bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Tuning Strategy of IPSL‐CM6A‐LR
Authors: Mignot Juliette , Hourdin Frédéric , Deshayes Julie , Boucher Olivier , Gastineau Guillaume , Musat Ionela , Vancoppenolle Martin , Servonnat Jérôme , Caubel Arnaud , Chéruy Frédérique , Denvil Sébastien , Dufresne Jean‐Louis , Ethé Christian , Fairhead Laurent , Foujols Marie‐Alice , Grandpeix Jean‐Yves , Levavasseur Guillaume , Marti Olivier , Menary Matthew , Rio Catherine , Rousset Clément , Silvy Yona
Published: April 2021

The assessment of current and future risks for natural and human systems associated with climate change largely relies on numerical simulations performed with state‐of‐the‐art climate models. Various steps are involved in the development of such models, from development of individual components of the climate system up to free parameter calibration of the fully coupled model. Here, we describe the final tuning phase for the IPSL‐CM6A‐LR climate model. This phase alone lasted more than 3 years and relied on several pillars: (i) the tuning against present‐day conditions given a small adjustment of the ocean surface albedo to compensate for the current oceanic heat uptake, (ii) the release of successive versions after adjustments of the individual components, implying a systematic and recurrent adjustment of the atmospheric energetics, and (iii) the use of a few metrics based on large scale variables such as near‐global mean temperature, summer Arctic sea‐ice extent, as targets for the tuning. Successes, lessons and prospects of this tuning strategy are discussed.
A Detection Performance Analysis of Sanya Incoherent Scatter Radar Tristatic System
Authors: Zhang Ning , Li Mingyuan , Zhao Biqiang , Zeng Lingqi , Yue Xinan , Hao Honglian , Wang Junyi , Ding Feng , Ning Baiqi , Wan Weixing
Published: April 2021

Incoherent scatter radars (ISR) are among the most powerful ground‐based instruments for solar‐terrestrial physics, measuring multiple plasma parameters over almost the entire vertical extent of the ionosphere. In Sanya, on Hainan Island, China, an advanced high‐power phased array ISR, known as the Sanya incoherent scatter radar (SYISR), is under construction. A tristatic system is planned, with a transmitter at Sanya (SY) Station (109.6°E, 18.3°N), together with receivers at SY, Fuke (FK) (109.1°E, 19.5°N), and Qiongshan (QS) (110.2°E, 19.7°N) on Hainan Island. With the pulse width increasing, the SNR increases for a phased array monostatic ISR, while the SNR initially increases and then remains unchanged for a phased array bistatic ISR. SNR first increases and then decreases as the detection height increases from 100 km to 1,000 km for both the monostatic and bistatic ISR for typical ionospheric conditions. The relative error decreases fast with increasing pulse width when the pulse width is lower than 130 μs for both monostatic and bistatic ISR. When the pulse width is over 130 μs, the relative error decreases very slowly for a monostatic ISR, while it decreases very slowly and then stays unchanged with increasing pulse width for a bistatic ISR. Relative error increases slowly below 500 km, but increases fast for heights over 500 km for both the monostatic ISR and bistatic ISR. It is shown that a tilt angle of 20°–30° and a clockwise‐rotation angle of 157° are reasonable choices for the FK receiving array in the SYISR tristatic system.
Exploring Contingency Skill Scores Based on Event Sizes
Authors: Kahler S. W. , Darsey H.
Published: April 2021

Space weather forecasts are generally made for events with an arbitrary size threshold imposed on an event statistical size distribution which is likely described by a power law. This is the case for solar energetic (E > 10 MeV) particle (SEP) events, which have a differential power law exponent of γ = 1.2. Event forecasts are usually evaluated by skill scores using a contingency table that matches the forecasted events against observed events independently of the event sizes. Each observed event is either a forecasted hit or a miss, and each forecasted event is either an observed hit or a false alarm. However, for SEP events and most other space weather parameters the event size is a critical factor for the user. It is more important that large events be well forecasted than threshold events. In addition, false alarms may be useful when they match observed events just below the forecast threshold. We explore a forecast evaluation scheme to incorporate the event size within the usual format of a binary contingency table to evaluate model performance. The scheme is applied to three different input options of a recently published evaluation of the Proton Prediction System (PPS) for SEP events to show differences between numbers‐based and intensity‐based skill scores of the PPS. We demonstrate how identical skill scores can result from models with extremely different performances of event intensity forecasts. The scheme requires model validation and would benefit from testing with other space weather applications.
Feedback From Vegetation to Interannual Variations of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall
Authors: Budakoti Sachin , Chauhan Tejasvi , Murtugudde Raghu , Karmakar Subhankar , Ghosh Subimal
Published: April 2021

