bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drag forces at the ice-sheet bed and resistance of hard-rock obstacles: the physics of glacial ripping
Authors: Krabbendam Maarten , Dioguardi Fabio , Arnhardt Christian , Roberson Sam , Hall Adrian M.
Published: July 2022

Glacial ripping involves glaciotectonic disintegration of rock hills and extensive removal of rock at the ice-sheet bed, triggered by hydraulic jacking caused by fluctuating water pressures. Evidence from eastern Sweden shows that glacial ripping caused significant subglacial erosion during the final deglaciation of the Fennoscandian ice sheet, distinct from abrasion and plucking (quarrying). Here we analyse the ice drag forces exerted onto rock obstacles at the base of an ice sheet, and the resisting forces of such rock obstacles: glaciotectonic disintegration requires that ice drag forces exceed the resisting forces of the rock obstacle. We consider rock obstacles of different sizes, shapes and fracture patterns, informed by natural examples from eastern Sweden. Our analysis shows that limited overpressure events, unfavourable fracture patterns, low-transmissivity fractures, slow ice and streamlined rock hamper rock hill disintegration. Conversely, under fast ice flow and fluctuating water pressures, disintegration is possible if the rock hill contains subhorizontal, transmissive fractures. Rock steps on previously smooth, abraded surfaces, caused by hydraulic jacking, also enhance drag forces and can cause disintegration of a rock hill. Glacial ripping is a physically plausible erosion mechanism, under realistic glaciological conditions prevalent near ice margins.
Mobilising through vaccination: the case of polio in France (1950–60s)
Authors: Baylac-Paouly Baptiste , Caballero María-Victoria , Porras María-Isabel
Published: July 2022

Poliomyelitis is a disease whose incidence steadily increased during the second half of the twentieth century on both sides of the Atlantic. If in the United States the epidemics which afflicted young children each summer became a major public health issue, in France, polio was considered less pressing than other diseases. This article, based on original archives from the Pasteur and Mérieux institutes, analyses the polio control strategies and policies implemented by France from the mid-1950s to the end of the 1960s. The article examines the role of two key actors and institutions that mobilised the French health authorities against the disease: Pierre Lépine and the Institut Pasteur as well as Charles Mérieux and the Institut Mérieux. Lépine developed an effective injected polio vaccine which was first used before being supplemented with the oral polio vaccine. If the two main protagonists and their institutions worked together, they each implemented different actions and manoeuvres, at different times with the aim to raise awareness of the fight against the disease. The national and international relations of the key French actors were decisive in the development and production of the polio vaccines and their application. This work contributes to understanding processes of polio vaccines choice at the level of national institutions and analyses the political and scientific networks built in support of polio vaccination, to finally move towards compulsory vaccination. Ultimately, this study describes the historical processes by which this disease became conflated with a biotechnology of collective protection in France.
Prefrontal-cerebellar dynamics during post-success and post-error cognitive controls in major psychiatric disorders
Authors: Cao Hengyi
Published: July 2022

Background

Difficulty in cognitive adjustment after a conflict or error is a hallmark for many psychiatric disorders, yet the underlying neural correlates are not fully understood. We have previously shown that post-success and post-error cognitive controls are associated with distinct mechanisms particularly related to the prefrontal-cerebellar circuit, raising the possibility that altered dynamic interactions in this circuit may underlie mental illness.

Methods

This study included 136 patients with three diagnosed disorders [48 schizophrenia (SZ), 49 bipolar disorder (BD), 39 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)] and 89 healthy controls who completed a stop-signal task during fMRI scans. Brain activations for concurrent, post-success, and post-error cognitive controls were analyzed and compared between groups. Dynamic causal modeling was applied to investigate prefrontal-cerebellar effective connectivity patterns during post-success and post-error processing.

Results

No significant group differences were observed for brain activations and overall effective connectivity structures during post-success and post-error conditions. However, significant group differences were shown for the modulational effect on top-down connectivity from the prefrontal cortex to the cerebellum during post-error trials (pFWE = 0.02), which was driven by reduced modulations in both SZ and ADHD. During post-success trials, there were significantly decreased modulational effect on bottom-up connectivity from the cerebellum to the prefrontal cortex in ADHD (pFWE = 0.04) and decreased driving input to the cerebellum in SZ (pFWE = 0.04).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that patients with SZ and ADHD are associated with insufficient neural modulation on the prefrontal-cerebellar circuit during post-success and post-error cognitive processing, a phenomenon that may underlie cognitive deficits in these disorders.
Pretending to be a believer: on understanding religious fictionalism as a role-playing game
Authors: Palmqvist Carl-Johan
Published: July 2022

According to religious fictionalism, a non-believer can participate in religious life by playing a game of make-believe. Considering how games of make-believe build on imagination and pretence, I argue that religious fictionalism requires the non-believing participant to engage in role-playing. Turning to the literature on role-playing games, I demonstrate how religious fictionalism conforms to a qualified definition of such games. I also explore the theoretical consequences of adopting the role-playing perspective, by considering its impact on two key issues concerning religious fictionalism.
Electoral coalition signals and voter perceptions
Authors: Jang Jinhyuk , Crabtree Charles , Golder Sona N.
Published: July 2022

