from a section of Awaizombe-1well located in the Northern Depobelt of the eastern Niger Delta Basin were used for this study. The lithology of the studied interval 1373–1812 m (439 m thick) consists of fissile grey shale and mudstone units. The scid method of sample preparation for palynormorphs’ recovery was adopted. Analysis recorded a well-preserved and diverse assemblage of palynomorphs, rich in pollen, spores and dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts). First and last occurrences of marker and age diagnostic species were used for palynostratigraphic interpretation. Four palynostratigraphic interval range zones were established: Psilatriporites sp.–Racemonocolpites hians Zone; early Oligocene (Rupelian age), Praedapollis africanus–Doualaidites laevigatus Zone; late Eocene (Priabonian age), middle Eocene (Lutetian and Bartonian ages), Doualaidites laevigatus–Praedapollis flexibilies Zone; and early Eocene (Ypresian age), Verrucatosporites usmensis–Retitricolpites ituensis Zone. The first downhole occurrence of D. laevigatus at the 1482 m marks the late Eocene/early Oligocene boundary. Established zones are useful for inter and intra basins correlation. Lithology and age of the studied section are suggestive of the lower Agbada Formation. Palaeoenvironmental interpretations using diagnostic species revealed two environments: brackish and inner neritic to upper bathyal (0–600 m) under relatively warm-water marine condition indicated by thermophilic dinocyst taxa, such as Lingulodinium machaerophorum, Polysphaeridium zoharyi and Homotryblium spp. The lithology and these types of environments are good sites for hydrocarbon generation.
Morphology and Evolution of Plasma Density Enhancement Events in the Equatorial Ionospheric F Region on 8 February and 4 November 2018
Authors: Wu Kun , Xu Jiyao , Wang Wenbin , Yuan Wei
Published: September 2022

In this study, we used observations from multiple instruments (all‐sky imager [ASI], digisonde, and Beidou geostationary satellite global positioning system receivers) to show the occurrence and evolution of two plasma density enhancement structures (PDESs) during the night of 8 February and 4 November 2018. The PDESs were elongated from northwest to southeast. Their zonal scales were about 200–400 km and longitudinal ranges were about 800–1,400 km. Within the PDES, the plasma density can be enhanced by about two times over the background density. The PDESs appeared before midnight and gradually dissipated after midnight. Plasma density depletion structures appeared within the PDES at the later stage of PDES. Each PDES event lasted for over 4 hours. The morphology and evolution of the PDESs presented in this paper are different from those reported in previous studies. In addition, based on the thermosphere‐ionosphere‐electrodynamics general circulation model simulations and digisonde observations, we proposed a possible cause for the PDESs in the events, in which the occurrence and evolution of PDES are related to the variations of thermospheric meridional winds in the equatorial region.
Targeting the MYC interaction network in B-cell lymphoma via histone deacetylase 6 inhibition
Authors: Winkler René , Mägdefrau Ann-Sophie , Piskor Eva-Maria , Kleemann Markus , Beyer Mandy , Linke Kevin , Hansen Lisa , Schaffer Anna-Maria , Hoffmann Marina E. , Poepsel Simon , Heyd Florian , Beli Petra , Möröy Tarik , Mahboobi Siavosh , Krämer Oliver H. , Kosan Christian
Published: September 2022

