bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IDENTIFYING A “CHICAGO SCHOOL” OF ECONOMICS: ON THE ORIGINS, DIFFUSION, AND EVOLVING MEANINGS OF A FAMOUS NAME BRAND
Authors: Medema Steven G.
Published: August 2023

Though the Chicago school has been the subject of no small amount of research over the past several decades, that scholarship has focused largely on persons, ideas, and influence—in short, on the school itself. No attention has been paid to the origins of that label and the avenues via which the notion of a “Chicago school” of economics came to be. This paper attempts to address that lacuna, drawing on both published and archival resources. What emerges is a story of a label of uncertain origin but wrapped up in competing agendas, the first stage in the history of which culminates in 1962 with its rejection by two of the very people who helped birth it.
Is the magnetospheric accretion active in the Herbig Ae/Be stars?
Authors: Pinzón Giovanni , Hernández Jesús , Serna Javier
Published: August 2023

This contribution is based on the work published by (Pinzón et al. 2021) in which we computed rotation rates for a sample of 79 young stars (∼3 Myr) in a wide range of stellar masses (from T Tauri Stars to Herbig Ae/Be stars) in in the Orion Star Formation Complex (OSFC). We study whether the magnetospheric accretion scenario (MA), valid for young low mass stars, may be applied over a wide range of stellar masses of not. Under the assumption that stellar winds powered by stellar accretion are the main source for the stellar spin down, the hypothesis of an extension of MA toward higher masses seems plausible. A comparison with Ap/Bp stars suggest that HAeBes should suffer a loss of angular momentum by a factor between 12 and 80 during the first 10 Myr in order to match the magnetic Ap/Bp zone in HR diagram.
To the dynamics of the two-body problem with variable masses in the presence of reactive forces
Authors: Ibraimova A.T. , Minglibayev M.Zh
Published: August 2023

We studied the problem of two spherical celestial bodies in the general case when the masses of the bodies change non-isotropically at different rates in the presence of reactive forces. The problem was investigated by methods of perturbation theory based on aperiodic motion along a quasi-conic section, using the equation of perturbed motion in the form of Newton’s equations. The problem is described by the variables a, e, i, π, ω, λ, which are analogs of the corresponding Keplerian elements and the equations of motion in these variables are obtained. Averaging over the mean longitude, we obtained the evolution equations of the two-body problem with variable masses in the presence of reactive forces. The obtained evolution equations have the exact analytic integral ${a^3 e^4 = a^3_0 e^4_0} = {const}$.
Mass loss implementation and temperature evolution of very massive stars
Authors: Sabhahit Gautham N. , Vink Jorick S. , Higgins Erin R. , Sander Andreas A.C.
Published: August 2023

Very massive stars (VMS) dominate the physics of young clusters due to their extreme stellar winds. The mass lost by these stars in their winds determine their evolution, chemical yields and their end fates. In this contribution we study the main-sequence evolution of VMS with a new mass-loss recipe that switches from optically-thin O star winds to optically-thick Wolf-Rayet type winds through the model independent transition mass loss.
The future of Jupiter-like planets around Sun-like stars: first steps
Authors: Konings T. , Baeyens R. , Decin L.
Published: August 2023

Planets that orbit low- to intermediate mass main sequence (MS) stars will experience vigorous star-planet interactions when the host star evolves through the giant branches, including the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase, due to extreme luminosities and stellar outflows. In this work, we take the first steps towards understanding how a planet’s temperature profile and chemical composition is altered when the host star evolves from the MS to the AGB phase. We used a 1D radiative transfer code to compute the temperature-pressure profile and a 1D chemical kinetics code to simulate the disequilibrium chemistry. We consider a Jupiter-like planet around a Solar-type star in two evolutionary stages (MS and AGB planet) by only varying the stellar luminosity. We find that the temperature throughout the AGB planet’s atmosphere is increased by several hundreds of Kelvin compared to the MS planet. We also find that CO joins H2O and CH4 as a prominent constituent in the AGB planet’s atmospheric composition.
Size Evolution and Orbital Architecture of KEPLER Small Planets through Giant Impacts and Photoevaporation
Authors: Pin-Gao Gu , Yuji Matsumoto , Eiichiro Kokubo , Kenji Kurosaki
Published: August 2023

The KEPLER transit survey with follow-up spectroscopic observations has discovered numerous small planets (super-Earths/sub-Neptunes) and revealed intriguing features of their sizes, orbital periods, and their relations between adjacent planets. The planet size distribution exhibits a bimodal distribution separated by a radius gap at around 1.8 Earth radii. Besides, these small planets within multiple planetary systems show that adjacent planets are similar in size and their period ratios of adjacent planet pairs are similar as well, a phenomenon often dubbed as peas-in-a-pod in the exoplanet community. While the radius gap has been predicted and theorized for years, whether it can be relevant to the orbital architecture peas-in-a-pod is physically unknown. For the first time, we attempted to model both features together through planet formation and evolution processes involving giant impacts and photoevaporation. We showed that our model is generally consistent with the KEPLER results but with a smaller radius gap. The impact of Kubyshikina’s model for photoevaporation on our model is discussed.
Observations of planetary winds and outflows
Authors: Dos Santos Leonardo A.
Published: August 2023

