bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Up-to techniques for behavioural metrics via fibrations
Authors: Bonchi Filippo , König Barbara , Petrişan Daniela
Published: July 2023

Up-to techniques are a well-known method for enhancing coinductive proofs of behavioural equivalences. We introduce up-to techniques for behavioural metrics between systems modelled as coalgebras, and we provide abstract results to prove their soundness in a compositional way.

In order to obtain a general framework, we need a systematic way to lift functors: we show that the Wasserstein lifting of a functor, introduced in a previous work, corresponds to a change of base in a fibrational sense. This observation enables us to reuse existing results about soundness of up-to techniques in a fibrational setting. We focus on the fibrations of predicates and relations valued in a quantale. To illustrate our approach, we provide an example on distances between regular languages.
Regional response of zoysiagrass turf to glufosinate and glyphosate applied during postdormancy transition based on accumulated heat units
Authors: Craft Jordan M. , Godara Navdeep , Derr Jeffrey F. , Nichols Adam D. , McCurdy James D. , Richard Michael P. , Askew Shawn D.
Published: July 2023

Turfgrass managers apply nonselective herbicides to control winter annual weeds during dormancy of warm-season turfgrass. Zoysiagrass subcanopies, however, retain green leaves and stems during winter dormancy, especially in warmer climates. The partially green zoysiagrass often deters the use of nonselective herbicides due to variable injury concerns in transition and southern climatic zones. This study evaluated zoysiagrass response to glyphosate and glufosinate applied at four different growing degree day (GDD)-based application timings during postdormancy transition in different locations, including Blacksburg, VA; Starkville, MS; and Virginia Beach, VA, in 2018 and 2019. GDD was calculated using a 5 C base temperature with accumulation beginning January 1 each year, and targeted application timings were 125, 200, 275, and 350 GDD5C. Zoysiagrass injury response to glyphosate and glufosinate was consistent across a broad growing region from northern Mississippi to coastal Virginia, but it varied by application timing. Glyphosate application at 125 and 200 GDD5C can be used safely for weed control during the postdormancy period of zoysiagrass, while glufosinate caused unacceptable turf injury regardless of application timing. Glyphosate and glufosinate exhibited a stepwise increase to maximum injury with increasing targeted GDD5C application timings. Glyphosate applied at 125 or 200 GDD5C did not injure zoysiagrass above a threshold of 30%, whereas glufosinate caused greater than 30% injury for 28 and 29 d when applied at 125 and 200 GDD5C, respectively. Likewise, glyphosate application at 125 or 200 GDD5C did not affect the zoysiagrass green cover area under the progress curve per day, whereas later applications reduced it. Glyphosate and glufosinate caused greater injury to zoysiagrass when applied at greater cumulative heat units and this was attributed to increasing turfgrass green leaf density, because heat unit accumulation is positively correlated with green leaf density. Accumulated heat unit-based application timing will allow practitioners to apply nonselective herbicides with reduced injury concerns.
Future Climate Under CMIP6 Solar Activity Scenarios
Authors: Sedlacek Jan , Sukhodolov Timofei , Egorova Tania , Karagodin‐Doyennel Arseniy , Rozanov Eugene
Published: July 2023

Predictions of solar activity in the future are difficult to make due to the chaotic state of solar dynamo and the high nonlinearity of physical processes on the Sun. Therefore, the Climate Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) used a statistical approach and recommended two different solar forcing scenarios for the simulations. The reference scenario was developed as the standard forcing, whereas the alternative forcing has lower solar activity (EXT CMIP6). In this study, we use both forcings in a set of experiments to explore the importance of the alternative CMIP6 solar forcing for future climate and ozone layer variability. In general, the difference in solar forcing scenarios is small, and thus most changes at the surface and at high altitudes are not significant. In addition, only the active phases of the Sun, which have the largest difference in amplitude of the forcing, are investigated. In this case, some statistically significant patterns emerge, mostly in the stratosphere, but still, the magnitude of the changes is not very large and a noticeable surface climate response to these changes is not expected and also not found. Our results indicate that low amplitude solar forcings such as the EXT CMIP6 or similar are not worthwhile considering during the next CMIP type of activities. The proposed solar irradiance decline does not represent any danger to the ozone layer.
Dithiothreitol‐Measured Oxidative Potential of Reference Materials of Mineral Dust: Implications for the Toxicity of Mineral Dust Aerosols in the Atmosphere
Authors: Nishita‐Hara Chiharu , Kobayashi Hiroshi , Hara Keiichiro , Hayashi Masahiko
Published: July 2023

Oxidative stress is a mechanism that might raise the toxicity of mineral dust aerosols. We evaluated the oxidative potential (OP) of four reference materials (RMs) of mineral dusts using dithiothreitol assay. The OP of the water‐soluble fraction of the dust RMs accounts for 40%–70% of the OP of the total fraction. The values of total and water‐soluble OP normalized by the surface area of insoluble particles showed agreement among the different dust RMs. The surface area of insoluble dust particles was therefore inferred as an important factor affecting the OP of mineral dust. Using the relation between total OP and the surface area of insoluble particles of the dust RMs, we estimated the total OPs of fine and coarse atmospheric mineral dust aerosols assuming a typical particle size distribution of Asian dust aerosols observed in Japan. Mass‐normalized total OPs were estimated at 44 and 23 pmol min−1 μg−1 for fine and coarse atmospheric mineral dust particles. They closely approximate the values observed for urban aerosols in Japan, which suggests that mineral dust plume advection can lead to a marked increase in human exposure to redox‐active aerosols, even far downwind from mineral dust source regions.
Evaluation of S1222a Source Parameters Based on Site Effect Simulation and Implication for the Event Origin
Authors: Xiao Wanbo , Kawamura Taichi , Xu Zongbo , Carrasco Sebastián , Onodera Keisuke , Sainton Grégory , Lognonné Philippe , Wang Yanbin , Knapmeyer‐Endrun Brigitte , Banerdt William Bruce
Published: July 2023