Interannual variations of Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) are modulated by external forcings such as El Niño Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole, and the Atlantic Niño. Vegetation over land responds to variations in ISMR, but the feedback from vegetation to ISMR variability has not been fully explored yet. To address this gap, we perform two simulations with the regional Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled to the Community Land Surface Model (WRF‐CLM) for the period of 2004–2018. We use the same boundary forcing from ERA‐interim reanalysis for the two experiments, but with two different vegetation prescriptions, (1) observed, interannually varying Leaf Area Index (LAI), obtained from satellite images/data (VAR‐LAI); and (2) climatological Leaf Area Index from the same product, to suppress interannual LAI variations (CLIM‐LAI). We find that the correlation coefficient of simulated total seasonal rainfall with the observed data is higher for VAR‐LAI simulation as compared to CLIM‐LAI. To elicit causality among eco‐hydro‐climatological variables, we develop a network based on information theory, i.e., a process network. We find that LAI plays a major role in influencing precipitation in the network through evapotranspiration. The number of links originating from LAI and evapotranspiration increases during drought years, making the eco‐hydro‐climatological network denser. Our findings indicate that the ISMR predictions and projections need to represent the time‐varying LAI to fully capture the varying feedbacks from evolving vegetation to the atmosphere especially during drought years.
Five Culinary Winners and Losers of Climate Change
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: April 2021

From wines in Canada to mushrooms in the Czech Republic, some foods will fare better than others on a hot planet.
Diurnal Variations of Size‐Resolved Bioaerosols During Autumn and Winter Over a Semi‐Arid Megacity in Northwest China
Authors: Yang Liu , Shen Zhenxing , Wang Diwei , Wei Junqiang , Wang Xin , Sun Jian , Xu Hongmei , Cao Junji
Published: April 2021

Bioaerosols have a major negative effect on air quality and on public health by causing the spread of diseases. This study evaluated the bioaerosol composition and variation in a semi‐arid megacity of northwest China from October 2019 to January 2020 using an Andersen six‐stage impactor sampler. The size distribution, diurnal variations of the concentrations of airborne bacteria, airborne fungi, and total airborne microbes (TAM) were investigated in autumn and winter. The mean concentrations of airborne bacteria, fungi, and TAM were 523.5 ± 301.1 colony‐forming units (CFU)/m3, 1318.9 ± 447.8 CFU/m3, and (7.25 ± 1.90) × 106 cells/m3, respectively, in autumn and 581 ± 305.4 CFU/m3, 1234.4 ± 519.9 CFU/m3, and (5.96 ± 1.65) × 106 cells/m3, respectively, in winter. The mean bioaerosol concentrations were slightly higher on nonhaze days than on haze days, but the difference was not statistically significant. Higher ambient particulate matter levels and atmospheric oxidation capacity inhibited bacteria survival. The diurnal maximum bioaerosol concentration was observed in the morning in autumn, whereas in winter, bioaerosols did not exhibit such a distribution, the impact of human activities on bioaerosols was still uncertain. The size of airborne bacteria exhibited a bimodal distribution, whereas a unimodal pattern was observed for fungi and TAM. Most bacteria, fungi, and TAM were distributed in the respirable ranges from trachea and primary bronchi to alveoli, indicating that bioaerosols have a high risk of being inhaled and causing respiratory diseases in Xi’an.
Concerning the Aims and Scope for JAMES
Authors: Griffies Stephen M. , Blyth Eleanor , Fan Jiwen , Pincus Robert , Schneider Tapio
Published: April 2021

In this editorial, we present general principles as well as specific notions that guide the strategy of JAMES′ editors in realizing the journal's mission.
Precision modeling of gall bladder cancer patients in mice based on orthotopic implantation of organoid-derived tumor buds
Authors: Kato Shingo , Fushimi Kentaro , Yabuki Yuichiro , Maru Yoshiaki , Hasegawa Sho , Matsuura Tetsuya , Kurotaki Daisuke , Suzuki Akihiro , Kobayashi Noritoshi , Yoneda Masato , Higurashi Takuma , Enaka Makiko , Tamura Tomohiko , Hippo Yoshitaka , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: April 2021

Genetically engineered mice (GEM) are the gold standard for cancer modeling. However, strict recapitulation of stepwise carcinogenesis from a single tumor-initiating epithelial cell among genetically intact cells in adults is not feasible with the currently available techniques using GEM. In previous studies, we partially overcame this challenge by physically isolating organs from adult animals, followed by genetic engineering in organoids and subcutaneous inoculation in nude mice. Despite the establishment of suitable ex vivo carcinogenesis models for diverse tissues, tumor development remained ectopic and occurred under immunodeficient conditions. Further refinement was, therefore, necessary to establish ideal models. Given the poor prognosis and few models owing to the lack of gall bladder (GB)-specific Cre strain, we assumed that the development of authentic models would considerably benefit GB cancer research. Here, we established a novel model using GB organoids with mutant Kras and Trp53 loss generated in vitro by lentiviral Cre transduction and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, respectively. Organoid-derived subcutaneous tumor fragments were sutured to the outer surface of the GB in syngeneic mice, which developed orthotopic tumors that resembled human GB cancer in histological and transcriptional features. This model revealed the infiltration of similar subsets of immune cells in both subcutaneous and orthotopic tumors, confirming the appropriate immune environment during carcinogenesis. In addition, we accurately validated the in vivo efficacy of gemcitabine, a common therapeutic agent for GB cancer, in large cohorts. Taken together, this model may serve as a promising avatar of patients with GB cancer in drug discovery and precision medicine.
Mendelian randomization integrating GWAS and eQTL data revealed genes pleiotropically associated with major depressive disorder
Authors: Yang Huarong , Liu Di , Zhao Chuntao , Feng Bowen , Lu Wenjin , Yang Xiaohan , Xu Minglu , Zhou Weizhu , Jing Huiquan , Yang Jingyun
Published: April 2021

Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified potential genetic variants associated with the risk of major depressive disorder (MDD), but the underlying biological interpretation remains largely unknown. We aimed to prioritize genes that were pleiotropically or potentially causally associated with MDD. We applied the summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) method integrating GWAS and gene expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data in 13 brain regions to identify genes that were pleiotropically associated with MDD. In addition, we repeated the analysis by using the meta-analyzed version of the eQTL summary data in the brain (brain-eMeta). We identified multiple significant genes across different brain regions that may be involved in the pathogenesis of MDD. The prime-specific geneBTN3A2(corresponding probe: ENSG00000186470.9) was the top hit showing pleiotropic association with MDD in 9 of the 13 brain regions and in brain-eMeta, after correction for multiple testing. Many of the identified genes are located in the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region on chromosome 6 and are mainly involved in the immune response. Our SMR analysis indicated that multiple genes showed pleiotropic association with MDD across the brain regions. These findings provided important leads to a better understanding of the mechanism of MDD and revealed potential therapeutic targets for the prevention and effective treatment of MDD.
FGF23 ameliorates ischemia-reperfusion induced acute kidney injury via modulation of endothelial progenitor cells: targeting SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling
Authors: Chang Huang-Ming , Peng Kang-Yung , Chan Chieh-Kai , Sun Chiao-Yin , Chen Ying-Ying , Chang Han-Mei , Huang Chun-Lin , Liu Pei-Chun , Chen Peng-Ying , Wang Kuo-Chuan , Wang Wei-Jie , Wu Chen-Chi , Lin Yu-Feng , Lai Tai-Shuan , Huang Tao-Min , Young Guang-Huar , Lin Shuei-Liong , Ostermann Marlies , Chu Tzong-Shinn , Chueh Jeff S. , Wu Vin-Cent
Published: April 2021

The levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) rapidly increases after acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the role of FGF23 in AKI is still unclear. Here, we observe that pretreatment with FGF23 protein into ischemia-reperfusion induced AKI mice ameliorates kidney injury by promoting renal tubular regeneration, proliferation, vascular repair, and attenuating tubular damage. In vitro assays demonstrate that SDF-1 induces upregulation of its receptor CXCR4 in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) via a non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathway. FGF23 crosstalks with the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling and abrogates SDF-1-induced EPC senescence and migration, but not angiogenesis, in a Klotho-independent manner. The downregulated pro-angiogenic IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF-A expressions after SDF-1 infusion are rescued after adding FGF23. Diminished therapeutic ability of SDF-1-treated EPCs is counteracted by FGF23 in a SCID mouse in vivo AKI model. Together, these data highlight a revolutionary and important role that FGF23 plays in the nephroprotection of IR-AKI.
Rhodiola extract promotes longevity and stress resistance of Caenorhabditis elegans via DAF-16 and SKN-1
Authors: Jiang Siqi , Deng Na , Zheng Bisheng , Li Tong , Liu Rui Hai
Published: April 2021

Present study further unravels the underlying mechanism of RE on lifespan of C. elegans: insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) and SKN-1 pathways.
Development of astaxanthin-loaded layer-by-layer emulsions: physicochemical properties and improvement of LPS-induced neuroinflammation in mice
Authors: Zhao Tong , Ma Dexue , Mulati Aiziguli , Zhao Beita , Liu Fuguo , Liu Xuebo
Published: April 2021

Astaxanthin-loaded emulsions were formed using heat-treated lactoferrin and polysaccharides, and the optimized emulsion could effectively inhibit neuroinflammation and learning-memory loss in C57BL/6J mice.
Photophysical properties of 4-(5-methylthiophen-2-yl)pyridinium–cyclic enolate betaine dyes tuned by control of twisted intramolecular transfer
Authors: Hayashi Yuichiro , Suzuki Naoya , Maeda Takeshi , Fujiwara Hideki , Yagi Shigeyuki
Published: April 2021

In this paper, thienylpyridinium–cyclic enolate betaine (TPB) dyes were reported as unique skeletons of fluorescent donor–acceptor type molecules.
Hybrid polyurethanes composed of isobutyl-substituted open-cage silsesquioxane in the main chains: synthesis, properties and surface segregation in a polymer matrix
Authors: Ueda Yukiho , Imoto Hiroaki , Okada Arifumi , Xu Huaizhong , Yamane Hideki , Naka Kensuke
Published: April 2021

The resulting polyurethanes exhibited excellent optical transparency and surface hydrophobicity and acted as effective surface modifiers in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) by surface segregation.
Solvent-dependent fac/mer-isomerization and self-assembly of triply helical complexes bearing a pivot part
Authors: Morozumi Takuma , Matsuoka Ryota , Nakamura Takashi , Nabeshima Tatsuya
Published: April 2021

