bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective role of estrogen against excessive erythrocytosis in Monge’s disease
Authors: Azad Priti , Villafuerte Francisco C. , Bermudez Daniela , Patel Gargi , Haddad Gabriel G.
Published: January 2021

Monge’s disease (chronic mountain sickness (CMS)) is a maladaptive condition caused by chronic (years) exposure to high-altitude hypoxia. One of the defining features of CMS is excessive erythrocytosis with extremely high hematocrit levels. In the Andean population, CMS prevalence is vastly different between males and females, being rare in females. Furthermore, there is a sharp increase in CMS incidence in females after menopause. In this study, we assessed the role of sex hormones (testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen) in CMS and non-CMS cells using a well-characterized in vitro erythroid platform. While we found that there was a mild (nonsignificant) increase in RBC production with testosterone, we observed that estrogen, in physiologic concentrations, reduced sharply CD235a+ cells (glycophorin A; a marker of RBC), from 56% in the untreated CMS cells to 10% in the treated CMS cells, in a stage-specific and dose-responsive manner. At the molecular level, we determined that estrogen has a direct effect on GATA1, remarkably decreasing the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of GATA1 (p < 0.01) and its target genes (Alas2, BclxL, and Epor, p < 0.001). These changes result in a significant increase in apoptosis of erythroid cells. We also demonstrate that estrogen regulates erythropoiesis in CMS patients through estrogen beta signaling and that its inhibition can diminish the effects of estrogen by significantly increasing HIF1, VEGF, and GATA1 mRNA levels. Taken altogether, our results indicate that estrogen has a major impact on the regulation of erythropoiesis, particularly under chronic hypoxic conditions, and has the potential to treat blood diseases, such as high altitude severe erythrocytosis.
Measurement of urinary pesticide biomarkers among Latina farmworkers in southwestern Idaho
Authors: Curl Cynthia L. , Meierotto Lisa , Castellano Rebecca L. Som , Spivak Meredith R. , Kannan Kurunthachalam
Published: January 2021

Background

Women who work in agriculture may have greater risk of pesticide exposure than men who share this occupation. Despite an increase in the fraction of the agricultural workforce comprised by women, few studies have characterized pesticide exposure in the USA with a focus on among these workers.

Objective

This pilot study aimed to describe pesticide exposure in a cohort of Latina farmworkers in farming communities in southwestern Idaho.

Methods

We collected urine samples from 29 Latina farmworkers, which were analyzed for 11 pesticide biomarkers. We evaluated the effect of pesticide spray season on urinary biomarker levels, and explored the effect of self-reported status as a pesticide handler on measured exposures.

Results

No significant differences were found between biomarker levels in samples collected during the nonspray and spray seasons. We observed 11 extreme outlying values in samples collected during the pesticide spray season. The most extreme outlying values (MDA: 51.7 ng/mL; 3-PBA: 11.8 ng/mL; trans-DCCA: 23.4 ng/mL; and 2,4-D: 31.1 ng/mL) were all provided during the spray season by women who reported loading, mixing or applying pesticides.

Conclusions

These results provide suggestive evidence that Latina farmworkers who handle pesticides during the spray season may be at an increased risk of exposure to organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides, as well as the herbicide 2,4-D. We recommend that future research into pesticide exposures among farmworkers should include particular focus on this group.
AHA1 upregulates IDH1 and metabolic activity to promote growth and metastasis and predicts prognosis in osteosarcoma
Authors: Zheng Diwei , Liu Weihai , Xie Wenlin , Huang Guanyu , Jiang Qiwei , Yang Yang , Huang Jiarong , Xing Zihao , Yuan Mengling , Wei Mengning , Li Yao , Yin Junqiang , Shen Jingnan , Shi Zhi
Published: January 2021

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. Although activator of HSP90 ATPase activity 1 (AHA1) is reported to be a potential oncogene, its role in osteosarcoma progression remains largely unclear. Since metabolism reprogramming is involved in tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis, the relationship between AHA1 and cancer metabolism is unknown. In this study, we found that AHA1 is significantly overexpressed in osteosarcoma and related to the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients. AHA1 promotes the growth and metastasis of osteosarcoma both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, AHA1 upregulates the metabolic activity to meet cellular bioenergetic needs in osteosarcoma. Notably, we identified that isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) is a novel client protein of Hsp90-AHA1. Furthermore, the IDH1 protein level was positively correlated with AHA1 in osteosarcoma. And IDH1 overexpression could partially reverse the effect of AHA1 knockdown on cell growth and migration of osteosarcoma. Moreover, high IDH1 level was also associated with poor prognosis of osteosarcoma patients. This study demonstrates that AHA1 positively regulates IDH1 and metabolic activity to promote osteosarcoma growth and metastasis, which provides novel prognostic biomarkers and promising therapeutic targets for osteosarcoma patients.
p53 is required for nuclear but not mitochondrial DNA damage-induced degeneration
Authors: Geden Matthew J. , Romero Selena E. , Deshmukh Mohanish
Published: January 2021

