bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased gulf stream warm core ring formations contributes to an observed increase in salinity maximum intrusions on the Northeast Shelf
Authors: Silver Adrienne , Gangopadhyay Avijit , Gawarkiewicz Glen , Fratantoni Paula , Clark Jenifer
Published: May 2023

We present observational evidence of a significant increase in Salinity Maximum intrusions in the Northeast US Shelf waters in the years following 2000. This increase is subsequent to and influenced by a previously observed regime-shift in the annual formation rate for Gulf Stream Warm Core Rings, which are relatively more saline than the shelf waters. Specifically, mid-depth salinity maximum intrusions, a cross-shelf exchange process, has shown a quadrupling in frequency on the shelf after the year 2000. This increase in intrusion frequency can be linked to a similar increase in Warm Core Ring occupancy footprint along the offshore edge of the shelf-break which has greatly increased the abundance of warm salty water within the Slope Sea. The increased ring occupancy footprint along the shelf follows from the near doubling in annual Warm Core Ring formation rate from the Gulf Stream. The increased occurrence of intrusions is likely driven by a combination of a larger number of rings in the slope sea and the northward shift in the GS position which may lead to more interactions between rings and the shelf topography. These results have significant implications for interpreting temporal changes in the shelf ecosystem from the standpoint of both larval recruitment as well as habitability for various important commercial species.
Establishment and application of suspension static method in blood group screening of automated blood group analyzer
Authors: Huang Min , Ma Chengping , Li Yan , Dong Ruiping , Pang Rongrong , Huang Shuizhen , Fu Qiang , Zhang Libo
Published: May 2023

The accuracy of blood group identification is the basis of blood transfusion safety. In order to increase the detection rate of weak agglutination, unexpected antibodies (UAb) and blood subtypes for pre-transfusion testing, the blood group screening process of automated blood group analyzer (ABGA) is ameliorated by introducing one static step and establishing a suspension static method (SSM). One static step was introduced in the blood group screening process of ABGA and three static time conditions were designed: 300 s, 400 s and 500 s, from which the optimal static time was selected and SSM was established; By comparing the detection of weak agglutination and UAb before and after the application of SSM, the feasibility and effect of suspension static method were verified and evaluated. The last two steps of the automatic blood group screening process were replaced with static, light centrifugation and imaging. The optimal static time parameter was selected as 400 s and SSM was established; After the application of SSM, it was verified that: (1) The detection level of weak antibodies (anti-A and anti-B) and weak antigens (weak D phenotype) could be improved by SSM, including antibodies in plasma of known type O samples with 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 times serial dilutions(simulating weak anti-A and weak anti-B), weak antibodies (anti-B) in plasma of one normal A-type sample and weak antigens on red blood cells (RBC) of 5 weak D phenotype samples (weak D antigen); (2) Three blood donor samples (type A, O and B) with known UAb were detected by SSM. The results showed that SSM could detect both weak antibodies (anti-A and anti-B) and UAb; (3) SSM was applied to detect the samples of 3 A2B and 3 subtype B blood donors and the blood subtypes could be clearly detected; (4) The number of screening samples was 95,314 and 106,814 before SSM (2018) and after (2020) the application of SSM and the positive rate of UAb (63/95,314 and 187/106,814) increased after SSM, discrepancy of which was statistically significant (χ2 = 48.42, P < 0.01). The above results demonstrate that SSM of ABGA is conducive to the detection of weak agglutination, UAb and blood subtypes in blood samples, which can improve the sensitivity of blood group detection and ensure the safety of clinical blood transfusion to a certain extent.
In-depth analysis on PTB7 based semi-transparent solar cell employing MoO3/Ag/WO3 contact for advanced optical performance and light utilization
Authors: Çokduygulular Erman , Çetinkaya Çağlar , Emik Serkan , Kınacı Barış
Published: May 2023

Novel semi-transparent organic solar cells (ST-OSC) can be designed with high average visible transmittance (AVT) while at the same time exhibiting superior photovoltaic performance. This reach requires their design to be based not only on conventional window applications but also on functional industrial applications that require exceptional optical performance. In ST-OSC, high AVT can be achieved by photonic-based dielectric/metal/dielectric (DMD) transparent contact engineering. Functional optical modification can also be made with a fine-tuned design of DMD that includes a light management engineering-based approach. Thus, ST-OSCs can be suitable for aesthetic, colourful and decorative industrial windows that provide natural lighting. In this study, we determined optimal ST-OSCs based on a novel PTB7:PC71BM polymer blend with MoO3/Ag/WO3 asymmetric DMD top contact by examining extraordinary optical properties such as AVT, colour rendering index, correlated colour temperature and colour perception over 10 thousand designs. In addition to determining the optimality and extraordinary optical limits for PTB7, we also evaluated the photon-harvesting and photovoltaic performance of ST-OSCs from external quantum efficiency and quantum utilization efficiency. In optimal situations, ST-OSCs offering 48.75% AVT, 99.08 CRI, and sky-blue colours were designed and determined to generate short-circuit current densities of 9.88 mA·cm−2, 13.64 mA·cm−2, and 13.06 mA·cm−2, respectively.
Nonlinear canonical correspondence analysis and its application
Authors: Zhou Leru , Liu Zhili , Liu Fei , Peng Jian , Zhou Tiejun
Published: May 2023

