bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Simulation of the Self‐Organizational Origin of Concentrically Zoned Aggregates of Siderite and Pyrite in Sediment‐Hosted Massive Sulfide Deposits
Authors: Qiu Wenhong Johnson , Zhou Mei‐Fu , Williams‐Jones Anthony E.
Published: March 2024

Concentrically zoned pyrite aggregates (CZPA) are common in sediment‐hosted massive sulfide (SHMS) deposits and have been widely used to interpret the ore‐forming processes. There is considerable uncertainty, however, over the formation of aggregates that are oscillatorily zoned and contain randomly‐orientated pyrite microcrystals. Guided by the results of examination of the micro‐textures of CZPA and in‐situ chemical analyses, we conducted a quantitative diffusion‐reaction simulation to assess the mechanism of CZPA formation. Our study shows that oscillatory zoning results from the feedback between the diffusion of reactants and the nucleation‐growth of Fe‐sulfides. Externally derived Fe2+ diffuses into the early diagenetic sediments containing decomposing organic matter (2CH2O + SO42− = 2HCO3− + H2S) and reacts with H2S to form a pyrite layer via an intermediate pathway (Fe2+ + H2S → FeS + 2H+, FeS + H2S → FeS2 + H2). This growth of pyrite layers depletes the local concentration of reactants and suppresses nucleation until the diffusive reaction front advances and another layer is formed. Intermediate phases, for example, mackinawite, nucleate instead of pyrite, because of their greater ease of nucleation due to the low surface tension, and lead to the domination of nucleation over growth. The nucleation of mackinawite and occurrence of siderite in the CZPA are consistent with a low temperature, high pH, anoxic early diagenetic environment. Our study demonstrates that CZPA in SHMS deposits are formed by intrinsic self‐organizational processes rather than by extrinsic changes of ore‐forming fluids. The CZPA in SHMS deposits are thus indicative of their diagenetic origin with Fe2+ infiltrated and diffused from hydrothermal fluids into the sediments.
Disk‐Integrated Earth’s Outgoing Longwave Radiation Viewed From a Moon‐Based Platform: Model Simulations
Authors: Ye Hanlin , Guo Huadong , Liu Guang , Huang Jing , Liang Dong
Published: March 2024

A Moon‐based sensor can observe the Earth as a single point and achieve disk‐integrated measurements of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), which significantly differs from low orbital, geostationary, and Sun–Earth L1 point platforms. In this study, a scheme of determining the disk‐integrated Earth’s OLR based on a Moon‐based platform is proposed. The observational solid angle was theoretically derived based on the Earth’s ellipsoid model and the disk‐integrated observational anisotropic factor was estimated to eliminate the effects of the Earth’s radiant anisotropy. The simulated disk‐integrated Earth's OLR obtained from a Moon‐based platform varies periodically, due to changes in the observation geometry and Earth's scene distribution within the observed Earth’s disk. Clouds, meteorological parameters, and the land cover distribution notably affect the disk‐integrated Earth’s OLR. By analyzing the disk‐integrated Earth’s OLR from a Moon‐based platform, significant variabilities were investigated. Additionally, the Earth’s shape and radiant anisotropy that affecting the disk‐integrated Earth’s OLR were estimated. In conclusion, a more realistic Earth’s shape, the latest version of the angular distribution model (ADM), and accurate land cover and meteorological datasets are needed when determining the disk‐integrated Earth’s OLR. It is expected the unique variability captured by this platform and its ability to complement traditional satellite data make it a valuable tool for studying Earth’s radiation budget and energy cycle, and contributing to diagnostic of the climate General Circulation Models (GCM) performance.
Developing a Redox Network for Coastal Saltmarsh Systems in the PFLOTRAN Reaction Model
Authors: O’Meara T. A. , Yuan F. , Sulman B. N. , Noyce G. L. , Rich R. , Thornton P. E. , Megonigal J. P.
Published: March 2024

Coastal ecosystems have been largely ignored in Earth system models but are important zones for carbon and nutrient processing. Interactions between water, microbes, soil, sediments, and vegetation are important for mechanistic representation of coastal processes and ecosystem function. To investigate the role of these feedbacks, we used a reactive transport model (PFLOTRAN) that has the capability to be connected to the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM). PFLOTRAN was used to incorporate redox reactions and track chemical species important for coastal ecosystems as well as define simple representations of vegetation dynamics. Our goal was to incorporate oxygen flux, salinity, pH, sulfur cycling, and methane production along with plant‐mediated transport of gases and tidal flux. Using porewater profile and incubation data for model calibration and evaluation, we were able to create depth‐resolved biogeochemical soil profiles for saltmarsh habitat and use this updated representation to simulate direct and indirect effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on subsurface biogeochemical cycling. We found that simply changing the partial pressure of CO2 or increasing temperature in the model did not fully reproduce observed changes in the porewater profile, but the inclusion of plant or microbial responses to CO2 and temperature manipulations was more accurate in representing porewater concentrations. This indicates the importance of characterizing tightly coupled vegetation‐subsurface processes for developing predictive understanding and the need for measurement of plant‐soil interactions on the same time scale to understand how hotspots or moments are generated.
Can the Belt and Road Go Green?
Authors: Betancourt Mark
Published: March 2024