While the consequences of nuclear DNA damage have been well studied, the exact consequences of acute and selective mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage are less understood. DNA damaging chemotherapeutic drugs are known to activate p53-dependent apoptosis in response to sustained nuclear DNA damage. While it is recognized that whole-cell exposure to these drugs also damages mtDNA, the specific contribution of mtDNA damage to cellular degeneration is less clear. To examine this, we induced selective mtDNA damage in neuronal axons using microfluidic chambers that allow for the spatial and fluidic isolation of neuronal cell bodies (containing nucleus and mitochondria) from the axons (containing mitochondria). Exposure of the DNA damaging drug cisplatin selectively to only the axons induced mtDNA damage in axonal mitochondria, without nuclear damage. We found that this resulted in the selective degeneration of only the targeted axons that were exposed to DNA damage, where ROS was induced but mitochondria were not permeabilized. mtDNA damage-induced axon degeneration was not mediated by any of the three known axon degeneration pathways: apoptosis, axon pruning, and Wallerian degeneration, as Bax-deficiency, or Casp3-deficiency, or Sarm1-deficiency failed to protect the degenerating axons. Strikingly, p53, which is essential for degeneration after nuclear DNA damage, was also not required for degeneration induced with mtDNA damage. This was most evident when the p53-deficient neurons were globally exposed to cisplatin. While the cell bodies of p53-deficient neurons were protected from degeneration in this context, the axons farthest from the cell bodies still underwent degeneration. These results highlight how whole cell exposure to DNA damage activates two pathways of degeneration; a faster, p53-dependent apoptotic degeneration that is triggered in the cell bodies with nuclear DNA damage, and a slower, p53-independent degeneration that is induced with mtDNA damage.
Aberrant development of pancreatic beta cells derived from human iPSCs with FOXA2 deficiency
Authors: Elsayed Ahmed K. , Younis Ihab , Ali Gowher , Hussain Khalid , Abdelalim Essam M.
Published: January 2021

FOXA2 has been identified as an essential factor for pancreas development and emerging evidence supports an association between FOXA2 and diabetes. Although the role of FOXA2 during pancreatic development is well-studied in animal models, its role during human islet cell development remains unclear. Here, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient withFOXA2haploinsufficiency (FOXA2+/−iPSCs) followed by beta-cell differentiation to understand the role of FOXA2 during pancreatic beta-cell development. Our results showed thatFOXA2haploinsufficiency resulted in aberrant expression of genes essential for the differentiation and proper functioning of beta cells. At pancreatic progenitor (PP2) and endocrine progenitor (EPs) stages, transcriptome analysis showed downregulation in genes associated with pancreatic development and diabetes and upregulation in genes associated with nervous system development and WNT signaling pathway. Knockout of FOXA2 in control iPSCs (FOXA2−/−iPSCs) led to severe phenotypes in EPs and beta-cell stages. The expression of NGN3 and its downstream targets at EPs as well as INSUILIN and GLUCAGON at the beta-cell stage, were almost absent in the cells derived from FOXA2−/−iPSCs. These findings indicate that FOXA2 is crucial for human pancreatic endocrine development and its defect may lead to diabetes based on FOXA2 dosage.
SUMOylation disassembles the tetrameric pyruvate kinase M2 to block myeloid differentiation of leukemia cells
Authors: Xia Li , Jiang Yue , Zhang Xue-Hong , Wang Xin-Ran , Wei Ran , Qin Kang , Lu Ying
Published: January 2021

Leukemia arises from blockage of the differentiation/maturation of hematopoietic progenitor cells at different stages with uncontrolled proliferation of leukemic cells. However, the signal pathways that block cell differentiation remain unclear. Herein we found that SUMOylation of the M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2), a rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme catalyzing the dephosphorylation of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate, is prevalent in a variety of leukemic cell lines as well as primary samples from patients with leukemia through multiple-reaction monitoring based targeted mass spectrometry analysis. SUMOylation of PKM2 lysine 270 (K270) triggered conformation change from tetrameric to dimeric of PKM2, reduced PK activity, and led to nuclear translocation of PKM2. SUMO1 modification of PKM2 recruits and promotes degradation of RUNX1 via a SUMO-interacting motif, resulting in blockage of myeloid differentiation of NB4 and U937 leukemia cells. Replacement of wild type PKM2 with a SUMOylation-deficient mutant (K270R) abrogated the interaction with RUNX1, and the blockage of myeloid differentiation in vitro and in xenograft model. Our results establish PKM2 as an essential modulator of leukemia cell differentiation and a potential therapeutic target, which may offer synergistic effect with differentiation therapy in the treatment of leukemia.
Dissecting human embryonic skeletal stem cell ontogeny by single-cell transcriptomic and functional analyses
Authors: He Jian , Yan Jing , Wang Jianfang , Zhao Liangyu , Xin Qian , Zeng Yang , Sun Yuxi , Zhang Han , Bai Zhijie , Li Zongcheng , Ni Yanli , Gong Yandong , Li Yunqiao , He Han , Bian Zhilei , Lan Yu , Ma Chunyu , Bian Lihong , Zhu Heng , Liu Bing , Yue Rui
Published: January 2021

Human skeletal stem cells (SSCs) have been discovered in fetal and adult long bones. However, the spatiotemporal ontogeny of human embryonic SSCs during early skeletogenesis remains elusive. Here we map the transcriptional landscape of human limb buds and embryonic long bones at single-cell resolution to address this fundamental question. We found remarkable heterogeneity within human limb bud mesenchyme and epithelium, and aligned them along the proximal–distal and anterior–posterior axes using known marker genes. Osteo-chondrogenic progenitors first appeared in the core limb bud mesenchyme, which give rise to multiple populations of stem/progenitor cells in embryonic long bones undergoing endochondral ossification. Importantly, a perichondrial embryonic skeletal stem/progenitor cell (eSSPC) subset was identified, which could self-renew and generate the osteochondral lineage cells, but not adipocytes or hematopoietic stroma. eSSPCs are marked by the adhesion molecule CADM1 and highly enriched with FOXP1/2 transcriptional network. Interestingly, neural crest-derived cells with similar phenotypic markers and transcriptional networks were also found in the sagittal suture of human embryonic calvaria. Taken together, this study revealed the cellular heterogeneity and lineage hierarchy during human embryonic skeletogenesis, and identified distinct skeletal stem/progenitor cells that orchestrate endochondral and intramembranous ossification.
The role of spin in the degradation of organic photovoltaics
Authors: Ramirez Ivan , Privitera Alberto , Karuthedath Safakath , Jungbluth Anna , Benduhn Johannes , Sperlich Andreas , Spoltore Donato , Vandewal Koen , Laquai Frédéric , Riede Moritz
Published: January 2021