Estimating the rupture process of a quake constrains the tectonic setting of its source region. In terrestrial seismology, the rupture process can be described with a classical ω2 model. In this study, we focus on one key source parameter of S1222a, the corner frequency, to investigate its origin. However, estimating the corner frequency of S1222a is complicated by S1222a's non‐classical spectra which deviate from the ω2 model. To explain S1222a's spectra, we take into account the site effect at the InSight landing site. Through numerical simulation, we demonstrate that the spectral fitting is greatly improved after considering the site effect. We further estimated the source spectrum and stress drop of S1222a. The obtained stress drop resembles the values for regional tectonic earthquakes and shallow moonquakes but differs from the Cerberus Fossae marsquakes, which favors a different tectonic origin from the Cerberus Fossae marsquakes for S1222a.
Radiative Forcing From the 2014–2022 Volcanic and Wildfire Injections
Authors: Yu Pengfei , Portmann Robert W. , Peng Yifeng , Liu Cheng‐Cheng , Zhu Yunqian , Asher Elizabeth , Bai Zhixuan , Lu Ye , Bian Jianchun , Mills Michael , Schmidt Anja , Rosenlof Karen H. , Toon Owen B.
Published: July 2023

Volcanic and wildfire events between 2014 and 2022 injected ∼3.2 Tg of sulfur dioxide and 0.8 Tg of smoke aerosols into the stratosphere. With injections at higher altitudes and lower latitudes, the simulated stratospheric lifetime of the 2014–2022 injections is about 50% longer than the volcanic 2005–2013 injections. The simulated global mean effective radiative forcing (ERF) of 2014–2022 is −0.18 W m−2, ∼40% of the ERF of the period of 1991–1999 with a large‐magnitude volcanic eruption (Pinatubo). Our climate model suggests that the stratospheric smoke aerosols generate ∼60% more negative ERF than volcanic sulfate per unit aerosol optical depth. Studies that fail to account for the different radiative properties of wildfire smoke relative to volcanic sulfate will likely underestimate the negative stratospheric forcings. Our analysis suggests that stratospheric injections offset 20% of the increase in global mean surface temperature between 2014–2022 and 1999–2002.
Observed Changes in Interannual Precipitation Variability in the United States
Authors: Harp Ryan D. , Horton Daniel E.
Published: July 2023

Characterizing changes in precipitation patterns over time is critical for hydrologically dependent fields like water resource management and agriculture. Here, we explore observed trends in interannual precipitation variability using a suite of metrics that describe changes in precipitation over time. We analyze daily in situ Global Historical Climatology Network precipitation data from 1970 to present over 17 internally consistent sub‐national United States domains using a regional Mann‐Kendall trend test. We find robustly increasing trends in annual mean precipitation and wet day frequency for most of the central and eastern U.S., but decreasing trends in the western U.S. Importantly, we identify widespread significant trends in interannual precipitation variability, with increasing variability in the southeast, decreasing variability in the far west, and mixed signals in the Rocky Mountains and north‐central U.S. Our results provide important context for water resource managers and a new observational standard for climate model performance assessments.
Amplitude‐Dependent Properties and Excitation Mechanisms of EMIC Waves in the Earth's Inner Magnetosphere
Authors: Yan Yun , Yue Chao , Yin Ze‐Fan , Zhou Xu‐Zhi , Zong Qiu‐Gang , Li Jing‐Huan
Published: July 2023

Large‐amplitude (Bw > 1 nT) electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves can cause the rapid loss of >1 MeV electrons, greatly impacting radiation belt dynamics. With long‐term Van Allen Probe B observations from 2013 to 2018, we conducted a statistical survey to reveal the amplitude‐dependent EMIC wave properties and excitation mechanisms in the Earth's inner magnetosphere. Statistical results show that large‐amplitude EMIC waves prefer to occur in the afternoon‐dusk sector in the northern hemisphere and tend to be more left‐hand polarized with smaller wave normal angles. In addition, the high proton beta parallel conditions also favor the generation of larger‐amplitude EMIC waves. From the variations of EMIC wave occurrence rate as a function of SuperMAG electrojet (SME) index and solar wind dynamic pressure, we find that the small‐amplitude EMIC waves are generally triggered by high solar wind dynamic pressure, while large‐amplitude EMIC wave generation is both affected by substorm activity and solar wind dynamic pressure. The normalized magnetic field perturbations during EMIC wave appearance, which enable us to distinguish the relative roles of magnetospheric compression and substorm injection in the excitation of different‐amplitude EMIC waves, provide further evidence that as wave amplitude increases, substorm injection plays a more important role in EMIC wave excitation, and magnetospheric compression is also an indispensable trigger.
Sumoylated SnoN interacts with HDAC1 and p300/CBP to regulate EMT-associated phenotypes in mammary organoids
Authors: Chanda Ayan , Sarkar Anusi , Deng Lili , Bonni Azad , Bonni Shirin
Published: July 2023