The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) is a multivariate direct gradient analysis method performing well in many fields, however, when it comes to approximating the unimodal response of species to an environmental gradient, which still assumes that the relationship between the environment and the weighted species score is linear. In this work, we propose a nonlinear canonical correspondence analysis method (NCCA), which first determines the most appropriate nonlinear explanatory factor through two screenings by correlation and LASSO regression, and successively uses the linear regression method and the improved heuristic optimal quadratic approximation method to fit the chi-square transformation values of the response variables. Thus, our method effectively reflects the nonlinear relationship between the species and the environment factors, and a biplot is employed to visualize the effects of the later on the distribution of species. The results from applying this method over a real dataset show that the NCCA method not only maintains the advantages of the polynomial canonical correspondence analysis (PCCA) proposed by Makarenkov (2002), but also outperforms Makarenkov’s method in explaining the variance of response variables.
Network pharmacology analysis reveals potential targets and mechanisms of proton pump inhibitors in breast cancer with diabetes
Authors: Hu Haihong , Wang Hanbin , Yang Xiaoyan , Li Zhicheng , Zhan Wendi , Zhu HongXia , Zhang Taolan
Published: May 2023

Breast cancer and diabetes are significant health challenges, and effective treatments for both diseases are lacking. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have demonstrated anticancer and hypoglycemic effects, but their mechanisms of action are not yet fully understood. We used the GeneCards and PharmMapper databases to identify therapeutic targets for diabetes,  breast cancer and PPIs. We identified common targets and constructed a regulatory network of diseases and drugs using the STRING database and Cytoscape software. We also explored the binding between small molecule ligands and protein receptors using Discovery Studio software. We identified 33 shared targets for breast cancer, diabetes, and PPIs including lansoprazole, omeprazole, and pantoprazole, which play a critical role in fatty acid transport, insulin resistance, apoptosis, and cancer-related signaling pathways. Our findings demonstrated that PPIs had a strong affinity for AKT1 and MMP9. This study provides insights into the mechanisms of action of PPIs in breast cancer and diabetes and identifies AKT1 and MMP9 as critical targets for future drug development. Our findings highlight the potential of PPIs as a novel therapeutic approach for these challenging diseases.
Climate change decouples dominant tree species in African savannas
Authors: Mtsetfwa Fezile P. , Kruger Laurence , McCleery Robert A.
Published: May 2023

To understand how two dominant African savanna trees will continue to respond to climate changes, we examined their regeneration niche and adult tree distributions. Specifically, we wanted to (1) determine if distributional patterns were shifting, (2) predict future distributions under different climate change scenarios and (3) evaluate the realism of predicted future distributions. We randomly placed 40 grids into 6 strata across a climate gradient in the kingdom of Eswatini. Within these grids, we sampled adult and seedling marula (Scelerocarya birrea) and knobthorn (Senegalia nigrecens) trees and used the data to model their abundance. Next, we quantified shifts in distributional patterns (e.g., expansion or contraction) by measuring the current and projected areas of overlap between seedling and adult trees. Finally, we predicted future distributions of abundance based on predicted climate conditions. We found knobthorn seedlings within a small portion of the adult distribution, suggesting it was unlikely to track climate changes. Alternatively, finding marula seedlings on and beyond one edge of the adult distribution, suggested its range would shift toward cooler climates. Predicted future distributions suggest suitable climate for both species would transition out of savannas and into grasslands. Future projections (2041–2070) appeared consistent with observed distributions of marula, but knobthorn predictions were unrealistic given the lack of evidence for regeneration outside of its current range. The idiosyncratic responses of these species to climate change are likely to decouple these keystone structures in the coming decades and are likely to have considerable cascading effects including the potential rearrangement of faunal communities.
Improved polarized light microscopic detection of gouty crystals via dissolution with formalin and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid
Authors: Hemstapat Ruedee , Duangiad Peeradon , Tangketsarawan Borwornporn , Phuagpan Thitiya , Chienwiwattanawong Sinthida , Tangsrianugul Nuttinee , Ojida Akio , Wongkongkatep Jirarut
Published: May 2023

Conventional polarized light microscopy has been widely used to detect gouty crystals, but its limited sensitivity increases the risk of misidentification. In this study, a number of methods were investigated to improve the sensitivity of polarized light microscopy for the detection of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSUM) and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals. We found that coating glass slides with poly-L-lysine, a positively charged polymer, improved the attachment of crystals to the glass surface, resulting in clearer crystal images compared to non-coated slides. Additionally, the sensitivity of detection was further enhanced by selective dissolution, in which 40% v/v formalin phosphate buffer was employed to dissolve MSUM crystals but not CPPD while 10% ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) was employed to dissolved CPPD but not MSUM. The other possible interferences were dissolved in both EDTA and formalin solution. These methods were successfully applied to detect gouty crystals in biological milieu, including spiked porcine synovial fluid and inflamed rat subcutaneous air pouch tissues.
Gamma irradiation induced surface modification of (PVC/HDPE)/ZnO nanocomposite for enhancing the oil removal and conductivity using COMSOL multiphysics
Authors: Ghobashy Mohamed Mohamady , F. Abd El-Gawad Amal. , A. Fayek S. , Farahat M. A. , Ismail M. I. , Elbarbary Ahmed M. , I. Sharshir A.
Published: May 2023

