bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polymer additive engineering of K2CuBr3 nanocrystalline films to achieve efficient and stable deep-blue emission
Authors: Ji Xinzhen , Ma Zhuangzhuang , Chen Xu , Wu Di , Tian Yongtao , Li Xinjian , Shi Zhifeng
Published: December 2021

Recently, non-toxic alternatives to lead-halide perovskites have been greatly sought after in optoelectronics applications. Deep-blue luminescent material is mainly required for fabricating white light source and expanding the color gamut of full-color displays. However, the synthesis of high-performance lead-free perovskite films with efficient blue emission is still a critical challenge currently, limiting their further practical applications. Here, a novel strategy is reported to prepare non-toxic and deep-blue-emitting K2CuBr3 nanocrystalline films by introducing polymer poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) additives into the anti-solvent. It is found that the PMMA additives could effectively reduce the grain size and improve the crystallinity of K2CuBr3 films, resulting in an enhanced radiative recombination by defect passivation and confinement of excitons in the nanograins. As a result, the PMMA-treated K2CuBr3 films achieve a bright deep-blue light with color coordinates at (0.155, 0.042), and the photoluminescence quantum yield obtained is about 3.3 times that of the pristine sample. Moreover, the treated K2CuBr3 films exhibit a substantially enhanced stability under harsh environmental conditions, maintaining >70% of their initial performances in high humidity environment (50%–70% humidity, 190 h) or under uninterrupted ultraviolet light radiation (254 nm, 3.4 mW cm−2, 150 h). These findings pave a promising strategy for achieving efficient and stable deep-blue metal halide films, showing their potential applications in optoelectronic devices.
Comprehensive evaluation of noise reduction methods for single-cell RNA sequencing data
Authors: Chu Shih-Kai , Zhao Shilin , Shyr Yu , Liu Qi
Published: December 2021

Normalization and batch correction are critical steps in processing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, which remove technical effects and systematic biases to unmask biological signals of interest. Although a number of computational methods have been developed, there is no guidance for choosing appropriate procedures in different scenarios. In this study, we assessed the performance of 28 scRNA-seq noise reduction procedures in 55 scenarios using simulated and real datasets. The scenarios accounted for multiple biological and technical factors that greatly affect the denoising performance, including relative magnitude of batch effects, the extent of cell population imbalance, the complexity of cell group structures, the proportion and the similarity of nonoverlapping cell populations, dropout rates and variable library sizes. We used multiple quantitative metrics and visualization of low-dimensional cell embeddings to evaluate the performance on batch mixing while preserving the original cell group and gene structures. Based on our results, we specified technical or biological factors affecting the performance of each method and recommended proper methods in different scenarios. In addition, we highlighted one challenging scenario where most methods failed and resulted in overcorrection. Our studies not only provided a comprehensive guideline for selecting suitable noise reduction procedures but also pointed out unsolved issues in the field, especially the urgent need of developing metrics for assessing batch correction on imperceptible cell-type mixing.
A robust and scalable graph neural network for accurate single-cell classification
Authors: Zeng Yuansong , Wei Zhuoyi , Pan Zixiang , Lu Yutong , Yang Yuedong
Published: December 2021

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) techniques provide high-resolution data on cellular heterogeneity in diverse tissues, and a critical step for the data analysis is cell type identification. Traditional methods usually cluster the cells and manually identify cell clusters through marker genes, which is time-consuming and subjective. With the launch of several large-scale single-cell projects, millions of sequenced cells have been annotated and it is promising to transfer labels from the annotated datasets to newly generated datasets. One powerful way for the transferring is to learn cell relations through the graph neural network (GNN), but traditional GNNs are difficult to process millions of cells due to the expensive costs of the message-passing procedure at each training epoch. Here, we have developed a robust and scalable GNN-based method for accurate single-cell classification (GraphCS), where the graph is constructed to connect similar cells within and between labelled and unlabeled scRNA-seq datasets for propagation of shared information. To overcome the slow information propagation of GNN at each training epoch, the diffused information is pre-calculated via the approximate Generalized PageRank algorithm, enabling sublinear complexity over cell numbers. Compared with existing methods, GraphCS demonstrates better performance on simulated, cross-platform, cross-species and cross-omics scRNA-seq datasets. More importantly, our model provides a high speed and scalability on large datasets, and can achieve superior performance for 1 million cells within 50 min.
MiRNA–disease association prediction based on meta-paths
Authors: Yu Liang , Zheng Yujia , Gao Lin
Published: December 2021

