bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consumer resource integration and service innovation in social commerce: the role of social media influencers
Authors: Wu Yao , Nambisan Satish , Xiao Jinghua , Xie Kang
Published: February 2022

Social media technologies have given rise to influencers who shape the purchasing behaviors of their followers (peer consumers), thus enabling consumer-initiated social commerce. However, few studies have explored how social media influencers, and more broadly, consumers, actively integrate resources to engage in service innovation in social commerce. This qualitative study (involving two firms and their influencers) examines the emerging roles of social media influencers and their resource integration behaviors in service innovation. Drawing on the service-dominant logic and the technology affordance theory, the study advances a framework that identifies the resource integration behaviors that underlie two primary roles of influencers—communicator and innovator—and explains how social media technology affordances facilitate these behaviors, and thereby, the ensuing innovation outcomes. By focusing on the technology-mediated processes of social media influencers’ engagement in service innovation, we contribute to research and practice in consumer-led service innovation in the emerging digital world.
Analysis on borehole stability of gas drilling with complete stress–strain and thermal stress theory
Authors: Zhu Zhongxi , Wang Chaofei , Xiong Chao , Lei Wanneng
Published: February 2022

In conventional mud drilling, sufficient drilling fluid density is required to maintain wellbore stability. However, in gas drilling, the support ability of gas in wellbore is very weak, and the wellbore stability is usually good. This shows that the borehole instability mechanism of gas drilling is different from that of mud drilling. In gas drilling, the borehole wall rock still has a certain bearing capacity after reaching the peak strength. In this paper, the stability of gas drilling wellbore is studied by using the complete stress–strain model. The deformation of rock around borehole in gas drilling can be divided into elastic zone, plastic zone, and broken zone. The radii of plastic zone and broken zone were used to evaluate the stability of borehole wall. This method has a good general applicability to the case of no thermal stress in borehole wall rock. However, due to throttling and cooling as gas flows out of the bit nozzle during gas drilling, thermal stress occurs when the cryogenic flow in the annulus meets the hot formation. Therefore, thermal stress is introduced into the complete stress–strain calculation model. The radii of plastic zone and broken zone are calculated according to the actual drilling data, and compared with the measured borehole diameter. The results show that the model is reasonable and effective. Analysis shows that in gas drilling process, the borehole temperature is much lower than the original formation temperature near the bottom of the borehole, and the borehole temperature is higher than the formation temperature in the upper part of the borehole. Thermal stress has a significant effect on borehole stability. The thermal stress in the bottom borehole makes the rock shrink and offset the expansion of the original in situ stress on the surrounding rock, thus enhancing the stability of the borehole wall. The surrounding rock in the top borehole expands under the action of thermal stress, enhancing the expansion of the surrounding rock toward the borehole and aggravating the instability of the borehole wall. The model can be used to better explain the wellbore instability mechanism of gas drilling, and it is more intuitive to use plastic zone radius and broken zone to characterize wellbore stability of gas drilling.
Organisation und Umsetzung des Arbeitsschutzes in Kitas
Authors: Michaelis Martina , Stößel Ulrich , Bieler Frank , Schambortski Heike , Nienhaus Albert
Published: February 2022

Hintergrund und Fragestellung

Physische und psychische Belastungen sowie Infektionsgefährdungen von Beschäftigten in Kindertagesstätten (Kitas) machen die Einhaltung staatlicher und berufsgenossenschaftlicher Arbeitsschutzregelungen essenziell. Wie gut der Arbeitsschutz hier organisiert ist und Maßnahmen auch tatsächlich umgesetzt werden, ist empirisch bislang nicht bekannt. Diese Lücke soll mit einer Bestandsaufnahme geschlossen werden.

Material und Methoden

In der zweiten Jahreshälfte 2020 wurden 120 zufällig ausgewählte Kita-Leitungen in ganz Deutschland meist kirchlicher Mitgliedsbetriebe der Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege (BGW) interviewt. Dies geschah durch Angehörige der BGW-Präventionsdienste mittels eines standardisierten Erhebungsinstruments. Die erhobenen Aspekte (mehrheitlich zur Organisation) wurden in einem standardisierten Summenindex zwischen0 und 1 (schlechtester bis bester Arbeitsschutz) zusammengefasst und deskriptiv ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Die Anforderungen an die Organisation des Arbeitsschutzes sind vielfach erfüllt. Für eine tatsächliche Umsetzung organisierter Arbeitsschutzvorgaben sind noch gewisse Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten erkennbar. Der standardisierte Summenindex beträgt 0,82 (Standardabweichung: 0,16). Zwei Drittel der Befragten schätzten den Arbeitsschutz in ihrer Kita als insgesamt gut/sehr gut ein. In Freitexten wurde häufig der Wunsch nach mehr Informationen zum Arbeitsschutz und besserer entsprechender Kommunikation des Trägers geäußert.