Stability is now a critical factor in the commercialization of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Both extrinsic stability to oxygen and water and intrinsic stability to light and heat in inert conditions must be achieved. Triplet states are known to be problematic in both cases, leading to singlet oxygen production or fullerene dimerization. The latter is thought to proceed from unquenched singlet excitons that have undergone intersystem crossing (ISC). Instead, we show that in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells the photo-degradation of C60via photo-oligomerization occurs primarily via back-hole transfer (BHT) from a charge-transfer state to a C60excited triplet state. We demonstrate this to be the principal pathway from a combination of steady-state optoelectronic measurements, time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance, and temperature-dependent transient absorption spectroscopy on model systems. BHT is a much more serious concern than ISC because it cannot be mitigated by improved exciton quenching, obtained for example by a finer BHJ morphology. As BHT is not specific to fullerenes, our results suggest that the role of electron and hole back transfer in the degradation of BHJs should also be carefully considered when designing stable OPV devices.
BNIP3L/NIX-mediated mitophagy protects against glucocorticoid-induced synapse defects
Authors: Choi Gee Euhn , Lee Hyun Jik , Chae Chang Woo , Cho Ji Hyeon , Jung Young Hyun , Kim Jun Sung , Kim Seo Yihl , Lim Jae Ryong , Han Ho Jae
Published: January 2021

Stress-induced glucocorticoids disturb mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics; however, instead of being removed via mitophagy, the damaged mitochondria accumulate. Therefore, we investigate the role of glucocorticoids in mitophagy inhibition and subsequent synaptic defects in hippocampal neurons, SH-SY5Y cells, and ICR mice. First, we observe that glucocorticoids decrease both synaptic density and vesicle recycling due to suppressed mitophagy. Screening data reveal that glucocorticoids downregulate BNIP3-like (BNIP3L)/NIX, resulting in the reduced mitochondrial respiration function and synaptic density. Notably, we find that glucocorticoids direct the glucocorticoid receptor to bind directly to the PGC1α promoter, downregulating its expression and nuclear translocation. PGC1α downregulation selectively decreases NIX-dependent mitophagy. Consistent with these results, NIX enhancer pre-treatment of a corticosterone-exposed mouse elevates mitophagy and synaptic density in hippocampus, improving the outcome of a spatial memory task. In conclusion, glucocorticoids inhibit mitophagy via downregulating NIX and that NIX activation represents a potential target for restoring synapse function.
The complex structure of GRL0617 and SARS-CoV-2 PLpro reveals a hot spot for antiviral drug discovery
Authors: Fu Ziyang , Huang Bin , Tang Jinle , Liu Shuyan , Liu Ming , Ye Yuxin , Liu Zhihong , Xiong Yuxian , Zhu Wenning , Cao Dan , Li Jihui , Niu Xiaogang , Zhou Huan , Zhao Yong Juan , Zhang Guoliang , Huang Hao
Published: January 2021

SARS-CoV-2 is the pathogen responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like cysteine protease (PLpro) has been implicated in playing important roles in virus maturation, dysregulation of host inflammation, and antiviral immune responses. The multiple functions of PLpro render it a promising drug target. Therefore, we screened a library of approved drugs and also examined available inhibitors against PLpro. Inhibitor GRL0617 showed a promising in vitro IC50 of 2.1 μM and an effective antiviral inhibition in cell-based assays. The co-crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 PLproC111S in complex with GRL0617 indicates that GRL0617 is a non-covalent inhibitor and it resides in the ubiquitin-specific proteases (USP) domain of PLpro. NMR data indicate that GRL0617 blocks the binding of ISG15 C-terminus to PLpro. Using truncated ISG15 mutants, we show that the C-terminus of ISG15 plays a dominant role in binding PLpro. Structural analysis reveals that the ISG15 C-terminus binding pocket in PLpro contributes a disproportionately large portion of binding energy, thus this pocket is a hot spot for antiviral drug discovery targeting PLpro.
Scaling of sensory information in large neural populations shows signatures of information-limiting correlations
Authors: Kafashan MohammadMehdi , Jaffe Anna W. , Chettih Selmaan N. , Nogueira Ramon , Arandia-Romero Iñigo , Harvey Christopher D. , Moreno-Bote Rubén , Drugowitsch Jan
Published: January 2021

How is information distributed across large neuronal populations within a given brain area? Information may be distributed roughly evenly across neuronal populations, so that total information scales linearly with the number of recorded neurons. Alternatively, the neural code might be highly redundant, meaning that total information saturates. Here we investigate how sensory information about the direction of a moving visual stimulus is distributed across hundreds of simultaneously recorded neurons in mouse primary visual cortex. We show that information scales sublinearly due to correlated noise in these populations. We compartmentalized noise correlations into information-limiting and nonlimiting components, then extrapolate to predict how information grows with even larger neural populations. We predict that tens of thousands of neurons encode 95% of the information about visual stimulus direction, much less than the number of neurons in primary visual cortex. These findings suggest that the brain uses a widely distributed, but nonetheless redundant code that supports recovering most sensory information from smaller subpopulations.
Flexible and efficient perovskite quantum dot solar cells via hybrid interfacial architecture
Authors: Hu Long , Zhao Qian , Huang Shujuan , Zheng Jianghui , Guan Xinwei , Patterson Robert , Kim Jiyun , Shi Lei , Lin Chun-Ho , Lei Qi , Chu Dewei , Tao Wan , Cheong Soshan , Tilley Richard D. , Ho-Baillie Anita W. Y. , Luther Joseph M. , Yuan Jianyu , Wu Tom
Published: January 2021

