bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Symbiotic bacteria of the gall-inducing mite Fragariocoptes setiger (Eriophyoidea) and phylogenomic resolution of the eriophyoid position among Acari
Authors: Klimov Pavel B. , Chetverikov Philipp E. , Dodueva Irina E. , Vishnyakov Andrey E. , Bolton Samuel J. , Paponova Svetlana S. , Lutova Ljudmila A. , Tolstikov Andrey V.
Published: March 2022

Eriophyoid mites represent a hyperdiverse, phytophagous lineage with an unclear phylogenetic position. These mites have succeeded in colonizing nearly every seed plant species, and this evolutionary success was in part due to the mites' ability to induce galls in plants. A gall is a unique niche that provides the inducer of this modification with vital resources. The exact mechanism of gall formation is still not understood, even as to whether it is endogenic (mites directly cause galls) or exogenic (symbiotic microorganisms are involved). Here we (i) investigate the phylogenetic affinities of eriophyoids and (ii) use comparative metagenomics to test the hypothesis that the endosymbionts of eriophyoid mites are involved in gall formation. Our phylogenomic analysis robustly inferred eriophyoids as closely related to Nematalycidae, a group of deep-soil mites belonging to Endeostigmata. Our comparative metagenomics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and electron microscopy experiments identified two candidate endosymbiotic bacteria shared across samples, however, it is unlikely that they are gall inducers (morphotype1: novel Wolbachia, morphotype2: possibly Agrobacterium tumefaciens). We also detected an array of plant pathogens associated with galls that may be vectored by the mites, and we determined a mite pathogenic virus (Betabaculovirus) that could be tested for using in biocontrol of agricultural pest mites.
Structural and electronic properties of Pt modified Au(100) surface
Authors: Trembułowicz Artur , Sabik Agata , Jurczyszyn Leszek
Published: March 2022

Investigations on electronic and geometric structures of platinum adsorbed on monocrystalline gold surfaces are important for understanding the remarkable catalytic properties of bimetallic Pt–Au systems. Herein, the morphology of quasi-hexagonal (hex) Au(100) surface after deposition of platinum for coverage up to 0.5 monolayer (ML) has been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). For coverage range 0.2–0.4 ML the creation of elongated islands with mono-atomic height is observed. The islands consist of flat phase of disordered Pt-Au alloy which coexists with nanowire-like features with a hex atom arrangement and quantized width. Annealing the Pt/Au(100) system at 100–150 °C changes the surface morphology. The islands disappear and the topmost layer of the surface consists of flat phase of Pt–Au alloy which coexists with the hex-stripes. Small domains of ordered c(2 × 2) structure of Pt–Au alloy are found. The electronic properties of this structure have been investigated by ab-initio calculations. The obtained results allow to distinguish the Pt from Au atoms by their appearance in the STM images. The calculated electronic structures indicate a bonding creation between Pt and Au atoms and an electrond-states redistribution of Pt in comparison to the bare Pt(100)-(1 × 1) surface.
A pilot crossover trial assessing the exercise performance patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Chao Ke-Yun , Liu Wei-Lun , Nassef Yasser , Lai Pin-Zhen , Wang Jong-Shyan
Published: March 2022

Noninvasive ventilation improves exercise performance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the effect of helmet ventilation (HV) on the short-term self-paced exercise performance of patients with COPD remains unclear. This study investigated the use of HV during a 6 min walk test (6MWT) and analyzed its short-term cardiopulmonary outcomes in patients with stable COPD. A single-site crossover trial was conducted in a pulmonary rehabilitation outpatient department. A total of 20 stable patients with COPD without disability were enrolled. The participants performed 6MWTs with and without HV on two consecutive days. The outcome measures were the distance walked in the 6MWT and the physiological and cardiopulmonary parameters. The mean difference in meters walked between the HV-aided and unaided walk tests was 15.4 ± 37.2 (95% confidence interval: − 2.03 to 32.8 m; p = .145). During the 6MWT, the peak heart rate was significantly higher when walking was aided by HV than when it was unaided (p < .001). The energy expenditure index, walking speed, oxygen saturation nadir, and hemodynamic parameters were comparable. Although carbon dioxide levels inside the helmet increased after the walk test, the participants’ transcutaneous carbon dioxide measurements remained unchanged. HV did not improve the short-term self-paced exercise performance in patients with stable mild-to-moderate COPD. Further research should focus on noninvasive ventilation delivered via helmets in exercise training to determine the setting strategy, breathing circuit configuration, and effects of regular exercise.

ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT04156724; IRB number: C108032.
Effects of midsole cushioning stiffness on Achilles tendon stretch during running
Authors: Esposito Michael , Wannop John W. , Stefanyshyn Darren J.
Published: March 2022

Footwear midsole material can have a direct influence on running performance. However, the exact mechanism of improved performance remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if Achilles tendon energetics could potentially play a role in the performance improvements, by testing if changes in footwear midsole stiffness elicit changes in Achilles tendon stretch. Fourteen runners ran in two footwear conditions while kinematic, kinetic, metabolic and ultrasound data were recorded. There was a moderate positive correlation between the difference in stretch and the difference in performance, which was statistically significant (r(12) = 0.563, p = 0.036). Twelve participants had greater stretch and better performance in the same footwear condition. Based on stretch estimates, the difference between conditions in energy returned from the Achilles tendon was 3.9% of the mechanical energy required per step. Energy return of this magnitude would be relevant and could cause the improved performance observed. These results suggest that increasing energy returned from the Achilles could be a valid mechanism for improving running performance due to changes in footwear. These findings lead the way for future research to further understand internal mechanisms behind improved running performance.
Increased hospitalizations and economic burden in COPD with bronchiectasis: a nationwide representative study
Authors: Kim Youlim , Kim Kyungjoo , Rhee Chin Kook , Ra Seung Won
Published: March 2022

With the increasing use of computed tomography, bronchiectasis has become a common finding in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the clinical aspects and medical utilization of COPD with bronchiectasis (BE) remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the BE effect on prognosis and medical utilization in patients with COPD. Among 263,747 COPD patients, we excluded patients lacking chest X-ray, CT, or pulmonary function test codes and classified 2583 GOLD-C/D patients matched according to age, sex, and medical aid as having COPD-BE (447 [17.3%]) and COPD without BE (2136 [82.7%]). Patients with COPD-BE showed a higher rate of acute exacerbation requiring antibiotics than those without BE. Moreover, multivariable analysis showed that BE co-existence was a crucial factor for moderate-to-severe exacerbation (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.071; 95% CI 1.012–1.134; p = 0.019). Patients with COPD-BE had a significantly higher rate of exacerbations requiring antibiotics, as well as treatment cost and duration (meant as number of days using hospitalization plus outpatient appointment), than those with COPD without BE (52.64 ± 65.29 vs. 40.19 ± 50.02 days, p < 0.001; 5984.08 ± 8316.96 vs. 4453.40 ± 7291.03 USD, p < 0.001). Compared with patients with COPD without BE, patients with COPD-BE experienced more exacerbations requiring antibiotics, more hospitalizations, and a higher medical cost.
The effect of blood feeding on insecticide resistance intensity and adult longevity in the major malaria vector Anopheles funestus (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Oliver Shüné V. , Lyons Candice L. , Brooke Basil D.
Published: March 2022

Insecticide-based vector control is key to the reduction and elimination of malaria. Although insecticide resistance is common in malaria vector populations, the operational implications are often unclear. High intensity pyrethroid resistance in the major malaria vector Anopheles funestus has been linked to control failure in Southern Africa. The aim of this study was to assess linkages between mosquito age, blood feeding and the intensity of pyrethroid resistance in two An. funestus laboratory strains that originate from southern Mozambique, namely the moderately pyrethroid resistant FUMOZ and the highly resistant FUMOZ-R. Resistance tended to decline with age. This effect was significantly mitigated by blood feeding and was most apparent in cohorts that received multiple blood meals. In the absence of insecticide exposure, blood feeding tended to increase longevity of An. funestus females and, following insecticide exposure, enhanced their levels of deltamethrin resistance, even in older age groups. These effects were more marked in FUMOZ-R compared to FUMOZ. In terms of programmatic decision-making, these data suggest that it would be useful to assess the level and intensity of resistance in older female cohorts wherever possible, notwithstanding the standard protocols for resistance testing using age-standardised samples.
Contrasting Early Ordovician assembly patterns highlight the complex initial stages of the Ordovician Radiation
Authors: Saleh Farid , Guenser Pauline , Gibert Corentin , Balseiro Diego , Serra Fernanda , Waisfeld Beatriz G. , Antcliffe Jonathan B. , Daley Allison C. , Mángano M. Gabriela , Buatois Luis A. , Ma Xiaoya , Vizcaïno Daniel , Lefebvre Bertrand
Published: March 2022

The Early Ordovician is a key interval for our understanding of the evolution of life on Earth as it lays at the transition between the Cambrian Explosion and the Ordovician Radiation and because the fossil record of the late Cambrian is scarce. In this study, assembly processes of Early Ordovician trilobite and echinoderm communities from the Central Anti-Atlas (Morocco), the Montagne Noire (France), and the Cordillera Oriental (Argentina) are explored. The results show that dispersal increased diachronically in trilobite communities during the Early Ordovician. Dispersal did not increase for echinoderms. Dispersal was most probably proximally triggered by the planktic revolution, the fall in seawater temperatures, changes in oceanic circulation, with an overall control by tectonic frameworks and phylogenetic constraints. The diachronous increase in dispersal within trilobite communities in the Early Ordovician highlights the complexity of ecosystem structuring during the early stages of the Ordovician Radiation. As Early Ordovician regional dispersal was followed by well-documented continental dispersal in the Middle/Late Ordovician, it is possible to consider that alongside a global increase in taxonomic richness, the Ordovician Radiation is also characterized by a gradual increase in dispersal.
Antibiofilm activity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles against biofilm associated enterococcal urinary pathogens
Authors: Swidan Nada S. , Hashem Yomna A. , Elkhatib Walid F. , Yassien Mahmoud A.
Published: March 2022