Overexpression of MYC is a genuine cancer driver in lymphomas and related to poor prognosis. However, therapeutic targeting of the transcription factor MYC remains challenging. Here, we show that inhibition of the histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) using the HDAC6 inhibitor Marbostat-100 (M-100) reduces oncogenic MYC levels and prevents lymphomagenesis in a mouse model of MYC-induced aggressive B-cell lymphoma. M-100 specifically alters protein-protein interactions by switching the acetylation state of HDAC6 substrates, such as tubulin. Tubulin facilitates nuclear import of MYC, and MYC-dependent B-cell lymphoma cells rely on continuous import of MYC due to its high turn-over. Acetylation of tubulin impairs this mechanism and enables proteasomal degradation of MYC. M-100 targets almost exclusively B-cell lymphoma cells with high levels of MYC whereas non-tumor cells are not affected. M-100 induces massive apoptosis in human and murine MYC-overexpressing B-cell lymphoma cells. We identified the heat-shock protein DNAJA3 as an interactor of tubulin in an acetylation-dependent manner and overexpression of DNAJA3 resulted in a pronounced degradation of MYC. We propose a mechanism by which DNAJA3 associates with hyperacetylated tubulin in the cytoplasm to control MYC turnover. Taken together, our data demonstrate a beneficial role of HDAC6 inhibition in MYC-dependent B-cell lymphoma.
RNA G-quadruplex formed in SARS-CoV-2 used for COVID-19 treatment in animal models
Authors: Qin Geng , Zhao Chuanqi , Liu Yan , Zhang Cheng , Yang Guang , Yang Jie , Wang Zhao , Wang Chunyu , Tu Changchun , Guo Zhendong , Ren Jinsong , Qu Xiaogang
Published: September 2022

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has continued to affect millions of lives worldwide, leading to the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. G-quadruplexes (G4s) have been demonstrated to regulate life cycle of multiple viruses. Here, we identify several highly conservative and stable G4s in SARS-CoV-2 and clarify their dual-function of inhibition of the viral replication and translation processes. Furthermore, the cationic porphyrin compound 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphine (TMPyP4) targeting SARS-CoV-2 G4s shows excellent antiviral activity, while its N-methyl-2-pyridyl positional isomer TMPyP2 with low affinity for G4 has no effects on SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting that the antiviral activity of TMPyP4 attributes to targeting SARS-CoV-2 G4s. In the Syrian hamster and transgenic mouse models of SARS-CoV-2 infection, administration of TMPyP4 at nontoxic doses significantly suppresses SARS-CoV-2 infection, resulting in reduced viral loads and lung lesions. Worth to note, the anti-COVID-19 activity of TMPyP4 is more potent than remdesivir evidenced by both in vitro and in vivo studies. Our findings highlight SARS-CoV-2 G4s as a novel druggable target and the compelling potential of TMPyP4 for COVID-19 therapy. Different from the existing anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic strategies, our work provides another alternative therapeutic tactic for SARS-CoV-2 infection focusing on targeting the secondary structures within SARS-CoV-2 genome, and would open a new avenue for design and synthesis of drug candidates with high selectivity toward the new targets.
MVsim is a toolset for quantifying and designing multivalent interactions
Authors: Bruncsics Bence , Errington Wesley J. , Sarkar Casim A.
Published: September 2022

Arising through multiple binding elements, multivalency can specify the avidity, duration, cooperativity, and selectivity of biomolecular interactions, but quantitative prediction and design of these properties has remained challenging. Here we present MVsim, an application suite built around a configurational network model of multivalency to facilitate the quantification, design, and mechanistic evaluation of multivalent binding phenomena through a simple graphical user interface. To demonstrate the utility and versatility of MVsim, we first show that both monospecific and multispecific multivalent ligand-receptor interactions, with their noncanonical binding kinetics, can be accurately simulated. Further, to illustrate the conceptual insights into multivalent systems that MVsim can provide, we apply it to quantitatively predict the ultrasensitivity and performance of multivalent-encoded protein logic gates, evaluate the inherent programmability of multispecificity for selective receptor targeting, and extract rate constants of conformational switching for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and model its binding to ACE2 as well as multivalent inhibitors of this interaction. MVsim and instructional tutorials are freely available at https://sarkarlab.github.io/MVsim/.
Lactate increases stemness of CD8 + T cells to augment anti-tumor immunity
Authors: Feng Qiang , Liu Zhida , Yu Xuexin , Huang Tongyi , Chen Jiahui , Wang Jian , Wilhelm Jonathan , Li Suxin , Song Jiwon , Li Wei , Sun Zhichen , Sumer Baran D. , Li Bo , Fu Yang-Xin , Gao Jinming
Published: September 2022

