bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing inundation monitoring of road networks using crowdsourced flood reports
Authors: Esparza Miguel , Farahmand Hamed , Liu Xueming , Mostafav Ali
Published: August 2024

As the risk of flooding continues to impose on transportation infrastructure systems, enhancing the ability to monitor flood inundations in road networks becomes more significant. This research explores the potential crowdsourced data, specifically 3-1-1 reports, has to complement information from physical flood sensors. Three flooding events in two watersheds in Harris County, Texas were studied. To assess 3-1-1 report's capabilities, a time series analysis between reports and water elevation of physical sensor data was performed to capture channel overflow. Next, a graph-based observability analysis identified multiple combinations of minimum additional sensor locations needed for complete network monitoring in the study area. To find the optimal combination, a principal component analysis assigns a criticality score based on exposure, road importance, neighborhood vulnerability, and frequency of 3-1-1 reports near a node. The results indicate that 3-1-1 reports effectively improve flood monitoring by reducing the need for physical sensors by 32% in areas that lack flood sensors. This approach can help city managers improve flood monitoring by leveraging socially sensed data to supplement physical sensors, especially in blind spots where no flood gauge exists.
Ukrainian Scientists Race to Document Soil Fungi
Authors: Wight Andrew
Published: August 2024

Genetic sequencing of samples collected from across the country contribute to a global database and may help researchers assess the damage caused by war.
Exploring Uncertainty of Trends in the North Pacific Jet Position
Authors: Keel Tom , Brierley Chris , Edwards Tamsin , Frame Thomas H. A.
Published: August 2024

It has been difficult to establish trends in the observed jet streams, despite modeling studies suggesting they will move polewards in a warming world. While this is partly due to biases between the models and observations, we propose that another uncertainty is rooted in the choice of statistic used to determine the ‘jet latitude’ — one measure used to quantify the jet position. We use seven different jet latitude statistics, four climate reanalysis products, and CMIP6 simulations to assess the relative importance of different uncertainties associated with lower‐tropospheric North Pacific Jet (NPJ) trends. Our results show a statistically significant poleward trend in the observed winter NPJ across all reanalyzes and using all jet latitude statistics. The magnitude of this trend is most sensitive to the choice of statistic. Furthermore, we find that the NPJ shifts poleward in Autumn under high emission scenarios, which is robust to the choice of jet statistic.
A multifunctional mesoporous silica drug delivery nanosystem that ameliorates tumor hypoxia and increases radiotherapy efficacy
Authors: Chu Yanhong , Wang LiFeng , Ke Yaohua , Feng Xiaoyu , Rao Wenmei , Ren Wei , Xin Kai , Wang Yan , Yu Lixia , Liu Baorui , Liu Qin
Published: August 2024

Radiotherapy (RT) is a widely used treatment with strong therapeutic effects, but overcoming challenges related to hypoxia-induced tumor resistance and ineffective antitumor immune responses is crucial for optimal outcomes. In this study, we developed a versatile nanosystem using mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), R837, and a small quantity of manganese peroxide (Mn/ZnO2). The synthesized MSN@R837-Mn/ZnO2 nanoparticles exhibited precise tumor targeting and accumulation, controlled drug release under acidic conditions, and increased sensitivity in magnetic resonance imaging. These attributes collectively augmented the therapeutic efficacy of RT by alleviating hypoxia and immunosuppression. Tumor cells treated with RT combined with these nanoparticles displayed reduced oxidative stress, alleviated hypoxia, and normalized blood vessel formation. Notably, all mice in the RT + PD-1 + MSN@R837-Mn/ZnO2 group achieved complete tumor regression with extended survival. Safety assessments confirmed the absence of MSN@R837-Mn/ZnO2 toxicity, highlighting its potential as a promising approach with dual functionality for the diagnostic imaging and treatment of cancer.
Uniparental maternal tetrasomy X co-occurrence with paternal nondisjunction: investigation of the origin of 48,XXXX
Authors: Shimojima Yamamoto Keiko , Yamamoto Sakurako , Imaizumi Taichi , Kumada Satoko , Yamamoto Toshiyuki
Published: August 2024

Tetrasomy X or 48,XXXX is a rare sex chromosome aneuploidy. The parental origin of tetrasomy X in a female patient with developmental delay was analyzed; all four X chromosomes were derived from the mother, and there were no paternally derived sex chromosomes. This finding indicates a rare incidental co-occurrence of maternal and paternal nondisjunction or polysomy rescue. The mechanism of 48,XXYY, which is related to developmental delay in males, was analyzed for comparison.
Absolute cardiovascular risk assessment using ‘real world’ clinic blood pressures compared to standardized unobserved and ambulatory methods: an observational study
Authors: Chapman Niamh , Jayasinghe Senali , Moore Myles N. , Picone Dean S. , Schultz Martin G. , Jose Matthew D. , McCallum Roland W. , Armstrong Matthew K. , Peng Xiaoqing , Marwick Thomas H. , Roberts-Thomson Philip , Dwyer Nathan B. , Black J. Andrew , Nelson Mark R. , Sharman James E.
Published: August 2024

