bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reevaluating the Suma Occupation in the Casas Grandes Valley, Chihuahua, Mexico
Authors: Douglas John E. , Brown Linda J.
Published: March 2023

In 1584, Baltasar de Obregón described the people he met in the Casas Grandes Valley (CGV), Northwest Chihuahua, Mexico. He juxtaposed these “rustic” people with the sophistication of the ancient builders of Paquimé who had lived in the CGV. Seventy years later, the Spanish missionaries called the people in the CGV “Suma” and enlisted them to build Mission San Antonio de Padua de Casas Grandes. Scholars have examined Obregón's and later administrators’ accounts to argue that the Suma were a small-scale society and unrelated to the ancient people of Paquimé (~AD 1200–1430). We reevaluate this interpretation. First, we contextualize the documentary evidence within contemporary frameworks. Second, using data from the 1958–1961 Joint Casas Grandes Expedition, we compare Paquimé and Suma material culture. We argue that the Suma were likely long-term residents of the Valley, organized into horticulture villages, and exhibiting cultural practices linked to Paquimé. After critiquing previous arguments about Suma origins, we consider how this criticism relates broadly to exploring Native Americans’ reactions to colonial settings.
Preventing nosocomial bloodstream infections (NBSIs) by implementing hospitalwide, department-level, self-investigations: A NBSIs frontline ownership intervention
Authors: Mudrik-Zohar Hadar , Chowers Michal , Temkin Elizabeth , Shitrit Pnina
Published: March 2023

Background:

Nosocomial bloodstream infections (NBSIs) are adverse complications of hospitalization. Most interventions focus on intensive care units. Data on interventions involving patients’ personal care providers in hospitalwide settings are limited.

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of department-level NBSI investigations on infection incidence.

Methods:

Beginning in 2016, positive cultures, classified as suspected of being hospital acquired, were prospectively investigated by patients’ unit-based personal healthcare providers using a structured electronic questionnaire. After analyzing the conclusions of the investigation, a summary was sent quarterly to the departments and to hospital management. NBSI rates and clinical data during a 5-year period (2014–2018) were calculated and compared before and after the intervention (2014–2015 versus 2016–2018), using interrupted time-series analysis.

Results:

Among 4,135 bloodstream infections (BSIs), 1,237 (30%) were nosocomial. The rate of NBSI decreased from 4.58 per 1,000 admissions days in 2014 and 4.82 in 2015, to 3.81 in 2016, 2.94 in 2017 and 2.86 in 2018. Following a 4-month lag after introducing the intervention, the NBSI rate per 1000 admissions dropped significantly by 1.33 (P = .04; 95% CI, −2.58 to −0.07). The monthly NBSI rate continued to decrease significantly by 0.03 during the intervention period (P = .03; 95% CI, −0.06 to −0.002).

Conclusions:

Detailed department-level investigations of NBSI events performed by healthcare providers, increased staff awareness and frontline ownership and were associated with a decrease in NBSI rates hospitalwide.
Locating Disability Within a Health Justice Framework
Authors: Harris Jasmine E.
Published: March 2023

This Article explores the connections between disability and health justice in service of further tethering the two theories and practices. The author contends that disability should shift from marker of health inequity alone to critical demographic in the analytical and practical application of health justice. This theoretical move creates a more robust understanding of the harms of health injustice, its complexities, and, remedially, reveals underexplored legal and policy pathways to promote health justice.
(Trans)languaging, power, and resistance: Bordering as discursive agency
Authors: Savski Kristof
Published: March 2023

The multi/translingual turn in sociolinguistics has highlighted a number of ideological entanglements of foundational concepts, most significantly the way that the notion of ‘named languages’ as bordered entities is intertwined with ideologies of nation and race. In this article, I consider what the conceptual place for linguistic borders is within a ‘trans’ framework of language and propose a focus on bordering, social actions in which indexical meanings at different scales are mobilized to exert control over discursive space by erecting boundaries within or around it. I draw on data from a Facebook group for non-local teachers of English in Thailand, examining how bordering served interests of hegemonic power when linguistic borders were policed with reference to ideologies of nation, as well as how it enabled counter-hegemonic resistance when borders were erected to separate teachers of colour from the intense discursive struggle in the group. (Translanguaging, linguistic borders, bordering, code-switching, scale, resistance, discursive agency)*
Medical decisions influenced by eugenics: Hungarian gynecological practices during the 1910s
Authors: Szamosi Barna
Published: March 2023

Argument

This study contributes to the discussion on the development of eugenics in Central-Eastern Europe by tracing the way that eugenic ideas entered into medical decision-making in Hungary. Through a case study that reviews the professional argumentation of the gynecological management of tuberculosis pregnancies, this paper shows that the subordination of individual reproductive rights to state interests was influenced by the ideas of eugenics, which had begun to enter into the professional public health discourse. A eugenically informed morality was envisioned, to guide decision-making in the interest of the Hungarian “race.” This biopolitically important morality can be viewed as an early influence on the formulation of biological citizenship. Leading figures were divided on how to ensure such morality: some scholars argued that education is the key, others thought that the state, and state actors, should act radically in the interest of the population and decide on behalf of the individual. Radical methods, such as the termination of pregnancies and sterilization of women, were among the practices of gynecologists. Although abortion and sterilization were not widespread and never became official therapeutic solutions for tuberculosis pregnancies, they were nonetheless part of a discourse that preceded the eugenic institutions of the interwar years.
Patient wait times for daily outpatient radiotherapy appointments (a single-centre study)
Authors: Roy Soumya , Sarkar Biplab , Pradhan Anirudh , Munshi Anusheel , Chauhan Rohit
Published: March 2023

Purpose:

Patient wait time for every single fraction of every patient treated at our centre for the past year has been presented in this study. The waiting time data were analysed across different treatment sites and modalities.