We have recently hit the milestone of 5,000 exoplanets discovered. In stark contrast with the Solar System, most of the exoplanets we know to date orbit extremely close to their host stars, causing them to lose copious amounts of gas through atmospheric escape at some stage in their lives. In some planets, this process can be so dramatic that they shrink in timescales of a few million to billions of years, imprinting features in the demographics of transiting exoplanets. Depending on the transit geometry, ionizing conditions, and atmospheric properties, a planetary outflow can be observed using transmission spectroscopy in the ultraviolet, optical or near-infrared. In this review, we will discuss the main techniques to observe evaporating exoplanets and their results. To date, we have evidence that at least 28 exoplanets are currently losing their atmospheres, and the literature has reported at least 42 non-detections.
The effect of winds in red supergiants: modeling for interferometry
Authors: González-Torà Gemma , Wittkowski Markus , Davies Ben , Plez Bertrand
Published: August 2023

Red supergiants (RSGs) are evolved massive stars in a stage preceding core-collapse supernova. Understanding evolved-phases of these cool stars is key to understanding the cosmic matter cycle of our Universe, since they enrich the cosmos with newly formed elements. However, the physical processes that trigger mass loss in their atmospheres are still not fully understood, and remain one of the key questions in stellar astrophysics. We use a new method to study the extended atmospheres of these cold stars, exploring the effect of a stellar wind for both a simple radiative equilibrium model and a semi-empirical model that accounts for a chromospheric temperature structure. We then can compute the intensities, fluxes and visibilities matching the observations for the different instruments at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). Specifically, when comparing with the atmospheric structure of HD 95687 based on published VLTI/AMBER data, we find that our model can accurately match these observations in the K-band, showing the enormous potential of this methodology to reproduce extended atmospheres of RSGs.
Hydrodynamic solutions of radiation driven wind from hot stars
Authors: Curé M. , Araya I. , Arcos C. , Machuca N. , Rodriguez A.
Published: August 2023

We show the application of the δ- and Ω-slow hydrodynamical solutions to describe the velocity profiles of massive stars. In particular, these solutions can help to unravel some of the problems within the winds of massive stars such as the approximation of the β-law for the velocity profile of B supergiant stars and the slow outflow wind observed in Be stars.
Shock breakout in winds of red supergiants: Type IIP supernovae
Authors: Ray Alak , Palani Balaji Harita , Raghu Adarsh , Wagle Gururaj
Published: August 2023

When a supernova shockwave launched deep inside the star exits the surface, it probes the circumstellar medium established by prior mass loss from the pre supernova star. The bright electromagnetic display accompanying the shock breakout is influenced by the properties of the star and scripts the history of the stellar mass loss. We investigate with MESA and STELLA codes the radiative display resulting from a set of progenitors that we evolved to core collapse. We simulate with different internal convective overshoot and compositional mixing and two sets of mass loss schema, one the standard “Dutch” scheme and another, an enhanced, episodic mass loss at a late stage. Shock breakout from the star shows double peaked bolometric light curves for the Dutch wind, as well as high velocity ejecta accelerated during shock breakout. We contrast the breakout flash from an optically thick CSM with that of the rarified medium.
The porous envelope and circumstellar wind matter of the closest carbon star, CW Leonis
Authors: Kim Hyosun , Lee Ho-Gyu , Ohyama Youichi , Kim Ji Hoon , Scicluna Peter , Chu You-Hua , Mauron Nicolas , Ueta Toshiya
Published: August 2023

Recent abrupt changes of CW Leonis may indicate that we are witnessing the moment that the central carbon star is evolving off the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) and entering into the pre-planetary nebula (PPN) phase. The recent appearance of a red compact peak at the predicted stellar position is possibly an unveiling event of the star, and the radial beams emerging from the stellar position resemble the feature of the PPN Egg Nebula. The increase of light curve over two decades is also extraordinary, and it is possibly related to the phase transition. Decadal-period variations are further found in the residuals of light curves, in the relative brightness of radial beams, and in the extended halo brightness distribution. Further monitoring of the recent dramatic and decadal-scale changes of this most well-known carbon star CW Leonis at the tip of AGB is still highly essential, and will help us gain a more concrete understanding on the conditions for transition between the late stellar evolutionary phases.
Winds of OB stars: impact of metallicity, rotation and binary interaction
Authors: Ramachandran Varsha
Published: August 2023

Winds of massive stars are an important ingredient in determining their evolution, final remnant mass, and feedback to the surrounding interstellar medium. We compare empirical results for OB star winds at low metallicity with theoretical predictions. Observations suggest very weak winds at SMC metallicity, but there are exceptions. We identified promising candidates for rotationally enhanced mass-loss rates with two component wind and partially stripped stars hiding among OB stars with slow but dense wind in the SMC. A preliminary analysis of these systems, derived parameters, and their implications are discussed. Finally, we briefly discuss the interaction of OB winds near black holes in X-ray binaries.
Numerical Modeling of Galactic Superwinds with Time-evolving Stellar Feedback
Authors: Danehkar A. , Oey M. S. , Gray W. J.
Published: August 2023