All-inorganic CsPbI3 perovskite quantum dots have received substantial research interest for photovoltaic applications because of higher efficiency compared to solar cells using other quantum dots materials and the various exciting properties that perovskites have to offer. These quantum dot devices also exhibit good mechanical stability amongst various thin-film photovoltaic technologies. We demonstrate higher mechanical endurance of quantum dot films compared to bulk thin film and highlight the importance of further research on high-performance and flexible optoelectronic devices using nanoscale grains as an advantage. Specifically, we develop a hybrid interfacial architecture consisting of CsPbI3 quantum dot/PCBM heterojunction, enabling an energy cascade for efficient charge transfer and mechanical adhesion. The champion CsPbI3 quantum dot solar cell has an efficiency of 15.1% (stabilized power output of 14.61%), which is among the highest report to date. Building on this strategy, we further demonstrate a highest efficiency of 12.3% in flexible quantum dot photovoltaics.
Endonuclease G promotes autophagy by suppressing mTOR signaling and activating the DNA damage response
Authors: Wang Wenjun , Li Jianshuang , Tan Junyang , Wang Miaomiao , Yang Jing , Zhang Zhi-Min , Li Chuanzhou , Basnakian Alexei G. , Tang Hong-Wen , Perrimon Norbert , Zhou Qinghua
Published: January 2021

Endonuclease G (ENDOG), a mitochondrial nuclease, is known to participate in many cellular processes, including apoptosis and paternal mitochondrial elimination, while its role in autophagy remains unclear. Here, we report that ENDOG released from mitochondria promotes autophagy during starvation, which we find to be evolutionally conserved across species by performing experiments in human cell lines, mice, Drosophila and C. elegans. Under starvation, Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta-mediated phosphorylation of ENDOG at Thr-128 and Ser-288 enhances its interaction with 14-3-3γ, which leads to the release of Tuberin (TSC2) and Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3 (Vps34) from 14-3-3γ, followed by mTOR pathway suppression and autophagy initiation. Alternatively, ENDOG activates DNA damage response and triggers autophagy through its endonuclease activity. Our results demonstrate that ENDOG is a crucial regulator of autophagy, manifested by phosphorylation-mediated interaction with 14-3-3γ, and its endonuclease activity-mediated DNA damage response.
Pseudo-bilayer architecture enables high-performance organic solar cells with enhanced exciton diffusion length
Authors: Jiang Kui , Zhang Jie , Peng Zhengxing , Lin Francis , Wu Shengfan , Li Zhen , Chen Yuzhong , Yan He , Ade Harald , Zhu Zonglong , Jen Alex K.-Y.
Published: January 2021

Solution-processed organic solar cells (OSCs) are a promising candidate for next-generation photovoltaic technologies. However, the short exciton diffusion length of the bulk heterojunction active layer in OSCs strongly hampers the full potential to be realized in these bulk heterojunction OSCs. Herein, we report high-performance OSCs with a pseudo-bilayer architecture, which possesses longer exciton diffusion length benefited from higher film crystallinity. This feature ensures the synergistic advantages of efficient exciton dissociation and charge transport in OSCs with pseudo-bilayer architecture, enabling a higher power conversion efficiency (17.42%) to be achieved compared to those with bulk heterojunction architecture (16.44%) due to higher short-circuit current density and fill factor. A certified efficiency of 16.31% is also achieved for the ternary OSC with a pseudo-bilayer active layer. Our results demonstrate the excellent potential for pseudo-bilayer architecture to be used for future OSC applications.
Single-cell analysis of Schistosoma mansoni identifies a conserved genetic program controlling germline stem cell fate
Authors: Li Pengyang , Nanes Sarfati Dania , Xue Yuan , Yu Xi , Tarashansky Alexander J. , Quake Stephen R. , Wang Bo
Published: January 2021

Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms causing one of the most prevalent infectious diseases from which millions of people are currently suffering. These parasites have high fecundity and their eggs are both the transmissible agents and the cause of the infection-associated pathology. Given its biomedical significance, the schistosome germline has been a research focus for more than a century. Nonetheless, molecular mechanisms that regulate its development are only now being understood. In particular, it is unknown what balances the fate of germline stem cells (GSCs) in producing daughter stem cells through mitotic divisions versus gametes through meiosis. Here, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing on juvenile schistosomes and capture GSCs during de novo gonadal development. We identify a genetic program that controls the proliferation and differentiation of GSCs. This program centers around onecut, a homeobox transcription factor, and boule, an mRNA binding protein. Their expressions are mutually dependent in the schistosome male germline, and knocking down either of them causes over-proliferation of GSCs and blocks germ cell differentiation. We further show that this germline-specific regulatory program is conserved in the planarian, schistosome’s free-living evolutionary cousin, but the function of onecut has changed during evolution to support GSC maintenance.
A metal-free photocatalyst for highly efficient hydrogen peroxide photoproduction in real seawater
Authors: Wu Qingyao , Cao Jingjing , Wang Xiao , Liu Yan , Zhao Yajie , Wang Hui , Liu Yang , Huang Hui , Liao Fan , Shao Mingwang , Kang Zhenghui
Published: January 2021

