bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell type specific transcriptomic differences in depression show similar patterns between males and females but implicate distinct cell types and genes
Authors: Maitra Malosree , Mitsuhashi Haruka , Rahimian Reza , Chawla Anjali , Yang Jennie , Fiori Laura M. , Davoli Maria Antonietta , Perlman Kelly , Aouabed Zahia , Mash Deborah C. , Suderman Matthew , Mechawar Naguib , Turecki Gustavo , Nagy Corina
Published: May 2023

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common, heterogenous, and potentially serious psychiatric illness. Diverse brain cell types have been implicated in MDD etiology. Significant sexual differences exist in MDD clinical presentation and outcome, and recent evidence suggests different molecular bases for male and female MDD. We evaluated over 160,000 nuclei from 71 female and male donors, leveraging new and pre-existing single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Cell type specific transcriptome-wide threshold-free MDD-associated gene expression patterns were similar between the sexes, but significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) diverged. Among 7 broad cell types and 41 clusters evaluated, microglia and parvalbumin interneurons contributed the most DEGs in females, while deep layer excitatory neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursors were the major contributors in males. Further, the Mic1 cluster with 38% of female DEGs and the ExN10_L46 cluster with 53% of male DEGs, stood out in the meta-analysis of both sexes.
Correlated insulator collapse due to quantum avalanche via in-gap ladder states
Authors: Han Jong E. , Aron Camille , Chen Xi , Mansaray Ishiaka , Han Jae-Ho , Kim Ki-Seok , Randle Michael , Bird Jonathan P.
Published: May 2023

The significant discrepancy observed between the predicted and experimental switching fields in correlated insulators under a DC electric field far-from-equilibrium necessitates a reevaluation of current microscopic understanding. Here we show that an electron avalanche can occur in the bulk limit of such insulators at arbitrarily small electric field by introducing a generic model of electrons coupled to an inelastic medium of phonons. The quantum avalanche arises by the generation of a ladder of in-gap states, created by a multi-phonon emission process. Hot-phonons in the avalanche trigger a premature and partial collapse of the correlated gap. The phonon spectrum dictates the existence of two-stage versus single-stage switching events which we associate with charge-density-wave and Mott resistive phase transitions, respectively. The behavior of electron and phonon temperatures, as well as the temperature dependence of the threshold fields, demonstrates how a crossover between the thermal and quantum switching scenarios emerges within a unified framework of the quantum avalanche.
De novo cholesterol biosynthesis in bacteria
Authors: Lee Alysha K. , Wei Jeremy H. , Welander Paula V.
Published: May 2023

Eukaryotes produce highly modified sterols, including cholesterol, essential to eukaryotic physiology. Although few bacterial species are known to produce sterols, de novo production of cholesterol or other complex sterols in bacteria has not been reported. Here, we show that the marine myxobacterium Enhygromyxa salina produces cholesterol and provide evidence for further downstream modifications. Through bioinformatic analysis we identify a putative cholesterol biosynthesis pathway in E. salina largely homologous to the eukaryotic pathway. However, experimental evidence indicates that complete demethylation at C-4 occurs through unique bacterial proteins, distinguishing bacterial and eukaryotic cholesterol biosynthesis. Additionally, proteins from the cyanobacterium Calothrix sp. NIES-4105 are also capable of fully demethylating sterols at the C-4 position, suggesting complex sterol biosynthesis may be found in other bacterial phyla. Our results reveal an unappreciated complexity in bacterial sterol production that rivals eukaryotes and highlight the complicated evolutionary relationship between sterol biosynthesis in the bacterial and eukaryotic domains.
Geometry design of tethered small-molecule acceptor enables highly stable and efficient polymer solar cells
Authors: Bai Yang , Zhang Ze , Zhou Qiuju , Geng Hua , Chen Qi , Kim Seoyoung , Zhang Rui , Zhang Cen , Chang Bowen , Li Shangyu , Fu Hongyuan , Xue Lingwei , Wang Haiqiao , Li Wenbin , Chen Weihua , Gao Mengyuan , Ye Long , Zhou Yuanyuan , Ouyang Yanni , Zhang Chunfeng , Gao Feng , Yang Changduk , Li Yongfang , Zhang Zhi-Guo
Published: May 2023

With the power conversion efficiency of binary polymer solar cells dramatically improved, the thermal stability of the small-molecule acceptors raised the main concerns on the device operating stability. Here, to address this issue, thiophene-dicarboxylate spacer tethered small-molecule acceptors are designed, and their molecular geometries are further regulated via the thiophene-core isomerism engineering, affording dimeric TDY-α with a 2, 5-substitution and TDY-β with 3, 4-substitution on the core. It shows that TDY-α processes a higher glass transition temperature, better crystallinity relative to its individual small-molecule acceptor segment and isomeric counterpart of TDY-β, and a more stable morphology with the polymer donor. As a result, the TDY-α based device delivers a higher device efficiency of 18.1%, and most important, achieves an extrapolated lifetime of about 35000 hours that retaining 80% of their initial efficiency. Our result suggests that with proper geometry design, the tethered small-molecule acceptors can achieve both high device efficiency and operating stability.
Distinct beta frequencies reflect categorical decisions
Authors: Rassi Elie , Zhang Yi , Mendoza Germán , Méndez Juan Carlos , Merchant Hugo , Haegens Saskia
Published: May 2023