Biofilm-formed enterococcal urinary tract clinical isolates (n = 92) were used for studying the antibiofilm activity of cinnamon, ginger, and chemical AgNPs. The average particle sizes of cinnamon, ginger, and chemical AgNPs were 8.7, 41.98, and 55.7 nm, respectively. The results of Fourier transform infrared analysis revealed that phytocompounds, such as cinnamaldehyde and gingerol, were the main compounds incorporated in the synthesis of cinnamon and ginger AgNPs, respectively. The purity and crystalline nature of the AgNPs have been confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray Diffraction analysis. The results of antimicrobial activity showed that MIC of ginger, cinnamon, and chemical AgNPs were 37.64, 725.7, and 61.08 μg/ml, respectively. On studying the antibiofilm activity of AgNPs at sub-MIC values (1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 MIC), the results revealed that it was concentration dependent. Therefore, further studies were carried out to evaluate the antibiofilm activity of AgNPs at a concentration of 18 μg/ml. The results showed that ginger and chemical AgNPs reduced the formed biofilm to 39.14% and 65.32% and the number of adherent cells on the urinary catheter surface to 42.73% and 69.84%, respectively, as compared to that of the control, while cinnamon AgNPs showed no significant activity. Accordingly, ginger AgNPs had the most potent antibacterial and antiadherent activity against biofilm-associated enterococcal isolates.
Study on the effect of porosity of hollow fiber membrane on humidification performance
Authors: Niu Runping , Jia Xiaoting , Geng Lizhi
Published: March 2022

Hollow fiber membranes are used in industrial processes widely. Porosity is one of the important parameters affecting the humidification performance of hollow fiber membrane components. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of porosity of hollow fiber membrane on humidification performance. In order to perform this analysis, a model based on the finite element method was used to simulate numerically the heat and mass transfer under 6 porosity conditions. Five working conditions with different air flow was considered in order to get more data. The results show that when the porosity increases from 0.35 to 0.8, the humidification performance is greatly improved. However, when it increases from 0.8 to 0.9, the humidification performance is almost unchanged. Considering the humidification performance and support strength of hollow fiber membrane, it is suggested to control the porosity of hollow fiber membrane between 0.65 and 0.8.
Observed decrease in light precipitation in part due to urbanization
Authors: Tysa Suonam Kealdrup , Ren Guoyu
Published: March 2022

Decrease in light precipitation (LP) frequency has been reported in many regions. However, reason for the decrease remains poorly understood. Here, we quantify urbanization effect on LP (< 3.0 mm day−1) trend in China over the period 1960–2018. We show that urbanization has significantly affected the decreasing LP trend. The urbanization effect becomes more significant as the definition of LP becomes stricter, with the largest effect appearing in trace precipitation change (< 0.3 mm day−1) (LP0.3) during summer and autumn. We estimate that at least 25% of the decreases in LP0.3 days and amount are due to urbanization near the observational stations. Our analysis thus confirms that urbanization has largely contributed to the observed downward trend in LP, and the large-scale change in LP is less than previously believed.
Identification of multiple TAR DNA binding protein retropseudogene lineages during the evolution of primates
Authors: Opazo Juan C. , Zavala Kattina , Vargas-Chacoff Luis , Morera Francisco J. , Mardones Gonzalo A.
Published: March 2022

The TAR DNA Binding Protein (TARDBP) gene has become relevant after the discovery of its several pathogenic mutations. The lack of evolutionary history is in contrast to the amount of studies found in the literature. This study investigated the evolutionary dynamics associated with the retrotransposition of the TARDBP gene in primates. We identified novel retropseudogenes that likely originated in the ancestors of anthropoids, catarrhines, and lemuriformes, i.e. the strepsirrhine clade that inhabit Madagascar. We also found species-specific retropseudogenes in the Philippine tarsier, Bolivian squirrel monkey, capuchin monkey and vervet. The identification of a retropseudocopy of the TARDBP gene overlapping a lncRNA that is potentially expressed opens a new avenue to investigate TARDBP gene regulation, especially in the context of TARDBP associated pathologies.
Clitorin ameliorates western diet-induced hepatic steatosis by regulating lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Cominguez Divina C. , Park Yea-Jin , Kang Yun-Mi , Nugroho Agung , Kim Suhyun , An Hyo-Jin
Published: March 2022

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is usually correlated with metabolic diseases, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia. Herein, we investigated the inhibitory effects and underlying governing mechanism of clitorin in a western diet (WD)-induced hepatic steatosis mouse model, and in oleic acid-stimulated HepG2 cells. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet, WD, WD + 10 or 20 mg/kg orlistat, and WD + 10 or 20 mg/kg clitorin. HepG2 cells were treated with 1 mM oleic acid to induce lipid accumulation with or without clitorin. Clitorin significantly alleviated body weight gain and hepatic steatosis features (NAFLD activity score, micro-, and macro-vesicular steatosis) in WD-induced hepatic steatosis mice. Additionally, clitorin significantly decreased protein expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) in WD-induced hepatic steatosis mice. Moreover, clitorin significantly diminished the mRNA levels of SREBP1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) and enhanced the mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and carnitine palmitoyltranserase-1 (CTP-1), as well as adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the liver of WD-induced hepatic steatosis mice and oleic acid-stimulated HepG2 cells. Overall, our findings demonstrated that clitorin can be a potentially efficacious candidate for NAFLD management.
Evolutionary genomic relationships and coupling in MK-STYX and STYX pseudophosphatases
Authors: Qi Yi , Kuang Di , Kelley Kylan , Buchser William J. , Hinton Shantá D.
Published: March 2022

