bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survival of Ancient Lunar Water Affected by Topographic Degradation of Old, Large Complex Craters
Authors: Talkington C. L. , Hirabayashi M. , Montalvo P. E. , Deutsch A. N. , Fassett C. I. , Siegler M. A. , Shepherd S. L. , King D. T.
Published: July 2022

Lunar water is redistributed by various processes. Topographic diffusion affects the transport of water and contributes to its preservation in subsurface layers. Here, we analyze 16 complex craters (∼3.2 – ∼4.2 Ga) larger than 20 km in diameter near the lunar south pole to quantify their degradation states. The results show that the diffusive rates of late Imbrian craters are similar to those of similarly aged simple craters, while Nectarian and pre‐Nectarian craters are degraded less efficiently. Within a complex crater, the mass accumulation by topographic diffusion and ejecta blankets from other complex craters preserves water, ranging up to 1 wt% on average. However, impact mixing and internal heat further limit the stability of ancient water to subsurface regions with ages younger than 3.9 Ga and at depth from a few meters to 10s of meters.
Spatiotemporal Features and Associated Synoptic Patterns of Extremely Persistent Heavy Rainfall Over China
Authors: Liu Haisheng , Huang Xiaogang , Fei Jianfang , Zhang Chi , Cheng Xiaoping
Published: July 2022

Extremely persistent heavy rainfall (EPHR) is characterized by high rainfall intensity and long durations, which can cause destructive natural disasters. In this study, hourly merged precipitation data for 2009–2019 are used to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of EPHR over China. Reanalysis data are used to classify synoptic patterns related to EPHR. Observations show that the EPHR process is substantially asymmetrical, occurring mostly in South China, whereas its strongest intensity takes place in North China. There is a tendency for EPHR to occur near coastal and mountainous areas, basins, and urban agglomerations. Monthly and diurnal patterns of EPHR exhibit complex regional disparities in frequency and cumulative precipitation. EPHR exhibits a bimodal structure during summer in South and Southwest China, whereas a unimodal structure is observed in Huang‐Huai valleys, and early morning peaks are substantial elsewhere. Furthermore, the synoptic patterns associated with EPHR also differ by region. Using an objective synoptic classification method, typical synoptic patterns are classified in each region. Combining the effect of land‐sea contrast, the low vortices system, low‐level jets (LLJs), and shear lines play a key role in supporting EPHR in South China. The location of EPHR south of the Yangtze River is substantially controlled by the intensity of southwest vortex, LLJs, and the shear line, while the southwest vortex dominates in Southwest China. The effects of the low vortex, shear lines, and terrain are prominent in Jianghuai region. Furthermore, EPHR in the northern region is closely related to western Pacific subtropic high and local vortices.
Variscan Inheritance Induces Alpine Upper Crustal Delamination in East Spanish‐Portuguese Central System
Authors: de Vicente G. , Fernández R. Díez , Olaiz A. , Muñoz‐Martín A.
Published: July 2022

The Spanish‐Portuguese Central System (SPCS) is an Alpine Mountain range with crystalline basement characterized by a two‐layer rheological structure. This structure formed after primary (protolith) and secondary (tectonometamorphic) processes during the extensional collapse of the Variscan Orogen. The SPCS structure is usually controlled by foreland‐directed thrusts and strike‐slip faults. However, the eastern SPCS is dominated by NW‐directed, imbricate backthrusts and lacks the main thrust directed to the foreland basin located southeast of the mountain range (Madrid Cenozoic Basin). The SPCS exhibits a crustal root (>40 km depth) supporting SE‐directed crustal‐scale thrusting. Alpine backthrusts sole into an SE‐dipping décollement within the Variscan basement. Variscan extension‐related structures parallel the SE‐dipping geometry of Alpine backthrusts, so they provided favorably oriented rheological weaknesses to accommodate Alpine shortening. Backthrusts geometry, their hanging wall position within the fault that raised the SPCS and gravity modeling support an Alpine crustal delamination process. Tectonic wedging and delamination of the more competent basement occurred in the footwall of Variscan extensional faults (Daurius domain), which enforced the shearing off of a rheologically weaker upper layer of the crust, located in the hanging wall of the Variscan extensional faults (Arriaca domain) by inverting Variscan extensional faults. This led to NW‐directed incipient continental subduction of the weaker crust. Intraplate subduction and crustal delamination can be independent from lithosphere‐scale inheritance and be conditioned by structural inheritance in the overlying crust. Alpine shortening for the Cretaceous cover is around 17.7 km (10.5% shortening), and 11 km (7%) for the upper‐lower crust limit.
The E3 ubiquitin ligase MG53 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting RAC1 signaling
Authors: Ma Xiaomin , Ma Xiaoxiao , Zhu Lihui , Zhao Yunxue , Chen Mengmeng , Li Tao , Lin Yueke , Ma Dapeng , Sun Caiyu , Han Lihui
Published: July 2022

Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1) overexpressiosn and hyperactivation are correlated with aggressive growth and other malignant characteristics in a wide variety of cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the regulatory mechanism of RAC1 expression and activation in HCC is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated that E3 ubiquitin ligase MG53 (also known as tripartite motif 72, TRIM72) acted as a direct inhibitor of RAC1, and it catalyzed the ubiquitination of RAC1 and further inhibited RAC1 activity in HCC cells. Mechanistically, MG53 directly bound with RAC1 through its coiled-coil domain and suppressed RAC1 activity by catalyzing the Lys48 (K48)-linked polyubiquitination of RAC1 at Lys5 residue in HCC cells. We further demonstrated that MG53 significantly suppressed the malignant behaviors of HCC cells and enhanced the chemosensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib treatment by inhibiting RAC1-MAPK signaling axis. In summary, we identified MG53 as a novel RAC1 inhibitor and tumor suppressor in HCC, and it suppressed HCC progression by inducing K48-linked polyubiquitination of RAC1 and further inhibiting the RAC1-MAPK signaling. Altogether, our investigation provided a new therapeutic strategy for RAC1 overactivated tumors by modulating MG53.
RNA-binding protein ZCCHC4 promotes human cancer chemoresistance by disrupting DNA-damage-induced apoptosis
Authors: Zhu Ha , Chen Kun , Chen Yali , Liu Juan , Zhang Xiaomin , Zhou Yumei , Liu Qiuyan , Wang Bingjing , Chen Taoyong , Cao Xuetao
Published: July 2022

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play important roles in cancer development and treatment. However, the tumor-promoting RBPs and their partners, which may potentially serve as the cancer therapeutic targets, need to be further identified. Here, we report that zinc finger CCHC domain-containing protein 4 (ZCCHC4) is of aberrantly high expression in multiple human cancer tissues and is associated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance in patients of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), pancreatic cancer and colon cancer. ZCCHC4 promotes chemoresistance of HCC cells to DNA-damage agent (DDA) both in vitro and in vivo. HCC cell deficiency of ZCCHC4 reduces tumor growth in vivo and intratumoral interference of ZCCHC4 expression obviously enhances the DDA-induced antitumor effect. Mechanistically, ZCCHC4 inhibits DNA-damage-induced apoptosis in HCC cells by interacting with a new long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) AL133467.2 to hamper its pro-apoptotic function. Also, ZCCHC4 blocks the interaction between AL133467.2 and γH2AX upon DDA treatment to inhibit apoptotic signaling and promote chemoresistance to DDAs. Knockout of ZCCHC4 promotes AL133467.2 and γH2AX interaction for enhancing chemosensitivity in HCC cells. Together, our study identifies ZCCHC4 as a new predictor of cancer poor prognosis and a potential target for improving chemotherapy effects, providing mechanistic insights to the roles of RBPs and their partners in cancer progression and chemoresistance.
Maternal immune activation and adolescent alcohol exposure increase alcohol drinking and disrupt cortical-striatal-hippocampal oscillations in adult offspring
Authors: Henricks Angela M. , Sullivan Emily D. K. , Dwiel Lucas L. , Li Judy Y. , Wallin Diana J. , Khokhar Jibran Y. , Doucette Wilder T.
Published: July 2022

Maternal immune activation (MIA) is strongly associated with an increased risk of developing mental illness in adulthood, which often co-occurs with alcohol misuse. The current study aimed to begin to determine whether MIA, combined with adolescent alcohol exposure (AE), could be used as a model with which we could study the neurobiological mechanisms behind such co-occurring disorders. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with polyI:C or saline on gestational day 15. Half of the offspring were given continuous access to alcohol during adolescence, leading to four experimental groups: controls, MIA, AE, and Dual (MIA + AE). We then evaluated whether MIA and/or AE alter: (1) alcohol consumption; (2) locomotor behavior; and (3) cortical-striatal-hippocampal local field potentials (LFPs) in adult offspring. Dual rats, particularly females, drank significantly more alcohol in adulthood compared to all other groups. MIA led to reduced locomotor behavior in males only. Using machine learning to build predictive models from LFPs, we were able to differentiate Dual rats from control rats and AE rats in both sexes, and Dual rats from MIA rats in females. These data suggest that Dual “hits” (MIA + AE) increases substance use behavior and disrupts activity in reward-related circuits, and that this may be a valuable heuristic model we can use to study the neurobiological underpinnings of co-occurring disorders. Our future work aims to extend these findings to other addictive substances to enhance the translational relevance of this model, as well as determine whether amelioration of these circuit disruptions can reduce substance use behavior.
N6-methyladenosine modulates long non-coding RNA in the developing mouse heart
Authors: Shen Siman , Liu Keyu , Li Simeng , Rampes Sanketh , Yang Yuhui , Huang Yifeng , Tang Jing , Xia Zhengyuan , Ma Daqing , Zhang Liangqing
Published: July 2022