Based on prior findings of content-specific beta synchronization in working memory and decision making, we hypothesized that beta oscillations support the (re-)activation of cortical representations by mediating neural ensemble formation. We found that beta activity in monkey dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and pre-supplementary motor area (preSMA) reflects the content of a stimulus in relation to the task context, regardless of its objective properties. In duration- and distance-categorization tasks, we changed the boundary between categories from one block of trials to the next. We found that two distinct beta-band frequencies were consistently associated with the two relative categories, with activity in these bands predicting the animals’ responses. We characterized beta at these frequencies as transient bursts, and showed that dlPFC and preSMA are connected via these distinct frequency channels. These results support the role of beta in forming neural ensembles, and further show that such ensembles synchronize at different beta frequencies.
Robust microscale structural superlubricity between graphite and nanostructured surface
Authors: Huang Xuanyu , Li Tengfei , Wang Jin , Xia Kai , Tan Zipei , Peng Deli , Xiang Xiaojian , Liu Bin , Ma Ming , Zheng Quanshui
Published: May 2023

Structural superlubricity is a state of nearly zero friction and no wear between two contacted solid surfaces. However, such state has a certain probability of failure due to the edge defects of graphite flake. Here, we achieve robust structural superlubricity state between microscale graphite flakes and nanostructured silicon surfaces under ambient condition. We find that the friction is always less than 1 μN, the differential friction coefficient is on the order of 10−4, without observable wear. This is attributed to the edge warping of graphite flake on the nanostructured surface under concentrated force, which eliminate the edge interaction between the graphite flake and the substrate. This study not only challenges the traditional understanding in tribology and structural superlubricity that rougher surfaces lead to higher friction and lead to wear, thereby reducing roughness requirements, but also demonstrates that a graphite flake with a single crystal surface that does not come into edge contact with the substrate can consistently achieve robust structural superlubricity state with any non-van der Waals material in atmospheric conditions. Additionally, the study provides a general surface modification method that enables the widespread application of structural superlubricity technology in atmospheric environments.
Linear time complexity de novo long read genome assembly with GoldRush
Authors: Wong Johnathan , Coombe Lauren , Nikolić Vladimir , Zhang Emily , Nip Ka Ming , Sidhu Puneet , Warren René L. , Birol Inanç
Published: May 2023

Current state-of-the-art de novo long read genome assemblers follow the Overlap-Layout-Consensus paradigm. While read-to-read overlap – its most costly step – was improved in modern long read genome assemblers, these tools still often require excessive RAM when assembling a typical human dataset. Our work departs from this paradigm, foregoing all-vs-all sequence alignments in favor of a dynamic data structure implemented in GoldRush, a de novo long read genome assembly algorithm with linear time complexity. We tested GoldRush on Oxford Nanopore Technologies long sequencing read datasets with different base error profiles sourced from three human cell lines, rice, and tomato. Here, we show that GoldRush achieves assembly scaffold NGA50 lengths of 18.3-22.2, 0.3 and 2.6 Mbp, for the genomes of human, rice, and tomato, respectively, and assembles each genome within a day, using at most 54.5 GB of random-access memory, demonstrating the scalability of our genome assembly paradigm and its implementation.
Spin-dependent reactivity and spin-flipping dynamics in oxygen atom scattering from graphite
Authors: Zhao Zibo , Wang Yingqi , Yang Ximei , Quan Jiamei , Krüger Bastian C. , Stoicescu Paula , Nieman Reed , Auerbach Daniel J. , Wodtke Alec M. , Guo Hua , Park G. Barratt
Published: May 2023

The formation of two-electron chemical bonds requires the alignment of spins. Hence, it is well established for gas-phase reactions that changing a molecule’s electronic spin state can dramatically alter its reactivity. For reactions occurring at surfaces, which are of great interest during, among other processes, heterogeneous catalysis, there is an absence of definitive state-to-state experiments capable of observing spin conservation and therefore the role of electronic spin in surface chemistry remains controversial. Here we use an incoming/outgoing correlation ion imaging technique to perform scattering experiments for O(3P) and O(1D) atoms colliding with a graphite surface, in which the initial spin-state distribution is controlled and the final spin states determined. We demonstrate that O(1D) is more reactive with graphite than O(3P). We also identify electronically nonadiabatic pathways whereby incident O(1D) is quenched to O(3P), which departs from the surface. With the help of molecular dynamics simulations carried out on high-dimensional machine-learning-assisted first-principles potential energy surfaces, we obtain a mechanistic understanding for this system: spin-forbidden transitions do occur, but with low probabilities.
In vitro selection of macrocyclic peptide inhibitors containing cyclic γ2,4-amino acids targeting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease
Authors: Miura Takashi , Malla Tika R. , Owen C. David , Tumber Anthony , Brewitz Lennart , McDonough Michael A. , Salah Eidarus , Terasaka Naohiro , Katoh Takayuki , Lukacik Petra , Strain-Damerell Claire , Mikolajek Halina , Walsh Martin A. , Kawamura Akane , Schofield Christopher J. , Suga Hiroaki
Published: May 2023