The dual specificity phosphatase (DUSP) family has catalytically inactive members, called pseudophosphatases. They have mutations in their catalytic motifs that render them enzymatically inactive. This study analyzes the significance of two pseudophosphatases, MK-STYX [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphoserine/threonine/tyrosine-binding protein]) and STYX (serine/threonine/tyrosine-interacting protein), throughout their evolution and provides measurements and comparison of their evolutionary conservation. Phylogenetic trees were constructed to show any deviation from various species evolutionary paths. Data was collected on a large set of proteins that have either one of the two domains of MK-STYX, the DUSP domain or the cdc-25 homology (CH2) /rhodanese-like domain. The distance between species pairs for MK-STYX or STYX and Ka/Ks ratio were calculated. In addition, both pseudophosphatases were ranked among a large set of related proteins, including the active homologs of MK-STYX, MKP (MAPK phosphatase)-1 and MKP-3. MK-STYX had one of the highest species-species protein distances and was under weaker purifying selection pressure than most proteins with its domains. In contrast, the protein distances of STYX were lower than 82% of the DUSP-containing proteins and was under one of the strongest purifying selection pressures. However, there was similar selection pressure on the N-terminal sequences of MK-STYX, STYX, MKP-1, and MKP-3. We next perform statistical coupling analysis, a process that reveals interconnected regions within the proteins. We find that while MKP-1,-3, and STYX all have 2 functional units (sectors), MK-STYX only has one, and that MK-STYX is similar to MKP-3 in the evolutionary coupling of the active site and KIM domain. Within those two domains, the mean coupling is also most similar for MK-STYX and MKP-3. This study reveals striking distinctions between the evolutionary patterns of MK-STYX and STYX, suggesting a very specific role for each pseudophosphatase, further highlighting the relevance of these atypical members of DUSP as signaling regulators. Therefore, our study provides computational evidence and evolutionary reasons to further explore the properties of pseudophosphatases, in particular MK-STYX and STYX.
Transcellular propagation of fibrillar α-synuclein from enteroendocrine to neuronal cells requires cell-to-cell contact and is Rab35-dependent
Authors: Rodrigues Paulla Vieira , de Godoy João Vitor Pereira , Bosque Beatriz Pelegrini , Amorim Neto Dionísio Pedro , Tostes Katiane , Palameta Soledad , Garcia-Rosa Sheila , Tonoli Celisa Caldana Costa , de Carvalho Hernandes Faustino , de Castro Fonseca Matheus
Published: March 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition featured by motor dysfunction, death of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and accumulation of α-synuclein (αSyn) aggregates. Growing evidence suggests that PD diagnosis happens late in the disease progression and that the pathology may originate much earlier in the enteric nervous system (ENS) before advancing to the brain, via autonomic fibers. It was recently described that a specific cell type from the gut epithelium named enteroendocrine cells (EECs) possess many neuron-like properties including αSyn expression. By facing the gut lumen and being directly connected with αSyn-containing enteric neurons in a synaptic manner, EECs form a neural circuit between the gastrointestinal tract and the ENS, thereby being a possible key player in the outcome of PD in the gut. We have characterized the progression and the cellular mechanisms involved in αSyn pre-formed fibrils (PFFs) transfer from EECs to neuronal cells. We show that brain organoids efficiently internalize αSyn PFF seeds which triggers the formation of larger intracellular inclusions. In addition, in the enteroendocrine cell line STC-1 and in the neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y, αSyn PFFs induced intracellular calcium (Ca2+) oscillations on an extracellular Ca2+ source-dependent manner and triggered αSyn fibrils internalization by endocytosis. We characterized the spread of αSyn PFFs from enteroendocrine to neuronal cells and showed that this process is dependent on physical cell-to-cell contact and on Rab35 GTPase. Lastly, inhibition of Rab35 increases the clearance of αSyn fibrils by redirecting them to the lysosomal compartment. Therefore, our results reveal mechanisms that contribute to the understanding of how seeded αSyn fibrils promote the progression of αSyn pathology from EECs to neuronal cells shifting the focus of PD etiology to the ENS.
Differences in susceptibility of deciduous and permanent teeth to erosion exist, albeit depending on protocol design and method of assessment
Authors: Carvalho Thiago Saads , Lussi Adrian , Schlueter Nadine , Baumann Tommy
Published: March 2022

Controversial results showing that deciduous teeth are more susceptible to erosion than permanent teeth might be related to study designs. We investigated how different conditions (pH: 3.0, 4.0, 5.0; acid agitation: gentle or vigorous; acid exposure times: 1–5 min) affect the susceptibility of both teeth to erosion. Enamel specimens (90 deciduous, 90 permanent) were distributed into groups (n = 15 permanent, n = 15 deciduous) according to acid pH (pH 5, 4 or 3) and agitation (gentle or vigorous) during erosive challenge. Both milder (less incubation time, gentle agitation, and higher pH) and more severe (longer incubation times, vigorous shaking, and lower pH) conditions were used. Demineralization was measured by relative surface microhardness (rSMH) and calcium released to the acid. Demineralization increased gradually for both teeth with increasing incubation time, agitation (gentle or vigorous), and with decreasing acid pH. The differences between deciduous and permanent teeth depended on the protocol design and assessment method. Under milder conditions, demineralization was better detectable with rSMH. Under more severe conditions, differences were more perceptible with calcium analyses. Differences exist in the susceptibility to erosion between deciduous and permanent teeth, but they are only distinguishable when the appropriate assessment method is used for the specific erosive condition.
Molecular investigation of possible relationships concerning bovine leukemia virus and breast cancer
Authors: Khan Zanib , Abubakar Muhammad , Arshed Muhammad Javed , Aslam Roohi , Sattar Sadia , Shah Naseer Ali , Javed Sundus , Tariq Aamira , Bostan Nazish , Manzoor Shumaila
Published: March 2022