Mass-loss and radiation feedback from evolving massive stars produce galactic-scale superwinds, sometimes surrounded by pressure-driven bubbles. Using the time-dependent stellar population typically seen in star-forming regions, we conduct hydrodynamic simulations of a starburst-driven superwind model coupled with radiative efficiency rates to investigate the formation of radiative cooling superwinds and bubbles. Our numerical simulations depict the parameter space where radiative cooling superwinds with or without bubbles occur. Moreover, we employ the physical properties and time-dependent ionization states to predict emission line profiles under the assumption of collisional ionization and non-equilibrium ionization caused by wind thermal feedback in addition to photoionization created by the radiation background. We see the dependence of non-equilibrium ionization structures on the time-evolving ionizing source, leading to a deviation from collisional ionization in radiative cooling wind regions over time.
Federal agency perspectives and funding opportunities for weed and invasive plant research
Authors: Young Stephen L. , Kells James J. , Nandula Vijay K.
Published: August 2023

Weeds and invasive plants know no borders and have collectively impacted many ecosystems worldwide, including croplands, forests, grasslands, rangelands, wetlands, and riparian areas. Losses continue to mount, affecting yield and productivity, species diversity, and ecosystem services, with both short- and long-term repercussions on the sustainability of plant and animal communities and the livelihoods of many. New and emerging invasive plants, along with many of the most intractable weeds, have undermined even the best control efforts, serving as a reminder of the constant need for improvements in science, application, and technology. One of the main reasons for the success of weeds and invasive plants is their ability to adapt to abiotic and biotic conditions, and research suggests that this will continue with minimal change.
A Two‐Dimensional Closed‐Form Analytical Solution for Heat Transport With Nonvertical Flow in Riparian Zones
Authors: Shi Wenguang , Zhan Hongbin , Wang Quanrong , Xie Xianjun
Published: August 2023

Heat as a tracer has received increasing attention in recent decades and has become a popular and widely used tool for quantifying streambed fluxes, among many other applications. Nonvertical flow component is an important parameter for heat transport in riparian zones. However, previous investigations using heat as a tracer in the quantification of streambed fluxes frequently overlooked or simplified nonvertical flow component with erroneous presumptions. In this study, a novelty two‐dimensional closed‐form analytical solution for heat transport with vertical and nonvertical flow components and arbitrary initial and boundary conditions under losing conditions is presented for the first time using Green's function method. The new model is tested by finite‐element solution and stochastic modeling. The capabilities of the new analytical solution are demonstrated using field data. Results show that the nonvertical flow component has a significant impact on heat transport in streambed. The temperature difference between the streambed and the surface water increases as the nonvertical flow component increases, and the amplitude of the temperature curves decreases with increasing horizontal distance from the center of stream at the same depth due to the influences of nonvertical flow. Stochastic modeling shows that an increasing nonuniform flow can result in overestimation of vertical and nonvertical flow components near the bank of stream, and the new analytical model works well in a heterogeneous streambed when the variance of natural logarithm of the streambed hydraulic conductivity is less than 0.10 (). The vertical and nonvertical flow components are more sensitive to temperature‐time data than the other parameters. The new analytical model is a significant advancement of the previous one‐dimensional analytical models which only considered vertical flow.
Surface‐Plasma Interactions at Europa in Draped Magnetospheric Fields: The Contribution of Energetic Electrons to Energy Deposition and Sputtering
Authors: Addison Peter , Liuzzo Lucas , Simon Sven
Published: August 2023

We calculate the time‐varying spatial distribution of energetic magnetospheric electron influx onto Europa's surface by combining a hybrid model of the moon's draped electromagnetic environment with a relativistic particle tracer. We generate maps of the energetic electron influx patterns at four distinct locations of Europa relative to the center of the Jovian magnetospheric current sheet. For a full synodic rotation of Jupiter, these results are applied to constrain the averaged number and energy influx patterns as well as the O2 sputtering rates associated with energetic electron precipitation. We also determine the relative contributions of magnetospheric ions and electrons to surface erosion and exospheric genesis at Europa. Our major results are: (a) Except for a small region near Europa's downstream apex, the moon's entire surface is exposed to heavy irradiation by magnetospheric electrons. (b) The spatial distribution of energetic electron influx onto Europa's surface is only slightly modified by field line draping and the induced magnetic field from the moon's subsurface ocean. (c) The contributions of magnetospheric electron and ion impacts to energy deposition onto Europa's surface are of the same order of magnitude. (d) Within uncertainties, impinging magnetospheric electrons and ions make similar contributions to O2 sputtering from Europa's surface. (e) The spatial distribution of electron energy influx and the observed concentrations of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) are only weakly correlated, suggesting that energy deposition by magnetospheric electron impacts is not a necessary agent for H2SO4 production within Europa's surface.
3-year follow-up of a prospective, multicenter study of the Amplatzer Piccolo™ Occluder for transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure in children ≥ 700 grams
Authors: Morray Brian H. , Sathanandam Shyam K. , Forbes Thomas , Gillespie Matthew , Berman Darren , Armstrong Aimee K. , Shahanavaz Shabana , Jones Thomas , Rockefeller Toby , Justino Henri , Nykanen David , Weiler Courtney , Gutfinger Dan , Zahn Evan M.
Published: August 2023

Objective

This study describes 3-year follow-up of 200 infants weighing ≥ 700 grams who underwent transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure with the Amplatzer Piccolo™ Occluder.

