bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grain-size-reducing- and mass-gaining processes in different hydrothermal fault rocks
Authors: Berger Alfons , Herwegh Marco
Published: May 2022

Interactions of hydrothermal and deformation processes in active fault zones are important in light of seismic and geothermal activities. This study investigates different tectonites of the Grimselpass breccia fault, a hydrothermally active strike-slip structure in the Central Alps (Switzerland). We combine microstructural and geochemical investigations to decipher the interaction of grain-size reduction and associated dilation (volume gain) during frictional deformation with geochemical processes such as mass gain via precipitation, grain growth and healing. Three types of tectonites were investigated in the fault zone: (1) cockade-bearing tectonites, (2) cataclasites and (3) fault gouges. They differ in terms of microstructure of clasts, mass and volume gain/loss, as well as type and degree of cementation. Clast size distributions show decreasing median values from low-strain cataclasites to high-strain cataclasites. Mass/volume gains are up to 20 %, with samples of smallest clast sizes often showing the highest mass gain. In the case of cockade-bearing tectonites large volume and mass gain occur. In particular, the precipitation of SiO2-rich cements is inferred to (i) reduce permeability and (ii) induce a gain in strength of the respective fault rocks. Location, timing and degree of healing directly control the fault architecture by deactivating fault strands from the circulation of hydrothermal fluids. In this case, new rupturing events are necessary to reactivate locked fault strands. Such feedback cycles of episodic deformation, mass/volume and clogging preserved hydrothermal circulation and deformation over the last 3.4 Ma, representing a process chain for the long-term preservation of orogenic hydrothermal systems.
Smuggling and Border Enforcement
Authors: Kim Diana , Tajima Yuhki
Published: May 2022

This article analyzes the efficacy of border enforcement against smuggling. We argue that walls, fences, patrols, and other efforts to secure porous borders can reduce smuggling, but only in the absence of collusion between smugglers and state agents at official border crossings. When such corruption occurs, border enforcement merely diverts smuggling flows without reducing their overall volume. We also identify the conditions under which corruption occurs and characterize border enforcement as a sorting mechanism that allows high-skilled smugglers to forge alternative border-crossing routes while deterring low-skilled smugglers or driving them to bribe local border agents. Combining a formal model and an archival case study of opium smuggling in Southeast Asia, we demonstrate that border enforcement has conditional effects on the routes and volumes of smuggling, depending on the nature of interactions between smugglers and border agents. By drawing attention to the technological and organizational aspects of smuggling, this article brings scholarship on criminal governance into the study of international relations, and contributes to debates on the effects of border enforcement and border politics more generally.
Macroalgae from two coastal lagoons of the Gulf of California as indicators of heavy metal contamination by anthropogenic activities
Authors: Méndez-Rodríguez Lia , Piñón-Gimate Alejandra , Casas-Valdez Margarita , Cervantes-Duarte Rafael , Arreola-Lizárraga José Alfredo
Published: May 2022

Metal concentrations in coastal zones are a critical study subject since anthropogenic activities surrounding these zones are increasing and affecting environmental concentrations of metals. Macroalgae have been used as biomonitors since they can act as indicators of metal concentrations in the water column. Tissue samples of three abundant macroalgae species (Spyridia filamentosa, Padina mexicana and Ulva ohnoi) were collected from three sites with different anthropogenic impacts at La Paz Bay and Guaymas Bay, Mexico, during three contrasting seasons (dry, rainy and cold) in the year 2016. Tissue concentrations of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The highest concentrations were found in S. filamentosa inhabiting both bays. The highest Cd and Mn concentrations were recorded in algae from La Paz Bay, while the highest concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb and Fe were recorded in algae from Guaymas Bay. Metal concentrations varied seasonally; the highest Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni and Pb levels were recorded in the cold season in algae from both bays. S. filamentosa concentrated more Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb, while P. mexicana and U. ohnoi showed higher Mn and Cd. Therefore, S. filamentosa proved to be the most suitable indicator of metal concentrations, followed by P. mexicana and U. ohnoi. The high metal concentrations recorded in algae from San Juan de la Costa, La Paz Bay, are related to mining activities, whereas those in algae from Guaymas Bay are related to canneries, maritime traffic and others.
Exploration of animal models to study the life cycle of Fasciola hepatica
Authors: Fang Wen , Yang Jin , Wang Hai-yin , Chen Shao-rong , Li Ke-rong , Liu Yu-hua , Duan Yi , Li Tian-mei
Published: May 2022

The parasite Fasciola hepatica is an important zoonotic parasite. The development of an animal model of F. hepatica's life cycle is critical for studying the biological characteristics of the parasite in snails and mammals. Eggs of F. hepatica of bovine origin were cultured, and metacercariae were obtained after infection of Galba pervia snails. The life cycle system of F. hepatica was initiated in 2 different animals by orally infecting rabbits, SD rats and Kunming mice with the metacercariae. The animals' survival after infection, parasite migration in the animals and pathological damage to the liver were observed. We discovered that rabbits died due to acute suppurative hepatitis 60–69 days after infection, and eggs were found in the feces on day 63 of infection. The liver of SD rats showed punctate lesions on day 3 of infection, and further changes occurred as the infection progressed. However, liver repair was observed at week 9. SD rats survived for more than a year after infection and continued the F. hepatica life cycle. The liver lesions in Kunming mice after infection were similar but more severe than those in SD rats. Death was observed on the 31st post-infection day. We discovered that while rabbits, SD rats and Kunming mice can all be used as animal models of F. hepatica, SD rats are more suitable experimental animals in terms of tolerance and pathological response.
Faroese children’s first words
Authors: Rasmussen Sissal M.
Published: May 2022