Artificial photosynthesis of H2O2 from H2O and O2, as a spotless method, has aroused widespread interest. Up to date, most photocatalysts still suffer from serious salt-deactivated effects with huge consumption of photogenerated charges, which severely limit their wide application. Herein, by using a phenolic condensation approach, carbon dots, organic dye molecule procyanidins and 4-methoxybenzaldehyde are composed into a metal-free photocatalyst for the photosynthetic production of H2O2 in seawater. This catalyst exhibits high photocatalytic ability to produce H2O2 with the yield of 1776 μmol g−1h−1 (λ ≥ 420 nm; 34.8 mW cm−2) in real seawater, about 4.8 times higher than the pure polymer. Combining with in-situ photoelectrochemical and transient photovoltage analysis, the active site and the catalytic mechanism of this composite catalyst in seawater are also clearly clarified. This work opens up an avenue for a highly efficient and practical, available catalyst for H2O2 photoproduction in real seawater.
Author Correction: Nutrients cause grassland biomass to outpace herbivory
Authors: Borer E. T. , Harpole W. S. , Adler P. B. , Arnillas C. A. , Bugalho M. N. , Cadotte M. W. , Caldeira M. C. , Campana S. , Dickman C. R. , Dickson T. L. , Donohue I. , Eskelinen A. , Firn J. L. , Graff P. , Gruner D. S. , Heckman R. W. , Koltz A. M. , Komatsu K. J. , Lannes L. S. , MacDougall A. S. , Martina J. P. , Moore J. L. , Mortensen B. , Ochoa-Hueso R. , Venterink H. Olde , Power S. A. , Price J. N. , Risch A. C. , Sankaran M. , Schütz M. , Sitters J. , Stevens C. J. , Virtanen R. , Wilfahrt P. A. , Seabloom E. W.
Published: January 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-20985-z.
Author Correction: Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity
Authors: Grantham H. S. , Duncan A. , Evans T. D. , Jones K. R. , Beyer H. L. , Schuster R. , Walston J. , Ray J. C. , Robinson J. G. , Callow M. , Clements T. , Costa H. M. , DeGemmis A. , Elsen P. R. , Ervin J. , Franco P. , Goldman E. , Goetz S. , Hansen A. , Hofsvang E. , Jantz P. , Jupiter S. , Kang A. , Langhammer P. , Laurance W. F. , Lieberman S. , Linkie M. , Malhi Y. , Maxwell S. , Mendez M. , Mittermeier R. , Murray N. J. , Possingham H. , Radachowsky J. , Saatchi S. , Samper C. , Silverman J. , Shapiro A. , Strassburg B. , Stevens T. , Stokes E. , Taylor R. , Tear T. , Tizard R. , Venter O. , Visconti P. , Wang S. , Watson J. E. M.
Published: January 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-20999-7.
A complete dietary review of Japanese birds with special focus on molluscs
Authors: Morii Yuta , Kitazawa Munehiro , Squires Theodore E. , Watanabe Megumi , Watanabe Yoshiaki , Saito Takumi , Yamazaki Daishi , Uchida Akitomo , Machida Yoshiyasu
Published: January 2021

Birds often hold important positions in the food webs of ecosystems. As a result, interactions between birds and their prey have attracted attention not only in ecology, but also in fields like agriculture and conservation. Avian food resources are well researched in Japan, however there is no database critically reviewing molluscs as a food resource for birds. Here, we present a new database reviewing dietary information for all Japanese bird species. In addition to addressing general diet categories and specific food habits for each bird, we include detailed data on the molluscan prey observed for all species that consume them. The information within this database was collected through intense literary review to provide a complete look at bird species historically present around the country. We also include new information on snail species found in the upper digestive tract of harvested wild birds. This database is publicly available in the Zenodo repository. The information should aid research around the Japanese archipelago, especially projects involving birds or molluscs.
A comprehensive database of active and potentially-active continental faults in Chile at 1:25,000 scale
Authors: Maldonado Valentina , Contreras Martín , Melnick Daniel
Published: January 2021

In seismically-active regions, mapping active and potentially-active faults is the first step to assess seismic hazards and site selection for paleoseismic studies that will estimate recurrence rates. Here, we present a comprehensive database of active and potentially-active continental faults in Chile based on existing studies and new mapping at 1:25,000 scale using geologic and geomorphic criteria and digital elevation models derived from TanDEM-X and LiDAR data. The database includes 958 fault strands grouped into 17 fault systems and classified based on activity (81 proved, 589 probable, 288 possible). The database is a contribution to the world compilation of active faults with applications among others in seismic hazard assessments, territorial planning, paleoseismology, geodynamics, landscape evolution processes, geothermal exploration, and in the study of feedbacks between continental deformation and the plate-boundary seismic cycle along subduction zones.
Direct reprogramming of epithelial cell rests of malassez into mesenchymal-like cells by epigenetic agents
Authors: Yoshida Koki , Uehara Osamu , Kurashige Yoshihito , Paudel Durga , Onishi Aya , Neopane Puja , Hiraki Daichi , Morikawa Tetsuro , Harada Fumiya , Takai Rie , Sato Jun , Saitoh Masato , Abiko Yoshihiro
Published: January 2021