Blend nanocomposite film was prepared by loadings of irradiated ZnO in ratios of (5 wt%) inside the PVC/HDPE matrix using a hot-melt extruder technique. The physical and chemical properties of the irradiated and unirradiated ZnO samples are compared. The Vis–UV spectrum of ZnO shows an absorption peak at a wavelength of 373 nm that was slightly red-shifted to 375 nm for an irradiated sample of ZnO at a dose of 25 kGy due to the defect of crystal structure by the oxygen vacancy during gamma irradiations. This growth of the defect site leads to a decrease in energy gaps from 3.8 to 2.08 eV. AC conductivity of ZnO sample increased after the gamma irradiation process (25 kGy). The (PVC/HDPE)/ZnO nanocomposites were re-irradiated with γ rays at 25 kGy in the presence of four different media (silicon oil, sodium silicate, paraffin wax and water). FTIR and XRD were performed to monitor the changes in chemical composition. The new peak at 1723 cm−1attributed to C=O groups was observed in irradiated (PVC/HDPE)ZnO samples at only sodium silicate and water media. This process induced new function groups on the surface of the (PVC/HDPE)/ZnO blend sample. This work aims to develop (PVC/HDPE)ZnO for oil/water separation. The highest oil adsorption capability was observed in samples functionalized by C=O groups based on the different tested oils. The results suggest that the surface characterization of the (PVC/HDPE)/ZnO can be modified to enhance the oil adsorption potential. Further, the gamma irradiation dose significantly enhanced the AC conductivity compared to the unirradiated sample. According to COMSOL Multiphysics, the irradiated sample (PVC/HDPE)ZnO in water shows perfect uniform electric field distribution in medium voltage cables (22.000 V).
Endogenous myoglobin expression in mouse models of mammary carcinoma reduces hypoxia and metastasis in PyMT mice
Authors: Aboouf Mostafa A. , Armbruster Julia , Guscetti Franco , Thiersch Markus , Boss Andreas , Gödecke Axel , Winning Sandra , Padberg Claudia , Fandrey Joachim , Kristiansen Glen , Bicker Anne , Hankeln Thomas , Gassmann Max , Gorr Thomas A.
Published: May 2023

Myoglobin (MB) is expressed in different cancer types and may act as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer. The mechanisms by which basal MB expression level impacts murine mammary tumorigenesis are unclear. We investigated how MB expression in breast cancer influences proliferation, metastasis, tumor hypoxia, and chemotherapy treatment in vivo. We crossed PyMT and WapCreTrp53flox mammary cancer mouse models that differed in tumor grade/type and onset of mammary carcinoma with MB knockout mice. The loss of MB in WapCre;Trp53flox mice did not affect tumor development and progression. On the other hand, loss of MB decreased tumor growth and increased tissue hypoxia as well as the number of lung metastases in PyMT mice. Furthermore, Doxorubicin therapy prevented the stronger metastatic propensity of MB-deficient tumors in PyMT mice. This suggests that, although MB expression predicts improved prognosis in breast cancer patients, MB-deficient tumors may still respond well to first-line therapies. We propose that determining the expression level of MB in malignant breast cancer biopsies will improve tumor stratification, outcome prediction, and personalized therapy in cancer patients.
Improved disinfection performance for 280 nm LEDs over 254 nm low-pressure UV lamps in community wastewater
Authors: MacIsaac Sean A. , Rauch Kyle D. , Prest Taylor , Simons Richard M. , Gagnon Graham A. , Stoddart Amina K.
Published: May 2023

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection has been incorporated into both drinking water and wastewater treatment processes for several decades; however, it comes with negative environmental consequences such as high energy demands and the use of mercury. Understanding how to scale and build climate responsive technologies is key in fulfilling the intersection of UN Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 13. One technology that addresses the drawbacks of conventional wastewater UV disinfection systems, while providing a climate responsive solution, is UV light emitting diodes (LEDs). The objective of this study was to compare performance of bench-scale 280 nm UV LEDs to bench-scale low pressure (LP) lamps and full-scale UV treated wastewater samples. Results from the study demonstrated that the UV LED system provides a robust treatment that outperformed LP systems at the bench-scale. A comparison of relative energy consumptions of the UV LED system at 20 mJ cm−2 and LP system at 30 and 40 mJ cm−2 was completed. Based on current projections for wall plug efficiencies (WPE) of UV LED it is expected that the energy consumption of LED reactors will be on par or lower compared to the LP systems by 2025. This study determined that, at a WPE of 20%, the equivalent UV LED system would lead to a 24.6% and 43.4% reduction in power consumption for the 30 and 40 mJ cm−2 scenarios, respectively.
Associations of healthy lifestyle and socioeconomic status with cognitive function in U.S. older adults
Authors: Wang Xin , Bakulski Kelly M. , Paulson Henry L. , Albin Roger L. , Park Sung Kyun
Published: May 2023