Worldwide, breast cancer has an eminent morbidity and mortality rate, as it is a neoplastic disease among females. The query of the prospective danger of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) to humans is an old but exceedingly topical focus of scientific debate. The objective of the current study was to determine the possible relationship between BLV and breast cancer. A total of 2710 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) breast cancer samples were selected regardless of the age, ethnicity, or municipality origin of the subjects. The presence of BLV in human breast cancer was determined through nested PCR by amplifyingtaxandgaggenes followed by partial sequencing. Homology was confirmed by using the online BLAST Tool. BLV genes were found to be positive in 26.8% (728/2710) of the samples from breast cancer patients and 10% (10/80) of the samples without cancer (negative control). The results indicated a correlation between the presence of the BLV gene and breast cancer (odds ratio = 0.3889; confidence interval = 1,18; p = 0.0029). The current findings suggest a possible link between BLV and human breast carcinoma. Therefore, screening cattle herds and milk products is suggested to reduce the viral transmission risk to humans.
Economic value of three grassland ecosystem services when managed at the regional and farm scale
Authors: Huber Robert , Le’Clec’h Solen , Buchmann Nina , Finger Robert
Published: March 2022

Grasslands cover a major share of the world’s agricultural land and their management influences ecosystem services. Spatially targeted policy instruments can increase the provision of ecosystem services by exploiting how they respond to spatial differences in environmental characteristics such as altitude, slope, or soil quality. However, most policy instruments focus on individual farms, where spatial differences are small. Here we assess the economic value of three grassland ecosystem services (i.e., forage provision, carbon sequestration, and habitat maintenance) and its variability in a Swiss region of 791 km2 that consists of 19,000 farmland parcels when managed at the regional and farm scale, respectively. Our spatially explicit bio-economic simulation approach combines biophysical information on grassland ecosystem services and their economic values. We find that in our case study region, spatial targeting on a regional scale management increases the economic value of ecosystem services by 45% compared to targeting at farm scale. We also find that the heterogeneity of economic values coming from prices and willingness to pay estimates is higher than the economic gains from spatial targeting that make use of the spatial difference in environmental characteristics. This implies that heterogeneity in prices and/or societal demand of these three ecosystem services is more important for grassland management than spatial heterogeneity in our case study region. The here applied framework allows for an ex-ante assessment of economic gains from spatial targeting and thus provides basic information for the implementation of incentive mechanisms addressing the nexus of food production and ecosystem service provision in grasslands.
Approach to map nanotopography of cell surface receptors
Authors: Franke Christian , Chum Tomáš , Kvíčalová Zuzana , Glatzová Daniela , Gentsch Gregor Jörg , Rodriguez Alvaro , Helmerich Dominic A. , Herdly Lucas , Mavila Harsha , Frank Otakar , Brdička Tomáš , van de Linde Sebastian , Cebecauer Marek
Published: March 2022

Cells communicate with their environment via surface receptors, but nanoscopic receptor organization with respect to complex cell surface morphology remains unclear. This is mainly due to a lack of accessible, robust and high-resolution methods. Here, we present an approach for mapping the topography of receptors at the cell surface with nanometer precision. The method involves coating glass coverslips with glycine, which preserves the fine membrane morphology while allowing immobilized cells to be positioned close to the optical surface. We developed an advanced and simplified algorithm for the analysis of single-molecule localization data acquired in a biplane detection scheme. These advancements enable direct and quantitative mapping of protein distribution on ruffled plasma membranes with near isotropic 3D nanometer resolution. As demonstrated successfully for CD4 and CD45 receptors, the described workflow is a straightforward quantitative technique to study molecules and their interactions at the complex surface nanomorphology of differentiated metazoan cells.
Non-invasive human skin transcriptome analysis using mRNA in skin surface lipids
Authors: Inoue Takayoshi , Kuwano Tetsuya , Uehara Yuya , Yano Michiko , Oya Naoki , Takada Naoto , Tanaka Shodai , Ueda Yui , Hachiya Akira , Takahashi Yoshito , Ota Noriyasu , Murase Takatoshi
Published: March 2022