Protein post-translational modification by the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) regulates the stability, subcellular localization, and interactions of protein substrates with consequences on cellular responses including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is a potent inducer of EMT with implications for cancer invasion and metastasis. The transcriptional coregulator SnoN suppresses TGFβ-induced EMT-associated responses in a sumoylation-dependent manner, but the underlying mechanisms have remained largely unknown. Here, we find that sumoylation promotes the interaction of SnoN with the epigenetic regulators histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and histone acetylase p300 in epithelial cells. In gain and loss of function studies, HDAC1 suppresses, whereas p300 promotes, TGFβ-induced morphogenetic changes associated with EMT-related events in three-dimensional multicellular organoids derived from mammary epithelial cells or carcinomas. These findings suggest that sumoylated SnoN acts via the regulation of histone acetylation to modulate EMT-related effects in breast cell organoids. Our study may facilitate the discovery of new biomarkers and therapeutics in breast cancer and other epithelial cell-derived cancers.
Germinal center-dependent and -independent immune responses of tumor-infiltrating B cells in human cancers
Authors: Playoust Eve , Remark Romain , Vivier Eric , Milpied Pierre
Published: July 2023

B cells play essential roles in immunity, mainly through the production of high affinity plasma cells (PCs) and memory B (Bmem) cells. The affinity maturation and differentiation of B cells rely on the integration of B-cell receptor (BCR) intrinsic and extrinsic signals provided by antigen binding and the microenvironment, respectively. In recent years, tumor infiltrating B (TIL-B) cells and PCs (TIL-PCs) have been revealed as important players in antitumor responses in human cancers, but their interplay and dynamics remain largely unknown. In lymphoid organs, B-cell responses involve both germinal center (GC)-dependent and GC-independent pathways for Bmem cell and PC production. Affinity maturation of BCR repertoires occurs in GC reactions with specific spatiotemporal dynamics of signal integration by B cells. In general, the reactivation of high-affinity Bmem cells by antigens triggers GC-independent production of large numbers of PC without BCR rediversification. Understanding B-cell dynamics in immune responses requires the integration of multiple tools and readouts such as single-cell phenotyping and RNA-seq, in situ analyses, BCR repertoire analysis, BCR specificity and affinity assays, and functional tests. Here, we review how those tools have recently been applied to study TIL-B cells and TIL-PC in different types of solid tumors. We assessed the published evidence for different models of TIL-B-cell dynamics involving GC-dependent or GC-independent local responses and the resulting production of antigen-specific PCs. Altogether, we highlight the need for more integrative B-cell immunology studies to rationally investigate TIL-B cells as a leverage for antitumor therapies.
The risk of development and progression of diabetic retinopathy in a group of ethnically diverse pregnant women with diabetes attending three regional Diabetic Eye Screening Programs in the UK
Authors: Clarke Kirsty , Webster Laura , Althauser Susanne , Anderson John , Stratton Irene , Brackenridge Anna , Mann Samantha S.
Published: July 2023

Background/Objectives

Currently, all pregnant women with diabetes are asked to attend screening at least twice during pregnancy, even if no retinopathy is detected in early pregnancy. We hypothesise that for women with no diabetic retinopathy in early pregnancy, the frequency of retinal screening may be safely reduced.

Subjects/Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, data for 4718 pregnant women attending one of three UK Diabetic Eye Screening (DES) Programmes between July 2011 and October 2019 was extracted. The women’s UK DES grades at 13 weeks gestation (early pregnancy) and 28 weeks gestation (late pregnancy) were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to report baseline data. Ordered logistic regression was used to control for covariates, such as age, ethnicity, diabetes duration, and diabetes type.

Results

Of the women with grades recorded for both early and late pregnancy, a total of 3085 (65.39%) women had no retinopathy in early pregnancy, and 2306 (74.7%) of these women did not develop any retinopathy by 28 weeks. The number of women without retinopathy in early pregnancy who developed referable retinopathy was 14 (0.45%), none of whom required treatment. Diabetic Retinopathy in early pregnancy remained a significant predictor of DES grade in late pregnancy when covariates of Age, Ethnicity, and Diabetes Type were controlled for (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In summary, this study has demonstrated that the burden of managing diabetes for pregnant mothers may be safely reduced by limiting the number of diabetic eye screening appointments in women who have no retinal changes in early pregnancy. Screening of women with retinopathy in early pregnancy should continue in line with current UK guidance.
Mapping mechanical stress in curved epithelia of designed size and shape
Authors: Marín-Llauradó Ariadna , Kale Sohan , Ouzeri Adam , Golde Tom , Sunyer Raimon , Torres-Sánchez Alejandro , Latorre Ernest , Gómez-González Manuel , Roca-Cusachs Pere , Arroyo Marino , Trepat Xavier
Published: July 2023