Clinic blood pressure (BP) is recommended for absolute cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment. However, in ‘real-world’ settings, clinic BP measurement is unstandardised and less reliable compared to more rigorous methods but the impact for absolute CVD risk assessment is unknown. This study aimed to determine the difference in absolute CVD risk assessment using real-world clinic BP compared to standardised BP methods. Participants were patients (n = 226, 59 ± 15 years; 58% female) with hypertension referred to a BP clinic for assessment. ‘Real-world’ clinic BP was provided by the referring doctor. All participants had unobserved automated office BP (AOBP) and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) measured at the clinic. Absolute CVD risk was calculated (Framingham) using systolic BP from the referring doctor (clinic BP), AOBP and ABPM, with agreement assessed by Kappa statistic. Clinic systolic BP was 18 mmHg than AOBP and daytime ABPM and 22 mmHg higher than 24-h ABPM (p < 0.001). Subsequently, absolute CVD risk scores using clinic BP were higher compared to AOBP, daytime ABPM and 24-h ABPM (10.4 ± 8.1%, 7.8 ± 6.4%, 7.8 ± 6.3%, and 7.3 ± 6.1%, respectively, P < 0.001). As a result, more participants were classified as high CVD risk using clinic BP (n = 89, 40%) compared with AOBP (n = 44, 20%) daytime ABPM (n = 38, 17%) and 24-h ABPM (n = 38, 17%) (p < 0.001) with weak agreement in risk classification (κ = 0.57[0.45–0.69], κ = 0.52[0.41–0.64] and κ = 0.55[0.43–0.66], respectively). Real-world clinic BP was higher and classified twice as many participants at high CVD risk compared to AOBP or ABPM. Given the challenges to high-quality BP measurement in clinic, more rigorous BP measurement methods are needed for absolute CVD risk assessment.
High-sensitivity in situ capture of endogenous RNA-protein interactions in fixed cells and primary tissues
Authors: Liang Qishan , Yu Tao , Kofman Eric , Jagannatha Pratibha , Rhine Kevin , Yee Brian A. , Corbett Kevin D. , Yeo Gene W.
Published: August 2024

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have pivotal functions in RNA metabolism, but current methods are limited in retrieving RBP-RNA interactions within endogenous biological contexts. Here, we develop INSCRIBE (IN situ Sensitive Capture of RNA-protein Interactions in Biological Environments), circumventing the challenges through in situ RNA labeling by precisely directing a purified APOBEC1-nanobody fusion to the RBP of interest. This method enables highly specific RNA-binding site identification across a diverse range of fixed biological samples such as HEK293T cells and mouse brain tissue and accurately identifies the canonical binding motifs of RBFOX2 (UGCAUG) and TDP-43 (UGUGUG) in native cellular environments. Applicable to any RBP with available primary antibodies, INSCRIBE enables sensitive capture of RBP-RNA interactions from ultra-low input equivalent to ~5 cells. The robust, versatile, and sensitive INSCRIBE workflow is particularly beneficial for precious tissues such as clinical samples, empowering the exploration of genuine RBP-RNA interactions in RNA-related disease contexts.
Focal seizures induce spatiotemporally organized spiking activity in the human cortex
Authors: Diamond Joshua M. , Chapeton Julio I. , Xie Weizhen , Jackson Samantha N. , Inati Sara K. , Zaghloul Kareem A.
Published: August 2024

Epileptic seizures are debilitating because of the clinical symptoms they produce. These symptoms, in turn, may stem directly from disruptions in neural coding. Recent evidence has suggested that the specific temporal order, or sequence, of spiking across a population of cortical neurons may encode information. Here, we investigate how seizures disrupt neuronal spiking sequences in the human brain by recording multi-unit activity from the cerebral cortex in five male participants undergoing monitoring for seizures. We find that pathological discharges during seizures are associated with bursts of spiking activity across a population of cortical neurons. These bursts are organized into highly consistent and stereotyped temporal sequences. As the seizure evolves, spiking sequences diverge from the sequences observed at baseline and become more spatially organized. The direction of this spatial organization matches the direction of the ictal discharges, which spread over the cortex as traveling waves. Our data therefore suggest that seizures can entrain cortical spiking sequences by changing the spatial organization of neuronal firing, providing a possible mechanism by which seizures create symptoms.
Structure and inference in hypergraphs with node attributes
Authors: Badalyan Anna , Ruggeri Nicolò , De Bacco Caterina
Published: August 2024

Many networked datasets with units interacting in groups of two or more, encoded with hypergraphs, are accompanied by extra information about nodes, such as the role of an individual in a workplace. Here we show how these node attributes can be used to improve our understanding of the structure resulting from higher-order interactions. We consider the problem of community detection in hypergraphs and develop a principled model that combines higher-order interactions and node attributes to better represent the observed interactions and to detect communities more accurately than using either of these types of information alone. The method learns automatically from the input data the extent to which structure and attributes contribute to explain the data, down weighing or discarding attributes if not informative. Our algorithmic implementation is efficient and scales to large hypergraphs and interactions of large numbers of units. We apply our method to a variety of systems, showing strong performance in hyperedge prediction tasks and in selecting community divisions that correlate with attributes when these are informative, but discarding them otherwise. Our approach illustrates the advantage of using informative node attributes when available with higher-order data.
Mapping the structure-function relationship along macroscale gradients in the human brain
Authors: Collins Evan , Chishti Omar , Obaid Sami , McGrath Hari , King Alex , Shen Xilin , Arora Jagriti , Papademetris Xenophon , Constable R. Todd , Spencer Dennis D. , Zaveri Hitten P.
Published: August 2024

Functional coactivation between human brain regions is partly explained by white matter connections; however, how the structure-function relationship varies by function remains unclear. Here, we reference large data repositories to compute maps of structure-function correspondence across hundreds of specific functions and brain regions. We use natural language processing to accurately predict structure-function correspondence for specific functions and to identify macroscale gradients across the brain that correlate with structure-function correspondence as well as cortical thickness. Our findings suggest structure-function correspondence unfolds along a sensory-fugal organizational axis, with higher correspondence in primary sensory and motor cortex for perceptual and motor functions, and lower correspondence in association cortex for cognitive functions. Our study bridges neuroscience and natural language to describe how structure-function coupling varies by region and function in the brain, offering insight into the diversity and evolution of neural network properties.
MRI subtypes in Parkinson’s disease across diverse populations and clustering approaches
Authors: Inguanzo Anna , Mohanty Rosaleena , Poulakis Konstantinos , Ferreira Daniel , Segura Barbara , Albrecht Franziska , Muehlboeck J-Sebastian , Granberg Tobias , Sjöström Henrik , Svenningsson Per , Franzén Erika , Junqué Carme , Westman Eric
Published: August 2024