Non-invasive acquisition of mRNA data from the skin can be extremely useful for understanding skin physiology and diseases. Inspired by the holocrine process, in which the sebaceous glands secrete cell contents into the sebum, we focused on the possible presence of mRNAs in skin surface lipids (SSLs). We found that measurable levels of human mRNAs exist in SSLs, where the sebum protects them from degradation by RNases. The AmpliSeq transcriptome analysis was modified to measure SSL-RNA levels, and our results revealed that the SSL-RNAs predominantly comprised mRNAs derived from sebaceous glands, the epidermis, and hair follicles. Analysis of SSL-RNAs non-invasively collected from patients with atopic dermatitis revealed increased expression of inflammation-related genes and decreased expression of terminal differentiation-related genes, consistent with the results of previous reports. Further, we found that lipid synthesis-related genes were downregulated in the sebaceous glands of patients with atopic dermatitis. These results indicate that the analysis of SSL-RNAs is a promising strategy to understand the pathophysiology of skin diseases.
An embayment in the East Antarctic basement constrains the shape of the Rodinian continental margin
Authors: Jordan Tom A. , Ferraccioli Fausto , Forsberg René
Published: March 2022

East Antarctic provinces lay at the heart of both Rodinian and Gondwanan supercontinents, yet poor exposure and limited geophysical data provide few constraints on the region’s tectonic evolution. The shape of the Mawson Continent, the stable nucleus of East Antarctica, is one of Antarctica’s most important, but contested features, with implications for global plate reconstructions and local tectonic models. Here we show a major marginal embayment 500–700 km wide, cuts into the East Antarctic basement in the South Pole region. This embayment, defined by new aeromagnetic and other geophysical data, truncates the Mawson Continent, which is distinct from basement provinces flanking the Weddell Sea. We favour a late Neoproterozoic rifting model for embayment formation and discuss analogies with other continental margins. The embayment and associated basement provinces help define the East Antarctic nucleus for supercontinental reconstructions, while the inherited marginal geometry likely influenced evolution of the paleo-Pacific margin of Gondwana.
Nature-based solutions in mountain catchments reduce impact of anthropogenic climate change on drought streamflow
Authors: Holden Petra B. , Rebelo Alanna J. , Wolski Piotr , Odoulami Romaric C. , Lawal Kamoru A. , Kimutai Joyce , Nkemelang Tiro , New Mark G.
Published: March 2022

Quantifying how well Nature-based Solutions can offset anthropogenic climate change impacts is important for adaptation planning, but has rarely been done. Here we show that a widely-applied Nature-based Solution in South Africa – invasive alien tree clearing – reduces the impact of anthropogenic climate change on drought streamflow. Using a multi-model joint-attribution of climate and landscape-vegetation states during the 2015–2017 Cape Town “Day Zero” drought, we find that anthropogenic climate change reduced streamflow by 12–29% relative to a counterfactual world with anthropogenic emissions removed. This impact on streamflow was larger than corresponding reductions in rainfall (7–15%) and reference evapotranspiration (1.7–2%). Clearing invasive alien trees could have ameliorated streamflow reductions by 3–16% points for moderate invasions levels. Preventing further invasive alien tree spread avoided potential additional reductions of 10–27% points. Total clearing could not have offset the anthropogenic climate change impact completely. Invasive alien tree clearing is an important form of catchment restoration for managing changing hydroclimatic risk, but will need to be combined with other adaptation options as climate change accelerates.
Universal point-of-care detection of proteins based on proximity hybridization-mediated isothermal exponential amplification
Authors: Tang Zibin , Zhao Wenyong , Deng Yuling , Sun Yuanzhong , Qiu Cailing , Wu Binhua , Bao Juan , Chen Zhangquan , Yu Luxin
Published: March 2022

A lateral flow biosensor has been fabricated for protein detection based on a protein-to-DNA signal transducer, isothermal exponential amplification and catalytic hairpin assembly with high sensitivity and specificity.
From weak to strong interactions: structural and electron topology analysis of the continuum from the supramolecular chalcogen bonding to covalent bonds
Authors: Miller Daniel K. , Chernyshov Ivan Yu. , Torubaev Yury V. , Rosokha Sergiy V.
Published: March 2022

Continuities of interatomic distances and characteristics of bond critical points demonstrate an intrinsic link between covalent and supramolecular bonding involving chalcogen atoms.
Impact of Bi doping on nonradiative carrier recombination in CsPbI3
Authors: Zhang Jiajia , Xie Chenggen , Chen Lijuan
Published: March 2022

Doping with Bi in CsPbI3 promotes the formation of Ii, which is detrimental to carrier collection. Codoping with Na balances electrical doping of Bi and thus inhibits the undesirable Ii formation.
Intramolecular hydrogen transfer in DNA induced by site-selective resonant core excitation
Authors: Wang Xin , Rathnachalam Sivasudhan , Zamudio-Bayer Vicente , Bijlsma Klaas , Li Wen , Hoekstra Ronnie , Kubin Markus , Timm Martin , von Issendorff Bernd , Lau J. Tobias , Faraji Shirin , Schlathölter Thomas
Published: March 2022

We present experimental evidence for soft X-ray induced intramolecular hydrogen transfer in the protonated synthetic tri-oligonucleotide d(FUAG) in the gas-phase (FU: fluorouracil).
Lycopene regulates the mitochondrial unfolded protein response to prevent DEHP-induced cardiac mitochondrial damage in mice
Authors: Cui Jia-Gen , Zhao Yi , Zhang Hao , Li Xue-Nan , Li Jin-Long
Published: March 2022