γ-Amino acids can play important roles in the biological activities of natural products; however, the ribosomal incorporation of γ-amino acids into peptides is challenging. Here we report how a selection campaign employing a non-canonical peptide library containing cyclic γ2,4-amino acids resulted in the discovery of very potent inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). Two kinds of cyclic γ2,4-amino acids, cis-3-aminocyclobutane carboxylic acid (γ1) and (1R,3S)-3-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid (γ2), were ribosomally introduced into a library of thioether-macrocyclic peptides. One resultant potent Mpro inhibitor (half-maximal inhibitory concentration = 50 nM), GM4, comprising 13 residues with γ1 at the fourth position, manifests a 5.2 nM dissociation constant. An Mpro:GM4 complex crystal structure reveals the intact inhibitor spans the substrate binding cleft. The γ1 interacts with the S1′ catalytic subsite and contributes to a 12-fold increase in proteolytic stability compared to its alanine-substituted variant. Knowledge of interactions between GM4 and Mpro enabled production of a variant with a 5-fold increase in potency.
The effect of the preferred hand on drawing movement
Authors: Zarandi Zinat , Adolfo Stucchi Natale , Fadiga Luciano , Pozzo Thierry
Published: May 2023

The observation that different effectors can execute the same movement suggests functional equivalences driven by limb independent representation of action in the central nervous system. A common invariant motor behavior is the speed and curvature coupling (the 1/3 power law), a low dimensional (abstract) descriptor of movement which is resilient to different sensorimotor contexts. Our purpose is to verify the consistency of such motor equivalence during a drawing task, by testing the effect of manual dominance and movement speed on motor performance. We hypothesize that abstract kinematic variables are not the most resistant to speed or limb effector changes. The results show specific effects of speed and hand side on the drawing task. Movement duration, speed-curvature covariation, and maximum velocity were not significantly affected by hand side, while geometrical features were strongly speed and limb dependent. However, intra-trial analysis performed over the successive drawing movements reveals a significant hand side effect on the variability of movement vigor and velocity-curvature relationship (the 1/3 PL). The identified effects of speed and hand dominance on the kinematic parameters suggest different neural strategies, in a pattern that does not go from the most abstract to the least abstract component, as proposed by the traditional hierarchical organization of the motor plan.
A state-of-the-art methodology for high-throughput in silico vaccine discovery against protozoan parasites and exemplified with discovered candidates for Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Goodswen Stephen J. , Kennedy Paul J. , Ellis John T.
Published: May 2023

Vaccine discovery against eukaryotic parasites is not trivial as highlighted by the limited number of known vaccines compared to the number of protozoal diseases that need one. Only three of 17 priority diseases have commercial vaccines. Live and attenuated vaccines have proved to be more effective than subunit vaccines but adversely pose more unacceptable risks. One promising approach for subunit vaccines is in silico vaccine discovery, which predicts protein vaccine candidates given thousands of target organism protein sequences. This approach, nonetheless, is an overarching concept with no standardised guidebook on implementation. No known subunit vaccines against protozoan parasites exist as a result of this approach, and consequently none to emulate. The study goal was to combine current in silico discovery knowledge specific to protozoan parasites and develop a workflow representing a state-of-the-art approach. This approach reflectively integrates a parasite’s biology, a host's immune system defences, and importantly, bioinformatics programs needed to predict vaccine candidates. To demonstrate the workflow effectiveness, every Toxoplasma gondii protein was ranked in its capacity to provide long-term protective immunity. Although testing in animal models is required to validate these predictions, most of the top ranked candidates are supported by publications reinforcing our confidence in the approach.
Enhanced performance of nanocomposite membrane developed on sulfonated poly (1, 4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone) with zeolite imidazole frameworks for fuel cell application
Authors: Soleimani Bita , Asl Ali Haghighi , Khoshandam Behnam , Hooshyari Khadijeh
Published: May 2023

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) have received a lot of interest and use metal–organic frameworks (MOF)/polymer nanocomposite membranes. Zeolite imidazole framework-90 (ZIF-90) was employed as an addition in the sulfonated poly (1, 4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone) (SPEES) matrix in order to investigate the proton conductivity in a novel nanocomposite membrane made of SPEES/ ZIF. The high porosity, free surface, and presence of the aldehyde group in the ZIF-90 nanostructure have a substantial impact on enhancing the mechanical, chemical, thermal, and proton conductivity capabilities of the SPEES/ZIF-90 nanocomposite membranes. The results indicate that the utilization of SPEES/ZIF-90 nanocomposite membranes with 3wt% ZIF-90 resulted in enhanced proton conductivity of up to 160 mS/cm at 90 °C and 98% relative humidity (RH). This is a significant improvement compared to the SPEES membrane which exhibited a proton conductivity of 55 mS/cm under the same conditions, indicating a 1.9-fold increase in performance. Furthermore, the SPEES/ZIF-90/3 membrane exhibited a remarkable 79% improvement in maximum power density, achieving a value of 0.52 W/cm2 at 0.5 V and 98% RH, which is 79% higher than that of the pristine SPEES membrane.
Parasympathetic autonomic dysfunction is more often evidenced than sympathetic autonomic dysfunction in fluctuating and polymorphic symptoms of "long-COVID" patients
Authors: Zanin Adrien , Amah Guy , Chakroun Sahar , Testard Pauline , Faucher Alice , Le Thi Yen Vy , Slama Dorsaf , Le Baut Valérie , Lozeron Pierre , Salmon Dominique , Kubis Nathalie
Published: May 2023