Lactate is a key metabolite produced from glycolytic metabolism of glucose molecules, yet it also serves as a primary carbon fuel source for many cell types. In the tumor-immune microenvironment, effect of lactate on cancer and immune cells can be highly complex and hard to decipher, which is further confounded by acidic protons, a co-product of glycolysis. Here we show that lactate is able to increase stemness of CD8+ T cells and augments anti-tumor immunity. Subcutaneous administration of sodium lactate but not glucose to mice bearing transplanted MC38 tumors results in CD8+ T cell-dependent tumor growth inhibition. Single cell transcriptomics analysis reveals increased proportion of stem-like TCF-1-expressing CD8+ T cells among intra-tumoral CD3+ cells, a phenotype validated by in vitro lactate treatment of T cells. Mechanistically, lactate inhibits histone deacetylase activity, which results in increased acetylation at H3K27 of the Tcf7 super enhancer locus, leading to increased Tcf7 gene expression. CD8+ T cells in vitro pre-treated with lactate efficiently inhibit tumor growth upon adoptive transfer to tumor-bearing mice. Our results provide evidence for an intrinsic role of lactate in anti-tumor immunity independent of the pH-dependent effect of lactic acid, and might advance cancer immune therapy.
Changes in limiting factors for forager population dynamics in Europe across the last glacial-interglacial transition
Authors: Ordonez Alejandro , Riede Felix
Published: September 2022

Population dynamics set the framework for human genetic and cultural evolution. For foragers, demographic and environmental changes correlate strongly, although the causal relations between different environmental variables and human responses through time and space likely varied. Building on the notion of limiting factors, namely that at any one time, the scarcest resource caps population size, we present a statistical approach to identify the dominant climatic constraints for hunter-gatherer population densities and then hindcast their changing dynamics in Europe for the period between 21,000 to 8000 years ago. Limiting factors shifted from temperature-related variables (effective temperature) during the Pleistocene to a regional mosaic of limiting factors in the Holocene dominated by temperature seasonality and annual precipitation. This spatiotemporal variation suggests that hunter-gatherers needed to overcome very different adaptive challenges in different parts of Europe and that these challenges varied over time. The signatures of these changing adaptations may be visible archaeologically. In addition, the spatial disaggregation of limiting factors from the Pleistocene to the Holocene coincided with and may partly explain the diversification of the cultural geography at this time.
Extensive gut virome variation and its associations with host and environmental factors in a population-level cohort
Authors: Nishijima Suguru , Nagata Naoyoshi , Kiguchi Yuya , Kojima Yasushi , Miyoshi-Akiyama Tohru , Kimura Moto , Ohsugi Mitsuru , Ueki Kohjiro , Oka Shinichi , Mizokami Masashi , Itoi Takao , Kawai Takashi , Uemura Naomi , Hattori Masahira
Published: September 2022

Indigenous bacteriophage communities (virome) in the human gut have a huge impact on the structure and function of gut bacterial communities (bacteriome), but virome variation at a population scale is not fully investigated yet. Here, we analyse the gut dsDNA virome in the Japanese 4D cohort of 4198 deeply phenotyped individuals. By assembling metagenomic reads, we discover thousands of high-quality phage genomes including previously uncharacterised phage clades with different bacterial hosts than known major ones. The distribution of host bacteria is a strong determinant for the distribution of phages in the gut, and virome diversity is highly correlated with anti-viral defence mechanisms of the bacteriome, such as CRISPR-Cas and restriction-modification systems. We identify 97 various intrinsic/extrinsic factors that significantly affect the virome structure, including age, sex, lifestyle, and diet, most of which showed consistent associations with both phages and their predicted bacterial hosts. Among the metadata categories, disease and medication have the strongest effects on the virome structure. Overall, these results present a basis to understand the symbiotic communities of bacteria and their viruses in the human gut, which will facilitate the medical and industrial applications of indigenous viruses.
Msx1+ stem cells recruited by bioactive tissue engineering graft for bone regeneration
Authors: Zhang Xianzhu , Jiang Wei , Xie Chang , Wu Xinyu , Ren Qian , Wang Fei , Shen Xilin , Hong Yi , Wu Hongwei , Liao Youguo , Zhang Yi , Liang Renjie , Sun Wei , Gu Yuqing , Zhang Tao , Chen Yishan , Wei Wei , Zhang Shufang , Zou Weiguo , Ouyang Hongwei
Published: September 2022