The study indicated that LYC regulated the mitochondrial unfolded protein response to prevent DEHP-induced cardiac mitochondrial damage. This study provides a feasible molecular mechanism for LYC to alleviate the cardiotoxicity induced by DEHP.
Icariin attenuates perfluorooctane sulfonate-induced testicular toxicity by alleviating Sertoli cell injury and downregulating the p38MAPK/MMP9 pathway
Authors: Zhang Yan , Wu Xiaoping , Zhu Kaili , Liu Shangyu , Yang Yuan , Yuan Ding , Wang Ting , He Yumin , Dun Yaoyan , Wu Jie , Zhang Changcheng , Zhao Haixia
Published: March 2022

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is widely recognized as causing Sertoli cell injury and testicular toxicity in males.
Annealing post-drawn polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers optimizes crystallinity and molecular alignment and enhances mechanical properties and drug release profiles
Authors: Flamini Matthew D. , Lima Thamires , Corkum Kerri , Alvarez Nicolas J. , Beachley Vince
Published: March 2022

PCL nanofiber crystallinity is significantly increased in all orientations after annealing.
ZnO nanostructured materials and their potential applications: progress, challenges and perspectives
Authors: Raha Sauvik , Ahmaruzzaman Md.
Published: March 2022

Extensive research in nanotechnology has been conducted to investigate new behaviours and properties of ZnO materials with nanoscale dimensions.
Rapid annealing: minutes to enhance the green emission of the Tb3+-doped ZnGa2O4nanophosphor with restricted grain growth
Authors: Hebbar N Deepak , Choudhari K. S. , Pathak Nimai , Shivashankar S. A. , Kulkarni Suresh D.
Published: March 2022

Rapid annealing boosted the green emission of the Tb3+:ZnGa2O4nanophosphor within minutes.
Synthesis and potential applications of trimetallic nanostructures
Authors: Gebre Shushay Hagos
Published: March 2022

The present review highlights the synthetic strategies and potential applications of TMNs for organic reactions, environmental remediation, and health-related activities.
Sustainable lignin-based electrospun nanofibers for enhanced triboelectric nanogenerators
Authors: Wang Junya , Chen Yanglei , Xu Yanglei , Mu Jiahui , Li Junying , Nie Shuangxi , Chen Sheng , Xu Feng
Published: March 2022

Sustainable lignin-based electrospun nanofibers were fabricated and used to prepare TENGs, which exhibited enhanced output performance for efficient energy harvesting due to the strong tribo-positivity and high surface area of the nanofibers.
A FeCo2O4 nanowire array enabled electrochemical nitrate conversion to ammonia
Authors: Li Jun , Zhao Donglin , Zhang Longcheng , Yue Luchao , Luo Yongsong , Liu Qian , Li Na , Alshehri Abdulmohsen Ali , Hamdy Mohamed S. , Li Quan , Sun Xuping
Published: March 2022

A bimetallic FeCo2O4 spinel nanowire array grown on carbon cloth is highly active and stable for electrocatalytic NO3− reduction to NH3, capable of attaining a large NH3 yield of 4988 μg h−1 cm−2 with a high faradaic efficiency of 95.9%.
Selective carbon-phosphorus bond cleavage: expanding the toolbox for accessing bulky divalent lanthanoid sandwich complexes
Authors: Shephard Angus C. G. , Daniels Daisy P. , Deacon Glen B. , Guo Zhifang , Jaroschik Florian , Junk Peter C.
Published: March 2022

Tetra- and penta-phenyl cyclopentadienyldiphenylphosphine pro-ligands have been synthesised, which undergo selective C–P bond cleavage with lanthanoid metals (Ln = Eu, Sm and Yb), providing a new route to divalent octa- and deca-phenylmetallocenes.
Lithium-ion battery degradation: how to model it
Authors: O'Kane Simon E. J. , Ai Weilong , Madabattula Ganesh , Alonso-Alvarez Diego , Timms Robert , Sulzer Valentin , Edge Jacqueline Sophie , Wu Billy , Offer Gregory J. , Marinescu Monica
Published: March 2022

In this paper, the first physics-based model including direct links between four degradation mechanisms in the negative electrode is reported.
Dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over a mesoporous sulfonated high-crosslinked polymer in different solvents
Authors: Ye Boyong , Zhang Wenyang , Zhou Ruru , Jiang Yuanyuan , Zhong Zixin , Hou Zhaoyin
Published: March 2022

SHCP was active and stable for dehydration of fructose to 5-HMF in DIO/H2O as H2O depressed oligomerization of 5-HMF.
Recent advances in transition metal-catalyzed heteroannulative difunctionalization of alkenes via C–H activation for the synthesis of heterocycles
Authors: Liu Jianchao , Xiao Xiao , Lai Yinlong , Zhang Zhenming
Published: March 2022

In this review article, we summarized recent advances in the transition metal-catalyzed heteroannulative difunctionalization of alkenes via direct C–H activation to access heterocyclic frameworks.
Correction: Understanding the water molecule effect in metal-free B-based electrocatalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction
Authors: Meng Yuxiao , Xu Zhangmeng , Shen Zhangfeng , Xia Qineng , Cao Yongyong , Wang Yangang , Li Xi
Published: March 2022