We investigated the complex relations of socioeconomic status (SES) and healthy lifestyles with cognitive functions among older adults in 1313 participants, aged 60 years and older, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2014. Cognitive function was measured using an average of the standardized z-scores of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Word Learning and delayed recall tests, the Animal Fluency Test, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Latent class analysis of family income, education, occupation, health insurance, and food security was used to define composite SES (low, medium, high). A healthy lifestyle score was calculated based on smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and the Healthy-Eating-Index-2015. In survey-weighted multivariable linear regressions, participants with 3 or 4 healthy behaviors had 0.07 (95% CI 0.005, 0.14) standard deviation higher composite cognitive z-score, relative to those with one or no healthy behavior. Participants with high SES had 0.37 (95% CI 0.29, 0.46) standard deviation higher composite cognitive z-score than those with low SES. No statistically significant interaction was observed between healthy lifestyle score and SES. Our findings suggested that higher healthy lifestyle scores and higher SES were associated with better cognitive function among older adults in the United States.
A light-gated cation channel with high reactivity to weak light
Authors: Hososhima Shoko , Ueno Shinji , Okado Satoshi , Inoue Ken-ichi , Konno Masae , Yamauchi Yumeka , Inoue Keiichi , Terasaki Hiroko , Kandori Hideki , Tsunoda Satoshi P.
Published: May 2023

The cryptophyte algae, Guillardia theta, possesses 46 genes that are homologous to microbial rhodopsins. Five of them are functionally light-gated cation channelrhodopsins (GtCCR1-5) that are phylogenetically distinct from chlorophyte channelrhodopsins (ChRs) such as ChR2 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In this study, we report the ion channel properties of these five CCRs and compared them with ChR2 and other ChRs widely used in optogenetics. We revealed that light sensitivity varied among GtCCR1-5, in which GtCCR1-3 exhibited an apparent EC50 of 0.21–1.16 mW/mm2, similar to that of ChR2, whereas GtCCR4 and GtCCR5 possess two EC50s, one of which is significantly small (0.025 and 0.032 mW/mm2). GtCCR4 is able to trigger action potentials in high temporal resolution, similar to ChR2, but requires lower light power, when expressed in cortical neurons. Moreover, a high light-sensitive response was observed when GtCCR4 was introduced into blind retina ganglion cells of rd1, a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. Thus, GtCCR4 provides optogenetic neuronal activation with high light sensitivity and temporal precision.
Analysis and functional relevance of the chaperone TRAP-1 interactome in the metabolic regulation and mitochondrial integrity of cancer cells
Authors: Dharaskar Shrikant Purushottam , Paithankar Khanderao , Amere Subbarao Sreedhar
Published: May 2023

The 90 kDa heat shock protein, Hsp90, functions as a cancer chaperone contributing to tumor proliferation. We have encountered the mitochondrial homolog of Hsp90, the TRAP-1, regulating mitochondrial dynamics, metabolism, and tumor metastasis. Although Hsp90 is associated with a broad network of proteins regulating various cellular processes, TRAP-1-mediated cellular networks are unclear. Therefore, using TRAP-1 knockdown (KD) and overexpression (OE) systems, we compared their quantitative transcriptome (RNA Sequencing) and proteomic (LC–MS/MS) patterns to obtain molecular signatures that are altered in response to TRAP-1 KD or OE. We report TRAP-1 modulating vital metabolic pathways such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, electron transport chain, glycolysis, and gluconeogenesis. In addition, TRAP-1 facilitated the pentose phosphate pathway to shunt carbons back to glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, a much-solicited tumor response. Subsequently, we examined the TRAP-1 interactome using the tandem affinity purification system and identified 255 unique proteins. These diverse proteins appear to regulate several cellular processes, including energy metabolism, suggesting that TRAP-1, in addition to metabolic rewiring, maintains mitochondrial integrity. Our study exposes the unknown functions of TRAP-1 in cancer cells. Systematic evaluation of TRAP-1 interactors may uncover novel regulatory mechanisms in disease aggression. Since metabolic inhibitors are emerging as potential anticancer agents, our study gains importance.
PeruNPDB: the Peruvian Natural Products Database for in silico drug screening
Authors: Barazorda-Ccahuana Haruna L. , Ranilla Lena Gálvez , Candia-Puma Mayron Antonio , Cárcamo-Rodriguez Eymi Gladys , Centeno-Lopez Angela Emperatriz , Davila-Del-Carpio Gonzalo , Medina-Franco José L. , Chávez-Fumagalli Miguel Angel
Published: May 2023

Since the number of drugs based on natural products (NPs) represents a large source of novel pharmacological entities, NPs have acquired significance in drug discovery. Peru is considered a megadiverse country with many endemic species of plants, terrestrial, and marine animals, and microorganisms. NPs databases have a major impact on drug discovery development. For this reason, several countries such as Mexico, Brazil, India, and China have initiatives to assemble and maintain NPs databases that are representative of their diversity and ethnopharmacological usage. We describe the assembly, curation, and chemoinformatic evaluation of the content and coverage in chemical space, as well as the physicochemical attributes and chemical diversity of the initial version of the Peruvian Natural Products Database (PeruNPDB), which contains 280 natural products. Access to PeruNPDB is available for free (https://perunpdb.com.pe/). The PeruNPDB’s collection is intended to be used in a variety of tasks, such as virtual screening campaigns against various disease targets or biological endpoints. This emphasizes the significance of biodiversity protection both directly and indirectly on human health.
A trial deep learning-based model for four-class histologic classification of colonic tumor from narrow band imaging
Authors: Shimizu Takeshi , Sasaki Yoshihiro , Ito Kei , Matsuzaka Masashi , Sakuraba Hirotake , Fukuda Shinsaku
Published: May 2023