Several disabling symptoms potentially related to dysautonomia have been reported in “long-COVID” patients. Unfortunately, these symptoms are often nonspecific, and autonomic nervous system explorations are rarely performed in these patients. This study aimed to evaluate prospectively a cohort of long-COVID patients presenting severe disabling and non-relapsing symptoms of potential dysautonomia and to identify sensitive tests. Autonomic function was assessed by clinical examination, the Schirmer test; sudomotor evaluation, orthostatic blood pressure (BP) variation, 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring for sympathetic evaluation, and heart rate variation during orthostatism, deep breathing and Valsalva maneuvers for parasympathetic evaluation. Test results were considered abnormal if they reached the lower thresholds defined in publications and in our department. We also compared mean values for autonomic function tests between patients and age-matched controls. Sixteen patients (median age 37 years [31–43 years], 15 women) were included in this study and referred 14.5 months (median) [12.0–16.5 months] after initial infection. Nine had at least one positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR or serology result. Symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection were severe, fluctuating and disabling with effort intolerance. Six patients (37.5%) had one or several abnormal test results, affecting the parasympathetic cardiac function in five of them (31%). Mean Valsalva score was significantly lower in patients than in controls. In this cohort of severely disabled long-COVID patients, 37.5% of them had at least one abnormal test result showing a possible contribution of dysautonomia to these nonspecific symptoms. Interestingly, mean values of the Valsalva test were significantly lower in patients than in control subjects, suggesting that normal values thresholds might not be appropriate in this population.
Impact of different ventilation conditions on tobacco smoke-associated particulate matter emissions in a car cabin using the TAPaC platform
Authors: Pitten Lukas , Brüggmann Dörthe , Dröge Janis , Braun Markus , Groneberg David A.
Published: May 2023

Despite antagonizing attempts from the tobacco industry, passive inhalation of tobacco smoke is known to be cancerogenic and toxic to human health for decades. Nonetheless, millions of non-smoking adults and children are still victims of second-hand smoke. Accumulation of particulate matter (PM) in confined spaces such as the car are particularly harmful due to high concentrations. We here aimed to analyze the specific effects of ventilation conditions in the setting of a car. By the use of the measuring platform TAPaC (tobacco-associated particulate matter emissions inside a car cabin), 3R4F reference cigarettes, Marlboro red, and Marlboro gold were smoked in a car interior with a volume of 3.709 m3. Seven different ventilation conditions (C1–C7) were analyzed. Under C1, all windows were closed. Under C2–C7, the car ventilation was turned on power level 2/4 with the air directed towards the windshield. Only the passenger side window was opened, where an outer placed fan could create an airstream speed of 15.9–17.4 km/h at one meter distance to simulate a driving car. C2: Window 10 cm opened. C3: Window 10 cm opened with the fan turned on. C4: Window half-opened. C5: Window half-opened with the fan turned on. C6: Window fully opened. C7: Window fully opened with the fan turned on. Cigarettes were remotely smoked by an automatic environmental tobacco smoke emitter and a cigarette smoking device. Depending on the ventilation condition the cigarettes emitted different mean PM concentrations after 10 min under condition C1 (PM10: 1272–1697 µg/m3, PM2.5: 1253–1659 µg/m3, PM1: 964–1263 µg/m3) under C2, C4, and C6 (PM10: 68.7–196.2 µg/m3, PM2.5: 68.2–194.7 µg/m3, PM1: 66.1–183.8 µg/m3) C3, C5, and C7 (PM10: 73.7–139 µg/m3, PM2.5: 72–137.9 µg/m3, PM1:68.9–131.9 µg/m3). Vehicle ventilation is insufficient to protect passengers from toxic second-hand smoke completely. Brand-specific variations of tobacco ingredients and mixtures markedly influence PM emissions under ventilation conditions. The most efficient ventilation mode to reduce PM exposure was achieved by opening the passenger´s window 10 cm and turning the onboard ventilation on power level 2/4. In-vehicle smoking should be banned to preserve innocent risk groups (e.g., children) from harm.
Spatiotemporal characteristics of cortical activities of REM sleep behavior disorder revealed by explainable machine learning using 3D convolutional neural network
Authors: Kim Hyun , Seo Pukyeong , Byun Jung-Ick , Jung Ki-Young , Kim Kyung Hwan
Published: May 2023

Isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by dream enactment behavior without any neurological disease and is frequently accompanied by cognitive dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to reveal the spatiotemporal characteristics of abnormal cortical activities underlying cognitive dysfunction in patients with iRBD based on an explainable machine learning approach. A convolutional neural network (CNN) was trained to discriminate the cortical activities of patients with iRBD and normal controls based on three-dimensional input data representing spatiotemporal cortical activities during an attention task. The input nodes critical for classification were determined to reveal the spatiotemporal characteristics of the cortical activities that were most relevant to cognitive impairment in iRBD. The trained classifiers showed high classification accuracy, while the identified critical input nodes were in line with preliminary knowledge of cortical dysfunction associated with iRBD in terms of both spatial location and temporal epoch for relevant cortical information processing for visuospatial attention tasks.
Disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 by UV-LED 267 nm: comparing different variants
Authors: Atari Nofar , Mamane Hadas , Silberbush Alon , Zuckerman Neta , Mandelboim Michal , Gerchman Yoram
Published: May 2023