Research has shown the importance of vocabulary development in relation to other parts of language development, e.g. grammar and reading development. Cross-linguistic research has shown similar as well as dissimilar tendencies regarding content in different languages. This study examines, for the first time, the characteristics of Faroese children’s early productive vocabulary utilizing a Faroese adaptation of the MacArthur–Bates Communicative Development Inventories (MB-CDI). The study participants were 415 children aged 8 to 20 months. The results provide information on the composition and characteristics of lexical development in Faroese children and demonstrate that nouns are dominant among first words, as are onomatopoetic words and words describing family relationships. Faroese children are comparable to children learning other languages with respect to rate of acquisition and composition of words, with a somewhat higher share of words describing family members as stable words in the emerging language.
A collective call to strengthen monitoring and evaluation efforts to support healthy and sustainable food systems: ‘The Accountability Pact’
Authors: Garton Kelly , Kraak Vivica , Fanzo Jessica , Sacks Gary , Vandevijvere Stefanie , Haddad Lawrence , Brinsden Hannah , Laar Amos , Karupaiah Tilakavati , Omidvar Nasrin , Masters William , Kauer Inge , Swinburn Boyd
Published: May 2022

There is widespread agreement among experts that a fundamental reorientation of global, regional, national and local food systems is needed to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals Agenda and address the linked challenges of undernutrition, obesity and climate change described as the Global Syndemic. Recognising the urgency of this imperative, a wide range of global stakeholders – governments, civil society, academia, agri-food industry, business leaders and donors – convened at the September 2021 UN Food Systems Summit to coordinate numerous statements, commitments and declarations for action to transform food systems. As the dust settles, how will they be pieced together, how will governments and food corporations be held to account and by whom? New data, analytical methods and global coalitions have created an opportunity and a need for those working in food systems monitoring to scale up and connect their efforts in order to inform and strengthen accountability actions for food systems. To this end, we present – and encourage stakeholders to join or support – an Accountability Pact to catalyse an evidence-informed transformation of current food systems to promote human and ecological health and wellbeing, social equity and economic prosperity.
A Feasible Surface Patterning Method for SEM-DIC: Achieving High-Resolution In Situ Mapping of Local Strain and Microstructure to Reveal the Effect of Slip Transfer on Shear Strain Near Grain Boundaries
Authors: Ding Hao , Cui Xiping , Wang Yuchen , Cai Delong , Wang Zhiqi , Zhang Yuanyuan , Huang Lujun , Geng Lin
Published: May 2022

This paper exploited an alternative approach to prepare high-quality speckle patterns by uniformly dispersing nano-silica particles onto sample surfaces, helping digital image correlation (DIC) acquire the maximum spatial resolution of local strain up to 92 nm. A case study was carried out by combining this speckle pattern fabrication method with SEM-DIC and electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD). Thus, in situ mapping of local strain with ultra-high spatial resolution and microstructure in commercially pure titanium during plastic deformation could be achieved, which favored revealing the effect of slip transfer on shear strain near grain boundaries. Moreover, the slip systems could be easily identified via the combination of the SEM-DIC and EBSD techniques even though no obvious deformation trace was captured in secondary electron images. Additionally, the complex geometric compatibility factor relating to geometric compatibility factors (mʹ) and Schmid factors was proposed to predict the shear strain (εxy) at grain boundaries.
A Combined Model for Kinetic Clumped Isotope Effects in the CaCO3‐DIC‐H2O System
Authors: Watkins James M. , Devriendt Laurent S.
Published: May 2022

Most Earth surface carbonates precipitate out of isotopic equilibrium with their host solution, complicating the use of stable isotopes in paleoenvironment reconstructions. Disequilibrium can arise from exchange reactions in the DIC‐H2O system as well as during crystal growth reactions in the DIC‐CaCO3 system. Existing models account for kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) in these systems separately but the models have yet to be combined in a general framework. Here, an open‐system box model is developed for describing disequilibrium carbon, oxygen, and clumped (Δ47, Δ48, and Δ49) isotope effects in the CaCO3‐DIC‐H2O system. The model is used to simulate calcite precipitation experiments in which the fluxes and isotopic compositions of CO2 and CaCO3 were constrained. Using a literature compilation of equilibrium and kinetic fractionation factors, modeled δ18O and Δ47 values of calcite are in good agreement with the experimental data covering a wide range in crystal growth rate and solution pH. This relatively straightforward example provides a foundation for adapting the model to other situations involving CO2 absorption (e.g., corals, foraminifera, and high‐pH travertines) or degassing (e.g., speleothems, low‐pH travertines, and cryogenic carbonates) and/or mixing with other dissolved inorganic carbon sources.
Watching the Cryosphere Thaw: Seismic Monitoring of Permafrost Degradation Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing During a Controlled Heating Experiment
Authors: Cheng Feng , Lindsey Nathaniel J. , Sobolevskaia Valeriia , Dou Shan , Freifeld Barry , Wood Todd , James Stephanie R. , Wagner Anna M. , Ajo‐Franklin Jonathan B.
Published: May 2022