Critical-sized bone defects often lead to non-union and full-thickness defects of the calvarium specifically still present reconstructive challenges. In this study, we show that neurotrophic supplements induce robust in vitro expansion of mesenchymal stromal cells, and in situ transplantation of neurotrophic supplements-incorporated 3D-printed hydrogel grafts promote full-thickness regeneration of critical-sized bone defects. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis reveals that a unique atlas of in situ stem/progenitor cells is generated during the calvarial bone healing in vivo. Notably, we find a local expansion of resident Msx1+ skeletal stem cells after transplantation of the in situ cell culture system. Moreover, the enhanced calvarial bone regeneration is accompanied by an increased endochondral ossification that closely correlates to the Msx1+ skeletal stem cells. Our findings illustrate the time-saving and regenerative efficacy of in situ cell culture systems targeting major cell subpopulations in vivo for rapid bone tissue regeneration.
Multimodal single cell sequencing implicates chromatin accessibility and genetic background in diabetic kidney disease progression
Authors: Wilson Parker C. , Muto Yoshiharu , Wu Haojia , Karihaloo Anil , Waikar Sushrut S. , Humphreys Benjamin D.
Published: September 2022

The proximal tubule is a key regulator of kidney function and glucose metabolism. Diabetic kidney disease leads to proximal tubule injury and changes in chromatin accessibility that modify the activity of transcription factors involved in glucose metabolism and inflammation. Here we use single nucleus RNA and ATAC sequencing to show that diabetic kidney disease leads to reduced accessibility of glucocorticoid receptor binding sites and an injury-associated expression signature in the proximal tubule. We hypothesize that chromatin accessibility is regulated by genetic background and closely-intertwined with metabolic memory, which pre-programs the proximal tubule to respond differently to external stimuli. Glucocorticoid excess has long been known to increase risk for type 2 diabetes, which raises the possibility that glucocorticoid receptor inhibition may mitigate the adverse metabolic effects of diabetic kidney disease.
Long-term memory CD8+ T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 in individuals who received the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine
Authors: Kuse Nozomi , Zhang Yu , Chikata Takayuki , Nguyen Hung The , Oka Shinichi , Gatanaga Hiroyuki , Takiguchi Masafumi
Published: September 2022

Long-term memory T cells have not been well analyzed in individuals vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine although analysis of these T cells is necessary to evaluate vaccine efficacy. Here, investigate HLA-A*24:02-restricted CD8+ T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2-derived spike (S) epitopes in individuals immunized with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. T cells specific for the S-QI9 and S-NF9 immunodominant epitopes have higher ability to recognize epitopes than other epitope-specific T cell populations. This higher recognition of S-QI9-specific T cells is due to the high stability of the S-QI9 peptide for HLA-A*24:02, whereas that of S-NF9-specific T cells results from the high affinity of T cell receptor. T cells specific for S-QI9 and S-NF9 are detectable >30 weeks after the second vaccination, indicating that the vaccine induces long-term memory T cells specific for these epitopes. Because the S-QI9 epitope is highly conserved among SARS-CoV-2 variants, S-QI9-specific T cells may help prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Ultrathin ferrite nanosheets for room-temperature two-dimensional magnetic semiconductors
Authors: Cheng Ruiqing , Yin Lei , Wen Yao , Zhai Baoxing , Guo Yuzheng , Zhang Zhaofu , Liao Weitu , Xiong Wenqi , Wang Hao , Yuan Shengjun , Jiang Jian , Liu Chuansheng , He Jun
Published: September 2022

