bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of non-Hermitian Hamiltonian model in open quantum optical systems*
Authors: Wang Hong , Qin Yue , Ma Jingxu , Shen Heng , Hu Ying , Jia Xiaojun
Published: January 2021

Non-Hermitian systems have observed numerous novel phenomena and might lead to various applications. Unlike standard quantum physics, the conservation of energy guaranteed by the closed system is broken in the non-Hermitian system, and the energy can be exchanged between the system and the environment. Here we present a scheme for simulating the dissipative phase transition with an open quantum optical system. The competition between the coherent interaction and dissipation leads to the second-order phase transition. Furthermore, the quantum correlation in terms of squeezing is studied around the critical point. Our work may provide a new route to explore the non-Hermitian quantum physics with feasible techniques in experiments.
Groundwater age of spring discharges under changing permafrost conditions: the Khangai Mountains in central Mongolia
Authors: Hiyama Tetsuya , Dashtseren Avirmed , Asai Kazuyoshi , Kanamori Hironari , Iijima Yoshihiro , Ishikawa Mamoru
Published: January 2021

Obtaining a better understanding of groundwater dynamics in permafrost zones is a critical issue in permafrost hydrology. This includes assessing the impacts of climate change on permafrost thaw and ground ice-melt. Both permafrost thaw and ground ice-melt can be related to groundwater discharges (i.e. spring discharges), and spring water is an important local water resource; accordingly, changes in these processes can have large impacts on local people and their subsistence activities. To detect permafrost thaw and ground ice-melt in the permafrost zone of Mongolia, groundwater ages of several spring discharges were determined using two transient tracers: tritium (3H) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Spring water samples were collected seasonally from 2015 to 2019 at seven spring sites around the Khangai Mountains in central Mongolia. The sites included two thermokarst landscapes on the northern and southern sides of the mountains. The 3H and CFC concentrations in the spring water in the thermokarst landscapes were very low, especially on the southern side of the mountains, and the estimated mean groundwater age for these sites was older than that for the other sampled springs. Consequently, the young water ratios of the thermokarst sites were lower than those for the other springs. This ratio, however, showed a gradual increase with time, which indicates that recently recharged rainwater began to contribute to the spring discharge at the thermokarst sites. An atmospheric water budget analysis indicated that net recharge from modern and recent precipitation to shallow groundwater in the summer season was almost zero on the southern side of the mountains. Thus, we inferred that the spring water at the thermokarst sites on the southern side of the mountains contained large amounts of ground ice-melt water.
Nucleic acid detection and quantitative analysis of influenza virus using exhaled breath condensate
Authors: Li Xiaoguang , Wang Minfei , Chen Jing , Lin Fei , Wang Wei
Published: January 2021

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is increasingly being used as a non-invasive method for disease diagnosis and environmental exposure assessment. We previously detected the nucleic acids of bacterial pathogens in EBC. Influenza viruses can be transmitted through aerosols during coughing and exhaling. Existing detection methods for influenza have various limitations. The EBC collection method is convenient, non-invasive, and reduces the risk of exposure. We investigated the detection of influenza virus in EBC using a sensitive nucleic acid testing method and performed quantitative analysis to evaluate the present and content of influenza virus in the breath. We evaluated 30 patients with respiratory tract infection during the 2019 influenza season. The clinical data and samples of nasal swabs were collected for rapid influenza diagnostic (antigen) tests. Pharyngeal swab and EBC samples were used for influenza virus nucleic acid detection. Each EBC sample was assessed twice as well as at one-month follow-up of the patients. The nucleic acid test in the EBC of 30 cases revealed 20 and two cases of influenza A and B, respectively, giving a detection rate of 73.3%. The rapid influenza diagnostic (antigen) tests revealed four and 12 cases of influenza A and B, respectively, with a detection rate of 53.3%. All pharyngeal swab samples evaluated by the nucleic acid test were influenza-positive; 12 cases were positive for both influenza A and B and 18 cases were positive for influenza B alone. The influenza viral load in the EBC was 103–107 copies ml−1. Among the 16 patients followed-up after 1 month, 4 were positive (25%) in EBC samples and 10 were positive (62.5%) in pharyngeal swab samples. It was preliminary exploration that influenza virus could be detected in EBC. EBC is one of the sample types that would be used for molecular diagnosis of influenza.
Exhaled volatile organic compounds detect pulmonary exacerbations early in children with cystic fibrosis: results of a 1 year observational pilot study
Authors: van Horck Marieke , Smolinska Agnieszka , Wesseling Geertjan , de Winter - de Groot Karin , de Vreede Ilja , Winkens Bjorn , Jöbsis Quirijn , Dallinga Jan , Dompeling Edward , van Schooten Frederik-Jan
Published: January 2021