The DNA demethylating agent, 5-Azacytidine (5Aza), and histone deacetylase inhibitor, valproic acid (Vpa), can improve the reprogramming efficiencies of pluripotent cells. This study aimed to examine the roles of 5Aza and Vpa in the dedifferentiation of epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM) into stem-like cells. Additionally, the ability of stem-like cells to differentiate into mesenchymal cells was evaluated. ERM was cultured in embryonic stem cell medium (ESCM) with 1 µM of 5Aza, or 2 mM of Vpa, or a combination of 5Aza and Vpa. The cells stimulated with both 5Aza and Vpa were named as progenitor-dedifferentiated into stem-like cells (Pro-DSLCs). The Pro-DSLCs cultured in ESCM alone for another week were named as DSLCs. The stem cell markers were significantly higher in the DSLCs than the controls (no additions). The mRNA and protein levels of the endothelial, mesenchymal stem, and osteogenic cell markers were significantly higher in the Pro-DSLCs and DSLCs than the controls. The combination of a demethylating agent and a deacetylated inhibitor induced the dedifferentiation of ERM into DSLCs. The Pro-DSLCs derived from ERM can be directly reprogrammed into mesenchymal-like cells without dedifferentiation into stem-like cells. Isolated ERM treated with epigenetic agents may be used for periodontal regeneration.
Dynamics of the immediate behavioral response to partial social exclusion
Authors: Dewald-Kaufmann J. F. , Wüstenberg T. , Barton B. B. , Goerigk S. , Reinhard M. A. , Musil R. , Werle J. , Falkai P. , Jobst A. , Padberg F.
Published: January 2021

Social rejection and exclusion (ostracism) represent main stressors in daily life and even threaten mental and physical health. Abundant data from subjective measures in social exclusion paradigms are available, but the dynamic behavioral response is largely unexplored. Here, we applied modified variants of the Cyberball paradigm in two consecutive experiments to investigate the adaptive behavioral and emotional reactions to partial social exclusion. In experiment 1, 68 healthy participants (females, mean age 24.76 ± 4.05 years) played 2 min inclusion, 5 min partial exclusion and 2 min total exclusion. In experiment 2, 94 healthy participants (48 females, mean age 34.50 ± 12.08 years) underwent an experimental condition (2 min inclusion, 10 min partial exclusion) and a control condition (12 min inclusion only) in randomized order. In experiment 1, behavioral responses to partial exclusion showed two characteristics: (1) an immediate increase in ball passes to the excluding player followed (2) by a later return of participants’ behavior to baseline. This finding was replicated for both genders and in comparison to a control condition in experiment 2. The dynamic behavioral response observed here may point to overlapping principles of cooperation in this ball tossing paradigm and serves as a novel experimental proxy.
New method for visualizing the dose rate distribution around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant using artificial neural networks
Authors: Sasaki Miyuki , Sanada Yukihisa , Katengeza Estiner W. , Yamamoto Akio
Published: January 2021

This study proposes a new method of visualizing the ambient dose rate distribution using artificial neural networks (ANNs) from airborne radiation monitoring results. The method was applied to the results of the airborne radiation monitoring which was conducted around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by an unmanned aerial vehicle. Much of the survey data obtained in the past were used as the training data for building a network. The number of training cases was related to the error between the ground and converted values by the ANN. The quantitative evaluation index (the root-mean-square error) between the ANN-converted value and the ground-based survey result converged at 200 training cases. This number of training case was considered a rough criterion of the required number of training cases. The reliability of the ANN method was evaluated by comparison with the ground-based survey data. The dose rate map created by the ANNs method reproduced ground-based survey results better than traditional methods.
Causal evidence for the adaptive benefits of social foraging in the wild
Authors: Snijders Lysanne , Krause Stefan , Tump Alan N. , Breuker Michael , Ortiz Chente , Rizzi Sofia , Ramnarine Indar W. , Krause Jens , Kurvers Ralf H.J.M.
Published: January 2021

Sociality is a fundamental organizing principle across taxa, thought to come with a suite of adaptive benefits. However, making causal inferences about these adaptive benefits requires experimental manipulation of the social environment, which is rarely feasible in the field. Here we manipulated the number of conspecifics in Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) in the wild, and quantified how this affected a key benefit of sociality, social foraging, by investigating several components of foraging success. As adaptive benefits of social foraging may differ between sexes, we studied males and females separately, expecting females, the more social and risk-averse sex in guppies, to benefit more from conspecifics. Conducting over 1600 foraging trials, we found that in both sexes, increasing the number of conspecifics led to faster detection of novel food patches and a higher probability of feeding following detection of the patch, resulting in greater individual resource consumption. The extent of the latter relationship differed between the sexes, with males unexpectedly exhibiting a stronger social benefit. Our study provides rare causal evidence for the adaptive benefits of social foraging in the wild, and highlights that sex differences in sociality do not necessarily imply an unequal ability to profit from the presence of others.
Author Correction: The origin of Rhinocerotoidea and phylogeny of Ceratomorpha (Mammalia, Perissodactyla)
Authors: Bai Bin , Meng Jin , Zhang Chi , Gong Yan-Xin , Wang Yuan-Qing
Published: January 2021

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-01660-x
Emergent flat band electronic structure in a VSe2/Bi2Se3 heterostructure
Authors: Yilmaz Turgut , Tong Xiao , Dai Zhongwei , Sadowski Jerzy T. , Schwier Eike F. , Shimada Kenya , Hwang Sooyeon , Kisslinger Kim , Kaznatcheev Konstantine , Vescovo Elio , Sinkovic Boris
Published: January 2021

Flat band electronic states are proposed to be a fundamental tool to achieve various quantum states of matter at higher temperatures due to the enhanced electronic correlations. However, materials with such peculiar electronic states are rare and often rely on subtle properties of the band structures. Here, by using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we show the emergent flat band in a VSe2 / Bi2Se3 heterostructure. Our photoemission study demonstrates that the flat band covers the entire Brillouin zone and exhibits 2D nature with a complex circular dichroism. In addition, the Dirac cone of Bi2Se3 is not reshaped by the flat band even though they overlap in proximity of the Dirac point. These features make this flat band distinguishable from the ones previously found. Thereby, the observation of a flat band in the VSe2 / Bi2Se3 heterostructure opens a promising pathway to realize strongly correlated quantum effects in topological materials.
Applications of microcapillary films in bioanalytical techniques
Authors: Liu Junfeng , Xu Zhongbin , Shan Yan , Huang Xing
Published: January 2021

