bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engineering Glucose Dehydrogenase to Favor Totally Synthetic Biomimetic Cofactors Containing Carboxyl Group
Authors: Zhou Jieyu , Gu Xiangyuan , Zhu Yichun , Tao Zhenyan , Ni Ye
Published: May 2023

The utilization of unnatural nicotinamide cofactors for reactions catalyzed by oxidoreductases has gained increasing interest. Totally synthetic nicotinamide cofactor biomimetics (NCBs) are cost‐effective and convenient to synthesize. Thus, it has become increasingly important to develop enzymes that accept NCBs. Here, we have engineered SsGDH to favor a newly synthesized unnatural cofactor 3‐carbamoyl‐1‐(4‐carboxybenzyl) pyridin‐1‐ium (BANA+). Using in situ ligand minimization tool, sites 44 and 114 were identified as hotspots for mutagenesis. All the double mutants demonstrated 2.7–7.7‐fold improvements in catalytic activity, and the best double mutant E44D/E114 L exhibited 10.6‐fold increased catalytic efficiency toward BANA+. These results provide valuable information for the rational engineering of oxidoreductases with versatile NCBs‐dependency, as well as the design of novel biomimetic cofactors.
New Generation of Benzidine Wide‐Gap Conjugated Materials: Solution Processing a Classic Evaporated Scaffold
Authors: Marqués Pablo Simón , Gasonoo Akpeko , Wolfe Kathryn , Chang Chia Yun , Welch Gregory Charles
Published: May 2023

Carbazole‐ and fluorene‐substituted benzidine blocks have been functionalized with two different solubilizing pendant groups, in order to enhance the material's solubility in greener solvents. Preserving the optical and electrochemical properties, the aromatic function and substitution showed an important influence on the solvent affinity, achieving concentrations up to 150 mg/mL in o‐xylenes for the glycol‐containing materials and decent solubility in alcohols for the compounds functionalized with ionic chains. The latter solution proved to be ideal for the preparation of luminescence slot‐die coating film on top of flexible‐substrates up to 33 cm×2 cm. As a proof of concept, the materials have been implemented in different organic electronic devices, highlighting the low turn‐on voltage (4 V) presented by organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), which is comparable with vacuum‐processed devices. A structure‐solubility relationship and a synthetic strategy are disentangled in this manuscript to tailor organic semiconductors and adapt their solubility towards the desired solvent and application.
Stereochemically Active Tin(II)‐Induced Enhancement of Birefringence in SnIISnIV(PO4)2 and SrSn(PO4)PO2(OH)2
Authors: Deng Lihan , Zhang Ruonan , Zhang Jie , Xie Wenlong , Bai Chunyan , Yang Zhihua , Hou Xueling , Han Shujuan , Pan Shilie
Published: May 2023

Two new tin(II) phosphates, SnIISnIV(PO4)2 and SrSn(PO4)PO2(OH)2, were synthesized by the high‐temperature solution method and hydrothermal method, respectively. Theoretical study indicates that by introducing tin(II) with stereochemical activity lone pairs (SCALP) in metal phosphates, the birefringence was enhanced, 0.048@1064 nm for SnIISnIV(PO4)2 and 0.080@1064 nm for SrSn(PO4)PO2(OH)2.
Analysis of interaction effects of persulphate and peroxymonosulphate on solar photocatalytic degradation of cortisone acetate
Authors: Feilizadeh Mansoor , Jafarpur Khosrow , Nowee Seyed Mostafa , Karimi Estahbanati M. R.
Published: May 2023

The degradation of environmental contaminants using sustainable solar energy is one of the most promising applications of the photocatalytic process. In this research, the individual and interaction effects of persulphate (PS) and peroxymonosulphate (PMS) oxidants on the solar photocatalytic degradation of cortisone acetate (CA) were studied. Concentrations of PS, PMS, and photocatalyst were independent variables, and the response was CA degradation efficiency. Response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were developed to predict the CA degradation efficiency. The analysis of the current results revealed that the optimum amounts of individual variables were highly affected by the other variables, which confirmed their significant interaction effect. As an example, by increasing the PS concentration, not only were the required concentrations of PMS and photocatalyst decreased, but also the degradation efficiency was enhanced. Then, the overall optimum concentration of the photocatalyst, PS, and PMS were found to be respectively 328.7, 119.1, and 194.2 mg/L using the genetic algorithm method. The maximum CA degradation efficiency at the optimum condition was 95.6% after only 30 min of solar radiation. Finally, investigation of relative importance of the variables showed that the concentrations of both oxidants affected the degradation efficiency almost equally.
INMUNOCAT study: The impact of molecular diagnosis on immunotherapy prescription in pollen polysensitized patients from Catalonia
Authors: Garriga‐Baraut Teresa , Moncín M. M. San Miguel , Tena Mercè , Labrador‐Horrillo Moisés ,   Comitè d’Al·lèrgia Respiratòria de Catalunya, Spain
Published: May 2023

Background

Recognition of specific allergens triggering immune response is key for the appropriate prescription of allergen‐specific immunotherapy (SIT). This study aimed at evaluating the impact of using the commercially available microarray ImmunoCAPTM ISAC 112 (Thermo Fisher Scientific) on the etiological diagnosis and SIT prescription compared to the conventional diagnostic methods in patients with allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjunctivitis and/or asthma.