The discovery of magnetism in ultrathin crystals opens up opportunities to explore new physics and to develop next-generation spintronic devices. Nevertheless, two-dimensional magnetic semiconductors with Curie temperatures higher than room temperature have rarely been reported. Ferrites with strongly correlated d-orbital electrons may be alternative candidates offering two-dimensional high-temperature magnetic ordering. This prospect is, however, hindered by their inherent three-dimensional bonded nature. Here, we develop a confined-van der Waals epitaxial approach to synthesizing air-stable semiconducting cobalt ferrite nanosheets with thickness down to one unit cell using a facile chemical vapor deposition process. The hard magnetic behavior and magnetic domain evolution are demonstrated by means of vibrating sample magnetometry, magnetic force microscopy and magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements, which shows high Curie temperature above 390 K and strong dimensionality effect. The addition of room-temperature magnetic semiconductors to two-dimensional material family provides possibilities for numerous novel applications in computing, sensing and information storage.
Cerebro-cerebellar motor networks in clinical subtypes of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Basaia Silvia , Agosta Federica , Francia Alessandro , Cividini Camilla , Balestrino Roberta , Stojkovic Tanja , Stankovic Iva , Markovic Vladana , Sarasso Elisabetta , Gardoni Andrea , De Micco Rosita , Albano Luigi , Stefanova Elka , Kostic Vladimir S. , Filippi Massimo
Published: September 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients can be classified in tremor-dominant (TD) and postural-instability-and-gait-disorder (PIGD) motor subtypes. PIGD represents a more aggressive form of the disease that TD patients have a potentiality of converting into. This study investigated functional alterations within the cerebro-cerebellar system in PD-TD and PD-PIGD patients using stepwise functional connectivity (SFC) analysis and identified neuroimaging features that predict TD to PIGD conversion. Thirty-two PD-TD, 26 PD-PIGD patients and 60 healthy controls performed clinical/cognitive evaluations and resting-state functional MRI (fMRI). Four-year clinical follow-up data were available for 28 PD-TD patients, who were classified in 10 converters (cTD-PD) and 18 non-converters (ncTD-PD) to PIGD. The cerebellar seed-region was identified using a fMRI motor task. SFC analysis, characterizing regions that connect brain areas to the cerebellar seed at different levels of link-step distances, evaluated similar and divergent alterations in PD-TD and PD-PIGD. The discriminatory power of clinical data and/or SFC in distinguishing cPD-TD from ncPD-TD patients was assessed using ROC curve analysis. Compared to PD-TD, PD-PIGD patients showed decreased SFC in temporal lobe and occipital lobes and increased SFC in cerebellar cortex and ponto-medullary junction. Considering the subtype-conversion analysis, cPD-TD patients were characterized by increased SFC in temporal and occipital lobes and in cerebellum and ponto-medullary junction relative to ncPD-TD group. Combining clinical and SFC data, ROC curves provided the highest classification power to identify conversion to PIGD. These findings provide novel insights into the pathophysiology underlying different PD motor phenotypes and a potential tool for early characterization of PD-TD patients at risk of conversion to PIGD.
Identification of a broad lipid repertoire associated to the endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR)
Authors: Erausquin Elena , Morán-Garrido María , Sáiz Jorge , Barbas Coral , Dichiara-Rodríguez Gilda , Urdiciain Alejandro , López-Sagaseta Jacinto
Published: September 2022