Materials and Methods:

Between March 2021 and March 2022, all patients and their corresponding recorded measurements of waiting time were analysed. Times recorded included check-in time (CK), scheduled time to start treatment (SC) and beam-on time for the first beam of therapy (ST). SPSS version 18 was used for statistical calculations, correlations and assessing significance.

Results:

A total of 181 patients were treated during this duration. The total number of radiotherapy (RT) sessions recorded was 3011. Out of these 3011 sessions, number of times treated by rapid arc (RA), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy (SRS/SRT) were 68.18%, 30.19%, 0.167%, 0.565% and 0.19%, respectively. The mean (± standard deviation) times for scheduled time to start treatment (SC) to check-in time (CK), SC to ST (beam-on time for the first beam of treatment), CK to ST and (CK or SC) to ST were −14 ± 48 min, 6 ± 50 min, 19 ± 24 min and −4 ± 31 min, respectively.

Conclusion:

Patient wait times during RT were presented in this study. This study covered the daily waiting times before RT during modern-day RT treatment sessions. This vast series of consecutive patient data will be a valuable resource for the future planning and management of any modern RT department.
Understanding factors affecting implementation success and sustainability of a comprehensive prevention program for cardiovascular disease in primary health care: a qualitative process evaluation study combining RE-AIM and CFIR
Authors: Aerts Naomi , Van Royen Kathleen , Van Bogaert Peter , Peremans Lieve , Bastiaens Hilde
Published: March 2023

Aim:

Our aim was to evaluate the implementation process of a comprehensive cardiovascular disease prevention program in general practice, to enhance understanding of influencing factors to implementation success and sustainability, and to learn how to overcome barriers.

Background:

Cardiovascular disease and its risk factors are the world’s leading cause of mortality, yet can be prevented by addressing unhealthy lifestyle behavior. Nevertheless, the transition toward a prevention-oriented primary health care remains limited. A better understanding of factors facilitating or hindering implementation success and sustainability of prevention programs, and how barriers may be addressed, is needed. This work is part of Horizon 2020 project ‘SPICES’, which aims to implement validated preventive interventions in vulnerable populations.

Methods:

We conducted a qualitative process evaluation with participatory action research approach of implementation in five general practices. Data were collected through 38 semi-structured individual and small group interviews with seven physicians, 11 nurses, one manager and one nursing assistant, conducted before, during, and after the implementation period. We applied adaptive framework analysis guided by RE-AIM Qualitative Evaluation for Systematic Translation (RE-AIM QuEST) and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Findings:

Multiple facilitators and barriers affected reach of vulnerable target populations: adoption by primary health care providers, implementation and fidelity and intention to maintain the program into routine practice. In addition, our study revealed concrete actions, linked to implementation strategies, that can be undertaken to address identified barriers. Prioritization of prevention in general practice vision, ownership, and shared responsibility of all team members, compatibility with existing work processes and systems, expanding nurse’s roles and upskilling competence profiles, supportive financial and regulatory frameworks, and a strong community – health care link are crucial to increase implementation success and long-term maintenance of prevention programs. COVID-19 was a major barrier to the implementation. RE-AIM QuEST, CFIR, and participatory strategies are useful to guide implementation of prevention programs in primary health care.
The “Perfect Storm” – Perfectionists’ Perceptions and Experiences of Abusive Supervision
Authors: Vreeker-Williamson Emma , Gill Harjinder , Spence Jeffrey R.
Published: March 2023

Abstract. Using followership theory and the perpetrator predation framework, we examine how perfectionism may impact subordinates’ perceptions of abusive supervision and risk for being targeted by an abusive supervisor. Full-time workers ( N = 495) responded to a vignette survey assessing their multidimensional perfectionism and experiences and perceptions of abusive supervision. As hypothesized, socially prescribed perfectionism was associated with increased experiences of abusive leadership, whereas self-oriented perfectionism was related to fewer experiences. Unexpectedly, other-oriented perfectionism was related to lower perceptions of abusive supervision, and self-oriented perfectionism was related to greater perceptions. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed.
Analysis of Land Use Change in the N'ZI Watershed of Côte d'Ivoire Using Landsat Satellite Images
Authors: Yao K. L. , Kouakou K. E. , Kouassi A. M. , Deguy A. J.‐P. , Camara M.
Published: March 2023

Uncontrolled population growth and strong industrialization are enormous pressures on natural resources. To monitor land use changes in the N'ZI watershed, remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) were used from three satellite images: Landsat 4 and 5 (1986), Landsat 7 (2000), and Landsat 8 (2020). The method of supervised classification and calculation of spectral indices was used in this work. The results of the analysis identified six land use classes that changed over the 1986–2000, 2000–2020, and 1986–2020 periods. Water surfaces showed a decrease from −64.95% to −52.47% over the period (2000–2020 and 1986–2020). The forest class showed an average decrease of −86.93%. The savannah class had a reduction of −3.97% and the agricultural class of −9.30% between 1986 and 2020. All this desertification has been to the advantage of the great increase of dwellings‐bare soil of 373.63% and of the weakly covered grounds of 10.60%. These results allowed the detection of different spatial and temporal changes in the N'ZI watershed, creating an awareness to control land occupancy.
European Winter Climate Response to Projected Arctic Sea‐Ice Loss Strongly Shaped by Change in the North Atlantic Jet
Authors: Ye Kunhui , Woollings Tim , Screen James A.
Published: March 2023