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were reported to potentially play a regulatory role in the process of myocardial regeneration in the neonatal mouse. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification may play a key role in myocardial regeneration in mice and regulates a variety of biological processes through affecting the stability of lncRNAs. However, the map of m6A modification of lncRNAs in mouse cardiac development still remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the differences in the m6A status of lncRNAs during mouse cardiac development and reveal a potential role of m6A modification modulating lncRNAs in cardiac development and myocardial regeneration during cardiac development in mice. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of the heart tissue in C57BL/6 J mice at postnatal day 1 (P1), P7 and P28 were performed to produce stagewise cardiac lncRNA m6A-methylomes in a parallel timeframe with the established loss of an intrinsic cardiac regeneration capacity and early postnatal development. There were significant differences in the distribution and abundance of m6A modifications in lncRNAs in the P7 vs P1 mice. In addition, the functional role of m6A in regulating lncRNA levels was established for selected transcripts with METTL3 silencing in neonatal cardiomyocytes in vitro. Based on our MeRIP-qPCR experiment data, both lncGm15328 and lncRNA Zfp597, that were not previously associated with cardiac regeneration, were found to be the most differently methylated at P1-P7. These two lncRNAs sponged several miRNAs which further regulated multiple mRNAs, including some of which have previously been linked with cardiac regeneration ability. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that differential m6A modifications were more enriched in functions and cellular signalling pathways related to cardiomyocyte proliferation. Our data suggested that the m6A modification on lncRNAs may play an important role in the regeneration of myocardium and cardiac development.
Long-range charge carrier mobility in metal halide perovskite thin-films and single crystals via transient photo-conductivity
Authors: Lim Jongchul , Kober-Czerny Manuel , Lin Yen-Hung , Ball James M. , Sakai Nobuya , Duijnstee Elisabeth A. , Hong Min Ji , Labram John G. , Wenger Bernard , Snaith Henry J.
Published: July 2022

Charge carrier mobility is a fundamental property of semiconductor materials that governs many electronic device characteristics. For metal halide perovskites, a wide range of charge carrier mobilities have been reported using different techniques. Mobilities are often estimated via transient methods assuming an initial charge carrier population after pulsed photoexcitation and measurement of photoconductivity via non-contact or contact techniques. For nanosecond to millisecond transient methods, early-time recombination and exciton-to-free-carrier ratio hinder accurate determination of free-carrier population after photoexcitation. By considering both effects, we estimate long-range charge carrier mobilities over a wide range of photoexcitation densities via transient photoconductivity measurements. We determine long-range mobilities for FA0.83Cs0.17Pb(I0.9Br0.1)3, (FA0.83MA0.17)0.95Cs0.05Pb(I0.9Br0.1)3 and CH3NH3PbI3-xClx polycrystalline films in the range of 0.3 to 6.7 cm2 V−1 s−1. We demonstrate how our data-processing technique can also reveal more precise mobility estimates from non-contact time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements. Importantly, our results indicate that the processing of polycrystalline films significantly affects their long-range mobility.
Longest sediment flows yet measured show how major rivers connect efficiently to deep sea
Authors: Talling Peter J. , Baker Megan L. , Pope Ed L. , Ruffell Sean C. , Jacinto Ricardo Silva , Heijnen Maarten S. , Hage Sophie , Simmons Stephen M. , Hasenhündl Martin , Heerema Catharina J. , McGhee Claire , Apprioual Ronan , Ferrant Anthony , Cartigny Matthieu J. B. , Parsons Daniel R. , Clare Michael A. , Tshimanga Raphael M. , Trigg Mark A. , Cula Costa A. , Faria Rui , Gaillot Arnaud , Bola Gode , Wallance Dec , Griffiths Allan , Nunny Robert , Urlaub Morelia , Peirce Christine , Burnett Richard , Neasham Jeffrey , Hilton Robert J.
Published: July 2022

Here we show how major rivers can efficiently connect to the deep-sea, by analysing the longest runout sediment flows (of any type) yet measured in action on Earth. These seafloor turbidity currents originated from the Congo River-mouth, with one flow travelling >1,130 km whilst accelerating from 5.2 to 8.0 m/s. In one year, these turbidity currents eroded 1,338-2,675 [>535-1,070] Mt of sediment from one submarine canyon, equivalent to 19–37 [>7–15] % of annual suspended sediment flux from present-day rivers. It was known earthquakes trigger canyon-flushing flows. We show river-floods also generate canyon-flushing flows, primed by rapid sediment-accumulation at the river-mouth, and sometimes triggered by spring tides weeks to months post-flood. It is demonstrated that strongly erosional turbidity currents self-accelerate, thereby travelling much further, validating a long-proposed theory. These observations explain highly-efficient organic carbon transfer, and have important implications for hazards to seabed cables, or deep-sea impacts of terrestrial climate change.
Neuropilin 1 and its inhibitory ligand mini-tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase inversely regulate VE-cadherin turnover and vascular permeability
Authors: Gioelli Noemi , Neilson Lisa J. , Wei Na , Villari Giulia , Chen Wenqian , Kuhle Bernhard , Ehling Manuel , Maione Federica , Willox Sander , Brundu Serena , Avanzato Daniele , Koulouras Grigorios , Mazzone Massimiliano , Giraudo Enrico , Yang Xiang-Lei , Valdembri Donatella , Zanivan Sara , Serini Guido
Published: July 2022