Evidence is mounting that the nature of the lipid bound to the endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) has an impact on its biological roles, as observed in anticoagulation and more recently, in autoimmune disease. Phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine species dominate the EPCR lipid cargo, yet, the extent of diversity in the EPCR-associated lipid repertoire is still unknown and remains to be uncovered. We undertook mass spectrometry analyses to decipher the EPCR lipidome, and identified species not yet described as EPCR ligands, such as phosphatidylinositols and phosphatidylserines. Remarkably, we found further, more structurally divergent lipids classes, represented by ceramides and sphingomyelins, both in less abundant quantities. In support of our mass spectrometry results and previous studies, high-resolution crystal structures of EPCR in three different space groups point to a prevalent diacyl phospholipid moiety in EPCR’s pocket but a mobile and ambiguous lipid polar head group. In sum, these studies indicate that EPCR can associate with varied lipid classes, which might impact its properties in anticoagulation and the onset of autoimmune disease.
Sex-specific familial aggregation of cancers in Finland
Authors: Sipilä Lauri J. , Seppä Karri , Aavikko Mervi , Ravantti Janne , Heikkinen Sanna , Aaltonen Lauri A. , Pitkäniemi Janne
Published: September 2022

Despite the fact that the effect of sex on the occurrence of cancers has been studied extensively, it remains unclear whether sex modifies familial aggregation of cancers. We explored sex-specific familial aggregation of cancers in a large population-based historical cohort study. We combined cancer and population registry data, inferring familial relationships from birth municipality-surname-sex (MNS) combinations. Our data consisted of 391,529 incident primary cancers in 377,210 individuals with 319,872 different MNS combinations. Cumulative sex-specific numbers of cancers were compared to expected cumulative incidence. Familial cancer risks were similar between the sexes in our population-wide analysis. Families with concordant cancer in both sexes exhibited similar sex-specific cancer risks. However, some families had exceptionally high sex-specific cumulative cancer incidence. We identified six families with exceptionally strong aggregation in males: three families with thyroid cancer (ratio between observed and expected incidence 184.6; 95% credible interval (95% CI) 33.1–1012.7, 173.4 (95% CI 65.4–374.3), and 161.4 (95% CI 29.6–785.7), one with stomach (ratio 14.4 (95% CI 6.9–37.2)), colon (ratio 15.5 (95% CI 5.7–56.3)) cancers and one with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (ratio 33.5 (95% CI 17.2–207.6)). Our results imply that familial aggregation of cancers shows no sex-specific preference. However, the atypical sex-specific aggregation of stomach cancer, colon cancer, thyroid cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in certain families is difficult to fully explain with present knowledge of possible causes, and could yield useful knowledge if explored further.
Cultivating epizoic diatoms provides insights into the evolution and ecology of both epibionts and hosts
Authors: Ashworth Matt P. , Majewska Roksana , Frankovich Thomas A. , Sullivan Michael , Bosak Sunčica , Filek Klara , Van de Vijver Bart , Arendt Michael , Schwenter Jeffrey , Nel Ronel , Robinson Nathan J. , Gary Meagan P. , Theriot Edward C. , Stacy Nicole I. , Lam Daryl W. , Perrault Justin R. , Manire Charles A. , Manning Schonna R.
Published: September 2022

Our understanding of the importance of microbiomes on large aquatic animals—such as whales, sea turtles and manatees—has advanced considerably in recent years. The latest observations indicate that epibiotic diatom communities constitute diverse, polyphyletic, and compositionally stable assemblages that include both putatively obligate epizoic and generalist species. Here, we outline a successful approach to culture putatively obligate epizoic diatoms without their hosts. That some taxa can be cultured independently from their epizoic habitat raises several questions about the nature of the interaction between these animals and their epibionts. This insight allows us to propose further applications and research avenues in this growing area of study. Analyzing the DNA sequences of these cultured strains, we found that several unique diatom taxa have evolved independently to occupy epibiotic habitats. We created a library of reference sequence data for use in metabarcoding surveys of sea turtle and manatee microbiomes that will further facilitate the use of environmental DNA for studying host specificity in epizoic diatoms and the utility of diatoms as indicators of host ecology and health. We encourage the interdisciplinary community working with marine megafauna to consider including diatom sampling and diatom analysis into their routine practices.
Electron temperature and density measurement by Thomson scattering with a high repetition rate laser of 20 kHz on LHD
Authors: Funaba H. , Yasuhara R. , Uehara H. , Yamada I. , Sakamoto R. , Osakabe M. , Den Hartog D. J.
Published: September 2022