The novel tripodal complexes isomerize in response to environmental change, and well-defined self-assemblies were quantitatively produced by imine bond formation.
Molecular engineered palladium single atom catalysts with an M-C1N3 subunit for Suzuki coupling
Authors: Liu Jia , Chen Zhongxin , Liu Cuibo , Zhang Bao , Du Yonghua , Liu Chen-Fei , Ma Lu , Xi Shibo , Li Runlai , Zhao Xiaoxu , Song Jingting , Sui Xin Zhi , Yu Wei , Miao Ling , Jiang Jianjun , Koh Ming Joo , Loh Kian Ping
Published: April 2021

Efficient Suzuki cross-coupling is promoted by ultrathin palladium single atom catalyst with molecularly precise Pd-N3C1 subunit, which is attributed to a facilitated oxidative addition on electron-rich Pd centers than conventional Pd-N4 coordination.
Controllable construction of Ho2O3 nanomaterials with different dimensions (1D, 2D, and 3D) for real-time monitoring human breathing and body surface humidity detection
Authors: Guo Chuanyu , Dong Xin , Zhang Xianfa , Cheng Xiaoli , Li Qi , Sun Yujing , Liu Wei , Huo Lihua , Xu Yingming
Published: April 2021

A simple controllable method was used to obtain Ho2O3 nanomaterials with three dimensions (1D, 2D, and 3D). A new application of Ho2O3 nanomaterials with high sensitivity, stability and fast response recovery performance was developed.
Achieving 17.38% efficiency of ternary organic solar cells enabled by a large-bandgap donor with noncovalent conformational locking
Authors: Xu Linyong , Tao Wuxi , Liu Heng , Ning Junhua , Huang Meihua , Zhao Bin , Lu Xinhui , Tan Songting
Published: April 2021

A strategy was used to tune the absorption spectrum and energy levels. BTBR-2F comprehensively improved the Jsc, Voc, and FF values of ternary OSCs. The OSC achieved one of the highest PCEs (17.38%) in ternary OSCs with a small molecular donor.
Hemoglobin coated oxygen storage metal–organic framework as a promising artificial oxygen carrier
Authors: Wang Qi , Gong Jin , Bai Qingqing , Qin Yuling , Zhou Xiaobo , Wu Mingmin , Ji Haiwei , Wu Li
Published: April 2021

A novel oxygen carrier with excellent oxygen storage capacity and sustained release ability has been synthesized. This hybrid may have potential to be developed as useful artificial oxygen carriers in the future.
Nuts and bolts of the salt-inducible kinases (SIKs)
Authors: Darling Nicola J. , Cohen Philip
Published: April 2021

The salt-inducible kinases, SIK1, SIK2 and SIK3, most closely resemble the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and other AMPK-related kinases, and like these family members they require phosphorylation by LKB1 to be catalytically active. However, unlike other AMPK-related kinases they are phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), which promotes their binding to 14-3-3 proteins and inactivation. The most well-established substrates of the SIKs are the CREB-regulated transcriptional co-activators (CRTCs), and the Class 2a histone deacetylases (HDAC4/5/7/9). Phosphorylation by SIKs promotes the translocation of CRTCs and Class 2a HDACs to the cytoplasm and their binding to 14-3-3s, preventing them from regulating their nuclear binding partners, the transcription factors CREB and MEF2. This process is reversed by PKA-dependent inactivation of the SIKs leading to dephosphorylation of CRTCs and Class 2a HDACs and their re-entry into the nucleus. Through the reversible regulation of these substrates and others that have not yet been identified, the SIKs regulate many physiological processes ranging from innate immunity, circadian rhythms and bone formation, to skin pigmentation and metabolism. This review summarises current knowledge of the SIKs and the evidence underpinning these findings, and discusses the therapeutic potential of SIK inhibitors for the treatment of disease.
Role of macrophage autophagy in atherosclerosis: modulation by bioactive compounds
Authors: Zahid MD Khurshidul , Sufian Hazera Binte , Choudhury Mahua , Yamasaki Masao , Al-Harrasi Ahmed , Moustaid-Moussa Naima , Rahman Shaikh Mizanoor
Published: April 2021

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with lipid metabolism disorder. Autophagy is a catabolic process and contributes to maintaining cellular homeostasis. Substantial evidence suggests that defective autophagy is implicated in several diseases, including atherosclerosis, while increased autophagy mitigates atherosclerosis development. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of autophagy regulation and its association with atherosclerosis is vital to develop new therapies against atherosclerosis. Dietary bioactive compounds are non-nutrient natural compounds that include phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids. Importantly, these bioactive compounds possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties that may alleviate various chronic diseases. Recently, examining the effects of bioactive compounds on autophagy activity in atherogenesis has drawn considerable attention. The current review discusses the role of macrophage autophagy in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. We also summarize our current knowledge of the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds on atherosclerosis and autophagy.
Study of complex structural variations of X-linked deafness-2 based on single-molecule sequencing
Authors: Jiang Yi , Wu Lihua , Huang Shasha , Li Pidong , Gao Bo , Yuan Yongyi , Zhang Siwen , Yu Guoliang , Gao Yong , Wu Hao , Dai Pu
Published: April 2021