The function of organs such as lungs, kidneys and mammary glands relies on the three-dimensional geometry of their epithelium. To adopt shapes such as spheres, tubes and ellipsoids, epithelia generate mechanical stresses that are generally unknown. Here we engineer curved epithelial monolayers of controlled size and shape and map their state of stress. We design pressurized epithelia with circular, rectangular and ellipsoidal footprints. We develop a computational method, called curved monolayer stress microscopy, to map the stress tensor in these epithelia. This method establishes a correspondence between epithelial shape and mechanical stress without assumptions of material properties. In epithelia with spherical geometry we show that stress weakly increases with areal strain in a size-independent manner. In epithelia with rectangular and ellipsoidal cross-section we find pronounced stress anisotropies that impact cell alignment. Our approach enables a systematic study of how geometry and stress influence epithelial fate and function in three-dimensions.
Optimal strategies for learning multi-ancestry polygenic scores vary across traits
Authors: Lehmann Brieuc , Mackintosh Maxine , McVean Gil , Holmes Chris
Published: July 2023

Polygenic scores (PGSs) are individual-level measures that aggregate the genome-wide genetic predisposition to a given trait. As PGS have predominantly been developed using European-ancestry samples, trait prediction using such European ancestry-derived PGS is less accurate in non-European ancestry individuals. Although there has been recent progress in combining multiple PGS trained on distinct populations, the problem of how to maximize performance given a multiple-ancestry cohort is largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the effect of sample size and ancestry composition on PGS performance for fifteen traits in UK Biobank. For some traits, PGS estimated using a relatively small African-ancestry training set outperformed, on an African-ancestry test set, PGS estimated using a much larger European-ancestry only training set. We observe similar, but not identical, results when considering other minority-ancestry groups within UK Biobank. Our results emphasise the importance of targeted data collection from underrepresented groups in order to address existing disparities in PGS performance.
Measuring the counterion cloud of soft microgels using SANS with contrast variation
Authors: Zhou Boyang , Gasser Urs , Fernandez-Nieves Alberto
Published: July 2023

The behavior of microgels and other soft, compressible colloids depends on particle concentration in ways that are absent in their hard-particulate counterparts. For instance, poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM) microgels can spontaneously deswell and reduce suspension polydispersity when concentrated enough. Despite the pNIPAM network in these microgels is neutral, the key to understanding this distinct behavior relies on the existence of peripheric charged groups, responsible for providing colloidal stability when deswollen, and the associated counterion cloud. When in close proximity, clouds of different particles overlap, effectively freeing the associated counterions, which are then able to exert an osmotic pressure that can potentially cause the microgels to decrease their size. Up to now, however, no direct measurement of such an ionic cloud exists, perhaps even also for hard colloids, where it is referred to as an electric double layer. Here, we use small-angle neutron scattering with contrast variation with different ions to isolate the change in the form factor directly related to the counterion cloud, and obtain its radius and width. Our results highlight that the modeling of microgel suspensions must unavoidably and explicitly consider the presence of this cloud, which exists for nearly all microgels synthesized today.
Plakoglobin is a mechanoresponsive regulator of naive pluripotency
Authors: Kohler Timo N. , De Jonghe Joachim , Ellermann Anna L. , Yanagida Ayaka , Herger Michael , Slatery Erin M. , Weberling Antonia , Munger Clara , Fischer Katrin , Mulas Carla , Winkel Alex , Ross Connor , Bergmann Sophie , Franze Kristian , Chalut Kevin , Nichols Jennifer , Boroviak Thorsten E. , Hollfelder Florian
Published: July 2023

Biomechanical cues are instrumental in guiding embryonic development and cell differentiation. Understanding how these physical stimuli translate into transcriptional programs will provide insight into mechanisms underlying mammalian pre-implantation development. Here, we explore this type of regulation by exerting microenvironmental control over mouse embryonic stem cells. Microfluidic encapsulation of mouse embryonic stem cells in agarose microgels stabilizes the naive pluripotency network and specifically induces expression of Plakoglobin (Jup), a vertebrate homolog of β-catenin. Overexpression of Plakoglobin is sufficient to fully re-establish the naive pluripotency gene regulatory network under metastable pluripotency conditions, as confirmed by single-cell transcriptome profiling. Finally, we find that, in the epiblast, Plakoglobin was exclusively expressed at the blastocyst stage in human and mouse embryos – further strengthening the link between Plakoglobin and naive pluripotency in vivo. Our work reveals Plakoglobin as a mechanosensitive regulator of naive pluripotency and provides a paradigm to interrogate the effects of volumetric confinement on cell-fate transitions.
Rapid expansion and visual specialisation of learning and memory centres in the brains of Heliconiini butterflies
Authors: Couto Antoine , Young Fletcher J. , Atzeni Daniele , Marty Simon , Melo‐Flórez Lina , Hebberecht Laura , Monllor Monica , Neal Chris , Cicconardi Francesco , McMillan W. Owen , Montgomery Stephen H.
Published: July 2023

Changes in the abundance and diversity of neural cell types, and their connectivity, shape brain composition and provide the substrate for behavioral evolution. Although investment in sensory brain regions is understood to be largely driven by the relative ecological importance of particular sensory modalities, how selective pressures impact the elaboration of integrative brain centers has been more difficult to pinpoint. Here, we provide evidence of extensive, mosaic expansion of an integration brain center among closely related species, which is not explained by changes in sites of primary sensory input. By building new datasets of neural traits among a tribe of diverse Neotropical butterflies, the Heliconiini, we detected several major evolutionary expansions of the mushroom bodies, central brain structures pivotal for insect learning and memory. The genus Heliconius, which exhibits a unique dietary innovation, pollen-feeding, and derived foraging behaviors reliant on spatial memory, shows the most extreme enlargement. This expansion is primarily associated with increased visual processing areas and coincides with increased precision of visual processing, and enhanced long term memory. These results demonstrate that selection for behavioral innovation and enhanced cognitive ability occurred through expansion and localized specialization in integrative brain centers.
Efficient and versatile formation of glycosidic bonds via catalytic strain-release glycosylation with glycosyl ortho−2,2-dimethoxycarbonylcyclopropylbenzoate donors
Authors: Ding Han , Lyu Jian , Zhang Xiao-Lin , Xiao Xiong , Liu Xue-Wei
Published: July 2023