The formation of a functional blood vessel network relies on the ability of endothelial cells (ECs) to dynamically rearrange their adhesive contacts in response to blood flow and guidance cues, such as vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and class 3 semaphorins (SEMA3s). Neuropilin 1 (NRP1) is essential for blood vessel development, independently of its ligands VEGF-A and SEMA3, through poorly understood mechanisms. Grounding on unbiased proteomic analysis, we report here that NRP1 acts as an endocytic chaperone primarily for adhesion receptors on the surface of unstimulated ECs. NRP1 localizes at adherens junctions (AJs) where, interacting with VE-cadherin, promotes its basal internalization-dependent turnover and favors vascular permeability initiated by histamine in both cultured ECs and mice. We identify a splice variant of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (mini-WARS) as an unconventionally secreted extracellular inhibitory ligand of NRP1 that, by stabilizing it at the AJs, slows down both VE-cadherin turnover and histamine-elicited endothelial leakage. Thus, our work shows a role for NRP1 as a major regulator of AJs plasticity and reveals how mini-WARS acts as a physiological NRP1 inhibitory ligand in the control of VE-cadherin endocytic turnover and vascular permeability.
Ocular counter-roll is less affected in experienced versus novice space crew after long-duration spaceflight
Authors: Schoenmaekers Catho , De Laet Chloë , Kornilova Ludmila , Glukhikh Dmitrii , Moore Steven , MacDougall Hamish , Naumov Ivan , Fransen Erik , Wille Leander , Jillings Steven , Wuyts Floris L.
Published: July 2022

Otoliths are the primary gravity sensors of the vestibular system and are responsible for the ocular counter-roll (OCR). This compensatory eye torsion ensures gaze stabilization and is sensitive to a head roll with respect to gravity and the Gravito-Inertial Acceleration vector during, e.g., centrifugation. To measure the effect of prolonged spaceflight on the otoliths, we quantified the OCR induced by off-axis centrifugation in a group of 27 cosmonauts in an upright position before and after their 6-month space mission to the International Space Station. We observed a significant decrease in OCR early postflight, larger for first-time compared to experienced flyers. We also found a significantly larger torsion for the inner eye, the eye closest to the rotation axis. Our results suggest that experienced cosmonauts have acquired the ability to adapt faster after G-transitions. These data provide a scientific basis for sending experienced cosmonauts on challenging missions that include multiple g-level transitions.
Dynamic substrate reactions during room temperature heavy ion irradiation of CoCrCuFeNi high entropy alloy thin films
Authors: Lach Timothy G. , Silva Chinthaka M. , Zhou Yufan , Boldman Walker L. , Rack Philip D. , Weber William J. , Zhang Yanwen
Published: July 2022

High entropy alloys (HEAs) are promising materials for various applications including nuclear reactor environments. Thus, understanding their behavior under irradiation and exposure to different environments is important. Here, two sets of near-equiatomic CoCrCuFeNi thin films grown on either SiO2/Si or Si substrates were irradiated at room temperature with 11.5 MeV Au ions, providing similar behavior to exposure to inert versus corrosion environments. The film grown on SiO2 had relatively minimal change up to peak damage levels above 500 dpa, while the film grown on Si began intermixing at the substrate–film interface at peak doses of 0.1 dpa before transforming into a multi-silicide film at higher doses, all at room temperature with minimal thermal diffusion. The primary mechanism is radiation-enhanced diffusion via the inverse Kirkendall and solute drag effects. The results highlight how composition and environmental exposure affect the stability of HEAs under radiation and give insights into controlling these behaviors.
Digital quantum simulation of Floquet symmetry-protected topological phases
Authors: Zhang Xu , Jiang Wenjie , Deng Jinfeng , Wang Ke , Chen Jiachen , Zhang Pengfei , Ren Wenhui , Dong Hang , Xu Shibo , Gao Yu , Jin Feitong , Zhu Xuhao , Guo Qiujiang , Li Hekang , Song Chao , Gorshkov Alexey V. , Iadecola Thomas , Liu Fangli , Gong Zhe-Xuan , Wang Zhen , Deng Dong-Ling , Wang H.
Published: July 2022

Quantum many-body systems away from equilibrium host a rich variety of exotic phenomena that are forbidden by equilibrium thermodynamics. A prominent example is that of discrete time crystals1–8, in which time-translational symmetry is spontaneously broken in periodically driven systems. Pioneering experiments have observed signatures of time crystalline phases with trapped ions9,10, solid-state spin systems11–15, ultracold atoms16,17 and superconducting qubits18–20. Here we report the observation of a distinct type of non-equilibrium state of matter, Floquet symmetry-protected topological phases, which are implemented through digital quantum simulation with an array of programmable superconducting qubits. We observe robust long-lived temporal correlations and subharmonic temporal response for the edge spins over up to 40 driving cycles using a circuit of depth exceeding 240 and acting on 26 qubits. We demonstrate that the subharmonic response is independent of the initial state, and experimentally map out a phase boundary between the Floquet symmetry-protected topological and thermal phases. Our results establish a versatile digital simulation approach to exploring exotic non-equilibrium phases of matter with current noisy intermediate-scale quantum processors21.
Cryo-EM structure of an active bacterial TIR–STING filament complex
Authors: Morehouse Benjamin R. , Yip Matthew C. J. , Keszei Alexander F. A. , McNamara-Bordewick Nora K. , Shao Sichen , Kranzusch Philip J.
Published: July 2022

