bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Annual risk of hepatitis E virus infection and seroreversion: Insights from a serological cohort in Sitakunda, Bangladesh
Authors: Dighe Amy , Khan Ashraful Islam , Bhuiyan Taufiqur Rahman , Islam Md Taufiqul , Khan Zahid Hasan , Khan Ishtiakul Islam , Hulse Juan Dent , Ahmed Shakeel , Rashid Mamunur , Hossain Md Zakir , Rashid Rumana , Hegde Sonia T. , Gurley Emily S. , Qadri Firdausi , Azman Andrew S.
Published: March 2024

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute jaundice in South Asia. Gaps in our understanding of transmission are driven by non-specific symptoms and scarcity of diagnostics, impeding rational control strategies. In this context, serological data can provide important proxy measures of infection. We enrolled a population-representative serological cohort of 2,337 individuals in Sitakunda, Bangladesh. We estimated the annual risks of HEV infection and seroreversion both using serostatus changes between paired serum samples collected 9 months apart, and by fitting catalytic models to the age-stratified cross-sectional seroprevalence. At baseline, 15% (95 CI: 14–17%) of people were seropositive, with seroprevalence highest in the relatively urban south. During the study, 27 individuals seroreverted (annual seroreversion risk: 15%, 95 CI: 10–21%), and 38 seroconverted (annual infection risk: 3%, 95CI: 2–5%). Relying on cross-sectional seroprevalence data alone, and ignoring seroreversion, underestimated the annual infection risk five-fold (0.6%, 95 CrI: 0.5–0.6%). When we accounted for the observed seroreversion in a reversible catalytic model, infection risk was more consistent with measured seroincidence. Our results quantify HEV infection risk in Sitakunda and highlight the importance of accounting for seroreversion when estimating infection incidence from cross-sectional seroprevalence data.
Assessing aerial biodiversity over Keller Peninsula, King George Island, Maritime Antarctica, using DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Câmara Paulo E.A.S. , Stech Michael , Convey Peter , Šantl-Temkiv Tina , Pinto Otavio Henrique Bezerra , Bones Fábio Leal Viana , Lopes Fabyano Alvares Cardoso , Costa Rodrigues Luiz Antônio Da , Carvalho-Silva Micheline , Rosa Luiz Henrique
Published: March 2024

Antarctic ice-free areas are dominated by wind-dispersed organisms. However, which organisms arrive and circulate in Antarctica and how remain poorly understood. Due to their proximity to South America and less extreme conditions, the South Shetland Islands are likely to receive higher diaspore numbers. One possible consequence of climate change is that newcomers will be able to colonize ice-free areas, altering community compositions and impacting the native biota. We used DNA metabarcoding to identify non-fungal eukaryotic DNA present in the air that could potentially reach and circulate in Antarctica. Air was sampled near the Brazilian Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station on King George Island between December 2019 and January 2020. Sequences representing a total of 35 taxa from 10 phyla and 3 kingdoms were assigned: Chromista (Ciliophora, Cercozoa, Haptophyta and Ochrophyta), Plantae (Chlorophyta, Bryophyta and Magnoliophyta) and Animalia (Mollusca, Arthropoda and Chordata). The most diverse group were the plants (26 taxa), followed by Chromista (6 taxa). The most abundant sequences represented the green algae Chlamydomonas nivalis. The two angiosperm sequences represent exotic taxa; Folsomia is also exotic and was recorded only on Deception Island. Metabarcoding revealed the presence of previously undocumented airborne diversity, suggesting that the Antarctic airspora includes propagules of both local and distant origin.
Figurative Representations in the North European Neolithic—Are They There?
Authors: Iversen Rune , Becker Valeska , Bristow Rebecca
Published: March 2024

This article offers a comprehensive survey of figurative finds from Neolithic northern Europe. The survey shows that the immediate absence of figurative representation in the region is real and that the almost complete lack of figuration stands out from the previous Mesolithic and the contemporary northern and northeastern European Neolithic hunter-gatherer groups. Furthermore, the absence of figurative representations contrasts strongly with the thousands of clay figurines that characterize the southeastern European and Anatolian Neolithic. The survey provides a well-documented basis for discussing the significant differences between a figurative southeastern European Neolithic and an imageless northwestern European Neolithic. We suggest that the absence of figurative representations indicates that severe socio-cultural and religious/ideological changes took place within the Neolithic communities as agriculture spread from southeastern Europe via central Europe to northern and western Europe.
Catchwater colonialism: reshaping Hong Kong’s hydrology, infrastructure, metabolism and landscape, 1937–1968
Authors: Greatrex Jack , Mok Florence
Published: March 2024

This article explores the development of hydrological infrastructure in colonial Hong Kong between the late 1930s and the late 1960s. Utilizing archival sources in Hong Kong and London, it shows how this infrastructure fundamentally reshaped Hong Kong’s geography. By way of concrete catchwaters and metal pipes, both ‘green’ and ‘urban’ Hong Kong became counter-intuitively interconnected. This interconnection created both unintended consequences and novel opportunities for colonial governance, driving forward natural conservation, state intervention into rural society and the development of new carceral institutions. Exploring these developments provides pivotal insight into the urban history of Hong Kong, with implications for global studies of historical urban political ecology.
An acceleration method employing sparse sensing matrix for fast analysis of the wide-angle electromagnetic problems based on compressive sensing
Authors: Qi Qi , Cao Xinyuan , Liu Yi , Kong Meng , Kuang Xiaojing , Chen Mingsheng
Published: March 2024