UV irradiation is an efficient tool for the disinfection of viruses in general and coronavirus specifically. This study explores the disinfection kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 variants wild type (similar to the Wuhan strain) and three variants (Alpha, Delta, and Omicron) by 267 nm UV-LED. All variants showed more than 5 logs average reduction in copy number at 5 mJ/cm2 but inconsistency was evident, especially for the Alpha variant. Increasing the dose to 7 mJ/cm2 did not increase average inactivation but did result in a dramatic decrease in the inactivation inconsistency making this dose the recommended minimum. Sequence analysis suggests that the difference between the variants is likely due to small differences in the frequency of specific UV extra-sensitive nucleotide sequence motifs although this hypothesis requires further experimental testing. In summary, the use of UV-LED with their simple electricity need (can be operated from a battery or photovoltaic panel) and geometrical flexibility could offer many advantages in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 spread, but minimal UV dose should be carefully considered.
Pain and the emotional brain: pain-related cortical processes are better reflected by affective evaluation than by cognitive evaluation
Authors: Stankewitz Anne , Mayr Astrid , Irving Stephanie , Witkovsky Viktor , Schulz Enrico
Published: May 2023

The experience of pain has been dissociated into two interwoven aspects: a sensory-discriminative aspect and an affective-motivational aspect. We aimed to explore which of the pain descriptors is more deeply rooted in the human brain. Participants were asked to evaluate applied cold pain. The majority of the trials showed distinct ratings: some were rated higher for unpleasantness and others for intensity. We compared the relationship between functional data recorded from 7 T MRI with unpleasantness and intensity ratings and revealed a stronger relationship between cortical data and unpleasantness ratings. The present study underlines the importance of the emotional-affective aspects of pain-related cortical processes in the brain. The findings corroborate previous studies showing a higher sensitivity to pain unpleasantness compared to ratings of pain intensity. For the processing of pain in healthy subjects, this effect may reflect the more direct and intuitive evaluation of emotional aspects of the pain system, which is to prevent harm and to preserve the physical integrity of the body.
Quantitative and qualitative image quality assessment in shoulder examinations with a first-generation photon-counting detector CT
Authors: Patzer Theresa Sophie , Kunz Andreas Steven , Huflage Henner , Luetkens Karsten Sebastian , Conrads Nora , Gruschwitz Philipp , Pannenbecker Pauline , Ergün Süleyman , Bley Thorsten Alexander , Grunz Jan-Peter
Published: May 2023

Photon-counting detector (PCD) CT allows for ultra-high-resolution (UHR) examinations of the shoulder without requiring an additional post-patient comb filter to narrow the detector aperture. This study was designed to compare the PCD performance with a high-end energy-integrating detector (EID) CT. Sixteen cadaveric shoulders were examined with both scanners using dose-matched 120 kVp acquisition protocols (low-dose/full-dose: CTDIvol = 5.0/10.0 mGy). Specimens were scanned in UHR mode with the PCD-CT, whereas EID-CT examinations were conducted in accordance with the clinical standard as “non-UHR”. Reconstruction of EID data employed the sharpest kernel available for standard-resolution scans (ρ50 = 12.3 lp/cm), while PCD data were reconstructed with both a comparable kernel (11.8 lp/cm) and a sharper dedicated bone kernel (16.5 lp/cm). Six radiologists with 2–9 years of experience in musculoskeletal imaging rated image quality subjectively. Interrater agreement was analyzed by calculation of the intraclass correlation coefficient in a two-way random effects model. Quantitative analyses comprised noise recording and calculating signal-to-noise ratios based on attenuation measurements in bone and soft tissue. Subjective image quality was higher in UHR-PCD-CT than in EID-CT and non-UHR-PCD-CT datasets (all p < 0.001). While low-dose UHR-PCD-CT was considered superior to full-dose non-UHR studies on either scanner (all p < 0.001), ratings of low-dose non-UHR-PCD-CT and full-dose EID-CT examinations did not differ (p > 0.99). Interrater reliability was moderate, indicated by a single measures intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.66 (95% confidence interval: 0.58–0.73; p < 0.001). Image noise was lowest and signal-to-noise ratios were highest in non-UHR-PCD-CT reconstructions at either dose level (p < 0.001). This investigation demonstrates that superior depiction of trabecular microstructure and considerable denoising can be realized without additional radiation dose by employing a PCD for shoulder CT imaging. Allowing for UHR scans without dose penalty, PCD-CT appears as a promising alternative to EID-CT for shoulder trauma assessment in clinical routine.
Effects of four disease-controlling agents (chlorothalonil, CuCl2, harpin, and melatonin) on postharvest jujube fruit quality
Authors: Tian Shan , Chen Ying , Wang Qianjin , Liu Zhilan , Li Yueyue , Zhao Xusheng
Published: May 2023