Previous studies have found inconsistent responses of the North Atlantic jet to Arctic sea‐ice loss. The response of wintertime atmospheric circulation and surface climate over the North Atlantic‐European region to future Arctic sea‐ice loss under 2°C global warming is analyzed, using model output from the Polar Amplification Model Intercomparison Project. The models agree that the North Atlantic jet shifts slightly southward in response to sea‐ice loss, but they disagree on the sign of the jet speed response. The jet response induces a dipole anomaly of precipitation and storm track activity over the North Atlantic‐European region. The changes in jet latitude and speed induce distinct regional surface climate responses, and together they strongly shape the North Atlantic‐European response to future Arctic sea‐ice loss. Constraining the North Atlantic jet response is important for reducing uncertainty in the North Atlantic‐European precipitation response to future Arctic sea‐ice loss.
In‐Situ Vp/Vs Reveals Fault‐Zone Material Variation at the Westernmost Gofar Transform Fault, East Pacific Rise
Authors: Liu Tianze , Gong Jianhua , Fan Wenyuan , Lin Guoqing
Published: March 2023

Ocean transform faults often generate characteristic earthquakes that repeatedly rupture the same fault patches. The westernmost Gofar transform fault quasi‐periodically hosts ∼M6 earthquakes every ∼5 years, and microseismicity suggests that the fault is segmented into five distinct zones, including a rupture barrier zone that may have modulated the rupture of adjacent M6 earthquakes. However, the relationship between the systematic slip behavior of the Gofar fault and the fault material properties is still poorly known. Specifically, the role of pore fluids in regulating the slip of the Gofar fault is unclear. Here, we use differential travel times between nearby earthquakes to estimate the in‐situ Vp/Vs of the fault‐zone materials. We apply this technique to the dataset collected by an ocean‐bottom‐seismometer network deployed around the Gofar fault in 2008, which recorded abundant microearthquakes, and find a moderate Vp/Vs of 1.75–1.80 in the rupture barrier zone and a low Vp/Vs of 1.61–1.69 in the down‐dip edge of the 2008 M6 rupture zone. This lateral variation in Vp/Vs may be caused by both pore fluids and chemical alteration. We also find a 5%–10% increase in Vp/Vs in the barrier zone during the 9 months before the mainshock. This increase may have been caused by fluid migrations or slip transients in the barrier zone.
Impact of Ural Blocking on Early Winter Climate Variability Under Different Barents‐Kara Sea Ice Conditions
Authors: Peings Y. , Davini P. , Magnusdottir G.
Published: March 2023

Ural blocking (UB) is a prominent mode of variability of the Northern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation, particularly in fall. It can persist for several days and exert a lagged influence on the wintertime NH circulation, providing predictability at the subseasonal time scale. Using two atmospheric models, we explore how the early winter atmospheric circulation responds to a 2‐week persistent UB anomaly imposed in early November. Experiments are carried out with two different configurations of Barents‐Kara (BK) sea‐ice concentration to examine whether it plays a role in how UB impacts atmospheric variability. In both models, the UB anomaly is followed by a weakening of the stratospheric polar vortex and a negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), which lasts up to 2 months after the forcing is released. Interestingly, the response is more persistent under low BK sea‐ice conditions, that is, BK sea ice modulates the atmospheric response to UB. Additional experiments with prescribed sea ice concentration anomalies alone suggest that BK sea ice exerts a limited influence on early winter NH atmospheric variability. The response to UB involves a weakening of the polar vortex that persists longer under low BK sea ice, which explains the more persistent response in that configuration. Our study highlights that UB variability in November is a robust precursor for early winter NAO/polar stratosphere anomalies, and this may be more relevant in the context of declining Arctic sea‐ice extent. Provided that climate models accurately capture this teleconnection, it has the potential to improve subseasonal predictions of the NH wintertime climate.
Groundwater‐Controlled Deposition of Equatorial Layered Deposits in Central Arabia Terra, Mars
Authors: Di Pietro I. , Schmidt G. , Tangari A. C. , Salese F. , Silvestro S. , Fairén A. G. , Marinangeli L. , Pondrelli M.
Published: March 2023

Equatorial Layered Deposits (ELDs) reveal aspects of past depositional environments useful for timing climatic and geological events on Mars. However, their formation has several contending hypotheses which reflect a diverse range of possible environments. To better constrain their formation mechanism, we analyzed the stratigraphic and mineralogical characteristics and mapped the distribution of ELDs within three close craters, Sera, Jiji, and an unnamed crater in central Arabia Terra. Analyses of craters' geology allowed us to reconstruct the paleo‐environments where ELDs have been deposited. Thinning and thickening sequence trends show shared and repeated variations in the depositional environment, reflecting sediment accumulation strongly controlled by a regional groundwater reservoir. Layered deposits are characterized by monohydrated and polyhydrated sulfate signatures implying an interaction between water and rock in acidic conditions. Our study contributes to the understanding of regional geological processes in Arabia Terra revealing long‐term aqueous activity.
Soil Moisture to Runoff (SM2R): A Data‐Driven Model for Runoff Estimation Across Poorly Gauged Asian Water Towers Based on Soil Moisture Dynamics
Authors: Li Xueying , Long Di , Slater Louise J. , Moulds Simon , Shahid Muhammad , Han Pengfei , Zhao Fanyu
Published: March 2023