Methods

300 patients with respiratory allergic disease, sensitized to three or more pollen aeroallergens from different species, as assessed by a skin prick test (SPT) and specific IgE assays (sIgE), were included in this multicentric, prospective observational study. SPT and a blood test were performed to all patients. Total serum IgE and sIgE (ImmunoCAPTM) for allergens found positive in the SPT and sIgE allergen components (ImmunoCAPTM ISAC 112) were measured.

Results

According to SPT results, the most prevalent pollen sensitizers in our population were Olea europaea followed by grass, Platanus acerifolia and Parietaria judaica. The molecular diagnosis (MD) revealed Ole e 1 as the most prevalent pollen sensitizer, followed by Cup a 1, Phl p 1, Cyn d 1, Par j 2, Pla a 1, 2, and 3 and Phl p 5. Immunotherapy prescription changed, due to MD testing, in 51% of the cases, with an increase of prescription of SIT from 39% to 65%.

Conclusion

The identification of the allergen eliciting the respiratory disease is essential for a correct immunotherapy prescription. The advances in allergen characterization using methods, such as the commercial microarray ImmunoCAPTM ISAC 112, can help clinicians to improve SIT prescription.
Systematic exploration of eczema‐associated paediatric diseases in a Chinese population of millions: A retrospective observation study
Authors: Zheng Huiwen , Yang Jian , Feng Yuqing , Duan Huilong , Du Lizhong , Shu Qiang , Li Haomin
Published: May 2023

Background

Eczema is the most common form of dermatitis and also the starting point of atopic march. Although many eczema‐associated allergic and immunologic disorders have been studied, there remains a gap in the systematic quantitative knowledge regarding the relationships between all childhood disorders and eczema. This study aimed to systematically explore eczema‐associated childhood diseases using a real‐world, long‐term clinical dataset generated from millions of children in China.

Methods

Data were collected at 8,907,735 outpatient healthcare visits from 2,592,147 children between January 1, 2013, and August 15, 2019, at the largest comprehensive pediatric medical center in Zhejiang Province of China. The period prevalence differences in various pediatric diseases between children with and without eczema were used to test the independence of various pediatric disorders and eczema using Fisher's exact test. Bonferroni correction was used to adjust the p value in multiple testing. Odds ratio >2 with 95% confidence interval not including 1 and adjusted p < 0.05 was used to identify eczema‐associated diseases.

Results

Overall, 234 pediatric disorders were identified from more than 6000 different pediatric disorders. An interactive eczema‐associated disease map that has related quantitative epidemiological features called ADmap was published at http://pedmap.nbscn.org/admap. Thirty‐six of these disease associations have not been reported in previous studies.

Conclusion

This systematic exploratory study confirmed the associations of many well‐known diseases with eczema in Chinese children and also identified some novel and interesting associations. These results are valuable for the development of a comprehensive approach to the management of eczema in childhood.
A Supramolecular Nanovehicle Featuring a pH/Enzyme Co‐Response for Targeted Delivery of the Antitumor Compound
Authors: Nie Zhengquan , Zhu Fangdao , Chen Shuai , Xu Junxin , Yang Jianmei , He Junnan , Liu Xiaoqing , Zhao Yan , Zhang Jin
Published: May 2023

Triptolide (TPL) has gained much attention as an antitumor compound with potential applications. However, TPL suffers from low bioavailability, severe toxic side effects, and limited targeted uptake by tumor cells, thus restricting the conversion of its clinical application. Here, a supramolecular nanovehicle, named TSCD/MCC NPs, featuring pH/AChE co‐response was designed and prepared for loading, delivery, and targeted release of TPL. The cumulative release rate of TPL from TPL@TSCD/MCC NPs reached ∼90 % within 60 h at pH 5.0 and AChE co‐stimulation. Bhaskar model is used to study TPL release procedure. In cell experiments, TPL@TSCD/MCC NPs showed high toxicity to the four tumor cells lines A549, HL‐60, MCF‐7, and SW480, and favorable biosafety to normal cells BEAS‐2B. Furthermore, TPL@TSCD/MCC NPs containing relatively small amounts of TPL presented similar apoptosis rates to those of intrinsic TPL. We anticipate that TPL@TSCD/MCC NPs may facilitate the conversion of TPL into clinical applications through further studies.
Impact of Direct Oral Anticoagulant Concentration on Clinical Outcomes in Asian Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Lin Shin‐Yi , Tang Sung‐Chun , Kuo Ching‐Hua , Ho Li‐Ting , Liu Yen‐Bin , Peng Yu‐Fong , Tsai Li‐Kai , Huang Chih‐Fen , Jeng Jiann‐Shing
Published: May 2023

A real‐world association between direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) concentration and clinical outcomes among Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is reported herein. Patients with AF aged ≥ 20 years who used DOAC for ≥ 3 days were enrolled. Trough and peak DOAC concentrations were measured and compared with the expected range reported in clinical trials. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to investigate the association between concentration and outcomes. From January 2016 to July 2022, a total of 859 patients were enrolled. Among them, 22.5%, 24.7%, 36.4%, and 16.4% were on dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, respectively. Compared with clinical trials, the proportion of DOAC concentrations higher or lower than the expected range were 9.0% and 14.6% for trough, respectively, and 20.9% and 12.1% for peak, respectively. The average follow‐up duration was 2.4 ± 1.6 years. The incidence of stroke and systemic thromboembolism (SSE) was 1.31 per 100‐person years, and low trough concentration predicted SSE (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.78 (1.20, 6.46)). The incidence of major bleeding was 1.64 per 100‐person years, and high trough was associated with major bleeding (HR = 2.63 (1.09, 6.39)). The association between peak concentration and SSE or major bleeding was nonsignificant. Off‐label underdosing (odds ratio (OR) = 2.69 (1.70, 4.26)), once daily DOAC dosing (OR = 3.22 (2.07, 5.01)), and high creatinine clearance (OR = 1.02 (1.01, 1.03)) caused low trough concentration. Contrarily, congestive heart failure was significantly associated with high trough concentration (OR = 1.71 (1.01, 2.92)). In conclusion, trough DOAC concentration measurements should be considered among patients at risk of out‐of‐expected range DOAC concentrations.
Two decades of research on board gender diversity and financial outcomes: Mapping heterogeneity and future research agenda
Authors: Laique Usama , Abdullah Fahad , Rehman Ijaz Ur , Sergi Bruno S.
Published: May 2023

This study seeks to comprehend the sources of substantial heterogeneity in the findings of board gender diversity and firm financial performance over the last two decades. We present an explanatory framework primarily ignored in previous review studies and chronologically review theoretical perspectives, analytical frameworks, measures, associations, and methodologies from 1996 to 2022. We employ a four‐step systematic review methodology and a three‐point thematic analysis framework. Our findings provide an explanatory framework outlining various channels that impede and facilitate the impact of board gender diversity on firms' financial outcomes. Our review reveals a plethora of descriptive studies that focused solely on one rather than multiple theoretical perspectives, which is a potential limitation and the root cause of heterogeneity in existing study findings. Heterogeneity is also linked with differences across studies in capturing firm performance, statistical inquiry, periods of studies, study samples, gender diversity of independent board members, family or non‐family affiliations, omitted variable bias, the proportion of women directors on corporate boards, and economic contexts. Another reason for disparities in existing research is that gender diversity is not the only measure of diversity. Consequently, it is unclear when and which kind of board diversity measure should capture a firm's financial performance. We highlight the significance of the complexity perspective to address the limitation of measuring firm financial performance intently as a function of BGD from a singular theoretical perspective. Further, to better understand the antecedents of BGD, studies should use psychological and behavioural perspectives via an interview‐based research design to encapsulate the team and individual attributes of BGD. Based upon our review, we suggest that future research should consider cultural differences to understand the antecedents of BGD on firm financial performance.
How does the European Green Deal affect the disclosure of environmental information?
Authors: García‐Sánchez Isabel‐María , Ortiz‐Martínez Esther , Marín‐Hernández Salvador , Aibar‐Guzmán Beatriz
Published: May 2023

The European Union has made the fight against climate change and the achievement of a sustainable economy political priorities. To promote the ecological transition of companies and corporate transparency, a broad regulatory framework has been developed. This paper analyses the effect of institutional pressures derived from this regulatory framework on the environmental information disclosed by 832 multinationals in the period 2011–2020. The results reveal a positive global effect, although, at an individual level, this effect is only maintained for the regulations and recommendations related to non‐financial information and the European Green Deal. Furthermore, the impact differs depending on the category of environmental information disclosed.
BMP9‐induced vascular normalisation improves the efficacy of immunotherapy against hepatitis B virus‐associated hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Han Yulong , Pan Qiuzhong , Guo Zhixing , Du Yufei , Zhang Yaojun , Liu Yingying , Zhao Jingjing , Xu Jinfeng , Yang Jieying , Ouyang Dijun , Tang Yan , Wang Qijing , Li Yongqiang , He Jia , Yang Mengjuan , Chen Hao , Yang Chaopin , Yang Xinyi , You Jinqi , Chen Yuanyuan , Ren Minghao , Zhu Yao , Xia Jianchuan , Xiang Tong
Published: May 2023

Background

In the past decade, the field of tumour immunotherapy has made a great progress. However, the efficacy of immune checkpoint blocking (ICB) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains limited. Cytotoxic lymphocyte trafficking into tumours is critical for the success of ICB. Therefore, additional strategies that increase cytotoxic lymphocyte trafficking into tumours are urgently needed to improve patient immune responses.

Methods

Paired adjacent tissue and cancerous lesions with HBV‐associated HCC were subjected to RNA‐seq analysis. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP9), which reflects vessel normalisation, was identified through Cytoscape software, clinical specimens and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets for HCC. The functional effects and mechanism of BMP9 on the tumour vasculature were evaluated in cells and animals. An ultrasound‐targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD)‐mediated BMP9 delivery strategy was used to normalise the vasculature and evaluate therapeutic efficacy mediated by cytotoxic lymphocytes (NK cells) in combination with a PD‐L1 antibody in human cancer xenografts of immune‐deficient mice.