In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) have an important influence on well-being, quality of life, and lung function decline. Early detection combined with early treatment may prevent severe PEx. To determine whether early detection of PEx is possible by non-invasive markers (volatile organic compounds) in exhaled breath. In a 1 year prospective observational pilot study, 49 children with CF were studied. At clinical visits with an interval of 2 months, lung function, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath by means of gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry, and medication use were assessed. PEx were recorded. Random forest (RF) classification modelling was used to select discriminatory VOCs, followed by building of receiver operating characteristic curves. An inverse relation between the predictive power of a set of VOCs and time between exhaled breath sampling and the onset of PEx was found. When this time period was within 7 d, the RF model with the nine most discriminatory VOCs was able to correctly predict 79% of the children with an upcoming PEx or remaining stable (sensitivity 79% and specificity 78%). This result was validated by means of bootstrapping within the RF classification model. PEx in children with CF can be detected at an early stage by means of exhaled VOCs. The highest predictive value was reached if time between sampling and the onset of an exacerbation was no longer than 7 d.
Homological mirror symmetry without correction
Authors: Abouzaid Mohammed
Published: January 2021

Let

X
X

be a closed symplectic manifold equipped with a Lagrangian torus fibration over a base

Q
Q

. A construction first considered by Kontsevich and Soibelman produces from this data a rigid analytic space

Y
Y

, which can be considered as a variant of the

T
T

-dual introduced by Strominger, Yau, and Zaslow. We prove that the Fukaya category of tautologically unobstructed graded Lagrangians in

X
X

embeds fully faithfully in the derived category of (twisted) coherent sheaves on

Y
Y

, under the technical assumption that

π
2

(
Q
)

\pi _2(Q)

vanishes (all known examples satisfy this assumption). The main new tool is the construction and computation of Floer cohomology groups of Lagrangian fibres equipped with topological infinite rank local systems that correspond, under mirror symmetry, to the affinoid rings introduced by Tate, equipped with their natural topologies as Banach algebras.
An algorithmic approach to Chevalley’s Theorem on images of rational morphisms between affine varieties
Authors: Barakat Mohamed , Lange-Hegermann Markus
Published: January 2021

The goal of this paper is to introduce a new constructive geometric proof of the affine version of Chevalley’s Theorem. This proof is algorithmic and a verbatim implementation resulted in an efficient code for computing the constructible image of rational maps between affine varieties. Our approach extends the known descriptions of uniform matrix product states touMPS⁡(2,2,5)\operatorname {uMPS}(2,2,5).
Complementary and divergent functions of zebrafish Tango1 and Ctage5 in tissue development and homeostasis
Authors: Clark Eric M. , Link Brian A.
Published: January 2021

In this genetic study, Ctage5 and Tango1 endoplasmic reticulum cargo receptors were investigated together in vivo for the first time. Cell differentiation, survival, trafficking, and stress pathway activation were examined.
Engaging People in Tobacco Prevention and Cessation: Reflecting Back Over 20 Years Since the Master Settlement Agreement
Authors: Graham Amanda L
Published: January 2021

Over the past 20 years, tobacco prevention and cessation efforts have evolved to keep pace with the changing tobacco product landscape and the widespread adoption of digital technologies. In 2019, Truth Initiative was awarded the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Jessie Gruman Award for Health Engagement in recognition of the major role it has played on both fronts since its inception in 1999. This manuscript reviews the challenges and opportunities that have emerged over the past two decades, the evolving tactics deployed by Truth Initiative to engage people in tobacco prevention and cessation efforts, the approaches used to evaluate those efforts, and key achievements. It concludes with a summary of lessons learned and considerations for tobacco control researchers and practitioners to accelerate their impact on public health.
Riding the Wave of Digital Transformation in Behavioral Medicine
Authors: Hesse Bradford W
Published: January 2021

Background

Digital technologies provide a platform for accelerating science and broadening impact in behavioral medicine.

Purpose

The objective of this invited keynote presentation or paper is to offer a blueprint for navigating the rapidly changing waters of digital health.

Methods

A strategic literature review on digital health technologies in behavioral medicine was combined with a review of relevant policy initiatives to yield insights on: (a) knowledge building, (b) collaboration, and (c) public health stewardship.

Results

Digital platforms offer unprecedented leverage for accelerating science, facilitating collaboration, and advancing public health. Early successes in behavioral medicine demonstrated how digital platforms could extend the reach of theory-based behavioral therapeutics through increases in efficiency and scale. As medical investments in health information technology increased, the field of behavioral informatics emerged as the collaborative glue binding behavioral theory into a new generation of patient-facing applications, clinical decision support tools, evidence-based communication programs, and population health management strategies. As a leader within the interstitial space between medicine, psychology, and engineering, the Society of Behavioral Medicine is in a distinct position to exert influence on the ways in which our science is utilized to eliminate health disparities; improve support for patients, caregivers, and communities; to promote general health and well-being; and to offer relief when confronted with psychological pain or addiction.

Conclusion

Riding the wave of digital transformation has less to do with mastering the complexities of the latest technologies and more to do with adhering closely to established principles for navigating a rapidly changing information environment.
Artificial Intelligence and Behavioral Science Through the Looking Glass: Challenges for Real-World Application
Authors: Mac Aonghusa Pol , Michie Susan
Published: January 2021

Background

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the process of scientific research. AI, coupled with availability of large datasets and increasing computational power, is accelerating progress in areas such as genetics, climate change and astronomy [NeurIPS 2019 Workshop Tackling Climate Change with Machine Learning, Vancouver, Canada; Hausen R, Robertson BE. Morpheus: A deep learning framework for the pixel-level analysis of astronomical image data. Astrophys J Suppl Ser. 2020;248:20; Dias R, Torkamani A. AI in clinical and genomic diagnostics. Genome Med. 2019;11:70.]. The application of AI in behavioral science is still in its infancy and realizing the promise of AI requires adapting current practices.