Study Design

Between June 2017 and February 2019, 200 children were enrolled in this U.S. study (NCT03055858). PDA closure, survival, and device- or procedure-related events were evaluated. A total of 156 of the available 182 patients (86%) completed the study.

Results

The implant success rate was 95.5% (191/200). At 3 years, PDA closure was observed in 100% (33/33) of patients. Survival was >95% with 9 reported deaths. No deaths were adjudicated as device- or procedure-related. Notable events included aortic obstruction (2) requiring stent placement and tricuspid regurgitation (5), for which no interventions were required.

Conclusions

This follow-up study demonstrates high rates of PDA closure, low serious complication rates, and survival > 95% at 3 years. The Amplatzer Piccolo™ Occluder is a safe and effective therapy for PDA treatment in premature infants. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT0305585.
The mitophagy pathway and its implications in human diseases
Authors: Wang Shouliang , Long Haijiao , Hou Lianjie , Feng Baorong , Ma Zihong , Wu Ying , Zeng Yu , Cai Jiahao , Zhang Da-wei , Zhao Guojun
Published: August 2023

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles with multiple functions. They participate in necrotic cell death and programmed apoptotic, and are crucial for cell metabolism and survival. Mitophagy serves as a cytoprotective mechanism to remove superfluous or dysfunctional mitochondria and maintain mitochondrial fine-tuning numbers to balance intracellular homeostasis. Growing evidences show that mitophagy, as an acute tissue stress response, plays an important role in maintaining the health of the mitochondrial network. Since the timely removal of abnormal mitochondria is essential for cell survival, cells have evolved a variety of mitophagy pathways to ensure that mitophagy can be activated in time under various environments. A better understanding of the mechanism of mitophagy in various diseases is crucial for the treatment of diseases and therapeutic target design. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms of mitophagy-mediated mitochondrial elimination, how mitophagy maintains mitochondrial homeostasis at the system levels and organ, and what alterations in mitophagy are related to the development of diseases, including neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal disease, etc., in recent advances. Finally, we summarize the potential clinical applications and outline the conditions for mitophagy regulators to enter clinical trials. Research advances in signaling transduction of mitophagy will have an important role in developing new therapeutic strategies for precision medicine.
CDK7-YAP-LDHD axis promotes D-lactate elimination and ferroptosis defense to support cancer stem cell-like properties
Authors: Lv Mengzhu , Gong Ying , Liu Xuesong , Wang Yan , Wu Qingnan , Chen Jie , Min Qingjie , Zhao Dongyu , Li Xianfeng , Chen Dongshao , Yang Di , Yeerken Danna , Liu Rui , Li Jinting , Zhang Weimin , Zhan Qimin
Published: August 2023

Reprogrammed cellular metabolism is essential for maintaining cancer stem cells (CSCs) state. Here, we report that mitochondrial D-lactate catabolism is a necessary initiating oncogenic event during tumorigenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We discover that cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) phosphorylates nuclear Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) at S127 and S397 sites and enhances its transcription function, which promotes D-lactate dehydrogenase (LDHD) protein expression. Moreover, LDHD is enriched significantly in ESCC-CSCs rather than differentiated tumor cells and high LDHD status is connected with poor prognosis in ESCC patients. Mechanistically, the CDK7-YAP-LDHD axis helps ESCC-CSCs escape from ferroptosis induced by D-lactate and generates pyruvate to satisfy energetic demands for their elevated self-renewal potential. Hence, we conclude that esophageal CSCs adopt a D-lactate elimination and pyruvate accumulation mode dependent on CDK7-YAP-LDHD axis, which drives stemness-associated hallmarks of ESCC-CSCs. Reasonably, targeting metabolic checkpoints may serve as an effective strategy for ESCC therapy.
Heimdall, an alternative protein issued from a ncRNA related to kappa light chain variable region of immunoglobulins from astrocytes: a new player in neural proteome
Authors: Capuz Alice , Osien Sylvain , Cardon Tristan , Karnoub Mélodie Anne , Aboulouard Soulaimane , Raffo-Romero Antonella , Duhamel Marie , Cizkova Dasa , Trerotola Marco , Devos David , Kobeissy Firas , Vanden Abeele Fabien , Bonnefond Amélie , Fournier Isabelle , Rodet Franck , Salzet Michel
Published: August 2023