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is clinically heterogeneous, which suggests the existence of subtypes; however, there has been no consensus regarding their characteristics. This study included 633 PD individuals across distinct cohorts: unmedicated de novo PD, medicated PD, mild-moderate PD, and a cohort based on diagnostic work-up in clinical practice. Additionally, 233 controls were included. Clustering based on cortical and subcortical gray matter measures was conducted with and without adjusting for global atrophy in the entire PD sample and validated within each cohort. Subtypes were characterized using baseline and longitudinal demographic and clinical data. Unadjusted results identified three clusters showing a gradient of neurodegeneration and symptom severity across the entire sample and the individual cohorts. When adjusting for global atrophy eight clusters were identified in the entire sample, lacking consistency in individual cohorts. This study identified atrophy-based subtypes in PD, emphasizing the significant impact of global atrophy on subtype number, patterns, and interpretation in cross-sectional analyses.
Parallel loss of sexual reproduction in field populations of a brown alga sheds light on the mechanisms underlying the emergence of asexuality
Authors: Hoshino Masakazu , Cossard Guillaume , Haas Fabian B. , Kane Emma I. , Kogame Kazuhiro , Jomori Takahiro , Wakimoto Toshiyuki , Glemin Sylvain , Coelho Susana M.
Published: August 2024

Sexual reproduction is widespread, but asexual lineages have repeatedly arisen from sexual ancestors across a wide range of eukaryotic taxa. The molecular changes underpinning the switch to asexuality remain elusive, particularly in organisms with haploid sexual systems. Here we explore independent events of loss of sex in the brown alga Scytosiphon, examine the proximate and evolutionary mechanisms involved, and test the importance of sexual conflict on gene expression changes following loss of sex. We find that asexual females (‘Amazons’) lose ability to produce sex pheromone and, consequently, are incapable of attracting males, whereas they gain rapid parthenogenic development from large, unfertilized eggs. These phenotypic changes are accompanied by convergent changes in gene expression. Decay of female functions, rather than relaxation of sexual antagonism, may be a dominant force at play during the emergence of asexuality in haploid sexual systems. Moreover, we show that haploid purifying selection plays a key role in limiting the accumulation of deleterious alleles in Amazons, and we identify an autosomal locus associated with the Amazon phenotype. The sex chromosome, together with this autosomal locus, may underlie the switch to obligate asexuality in the Amazon populations.
Chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of Paspalum notatum Flüggé var. saurae
Authors: Vega Juan Manuel , Podio Maricel , Orjuela Julie , Siena Lorena A. , Pessino Silvina C. , Combes Marie Christine , Mariac Cedric , Albertini Emidio , Pupilli Fulvio , Ortiz Juan Pablo A. , Leblanc Olivier
Published: August 2024

Paspalum notatum Flüggé is an economically important subtropical fodder grass that is widely used in the Americas. Here, we report a new chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of a diploid biotype collected in the center of origin of the species. Using Oxford Nanopore long reads, we generated a 557.81 Mb genome assembly (N50 = 56.1 Mb) with high gene completeness (BUSCO = 98.73%). Genome annotation identified 320 Mb (57.86%) of repetitive elements and 45,074 gene models, of which 36,079 have a high level of confidence. Further characterisation included the identification of 59 miRNA precursors together with their putative targets. The present work provides a comprehensive genomic resource for P. notatum improvement and a reference frame for functional and evolutionary research within the genus.
Clinical audit of cases and outcomes of patients admitted to the intensive care unit at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi
Authors: Bwanali Akim Nelson , Munthali Leonard , Napolo Upile , Lubanga Adriano Focus , Gundo Rodwell , Mpinganjira Samuel L.
Published: August 2024

In 2016, a new, improved and modern intensive care unit was constructed at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. Having been operational for about 4 years, there has not been a systematic audit to gauge its performance. Therefore, this quantitative retrospective cohort study aimed at investigating the performance of the intensive care unit at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. We analysed the patterns of admission through 250 clinical cases and their respective outcomes spanning from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019 using STATA. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed. We also had a follow-up discussion with the Head of the unit to better understand the unit’s functioning. Out of the 250 admissions, we evaluated 249 case files. About 30.8% of all patients were referred from the main operating theatre, and 20.7% from the casualty (emergency medicine). Head injury (26.7%) and peritonitis (15.7%) were the commonest causes of admission. The overall mortality was 52.2% with more females (57.5%) dying than males (47.9%). Head injury and peritonitis had the highest contribution to the mortality accounting for 25.3% and 16.9% of all deaths respectively. In conclusion, despite the new unit registering an improved performance compared to the old unit’s 2012 mortality of 60.9%, the current mortality rate of 52.2% generally reflects a suboptimal performance. The intensive care unit is still grappling with a number of challenges that need immediate attention including few working beds, shortage of critical care specialists and nursing staff and lack of standard admission criteria.
Identification of novel small molecule-based strategies of COL7A1 upregulation and readthrough activity for the treatment of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
Authors: Jover Irene , Ramos Maria C. , Escámez María José , Lozoya Estrella , Tormo José R. , de Prado-Verdún Diana , Mencía Ángeles , Pont Mercè , Puig Carles , Larraufie Marie-Helene , Gutiérrez-Caballero Cristina , Reyes Fernando , Trincado Juan Luis , García-González Vicente , Cerrato Rosario , Andrés Miriam , Crespo Maribel , Vicente Francisca , Godessart Nuria , Genilloud Olga , Larcher Fernando , Nueda Arsenio
Published: August 2024