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is an antiviral signalling protein that is broadly conserved in both innate immunity in animals and phage defence in prokaryotes1–4. Activation of STING requires its assembly into an oligomeric filament structure through binding of a cyclic dinucleotide4–13, but the molecular basis of STING filament assembly and extension remains unknown. Here we use cryogenic electron microscopy to determine the structure of the active Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR)–STING filament complex from a Sphingobacterium faecium cyclic-oligonucleotide-based antiphage signalling system (CBASS) defence operon. Bacterial TIR–STING filament formation is driven by STING interfaces that become exposed on high-affinity recognition of the cognate cyclic dinucleotide signal c-di-GMP. Repeating dimeric STING units stack laterally head-to-head through surface interfaces, which are also essential for human STING tetramer formation and downstream immune signalling in mammals5. The active bacterial TIR–STING structure reveals further cross-filament contacts that brace the assembly and coordinate packing of the associated TIR NADase effector domains at the base of the filament to drive NAD+ hydrolysis. STING interface and cross-filament contacts are essential for cell growth arrest in vivo and reveal a stepwise mechanism of activation whereby STING filament assembly is required for subsequent effector activation. Our results define the structural basis of STING filament formation in prokaryotic antiviral signalling.
Energy audit and carbon footprint in trawl fisheries
Authors: Sala Antonello , Damalas Dimitrios , Labanchi Lucio , Martinsohn Jann , Moro Fabrizio , Sabatella Rosaria , Notti Emilio
Published: July 2022

The combustion of fossil fuels is considered a major cause of climate change, which is why the reduction of emissions has become a key goal of the Paris climate agreement. Coherent monitoring of the energy profile of fishing vessels through an energy audit can effectively identify sources of inefficiency, allowing for the deployment of well-informed and cost-efficient remedial interventions. We applied energy audits to a test fleet of ten vessels, representing three typical Mediterranean trawl fisheries: midwater pair trawl, bottom otter trawl, and Rapido beam trawl. Overall, these fisheries use approximately 2.9 litres of fuel per kilogram of landed fish, but the fuel consumption rate varies widely according to gear type and vessel size. This amount of fuel burned from capture to landing generates approximately 7.6 kg∙CO2/kg fish on average. Minimising impacts and energy consumption throughout the product chain may be another essential element needed to reduce the environmental costs of fishing. Our results provided a set of recognised benchmarks that can be used for monitoring progress in this field.
Ancient Reef Traits, a database of trait information for reef-building organisms over the Phanerozoic
Authors: Raja Nussaïbah B. , Dimitrijević Danijela , Krause Mihaela Cristina , Kiessling Wolfgang
Published: July 2022

Trait-based approaches are increasingly relevant to understand ecological and evolutionary patterns. A comprehensive trait database for extant reef corals is already available and widely used to reveal vulnerabilities to environmental disturbances including climate change. However, the lack of similar trait compilations for extinct reef builders prevents the derivation of generalities from the fossil record and to address similar questions. Here we present the Ancient Reef Traits Database (ARTD), which aims to compile trait information of various reef-building organisms in one single repository. ARTD contains specimen-level data from both published and unpublished resources. In this first version, we release 15 traits for 505 genera and 1129 species, comprising a dataset of 17,841 trait values of Triassic to mid-Holocene scleractinian corals, the dominant reef-builders in the modern ocean. Other trait data, including for other reef-building organisms, are currently being collated.
Sarafu Community Inclusion Currency 2020–2021
Authors: Mattsson Carolina E. S. , Criscione Teodoro , Ruddick William O.
Published: July 2022

We describe a dataset of account information and detailed transaction records for a digital complementary currency in Kenya. This “Sarafu system” initially encompassed several local, physical community currencies, which began transitioning to a feature-phone mobile interface in 2017. One unit of “Sarafu” is roughly equivalent in value to a Kenyan shilling. The published data includes anonymized account information for around 55,000 users and records of all Sarafu transactions conducted from January 25, 2020 to June 15, 2021. Transactions totaling around 300 million Sarafu capture various economic and financial activities such as purchases, transfers, and participation in savings and lending groups. So-called “chamas” are key to the operation of the Sarafu system and many such groups are labeled in the data. Describing this data contributes to research on the operation of community currencies, monetary systems, and economic networks in marginalized, food insecure areas. The observation period includes the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and several documented pilot projects and interventions.
ANN-GA based biosorption of As(III) from water through chemo-tailored and iron impregnated fungal biofilter system
Authors: Tripathi A. , Ranjan M. R. , Verma D. K. , Singh Y. , Shukla S. K. , Rajput Vishnu D. , Minkina Tatiana , Mishra P. K. , Garg M. C.
Published: July 2022