The dogma “One gene, one protein” is clearly obsolete since cells use alternative splicing and generate multiple transcripts which are translated into protein isoforms, but also use alternative translation initiation sites (TISs) and termination sites on a given transcript. Alternative open reading frames for individual transcripts give proteins originate from the 5′- and 3′-UTR mRNA regions, frameshifts of mRNA ORFs or from non-coding RNAs. Longtime considered as non-coding, recent in-silico translation prediction methods enriched the protein databases allowing the identification of new target structures that have not been identified previously. To gain insight into the role of these newly identified alternative proteins in the regulation of cellular functions, it is crucial to assess their dynamic modulation within a framework of altered physiological modifications such as experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we carried out a longitudinal proteomic study on rat SCI from 12 h to 10 days. Based on the alternative protein predictions, it was possible to identify a plethora of newly predicted protein hits. Among these proteins, some presented a special interest due to high homology with variable chain regions of immunoglobulins. We focus our interest on the one related to Kappa variable light chains which is similarly highly produced by B cells in the Bence jones disease, but here expressed in astrocytes. This protein, name Heimdall is an Intrinsically disordered protein which is secreted under inflammatory conditions. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the Heimdall interactome contained proteins related to astrocyte fate keepers such as “NOTCH1, EPHA3, IPO13” as well as membrane receptor protein including “CHRNA9; TGFBR, EPHB6, and TRAM”. However, when Heimdall protein was neutralized utilizing a specific antibody or its gene knocked out by CRISPR-Cas9, sprouting elongations were observed in the corresponding astrocytes. Interestingly, depolarization assays and intracellular calcium measurements in Heimdall KO, established a depolarization effect on astrocyte membranes KO cells were more likely that the one found in neuroprogenitors. Proteomic analyses performed under injury conditions or under lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation, revealed the expression of neuronal factors, stem cell proteins, proliferation, and neurogenesis of astrocyte convertor factors such as EPHA4, NOTCH2, SLIT3, SEMA3F, suggesting a role of Heimdall could regulate astrocytic fate. Taken together, Heimdall could be a novel member of the gatekeeping astrocyte-to-neuroprogenitor conversion factors.
Coronary artery disease, its associations with ocular, genetic and blood lipid parameters
Authors: Matulevičiūtė Indrė , Tatarūnas Vacis , Skipskis Vilius , Čiapienė Ieva , Veikutienė Audronė , Lesauskaitė Vaiva , Dobilienė Olivija , Žaliūnienė Dalia
Published: August 2023

Background/objectives

To investigate the associations between ophthalmic parameters, CYP4F2 (rs2108622) and ABCA1 (rs1883025) polymorphisms and coronary artery disease, considering the accessibility, non-invasive origin of retinal examination and its possible resemblance to coronary arteries.

Subjects/methods

Overall 165 participants divided into groups based on the coronary angiography results and clinical status: control group (N = 73), MI group (N = 63), 3VD (three vessel disease) (N = 24). All the participants underwent total ophthalmic examination – optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography of the macula region were performed and evaluated. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride cholesterol (Tg-C) were tested. A standard manufacturer’s protocol for CYP4F2 (rs2108622) and ABCA1 (rs1883025) was used for genotyping with TaqMan probes.

Results

GCL+ layer was thicker in control group vs. 3VD group (74.00; 62.67–94.67 (median; min.-max.) vs. 71.06; 51.33–78.44, p = 0.037). T allele carriers under ABCA1 rs1883025 dominant model were shown to have ticker retina and smaller foveal avascular zone in superficial capillary plexus and smaller Tg-C concentration. ABCA1 rs1883025 was associated with retinal thickness (OR = 0.575, 95% CI 0.348–0.948, p = 0.030). Univariate logistic regression showed that ABCA1 rs1883025 CT genotype is associated with decreased risk for coronary artery disease development under overdominant genetic model (OR = 0.498, 95% CI 0.254–0.976; p = 0.042) and codominant genetic model (OR = 0.468, 95% CI 0.232–0.945, p = 0.034).

Conclusions

Results of this study confirmed that non-invasive methods such as OCT of eye might be used for identification of patients at risk of CAD.
Pharmacological perturbation of the phase-separating protein SMNDC1
Authors: Enders Lennart , Siklos Marton , Borggräfe Jan , Gaussmann Stefan , Koren Anna , Malik Monika , Tomek Tatjana , Schuster Michael , Reiniš Jiří , Hahn Elisa , Rukavina Andrea , Reicher Andreas , Casteels Tamara , Bock Christoph , Winter Georg E. , Hannich J. Thomas , Sattler Michael , Kubicek Stefan
Published: August 2023

SMNDC1 is a Tudor domain protein that recognizes di-methylated arginines and controls gene expression as an essential splicing factor. Here, we study the specific contributions of the SMNDC1 Tudor domain to protein-protein interactions, subcellular localization, and molecular function. To perturb the protein function in cells, we develop small molecule inhibitors targeting the dimethylarginine binding pocket of the SMNDC1 Tudor domain. We find that SMNDC1 localizes to phase-separated membraneless organelles that partially overlap with nuclear speckles. This condensation behavior is driven by the unstructured C-terminal region of SMNDC1, depends on RNA interaction and can be recapitulated in vitro. Inhibitors of the protein’s Tudor domain drastically alter protein-protein interactions and subcellular localization, causing splicing changes for SMNDC1-dependent genes. These compounds will enable further pharmacological studies on the role of SMNDC1 in the regulation of nuclear condensates, gene regulation and cell identity.
EGFR-targeted fluorescence molecular imaging for intraoperative margin assessment in oral cancer patients: a phase II trial
Authors: de Wit Jaron G. , Vonk Jasper , Voskuil Floris J. , de Visscher Sebastiaan A. H. J. , Schepman Kees-Pieter , Hooghiemstra Wouter T. R. , Linssen Matthijs D. , Elias Sjoerd G. , Halmos Gyorgy B. , Plaat Boudewijn E. C. , Doff Jan J. , Rosenthal Eben L. , Robinson Dominic , van der Vegt Bert , Nagengast Wouter B. , van Dam Gooitzen M. , Witjes Max J. H.
Published: August 2023

Inadequate surgical margins occur frequently in oral squamous cell carcinoma surgery. Fluorescence molecular imaging (FMI) has been explored for intraoperative margin assessment, but data are limited to phase-I studies. In this single-arm phase-II study (NCT03134846), our primary endpoints were to determine the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of cetuximab-800CW for tumor-positive margins detection. Secondary endpoints were safety, close margin detection rate and intrinsic cetuximab-800CW fluorescence. In 65 patients with 66 tumors, cetuximab-800CW was well-tolerated. Fluorescent spots identified in the surgical margin with signal-to-background ratios (SBR) of ≥2 identify tumor-positive margins with 100% sensitivity, 85.9% specificity, 58.3% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value. An SBR of ≥1.5 identifies close margins with 70.3% sensitivity, 76.1% specificity, 60.5% positive predictive value, and 83.1% negative predictive value. Performing frozen section analysis aimed at the fluorescent spots with an SBR of ≥1.5 enables safe, intraoperative adjustment of surgical margins.
Giant room-temperature nonlinearities in a monolayer Janus topological semiconductor
Authors: Shi Jiaojian , Xu Haowei , Heide Christian , HuangFu Changan , Xia Chenyi , de Quesada Felipe , Shen Hongzhi , Zhang Tianyi , Yu Leo , Johnson Amalya , Liu Fang , Shi Enzheng , Jiao Liying , Heinz Tony , Ghimire Shambhu , Li Ju , Kong Jing , Guo Yunfan , Lindenberg Aaron M.
Published: August 2023

Nonlinear optical materials possess wide applications, ranging from terahertz and mid-infrared detection to energy harvesting. Recently, the correlations between nonlinear optical responses and certain topological properties, such as the Berry curvature and the quantum metric tensor, have attracted considerable interest. Here, we report giant room-temperature nonlinearities in non-centrosymmetric two-dimensional topological materials—the Janus transition metal dichalcogenides in the 1 T’ phase, synthesized by an advanced atomic-layer substitution method. High harmonic generation, terahertz emission spectroscopy, and second harmonic generation measurements consistently show orders-of-the-magnitude enhancement in terahertz-frequency nonlinearities in 1 T’ MoSSe (e.g., > 50 times higher than 2H MoS2 for 18th order harmonic generation; > 20 times higher than 2H MoS2 for terahertz emission). We link this giant nonlinear optical response to topological band mixing and strong inversion symmetry breaking due to the Janus structure. Our work defines general protocols for designing materials with large nonlinearities and heralds the applications of topological materials in optoelectronics down to the monolayer limit.
H2 formation via non-Born-Oppenheimer hydrogen migration in photoionized ethane
Authors: Yang Yizhang , Ren Hao , Zhang Ming , Zhou Shengpeng , Mu Xiangxu , Li Xiaokai , Wang Zhenzhen , Deng Ke , Li Mingxuan , Ma Pan , Li Zheng , Hao Xiaolei , Li Weidong , Chen Jing , Wang Chuncheng , Ding Dajun
Published: August 2023

Neutral H2 formation via intramolecular hydrogen migration in hydrocarbon molecules plays a vital role in many chemical and biological processes. Here, employing cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy (COLTRIMS) and pump-probe technique, we find that the non-adiabatic coupling between the ground and excited ionic states of ethane through conical intersection leads to a significantly high yield of neutral H2 fragment. Based on the analysis of fingerprints that are sensitive to orbital symmetry and electronic state energies in the photoelectron momentum distributions, we tag the initial electronic population of both the ground and excited ionic states and determine the branching ratios of H2 formation channel from those two states. Incorporating theoretical simulation, we established the timescale of the H2 formation to be ~1300 fs. We provide a comprehensive characterization of H2 formation in ionic states of ethane mediated by conical intersection and reveals the significance of non-adiabatic coupling dynamics in the intramolecular hydrogen migration.
Extreme environments offer an unprecedented opportunity to understand microbial eukaryotic ecology, evolution, and genome biology
Authors: Rappaport Hannah B. , Oliverio Angela M.
Published: August 2023

Research in extreme environments has substantially expanded our understanding of the ecology and evolution of life on Earth, but a major group of organisms has been largely overlooked: microbial eukaryotes (i.e., protists). In this Perspective, we summarize data from over 80 studies of protists in extreme environments and identify focal lineages that are of significant interest for further study, including clades within Echinamoebida, Heterolobosea, Radiolaria, Haptophyta, Oomycota, and Cryptophyta. We argue that extreme environments are prime sampling targets to fill gaps in the eukaryotic tree of life and to increase our understanding of the ecology, metabolism, genome architecture, and evolution of eukaryotic life.
Astroglial Hmgb1 regulates postnatal astrocyte morphogenesis and cerebrovascular maturation
Authors: Freitas-Andrade Moises , Comin Cesar H. , Van Dyken Peter , Ouellette Julie , Raman-Nair Joanna , Blakeley Nicole , Liu Qing Yan , Leclerc Sonia , Pan Youlian , Liu Ziying , Carrier Micaël , Thakur Karan , Savard Alexandre , Rurak Gareth M. , Tremblay Marie-Ève , Salmaso Natalina , da F. Costa Luciano , Coppola Gianfilippo , Lacoste Baptiste
Published: August 2023