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a rare genetic disease caused by loss of function mutations in the gene coding for collagen VII (C7) due to deficient or absent C7 expression. This disrupts structural and functional skin architecture, leading to blistering, chronic wounds, inflammation, important systemic symptoms affecting the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, cornea, and kidney function, and an increased skin cancer risk. RDEB patients have an extremely poor quality of life and often die at an early age. A frequent class of mutations in RDEB is premature termination codons (PTC), which appear in homozygosity or compound heterozygosity with other mutations. RDEB has no cure and current therapies are mostly palliative. Using patient-derived keratinocytes and a library of 8273 small molecules and 20,160 microbial extracts evaluated in a phenotypic screening interrogating C7 levels, we identified three active chemical series. Two of these series had PTC readthrough activity, and one upregulated C7 mRNA, showing synergistic activity when combined with the reference readthrough molecule gentamicin. These compounds represent novel potential small molecule-based systemic strategies that could complement topical-based treatments for RDEB.
The influence of various welding wires on microstructure, and mechanical characteristics of AA7075 Al-alloy welded by TIG process
Authors: Fouad Ramy A. , Habba Mohamed I. A. , Elshaghoul Yousef G. Y. , El-Sayed Seleman Mohamed M. , Hafez Khalid M. , Hamid F. S. , Barakat Waheed S.
Published: August 2024

Owing to their exceptional mechanical properties, the various welding wires used to combine aluminum can meet the needs of many engineering applications that call for components with both good mechanical and lightweight capabilities. This study aims to produce high-quality welds made of AA7075 aluminum alloy using the GTAW technique and various welding wires, such as ER5356, ER4043, and ER4047. The microstructure, macrohardness, and other mechanical characteristics, such as tensile strength and impact toughness, were analyzed experimentally. To check the fracture surface of the AA7075 welded joints, the specimens were examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A close examination of the samples that were welded with ER5356 welding wire revealed a fine grain in the weld zone (WZ). In addition, the WZ of the ER4043 and ER4047 welded samples had a coarse grain structure. Because the hardness values of the welded samples were lower in the WZ than in the base metal (BM) and heat-affected zone (HAZ), the joints filled with ER5356 welding wire provided the highest hardness values compared to other filler metals. Additionally, the ER4047 filler metal yielded the lowest hardness in the weld zone. The welding wire of ER5356 produced the greatest results for ultimate tensile stress, yield stress, welding efficiency, and strain-hardening capacity (Hc), whereas the filler metal of ER4043 produced the highest percentage of elongation. In addition, the ER4047 fracture surface morphology revealed coarser and deeper dimples than the ER5356 fine dimples in the welded joints. Finally, the highest impact toughness was obtained at joints filled with the ER4047 filler metal, whereas the lowest impact toughness was obtained at the BM.
The role of microglia in neuronal and cognitive function during high altitude acclimatization
Authors: Hatch Kathleen , Lischka Fritz , Wang Mengfan , Xu Xiufen , Stimpson Cheryl D. , Barvir Tara , Cramer Nathan P. , Perl Daniel P. , Yu Guoqiang , Browne Caroline A. , Dickstein Dara L. , Galdzicki Zygmunt
Published: August 2024

Due to their interactions with the neurovasculature, microglia are implicated in maladaptive responses to hypobaric hypoxia at high altitude (HA). To explore these interactions at HA, pharmacological depletion of microglia with the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor inhibitor, PLX5622, was employed in male C57BL/6J mice maintained at HA or sea level (SL) for 3-weeks, followed by assessment of ex-vivo hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), fear memory recall and microglial dynamics/physiology. Our findings revealed that microglia depletion decreased LTP and reduced glucose levels by 25% at SL but did not affect fear memory recall. At HA, the absence of microglia did not significantly alter HA associated deficits in fear memory or HA mediated decreases in peripheral glucose levels. In regard to microglial dynamics in the cortex, HA enhanced microglial surveillance activity, ablation of microglia resulted in increased chemotactic responses and decreased microglia tip proliferation during ball formation. In contrast, vessel ablation increased cortical microglia tip path tortuosity. In the hippocampus, changes in microglial dynamics were only observed in response to vessel ablation following HA. As the hippocampus is critical for learning and memory, poor hippocampal microglial context-dependent adaptation may be responsible for some of the enduring neurological deficits associated with HA.
Impact of war on stroke incidence in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
Authors: Shkoruta Dominika Paula , Senkiv Vasylyna , Vovchuk Volodymyr , Popadynets Oksana , Kotyk Taras
Published: August 2024

Stroke is an extensive health problem in Ukraine, the prominence and effects of which are aggravated by the burden of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. In this study, we aimed to holistically examine the overall stroke epidemiology in Ivano-Frankivsk using data from a secondary healthcare center in the city. We determine an increasing trend in stroke admissions since 2020, with a notable 22.4% increase in 2023, mainly due to ischemic stroke occurrence. In the same year, a significant non-linear relationship between stroke incidence and frequency of news about attacks was observed. Ordinal regression analysis of general sociodemographic, clinical, and healthcare-related factors influencing outcomes for intravenous thrombolysis-treated patients, revealed the significance of the 24-h National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (0.32 ± 0.03) and interaction of age and Door-to-Needle Time (− 0.28 ± 0.08). However, the extension of the latter independently is not significantly correlated with patient outcomes. In conclusion, war-induced stress, intranational migrations, and lack of adequate chronic cardiovascular disease management are primarily responsible for these results. Modulations and improvements to the current healthcare system, including managing chronic diseases and early stroke symptom recognition, are necessary to optimize patient outcomes.
Cell-free expression with a quartz crystal microbalance enables rapid, dynamic, and label-free characterization of membrane-interacting proteins
Authors: Khakimzhan Aset , Izri Ziane , Thompson Seth , Dmytrenko Oleg , Fischer Patrick , Beisel Chase , Noireaux Vincent
Published: August 2024