Since miRNAs can participate in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression, they may provide ideas for the development of new drugs or become new biomarkers for drug targets or disease diagnosis. In this work, we propose an miRNA–disease association prediction method based on meta-paths (MDPBMP). First, an miRNA–disease–gene heterogeneous information network was constructed, and seven symmetrical meta-paths were defined according to different semantics. After constructing the initial feature vector for the node, the vector information carried by all nodes on the meta-path instance is extracted and aggregated to update the feature vector of the starting node. Then, the vector information obtained by the nodes on different meta-paths is aggregated. Finally, miRNA and disease embedding feature vectors are used to calculate their associated scores. Compared with the other methods, MDPBMP obtained the highest AUC value of 0.9214. Among the top 50 predicted miRNAs for lung neoplasms, esophageal neoplasms, colon neoplasms and breast neoplasms, 49, 48, 49 and 50 have been verified. Furthermore, for breast neoplasms, we deleted all the known associations between breast neoplasms and miRNAs from the training set. These results also show that for new diseases without known related miRNA information, our model can predict their potential miRNAs. Code and data are available at https://github.com/LiangYu-Xidian/MDPBMP.
Shaking things up: the unique feeding behaviour of western banded geckos when consuming scorpions
Authors: Whitford Malachi D , Freymiller Grace A , Higham Timothy E , Clark Rulon W
Published: December 2021

Predators that feed on dangerous prey species must evolve mechanisms to reduce the likelihood of injury or death during a predation attempt. Scorpions are prime examples of dangerous prey items for insectivores, because they can inflict a venomous and potentially fatal sting when attacked. Despite this risk, the western banded gecko (Coleonyx variegatus), a generalist insectivore, occasionally preys on dune scorpions (Smeringurus mesaensis). We use high-speed videography to examine the modulation of prey capture biomechanics in relationship to prey type. The capture of undefended evasive (cricket) and non-evasive (worms) prey follows previous studies of lizard attack kinematics. However, we have discovered a unique shake-feeding behaviour used by western banded geckos when feeding on scorpions, whereby the gecko bites the scorpion, then performs very rapid side-to-side shaking with its head and body. Given the speed and violence of shake-feeding, we suggest that geckos shake the scorpion to cause mass trauma and subsequent immobility or, potentially, to break the stinger and render the scorpion harmless. This behaviour might be widespread among geckos that feed on these dangerous prey species.
Spatially resolved neural slowing predicts impairment and amyloid burden in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Wiesman Alex I , Murman Daniel L , Losh Rebecca A , Schantell Mikki , Christopher-Hayes Nicholas J , Johnson Hallie J , Willett Madelyn P , Wolfson Sara L , Losh Kathryn L , Johnson Craig M , May Pamela E , Wilson Tony W
Published: December 2021

An extensive electrophysiological literature has proposed a pathological ‘slowing’ of neuronal activity in patients on the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum. Supported by numerous studies reporting increases in low-frequency and decreases in high-frequency neural oscillations, this pattern has been suggested as a stable biomarker with potential clinical utility. However, no spatially resolved metric of such slowing exists, stymieing efforts to understand its relation to proteinopathy and clinical outcomes. Further, the assumption that this slowing is occurring in spatially overlapping populations of neurons has not been empirically validated.

In the current study, we collected cross-sectional resting state measures of neuronal activity using magnetoencephalography from 38 biomarker-confirmed patients on the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum and 20 cognitively normal biomarker-negative older adults. From these data, we compute and validate a new metric of spatially resolved oscillatory deviations from healthy ageing for each patient on the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum.

Using this Pathological Oscillatory Slowing Index, we show that patients on the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum exhibit robust neuronal slowing across a network of temporal, parietal, cerebellar and prefrontal cortices. This slowing effect is shown to be directly relevant to clinical outcomes, as oscillatory slowing in temporal and parietal cortices significantly predicted both general (i.e. Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores) and domain-specific (i.e. attention, language and processing speed) cognitive function. Further, regional amyloid-β accumulation, as measured by quantitative 18F florbetapir PET, robustly predicted the magnitude of this pathological neural slowing effect, and the strength of this relationship between amyloid-β burden and neural slowing also predicted attentional impairments across patients.

These findings provide empirical support for a spatially overlapping effect of oscillatory neural slowing in biomarker-confirmed patients on the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum, and link this effect to both regional proteinopathy and cognitive outcomes in a spatially resolved manner. The Pathological Oscillatory Slowing Index also represents a novel metric that is of potentially high utility across a number of clinical neuroimaging applications, as oscillatory slowing has also been extensively documented in other patient populations, most notably Parkinson’s disease, with divergent spectral and spatial features.
Tubulin tyrosination regulates synaptic function and is disrupted in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Peris Leticia , Parato Julie , Qu Xiaoyi , Soleilhac Jean Marc , Lanté Fabien , Kumar Atul , Pero Maria Elena , Martínez-Hernández José , Corrao Charlotte , Falivelli Giulia , Payet Floriane , Gory-Fauré Sylvie , Bosc Christophe , Blanca Ramirez Marian , Sproul Andrew , Brocard Jacques , Di Cara Benjamin , Delagrange Philippe , Buisson Alain , Goldberg Yves , Moutin Marie Jo , Bartolini Francesca , Andrieux Annie
Published: December 2021

Microtubules play fundamental roles in the maintenance of neuronal processes and in synaptic function and plasticity. While dynamic microtubules are mainly composed of tyrosinated tubulin, long-lived microtubules contain detyrosinated tubulin, suggesting that the tubulin tyrosination/detyrosination cycle is a key player in the maintenance of microtubule dynamics and neuronal homeostasis, conditions that go awry in neurodegenerative diseases. In the tyrosination/detyrosination cycle, the C-terminal tyrosine of α-tubulin is removed by tubulin carboxypeptidases and re-added by tubulin tyrosine ligase (TTL).

