bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ecotoxicity screening evaluation of selected pharmaceuticals and their transformation products towards various organisms
Authors: Grabarczyk Łukasz , Mulkiewicz Ewa , Stolte Stefan , Puckowski Alan , Pazda Magdalena , Stepnowski Piotr , Białk-Bielińska Anna
Published: May 2020

The intensive development of medical science has led to an increase in the availability and use of pharmaceutical products. However, nowadays, most of scientific attention has been paid to the native forms of pharmaceuticals, while the transformation products (TPs) of these substances, understood herein as metabolites, degradation products, and selected enantiomers, remain largely unexplored in terms of their characterization, presence, fate and effects within the natural environment. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of seven native compounds belonging to different therapeutic groups (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioid analgesics, beta-blockers, antibacterial and anti-epileptic drugs), along with the toxicity of their 13 most important TPs. For this purpose, an ecotoxicological test battery, consisting of five organisms of different biological organization was used. The obtained data shows that, in general, the toxicity of TPs to the tested organisms was similar or lower compared to their parent compounds. However, for example, significantly higher toxicity of the R form of ibuprofen to algae and duckweed, as well as a higher toxicity of the R form of naproxen to luminescent bacteria, was observed, proving that the risk associated with the presence of drug TPs in the environment should not be neglected.
A contextually adapted model of school engagement in Kazakhstan
Authors: Winter Liz , Hernández-Torrano Daniel , McLellan Ros , Almukhambetova Ainur , Brown-Hajdukova Eva
Published: May 2020

This study introduces a culturally adapted 17-item scale of school engagement. It offers an important contribution to the international literature by seeking to measure the school engagement of young people in a society undergoing transition from a collectivist to individualist mind-set alongside an education system focused on improving performance in international benchmarks such as those from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD Programme for International Student Assessment, PISA) and the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA Trends In International Mathematics And Science Study, TIMSS). To date, little has been written on how intra-individual and inter-individual factors contribute to young people’s engagement in education as societal and systemic educational reform occurs. The school engagement scale is validated by testing the empirical fit of a second-order multidimensional factor model of school engagement taken from the Western literature to large-scale data in Kazakhstan. Culturally relevant features are added such as the strong influence of ‘important others’. The model tested was formed from 1) an individual’s cognitions and behaviours associated with school and 2) the social influences of parents, peers, and teachers. 1767 secondary education students in Kazakhstan participated in the study. Confirmatory analyses supported the hypothesized additional contributory factors to school engagement. Use of the overall model indicated differences in means across gender, grade, school-type, and geographic location to show: (1) higher cognitive engagement for young women; (2) rural students with higher levels of behavioural engagement; and (3) substantial differences in social support by grade and rurality.
Ego-depletion or invigoration in solving the tower of Hanoi? Action orientation helps overcome planning deficits
Authors: Kazén Miguel , Kuhl Julius
Published: May 2020

Personality systems interaction (PSI) theory postulates two executive control modes: Self-control and self-regulation. Self-control, typical of state oriented persons, should result in “ego depletion” whereas self-regulation, typical of action oriented persons, should result in invigoration. State- and action-oriented participants performed the Plan-a-Day and the 5-disk Tower-of-Hanoi tasks. There were no differences between them on the first task, but action had better performance than state oriented in terms of number of moves and solution time on the second task, independently of differences in self-determination. Better performance in the Tower of Hanoi correlated positively with activation, and negatively with apathy. We conclude that whereas self-control is associated with depletion, self-regulation is associated with invigoration in performing the Tower of Hanoi task.
FINAL MOMENTS: CONTEXTUALIZING ON-FLOOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS FROM CARACOL, BELIZE
Authors: Chase Arlen F. , Chase Diane Z.
Published: May 2020

The description and analysis of materials from on-floor deposits that reflect the final activity before site abandonment are key to making a determination as to what happened during the Maya collapse arounda.d.900. On-floor deposits recovered at Caracol, Belize indicate that factors like warfare, the breakdown of the site's market system, and heightened social tensions were in play prior to the abandonment of the site. In an attempt to understand the meaning of these deposits, we first examine why on-floor remains constitute an important data class for archaeology. We next look at the kinds of artifactual materials that are recovered in these deposits and then at the locations and nature of on-floor deposits at Caracol. Finally, we offer our thoughts on what they represent in the broader Maya context.
POINT COUNTER POINT: INTERPRETING CHIPPED CHERT BIFACES IN TERMINAL CLASSIC “PROBLEMATIC” ON-FLOOR DEPOSITS FROM STRUCTURES A2 AND A3 AT CAHAL PECH, BELIZE
Authors: Stemp W. James , Awe Jaime J.
Published: May 2020

Problematic deposits, containing different types of artifacts and skeletal remains, are typically recovered on or near the surfaces of the terminal phase of elite civic-ceremonial architecture at ancient Maya sites. These contexts often date to the Terminal Classic period (~a.d.750–900). They have been variously interpreted as evidence for site abandonment, squatting, warfare, or dedication or termination rituals. Sixteen chert bifaces were recovered from problematic deposits at the bases of Structures A2 and A3 in the elite Plaza A at Cahal Pech, Belize. Stone tools from problematic deposits are rarely examined in significant detail. Based on stylistic, metric, and use-wear analyses, the bifaces were likely produced locally, used during important hunting or warfare activities, and then ritually deposited in the Terminal Classic. These bifaces were likely hafted to spearthrower darts and represented “success” at hunting or fighting. The recovery of weaponry in problematic deposits that is not the direct result of warfare is an important observation because Mayanists have generally interpreted their presence in these contexts as evidence of warfare. The fact that the points were recovered in groups of seven and nine may indicate that they had important symbolic meanings that connected them to supernatural or mythological places or entities.
CONTEXTUAL AND COMPOSITIONAL COMPARISONS OF ABANDONMENT-RELATED, ON-FLOOR DEPOSITS AT CHAN CHICH, BELIZE
Authors: Houk Brett A.
Published: May 2020