Purposes

By using AI to synthesize and interpret behavior change intervention evaluation report findings at a scale beyond human capability, the HBCP seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of research activities. We explore challenges facing AI adoption in behavioral science through the lens of lessons learned during the Human Behaviour-Change Project (HBCP).

Methods

The project used an iterative cycle of development and testing of AI algorithms. Using a corpus of published research reports of randomized controlled trials of behavioral interventions, behavioral science experts annotated occurrences of interventions and outcomes. AI algorithms were trained to recognize natural language patterns associated with interventions and outcomes from the expert human annotations. Once trained, the AI algorithms were used to predict outcomes for interventions that were checked by behavioral scientists.

Results

Intervention reports contain many items of information needing to be extracted and these are expressed in hugely variable and idiosyncratic language used in research reports to convey information makes developing algorithms to extract all the information with near perfect accuracy impractical. However, statistical matching algorithms combined with advanced machine learning approaches created reasonably accurate outcome predictions from incomplete data.

Conclusions

AI holds promise for achieving the goal of predicting outcomes of behavior change interventions, based on information that is automatically extracted from intervention evaluation reports. This information can be used to train knowledge systems using machine learning and reasoning algorithms.
Longitudinal Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Multidimensional Sleep Health: The SWAN Sleep Study
Authors: Bowman Marissa A , Kline Christopher E , Buysse Daniel J , Kravitz Howard M , Joffe Hadine , Matthews Karen A , Bromberger Joyce T , Roecklein Kathryn A , Krafty Robert T , Hall Martica H
Published: January 2021

Background

Depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances disproportionately affect midlife women. While there may be a bidirectional association, few studies have examined whether depressive symptoms are longitudinally associated with subsequent sleep. Sleep is typically considered unidimensional, despite emerging evidence that multidimensional sleep health provides novel information on the sleep–health link.

Purpose

The current study examined whether higher depressive symptoms were longitudinally associated with poorer multidimensional sleep health.

Method

Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale across six to nine annual assessments in 302 midlife women from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Six months after their last assessment, actigraphy (mean ± standard deviation = 29.3 ± 6.9 days) and self-report were used to assess sleep health components: efficiency, duration, mid-sleep timing, regularity, alertness, and satisfaction, which were dichotomized and summed to create a composite multidimensional sleep health score. Mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and multidimensional sleep health, as well as individual sleep health components, adjusting for covariates. Exploratory analyses stratified models by race/ethnicity.

Results

Higher depressive symptoms were associated with subsequent poorer multidimensional sleep health (p < .0.001) and lower alertness (p < .0001) and satisfaction with sleep (p < .0001).

Conclusions

Our finding that higher average depressive symptoms were associated longitudinally with actigraphy-measured poorer sleep health in midlife women is novel and converges with the larger body of evidence that these two common symptoms are strongly associated. The bidirectional relationship between these two prevalent symptoms needs to be studied in prospective longitudinal studies.
Homeownership, Legal Administration, And The Uncertainties Of Inheritance In South Africa’s Townships: Apartheid’s Legal Shadows
Authors: Bolt Maxim
Published: January 2021

Expanded homeownership in Johannesburg’s townships offered the prospect of post-apartheid formal inclusion. Yet allocation of title to former rental homes has been characterized by a profound lack of normative consensus regarding ownership or inheritance. In bitter disputes over houses, appeals to law jostle and interweave with claims in a customary register. In much regional scholarship, normative pluralism provides a point of departure for understanding disagreement of this kind. This article proposes an alternative perspective by examining how dissensus is mediated and given shape by a legal–administrative process. Law becomes inchoate in layers of bureaucratic encounter, while contested claims to custom are sharpened at the interface with bureaucracy. In South Africa, taking administration as a starting point reveals the long shadows of apartheid in concrete experiences of the law, in extra-legal understandings, and in the very terms of contestation among kin. Illuminating the little-explored topic of urban property inheritance, the perspective has broader implications for understanding inequality. Inclusion through homeownership is a form of ‘adverse incorporation’ marked by official opacity, diffidence regarding the law, stratifying administrative dualism, and uncertainty about the parameters of ownership and inheritance.
The COVID rehabilitation paradox: why we need to protect and develop geriatric rehabilitation services in the face of the pandemic
Authors: Grund Stefan , Gordon Adam L , Bauer Jürgen M , Achterberg Wilco P , Schols Jos M G A
Published: January 2021

Older multi-morbid persons often fall seriously ill due to COVID-19. To be able to participate in a social life again, they often need special rehabilitation measures. Geriatric rehabilitation is a multi-professional service geared to these needs. Paradoxically, however, capacities in geriatric rehabilitation are currently being reduced despite increasing demand. The reasons are manifold and are not only due to the current situation. This article highlights the current situation leading to the COVID rehabilitation paradox and shows ways to learn from it for the future.
Leveraging pharmacists to maintain and extend buprenorphine supply for opioid use disorder amid COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Peckham Alyssa M , Ball Jennifer , Colvard Michelle D , Dadiomov David , Hill Lucas G , Nichols Stephanie D , Tallian Kimberly , Ventricelli Daniel J , Tran Tran H
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Strategies for deploying clinical pharmacists to increase access to buprenorphine in inpatient, outpatient and transitional care, and community practice settings are described.