Narrow band imaging (NBI) has been extensively utilized as a diagnostic tool for colorectal neoplastic lesions. This study aimed to develop a trial deep learning (DL) based four-class classification model for low-grade dysplasia (LGD); high-grade dysplasia or mucosal carcinoma (HGD); superficially invasive submucosal carcinoma (SMs) and deeply invasive submucosal carcinomas (SMd) and evaluate its potential as a diagnostic tool. We collected a total of 1,390 NBI images as the dataset, including 53 LGD, 120 HGD, 20 SMs and 17 SMd. A total of 598,801 patches were trimmed from the lesion and background. A patch-based classification model was built by employing a residual convolutional neural network (CNN) and validated by three-fold cross-validation. The patch-based validation accuracy was 0.876, 0.957, 0.907 and 0.929 in LGD, HGD, SMs and SMd, respectively. The image-level classification algorithm was derived from the patch-based mapping across the entire image domain, attaining accuracies of 0.983, 0.990, 0.964, and 0.992 in LGD, HGD, SMs, and SMd, respectively. Our CNN-based model demonstrated high performance for categorizing the histological grade of dysplasia as well as the depth of invasion in routine colonoscopy, suggesting a potential diagnostic tool with minimal human inputs.
Exploring the role of empathy in prolonged grief reactions to bereavement
Authors: Yoshiike Takuya , Benedetti Francesco , Moriguchi Yoshiya , Vai Benedetta , Aggio Veronica , Asano Keiko , Ito Masaya , Ikeda Hiroki , Ohmura Hidefumi , Honma Motoyasu , Yamada Naoto , Kim Yoshiharu , Nakajima Satomi , Kuriyama Kenichi
Published: May 2023

Grief reactions to the bereavement of a close individual could involve empathy for pain, which is fundamental to social interaction. To explore whether grief symptoms interact with social relatedness to a person to whom one directs empathy to modulate the expression of empathy, we administered an empathy task to 28 bereaved adults during functional magnetic resonance imaging, in which participants were subliminally primed with facial stimuli (e.g., faces of their deceased or living relative, or a stranger), each immediately followed by a visual pain stimulus. Individuals’ grief severity promoted empathy for the pain stimulus primed with the deceased’s face, while it diminished the neural response to the pain stimulus primed with the face of either their living relative or a stranger in the medial frontal cortex (e.g., the right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex). Moreover, preliminary analyses showed that while the behavioral empathic response was promoted by the component of “longing” in the deceased priming condition, the neural empathic response was diminished by the component of “avoidance” in the stranger priming condition. Our results suggest an association between grief reactions to bereavement and empathy, in which grief symptoms interact with interpersonal factors to promote or diminish empathic responses to others’ pain.
Testing entanglement of annihilation photons
Authors: Ivashkin Alexander , Abdurashitov Dzhonrid , Baranov Alexander , Guber Fedor , Morozov Sergey , Musin Sultan , Strizhak Alexander , Tkachev Igor
Published: May 2023

We present a new experimental study of the quantum entanglement of photon pairs produced in positron-electron annihilation at rest. Each annihilation photon has an energy that is five orders of magnitude higher than the energy of photons in optical experiments. It provides a unique opportunity for controlled Compton pre-scattering of initial photons before the polarization measurements. The experimental setup includes a system of Compton polarimeters to measure the angular correlations of annihilation photons in initial and thus prepared pre-scattered states. For the first time, a direct comparison of the polarization correlations of initial and pre-scattered annihilation photons has been carried out. The angular distributions of scattered in polarimeters photons turned out to be the same for both types of events. Moreover, the correlation function in the Bell’s inequality is also the same for both states. We discuss the implications of our results for quantum measurement theory and for the quantum-entangled positron emission tomography.
Electric fields in a counterflow nonpremixed flame: measurement and simulation
Authors: Park Jin , Son Jinwoo , Butterworth Thomas D. , Cha Min Suk
Published: May 2023

In electric field modified flames, the electric body force on fluid elements can play a role in modifying the flow field, affecting flame characteristics by this modified flow motion. Numerical studies have developed ion kinetic mechanisms and appropriate transport models for charged species, validating them with a voltage-current trend in 1D premixed flames. Recent experimental approaches have measured the electric field by adopting the Electric Field Induced Second Harmonic generation (EFISH) technique. However, the quantification has turned out very challenging due to the inherent distortion in the EFISH signal, as well as inhomogeneous temperature and concentration fields in the combustion field. Here, we propose measurement and calibration schemes to quantify the EFISH signal in a laminar counterflow nonpremixed flame and present comparison with numerical results using an in-house multi-physics CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code. Overall, the quantified electric fields agreed well with those from numerical simulation, specifically capturing null electric fields near the flame in the sub-saturated regime due to the electric field screening effect. In the saturated regime, notable discrepancy was found in a fuel stream when electrons moved through it: experiment indicated a significant number of negative ions in the fuel stream, whereas numerical results predicted negligible negative ions, due to the implemented ion-mechanism. This suggested that the experimentally obtained electric fields may serve as validation data for modeling studies to improve transport models and ion-mechanism. In-situ measurement of charged species in the presence of external electric fields should be a future work.
Dynamic obstacle detection method based on U–V disparity and residual optical flow for autonomous driving
Authors: Yuan Jianying , Jiang Tao , He Xi , Wu Sidong , Liu Jiajia , Guo Dequan
Published: May 2023