Postharvest senescence and disease development can reduce the nutritional value of fresh jujube fruit. Herein, four different disease-controlling agents (chlorothalonil, CuCl2, harpin and melatonin) were separately applied to fresh jujube fruit, and all improved postharvest quality (evaluated by disease severity, antioxidant accumulation and senescence) relative to controls. Disease severity was drastically inhibited by these agents, in the order chlorothalonil > CuCl2 > harpin > melatonin. However, chlorothalonil residues were detected even after storage for 4 weeks. These agents increased the activities of defense enzymes including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase, as well as accumulation of antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid, glutathione, flavonoids and phenolics, in postharvest jujube fruit. The enhanced antioxidant content and antioxidant capacity (evaluated by Fe3+ reducing power) was ordered melatonin > harpin > CuCl2 > chlorothalonil. All four agents significantly delayed senescence (evaluated by weight loss, respiration rate and firmness), with the effect ordered CuCl2 > melatonin > harpin > chlorothalonil. Moreover, treatment with CuCl2 also increased copper accumulation ~ threefold in postharvest jujube fruit. Among the four agents, postharvest treatment with CuCl2 could be considered most appropriate for improving postharvest jujube fruit quality under low temperature conditions without sterilization.
Myoelectric activity during electromagnetic resistance alone and in combination with variable resistance or eccentric overload
Authors: Zambrano Hugo , Torres Xavier , Coleman Max , Franchi Martino V. , Fisher James P. , Oberlin Douglas , Van Hooren Bas , Swinton Paul A. , Schoenfeld Brad J.
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of electromagnetic resistance alone, as well as in combination with variable resistance or accentuated eccentric methods, with traditional dynamic constant external resistance exercise on myoelectric activity during elbow flexion. The study employed a within-participant randomized, cross-over design whereby 16 young, resistance-trained male and female volunteers performed elbow flexion exercise under each of the following conditions: using a dumbbell (DB); using a commercial electromagnetic resistance device (ELECTRO); variable resistance (VR) using a setting on the device that attempts to match the level of resistance to the human strength curve, and; eccentric overload (EO) using a setting on the device that increases the load by 50% on the eccentric portion of each repetition. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was obtained for the biceps brachii, brachioradialis and anterior deltoid on each of the conditions. Participants performed the conditions at their predetermined 10 repetition maximum. " The order of performance for the conditions was counterbalanced, with trials separated by a 10-min recovery period. The sEMG was synced to a motion capture system to assess sEMG amplitude at elbow joint angles of 30°, 50°, 70°, 90°, 110°, with amplitude normalized to the maximal activation. The anterior deltoid showed the largest differences in amplitude between conditions, where median estimates indicated greater concentric sEMG amplitude (~ 7–10%) with EO, ELECTRO and VR compared with DB. Concentric biceps brachii sEMG amplitude was similar between conditions. In contrast, results indicated a greater eccentric amplitude with DB compared to ELECTRO and VR, but unlikely to exceed a 5% difference. Data indicated a greater concentric and eccentric brachioradialis sEMG amplitude with DB compared to all other conditions, but differences were unlikely to exceed 5%. The electromagnetic device tended to produce greater amplitudes in the anterior deltoid, while DB tended to produce greater amplitudes in the brachioradialis; amplitude for the biceps brachii was relatively similar between conditions. Overall, any observed differences were relatively modest, equating to magnitudes of ~ 5% and not likely greater than 10%. These differences would seem to be of minimal practical significance.
Correlation between airborne pollen data and the risk of tick-borne encephalitis in northern Italy
Authors: Marini Giovanni , Tagliapietra Valentina , Cristofolini Fabiana , Cristofori Antonella , Dagostin Francesca , Zuccali Maria Grazia , Molinaro Silvia , Gottardini Elena , Rizzoli Annapaola
Published: May 2023

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is caused by a flavivirus that infects animals including humans. In Europe, the TBE virus circulates enzootically in natural foci among ticks and rodent hosts. The abundance of ticks depends on the abundance of rodent hosts, which in turn depends on the availability of food resources, such as tree seeds. Trees can exhibit large inter-annual fluctuations in seed production (masting), which influences the abundance of rodents the following year, and the abundance of nymphal ticks two years later. Thus, the biology of this system predicts a 2-year time lag between masting and the incidence of tick-borne diseases such as TBE. As airborne pollen abundance is related to masting, we investigated whether inter-annual variation in pollen load could be directly correlated with inter-annual variation in the incidence of TBE in human populations with a 2-year time lag. We focused our study on the province of Trento (northern Italy), where 206 TBE cases were notified between 1992 and 2020. We tested the relationship between TBE incidence and pollen load collected from 1989 to 2020 for 7 different tree species common in our study area. Through univariate analysis we found that the pollen quantities recorded two years prior for two tree species, hop-hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia) and downy oak (Quercus pubescens), were positively correlated with TBE emergence (R2 = 0.2) while a multivariate model with both tree species better explained the variation in annual TBE incidence (R2 = 0.34). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt at quantifying the correlation between pollen quantities and the incidence of TBE in human populations. As pollen loads are collected by widespread aerobiological networks using standardized procedures, our study could be easily replicated to test their potential as early warning system for TBE and other tick-borne diseases.
Association between serum leptin concentrations and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance of 2.5 and higher in normal weight Japanese women
Authors: Minato-Inokawa Satomi , Hayashida Yuuna , Honda Mari , Tsuboi-Kaji Ayaka , Takeuchi Mika , Kitaoka Kaori , Kurata Miki , Wu Bin , Kazumi Tsutomu , Fukuo Keisuke
Published: May 2023