Diskussion und Ausblick

Die Ergebnisse bestätigen eine höhere formale Qualität des Arbeitsschutzes als in anderen – branchenübergreifenden – Studien in kleineren Betrieben. Zur kontinuierlichen Verbesserung der tatsächlichen Umsetzung organisierter Maßnahmen können – in Kitas bislang noch selten genutzte – Arbeitsschutzmanagementsysteme unterstützend wirken. Es stehen entsprechende Instrumente zur Verfügung, für deren Einsatz in Zukunft mehr geworben werden sollte. Limitationen der Studie sind u. a. mögliche Verzerrungen durch Antworten an Vertreter einer Institution, die auch für die Überwachung des Arbeitsschutzes zuständig ist.
Creation and Psychometric Validation of the Sexual Minorities and Prostate Cancer Scale (SMACS) in Sexual Minority Patients-The Restore-2 Study
Authors: Polter Elizabeth J. , Kohli Nidhi , Rosser B.R. Simon , Talley Kristine M.C. , Wheldon Christopher W. , Hoefer Chris J. , Wright Morgan , Haggart Ryan , Mitteldorf Darry , Kilian Gudrun , Konety Badrinath R. , Ross Michael W. , West William
Published: February 2022

Background

Existing measures of sexual functioning in prostate cancer survivors focus primarily on erectile function and do not adequately measure the experiences of sexual minority men.

Aim

To develop and psychometrically evaluate a new scale to measure sexual functioning among sexual minority men with prostate cancer.

Methods

Sexual minority prostate cancer patients (n = 401) completed an online battery of urinary and sexual functioning tests in 2019, including a new 37-item instrument about their sexual functioning post-treatment for prostate cancer.

Outcomes

We used confirmatory factor analysis to determine the construct validity of a new scale including five subscales: a four-factor model for all participants (n = 401) evaluated Sexual Satisfaction, Sexual Confidence, Frequency of Sexual Problems, and Urinary Incontinence in Sex. A single-factor model completed only by participants who had attempted or desired receptive anal sex (n = 255) was evaluated in the fifth subscale: Problematic Receptive Anal Sex. To evaluate criterion validity, we calculated the intercorrelations between each Sexual Minorities and Prostate Cancer Scale (SMACS) subscale and four related scales: the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-50 (EPIC), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18, and the International Consultation on incontinence questionnaire. Cronbach’s alphas were calculated to measure internal consistency (ie, reliability).

Results

Cronbach’s alpha values ranged from 0.64 to 0.89. Loadings (0.479–0.926) and model fit indices were strong (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation: 0.085, Standardized root mean squared residual: 0.063, comparative fit index: 0.927, Tucker-Lewis Index: 0.907). For criterion validity, Sexual Satisfaction, Sexual Confidence, and Frequency of Sexual Problems were moderately correlated with EPIC function and bother scores (r = 0.50–0.72) and Urinary incontinence in sex correlated moderately with EPIC Urinary Function and International Consultation on incontinence questionnaire scores (0.45–0.56).

Clinical Implications

The SMACS can be used by clinicians and researchers to comprehensively measure sexual functioning in sexual minority men, in conjunction with existing scales.

Strengths and limitations

This new scale is validated in a large, geographically diverse cohort of sexual minority cancer survivors and fills an important gap in existing measures of sexual functioning. Limitations include a lack of a validation sample.

Conclusion

The SMACS is a valid and reliable new scale that measures sexual minority men’s experience of urinary incontinence in sex, problematic receptive anal sex, and sexual distress.
Personality Disorder
Authors: Tyrer Peter , Mulder Roger
Published: February 2022

Personality disorder affects more than 10% of the population but is widely ignored by health professionals as it is viewed as a term of stigma. The new classification of personality disorder in the ICD-11 shows that we are all on a spectrum of personality disturbance and that this can change over time. This important new book explains why all health professionals need to be aware of personality disorders in their clinical practice. Abnormal personality, at all levels of severity, should be taken into account when choosing treatment, when predicting outcomes, when anticipating relapse, and when explaining diagnosis. Authored by leading experts in this field, this book explains how the new classification of personality disorders in the ICD-11 helps to select treatment programmes, plan long-term management and avoid adverse consequences in the treatment of this patient group.
COMPLETE INTUITIONISTIC TEMPORAL LOGICS FOR TOPOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
Authors: BOUDOU JOSEPH , DIÉGUEZ MARTÍN , FERNÁNDEZ-DUQUE DAVID
Published: February 2022

The language of linear temporal logic can be interpreted on the class of dynamic topological systems, giving rise to the intuitionistic temporal logic
${\sf ITL}^{\sf c}_{\Diamond \forall }$
, recently shown to be decidable by Fernández-Duque. In this article we axiomatize this logic, some fragments, and prove completeness for several familiar spaces.
Riboflavin is an antioxidant: a review update
Authors: Olfat Nafisa , Ashoori Marziyeh , Saedisomeolia Ahmad
Published: February 2022