As a core step of obstacle avoidance and path planning, dynamic obstacle detection is critical for autonomous driving. This study aimed to propose a dynamic obstacle detection method based on U–V disparity and residual optical flow for autonomous driving. First, a drivable area of an unmanned vehicle was detected using U–V disparity images. Then, obstacles in the drivable area were detected using U–V disparity images and the geometric relationship between obstacle size and its disparity. Finally, the motion likelihood of each obstacle was estimated by compensating the camera ego-motion. The innovation of the proposed method was that the searching range of the moving obstacles was greatly narrowed by detecting the obstacles in the drivable area, which greatly improved not only the moving obstacle detection efficiency but also the detection accuracy. Datasets from the KITTI benchmark and our self-acquired campus scene data were chosen as testing samples. The experimental results showed that our method could achieve high detection precision, low missed detection rate and less time consumption.
Identification of a genomic DNA sequence that quantitatively modulates KLF1 transcription factor expression in differentiating human hematopoietic cells
Authors: Gnanapragasam M. N. , Planutis A. , Glassberg J. A. , Bieker J. J.
Published: May 2023

The onset of erythropoiesis is under strict developmental control, with direct and indirect inputs influencing its derivation from the hematopoietic stem cell. A major regulator of this transition is KLF1/EKLF, a zinc finger transcription factor that plays a global role in all aspects of erythropoiesis. Here, we have identified a short, conserved enhancer element in KLF1 intron 1 that is important for establishing optimal levels of KLF1 in mouse and human cells. Chromatin accessibility of this site exhibits cell-type specificity and is under developmental control during the differentiation of human CD34+ cells towards the erythroid lineage. This site binds GATA1, SMAD1, TAL1, and ETV6. In vivo editing of this region in cell lines and primary cells reduces KLF1 expression quantitatively. However, we find that, similar to observations seen in pedigrees of families with KLF1 mutations, downstream effects are variable, suggesting that the global architecture of the site is buffered towards keeping the KLF1 genetic region in an active state. We propose that modification of intron 1 in both alleles is not equivalent to complete loss of function of one allele.
Schlafen 12 restricts HIV-1 latency reversal by a codon-usage dependent post-transcriptional block in CD4+ T cells
Authors: Kobayashi-Ishihara Mie , Frazão Smutná Katarína , Alonso Florencia E. , Argilaguet Jordi , Esteve-Codina Anna , Geiger Kerstin , Genescà Meritxell , Grau-Expósito Judith , Duran-Castells Clara , Rogenmoser Selina , Böttcher René , Jungfleisch Jennifer , Oliva Baldomero , Martinez Javier P. , Li Manqing , David Michael , Yamagishi Makoto , Ruiz-Riol Marta , Brander Christian , Tsunetsugu-Yokota Yasuko , Buzon Maria J. , Díez Juana , Meyerhans Andreas
Published: May 2023

Latency is a major barrier towards virus elimination in HIV-1-infected individuals. Yet, the mechanisms that contribute to the maintenance of HIV-1 latency are incompletely understood. Here we describe the Schlafen 12 protein (SLFN12) as an HIV-1 restriction factor that establishes a post-transcriptional block in HIV-1-infected cells and thereby inhibits HIV-1 replication and virus reactivation from latently infected cells. The inhibitory activity is dependent on the HIV-1 codon usage and on the SLFN12 RNase active sites. Within HIV-1-infected individuals, SLFN12 expression in PBMCs correlated with HIV-1 plasma viral loads and proviral loads suggesting a link with the general activation of the immune system. Using an RNA FISH-Flow HIV-1 reactivation assay, we demonstrate that SLFN12 expression is enriched in infected cells positive for HIV-1 transcripts but negative for HIV-1 proteins. Thus, codon-usage dependent translation inhibition of HIV-1 proteins participates in HIV-1 latency and can restrict the amount of virus release after latency reversal.
Nitric oxide is a host cue for Salmonella Typhimurium systemic infection in mice
Authors: Jiang Lingyan , Li Wanwu , Hou Xi , Ma Shuai , Wang Xinyue , Yan Xiaolin , Yang Bin , Huang Di , Liu Bin , Feng Lu
Published: May 2023

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced as an innate immune response against microbial infections. Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium), the major causative pathogen of human gastroenteritis, induces more severe systemic disease in mice. However, host factors contributing to the difference in species-related virulence are unknown. Here, we report that host NO production promotes S. Typhimurium replication in mouse macrophages at the early infection stage by activating Salmonella pathogenicity island-2 (SPI-2). The NO signaling-induced SPI-2 activation is mediated by Fnr and PhoP/Q two-component system. NO significantly induced fnr transcription, while Fnr directly activated phoP/Q transcription. Mouse infection assays revealed a NO-dependent increase in bacterial burden in systemic organs during the initial days of infection, indicating an early contribution of host NO to virulence. This study reveals a host signaling-mediated virulence activation pathway in S. Typhimurium that contributes significantly to its systemic infection in mice, providing further insights into Salmonella pathogenesis and host–pathogen interaction.
Introducing field evaporation energy loss spectroscopy
Authors: Rousseau Loïc , Normand Antoine , Morgado Felipe F. , Marie Scisly Søreide Hanne-Sofie , Stephenson Leigh T. , Hatzoglou Constantinos , Da Costa Gérald , Tehrani Kambiz , Freysoldt Christoph , Gault Baptiste , Vurpillot François
Published: May 2023