Almost 2 billion people depend on freshwater provided by the Asian water towers, yet long‐term runoff estimation is challenging in this high‐mountain region with a harsh environment and scarce observations. Most hydrologic models rely on observed runoff for calibration, and have limited applicability in the poorly gauged Asian water towers. To overcome such limitations, here we propose a novel data‐driven model, SM2R (Soil Moisture to Runoff), to simulate monthly runoff based on soil moisture dynamics using reanalysis forcing data. The SM2R model was applied and examined in 20 drainage basins across seven Asian water towers during the past four decades of 1981–2020. Without invoking any observations for calibration, the overall good performance of SM2R‐derived runoff (correlation coefficient ≥0.74 and normalized root mean square error ≤0.22 compared to observed runoff at 20 gauges) suggests considerable potential for runoff simulation in poorly gauged basins. Even though the SM2R model is forced by ERA5‐Land (ERA5L) reanalysis data, it largely outperforms the ERA5L‐estimated runoff across the seven Asian water towers, particularly in basins with widely distributed glaciers and frozen soil. The SM2R approach is highly promising for constraining hydrologic variables from soil moisture information. Our results provide valuable insights for not only long‐term runoff estimation over key Asian basins, but also understanding hydrologic processes across poorly gauged regions globally.
An Evolving Lithospheric‐Scale Wrench Fault System Along the Eastern End of the Altyn Tagh Fault: Kinematics and Quaternary Activity of the Heishan Fault System, Western China
Authors: Yang Haibo , Li An , Cunningham Dickson , Yang Xiaoping , Zhan Yan , Chen Zhidan , Hu Zongkai , Zuo Yuqi , Miao Shuqing , Sun Xiangyu , Tang Ruoni
Published: March 2023

The Altyn Tagh fault (ATF) is a major intracontinental strike‐slip fault system that defines the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The fault system loses its obvious surface expression north of the Qilian Shan fold‐and‐thrust belt, but may link eastward with multiple faults in the northern Hexi Corridor and southern Alxa block. To better understand the potential connectivity and displacement transfer between the ATF and the northern Hexi Corridor fault array, we carried out a multidisciplinary field and remote sensing‐based investigation of the actively deforming Heishan and Jinta'Nanshan region north of Jiayuguan City. We document Quaternary sinistral strike‐slip motion on the Heishan fault (HF) system and active sinistral transpression within a 70‐km‐long, E‐W deforming belt east of the Heishan, which is characterized by multiple left‐stepping, en‐échelon Quaternary folds and linking faults. Cosmogenic10Be dating of displaced terrace surfaces yields a vertical slip rate of ∼0.2 mm/a for the northern Heishan thrust and a sinistral strike‐slip rate of 0.6 ± 0.2 mm/a for the HF. Within the uplifted core of the Heishan massif, the HF contains ductilely deformed Paleozoic basement lithologies with dextral‐sense shear fabrics that indicate that the modern HF has reactivated and inverted an older shear zone. A previously published magnetotelluric profile across the HF system suggests that it roots into a steep, deeply penetrating fault that is unlinked to the Qilian Shan thrust wedge. Instead, we suggest that the active sinistral deformation belt of the Heishan‐Jinta'Nanshan represents the eastward‐evolving, upper crustal expression of the modern ATF system.
One-step printable platform for high-efficiency metasurfaces down to the deep-ultraviolet region
Authors: Kim Joohoon , Kim Wonjoong , Oh Dong Kyo , Kang Hyunjung , Kim Hongyoon , Badloe Trevon , Kim Seokwoo , Park Chanwoong , Choi Hojung , Lee Heon , Rho Junsuk
Published: March 2023

A single-step printable platform for ultraviolet (UV) metasurfaces is introduced to overcome both the scarcity of low-loss UV materials and manufacturing limitations of high cost and low throughput. By dispersing zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles in a UV-curable resin, ZrO2 nanoparticle-embedded-resin (nano-PER) is developed as a printable material which has a high refractive index and low extinction coefficient from near-UV to deep-UV. In ZrO2 nano-PER, the UV-curable resin enables direct pattern transfer and ZrO2 nanoparticles increase the refractive index of the composite while maintaining a large bandgap. With this concept, UV metasurfaces can be fabricated in a single step by nanoimprint lithography. As a proof of concept, UV metaholograms operating in near-UV and deep-UV are experimentally demonstrated with vivid and clear holographic images. The proposed method enables repeat and rapid manufacturing of UV metasurfaces, and thus will bring UV metasurfaces more close to real life.
Iron metabolism and ferroptosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus and complications: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Miao Runyu , Fang Xinyi , Zhang Yanjiao , Wei Jiahua , Zhang Yuxin , Tian Jiaxing
Published: March 2023