Aerobic organisms need antioxidant defense systems to deal with free radicals which either are produced during aerobic respiration or may have an external origin. Oxidative stress, which is resulted from an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of antioxidant defense mechanism to deactivate them, is involved in the development of many chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, CVD and some neurodegenerative diseases. Reinforcing the antioxidant potential of the body has been considered as a strategy that could prevent and manage such conditions. In the previous review article published by British Journal of Nutrition, in 2014, for the first time, we concluded that riboflavin could alleviate oxidative stress. Although riboflavin can serve as a prooxidant when exposed to ultraviolet irradiation, the literature is replete with studies that support its antioxidant properties. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that riboflavin may have a therapeutic potential in many conditions in which oxidative stress is involved, although the therapeutic efficacy of riboflavin as an antioxidant requires further study under conditions of wellness and clinical disease.
Standardisation and application of a novel multiplex assay for estimating micronutrient status and inflammatory markers in women of Sauria Paharia and Santhal tribes of Jharkhand
Authors: Singh Archna , Baalasubramanian Sivasankar , Kalaivani Mani , Kapoor Ridhima , Bhagwat Ketaki , Ghosh-Jerath Suparna
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to document the method standardisation and assessment of micronutrient and inflammatory markers in women from indigenous tribal communities of Jharkhand using a low-volume, high-throughput assay. This cross-sectional study was done among women of the reproductive age group from Sauria Paharia and Santhal tribal households (HH) in selected villages. Capillary blood samples were collected from the women during a HH survey to estimate ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, retinol binding protein 4 and inflammatory biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP) andα-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) using a multiplex assay. Vitamin D and Hb were estimated using an LC-MS technique and cyanmethaemoglobin method, respectively. A multiplex Luminex-based method was developed and standardised. The assay was used to estimate biomarkers in samples from 413 women (178 and 235 from Sauria Paharia and Santhal tribes, respectively). Over 51 % of women had raised CRP or AGP levels. Fe status was significantly better in Sauria Paharia compared with the Santhal women. Anaemia prevalence was 72 % among Santhal women. The proportion of women with Fe deficiency increased after adjusting for inflammation. The overall prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and insufficiency was 25 and 34 %, respectively, with similar prevalence in both tribes. All Santhal women had sufficient vitamin D levels, while 25 and 20 % of Sauria Paharia women had insufficient and deficient vitamin D levels, respectively. Our low-volume, high-throughput multiplex assays may provide a feasible approach for assessing nutritional biomarkers in nutritionally vulnerable hard-to-reach communities.
Border Governance: Reframing political transition in Myanmar
Authors: McCONNACHIE KIRSTEN , HO ELAINE LYNN-EE , KYED HELENE MARIA
Published: February 2022

Borderlands and bordering processes are central to politics and the governance of people, goods, and territories, not only as markers of territorial-administrative control but also as practices that shape the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion, mobility/immobility, and relations of power and authority. This special issue focuses on Myanmar, where political governance is deeply entangled with ethnicity, territory, borders, and bordering processes. We attempt to untangle these relationships by adopting an approach that combines consideration of how borderlands are governed with recognition of the ways in which borders, borderlands, and border populations shape governance and administration. We define this approach as ‘border governance’, by which we mean governance in, of, and through borderlands. In this introduction, we explore the meaning and significance of border governance as it relates to Myanmar, its ethnic border states, and their relations to other nations bordering the country. In doing so, we engage with and develop scholarly debates in three primary areas: (i) Borders, territoriality, and bordering processes; (ii) Plural governance and everyday bordering; (iii) Peacebuilding and the borders of transition. The articles in this special issue were written prior to the military coup of February 2021. Nevertheless, the central arguments presented here remain relevant, as does our conclusion: to achieve lasting peace in Myanmar, the borderlands must be at the centre.
An ASP-based Approach to Answering Natural Language Questions for Texts
Authors: PENDHARKAR DHRUVA , BASU KINJAL , SHAKERIN FARHAD , GUPTA GOPAL
Published: February 2022

An approach based on answer set programming (ASP) is proposed in this paper for representing knowledge generated from natural language texts. Knowledge in a text is modeled using a Neo Davidsonian-like formalism, which is then represented as an answer set program. Relevant commonsense knowledge is additionally imported from resources such as WordNet and represented in ASP. The resulting knowledge-base can then be used to perform reasoning with the help of an ASP system. This approach can facilitate many natural language tasks such as automated question answering, text summarization, and automated question generation. ASP-based representation of techniques such as default reasoning, hierarchical knowledge organization, preferences over defaults, etc., are used to model commonsense reasoning methods required to accomplish these tasks. In this paper, we describe the CASPR system that we have developed to automate the task of answering natural language questions given English text. CASPR can be regarded as a system that answers questions by “understanding” the text and has been tested on the SQuAD data set, with promising results.
Watershed Classification Predicts Streamflow Regime and Organic Carbon Dynamics in the Northeast Pacific Coastal Temperate Rainforest
Authors: Giesbrecht Ian J. W. , Tank Suzanne E. , Frazer Gordon W. , Hood Eran , Gonzalez Arriola Santiago G. , Butman David E. , D’Amore David V. , Hutchinson David , Bidlack Allison , Lertzman Ken P.
Published: February 2022

Watershed classification has long been a key tool in the hydrological sciences, but few studies have been extended to biogeochemistry. We developed a combined hydro‐biogeochemical classification for watersheds draining to the coastal margin of the Northeast Pacific coastal temperate rainforest (1,443,062 km2), including 2,695 small coastal rivers (SCR) and 10 large continental watersheds. We used cluster analysis to group SCR watersheds into 12 types, based on watershed properties. The most important variables for distinguishing SCR watershed types were evapotranspiration, slope, snowfall, and total precipitation. We used both streamflow and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) measurements from rivers (n = 104 and 90 watersheds respectively) to validate the classification. Watershed types corresponded with broad differences in streamflow regime, mean annual runoff, DOC seasonality, and mean DOC concentration. These links between watershed type and river conditions enabled the first region‐wide empirical characterization of river hydro‐biogeochemistry at the land‐sea margin, spanning extensive ungauged and unsampled areas. We found very high annual runoff (mean > 3,000 mm, n = 10) in three watershed types totaling 59,024 km2 and ranging from heavily glacierized mountain watersheds with high flow in summer to a rain‐fed mountain watershed type with high flow in fall‐winter. DOC hotspots (mean > 4 mg L−1, n = 14) were found in three other watershed types (48,557 km2) with perhumid rainforest climates and less‐mountainous topography. We described four patterns of DOC seasonality linked to watershed hydrology, with fall‐flushing being widespread. Hydro‐biogeochemical watershed classification may be useful for other complex regions with sparse observation networks.
Violation of Hemispheric Symmetry in Integrated Poynting Flux via an Empirical Model
Authors: Cosgrove Russell B. , Bahcivan Hasan , Chen Steven , Sanchez Ennio , Knipp Delores
Published: February 2022

For southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) during local summer, the hemispherically integrated Poynting flux estimated by FAST‐satellite‐derived empirical models is significantly larger for the northern hemisphere (NH) than for the southern hemisphere (SH). In order to test whether the difference is statistically significant, the model uncertainties have been estimated by dividing the data sets for each hemisphere into two nonintersecting sets, and separately constructing the model using each of the four sets. The model uncertainty appears to be smaller than the estimated asymmetry. The asymmetry is mostly absent when the IMF is northward, except there is some evidence that it may actually reverse during local winter. The phenomena is coupled with what appears to be a more distinct two‐cell convection pattern in the NH, and a possibly greater cusp contribution in the SH. All this suggests an effect of magnetosphere‐ionosphere‐thermosphere coupling, probably related to asymmetries in Earth's geomagnetic field.
Tsunamigenic Potential of an Incipient Submarine Landslide in the Tiran Straits
Authors: Purkis Sam J. , Ward Steven N. , Shernisky Hannah , Chimienti Giovanni , Sharifi Arash , Marchese Fabio , Benzoni Francesca , Rodrigue Mattie , Raymo Maureen E. , Abdulla Ameer
Published: February 2022

The Red Sea is a maritime rift. Tsunamigenic submarine landslides are common in these deep, steep‐sided, and seismically active basins. Because the rift is narrow, tsunami formed on one margin dissipate little before impacting the opposite side. Red Sea slope failures are therefore especially hazardous. We examine the tsunamigenic potential of an incipient landslide in the Tiran Straits that started, but then stopped after a short distance. Radiometric and biotic analyses fix the age of this landslide to within the last 500 years. Tsunami modeling of the incipient slide predicts ∼10 m wave heights on the Egyptian coastline. Of present concern is that the slope will eventually slide to completion with even more hazardous results. Tsunami simulated for this future event are twice as large as that generated by the incipient slide, so the threat posed by a future slide is consequential. Sharm El Sheikh, an Egyptian resort town now lies in its path, as does “The Line,” a vast Saudi infrastructure project. This study warns of credible tsunami risk in the rapidly urbanizing Tiran Straits.
Bed and Bank Stress Partitioning in Bedrock Rivers
Authors: Li Tingan , Venditti Jeremy G. , Rennie Colin D. , Nelson Peter A.
Published: February 2022

Approximation of bed and wall (bank) stresses in confined, narrow bedrock rivers is key to accurately assessing hydraulic roughness, sediment transport, bedrock erosion and the morphodynamics of bedrock channels. Here, we partition bed and wall stresses using the ray‐isovel model (RIM) and field observations. We used the RIM to calculate the distribution of shear stress across an idealized trapezoidal channel and found that the ratio of wall to bed stress () grows slightly with increasing bank angles, but exponentially declines with increasing width‐to‐depth ratio. We applied the RIM to 26 of the canyons along the Fraser River and found that RIM predicts 0.60 0.98. We used field observations of bed and total stress to calculate wall stress in each canyon. The total stress was calculated from 1D momentum balance (depth‐slope product). The distribution of bed stress was calculated from near‐bed velocity profiles and showed that bed stress spikes as water enters constriction‐pool‐widening (CPW) sequences. For the majority of studied canyons, the observed wall stress is larger than the total stress and the observed bed stress. The maximum observed bed stress through a CPW sequence is ∼7.5 times the mean bed stress and ∼4.9 times the total stress. Compared with the observed stresses, the model systematically over‐predicts the observed bed stress and under‐predicts the observed wall stress by ∼55%. Our results reveal that the complex flow structure in bedrock canyons influences the distribution of bed and wall stresses and that bedrock walls contribute more hydraulic roughness than predicted with RIM.
Fabrication of crystalline submicro-to-nano carbon wire for achieving high current density and ultrastable current
Authors: Deng Jufeng , Liu Chong , song Dian , Madou Marc
Published: February 2022

Crystalline carbon nanowire arrays were fabricated taking advantage of near-field electrospinning and stress decyanation. A novel fabrication method for carbon nanowires with radii ranging from ~2.15 µm down to ~25 nm was developed based on implementing nitrogen pretreatment on the silica surface and then aligning polymer nanofibers during near-field electrospinning at an ultralow voltage. Stress decyanation was implemented by subsequently pyrolyzing a polymer nanofiber array on the silica surface at 1000 °C for 1 h in an N2 atmosphere, thus obtaining a crystalline carbon nanowire array with a nanostructured surface. Various crystalline nanostructures were fabricated on the nanowire surface, and their electrochemical performance was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Crystalline carbon wires with diameters ranging from micrometers to submicrometers displayed carbon nanoelectrode-like behavior with their CV curve having a sigmoidal shape. A highly crystalline carbon nanowire array showed distinct behavior, having a monotonically increasing straight line as its CV curve and a semicircular EIS spectrum; these results demonstrated its ultrastable current, as determined by electron transfer. Furthermore, nanocrystalline-structured carbon wires with diameters of ~305 nm displayed at least a fourfold higher peak current density during CV (4000 mA/m2) than highly crystalline carbon nanowires with diameters of ~100 nm and porous microwires with diameters of ~4.3 µm.
Disrupted social memory ensembles in the ventral hippocampus underlie social amnesia in autism-associated Shank3 mutant mice
Authors: Tao Kentaro , Chung Myung , Watarai Akiyuki , Huang Ziyan , Wang Mu-Yun , Okuyama Teruhiro
Published: February 2022