China’s global infrastructure investments could tip the scales on climate change, but its relationship with partner countries is complicated.
Possible temporal relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: a meta-analysis
Authors: Vasilevska Veronika , Guest Paul C. , Szardenings Michael , Benros Michael E. , Steiner Johann
Published: March 2024

The global impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection has raised concerns about secondary diseases beyond acute illness. This review explores the significance and potential underlying mechanisms of how SARS-CoV-2 infection might elicit an immune response targeting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and its implications for autoimmune-driven neuropsychiatric manifestations. We identified 19 published case reports of NMDA receptor encephalitis associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination by a systematic literature search. The significance of these reports was limited since it is not clear if a coincidental or causal relationship exists between SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination and manifestation of NMDA receptor encephalitis. The included studies were hampered by difficulties in establishing if these patients had pre-existing NMDA receptor antibodies which entered the brain by infection- or vaccination-associated transient blood-brain barrier leakage. In addition, four cases had comorbid ovarian teratoma, which is a known trigger for development of NMDA receptor encephalitis. Considering that billions of people have contracted COVID-19 or have been vaccinated against this virus, the publication of only 19 case reports with a possible link to NMDA receptor encephalitis, indicates that it is rare. In conclusion, these findings do not support the case that SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination led to an increase of existing or de novo encephalitis mediated by an autoimmune response targeting NMDA receptor function. Nevertheless, this work underscores the importance of ongoing vigilance in monitoring viral outbreaks and their potential impact on the central nervous system through basic, epidemiological and translational research.
Exploring collaboration reasons and leadership styles in Dutch primary oral healthcare practices
Authors: den Boer Joost C. L. , van der Sanden Wil J. M. , Jerković-Ćosić Katarina , Bruers Josef J. M.
Published: March 2024

Aims

To outline the extent to which practice owners in Dutch oral healthcare practices (OHPs) use a directive and supportive leadership styles, to map out which goals practice owners in Dutch OHPs consider most important when choosing collaboration within the practice and to identify the reasons why oral healthcare professionals choose to engage in collaborative practice.

Materials and methods

A survey involving 802 general dental practitioners, dental hygienists, and prevention assistants was conducted. The questionnaire covered, among other subjects, leadership styles and reasons for collaboration. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, linear regression, and logistic regression.

Results

Compared to employees, practice owners ascribe to themselves more characteristics of both directive and supportive leadership. The most frequently mentioned reasons for choosing a practice form that involves collaboration were the possibilities to provide the best care and the desire to focus on prevention. Healthcare providers chose to work in a collaborative practice for several reasons, which were associated with profession, age and gender.

Conclusions

The degree of directive and supportive leadership among practice owners in dental care practices in the Netherlands showed a strong correlation. The most frequently mentioned reasons for choosing collaboration were related to healthcare content.
One-piece versus two-piece ceramic dental implants
Authors: Bollen Curd , Hakobayan Gagik , Jörgens Martin
Published: March 2024

In this narrative review, a structured comparison between one-piece and two-piece zirconia dental implants is highlighted. Ceramic dental implants have long ceased to be hype; on the contrary, they can offer a significant addition to the daily dental implant practice. Not only do their favourable aesthetics play a significant role, but their ability to work completely metal-free is of added value, particularly for patients with a proven allergy for Grade 5 titanium. Furthermore, the fact that peri-implantitis seems to appear only incidentally is an important supporting argument for their use as well. Whereas the original design of zirconia implants was formerly always of a one-piece/one-phase structure (the monobloc design), nowadays, two-piece/two-phase designs (the so-called hybrid concept) are also widely utilised to restore missing teeth. Both concepts have advantages and disadvantages, scientifically as well as clinically.

For this paper, relevant articles from the recent scientific literature were selected from PubMed. The aim was to identify and summarise what has previously been published on one-piece versus two-piece ceramic implants. This article will compare the benefits and drawbacks of one-piece versus two-piece ceramic implants based on clinical- (design, different sizes, surgical protocol, prosthetics), scientific- (loading and eventual complications) and patient-related (costs and long-time perspectives) criteria.
Minimum intervention oral care - incentivising preventive management of high-needs/high caries-risk patients using phased courses of treatment
Authors: Banerjee ﻿Avijit , Hameed Zain , Chohan M. Ali , Patel Kish , Vaghela Jin J. , Sheikh Fahad , Barker Nick , Shah Pritesh , Patel Divyash
Published: March 2024

This paper demonstrates how person-focused, prevention-based, risk/needs-related, team-delivered, minimum intervention oral care (MIOC) principles and approaches can be integrated into the dental profession for the delivery of environmentally sustainable, optimal care to high-needs and high caries-risk/susceptibility patients. It highlights the potential for NHS remuneration for prevention-based, phased, personalised care pathways/plans (PCPs) within a reformed NHS dental contract system. It emphasises the importance of comprehensive and longitudinal patient risk/susceptibility assessments, prevention and stabilisation of the oral environment before considering more complex, definitive restorative work. This paper forms the first of several components of a suite of educational/information materials needed to instil confidence and implementation protocols within primary care clinical oral health care teams delivering MIOC through phased PCPs, especially when managing patients with high needs and/or disease susceptibility.
Mucosal T-cell responses to chronic viral infections: Implications for vaccine design
Authors: Al-Talib Mohammed , Dimonte Sandra , Humphreys Ian R.
Published: March 2024