X-linked deafness-2 (DFNX2) is cochlear incomplete partition type III (IP-III), one of inner ear malformations characterized by an abnormally wide opening in the bone separating the basal turn of the cochlea from the internal auditory canal, fixation of the stapes and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gusher upon stapedectomy or cochleostomy. The causative gene of DFNX2 was POU3F4. To investigate the genetic causes of DFNX2 and compare the efficiency of different sequencing methods, 12 unrelated patients were enrolled in the present study. Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) and long-read sequencing were used to analyze the genetic etiology of DFNX2. Six variants of POU3F4 were identified in this cohort by NGS. Three patients with a negative diagnosis based on NGS were enrolled in further long-read sequencing. Two of them were all found to carry structural variations (SVs) on chromosome X, consisting of an 870-kb deletion (DEL) at upstream of POU3F4 and an 8-Mb inversion (INV). The 870-kb DEL may have been due to non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), while non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR) within a single chromatid may have accounted for the 8-Mb INV. Common POU3F4 mutations in DFNX2 included point mutations, small insertions and deletions (INDELs), and exon mutations, which can be detected by Sanger sequencing and NGS. Single-molecule long-read sequencing constitutes an additional and valuable method for accurate detection of pathogenic SVs in IP-III patients with negative NGS results.
More evidence for prediction model of radiosensitivity
Authors: Du Zixuan , Zhang Xinyan , Tang Zaixiang
Published: April 2021

With the development of precision medicine, searching for potential biomarkers plays a major role in personalized medicine. Therefore, how to predict radiosensitivity to improve radiotherapy is a burning question. The definition of radiosensitivity is complex. Radiosensitive gene/biomarker can be useful for predicting which patients would benefit from radiotherapy. The discovery of radiosensitivity biomarkers require multiple pieces of evidence. A prediction model of breast cancer radiosensitivity based on six genes was established. We had put forward some supplements on the basis of the present study. We found that there were no differences between high- and low-risk scores in the non-radiotherapy group. Patients who received radiotherapy had a significantly better overall survival than non-radiotherapy patients in the predicted low-risk score patients. Furthermore, there was no difference between radiotherapy group and non-radiotherapy group in the high-risk score group. Those results firmly supported the prediction model of radiosensitivity. In addition, building a radiosensitivity prediction model was systematically discussed. Genes of model could be screened by different methods, such as Cox regression analysis, Lasso Cox regression method, random forest algorithm and other methods. In the future, precision radiotherapy might depend on the combination of multi-omics data and high dimensional image data.
Gut microbial alterations in neonatal jaundice pre- and post-treatment
Authors: Ding Juan , Ma Xiao , Han Liping , Zhao Xianlan , Li Ang , Xin Qi , Lian Weining , Li Zhen , Ren Hongyan , Ren Zhigang
Published: April 2021

Neonatal jaundice is a common disease that affects up to 60% of newborns. Herein, we performed a comparative analysis of the gut microbiome in neonatal jaundice and non-neonatal jaundice infants (NJIs) and identified gut microbial alterations in neonatal jaundice pre- and post-treatment. We prospectively collected 232 fecal samples from 51 infants at five time points (0, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months). Finally, 114 samples from 6 NJIs and 19 non-NJI completed MiSeq sequencing and analysis. We characterized the gut microbiome and identified microbial differences and gene functions. Meconium microbial diversity from NJI was decreased compared with that from non-NJI. The genus Gemella was decreased in NJI versus non-NJI. Eleven predicted microbial functions, including fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase III and pyruvate carboxylase subunit B, decreased, while three functions, including acetyl-CoA acyltransferase, increased in NJI. After treatments, the microbial community presented significant alteration-based β diversity. The phyla Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were increased, while Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria were decreased. Microbial alterations were also analyzed between 6 recovered NJI and 19 non-NJI. The gut microbiota was unique in the meconium microbiome from NJI, implying that early gut microbiome intervention could be promising for the management of neonatal jaundice. Alterations of gut microbiota from NJI can be of great value to bolster evidence-based prevention against ‘bacterial dysbiosis’.
State of the structure address on MET receptor activation by HGF
Authors: Linossi Edmond M. , Estevam Gabriella O. , Oshima Masaya , Fraser James S. , Collisson Eric A. , Jura Natalia
Published: April 2021

The MET receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and its cognate ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) comprise a signaling axis essential for development, wound healing and tissue homeostasis. Aberrant HGF/MET signaling is a driver of many cancers and contributes to drug resistance to several approved therapeutics targeting other RTKs, making MET itself an important drug target. In RTKs, homeostatic receptor signaling is dependent on autoinhibition in the absence of ligand binding and orchestrated set of conformational changes induced by ligand-mediated receptor dimerization that result in activation of the intracellular kinase domains. A fundamental understanding of these mechanisms in the MET receptor remains incomplete, despite decades of research. This is due in part to the complex structure of the HGF ligand, which remains unknown in its full-length form, and a lack of high-resolution structures of the complete MET extracellular portion in an apo or ligand-bound state. A current view of HGF-dependent MET activation has evolved from biochemical and structural studies of HGF and MET fragments and here we review what these findings have thus far revealed.
Engineered cell-laden alginate microparticles for 3D culture
Authors: Namgung Bumseok , Ravi Kalpana , Vikraman Pooja Prathyushaa , Sengupta Shiladitya , Jang Hae Lin
Published: April 2021