Retrieving information on the chemical and bonding states of atoms in a material in three-dimensions is challenging even for the most advanced imaging techniques. Here, we demonstrate that this information is accessible via straight-flight-path atom probe tomography experimental data, however it requires additional processing. Using an activation energy model that involves linear field dependance, and complementing it with DFT simulations, we extract the ion energy loss related to the kinetics of the field evaporation process from the mass peak shape. In turn, we reconstruct how evaporated atoms were originally bound to the surface. We name our data processing approach evaporation energy loss spectroscopy (FEELS), and showcase its application by analyzing microstructural features and defects in an array of metallic materials. Finally, we discuss the general applicability of FEELS to any atom probe data set.
Observing high-k magnons with Mie-resonance-enhanced Brillouin light scattering
Authors: Wojewoda Ondřej , Ligmajer Filip , Hrtoň Martin , Klíma Jan , Dhankhar Meena , Davídková Kristýna , Staňo Michal , Holobrádek Jakub , Krčma Jakub , Zlámal Jakub , Šikola Tomáš , Urbánek Michal
Published: May 2023

Local probing of dynamic excitations such as magnons and phonons in materials and nanostructures can bring new insights into their properties and functionalities. For example, in magnonics, many concepts and devices recently demonstrated at the macro- and microscale now need to be realized at the nanoscale. Brillouin light scattering (BLS) spectroscopy and microscopy has become a standard technique for spin wave characterization, and enabled many pioneering magnonic experiments. However, the conventional BLS cannot detect nanoscale waves due to its fundamental limit in maximum detectable quasiparticle momentum. Here we show that optically induced Mie resonances in nanoparticles can be used to extend the range of accessible quasiparticle’s wavevectors beyond the BLS fundamental limit. These experiments involve the measurement of thermally excited as well as coherently excited high momentum magnons. Our findings demonstrate the capability of Mie-enhanced BLS and significantly extend the usability of BLS microscopy for magnonic and phononic research.
Investigating the electronic states of UTe2 using X-ray spectroscopy
Authors: Wilhelm Fabrice , Sanchez Jean-Pierre , Braithwaite Daniel , Knebel Georg , Lapertot Gérard , Rogalev Andrei
Published: May 2023

The recent discovery of superconductivity in paramagnetic UTe2 turns spotlight on a serious candidate for spin-triplet state. To draw a complete picture of the superconducting state in UTe2 precise knowledge of the electronic properties of the 5 f states of Uranium is missing. We report on x-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism experiments performed at the U M4,5 edges at 2.7 K. At ambient pressure the 5 f electron count is found to be in-between 2.6 and 2.8. Partial delocalization of the 5 f electrons is further confirmed by the reduced value of the U orbital to spin magnetic moment ratio. The 5 f count is reduced by as large as 7 percent at the transition to a magnetically ordered state at Pc ≈ 1.5 GPa. At pressures above 4 GPa, the 5 f count increases back towards U3+ in the tetragonal phase. The observed “valence instabilities” and their interplay with magnetism seem to be important ingredients to understand the electronic structure in UTe2 in different phases.
Landslide susceptibility modeling by interpretable neural network
Authors: Youssef K. , Shao K. , Moon S. , Bouchard L.-S.
Published: May 2023

Landslides are notoriously difficult to predict because numerous spatially and temporally varying factors contribute to slope stability. Artificial neural networks (ANN) have been shown to improve prediction accuracy but are largely uninterpretable. Here we introduce an additive ANN optimization framework to assess landslide susceptibility, as well as dataset division and outcome interpretation techniques. We refer to our approach, which features full interpretability, high accuracy, high generalizability and low model complexity, as superposable neural network (SNN) optimization. We validate our approach by training models on landslide inventories from three different easternmost Himalaya regions. Our SNN outperformed physically-based and statistical models and achieved similar performance to state-of-the-art deep neural networks. The SNN models found the product of slope and precipitation and hillslope aspect to be important primary contributors to high landslide susceptibility, which highlights the importance of strong slope-climate couplings, along with microclimates, on landslide occurrences.
Half of the greenhouse gas emissions from China’s food system occur during food production
Authors: Liu Gang , Zhang Fan , Deng Xiangzheng
Published: May 2023

Food systems are responsible for a third of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and there has been an increasing research focus on food-system greenhouse gases. However, limited attention has been paid to emissions from the regional trade network associated with food systems. Here we developed a multi-regional input-output-based hybrid life cycle assessment model and traced China’s food-system greenhouse gas emissions from farm to fork. China’s food system emitted 2.4 (95%; confidence interval range: 1.6–3.2) gigatons CO2-equivalent in 2019, and half were emitted at the production stage. There were substantial differences in the emission structure and sources among the provinces. Further analysis indicated that the differences among provinces were caused by the separation of food production and consumption. People living in wealthier coastal and central regions consumed food from western and northeastern regions. Therefore, the government should consider interregional synergies when developing strategies to reduce food-system greenhouse gas emissions.
Double emulsions as a high-throughput enrichment and isolation platform for slower-growing microbes
Authors: McCully Alexandra L , Loop Yao McKenna , Brower Kara K , Fordyce Polly M , Spormann Alfred M
Published: May 2023