The ability to remember conspecifics is critical for adaptive cognitive functioning and social communication, and impairments of this ability are hallmarks of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Although hippocampal ventral CA1 (vCA1) neurons are known to store social memories, how their activities are coordinated remains unclear. Here we show that vCA1 social memory neurons, characterized by enhanced activity in response to memorized individuals, were preferentially reactivated during sharp-wave ripples (SPW-Rs). Spike sequences of these social replays reflected the temporal orders of neuronal activities within theta cycles during social experiences. In ASD model Shank3 knockout mice, the proportion of social memory neurons was reduced, and neuronal ensemble spike sequences during SPW-Rs were disrupted, which correlated with impaired discriminatory social behavior. These results suggest that SPW-R-mediated sequential reactivation of neuronal ensembles is a canonical mechanism for coordinating hippocampus-dependent social memories and its disruption underlie the pathophysiology of social memory defects associated with ASD.
HBx increases chromatin accessibility and ETV4 expression to regulate dishevelled-2 and promote HCC progression
Authors: Zheng Chuqian , Liu Min , Ge Yanping , Qian Yanyan , Fan Hong
Published: February 2022

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the predominant causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV X protein (HBx), as the most frequently integrated viral gene sequence following HBV infection, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of HCC. H3K27ac is a characteristic marker for identifying active enhancers and even indicates chromatin accessibility associated with super-enhancers (SEs). In this study, H3K27ac ChIP-seq was applied for high-quality SE annotation of HBx-induced SEs and chromatin accessibility evaluation. The results indicated that HBx preferentially affects enrichment of H3K27ac in transcription factor signaling pathway genes, including ETV4. RNA-seq indicated that ETV4 is upregulated by HBx and that upregulated ETV4 promotes HCC progression. Interestingly, ETV4 was also included in the 568 cancer driver gene pool obtained by the Integrative OncoGenomics pipeline. However, the biological function and mechanism of ETV4 remain incompletely understood. In vivo and in vitro, we found that increased ETV4 expression promotes HCC cell migration and invasion by upregulating DVL2 and activating Wnt/β-catenin. The mRNA and protein levels of ETV4 are higher in tumor tissues compared with adjacent tissues, and high expression of ETV4 is associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. In summary, we first confirm that ETV4 is significantly upregulated by HBx and involved in SE-associated chromatin accessibility. Increased expression of ETV4 promotes HCC cell invasion and metastasis by upregulating DVL2. The present study provides insight into the ETV4-DVL2-β-catenin axis in HBV-related HCC, which will be helpful for treating patients with aggressive HCC.
Synthetic adiponectin-receptor agonist, AdipoRon, induces glycolytic dependence in pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Manley Sharon J. , Olou Appolinaire A. , Jack Jarrid L. , Ruckert Mariana T. , Walsh R. McKinnon , Eades Austin E. , Bye Bailey A. , Ambrose Joe , Messaggio Fanuel , Anant Shrikant , VanSaun Michael N.
Published: February 2022

Obesity creates a localized inflammatory reaction in the adipose, altering secretion of adipocyte-derived factors that contribute to pathologies including cancer. We have previously shown that adiponectin inhibits pancreatic cancer by antagonizing leptin-induced STAT3 activation. Yet, the effects of adiponectin on pancreatic cancer cell metabolism have not been addressed. In these studies, we have uncovered a novel metabolic function for the synthetic adiponectin-receptor agonist, AdipoRon. Treatment of PDAC cells with AdipoRon led to mitochondrial uncoupling and loss of ATP production. Concomitantly, AdipoRon-treated cells increased glucose uptake and utilization. This metabolic switch further correlated with AMPK mediated inhibition of the prolipogenic factor acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase 1 (ACC1), which is known to initiate fatty acid catabolism. Yet, measurements of fatty acid oxidation failed to detect any alteration in response to AdipoRon treatment, suggesting a deficiency for compensation. Additional disruption of glycolytic dependence, using either a glycolysis inhibitor or low-glucose conditions, demonstrated an impairment of growth and survival of all pancreatic cancer cell lines tested. Collectively, these studies provide evidence that pancreatic cancer cells utilize metabolic plasticity to upregulate glycolysis in order to adapt to suppression of oxidative phosphorylation in the presence of AdipoRon.
Cathepsin D as a potential therapeutic target to enhance anticancer drug-induced apoptosis via RNF183-mediated destabilization of Bcl-xL in cancer cells
Authors: Seo Seung Un , Woo Seon Min , Im Seung-Soon , Jang Younghoon , Han Eugene , Kim Sang Hyun , Lee Hongchan , Lee Hyun-Shik , Nam Ju-Ock , Gabrielson Edward , Min Kyoung-jin , Kwon Taeg Kyu
Published: February 2022