Access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is essential, but patients face many barriers when pursuing treatment and MOUD. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has compounded the opioid crisis and worsened outcomes by introducing new barriers to MOUD access. Many strategies to ensure continued access to MOUD have been described, but the role of leveraging pharmacists during the opioid/COVID-19 syndemic to improve medication access and outcomes remains underappreciated. Pharmacists, while both qualified and capable of liberalizing access to all forms of MOUD, may have the strongest impact by increasing access to buprenorphine. Herein, we present progressive strategies to maintain and extend buprenorphine access for patients with OUD through deployment of clinical pharmacists, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which access may be further restricted.

Conclusion

Leveraging pharmacists to extend access to MOUD, particularly buprenorphine, remains an underutilized strategy that should be implemented, particularly during the concurrent COVID-19 global pandemic.
A Systematic Review of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) in Alcohol Research
Authors: Canning Jessica R , Schallert Macey R , Larimer Mary E
Published: January 2021

Risk-taking propensity has been crucial to the investigation of alcohol use and consequences. One measure, the balloon analogue risk task (BART), has been used consistently over the past two decades. However, it is unclear how this measure is related to alcohol outcomes. This paper systematically reviews the literature on the BART and alcohol outcomes. First, direct associations between the BART and alcohol use are reviewed including correlations, group comparisons, the BART’s prediction of alcohol outcomes and BART performance after consuming alcohol. Then, potential moderators that explain when and for whom the BART is related to alcohol outcomes are reviewed. Finally, potential mechanisms that explain how the BART and alcohol outcomes are related are reviewed. This review reveals patterns in the BART suggesting risk-taking propensity may be related to changes in alcohol use over time; however, there is little evidence to suggest BART scores increase after consuming alcohol. Yet, additional research suggests adjusted average pump scores may be too simplistic for the amount of information the BART captures and understanding individual’s patterns of responses on the BART is important for investigating its relation to alcohol outcomes. Finally, this review opens up several future directions for research to understand how risk-taking propensity is related to alcohol outcomes.
Creativity is a Toaster: Experimental Evidence on How Multilinguals Process Novel Metaphors
Authors: Werkmann Horvat Ana , Bolognesi Marianna , Kohl Katrin
Published: January 2021

This article investigates the connection between multilingual experiences and creative metaphoric competence. As multilingualism has been shownto bring cognitive advantages in creative thinking, this article explores whether the ability to interpret creative metaphors differs in participants with less versus more multilingual experience. The results of a self-paced reading study combined with a sensicality judgment showed that people with less versus more multilingual experience process metaphors evaluated as being (i) less or (ii) more creative quite similarly in terms of reading times; however, the groups differ significantly in their judgments of semantic sensicality for the more creative metaphors. Although in the case of less creative metaphors groups do not differ, in the case of more creative metaphors, people with more multilingual experience are more likely to say that the metaphor makes sense. We interpret these findings as showing that people with more multilingual experience access the nonsalient semantic features of the concepts compared in the metaphor with less effort and can employ richer semantic representations, which complements previous research on multilingualism and cognitive flexibility.
Synthesis of (12R,13S)-pyriculariol and (12R,13S)-dihydropyriculariol revealed that the rice blast fungus, Pyricularia oryzae, produces these phytotoxins as racemates
Authors: Nagashima Yuta , Sasaki Ayaka , Hiraoka Ryoya , Onoda Yuko , Tanaka Koji , Wang Zi-Yi , Kuwana Atsuki , Sato Yuki , Suzuki Yuji , Izumi Minoru , Kuwahara Shigefumi , Nukina Manabu , Kiyota Hiromasa
Published: January 2021

Synthesis of assumed natural (12R,13S)-enantiomers of pyriculariol (1) and dihydropyriculariol (2), phytotoxins isolated from rice blast disease fungus, Pyricularia oryzae, was achieved using Wittig reaction or microwave-assisted Stille coupling reaction as the key step. The synthesis revealed that the natural 1 and 2 are racemates. Foliar application test on a rice leaf indicated that both the salicylaldehyde core and side chain were necessary for phytotoxic activity. The fungus is found to produce optically active phytotoxins when incubated with rotary shaker, but racemic ones when cultured using an aerated jar fermenter.
Regioselective hydroxylation and dehydrogenation of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin by cultured cells of Phytolacca americana
Authors: Shimoda Kei , Ono Tsubasa , Hamada Hiroki
Published: January 2021