Catalytic glycosylation is a vital transformation in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry due to its ability to expediate the large-scale oligosaccharide synthesis for glycobiology studies with the consumption of minimal amounts of promoters. Herein we introduce a facile and efficient catalytic glycosylation employing glycosyl ortho−2,2-dimethoxycarbonylcyclopropylbenzoates (CCBz) promoted by a readily accessible and non-toxic Sc(III) catalyst system. The glycosylation reaction involves a novel activation mode of glycosyl esters driven by the ring-strain release of an intramolecularly incorporated donor-acceptor cyclopropane (DAC). The versatile glycosyl CCBz donor enables highly efficient construction of O-, S-, and N-glycosidic bonds under mild conditions, as exemplified by the convenient preparation of the synthetically challenging chitooligosaccharide derivatives. Of note, a gram-scale synthesis of tetrasaccharide corresponding to Lipid IV with modifiable handles is achieved using the catalytic strain-release glycosylation. These attractive features promise this donor to be the prototype for developing next generation of catalytic glycosylation.
Opportunistic detection of type 2 diabetes using deep learning from frontal chest radiographs
Authors: Pyrros Ayis , Borstelmann Stephen M. , Mantravadi Ramana , Zaiman Zachary , Thomas Kaesha , Price Brandon , Greenstein Eugene , Siddiqui Nasir , Willis Melinda , Shulhan Ihar , Hines-Shah John , Horowitz Jeanne M. , Nikolaidis Paul , Lungren Matthew P. , Rodríguez-Fernández Jorge Mario , Gichoya Judy Wawira , Koyejo Sanmi , Flanders Adam E , Khandwala Nishith , Gupta Amit , Garrett John W. , Cohen Joseph Paul , Layden Brian T. , Pickhardt Perry J. , Galanter William
Published: July 2023

Deep learning (DL) models can harness electronic health records (EHRs) to predict diseases and extract radiologic findings for diagnosis. With ambulatory chest radiographs (CXRs) frequently ordered, we investigated detecting type 2 diabetes (T2D) by combining radiographic and EHR data using a DL model. Our model, developed from 271,065 CXRs and 160,244 patients, was tested on a prospective dataset of 9,943 CXRs. Here we show the model effectively detected T2D with a ROC AUC of 0.84 and a 16% prevalence. The algorithm flagged 1,381 cases (14%) as suspicious for T2D. External validation at a distinct institution yielded a ROC AUC of 0.77, with 5% of patients subsequently diagnosed with T2D. Explainable AI techniques revealed correlations between specific adiposity measures and high predictivity, suggesting CXRs’ potential for enhanced T2D screening.
Accessing parity-forbidden d-d transitions for photocatalytic CO2 reduction driven by infrared light
Authors: Li Xiaodong , Li Li , Chen Guangbo , Chu Xingyuan , Liu Xiaohui , Naisa Chandrasekhar , Pohl Darius , Löffler Markus , Feng Xinliang
Published: July 2023

A general approach to promote IR light-driven CO2 reduction within ultrathin Cu-based hydrotalcite-like hydroxy salts is presented. Associated band structures and optical properties of the Cu-based materials are first predicted by theory. Subsequently, Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 nanosheets were synthesized and are found to undergo cascaded electron transfer processes based on d-d orbital transitions under infrared light irradiation. The obtained samples exhibit excellent activity for IR light-driven CO2 reduction, with a production rate of 21.95 and 4.11 μmol g−1 h−1 for CO and CH4, respectively, surpassing most reported catalysts under the same reaction conditions. X-ray absorption spectroscopy and in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy are used to track the evolution of the catalytic sites and intermediates to understand the photocatalytic mechanism. Similar ultrathin catalysts are also investigated to explore the generality of the proposed electron transfer approach. Our findings illustrate that abundant transition metal complexes hold great promise for IR light-responsive photocatalysis.
Unraveling the optical shape of snow
Authors: Robledano Alvaro , Picard Ghislain , Dumont Marie , Flin Frédéric , Arnaud Laurent , Libois Quentin
Published: July 2023

The reflection of sunlight off the snow is a major driver of the Earth’s climate. This reflection is governed by the shape and arrangement of ice crystals at the micrometer scale, called snow microstructure. However, snow optical models overlook the complexity of this microstructure by using simple shapes, and mainly spheres. The use of these various shapes leads to large uncertainties in climate modeling, which could reach 1.2 K in global air temperature. Here, we accurately simulate light propagation in three-dimensional images of natural snow at the micrometer scale, revealing the optical shape of snow. This optical shape is neither spherical nor close to the other idealized shapes commonly used in models. Instead, it more closely approximates a collection of convex particles without symmetry. Besides providing a more realistic representation of snow in the visible and near-infrared spectral region (400 to 1400 nm), this breakthrough can be directly used in climate models, reducing by 3 the uncertainties in global air temperature related to the optical shape of snow.
Lateral membrane organization as target of an antimicrobial peptidomimetic compound
Authors: Melcrová Adéla , Maity Sourav , Melcr Josef , de Kok Niels A. W. , Gabler Mariella , van der Eyden Jonne , Stensen Wenche , Svendsen John S. M. , Driessen Arnold J. M. , Marrink Siewert J. , Roos Wouter H.
Published: July 2023

