bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing and Testing an Instrument to Measure the Culture for	Psychological Empowerment in Organizations (IMPEC)
Authors: Schermuly Carsten Christoph , Koch Jan , Creon Laura Elisabeth , Drazic Ivana , Graßmann Carolin
Published: April 2022

Abstract: Psychological empowerment – the experience of competence, meaning, self-determination and impact at work – has become very popular in organizational research. Meta-analytic results show many positive consequences of psychological empowerment and many different antecedents such as positive leadership, high performance practices, and work design characteristics. However, scarce research is available on how organizational culture influences psychological empowerment. We believe a missing instrument is one reason for the underdevelopment in this field. For this reason, we developed IMPEC (Instrument Measuring Psychological Empowerment Culture) for measuring specific cultural values for psychological empowerment. IMPEC was tested in four studies. In the first study ( n = 208 German employees), the reliability, factor structure, and its relationship with psychological empowerment and affective variables were analyzed. The second study had two waves ( n = 182 German employees) in which the predictive and incremental value of the IMPEC for performance-oriented variables were evaluated. In the third study, the instrument was translated into English and validated in a US sample ( n = 346). Finally, a multi-wave study was conducted in a German setting ( n = 210) to test if the IMPEC could predict critical constructs better than the empowerment climate questionnaire.
Statistical Analysis of Small Faults in Rotated Blocks of Crust Near the Húsavík‐Flatey Transform Fault, Northern Iceland
Authors: Hummel Natalie V. , Waag‐Swift Seth , Titus Sarah J.
Published: April 2022

The dextral Húsavík‐Flatey fault, in northern Iceland, provides a unique opportunity to observe an oceanic transform fault on land. Structural and paleomagnetic measurements from lavas and dikes on Flateyjarskagi peninsula indicate that rocks adjacent to the fault have rotated clockwise more than 100°. We examine the effect of this rotation on the orientations of small faults that developed in rocks adjacent to the transform fault. We also use patterns in small‐scale data to build on models of the style of deformation surrounding the fault. We apply statistical tools including spatial regressions to structural data to estimate the amount of distributed shearing around the transform fault, and to predict the orientations of rotated structures. Some small faults are consistent with predicted rotations, while others are consistent with the modern kinematics, suggesting that they postdate block rotation. This protracted temporal history for small faults complicates paleostress interpretations from rocks adjacent to the Húsavík‐Flatey fault. Previous studies assumed the small faults formed in their modern orientations and attributed their variability to stress variations, whereas we identify populations of faults that have likely rotated to their present‐day attitudes.
Dynamics and Predictability of Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification in Ensemble Simulations of Hurricane Patricia (2015)
Authors: Tao Dandan , van Leeuwen Peter Jan , Bell Michael , Ying Yue
Published: April 2022

Hurricane Patricia (2015) over the eastern Pacific was a record‐breaking tropical cyclone (TC) under a very favorable environment during its rapid intensification (RI) period, which makes it an optimal real case for studying RI dynamics and predictability. In this study, we performed ensemble Kalman filter analyses at Patricia's early development stage using both traditional observations and the Office of Naval Research Tropical Cyclone Intensity (TCI) field campaign data. It is shown that assimilating the inner‐core TCI observations produces a stronger initial vortex and significantly improves the prediction of RI. Analysis of observation sensitivity experiments shows that the deep‐layer dropsonde observations have high impact on both the primary and secondary circulations for the entire troposphere while the radar observations have the most impact on the primary circulations near aircraft flight level. A wide range of intensification scenarios are obtained through two sets of ensemble forecasts initialized with and without assimilating the TCI data prior to the RI onset. Verification of the ensemble forecasts against the TCI observations during the RI period shows that forecast errors toward later stages can originate from two different error sources at early stages of the vortex structure: One is a timing error from a delayed vortex development such that the TC evolution is the same but shifted in time; the other is due to a totally different storm such that there is no moment in time the simulated storm can obtain a correct TC structure.
Tomatidine-stimulated maturation of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes for modeling mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Kim Ye Seul , Yoon Jung Won , Kim Dasol , Choi Seunghak , Kim Hyoung Kyu , Youm Jae Boum , Han Jin , Heo Soon Chul , Hyun Sung-Ae , Seo Jung-Wook , Kim Deok-Ho , Kim Jae Ho
Published: April 2022

Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) have been reported to exhibit immature embryonic or fetal cardiomyocyte-like phenotypes. To enhance the maturation of hESC-CMs, we identified a natural steroidal alkaloid, tomatidine, as a new substance that stimulates the maturation of hESC-CMs. Treatment of human embryonic stem cells with tomatidine during cardiomyocyte differentiation stimulated the expression of several cardiomyocyte-specific markers and increased the density of T-tubules. Furthermore, tomatidine treatment augmented the number and size of mitochondria and enhanced the formation of mitochondrial lamellar cristae. Tomatidine treatment stimulated mitochondrial functions, including mitochondrial membrane potential, oxidative phosphorylation, and ATP production, in hESC-CMs. Tomatidine-treated hESC-CMs were more sensitive to doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity than the control cells. In conclusion, the present study suggests that tomatidine promotes the differentiation of stem cells to adult cardiomyocytes by accelerating mitochondrial biogenesis and maturation and that tomatidine-treated mature hESC-CMs can be used for cardiotoxicity screening and cardiac disease modeling.
Mitotic protein kinase-driven crosstalk of machineries for mitosis and metastasis
Authors: Kim Chang-Hyeon , Kim Da-Eun , Kim Dae-Hoon , Min Ga-Hong , Park Jung-Won , Kim Yeo-Bin , Sung Chang K. , Yim Hyungshin
Published: April 2022