Astrocytes are intimately linked with brain blood vessels, an essential relationship for neuronal function. However, astroglial factors driving these physical and functional associations during postnatal brain development have yet to be identified. By characterizing structural and transcriptional changes in mouse cortical astrocytes during the first two postnatal weeks, we find that high-mobility group box 1 (Hmgb1), normally upregulated with injury and involved in adult cerebrovascular repair, is highly expressed in astrocytes at birth and then decreases rapidly. Astrocyte-selective ablation ofHmgb1at birth affects astrocyte morphology and endfoot placement, alters distribution of endfoot proteins connexin43 and aquaporin-4, induces transcriptional changes in astrocytes related to cytoskeleton remodeling, and profoundly disrupts endothelial ultrastructure. While lack of astroglialHmgb1does not affect the blood-brain barrier or angiogenesis postnatally, it impairs neurovascular coupling and behavior in adult mice. These findings identify astroglialHmgb1as an important player in postnatal gliovascular maturation.
The first chromosome-level genome assembly of Entomobrya proxima Folsom, 1924 (Collembola: Entomobryidae)
Authors: Jin Jianfeng , Zhao Yuxin , Zhang Guoqiang , Pan Zhixiang , Zhang Feng
Published: August 2023

The Entomobryoidea, the largest superfamily of Collembola, encompasses over 2,000 species in the world. However, the lack of high-quality genomes hinders our understanding of the evolution and ecology of this group. This study presents a chromosome-level genome of Entomobrya proxima by combining PacBio long reads, Illumina short reads, and Hi-C data. The genome has a size of 362.37 Mb, with a scaffold N50 size of 57.67 Mb, and 97.12% (351.95 Mb) of the assembly is located on six chromosomes. The BUSCO analysis of our assembly indicates a completeness of 96.1% (n = 1,013), including 946 (93.4%) single-copy BUSCOs and 27 (2.7%) duplicated BUSCOs. We identified that the genome contains 22.16% (80.06 Mb) repeat elements and 20,988 predicted protein-coding genes. Gene family evolution analysis of E. proxima identified 177 gene families that underwent significant expansions, which were primarily associated with detoxification and metabolism. Moreover, our inter-genomic synteny analysis showed strong chromosomal synteny between E. proxima and Sinella curviseta. Our study provides valuable genomic information for comprehending the evolution and ecology of Collembola.
Functional MRI of murine olfactory bulbs at 15.2T reveals characteristic activation patterns when stimulated by different odors
Authors: Chitrit Odélia , Bao Qingjia , Cai Aoling , Gabriela Chuartzman Silvia , Zilkha Noga , Haddad Rafi , Kimchi Tali , Frydman Lucio
Published: August 2023

Thanks to its increased sensitivity, single-shot ultrahigh field functional MRI (UHF fMRI) could lead to valuable insight about subtle brain functions such as olfaction. However, UHF fMRI experiments targeting small organs next to air voids, such as the olfactory bulb, are severely affected by field inhomogeneity problems. Spatiotemporal Encoding (SPEN) is an emerging single-shot MRI technique that could provide a route for bypassing these complications. This is here explored with single-shot fMRI studies on the olfactory bulbs of male and female mice performed at 15.2T. SPEN images collected on these organs at a 108 µm in-plane resolution yielded remarkably large and well-defined responses to olfactory cues. Under suitable T2* weightings these activation-driven changes exceeded 5% of the overall signal intensity, becoming clearly visible in the images without statistical treatment. The nature of the SPEN signal intensity changes in such experiments was unambiguously linked to olfaction, via single-nostril experiments. These experiments highlighted specific activation regions in the external plexiform region and in glomeruli in the lateral part of the bulb, when stimulated by aversive or appetitive odors, respectively. These strong signal activations were non-linear with concentration, and shed light on how chemosensory signals reaching the olfactory epithelium react in response to different cues. Second-level analyses highlighted clear differences among the appetitive, aversive and neutral odor maps; no such differences were evident upon comparing male against female olfactory activation regions.
Variational quantum and quantum-inspired clustering
Authors: Bermejo Pablo , Orús Román
Published: August 2023

Here we present a quantum algorithm for clustering data based on a variational quantum circuit. The algorithm allows to classify data into many clusters, and can easily be implemented in few-qubit Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices. The idea of the algorithm relies on reducing the clustering problem to an optimization, and then solving it via a Variational Quantum Eigensolver combined with non-orthogonal qubit states. In practice, the method uses maximally-orthogonal states of the target Hilbert space instead of the usual computational basis, allowing for a large number of clusters to be considered even with few qubits. We benchmark the algorithm with numerical simulations using real datasets, showing excellent performance even with one single qubit. Moreover, a tensor network simulation of the algorithm implements, by construction, a quantum-inspired clustering algorithm that can run on current classical hardware.
Particle fusion of super-resolution data reveals the unit structure of Nup96 in Nuclear Pore Complex
Authors: Wang Wenxiu , Jakobi Arjen , Wu Yu-Le , Ries Jonas , Stallinga Sjoerd , Rieger Bernd
Published: August 2023