Cathepsin D (Cat D) is well known for its roles in metastasis, angiogenesis, proliferation, and carcinogenesis in cancer. Despite Cat D being a promising target in cancer cells, effects and underlying mechanism of its inhibition remain unclear. Here, we investigated the plausibility of using Cat D inhibition as an adjuvant or sensitizer for enhancing anticancer drug-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of Cat D markedly enhanced anticancer drug-induced apoptosis in human carcinoma cell lines and xenograft models. The inhibition destabilized Bcl-xL through upregulation of the expression of RNF183, an E3 ligase of Bcl-xL, via NF-κB activation. Furthermore, Cat D inhibition increased the proteasome activity, which is another important factor in the degradation of proteins. Cat D inhibition resulted in p62-dependent activation of Nrf2, which increased the expression of proteasome subunits (PSMA5 and PSMB5), and thereby, the proteasome activity. Overall, Cat D inhibition sensitized cancer cells to anticancer drugs through the destabilization of Bcl-xL. Furthermore, human renal clear carcinoma (RCC) tissues revealed a positive correlation between Cat D and Bcl-xL expression, whereas RNF183 and Bcl-xL expression indicated inverse correlation. Our results suggest that inhibition of Cat D is promising as an adjuvant or sensitizer for enhancing anticancer drug-induced apoptosis in cancer cells.
Optical-domain spectral super-resolution via a quantum-memory-based time-frequency processor
Authors: Mazelanik Mateusz , Leszczyński Adam , Parniak Michał
Published: February 2022

Existing super-resolution methods of optical imaging hold a solid place as an application in natural sciences, but many new developments allow for beating the diffraction limit in a more subtle way. One of the recently explored strategies to fully exploit information already present in the field is to perform a quantum-inspired tailored measurements. Here we exploit the full spectral information of the optical field in order to beat the Rayleigh limit in spectroscopy. We employ an optical quantum memory with spin-wave storage and an embedded processing capability to implement a time-inversion interferometer for input light, projecting the optical field in the symmetric-antisymmetric mode basis. Our tailored measurement achieves a resolution of 15 kHz and requires 20 times less photons than a corresponding Rayleigh-limited conventional method. We demonstrate the advantage of our technique over both conventional spectroscopy and heterodyne measurements, showing potential for application in distinguishing ultra-narrowband emitters, optical communication channels, or signals transduced from lower-frequency domains.
The olfactory gating of visual preferences to human skin and visible spectra in mosquitoes
Authors: Alonso San Alberto Diego , Rusch Claire , Zhan Yinpeng , Straw Andrew D. , Montell Craig , Riffell Jeffrey A.
Published: February 2022

Mosquitoes track odors, locate hosts, and find mates visually. The color of a food resource, such as a flower or warm-blooded host, can be dominated by long wavelengths of the visible light spectrum (green to red for humans) and is likely important for object recognition and localization. However, little is known about the hues that attract mosquitoes or how odor affects mosquito visual search behaviors. We use a real-time 3D tracking system and wind tunnel that allows careful control of the olfactory and visual environment to quantify the behavior of more than 1.3 million mosquito trajectories. We find that CO2induces a strong attraction to specific spectral bands, including those that humans perceive as cyan, orange, and red. Sensitivity to orange and red correlates with mosquitoes’ strong attraction to the color spectrum of human skin, which is dominated by these wavelengths. The attraction is eliminated by filtering the orange and red bands from the skin color spectrum and by introducing mutations targeting specific long-wavelength opsins or CO2detection. Collectively, our results show that odor is critical for mosquitoes’ wavelength preferences and that the mosquito visual system is a promising target for inhibiting their attraction to human hosts.
Thermal-healing of lattice defects for high-energy single-crystalline battery cathodes
Authors: Li Shaofeng , Qian Guannan , He Xiaomei , Huang Xiaojing , Lee Sang-Jun , Jiang Zhisen , Yang Yang , Wang Wei-Na , Meng Dechao , Yu Chang , Lee Jun-Sik , Chu Yong S. , Ma Zi-Feng , Pianetta Piero , Qiu Jieshan , Li Linsen , Zhao Kejie , Liu Yijin
Published: February 2022

Single-crystalline nickel-rich cathodes are a rising candidate with great potential for high-energy lithium-ion batteries due to their superior structural and chemical robustness in comparison with polycrystalline counterparts. Within the single-crystalline cathode materials, the lattice strain and defects have significant impacts on the intercalation chemistry and, therefore, play a key role in determining the macroscopic electrochemical performance. Guided by our predictive theoretical model, we have systematically evaluated the effectiveness of regaining lost capacity by modulating the lattice deformation via an energy-efficient thermal treatment at different chemical states. We demonstrate that the lattice structure recoverability is highly dependent on both the cathode composition and the state of charge, providing clues to relieving the fatigued cathode crystal for sustainable lithium-ion batteries.
Induction of tier-2 neutralizing antibodies in mice with a DNA-encoded HIV envelope native like trimer
Authors: Xu Ziyang , Walker Susanne , Wise Megan C. , Chokkalingam Neethu , Purwar Mansi , Moore Alan , Tello-Ruiz Edgar , Wu Yuanhan , Majumdar Sonali , Konrath Kylie M. , Kulkarni Abhijeet , Tursi Nicholas J. , Zaidi Faraz I. , Reuschel Emma L. , Patel Ishaan , Obeirne April , Du Jianqiu , Schultheis Katherine , Gites Lauren , Smith Trevor , Mendoza Janess , Broderick Kate E. , Humeau Laurent , Pallesen Jesper , Weiner David B. , Kulp Daniel W.
Published: February 2022