Advanced microfabrication technologies and biocompatible hydrogel materials facilitate the modeling of 3D tissue microenvironment. Encapsulation of cells in hydrogel microparticles offers an excellent high-throughput platform for investigating multicellular interaction with their surrounding microenvironment. Compartmentalized microparticles support formation of various unique cellular structures. Alginate has emerged as one of the most dominant hydrogel materials for cell encapsulation owing to its cytocompatibility, ease of gelation, and biocompatibility. Alginate hydrogel provides a permeable physical boundary to the encapsulated cells and develops an easily manageable 3D cellular structure. The interior structure of alginate hydrogel can further regulate the spatiotemporal distribution of the embedded cells. This review provides a specific overview of the representative engineering approaches to generate various structures of cell-laden alginate microparticles in a uniform and reproducible manner. Capillary nozzle systems, microfluidic droplet systems, and non-chip based high-throughput microfluidic systems are highlighted for developing well-regulated cellular structure in alginate microparticles to realize potential drug screening platform and cell-based therapy. We conclude with the discussion of current limitations and future directions for realizing the translation of this technology to the clinic.
Chemical reporters to study mammalian O-glycosylation
Authors: Huxley Kathryn E. , Willems Lianne I.
Published: April 2021

Glycans play essential roles in a range of cellular processes and have been shown to contribute to various pathologies. The diversity and dynamic nature of glycan structures and the complexities of glycan biosynthetic pathways make it challenging to study the roles of specific glycans in normal cellular function and disease. Chemical reporters have emerged as powerful tools to characterise glycan structures and monitor dynamic changes in glycan levels in a native context. A variety of tags can be introduced onto specific monosaccharides via the chemical modification of endogenous glycan structures or by metabolic or enzymatic incorporation of unnatural monosaccharides into cellular glycans. These chemical reporter strategies offer unique opportunities to study and manipulate glycan functions in living cells or whole organisms. In this review, we discuss recent advances in metabolic oligosaccharide engineering and chemoenzymatic glycan labelling, focusing on their application to the study of mammalian O-linked glycans. We describe current barriers to achieving glycan labelling specificity and highlight innovations that have started to pave the way to overcome these challenges.
Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential: intersections between inflammation, vascular disease and heart failure
Authors: Mooney Leanne , Goodyear Carl S. , Chandra Tamir , Kirschner Kristina , Copland Mhairi , Petrie Mark C. , Lang Ninian N.
Published: April 2021

Ageing is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. Whilst the cumulative effect of exposure to conventional cardiovascular risk factors is important, recent evidence highlights clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminant potential (CHIP) as a further key risk factor. CHIP reflects the accumulation of somatic, potentially pro-leukaemic gene mutations within haematopoietic stem cells over time. The most common mutations associated with CHIP and CVD occur in genes that also play central roles in the regulation of inflammation. While CHIP carriers have a low risk of haematological malignant transformation (<1% per year), their relative risk of mortality is increased by 40% and this reflects an excess of cardiovascular events. Evidence linking CHIP, inflammation and atherosclerotic disease has recently become better defined. However, there is a paucity of information about the role of CHIP in the development and progression of heart failure, particularly heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). While systemic inflammation plays a role in the pathophysiology of both heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction (EF), it may be of greater relevance in the pathophysiology of HFpEF, which is also strongly associated with ageing. This review describes CHIP and its pathogenetic links with ageing, inflammation and CVD, while providing insight into its putative role in HFpEF.
Non-coding RNA in cancer
Authors: Yan Huiwen , Bu Pengcheng
Published: April 2021

Majority of the human genome is transcribed to RNAs that do not encode proteins. These non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating the initiation and progression of various cancers. Given the importance of the ncRNAs, the roles of ncRNAs in cancers have been reviewed elsewhere. Thus, in this review, we mainly focus on the recent studies of the function, regulatory mechanism and therapeutic potential of the ncRNAs including microRNA (miRNA), long ncRNA (lncRNA), circular RNA (circRNA) and PIWI interacting RNA (piRNA), in different type of cancers.
Review of 3D-printing technologies for wearable and implantable bio-integrated sensors
Authors: Rachim Vega Pradana , Park Sung-Min
Published: April 2021

Thin-film microfabrication-based bio-integrated sensors are widely used for a broad range of applications that require continuous measurements of biophysical and biochemical signals from the human body. Typically, they are fabricated using standard photolithography and etching techniques. This traditional method is capable of producing a precise, thin, and flexible bio-integrated sensor system. However, it has several drawbacks, such as the fact that it can only be used to fabricate sensors on a planar surface, it is highly complex requiring specialized high-end facilities and equipment, and it mostly allows only 2D features to be fabricated. Therefore, developing bio-integrated sensors via 3D-printing technology has attracted particular interest. 3D-printing technology offers the possibility to develop sensors on nonplanar substrates, which is beneficial for noninvasive bio-signal sensing, and to directly print on complex 3D nonplanar organ structures. Moreover, this technology introduces a highly flexible and precisely controlled printing process to realize patient-specific sensor systems for ultimate personalized medicine, with the potential of rapid prototyping and mass customization. This review summarizes the latest advancements in 3D-printed bio-integrated systems, including 3D-printing methods and employed printing materials. Furthermore, two widely used 3D-printing techniques are discussed, namely, ex-situ and in-situ fabrication techniques, which can be utilized in different types of applications, including wearable and smart-implantable biosensor systems.
Perspectives for the application of Ustilaginaceae as biotech cell factories
Authors: Wierckx Nick , Miebach Katharina , Ihling Nina , Hussnaetter Kai P. , Büchs Jochen , Schipper Kerstin
Published: April 2021