Single molecule localization microscopy offers resolution nearly down to the molecular level with specific molecular labelling, and is thereby a promising tool for structural biology. In practice, however, the actual value to this field is limited primarily by incomplete fluorescent labelling of the structure. This missing information can be completed by merging information from many structurally identical particles in a particle fusion approach similar to cryo-EM single-particle analysis. In this paper, we present a data analysis of particle fusion results of fluorescently labelled Nup96 nucleoporins in the Nuclear Pore Complex to show that Nup96 occurs in a spatial arrangement of two rings of 8 units with two Nup96 copies per unit giving a total of 32 Nup96 copies per pore. We use Artificial Intelligence assisted modeling in Alphafold to extend the existing cryo-EM model of Nup96 to accurately pinpoint the positions of the fluorescent labels and show the accuracy of the match between fluorescent and cryo-EM data to be better than 3 nm in-plane and 5 nm out-of-plane.
The effect of ketamine on affective modulation of the startle reflex and its resting-state brain correlates
Authors: Sen Zümrüt Duygu , Chand Tara , Danyeli Lena Vera , Kumar Vinod Jangir , Colic Lejla , Li Meng , Yemisken Merve , Javaheripour Nooshin , Refisch Alexander , Opel Nils , Macharadze Tamar , Kretzschmar Moritz , Ozkan Esra , Deliano Matthias , Walter Martin
Published: August 2023

Ketamine is a rapid-acting antidepressant that also influences neural reactivity to affective stimuli. However, the effect of ketamine on behavioral affective reactivity is yet to be elucidated. The affect-modulated startle reflex paradigm (AMSR) allows examining the valence-specific aspects of behavioral affective reactivity. We hypothesized that ketamine alters the modulation of the startle reflex during processing of unpleasant and pleasant stimuli and weakens the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) within the modulatory pathway, namely between the centromedial nucleus of the amygdala and nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, thirty-two healthy male participants underwent ultra-high field resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging at 7 T before and 24 h after placebo and S-ketamine infusions. Participants completed the AMSR task at baseline and one day after each infusion. In contrast to our hypothesis, ketamine infusion did not impact startle potentiation during processing of unpleasant stimuli but resulted in diminished startle attenuation during processing of pleasant stimuli. This diminishment significantly correlated with end-of-infusion plasma levels of ketamine and norketamine. Furthermore, ketamine induced a decrease in rsFC within the modulatory startle reflex pathway. The results of this first study on the effect of ketamine on the AMSR suggest that ketamine might attenuate the motivational significance of pleasant stimuli in healthy participants one day after infusion.
Educational attainment and anxiety in middle-aged and older Europeans
Authors: Chlapecka Adam , Wolfová Katrin , Fryčová Barbora , Cermakova Pavla
Published: August 2023

We examined the relationship between educational attainment (EA) and anxiety symptoms in a sample of 77,792 individuals (median age = 64 years, 55% female) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Using logistic regression, we estimated odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between EA (7 educational levels based on International Standard Classification of Education) and anxiety symptoms (12 or more points from the shortened 5-item version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory), adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors. We further explored whether the relationship varied by region, sex and age group. Independent of sociodemographic and health-related factors, higher levels of EA were associated with lower odds of anxiety symptoms. The magnitude of this association plateaued at first stage of tertiary education (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.35–0.47, p < 0.001). The association was stronger in females, middle-aged individuals and in Central and Eastern Europe while not apparent in Northern Europe. Our findings suggest that individuals with higher education might be protected against anxiety throughout life. The protective effect of education against anxiety symptoms is more pronounced in less egalitarian regions and in females.
Development of eco-friendly antifungal and antibacterial adhesive derived from modified cassava starch waste/polyvinyl alcohol containing green synthesized nano-silver
Authors: Jarensungnen Chaloton , Jetsrisuparb Kaewta , Phanthanawiboon Supranee , Theerakulpisut Somnuk , Hiziroglu Salim , Knijnenburg Jesper Theodorus Nicolaas , Okhawilai Manunya , Kasemsiri Pornnapa
Published: August 2023

Environmentally friendly biopolymer-based wood adhesives are an inevitable trend of wood product development to replace the use of harmful formaldehyde-based adhesives. In this research, a new eco-friendly modified cassava starch waste-based adhesive via carboxymethylation (CMS), and blending with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), tannic acid (TA) and green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was prepared. The effects of TA content on green synthesis of AgNPs (Ag-TA) and bio-adhesive nanocomposite properties were investigated. The use of 5 wt% TA for AgNPs synthesis (Ag-TA-5) resulted in a uniform particle size distribution. The plywood prepared with Ag-TA-5 provided the highest dry and wet shear strength at 1.95 ± 0.11 MPa and 1.38 ± 0.3 MPa, respectively. The water absorption and thickness swelling of this plywood remarkably decreased up to 10.99% and 6.79%, respectively. More importantly, the presence of Ag-TA in CMS/PVA adhesive successfully inhibited the invasion of mold and bacteria. Based on the cyclic delamination test, the adhesive bond durability of bio-adhesive containing Ag-TA-5 could meet the requirement of the AITC Test T110-2007 and was comparable to commercial adhesives. The added advantage of the prepared bio-adhesive was its synthesis from agro-waste products and possible economically viable production at industrial level.