Accumulating evidence indicates that mitotic protein kinases are involved in metastatic migration as well as tumorigenesis. Protein kinases and cytoskeletal proteins play a role in the efficient release of metastatic cells from a tumor mass in the tumor microenvironment, in addition to playing roles in mitosis. Mitotic protein kinases, including Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and Aurora kinases, have been shown to be involved in metastasis in addition to cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, depending on the phosphorylation status and cellular context. Although the genetic programs underlying mitosis and metastasis are different, the same protein kinases and cytoskeletal proteins can participate in both mitosis and cell migration/invasion, resulting in migratory tumors. Cytoskeletal remodeling supports several cellular events, including cell division, movement, and migration. Thus, understanding the contributions of cytoskeletal proteins to the processes of cell division and metastatic motility is crucial for developing efficient therapeutic tools to treat cancer metastases. Here, we identify mitotic kinases that function in cancer metastasis as well as tumorigenesis. Several mitotic kinases, namely, PLK1, Aurora kinases, Rho-associated protein kinase 1, and integrin-linked kinase, are considered in this review, as an understanding of the shared machineries between mitosis and metastasis could be helpful for developing new strategies to treat cancer.
27-hydroxycholesterol linked high cholesterol diet to lung adenocarcinoma metastasis
Authors: Li Xingkai , Chen Hengchi , Zhang Lizhen , Chen Li , Wei Wei , Gao Shugeng , Xue Qi , Li Yue , Wang Bing , Li Jiagen , Gao Yushun , Lin Yanliang
Published: April 2022

Dietary cholesterol has been implicated to promote lung cancer. Lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) is a main type of lung cancer, whereas the functional mechanism of cholesterol in LAC remained largely unknown. In the present study, we evidenced that cholesterol promoted cell proliferation and invasion of LAC in vitro as well as LAC metastasis in vivo. Cyp27A1 knockdown reduced the cholesterol-induced LAC cells proliferation and invasion. In contrast, Cyp7B1 knockdown enhanced the effect of cholesterol on LAC cells proliferation and invasion. Furthermore, Cyp27A1 deficiency remarkably reduced high cholesterol-induced LAC metastasis in vivo. Mechanism investigation demonstrated that exposure of LAC cells to 27-hydroxycholesterol induced the phosphorylation of AKT and NFκB p65, and promoted the expression of peptidylprolyl isomerase B (PPIB), especially in the coculture with THP1-derived macrophage. Meanwhile, 27-hydroxycholesterol induced the secretion of FGF2 and IL-6, which contributed to the expression of snail and vimentin. Luciferase report assay and ChIP assay confirmed that NFκB p65 controlled the transcription of PPIB. Inhibiting NFκB p65 activation reduced PPIB expression. PPIB inhibition reduced 27-hydroxycholesterol-induced expression of snail and vimentin. These results indicated that 27-hydroxycholesterol linked high cholesterol and LAC metastasis by regulating NFκB/PPIB axis and the secretion of FGF2 and IL-6.
Disrupted presynaptic nectin1-based neuronal adhesion in the entorhinal-hippocampal circuit contributes to early-life stress-induced memory deficits
Authors: Wu Chen , Gong Qian , Xu Xue , Fang Ping , Wang Chi , Yu Jing-Ying , Wang Xing-Xing , Fang San-Hua , Chen Wen-Juan , Lou Hui-Fang , Liu Yu-Hui , Wang Liang , Liu Yi-Jun , Chen Wei , Wang Xiao-Dong
Published: April 2022

The cell adhesion molecule nectin3 and its presynaptic partner nectin1 have been linked to early-life stress-related cognitive disorders, but how the nectin1-nectin3 system contributes to stress-induced neuronal, circuit, and cognitive abnormalities remains to be studied. Here we show that in neonatally stressed male mice, temporal order and spatial working memories, which require the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC)-CA1 pathway, as well as the structural integrity of CA1 pyramidal neurons were markedly impaired in adulthood. These cognitive and structural abnormalities in stressed mice were associated with decreased nectin levels in entorhinal and hippocampal subregions, especially reduced nectin1 level in the MEC and nectin3 level in the CA1. Postnatal suppression of nectin1 but not nectin3 level in the MEC impaired spatial memory, whereas conditional inactivation of nectin1 from MEC excitatory neurons reproduced the adverse effects of early-life stress on MEC-dependent memories and neuronal plasticity in CA1. Our data suggest that early-life stress disrupts presynaptic nectin1-mediated interneuronal adhesion in the MEC-CA1 pathway, which may in turn contribute to stress-induced synaptic and cognitive deficits.
PRMT5 critically mediates TMAO-induced inflammatory response in vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Liu He , Jia Kunpeng , Ren Zhengnan , Sun Jia , Pan Li-Long
Published: April 2022