The electromagnetic scattering problem over a wide incident angle can be rapidly solved by introducing the compressive sensing theory into the method of moments, whose main computational complexity is comprised of two parts: a few calculations of matrix equations and the recovery of original induced currents. To further improve the method, a novel construction scheme of measurement matrix is proposed in this paper. With the help of the measurement matrix, one can obtain a sparse sensing matrix, and consequently the computational cost for recovery can be reduced by at least half. The scheme is described in detail, and the analysis of computational complexity and numerical experiments are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness.
Routes to diagnosis for hepatocellular carcinoma patients: predictors and associations with treatment and mortality
Authors: Burton Anya , Wilburn Jennifer , Driver Robert J. , Wallace David , McPhail Sean , Cross Tim J. S. , Rowe Ian A. , Marshall Aileen
Published: March 2024

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence has increased rapidly, and prognosis remains poor. We aimed to explore predictors of routes to diagnosis (RtD), and outcomes, in HCC cases.

Methods

HCC cases diagnosed 2006–2017 were identified from the National Cancer Registration Dataset and linked to Hospital Episode Statistics and the RtD metric. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore associations between RtD, diagnosis year, 365-day mortality and receipt of potentially curative treatment.

Results

23,555 HCC cases were identified; 36.1% via emergency presentation (EP), 30.2% GP referral (GP), 17.1% outpatient referral, 11.0% two-week wait and 4.6% other/unknown routes. Odds of 365-day mortality was >70% lower via GP or OP routes than EP, and odds of curative treatment 3–4 times higher. Further adjustment for cancer/cirrhosis stage attenuated the associations with curative treatment. People who were older, female, had alcohol-related liver disease, or were more deprived, were at increased risk of an EP. Over time, diagnoses via EP decreased, and via GP increased.

Conclusions

HCC RtD is an important predictor of outcomes. Continuing to reduce EP and increase GP and OP presentations, for example by identifying and regularly monitoring patients at higher risk of HCC, may improve stage at diagnosis and survival.
Disrupting pro-survival and inflammatory pathways with dimethyl fumarate sensitizes chronic lymphocytic leukemia to cell death
Authors: Mantione Maria Elena , Meloni Miriam , Sana Ilenia , Bordini Jessica , Del Nero Martina , Riba Michela , Ranghetti Pamela , Perotta Eleonora , Ghia Paolo , Scarfò Lydia , Muzio Marta
Published: March 2024

Microenvironmental signals strongly influence chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells through the activation of distinct membrane receptors, such as B-cell receptors, and inflammatory receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Inflammatory pathways downstream of these receptors lead to NF-κB activation, thus protecting leukemic cells from apoptosis. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory drug used to treat patients with multiple sclerosis and psoriasis in which it blocks aberrant NF-κB pathways and impacts the NRF2 antioxidant circuit. Our in vitro analysis demonstrated that increasing concentrations of DMF reduce ATP levels and lead to the apoptosis of CLL cells, including cell lines, splenocytes from Eµ-TCL1-transgenic mice, and primary leukemic cells isolated from the peripheral blood of patients. DMF showed a synergistic effect in association with BTK inhibitors in CLL cells. DMF reduced glutathione levels and activated the NRF2 pathway; gene expression analysis suggested that DMF downregulated pathways related to NFKB and inflammation. In primary leukemic cells, DMF disrupted the TLR signaling pathways induced by CpG by reducing the mRNA expression of NFKBIZ, IL6, IL10 and TNFα. Our data suggest that DMF targets a vulnerability of CLL cells linked to their inflammatory pathways, without impacting healthy donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
PTEN decreases NR2F1 expression to inhibit ciliogenesis during EGFRL858R-induced lung cancer progression
Authors: Tran Thi Thanh Truc , Hung Jan-Jong
Published: March 2024

Lung cancer is the major cause of death worldwide. Activation of oncogenes or inhibition of tumor suppressors causes cancer formation. Previous studies have indicated that PTEN, as a tumor suppressor, inhibits cancer formation. In this study, we studied the role of PTEN in EGFRL858R-induced lung cancer in vivo. Interestingly, loss of PTEN increased bronchial cell hyperplasia but decreased alveolar cell hyperplasia in EGFRL858R*PTEN-/--induced lung cancer. Systematic analysis of gene expression by RNA-seq showed that several genes related to ciliogenesis were upregulated in EGFRL858R*PTEN-/--induced lung cancer and subsequently showed that bronchial ciliated cells were hyperplastic. Several critical ciliogenesis-related genes, such as Mucin5A, DNAI2, and DNAI3, were found to be regulated by NR2F1. Next, NR2F1 was found to be inhibited by overexpression of PTEN, indicating that PTEN negatively regulates NR2F1, thereby inhibiting the expression of ciliogenesis-related genes and leading to the inhibition of bronchial cell hyperplasia during EGFRL858R-induced lung cancer progression. In addition, we also found that PTEN decreased AKT phosphorylation in A549, KRAS mutant, and H1299 cells but increased AKT phosphorylation in PC9, EGFRL858R, and H1299L858R cells, suggesting that PTEN may function as a tumor suppressor and an oncogene in lung cancers with KRAS mutation and EGFR mutation, respectively. PTEN acts as a double-edged sword that differentially regulates EGFRL858R-induced lung cancer progression in different genomic backgrounds. Understanding the PTEN in lung cancer with different genetic backgrounds will be beneficial for therapy in the future.
Climate change will reduce North American inland wetland areas and disrupt their seasonal regimes
Authors: Xu Donghui , Bisht Gautam , Tan Zeli , Sinha Eva , Di Vittorio Alan V. , Zhou Tian , Ivanov Valeriy Y. , Leung L. Ruby
Published: March 2024