The biotransformations of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin were investigated using cultured plant cells of Phytolacca americana as biocatalysts. Four products, ie 15-hydroxycapsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, 15-hydroxydihydrocapsaicin, and capsaicin 4-β-glucoside, were isolated from the suspension cultures of P. americana treated with capsaicin for 3 days, showing that capsaicin was regioselectively hydroxylated, reduced, and glucosylated by cultured P. americana cells. On the other hand, dihydrocapsaicin was regioselectively dehydrogenated, hydroxylated, reduced, and glucosylated to give four products, ie capsaicin, 15-hydroxycapsaicin, 15-hydroxydihydrocapsaicin, and capsaicin 4-β-glucoside, by cultured P. americana cells. In this paper, it is reported, for the first time, that dihydrocapsaicin is converted into 15-hydroxydihydrocapsaicin by plant cultured cells.
Heterologous production of new protease inhibitory peptide marinostatin E
Authors: Unno Kohta , Nakagawa Hiroyuki , Kodani Shinya
Published: January 2021

Bicyclic peptides, marinostatins, are protease inhibitors derived from the marine bacterium Algicola sagamiensis. The biosynthetic gene cluster of marinostatin was previously identified, although no heterologous production was reported. In this report, the biosynthetic gene cluster of marinostatin (mstA and mstB) was cloned into the expression vector pET-41a(+). As a result of the coexpression experiment, a new analogous peptide named marinostatin E was successfully produced using Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The structure of marinostatin E was determined by a combination of chemical treatments and tandem mass spectrometry experiments. Marinostatin E exhibited inhibitory activities against chymotrypsin and subtilisin with an IC50 of 4.0 and 39.6 μm, respectively.
SQAP, an acyl sulfoquinovosyl derivative, suppresses expression of histone deacetylase and induces cell death of cancer cells under hypoxic conditions
Authors: Kawakubo Hirofumi , Kamisuki Shinji , Suzuki Kei , Izaguirre-Carbonell Jesus , Saito Shiki , Murata Hiroshi , Tanabe Atsushi , Hongo Ayumi , Murakami Hironobu , Matsunaga Sachihiro , Sakaguchi Kengo , Sahara Hiroeki , Sugawara Fumio , Kuramochi Kouji
Published: January 2021

Sulfoglycolipid, SQAP, is a radiosensitizing agent that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. A previous study revealed that SQAP induced the degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and inhibited angiogenesis in a hepatoma model mouse. Herein, we examined the biological activities of SQAP against hepatocarcinoma cells under low oxygen conditions. Cell growth inhibition of SQAP under hypoxic conditions was significantly higher than that under normoxic conditions. In addition, SQAP was found to impair the expression of histone deacetylase (HDAC) under low oxygen conditions. Our present data suggested that SQAP induced the degradation of HIF-1α and then decreased the expression of HDAC1. Unlike known HDAC inhibitors, SQAP increased the acetylation level of histone in cells without inhibition of enzymatic activity of HDACs. Our data demonstrated hypoxia-specific unique properties of SQAP.
Enantioselective synthesis and stereochemical determination of the highly reduced polyketide ishigamide
Authors: Seo Mitsuki , Du Danyao , Katsuyama Yohei , Katsuta Ryo , Yajima Arata , Nukada Tomoo , Ohnishi Yasuo , Ishigami Ken
Published: January 2021

Ishigamide was isolated as a metabolite of a recombinant strain of Streptomyces sp. MSC090213JE08 and its unsaturated fatty acid moiety has been confirmed in vitro to be synthesized by a type II PKS. Biosynthesis of such a highly reduced polyketide by a type II PKS is worthy of note. However, absolute configuration of ishigamide remained unknown. (R)-Ishigamide was synthesized enantioselectively employing Stille coupling and Wittig reaction between three units, vinyl iodide, stannyldienal, and Wittig salt. Stereochemistry of natural ishigamide was determined to be R by chiral HPLC analysis comparing with the synthesized standard.
Effects of side chain length of 10-methyl-aplog-1, a simplified analog of debromoaplysiatoxin, on PKC binding, anti-proliferative, and pro-inflammatory activities
Authors: Gonda Atsuko , Takada Koji , Yanagita Ryo C , Dan Shingo , Irie Kazuhiro
Published: January 2021

10-Methyl-aplog-1 (1), a simplified analog of debromoaplysiatoxin, exhibits a high binding affinity for protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes and potent antiproliferative activity against several cancer cells with few adverse effects. A recent study has suggested that its phenol group in the side chain is involved in hydrogen bonding and CH/π interactions with the binding cleft-forming loops in the PKCδ-C1B domain. To clarify the effects of the side chain length on these interactions, four analogs of 1 with various lengths of side chains (2-5) were prepared. The maximal PKC binding affinity and antiproliferative activity were observed in 1. Remarkably, the introduction of a bromine atom into the phenol group of 2 increased not only these activities but also proinflammatory activity. These results indicated that 1 has the optimal side chain length as an anticancer seed. This conclusion was supported by docking simulations of 1-5 to the PKCδ-C1B domain.
Synthesis of both enantiomers of lycoperdic acid, an unusual mushroom-derived amino acid
Authors: Katsuta Ryo , Ishiuchi Ryutaro , Kunisawa Mikiko , Yajima Arata , Ishigami Ken , Nukada Tomoo
Published: January 2021

An efficient synthesis of both enantiomers of lycoperdic acid, a 4-hydroxyglutamic acid derivative from edible mushroom Lycoperdon perlatum, was achieved from a chiral aminoalcohol. The key steps were a stereoselective introduction of a C3 unit into a bicyclic ketone and oxidative cleavage of a cyclic vicinal diol into a dicarboxylic acid. This report provides the first synthesis of (−)-lycoperdic acid.
Recent advances in chemical ecology: complex interactions mediated by molecules
Authors: Mori Naoki , Noge Koji
Published: January 2021

Chemical ecology is the highly interdisciplinary study of biochemicals that mediate the behavior of organisms and the regulation of physiological changes that alter intraspecific and/or interspecific interactions. Significant advances are often achieved through the collaboration of chemists and biologists working to understand organismal survival strategies with an eye on the development of targeted technologies for controlling agricultural, forestry, medical, and veterinary pests in a sustainable world. We highlight recent advances in chemical ecology from multiple viewpoints and discuss future prospects for applications.
Controlling the production of phytotoxin pyriculol in Pyricularia oryzae by aldehyde reductase
Authors: Furuyama Yuuki , Motoyama Takayuki , Nogawa Toshihiko , Hayashi Toshiaki , Hirota Hiroshi , Kiyota Hiromasa , Kamakura Takashi , Osada Hiroyuki
Published: January 2021

Pyricularia oryzae is one of the most devastating plant pathogens in the world. This fungus produces several secondary metabolites including the phytotoxin pyriculols, which are classified into 2 types: aldehyde form (pyriculol and pyriculariol) and alcohol form (dihydropyriculol and dihydropyriculariol). Although interconversion between the aldehyde form and alcohol form has been predicted, and the PYC10 gene for the oxidation of alcohol form to aldehyde is known, the gene responsible for the reduction of aldehyde to alcohol form is unknown. Furthermore, previous studies have predicted that alcohol analogs are biosynthesized via aldehyde analogs. Herein, we demonstrated that an aldo/keto reductase PYC7 is responsible for the reduction of aldehyde to alcohol congeners. The results indicate that aldehyde analogs are biosynthesized via alcohol analogs, contradicting the previous prediction. The results suggest that P. oryzae controls the amount of pyriculol analogs using two oxidoreductases, PYC7 and PYC10, thereby controlling the bioactivity of the phytotoxin.
A new peptaibol, RK-026A, from the soil fungusTrichodermasp. RK10-F026 by culture condition-dependent screening
Authors: Rawa Mira Syahfriena Amir , Nogawa Toshihiko , Okano Akiko , Futamura Yushi , Nakamura Takemichi , Wahab Habibah A , Osada Hiroyuki
Published: January 2021

A new peptaibol, RK-026A (1) was isolated from a fungus, Trichoderma sp. RK10-F026, along with atroviridin B (2), alamethicin II (3), and polysporin B (4) as a cytotoxic compound, which was selected by principal component analysis of the MS data from 5 different culture conditions. The structure of 1 was determined as a new atroviridin B derivative containing Glu at the 18th residue instead of Gln by NMR and HR-MS analyses including the investigation of detailed MS/MS fragmentations. 1 showed cytotoxicity toward K562 leukemia cells at an IC50 value of 4.1 µm.
A novel translation inhibitor, mersicarpine, inhibits S-phase progression and induces apoptosis in HL60 cells
Authors: Shiobara Tomoko , Nagumo Yoko , Nakajima Rie , Fukuyama Tohru , Yokoshima Satoshi , Usui Takeo
Published: January 2021

Mersicarpine is an aspidosperma alkaloid isolated from the Kopsia genus of plants. Its intriguing structural features have attracted much attention in synthetic organic chemistry, but no biological activity has been reported. Here, we report the effects of mersicarpine on human leukemia cell line HL60. At concentrations above 30 µm, mersicarpine reversibly arrested cell cycle progression in S-phase. At higher concentrations, it induced not only production of reactive oxygen species, but also apoptosis. Macromolecular synthesis assay revealed that mersicarpine specifically inhibits protein synthesis. These results suggest that mersicarpine is a novel translation inhibitor that induces apoptosis.
Complex effects of helper relatedness on female extrapair reproduction in a cooperative breeder
Authors: Hajduk Gabriela K , Cockburn Andrew , Osmond Helen L , Kruuk Loeske E B
Published: January 2021

In cooperatively breeding species, the presence of male helpers in a group often reduces the breeding female’s fidelity to her social partner, possibly because there is more than one potential sire in the group. Using a long-term study of cooperatively breeding superb fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) and records of paternity in 1936 broods, we show that the effect of helpers on rates of extrapair paternity varied according to the helpers’ relatedness to the breeding female. The presence of unrelated male helpers in a group increased average rates of extrapair paternity, from 57% for groups with no unrelated helpers, to 74% with one unrelated helper, to 86% with 2+ unrelated helpers. However, this increase was due in equal part to helpers within the group and males in other groups achieving increased paternity. In contrast, helpers who were sons of the breeding female did not gain paternity, nor did they affect the level of extra-group paternity (which occurred at rates of 60%, 58%, 61% in the presence of 0, 1, 2+ helper sons, respectively). There was no evidence of effects of helpers’ relatedness to the female on nest productivity or nestling performance. Because the presence of helpers per se did not elevate extrapair reproduction rates, our results undermine the “constrained female hypothesis” explanation for an increase in extrapair paternity with helper number in cooperative breeders. However, they indicate that dominant males are disadvantaged by breeding in “cooperative” groups. The reasons why the presence of unrelated helpers, but not of helper-sons, results in higher rates of extra-group reproduction are not clear.
Implementing FAIR data management within the German Network for Bioinformatics Infrastructure (de.NBI) exemplified by selected use cases
Authors: Mayer Gerhard , Müller Wolfgang , Schork Karin , Uszkoreit Julian , Weidemann Andreas , Wittig Ulrike , Rey Maja , Quast Christian , Felden Janine , Glöckner Frank Oliver , Lange Matthias , Arend Daniel , Beier Sebastian , Junker Astrid , Scholz Uwe , Schüler Danuta , Kestler Hans A , Wibberg Daniel , Pühler Alfred , Twardziok Sven , Eils Jürgen , Eils Roland , Hoffmann Steve , Eisenacher Martin , Turewicz Michael
Published: January 2021