At Chan Chich, Belize, archaeologists have encountered Terminal Classic artifact scatters and piled artifact deposits in elite residential compounds near the epicenter of the site. This article presents a detailed comparison of four artifact deposits’ contexts and compositions to highlight similarities and differences among them. Commonly classified as “problematic deposits” in the field, all four examples considered here formed directly on floors or steps. Although they exhibit compositional variability, all four deposits appear to be abandonment-related features, which unknown actors deliberately created, specifically targeting elite residential architecture rather than monumental public structures in the site core.
APPLYING REGIONAL, CONTEXTUAL, ETHNOHISTORIC, AND ETHNOGRAPHIC APPROACHES FOR UNDERSTANDING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PERI-ABANDONMENT DEPOSITS IN WESTERN BELIZE
Authors: Awe Jaime J. , Helmke Christophe , Aimers James J. , Ebert Claire E. , Stemp W. James , Hoggarth Julie A.
Published: May 2020

The discovery of cultural remains on or above the floors of rooms and courtyards at several Maya sites has been interpreted by some archaeologists as problematic deposits, squatter's refuse, as evidence for feasting, termination rituals,de factorefuse, or rapid abandonment as a result of warfare. Investigations by the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance Project have recorded similar deposits at several surface and subterranean sites in Western Belize. Our regional, contextual, and methodological approaches for studying these deposits, coupled with ethnohistoric and ethnographic information, provide limited support for the interpretation of these remains asde factorefuse or due to rapid abandonment. Instead, we argue that these deposits are more likely the result of peri-abandonment activities such as propitiation rituals and/or pilgrimages during and after the gradual abandonment of sites in the Belize River Valley.
TO EAT, DISCARD, OR VENERATE: FAUNAL REMAINS AS PROXY FOR HUMAN BEHAVIORS IN LOWLAND MAYA PERI-ABANDONMENT DEPOSITS
Authors: Burke Chrissina C. , Tappan Katie K. , Wisner Gavin B. , Hoggarth Julie A. , Awe Jaime J.
Published: May 2020

Interpreting middens, feasting events, ritual, or terminal deposits in the Maya world requires an evaluation of faunal remains. Maya archaeologists consistently evaluate other artifact classes, but often offer simply number of identified specimens values for skeletal elements recovered from these deposits. To further understand their archaeological significance, we analyzed faunal materials from deposits at the sites of Baking Pot and Xunantunich in the Upper Belize River Valley. We identified the species, bone elements, bone or shell artifacts, taphonomic signatures, and quantitative ratios recovered to test whether a deposit can be identified as a midden, part of a feasting ritual, terminal ritual, or other rituals significant to the Maya. Our analyses allow us to begin building a system for using faunal remains as a proxy for interpreting the significance of these deposits. In this paper, we present our results and hope to open the conversation for future evaluations of faunal remains in similar deposits.
RECONSTRUCTING THE FORMATION OF PERI-ABANDONMENT DEPOSITS AT BAKING POT, BELIZE
Authors: Hoggarth Julie A. , Davis J. Britt , Awe Jaime J. , Helmke Christophe
Published: May 2020

Archaeological research in the Maya lowlands has identified special deposits that offer essential information about the abandonment of Classic Maya centers. We argue that some of the “problematical deposits” associated with terminal architecture may be more accurately described as peri-abandonment deposits since they temporally and behaviorally relate to the activities associated with the final use of ceremonial space. Here, we describe several peri-abandonment deposits that were identified in Group B at the site of Baking Pot, located in western Belize. Using detailed stratigraphic and contextual information, artifact assemblages, and calendar dates recorded on polychrome vessels recovered in the deposits, we describe the nature of activities associated with the formation of peri-abandonment deposits at Baking Pot in the eighth to ninth centuries. We find patterning in the spatial locations of deposits in the corners of plazas and courtyards at Baking Pot, with variability in artifact assemblages between specific deposits.
Survival, Social Cohesion and Rock Art: The Painted Hands of Western Arnhem Land, Australia
Authors: May Sally K. , Taylor Luke , Frieman Catherine , Taçon Paul S.C. , Wesley Daryl , Jones Tristen , Goldhahn Joakim , Mungulda Charlie
Published: May 2020

This paper explores the complex story of a particular style of rock art in western Arnhem Land known as ‘Painted Hands’. Using new evidence from recent fieldwork, we present a definition for their style, distribution and place in the stylistic chronologies of this region. We argue these motifs played an important cultural role in Aboriginal society during the period of European settlement in the region. We explore the complex messages embedded in the design features of the Painted Hands, arguing that they are more than simply hand stencils or markers of individuality. We suggest that these figures represent stylized and intensely encoded motifs with the power to communicate a high level of personal, clan and ceremonial identity at a time when all aspects of Aboriginal cultural identity were under threat.
COVID-19 – mehr Lungen-PoCUS und sparsam mit Stethoskop, Thoraxröntgen und Lungen-CT umgehen
Authors: Osterwalder Joseph
Published: May 2020