Results

We discovered that hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection‐induced downregulation of BMP9 expression correlated with a poor prognosis and pathological vascular abnormalities in patients with HCC. BMP9 overexpression in HBV‐infected HCC cells promoted intra‐tumoural cytotoxic lymphocyte infiltration via vascular normalisation by inhibiting the Rho‐ROCK‐myosin light chain (MLC) signalling cascade, resulting in enhanced efficacy of immunotherapy. Furthermore, UTMD‐mediated BMP9 delivery restored the anti‐tumour function of cytotoxic lymphocytes (NK cells) and showed therapeutic efficacy in combination with a PD‐L1 antibody in human cancer xenografts of immune‐deficient mice.

Conclusions

HBV‐induced BMP9 downregulation causes vascular abnormalities that inhibit intra‐tumoural cytotoxic lymphocyte infiltration, providing a rationale for developing and combining immunotherapy with BMP9‐based therapy to treat HBV‐associated HCC.
Habitat use, survival, and migration of a little‐known East Asian endemic, the yellow‐throated bunting Emberiza elegans
Authors: Heim Wieland , Antonov Aleksey , Kunz Friederike , Sander Martha Maria , Bastardot Marc , Beermann Ilka , Heim Ramona Julia , Thomas Alexander , Volkova Vera
Published: May 2023

Basic information on the ecology of species is key for their conservation. Here we study the ecology of the little‐known yellow‐throated bunting Emberiza elegans based on a multi‐year study on its breeding grounds in the Russian Far East. For the first time in this species, we quantified breeding habitat parameters, calculated sex‐specific apparent survival, and determined individual nonbreeding locations using light‐level geolocation. We found that the habitat around song posts of male yellow‐throated buntings is characterized by tree and shrub layers on richly littered moist ground. Habitat use overlaps with co‐occurring Tristram's Buntings Emberiza tristrami and Black‐faced Buntings E. spodocephala, but territories differ especially in tree cover and litter cover. Based on 4 years of color‐ringing data of 72 individuals, we calculated an apparent survival rate of 36%, with higher survival estimates for male than for female yellow‐throated buntings. We found no effect of carrying a geolocator on survival. We retrieved six geolocators from males. All birds migrated south‐westward during autumn and spent the nonbreeding season at locations in China 700–1700 km away from their breeding sites. At least two individuals spent the boreal winter outside of the known range in northern or central China. Birds left the breeding area between early October and early November and returned between mid‐March and mid‐April. Our data on habitat use, survival rate, and migratory connectivity will help to assess threats to the populations of this enigmatic species, which might include habitat loss due to forest fires on the breeding grounds, and unsustainable harvest for consumption during the nonbreeding season.
Four conservation challenges and a synthesis
Authors: Williams Byron K. , Brown Eleanor D.
Published: May 2023

Conservation and management of biological systems involves decision‐making over time, with a generic goal of sustaining systems and their capacity to function in the future. We address four persistent and difficult conservation challenges: (1) prediction of future consequences of management, (2) uncertainty about the system's structure, (3) inability to observe ecological systems fully, and (4) nonstationary system dynamics. We describe these challenges in terms of dynamic systems subject to different sources of uncertainty, and we present a basic Markovian framework that can encompass approaches to all four challenges. Finding optimal conservation strategies for each challenge requires issue‐specific structural features, including adaptations of state transition models, uncertainty metrics, valuation of accumulated returns, and solution methods. Strategy valuation exhibits not only some remarkable similarities among approaches but also some important operational differences. Technical linkages among the models highlight synergies in solution approaches, as well as possibilities for combining them in particular conservation problems. As methodology and computing software advance, such an integrated conservation framework offers the potential to improve conservation outcomes with strategies to allocate management resources efficiently and avoid negative consequences.
Variance components of sex determination in the copepod Tigriopus californicus estimated from a pedigree analysis
Authors: Richardson Jean M. L. , Alexander Heather J. , Anholt Bradley R.
Published: May 2023

Extensive theory exists regarding population sex ratio evolution that predicts equal sex ratio (when parental investment is equal). In most animals, sex chromosomes determine the sex of offspring, and this fixed genotype for sex has made theory difficult to test since genotypic variance for the trait (sex) is lacking. It has long been argued that the genotype has become fixed in most animals due to the strong selection for equal sex ratios. The marine copepod Tigriopus californicus has no sex chromosomes, multiple genes affecting female brood sex ratio, and a brood sex ratio that responds to selection. The species thus provides an opportune system in which to test established sex ratio theory. In this paper, we further our exploration of polygenic sex determination in T. californicus using an incomplete diallel crossing design for analysis of the variance components of sex determination in the species. Our data confirm the presence of extra‐binomial variance for sex, further confirming that sex is not determined through simple Mendelian trait inheritance. In addition, our crosses and backcrosses of isofemale lines selected for biased brood sex ratios show intermediate phenotypic means, as expected if sex is a threshold trait determined by an underlying “liability” trait controlled by many genes of small effects. Furthermore, crosses between families from the same selection line had similar increases in phenotypic variance as crosses between families from different selection lines, suggesting families from artificial selection lines responded to selection pressure through different underlying genetic bases. Finally, we estimate heritability of an individual to be male or female on the observed binary scale as 0.09 (95% CI: 0.034–0.14). This work furthers our accumulating evidence for polygenic sex determination in T. californicus laying the foundation for this as a model species in future studies of sex ratio evolution theory.
T‐bet‐expressing B cells contribute to the autoreactive plasma cell pool in Lyn‐/‐ mice
Authors: Ottens Kristina , Schneider Jalyn , Satterthwaite Anne B.
Published: May 2023