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the leading concerns in medical care. Here we study the mechanism of action of an antimicrobial cationic tripeptide, AMC-109, by combining high speed-atomic force microscopy, molecular dynamics, fluorescence assays, and lipidomic analysis. We show that AMC-109 activity on negatively charged membranes derived from Staphylococcus aureus consists of two crucial steps. First, AMC-109 self-assembles into stable aggregates consisting of a hydrophobic core and a cationic surface, with specificity for negatively charged membranes. Second, upon incorporation into the membrane, individual peptides insert into the outer monolayer, affecting lateral membrane organization and dissolving membrane nanodomains, without forming pores. We propose that membrane domain dissolution triggered by AMC-109 may affect crucial functions such as protein sorting and cell wall synthesis. Our results indicate that the AMC-109 mode of action resembles that of the disinfectant benzalkonium chloride (BAK), but with enhanced selectivity for bacterial membranes.
Frozen sound: An ultra-low frequency and ultra-broadband non-reciprocal acoustic absorber
Authors: Maddi Anis , Olivier Come , Poignand Gaelle , Penelet Guillaume , Pagneux Vincent , Aurégan Yves
Published: July 2023

The absorption of airborne sound is still a subject of active research, and even more since the emergence of acoustic metamaterials. Although being subwavelength, the screen barriers developed so far cannot absorb more than 50% of an incident wave at very low frequencies (<100 Hz). Here, we explore the design of a subwavelength and broadband absorbing screen based on thermoacoustic energy conversion. The system consists of a porous layer kept at room temperature on one side while the other side is cooled down to a very low temperature using liquid nitrogen. At the absorbing screen, the sound wave experiences both a pressure jump caused by viscous drag, and a velocity jump caused by thermoacoustic energy conversion breaking reciprocity and allowing a one-sided absorption up to 95 % even in the infrasound regime. By overcoming the ordinary low frequency absorption limit, thermoacoustic effects open the door to the design of innovative devices.
Porous microneedle patch with sustained delivery of extracellular vesicles mitigates severe spinal cord injury
Authors: Fang Ao , Wang Yifan , Guan Naiyu , Zuo Yanming , Lin Lingmin , Guo Binjie , Mo Aisheng , Wu Yile , Lin Xurong , Cai Wanxiong , Chen Xiangfeng , Ye Jingjia , Abdelrahman Zeinab , Li Xiaodan , Zheng Hanyu , Wu Zhonghan , Jin Shuang , Xu Kan , Huang Yan , Gu Xiaosong , Yu Bin , Wang Xuhua
Published: July 2023

The transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells-derived secretome, particularly extracellular vesicles is a promising therapy to suppress spinal cord injury-triggered neuroinflammation. However, efficient delivery of extracellular vesicles to the injured spinal cord, with minimal damage, remains a challenge. Here we present a device for the delivery of extracellular vesicles to treat spinal cord injury. We show that the device incorporating mesenchymal stem cells and porous microneedles enables the delivery of extracellular vesicles. We demonstrate that topical application to the spinal cord lesion beneath the spinal dura, does not damage the lesion. We evaluate the efficacy of our device in a contusive spinal cord injury model and find that it reduces the cavity and scar tissue formation, promotes angiogenesis, and improves survival of nearby tissues and axons. Importantly, the sustained delivery of extracellular vesicles for at least 7 days results in significant functional recovery. Thus, our device provides an efficient and sustained extracellular vesicles delivery platform for spinal cord injury treatment.
Endothelial cell CD36 regulates membrane ceramide formation, exosome fatty acid transfer and circulating fatty acid levels
Authors: Peche V. S. , Pietka T. A. , Jacome-Sosa M. , Samovski D. , Palacios H. , Chatterjee-Basu G. , Dudley A. C. , Beatty W. , Meyer G. A. , Goldberg I. J. , Abumrad N. A.
Published: July 2023

Endothelial cell (EC) CD36 controls tissue fatty acid (FA) uptake. Here we examine how ECs transfer FAs. FA interaction with apical membrane CD36 induces Src phosphorylation of caveolin-1 tyrosine-14 (Cav-1Y14) and ceramide generation in caveolae. Ensuing fission of caveolae yields vesicles containing FAs, CD36 and ceramide that are secreted basolaterally as small (80–100 nm) exosome-like extracellular vesicles (sEVs). We visualize in transwells EC transfer of FAs in sEVs to underlying myotubes. In mice with EC-expression of the exosome marker emeraldGFP-CD63, muscle fibers accumulate circulating FAs in emGFP-labeled puncta. The FA-sEV pathway is mapped through its suppression by CD36 depletion, blocking actin-remodeling, Src inhibition, Cav-1Y14 mutation, and neutral sphingomyelinase 2 inhibition. Suppression of sEV formation in mice reduces muscle FA uptake, raises circulating FAs, which remain in blood vessels, and lowers glucose, mimicking prominent Cd36−/− mice phenotypes. The findings show that FA uptake influences membrane ceramide, endocytosis, and EC communication with parenchymal cells.
Complement is activated by elevated IgG3 hexameric platforms and deposits C4b onto distinct antibody domains
Authors: Abendstein Leoni , Dijkstra Douwe J. , Tjokrodirijo Rayman T. N. , van Veelen Peter A. , Trouw Leendert A. , Hensbergen Paul J. , Sharp Thomas H.
Published: July 2023