Correction for ‘Understanding the water molecule effect in metal-free B-based electrocatalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction’ by Yuxiao Meng et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2022, DOI: 10.1039/d1ta10127g.
Renal mitochondrial injury in the pathogenesis of CKD: mtDNA and mitomiRs
Authors: Irazabal Maria V. , Chade Alejandro R. , Eirin Alfonso
Published: March 2022

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health concern that affects over 200 million people worldwide and is associated with a tremendous economic burden. Therefore, deciphering the mechanisms underpinning CKD is crucial to decelerate its progression towards end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Renal tubular cells are populated with a high number of mitochondria, which produce cellular energy and modulate several important cellular processes, including generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), calcium homeostasis, proliferation, and apoptosis. Over the past few years, increasing evidence has implicated renal mitochondrial damage in the pathogenesis of common etiologies of CKD, such as diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome (MetS), chronic renal ischemia, and polycystic kidney disease (PKD). However, most compelling evidence is based on preclinical studies because renal biopsies are not routinely performed in many patients with CKD. Previous studies have shown that urinary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy numbers may serve as non-invasive biomarkers of renal mitochondrial dysfunction. Emerging data also suggest that CKD is associated with altered expression of mitochondria-related microRNAs (mitomiRs), which localize in mitochondria and regulate the expression of mtDNA and nucleus-encoded mitochondrial genes. This review summarizes relevant evidence regarding the involvement of renal mitochondrial injury and dysfunction in frequent forms of CKD. We further provide an overview of non-invasive biomarkers and potential mechanisms of renal mitochondrial damage, especially focusing on mtDNA and mitomiRs.
BWPT: Binary weight partial‐sum table for BNN/BWN acceleration
Authors: Luo Mengjie , Wang Xiaoqin , Yu Baoying , Wang Dingyi , Zhou Yumei
Published: March 2022

This letter proposes a novel architecture used in processing elements (PEs) to accelerate binary neural networks (BNNs) and binary weight networks (BWNs). We use the partial‐sum value of weights with matching input activation to form a lookup table, named binary weight partial‐sum table (BWPT). Following that, the constructed BWPT PE improves the computing efficiency in a variety of data flows. The proposed design has a 3× lower power delay product than the baseline PE and reduces the power consumption by 11.2%, 7.1% and 5.4% compared to 3‐bit activation lookup table‐based PE (LBPE3), 3‐bit reduction tree PE and baseline PE, respectively.
Information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure supporting smart local energy systems: A review
Authors: Vedantham Lakshmi Srinivas , Zhou Yue , Wu Jianzhong
Published: March 2022

Smart local energy systems (SLES) have been reported in the past decade, which are associated with diverse energy carriers, components and objectives. This paper provides a comprehensive review of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure of SLES. A systematic survey of existing research work and industrial projects was provided to highlight, categorise and analyse the ICT infrastructure, which lays the foundation for the successful functioning of SLES. First of all, various SLES measurements are described and categorised based on the energy carriers and technologies. Then, communications infrastructure for SLES is described with communications technologies summarised. Moreover, the ICT infrastructures for SLES are categorised and summarised based on their objectives and technologies. Finally, the challenges and recommendations are presented. The findings from this paper are intended to serve as a convenient reference for developing future SLES.
Sudden depletion of Alfvénic turbulence in the rarefaction region of corotating solar wind high-speed streams at 1 AU: Possible solar origin?
Authors: Carnevale G. , Bruno R. , Marino R. , Pietropaolo E. , Raines J. M.
Published: March 2022

A canonical description of a corotating solar wind high-speed stream in terms of velocity profile would indicate three main regions: a stream interface or corotating interaction region characterized by a rapid increase in flow speed and by compressive phenomena that are due to dynamical interaction between the fast wind flow and the slower ambient plasma; a fast wind plateau characterized by weak compressive phenomena and large-amplitude fluctuations with a dominant Alfvénic character; and a rarefaction region characterized by a decreasing trend of the flow speed and wind fluctuations that are gradually reduced in amplitude and Alfvénic character, followed by the slow ambient wind. Interesting enough, in some cases, fluctuations are dramatically reduced, and the time window in which the severe reduction of these fluctuations takes place is remarkably short, about some minutes. The region in which the fluctuations are rapidly reduced is located at the flow velocity knee that separates the fast wind plateau from the rarefaction region. The aim of this work is to investigate the physical mechanisms that might be at the origin of this phenomenon. To do this, we searched for any tangential discontinuity that might have inhibited the diffusion of these large-amplitude fluctuations in the rarefaction region as well. We also searched for differences in the composition analysis because minor ions are good tracers of physical conditions in the source regions of the wind under the hypothesis that large differences in the source regions might be linked to the phenomenon observed in situ. We found no positive feedback from these analyses, and finally invoked a mechanism based on interchange reconnection experienced by the field lines at the base of the corona, within the region that separates the open field lines of the coronal hole, which is the source of the fast wind, from the surrounding regions that are mainly characterized by closed field lines. Another possibility clearly is that the observed phenomenon might be due to the turbulent evolution of the fluctuations during the expansion of the wind. However, it is hard to believe that this mechanism would generate a short transition region such as is observed in the phenomenon we discuss. This type of study will greatly benefit from Solar Orbiter observations during the future nominal phase of the mission, when it will be possible to link remote and in-situ data, and from radial alignments between Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter.