bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of resistance exercise in prostate cancer patients
Authors: Zdravkovic Andrej , Hasenöhrl Timothy , Palma Stefano , Crevenna Richard
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The aim of this systematic review is to provide an update on the effects of resistance exercise (RE) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa), with special attention to the effects on sexual health.

Methods

A systematic search of the literature was conducted in March 2020 using the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS and the Cochrane Library. Only randomized, controlled trials published after 31 December 2016 were included in this update. Additionally, articles from current and previous reviews were utilized to provide a brief summary of the effects on sexual health.

Results

A total of 10 articles met the inclusion criteria, of which 5 were identified as independent studies. The remaining five articles presented additional data for studies, which have already been included. The identified studies further strengthened the evidence for positive effects on muscle strength, body composition and physical function. Positive effects on bone mineral density were apparent only when RE was combined with impact training. One article reported an improvement in fatigue and health-related quality of life. Only one study examined the effects of RE in isolation and three articles indicated positive effects of exercise on sexual health.

Conclusion

Recent evidence supports the use of RE in PCa patient rehabilitation as a countermeasure for treatment side effects. Further research is necessary to ascertain the optimal delivery methods and illuminate the effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), fatigue and sexual health.
A novel method for VR sickness reduction based on dynamic field of view processing
Authors: Lim Kyungmin , Lee Jaesung , Won Kwanghyun , Kala Nupur , Lee Tammy
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we proposed a novel method for virtual reality (VR) sickness reduction based on dynamic field of view (FOV) processing. Dynamic FOV processing is performed based on the estimated VR sickness for each video frame. The level of sickness is estimated using VR sickness model, which is obtained by defining the relationship between the motion information and the measured VR sickness. For motion information analysis, subregion-based correspondence points tracking is used to efficiently remove outliers and prevent prediction error propagation. Amount of head dispersion is used as a quantitative VR sickness measure, which can be calculated from inertial measurement unit sensor in VR devices. The optimal FOV range was determined by experimentally validating a minimum FOV that can effectively reduce VR sickness with almost negligible loss in presence. The simulation results show a significant decrease of 37% compared to full FOV viewing, when FOV is dynamically varied between full and 60°.
Negotiating quality assessment in media accessibility: the case of live subtitling
Authors: Romero-Fresco Pablo
Published: July 2020

Given the recent shift in scholarly attention from the quantity to the quality of media accessibility (MA), this paper aims to provide an account of how the assessment of quality in MA may be negotiated across researchers, regulators, companies and users. Taking as an example the use of the NER model to assess live subtitling quality, it focuses on what each party needs to do and compromise on, so that a consensus can be reached and quality in MA can be assessed. It covers firstly the role played by researchers, who are normally expected to develop rigorous models of assessment while, at the same time, ensuring that they are transferable to the industry. The focus is then placed on media regulators, which must often make a choice between adopting a soft or a hard approach. The former tackles quality only superficially and may have little effect on professional practice or on the viewers’ experience. The latter requires investing time and resources to conduct research, but it also results in tangible improvements in quality. As for companies, they must be willing to accept external reviews and even to modify their training, but they can also benefit from the improved performance of their staff. Finally, in order to have a voice in this area, the users may be expected to engage with the method and the results of the quality assessment. This can enable them to have more informed and realistic demands that can lead to effective changes and, ultimately, to better access.
Period functions associated to real-analytic modular forms
Authors: Diamantis Nikolaos , Drewitt Joshua
Published: July 2020

We define L-functions for the class of real-analytic modular forms recently introduced by F. Brown. We establish their main properties and construct the analogue of period polynomial in cases of special interest, including those of modular iterated integrals of length one.
Who am I, the religious educator? Religion in the formation of a moral compass
Authors: van Dijk-Groeneboer Monique
Published: July 2020

The formation of identity in a secularized world is different from formation in a religious oriented society. In this situation, educating young people and guiding their personhood formation is even more a task of connecting to the pupils from out of your own heart. A Catholic religious teacher can be a mirror for these young people when answering three questions for her or himself and share these openly with her or his pupils. At the micro level: Who am I as a person? What is in my soul?; at the meso level: What am I doing as a professional and religious teacher?, and at the macro level: Where do I work? What is my context? And how do I deal with that?
Typen von Weiterbildungseinrichtungen – Überblick und Ausdifferenzierungen für die Programm- und Organisationsforschung
Authors: von Hippel Aiga , Stimm Maria
Published: July 2020

Ziel des Beitrags ist es, ein Angebot zu formulieren, wie Weiterbildungseinrichtungen unter den Entwicklungen der Weiterbildungslandschaft typisiert und systematisch weiter ausdifferenziert werden können. In den Ausführungen wird neben einem Vorschlag zur Ausdifferenzierung eine Erweiterung der bisher bestehenden Perspektive von Einrichtungstypologien angeboten, indem beigeordnete Bildung als Kategorie der Typenbildung mit aufgenommen wird. Der Beitrag verortet sich daher an der Schnittstelle von Programm- und Organisationsforschung.
Are Plant-Based Analogues Replacing Cow’s Milk in the American Diet?
Authors: Stewart Hayden , Kuchler Fred , Cessna Jerry , Hahn William
Published: July 2020

Retail sales of fluid cow’s milk are decreasing while those of plant-based milk analogues are increasing. In this study, we model the relationship between households’ purchases of both types of products and perform simulations. Results show that growing consumer demand for plant-based products is causing cow’s milk sales to decline somewhat faster than otherwise. However, plant-based products are not a primary driver of sales trends for cow’s milk. The decline in cow’s milk sales is substantially greater than the rise in sales of plant-based analogues.
Can precision medicine advance psychiatry?
Authors: Roche Dónal , Russell Vincent
Published: July 2020

Precision medicine is a new approach that considers differences in genes, environment, and lifestyle in an attempt to tailor treatments for individual patients. Psychiatry, as a discipline, has historically relied on clinical judgement and phenomenology-based diagnostic guidelines and has yet to take full advantage. This editorial provides an insight into the expanding role of precision medicine in psychiatry, both in research and clinical practice. It discusses the application of genetics and subgroup stratification in increasing response rates to therapeutic interventions, mainly focusing on major depressive disorder and schizophrenia. It presents an overview of machine learning techniques and how they are being integrated with traditional research methods within the field. In the context of these developments, while emphasizing the considerable potential for moving toward precision psychiatry, we also acknowledge the inherent challenges.
Interbank Relations, Environmental Uncertainty, and Corporate Credit Access in China
Authors: Burzynska Katarzyna , Opper Sonja
Published: July 2020

We hypothesize that informal bank networks influence corporate credit access in China. Our sample comprises a panel of 515 corporations listed on China's stock exchanges with a total of 1,052 firm-year observations, holding a total of 7,009 major bank loans from 183 distinct banks between 2007 and 2012. Results support the hypothesis that closure in bank networks facilitates credit access. We further show that the positive closure-performance association offers fewer advantages if financial markets and the legal infrastructure are relatively well developed. Our findings contribute to an emergent literature examining how informal networks can productively substitute weak formal institutions, and how the interplay between informal networks and network embeddedness shapes individual and corporate strategies.
A flagship for Austral temperate forest conservation: an action plan for Darwin's frogs brings key stakeholders together
Authors: Azat Claudio , Valenzuela-Sánchez Andrés , Delgado Soledad , Cunningham Andrew A. , Alvarado-Rybak Mario , Bourke Johara , Briones Raúl , Cabeza Osvaldo , Castro-Carrasco Camila , Charrier Andres , Correa Claudio , Crump Martha L. , Cuevas César C. , de la Maza Mariano , Díaz-Vidal Sandra , Flores Edgardo , Harding Gemma , Lavilla Esteban O. , Mendez Marco A. , Oberwemmer Frank , Carlos Ortiz Juan , Pastore Hernán , Peñafiel-Ricaurte Alexandra , Rojas-Salinas Leonora , Manuel Serrano José , Sepúlveda Maximiliano A. , Toledo Verónica , Úbeda Carmen , Uribe-Rivera David E. , Valdivia Catalina , Wren Sally , Angulo Ariadne
Published: July 2020

Darwin's frogsRhinoderma darwiniiandRhinoderma rufumare the only known species of amphibians in which males brood their offspring in their vocal sacs. We propose these frogs as flagship species for the conservation of the Austral temperate forests of Chile and Argentina. This recommendation forms part of the vision of the Binational Conservation Strategy for Darwin's Frogs, which was launched in 2018. The strategy is a conservation initiative led by the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, which in 2017 convened 30 governmental, non-profit and private organizations from Chile, Argentina and elsewhere. Darwin's frogs are iconic examples of the global amphibian conservation crisis:R. rufumis categorized as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) on the IUCN Red List, andR. darwiniias Endangered. Here we articulate the conservation planning process that led to the development of the conservation strategy for these species and present its main findings and recommendations. Using an evidence-based approach, the Binational Conservation Strategy for Darwin's Frogs contains a comprehensive status review ofRhinodermaspp., including critical threat analyses, and proposes 39 prioritized conservation actions. Its goal is that by 2028, key information gaps onRhinodermaspp. will be filled, the main threats to these species will be reduced, and financial, legal and societal support will have been achieved. The strategy is a multi-disciplinary, transnational endeavour aimed at ensuring the long-term viability of these unique frogs and their particular habitat.
Prevalence and regional variations of coexistence of child stunting and maternal overweight or obesity in Myanmar
Authors: Hong Seo Ah
Published: July 2020

Objective:

The current study aimed to investigate double burden of malnutrition within households at the national and subnational levels and to identify its association with sociodemographic factors in Myanmar.

Design:

All the variables were extracted from children’s file of the Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey 2015–2016. Children under five were identified as stunted based on a height-for-age < −2 sd below the WHO reference median. Maternal overweight/obesity was defined as a BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2. A stunted child with an overweight/obese mother (SCOM) was classified as a double-burden household.

Setting:

A national household survey in Myanmar.

Participants:

Children under five and their mothers (n 3954 pairs).

Results:

Mean ages of children and mothers were 29 (se 0·14) months and 30·9 (se 0·32) years, respectively. National prevalence of childhood stunting and maternal overweight/obesity was 28·0 % and 39·4 %, respectively, and the prevalence of SCOM was 9·1 %. Significant regional differences were found in SCOM, ranging from 3·6 % in Naypyitaw to 12 % in Kachin and Mon and 14·6 % in Kayah. In the multinomial logistic regression analysis, relative to neither a stunted child nor an overweight/obese mother, child’s age, maternal age, maternal experience of a teen birth, short mothers, mothers with primary education and in middle or rich wealth tertiles, and some regions (Kachin, Kayah, Shan, Sagaing, Taninthayi, Ayeyarwaddy, Mon and Yangon) were associated with greater odds of SCOM.