Here we show that TTL heterozygous mice exhibit decreased tyrosinated microtubules, reduced dendritic spine density and both synaptic plasticity and memory deficits. We further report decreased TTL expression in sporadic and familial Alzheimer’s disease, and reduced microtubule dynamics in human neurons harbouring the familial APP-V717I mutation. Finally, we show that synapses visited by dynamic microtubules are more resistant to oligomeric amyloid-β peptide toxicity and that expression of TTL, by restoring microtubule entry into spines, suppresses the loss of synapses induced by amyloid-β peptide.

Together, our results demonstrate that a balanced tyrosination/detyrosination tubulin cycle is necessary for the maintenance of synaptic plasticity, is protective against amyloid-β peptide-induced synaptic damage and that this balance is lost in Alzheimer’s disease, providing evidence that defective tubulin retyrosination may contribute to circuit dysfunction during neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.
3T MRI of rapid brain activity changes driven by subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation
Authors: Elias Gavin J B , Germann Jürgen , Boutet Alexandre , Loh Aaron , Li Bryan , Pancholi Aditya , Beyn Michelle E , Naheed Asma , Bennett Nicole , Pinto Jessica , Bhat Venkat , Giacobbe Peter , Woodside D Blake , Kennedy Sidney H , Lozano Andres M
Published: December 2021

Deep brain stimulation targeting the subcallosal cingulate area, a hub with multiple axonal projections, has shown therapeutic potential for treatment-resistant mood disorders. While subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation drives long-term metabolic changes in corticolimbic circuits, the brain areas that are directly modulated by electrical stimulation of this region are not known.

We used 3.0 T functional MRI to map the topography of acute brain changes produced by stimulation in an initial cohort of 12 patients with fully implanted deep brain stimulation devices targeting the subcallosal cingulate area. Four additional subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation patients were also scanned and employed as a validation cohort. Participants underwent resting state scans (n = 78 acquisitions overall) during (i) inactive deep brain stimulation; (ii) clinically optimal active deep brain stimulation; and (iii) suboptimal active deep brain stimulation. All scans were acquired within a single MRI session, each separated by a 5-min washout period.

Analysis of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in each sequence indicated that clinically optimal deep brain stimulation reduced spontaneous brain activity in several areas, including the bilateral dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, the bilateral posterior cingulate cortex, the bilateral precuneus and the left inferior parietal lobule (PBonferroni < 0.0001). Stimulation-induced dorsal anterior cingulate cortex signal reduction correlated with immediate within-session mood fluctuations, was greater at optimal versus suboptimal settings and was related to local cingulum bundle engagement. Moreover, linear modelling showed that immediate changes in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus activity could predict individual long-term antidepressant improvement. A model derived from the primary cohort that incorporated amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations changes in these three areas (along with preoperative symptom severity) explained 55% of the variance in clinical improvement in that cohort. The same model also explained 93% of the variance in the out-of-sample validation cohort. Additionally, all three brain areas exhibited significant changes in functional connectivity between active and inactive deep brain stimulation states (PBonferroni < 0.01).

These results provide insight into the network-level mechanisms of subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation and point towards potential acute biomarkers of clinical response that could help to optimize and personalize this therapy.
Distinct roles for the anterior temporal lobe and angular gyrus in the spatiotemporal cortical semantic network
Authors: Farahibozorg Seyedeh-Rezvan , Henson Richard N , Woollams Anna M , Hauk Olaf
Published: December 2021

Semantic knowledge is supported by numerous brain regions, but the spatiotemporal configuration of the network that links these areas remains an open question. The hub-and-spokes model posits that a central semantic hub coordinates this network. In this study, we explored distinct aspects that define a semantic hub, as reflected in the spatiotemporal modulation of neural activity and connectivity by semantic variables, from the earliest stages of semantic processing. We used source-reconstructed electro/magnetoencephalography, and investigated the concreteness contrast across three tasks. In a whole-cortex analysis, the left anterior temporal lobe (ATL) was the only area that showed modulation of evoked brain activity from 100 ms post-stimulus. Furthermore, using Dynamic Causal Modeling of the evoked responses, we investigated effective connectivity amongst the candidate semantic hub regions, that is, left ATL, supramarginal/angular gyrus (SMG/AG), middle temporal gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus. We found that models with a single semantic hub showed the highest Bayesian evidence, and the hub region was found to change from ATL (within 250 ms) to SMG/AG (within 450 ms) over time. Our results support a single semantic hub view, with ATL showing sustained modulation of neural activity by semantics, and both ATL and AG underlying connectivity depending on the stage of semantic processing.
Success rate of surface-treated and non-treated orthodontic miniscrews as anchorage reinforcement in the lower arch for the Herbst appliance: A single-centre, randomised split-mouth clinical trial
Authors: Manni Antonio , Drago Sara , Migliorati Marco
Published: December 2021

Background

Surface treatment of miniscrews was implemented to determine whether its application increased bone-to-surface contact and enhanced the interlock between the device and the surrounding bone.