The iron impregnated fungal bio-filter (IIFB) discs of luffa sponge containing Phanerochaete chrysosporium mycelia have been used for the removal of As(III) from water. Two different forms of same biomass viz. free fungal biomass (FFB) and modified free fungal biomass (chemically modified and iron impregnated; CFB and IIFB) have been simultaneously investigated to compare the performance of immobilization, chemo-tailoring and iron impregnation for remediation of As(III). IIFB showed highest uptake capacity and percentage removal of As(III), 1.32 mg/g and 92.4% respectively among FFB, CFB and IIFB. Further, the application of RSM and ANN-GA based mathematical model showed a substantial increase in removal i.e. 99.2% of As(III) was filtered out from water at optimised conditions i.e. biomass dose 0.72 g/L, pH 7.31, temperature 42 °C, and initial As(III) concentration 1.1 mg/L. Isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic studies proved that the process followed monolayer sorption pattern in spontaneous and endothermic way through pseudo-second order kinetic pathway. Continuous mode of As(III) removal in IIFB packed bed bioreactor, revealed increased removal of As(III) from 76.40 to 88.23% with increased column height from 5 to 25 cm whereas the removal decreased from 88.23 to 69.45% while increasing flow rate from 1.66 to 8.30 mL/min. Moreover, the IIFB discs was regenerated by using 10% NaOH as eluting agent and evaluated for As(III) removal for four sorption–desorption cycles, showing slight decrease of their efficiency by 1–2%. SEM–EDX, pHzpc, and FTIR analysis, revealed the involvement of hydroxyl and amino surface groups following a non-electrostatic legend exchange sorption mechanism during removal of As(III).
Six months SARS-CoV-2 serology in a cohort of mRNA vaccinated subjects over 90 years old
Authors: Tomaiuolo Rossella , Di Resta Chiara , Viganò Marco , Banfi Giuseppe , Russo Cristina , Linardos Giulia , Ranno Stefania , Perno Carlo Federico , Giuffrida Francesco
Published: July 2022

Ageing is associated with a progressive decline and remodelling of the immune system. Also, the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines has been observed to depend on subjects’ age. The post-vaccination data about patients aged > 90 years old is scarcely represented in the literature. The antibody titre profiles of elderly vaccinated subjects (age > 90 years old) were evaluated and compared with profiles obtained in a younger population (age 23–69 years old). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report providing post-vaccination serological data in subjects aged 90 + years old. This study suggests that distinct SARS-CoV-2 viral-specific antibody response profiles vary based on anti-N serostatus, age, and sex in the very elderly adults. The data obtained could impact the organisation of the vaccination campaign (i.e., prioritisation strategies, administration of additional doses) and the factors that facilitate intentions to receive the vaccination among elderly adults (i.e., vaccine effectiveness).
STEM learning communities promote friendships but risk academic segmentation
Authors: Jeffrey Wesley , Schaefer David R. , Xu Di , McPartlan Peter , Solanki Sabrina
Published: July 2022

Universities are increasingly using learning communities (LCs) to promote the academic and social integration of entering students, especially within STEM majors. Examining the causal effect of LCs on student networks is necessary to understand the nature and scope of their impact. This study combines a regression discontinuity design with social network analysis to estimate the effect of a simple LC design on the size, strength, structure, and composition of friendship networks among students within the same biological sciences freshman cohort. Results of the quasi-experimental analysis indicate that LC participants acquired one additional friend in the major and increased their share of friends in the LC by 54 percentage-points. Exponential random-graph models that test mediation and alternative friendship mechanisms provide support for the theoretical argument that the LC promoted friendship development by structuring opportunities for interaction through block-registration into courses. Thus, this study shows that even simple LCs can shape the development of friendships through relatively low-cost administrative means. The increased access to resources and support facilitated by the LC is likely beneficial for participating students. However, there is a potential downside when eligibility for participation is determined using academic metrics that separate the student population into distinct classroom environments.
An interactive time series image analysis software for dendritic spines
Authors: Argunşah Ali Özgür , Erdil Ertunç , Ghani Muhammad Usman , Ramiro-Cortés Yazmín , Hobbiss Anna F. , Karayannis Theofanis , Çetin Müjdat , Israely Inbal , Ünay Devrim
Published: July 2022

Live fluorescence imaging has demonstrated the dynamic nature of dendritic spines, with changes in shape occurring both during development and in response to activity. The structure of a dendritic spine correlates with its functional efficacy. Learning and memory studies have shown that a great deal of the information stored by a neuron is contained in the synapses. High precision tracking of synaptic structures can give hints about the dynamic nature of memory and help us understand how memories evolve both in biological and artificial neural networks. Experiments that aim to investigate the dynamics behind the structural changes of dendritic spines require the collection and analysis of large time-series datasets. In this paper, we present an open-source software called SpineS for automatic longitudinal structural analysis of dendritic spines with additional features for manual intervention to ensure optimal analysis. We have tested the algorithm on in-vitro, in-vivo, and simulated datasets to demonstrate its performance in a wide range of possible experimental scenarios.
Face masks affect perception of happy faces in deaf people
Authors: Amadeo Maria Bianca , Escelsior Andrea , Amore Mario , Serafini Gianluca , Pereira da Silva Beatriz , Gori Monica
Published: July 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led significant social repercussions and forced people to wear face masks. Recent research has demonstrated that the human ability to infer emotions from facial configurations is significantly reduced when face masks are worn. Since the mouth region is specifically crucial for deaf people who speak sign language, the current study assessed the impact of face masks on inferring emotional facial expressions in a population of adult deaf signers. A group of 34 congenitally deaf individuals and 34 normal-hearing individuals were asked to identify happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and neutral expression on static human pictures with and without facial masks presented through smartphones. For each emotion, the percentage of correct responses with and without face masks was calculated and compared between groups. Results indicated that face masks, such as those worn due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, limit the ability of people to infer emotions from facial expressions. The negative impact of face masks is significantly pronounced when deaf people have to recognize low-intensity expressions of happiness. These findings are of essential importance because difficulties in recognizing emotions from facial expressions due to mask wearing may contribute to the communication challenges experienced by the deaf community during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, generating feelings of frustration and exclusion.
Vanillin reduction in the biosynthetic pathway of capsiate, a non-pungent component of Capsicum fruits, is catalyzed by cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase
Authors: Sano Kaori , Uzawa Yuya , Kaneshima Itsuki , Nakasato Saika , Hashimoto Masashi , Tanaka Yoshiyuki , Nakatani Sachie , Kobata Kenji
Published: July 2022