Permafrost degradation is rapidly increasing in response to a warming Arctic climate, altering landscapes and damaging critical infrastructure. Solutions for monitoring permafrost thaw dynamics are essential to understand biogeochemical feedbacks as well as to issue warnings for hazardous geotechnical conditions. We investigate the feasibility of permafrost monitoring using permanently installed fiber‐optic seismic networks. We conducted a 2‐month seismic monitoring campaign during a controlled thaw experiment using a permanent surface orbital vibrator (SOV) and a 2D‐array of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) cables, and observed significant (15%) shear‐wave velocity (Vs) reductions and approximately 2 m depression of the permafrost table beneath the heating zone. These observations were validated by time‐lapse horizontal‐to‐vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) analysis from three co‐located broadband seismometers. The combination of SOV and DAS provided unique seismic observations for permafrost monitoring at the field scale, as well as a basis for design and development of early warning systems for permafrost thaw.
Was Dissolved Nitrogen Regime Driving Diatom to Dinoflagellate Shift in the Bohai Sea? Evidences From Microcosm Experiment and Modeling Reproduction
Authors: Chen Kan , Li Keqiang , Gao Peiyi , Wang Ping , Han Xiurong , Chen Yanan , Wang Xiulin
Published: May 2022

The shift of diatom dominance to combination of diatom and dinoflagellate dominance in the Bohai Sea (BS), China might be associated with the change of dissolved nitrogen (DN). This study combines field investigation, ship‐based microcosm experiments, a nitrogen biogeochemical model, and statistical analysis to reveal the impact of DN loading on the dominance of diatoms and dinoflagellates in the BS, considering the quantitative relationship between the algal growth/death and nitrogen migration/transformation processes. The diatom to diatom‐dinoflagellate shift was significantly associated with the DN regime shift of oxidized nitrogen (NO3‐N) to reduced nitrogen (NH4‐N and dissolved organic nitrogen [DON]) since the mid‐1990s. This phenomenon was supported by microcosm and numerical experiments: (a) Gonyaulax verior as a dominant dinoflagellate in the BS efficiently absorbed/assimilated NH4‐N, and it can also utilize DON derived from centric diatoms; Chaetoceros densus as dominant centric diatoms in the BS was able to absorb/assimilate NO3‐N, and it can also utilize DON derived from the Xiaoqing River; (b) The change in dinoflagellates/diatoms ratios was reproduced with the change in DN regime from the 1980s to the 2010s by the proposed nitrogen biogeochemical model based on localized parameters in the BS. Moreover, mixotrophism and stronger survival stability, associated with the faster NH4‐N and DONalgal uptake and slower decomposition of G. verior, also supported the shift from diatoms to diatoms–dinoflagellates during high variations in nutrient supply. This study infers the phytoplankton regime shift mechanism associated with the DN structure in coastal waters, providing a credible scientific basis for the shift from water quality‐based to ecosystem‐based environmental management.
Precipitation Estimates and Orographic Gradients Using Snow, Temperature, and Humidity Measurements From a Wireless‐Sensor Network
Authors: Cui Guotao , Rice Robert , Avanzi Francesco , Hartsough Peter , Guo Weichao , Anderson Michael , Conklin Martha , Bales Roger
Published: May 2022

This study reports on a blending approach using snowpack measurements from a wireless‐sensor network, gauge precipitation, and atmospheric‐moisture data to estimate mountain precipitation amount and phase. We applied the approach in California's American River basin, using dense measurements from a network consisting of over 130 sensor nodes distributed across the upper, more snow‐dominated part of the basin (≥1,500 m elevation). Analysis of 60 precipitation events in water years 2014–2017 showed that the approach provides estimates of precipitation and orographic enhancement that reduce uncertainty from apparent snow undercatch by limited gauges. This approach also infers total precipitation based on snow measurements during rain‐on‐snow events. The sensor network and blending approach yielded median upper‐basin orographic precipitation gradients (OPGs) of 0.57 km−1, smaller than the also‐positive lower‐basin (<1,500 m) medians OPGs from precipitation gauges and a gauge‐based gridded data set of 1.23 and 1.00 km−1, respectively. However, during 73% of the events, both gauges and the gridded product showed negative OPGs in the upper basin, inconsistent with typically positive values from the distributed sensor network. Upper‐basin OPGs from gauges and the gridded product were more negative (p‐values < 0.03) during heavy events related to atmospheric rivers and Sierra barrier jets than during milder events, revealing the challenges for gauges to reliably measure precipitation from large moisture transport by strong winds. In snow‐dominated headwater areas, precipitation from the blending approach is recommended as being more accurate for decision support, providing critical rain‐versus‐snow amounts and complementing precipitation‐gauge data.
Cloud and Precipitation Particle Identification Using Cloud Radar and Lidar Measurements: Retrieval Technique and Validation
Authors: Romatschke Ulrike , Vivekanandan Jothiram
Published: May 2022