Objectives

To compare the success rate of surface-treated and non-treated orthodontic miniscrews used as reinforcement of anchorage during treatment with the Herbst appliance.

Trial design

Split-mouth design with an allocation ratio of 1:1.

Methods

Eligibility criteria to enrol patients were skeletal and dental class II patients with a retrusive chin, use of the Herbst appliance to correct malocclusion, need for skeletal anchorage using a miniscrew both in the left and right side of the mouth, absence of systemic diseases, absence of using drugs that alter bone metabolism, and good oral hygiene. Patients received self-drilling miniscrews without surface treatment and with surface treatment. Both types presented a 1.4 or 1.2 mm diameter. Miniscrews were inserted between the first molar and second premolars or between the two premolars. The force applied to the screws was an elastic chain from the head of the miniscrews to a direct button applied on the canines. The success rate of each type of miniscrew was considered the primary outcome, and the association of success with demographical, clinical, and geometrical characteristics was investigated. Differences were tested by the generalised linear mixed effects model for the split-mouth design. Differences with a P-value < 0.05 were selected as significant.

Randomisation

A randomisation list was created for the mouth side assignment.

Blinding

The study was single blinded with regard to the statistical analysis.

Results

Thirty-nine miniscrews of the non-treated type and 39 miniscrews of the surface-treated type were inserted in 39 patients (23 female and 16 male, mean age: 15.55 ± 7.91) recruited between March 2018 and December 2020 with a split-mouth study design. The mean therapy duration was 9.3 months (SD = 1.31). No differences in failure rate were observed between miniscrew types. No serious harm was observed.

Conclusions

The success rate of surface-treated and non-treated miniscrews showed no significant differences.

Registration

This trial was not registered.
Seasonal variations of subsurface seismic velocities monitored by the SEIS-InSight seismometer on Mars
Authors: Compaire N , Margerin L , Monnereau M , Garcia R F , Lange L , Calvet M , Dahmen N L , Stähler S C , Mueller N , Grott M , Lognonné P , Spohn T , Banerdt W B
Published: December 2021

The SEIS (Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure) seismometer deployed at the surface of Mars in the framework of the NASA-InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) mission has been continuously recording the ground motion at Elysium Planitia for more than one martian year. In this work, we investigate the seasonal variation of the near-surface properties using both background vibrations and a particular class of high-frequency seismic events. We present measurements of relative velocity changes over one martian year and show that they can be modelled by a thermoelastic response of the Martian regolith. Several families of high-frequency seismic multiplets have been observed at various periods of the martian year. These events exhibit complex, repeatable waveforms with an emergent character and a coda that is likely composed of scattered waves. Taking advantage of these properties, we use coda wave interferometry (CWI) to measure relative traveltime changes as a function of the date of occurrence of the quakes. While in some families a stretching of the coda waveform is clearly observed, in other families we observe either no variation or a clear contraction of the waveform. These various behaviors correspond to different conditions of illumination at the InSight landing site, depending on the season. Measurements of velocity changes from the analysis of background vibrations above 5 Hz are consistent with the results from CWI. We identify a frequency band structure in the power spectral density (PSD) that can be tracked over hundreds of days. This band structure is the equivalent in the frequency domain of an autocorrelogram and can be efficiently used to measure relative traveltime changes as a function of frequency. We explain how the PSD analysis allows us to circumvent the contamination of the measurements by the Lander mode excitation which is inevitable in the time domain. The observed velocity changes can be adequately modelled by the thermoelastic response of the regolith to the time-dependent incident solar flux at the seasonal scale. In particular, the model captures the time delay between the surface temperature variations and the velocity changes in the subsurface. Our observations could serve as a basis for a joint inversion of the seismic and thermal properties in the first 20 m below InSight.
A reduced-order variational Bayesian approach for efficient subsurface imaging
Authors: Urozayev Dias , Ait-El-Fquih Boujemaa , Hoteit Ibrahim , Peter Daniel
Published: December 2021