Conclusions:

The current study showed a relatively high national prevalence of SCOM and significant regional variations. Overarching policies and programmes with culturally sensitive strategies need to be formulated and implemented.
Uptake of referrals for women with positive perinatal depression screening results and the effectiveness of interventions to increase uptake: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xue WQ , Cheng KK , Xu D , Jin X , Gong WJ
Published: July 2020

Aims

Perinatal depression threatens the health of maternal women and their offspring. Although screening programs for perinatal depression exist, non-uptake of referral to further mental health care after screening reduces the utility of these programs. Uptake rates among women with positive screening varied widely across studies and little is known about how to improve the uptake rate. This study aimed to systematically review the available evidence on uptake rates, estimate the pooled rate, identify interventions to improve uptake of referral and explore the effectiveness of those interventions.

Methods

This systematic review has been registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42019138095). We searched Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Ovid, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang Database and VIP Databases from database inception to January 13, 2019 and scanned reference lists of relevant researches for studies published in English or Chinese. Studies providing information on uptake rate and/or effectiveness of interventions on uptake of referral were eligible for inclusion. Studies were excluded if they did not report the details of the referral process or did not provide exact uptake rate. Data provided by observational studies and quasi-experimental studies were used to estimate the pooled uptake rate through meta-analysis. We also performed meta-regression and subgroup analyses to explore the potential source of heterogeneity. To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, we conducted descriptive analyses instead of meta-analyses since there was only one randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Results

Of 2302 records identified, 41 studies were eligible for inclusion, including 39 observational studies (n = 9337), one quasi-experimental study (n = 43) and one RCT (n = 555). All but two studies were conducted in high-income countries. The uptake rates reported by included studies varied widely and the pooled uptake rate of referral was 43% (95% confidence intervals [CI] 35–50%) by a random-effect model. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses both showed that referral to on-site assessment or treatment (60%, 95% CI 51–69%) had a significantly higher uptake rate than referral to mental health service (32%, 95% CI 23–41%) (odds ratio 1.31, 95% CI 1.13–1.52). The included RCT showed that the referral intervention significantly improved the uptake rate (p ＜ 0.01).

Conclusions

Almost three-fifths of women with positive screening results do not take up the referral offers after perinatal depression screening. Referral to on-site assessment and treatment may improve uptake of referral, but the quality of evidence on interventions to increase uptake was weak. More robust studies are needed, especially in low-and middle-income countries.
Sensitivity of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation to Model Resolution in CMIP6 HighResMIP Simulations and Implications for Future Changes
Authors: Roberts Malcolm J. , Jackson Laura C. , Roberts Christopher D. , Meccia Virna , Docquier David , Koenigk Torben , Ortega Pablo , Moreno‐Chamarro Eduardo , Bellucci Alessio , Coward Andrew , Drijfhout Sybren , Exarchou Eleftheria , Gutjahr Oliver , Hewitt Helene , Iovino Doroteaciro , Lohmann Katja , Putrasahan Dian , Schiemann Reinhard , Seddon Jon , Terray Laurent , Xu Xiaobiao , Zhang Qiuying , Chang Ping , Yeager Stephen G. , Castruccio Frederic S. , Zhang Shaoqing , Wu Lixin
Published: July 2020

A multimodel, multiresolution ensemble using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) High Resolution Model Intercomparison Project (HighResMIP) coupled experiments is used to assess the performance of key aspects of the North Atlantic circulation. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), and related heat transport, tends to become stronger as ocean model resolution is enhanced, better agreeing with observations at 26.5°N. However, for most models the circulation remains too shallow compared to observations and has a smaller temperature contrast between the northward and southward limbs of the AMOC. These biases cause the northward heat transport to be systematically too low for a given overturning strength. The higher‐resolution models also tend to have too much deep mixing in the subpolar gyre. In the period 2015–2050 the overturning circulation tends to decline more rapidly in the higher‐resolution models, which is related to both the mean state and to the subpolar gyre contribution to deep water formation. The main part of the decline comes from the Florida Current component of the circulation. Such large declines in AMOC are not seen in the models with resolutions more typically used for climate studies, suggesting an enhanced risk for Northern Hemisphere climate change. However, only a small number of different ocean models are included in the study.
Modeling Water Stress for Shared Water Resources
Authors: Wheeling Kate
Published: July 2020

Billions of people rely on water resources that originate across borders. New research evaluates how climate change and increased water demand could affect future water stress.
Impacts of Shifting Subtropical Highs on the California Current and Canary Current Systems
Authors: Schmidt Daniel F. , Amaya Dillon J. , Grise Kevin M. , Miller Arthur J.
Published: July 2020