This paper describes a technique for identifying hydrometeor particle types using airborne HIAPER Cloud Radar (HCR) and High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) observations. HCR operates at a frequency of 94 GHz (3 mm wavelength), while HSRL is an eye‐safe lidar system operating at a wavelength of 532 nm. Both instruments are deployed on the NSF‐NCAR HIAPER aircraft. HCR is designed to fly in an underwing pod and HSRL is situated in the cabin. The HCR and HSRL data used in this study were collected during the Southern Ocean Clouds, Radiation, Aerosol Transport Experimental Study (SOCRATES). Comprehensive observations of the vertical distributions of liquid and mixed‐phase clouds were obtained using in situ probes on the aircraft and remote sensing instruments. Hydrometeor particle types were retrieved from HCR, HSRL, and temperature fields with a newly developed fuzzy logic particle identification (PID) algorithm. The PID results were validated with in situ measurements collected onboard the HIAPER aircraft by a 2D‐Stereo (2D‐S) cloud probe. Particle phases derived from the PID results compare well with those obtained from the 2D‐S observations and agree in over 70% of cases. Size distributions are also consistent between the two methods of observation. Knowledge of the particle type distribution gained from the PID results can be used to constrain microphysical parameterizations and improve the representation of cloud radiative effects in weather and climate models.
Spatial Aggregation of Global Dry and Wet Patterns Based on the Standard Precipitation Index
Authors: Guan Yanlong , Liu Junguo , Chen Aifang , Li Delong , Jiang Yelin , Cui Wenhui , Lu Hongwei , Pellikka Petri , Heiskanen Janne , Maeda Eduardo
Published: May 2022

Quantifying the spatial integrity and patterns of dry/wet events over land is essential to understand how the local hydrological regime responds to environmental changes. Spatial aggregation changes in dry and wet areas over land have not been studied extensively. Based on a patch‐mosaic landscape model, we analyzed spatial aggregation changes at two levels corresponding to landscape design during 1949 and 2018. At the landscape level, the global aggregation degree increased initially and then weakened around 2006. However, the spatial aggregation process between dry and wet patterns was inconsistent. For the dry pattern, spatial aggregation was mainly caused by area decline induced decreases in the patch number. For the wet pattern, spatial aggregation was caused by area enlargement induced decreases in the patch number. At the class level, with increases in the dry/wet magnitude, the correlation between the affected area and aggregation strengthened. Our results provide new insights to understand the spatial processes and future trends of dry/wet patterns over land. We argue that future vulnerability of agriculture and ecosystems to drought is likely to be further mediated by the changes in drought patterns' spatial structure.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
Authors: Parsons Mark , Katz Daniel , Langseth Madison , Ramapriyan Hampapuram , Ramdeen Sarah
Published: May 2022

Promoting open, inclusive, transparent, and traceable science requires that scientists revamp the ways in which we acknowledge all manner of contributions to research.
Blowing Snow Contributes to Positive Surface Energy Budget and Negative Surface Mass Balance During a Melting Season of Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Luo Liping , Zhang Jing
Published: May 2022

The impacts of blowing snow, a very common snow‐air interactive process over Antarctica, are investigated with a snow/ice enhanced Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF‐ice) model for the surface energy budget (SEB) and surface mass balance (SMB) modeling over the Larsen C Ice Shelf (LCIS), Antarctic Peninsula. The net effect of blowing snow on LCIS' SMB is negative, because the positive effect of enhanced precipitation, reduced surface sublimation, and blowing snow transport is more than compensated by the negative effect of blowing snow sublimation, enhanced surface melt, and runoff. In sum, blowing snow contributes to positive anomalies in LCIS' SEB and negative anomalies in SMB.
Evolution of Pluto's Impact‐Deformed Ice Shell Below Sputnik Planitia Basin
Authors: Kihoulou M. , Kalousová K. , Souček O.
Published: May 2022

Sputnik Planitia basin, the dominant surface feature of the dwarf planet Pluto, is located very close to the far point of Pluto‐Charon tidal axis. This position is currently believed to be a result of whole body reorientation driven by the combination of (a) the uplift of a subsurface ocean in response to a basin‐forming impact and (b) the nitrogen layer accumulated inside the basin. Since an ice shell made of pure water ice cannot maintain the uplift on timescales of billions of years, the presence of an insulating and highly viscous layer of methane clathrates at the base of the shell has recently been proposed. In this study, we solve the thermo‐mechanical evolution of the ice shell in a 2D spherical axisymmetric geometry and evaluate the gravity anomaly associated with the evolving ice shell shape. Taking into account the effect of impact heating and stress‐dependent rheology of both ice and clathrates, we show that a thick shell (≥200 km) loses the impact heat slowly which leads to fast uplift relaxation of the order of hundreds of million years. On the contrary, a thin shell (∼100 km) cools down quickly (∼10 Myr), becoming rigid and more likely to preserve the ocean/shell interface uplift till the present. These results suggest that a thick ocean may be present beneath Pluto's ice shell.
Real-time whole-brain imaging of hemodynamics and oxygenation at micro-vessel resolution with ultrafast wide-field photoacoustic microscopy
Authors: Zhu Xiaoyi , Huang Qiang , DiSpirito Anthony , Vu Tri , Rong Qiangzhou , Peng Xiaorui , Sheng Huaxin , Shen Xiling , Zhou Qifa , Jiang Laiming , Hoffmann Ulrike , Yao Junjie
Published: May 2022