Integral and interacting membrane proteins (IIMPs) constitute a vast family of biomolecules that perform essential functions in all forms of life. However, characterizing their interactions with lipid bilayers remains limited due to challenges in purifying and reconstituting IIMPs in vitro or labeling IIMPs without disrupting their function in vivo. Here, we report cell-free transcription-translation in a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (TXTL-QCMD) to dynamically characterize interactions between diverse IIMPs and membranes without protein purification or labeling. As part of TXTL-QCMD, IIMPs are synthesized using cell-free transcription-translation (TXTL), and their interactions with supported lipid bilayers are measured using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCMD). TXTL-QCMD reconstitutes known IIMP-membrane dependencies, including specific association with prokaryotic or eukaryotic membranes, and the multiple-IIMP dynamical pattern-forming association of the E. coli division-coordinating proteins MinCDE. Applying TXTL-QCMD to the recently discovered Zorya anti-phage system that is unamenable to labeling, we discovered that ZorA and ZorB integrate within the lipids found at the poles of bacteria while ZorE diffuses freely on the non-pole membrane. These efforts establish the potential of TXTL-QCMD to broadly characterize the large diversity of IIMPs.
Weight gain leads to greater adverse metabolic responses in South Asian compared with white European men: the GlasVEGAS study
Authors: McLaren James , Gao Xuan , Ghouri Nazim , Freeman Dilys J. , Richardson Janice , Sattar Naveed , Gill Jason M. R.
Published: August 2024

South Asians (SAs) develop type 2 diabetes at lower body mass index values than white Europeans (WEs). This basic human experimental study aimed to compare the metabolic consequences of weight gain in SA and WE men without overweight or obesity. Fourteen SAs and 21 WEs had assessments of body composition, metabolic responses to mixed-meal ingestion, cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity, and a subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue biopsy, before and after 4–6 weeks of overfeeding to induce 5–7% weight gain. Here we show that body mass index and whole-body adipose tissue volume increases similarly between ethnic groups, but SAs gain less lean tissue. SAs experience a substantially greater decrease in insulin sensitivity compared with WEs (38% versus 7% decrease, P = 0.009), have fewer small (37.1% versus 60.0%, P = 0.003) and more large (26.2% versus 9.1%, P = 0.005) adipocytes at baseline and have a smaller decrease in very small adipocytes with weight gain (−0.1% versus −1.9%, P < 0.0001). Ethnic differences in adipocyte morphology are associated with SA’s greater adverse metabolic changes with weight gain. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT02399423.
EPDR1 promotes PD-L1 expression and tumor immune evasion by inhibiting TRIM21-dependent ubiquitylation of IkappaB kinase-β
Authors: Qian Xiaoyu , Cai Jin , Zhang Yi , Shen Shengqi , Wang Mingjie , Liu Shengzhi , Meng Xiang , Zhang Junjiao , Ye Zijian , Qiu Shiqiao , Zhong Xiuying , Gao Ping
Published: August 2024

While immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has shown promise for clinical cancer therapy, its efficacy has only been observed in a limited subset of patients and the underlying mechanisms regulating innate and acquired resistance to ICB of tumor cells remain poorly understood. Here, we identified ependymin-related protein 1 (EPDR1) as an important tumor-intrinsic regulator of PD-L1 expression and tumor immune evasion. Aberrant expression of EPDR1 in hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with immunosuppression. Mechanistically, EPDR1 binds to E3 ligase TRIM21 and disrupts its interaction with IkappaB kinase-b, suppressing its ubiquitylation and autophagosomal degradation and enhancing NF-κB-mediated transcriptional activation of PD-L1. Further, we validated through a mouse liver cancer model that EPDR1 mediates exhaustion of CD8+ T cells and promotes tumor progression. In addition, we observed a positive correlation between EPDR1 and PD-L1 expression in both human and mouse liver cancer samples. Collectively, our study reveals a previously unappreciated role of EPDR1 in orchestrating tumor immune evasion and cancer progression.
Computer-aided nanodrug discovery: recent progress and future prospects
Authors: Zheng Jia-Jia , Li Qiao-Zhi , Wang Zhenzhen , Wang Xiaoli , Zhao Yuliang , Gao Xingfa
Published: August 2024

This review presents an overview of the interactions between nanodrugs and biological entities, as well as computational advances in understanding how these interactions affect nanodrug efficacy, using either traditional or machine learning methods.
First-principles modeling of H2CO3 molecular adsorption on CaSiO3(001) surface for application in the sequestration and utilization of CO2
Authors: Liu Xing , Cheng Bin , Hu Jifan
Published: August 2024

The interaction between H atoms and surface plays a key role in bridging adsorbates and CaSiO3(001) surfaces, indicating that carbonation promotes carbon sequestration.
First-principles study of valley splitting of transition-metal dichalcogenides in MX2/CrI3 (M = W, Mo; X = S, Se, Te) van der Waals heterostructures
Authors: Ge Mei , Chu Leiting , Zeng Fanmin , Cao Zhongyin , Zhang Junfeng
Published: August 2024