Climate change can alter wetland extent and function, but such impacts are perplexing. Here, changes in wetland characteristics over North America from 25° to 53° North are projected under two climate scenarios using a state-of-the-science Earth system model. At the continental scale, annual wetland area decreases by ~10% (6%-14%) under the high emission scenario, but spatiotemporal changes vary, reaching up to ±50%. As the dominant driver of these changes shifts from precipitation to temperature in the higher emission scenario, wetlands undergo substantial drying during summer season when biotic processes peak. The projected disruptions to wetland seasonality cycles imply further impacts on biodiversity in major wetland habitats of upper Mississippi, Southeast Canada, and the Everglades. Furthermore, wetlands are projected to significantly shrink in cold regions due to the increased infiltration as warmer temperature reduces soil ice. The large dependence of the projections on climate change scenarios underscores the importance of emission mitigation to sustaining wetland ecosystems in the future.
Accurate and rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing using a machine learning-assisted nanomotion technology platform
Authors: Sturm Alexander , Jóźwiak Grzegorz , Verge Marta Pla , Munch Laura , Cathomen Gino , Vocat Anthony , Luraschi-Eggemann Amanda , Orlando Clara , Fromm Katja , Delarze Eric , Świątkowski Michał , Wielgoszewski Grzegorz , Totu Roxana M. , García-Castillo María , Delfino Alexandre , Tagini Florian , Kasas Sandor , Lass-Flörl Cornelia , Gstir Ronald , Cantón Rafael , Greub Gilbert , Cichocka Danuta
Published: March 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health threat, reducing treatment options for infected patients. AMR is promoted by a lack of access to rapid antibiotic susceptibility tests (ASTs). Accelerated ASTs can identify effective antibiotics for treatment in a timely and informed manner. We describe a rapid growth-independent phenotypic AST that uses a nanomotion technology platform to measure bacterial vibrations. Machine learning techniques are applied to analyze a large dataset encompassing 2762 individual nanomotion recordings from 1180 spiked positive blood culture samples covering 364Escherichia coliandKlebsiella pneumoniaeisolates exposed to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. The training performances of the different classification models achieve between 90.5 and 100% accuracy. Independent testing of the AST on 223 strains, including in clinical setting, correctly predict susceptibility and resistance with accuracies between 89.5% and 98.9%. The study shows the potential of this nanomotion platform for future bacterial phenotype delineation.
Nuclei-specific hypothalamus networks predict a dimensional marker of stress in humans
Authors: Jensen Daria E. A. , Ebmeier Klaus P. , Suri Sana , Rushworth Matthew F. S. , Klein-Flügge Miriam C.
Published: March 2024

The hypothalamus is part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis which activates stress responses through release of cortisol. It is a small but heterogeneous structure comprising multiple nuclei. In vivo human neuroimaging has rarely succeeded in recording signals from individual hypothalamus nuclei. Here we use human resting-state fMRI (n = 498) with high spatial resolution to examine relationships between the functional connectivity of specific hypothalamic nuclei and a dimensional marker of prolonged stress. First, we demonstrate that we can parcellate the human hypothalamus into seven nuclei in vivo. Using the functional connectivity between these nuclei and other subcortical structures including the amygdala, we significantly predict stress scores out-of-sample. Predictions use 0.0015% of all possible brain edges, are specific to stress, and improve when using nucleus-specific compared to whole-hypothalamus connectivity. Thus, stress relates to connectivity changes in precise and functionally meaningful subcortical networks, which may be exploited in future studies using interventions in stress disorders.
Pitfalls in diagnosing temperature extremes
Authors: Brunner Lukas , Voigt Aiko
Published: March 2024

Worsening temperature extremes are among the most severe impacts of human-induced climate change. These extremes are often defined as rare events that exceed a specific percentile threshold within the distribution of daily maximum temperature. The percentile-based approach is chosen to follow regional and seasonal temperature variations so that extremes can occur globally and in all seasons, and frequently uses a running seasonal window to increase the sample size for the threshold calculation. Here, we show that running seasonal windows as used in many studies in recent years introduce a time-, region-, and dataset-depended bias that can lead to a striking underestimation of the expected extreme frequency. We reveal that this bias arises from artificially mixing the mean seasonal cycle into the extreme threshold and propose a simple solution that essentially eliminates it. We then use the corrected extreme frequency as reference to show that the bias also leads to an overestimation of future heatwave changes by as much as 30% in some regions. Based on these results we stress that running seasonal windows should not be used without correction for estimating extremes and their impacts.
Broadband nonlinear modulation of incoherent light using a transparent optoelectronic neuron array
Authors: Zhang Dehui , Xu Dong , Li Yuhang , Luo Yi , Hu Jingtian , Zhou Jingxuan , Zhang Yucheng , Zhou Boxuan , Wang Peiqi , Li Xurong , Bai Bijie , Ren Huaying , Wang Laiyuan , Zhang Ao , Jarrahi Mona , Huang Yu , Ozcan Aydogan , Duan Xiangfeng
Published: March 2024