A high plasma level of the choline-derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is closely related to the development of cardiovascular disease. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that a positive correlation of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) expression and TMAO-induced vascular inflammation, with upregulated vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in primary rat and human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vitro. Knockdown of PRMT5 suppressed VCAM-1 expression and the adhesion of primary bone marrow-derived macrophages to TMAO-stimulated VSMC. VSMC-specific PRMT5 knockout inhibited vascular inflammation with decreased expression of VCAM-1 in mice. We further identified that PRMT5 promoted VCAM-1 expression via symmetrical demethylation of Nuclear factor-κB p65 on arginine 30 (R30). Finally, we found that TMAO markedly induced the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (Nox4) and production of reactive oxygen species, which contributed to PRMT5 expression and subsequent VCAM-1 expression. Collectively, our data provide novel evidence to establish a Nox4-PRMT5-VCAM-1 in mediating TMAO-induced VSMC inflammation. PRMT5 may be a potential target for the treatment of TMAO-induced vascular diseases.
Anti-apoptotic HAX-1 suppresses cell apoptosis by promoting c-Abl kinase-involved ROS clearance
Authors: Dong Qincai , Li Dapei , Zhao Huailong , Zhang Xun , Liu Yue , Hu Yong , Yao Yi , Zhu Lin , Wang Guang-Fei , Liu Hainan , Gao Ting , Niu Xiayang , Zheng Tong , Song Caiwei , Wang Di , Bai Yu , Jin Jing , Liu Zijing , Jin Yanwen , Li Ping , Cao Cheng , Liu Xuan
Published: April 2022

The anti-apoptotic protein HAX-1 has been proposed to modulate mitochondrial membrane potential, calcium signaling and actin remodeling.HAX-1mutation or deficiency results in severe congenital neutropenia (SCN), loss of lymphocytes and neurological impairments by largely unknown mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate that the activation of c-Abl kinase in response to oxidative or genotoxic stress is dependent on HAX-1 association. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation is inhibited by HAX-1-dependent c-Abl activation, which greatly contributes to the antiapoptotic role of HAX-1 in stress. HAX-1 (Q190X), a loss-of-function mutant responsible for SCN, fails to bind with and activate c-Abl, leading to dysregulated cellular ROS levels, damaged mitochondrial membrane potential and eventually apoptosis. The extensive apoptosis of lymphocytes and neurons inHax-1-deficient mice could also be remarkably suppressed by c-Abl activation. These findings underline the important roles of ROS clearance in HAX-1-mediated anti-apoptosis by c-Abl kinase activation, providing new insight into the pathology and treatment of HAX-1-related hereditary disease or tumorigenesis.
Smurf2-induced degradation of SMAD2 causes inhibition of hair follicle stem cell differentiation
Authors: Lin Bojie , Huang Dan , Lin Guanyu , Miao Yong , Wang Jin , Fan Zhexiang , Hu Zhiqi
Published: April 2022

Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) are implicated in the formation of hair follicles and epidermis. This study aims to clarify the role of SMAD2 in regulating the differentiation of HFSCs, which is involved with Smurf2. Functional assays were carried out in human HFSCs to assess the effect of SMAD2 and Smurf2 with altered expression on growth dynamics of HFSCs. Ubiquitination of SMAD2 and its protein stability were assessed. The binding relationship between NANOG and DNMT1 was assessed. A mouse skin wound model was induced to verify the effects of Smurf2/SMAD2/NANOG/DNMT1 on wound healing. SMAD2 overexpression was observed in HFSCs during differentiation and its ectopic expression contributed to promotion of differentiation and apoptosis of HFSCs while arresting cell proliferation. Mechanistic investigations indicated that Smurf2 promoted the ubiquitination and degradation of SMAD2, thus causing downregulation of SMAD2 expression. By this mechanism, NANOG expression was reduced and the subsequent DNMT1 transcriptional expression was also diminished, leading to suppression of differentiation and apoptosis of HFSCs while stimulating cell proliferation. Moreover, in vivo data showed that Smurf2 upregulation limited epidermal wound healing in mice by inhibiting the SMAD2/NANOG/DNMT1 axis. Our work proposed a potential target regarding SMAD2 restoration in promoting HFSC differentiation and skin wound healing.
Monocyte subpopulation profiling indicates CDK6-derived cell differentiation and identifies subpopulation-specific miRNA expression sets in acute and stable coronary artery disease
Authors: Witten Anika , Martens Leonie , Schäfer Ann-Christin , Troidl Christian , Pankuweit Sabine , Vlacil Ann-Kathrin , Oberoi Raghav , Schieffer Bernhard , Grote Karsten , Stoll Monika , Markus Birgit
Published: April 2022

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a long-lasting inflammatory disease characterized by monocyte migration into the vessel wall leading to clinical events like myocardial infarction (MI). However, the role of monocyte subsets, especially their miRNA-driven differentiation in this scenario is still in its infancy. Here, we characterized monocyte subsets in controls and disease phenotypes of CAD and MI patients using flow cytometry and miRNA and mRNA expression profiling using RNA sequencing. We observed major differences in the miRNA profiles between the classical (CD14++CD16−) and nonclassical (CD14+CD16++) monocyte subsets irrespective of the disease phenotype suggesting the Cyclin-dependent Kinase 6 (CDK6) to be an important player in monocyte maturation. Between control and MI patients, we found a set of miRNAs to be differentially expressed in the nonclassical monocytes and targeting CCND2 (Cyclin D2) that is able to enhance myocardial repair. Interestingly, miRNAs as miR-125b playing a role in vascular calcification were differentially expressed in the classical subset in patients suffering from CAD and not MI in comparison to control samples. In conclusion, our study describes specific peculiarities of monocyte subset miRNA expression in control and diseased samples and provides basis to further functional analysis and to identify new cardiovascular disease treatment targets.
Decoding health status transitions of over 200 000 patients with traumatic brain injury from preceding injury to the injury event
Authors: Mollayeva Tatyana , Tran Andrew , Chan Vincy , Colantonio Angela , Sutton Mitchell , Escobar Michael D.
Published: April 2022