The maintenance of iron homeostasis is essential for proper endocrine function. A growing body of evidence suggests that iron imbalance is a key factor in the development of several endocrine diseases. Nowadays, ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, has become increasingly recognized as an important process to mediate the pathogenesis and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It has been shown that ferroptosis in pancreas β cells leads to decreased insulin secretion; and ferroptosis in the liver, fat, and muscle induces insulin resistance. Understanding the mechanisms concerning the regulation of iron metabolism and ferroptosis in T2DM may lead to improved disease management. In this review, we summarized the connection between the metabolic pathways and molecular mechanisms of iron metabolism and ferroptosis in T2DM. Additionally, we discuss the potential targets and pathways concerning ferroptosis in treating T2DM and analysis the current limitations and future directions concerning these novel T2DM treatment targets.
ACSL1-induced ferroptosis and platinum resistance in ovarian cancer by increasing FSP1 N-myristylation and stability
Authors: Zhang Qingyu , Li Ning , Deng Limei , Jiang Xingmei , Zhang Yuming , Lee Leo Tsz On , Zhang Haitao
Published: March 2023

Reprogramming of lipid metabolism, which modulates energy utilization and cell signaling, maintains cell survival and promotes cancer metastasis in cancer cells. Ferroptosis is a type of cell necrosis caused by an overload of lipid oxidation, which has been demonstrated to be involved in cancer cell metastasis. However, the mechanism by which fatty acid metabolism regulates the anti-ferroptosis signaling pathways is not fully understood. The formation of ovarian cancer spheroids helps to counteract the hostile microenvironment of the peritoneal cavity with low oxygen, shortage of nutrients, and subjected to platinum therapy. Previously, we demonstrated that Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 1 (ACSL1) promotes cell survival and peritoneal metastases in ovarian cancer, but the mechanism is still not well elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that the formation of spheroids and under exposure to platinum chemotherapy increased the levels of anti-ferroptosis proteins as well as ACSL1. Inhibition of ferroptosis can enhance spheroid formation and vice versa. Genetic manipulation of ACSL1 expression showed that ACSL1 reduced the level of lipid oxidation and increased the resistance to cell ferroptosis. Mechanistically, ACSL1 increased the N-myristoylation of ferroptosis suppressor 1 (FSP1), resulting in the inhibition of its degradation and translocation to the cell membrane. The increase in myristoylated FSP1 functionally counteracted oxidative stress-induced cell ferroptosis. Clinical data also suggested that ACSL1 protein was positively correlated with FSP1 and negatively correlated with the ferroptosis markers 4-HNE and PTGS2. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that ACSL1 enhances antioxidant capacity and increases ferroptosis resistance by modulating the myristoylation of FSP1.
Size limits the sensitivity of kinetic schemes
Authors: Owen Jeremy A. , Horowitz Jordan M.
Published: March 2023

Living things benefit from exquisite molecular sensitivity in many of their key processes, including DNA replication, transcription and translation, chemical sensing, and morphogenesis. At thermodynamic equilibrium, the basic biophysical mechanism for sensitivity is cooperative binding, for which it can be shown that the Hill coefficient, a sensitivity measure, cannot exceed the number of binding sites. Generalizing this fact, we find that for any kinetic scheme, at or away from thermodynamic equilibrium, a very simple structural quantity, the size of the support of a perturbation, always limits the effective Hill coefficient. We show how this bound sheds light on and unifies diverse sensitivity mechanisms, including kinetic proofreading and a nonequilibrium Monod-Wyman-Changeux (MWC) model proposed for the E. coli flagellar motor switch, representing in each case a simple, precise bridge between experimental observations and the models we write down. In pursuit of mechanisms that saturate the support bound, we find a nonequilibrium binding mechanism, nested hysteresis, with sensitivity exponential in the number of binding sites, with implications for our understanding of models of gene regulation and the function of biomolecular condensates.
Phase formation capability and compositional design of β-phase multiple rare-earth principal component disilicates
Authors: Luo Yixiu , Sun Luchao , Wang Jiemin , Du Tiefeng , Zhou Cui , Zhang Jie , Wang Jingyang
Published: March 2023

A key strategy to design environmental barrier coatings focuses on doping multiple rare-earth principal components into β-type rare-earth disilicates (RE2Si2O7) to achieve versatile property optimization. However, controlling the phase formation capability of (nRExi)2Si2O7 remains a crucial challenge, due to the complex polymorphic phase competitions and evolutions led by different RE3+ combination. Herein, by fabricating twenty-one model (REI0.25REII0.25REIII0.25REIV0.25)2Si2O7 compounds, we find that their formation capability can be evaluated by the ability to accommodate configurational randomness of multiple RE3+ cations in β-type lattice while preventing the β-to-γ polymorphic transformation. The phase formation and stabilization are controlled by the average RE3+ radius and the deviations of different RE3+ combinations. Subsequently, based on high-throughput density-functional-theory calculations, we propose that the configurational entropy of mixing is a reliable descriptor to predict the phase formation of β-type (nRExi)2Si2O7. The results may accelerate the design of (nRExi)2Si2O7 materials with tailored compositions and controlled polymorphic phases.
Population-based heteropolymer design to mimic protein mixtures
Authors: Ruan Zhiyuan , Li Shuni , Grigoropoulos Alexandra , Amiri Hossein , Hilburg Shayna L. , Chen Haotian , Jayapurna Ivan , Jiang Tao , Gu Zhaoyi , Alexander-Katz Alfredo , Bustamante Carlos , Huang Haiyan , Xu Ting
Published: March 2023