This work considers the reconstruction of a subsurface model from seismic observations, which is known to be a high-dimensional and ill-posed inverse problem. Two approaches are combined to tackle this problem: the discrete cosine transform (DCT) approach, used in the forward modelling step, and the variational Bayesian (VB) approach, used in the inverse reconstruction step. VB can provide not only point estimates but also closed forms of the full posterior probability distributions. To efficiently compute such estimates of the full joint posterior distributions of large-scale seismic inverse problems, we resort to a DCT order-reduction scheme with a VB approximation of the posteriors, avoiding the need for costly Bayesian sampling methods. More specifically, we first reduce the model parameters through truncation of their DCT coefficients. This helps regularizing our seismic inverse problem and alleviates its computational complexity. Then, we apply a VB inference in the reduced-DCT space to estimate the dominant (retained) DCT coefficients together with the variance of the observational noise. We also present an efficient implementation of the derived VB-based algorithm for further cost reduction. The performances of the proposed scheme are evaluated through extensive numerical experiments for both linear and nonlinear forward models. In the former, the subsurface reflectivity model was reconstructed at a comparable estimation accuracy as the optimal weighted-regularized-least-squares solution. In the latter, the main structural features of the squared slowness model were well reconstructed.
Telomere Length Declines in Persons With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Before Antiretroviral Therapy Start but Not After Viral Suppression: A Longitudinal Study Over >17 Years
Authors: Schoepf Isabella C , Thorball Christian W , Ledergerber Bruno , Kootstra Neeltje A , Reiss Peter , Raffenberg Marieke , Engel Tanja , Braun Dominique L , Hasse Barbara , Thurnheer Christine , Marzolini Catia , Seneghini Marco , Bernasconi Enos , Cavassini Matthias , Buvelot Hélène , Arribas José R , Kouyos Roger D , Fellay Jacques , Günthard Huldrych F , Tarr Philip E
Published: December 2021

Background

In people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH), long-term telomere length (TL) change without/with suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the contribution of genetic background to TL are incompletely understood.

Methods

We measured TL change in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 107 Swiss HIV Cohort Study participants with longitudinal samples available both before and during suppressive ART. We applied mixed-effects multilevel regression to obtain uni-/multivariable estimates for longitudinal TL dynamics including age, sex, and CD4/CD8 ratio. We assessed the effect of (1) individual antiretrovirals and (2) an individual TL-polygenic risk score ([TL-PRS] based on 239 single-nucleotide polymorphisms) on TL in 798 additional participants from our previous longitudinal studies.

Results

During untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (median observation, 7.7; interquartile range [IQR], 4.7–11] years), TL declined significantly (median −2.12%/year; IQR, −3.48% to −0.76%/year; P = .002). During suppressive ART (median observation, 9.8; IQR, 7.1–11.1 years), there was no evidence of TL decline or increase (median + 0.54%/year; IQR, −0.55% to + 1.63%/year; P = .329). The TL-PRS contributed to TL change (global P = .019) but particular antiretrovirals did not (all P > .15).

Conclusions

In PWH, TL is associated with an individual PRS. Telomere length declined significantly during untreated chronic HIV infection, but no TL change occurred during suppressive ART.
On the Impact of Inequality on Growth, Human Development, and Governance
Authors: Ferreira Ines A , Gisselquist Rachel M , Tarp Finn
Published: December 2021

Inequality is a major international development challenge. This is so from an ethical perspective and because greater inequality is perceived to be detrimental to key socioeconomic and political outcomes. Still, informed debate requires clear evidence. This article contributes by taking stock and providing an up-to-date overview of the current knowledge on the impact of income inequality, specifically on three important outcomes: (1) economic growth; (2) human development, with a focus on health and education as two of its dimensions; and (3) governance, with emphasis on democracy. With particular attention to work in economics, which is especially developed on these topics, this article reveals that the existing evidence is somewhat mixed and argues for further in-depth empirical work across disciplines. It also points to explanations for the lack of consensus embedded in data quality and availability, measurement issues, and shortcomings of the different methods employed. Finally, we suggest promising future research avenues relying on experimental work for microlevel analysis and reiterate the need for more region- and country-specific studies and improvements in the availability and reliability of data.
Upregulated mGluR5 induces ER stress and DNA damage by regulating the NMDA receptor subunit NR2B
Authors: Gu Li , Luo Wen-Yuan , Xia Ning , Zhang Jian-Nan , Fan Jing-Kai , Yang Hui-Min , Wang Meng-Chen , Zhang Hong
Published: December 2021

Dysfunction caused by mGluR5 expression or activation is an important mechanism in the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Early clinical studies on mGluR5 negative allosteric modulators have shown some limitations. It is therefore necessary to find a more specific approach to block mGluR5-mediated neurotoxicity. Here, we determined the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit NR2B in mGluR5-mediated ER stress and DNA damage. In vitro study, rotenone-induced ER stress and DNA damage were accompanied by an increase in mGluR5 expression and overexpressed or activated mGluR5 with agonist (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG) induced ER stress and DNA damage, while blocking mGluR5 with antagonist 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl) pyridine hydrochloride (MPEP) alleviated the effect. Furthermore, the damage caused by CHPG was blocked by NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801. Additionally, rotenone or CHPG increased the p-Src and p-NR2B, which was inhibited by MPEP. Blocking p-Src or NR2B with PP2 or CP101,606 alleviated CHPG-induced ER stress and DNA damage. Overactivation of mGluR5 accompanied with the increase of p-Src and p-NR2B in the ER stress and DNA damage was found in rotenone-induced PD rat model. These findings suggest a new mechanism wherein mGluR5 induces ER stress and DNA damage through the NMDA receptor and propose NR2B as the molecular target for therapeutic strategy for PD.
Observations on anchialine-pool shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea: Atyidae, Barbouriidae) from the Philippines: A re-assessment after four decades and discovery of a second epigeal pool
Authors: Malay Maria Celia D , Ebreo Karen Claire S , Felix Lucas R , Domingo Jobeth N , Gerona Joemarie T
Published: December 2021