Nonlinear optical processing of ambient natural light is highly desired for computational imaging and sensing. Strong optical nonlinear response under weak broadband incoherent light is essential for this purpose. By merging 2D transparent phototransistors (TPTs) with liquid crystal (LC) modulators, we create an optoelectronic neuron array that allows self-amplitude modulation of spatially incoherent light, achieving a large nonlinear contrast over a broad spectrum at orders-of-magnitude lower intensity than achievable in most optical nonlinear materials. We fabricated a 10,000-pixel array of optoelectronic neurons, and experimentally demonstrated an intelligent imaging system that instantly attenuates intense glares while retaining the weaker-intensity objects captured by a cellphone camera. This intelligent glare-reduction is important for various imaging applications, including autonomous driving, machine vision, and security cameras. The rapid nonlinear processing of incoherent broadband light might also find applications in optical computing, where nonlinear activation functions for ambient light conditions are highly sought.
Hematopoietic stem cells with granulo-monocytic differentiation state overcome venetoclax sensitivity in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Rodriguez-Sevilla Juan Jose , Ganan-Gomez Irene , Ma Feiyang , Chien Kelly , Del Rey Monica , Loghavi Sanam , Montalban-Bravo Guillermo , Adema Vera , Wildeman Bethany , Kanagal-Shamanna Rashmi , Bazinet Alexandre , Chifotides Helen T. , Thongon Natthakan , Calvo Xavier , Hernández-Rivas Jesús María , Díez-Campelo Maria , Garcia-Manero Guillermo , Colla Simona
Published: March 2024

The molecular mechanisms of venetoclax-based therapy failure in patients with acute myeloid leukemia were recently clarified, but the mechanisms by which patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) acquire secondary resistance to venetoclax after an initial response remain to be elucidated. Here, we show an expansion of MDS hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with a granulo-monocytic-biased transcriptional differentiation state in MDS patients who initially responded to venetoclax but eventually relapsed. While MDS HSCs in an undifferentiated cellular state are sensitive to venetoclax treatment, differentiation towards a granulo-monocytic-biased transcriptional state, through the acquisition or expansion of clones with STAG2 or RUNX1 mutations, affects HSCs’ survival dependence from BCL2-mediated anti-apoptotic pathways to TNFα-induced pro-survival NF-κB signaling and drives resistance to venetoclax-mediated cytotoxicity. Our findings reveal how hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) can eventually overcome therapy-induced depletion and underscore the importance of using close molecular monitoring to prevent HSPC hierarchical change in MDS patients enrolled in clinical trials of venetoclax.
HTRA1 disaggregates α-synuclein amyloid fibrils and converts them into non-toxic and seeding incompetent species
Authors: Chen Sheng , Puri Anuradhika , Bell Braxton , Fritsche Joseph , Palacios Hector H. , Balch Maurie , Sprunger Macy L. , Howard Matthew K. , Ryan Jeremy J. , Haines Jessica N. , Patti Gary J. , Davis Albert A. , Jackrel Meredith E.
Published: March 2024

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is closely linked to α-synuclein (α-syn) misfolding and accumulation in Lewy bodies. The PDZ serine protease HTRA1 degrades fibrillar tau, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and inactivating mutations to mitochondrial HTRA2 are implicated in PD. Here, we report that HTRA1 inhibits aggregation of α-syn as well as FUS and TDP-43, which are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. The protease domain of HTRA1 is necessary and sufficient for inhibiting aggregation, yet this activity is proteolytically-independent. Further, HTRA1 disaggregates preformed α-syn fibrils, rendering them incapable of seeding aggregation of endogenous α-syn, while reducing HTRA1 expression promotes α-syn seeding. HTRA1 remodels α-syn fibrils by targeting the NAC domain, the key domain catalyzing α-syn amyloidogenesis. Finally, HTRA1 detoxifies α-syn fibrils and prevents formation of hyperphosphorylated α-syn accumulations in primary neurons. Our findings suggest that HTRA1 may be a therapeutic target for a range of neurodegenerative disorders.
Projecting the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. population structure
Authors: Tilstra Andrea M. , Polizzi Antonino , Wagner Sander , Akimova Evelina T.
Published: March 2024

The immediate, direct effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United States population are substantial. Millions of people were affected by the pandemic: many died, others did not give birth, and still others could not migrate. Research that has examined these individual phenomena is important, but fragmented. The disruption of mortality, fertility, and migration jointly affected U.S. population counts and, consequently, future population structure. We use data from the United Nations World Population Prospects and the cohort component projection method to isolate the effect of the pandemic on U.S. population estimates until 2060. If the pandemic had not occurred, we project that the population of the U.S. would have 2.1 million (0.63%) more people in 2025, and 1.7 million (0.44%) more people in 2060. Pandemic-induced migration changes are projected to have a larger long-term effect on future population size than mortality, despite comparable short-term effects.
NAP-seq reveals multiple classes of structured noncoding RNAs with regulatory functions
Authors: Liu Shurong , Huang Junhong , Zhou Jie , Chen Siyan , Zheng Wujian , Liu Chang , Lin Qiao , Zhang Ping , Wu Di , He Simeng , Ye Jiayi , Liu Shun , Zhou Keren , Li Bin , Qu Lianghu , Yang Jianhua
Published: March 2024