Biological fluids, the most complex blends, have compositions that constantly vary and cannot be molecularly defined1. Despite these uncertainties, proteins fluctuate, fold, function and evolve as programmed2–4. We propose that in addition to the known monomeric sequence requirements, protein sequences encode multi-pair interactions at the segmental level to navigate random encounters5,6; synthetic heteropolymers capable of emulating such interactions can replicate how proteins behave in biological fluids individually and collectively. Here, we extracted the chemical characteristics and sequential arrangement along a protein chain at the segmental level from natural protein libraries and used the information to design heteropolymer ensembles as mixtures of disordered, partially folded and folded proteins. For each heteropolymer ensemble, the level of segmental similarity to that of natural proteins determines its ability to replicate many functions of biological fluids including assisting protein folding during translation, preserving the viability of fetal bovine serum without refrigeration, enhancing the thermal stability of proteins and behaving like synthetic cytosol under biologically relevant conditions. Molecular studies further translated protein sequence information at the segmental level into intermolecular interactions with a defined range, degree of diversity and temporal and spatial availability. This framework provides valuable guiding principles to synthetically realize protein properties, engineer bio/abiotic hybrid materials and, ultimately, realize matter-to-life transformations.
Structural basis for bacterial energy extraction from atmospheric hydrogen
Authors: Grinter Rhys , Kropp Ashleigh , Venugopal Hari , Senger Moritz , Badley Jack , Cabotaje Princess R. , Jia Ruyu , Duan Zehui , Huang Ping , Stripp Sven T. , Barlow Christopher K. , Belousoff Matthew , Shafaat Hannah S. , Cook Gregory M. , Schittenhelm Ralf B. , Vincent Kylie A. , Khalid Syma , Berggren Gustav , Greening Chris
Published: March 2023

Diverse aerobic bacteria use atmospheric H2 as an energy source for growth and survival1. This globally significant process regulates the composition of the atmosphere, enhances soil biodiversity and drives primary production in extreme environments2,3. Atmospheric H2 oxidation is attributed to uncharacterized members of the [NiFe] hydrogenase superfamily4,5. However, it remains unresolved how these enzymes overcome the extraordinary catalytic challenge of oxidizing picomolar levels of H2 amid ambient levels of the catalytic poison O2 and how the derived electrons are transferred to the respiratory chain1. Here we determined the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Mycobacterium smegmatis hydrogenase Huc and investigated its mechanism. Huc is a highly efficient oxygen-insensitive enzyme that couples oxidation of atmospheric H2 to the hydrogenation of the respiratory electron carrier menaquinone. Huc uses narrow hydrophobic gas channels to selectively bind atmospheric H2 at the expense of O2, and 3 [3Fe–4S] clusters modulate the properties of the enzyme so that atmospheric H2 oxidation is energetically feasible. The Huc catalytic subunits form an octameric 833 kDa complex around a membrane-associated stalk, which transports and reduces menaquinone 94 Å from the membrane. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the biogeochemically and ecologically important process of atmospheric H2 oxidation, uncover a mode of energy coupling dependent on long-range quinone transport, and pave the way for the development of catalysts that oxidize H2 in ambient air.
Autoregulation of GPCR signalling through the third intracellular loop
Authors: Sadler Fredrik , Ma Ning , Ritt Michael , Sharma Yatharth , Vaidehi Nagarajan , Sivaramakrishnan Sivaraj
Published: March 2023

The third intracellular loop (ICL3) of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) fold is important for the signal transduction process downstream of receptor activation1–3. Despite this, the lack of a defined structure of ICL3, combined with its high sequence divergence among GPCRs, complicates characterization of its involvement in receptor signalling4. Previous studies focusing on the β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) suggest that ICL3 is involved in the structural process of receptor activation and signalling5–7. Here we derive mechanistic insights into the role of ICL3 in β2AR signalling, observing that ICL3 autoregulates receptor activity through a dynamic conformational equilibrium between states that block or expose the receptor’s G protein-binding site. We demonstrate the importance of this equilibrium for receptor pharmacology, showing that G protein-mimetic effectors bias the exposed states of ICL3 to allosterically activate the receptor. Our findings additionally reveal that ICL3 tunes signalling specificity by inhibiting receptor coupling to G protein subtypes that weakly couple to the receptor. Despite the sequence diversity of ICL3, we demonstrate that this negative G protein-selection mechanism through ICL3 extends to GPCRs across the superfamily, expanding the range of known mechanisms by which receptors mediate G protein subtype selective signalling. Furthermore, our collective findings suggest ICL3 as an allosteric site for receptor- and signalling pathway-specific ligands.
The giant diploid faba genome unlocks variation in a global protein crop
Authors: Jayakodi Murukarthick , Golicz Agnieszka A. , Kreplak Jonathan , Fechete Lavinia I. , Angra Deepti , Bednář Petr , Bornhofen Elesandro , Zhang Hailin , Boussageon Raphaël , Kaur Sukhjiwan , Cheung Kwok , Čížková Jana , Gundlach Heidrun , Hallab Asis , Imbert Baptiste , Keeble-Gagnère Gabriel , Koblížková Andrea , Kobrlová Lucie , Krejčí Petra , Mouritzen Troels W. , Neumann Pavel , Nadzieja Marcin , Nielsen Linda Kærgaard , Novák Petr , Orabi Jihad , Padmarasu Sudharsan , Robertson-Shersby-Harvie Tom , Robledillo Laura Ávila , Schiemann Andrea , Tanskanen Jaakko , Törönen Petri , Warsame Ahmed O. , Wittenberg Alexander H. J. , Himmelbach Axel , Aubert Grégoire , Courty Pierre-Emmanuel , Doležel Jaroslav , Holm Liisa U. , Janss Luc L. , Khazaei Hamid , Macas Jiří , Mascher Martin , Smýkal Petr , Snowdon Rod J. , Stein Nils , Stoddard Frederick L. , Stougaard Jens , Tayeh Nadim , Torres Ana M. , Usadel Björn , Schubert Ingo , O’Sullivan Donal Martin , Schulman Alan H. , Andersen Stig Uggerhøj
Published: March 2023