High-speed high-resolution imaging of the whole-brain hemodynamics is critically important to facilitating neurovascular research. High imaging speed and image quality are crucial to visualizing real-time hemodynamics in complex brain vascular networks, and tracking fast pathophysiological activities at the microvessel level, which will enable advances in current queries in neurovascular and brain metabolism research, including stroke, dementia, and acute brain injury. Further, real-time imaging of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (sO2) can capture fast-paced oxygen delivery dynamics, which is needed to solve pertinent questions in these fields and beyond. Here, we present a novel ultrafast functional photoacoustic microscopy (UFF-PAM) to image the whole-brain hemodynamics and oxygenation. UFF-PAM takes advantage of several key engineering innovations, including stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) based dual-wavelength laser excitation, water-immersible 12-facet-polygon scanner, high-sensitivity ultrasound transducer, and deep-learning-based image upsampling. A volumetric imaging rate of 2 Hz has been achieved over a field of view (FOV) of 11 × 7.5 × 1.5 mm3 with a high spatial resolution of ~10 μm. Using the UFF-PAM system, we have demonstrated proof-of-concept studies on the mouse brains in response to systemic hypoxia, sodium nitroprusside, and stroke. We observed the mouse brain’s fast morphological and functional changes over the entire cortex, including vasoconstriction, vasodilation, and deoxygenation. More interestingly, for the first time, with the whole-brain FOV and micro-vessel resolution, we captured the vasoconstriction and hypoxia simultaneously in the spreading depolarization (SD) wave. We expect the new imaging technology will provide a great potential for fundamental brain research under various pathological and physiological conditions.
Regulatory mechanism of miR-20a-5p expression in Cancer
Authors: Huang Wei , Wu Xiaoyue , Xiang Shuaixi , Qiao Mingxin , Cen Xiao , Pan Xuefeng , Huang Xinqi , Zhao Zhihe
Published: May 2022

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) are non-coding single-stranded RNA molecules encoded by endogenous genes with a length of about 22 nucleotides. The dysregulation of miRNAs has been proven to be one of the vital causes of cancer, which makes them a biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Compared with surgery and chemotherapy, nucleic acid therapy targeting specific miRNAs is a promising candidate for cancer treatment. miR-20a-5p plays an anticancer role in high-incidence human cancers such as cervical cancer, breast cancer and leukemia, which is of great importance in the diagnosis of cancers. The up-regulation and down-regulation of miR-20a-5p offers a possible breakthrough for the treatment of cancers. In this paper, we aim to investigate the functional significance of miR-20a-5p in different cancers, reviewing the expression differences of miR-20a-5p in cancer, while systematically summarizing the changes of circRNA-miR-20a-5p networks, and probe how it promotes messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation or inhibits mRNA translation to regulate downstream gene expression. We’ve also summarized the biogenesis mechanism of miRNAs, and emphasized its role in cell proliferation, cell apoptosis and cell migration. On this basis, we believe that miR-20a-5p is a promising and effective marker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
Taraxasterol prompted the anti-tumor effect in mice burden hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating T lymphocytes
Authors: Ren Feng , Zhang Yu , Qin Yuanhua , Shang Jingli , Wang Yanling , Wei Pengkun , Guo Jiaming , Jia Huijie , Zhao Tiesuo
Published: May 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common digestive malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, however, the treatment of HCC and prognosis of patients are not optimistic, finding more effective treatments are imperative. Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H.Wigg is a perennial herb of compositae, and our study has demonstrated that Taraxacum officinale polysaccharide has certain anti-tumor effect on HCC cells. Taraxasterol (TS) is a natural product extracted from Taraxacum officinale with strong physiological, pharmacological and biological activities, but the effect of TS on HCC is yet to be determined. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the effect of dandelion sterol on HCC in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that TS significantly inhibited the proliferation, induced apoptosis and blocked cell cycle in HCC cell lines HepG2 and Huh7 cells in vitro. TS inhibited the tumor growth of H22 bearing mice and the expression of Ki67 in vivo. More importantly, TS regulated the immunity of H22 bearing mice by elevating the ratio of CD4+T cells in spleen, and increasing the number of T cell infiltration in tumor tissue. Except immunomodulation, the mechanism of tumor growth inhibition may be related to the regulation of apoptosis related proteins and IL-6/STAT3 pathway. TS significantly inhibited the growth of HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. The study would provide a theoretical basis for the new application of TS and the adjuvant treatment of malignant tumor with traditional Chinese medicine.
Perceptions of causal attribution and attitudes to genetic testing among people with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives
Authors: Cullen Melissa B. R. , Meiser Bettina , Barlow-Stewart Kristine , Green Melissa , Appelbaum Paul S. , Carr Vaughan J. , Cairns Murray J. , Lebowitz M. S. , Kaur Rajneesh
Published: May 2022