Up to 80% of the human genome produces “dark matter” RNAs, most of which are noncapped RNAs (napRNAs) that frequently act as noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) to modulate gene expression. Here, by developing a method, NAP-seq, to globally profile the full-length sequences of napRNAs with various terminal modifications at single-nucleotide resolution, we reveal diverse classes of structured ncRNAs. We discover stably expressed linear intron RNAs (sliRNAs), a class of snoRNA-intron RNAs (snotrons), a class of RNAs embedded in miRNA spacers (misRNAs) and thousands of previously uncharacterized structured napRNAs in humans and mice. These napRNAs undergo dynamic changes in response to various stimuli and differentiation stages. Importantly, we show that a structured napRNA regulates myoblast differentiation and a napRNA DINAP interacts with dyskerin pseudouridine synthase 1 (DKC1) to promote cell proliferation by maintaining DKC1 protein stability. Our approach establishes a paradigm for discovering various classes of ncRNAs with regulatory functions.
Spin-orbital Jahn-Teller bipolarons
Authors: Celiberti Lorenzo , Fiore Mosca Dario , Allodi Giuseppe , Pourovskii Leonid V. , Tassetti Anna , Forino Paola Caterina , Cong Rong , Garcia Erick , Tran Phuong M. , De Renzi Roberto , Woodward Patrick M. , Mitrović Vesna F. , Sanna Samuele , Franchini Cesare
Published: March 2024

Polarons and spin-orbit (SO) coupling are distinct quantum effects that play a critical role in charge transport and spin-orbitronics. Polarons originate from strong electron-phonon interaction and are ubiquitous in polarizable materials featuring electron localization, in particular 3d transition metal oxides (TMOs). On the other hand, the relativistic coupling between the spin and orbital angular momentum is notable in lattices with heavy atoms and develops in 5d TMOs, where electrons are spatially delocalized. Here we combine ab initio calculations and magnetic measurements to show that these two seemingly mutually exclusive interactions are entangled in the electron-doped SO-coupled Mott insulator Ba2Na1−xCaxOsO6 (0 < x < 1), unveiling the formation of spin-orbital bipolarons. Polaron charge trapping, favoured by the Jahn-Teller lattice activity, converts the Os 5d1 spin-orbital Jeff = 3/2 levels, characteristic of the parent compound Ba2NaOsO6 (BNOO), into a bipolaron 5d2 Jeff = 2 manifold, leading to the coexistence of different J-effective states in a single-phase material. The gradual increase of bipolarons with increasing doping creates robust in-gap states that prevents the transition to a metal phase even at ultrahigh doping, thus preserving the Mott gap across the entire doping range from d1 BNOO to d2 Ba2CaOsO6 (BCOO).
Highly parallel and ultra-low-power probabilistic reasoning with programmable gaussian-like memory transistors
Authors: Lee Changhyeon , Rahimifard Leila , Choi Junhwan , Park Jeong-ik , Lee Chungryeol , Kumar Divake , Shukla Priyesh , Lee Seung Min , Trivedi Amit Ranjan , Yoo Hocheon , Im Sung Gap
Published: March 2024

Probabilistic inference in data-driven models is promising for predicting outputs and associated confidence levels, alleviating risks arising from overconfidence. However, implementing complex computations with minimal devices still remains challenging. Here, utilizing a heterojunction of p- and n-type semiconductors coupled with separate floating-gate configuration, a Gaussian-like memory transistor is proposed, where a programmable Gaussian-like current-voltage response is achieved within a single device. A separate floating-gate structure allows for exquisite control of the Gaussian-like current output to a significant extent through simple programming, with an over 10000 s retention performance and mechanical flexibility. This enables physical evaluation of complex distribution functions with the simplified circuit design and higher parallelism. Successful implementation for localization and obstacle avoidance tasks is demonstrated using Gaussian-like curves produced from Gaussian-like memory transistor. With its ultralow-power consumption, simplified design, and programmable Gaussian-like outputs, our 3-terminal Gaussian-like memory transistor holds potential as a hardware platform for probabilistic inference computing.
Well-defined diatomic catalysis for photosynthesis of C2H4 from CO2
Authors: Xie Zhongkai , Xu Shengjie , Li Longhua , Gong Shanhe , Wu Xiaojie , Xu Dongbo , Mao Baodong , Zhou Ting , Chen Min , Wang Xiao , Shi Weidong , Song Shuyan
Published: March 2024

Owing to the specific electronic-redistribution and spatial proximity, diatomic catalysts (DACs) have been identified as principal interest for efficient photoconversion of CO2 into C2H4. However, the predominant bottom-up strategy for DACs synthesis has critically constrained the development of highly ordered DACs due to the random distribution of heteronuclear atoms, which hinders the optimization of catalytic performance and the exploration of actual reaction mechanism. Here, an up-bottom ion-cutting architecture is proposed to fabricate the well-defined DACs, and the superior spatial proximity of CuAu diatomics (DAs) decorated TiO2 (CuAu-DAs-TiO2) is successfully constructed due to the compact heteroatomic spacing (2-3 Å). Owing to the profoundly low C-C coupling energy barrier of CuAu-DAs-TiO2, a considerable C2H4 production with superior sustainability is achieved. Our discovery inspires a novel up-bottom strategy for the fabrication of well-defined DACs to motivate optimization of catalytic performance and distinct deduction of heteroatom synergistically catalytic mechanism.
Engineering intelligent chassis cells via recombinase-based MEMORY circuits
Authors: Huang Brian D. , Kim Dowan , Yu Yongjoon , Wilson Corey J.
Published: March 2024