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by pathogenic autoantibodies against nucleic acid‐containing antigens. Understanding which B‐cell subsets give rise to these autoantibodies may reveal therapeutic approaches for SLE that spare protective responses. Mice lacking the tyrosine kinase Lyn, which limits B and myeloid cell activation, develop lupus‐like autoimmune diseases characterized by increased autoreactive plasma cells (PCs). We used a fate‐mapping strategy to determine the contribution of T‐bet+ B cells, a subset thought to be pathogenic in lupus, to the accumulation of PCs and autoantibodies in Lyn‐/‐ mice. Approximately, 50% of splenic PCs in Lyn‐/‐ mice originated from T‐bet+ cells, a significant increase compared to WT mice. In vitro, splenic PCs derived from T‐bet+ B cells secreted both IgM and IgG anti‐dsDNA antibodies. To determine the role of these cells in autoantibody production in vivo, we prevented T‐bet+ B cells from differentiating into PCs or class switching in Lyn‐/‐ mice. This resulted in a partial reduction in splenic PCs and anti‐dsDNA IgM and complete abrogation of anti‐dsDNA IgG. Thus, T‐bet+ B cells make an important contribution to the autoreactive PC pool in Lyn‐/‐ mice.
Synthesis of Ir Catalysts Featuring Amide‐functionalized NHC Ligands and Survey of their Activity on Formic Acid Dehydrogenation
Authors: García‐Abellán Susana , Passarelli Vincenzo , Iglesias Manuel
Published: May 2023

2 a and 2 b, [Ir(CI)(COD)(NHC)] (COD=1,5‐cyclooctadiene), have been prepared via transmetallation from NHC−Ag complexes. [Rh(CI)(COD)(NHC)] (4) was prepared analogously. [Ir({κ‐C,N‐(NHC‐acetamide−1H)}(COD)] (3 c) has been synthesized via transmetallation from the deprotonated NHC−Ag complex. [IrCp*({κ‐C,N‐(NHC‐acetamide−1H)}] (5) (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), has been obtained analogously. [Ir(CI)(CO)2(NHC)] (6) and [Ir({κ‐C,N‐(NHC‐acetamide−1H)}(CO)2] (7) have been prepared by carbonylation of 2 b and 3 c, respectively. The catalytic activity of these complexes has been evaluated in the dehydrogenation of formic acid, under solventless conditions, in the presence of water as a cosolvent, and in a 5 : 2 HCOOH/Et3N mixture, with the best TOF values being obtained in the case of the latter. Stoichiometric experiments suggest COD hydrogenation as the preactivation step.
A sensitive DNA biosensor based on the distance dependent quenching of Silica@Ru(bpy)32+‐chitosan‐GO electrochemiluminescence by Ferrocene@Gold nanoparticles
Authors: Ding Qiaoyu , Bai Xi , Ju Jiali , Shi Jiajun , Li Guixin
Published: May 2023

A sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for the specific DNA sequence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was developed based on the efficient quenching effect of the ferrocene cluster functionalized gold nanoparticles (Fc@AuNPs) on the ECL of electrodeposited silica@Ru(bpy)32+‐chitosan‐graphene oxide nanocomposite (SiO2@Ru−CS−GO). Graphene oxide (GO) can accelerate electron transfer rate, thus improving the ECL of Ru(bpy)32+ on electrode surface. The molecular beacons (MB) was fixed to SiO2@Ru−CS−GO by glutaraldehyde (GA) using the Schiff reaction between amino groups of chitosan (CS) and MB. The ECL of SiO2@Ru−CS−GO was depressed greatly by the Fc@AuNPs labelled at the end of MB, then, a stronger ECL was observed when the distance between Fc@AuNPs and SiO2@Ru−CS−GO increased after the hybridization of target DNA with MB. Under optimum conditions, the restored ECL intensity increased linearly with the target DNA concentration in the range of 1.0×10−16∼1.0×10−10 mol ⋅ L−1, and the limit of detection (LOD) is 1.4×10−17 mol ⋅ L−1. The proposed method exhibits acceptable stability and reproducibility. In general, the constructed HCV biosensor can be used for the sensitive detection of HCV in human serum, suggesting potential application prospects in bioanalysis.
In situ tailoring solid electrolyte interphase of three‐dimensional Li metal electrode for enhanced Coulombic efficiency
Authors: Wang Jiang‐Peng , Lang Feng , Li Quan
Published: May 2023

Although three‐dimensional (3D) lithium metal electrode is effective in restricting the Li dendrite growth upon cycling, problems associated with the unstable electrode/electrolyte interphase become more severe due to increased interfacial area that is intrinsic of the 3D structures, being a major cause for the low Columbic efficiency. While building a desirable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) serves as an effective solution to improve the electrode/electrolyte interfacial stability, the 3D nature of the electrode makes the task challenging. In the present work, we demonstrated the in‐situ formation of SEI on chemically/structurally modified carbon cloth that is used as the 3D host electrode for Li metal. Here we show that ZnS/ZnO nanotube arrays uniformly grown on the carbon cloth served as precursors for the in‐situ formation of Li2S/Li2O/LiZn containing artificial SEI in the first lithiation process. While Li2S and Li2O are preferred components in SEI, the in situ generated Zn functions as a lithiophilic site that guides the uniform lithium deposition upon repeated charging/discharging process. As a result, symmetric cells adopting the O‐, S‐, and Zn‐ modified 3D anode demonstrate significantly improved Coulombic efficiency (99.2% over 400 cycles at 1 mA cm−2/1 mA h cm−2). Furthermore, the Li/ZSONT/CC//LiFePO4 full cell shows a capacity retention of 71% after 4000 cycles at 2C. The present work sheds light on effective design strategies for SEI formation on a 3D electrode host with controllable SEI composition.