For centuries, the study of traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been centred on historical observation and analyses of personal, social, and environmental processes, which have been examined separately. Today, computation implementation and vast patient data repositories can enable a concurrent analysis of personal, social, and environmental processes, providing insight into changes in health status transitions over time. We applied computational and data visualization techniques to categorize decade-long health records of 235,003 patients with TBI in Canada, from preceding injury to the injury event itself. Our results highlighted that health status transition patterns in TBI emerged along with the projection of comorbidity where many disorders, social and environmental adversities preceding injury are reflected in external causes of injury and injury severity. The strongest associations between health status preceding TBI and health status at the injury event were between multiple body system pathology and advanced age-related brain pathology networks. The interwoven aspects of health status on a time continuum can influence post-injury trajectories and should be considered in TBI risk analysis to improve prevention, diagnosis, and care.
Addressing the range anxiety of battery electric vehicles with charging en route
Authors: Chakraborty Prabuddha , Parker Robert , Hoque Tamzidul , Cruz Jonathan , Du Lili , Wang Shuo , Bhunia Swarup
Published: April 2022

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles due to benefits in improved fuel economy, lower operating cost, and reduced emission. BEVs use electric motors rather than fossil fuels for propulsion and typically store electric energy in lithium-ion cells. With rising concerns over fossil fuel depletion and the impact of ICE vehicles on the climate, electric mobility is widely considered as the future of sustainable transportation. BEVs promise to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the transportation sector. However, mass adoption of BEVs faces major barriers due to consumer worries over several important battery-related issues, such as limited range, long charging time, lack of charging stations, and high initial cost. Existing solutions to overcome these barriers, such as building more charging stations, increasing battery capacity, and stationary vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging, often suffer from prohibitive investment costs, incompatibility to existing BEVs, or long travel delays. In this paper, we propose Peer-to-Peer Car Charging (P2C2), a scalable approach for charging BEVs that alleviates the need for elaborate charging infrastructure. The central idea is to enable BEVs to share charge among each other while in motion through coordination with a cloud-based control system. To re-vitalize a BEV fleet, which is continuously in motion, we introduce Mobile Charging Stations (MoCS), which are high-battery-capacity vehicles used to replenish the overall charge in a vehicle network. Unlike existing V2V charging solutions, the charge sharing in P2C2 takes place while the BEVs are in-motion, which aims at minimizing travel time loss. To reduce BEV-to-BEV contact time without increasing manufacturing costs, we propose to use multiple batteries of varying sizes and charge transfer rates. The faster but smaller batteries are used for charge transfer between vehicles, while the slower but larger ones are used for prolonged charge storage. We have designed the overall P2C2 framework and formalized the decision-making process of the cloud-based control system. We have evaluated the effectiveness of P2C2 using a well-characterized simulation platform and observed dramatic improvement in BEV mobility. Additionally, through statistical analysis, we show that a significant reduction in carbon emission is also possible if MoCS can be powered by renewable energy sources.
High miR203a-3p and miR-375 expression in the airways of smokers with and without COPD
Authors: van Nijnatten Jos , Brandsma Corry-Anke , Steiling Katrina , Hiemstra Pieter S. , Timens Wim , van den Berge Maarten , Faiz Alen
Published: April 2022

Smoking is a leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is known to have a significant impact on gene expression and (inflammatory) cell populations in the airways involved in COPD pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the impact of smoking on the expression of miRNAs in healthy and COPD individuals. We aimed to elucidate the overall smoking-induced miRNA changes and those specific to COPD. In addition, we investigated the downstream effects on regulatory gene expression and the correlation to cellular composition. We performed a genome-wide miRNA expression analysis on a dataset of 40 current- and 22 ex-smoking COPD patients and a dataset of 35 current- and 38 non-smoking respiratory healthy controls and validated the results in an independent dataset. miRNA expression was then correlated with mRNA expression in the same patients to assess potential regulatory effects of the miRNAs. Finally, cellular deconvolution analysis was used to relate miRNAs changes to specific cell populations. Current smoking was associated with increased expression of three miRNAs in the COPD patients and 18 miRNAs in the asymptomatic smokers compared to respiratory healthy controls. In comparison, four miRNAs were lower expressed with current smoking in asymptomatic controls. Two of the three smoking-related miRNAs in COPD, miR-203a-3p and miR-375, were also higher expressed with current smoking in COPD patients and the asymptomatic controls. The other smoking-related miRNA in COPD patients, i.e. miR-31-3p, was not present in the respiratory healthy control dataset. miRNA-mRNA correlations demonstrated that miR-203a-3p, miR-375 and also miR-31-3p expression were negatively associated with genes involved in pro-inflammatory pathways and positively associated with genes involved in the xenobiotic pathway. Cellular deconvolution showed that higher levels of miR-203a-3p were associated with higher proportions of proliferating-basal cells and secretory (club and goblet) cells and lower levels of fibroblasts, luminal macrophages, endothelial cells, B-cells, amongst other cell types. MiR-375 expression was associated with lower levels of secretory cells, ionocytes and submucosal cells, but higher levels of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and mast cells, amongst other cell types. In conclusion, we identified two smoking-induced miRNAs (miR-375 and miR-203a-3p) that play a role in regulating inflammation and detoxification pathways, regardless of the presence or absence of COPD. Additionally, in patients with COPD, we identified miR-31-3p as a miRNA induced by smoking. Our identified miRNAs should be studied further to unravel which smoking-induced inflammatory mechanisms are reactive and which are involved in COPD pathogenesis.
Improved fluorescent phytochromes for in situ imaging
Authors: Nagano Soshichiro , Sadeghi Maryam , Balke Jens , Fleck Moritz , Heckmann Nina , Psakis Georgios , Alexiev Ulrike
Published: April 2022