Mucosal surfaces that line the respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts are the major interfaces between the immune system and the environment. Their unique immunological landscape is characterized by the necessity of balancing tolerance to commensal microorganisms and other innocuous exposures against protection from pathogenic threats such as viruses. Numerous pathogenic viruses, including herpesviruses and retroviruses, exploit this environment to establish chronic infection. Effector and regulatory T-cell populations, including effector and resident memory T cells, play instrumental roles in mediating the transition from acute to chronic infection, where a degree of viral replication is tolerated to minimize immunopathology. Persistent antigen exposure during chronic viral infection leads to the evolution and divergence of these responses. In this review, we discuss advances in the understanding of mucosal T-cell immunity during chronic viral infections and how features of T-cell responses develop in different chronic viral infections of the mucosa. We consider how insights into T-cell immunity at mucosal surfaces could inform vaccine strategies: not only to protect hosts from chronic viral infections but also to exploit viruses that can persist within mucosal surfaces as vaccine vectors.
Organization of reward and movement signals in the basal ganglia and cerebellum
Authors: Larry Noga , Zur Gil , Joshua Mati
Published: March 2024

The basal ganglia and the cerebellum are major subcortical structures in the motor system. The basal ganglia have been cast as the reward center of the motor system, whereas the cerebellum is thought to be involved in adjusting sensorimotor parameters. Recent findings of reward signals in the cerebellum have challenged this dichotomous view. To compare the basal ganglia and the cerebellum directly, we recorded from oculomotor regions in both structures from the same monkeys. We partitioned the trial-by-trial variability of the neurons into reward and eye-movement signals to compare the coding across structures. Reward expectation and movement signals were the most pronounced in the output structure of the basal ganglia, intermediate in the cerebellum, and the smallest in the input structure of the basal ganglia. These findings suggest that reward and movement information is sharpened through the basal ganglia, resulting in a higher signal-to-noise ratio than in the cerebellum.
Copine proteins are required for brassinosteroid signaling in maize and Arabidopsis
Authors: Jing Teng , Wu Yuying , Yu Yanwen , Li Jiankun , Mu Xiaohuan , Xu Liping , Wang Xi , Qi Guang , Tang Jihua , Wang Daowen , Yang Shuhua , Hua Jian , Gou Mingyue
Published: March 2024

Copine proteins are highly conserved and ubiquitously found in eukaryotes, and their indispensable roles in different species were proposed. However, their exact function remains unclear. The phytohormone brassinosteroids (BRs) play vital roles in plant growth, development and environmental responses. A key event in effective BR signaling is the formation of functional BRI1-SERK receptor complex and subsequent transphosphorylation upon ligand binding. Here, we demonstrate that BONZAI (BON) proteins, which are plasma membrane-associated copine proteins, are critical components of BR signaling in both the monocot maize and the dicot Arabidopsis. Biochemical and molecular analyses reveal that BON proteins directly interact with SERK kinases, thereby ensuring effective BRI1-SERK interaction and transphosphorylation. This study advances the knowledge on BR signaling and provides an important target for optimizing valuable agronomic traits, it also opens a way to study steroid hormone signaling and copine proteins of eukaryotes in a broader perspective.
Ultrafast underwater self-healing piezo-ionic elastomer via dynamic hydrophobic-hydrolytic domains
Authors: Kong Zhengyang , Boahen Elvis K. , Kim Dong Jun , Li Fenglong , Kim Joo Sung , Kweon Hyukmin , Kim So Young , Choi Hanbin , Zhu Jin , Bin Ying Wu , Kim Do Hwan
Published: March 2024

The development of advanced materials capable of autonomous self-healing and mechanical stimulus sensing in aquatic environments holds great promise for applications in underwater soft electronics, underwater robotics, and water-resistant human-machine interfaces. However, achieving superior autonomous self-healing properties and effective sensing simultaneously in an aquatic environment is rarely feasible. Here, we present an ultrafast underwater molecularly engineered self-healing piezo-ionic elastomer inspired by the cephalopod’s suckers, which possess self-healing properties and mechanosensitive ion channels. Through strategic engineering of hydrophobic C–F groups, hydrolytic boronate ester bonds, and ions, the material achieves outstanding self-healing efficiencies, with speeds of 94.5% (9.1 µm/min) in air and 89.6% (13.3 µm/min) underwater, coupled with remarkable pressure sensitivity (18.1 kPa–1) for sensing performance. Furthermore, integration of this mechanosensitive device into an underwater submarine for signal transmission and light emitting diode modulation demonstrates its potential for underwater robotics and smarter human-machine interactions.
The influence of anthropogenic regulation and evaporite dissolution on earthquake-triggered ground failure
Authors: Bürgi Paula , Thompson Eric M. , Allstadt Kate E. , Murray Kyle D. , Mason H. Benjamin , Ahdi Sean K. , Katzenstein Devin
Published: March 2024