Zusammenfassung. Für ein optimales Management der COVID-19 (Coronary Virus Disease 19) sind wir auf eine schnelle und zuverlässige Diagnose sowie Schweregradeinschätzung angewiesen. Der Goldstandard ist bisher die RT-PCR (Reverse-Transkriptase-Polymerase-Kettenreaktion) aus dem nasopharyngealen Abstrich. Die aktuellen Tests weisen eine Sensitivität zwischen 60 und 90 % auf. In der Folge müssen wir mit 10–40 % falsch-negativen Ergebnissen rechnen. Neben der Sauerstoffsättigung zur Schweregradeinteilung werden das Stethoskop, das Thoraxröntgen und die Lungen-Computertomografie routinemässig für die Diagnose eingesetzt. Die Standardmethoden Stethoskop und Thoraxröntgen sind jedoch unzuverlässig. Überdies setzen alle drei diagnostischen Untersuchungsverfahren Ärztinnen, Ärzte, Hilfspersonal sowie Patientinnen und Patienten einem zusätzlichen Expositionsrisiko aus. Angesichts der Kontagiosität des SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus) ist der Lungen-Point-of-Care-Ultraschall (PoCUS), insbesondere in der Anwendung als Taschenkittelgerät, eine noch zu wenig genutzte, wertvolle Alternative. In dieser Review werden die aktuelle Wertigkeit und Rolle von Stethoskop, Pulsoximetrie, Thoraxröntgen, Lungen-Computertomografie und Lungen-Point-of-Care-Ultraschall anhand der vorliegenden Literatur bestimmt.
Hitchhiking, collapse, and contingency in phage infections of migrating bacterial populations
Authors: Ping Derek , Wang Tong , Fraebel David T , Maslov Sergei , Sneppen Kim , Kuehn Seppe
Published: May 2020

Natural bacterial populations are subjected to constant predation pressure by bacteriophages. Bacteria use a variety of molecular mechanisms to defend themselves from phage predation. However, since phages are nonmotile, perhaps the simplest defense against phage is for bacteria to move faster than phages. In particular, chemotaxis, the active migration of bacteria up attractant gradients, may help the bacteria escape slowly diffusing phages. Here we study phage infection dynamics in migrating bacterial populations driven by chemotaxis through low viscosity agar plates. We find that expanding phage–bacteria populations supports two moving fronts, an outermost bacterial front driven by nutrient uptake and chemotaxis and an inner phage front at which the bacterial population collapses due to phage predation. We show that with increasing adsorption rate and initial phage population, the speed of the moving phage front increases, eventually overtaking the bacterial front and driving the system across a transition from a regime where bacterial front speed exceeds that of the phage front to one where bacteria must evolve phage resistance to survive. Our data support the claim that this process requires phage to hitchhike with moving bacteria. A deterministic model recapitulates the transition under the assumption that phage virulence declines with host growth rate which we confirm experimentally. Finally, near the transition between regimes we observe macroscopic fluctuations in bacterial densities at the phage front. Our work opens a new, spatio-temporal, line of investigation into the eco-evolutionary struggle between bacteria and phage.
Author Correction: Circular RNA CircFndc3b modulates cardiac repair after myocardial infarction via FUS/VEGF-A axis
Authors: Garikipati Venkata Naga Srikanth , Verma Suresh Kumar , Cheng Zhongjian , Liang Dongming , Truongcao May M. , Cimini Maria , Yue Yujia , Huang Grace , Wang Chunlin , Benedict Cindy , Tang Yan , Mallaredy Vandana , Ibetti Jessica , Grisanti Laurel , Schumacher Sarah M. , Gao Erhe , Rajan Sudarsan , Wilusz Jeremy E. , Goukassian David , Houser Steven R. , Koch Walter J. , Kishore Raj
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Long non-coding RNA RAMS11 promotes metastatic colorectal cancer progression
Authors: Silva-Fisher Jessica M. , Dang Ha X. , White Nicole M. , Strand Matthew S. , Krasnick Bradley A. , Rozycki Emily B. , Jeffers Gejae G. L. , Grossman Julie G. , Highkin Maureen K. , Tang Cynthia , Cabanski Christopher R. , Eteleeb Abdallah , Mudd Jacqueline , Goedegebuure S. Peter , Luo Jingqin , Mardis Elaine R. , Wilson Richard K. , Ley Timothy J. , Lockhart Albert C. , Fields Ryan C. , Maher Christopher A.
Published: May 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common gastrointestinal malignancy in the U.S.A. and approximately 50% of patients develop metastatic disease (mCRC). Despite our understanding of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in primary colon cancer, their role in mCRC and treatment resistance remains poorly characterized. Therefore, through transcriptome sequencing of normal, primary, and distant mCRC tissues we find 148 differentially expressed RNAs Associated with Metastasis (RAMS). We prioritizeRAMS11due to its association with poor disease-free survival and promotion of aggressive phenotypes in vitro and in vivo. A FDA-approved drug high-throughput viability assay shows that elevatedRAMS11expression increases resistance to topoisomerase inhibitors. Subsequent experiments demonstrateRAMS11-dependent recruitment of Chromobox protein 4 (CBX4) transcriptionally activates Topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2α). Overall, recent clinical trials using topoisomerase inhibitors coupled with our findings ofRAMS11-dependent regulation of TOP2α supports the potential use ofRAMS11as a biomarker and therapeutic target for mCRC.
Role of the nuclear membrane protein Emerin in front-rear polarity of the nucleus
Authors: Nastały Paulina , Purushothaman Divya , Marchesi Stefano , Poli Alessandro , Lendenmann Tobias , Kidiyoor Gururaj Rao , Beznoussenko Galina V. , Lavore Stefania , Romano Orso Maria , Poulikakos Dimos , Lagomarsino Marco Cosentino , Mironov Alexander A. , Ferrari Aldo , Maiuri Paolo
Published: May 2020