IgG3 is unique among the IgG subclasses due to its extended hinge, allotypic diversity and enhanced effector functions, including highly efficient pathogen neutralisation and complement activation. It is also underrepresented as an immunotherapeutic candidate, partly due to a lack of structural information. Here, we use cryoEM to solve structures of antigen-bound IgG3 alone and in complex with complement components. These structures reveal a propensity for IgG3-Fab clustering, which is possible due to the IgG3-specific flexible upper hinge region and may maximise pathogen neutralisation by forming high-density antibody arrays. IgG3 forms elevated hexameric Fc platforms that extend above the protein corona to maximise binding to receptors and the complement C1 complex, which here adopts a unique protease conformation that may precede C1 activation. Mass spectrometry reveals that C1 deposits C4b directly onto specific IgG3 residues proximal to the Fab domains. Structural analysis shows this to be caused by the height of the C1-IgG3 complex. Together, these data provide structural insights into the role of the unique IgG3 extended hinge, which will aid the development and design of upcoming immunotherapeutics based on IgG3.
Enrichment and characterization of a nitric oxide-reducing microbial community in a continuous bioreactor
Authors: Garrido-Amador Paloma , Stortenbeker Niek , Wessels Hans J. C. T. , Speth Daan R. , Garcia-Heredia Inmaculada , Kartal Boran
Published: July 2023

Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive and climate-active molecule and a key intermediate in the microbial nitrogen cycle. Despite its role in the evolution of denitrification and aerobic respiration, high redox potential and capacity to sustain microbial growth, our understanding of NO-reducing microorganisms remains limited due to the absence of NO-reducing microbial cultures obtained directly from the environment using NO as a substrate. Here, using a continuous bioreactor and a constant supply of NO as the sole electron acceptor, we enriched and characterized a microbial community dominated by two previously unknown microorganisms that grow at nanomolar NO concentrations and survive high amounts (>6 µM) of this toxic gas, reducing it to N2 with little to non-detectable production of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. These results provide insight into the physiology of NO-reducing microorganisms, which have pivotal roles in the control of climate-active gases, waste removal, and evolution of nitrate and oxygen respiration.
Development of an alternative device for measurement and characterization of selected meteorological parameters
Authors: Adelakun A. O. , Akano O.
Published: July 2023

Weather monitoring and forecasting during some of nature’s most violent events, such as lightning and thunder, necessitates immediate preventive action for improved agricultural precision, power equipment effectiveness among others. Weather stations that are all-in-one for villages, low-income communities, and cities could provide a dependable, cost-effective, robust, and user-friendly solution. A wide range of low-cost weather monitoring stations equipped with ground-based and satellite-based lightning detectors are available on the market. This paper develops a low-cost real-time data logger device that measures lightning strikes and other weather parameters. Temperature and relative humidity are detected and recorded by the sensor (BME280). The sensing unit, readout circuit unit, microcontroller unit, recording unit, real-time clock, display unit, and power supply unit are the seven sections of the lightning detector with a real-time data logger. The sensing unit of the instrument is made of a lightning sensor glued to a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to prevent moisture inflow and short circuit. The readout circuit consists of a 16-bit analog-to-digital converter and a filter designed to improve the output signal of the lightning detector. It was programmed with C-language and tested using the integrated development environment on the Arduino-Uno microcontroller (IDE). The device was calibrated, and its accuracy was determined using data from a standard lightning detector instrument from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
Short-term changes in tear osmolarity after instillation of different osmolarity eye drops in patients with dry eye
Authors: Kim Woojin , Woo In Ho , Eom Youngsub , Song Jong Suk
Published: July 2023

This study investigated short-term changes in tear osmolarity of dry eye patients after using artificial tears containing sodium hyaluronate (SH) at different osmolarities. It comprised 80 patients with dry eye whose tear osmolarity measurement using the TearLab osmolarity system was 300 mOsm/L or greater. Patients who had external ocular disease, glaucoma, or other concomitant ocular pathology were excluded. After being randomly divided into four groups, the participants received different kinds of SH eye drops as follows: Groups 1–3 were given one of three concentrations (0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.3%) of isotonic drops, while Group 4 received 0.18% hypotonic SH eye drops. The tear osmolarity concentrations were evaluated at baseline and again at 1-, 5-, and 10-min after instillation of each eye drop. Tear osmolarity showed a significant decrease after instillation of four types of SH eye drops after up to 10 min compared to baseline. Patients who received hypotonic SH eye drops showed an enhanced decrease in tear osmolarity compared with the isotonic SH eye drops after 1 min (p < 0.001) and 5 min (p = 0.006), but the difference was not significant at 10 min (p = 0.836). The enhanced immediate effect of hypotonic SH eye drops at lowering tear osmolarity in patients with dry eye seems to be limited unless these drops were used frequently.
Synergistic effect of ultrasound and antimicrobial solutions of cecropin P1 in the deactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 using a cylindrical ultrasonic system
Authors: Fitriyanti Maya , Bagherzadeh Saeed , Narsimhan Ganesan
Published: July 2023