This critical review focuses on the applications of microcapillary films (MCFs) in bioanalytical techniques.
Convenient microfluidic cartridge for single-molecule droplet PCR using common laboratory equipment
Authors: Takahara Hirokazu , Matsushita Hiroo , Inui Erika , Ochiai Masashi , Hashimoto Masahiko
Published: January 2021

A novel microfluidic cartridge eliminates the need for careful and time-consuming manual droplet handling using a micropipette, which is usually necessary for the transfer of droplets between the three discrete steps of droplet PCR.
Multiresidue method for determining multiclass acidic pesticides in agricultural foods by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Saito-Shida Shizuka , Nemoto Satoru , Akiyama Hiroshi
Published: January 2021

A reliable multiresidue method was developed for determining multiclass acidic pesticides in cereal grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits.
New and sensitive HPLC-UV method for concomitant quantification of a combination of antifilariasis drugs in rat plasma and organs after simultaneous oral administration
Authors: Permana Andi Dian , Wahyudin Elly , Ismail  , Amir Muh. Nur , Raihan Muh. , Anjani Qonita Kurnia , Utomo Emilia , Layadi Patricia , Donnelly Ryan F.
Published: January 2021

A sensitive HPLC-UV method for simultaneous analysis of the drugs used in lymphatic filariasis treatment, namely IVM, ABZ and DOX has been validated. The method was applied in pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies in Wistar rats.
Advances in single-cell multi-omics profiling
Authors: Bai Dongsheng , Peng Jinying , Yi Chengqi
Published: January 2021

Single-cell multi-omics profiling methods are developed to dissect heterogeneity of cell populations.
Translational isomers of N-sulfonylated [3]catenane: synthesis and isomerization
Authors: Iwamoto Hajime , Ishizu Yuki , Hasegawa Eietsu , Sekiya Ryo , Haino Takeharu
Published: January 2021

N-Sulfonylated [3]catenanes intraconverted their topologies: distal and proximal.
The role of energy cost on accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, speed and adaptation of T cell foreign and self recognition
Authors: Shin Gyubaek , Wang Jin
Published: January 2021

Various physical outcomes are obtained based on a kinetic model illustrating recognitions of T cell.
Computational design of a polymorph for 2D III–V orthorhombic monolayers by first principles calculations: excellent anisotropic, electronic and optical properties
Authors: Zhao Jun , Zeng Hui , Yao Ge
Published: January 2021

The strong optical absorbance of the 2D orthorhombic phase III–V monolayers.
Synthesis, characterization, and alkoxide transfer reactivity of dimeric Tl2(OR)2 complexes
Authors: Grass Amanda , Kulathungage Lakshani Wathsala , Wannipurage Duleeka , Yousif Maryam , Ward Cassandra L. , Groysman Stanislav
Published: January 2021

Dimeric formally two-coordinate Tl2(OR)2 (OR = OCtBu2Ph and OCtBu2(3,5-Me2C6H3)) complexes serve as convenient precursors for the variety of transition metal bis(alkoxide) and mono(alkoxide) complexes.
Reproducibility and sensitivity of 36 methods to quantify the SARS-CoV-2 genetic signal in raw wastewater: findings from an interlaboratory methods evaluation in the U.S.
Authors: Pecson Brian M. , Darby Emily , Haas Charles N. , Amha Yamrot M. , Bartolo Mitchel , Danielson Richard , Dearborn Yeggie , Di Giovanni George , Ferguson Christobel , Fevig Stephanie , Gaddis Erica , Gray Donald , Lukasik George , Mull Bonnie , Olivas Liana , Olivieri Adam , Qu Yan , SARS-CoV-2 Interlaboratory Consortium
Published: January 2021

The reproducibility and sensitivity of 36 methods for quantifying the genetic signal of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater was evaluated in a nationwide interlaboratory assessment in the U.S.
Entrapment of natural compounds in spray-dried and heat-dried iota-carrageenan matrices as functional ingredients insurimigels
Authors: Marín-Peñalver Daniel , Alemán Ailén , Montero M. Pilar , Gómez-Guillén M. Carmen
Published: January 2021

The entrapped pomegranate extract or collagen hydrolysate increased, respectively, the ferric ion reducing power or ACE-inhibitory effect of gels afterin vitrogastrointestinal digestion.
High-performance bio-based epoxies from ferulic acid and furfuryl alcohol: synthesis and properties
Authors: Ye Jiale , Ma Songqi , Wang Binbo , Chen Qingming , Huang Kaifeng , Xu Xiwei , Li Qiong , Wang Sheng , Lu Na , Zhu Jin
Published: January 2021

Ferulic acid-derived diepoxy was facilely synthesized and co-cross-linked with furfuryl alcohol monoepoxy accompanying the Diels–Alder reaction to achieve high-performance thermosets.
Thermoelectric performance of 2D materials: the band-convergence strategy and strong intervalley scatterings
Authors: Wu Yu , Hou Bowen , Ma Congcong , Cao Jiang , Chen Ying , Lu Zixuan , Mei Haodong , Shao Hezhu , Xu Yuanfeng , Zhu Heyuan , Fang Zhilai , Zhang Rongjun , Zhang Hao
Published: January 2021

The intervalley scatterings contributed by flexural ZA phonons are dominant in the electronic transport in β-antimonene and significantly reduce the thermoelectric performance.
Design of cross-linked polyisobutylene matrix for efficient encapsulation of quantum dots
Authors: Prudnikau Anatol , Shiman Dmitriy I. , Ksendzov Evgenii , Harwell Jonathon , Bolotina Ekaterina A. , Nikishau Pavel A. , Kostjuk Sergei V. , Samuel Ifor D. W. , Lesnyak Vladimir
Published: January 2021