Cell polarity refers to the intrinsic asymmetry of cells, including the orientation of the cytoskeleton. It affects cell shape and structure as well as the distribution of proteins and organelles. In migratory cells, front-rear polarity is essential and dictates movement direction. While the link between the cytoskeleton and nucleus is well-studied, we aim to investigate if front-rear polarity can be transmitted to the nucleus. We show that the knock-down of emerin, an integral protein of the nuclear envelope, abolishes preferential localization of several nuclear proteins. We propose that the frontally biased localization of the endoplasmic reticulum, through which emerin reaches the nuclear envelope, is sufficient to generate its observed bias. In primary emerin-deficient myoblasts, its expression partially rescues the polarity of the nucleus. Our results demonstrate that front-rear cell polarity is transmitted to the nucleus and that emerin is an important determinant of nuclear polarity.
Global CO2 emissions from dry inland waters share common drivers across ecosystems
Authors: Keller P. S. , Catalán N. , von Schiller D. , Grossart H.-P. , Koschorreck M. , Obrador B. , Frassl M. A. , Karakaya N. , Barros N. , Howitt J. A. , Mendoza-Lera C. , Pastor A. , Flaim G. , Aben R. , Riis T. , Arce M. I. , Onandia G. , Paranaíba J. R. , Linkhorst A. , del Campo R. , Amado A. M. , Cauvy-Fraunié S. , Brothers S. , Condon J. , Mendonça R. F. , Reverey F. , Rõõm E.-I. , Datry T. , Roland F. , Laas A. , Obertegger U. , Park J.-H. , Wang H. , Kosten S. , Gómez R. , Feijoó C. , Elosegi A. , Sánchez-Montoya M. M. , Finlayson C. M. , Melita M. , Oliveira Junior E. S. , Muniz C. C. , Gómez-Gener L. , Leigh C. , Zhang Q. , Marcé R.
Published: May 2020

Many inland waters exhibit complete or partial desiccation, or have vanished due to global change, exposing sediments to the atmosphere. Yet, data on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from these sediments are too scarce to upscale emissions for global estimates or to understand their fundamental drivers. Here, we present the results of a global survey covering 196 dry inland waters across diverse ecosystem types and climate zones. We show that their CO2 emissions share fundamental drivers and constitute a substantial fraction of the carbon cycled by inland waters. CO2 emissions were consistent across ecosystem types and climate zones, with local characteristics explaining much of the variability. Accounting for such emissions increases global estimates of carbon emissions from inland waters by 6% (~0.12 Pg C y−1). Our results indicate that emissions from dry inland waters represent a significant and likely increasing component of the inland waters carbon cycle.
Genome-wide association study of MRI markers of cerebral small vessel disease in 42,310 participants
Authors: Persyn Elodie , Hanscombe Ken B. , Howson Joanna M. M. , Lewis Cathryn M. , Traylor Matthew , Markus Hugh S.
Published: May 2020

Cerebral small vessel disease is a major cause of stroke and dementia, but its genetic basis is incompletely understood. We perform a genetic study of three MRI markers of the disease in UK Biobank imaging data and other sources: white matter hyperintensities (N = 42,310), fractional anisotropy (N = 17,663) and mean diffusivity (N = 17,467). Our aim is to better understand the disease pathophysiology. Across the three traits, we identify 31 loci, of which 21 were previously unreported. We perform a transcriptome-wide association study to identify associations with gene expression in relevant tissues, identifying 66 associated genes across the three traits. This genetic study provides insights into the understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying small vessel disease.
PBRM1 loss defines a nonimmunogenic tumor phenotype associated with checkpoint inhibitor resistance in renal carcinoma
Authors: Liu Xian-De , Kong Wen , Peterson Christine B. , McGrail Daniel J. , Hoang Anh , Zhang Xuesong , Lam Truong , Pilie Patrick G. , Zhu Haifeng , Beckermann Kathryn E. , Haake Scott M. , Isgandrova Sevinj , Martinez-Moczygemba Margarita , Sahni Nidhi , Tannir Nizar M. , Lin Shiaw-Yih , Rathmell W. Kimryn , Jonasch Eric
Published: May 2020

A non-immunogenic tumor microenvironment (TME) is a significant barrier to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response. The impact of Polybromo-1 (PBRM1) on TME and response to ICB in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains to be resolved. Here we show that PBRM1/Pbrm1 deficiency reduces the binding of brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1) to the IFNγ receptor 2 (Ifngr2) promoter, decreasing STAT1 phosphorylation and the subsequent expression of IFNγ target genes. An analysis of 3 independent patient cohorts and of murine pre-clinical models reveals that PBRM1 loss is associated with a less immunogenic TME and upregulated angiogenesis. Pbrm1 deficient Renca subcutaneous tumors in mice are more resistance to ICB, and a retrospective analysis of the IMmotion150 RCC study also suggests that PBRM1 mutation reduces benefit from ICB. Our study sheds light on the influence of PBRM1 mutations on IFNγ-STAT1 signaling and TME, and can inform additional preclinical and clinical studies in RCC.
The kallikrein–kinin pathway as a mechanism for auto-control of brown adipose tissue activity
Authors: Peyrou Marion , Cereijo Rubén , Quesada-López Tania , Campderrós Laura , Gavaldà-Navarro Aleix , Liñares-Pose Laura , Kaschina Elena , Unger Thomas , López Miguel , Giralt Marta , Villarroya Francesc
Published: May 2020