HIV Envelope (Env) is the main vaccine target for induction of neutralizing antibodies. Stabilizing Env into native-like trimer (NLT) conformations is required for recombinant protein immunogens to induce autologous neutralizing antibodies(nAbs) against difficult to neutralize HIV strains (tier-2) in rabbits and non-human primates. Immunizations of mice with NLTs have generally failed to induce tier-2 nAbs. Here, we show that DNA-encoded NLTs fold properly in vivo and induce autologous tier-2 nAbs in mice. DNA-encoded NLTs also uniquely induce both CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell responses as compared to corresponding protein immunizations. Murine neutralizing antibodies are identified with an advanced sequencing technology. The structure of an Env-Ab (C05) complex, as determined by cryo-EM, identifies a previously undescribed neutralizing Env C3/V5 epitope. Beyond potential functional immunity gains, DNA vaccines permit in vivo folding of structured antigens and provide significant cost and speed advantages for enabling rapid evaluation of new HIV vaccines.
Identification of CO2 adsorption sites on MgO nanosheets by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Du Jia-Huan , Chen Lu , Zhang Bing , Chen Kuizhi , Wang Meng , Wang Yang , Hung Ivan , Gan Zhehong , Wu Xin-Ping , Gong Xue-Qing , Peng Luming
Published: February 2022

The detailed information on the surface structure and binding sites of oxide nanomaterials is crucial to understand the adsorption and catalytic processes and thus the key to develop better materials for related applications. However, experimental methods to reveal this information remain scarce. Here we show that 17O solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can be used to identify specific surface sites active for CO2 adsorption on MgO nanosheets. Two 3-coordinated bare surface oxygen sites, resonating at 39 and 42 ppm, are observed, but only the latter is involved in CO2 adsorption. Double resonance NMR and density functional theory (DFT) calculations results prove that the difference between the two species is the close proximity to H, and CO2 does not bind to the oxygen ions with a shorter O···H distance of approx. 3.0 Å. Extensions of this approach to explore adsorption processes on other oxide materials can be readily envisaged.
Isolation, characterization and comparative genomics of potentially probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains from Indian foods
Authors: Surve Sarvesh , Shinde Dasharath B. , Kulkarni Ram
Published: February 2022

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is one of the most diverse species of lactic acid bacteria found in various habitats. The aim of this work was to perform preliminary phenotypic and genomic characterization of two novel and potentially probiotic L. plantarum strains isolated from Indian foods, viz., dhokla batter and jaggery. Both the strains were bile and acid tolerant, utilized various sugars, adhered to intestinal epithelial cells, produced exopolysaccharides and folate, were susceptible for tetracycline, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol, did not cause hemolysis, and exhibited antimicrobial and plant phenolics metabolizing activities. The genetic determinants of bile tolerance, cell-adhesion, bacteriocins production, riboflavin and folate biosynthesis, plant polyphenols utilization, and exopolysaccharide production were found in both the strains. One of the strains contained a large number of unique genes while the other had a simultaneous presence of glucansucrase and fructansucrase genes which is a rare trait in L. plantarum. Comparative genome analysis of 149 L. plantarum strains highlighted high variation in the cell-adhesion and sugar metabolism genes while the genomic regions for some other properties were relatively conserved. This work highlights the unique properties of our strains along with the probiotic and technically important genomic features of a large number of L. plantarum strains.
Modular multimodal platform for classical and high throughput light sheet microscopy
Authors: Bernardello Matteo , Gualda Emilio J. , Loza-Alvarez Pablo
Published: February 2022

Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) has become an important tool for biological and biomedical research. Although several illumination and detection strategies have been developed, the sample mounting still represents a cumbersome procedure as this is highly dependent on the type of sample and often this might be time consuming. This prevents the use of LSFM in other promising applications in which a fast and straightforward sample-mounting procedure and imaging are essential. These include the high-throughput research fields, e.g. in drug screenings and toxicology studies. Here we present a new imaging paradigm for LSFM, which exploits modularity to offer multimodal imaging and straightforward sample mounting strategy, enhancing the flexibility and throughput of the system. We describe its implementation in which the sample can be imaged either as in any classical configuration, as it flows through the light-sheet using a fluidic approach, or a combination of both. We also evaluate its ability to image a variety of samples, from zebrafish embryos and larvae to 3D complex cell cultures.
Implementation of an integrated home internet of things system for vulnerable older adults using a frailty-centered approach
Authors: Baek Ji Yeon , Na Se Hee , Lee Heayon , Jung Hee-Won , Lee Eunju , Jo Min-Woo , Park Yu Rang , Jang Il-Young
Published: February 2022

Although integrated home internet of things (IoT) services can be beneficial, especially for vulnerable older adults, the hurdle of usability hinders implementation of the technology. This study aimed to evaluate the practical usability of home IoT services in older adults, by frailty status, and to determine the potential obstacles. From August 2019 to July 2020, we randomly selected 20 vulnerable older adults (prefrailty group [n = 11], and frailty group [n = 9]) who had already been identified as needing home IoT services in a community-based prospective cohort study, the Aging Study of the Pyeongchang Rural Area. Integrated home IoT services were provided for 1 year, and a face-to-face survey evaluating usability and satisfaction of each service was conducted. The usability of the integrated home IoT services declined gradually throughout the study. However, prefrail participants showed higher usability than frail older adults (difference-in-difference = − 19.431, p = 0.012). According to the frailty status, the change in usability for each service type also showed a different pattern. During the 12-month study period, the service with the highest satisfaction converged from various service needs to light control by remote control (77.8%) in the prefrailty group and automatic gas circuit breaker (72.7%) in the frailty group. For wider implementation of home IoT services, organizing services expected to have high usability and satisfaction based on user’s frailty status is crucial. Also, providing education before service implementation might help older adults coping with digital literacy.
Ambulatory electrocardiography, heart rate variability, and pharmacologic stress testing in cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Walker Ashley L. , Ueda Yu , Crofton Amanda E. , Harris Samantha P. , Stern Joshua A.
Published: February 2022