Rapid advances in the genetics of psychiatric disorders mean that diagnostic and predictive genetic testing for schizophrenia risk may one day be a reality. This study examined how causal attributions for schizophrenia contribute to interest in a hypothetical genetic test. People with schizophrenia and first-degree relatives of people with schizophrenia were recruited through a schizophrenia research bank and mental health organisation. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 13 individuals with schizophrenia and 8 first-degree relatives. Transcripts were subjected to a qualitative analysis using the thematic analysis framework. Five themes were developed: (i) “It is like a cocktail”, with most participants aware that both genetic and environmental factors contributed to causation, and many mentioning the positive impact of genetic causal explanations; (ii) “Knowledge is power” (i.e., in favour of genetic testing); (iii) Genetic testing provides opportunities for early intervention and avoiding triggers, with participants citing a wide range of perceived benefits of genetic testing but few risks; (iv) Views on reproductive genetic testing for schizophrenia risk with a few participants viewing it as “playing God” but not necessarily being against it; and (v) “It snowballs”, whereby participants’ understanding of genetics was sophisticated with most believing that multiple rather than single genes contributed to schizophrenia. In conclusion, many individuals had a sound understanding of the role of genetic testing if it were to become available, with evidence of insight into the role of multiple genes and the contribution of other risk factors that may interact with any inherited genetic risk.
Development of a new antigen-based microarray platform for screening and detection of human IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Burgold-Voigt Sindy , Müller Elke , Zopf David , Monecke Stefan , Braun Sascha D. , Frankenfeld Katrin , Kiehntopf Michael , Weis Sebastian , Schumacher Thomas , Pletz Mathias W. , Ehricht Ralf ,   The CoNAN Study Group, Hotz Thomas , Enders Petra , Koch Renate , Mai Steffen , Ullrich Matthias , Richert Cora , Eibner Cornelius , Meinung Bettina , Stötzer Kay , Köhler Julia , Kiehntopf Michael , Cipowicz Hans , Pinkwart Christine , Proquitté Hans , Bauer Michael , Dickmann Petra , Licht Annika , Scholz Juliane , Wetzker Wibke , Hartung Anita , Weiß Daniel , Thieme Lara , Hanf Gabi , Schnizer Clara , Müller Jasmin , Kosenkow Jennifer , Röstel Franziska , Guerra Joel , Makarewicz Oliwia , Kolanos Steffi , Ankert Juliane , Hagel Stefan , Bahrs Christina , Andreas Nico , Marquardt Raphaela , Kamradt Thomas , Baumgart Sabine , Deinhardt-Emmer Stefanie , Kuhn Sebastian , Löffler Bettina , Baier Michael , Glöckner Stefan , Scherag André , Pletz Mathias W.
Published: May 2022

Strategies to contain the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic rely, beside vaccinations, also on molecular and serological testing. For any kind of assay development, screening for the optimal antigen is essential. Here we describe the verification of a new protein microarray with different commercially available preparations significant antigens of SARS-CoV-2 that can be used for the evaluation of the performance of these antigens in serological assays and for antibody screening in serum samples. Antigens of other pathogens that are addressed by widely used vaccinations were also included. To evaluate the accuracy of 21 different antigens or antigen preparations on the microarray, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis using ELISA results as reference were performed. Except for a single concentration, a diagnostic sensitivity of 1 was determined for all antigen preparations. A diagnostic specificity, as well as an area under the curve (AUC) of 1 was obtained for 16 of 21 antigen preparations. For the remaining five, the diagnostic specificity ranged from 0.942 to 0.981 and AUC from 0.974 to 0.999. The optimized assay was subsequently also applied to determine the immune status of previously tested individuals and/or to detect the immunization status after COVID-19 vaccination. Microarray evaluation of the antibody profiles of COVID-19 convalescent and post vaccination sera showed that the IgG response differed between these groups, and that the choice of the test antigen is crucial for the assay performance. Furthermore, the results showed that the immune response is highly individualized, depended on several factors (e.g., age or sex), and was not directly related to the severity of disease. The new protein microarray provides an ideal method for the parallel screening of many different antigens of vaccine-preventable diseases in a single sample and for reliable and meaningful diagnostic tests, as well as for the development of safe and specific vaccines.
A new method of software vulnerability detection based on a quantum neural network
Authors: Zhou Xin , Pang Jianmin , Yue Feng , Liu Fudong , Guo Jiayu , Liu Wenfu , Song Zhihui , Shu Guoqiang , Xia Bing , Shan Zheng
Published: May 2022

In the field of network security, although there has been related work on software vulnerability detection based on classic machine learning, detection ability is directly proportional to the scale of training data. A quantum neural network has been proven to solve the memory bottleneck problem of classical machine learning, so it has far-reaching prospects in the field of vulnerability detection. To fill the gap in this field, we propose a quantum neural network structure named QDENN for software vulnerability detection. This work is the first attempt to implement word embedding of vulnerability codes based on a quantum neural network, which proves the feasibility of a quantum neural network in the field of vulnerability detection. Experiments demonstrate that our proposed QDENN can effectively solve the inconsistent input length problem of quantum neural networks and the problem of batch processing with long sentences. Furthermore, it can give full play to the advantages of quantum computing and realize a vulnerability detection model at the cost of a small amount of measurement. Compared to other quantum neural networks, our proposed QDENN can achieve higher vulnerability detection accuracy. On the sub dataset with a small-scale interval, the model accuracy rate reaches 99%. On each subinterval data, the best average vulnerability detection accuracy of the model reaches 86.3%.
Examining the impact of sharing COVID-19 misinformation online on mental health
Authors: Verma Gaurav , Bhardwaj Ankur , Aledavood Talayeh , De Choudhury Munmun , Kumar Srijan
Published: May 2022

Misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic proliferated widely on social media platforms during the course of the health crisis. Experts have speculated that consuming misinformation online can potentially worsen the mental health of individuals, by causing heightened anxiety, stress, and even suicidal ideation. The present study aims to quantify the causal relationship between sharing misinformation, a strong indicator of consuming misinformation, and experiencing exacerbated anxiety. We conduct a large-scale observational study spanning over 80 million Twitter posts made by 76,985 Twitter users during an 18.5 month period. The results from this study demonstrate that users who shared COVID-19 misinformation experienced approximately two times additional increase in anxiety when compared to similar users who did not share misinformation. Socio-demographic analysis reveals that women, racial minorities, and individuals with lower levels of education in the United States experienced a disproportionately higher increase in anxiety when compared to the other users. These findings shed light on the mental health costs of consuming online misinformation. The work bears practical implications for social media platforms in curbing the adverse psychological impacts of misinformation, while also upholding the ethos of an online public sphere.
Novel electron microscopic staining method using traditional dye, hematoxylin
Authors: Sasaki Hiroyuki , Arai Hisako , Kikuchi Emi , Saito Hideki , Seki Keiko , Matsui Takeshi
Published: May 2022

Uranyl acetate (UA) has been routinely used as a staining solution for ultrathin sections used in biological electron microscopy. As a radioactive nuclear material, UA is subject to strict international regulations. To develop an alternative and easy-to-use staining method for ultrathin sections, we examined various commercial light microscopic dyes. We found that Mayer’s hematoxylin followed by Reynold’s lead citrate solution showed staining results comparable to UA and Reynold’s lead citrate solution, and this method is therefore suggested as a reliable and promising alternative to UA staining.
Light and elevated temperature induced degradation and recovery of gallium-doped Czochralski-silicon solar cells
Authors: Winter Michael , Walter Dominic C. , Min Byungsul , Peibst Robby , Brendel Rolf , Schmidt Jan
Published: May 2022

The fast-firing step commonly applied at the end of solar cell production lines is known to trigger light-induced degradation effects on solar cells made on different silicon materials. In this study, we examine degradation phenomena on high-efficiency solar cells with poly-Si passivating contacts made on Ga-doped Czochralski-grown silicon (Cz-Si) base material under one-sun illumination at elevated temperatures ranging from 80 to 160 °C. The extent of degradation is demonstrated to increase with the applied temperature up to 140 °C. Above 140 °C, the degradation extent decreases with increasing temperature. The degradation of the energy conversion efficiency can be ascribed foremost to a reduction of the short-circuit current and the fill factor and to a lesser extent to a reduction of the open-circuit voltage. The extent of degradation at 140 °C amounts to 0.4%abs of the initial conversion efficiency of 22.1% compared to 0.15%abs at 80 °C. The extent of the efficiency degradation in the examined solar cells is significantly lower (by a factor of ~ 5) compared to solar cells made on B-doped Cz-Si wafers. Importantly, through prolonged illumination at elevated temperatures (e.g. 5 h, 1 sun, 140 °C), an improvement of the conversion efficiency by up to 0.2%abs compared to the initial value is achievable in combination with a permanent regeneration resulting in long-term stable conversion efficiencies above 22%.
Prediction of gestational age using urinary metabolites in term and preterm pregnancies
Authors: Contrepois Kévin , Chen Songjie , Ghaemi Mohammad S. , Wong Ronald J. , Jehan Fyezah , Sazawal Sunil , Baqui Abdullah H. , Stringer Jeffrey S. A. , Rahman Anisur , Nisar Muhammad I. , Dhingra Usha , Khanam Rasheda , Ilyas Muhammad , Dutta Arup , Mehmood Usma , Deb Saikat , Hotwani Aneeta , Ali Said M. , Rahman Sayedur , Nizar Ambreen , Ame Shaali M. , Muhammad Sajid , Chauhan Aishwarya , Khan Waqasuddin , Raqib Rubhana , Das Sayan , Ahmed Salahuddin , Hasan Tarik , Khalid Javairia , Juma Mohammed H. , Chowdhury Nabidul H. , Kabir Furqan , Aftab Fahad , Quaiyum Abdul , Manu Alexander , Yoshida Sachiyo , Bahl Rajiv , Pervin Jesmin , Price Joan T. , Rahman Monjur , Kasaro Margaret P. , Litch James A. , Musonda Patrick , Vwalika Bellington ,   The Alliance for Maternal and Newborn Health Improvement (AMANHI), Jehan Fyezah , Sazawal Sunil , Baqui Abdullah H. , Nisar Muhammad I. , Dhingra Usha , Khanam Rasheda , Ilyas Muhammad , Dutta Arup , Mehmood Usma , Deb Saikat , Hotwani Aneeta , Ali Said M. , Rahman Sayedur , Nizar Ambreen , Ame Shaali M. , Muhammad Sajid , Chauhan Aishwarya , Khan Waqasuddin , Raqib Rubhana , Das Sayan , Ahmed Salahuddin , Hasan Tarik , Khalid Javairia , Juma Mohammed H. , Chowdhury Nabidul H. , Kabir Furqan , Aftab Fahad , Quaiyum Abdul , Manu Alexander , Yoshida Sachiyo , Bahl Rajiv ,   The Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS), Rahman Anisur , Pervin Jesmin , Price Joan T. , Rahman Monjur , Kasaro Margaret P. , Litch James A. , Musonda Patrick , Vwalika Bellington , Stringer Jeffrey S. A. , Shaw Gary , Stevenson David K. , Aghaeepour Nima , Snyder Michael P.
Published: May 2022