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is known to secrete regulatory factors in response to thermogenic stimuli. Components of the BAT secretome may exert local effects that contribute to BAT recruitment and activation. Here, we found that a thermogenic stimulus leads to enhanced secretion of kininogen (Kng) by BAT, owing to induction of kininogen 2 (Kng2) gene expression. Noradrenergic, cAMP-mediated signals induce KNG2 expression and release in brown adipocytes. Conversely, the expression of kinin receptors, that are activated by the Kng products bradykinin and [Des-Arg9]-bradykinin, are repressed by thermogenic activation of BAT in vivo and of brown adipocytes in vitro. Loss-of-function models for Kng (the circulating-Kng-deficient BN/Ka rat) and bradykinin (pharmacological inhibition of kinin receptors, kinin receptor-null mice) signaling were coincident in showing abnormal overactivation of BAT. Studies in vitro indicated that Kng and bradykinin exert repressive effects on brown adipocyte thermogenic activity by interfering the PKA/p38 MAPK pathway of control of Ucp1 gene transcription, whereas impaired kinin receptor expression enhances it. Our findings identify the kallikrein–kinin system as a relevant component of BAT thermogenic regulation that provides auto-regulatory inhibitory signaling to BAT.
Room-temperature chemical synthesis of C2
Authors: Miyamoto Kazunori , Narita Shodai , Masumoto Yui , Hashishin Takahiro , Osawa Taisei , Kimura Mutsumi , Ochiai Masahito , Uchiyama Masanobu
Published: May 2020

Diatomic carbon (C2) is historically an elusive chemical species. It has long been believed that the generation of C2 requires extremely high physical energy, such as an electric carbon arc or multiple photon excitation, and so it has been the general consensus that the inherent nature of C2 in the ground state is experimentally inaccessible. Here, we present the chemical synthesis of C2 from a hypervalent alkynyl-λ3-iodane in a flask at room temperature or below, providing experimental evidence to support theoretical predictions that C2 has a singlet biradical character with a quadruple bond, thus settling a long-standing controversy between experimental and theoretical chemists, and that C2 serves as a molecular element in the bottom-up chemical synthesis of nanocarbons such as graphite, carbon nanotubes, and C60.
Photoactivatable Cre recombinase 3.0 for in vivo mouse applications
Authors: Morikawa Kumi , Furuhashi Kazuhiro , de Sena-Tomas Carmen , Garcia-Garcia Alvaro L. , Bekdash Ramsey , Klein Alison D. , Gallerani Nicholas , Yamamoto Hannah E. , Park Seon-Hye E. , Collins Grant S. , Kawano Fuun , Sato Moritoshi , Lin Chyuan-Sheng , Targoff Kimara L. , Au Edmund , Salling Michael C. , Yazawa Masayuki
Published: May 2020

Optogenetic genome engineering tools enable spatiotemporal control of gene expression and provide new insight into biological function. Here, we report the new version of genetically encoded photoactivatable (PA) Cre recombinase, PA-Cre 3.0. To improve PA-Cre technology, we compare light-dimerization tools and optimize for mammalian expression using a CAG promoter, Magnets, and 2A self-cleaving peptide. To prevent background recombination caused by the high sequence similarity in the dimerization domains, we modify the codons for mouse gene targeting and viral production. Overall, these modifications significantly reduce dark leak activity and improve blue-light induction developing our new version, PA-Cre 3.0. As a resource, we have generated and validated AAV-PA-Cre 3.0 as well as two mouse lines that can conditionally express PA-Cre 3.0. Together these new tools will facilitate further biological and biomedical research.
Ubiquitinated-PCNA protects replication forks from DNA2-mediated degradation by regulating Okazaki fragment maturation and chromatin assembly
Authors: Thakar Tanay , Leung Wendy , Nicolae Claudia M. , Clements Kristen E. , Shen Binghui , Bielinsky Anja-Katrin , Moldovan George-Lucian
Published: May 2020

Upon genotoxic stress, PCNA ubiquitination allows for replication of damaged DNA by recruiting lesion-bypass DNA polymerases. However, PCNA is also ubiquitinated during normal S-phase progression. By employing 293T and RPE1 cells deficient in PCNA ubiquitination, generated through CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, here, we show that this modification promotes cellular proliferation and suppression of genomic instability under normal growth conditions. Loss of PCNA-ubiquitination results in DNA2-dependent but MRE11-independent nucleolytic degradation of nascent DNA at stalled replication forks. This degradation is linked to defective gap-filling in the wake of the replication fork and incomplete Okazaki fragment maturation, which interferes with efficient PCNA unloading by ATAD5 and subsequent nucleosome deposition by CAF-1. Moreover, concomitant loss of PCNA-ubiquitination and the BRCA pathway results in increased nascent DNA degradation and PARP inhibitor sensitivity. In conclusion, we show that by ensuring efficient Okazaki fragment maturation, PCNA-ubiquitination protects fork integrity and promotes the resistance of BRCA-deficient cells to PARP-inhibitors.
Design of a broadly reactive Lyme disease vaccine
Authors: Kamp Heather D. , Swanson Kurt A. , Wei Ronnie R. , Dhal Pradeep K. , Dharanipragada Ram , Kern Aurelie , Sharma Bijaya , Sima Radek , Hajdusek Ondrej , Hu Linden T. , Wei Chih-Jen , Nabel Gary J.
Published: May 2020