Upwelling in eastern boundary current regions is crucial to bringing nutrient‐rich water to the photic zone and supporting the associated ecosystems. This upwelling is a result of the wind‐driven ocean circulation and is therefore susceptible to changes in the atmospheric circulation. We use the Community Earth System Model and observational data to explore the response of upwelling in the California Current and Canary Current systems to shifts in the Northern Hemisphere subtropical high‐pressure systems. We find that shifts in the North Pacific subtropical high explain a substantial fraction of both the short‐term variability and projected trend in upwelling in the California Current system during boreal summer. By contrast, the Canary Current system is less affected by shifts of the North Atlantic subtropical high, mostly because the strongest wind anomalies associated with shifts of this high‐pressure system occur too far north. We also find little impact from the Northern Hemisphere Hadley cell.
Fecal microbial transplantation and a high fiber diet attenuates emphysema development by suppressing inflammation and apoptosis
Authors: Jang Yoon Ok , Lee Se Hee , Choi Jong Jin , Kim Do-Hyun , Choi Je-Min , Kang Min-Jong , Oh Yeon-Mok , Park Young-Jun , Shin Yong , Lee Sei Won
Published: July 2020

Recent work has suggested a microbial dysbiosis association between the lung and gut in respiratory diseases. Here, we demonstrated that gut microbiome modulation attenuated emphysema development. To modulate the gut microbiome, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and diet modification were adopted in mice exposed to smoking and poly I:C for the emphysema model. We analyzed the severity of emphysema by the mean linear intercept (MLI) and apoptosis by the fluorescent TUNEL assay. Microbiome analysis was also performed in feces and fecal extracellular vesicles (EVs). The MLI was significantly increased with smoking exposure. FMT or a high-fiber diet (HFD) attenuated the increase. Weight loss, combined with smoking exposure, was not noted in mice with FMT. HFD significantly decreased macrophages and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Furthermore, IL-6 and IFN-γ were decreased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum. The TUNEL score was significantly lower in mice with FMT or HFD, suggesting decreased cell apoptosis. In the microbiome analysis,BacteroidaceaeandLachnospiraceae, which are alleged to metabolize fiber into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), increased at the family level with FMT and HFD. FMT and HFD attenuated emphysema development via local and systemic inhibition of inflammation and changes in gut microbiota composition, which could provide a new paradigm in COPD treatment.
Predicting disease occurrence with high accuracy based on soil macroecological patterns of Fusarium wilt
Authors: Yuan Jun , Wen Tao , Zhang He , Zhao Mengli , Penton C Ryan , Thomashow Linda S , Shen Qirong
Published: July 2020

Soil-borne plant diseases are increasingly causing devastating losses in agricultural production. The development of a more refined model for disease prediction can aid in reducing crop losses through the use of preventative control measures or soil fallowing for a planting season. The emergence of high-throughput DNA sequencing technology has provided unprecedented insight into the microbial composition of diseased versus healthy soils. However, a single independent case study rarely yields a general conclusion predictive of the disease in a particular soil. Here, we attempt to account for the differences among various studies and plant varieties using a machine-learning approach based on 24 independent bacterial data sets comprising 758 samples and 22 independent fungal data sets comprising 279 samples of healthy or Fusarium wilt-diseased soils from eight different countries. We found that soil bacterial and fungal communities were both clearly separated between diseased and healthy soil samples that originated from six crops across nine countries or regions. Alpha diversity was consistently greater in the fungal community of healthy soils. While diseased soil microbiomes harbored higher abundances of Xanthomonadaceae, Bacillaceae, Gibberella, and Fusarium oxysporum, the healthy soil microbiome contained more Streptomyces Mirabilis, Bradyrhizobiaceae, Comamonadaceae, Mortierella, and nonpathogenic fungi of Fusarium. Furthermore, a random forest method identified 45 bacterial OTUs and 40 fungal OTUs that categorized the health status of the soil with an accuracy >80%. We conclude that these models can be applied to predict the potential for occurrence of F. oxysporum wilt by revealing key biological indicators and features common to the wilt-diseased soil microbiome.
Ultrashort laser pulse doubling by metal-halide perovskite multiple quantum wells
Authors: Guo Jia , Liu Tanghao , Li Mingjie , Liang Chao , Wang Kaiyang , Hong Guo , Tang Yuxin , Long Guankui , Yu Siu-Fung , Lee Tae-Woo , Huang Wei , Xing Guichuan
Published: July 2020

Multiple ultrashort laser pulses are widely used in optical spectroscopy, optoelectronic manipulation, optical imaging and optical signal processing etc. The laser pulse multiplication, so far, is solely realized by using the optical setups or devices to modify the output laser pulse from the optical gain medium. The employment of these external techniques is because the gain medium itself is incapable of modifying or multiplying the generated laser pulse. Herein, with single femtosecond laser pulse excitation, we achieve the double-pulsed stimulated emission with pulse duration of around 40 ps and pulse interval of around 70 ps from metal-halide perovskite multiple quantum wells. These unique stimulated emissions originate from one fast vertical and the other slow lateral high-efficiency carrier funneling from low-dimensional to high-dimensional quantum wells. Furthermore, such gain medium surprisingly possesses nearly Auger-free stimulated emission. These insights enable us a fresh approach to multiple the ultrashort laser pulse by gain medium.
MG53 suppresses interferon-β and inflammation via regulation of ryanodine receptor-mediated intracellular calcium signaling
Authors: Sermersheim Matthew , Kenney Adam D. , Lin Pei-Hui , McMichael Temet M. , Cai Chuanxi , Gumpper Kristyn , Adesanya T. M. Ayodele , Li Haichang , Zhou Xinyu , Park Ki-Ho , Yount Jacob S. , Ma Jianjie
Published: July 2020