Increasing the proportion of locally produced plant protein in currently meat-rich diets could substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and loss of biodiversity1. However, plant protein production is hampered by the lack of a cool-season legume equivalent to soybean in agronomic value2. Faba bean (Vicia fabaL.) has a high yield potential and is well suited for cultivation in temperate regions, but genomic resources are scarce. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-scale assembly of the faba bean genome and show that it has expanded to a massive 13 Gb in size through an imbalance between the rates of amplification and elimination of retrotransposons and satellite repeats. Genes and recombination events are evenly dispersed across chromosomes and the gene space is remarkably compact considering the genome size, although with substantial copy number variation driven by tandem duplication. Demonstrating practical application of the genome sequence, we develop a targeted genotyping assay and use high-resolution genome-wide association analysis to dissect the genetic basis of seed size and hilum colour. The resources presented constitute a genomics-based breeding platform for faba bean, enabling breeders and geneticists to accelerate the improvement of sustainable protein production across the Mediterranean, subtropical and northern temperate agroecological zones.
Persistent impacts of smoking on resting-state EEG in male chronic smokers and past-smokers with 20 years of abstinence
Authors: Lee Hyeji , Jeon Yoonji , Yoo Cheolin , Seon HeeYoung , Park Jiwon , Hwang Minho , Baek Kwangyeol , Chung Dongil
Published: March 2023

Smoking is a severe addictive health risk behavior and notorious for the high likelihood of relapse after attempted cessation. Such an addictive pattern in smoking has been associated with neurobiological changes in the brain. However, little is known whether the neural changes associated with chronic smoking persist after a long period of successful abstinence. To address this question, we examined resting state EEG (rsEEG) in chronic smokers who have been smoking for 20 years or more, past-smokers who have been successfully abstaining for 20 years or more, and never-smokers. Both current-smokers and past-smokers showed significantly decreased relative theta power than never-smokers, showcasing persistent effect of smoking on the brain. Other rsEEG features in alpha frequency band demonstrated distinctive patterns associated with active smoking, such that compared to never-smokers, only current-smokers, but not past-smokers, showed significantly higher relative power, EEG reactivity—power changes between eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions—, and coherence between channels. Furthermore, individual variabilities across these rsEEG biomarkers were accounted for by individuals’ self-reported smoking history and nicotine dependence in current- and past- smokers. These data suggest the persistent effect of smoking on the brain even after sustained remission for 20 years.
Inhibitory effect of 405 nm laser light on bacterial biofilm in urethral stent
Authors: Maknuna Luluil , Tran Van Nam , Lee Byeong-Il , Kang Hyun Wook
Published: March 2023

The clinical use of urethral stents is usually complicated by various adverse effects, including dysuria, fever, and urinary tract infection (UTI). Biofilms (formed by bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus) adhering to the stent cause UTIs in stented patients (approximately 11%). The undesirable consequences of antibiotics use include bacterial resistance, weight gain, and type 1 diabetes, which occur when antibiotics are used for a long time. We aimed to assess the efficacy of a new optical treatment with a 405 nm laser to inhibit bacterial growth in a urethral stent in vitro. The urethral stent was grown in S. aureus broth media for three days to induce biofilm formation under dynamic conditions. Various irradiation times with the 405 nm laser light were tested (5, 10, and 15 min). The efficacy of the optical treatment on biofilms was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. The production of reactive oxygen species helped eliminate the biofilm over the urethral stent after 405 nm irradiation. The inhibition rate corresponded to a 2.2 log reduction of colony-forming units/mL of bacteria after 0.3 W/cm2 of irradiation for 10 min. The treated stent showed a significant reduction in biofilm formation compared with the untreated stent, as demonstrated by SYTO 9 and propidium iodide staining. MTT assays using the CCD-986sk cell line revealed no toxicity after 10 min of irradiation. We conclude that optical treatment with 405 nm laser light inhibits bacterial growth in urethral stents with no or minimal toxicity.
Metabolic reprogramming by Acly inhibition using SB-204990 alters glucoregulation and modulates molecular mechanisms associated with aging
Authors: Sola-García Alejandro , Cáliz-Molina María Ángeles , Espadas Isabel , Petr Michael , Panadero-Morón Concepción , González-Morán Daniel , Martín-Vázquez María Eugenia , Narbona-Pérez Álvaro Jesús , López-Noriega Livia , Martínez-Corrales Guillermo , López-Fernández-Sobrino Raúl , Castillo-Peña Alejandro , Carmona-Marin Lina M. , Martínez-Force Enrique , Yanes Oscar , Vinaixa Maria , López-López Daniel , Reyes José Carlos , Dopazo Joaquín , Martín Franz , Gauthier Benoit R. , Scheibye-Knudsen Morten , Capilla-González Vivian , Martín-Montalvo Alejandro
Published: March 2023