The rapid development of valleytronics makes the application of two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) in valley electronics important.
Defective TiO2 composite photoanodes with surface-modified Prussian blue for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting
Authors: Wang Lipeng , Wang Rui , Lai Longjie , Younas Waqar , Mao Guobing , Zhang Li , Liu Qi
Published: August 2024

The introduction of oxygen vacancies and Prussian blue enhances the charge separation efficiency and expands the light absorption range, leading to a photocurrent density of 2.10 mA cm−2 and an increase in IPCE to 35.8% for the composite photoanode.
Every atom counts: predicting sites of reaction based on chemistry within two bonds
Authors: Lam Ching Ching , Goodman Jonathan M.
Published: August 2024

How much chemistry can be described by looking only at each atom, its neighbours and its next-nearest neighbours?
Digichem: computational chemistry for everyone
Authors: Lee Oliver S. , Gather Malte C. , Zysman-Colman Eli
Published: August 2024

We describe a new and effective tool for the efficient management of computational chemistry.
Emerging investigator series: in-depth chemical profiling of tire and artificial turf crumb rubber: aging, transformation products, and transport pathways
Authors: McMinn Madison H. , Hu Ximin , Poisson Katherine , Berger Phillip , Pimentel Paola , Zhang Xinwen , Ashara Pranali , Greenfield Ella L. , Eig Jessica , Tian Zhenyu
Published: August 2024

Chemical profiling of artificial turf crumb rubber reveals time-based trends in transformation products and transport pathways.
Predictive modeling of BOD throughout wastewater treatment: a generalizable machine learning approach for improved effluent quality
Authors: Inbar Offir , Shahar Moni , Avisar Dror
Published: August 2024

A machine learning model using easily measured water parameters effectively predicts biochemical oxygen demand across wastewater treatment plants, assisting rapid monitoring and improved effluent quality management.
Pyrolysis of municipal sewage sludge: challenges, opportunities and new valorization routes for biochar, bio-oil, and pyrolysis gas
Authors: Pelagalli Vincenzo , Langone Michela , Matassa Silvio , Race Marco , Tuffi Riccardo , Papirio Stefano , Lens Piet N. L. , Lazzazzara Marco , Frugis Alessandro , Petta Luigi , Esposito Giovanni
Published: August 2024

An integrated biorefinery platform for MSS valorization through pyrolysis is presented and comprehensively described here, from the choice of MSS to the desired applications of the value-added materials obtained.
Design of 2D/2D ZnIn2S4/MgAl-LDH core–shell nanostructures toward enhanced photodegradation of organic dyes
Authors: Gao Qiang , Ye Lingchun , Liu Wei , Li Junxi , Cui Yuchen , Xu Naicai , Zhang Mingjin
Published: August 2024

ZnIn2S4/MgAl-LDH heterojunctions with close interfacial contact were successfully fabricated and employed for effective photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes.
Comparative transcriptomics reveals the mechanism of antibacterial activity of fruit-derived dihydrochalcone flavonoids against Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Wu Desheng , Hao Lisha , Liu Xiaohan , Li Xiaofeng , Zhao Guanglei
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the antibacterial activities of food-derived dihydrochalcone and flavone flavonoids against Porphyromonas gingivalis and their mechanisms of antibacterial action through a comparative transcriptomic analysis.
Niobium oxide coatings on nanostructured platinum electrocatalysts: benefits and limitations
Authors: Hadley Annabelle M. K. , Gautam Sakshi , Gates Byron D.
Published: August 2024

Nanostructured Pt catalysts are prone to re-structuring mechanisms in the conditions generated during H2 fuel cell operation. Thin (∼3 nm thick) niobia coatings effectively stabilized the Pt structure and activity under these aggressive conditions.
Inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 viral entry by targeting spike:ACE2 interaction with O-modified quercetin derivatives
Authors: Rosal Reuben James Z. , Paderes Monissa C.
Published: August 2024

O-Alkylated and acylated quercetin derivatives were found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 S:ACE2 interaction in vitro and exhibited low hepato-, nephro-, and cardiotoxicity.
Pyridazinone-based derivatives as anticancer agents endowed with anti-microbial activity: molecular design, synthesis, and biological investigation
Authors: El-Nagar Mohamed K. S. , Shahin Mai I. , El-Behairy Mohammed F. , Taher Ehab S. , El-Badawy Mohamed F. , Sharaky Marwa , Abou El Ella Dalal A. , Abouzid Khaled A. M. , Adel Mai
Published: August 2024

Discovery of novel pyridazinone derivatives with dual antimicrobial and anticancer activities.
An injectable and degradable heterogeneous microgel assembly capable of forming a “micro-nest group” for cell condensation and cartilage regeneration
Authors: Lin Zequ , Li Qingtao , Han Xiyuan , Luo Huitong , Wang Zetao , Qin Zhihao , Huang Yue , Feng Qi , Cao Xiaodong
Published: August 2024

The microgel assembly (F/S-MA) can be injected into a defect site and spontaneously form a “micro-nest group” in situ to guide cell homing, condensation, and chondrogenic differentiation.
TM-doping modulated p–d orbital coupling to enhance the oxygen evolution performance of Ni3S2
Authors: Li Qiuhong , Zhang Minghao , Wang Rui , Pan Jing , Fu Huailiang
Published: August 2024

TM doping modulates p–d orbital coupling to improve the OER performance of the Ni3S2 (101) facet.
Titanium metal–organic frameworks for photocatalytic CO2 conversion through a cycloaddition reaction
Authors: Kegere James , Alneyadi Shaikha S. , Paz Alejandro Perez , Siddig Lamia A. , Alblooshi Afra , Alnaqbi Mohamed A. , Alzamly Ahmed , Greish Yaser E.
Published: August 2024