Basidiomycetes fungi of the family Ustilaginaceae are mainly known as plant pathogens causing smut disease on crops and grasses. However, they are also natural producers of value-added substances like glycolipids, organic acids, polyols, and harbor secretory enzymes with promising hydrolytic activities. These attributes recently evoked increasing interest in their biotechnological exploitation. The corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis is the best characterized member of the Ustilaginaceae. After decades of research in the fields of genetics and plant pathology, a broad method portfolio and detailed knowledge on its biology and biochemistry are available. As a consequence, U. maydis has developed into a versatile model organism not only for fundamental research but also for applied biotechnology. Novel genetic, synthetic biology, and process development approaches have been implemented to engineer yields and product specificity as well as for the expansion of the repertoire of produced substances. Furthermore, research on U. maydis also substantially promoted the interest in other members of the Ustilaginaceae, for which the available tools can be adapted. Here, we review the latest developments in applied research on Ustilaginaceae towards their establishment as future biotech cell factories.
Research on visual‐tactile cross‐modality based on generative adversarial network
Authors: Li Yaoyao , Zhao Huailin , Liu Huaping , Lu Shan , Hou Yueyang
Published: April 2021

Aiming at the research of assisted blind technology, a generative adversarial network model was proposed to complete the transformation of the mode from vision to touch. Firstly, two key representations of visual to tactile sense are identified: the texture image of the object and the audio frequency that generates vibrotactile. It is essentially a matter of generating audio from images. The authors propose a cross‐modal network framework that generates corresponding vibrotactile signals based on texture images. More importantly, the network structure is an end‐to‐end, which eliminates the traditional intermediate form of converting texture image to spectrum image, and can directly carry out the transformation from visual to tactile. A quantitative evaluation system is proposed in this study, which can evaluate the performance of the network model. The experimental results show that the network can complete the conversion of visual information to tactile signals. The proposed method is proved to be superior to the existing method of indirectly generating vibrotactile signals, and the applicability of the model is verified.
Intelligent flow control algorithm for microservice system
Authors: Li Yudong , Zhang Yuqing , Zhou Zhangbing , Shen LinLin
Published: April 2021

In microservice systems, availability can be ensured through a variety of measures, such as fault tolerance and flow limiting, which are collectively called the flow control. In the current mainstream system design, the flow control rules are usually fixed and set manually, which cannot be dynamically adjusted according to the flow shape. The performance of the system is thus not fully explored. To mitigate this problem, an adaptive dynamic flow control algorithm is proposed. Based on the system's monitoring data and current flow, the algorithm calculates the flow‐limiting threshold in real time, and then it implements fine‐grained service adaptive flow control to improve the resource utilization. Experimental results show that the performance of the adaptive automatic flow control is better than that of the traditional static method on resource utilization.
Research and sustainable design of wearable sensor for clothing based on body area network
Authors: Xiangfang Ren , Lei Shen , Miaomiao Liu , Xiying Zhang , Han Chen
Published: April 2021

The body area network (BAN) is composed of every wearable device network on the body to share information and data, which is applied in medical and health, especially in the direction of intelligent clothing. A wearable device is an integrated body of multi‐sensor fusion. At the same time, the multi‐dimensional needs of users and the unique problems of sensors appear. How to solve the problems of wearable sensors and sustainable design is the research focus. Based on the wearable sensor in the critical factor of wearable device fusion, this paper analyses the classification, technology, and current situation of a wearable sensor, discusses the problems of a wearable sensor for BAN from the aspects of human–computer interaction experience, data accuracy, multiple interaction modes, and battery power supply, and summarizes the direction of multi‐sensor fusion, compatible biosensor materials, and low power consumption and high sensitivity. The sustainable design direction of visibility design, identification of use scenarios, short‐term human–computer interaction, interaction process reduction, and integration invisibility are introduced. The integration research of wearable sensors is the future trend, and it has been widely used in medical and health, intelligent clothing, wireless communication, military, automobile, and other fields.
A novel channel prediction method for MIMO‐OFDM in high‐speed environment
Authors: Zhang Ruiqi , Ai Bo
Published: April 2021

The OFDM system with multiple transceiver antennas is attractive to increase the spectrum or energy efficiency. Depending on the channel state information (CSI), precoding techniques offer array and multiplexing gain in such systems. However, if terminal equipment is fast moving, the CSI feedback would be outdated when it is applied to data transmission. This paper proposes a novel channel prediction method applicable for high‐speed environment. Benefiting from the proposed structure, this method greatly improves the prediction accuracy, and meanwhile retains the low feedback overhead. Numerical results show that the performance of the proposed method outperforms conventional precoding methods in high‐speed scenarios.
Optimising spatial distance for alleviating the compound interference of in‐band full‐duplex D2D communications
Authors: Al‐Doori Bilal Rabah
Published: April 2021