Remote sensing observations of Searles Lake following the 2019 moment magnitude 7.1 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake reveal an area where surface ejecta is arranged in a repeating hexagonal pattern that is collocated with a solution-mining operation. By analyzing geologic and geotechnical data, here we show that the hexagonal surface ejecta is likely not a result of liquefaction. Instead, we propose dissolution cavity collapse (DCC) as an alternative driving mechanism. We support this theory with pre-event Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar data, which reveals differential subsidence patterns and the creation of subsurface void space. We also find that DCC is likely triggered at a lower shaking threshold than classical liquefaction. This and other unknown mechanisms can masquerade as liquefaction, introducing bias into liquefaction prediction models that rely on liquefaction inventories. This paper also highlights the opportunities and drawbacks of using remote sensing data to disentangle the complex factors that influence earthquake-triggered ground failure.
Reshaped three-body interactions and the observation of an Efimov state in the continuum
Authors: Yudkin Yaakov , Elbaz Roy , D’Incao José P. , Julienne Paul S. , Khaykovich Lev
Published: March 2024

Efimov trimers are exotic three-body quantum states that emerge from the different types of three-body continua in the vicinity of two-atom Feshbach resonances. In particular, as the strength of the interaction is decreased to a critical point, an Efimov state merges into the atom-dimer threshold and eventually dissociates into an unbound atom-dimer pair. Here we explore the Efimov state in the vicinity of this critical point using coherent few-body spectroscopy in7Li atoms using a narrow two-body Feshbach resonance. Contrary to the expectation, we find that the7Li Efimov trimer does not immediately dissociate when passing the threshold, and survives as a metastable state embedded in the atom-dimer continuum. We identify this behavior with a universal phenomenon related to the emergence of a repulsive interaction in the atom-dimer channel which reshapes the three-body interactions in any system characterized by a narrow Feshbach resonance. Specifically, our results shed light on the nature of7Li Efimov states and provide a path to understand various puzzling phenomena associated with them.
Electric vehicle battery chemistry affects supply chain disruption vulnerabilities
Authors: Cheng Anthony L. , Fuchs Erica R. H. , Karplus Valerie J. , Michalek Jeremy J.
Published: March 2024

We examine the relationship between electric vehicle battery chemistry and supply chain disruption vulnerability for four critical minerals: lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. We compare the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode chemistries by (1) mapping the supply chains for these four materials, (2) calculating a vulnerability index for each cathode chemistry for various focal countries and (3) using network flow optimization to bound uncertainties. World supply is currently vulnerable to disruptions in China for both chemistries: 80% [71% to 100%] of NMC cathodes and 92% [90% to 93%] of LFP cathodes include minerals that pass through China. NMC has additional risks due to concentrations of nickel, cobalt, and manganese in other countries. The combined vulnerability of multiple supply chain stages is substantially larger than at individual steps alone. Our results suggest that reducing risk requires addressing vulnerabilities across the entire battery supply chain.
microRNA-33 controls hunger signaling in hypothalamic AgRP neurons
Authors: Price Nathan L. , Fernández-Tussy Pablo , Varela Luis , Cardelo Magdalena P. , Shanabrough Marya , Aryal Binod , de Cabo Rafael , Suárez Yajaira , Horvath Tamas L. , Fernández-Hernando Carlos
Published: March 2024

AgRP neurons drive hunger, and excessive nutrient intake is the primary driver of obesity and associated metabolic disorders. While many factors impacting central regulation of feeding behavior have been established, the role of microRNAs in this process is poorly understood. Utilizing unique mouse models, we demonstrate that miR-33 plays a critical role in the regulation of AgRP neurons, and that loss of miR-33 leads to increased feeding, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction in mice. These effects include the regulation of multiple miR-33 target genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty acid metabolism. Our findings elucidate a key regulatory pathway regulated by a non-coding RNA that impacts hunger by controlling multiple bioenergetic processes associated with the activation of AgRP neurons, providing alternative therapeutic approaches to modulate feeding behavior and associated metabolic diseases.
Viscosity-dependent control of protein synthesis and degradation
Authors: Chen Yuping , Huang Jo-Hsi , Phong Connie , Ferrell James E.
Published: March 2024

It has been proposed that the concentration of proteins in the cytoplasm maximizes the speed of important biochemical reactions. Here we have used Xenopus egg extracts, which can be diluted or concentrated to yield a range of cytoplasmic protein concentrations, to test the effect of cytoplasmic concentration on mRNA translation and protein degradation. We find that protein synthesis rates are maximal in ~1x cytoplasm, whereas protein degradation continues to rise to a higher optimal concentration of ~1.8x. We show that this difference in optima can be attributed to a greater sensitivity of translation to cytoplasmic viscosity. The different concentration optima could produce a negative feedback homeostatic system, where increasing the cytoplasmic protein concentration above the 1x physiological level increases the viscosity of the cytoplasm, which selectively inhibits translation and drives the system back toward the 1x set point.
Data-driven energy landscape reveals critical genes in cancer progression
Authors: Liu Juntan , Li Chunhe
Published: March 2024