A schematic representation of the MOF-901 framework, with its imine building units transformed into amide linkages of MOF-997.
Vanadium uptake and storage in the fabrication and function of mussel byssus
Authors: Jee Samantha , Rammal Mostafa , Priemel Tobias , Bohle D. Scott , Harrington Matthew J.
Published: August 2024

The preferential use of vanadium to form metal–protein cross-links by Mytilus edulis mussels in their byssal fibers was highlighted through a cross-disciplinary study combining histology, spectroscopy, rheology, and computational modeling.
Synthesis of α-chiral amides via synergistic visible-light-induced Wolff rearrangement and asymmetric NHC catalysis
Authors: Wang Jiaomei , Chen Yangxu , Miao Siyan , Yao Changsheng , Zhang Kai
Published: August 2024

Herein, a visible-light-induced chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed asymmetric amination of ketenes has been developed. This strategy provides a facile synthetic protocol for the efficient construction of α-chiral amides.
Empowering natural product science with AI: leveraging multimodal data and knowledge graphs
Authors: Meijer David , Beniddir Mehdi A. , Coley Connor W. , Mejri Yassine M. , Öztürk Meltem , van der Hooft Justin J. J. , Medema Marnix H. , Skiredj Adam
Published: August 2024

This viewpoint article promotes the ongoing efforts to organise natural product science within knowledge graphs, a promising approach for structuring training data for AI models capable of achieving human-level natural product anticipation.
Development and biological evaluation of PSMA/FAP dual targeting radiotracers for prostate cancer imaging
Authors: Hou Haodong , Gao Jingyue , Ma Yuze , Pan Yuan , Hou Guihua , Tao Weijing , Gao Feng
Published: August 2024

Two novel radiotracers displayed excellent dual-targeting capability and favorable pharmacokinetic properties, indicating that a dual-targeting strategy is available for designing radiotracers for tumor imaging.
Site-selective electrochemical C–H silylations of pyridines enabled by temporary reductive dearomatization
Authors: Yang Zhihao , Liu Xuan , Zhang Tianyuan , Maekawa Hirofumi , Hao Xin-Qi , Song Mao-Ping
Published: August 2024

Site-selective silylations of electron-deficient pyridines is presented, the C4-to-C5 selectivity can be controlled by adjusting the bulkiness of the chlorosilanes.
Transition metal-free synthesis of polyfluoroaryl sulfides via S-transfer reaction
Authors: Wang Yuhua , Liu Mengqin , Zhou Heye , Qin Tao , Liu Bin , Lu Xing
Published: August 2024

A simple, general, thiol- and metal-free method for the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical polyfluorodiaryl sulfides and polyfluoroaryl-alkyl sulfides.
Three CoS/CoO microspheres and their mixed matrix membranes for the highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of methyl blue
Authors: Huo Yuping , Yu Tanlai , Xue Yueyuan , Zhang Guoshuai , Song Shengxin , Shao Yonghua , Han Xiaojing
Published: August 2024

Three CoS/CoO microspheres were solvothermally prepared by simply modulating the polymerization degree of PEG, and the mixed matrix membrane of 3 displayed excellent photocatalytic degradation performance and reusability (cycles > 12 times).
Molecular insight into binding affinities and blockade effects of selected flavonoid compounds on the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway
Authors: Guo Yan , Tong Jinchang , Liang Jianhuai , Shi Kaixin , Song Xinyue , Guo Zichao , Liu Boping , Xu Jianguo
Published: August 2024

This study investigated the binding mechanisms of the flavonoids apigenin (Api), kaempferol (Kmp), and quercetin (Que) to the PD-L1 dimer using a combination of molecular modeling and experimental techniques.
Microstructure evolution, dielectric properties, and nonlinear response of Na+-doped CdCu3Ti4O12 ceramics
Authors: Xue Renzhong , Liu Xiaosong , Yang Kun , Zhu Xiang
Published: August 2024

The nonlinear current density–electric field (J–E) plots of Cd1−xNaxCu3Ti4O12 ceramics. All samples exhibited good nonlinear characteristics.
Synthesis of nicotinimidamides via a tandem CuAAC/ring-cleavage /cyclization/oxidation four-component reaction and their cytotoxicity
Authors: Chen Xi , Li Guanrong , Huang Zixin , Luo Qiaoli , Chen Tao , Yang Weiguang
Published: August 2024

An efficient tandem CuAAC/ring-cleavage/cyclization/oxidation four-component reaction for the synthesis of nicotinimidamides, and the cytotoxicity of nicotinimidamide was also tested.
Presenting a new fluorescent probe, methyl(10-phenylphenanthren-9-yl)sulfane sensitive to the polarity and rigidity of the microenvironment: applications toward microheterogeneous systems
Authors: Dyagala Shalini , Mukherjee Nilanjana , Halder Sayantan , Charaya Heena , Muzaffar-Ur-Rehman Mohammed , Murugesan Sankaranarayanan , Chakraborty Shamik , Chatterjee Tanmay , Saha Subit Kumar
Published: August 2024

Methyl(10-phenylphenanthren-9-yl)sulfane (MPPS) is synthesized, characterized and explored as a new fluorescent molecule to probe micelle formation, microenvironment of BSA's tryptophan residues, and BSA-gemini surfactant (12-6-12,2Br−) interactions.
A thiol-triggered croconaine–chromene integration to induce ferroptosis and photothermal synergistic efficient tumor ablation
Authors: Niu Xinya , Yang He , Wu Xingkang , Huo Fangjun , Ma Kaiqing , Yin Caixia
Published: August 2024