image
Salmonid Pituitary Cells as a Test System for Identifying Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds
Authors: Harding Louisa , Schultz Irvin R. , Young Graham , Swanson Penny
Published: May 2023

The pituitary gland is a central regulator of reproduction, producing two gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (Fsh) and luteinizing hormone (Lh), which regulate gonadal development, sex steroid synthesis, and gamete maturation. The present study sought to optimize an in vitro test system using pituitary cells isolated from previtellogenic female coho salmon and rainbow trout, focusing on fshb and lhb subunit gene expression. Initially, we optimized culture conditions for duration and benefits of culturing with and without addition of endogenous sex steroids (17β-estradiol [E2] or 11-ketotestosterone) or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The results suggest that culturing with and without E2 was valuable because it could mimic the (+) feedback effects on Lh that are observed from in vivo studies. After optimizing assay conditions, a suite of 12 contaminants and other hormones was evaluated for their effects on fshb and lhb gene expression. Each chemical was tested at four to five different concentrations up to solubility limitations in cell culture media. The results indicate that more chemicals alter lhb synthesis than fshb. The more potent chemicals were estrogens (E2 and 17α-ethynylestradiol) and the aromatizable androgen testosterone, which induced lhb. The estrogen antagonists 4-OH-tamoxifen and prochloraz decreased the E2-stimulated expression of lhb. Among several selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors tested, the sertraline metabolite norsertraline was notable for both increasing fshb synthesis and decreasing the E2 stimulation of lhb. These results indicate that diverse types of chemicals can alter gonadotropin production in fish. Furthermore, we have shown that pituitary cell culture is useful for screening chemicals with potential endocrine-disrupting activity and can support the development of quantitative adverse outcome pathways in fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1730–1742. © 2023 SETAC
Spatial Layouts of Low‐Entropy Hydration Shells Guide Protein Binding
Authors: Yang Lin , Guo Shuai , Liao Chenchen , Hou Chengyu , Jiang Shenda , Li Jiacheng , Ma Xiaoliang , Shi Liping , Ye Lin , He Xiaodong
Published: May 2023

Protein–protein binding enables orderly biological self‐organization and is therefore considered a miracle of nature. Protein‒protein binding is driven by electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals force, and hydrophobic interactions. Among these physical forces, only hydrophobic interactions can be considered long‐range intermolecular attractions between proteins due to the electrostatic shielding of surrounding water molecules. Low‐entropy hydration shells around proteins drive hydrophobic attraction among them that essentially coordinate protein‒protein binding. Here, an innovative method is developed for identifying low‐entropy regions of hydration shells of proteins by screening off pseudohydrophilic groups on protein surfaces and revealing that large low‐entropy regions of the hydration shells typically cover the binding sites of individual proteins. According to an analysis of determined protein complex structures, shape matching between a large low‐entropy hydration shell region of a protein and that of its partner at the binding sites is revealed as a universal law. Protein‒protein binding is thus found to be mainly guided by hydrophobic collapse between the shape‐matched low‐entropy hydration shells that is verified by bioinformatics analyses of hundreds of structures of protein complexes, which cover four test systems. A simple algorithm is proposed to accurately predict protein binding sites.
Discriminating chert origins using machine‐learning approaches
Authors: Wei Zhen , Li Xianghui , Sun Minjia , Guo Ruiqing , Liu Guiping , Xu Zheting , Cheng Yuanfeng
Published: May 2023

Automatic techniques have not been applied in the geochemical discrimination of marine, terrestrial and hydrothermal cherts, which is critical to retrieving the paleoenvironmental information of ancient sedimentary basins. Here, we applied three supervised machine‐learning methods to analyse the labelled geochemical compositional data (32 major and trace elements) of cherts, including the support vector machine (SVM), sparse multinomial regression and linear discrimination analysis. Our results show that these machine‐learning methods can successfully discriminate different chert types, as the lowest classification score is 79%. Among the methods, the SVM is the most powerful approach (classification score 88%, on average), even though it is hard to be geochemically interpreted. Sparse multinomial regression and linear discrimination analysis are also efficient approaches (mean classification score 84%), which can be used to extract the important elements and the most representative sample for each chert type. Especially, the linear discrimination analysis can construct binary discrimination diagram superposed with biplot rays and posterior probability‐based decision boundaries, which could be quickly applied and explained by other researchers. Furthermore, the successful discrimination of different chert types indicates that cherts derived from different silica sources have different geochemical signatures, albeit mixing between different sources of silica during chert formation is common. Last, the general geochemical features of each chert type were summarised based on geochemical information extracted by machine‐learning methods and previous geochemical studies.
Acute intermittent hypoxia alters disease course and promotes CNS repair including resolution of inflammation and remyelination in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of MS
Authors: Tokarska Nataliya , Naniong Justin M. A. , Johnston Jayne M. , Salapa Hannah E. , Muir Gillian D. , Levin Michael C. , Popescu Bogdan F. , Verge Valerie M. K.
Published: May 2023