The evolution of cancer is a complex process characterized by stable states and transitions among them. Studying the dynamic evolution of cancer and revealing the mechanisms of cancer progression based on experimental data is an important topic. In this study, we aim to employ a data-driven energy landscape approach to analyze the dynamic evolution of cancer. We take Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) as an example. From the energy landscape, we introduce two quantitative indicators (transition probability and barrier height) to study critical shifts in KIRC cancer evolution, including cancer onset and progression, and identify critical genes involved in these transitions. Our results successfully identify crucial genes that either promote or inhibit these transition processes in KIRC. We also conduct a comprehensive biological function analysis on these genes, validating the accuracy and reliability of our predictions. This work has implications for discovering new biomarkers, drug targets, and cancer treatment strategies in KIRC.
Putative correlates of protection against shigellosis assessing immunomarkers across responses to S. sonnei investigational vaccine
Authors: Conti Valentino , Rossi Omar , Clarkson Kristen A. , Mancini Francesca , Nakakana Usman N. , Sarakinou Eleanna , Callegaro Andrea , Ferruzzi Pietro , Acquaviva Alessandra , Arora Ashwani Kumar , Marchetti Elisa , Necchi Francesca , Frenck Robert W. , Martin Laura B. , Kaminski Robert W. , Podda Audino , Micoli Francesca
Published: March 2024

Shigella spp. are a leading bacterial cause of diarrhea. No widely licensed vaccines are available and there is no generally accepted correlate of protection. We tested a S. sonnei Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigen (GMMA)-based vaccine (1790GAHB) in a phase 2b, placebo-controlled, randomized, controlled human infection model study (NCT03527173) enrolling healthy United States adults aged 18–50 years. We report analyses evaluating immune responses to vaccination, with the aim to identify correlates of risk for shigellosis among assessed immunomarkers. We found that 1790GAHB elicited S. sonnei lipopolysaccharide specific α4β7+ immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA secreting B cells which are likely homing to the gut, indicating the ability to induce a mucosal in addition to a systemic response, despite parenteral delivery. We were unable to establish or confirm threshold levels that predict vaccine efficacy facilitating the evaluation of vaccine candidates. However, serum anti-lipopolysaccharide IgG and bactericidal activity were identified as potential correlates of risk for shigellosis.
Combined advanced oxidation dye-wastewater treatment plant: design and development with data-driven predictive performance modeling
Authors: Chauhan Pankaj Singh , Singh Kirtiman , Choudhary Aditya , Brighu Urmila , Singh S. K. , Bhattacharya Shantanu
Published: March 2024

The recalcitrant nature of the industrial dyes poses a significant challenge to existing treatment technologies due to the stringent environmental regulations. This combined with the inefficiency of a single treatment method has led to the implementation of the combination of primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment processes, which fails during complex secondary aeration processes due to variable pH loads of industrial effluent wastewater. This article presents a modified design methodology of a pilot-scale micro-pre-treatment unit using a solar-triggered advanced oxidation process reactor that both effectively controls the influent variability at the source and mitigates textile effluents for making the discharge reusable for different industrial purposes. The proposed modified combination technique of controlled serial processes inclusive of primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment steps with ZnO/ZnO-GO NanoMat-based advanced oxidation process demonstrates complete remediation of industrial grade effluent with effective reuse of the discharge. Further, a reliable prediction model for estimating water quality parameter using machine learning models are proposed. Multi-linear regression and Artificial Neural network modeling provide simple, accurate, and robust prediction capabilities, which are evaluated for the efficiency of the processes. The generated prediction models capture the output parameters within an acceptable level of accuracy $$({{\boldsymbol{R}}}_{{adj}}^{{\bf{2}}}\, >\, 0.90)$$

(

R

a
d
j

2

>

0.90

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and allow compliance with the discharge Inland Water Discharge Standards (IWDS).
Porphyrin-fused graphene nanoribbons
Authors: Chen Qiang , Lodi Alessandro , Zhang Heng , Gee Alex , Wang Hai I. , Kong Fanmiao , Clarke Michael , Edmondson Matthew , Hart Jack , O’Shea James N. , Stawski Wojciech , Baugh Jonathan , Narita Akimitsu , Saywell Alex , Bonn Mischa , Müllen Klaus , Bogani Lapo , Anderson Harry L.
Published: March 2024

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), nanometre-wide strips of graphene, are promising materials for fabricating electronic devices. Many GNRs have been reported, yet no scalable strategies are known for synthesizing GNRs with metal atoms and heteroaromatic units at precisely defined positions in the conjugated backbone, which would be valuable for tuning their optical, electronic and magnetic properties. Here we report the solution-phase synthesis of a porphyrin-fused graphene nanoribbon (PGNR). This PGNR has metalloporphyrins fused into a twisted fjord-edged GNR backbone; it consists of long chains (>100 nm), with a narrow optical bandgap (~1.0 eV) and high local charge mobility (>400 cm2 V–1 s–1 by terahertz spectroscopy). We use this PGNR to fabricate ambipolar field-effect transistors with appealing switching behaviour, and single-electron transistors displaying multiple Coulomb diamonds. These results open an avenue to π-extended nanostructures with engineerable electrical and magnetic properties by transposing the coordination chemistry of porphyrins into graphene nanoribbons.
Structure of the human KMN complex and implications for regulation of its assembly
Authors: Polley Soumitra , Raisch Tobias , Ghetti Sabrina , Körner Marie , Terbeck Melina , Gräter Frauke , Raunser Stefan , Aponte-Santamaría Camilo , Vetter Ingrid R. , Musacchio Andrea
Published: March 2024