We document the current status of the enigmatic bright-red anchialine shrimps in Tiniguiban Islet in the western Visayas region of the Philippines. A second epigeal anchialine pool was discovered in nearby Hinlaran Islet, and two shrimp species were recorded in the pools, the large barbouriid Parhippolyte uveaeBorradaile, 1900 as previously reported and a much smaller atyid Antecaridina lauensis (Edmondson, 1935). The shrimps move in and out of the pools with tidal fluctuations, since both pools completely dry out at low tide. The shrimps remain very abundant in Tiniguiban despite extensive modifications made by its owners and an apparent decrease in dissolved oxygen levels. Magico-religious beliefs regarding these unusual red shrimps persist, yet a subtle shift in values is noted, particularly with the growing popularity of the Tiniguiban pool with local tourists. Further modernization and coastal development may rapidly threaten these rare shrimp populations. Our study provides baseline data for systematic study and future protection of these rare pools and their shrimps that uniquely dwell at the interface of cave and marine habitats.
Molecular Identification and Functional Characterization of Methoprene-Tolerant (Met) and Krüppel-Homolog 1 (Kr-h1) in Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Authors: Han Hui , Feng ZhaoYang , Han ShiPeng , Chen Jie , Wang Da , He YunZhuan
Published: December 2021

Juvenile hormone (JH) plays a key role in regulating insect reproductive processes. Methoprene-tolerant (Met), as a putative JH receptor, transduces JH signals by activating the transcription factor krüppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1). To understand the effects of Met and Kr-h1 genes on female reproduction of natural enemy insects, the Met and Kr-h1 were identified and analyzed from Harmonia axyridis Pallas (HmMet and HmKr-h1). The HmMet protein belonged to the bHLH-PAS family with bHLH domain, PAS domains, and PAC domain. HmMet mRNA was detected in all developmental stages, and the highest expression was found in the ovaries of female adults. The HmKr-h1 protein had eight C2H2-type zinc finger domains. HmKr-h1 mRNA was highly expressed from day 7 to day 9 of female adults. The tissue expression showed that HmKr-h1 was highly expressed in its wing, leg, and fat body. Knockdown of HmMet and HmKr-h1 substantially reduced the transcription of HmVg1 and HmVg2, inhibited yolk protein deposition, and reduced fecundity using RNA interference. In addition, the preoviposition period was significantly prolonged after dsMet-injection, but there was no significant difference after dsKr-h1-silencing. However, the effect on hatchability results was the opposite. Therefore, we infer that both HmMet and HmKr-h1 are involved in female reproduction of H. axyridis, and their specific functions are different in certain physiological processes. In several continents, H. axyridis are not only beneficial insects, but also invasive pests. This report will provide basis for applying or controlling the H. axyridis.
Association of Health-Care System and Survival in African American and Non-Hispanic White Patients With Bladder Cancer
Authors: Kotha Nikhil V , Kumar Abhishek , Qiao Edmund M , Qian Alex S , Voora Rohith S , Nalawade Vinit , Karim Kader A , McKay Rana R , Stewart Tyler F , Rose Brent S
Published: December 2021

Background

African American patients with bladder cancer have inferior outcomes compared with non-Hispanic White (White) patients. We hypothesize that access to health care is a primary determinant of this disparity. We compared outcomes by race for patients with bladder cancer receiving care within the predominant hybrid-payer health-care model of the United States captured in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database with those receiving care within the equal-access model of the Veterans’ Health Administration (VHA).

Methods

African American and White patients diagnosed with bladder cancer were identified in SEER and VHA. Stage at presentation, bladder cancer–specific mortality (BCM), and overall survival (OS) were compared by race within each health-care system.

Results

The SEER cohort included 122 449 patients (93.7% White, 6.3% African American). The VHA cohort included 36 322 patients (91.0% White, 9.0% African American). In both cohorts, African American patients were more likely to present with muscle-invasive disease and metastases, but the differences between races were statistically significantly smaller in VHA. In SEER multivariable models, African American patients had worse BCM (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15 to 1.29) and OS (HR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.20 to 1.31). In contrast within the VHA, African American patients had similar BCM (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.88 to 1.07) and OS (HR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.93 to 1.05).