ATP-citrate lyase is a central integrator of cellular metabolism in the interface of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism. The physiological consequences as well as the molecular mechanisms orchestrating the response to long-term pharmacologically induced Acly inhibition are unknown. We report here that the Acly inhibitor SB-204990 improves metabolic health and physical strength in wild-type mice when fed with a high-fat diet, while in mice fed with healthy diet results in metabolic imbalance and moderated insulin resistance. By applying a multiomic approach using untargeted metabolomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, we determined that, in vivo, SB-204990 plays a role in the regulation of molecular mechanisms associated with aging, such as energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, mTOR signaling, and folate cycle, while global alterations on histone acetylation are absent. Our findings indicate a mechanism for regulating molecular pathways of aging that prevents the development of metabolic abnormalities associated with unhealthy dieting. This strategy might be explored for devising therapeutic approaches to prevent metabolic diseases.
Ribonucleotide reductase subunit switching in hepatoblastoma drug response and relapse
Authors: Brown Anthony , Pan Qingfei , Fan Li , Indersie Emilie , Tian Cheng , Timchenko Nikolai , Li Liyuan , Hansen Baranda S. , Tan Haiyan , Lu Meifen , Peng Junmin , Pruett-Miller Shondra M. , Yu Jiyang , Cairo Stefano , Zhu Liqin
Published: March 2023

Prognosis of children with high-risk hepatoblastoma (HB), the most common pediatric liver cancer, remains poor. In this study, we found ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) subunit M2 (RRM2) was one of the key genes supporting cell proliferation in high-risk HB. While standard chemotherapies could effectively suppress RRM2 in HB cells, they induced a significant upregulation of the other RNR M2 subunit, RRM2B. Computational analysis revealed distinct signaling networks RRM2 and RRM2B were involved in HB patient tumors, with RRM2 supporting cell proliferation and RRM2B participating heavily in stress response pathways. Indeed, RRM2B upregulation in chemotherapy-treated HB cells promoted cell survival and subsequent relapse, during which RRM2B was gradually replaced back by RRM2. Combining an RRM2 inhibitor with chemotherapy showed an effective delaying of HB tumor relapse in vivo. Overall, our study revealed the distinct roles of the two RNR M2 subunits and their dynamic switching during HB cell proliferation and stress response.
Facile and efficient recycling of cathode materials of spent lithium manganate batteries
Authors: Zhou Zhenhao , Liu Yijie , Tang Zhiyong , Xia Jinghui , Jin Hao , Zhang Jialiang , Chen Yongqiang , Wang Chengyan
Published: March 2023

A simple method for the lithium selective recovery from spent lithium manganate batteries via direct oxidation was proposed, which will promote the sustainable development of lithium manganate industry.
A review of Co/Co2C-based catalysts in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis: from fundamental understanding to industrial applications
Authors: Zhao Ziang , Li Yihui , Zhu Hejun , Lyu Yuan , Ding Yunjie
Published: March 2023

The targeted tuning of the product class of FTS catalyst is a major challenge for optimizing the performance of FTS catalyst.
A high-performance asymmetric supercapacitor device based on CoO@CoAl-LDH hierarchical 3D nanobouquet arrays
Authors: Song Yuan , Shen Qiang , Pan Guo-Xiang , Ye Chao , Zhang Yi-Fan , Song Lin
Published: March 2023

3D core–shell CoO@CoAl-LDH nanobouquet arrays on Ni foam are promising active electrode materials for pseudocapacitors.
An automated reaction route mapping for the reaction of NO and active species on Ag4 clusters in zeolites
Authors: Yasumura Shunsaku , Kato Taisetsu , Toyao Takashi , Maeno Zen , Shimizu Ken-ichi
Published: March 2023

An automated reaction route mapping over Ag4 cluster confined in a zeolite cage.
New insights into the alkoxy effects on auxiliary adsorption and inhibiting charge recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells with high open circuit voltage: a theoretical investigation
Authors: Xu Zi-Han , Zhu Chang-Yan , Zhu Xiao-Fei , Zhai Yu-Juan , Zhang Ji , Zhu Han-Cheng
Published: March 2023

The interaction between an alkoxy group and the TiO2 surface can not only enhance the Eads of dyes remarkably, but can also effectively inhibit the electron recombination process by decreasing the surface area offering charge recombination sites.
Atomic charges in molecules defined by molecular real space partition into atomic subspaces
Authors: Zhao Jian , Zhu Zun-Wei , Zhao Dong-Xia , Yang Zhong-Zhi
Published: March 2023

PAEMQCT can partition a molecular real space into its atomic realms by PAEM and FAEM, whose atomic charges (ACs) are independent on the basis set size and their values are between those from QTAIM and Hirshfeld.
The contribution of inner electron excitation to the electronic stopping power of palladium for protons
Authors: Jin Wen-Qi , Mao Fei , Li Shi-Ming , Zuo Wen-Qi , Chen Rui-Da , Xiong Ge-Ge , Mao Hong , Wang Feng , Zhang Feng-Shou
Published: March 2023

Our study showed that the inner electron excitation contributes significantly to the electronic stopping power of palladium for protons.
Spectroscopic and structural studies on phenyl and pentafluorophenyl trifluorothioacetate, and pentafluorophenyl trifluoroacetate, CF3C(O)SC6H5, CF3C(O)SC6F5 and CF3C(O)OC6F5
Authors: Cayón Vanina M. , Erben Mauricio F. , Romano Rosana M. , Stammler Hans-Georg , Mitzel Norbert W. , Della Védova Carlos O.
Published: March 2023

The new CF3C(O)SC6F5 and the already known CF3C(O)SC6H5, and CF3C(O)OC6F5 species were studied using a set of techniques and spectroscopies thus confirming the syn conformational transferability for these kind of oxo- and thioester compounds.