This article describes some use case studies and self-assessments of FAIR status of de.NBI services to illustrate the challenges and requirements for the definition of the needs of adhering to the FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) data principles in a large distributed bioinformatics infrastructure. We address the challenge of heterogeneity of wet lab technologies, data, metadata, software, computational workflows and the levels of implementation and monitoring of FAIR principles within the different bioinformatics sub-disciplines joint in de.NBI. On the one hand, this broad service landscape and the excellent network of experts are a strong basis for the development of useful research data management plans. On the other hand, the large number of tools and techniques maintained by distributed teams renders FAIR compliance challenging.
Bayesian biclustering for microbial metagenomic sequencing data via multinomial matrix factorization
Authors: Zhou Fangting , He Kejun , Li Qiwei , Chapkin Robert S , Ni Yang
Published: January 2021

High-throughput sequencing technology provides unprecedented opportunities to quantitatively explore human gut microbiome and its relation to diseases. Microbiome data are compositional, sparse, noisy, and heterogeneous, which pose serious challenges for statistical modeling. We propose an identifiable Bayesian multinomial matrix factorization model to infer overlapping clusters on both microbes and hosts. The proposed method represents the observed over-dispersed zero-inflated count matrix as Dirichlet-multinomial mixtures on which latent cluster structures are built hierarchically. Under the Bayesian framework, the number of clusters is automatically determined and available information from a taxonomic rank tree of microbes is naturally incorporated, which greatly improves the interpretability of our findings. We demonstrate the utility of the proposed approach by comparing to alternative methods in simulations. An application to a human gut microbiome data set involving patients with inflammatory bowel disease reveals interesting clusters, which contain bacteria families Bacteroidaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Fusobacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Pasteurellaceae, and Porphyromonadaceae that are known to be related to the inflammatory bowel disease and its subtypes according to biological literature. Our findings can help generate potential hypotheses for future investigation of the heterogeneity of the human gut microbiome.
Prioritizing Genetic Contributors to Cortical Alterations in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Using Imaging Transcriptomics
Authors: Forsyth Jennifer K , Mennigen Eva , Lin Amy , Sun Daqiang , Vajdi Ariana , Kushan-Wells Leila , Ching Christopher R K , Villalon-Reina Julio E , Thompson Paul M ,   22q11.2 ENIGMA Consortium, Jonas Rachel K , Pacheco-Hansen Laura , Bakker Geor , van Amelsvoort Therese , Antshel Kevin M , Fremont Wanda , Kates Wendy R , Campbell Linda E , McCabe Kathryn L , Craig Michael C , Daly Eileen , Gudbrandsen Maria , Murphy Clodagh M , Murphy Declan G , Murphy Kieran C , Fiksinski Ania , Koops Sanne , Vorstman Jacob , Crowley T Blaine , Emanuel Beverly S , Gur Raquel E , McDonald-McGinn Donna M , Roalf David R , Ruparel Kosha , Schmitt J Eric , Zackai Elaine H , Durdle Courtney A , Goodrich-Hunsaker Naomi J , Simon Tony J , Bassett Anne S , Butcher Nancy J , Chow Eva W C , Vila-Rodriguez Fidel , Cunningham Adam , Doherty Joanne L , Linden David E , Moss Hayley , Owen Michael J , van den Bree Marianne , Crossley Nicolas A , Repetto Gabriela M , Bearden Carrie E
Published: January 2021

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) results from a hemizygous deletion that typically spans 46 protein-coding genes and is associated with widespread alterations in brain morphology. The specific genetic mechanisms underlying these alterations remain unclear. In the 22q11.2 ENIGMA Working Group, we characterized cortical alterations in individuals with 22q11DS (n = 232) versus healthy individuals (n = 290) and conducted spatial convergence analyses using gene expression data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas to prioritize individual genes that may contribute to altered surface area (SA) and cortical thickness (CT) in 22q11DS. Total SA was reduced in 22q11DS (Z-score deviance = −1.04), with prominent reductions in midline posterior and lateral association regions. Mean CT was thicker in 22q11DS (Z-score deviance = +0.64), with focal thinning in a subset of regions. Regional expression of DGCR8 was robustly associated with regional severity of SA deviance in 22q11DS; AIFM3 was also associated with SA deviance. Conversely, P2RX6 was associated with CT deviance. Exploratory analysis of gene targets of microRNAs previously identified as down-regulated due to DGCR8 deficiency suggested that DGCR8 haploinsufficiency may contribute to altered corticogenesis in 22q11DS by disrupting cell cycle modulation. These findings demonstrate the utility of combining neuroanatomic and transcriptomic datasets to derive molecular insights into complex, multigene copy number variants.
Adaptive Reconfiguration of Intrinsic Community Structure in Children with 5-Year Abacus Training
Authors: Zhang Yi , Wang Chunjie , Yao Yuzhao , Zhou Changsong , Chen Feiyan
Published: January 2021