Biorientation of chromosomes during cell division is necessary for precise dispatching of a mother cell’s chromosomes into its two daughters. Kinetochores, large layered structures built on specialized chromosome loci named centromeres, promote biorientation by binding and sensing spindle microtubules. One of the outer layer main components is a ten-subunit assembly comprising Knl1C, Mis12C and Ndc80C (KMN) subcomplexes. The KMN is highly elongated and docks on kinetochores and microtubules through interfaces at its opposite extremes. Here, we combine cryogenic electron microscopy reconstructions and AlphaFold2 predictions to generate a model of the human KMN that reveals all intra-KMN interfaces. We identify and functionally validate two interaction interfaces that link Mis12C to Ndc80C and Knl1C. Through targeted interference experiments, we demonstrate that this mutual organization strongly stabilizes the KMN assembly. Our work thus reports a comprehensive structural and functional analysis of this part of the kinetochore microtubule-binding machinery and elucidates the path of connections from the chromatin-bound components to the force-generating components.
A haplotype-resolved genome provides insight into allele-specific expression in wild walnut (Juglans regia L.)
Authors: Han Liqun , Luo Xiang , Zhao Yu , Li Ning , Xu Yuhui , Ma Kai
Published: March 2024

Wild germplasm resources are crucial for gene mining and molecular breeding because of their special trait performance. Haplotype-resolved genome is an ideal solution for fully understanding the biology of subgenomes in highly heterozygous species. Here, we surveyed the genome of a wild walnut tree from Gongliu County, Xinjiang, China, and generated a haplotype-resolved reference genome of 562.99 Mb (contig N50 = 34.10 Mb) for one haplotype (hap1) and 561.07 Mb (contig N50 = 33.91 Mb) for another haplotype (hap2) using PacBio high-fidelity (HiFi) reads and Hi-C technology. Approximately 527.20 Mb (93.64%) of hap1 and 526.40 Mb (93.82%) of hap2 were assigned to 16 pseudochromosomes. A total of 41039 and 39744 protein-coding gene models were predicted for hap1 and hap2, respectively. Moreover, 123 structural variations (SVs) were identified between the two haplotype genomes. Allele-specific expression genes (ASEGs) that respond to cold stress were ultimately identified. These datasets can be used to study subgenome evolution, for functional elite gene mining and to discover the transcriptional basis of specific traits related to environmental adaptation in wild walnut.
MCSdb, a database of proteins residing in membrane contact sites
Authors: Pan Xianrun , Ren Liping , Yang Yu , Xu Yi , Ning Lin , Zhang Yibing , Luo Huaichao , Zou Quan , Zhang Yang
Published: March 2024

Organelles do not act as autonomous discrete units but rather as interconnected hubs that engage in extensive communication by forming close contacts called “membrane contact sites (MCSs)”. And many proteins have been identified as residing in MCS and playing important roles in maintaining and fulfilling specific functions within these microdomains. However, a comprehensive compilation of these MCS proteins is still lacking. Therefore, we developed MCSdb, a manually curated resource of MCS proteins and complexes from publications. MCSdb documents 7010 MCS protein entries and 263 complexes, involving 24 organelles and 44 MCSs across 11 species. Additionally, MCSdb orchestrates all data into different categories with multitudinous information for presenting MCS proteins. In summary, MCSdb provides a valuable resource for accelerating MCS functional interpretation and interorganelle communication deciphering.
Development of a solar powered multirotor micro aerial vehicle
Authors: Abidali Aly , Agha Stephen A. , Munjiza Antonio , Shaheed Mohammad H.
Published: March 2024

Rotary-wing aerial vehicles offer manoeuvrability and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) advantages over fixed-wing systems. Rotary-wing systems do however have comparatively higher energy demands and consequently shorter flight times and therefore a greater energy dependence over their fixed-wing counterparts. Advances in photovoltaic technologies have resulted in significant increases in the specific power (power-to-weight-ratio) of solar cells enabling the design of solar-powered rotary-wing aircraft, and now micro-sized variants. The micro aerial vehicle (MAV) presented, the Micro Solarcopter, is a 0.15 m $$\times$$
×
0.15 m $$\times$$
×
0.02 m solar-rechargeable radio-controlled aircraft. The 0.071 kg aircraft can fly for an average time of 3.5 min, recharge in approximately 68 min under 1000 W/m2 irradiance at 25 °C and can hibernate for 38 days without sunlight. The paper explores the use of commercially available photovoltaic cells for the purpose of increasing the energy autonomy of multi-rotor MAVs, by enabling them to stay out in the field without returning to base for charging. A working prototype has been presented which incorporates a battery management system, automatic power on and off, low-power sleep mode, and first-person-view (FPV) camera.
Comparing population-level humoral and cellular immunity to SARS-Cov-2 in Bangalore, India
Authors: Malani Anup , Aiyar Jayashree , Sant Andrea , Kamran Neha , Mohanan Manoj , Taneja Saloni , Woda Bartek , Zhao Wanran , Acharya Anu
Published: March 2024