This paper introduces a new methodology that mitigates the impact of interference produced by full‐duplexing transmission in the device‐to‐device (D2D) environment. One of the most significant issues is the approach with which the D2Ds' receivers recognise and decode the outcomes detected from the multi‐codewords sent by the peer D2Ds' transmitters. To address this issue, a novel proposed framework exchanged by the D2D users is applied and guided by two policies. Initially, all the D2Ds' transmitters expressly characterise and interchange the transmission policy regarding the modulation index, number of streams, and the order of the transmitted codewords. Specifically, this work introduces a novel 3GPP‐compliant binary integer optimisation model subject to several practical constraints for defining the transmission policy at the transmitters. Second, a new classification method is proposed, where the Bayesian decision theory is utilised at the D2Ds' receivers for acquiring the decision parameters from the exchanged transmission policy. Hence, this classification offers a determination for each codeword through enabling symbols' estimation and recognition in terms of posterior probability statements. A series of numerical and comprehensive simulations shows that using the proposed approach leads to several improvements on the conventional full‐duplex D2D schemes.
Direction‐based jamming detection and suppression in mmWave massive MIMO networks
Authors: Bagherinejad Saeed , Razavizadeh S. Mohammad
Published: April 2021

In this paper, the problem of physical layer security in the uplink of millimeter‐wave massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) networks is studied and a jamming detection and suppression method is proposed. The proposed method is based on directional information of the received signals at the base station antenna array. The proposed jamming detection method can accurately detect both the existence and direction of the jammer using the received pilot signals in the training phase. The obtained information is then exploited to develop a channel estimator that excludes the jammer's angular subspace from received training signals. The estimated channel information is then used for designing a combiner at the base station that is able to effectively cancel out the deliberate interference of the jammer. By numerical simulations, the performance of the proposed jamming detection method is evaluated in terms of correct detection probability and false alarm probability, and its effectiveness when the jammer's power is substantially lower than the user's power is shown. Also, the results show that the proposed jamming suppression method can achieve a very close spectral efficiency as the case of no jamming in the network.
DMT analysis and optimal scheduling for FSO relaying communications
Authors: Khayatian Hassan , Parvaresh Farzad , Abouei Jamshid , Saberali S. Mohammad
Published: April 2021

In this paper, two‐hop parallel N‐relay networks are considered and the diversity‐multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) is derived over Gamma‐Gamma free‐space optical (FSO) channels with identical average received signal to noise rations in all links. In the derivations, both local and global channel state information (CSI) are investigated. In the local CSI case, the node only knows its incoming link conditions, while in the global CSI case, the nodes are aware of all the CSIs in the network. The listening and transmitting times at the relays as variables in the DMT derivation are further considered which are later used to optimize the performance of the network. It is demonstrated that the optimal DMT is obtained with the static quantize map and forward (SQMF) and dynamic quantize map and forward (DQMF) strategies for different ranges of the multiplexing gain. In addition, the optimal schedule of relays in the DQMF strategy is determined as a function of the local channel conditions in the relays.
Fractional order sliding mode control based on single parameter adaptive law for nano‐positioning of piezoelectric actuators
Authors: Zhang Sai , Li Zicheng , Wang Hou‐Neng , Xiong Tao
Published: April 2021

A fractional order sliding mode control (FOSMC) based on single parameter adaptive law for nano‐positioning of Piezoelectric Actuators (PEAs) is proposed. First, the Bouc–Wen (B–W) model is used to describe the hysteresis of the nano‐position platform based on PEAs, which provides a mathematical model for the subsequent controller design. Then, theoretical support is provided to design the FOSMC based on adaptive law of different parameters, which are proposed for the displacement tracking problem of PEAs, and the position error convergence is also proved. Moreover, the core parameters of FOSMC based on single parameter adaptive law are identified by hybrid differential evolution (HDE) and adaptive differential evolution (ADE), which require considering the relationship between the scaling factor and the cross‐probability factor. Finally, experiments have been conducted with the displacement signals mixed with multiple frequencies and multiple amplitudes and the results obtained from them show that the proposed control scheme can produce a faster response and smaller tracking errors in PEAs system as compared to traditional control algorithms.
Distance‐based formation control for multi‐lane autonomous vehicle platoons
Authors: Zheng Yajun , Wang Qingling , Cao Dongpu , Fidan Baris , Sun Changyin
Published: April 2021

This paper investigates the formation control of connected autonomous vehicle (CAV) platoons moving in multi lanes using distance‐based formation control techniques based on rigid graphs and V2V communication. A hierarchical architecture is proposed to decompose the cooperative control into velocity planning and vehicle dynamic control. A new velocity planning method is first developed via a distributed distance‐based formation controller so that each vehicle can keep platoon and change lane. Then, for the vehicle dynamics with nonlinearities and bounded disturbances, an adaptive controller is designed for regulating driving/braking torque to achieve the longitudinal velocity output of the velocity planner. The steering controller is designed to adjust the yaw angle of each vehicle to track and change lanes. Furthermore, stability analysis is conducted based on the Lyapunov theory. Finally, the applications of the proposed control designs to various of automated highway system (AHS) scenarios including lane‐change, curve lane and platoon overtaking, are simulated and numerically analysed to validate the effectiveness of theoretical results.