Human learning can be understood as a network phenomenon, underpinned by the adaptive reconfiguration of modular organization. However, the plasticity of community structure (CS) in resting-state network induced by cognitive intervention has never been investigated. Here, we explored the individual difference of intrinsic CS between children with 5-year abacus-based mental calculation (AMC) training (35 subjects) and their peers without prior experience in AMC (31 subjects). Using permutation-based analysis between subjects in the two groups, we found the significant alteration of intrinsic CS, with training-attenuated individual difference. The alteration of CS focused on selective subsets of cortical regions (“core areas”), predominantly affiliated to the visual, somatomotor, and default-mode subsystems. These subsystems exhibited training-promoted cohesion with attenuated interaction between them, from the perspective of individuals’ CS. Moreover, the cohesion of visual network could predict training-improved math ability in the AMC group, but not in the control group. Finally, the whole network displayed enhanced segregation in the AMC group, including higher modularity index, more provincial hubs, lower participation coefficient, and fewer between-module links, largely due to the segregation of “core areas.” Collectively, our findings suggested that the intrinsic CS could get reconfigured toward more localized processing and segregated architecture after long-term cognitive training.
Adding a Natural Enemy to Respond to Pest Immigration and Delayed Natural Enemy Releases in Augmentative Biological Control
Authors: Vafaie Erfan K , Pemberton H Brent , Gu Mengmeng , Kerns David , Eubanks Micky D , Heinz Kevin M
Published: January 2021

Whether increased natural enemy density or adding a second natural enemy species will provide superior pest suppression in greenhouse augmentative biological control is unknown for many commercially available natural enemy species. In this study, we use sweetpotato whiteflies, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), on poinsettias, Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae), to determine whether adding Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to Eretmocerus eremicus Rose and Zolnerowich (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is better for B. tabaci suppression compared with either natural enemy alone, both with and without challenges with whitefly immigration or delayed natural enemy releases. The number of whiteflies on caged poinsettias treated with different natural enemy release rates (single or double rate), natural enemy species (one or two species), natural enemy delayed release (weeks 4 and 8), and whitefly immigration treatments (introduced at week 4 or week 8) was censused biweekly for 16 wk. Both species used in combination provided similar or better suppression of whiteflies compared with either natural enemy alone. Both species combined also provided superior suppression of whiteflies when challenged with whitefly immigration or delays in natural enemy releases compared with E. eremicus alone. Whitefly immigration or delays in E. eremicus releases did not increase whitefly populations, suggesting that suppression of whiteflies by E. eremicus alone is relatively robust. This study found no evidence for negative interactions between E. eremicus and A. swirskii for suppressing B. tabaci.
The hydroxychloroquine debate: a therapeutic dilemma for general practitioners
Authors: Lutaud Romain , Scronias Dimiti , Ward Jeremy , Verger Pierre
Published: January 2021

France has been at the epicenter of the worldwide debate about hydroxychloroquine, as the main advocacy for its use to treat COVID-19 comes from a research unit led by Didier Raoult in Marseille. Among a national panel of 2940 general practitioners, we found that physicians in the areas most strongly affected by the epidemic or closest to the epicenter of the controversy reported that the hydroxychloroquine debate had made it difficult for them to deal with patients' treatment requests. Their adherence to official recommendations was also lower. It will be necessary to examine the conditions producing so strong a conflict.
Transcriptomics analysis of the metabolic mechanisms of iron reduction induced by sulfate reduction mediated by sulfate-reducing bacteria
Authors: Li Guo-Xiang , Bao Peng
Published: January 2021

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) play an important role in sulfur, iron and carbon cycling. The majority of studies have illustrated the role of SRB in biogeochemical cycling in pure cultures. In this study, we established three SRB enrichment cultures (designated HL, NB and WC) from different paddy soils and conducted a transcriptomic analysis of their metabolic characteristics under sulfate and sulfate-free conditions. In the HL cultures, there was no sulfate consumption but ferrihydrite was reduced. This indicated that bacteria in the HL samples can reduce ferrihydrite and preferentially utilize ferrihydrite as the electron acceptor in the absence of both ferrihydrite and sulfate. Sulfate consumption was equal in the NB and the WC cultures, although more ferrihydrite was reduced in the NB cultures. Transcriptomics analysis showed that (i) upregulation of O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase gene expression indicating sulfate assimilation in the WC samples; (ii) the energy conservation trithionate pathway is commonly employed by SRB and (iii) sulfate not only enhanced iron reduction by its conversion to sulfide but also promoted enzymatic electron transfer via c-type cytochromes.