Conclusions

In this study of contrasting health-care models, receiving medical care in an equal-access system was associated with reduced differences in stage at presentation and eliminated disparities in survival outcomes for African American patients with bladder cancer. Our findings highlight the importance of reducing financial barriers to care to notably improve health equity and oncologic outcomes for African American patients.
Correlation of MTAP Immunohistochemistry With CDKN2A Status Assessed by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization and Clinicopathological Features in CNS WHO Grade 2 and 3 Meningiomas: A Single Center Cohort Study
Authors: Sasaki Shoh , Takeda Maiko , Hirose Takanori , Fujii Tomomi , Itami Hiroe , Uchiyama Tomoko , Morita Kohei , Matsuda Ryosuke , Yamada Shuichi , Nakagawa Ichiro , Ohbayashi Chiho
Published: December 2021

CDKN2A homozygous deletion has occasionally been reported in atypical and anaplastic meningiomas and is considered as one of the genetic alterations commonly involved in their recurrence and malignant progression. Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) immunohistochemistry is a promising surrogate marker for CDKN2A homozygous deletion in different cancers but has not been examined in meningiomas. We performed CDKN2A FISH and MTAP immunohistochemistry on specimens from 30 patients with CNS WHO grade 2 (n = 27) and 3 (n = 3) meningiomas, including specimens from primary and recurrent tumors and then determined whether MTAP immunohistochemistry correlated with CDKN2A homozygous deletion and clinicopathological features. CDKN2A homozygous deletion was detected in 12% (3/26) of CNS WHO grade 2 and 67% (2/3) of CNS WHO grade 3 meningiomas; 3 cases exhibited temporal and/or spatial heterogeneity. MTAP loss was in excellent concordance with CDKN2A homozygous deletion (sensitivity; 100%, specificity; 100%). MTAP loss/CDKN2A homozygous deletion correlated with cellular proliferation (mitotic rate; p = 0.001, Ki-67 labeling index; p = 0.03) and poor prognosis (overall survival; p = 0.01, progression free survival; p < 0.001). Thus, MTAP immunostaining can be a surrogate marker for CDKN2A homozygous deletion in meningiomas, and MTAP loss/CDKN2A homozygous deletion may be an important prognostic factor for meningiomas.
Pseudomonas syringaeaddresses distinct environmental challenges during plant infection through the coordinated deployment of polysaccharides
Authors: Krishna Pilla Sankara , Woodcock Stuart Daniel , Pfeilmeier Sebastian , Bornemann Stephen , Zipfel Cyril , Malone Jacob George
Published: December 2021

Prior to infection, phytopathogenic bacteria face a challenging environment on the plant surface, where they are exposed to nutrient starvation and abiotic stresses. Pathways enabling surface adhesion, stress tolerance, and epiphytic survival are important for successful plant pathogenesis. Understanding the roles and regulation of these pathways is therefore crucial to fully understand bacterial plant infections. The phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) encodes multiple polysaccharides that are implicated in biofilm formation, stress survival, and virulence in other microbes. To examine how these polysaccharides impact Pst epiphytic survival and pathogenesis, we analysed mutants in multiple polysaccharide loci to determine their intersecting contributions to epiphytic survival and infection. In parallel, we used qRT–PCR to analyse the regulation of each pathway. Pst polysaccharides are tightly coordinated by multiple environmental signals. Nutrient availability, temperature, and surface association strongly affect the expression of different polysaccharides under the control of the signalling protein genes ladS and cbrB and the second messenger cyclic-di-GMP. Furthermore, functionally redundant, combinatorial phenotypes were observed for several polysaccharides. Exopolysaccharides play a role in mediating leaf adhesion, while α-glucan and alginate together confer desiccation tolerance. Our results suggest that polysaccharides play important roles in overcoming environmental challenges to Pst during plant infection.
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Deployed Personnel in a Joint Environment
Authors: Higginson Jason D , Tumin Dmitry , Kuehhas Timothy C , DeLozier-Hooks Susan E , Powell Carl A , Ramirez Dale D , Dabelić Anja , Basso Michael R
Published: December 2021

Introduction

In the United States, vaccine hesitancy has been identified as a major barrier to vaccination against COVID-19, but attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination among military personnel are not well understood. We evaluated the prevalence and correlates of COVID-19 vaccine consent or refusal among deployed personnel in a joint environment.

Materials and Methods

Deidentified data were retrospectively extracted from the electronic medical record of the Military Health System in May 2021. All personnel currently assigned to the deployment area of operations were included in the analysis if their choice to receive the vaccine was known. Personnel characteristics were compared by vaccine acceptance status using chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests, or correlation coefficients. This analysis was exempted from Institutional Review Board review.

Results

The sample included 1,809 individuals, primarily members of the Army (72%) and members of Reserve (53%) or National Guard (27%) units. In the overall sample, 61% accepted the vaccine, with vaccine acceptance rates being lowest among Black or African American personnel (54%; P = .03 for comparison across racial groups) and members of Reserve or National Guard units (59%; P < .001 for comparison by component). No differences in vaccine acceptance were found according to sex or health status (including prior COVID-19 infection).