Capsicumfruits synthesize capsaicin from vanillylamine, which is produced from vanillin in a reaction catalyzed by a putative aminotransferase (pAMT). Capsiate, a non-pungent compound that is structurally similar to capsaicin, is synthesized from vanillyl alcohol rather than vanillylamine. Vanillyl alcohol is possibly generated by the enzymatic reduction of vanillin, but the enzyme responsible for this reaction is unknown. In the present study, we revealed that the vanillin reductase in the capsiate biosynthetic pathway is cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), which is an enzyme involved in lignin synthesis. The reduction of vanillin to vanillyl alcohol was greater in the mature red fruit placental extract than in the immature green fruit placental extract. This reduction was suppressed by bothN-(O-hydroxyphenyl) sulfinamoyltertiobutyl acetate, a specific inhibitor of CAD, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, a metalloenzyme inhibitor. TheCaCAD1transcript levels in the placenta were higher in the red fruits than in the green fruits. A recombinant CaCAD1 protein obtained using anEscherichia coliexpression system reduced vanillin to vanillyl alcohol. This reaction was suppressed by the CAD inhibitors. These results strongly suggest that CAD is the enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of vanillin to vanillyl alcohol during capsiate biosynthesis. Syntenic analyses indicated that genes encoding CAD and capsaicin synthase (Pun1) involved in capsiate biosynthesis were acquired before thepAMTgene during the evolution of the family Solanaceae. This raises the possibility that in the genusCapsicum, the capsiate biosynthetic pathway emerged before the pAMT-encoding gene was acquired as the final trigger for capsaicin biosynthesis.
Personalized optimal nutrition lifestyle for self obesity management using metaalgorithms
Authors: Chen Shizhao , Dai Yiran , Ma Xiaoman , Peng Huimin , Wang Donghui , Wang Yili
Published: July 2022

Precision medicine applies machine learning methods to estimate the personalized optimal treatment decision based on individual information, such as genetic data and medical history. The main purpose of self obesity management is to develop a personalized optimal life plan that is easy to implement and adhere to, thereby reducing the incidence of obesity and obesity-related diseases. The methodology comprises three components. First, we apply catboost, random forest and lasso covariance test to evaluate the importance of individual features in forecasting body mass index. Second, we apply metaalgorithms to estimate the personalized optimal decision on alcohol, vegetable, high caloric food and daily water intake respectively for each individual. Third, we propose new metaalgorithms named SX and SXwint learners to compute the personalized optimal decision and compare their performances with other prevailing metalearners. We find that people who receive individualized optimal treatment options not only have lower obesity levels than others, but also have lower obesity levels than those who receive ’one-for-all’ treatment options. In conclusion, all metaalgorithms are effective at estimating the personalized optimal decision, where SXwint learner shows the best performance on daily water intake.
Transition of a small Himalayan glacier lake outburst flood to a giant transborder flood and debris flow
Authors: Sattar Ashim , Haritashya Umesh K. , Kargel Jeffrey S. , Karki Alina
Published: July 2022

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are a great concern for the Himalaya, as they can severely damage downstream populations and infrastructures. These floods originate at high altitudes and can flow down with enormous energy and change the terrain’s existing morphology. One such devastating event occurred on the night of 5 July 2016, from the inconspicuous Gongbatongsha Lake, located in the Poiqu basin, Eastern Himalaya. The Poiqu basin in the Tibetan Autonomous Region currently contains numerous big glacial lakes; however, this event originated from a small lake. The GLOF was triggered following heavy precipitation that led to a slope failure above the lake and deposition of debris into the lake, which breached the moraine dam and rapidly drained the entire lake. The flood damaged several downstream infrastructures, including the Arniko highway, the Upper Bhotekoshi hydropower plant, and several buildings as it made its way into the Bhotekoshi basin in Nepal. This study adopts a multi-model approach to reconstruct the GLOF trigger and the flood’s transformation into a severe debris flow. Proxies including flow discharge, flow velocity, runout distances were used to calibrate the model and validate the results. Results reveal that a debris flow of volume ranging between 3000 and 6000 m3 from the headwall must have led to lake overfill, eventually leading to the GLOF event. The GLOF showed a significant increase in peak discharge from 618 to 4123 m3 s−1 at the Zhangzangbo-Bhotekoshi confluence. The average velocity of the flow is calculated to be ~ 5.5 m s−1. Reconstruction of the erosion and deposition dynamics show that maximum erosion occurred in the first 6.5 km, with maximum deposition occurring near the Upper Bhotekoshi hydropower station. The modeling indicates that the availability of the entrainable debris along the channel, likely from the previous landslides, amplified the event by three orders of magnitude-additional water ingested from the river. Overall, we demonstrate how the small-scale Gongbatongsha GLOF amplified downstream by incorporating pre-existing sediment in the valley and triggered damaging secondary landslides leading to an economic loss of > 70 million USD.
Immunomodulatory activity of extracts from five edible basidiomycetes mushrooms in Wistar albino rats
Authors: Elhusseiny Shaza M. , El-Mahdy Taghrid S. , Elleboudy Nooran S. , Farag Mohamed M. S. , Aboshanab Khaled M. , Yassien Mahmoud A.
Published: July 2022