Synthetic biologists seek to engineer intelligent living systems capable of decision-making, communication, and memory. Separate technologies exist for each tenet of intelligence; however, the unification of all three properties in a living system has not been achieved. Here, we engineer completely intelligent Escherichia coli strains that harbor six orthogonal and inducible genome-integrated recombinases, forming Molecularly Encoded Memory via an Orthogonal Recombinase arraY (MEMORY). MEMORY chassis cells facilitate intelligence via the discrete multi-input regulation of recombinase functions enabling inheritable DNA inversions, deletions, and genomic insertions. MEMORY cells can achieve programmable and permanent gain (or loss) of functions extrachromosomally or from a specific genomic locus, without the loss or modification of the MEMORY platform – enabling the sequential programming and reprogramming of DNA circuits within the cell. We demonstrate all three tenets of intelligence via a probiotic (Nissle 1917) MEMORY strain capable of information exchange with the gastrointestinal commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.
Twisted photonic Weyl meta-crystals and aperiodic Fermi arc scattering
Authors: Wang Hanyu , Xu Wei , Wei Zeyong , Wang Yiyuan , Wang Zhanshan , Cheng Xinbin , Guo Qinghua , Shi Jinhui , Zhu Zhihong , Yang Biao
Published: March 2024

As a milestone in the exploration of topological physics, Fermi arcs bridging Weyl points have been extensively studied. Weyl points, as are Fermi arcs, are believed to be only stable when preserving translation symmetry. However, no experimental observation of aperiodic Fermi arcs has been reported so far. Here, we continuously twist a bi-block Weyl meta-crystal and experimentally observe the twisted Fermi arc reconstruction. Although both the Weyl meta-crystals individually preserve translational symmetry, continuous twisting operation leads to the aperiodic hybridization and scattering of Fermi arcs on the interface, which is found to be determined by the singular total reflection around Weyl points. Our work unveils the aperiodic scattering of Fermi arcs and opens the door to continuously manipulating Fermi arcs.
Contribution of irreversible non-180° domain to performance for multiphase coexisted potassium sodium niobate ceramics
Authors: Wu Bo , Zhao Lin , Feng Jiaqing , Zhang Yiting , Song Xilong , Ma Jian , Tao Hong , Xu Ze , Liu Yi-Xuan , Wang Shidong , Lu Jingtong , Zhu Fangyuan , Han Bing , Wang Ke
Published: March 2024

Despite the dominance of lead-based piezoelectric materials with ultrahigh electric-field-induced strain in actuating applications, seeking eco-friendly substitutes with an equivalent performance remains an urgent demand. Here, a strategy of regulating the irreversible non-180° domain via phase engineering is introduced to optimize the available strain (the difference between the maximum strain and the remnant strain in a unipolar strain curve) in the lead-free potassium–sodium niobate-based piezoelectric ceramics. In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Rayleigh analysis reveal the contribution of the non-180° domain to available strain in the tetragonal–orthorhombic–rhombohedral phase boundary. The reducing orthorhombic phase and increasing rhombohedral/tetragonal phase accompanied by the reduced irreversible non-180° domain are obtained with increasing doping of Sb5+, resulting in an enlarged available strain due to the significantly lowered remnant strain. This optimization is mainly attributed to the reduced irreversible non-180° domain wall motion and the increased lattice distortion, which are beneficial to decrease extrinsic contribution and enhance intrinsic contribution. The mesoscopic structure of miniaturized nanosized domain with facilitated domain switching also contributes to the enhancement of available strain due to the improved random field and decreased energy barrier. The study will shed light on the design of lead-free high-performance piezoelectric ceramics for actuator applications.
Direct space–time manipulation mechanism for spatio-temporal coupling of ultrafast light field
Authors: Lin Qinggang , Feng Fu , Cai Yi , Lu Xiaowei , Zeng Xuanke , Wang Congying , Xu Shixiang , Li Jingzhen , Yuan Xiaocong
Published: March 2024

Traditionally, manipulation of spatiotemporal coupling (STC) of the ultrafast light fields can be actualized in the space-spectrum domain with some 4-f pulse shapers, which suffers usually from some limitations, such as spectral/pixel resolution and information crosstalk associated with the 4-f pulse shapers. This work introduces a novel mechanism for direct space-time manipulation of ultrafast light fields to overcome the limitations. This mechanism combines a space-dependent time delay with some spatial geometrical transformations, which has been experimentally proved by generating a high-quality STC light field, called light spring (LS). The LS, owing a broad topological charge bandwidth of 11.5 and a tunable central topological charge from 2 to −11, can propagate with a stable spatiotemporal intensity structure from near to far fields. This achievement implies the mechanism provides an efficient way to generate complex STC light fields, such as LS with potential applications in information encryption, optical communication, and laser-plasma acceleration.
Encoding ordered structural complexity to covalent organic frameworks
Authors: Wei Lei , Hai Xinyue , Xu Tongtong , Wang Zidi , Jiang Wentao , Jiang Shan , Wang Qisheng , Zhang Yue-Biao , Zhao Yingbo
Published: March 2024