TRIM family proteins play integral roles in the innate immune response to virus infection. MG53 (TRIM72) is essential for cell membrane repair and is believed to be a muscle-specific TRIM protein. Here we show human macrophages express MG53, and MG53 protein expression is reduced following virus infection. Knockdown of MG53 in macrophages leads to increases in type I interferon (IFN) upon infection. MG53 knockout mice infected with influenza virus show comparable influenza virus titres to wild type mice, but display increased morbidity accompanied by more accumulation of CD45+ cells and elevation of IFNβ in the lung. We find that MG53 knockdown results in activation of NFκB signalling, which is linked to an increase in intracellular calcium oscillation mediated by ryanodine receptor (RyR). MG53 inhibits IFNβ induction in an RyR-dependent manner. This study establishes MG53 as a new target for control of virus-induced morbidity and tissue injury.
Detection of the thietane precursor in the UVA formation of the DNA 6-4 photoadduct
Authors: Ortiz-Rodríguez Luis A. , Reichardt Christian , Hoehn Sean J. , Jockusch Steffen , Crespo-Hernández Carlos E.
Published: July 2020

Notwithstanding the central biological role of the (6-4) photoadduct in the induction of skin cancer by sunlight, crucial mechanistic details about its formation have evaded characterization despite efforts spanning more than half a century. 4-Thiothymidine (4tT) has been widely used as an important model system to study its mechanism of formation, but the excited-state precursor, the intermediate species, and the time scale leading to the formation of the (6-4) photoadduct have remained elusive. Herein, steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques are combined with new and reported quantum-chemical calculations to demonstrate the excited state leading to the formation of the thietane intermediate, its rate, and the formation of the (6-4) photoadduct using the 5’-TT(4tT)T(4tT)TT-3’ DNA oligonucleotide. Efficient, sub-1 ps intersystem crossing leads to the population of a triplet minimum of the thietane intermediate in as short as 3 ps, which intersystem crosses to its ground state and rearranges to form the (6-4) photoadduct.
Environmental DNA allows upscaling spatial patterns of biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems
Authors: Carraro Luca , Mächler Elvira , Wüthrich Remo , Altermatt Florian
Published: July 2020

The alarming declines of freshwater biodiversity call for efficient biomonitoring at fine spatiotemporal scales, such that conservation measures be grounded upon accurate biodiversity data. Here, we show that combining environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from stream water samples with models based on hydrological first principles allows upscaling biodiversity estimates for aquatic insects at very high spatial resolution. Our model decouples the diverse upstream contributions to the eDNA data, enabling the reconstruction of taxa distribution patterns. Across a 740-km2 basin, we obtain a space-filling biodiversity prediction at a grain size resolution of 1-km long stream sections. The model’s accuracy in matching direct observations of aquatic insects’ local occurrence ranges between 57–100%. Our results demonstrate how eDNA can be used for high-resolution biodiversity assessments in rivers with minimal prior knowledge of the system. Our approach allows identification of biodiversity hotspots that could be otherwise overlooked, enabling implementation of focused conservation strategies.
Tumors induce de novo steroid biosynthesis in T cells to evade immunity
Authors: Mahata Bidesh , Pramanik Jhuma , van der Weyden Louise , Polanski Krzysztof , Kar Gozde , Riedel Angela , Chen Xi , Fonseca Nuno A. , Kundu Kousik , Campos Lia S. , Ryder Edward , Duddy Graham , Walczak Izabela , Okkenhaug Klaus , Adams David J. , Shields Jacqueline D. , Teichmann Sarah A.
Published: July 2020

Tumors subvert immune cell function to evade immune responses, yet the complex mechanisms driving immune evasion remain poorly understood. Here we show that tumors induce de novo steroidogenesis in T lymphocytes to evade anti-tumor immunity. Using a transgenic steroidogenesis-reporter mouse line we identify and characterize de novo steroidogenic immune cells, defining the global gene expression identity of these steroid-producing immune cells and gene regulatory networks by using single-cell transcriptomics. Genetic ablation of T cell steroidogenesis restricts primary tumor growth and metastatic dissemination in mouse models. Steroidogenic T cells dysregulate anti-tumor immunity, and inhibition of the steroidogenesis pathway is sufficient to restore anti-tumor immunity. This study demonstrates T cell de novo steroidogenesis as a mechanism of anti-tumor immunosuppression and a potential druggable target.
Highly nonlinear trion-polaritons in a monolayer semiconductor
Authors: Emmanuele R. P. A. , Sich M. , Kyriienko O. , Shahnazaryan V. , Withers F. , Catanzaro A. , Walker P. M. , Benimetskiy F. A. , Skolnick M. S. , Tartakovskii A. I. , Shelykh I. A. , Krizhanovskii D. N.
Published: July 2020