Mushrooms are nutritious foods that are widely cultivated all over the world. They are rich in a range of compounds linked to improving functions of the immune system including carotenoids, alkaloids, lectins, enzymes, folates, fats, organic acids, minerals, polysaccharides, phenolics, proteins, tocopherols, terpenoids, and volatile compounds. In this study we investigated, the immunomodulatory activity in rats of the aqueous extracts of five of the most common edible mushrooms belonging to Family Basidiomycota-white-rot fungi including, Lentinula edodes, Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus columbinus, and Pleurotus sajor-caju. Male Wistar albino rats were assigned to thirteen groups and Immunosuppression was induced by oral administration of dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg), followed by oral administration of the mushroom extracts at low (200 mg/kg) and high (400 mg/kg) doses. A positive control group received the immune stimulant Echinacea extract Immulant® at (30 mg/kg), while the negative control group received only saline. From each animal, in each group, blood samples were collected after 15 days for complete blood counts and for measurement of immunologic parameters, including lysozyme activity, nitric oxide (NO) production and serum cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) levels. Results have shown that white blood cells (WBCs) and lymphocytic counts were significantly boosted by high doses of each of the five mushroom extracts (207–289% increase for WBC and 153–175% for lymphocytes) with a significant increase in lysozyme activity (110–136% increase), NO concentration (159–232% increase) and cytokines as compared to the negative control group. Histopathological examination of the rats' spleen and thymus tissues has shown marked lymphocytic proliferation that was more obvious at the higher doses. In conclusion, our results showed that the five edible mushroom extracts revealed significant immunostimulatory effects preclinically particularly, at the higher doses (400 mg/kg) which can be considered the effective dose.
3D reconstruction based novel methods are more effective than traditional clinical assessment in breast cancer axillary lymph node metastasis prediction
Authors: Qu Limeng , Chen Qitong , Luo Na , Zhao Piao , Zou Qiongyan , Mei Xilong , Liu Ziru , Yi Wenjun
Published: July 2022

The status of axillary lymph node metastases determines the treatment and overall survival of breast cancer (BC) patients. Three-dimensional (3D) assessment methods have advantages for spatial localization and are more responsive to morphological changes in lymph nodes than two-dimensional (2D) assessment methods, and we speculate that methods developed using 3D reconstruction systems have high diagnostic efficacy. This exploratory study included 43 patients with histologically confirmed BC diagnosed at Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between July 2017 and August 2020, all of whom underwent preoperative CT scans. Patients were divided into a training cohort to train the model and a validation cohort to validate the model. A 3D axillary lymph node atlas was constructed on a 3D reconstruction system to create various methods of assessing lymph node metastases for a comparison of diagnostic efficacy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic values of these methods. A total of 43 patients (mean [SD] age, 47 [10] years) met the eligibility criteria and completed 3D reconstruction. An axillary lymph node atlas was established, and a correlation between lymph node sphericity and lymph node metastasis was revealed. By continuously fitting the size and characteristics of axillary lymph nodes on the 3D reconstruction system, formulas and models were established to determine the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis, and the 3D method had better sensitivity for axillary lymph node assessment than the 2D method, with a statistically significant difference in the correct classification rate. The combined diagnostic method was superior to a single diagnostic method, with a 92.3% correct classification rate for the 3D method combined with ultrasound. In addition, in patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), the correct classification rate of the 3D method (72.7%) was significantly higher than that of ultrasound (45.5%) and CT (54.5%). By establishing an axillary lymph node atlas, the sphericity formula and model developed with the 3D reconstruction system achieve a high correct classification rate when combined with ultrasound or CT and can also be applied to patients receiving NAC.
Probing intergranular mixed transgranular stress corrosion cracking under the high constant load
Authors: Zhu Longkui
Published: July 2022

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of non-sensitized austenitic stainless steel during immersion of MgCl2 solutions was investigated by X-ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. SCC cracks propagated transgranularly at the initial stage, and switched to the IGSCC mode under the high constant load. There was no ductile dimple present on the SCC fractography, but numerous cleavage facets, slip bands and pits emerged. The cohesive zone appeared ahead of the crack tip. It is indicated that the high-load SCC also coincides with the cleavage dissolution mechanism, predominantly originating from the corrosive environment particle assisted cleavage and the obstacle induced dislocation pinning.