Conclusions

Overall vaccine acceptance was greater among deployed military personnel than that reported in the U.S. population as a whole. However, lower vaccine acceptance among personnel from marginalized populations suggests a need to ensure that all service members have sufficient opportunities to have a frank and ongoing discussion with health care providers to address concerns related to vaccination. Additionally, lower vaccine acceptance among Reserve and National Guard personnel indicates a need for innovative educational approaches to counter vaccine hesitancy in the premobilization phase of deployment.
Protostellar outflows: a window to the past
Authors: Rohde P F , Walch S , Seifried D , Whitworth A P , Clarke S D
Published: December 2021

During the early phases of low-mass star formation, episodic accretion causes the ejection of high-velocity outflow bullets, which carry a fossil record of the driving protostar’s accretion history. We present 44 SPH simulations of $1\, {{\mathrm{M}}}_{\odot }$ cores, covering a wide range of initial conditions, and follow the cores for five free-fall times. Individual protostars are represented by sink particles, and the sink particles launch episodic outflows using a sub-grid model. The Optics algorithm is used to identify individual episodic bullets within the outflows. The parameters of the overall outflow and the individual bullets are then used to estimate the age and energetics of the outflow, and the accretion events that triggered it, and to evaluate how reliable these estimates are, if observational uncertainties and selection effects (like inclination) are neglected. Of the commonly used methods for estimating outflow ages, it appears that those based on the length and speed of advance of the lobe are the most reliable in the early phases of evolution, and those based on the width of the outflow cavity and the speed of advance are most reliable during the later phases. We describe a new method that is almost as accurate as these methods, and reliable throughout the evolution. In addition, we show how the accretion history of the protostar can be accurately reconstructed from the dynamics of the bullets if each lobe contains at least two bullets. The outflows entrain about 10 times more mass than originally ejected by the protostar.
Influence of Comptonization region over the ambiance of accretion disc in active galactic nucleus
Authors: Sriram K , Nour D , Choi C S
Published: December 2021

Understanding the radiative and physical structures of inner region of a few 100 pc of active galactic nucleus (AGNs) is important to constrain the causes of their activities. Although the X-ray emission from the Comptonization region/corona and the accretion disc regulates the broad-line emission regions and torus structures, the exact mutual dependency is not understood well. We performed correlation studies for X-ray, mid-infrared, and different components of Balmer emission lines for the selected sample of AGNs. Almost 10 different parameters and their interdependencies were explored in order to understand the underlying astrophysics. We found that the X-ray luminosity has a linear dependency on the various components of broad Balmer emission lines (e.g. L$_{\text{2-10 keV}}\, \propto$ L$^{0.78}_{\text{H}\beta ^{\text{B}}}$) and found a strong dependency on the optical continuum luminosity (L$_{\text{2-10 keV}}\, \propto$ L$^{0.86}_{5100\, \mathring{\rm A}}$). For a selected sample, we also observed a linear dependency between X-ray and mid-infrared luminosity (L$_{\text{2-10 keV}}\, \propto$ L$^{0.74}_{6\, \mu \text{m}}$). A break point was observed in our correlation studies for X-ray power-law index, Γ, and mass of black hole at ∼ log (M/M⊙)  = 8.95. Similarly, the relations between Γ and full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of H α and H β broad components show breaks at FWHMH α = 7642 ± 657 km s−1 and FWHMH β  = 7336 ± 650 km s−1. However, more data are required to confine the breaks locations exactly. We noted that Γ and Eddington ratios are negatively correlated to Balmer decrements in our selected sample. We analysed and discussed about the implications of new findings in terms of interaction AGN structures.
Imaging sensitivity of a linear interferometer array on lunar orbit
Authors: Shi Yuan , Xu Yidong , Deng Li , Wu Fengquan , Wu Lin , Huang Qizhi , Zuo Shifan , Yan Jingye , Chen Xuelei
Published: December 2021

Ground-based observation at frequencies below 30 MHz is hindered by the ionosphere of the Earth and radio frequency interference. To map the sky at these low frequencies, we have proposed the Discovering the Sky at the Longest wavelength mission (DSL, also known as the ‘Hongmeng’ mission, which means ‘Primordial Universe’ in Chinese) concept, which employs a linear array of micro-satellites orbiting the Moon. Such an array can make interferometric observations achieving good angular resolutions despite the small size of the antennas. However, it differs from the conventional ground-based interferometer array or even the previous orbital interferometers in many aspects, new data-processing methods need to be developed. In this work, we make a series of simulations to assess the imaging quality and sensitivity of such an array. We start with an input sky model and a simple orbit model, generate mock interferometric visibilities, and then reconstruct the sky map. We consider various observational effects and practical issues, such as the system noise, antenna response, and Moon blockage. Based on the quality of the recovered image, we quantify the imaging capability of the array for different satellite numbers and array configurations. For the first time, we make practical estimates of the point source sensitivity for such a lunar orbit array, and predict the expected number of detectable sources for the mission. Depending on the radio source number distribution which is still very uncertain at these frequencies, the proposed mission can detect 102–104 sources during its operation.