This study investigates the synergistic effect of ultrasonication and antimicrobial action of antimicrobial peptide cecropin P1 on the inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a cylindrical ultrasonication system. The inactivation of E. coli at pH 7.4 was performed using: ultrasonication (14, 22, and 47 kHz), cecropin P1 (20 µg/mL), and a combination of both. We found the treatment at 22 kHz, 8W for 15 min of exposure and a combination of ultrasound at higher frequency (47 kHz, 8 W) and cecropin P1 for one minute of exposure were more efficient, reducing the cell density by six orders of magnitude, compared to individual treatments (ultrasound or cecropin P1 only). Dye leakage studies and transmission electron microscopy further validated these results. A continuous flow system was designed to demonstrate synergism of ultrasonication with antimicrobial peptide Cecropin P1 in the inactivation of E. coli; synergism was shown to be more at higher ultrasonication frequencies and power levels. Acoustic cavitation by ultrasonic treatment could drastically improve microbial deactivation by antimicrobial peptides cecropin P1 by increasing their ability for pore formation in cell membranes. A continuous ultrasonication and antimicrobial peptides system can lead to an energy-efficient and economical sterilization system for food safety applications.
Mathematical model for glutathione dynamics in the retina
Authors: Dobreva Atanaska , Camacho Erika Tatiana , Miranda María
Published: July 2023

The retina is highly susceptible to the generation of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) that disrupt the normal operations of retinal cells. The glutathione (GSH) antioxidant system plays an important role in mitigating ROS. To perform its protective functions, GSH depends on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) produced through the pentose phosphate pathway. This work develops the first mathematical model for the GSH antioxidant system in the outer retina, capturing the most essential components for formation of ROS, GSH production, its oxidation in detoxifying ROS, and subsequent reduction by NADPH. We calibrate and validate the model using experimental measurements, at different postnatal days up to PN28, from control mice and from the rd1 mouse model for the disease retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Global sensitivity analysis is then applied to examine the model behavior and identify the pathways with the greatest impact in control compared to RP conditions. The findings underscore the importance of GSH and NADPH production in dealing with oxidative stress during retinal development, especially after peak rod degeneration occurs in RP, leading to increased oxygen tension. This suggests that stimulation of GSH and NADPH synthesis could be a potential intervention strategy in degenerative mouse retinas with RP.
Effectiveness of teaching psychopathology through the analysis of movie characters: a randomized controlled trial in Shandong Province, China
Authors: Song Yun , Ma Yingjie , Huang Yi , Wang Yang , Xu Peiru , Huang Guangchuan , Chen Xu
Published: July 2023

We studied the effectiveness of movie character analysis for teaching psychotic symptomatology to medical undergraduates. We randomly selected two of six medical schools in Shandong Province, China, then randomly assigned eight undergraduate classes at those schools to intervention or control groups. The intervention group (n = 162) participated in seminars in which psychotic symptoms were explored through analysis of movie characters. The control group (n = 165) participated in conventional seminars. The participants in both groups were surveyed with a custom-designed questionnaire, and their knowledge was assessed using a written exam. Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed greater interest in the topic (t = 5.63, p < 0.001), better understanding of psychotic symptoms (t = 2.37, p = 0.02), and greater acceptance (t = 9.80, p < 0.001). In addition, the intervention group showed significantly greater knowledge on the written exam (t = 5.78, p < 0.001). Analyzing movie characters can improve the teaching of psychotic symptomatology and should be further explored and promoted.
Exogenous plant growth regulator and foliar fertilizers for phytoextraction of cadmium with Boehmeria nivea [L.] Gaudich from contaminated field soil
Authors: Peng Wenxian , He Yejun , He Si , Luo Jinfeng , Zeng Yi , Zhang Xiaoyang , Huo Yingyi , Jie Yucheng , Xing Hucheng
Published: July 2023

As a enrichment plant, ramie can be used for the phytoremediation of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil. However, it is worth exploring the role of plant growth regulators and foliar fertilizers in the process of plant growth and development and Cd adsorption. By measuring the agronomic traits, Cd content of aboveground and underground ramie, calculating the Cd transfer coefficient (TF) and Cd bioconcentration factors (BCF), and the correlation between various indicators. This study examined the effects of plant growth regulators and foliar fertilizers on ramie’s capacity for Cd accumulation and transportation. Plant growth regulators and foliar fertilizers increased the Cd content of the aboveground ramie, reduced the Cd content of the underground ramie, and increased the TF. Among them, GA-1 increased the Cd content of the aboveground ramie to 3 times more than that of the control and reduced the Cd content of the underground ramie by 54.76%. Salicylic acid (SA) increased the Cd content of the aboveground ramie to three times more than that of the control. The combination of GA and foliar fertilizer reduced the Cd content of the aboveground and underground ramie and the TF and BCF of the underground ramie. After the hormones were sprayed, the TF of ramie had a significant positive correlation with the Cd content of the aboveground ramie; the BCF of the aboveground ramie had a significant positive correlation with the Cd content and TF of the aboveground ramie. The results indicate that Brassinolide (BR), gibberellin (GA), ethephon (ETH), polyamines (PAs), and salicylic acid (SA) have different effects on the enrichment and transport of Cd in ramie. This study provided an effective method to improve the capacity for ramie to adsorb heavy metals during cultivation.