Two types of immunity, humoral and cellular, offer protection against COVID. Humoral protection, contributed by circulating neutralizing antibodies, can provide immediate protection but decays more quickly than cellular immunity and can lose effectiveness in the face of mutation and drift in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Therefore, population-level seroprevalence surveys used to estimate population-level immunity may underestimate the degree to which a population is protected against COVID. In early 2021, before India began its vaccination campaign, we tested for humoral and cellular immunity to SARS-Cov-2 in representative samples of slum and non-slum populations in Bangalore, India. We found that 29.7% of samples (unweighted) had IgG antibodies to the spike protein and 15.5% had neutralizing antibodies, but at up to 46% showed evidence of cellular immunity. We also find that prevalence of cellular immunity is significantly higher in slums than in non-slums. These findings suggest (1) that a significantly larger proportion of the population in Bangalore, India, had cellular immunity to SARS-CoV-2 than had humoral immunity, as measured by serological surveys, and (2) that low socio-economic status communities display higher frequency of cellular immunity, likely because of greater exposure to infection due to population density.
Clinical electromagnetic brain scanner
Authors: Abbosh Amin , Bialkowski Konstanty , Guo Lei , Al-Saffar Ahmed , Zamani Ali , Trakic Adnan , Brankovic Aida , Bialkowski Alina , Zhu Guohun , Cook David , Crozier Stuart
Published: March 2024

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and early diagnosis and prompt medical intervention are thus crucial. Frequent monitoring of stroke patients is also essential to assess treatment efficacy and detect complications earlier. While computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are commonly used for stroke diagnosis, they cannot be easily used onsite, nor for frequent monitoring purposes. To meet those requirements, an electromagnetic imaging (EMI) device, which is portable, non-invasive, and non-ionizing, has been developed. It uses a headset with an antenna array that irradiates the head with a safe low-frequency EM field and captures scattered fields to map the brain using a complementary set of physics-based and data-driven algorithms, enabling quasi-real-time detection, two-dimensional localization, and classification of strokes. This study reports clinical findings from the first time the device was used on stroke patients. The clinical results on 50 patients indicate achieving an overall accuracy of 98% in classification and 80% in two-dimensional quadrant localization. With its lightweight design and potential for use by a single para-medical staff at the point of care, the device can be used in intensive care units, emergency departments, and by paramedics for onsite diagnosis.
A hybrid modeling framework for generalizable and interpretable predictions of ICU mortality across multiple hospitals
Authors: Samadi Moein E. , Guzman-Maldonado Jorge , Nikulina Kateryna , Mirzaieazar Hedieh , Sharafutdinov Konstantin , Fritsch Sebastian Johannes , Schuppert Andreas
Published: March 2024

The development of reliable mortality risk stratification models is an active research area in computational healthcare. Mortality risk stratification provides a standard to assist physicians in evaluating a patient’s condition or prognosis objectively. Particular interest lies in methods that are transparent to clinical interpretation and that retain predictive power once validated across diverse datasets they were not trained on. This study addresses the challenge of consolidating numerous ICD codes for predictive modeling of ICU mortality, employing a hybrid modeling approach that integrates mechanistic, clinical knowledge with mathematical and machine learning models . A tree-structured network connecting independent modules that carry clinical meaning is implemented for interpretability. Our training strategy utilizes graph-theoretic methods for data analysis, aiming to identify the functions of individual black-box modules within the tree-structured network by harnessing solutions from specific max-cut problems. The trained model is then validated on external datasets from different hospitals, demonstrating successful generalization capabilities, particularly in binary-feature datasets where label assessment involves extrapolation.
Semantic segmentation of thermal defects in belt conveyor idlers using thermal image augmentation and U-Net-based convolutional neural networks
Authors: Siami Mohammad , Barszcz Tomasz , Wodecki Jacek , Zimroz Radoslaw
Published: March 2024

The belt conveyor (BC) is the main means of horizontal transportation of bulk materials at mining sites. The sudden fault in BC modules may cause unexpected stops in production lines. With the increasing number of applications of inspection mobile robots in condition monitoring (CM) of industrial infrastructure in hazardous environments, in this article we introduce an image processing pipeline for automatic segmentation of thermal defects in thermal images captured from BC idlers using a mobile robot. This study follows the fact that CM of idler temperature is an important task for preventing sudden breakdowns in BC system networks. We compared the performance of three different types of U-Net-based convolutional neural network architectures for the identification of thermal anomalies using a small number of hand-labeled thermal images. Experiments on the test data set showed that the attention residual U-Net with binary cross entropy as the loss function handled the semantic segmentation problem better than our previous research and other studied U-Net variations.
Proteomic analysis of serum extracellular vesicles from biliary tract infection patients to identify novel biomarkers
Authors: Chang Chih-Jung , Huang Yung-Ning , Lu Yang-Bor , Zhang Yi , Wu Ping-Hua , Huang Jian-Shan , Yang Wei , Chiang Tung-Ying , Hsieh Hui-Shan , Chung Wen-Hung , Weng Yu-Chieh
Published: March 2024