Normal weight insulin resistant phenotype was characterized in 251 Japanese female university students using homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance. Birth weight, body composition at age 20, cardiometabolic traits and dietary intake were compared cross-sectionally between insulin sensitive (< 1.6, n = 194) and insulin resistant (2.5 and higher, n = 16) women. BMI averaged < 21 kg/m2 and waist < 72 cm and did not differ between two groups. The percentage of macrosomia and serum absolute and fat-mass corrected leptin concentrations were higher in insulin resistant women although there was no difference in birth weight, fat mass index, trunk/leg fat ratio and serum adiponectin. In addition, resting pulse rate, serum concentrations of free fatty acids, triglycerides and remnant-like particle cholesterol were higher in insulin resistant women although HDL cholesterol and blood pressure did not differ. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, serum leptin (odds ratio:1.68, 95% confidential interval:1.08–2.63, p = 0.02) was associated with normal weight insulin resistance independently of macrosomia, free fatty acids, triglycerides, remnant-like particle cholesterol and resting pulse rate. In conclusion, normal weight IR phenotype may be associated with increased plasma leptin concentrations and leptin to fat mass ratio in young Japanese women, suggesting higher leptin production by body fat unit.
Simulation of nitrate pollution and vulnerability of groundwater resources using MODFLOW and DRASTIC models
Authors: Eslamian Saeid , Harooni Yaghub , Sabzevari Yaser
Published: May 2023

Groundwater assets are the foremost imperative assets of freshwater accessible to people especially in arid and semi-arid regions. For the investigation of temporal changes in groundwater nitrate pollution and the role of agriculture and other sources in the pollution of groundwater, the information on 42 drinking water wells with suitable distribution in the plain in Bouin-Daran Plain in the center of Iran was used. The results showed that the amount of hydraulic conductivity in the plain for different areas after calibration in steady state was calculated between 0.8 and 34 m/day. After calibrating the model in permanent conditions, the model was calibrated in non-permanent conditions for 2 years. The results showed that in a wide area of the region, the nitrate ion concentration has values of more than 25 mg/L. This shows that the average concentration of this ion in the region is generally high. The highest level of pollution in the aquifer of the plain is related to the southern and southeastern parts of the plain. Due to the agricultural activities with the use of large amounts of fertilizers in this plain, there is a potential for pollution in all of the places, and it requires codified and executive planning for agricultural operations as well as the use of groundwater sources. The DRASTIC vulnerability estimation method is only useful for estimating the areas that have a high potential for contamination and according to the validation tests, it has also provided a suitable estimate.
Phenotypic diversity of T cells in human primary and metastatic brain tumors revealed by multiomic interrogation
Authors: Wischnewski Vladimir , Maas Roeltje R. , Aruffo Paola Guerrero , Soukup Klara , Galletti Giovanni , Kornete Mara , Galland Sabine , Fournier Nadine , Lilja Johanna , Wirapati Pratyaksha , Lourenco Joao , Scarpa Alice , Daniel Roy T. , Hottinger Andreas F. , Brouland Jean-Philippe , Losurdo Agnese , Voulaz Emanuele , Alloisio Marco , Hegi Monika E. , Lugli Enrico , Joyce Johanna A.
Published: May 2023

The immune-specialized environment of the healthy brain is tightly regulated to prevent excessive neuroinflammation. However, after cancer development, a tissue-specific conflict between brain-preserving immune suppression and tumor-directed immune activation may ensue. To interrogate potential roles of T cells in this process, we profiled these cells from individuals with primary or metastatic brain cancers via integrated analyses on the single-cell and bulk population levels. Our analysis revealed similarities and differences in T cell biology between individuals, with the most pronounced differences observed in a subgroup of individuals with brain metastasis, characterized by accumulation of CXCL13-expressing CD39+ potentially tumor-reactive T (pTRT) cells. In this subgroup, high pTRT cell abundance was comparable to that in primary lung cancer, whereas all other brain tumors had low levels, similar to primary breast cancer. These findings indicate that T cell-mediated tumor reactivity can occur in certain brain metastases and may inform stratification for treatment with immunotherapy.
Hydrogels: Definition, History, Classifications, Formation, Constitutive Characteristics, and Applications
Authors: Dodda Jagan Mohan , Deshmukh Kalim , Bezuidenhout Deon , Yeh Yi-Cheun
Published: May 2023

Hydrogels are some of the most fascinating soft materials that have been widely explored and employed in the biomedical field due to their distinctive characteristics like high water content, softness, biocompatibility, low cost, and general ability to mimic soft human tissues. The extent of hydrogel research is currently growing rapidly and creating more paths in different fields of advanced biomedical research like drug release systems, tissue engineering/regeneration, wound healing, sensor technologies and pharmacological applications. Although there is much knowledge of hydrogel research in the literature, a compilation and overview of the status of scientific research, which could help to improve the preparation, characterization, and application of hydrogels in these disciplines is considered useful. This chapter thus gives a general overview of hydrogels, their classification, characterization methods, and targeted biomedical fields where they are currently being utilized. Furthermore, it also provides a synopsis of the historical and advanced development in hydrogel technology.
Multicomponent Low Molecular Weight Gels and Gelators
Authors: Sarkar Sovik Dey , Guchhait Chandrakanta , Adhikari Bimalendu
Published: May 2023