A robust quantum dots-in-polymer composite based on a specially designed cross-linking polyisobutylene is developed. It possesses excellent photo- and chemical stability preserving the optical properties of Cu–Zn–In–S quantum dots.
Mono-substituted cage-like silsesquioxanes bound by trifunctional acyl chloride as a multi-donor N,O-type ligand in copper(ii) coordination chemistry: synthesis and structural properties
Authors: Piec Kamila , Wątły Joanna , Jerzykiewicz Maria , Kłak Julia , Plichta Andrzej , John Łukasz
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we report on the synthesis of novel copper(ii) complexes containing a multi-donor N,O-type ligand based on mono-substituted cage-like silsesquioxanes bound by trifunctional acyl chloride.
Near-infrared Zn-doped Cu2S quantum dots: an ultrasmall theranostic agent for tumor cell imaging and chemodynamic therapy
Authors: Li Shu-Lan , Jiang Peng , Hua Siyu , Jiang Feng-Lei , Liu Yi
Published: January 2021

An ultrasmall near-infrared Zn-doped Cu2S quantum dots was invented for chemodynamic therapy with apoptosis induced and autophagy activated.
Analysis of dendrimer-protein interactions and their implications on potential applications of dendrimers in nanomedicine
Authors: Rae James Magnus , Jachimska Barbara
Published: January 2021

For the first time in literature, we show that a G5.5 PAMAM dendrimer molecule can have an effective negative or positive charge depending on environmental conditions. Control of the molecules charge enables its specific interaction with proteins.
Mechanistic insights into the two-phase synthesis of heteroleptic Au nanoclusters
Authors: Wang Xiangyu , Wang Shanshan , Qian Shuyu , Liu Naiwei , Dou Xinyue , Yuan Xun
Published: January 2021

A mechanistic study on the two-phase synthesis of heteroleptic Au nanoclusters is reported here.
2D metal–organic framework-based materials for electrocatalytic, photocatalytic and thermocatalytic applications
Authors: Xue Yanpeng , Zhao Gongchi , Yang Ruiying , Chu Feng , Chen Juan , Wang Lei , Huang Xiubing
Published: January 2021

2D MOF-based materials with unique characteristics have great potential in various electrocatalytic, photocatalytic and thermocatalytic applications.
The role of intermolecular forces in ionic reactions: the solvent effect, ion-pairing, aggregates and structured environment
Authors: Pliego Josefredo R.
Published: January 2021

A general view of the medium effects on ionic reactions involves the solvent effect, ion pairing, formation of aggregates and structured environment.
One step stereoselective synthesis of oxazoline-fused saccharides and their conversion into the corresponding 1,2-cis glycosylamines bearing various protected groups
Authors: Dong Sanfeng , Zhao Yitian , Shi Yulong , Xu Zhijian , Shen Jingshan , Jia Qi , Li Yiming , Chen Kaixian , Li Bo , Zhu Weiliang
Published: January 2021

Oxazolinoses, which can be converted into 1,2-cis glycosylamines and allowed the access to schisandrin derivatives, are prepared concisely from peracetylated saccharides and benzonitriles under acidic conditions with stoichiometric amounts of water.
Supramolecular brush polymers prepared from 1,3,4-oxadiazole and cyanobutoxy functionalised pillar[5]arene for detecting Cu2+
Authors: Liu Shuangyan , Wu Qiuxia , Zhang Tianze , Zhang Huacheng , Han Jie
Published: January 2021

The self-assembly of an A1/A2 disubstituted pillar[5]arene was used to construct a supramolecular brush polymer.
An FexNi4−xPy/N, P co-doped carbon nanotube composite as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen and hydrogen electrode reactions
Authors: Wei Tao , Jiang Xiaoli , Qin Qing , Liu Xien
Published: January 2021

The FexNi4−xPy/N, P-CNT complex exhibits excellent bifunctional catalytic performance towards HER and OER due to the synergy of high electrical conductivity, multicomponent active sites, and anchoring effect of carbon nanotubes.
Photoexcited molecular probes for selective and revertible imaging of cellular reactive oxygen species
Authors: Wen Ying , Long Zhiqing , Huo Fangjun , Yin Caixia
Published: January 2021

Redox homeostasis is key to maintaining the normal physiological status of living cells.
Li–fluorine codoped electrospun carbon nanofibers for enhanced hydrogen storage
Authors: Chen Xiaohong , Xue Zhiyong , Niu Kai , Liu Xundao , Wei lv  , Zhang Bao , Li Zhongyu , Zeng Hong , Ren Yu , Wu Ying , Zhang Yongming
Published: January 2021

We developed a facile, yet general, approach for preparing Li–fluorine codoped porous carbon nanofiber (Li–F–PCNF) composites, which showed excellent hydrogen storage performance.
The influence of the morphology of titania and hydroxyapatite on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Kuvyrkou Yauheni U. , Brezhneva Nadzeya , Skorb Ekaterina V. , Ulasevich Sviatlana A.
Published: January 2021

Herein, the proliferation and osteogenic potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on the disordered and ordered porous morphology of the titania surface and titania surface modified by hydroxyapatite (HA) are compared for the first time.
Employing complementary spectroscopies to study the conformations of an epimeric pair of side-chain stapled peptides in aqueous solution
Authors: Bogaerts Jonathan , Atilaw Yoseph , Peintner Stefan , Aerts Roy , Kihlberg Jan , Johannessen Christian , Erdélyi Máté
Published: January 2021

Spectroscopic evaluation of an epimeric pair of macrocycles identified their solution ensembles, and the conformation responsible for bioactivity.