Biliary tract infection (BTI), a commonly occurring abdominal disease, despite being extensively studied for its initiation and underlying mechanisms, continues to pose a challenge in the quest for identifying specific diagnostic biomarkers. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which emanate from diverse cell types, serve as minute biological entities that mirror unique physiological or pathological conditions. Despite their potential, there has been a relatively restricted exploration of EV-oriented methodologies for diagnosing BTI. To uncover potent protein biomarkers for BTI patients, we applied a label-free quantitative proteomic method known for its unbiased and high-throughput nature. Furthermore, 192 differentially expressed proteins surfaced within EVs isolated from individuals afflicted with BTI. Subsequent GO and KEGG analyses pinpointed Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) and Crumbs homolog 3 (CRB3) as noteworthy biomarkers. Validation via data analysis of plasma-derived EV samples confirmed their specificity to BTI. Our study leveraged an unbiased proteomic tool to unveil CEACAM1 and CRB3 as promising protein biomarkers in serum EVs, presenting potential avenues for the advancement of diagnostic systems for BTI detection.
Laser-induced graphene electrochemical sensor for quantitative detection of phytotoxic aluminum ions (Al3+) in soils extracts
Authors: Reyes-Loaiza Vanessa , De La Roche Jhonattan , Hernandez-Renjifo Erick , Idárraga Orlando , Da Silva Mayesse , Valencia Drochss P. , Ghneim-Herrera Thaura , Jaramillo-Botero Andres
Published: March 2024

Aluminum in its Al3+ form is a metal that inhibits plant growth, especially in acidic soils (pH < 5.5). Rapid and accurate quantitative detection of Al3+ in agricultural soils is critical for the timely implementation of remediation strategies. However, detecting metal ions requires time-consuming preparation of samples, using expensive instrumentation and non-portable spectroscopic techniques. As an alternative, electrochemical sensors offer a cost-effective and minimally invasive approach for in situ quantification of metal ions. Here, we developed and validated an electrochemical sensor based on bismuth-modified laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes for Al3+ quantitative detection in a range relevant to agriculture (1–300 ppm). Our results show a linear Al3+ detection range of 1.07–300 ppm with a variation coefficient of 5.3%, even in the presence of other metal ions (Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+). The sensor offers a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.34 ppm and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1.07 ppm. We compared its accuracy for soil samples with pH < 4.8 to within 89–98% of spectroscopic methods (ICP-OES) and potentiometric titration. This technology's portability, easy to use, and cost-effectiveness make it a promising candidate for in situ quantification and remediation of Al3+ in agricultural soils and other complex matrices.
Novel nano-fertilizers derived from drinking water industry waste for sustained release of macronutrients: performance, kinetics and sorption mechanisms
Authors: Elsabagh Samira S. , Elkhatib Elsayed A. , Rashad Mohamed
Published: March 2024

Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach for the controlled release of nutrients, particularly phosphorus and potassium. These essential plant nutrients are often applied in excess, leading to environmental pollution and loss of efficiency in crop production. Innovative economic and highly efficient fertilizers are urgently needed to achieve the targeted crop production worldwide in the presence of limited land and water resources. Therefore, in this study, novel, eco-friendly, cost-effective and enhanced efficiency nano-enabled fertilizers, NEF (nWTF1and nWTF2) were synthesized by impregnation of nanostructured water treatment residuals (nWTR) with (KH2PO4 + MgO) at 1:1 and 3:1 (w/w) ratios respectively using a planetary ball mill. The nWTR, nWTF1 and nWTF2 were extensively characterized. The water retention behavior and the sustained release of nutrients from the fabricated nano-enabled fertilizers (nWTF1 and nWTF2) in distilled water and sandy soil were investigated and monitored over time. The water retention capacity of the soil treated with nWTF2 after 26 days was 9.3 times higher than that of soil treated with conventional fertilizer. In addition, the nWTF2 exhibited lower release rates of P, K and Mg nutrients for longer release periods in comparison with the conventional fertilizers. This is a significant advantage over traditional fertilizers, which release nutrients quickly and can lead to leaching and nutrient loss. The main interaction mechanisms of PO4–K–Mg ions with nWTR surface were suggested. The results of the kinetics study revealed that power function was the best suitable model to describe the kinetics of P, K and Mg release data from NEF in water and soil. The produced NEF were applied to Zea maize plants and compared to commercial chemical fertilizer control plants. The obtained results revealed that the nano-enabled fertilizers (nWTF1 and nWTF2) significantly promoted growth, and P content compared with the commercial chemical fertilizer treated plants. The present work demonstrated the power of nano enabled fertilizers as efficient and sustained release nano-fertilizers for sustainable agriculture and pollution free environment.