A growing global health concern, Lyme disease has become the most common tick-borne disease in the United States and Europe. Caused by the bacterial spirocheteBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato (sl), this disease can be debilitating if not treated promptly. Because diagnosis is challenging, prevention remains a priority; however, a previously licensed vaccine is no longer available to the public. Here, we designed a six component vaccine that elicits antibody (Ab) responses against allBorreliastrains that commonly cause Lyme disease in humans. The outer surface protein A (OspA) ofBorreliawas fused to a bacterial ferritin to generate self-assembling nanoparticles. OspA-ferritin nanoparticles elicited durable high titer Ab responses to the seven major serotypes in mice and non-human primates at titers higher than a previously licensed vaccine. This response was durable in rhesus macaques for more than 6 months. Vaccination with adjuvanted OspA-ferritin nanoparticles stimulated protective immunity from bothB. burgdorferiandB. afzeliiinfection in a tick-fed murine challenge model. This multivalent Lyme vaccine offers the potential to limit the spread of Lyme disease.
Author Correction: Intraoperative detection of circulating tumor cells in pulmonary venous blood during metastasectomy for colorectal lung metastases
Authors: Le Uyen-Thao , Bronsert Peter , Picardo Francesco , Riethdorf Sabine , Haager Benedikt , Rylski Bartosz , Czerny Martin , Beyersdorf Friedhelm , Wiesemann Sebastian , Pantel Klaus , Passlick Bernward , Kaifi Jussuf Thomas , Schmid Severin
Published: May 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Effects of radial injection and solution thickness on the dynamics of confined A + B → C chemical fronts
Authors: Tóth Ágota , Schuszter Gábor , Das Nirmali Prabha , Lantos Emese , Horváth Dezső , De Wit A. , Brau Fabian
Published: May 2020

The reconstructed amount of productnCas the volumeVof KSCN injected radially into Fe(NO3)3increases and comparison to theory.
Exchange-bias via nanosegregation in novel Fe2−xMn1+xAl (x = −0.25, 0, 0.25) Heusler films
Authors: Kurdi S. , Ghidini M. , Divitini G. , Nair B. , Kursumovic A. , Tiberto P. , Dhesi S. S. , Barber Z. H.
Published: May 2020

Exchange-bias has been reported in bulk nanocrystalline Fe2MnAl, but individual thin films of this Heusler alloy have never been studied so far.
Exploiting cation aggregation in new magnesium amidohaloaluminate electrolytes for magnesium batteries
Authors: Brouillet Etienne V. , Amores Marco , Corr Serena A. , Robertson Stuart D.
Published: May 2020

The active species in magnesium electrolytes is regularly assigned as being the thermodynamically stable dinuclear [Mg2Cl3]+ cation. By deliberately targeting other implicated aggregates, their effect on Mg-ion battery performance is easily ascertained.
Changes in latent fingermark glyceride composition as a function of sample age using UPLC-IMS-QToF-MSE
Authors: Frick Amanda A. , Kummer Natalie , Moraleda Ana , Weyermann Céline
Published: May 2020

An untargeted, lipidomics-based UPLC-IMS-QToF-MSE method was used to monitor the formation of triglyceride oxidation products, including ozonides, in latent fingermarks over time.
Enhanced electrochemical oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions using an NU-1000@NiMn-LDHS composite electrode in alkaline electrolyte
Authors: Sanati Soheila , Abazari Reza , Morsali Ali
Published: May 2020

A well-designed NU-1000@NiMn-LDHS (NU@LDHS) composite can offer efficient electrocatalytic performance with ultralow HER and OER overpotentials of 93 and 129 mV, respectively, at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 2 M KOH.
Telomeric DNA–RNA-hybrid G-quadruplex exists in environmental conditions of HeLa cells
Authors: Bao Hong-Liang , Xu Yan
Published: May 2020

In the present study, we employed a 19F NMR approach to study the association of telomere RNA and DNA in vitro and in living human cells.
A novel intracellular signal amplification strategy for the quantification of ATP in single cells by microchip electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection
Authors: Chen Shengyu , Zhao Jingjin , Yang Xing , Zhao Shulin , Liu Yi-Ming
Published: May 2020

An intracellular signal amplification strategy was developed for the quantification of ATP in single cells by microchip electrophoresis laser-induced fluorescence detection.
Unexpected reactivity of a PONNOP ‘expanded pincer’ ligand
Authors: Scheerder Arthur R. , Lutz Martin , Broere Daniël L. J.
Published: May 2020

A PONNOP ‘expanded pincer’ ligand is described that can bind two copper(i) atoms in close proximity, but undergoes an unexpected rearrangement in the presence of nickel(ii) salts.
Surface diffusion manifestation in electrodeposition of metal anodes
Authors: Vishnugopi Bairav S. , Hao Feng , Verma Ankit , Mukherjee Partha P.
Published: May 2020

Transformation of the electrodeposition morphology, facilitated by the surface self-diffusion across a step
QSAR without borders
Authors: Muratov Eugene N. , Bajorath Jürgen , Sheridan Robert P. , Tetko Igor V. , Filimonov Dmitry , Poroikov Vladimir , Oprea Tudor I. , Baskin Igor I. , Varnek Alexandre , Roitberg Adrian , Isayev Olexandr , Curtalolo Stefano , Fourches Denis , Cohen Yoram , Aspuru-Guzik Alan , Winkler David A. , Agrafiotis Dimitris , Cherkasov Artem , Tropsha Alexander
Published: May 2020

Word cloud summary of diverse topics associated with QSAR modeling that are discussed in this review.
EffectiveN-methylation of nitroarenes with methanol catalyzed by a functionalized NHC-based iridium catalyst: a green approach toN-methyl amines
Authors: González-Lainez Miguel , Jiménez M. Victoria , Passarelli Vincenzo , Pérez-Torrente Jesús J.
Published: May 2020