Modern biology investigations on phytochromes as near-infrared fluorescent pigments pave the way for the development of new biosensors, as well as for optogenetics and in vivo imaging tools. Recently, near-infrared fluorescent proteins (NIR-FPs) engineered from biliverdin-binding bacteriophytochromes and cyanobacteriochromes, and from phycocyanobilin-binding cyanobacterial phytochromes have become promising probes for fluorescence microscopy and in vivo imaging. However, current NIR-FPs typically suffer from low fluorescence quantum yields and short fluorescence lifetimes. Here, we applied the rational approach of combining mutations known to enhance fluorescence in the cyanobacterial phytochrome Cph1 to derive a series of highly fluorescent variants with fluorescence quantum yield exceeding 15%. These variants were characterised by biochemical and spectroscopic methods, including time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. We show that these new NIR-FPs exhibit high fluorescence quantum yields and long fluorescence lifetimes, contributing to their bright fluorescence, and provide fluorescence lifetime imaging measurements in E.coli cells.
Topology optimization design of three-dimensional multi-material and multi-body structure based on irregular cellular hybrid cellular automata method
Authors: Deng Xiaolei , Chen Hongxi , Xu Qiyue , Feng Fan , Chen Xingyi , Lv Xiaowen , Lin Xiaoliang , Fu Ting
Published: April 2022

In recent years, Hybrid Cellular Automata Method (HCAM) has been successfully applied to solve structural topology optimization problems. However, there was no report on HCAM research of three-dimensional composite structure composed of multiple materials and multiple bodies. Therefore, in this paper, three-dimensional non-cube cells of irregular size (such as tetrahedral cells with adaptive changes inside length) and Finite Element Method (FEM) are introduced to extend HCAM, which is better and more flexibly to fit complex geometric shapes. Furthermore, a better structure configuration of multi-material and multi-body structure is obtained. The typical example study showed that the proposed topology optimization method could effectively remove the redundant materials of multi-material and multi-body structure, and the optimized structure configuration could still meet the requirements of the original condition after geometric reconstructed. Thus it provided a reference for the intelligent design of other products.
Design and optimization of three-dimensional composite multilayer cylindrical pentamode metamaterials for controlling low frequency acoustic waves
Authors: Cai Chengxin , Wang Xue , Wang Qifu , Li Mingxing , He Guangchen , Wang Zhaohong , Qin Yao
Published: April 2022

For three-dimensional pentamode metamaterials, it is of great significance to realize underwater low frequency acoustic wave control. Therefore, in order to compare with traditional double-cone pentamode metamaterials, two multilayer composite cylindrical three-dimensional pentamode metamaterials with low frequency and broad band gaps are proposed in this paper. By using pentamode metamaterials with lattice constants on the order of centimeters, the phononic band gaps below 60 Hz and the single-mode area below 30 Hz can be obtained. In addition, compared with asymmetrical double-cone locally resonant pentamode metamaterials, the lower edge frequency, relative bandwidth and figure of merit of the first phononic band gap can be reduced by up to 61.4%, 10.3% and 40.6%, respectively. It will provide reference and guidance for the engineering application of pentamode metamaterials in controlling the ultra-low frequency broadband acoustic waves, vibration and noise reduction.
Drawing the borders of the mesophotic zone of the Mediterranean Sea using satellite data
Authors: Castellan Giorgio , Angeletti L. , Montagna P. , Taviani M.
Published: April 2022

The 30–150 m bathymetric range is commonly adopted in the literature to constrain the mesophotic zone. However, such depth interval varies depending on sunlight penetration, which is primarily a function of solar radiation incidence and water clarity. This is especially obvious in the Mediterranean Sea with its peculiar biophysical properties. Integrating information on light regime in the estimation of the bathymetric range of the mesophotic zone would provide a more robust definition, orienting conservation actions targeting its ecosystems. We present a first assessment of the spatial and vertical extension of the mesophotic zone in the Mediterranean Sea based upon light penetration, comparing our prediction with literature data. Our study also represents a baseline to monitor future variations in the bathymetric interval associated with the mesophotic zone in the Mediterranean Sea in relation to global changes.
Comparative analysis of targeted next-generation sequencing for Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance markers
Authors: Kunasol Chanon , Dondorp Arjen M. , Batty Elizabeth M. , Nakhonsri Vorthunju , Sinjanakhom Puritat , Day Nicholas P. J. , Imwong Mallika
Published: April 2022