Highly nonlinear optical materials with strong effective photon-photon interactions are required for ultrafast and quantum optical signal processing circuitry. Here we report strong Kerr-like nonlinearities by employing efficient optical transitions of charged excitons (trions) observed in semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). By hybridising trions in monolayer MoSe2 at low electron densities with a microcavity mode, we realise trion-polaritons exhibiting significant energy shifts at small photon fluxes due to phase space filling. We find the ratio of trion- to neutral exciton–polariton interaction strength is in the range from 10 to 100 in TMDC materials and that trion-polariton nonlinearity is comparable to that in other polariton systems. The results are in good agreement with a theory accounting for the composite nature of excitons and trions and deviation of their statistics from that of ideal bosons and fermions. Our findings open a way to scalable quantum optics applications with TMDCs.
Cryo-EM analysis of the post-fusion structure of the SARS-CoV spike glycoprotein
Authors: Fan Xiaoyi , Cao Duanfang , Kong Lingfei , Zhang Xinzheng
Published: July 2020

Global emergencies caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle-East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and SARS-CoV-2 significantly endanger human health. The spike (S) glycoprotein is the key antigen and its conserved S2 subunit contributes to viral entry by mediating host-viral membrane fusion. However, structural information of the post-fusion S2 from these highly pathogenic human-infecting coronaviruses is still lacking. We used single-particle cryo-electron microscopy to show that the post-fusion SARS-CoV S2 forms a further rotated HR1-HR2 six-helix bundle and a tightly bound linker region upstream of the HR2 motif. The structures of pre- and post-fusion SARS-CoV S glycoprotein dramatically differ, resembling that of the Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) and other class I viral fusion proteins. This structure suggests potential targets for the development of vaccines and therapies against a wide range of SARS-like coronaviruses.
Coordinate β-adrenergic inhibition of mitochondrial activity and angiogenesis arrest tumor growth
Authors: Nuevo-Tapioles Cristina , Santacatterina Fulvio , Stamatakis Konstantinos , Núñez de Arenas Cristina , Gómez de Cedrón Marta , Formentini Laura , Cuezva José M.
Published: July 2020

Mitochondrial metabolism has emerged as a promising target against the mechanisms of tumor growth. Herein, we have screened an FDA-approved library to identify drugs that inhibit mitochondrial respiration. The β1-blocker nebivolol specifically hinders oxidative phosphorylation in cancer cells by concertedly inhibiting Complex I and ATP synthase activities. Complex I inhibition is mediated by interfering the phosphorylation of NDUFS7. Inhibition of the ATP synthase is exerted by the overexpression and binding of the ATPase Inhibitory Factor 1 (IF1) to the enzyme. Remarkably, nebivolol also arrests tumor angiogenesis by arresting endothelial cell proliferation. Altogether, targeting mitochondria and angiogenesis triggers a metabolic and oxidative stress crisis that restricts the growth of colon and breast carcinomas. Nebivolol holds great promise to be repurposed for the treatment of cancer patients.
Rapid adaptation to invasive predators overwhelms natural gradients of intraspecific variation
Authors: Melotto Andrea , Manenti Raoul , Ficetola Gentile Francesco
Published: July 2020

Invasive predators can exert strong selection on native populations. If selection is strong enough, populations could lose the phenotypic variation caused by adaptation to heterogeneous environments. We compare frog tadpoles prior to and 14 years following invasion by crayfish. Prior to the invasion, populations differed in their intrinsic developmental rate, with tadpoles from cold areas reaching metamorphosis sooner than those from warm areas. Following the invasion, tadpoles from invaded populations develop faster than those from non-invaded populations. This ontogenetic shift overwhelmed the intraspecific variation between populations in a few generations, to the point where invaded populations develop at a similar rate regardless of climate. Rapid development can have costs, as fast-developing froglets have a smaller body size and poorer jumping performance, but compensatory growth counteracts some costs of development acceleration. Strong selection by invasive species can disrupt local adaptations by dampening intraspecific phenotypic variation, with complex consequences on lifetime fitness.
Magnetic-field-induced insulator–metal transition in W-doped VO2 at 500 T
Authors: Matsuda Yasuhiro H. , Nakamura Daisuke , Ikeda Akihiko , Takeyama Shojiro , Suga Yuki , Nakahara Hayato , Muraoka Yuji
Published: July 2020

Metal–insulator (MI) transitions in correlated electron systems have long been a central and controversial issue in material science. Vanadium dioxide (VO2) exhibits a first-order MI transition at 340 K. For more than half a century, it has been debated whether electron correlation or the structural instability due to dimerised V ions is the more essential driving force behind this MI transition. Here, we show that an ultrahigh magnetic field of 500 T renders the insulator phase of tungsten (W)-doped VO2 metallic. The spin Zeeman effect on the d electrons of the V ions dissociates the dimers in the insulating phase, resulting in the delocalisation of electrons. As the Mott–Hubbard gap essentially does not depend on the spin degree of freedom, the structural instability is likely to be the more essential driving force behind the MI transition.
Anthropogenic stressors impact fish sensory development and survival via thyroid disruption
Authors: Besson Marc , Feeney William E. , Moniz Isadora , François Loïc , Brooker Rohan M. , Holzer Guillaume , Metian Marc , Roux Natacha , Laudet Vincent , Lecchini David
Published: July 2020