Remyelination and neurodegeneration prevention mitigate disability in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). We have shown acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) is a novel, non‐invasive and effective therapy for peripheral nerve repair, including remyelination. Thus, we posited AIH would improve repair following CNS demyelination and address the paucity of MS repair treatments. AIH's capacity to enhance intrinsic repair, functional recovery and alter disease course in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS was assessed. EAE was induced by MOG35‐55 immunization in C57BL/6 female mice. EAE mice received either AIH (10 cycles—5 min 11% oxygen alternating with 5 min 21% oxygen) or Normoxia (control; 21% oxygen for same duration) once daily for 7d beginning at near peak EAE disease score of 2.5. Mice were followed post‐treatment for an additional 7d before assessing histopathology or 14d to examine maintenance of AIH effects. Alterations in histopathological correlates of multiple repair indices were analyzed quantitatively in focally demyelinated ventral lumbar spinal cord areas to assess AIH impacts. AIH begun at near peak disease significantly improved daily clinical scores/functional recovery and associated histopathology relative to Normoxia controls and the former were maintained for at least 14d post‐treatment. AIH enhanced correlates of myelination, axon protection and oligodendrocyte precursor cell recruitment to demyelinated areas. AIH also effected a dramatic reduction in inflammation, while polarizing remaining macrophages/microglia toward a pro‐repair state. Collectively, this supports a role for AIH as a novel non‐invasive therapy to enhance CNS repair and alter disease course following demyelination and holds promise as a neuroregenerative MS strategy.
Implementing a group‐based multi‐component early child development intervention through the government health system in rural Bangladesh: A feasibility study
Authors: Rahman Mahbubur , Jahir Tania , Akter Fahmida , Yeasmin Farzana , Pitchik Helen O. , Hasan Rezaul , Das Jyoti Bhushan , Grant Hannah X. , Hossain Khobair , Sultana Jesmin , Huda Tarique Md. Nurul , Shoab AKM , Khan Rizwana , Tofail Fahmida , Luby Stephen P. , Fernald Lia C. H. , Rashid Jahangir , Ashrafee Sabina , Leontsini Elli , Winch Peter J.
Published: May 2023

Children in low‐ and middle‐income countries face an increased risk of impaired cognitive development due to contaminated environments, poor nutrition, and inadequate responsive stimulation from caregivers. Implementing multi‐component, community‐level interventions may reduce these risks; however, there is little evidence supporting implementation of these interventions at scale. We assessed the feasibility of implementing a group‐based intervention that included responsive stimulation, maternal and child nutrition, water and sanitation, and childhood lead exposure prevention through the government health system in Chatmohar, Bangladesh. After implementation, we conducted 17 in‐depth interviews with frontline health service providers and 12 key informant interviews with their supervisors and managers to explore the facilitators and difficulties implementing such a complex programme within the health system. Factors facilitating implementation included: high quality training and skill level of providers, support from community members, family, and supervisors, positive relationships between providers and participants, and provision of children's toys and books free of cost. Difficulties included increased workload of the providers, complicated group‐based yet stage‐specific delivery where providers had to manage a large group of mother‐child dyads representing many different child age‐groups at once, and logistics difficulties in providing toys and books through a centralised health system process. Key informants made suggestions to ensure effective government‐level scale‐up including engaging relevant NGOs as partners, identifying feasible ways to make toys available, and offering providers meaningful even if non‐monetary rewards. These findings can be used to shape the design and delivery of multi‐component child development interventions to be delivered through the health system.
A Fracture Risk Assessment Tool for High Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography
Authors: Whittier Danielle E. , Samelson Elizabeth J. , Hannan Marian T. , Burt Lauren A. , Hanley David A. , Biver Emmanuel , Szulc Pawel , Sornay‐Rendu Elisabeth , Merle Blandine , Chapurlat Roland , Lespessailles Eric , Wong Andy Kin On , Goltzman David , Khosla Sundeep , Ferrari Serge , Bouxsein Mary L. , Kiel Douglas P. , Boyd Steven K.
Published: May 2023

Most fracture risk assessment tools use clinical risk factors combined with bone mineral density (BMD) to improve assessment of osteoporosis; however, stratifying fracture risk remains challenging. This study developed a fracture risk assessment tool that uses information about volumetric bone density and three‐dimensional structure, obtained using high‐resolution peripheral quantitative compute tomography (HR‐pQCT), to provide an alternative approach for patient‐specific assessment of fracture risk. Using an international prospective cohort of older adults (n = 6802) we developed a tool to predict osteoporotic fracture risk, called μFRAC. The model was constructed using random survival forests, and input predictors included HR‐pQCT parameters summarizing BMD and microarchitecture alongside clinical risk factors (sex, age, height, weight, and prior adulthood fracture) and femoral neck areal BMD (FN aBMD). The performance of μFRAC was compared to the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) and a reference model built using FN aBMD and clinical covariates. μFRAC was predictive of osteoporotic fracture (c‐index = 0.673,p < 0.001), modestly outperforming FRAX and FN aBMD models (c‐index = 0.617 and 0.636, respectively). Removal of FN aBMD and all clinical risk factors, except age, from μFRAC did not significantly impact its performance when estimating 5‐year and 10‐year fracture risk. The performance of μFRAC improved when only major osteoporotic fractures were considered (c‐index = 0.733,p < 0.001). We developed a personalized fracture risk assessment tool based on HR‐pQCT that may provide an alternative approach to current clinical methods by leveraging direct measures of bone density and structure. © 2023 The Authors.Journal of Bone and Mineral Researchpublished by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
MIAT shuttled by tumor‐secreted exosomes promotes paclitaxel resistance in esophageal cancer cells by activating the TAF1/SREBF1 axis
Authors: Zhang Shuyao , Zhong Junyong , Guo Dainian , Zhang Shengqi , Huang Guifeng , Chen Yun , Xu Chengcheng , Chen Wang , Zhang Qiuzhen , Zhao Chengkuan , Liu Sulin , Luo Zebin , Lin Chaoxian
Published: May 2023