An Ir–NHC compound catalyzes the borrowing-hydrogen reduction of nitroarenes intoN-methyl amines with methanol through a direct mechanism.
Metal composition influences optoelectronic quality in mixed-metal lead–tin triiodide perovskite solar absorbers
Authors: Klug Matthew T. , Milot Rebecca L. , Patel Jay B. , Green Thomas , Sansom Harry C. , Farrar Michael D. , Ramadan Alexandra J. , Martani Samuele , Wang Zhiping , Wenger Bernard , Ball James M. , Langshaw Liam , Petrozza Annamaria , Johnston Michael B. , Herz Laura M. , Snaith Henry J.
Published: May 2020

By correlating photovoltaic and material properties with metal content, we identify compositional ranges of low and high optoelectronic quality in (FA0.83Cs0.17)(Pb1−ySny)I3 perovskites.
Can formate dehydrogenase from Candida boidinii catalytically reduce carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, or carbonate to formate?
Authors: Sato Ryohei , Amao Yutaka
Published: May 2020

It was found that CbFDH was catalytically reduce only carbon dioxide to formate among the three types of carbonate species, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and carbonate for the first time.
Ultrastable conductive microporous covalent triazine frameworks based on pyrene moieties provide high-performance CO2 uptake and supercapacitance
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed Gamal , EL-Mahdy Ahmed F. M. , Takashi Yasuno , Kuo Shiao-Wei
Published: May 2020

Two pyrene-functionalized CTFs through ionothermal treatment TCNPy in the presence of molten zinc chloride at 500 °C, which displayed high-performance CO2 uptake and supercapacitance.
Catalytic isomerization–hydroformylation of olefins by rhodium salicylaldimine pre-catalysts
Authors: Sekoto Pamela N. , Magengenene Tseliso M. , Matsinha Leah C. , Tia Richard , Darkwa James , Makhubela Banothile C. E.
Published: May 2020

A series of new Schiff-base rhodium(i) water-soluble complexes (C1–C3), were prepared and characterized.
Hydroxyethyl sulfone based reactive coalescing agents for low-VOC waterborne coatings
Authors: Kaur Jagjit , Krishnan Ranganathan , Ramalingam Balamurugan , Jana Satyasankar
Published: May 2020

Hydroxyethyl sulfone based compounds were revealed to exhibit characteristics of reactive coalescing agents towards application in environmentally-benign water borne coatings.
Laminin-modified gellan gum hydrogels loaded with the nerve growth factor to enhance the proliferation and differentiation of neuronal stem cells
Authors: Li Wenqiang , Huang Anfei , Zhong Yanheng , Huang Lin , Yang Jing , Zhou Changren , Zhou Lin , Zhang Yanling , Fu Guo
Published: May 2020

Laminin-modified thiolated gellan gum and loaded with the nerve growth factor in facilitateding neuronal stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
Retraction: Effect of temperature and large guest molecules on the C–H symmetric stretching vibrational frequencies of methane in structure H and I clathrate hydrates
Authors: Fuseya Go , Takeya Satoshi , Hachikubo Akihiro
Published: May 2020

Retraction of ‘Effect of temperature and large guest molecules on the C–H symmetric stretching vibrational frequencies of methane in structure H and I clathrate hydrates’ by Akihiro Hachikubo et al., RSC Adv., 2018, 8, 3237–3242, DOI: 10.1039/c7ra12334e.
Mesoscopic analyses of the impact of morphology and operating conditions on the transport resistances in a proton-exchange-membrane fuel-cell catalyst layer
Authors: Mu Yu-Tong , Weber Adam Z. , Gu Zhao-Lin , Schuler Tobias , Tao Wen-Quan
Published: May 2020

Exploring the origins of local transport resistance and characterizing the oxygen transport resistances in the catalyst layer (RCL) are critical for cost reduction.
The rise of bio-inspired polymer compartments responding to pathology-related signals
Authors: Zartner Luisa , Muthwill Moritz S. , Dinu Ionel Adrian , Schoenenberger Cora-Ann , Palivan Cornelia G.
Published: May 2020

Self-organized nano- and microscale polymer compartments such as polymersomes, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), polyion complex vesicles (PICsomes) and layer-by-layer (LbL) capsules have increasing potential in many sensing applications.
Simultaneous realization of high-efficiency, low-drive voltage, and long lifetime TADF OLEDs by multifunctional hole-transporters
Authors: Kamata Takahiro , Sasabe Hisahiro , Ito Nozomi , Sukegawa Yoshihito , Arai Ayato , Chiba Takayuki , Yokoyama Daisuke , Kido Junji
Published: May 2020

A smart high-triplet energy hole-transporter exhibits significant stability in the anion state realizing record-breaking highly efficient and long-living thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs).
First-principles mechanism study on distinct optoelectronic properties of Cl-doped 2D hybrid tin iodide perovskite
Authors: Hong Sung Jun , Chun Hoje , Min Kyung-Ah , Han Byungchan
Published: May 2020

Revealing the underlying mechanism of distinct optoelectronic properties affected by Cl-doping in 2D tin hybrid perovskite.
Visualizing the role of photoinduced ion migration on photoluminescence in halide perovskite grains
Authors: Choi Hoyeon , Ke Jack Chun-Ren , Skalsky Stefan , Castle Christopher A. , Li Kexue , Moore Katie L. , Flavell Wendy R. , Parkinson Patrick
Published: May 2020

By combining in situ optical spectroscopy with a high spatial resolution mass spectrometry, we directly link the evolution in carrier recombination processes in perovskite films to light-induced ion migration.
Effect of correlation on the capacity of backscatter communication systems
Authors: Matez‐Bandera J.L. , Ramirez‐Espinosa P. , Vega‐Sanchez J.D. , Lopez‐Martinez F.J.
Published: May 2020