Larval metamorphosis and recruitment represent critical life-history transitions for most teleost fishes. While the detrimental effects of anthropogenic stressors on the behavior and survival of recruiting fishes are well-documented, the physiological mechanisms that underpin these patterns remain unclear. Here, we use pharmacological treatments to highlight the role that thyroid hormones (TH) play in sensory development and determining anti-predator responses in metamorphosing convict surgeonfish, Acanthurus triostegus. We then show that high doses of a physical stressor (increased temperature of +3 °C) and a chemical stressor (the pesticide chlorpyrifos at 30 µg L−1) induced similar defects by decreasing fish TH levels and affecting their sensory development. Stressor-exposed fish experienced higher predation; however, their ability to avoid predation improved when they received supplemental TH. Our results highlight that two different anthropogenic stressors can affect critical developmental and ecological transitions via the same physiological pathway. This finding provides a unifying mechanism to explain past results and underlines the profound threat anthropogenic stressors pose to fish communities.
Cross-species oncogenic signatures of breast cancer in canine mammary tumors
Authors: Kim Tae-Min , Yang In Seok , Seung Byung-Joon , Lee Sejoon , Kim Dohyun , Ha Yoo-Jin , Seo Mi-kyoung , Kim Ka-Kyung , Kim Hyun Seok , Cheong Jae-Ho , Sur Jung-Hyang , Nam Hojung , Kim Sangwoo
Published: July 2020

Genomic and precision medicine research has afforded notable advances in human cancer treatment, yet applicability to other species remains uncertain. Through whole-exome and transcriptome analyses of 191 spontaneous canine mammary tumors (CMTs) that exhibit the archetypal features of human breast cancers, we found a striking resemblance of genomic characteristics including frequentPIK3CAmutations (43.1%), aberrations of the PI3K-Akt pathway (61.7%), and key genes involved in cancer initiation and progression. We also identified three gene expression-based CMT subtypes, one of which segregated with basal-like human breast cancer subtypes with activated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, low claudin expression, and unfavorable disease prognosis. A relative lack ofERBB2amplification and Her2-enrichment subtype in CMT denoted species-specific molecular mechanisms. Taken together, our results elucidate cross-species oncogenic signatures for a better understanding of universal and context-dependent mechanisms in breast cancer development and provide a basis for precision diagnostics and therapeutics for domestic dogs.
Negative spin Hall magnetoresistance of normal metal/ferromagnet bilayers
Authors: Kang Min-Gu , Go Gyungchoon , Kim Kyoung-Whan , Choi Jong-Guk , Park Byong-Guk , Lee Kyung-Jin
Published: July 2020

Interconversion between charge and spin through spin-orbit coupling lies at the heart of condensed-matter physics. In normal metal/ferromagnet bilayers, a concerted action of the interconversions, the spin Hall effect and its inverse effect of normal metals, results in spin Hall magnetoresistance, whose sign is always positive regardless of the sign of spin Hall conductivity of normal metals. Here we report that the spin Hall magnetoresistance of Ta/NiFe bilayers is negative, necessitating an additional interconversion process. Our theory shows that the interconversion owing to interfacial spin-orbit coupling at normal metal/ferromagnet interfaces can give rise to negative spin Hall magnetoresistance. Given that recent studies found the conversion from charge currents to spin currents at normal metal/ferromagnet interfaces, our work provides a missing proof of its reciprocal spin-current-to-charge-current conversion at same interface. Our result suggests that interfacial spin-orbit coupling effect can dominate over bulk effects, thereby demanding interface engineering for advanced spintronics devices.
Breaking Earth’s shell into a global plate network
Authors: Tang C. A. , Webb A. A. G. , Moore W. B. , Wang Y. Y. , Ma T. H. , Chen T. T.
Published: July 2020

The initiation mechanism of Earth’s plate tectonic cooling system remains uncertain. A growing consensus suggests that multi-plate tectonics was preceded by cooling through a single-plate lithosphere, but models for how this lithosphere was first broken into plates have not converged on a mechanism or a typical early plate scale. A commonality among prior efforts is the use of continuum mechanics approximations to evaluate this solid mechanics problem. Here we use 3D spherical shell models to demonstrate a self-organized fracture mechanism analogous to thermal expansion-driven lithospheric uplift, in which globe-spanning rifting occurs as a consequence of horizontal extension. Resultant fracture spacing is a function of lithospheric thickness and rheology, wherein geometrically-regular, polygonal-shaped tessellation is an energetically favored solution because it minimizes total crack length. Therefore, warming of the early lithosphere itself—as anticipated by previous studies—should lead to failure, propagating fractures, and the conditions necessary for the onset of multi-plate tectonics.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves Parkinson’s freezing of gait via normalizing brain connectivity
Authors: Mi Tao-Mian , Garg Saurabh , Ba Fang , Liu Ai-Ping , Liang Pei-Peng , Gao Lin-Lin , Jia Qian , Xu Er-He , Li Kun-Cheng , Chan Piu , McKeown Martin J.
Published: July 2020