Installing different chemical entities onto crystalline frameworks with well-defined spatial distributions represents a viable approach to achieve ordered and complex synthetic materials. Herein, a covalent organic framework (COF-305) is constructed from tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)methane and 2,3-dimethoxyterephthalaldehyde, which has the largest unit cell and asymmetric unit among known COFs. The ordered complexity of COF-305 is embodied by nine different stereoisomers of its constituents showing specific sequences on topologically equivalent sites, which can be attributed to its building blocks deviating from their intrinsically preferred simple packing geometries in their molecular crystals to adapt to the framework formation. The insight provided by COF-305 supplements the principle of covalent reticular design from the perspective of non-covalent interactions and opens opportunities for pursuing complex chemical sequences in molecular frameworks.
Multichannel bridges and NSC synergize to enhance axon regeneration, myelination, synaptic reconnection, and recovery after SCI
Authors: Nekanti Usha , Sakthivel Pooja S. , Zahedi Atena , Creasman Dana A. , Nishi Rebecca A. , Dumont Courtney M. , Piltti Katja M. , Guardamondo Glenn L. , Hernandez Norbert , Chen Xingyuan , Song Hui , Lin Xiaoxiao , Martinez Joshua , On Lillian , Lakatos Anita , Pawar Kiran , David Brian T. , Guo Zhiling , Seidlits Stephanie K. , Xu Xiangmin , Shea Lonnie D. , Cummings Brian J. , Anderson Aileen J.
Published: March 2024

Regeneration in the injured spinal cord is limited by physical and chemical barriers. Acute implantation of a multichannel poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) bridge mechanically stabilizes the injury, modulates inflammation, and provides a permissive environment for rapid cellularization and robust axonal regrowth through this otherwise inhibitory milieu. However, without additional intervention, regenerated axons remain largely unmyelinated (<10%), limiting functional repair. While transplanted human neural stem cells (hNSC) myelinate axons after spinal cord injury (SCI), hNSC fate is highly influenced by the SCI inflammatory microenvironment, also limiting functional repair. Accordingly, we investigated the combination of PLG scaffold bridges with hNSC to improve histological and functional outcome after SCI. In vitro, hNSC culture on a PLG scaffold increased oligodendroglial lineage selection after inflammatory challenge. In vivo, acute PLG bridge implantation followed by chronic hNSC transplantation demonstrated a robust capacity of donor human cells to migrate into PLG bridge channels along regenerating axons and integrate into the host spinal cord as myelinating oligodendrocytes and synaptically integrated neurons. Axons that regenerated through the PLG bridge formed synaptic circuits that connected the ipsilateral forelimb muscle to contralateral motor cortex. hNSC transplantation significantly enhanced the total number of regenerating and myelinated axons identified within the PLG bridge. Finally, the combination of acute bridge implantation and hNSC transplantation exhibited robust improvement in locomotor recovery. These data identify a successful strategy to enhance neurorepair through a temporally layered approach using acute bridge implantation and chronic cell transplantation to spare tissue, promote regeneration, and maximize the function of new axonal connections.
Will we ever be able to accurately predict solubility?
Authors: Llompart P. , Minoletti C. , Baybekov S. , Horvath D. , Marcou G. , Varnek A.
Published: March 2024

Accurate prediction of thermodynamic solubility by machine learning remains a challenge. Recent models often display good performances, but their reliability may be deceiving when used prospectively. This study investigates the origins of these discrepancies, following three directions: a historical perspective, an analysis of the aqueous solubility dataverse and data quality. We investigated over 20 years of published solubility datasets and models, highlighting overlooked datasets and the overlaps between popular sets. We benchmarked recently published models on a novel curated solubility dataset and report poor performances. We also propose a workflow to cure aqueous solubility data aiming at producing useful models for bench chemist. Our results demonstrate that some state-of-the-art models are not ready for public usage because they lack a well-defined applicability domain and overlook historical data sources. We report the impact of factors influencing the utility of the models: interlaboratory standard deviation, ionic state of the solute and data sources. The herein obtained models, and quality-assessed datasets are publicly available.
Characterizing user demographics in posts related to breast, lung and colon cancer on Japanese twitter (X)
Authors: Kusudo Maho , Terada Mitsuo , Kureyama Nari , Wanifuchi-Endo Yumi , Fujita Takashi , Asano Tomoko , Kato Akiko , Mori Makiko , Horisawa Nanae , Toyama Tatsuya
Published: March 2024