The utility of ambulatory electrocardiography (AECG) to evaluate cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) for arrhythmias and heart rate variability (HRV) is not well defined but may provide information regarding risk stratification. This prospective study used AECG to evaluate ectopy and HRV in subclinical HCM cats compared to healthy controls and is the first to implement a pharmacologic cardiac stress test. Twenty-three purpose-bred, Maine coon cross cats (16 HCM, 7 control) underwent 48-h of continuous AECG. Terbutaline (0.2–0.3 mg/kg) was administered orally at 24 and 36 h. Heart rate, ectopy frequency and complexity and HRV parameters, including standard deviation of normal R-R intervals (SDNN), were compared pre-terbutaline and post-terbutaline and across phenotype, genotype and sex. Genotype for an HCM-causative mutation was significantly associated with the frequency of supraventricular (P = 0.033) and ventricular (P = 0.026) ectopy across all cats. Seven HCM cats and zero healthy cats had a sinus arrhythmia. Mean heart rate was significantly higher post-terbutaline (p < 0.0001). HCM cats had significantly greater HRV compared to controls (SDNN: p = 0.0006). Male cats had significantly higher HRV (SDNN: p = 0.0001) and lower mean heart rates (p = 0.0001). HRV decreased post-terbutaline (SDNN: p = 0.0008) and changes in HRV observed between sexes were attenuated by terbutaline.
A PET-based fluorescent probe for monitoring labile Fe(ii) pools in macrophage activations and ferroptosis
Authors: Xing Wanjin , Xu Hang , Ma Huijuan , Abedi Syed Ali Abbas , Wang Shanshan , Zhang Xingchen , Liu Xiaogang , Xu Huan , Wang Wei , Lou Kaiyan
Published: February 2022

Reductive cleavage of a coumarin 3-nitrophenylazanyl ester allows turn-on fluorescence detection of ferrous ions in macrophage activation and ferroptosis induction.
Molecular tweezers – a new class of potent broad-spectrum antivirals against enveloped viruses
Authors: Le My-Hue , Taghuo K. Estelle S. , Schrader Thomas
Published: February 2022

The molecular tweezer CLR01 binds to the choline head group of phospholipids inside lipid rafts, raises local surface tension and thus disrupts viral membranes.
Gas-phase identification of (Z)-1,2-ethenediol, a key prebiotic intermediate in the formose reaction
Authors: Melosso Mattia , Bizzocchi Luca , Gazzeh Houda , Tonolo Francesca , Guillemin Jean-Claude , Alessandrini Silvia , Rivilla Víctor M. , Dore Luca , Barone Vincenzo , Puzzarini Cristina
Published: February 2022

1,2-Ethenediol represents a key intermediate species in the process of sugar formation. Here, its rotational spectrum has been recorded and analyzed in order to enable its search in the interstellar medium.
Hydrogen bond serving as a protecting group to enable the photocatalytic [2+2] cycloaddition of redox-active aliphatic-amine-containing indole derivatives
Authors: Li Hao , He Yishu , Zhang Di , Yang Li , Zhang Jiarui , Long Rui-ling , Lu Ji , Wei Jun , Yang Lin , Wei Siping , Yi Dong , Zhang Zhijie , Fu Qiang
Published: February 2022

We describe a photocatalytic [2+2] cycloaddition of redox-sensitive aliphatic-amine-containing indole derivatives assisted by a hydrogen bond, which affords a range of cyclobutane-fused polycyclic indoline derivatives, especially bridged-cyclic indolines.
Effects of grain boundary structure and shape of the solid–liquid interface on the growth direction of the grain boundaries in multicrystalline silicon
Authors: Fukuda Yusuke , Kutsukake Kentaro , Kojima Takuto , Usami Noritaka
Published: February 2022

The unique samples fabricated using seed crystals with artificial grain boundaries (GBs) allowed a systematic investigation of the effect of the macroscopic GB structure (orientation, asymmetric angle, Σ values) on the GB growth direction.
Study on the effect of N–H–O co-doping on diamond growth and its mechanism under HPHT by FeNi solvent
Authors: Cai Zhenghao , Li Ming , Chen Liangchao , Fang Shuai , Wang Zhiwen , Zhao Hongyu , Ma Hongan , Jia Xiaopeng
Published: February 2022

The synthesis of diamonds with rich nitrogen (N), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) elements is a hot topic that needs to be solved in current research.
Trapping integrated molecular devices via local transport circulation
Authors: Xiong Yong-Chen , Wang Jia-Ning , Wang Peng-Chao , Zhou Yuan , Ma Ya-Nan , Zhou Wang-Huai , Tong Rui
Published: February 2022

A prototype model aiming at trapping integrated molecular devices with a purely electric method is demonstrated.