Assessment of gestational age (GA) is key to provide optimal care during pregnancy. However, its accurate determination remains challenging in low- and middle-income countries, where access to obstetric ultrasound is limited. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop clinical approaches that allow accurate and inexpensive estimations of GA. We investigated the ability of urinary metabolites to predict GA at time of collection in a diverse multi-site cohort of healthy and pathological pregnancies (n = 99) using a broad-spectrum liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC–MS) platform. Our approach detected a myriad of steroid hormones and their derivatives including estrogens, progesterones, corticosteroids, and androgens which were associated with pregnancy progression. We developed a restricted model that predicted GA with high accuracy using three metabolites (rho = 0.87, RMSE = 1.58 weeks) that was validated in an independent cohort (n = 20). The predictions were more robust in pregnancies that went to term in comparison to pregnancies that ended prematurely. Overall, we demonstrated the feasibility of implementing urine metabolomics analysis in large-scale multi-site studies and report a predictive model of GA with a potential clinical value.
Superior residual fertiliser value in soil with phosphorus recycled from urine in layered double hydroxides
Authors: Dox K. , Martin T. , Houot S. , Merckx R. , Smolders E.
Published: May 2022

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of magnesium (Mg) and aluminium (Al) are ion exchangers that can be used as slow release phosphorus (P) fertilisers. These LDHs can be used successfully to concentrate P from waste streams such as urine. This study was set up to test the fertiliser potential of P derived from urine and concentrated on LDHs. Ryegrass was grown in a pot trial using a P- and N-deficient soil where different urine derived fertilisers, i.e. LDH-P, stored urine and urine mixed with sludge as a source of P were compared to different mineral N and P doses in a full factorial design. Plants were grown for 75 days with four cuttings and did not exhibit salinity stress in stored urine treatments. Plant growth and P uptake responded to N, P doses in mineral fertilizer treatments with significant N-P interaction. The fertiliser use efficiency of urine fertilisers was lower than that of mineral fertilisers at equivalent total nutrient input for stored urine, due to lower N availability, and for urine mixed with sludge due to lower P availability. In contrast, the yield and P uptake of ryegrass grown on LDH loaded with P from urine (LDH-P) showed equal fertiliser P use as mineral fertiliser. Interestingly, the residual soil P after harvest, scored by the sum of isotopically exchangeable P in soil and the P uptake, was higher for LDH-P than for mineral P, confirming slow release properties of LDH that limit loss of P by fixation in soil.
Clinical evaluation of a new rapid immunochromatographic test for detection of Bordetella pertussis antigen
Authors: Okada Kenji , Horikoshi Yuho , Nishimura Naoko , Ishii Shigeki , Nogami Hiroko , Motomura Chikako , Miyairi Isao , Tsumura Naoki , Mori Toshihiko , Ito Kenta , Honma Shinichi , Nagai Kensuke , Tanaka Hiroshi , Hayakawa Toru , Abe Chiharu , Ouchi Kazunobu
Published: May 2022

A more rapid and less complicated test to diagnose pertussis is required in clinical settings. We need to detect Bordetella pertussis, which mainly causes pertussis, as early as possible, because pertussis is more likely to become severe in infants, and people around them can easily become a source of infection due to its strong infectivity. Nevertheless, methods that can detect B. pertussis rapidly and efficiently are lacking. Therefore, we developed a new immunochromatographic antigen kit (ICkit) for the early diagnosis of pertussis. The ICkit detects B. pertussis antigens in a nasopharyngeal swab without equipment and provides the result in about 15 min with a simple procedure. Additionally, a prospective study to evaluate the ICkit was conducted in 11 medical institutions, involving 195 cases with suspected pertussis. Compared with the real-time polymerase chain reaction (rPCR), the sensitivity and specificity of the ICkit were 86.4% (19/22) and 97.1% (168/173), respectively. The ICkit detected the antigen in both children and adults. Furthermore, the ICkit detected the antigen until the 25th day from the onset of cough, when rPCR detected the antigen. Thus, the ICkit demonstrated a high correlation with rPCR and would help diagnose pertussis more rapidly and efficiently.
Poor hygiene of housing conditions influences energy metabolism in a muscle type-dependent manner in growing pigs differing in feed efficiency
Authors: Vincent Annie , Dessauge Frédéric , Gondret Florence , Lebret Bénédicte , Le Floc’h Nathalie , Louveau Isabelle , Lefaucheur Louis
Published: May 2022

The ability of pigs to cope with inflammatory challenges may by modified by selection for residual feed intake (RFI), a measure of feed efficiency. In the current study, we evaluated skeletal muscle metabolic responses to degraded hygiene conditions in pigs divergently selected for RFI. At 82 d of age, low RFI and high RFI pigs were housed in either poor or good hygiene conditions. After a 6-week challenge, the poor hygiene conditions induced a decrease in growth performance (P < 0.001) and in plasma IGF-I concentrations (P < 0.003) in both lines. In the slow-twitch oxidative semispinalis muscle, poor hygiene conditions induced a shift towards a more oxidative metabolism and an activation of the AMPK pathway in pigs of both RFI lines. In the fast-twitch glycolytic longississimus muscle, poor hygiene conditions were associated to a less glycolytic metabolism in the HRFI line only. Poor hygiene conditions also increased the protein level of lipidation of microtubule-associated protein 1 light-chain 3β (LC3-II) in both RFI lines, suggesting an activation of the autophagy pathway. Altogether, the data revealed muscle-type specific metabolic adaptations to poor hygiene conditions, which may be related to different strategies to fuel the activated immune system.