Well-defined molecular resistance markers are available for a range of antimalarial drugs, and molecular surveillance is increasingly important for monitoring antimalarial drug resistance. Different genotyping platforms are available, but these have not been compared in detail. We compared Targeted Amplicon Deep sequencing (TADs) using Ion Torrent PGM with Illumina MiSeq for the typing of antimalarial drug resistance genes. We developed and validated protocols to type the molecular resistance markers pfcrt, pfdhfr, pfdhps, pfmdr1, pfkelch, and pfcytochrome b, in Plasmodium falciparum for the Ion Torrent PGM and Illumina MiSeq sequencing platforms. With P. falciparum 3D7 and K1 as reference strains, whole blood samples (N = 20) and blood spots from Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) samples (N = 5) from patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria from Ubon Ratchathani were assessed on both platforms and compared for coverage (average reads per amplicon), sequencing accuracy, variant accuracy, false positive rate, false negative rate, and alternative allele detection, with conventional Sanger sequencing as the reference method for SNP calling. Both whole blood and RDT samples could be successfully sequenced using the Ion Torrent PGM and Illumina MiSeq platforms. Coverage of reads per amplicon was higher with Illumina MiSeq (28,886 reads) than with Ion Torrent PGM (1754 reads). In laboratory generated artificial mixed infections, the two platforms could detect the minor allele down to 1% density at 500X coverage. SNPs calls from both platforms were in complete agreement with conventional Sanger sequencing. The methods can be multiplexed with up to 96 samples per run, which reduces cost by 86% compared to conventional Sanger sequencing. Both platforms, using the developed TAD protocols, provide an accurate method for molecular surveillance of drug resistance markers in P. falciparum, but Illumina MiSeq provides higher coverage than Ion Torrent PGM.
A mouse model with widespread expression of the C9orf72-linked glycine–arginine dipeptide displays non-lethal ALS/FTD-like phenotypes
Authors: Verdone Brandie Morris , Cicardi Maria Elena , Wen Xinmei , Sriramoji Sindhu , Russell Katelyn , Markandaiah Shashirekha S. , Jensen Brigid K. , Krishnamurthy Karthik , Haeusler Aaron R. , Pasinelli Piera , Trotti Davide
Published: April 2022

Translation of the hexanucleotide G4C2 expansion associated with C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) produces five different dipeptide repeat protein (DPR) species that can confer toxicity. There is yet much to learn about the contribution of a single DPR to disease pathogenesis. We show here that a short repeat length is sufficient for the DPR poly-GR to confer neurotoxicity in vitro, a phenomenon previously unobserved. This toxicity is also reported in vivo in our novel knock-in mouse model characterized by widespread central nervous system (CNS) expression of the short-length poly-GR. We observe sex-specific chronic ALS/FTD-like phenotypes in these mice, including mild motor neuron loss, but no TDP-43 mis-localization, as well as motor and cognitive impairments. We suggest that this model can serve as the foundation for phenotypic exacerbation through second-hit forms of stress.
Spatial auditory presentation of a partner’s presence induces the social Simon effect
Authors: Kiridoshi Arina , Otani Makoto , Teramoto Wataru
Published: April 2022

Social presence is crucial for smooth communications in virtual reality (VR). Current telecommunication systems rarely submit spatial auditory information originating from remote people. However, such information may enhance social presence in VR. In this study, we constructed a dynamic binaural synthesis system and investigated the effect of spatial auditory information of a remote partner on a participant’s behavior using the social Simon effect (SSE). The SSE is a spatial stimulus–response compatibility effect between two persons. The SSE occurs when one perceives that their partner is present. Several studies have confirmed the SSE in actual environments. We presented partner sounds diotically (i.e., without spatial information) to one group or binaurally (i.e., with spatial information) to another group through headphones without providing visual information about the partner. The results showed that the SSE was induced only in the binaural group in the current auditory VR (Experiment 1), whereas both groups exhibited the SSE in an actual environment (Experiment 2). These results suggest that the auditory spatial information of remote people is sufficient to induce the SSE and has a potential to enhance social presence.
Micro-replication platform for studying the structural effect of seed surfaces on wetting properties
Authors: Shin Seungwoo , Choi Su Hyun , Baasanmunkh Shukherdorj , Kim Seok , Choi Hyeok Jae , Cho Young Tae
Published: April 2022

Biological surfaces in plants are critical for controlling essential functions such as wettability, adhesion, and light management, which are linked to their adaptation, survival, and reproduction. Biomimetically patterned surfaces replicating the microstructures of plant surfaces have become an emerging tool for understanding plant–environment interactions. In this study, we developed a two-step micro-replication platform to mimic the microstructure of seed surfaces and demonstrated that this initial platform can be used to study seed surface–environment interactions. The two-step process involved the extraction of a simplified seed surface model from real seeds and micro-replication of the simplified seed surface model using nanoimprint lithography. Using Allium seeds collected from Mongolia and Central Asia as the model system, we studied the wettability of biological and synthetic seed surfaces. We could independently control the material properties of a synthetic seed surface while maintaining the microstructures and, thereby, provide clear evidence that Allium seed surfaces were highly wettable owing to the high surface energy in the epidermal material rather than a microstructural effect. We expect that this platform can facilitate study of the independent effect of microstructure on the interaction of seed surfaces with their surroundings and contribute to research on the evolution of plant–environment interactions.
Amorphous cellulose nanofiber supercapacitors with voltage-charging performance
Authors: Fukuhara Mikio , Yokotsuka Tomonori , Hashida Toshiyuki , Miwa Tamon , Fujima Nobuhisa , Morita Masahiro , Nakatani Takeshi , Nonomura Fuminari
Published: April 2022