Robust, effective treatments for Parkinson’s freezing of gait remain elusive. Our previous study revealed beneficial effects of high-frequency rTMS over the supplementary motor area. The present study aims to explore the neural mechanisms of rTMS treatments utilizing novel exploratory multivariate approaches. We first conducted a resting-state functional MRI study with a group of 40 Parkinson’s disease patients with freezing of gait, 31 without freezing of gait, and 30 normal controls. A subset of 30 patients with freezing of gait (verum group: N = 20; sham group: N = 10) who participated the aforementioned rTMS study underwent another scan after the treatments. Using the baseline scans, the imaging biomarkers for freezing of gait and Parkinson’s disease were developed by contrasting the connectivity profiles of patients with freezing of gait to those without freezing of gait and normal controls, respectively. These two biomarkers were then interrogated to assess the rTMS effects on connectivity patterns. Results showed that the freezing of gait biomarker was negatively correlated with Freezing of Gait Questionnaire score (r = −0.6723, p < 0.0001); while the Parkinson’s disease biomarker was negatively correlated with MDS-UPDRS motor score (r = −0.7281, p < 0.0001). After the rTMS treatment, both the freezing of gait biomarker (0.326 ± 0.125 vs. 0.486 ± 0.193, p = 0.0071) and Parkinson’s disease biomarker (0.313 ± 0.126 vs. 0.379 ± 0.155, p = 0.0378) were significantly improved in the verum group; whereas no significant biomarker changes were found in the sham group. Our findings indicate that high-frequency rTMS over the supplementary motor area confers the beneficial effect jointly through normalizing abnormal brain functional connectivity patterns specifically associated with freezing of gait, in addition to normalizing overall disrupted connectivity patterns seen in Parkinson’s disease.
Thermocatalytic membrane distillation for clean water production
Authors: Janowska Katarzyna , Boffa Vittorio , Jørgensen Mads Koustrup , Quist-Jensen Cejna Anna , Hubac Fabien , Deganello Francesca , Coelho Fabrício E. Bortot , Magnacca Giuliana
Published: July 2020

Natural water bodies and treated wastewaters contain an increasing variety of organic micropollutants with a negative impact on ecosystems and human health. Herein, we propose an integrated process based on membrane distillation and advanced oxidation, in which thermal energy is simultaneously used to drive the permeation of pure water through a hydrophobic membrane and to activate the generation of reactive oxygen species by a thermocatalytic perovskite, namely Ce-doped strontium ferrate. At a feed temperature of 65 °C, our thermocatalytic distillation apparatus can effectively retain and degrade bisphenol A, as model pollutant, while producing distilled water at the constant rate of 1.60 ± 0.03 L h−1 m−2, over four continuous runs. Moreover, the membrane makes degradation faster by concentrating the pollutant during filtration. Our technology is effective in the production of pure water without creating a toxic concentrate, it relies on simple process design, and it does not require high pressure or additional chemicals. In addition, it can potentially work continuously driven by renewable thermal energies or waste heat.
Uncertainties in projections of sandy beach erosion due to sea level rise: an analysis at the European scale
Authors: Athanasiou Panagiotis , van Dongeren Ap , Giardino Alessio , Vousdoukas Michalis I. , Ranasinghe Roshanka , Kwadijk Jaap
Published: July 2020

Sea level rise (SLR) will cause shoreline retreat of sandy coasts in the absence of sand supply mechanisms. These coasts have high touristic and ecological value and provide protection of valuable infrastructures and buildings to storm impacts. So far, large-scale assessments of shoreline retreat use specific datasets or assumptions for the geophysical representation of the coastal system, without any quantification of the effect that these choices might have on the assessment. Here we quantify SLR driven potential shoreline retreat and consequent coastal land loss in Europe during the twenty-first century using different combinations of geophysical datasets for (a) the location and spatial extent of sandy beaches and (b) their nearshore slopes. Using data-based spatially-varying nearshore slope data, a European averaged SLR driven median shoreline retreat of 97 m (54 m) is projected under RCP 8.5 (4.5) by year 2100, relative to the baseline year 2010. This retreat would translate to 2,500 km2 (1,400 km2) of coastal land loss (in the absence of ambient shoreline changes). A variance-based global sensitivity analysis indicates that the uncertainty associated with the choice of geophysical datasets can contribute up to 45% (26%) of the variance in coastal land loss projections for Europe by 2050 (2100). This contribution can be as high as that associated with future mitigation scenarios and SLR projections.
Anomalous Last Interglacial Tyrrhenian sea levels and Neanderthal settling at Guattari and Moscerini caves (central Italy)
Authors: Marra F. , Rolfo M. F. , Gaeta M. , Florindo F.
Published: July 2020

We present a geological-stratigraphical study aimed to provide chronologic constraints to the sea-level markers occurring at two coastal caves of central Italy (Grotta Guattari and Grotta dei Moscerini) and to the Neanderthal frequentation of these caves, in the light of recent archaeological and geomorphological-geochronological studies suggesting similar sea levels during MIS 5.5 and MIS 5.3, and only few m below the Present during MIS 5.1 in this region. Based on the review of previous literature data, combined with new stratigraphic observations at Grotta Guattari and re-analysis of archive material including unpublished field notes from Grotta dei Moscerini, we reconstruct a plausible sea-level history accounting for the lithological and paleoenvironmental features of their sedimentary fillings. In particular, we outline the abundant occurrence of well-rounded pumice clasts within the sedimentary deposits of Moscerini Cave, attesting for the proximity to the beach where this pumice was gathered by wave action. Through the petrographic and geochemical analysis of this pumice we evidence provenance from Phlegraean Fields and Ischia Island volcanic districts, framing their chronology in the time span 118–40 ka, consistent with literature ESR-U/Th dates providing ages ranging 101 ± 5–74 ± 7 ka for the sedimentary filling of both Moscerini and Guattari caves.