A multifunctional probe CM-Croc was triggered by thiol for tumor imaging as well as photothermal therapy, also it can significantly inhibit tumors in vivo.
Non-cationic hyper-crosslinked ionic polymers with hierarchically ordered porous structures: facile synthesis and applications for highly efficient CO2 capture and conversion
Authors: Chen Bihua , Zeng Junfeng , Zhang Shiguo , Zhang Yan
Published: August 2024

Non-cationic HCPIPs are facilely prepared via anion and cation hyper-crosslinking, showing excellent CO2 capture performance and remarkable catalytic performance in CO2 cycloaddition under ambient conditions.
Strategically designed metal-free deep-ultraviolet birefringent crystals with superior optical properties
Authors: Li Yang , Chen Xinglong , Ok Kang Min
Published: August 2024

Four metal-free deep-ultraviolet birefringent crystals, exhibiting excellent optical properties were designed using Sr2Be2B2O7 as template, and centimeter-sized C(NH2)3CH3SO3 crystals were successfully grown via a mild aqua-solution method.
Nonwoven-fabric-based microfluidic devices for solution viscosity measurements
Authors: Uno Mayumi Otoba , Omori Mariko , Sakamoto Kenji
Published: August 2024

A nonwoven-fabric-based microfluidic device has been developed to measure the viscosity of aqueous solutions with a minute sample volumes of a few microliters.
Hydrothermal coliquefaction of anaerobic digestate with polyphenolic extracts from agricultural byproducts producing nearly nitrogen-free biocrude oil
Authors: Sudibyo Hanifrahmawan , Budhijanto Budhijanto , Celis Crispin , Mahannada Aqiela , Suparmin Ahmad , Wintoko Joko , Prasetyo Dwi Joko , Anwar Muslih
Published: August 2024

Hydrothermal coliquefaction of anaerobically digested sewage sludge and polyphenols from agricultural residues yielded nearly nitrogen-free biocrude compatible with upgrading in oil refineries.
Unveiling the long-term degradation mechanisms of the sealing structures for durable PEM fuel cells by ex situ accelerated stability evaluation of a membrane electrode assembly
Authors: Kim Jin-Wook , Yang Sooyoung , Shin Gyu Jin , Oh Min Jeong , Lee Keumjung , Lee Jun Hyup
Published: August 2024

New insights into the long-term degradation mechanisms of the sealing structures for durable PEM fuel cells are provided.
Effect of water loading on the stability of pristine and defective UiO-66
Authors: Acuna-Yeomans E. , Goosen P. J. , Gutiérrez-Sevillano J. J. , Dubbeldam D. , Calero S.
Published: August 2024

Materials used for water treatment purposes need to be stable for easy handling and cost-effectiveness.
Efficient electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide in neutral media using boron and nitrogen doped carbon catalysts
Authors: Ruggiero Brianna N. , Lu Xiao Kun , Lu Bingzhang , Deberghes Adrien E. , Nordlund Dennis , Notestein Justin M. , Seitz Linsey C.
Published: August 2024

Linking fundamental insights with high performance for electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production using boron/nitrogen co-doped carbon catalysts in neutral pH.
Novel endoscopic tattooing dye based on polyvinylpyrrolidone-modified polydopamine nanoparticles for labeling gastrointestinal lesions
Authors: Lai Yongkang , Jiang Mengni , Zhang Xinyuan , Zhang Liang , Chen Zheng , Du Yiqi , Wang Shige , Zhao Jiulong , Li Zhaoshen
Published: August 2024

Polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles modified with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were designed for endoscopic tattooing in a porcine model. Results showed that the PDA/PVP nanoparticles could be stabilized in the digestive tract for at least 60 days.
Facile design of mesoporous spherical cerium oxide@reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with excellent microwave absorption
Authors: Liu Zhihao , Wang Jing , Ren Qianqian , Ma Weihang , Li Wei , Liu Bonan , Han Qian , Zan Runyu , Zhu Hongyang , Zhang Han , Zhang Zhiyong , Zhao Wu , Wang Yingnan
Published: August 2024

Mesoporous spherical CeO2 and unique conductive network structures of CeO2@RGO and CeO2@MWNCT nanocomposites.
Single crystal synthesis and surface electronic structure of Bi1.993Cr0.007Se3
Authors: Gardonio Sandra , Benher Zipporah Rini , Fanetti Mattia , Moras Paolo , Sheverdyaeva Polina M. , Valant Matjaz
Published: August 2024

Phase separation from a melt was used as a strategy to obtain diluted Cr-doped Bi2Se3 bulk crystals. Large (∼500 μm × 500 μm) and chemically homogeneous Bi1.993Cr0.007Se3 crystals were obtained displaying an energy gap at the Dirac point.
Epitaxially grown single-crystalline SrTiO3 membranes using a solution-processed, amorphous SrCa2Al2O6 sacrificial layer
Authors: Varshney Shivasheesh , Ramis Martí , Choo Sooho , Coll Mariona , Jalan Bharat
Published: August 2024

Water-soluble sacrificial layers using solution processed, amorphous SrCa2Al2O6 sacrificial layer has been used for creating free-standing single-crystalline perovskite oxide membranes.
Dual-port ferroelectric NAND flash memory for large memory window, QLC programmable and disturbance-free operations
Authors: Joh Hongrae , Lee Sangho , Ahn Jinho , Jeon Sanghun
Published: August 2024

Oxide channel dual-port FeNAND devices with low-temperature processing offer improved thermal stability, broader memory window, and enhanced reliability.
Electronic structures of diamane doped with metal atoms
Authors: Fu Shiyang , Yu Qiyuan , Liu Junsong , Gao Nan , Li Hongdong
Published: August 2024

The incorporation of metal atoms in diamane can modulate the band structures, alter its magnetic properties, and more importantly, reduce the energy barriers from graphene bilayer to diamane.