Chemoresistance remains a major obstacle to the treatment of esophageal cancer (EC). Exosome‐mediated transfer of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) has recently been unveiled to correlate with the regulation of drug resistance in EC. This study aimed to investigate the physiological mechanisms by which exosome‐encapsulated lncRNA myocardial infarction‐associated transcript (MIAT) derived from tumor cells might mediate the paclitaxel (PTX) resistance of EC cells. First, MIAT was experimentally determined to be upregulated in PTX nonresponders and PTX‐resistant EC cells. Silencing of MIAT in PTX‐resistant EC cells decreased cell viability and enhanced apoptosis, corresponding to a reduced half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value. Next, exosomes were isolated from EC109 and EC109/T cells, and EC109 cells were cocultured with EC109/T‐cell‐derived exosomes. Accordingly, MIAT was revealed to be transmitted through exosomes from EC109/T cells to EC109 cells. Tumor‐derived exosomes carrying MIAT increased the IC50 value of PTX and suppressed apoptosis in EC109 cells to promote PTX resistance. Furthermore, MIAT promoted the enrichment of TATA‐box binding protein‐associated Factor 1 (TAF1) in the promoter region of sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBF1), as shown by a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. This might be the mechanism by which MIAT could promote PTX resistance. Finally, in vivo experiments further confirmed that the knockdown of MIAT attenuated the resistance of EC cells to PTX. Collectively, these results indicate that tumor‐derived exosome‐loaded MIAT activates the TAF1/SREBF1 axis to induce PTX resistance in EC cells, providing a potential therapeutic target for overcoming PTX resistance in EC.
Scoring molecular wires subject to an ultrafast laser pulse for molecular electronic devices
Authors: Lu Hui , Azizi Alireza , Mi Xiao Peng , Wenjing Yu , Peng Yuting , Xu Tianlv , Früchtl Herbert , van Mourik Tanja , Kirk Steven R. , Jenkins Samantha
Published: May 2023

A nonionizing ultrafast laser pulse of 20‐fs duration with a peak amplitude electric‐field ±E = 200 × 10−4 a.u. was simulated. It was applied to the ethene molecule to consider its effect on the electron dynamics, both during the application of the laser pulse and for up to 100 fs after the pulse was switched off. Four laser pulse frequencies ω = 0.2692, 0.2808, 0.2830, and 0.2900 a.u. were chosen to correspond to excitation energies mid‐way between the (S1,S2), (S2,S3), (S3,S4) and (S4,S5) electronic states, respectively. Scalar quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) was used to quantify the shifts of the C1C2 bond critical points (BCPs). Depending on the frequencies ω selected, the C1C2 BCP shifts were up to 5.8 times higher after the pulse was switched off compared with a static E‐field with the same magnitude. Next generation QTAIM (NG‐QTAIM) was used to visualize and quantify the directional chemical character. In particular, polarization effects and bond strengths, in the form of bond‐rigidity vs. bond‐flexibility, were found, for some laser pulse frequencies, to increase after the laser pulse was switched off. Our analysis demonstrates that NG‐QTAIM, in partnership with ultrafast laser irradiation, is useful as a tool in the emerging field of ultrafast electron dynamics, which will be essential for the design, and control of molecular electronic devices.
Teamwork solutions for complex problems in psychotherapy: A systems thinking‐based commentary
Authors: Botella Luis , Scherb Elena , Montesano Adrian
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Most psychological treatments are administered in a one‐to‐one therapy format, which has proven effective but has limitations in complex clinical situations. Teamwork can help address these limitations by going beyond the one‐to‐one therapy approach and involving the client's professional and relational network in therapy interventions to promote and secure change. In this issue of Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session five effective teamwork practices are presented illustrating how clinicians integrate teamwork into treatment delivery to improve outcomes in an array of cases presenting high complexity.

Purpose

In this commentary section, we describe the role and essence of these teamwork practices from a systems thinking approach as a theoretical umbrella to understand the diversity of processes hindering and facilitating effective teamwork

Conclussion

From this approach we discuss the core skills that psychotherapists should train to master team working and interprofessional collaboration. The basic professional competence consists in the ability to foster and coordinate shared frames of understanding in case formulation. An advanced systemic skill is based on the ability to formulate and change relational patterns, given that interpersonal processes are the main key factor to understand barriers and facilitators of effective teamwork to overcome stalemated complex clinical situations.