The electric charge storage properties of amorphous cellulose nanofiber (ACF) supercapacitors with different metal carboxylate radicals (COOM; M: Na(I), Ca(II), Al(III)) was investigated in terms of charging/discharging behaviours, alternating current impedance analysis, and plane-wave-based first-principles density functional calculations. Na-ACF exhibited a higher storage effect than Ca- and Al-ACFs. The charge storage mechanism for an Na-ACF supercapacitor was proposed using an electric double layer model in a C12H17O11Na electrolyte with an electrical resistivity of 6.8 × 103 Ω cm, based on the migration of protonic soliton. The supercapacitor, which demonstrated fast charging upon voltage application, could illuminate a white LED for 7 s after charging with 10 mA at 18.5 V.
Psychological distress and mental health trajectories during the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina: a longitudinal study
Authors: Fernández Rodrigo S. , Crivelli Lucia , Guimet Nahuel Magrath , Allegri Ricardo F. , Picco Soledad , Pedreira Maria E.
Published: April 2022

Psychological-distress increased at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina. Longitudinal studies in developing countries are scarce. Particularly, Argentina had one of the longest lockdowns. Differences in preventive measures against the virus spread between countries may differentially affect the mental health of the populations. Here we aimed to characterize distinct psychological-distress and related-symptoms trajectories associated with the pandemic and explore risk/protective factors. In this longitudinal study, data from 832 Argentineans were collected every 3–5 months, between April 2020–August 2021. Mean psychological-distress levels and related-symptoms tended to increase over time. However, latent-class analysis identified four distinct psychological-distress trajectories. Most individuals had consistently good mental health (Resilient). Two classes showed psychological-distress worsening during the initial phase of the pandemic and recovered at different time points (Fast Recovery; Slow Recovery). The remaining class maintained a mild -level of psychological-distress and began to deteriorate in March 2021 (Deteriorating) continuously. Individuals who are younger, female, have pre-existing psychiatric diagnoses, or have high neuroticism or lower resilience were more likely to experiencing fluctuations in psychological-distress. The mental health trajectory during the pandemic had a complex dynamic. Although most participants remained resilient, a vulnerable group was detected, which deteriorated over time and should be considered by health-services.
Multi-site desmoplastic small round cell tumors are genetically related and immune-cold
Authors: Wu Chia-Chin , Beird Hannah C. , Lamhamedi-Cherradi Salah-Eddine , Soeung Melinda , Ingram Davis , Truong Danh D. , Porter Robert W. , Krishnan Sandhya , Little Latasha , Gumbs Curtis , Zhang Jianhua , Titus Mark , Genovese Giannicola , Ludwig Joseph A. , Lazar Alexander J. , Hayes-Jordan Andrea , Futreal P. Andrew
Published: April 2022

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a highly aggressive soft tissue sarcoma that is characterized by theEWSR1-WT1fusion protein. Patients present with hundreds of tumor implants in their abdominal cavity at various sites. To determine the genetic relatedness among these sites, exome and RNA sequencing were performed on 22 DSRCT specimens from 14 patients, four of whom had specimens from various tissue sites. Multi-site tumors from individual DSRCT patients had a shared origin and were highly related. Other than theEWSR1-WT1fusion, very few secondary cancer gene mutations were shared among the sites. Among these,ARID1A, was recurrently mutated, which corroborates findings by others in DSRCT patients. Knocking outARID1Ain JN-DSRCT cells using CRISPR/CAS9 resulted in significantly lower cell proliferation and increased drug sensitivity. The transcriptome data were integrated using network analysis and drug target database information to identify potential therapeutic opportunities in EWSR1-WT1-associated pathways, such as PI3K and mTOR pathways. Treatment of JN-DSRCT cells with the PI3K inhibitor alpelisib and mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus reduced cell proliferation. In addition, the low mutation burden was associated with an immune-cold state in DSRCT. Together, these data reveal multiple genomic and immune features of DSRCT and suggest therapeutic opportunities in patients.
3D reconstruction from cryo-EM projection images using two spherical embeddings
Authors: Lu Yonggang , Liu Jiaxuan , Zhu Li , Zhang Bianlan , He Jing
Published: April 2022

Single-particle analysis (SPA) in cryo-electron microscopy has become a powerful tool for determining and studying the macromolecular structure at an atomic level. However, since the SPA problem is a non-convex optimization problem with enormous search space and there is high level of noise in the input images, the existing methods may produce biased or even wrong final models. In this work, to deal with the problem, consistent constraints from the input data are explored in an embedding space, a 3D spherical surface. More specifically, the orientation of a projection image is represented by two intersection points of the normal vector and the local X-axis vector of the projection image on the unit spherical surface. To determine the orientations of the projection images, the global consistency constraints of the relative orientations of all the projection images are satisfied by two spherical embeddings which estimate the normal vectors and the local X-axis vectors of the projection images respectively. Compared to the traditional methods, the proposed method is shown to be able to rectify the initial computation errors and produce a more accurate estimation of the projection angles, which results in a better final model reconstruction from the noisy image data.
Cross-scale analysis of temperature compensation in the cyanobacterial circadian clock system
Authors: Furuike Yoshihiko , Ouyang Dongyan , Tominaga Taiki , Matsuo Tatsuhito , Mukaiyama Atsushi , Kawakita Yukinobu , Fujiwara Satoru , Akiyama Shuji
Published: April 2022