Thomson scattering measurements with a high-repetition-rate laser have commenced in the Large Helical Device. As an example of the fast phenomena captured by this diagnostic system, measurements at a 20 kHz repetition-rate in hydrogen pellet-injected plasmas are presented. Signal processing methods for this measurement have been developed and electron temperature profiles with almost 70 spatial points were evaluated at time intervals of 50 $$\upmu$$
μ
s. After Raman scattering calibration, electron density profiles were derived. Fast changes in the electron temperature and density profiles within 1 ms were observed.
MRI tractography reveals the human olfactory nerve map connecting the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb
Authors: Kurihara Sho , Tei Masayoshi , Hata Junichi , Mori Eri , Fujioka Masato , Matsuwaki Yoshinori , Otori Nobuyoshi , Kojima Hiromi , Okano Hirotaka James
Published: September 2022

The olfactory nerve map describes the topographical neural connections between the olfactory epithelium in the nasal cavity and the olfactory bulb. Previous studies have constructed the olfactory nerve maps of rodents using histological analyses or transgenic animal models to investigate olfactory nerve pathways. However, the human olfactory nerve map remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that high-field magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor tractography can be used to visualize olfactory sensory neurons while maintaining their three-dimensional structures. This technique allowed us to evaluate the olfactory sensory neuron projections from the nasal cavities to the olfactory bulbs and visualize the olfactory nerve maps of humans, marmosets and mice. The olfactory nerve maps revealed that the dorsal-ventral and medial-lateral axes were preserved between the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb in all three species. Further development of this technique might allow it to be used clinically to facilitate the diagnosis of olfactory dysfunction.
Pyroptosis correlates with tumor immunity and prognosis
Authors: Lou Xiaoying , Li Kexin , Qian Benheng , Li Yiling , Zhang Donghong , Cui Wei
Published: September 2022

Pyroptosis, as a proinflammatory form of regulated cell death, plays an important role in multiple cancers. However, the diagnostic and prognostic values of pyroptosis and its interaction with tumor immunity in pan-cancer are still unclear. Here, we show an elevated general expression of 17 pyroptosis-associated genes of tumor patients with high-immune-activity and a reduced pyroptosis in low-immune-activity tumors. Moreover, pyroptosis is positively correlated with immune infiltration and immune-related signatures across 30 types of cancer. Furthermore, our experimental data suggest that pyroptosis directly modulate the expression of immune checkpoint molecules and cytokines. We generate a pyroptosis score model as a potential independent prognostic indicator in melanoma patients. Interestingly, 3 of pyroptosis-associated genes including CASP1, CASP4 and PYCARD, can predict the effectiveness of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy for patients with melanoma. Our study demonstrates that pyroptosis correlates with tumor immunity and prognosis, might be used as a potential target for immune therapy.
Ion-selective electrode-based potentiometric immunoassays for the quantitative monitoring of alpha-fetoprotein by coupling rolling cycle amplification with silver nanoclusters
Authors: Zhang Zhishan , Cai Fan , Chen Jintu , Luo Shimu , Lin Yao , Zheng Tingjin
Published: September 2022

This work reports an ion-selective electrode-based potentiometric immunoassay for AFP detection coupling rolling cycle amplification with silver nanoclusters.
Development of monoclonal antibodies for the detection of diuron in water and sugarcane and their application in immunochromatographic strips
Authors: Zhou Jian , Liu Jie , Song Shanshan , Liu Liqiang , Xu Chuanlai , Kuang Hua , Ma Wei
Published: September 2022