The authors analyse the effect of correlation between the forward and backward links on the capacity of backscatter communication systems. With that aim, we obtain an analytical expression for the average capacity under a correlated Rayleigh product fading channel, as well as closed‐form asymptotic expressions for the high and low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) regimes. The proposed works' results show that correlation is indeed detrimental for a fixed target SNR; contrarily to the common belief, the authors also see that correlation can be actually beneficial in some instances when a fixed power budget is considered.
Compensation of Gm‐C lossless integrator for finite output resistance
Authors: Kamat D.V.
Published: May 2020

In this Letter, a general compensation method for finite parasitic output impedance of Gm in Gm‐C lossless integrator is discussed. The use of a Gm‐simulated negative resistor in series with an integrating capacitor in a lossless integrator is shown to minimise the effects of the finite output impedance of Gm‐cell. The proposed method is employed in a second‐order Gm‐C notch filter to improve the stop‐band response of the filter.
Evaluation of lateral diffusion length in InAs/GaSb superlattice detectors grown by MOCVD
Authors: Teng Yan , Hao Xiujun , Zhao Yu , Wu Qihua , Li Xin , Liu Jiafeng , Zhu He , Chen Ying , Zhu Hong , Huang Yong
Published: May 2020

The lateral diffusion length (Lh) of minority carriers in LWIR InAs/GaSb superlattice detectors grown by metalorganic chemical vapour deposition was evaluated. The deeply‐etched PNn device exhibits a diffusion‐limited behaviour at 80 K, with a dark current density as low as 9.1 × 10−6 A/cm2 at −0.1 V and a 50% cut‐off of 10.1 μm. In shallow‐etched pixels with a common absorber, both the photo‐current and the dark current show a size‐dependent behaviour. Lh deduced from the two methods are 211 and 251 μm, respectively, which are longer than those in superlattice materials grown by molecular beam epitaxy.
Analysis and outage performance evaluation of a fair scheduling for independent non‐identically distributed users in a cognitive radio using OSTBC with equally correlated transmit antennas
Authors: Torabi Mohammad , Haccoun David
Published: May 2020

In this study, a fair user‐scheduling method is considered for an underlay cognitive radio system, in which the secondary users (SUs) are sharing the licenced frequency spectrum of a single primary user (PU), where the PU and SUs utilise Alamouti orthogonal space‐time block coding (OSTBC). The impacts of some important practical issues are investigated in the system. First, it is assumed that the signal‐to‐noise‐ratios of the SUs are independent non‐identically distributed. Second, the transmit antennas for OSTBC corresponding to the SUs are assumed to be equally correlated. Third, the interference from the PU to SUs as well as the interferences from SUs to the PU are taken into consideration. To investigate the outage performance of the SUs, a closed‐form expression for the cumulative distribution function of the SUs signal‐to‐interference‐noise‐ratio is obtained and then used to derive an expression for evaluating the secondary system outage performance. The numerically evaluated results, validated by computer simulations, provide insights about system outage performance under various practical situations on the impacts of the spatial antennas correlation and the PU interference on to SUs.
Q‐learning based computation offloading for multi‐UAV‐enabled cloud‐edge computing networks
Authors: Wang Meng , Shi Shuo , Gu Shushi , Gu Xuemai , Qin Xue
Published: May 2020

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been recently considered as a flying platform to provide wide coverage and relaying services for mobile users (MUs). Mobile edge computing (MEC) is developed as a new paradigm to improve quality of experience of MUs in future networks. Motivated by the high flexibility and controllability of UAVs, in this study, the authors study a multi‐UAV‐enabled MEC system, in which UAVs have computation resources to offer computation offloading opportunities for MUs, aiming to reduce MUs' total consumptions in terms of time and energy. Considering the rich computation resource in the remote cloud centre, they propose the MUs‐Edge‐Cloud three‐layer network architecture, where UAVs play the role of flying edge servers. Based on this framework, they formulate the computation offloading issue as a mixed‐integer non‐linear programming problem, which is difficult to obtain an optimal solution in general. To address this, they propose an efficient Q‐learning based computation offloading algorithm (QCOA) to reduce the complexity of optimisation problem. Numerical results show that the proposed QCOA outperforms benchmark offloading policies (e.g. random offloading, traversal offloading). Furthermore, the proposed three‐layer network architecture achieves a 5% benefits compared with the traditional two‐layer network architecture in terms of MUs' energy and time consumptions.
Spatial–temporal representation for video re‐identification via key images
Authors: Song Wanru , Chen Changhong , Zhao Qingqing , Liu Feng
Published: May 2020

Video‐based person re‐identification aims to verify the pedestrian identity from image sequences. The sequences are captured by cameras located in different directions at different times. Existing studies have certain limitations in the case of occlusions and pose variations. To solve the aforementioned problems, this study proposes a new two‐stage framework, from which the key‐image‐based fusion spatial–temporal feature (KISTF) of the pedestrian can be extracted from the video. The image‐level features at all timestamps are aggregated into the sequence‐level feature representation of the video by using an long short‐term memory network. Additionally, the concept of key image is defined for the image sequence, and the frame‐level feature of the pedestrian is extracted from these key images. The proposed spatial–temporal feature, KISTF, is obtained by fusing the sequence‐level feature and the frame‐level feature. It aims to solve the problem of pedestrian representation in small video data sets. Experiments are conducted on the iLIDS‐VID and PRID2011 data sets. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms state‐of‐the‐art video‐based re‐identification methods.