Various cancer-related information is spreading on social media. Our study aimed to examine the account types associated with cancer-related tweets (currently known as posts) on Twitter (currently known as X) in Japan, specifically focusing on breast, lung, and colon cancer. Using the Twitter application programming interface, we collected tweets containing keywords of the three cancers type in August–September 2022. The accounts were categorized into seven types: Survivor, Patient’s family, Healthcare provider, Public organization, Private organization, News, and Other according to account name and texts. We analyzed the sources of the top 50 most liked and retweeted tweets. Out of 7753 identified tweets, breast cancer represented the majority (62.8%), followed by lung cancer (20.8%) and colon cancer (16.3%). Tweets came from 4976 accounts. Account types varied depending on the cancer type, with breast cancer topics more frequently from Survivor (16.0%) and lung cancer from Patient’s family (16.3%). Healthcare provider and Public organization had minimal representation across three cancer types. The trends in the top 50 tweets mirrored the distribution of accounts for each cancer type. Breast cancer-related tweets had the highest frequency. There were few from public organizations. These findings emphasize the need to consider the characteristics of cancer-related information sources when sharing and gathering information on social media.
Effect of breathing conditions on relationships between impairment, breathing laterality and coordination symmetry in elite para swimmers
Authors: Seifert Ludovic , Létocart Adrien , Guignard Brice , Regaieg Mohamed Amin
Published: March 2024

The aim was to investigate the effect of breathing conditions and swimming pace on the relationships between the impairment, the breathing laterality and motor coordination symmetry in elite front crawl Para swimmers. Fifteen elite Para swimmers with unilateral physical impairment or with visual impairment and unilateral breathing preference performed eight 25 m using four breathing conditions (every three strokes, every two strokes on preferred and non-preferred breathing side and apnea) at slow and fast paces in a randomized order. Multicamera video system and five sensors have been used to assess arm and leg stroke phases and to compute symmetry of arm coordination (SIIdC) and of leg kick rate (SIKR). Our findings emphasized motor coordination asymmetry whatever the breathing conditions and swimming paces, highlighting the influence of impairment. Multinomial logistic regression exhibited a high probability for motor coordination asymmetry (SIIdC and SIKR) to be present in categories of Para swimmers with impairment and breathing laterality on the same side, suggesting the joined effect of unilateral impairment and unilateral breathing. Moreover, unilateral physical impairment and breathing laterality could also occur on different sides and generate motor coordination asymmetry on different sides and different levels (arms vs. legs). Finally, visual impairment seems amplify the effect of unilateral breathing on motor coordination asymmetry.
Posterior deltoid-sparing approach for displaced inferior or posterior glenoid fossa fractures: technical note and case series
Authors: Lim Eic Ju , Jeong Ho-Seung , Kim Kook-Jong
Published: March 2024

Scapular surgery has usually been performed through the posterior Judet approach. This approach allows access to the entire posterior scapular body, but causes significant soft tissue damage and detaches the deltoid muscle. To date, there has been no clinical study of a deltoid-preserving approach to access the joint for displaced postero-inferior glenoid fractures (Ideberg type II or Ib). We describe an easy and less invasive approach to the postero-inferior glenoid fossa.
FAM20A is a golgi-localized Type II transmembrane protein
Authors: Siddiqui Mohammad Faizan , Li Jiahe , Wang Suzhen , Zhang Hua , Qin Chunlin , Lu Yongbo
Published: March 2024

Family with sequence similarity 20, member A (FAM20A) is a pseudo-kinase in the secretory pathway and is essential for enamel formation in humans. Here we examine if FAM20A is a membrane-associated protein. We show that the full-length FAM20A can be purified from HEK293 cells transfected with a FAM20A-expresing construct. Further, it is only found in the membrane fraction, but not in the soluble fraction, of cell lysate. Consistently, it is not secreted out of the expressing cells. Moreover, it is co-localized with GM130, a cis-Golgi network marker, and membrane topology analysis indicates that it has its C-terminus oriented towards the lumen of the organelle. Our results support that FAM20A is a Type II transmembrane protein within the secretory compartments.
Effects of different fertilization practices on maize yield, soil nutrients, soil moisture, and water use efficiency in northern China based on a meta-analysis
Authors: Jiang Minghao , Dong Chao , Bian Wenpeng , Zhang Wenbei , Wang Yong
Published: March 2024

The application of fertilizer to ensure the steady improvement of crop yield has become the main means of agricultural production. However, it remains to be determined whether fertilization practices with different combinations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic (O) fertilizers play a positive role in the sustainability of maize yield and the soil in which it is grown. Therefore,this meta-analysis extracted 2663 data points from 76 studies to systematically analyze and explore the effects of different fertilization measures on maize yield, soil nutrients, water content and water use efficiency (WUE) in northern China. Articles addressing this topic showed that fertilization effectively increased the soil nutrient content and maize yield. The soil organic matter (SOM) increased by 2.36 (N)–55.38% (NPO), total nitrogen content increased by 6.10 (N)–56.39% (NPO), available phosphorus content increased by 17.12 (N)–474.74% (NPO), and available potassium content changed by − 2.90 (NP)–64.40% (NPO). Soil moisture increased by 3.59% under a single organic fertilizer application and decreased by 4.27–13.40% under the other treatments. Compared with no fertilization, the yield increase of fertilized maize reached 11.65–220.42%. NP, NPK and NPKO contributed the most to increased yield in lithological, black and fluvo-aquic soils, respectively. The effects of different fertilization practices on maize yield varied in response to the same meteorological factors. The WUE increased from 9.51 to 160.72%. In conclusion, rational fertilization can improve the soil nutrient content and increase maize yield. The combined application of chemical and organic fertilizer showed the greatest increase in yield and WUE. Organic fertilizer application alone increased soil moisture. Our results provide a theoretical basis for fertilizer application and for improving the soil structure for maize cultivation in northern China.