Diuron (DR) as a chemical herbicide that persists in soil and water for a long time and causes extensive harm to humans.
A magnetic responsive composite surface for high-performance droplet and bubble manipulation
Authors: Liu Cong , Huang Jinxia , Guo Zhiguang , Liu Weimin
Published: September 2022

A magnetic responsive composite surface (MRCS) was prepared by injecting a magnetic elastomer into ZnO nanoarrays for intelligent control of droplet/bubble sliding/in situ pinning.
First-principles determination of the crystallography of the low-temperature phase for NbRu and TaRu shape memory alloys
Authors: Chen Wenzhou , Yuan Ronghua , Tan Furui , Xu Weina
Published: September 2022

Phonon dispersions of the P2/m and the P21/m structures for NbRu and TaRu alloys.
The mechanism of intramolecular halogen bonding enhanced the quantum efficiency of ultralong organic phosphorescence in the aggregated state
Authors: Liu Songsong , Gao Yang , Zhang Kai , Liu Shulei , Lan Hao , Lin Lili , Wang Chuan-Kui , Fan Jianzhong , Song Yuzhi
Published: September 2022

The mechanism of intramolecular halogen bonding enhancing the quantum efficiency of ultralong organic phosphorescence is revealed based on first-principles calculations.
Insights into cation–anion hydrogen bonding in mesogenic ionic liquids: an NMR study
Authors: Majhi Debashis , Dai Jing , Dvinskikh Sergey V.
Published: September 2022

Proton NMR reveals hydrogen bonding strength in mesogenic ionic liquids for different dynamic states of ions ranging from high reorientational and translational freedom to partial orientation and positional order to partial or full immobilization.
Dipole effects in the photoelectron angular distributions of the sulfur monoxide anion
Authors: Ru Beverly , Hart C. Annie , Mabbs Richard , Gozem Samer , Krylov Anna I. , Sanov Andrei
Published: September 2022

Charge–dipole interactions of the departing electron with the neutral residue affect the angular distribution in anion photodetachment.
Reaction of OH radicals with CH3NH2 in the gas phase: experimental (11.7–177.5 K) and computed rate coefficients (10–1000 K)
Authors: González Daniel , Lema-Saavedra Anxo , Espinosa Sara , Martínez-Núñez Emilio , Fernández-Ramos Antonio , Canosa André , Ballesteros Bernabé , Jiménez Elena
Published: September 2022

The reaction of OH radicals with CH3NH2 has been observed to be very fast at interstellar temperatures (T < 100 K) forming CH3NH radicals as the main reaction product. At T > 300 K, the formation yields of CH3NH and CH2NH2 radicals are similar.
Observation of a 1/3 magnetization plateau in Pb2Cu10O4(SeO3)4Cl7 arising from (Cu2+)7 clusters of corner-sharing (Cu2+)4 tetrahedra
Authors: Vasiliev A. N. , Berdonosov P. S. , Kozlyakova E. S. , Maximova O. V. , Murtazoev A. F. , Dolgikh V. A. , Lyssenko K. A. , Pchelkina Z. V. , Gorbunov D. I. , Chung S. H. , Koo H.-J. , Whangbo M.-H.
Published: September 2022

A mixed-valence compound Pb2Cu10O4(SeO3)4Cl7 has a complex structure consisting of one nonmagnetic Cu+ (S = 0) ion and four nonequivalent magnetic Cu2+ (S = 1/2) ions.
Hollow CoFe-based hybrid composites derived from unique S-modulated coordinated transition bimetal complexes for efficient oxygen evolution from water splitting under alkaline conditions
Authors: Nam Dukhyun , Lee Geunhyeong , Kim Jooheon
Published: September 2022

The hollow structure of catalysts enhances the electrocatalytic activity. 32-S-CoFe@NC is synthesized by regulating the amount of sulfur, and using self-templating.