Our understanding of in situ microbial physiology is primarily based on physiological characterization of fast-growing and readily-isolatable microbes. Microbial enrichments to obtain novel isolates with slower growth rates or physiologies adapted to low nutrient environments are plagued by intrinsic biases for fastest-growing species when using standard laboratory isolation protocols. New cultivation tools to minimize these biases and enrich for less well-studied taxa are needed. In this study, we developed a high-throughput bacterial enrichment platform based on single cell encapsulation and growth within double emulsions (GrowMiDE). We showed that GrowMiDE can cultivate many different microorganisms and enrich for underrepresented taxa that are never observed in traditional batch enrichments. For example, preventing dominance of the enrichment by fast-growing microbes due to nutrient privatization within the double emulsion droplets allowed cultivation of slower-growing Negativicutes and Methanobacteria from stool samples in rich media enrichment cultures. In competition experiments between growth rate and growth yield specialist strains, GrowMiDE enrichments prevented competition for shared nutrient pools and enriched for slower-growing but more efficient strains. Finally, we demonstrated the compatibility of GrowMiDE with commercial fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to obtain isolates from GrowMiDE enrichments. Together, GrowMiDE + DE-FACS is a promising new high-throughput enrichment platform that can be easily applied to diverse microbial enrichments or screens.
Functionally distinct mutations within AcrB underpin antibiotic resistance in different lifestyles
Authors: Trampari Eleftheria , Prischi Filippo , Vargiu Attilio V. , Abi-Assaf Justin , Bavro Vassiliy N. , Webber Mark A.
Published: May 2023

Antibiotic resistance is a pressing healthcare challenge and is mediated by various mechanisms, including the active export of drugs via multidrug efflux systems, which prevent drug accumulation within the cell. Here, we studied how Salmonella evolved resistance to two key antibiotics, cefotaxime and azithromycin, when grown planktonically or as a biofilm. Resistance to both drugs emerged in both conditions and was associated with different substitutions within the efflux-associated transporter, AcrB. Azithromycin exposure selected for an R717L substitution, while cefotaxime for Q176K. Additional mutations in ramR or envZ accumulated concurrently with the R717L or Q176K substitutions respectively, resulting in clinical resistance to the selective antibiotics and cross-resistance to other drugs. Structural, genetic, and phenotypic analysis showed the two AcrB substitutions confer their benefits in profoundly different ways. R717L reduces steric barriers associated with transit through the substrate channel 2 of AcrB. Q176K increases binding energy for cefotaxime, improving recognition in the distal binding pocket, resulting in increased efflux efficiency. Finally, we show the R717 substitution is present in isolates recovered around the world.
Long and oriented graphene nanoribbon synthesis from well-ordered 10,10′-dibromo-9,9′-bianthracene monolayer on crystalline Au surfaces
Authors: Yano Masahiro , Yasuda Satoshi , Fukutani Katsuyuki , Asaoka Hidehito
Published: May 2023

The length and orientation of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) synthesized from molecules fixed in monolayers are significantly different from those synthesized from diffusing molecules.
Radical ring-opening polymerization of sustainably-derived thionoisochromanone
Authors: Prebihalo Emily A. , Luke Anna M. , Reddi Yernaidu , LaSalle Christopher J. , Shah Vijay M. , Cramer Christopher J. , Reineke Theresa M.
Published: May 2023

We demonstrate computational insight and radical ring opening polymerization of a fungi-derived thionolactone, thionoisochromanone (TIC), to create homo-, block-, and statistical copolymers under entirely free radical conditions.
Light-controlled artificial transmembrane signal transduction for ‘ON/OFF’-switchable transphosphorylation of an RNA model substrate
Authors: Hou Jinxing , Guo Jiale , Yan Tengfei , Liu Shengda , Zang Mingsong , Wang Liang , Xu Jiayun , Luo Quan , Wang Tingting , Liu Junqiu
Published: May 2023

Artificial transmembrane signal transduction regulated by alternatively irradiating UV and visible light to reversibly control transphosphorylation of RNA model substrate inside the lipid vesicles.
Comment on “Simulations of ionization equilibria in weak polyelectrolyte solutions and gels” by J. Landsgesell, L. Nová, O. Rud, F. Uhlík, D. Sean, P. Hebbeker, C. Holm and P. Košovan, Soft Matter, 2019, 15, 1155–1185
Authors: Levin Yan , Bakhshandeh Amin
Published: May 2023

“This Comment discusses statements made in a recent review article on simulations of ionization equilibria and proposes modifications of these simulations to properly account for the charge neutrality”.
Microdomains and stress distributions in bacterial monolayers on curved interfaces
Authors: Langeslay Blake , Juarez Gabriel
Published: May 2023

We used simulations to investigate the effect of curvature on alignment and stress distributions in curved hard-rod monolayers, finding that curvature decreases the length scale of alignment and that stress is higher in low-alignment regions.
Surfactant encapsulating N-doped carbon dots with enhanced optical properties as a selective sensor for Cr(vi) detection
Authors: Chen Qiumeng , Li Nan , Tian Yulu , Liu Qian , Zou Xue , Fan Meikun , Gong Zhengjun
Published: May 2023

CTAC modified N-doped carbon dots (N-CDs–CTAC) were designed through a post-modification strategy as a highly selective fluorescent sensor for Cr(vi) detection based on the dynamic quenching mechanism.
Application ofin situATR-IR spectroscopy for the synthesis of bisphenol F: optimization, mechanistic and kinetics studies
Authors: Zhao Yun , Zhang Xinkai , Chen Yanxia , Zhang Pingyi , Mao Haifang
Published: May 2023

In situATR-IR spectroscopy was used as a powerful tool to achieve process, mechanistic and kinetics understanding during bisphenol F (BPF) synthesis.