Circadian clock proteins often reveal temperature-compensatory responses that counteract temperature influences to keep their enzymatic activities constant over a physiological range of temperature. This temperature-compensating ability at the reaction level is likely crucial for circadian clock systems, to which the clock proteins are incorporated, to achieve the system-level temperature compensation of the oscillation frequency. Nevertheless, temperature compensation is yet a puzzling phenomenon, since side chains that make up the clock proteins fluctuate more frequently due to greater thermal energy at higher temperature. Here, we investigated temperature influences on the dynamics of KaiC, a temperature-compensated enzyme (ATPase) that hydrolyzes ATP into ADP in the cyanobacterial circadian clock system, using quasielastic neutron scattering. The frequency of picosecond to sub-nanosecond incoherent local motions in KaiC was accelerated by a factor of only 1.2 by increasing the temperature by 10 °C. This temperature insensitivity of the local motions was not necessarily unique to KaiC, but confirmed also for a series of temperature-sensitive mutants of KaiC and proteins other than clock-related proteins. Rather, the dynamics associated with the temperature-compensatory nature of the reaction- and system-level was found in global diffusional motions, which was suggested to regulate the temperature dependence of ATPase activity and dephosphorylation process presumably through changes in the hexamer conformation of KaiC. The spatiotemporal scale at which cross-scale causality of the temperature sensitivity is established is finite, and extends down to picosecond to sub-nanosecond dynamics only in a very limited part of KaiC, not in its entire part.
Polyether-based solid electrolytes with a homogeneous polymer network: effect of the salt concentration on the Li-ion coordination structure
Authors: Ikeda Namie , Ishikawa Asumi , Fujii Kenta
Published: April 2022

Polyether-based solid electrolytes with a homogeneous polymer network structure exhibiting high mechanical strength and high ionic conductivity.
Possible chemical and physical scenarios towards biological homochirality
Authors: Sallembien Quentin , Bouteiller Laurent , Crassous Jeanne , Raynal Matthieu
Published: April 2022

The most plausible chemical and physical scenarios towards biological homochirality are critically reviewed, with an emphasis on the phenomena leading to the creation and enhancement of an optical bias for the building blocks of life.
Self-learning entropic population annealing for interpretable materials design
Authors: Li Jiawen , Zhang Jinzhe , Tamura Ryo , Tsuda Koji
Published: April 2022

Self-learning entropic population annealing (SLEPA) is an interpretable method for materials design. It achieves efficient optimization without losing statistical consistency.
SPAHM: the spectrum of approximated Hamiltonian matrices representations
Authors: Fabrizio Alberto , Briling Ksenia R. , Corminboeuf Clemence
Published: April 2022

The Spectrum of approximated Hamiltonian matrices: an alternative pathway to construct quantum machine learning representations.
Experimental and numerical evaluation of the effect of micro-aeration on the thermal properties of chocolate
Authors: Bikos D. , Samaras G. , Charalambides M. N. , Cann P. , Masen M. , Hartmann C. , Vieira J. , Sergis A. , Hardalupas Y.
Published: April 2022

A multiscale Finite Element Model, validated by heat transfer experiments, is proposed to study the effect of micro-aeration on the thermal properties of chocolate. This model links microstructural changes to changes in chocolate's thermal behaviour.
Microscopic artificial cilia – a review
Authors: ul Islam Tanveer , Wang Ye , Aggarwal Ishu , Cui Zhiwei , Eslami Amirabadi Hossein , Garg Hemanshul , Kooi Roel , Venkataramanachar Bhavana B. , Wang Tongsheng , Zhang Shuaizhong , Onck Patrick R. , den Toonder Jaap M. J.
Published: April 2022

Bioinspired artificial cilia can provide microfluidic functions like flow generation, particle transport and flow sensing. This critical review broadly describes the progress in artificial cilia research and evaluates its future potential.
Advanced tuning of the ion management parameters in GC × GC-HRMS using a Fourier transform Orbitrap mass analyzer for pixel-based data handling and multivariate analysis
Authors: Moreira de Oliveira Amilton , Teixeira Carlos Alberto , Hantao Leandro Wang
Published: April 2022

GC × GC investigations are well known to generate a substantial amount of information-rich and structurally complex data, requiring advanced data processing strategies like chemometrics.
Regioisomeric core–shell cuprofullerene C60@Cu24
Authors: Guo You-Shi , Zhan Shun-Ze , Zhong Jia-Jing , Lu Weigang , Ng Seik Weng , Li Dan
Published: April 2022

Regioisomeric 24-nuclear exohedral cuprofullerenes were realized using a heteroleptic ligand strategy. They show regular C60@CuI24 rhombicuboctahedron, irregular C60@CuI24 in triplet C60@CuI24CuI8 core–shells and even a 3D coordination polymer.
Unexpected structures of the Au17 gold cluster: the stars are shining
Authors: Nhat Pham Vu , Si Nguyen Thanh , Kiselev Vitaly G. , Fielicke André , Pham Hung Tan , Nguyen Minh Tho
Published: April 2022

The Au17 gold cluster was experimentally produced in the gas phase and characterized by its vibrational spectrum recorded using far-IR multiple photon dissociation (FIR-MPD) of Au17Kr.