Most low molecular weight (LMW) hydrogels reported to date are based on a single component, which often restricts their functionality. Development of multicomponent gels (MCGs) is an emerging field in the current research because it can expand the functionality of the gels through the improvement or even introduction of properties and functionalities by the synergistic effect of individual components. Herein, LMW MCGs are discussed in terms of their formation through various noncovalent interactions, alteration/incorporation of the properties and functionality of the gels. An MCG literally means a gel containing more than one component; however, herein two-component gels have been mostly discussed as they are the most common representative of MCGs. These two-component gels can be formulated as A + B = MCG (where A/B = gel/sol), which offers three different possibilities in terms of the gelation ability of the individual components. In an MCG, molecular components can be coassembled together, producing a coassembled gel containing a single type of gel fiber, or they can be self-assembled individually, resulting in a system containing different kinds of fibers, called a self-sorted gel. Although two-component gels are the most common, a system with multi-functionalities demands development of MCGs with more than two components.
Dendritic Hydrogels and Their Biomedical Applications
Authors: Bietsch Jonathan , Chen Anji , Wang Guijun
Published: May 2023

Dendritic hydrogels belong to a unique category of viscoelastic materials which have potential applications in various biomedical fields. The gelators that form these hydrogels are composed of dendritic compounds in the form of either dendrons or dendrimers. This chapter is a focused review on the recent development of hydrogels formed by dendritic gelators and their biomedical applications. The chapter will be divided into three main sections after a brief introduction and overview. The first section covers applications in drug delivery, the second section covers applications as adhesives for wound healing, and the third section covers applications in cell culture and tissue engineering. In each section, the structures of the gelators and general method of hydrogel preparation will be discussed, followed by brief discussions of their biomedical applications. Lastly a conclusion and future perspective will be given. The chapter covers the literature within the last 10 years, from 2011 to 2021.
3D Printing of Multicomponent Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Zhou D. , Wang C. , Hert A. , Yan L. , Dou B. , Ouyang L.
Published: May 2023

Hydrogels have attracted much attention in biomedical applications. A central focus of research has been advancing multicomponent hydrogels and engineering them into various forms and structures to yield desirable features for use in bio-related scenarios. 3D printing has served as a universal technology for processing hydrogels in a customized manner, which particularly suits the fabrication of multicomponent materials and heterogeneous structures. In this chapter, we overview the state-of-the-art of multicomponent hydrogels and their 3D printing for biomedical purposes, covering 3D printing technologies, multicomponent hydrogel materials, and biomedical applications. We have reviewed these aspects with careful classification, illustrated the progress with recent examples, and highlighted prominent trends in the field. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the related topics and inspire researchers interested in this multidisciplinary field.
Multicomponent Hydrogels for Controlled Drug Release and Delivery
Authors: Dinu M. V. , Lazar M. M. , Ghiorghita C.-A. , Raschip I. E.
Published: May 2023

Multicomponent hydrogels have received remarkable attention in the past few decades, mainly as advanced biomaterials in the pharmaceutical industry. This chapter highlights contemporary pathways to engineer multicomponent hydrogels containing marine (alginate, carrageenan, hyaluronic acid, chitosan), plant/seed (cellulose, pectin, starch), or bacterial (dextran, salecan, xanthan gum, gellan gum) origin polysaccharides and their potential applications for controlled drug release and delivery. Multicomponent hydrogels prepared as semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs), interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPNs), polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) or interconnected hydrogel networks (IHNs) via either physical, chemical, or enzymatic cross-linking strategies or a combination of them will be described based on recent publications in the field and our studies.
Vanadium complexes bearing 8-anilide-5,6,7-trihydroquinoline ligands for ethylene (co-)polymerization
Authors: Wu Ruiyao , Niu Zhen , Xia Zhu , He Jianyun , Bai Chenxi
Published: May 2023

Several trivalent and pentavalent vanadium complexes bearing 8-anilide-5,6,7-trihydroquinoline ligands were synthesized.
Bi2Fe4O9@ZnIn2S4 S-scheme laminated heterojunction photocatalyst towards optimized photocatalytic performance
Authors: Wu Chunxu , Xing Zipeng , Wang Yichao , Peng Hui , Kong Weifeng , Yang Shilin , Li Zhenzi , Zhou Wei
Published: May 2023

Bi2Fe4O9@ZnIn2S4 laminated heterojunction photocatalysts exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance, which is ascribed to the formation of S-scheme laminated heterojunctions and strong 2D/2D laminated interface interactions.
C
2-Symmetric atropisomeric N-heterocyclic carbene–palladium(ii) complexes: synthesis, chiral resolution, and application in the enantioselective α-arylation of amides
Authors: Kong Lingyu , Chou Yajie , Albalat Muriel , Jean Marion , Vanthuyne Nicolas , Humbel Stéphane , Nava Paola , Clavier Hervé
Published: May 2023

The concept of atropisomeric N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–metal complexes was extended to NHCs possessing a C2-symmetry and implemented to prepare palladium-based complexes.
Germanium- and tin-bridged diazulenylmethyl cations: effects of group 14 elements on the structure and properties of π-extended cations
Authors: Murai Masahito , Ito Mako , Takahashi Satoshi , Yamaguchi Shigehiro
Published: May 2023

Germanium- and tin-bridged diazulenylmethyl cations were synthesized, where the heavier elements increased their chemical stability, and affected the J-type aggregated absorption and fluorescence properties relative to those of the silicon-congeners.