How do electoral coalition signals affect voters' perceptions of party positions and coalition behavior in parliamentary democracies? Scholars have found that coalition signals can influence how voters view policy positions of parties. Extending research on the impact of government coalition participation on voter perceptions, a recent study found that Spanish voters update their perceptions of party positions when they receive a signal that a party joined an electoral coalition, believing it to be farther to the left (right) if the signal was of a left- (right-)leaning coalition. That study also found, in agreement with the literature, that electoral coalition signals lead to expectations of future coalition behavior. Much of the literature on electoral coalitions focuses on parliamentary democracies in Europe that use proportional representation. Since the effects of electoral coalitions might vary across contexts, we conduct a similar survey experiment in Japan, a parliamentary democracy that uses a mixed electoral system with an important disproportional component. We find no evidence that electoral coalition signals affect how Japanese voters view the ideological positions of parties, a result that matches a similar analysis conducted in Sweden. However, some coalition signals – if they contain new information – do increase Japanese respondents' expectations that certain coalitions are more likely to form in the future.
State of Ireland's mental health: findings from a nationally representative survey
Authors: Hyland Philip , Vallières Frédérique , Shevlin Mark , Bentall Richard P. , Butter Sarah , Hartman Todd K. , Karatzias Thanos , Martinez Anton P. , McBride Orla , Murphy Jamie , Fox Robert
Published: July 2022

Aims

Current information about the prevalence of various mental health disorders in the general adult population of the Republic of Ireland is lacking. In this study, we examined the prevalence of 12 common mental disorders, the proportion of adults who screened positive for any disorder, the sociodemographic factors associated with meeting criteria for a disorder and the associations between each disorder and history of attempted suicide.

Methods

A non-probability nationally representative sample (N = 1110) of adults living in Ireland completed self-report measures of 12 mental health disorders. Effect sizes were calculated using odds ratios from logistic regression models, and population attributable risk fractions (PAFs) were estimated to quantify the associations between each disorder and attempted suicide.

Results

Prevalence rates ranged from 15.0% (insomnia disorder) to 1.7% (histrionic personality disorder). Overall, 42.5% of the sample met criteria for a mental health disorder, and 11.1% had a lifetime history of attempted suicide. Younger age, being a shift worker and trauma exposure were independently associated with a higher likelihood of having a mental health disorder, while being in university was associated with a lower likelihood of having a disorder. ICD-11 complex posttraumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder and insomnia disorder had the highest PAFs for attempted suicide.

Conclusions

Mental health disorder prevalence in Ireland is relatively high compared to international estimates. The findings are discussed in relation to important mental health policy implications.
Effective tumor cell abrogation via Venetoclax-mediated BCL-2 inhibition in KMT2A-rearranged acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Richter Anna , Lange Sandra , Holz Clemens , Brock Luisa , Freitag Thomas , Sekora Anett , Knuebel Gudrun , Krohn Saskia , Schwarz Rico , Hinz Burkhard , Murua Escobar Hugo , Junghanss Christian
Published: July 2022

Dysregulation of the intrinsic BCL-2 pathway-mediated apoptosis cascade is a common feature of hematological malignancies including acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The KMT2A-rearranged high-risk cytogenetic subtype is characterized by high expression of antiapoptotic protein BCL-2, likely due to the direct activating binding of KMT2A fusion proteins to the BCL2 gene. The BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax (VEN) has proven great clinical value in other blood cancers, however, data on B-ALL is sparse and past studies have not so far described the effects of VEN on gene and protein expression profiles. Using cell lines and patient-derived in vivo xenograft models, we show BCL-2 pathway-mediated apoptosis induction and decelerated tumor cell counts in KMT2A-rearranged B-ALL but not in other cytogenetic subtypes. VEN treatment of cell line- and patient-derived xenografts reduced blast frequencies in blood, bone marrow, and spleen, and tumor cell doubling times were increased. Growth rates are further correlated with VEN concentrations in blood. In vitro incubation with VEN resulted in BCL-2 dephosphorylation and targeted panel RNA sequencing revealed reduced gene expression of antiapoptotic pathway members BCL2, MCL1, and BCL2L1 (BCL-XL). Reinforced translocation of BAX proteins towards mitochondria induced caspase activation and cell death commitment. Prolonged VEN application led to upregulation of antiapoptotic proteins BCL-2, MCL-1, and BCL-XL. Interestingly, the extrinsic apoptosis pathway was strongly modulated in SEM cells in response to VEN. Gene expression of members of the tumor necrosis factor signaling cascade was increased, resulting in canonical NF-kB signaling. This possibly suggests a previously undescribed mechanism of BCL-2-independent and NF-kB-mediated upregulation of MCL-1 and BCL-XL. In summary, we herein prove that VEN is a potent option to suppress tumor cells in KMT2A-rearranged B-ALL in vitro and in vivo. Possible evasion mechanisms, however, must be considered in subsequent studies.
Analysis of diverse double-strand break synapsis with Polλ reveals basis for unique substrate specificity in nonhomologous end-joining
Authors: Kaminski Andrea M. , Chiruvella Kishore K. , Ramsden Dale A. , Bebenek Katarzyna , Kunkel Thomas A. , Pedersen Lars C.
Published: July 2022

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) threaten genomic stability, since their persistence can lead to loss of critical genetic information, chromosomal translocations or rearrangements, and cell death. DSBs can be repaired through the nonhomologous end-joining pathway (NHEJ), which processes and ligates DNA ends efficiently to prevent or minimize sequence loss. Polymerase λ (Polλ), one of the Family X polymerases, fills sequence gaps of DSB substrates with a strict specificity for a base-paired primer terminus. There is little information regarding Polλ’s approach to engaging such substrates. We used in vitro polymerization and cell-based NHEJ assays to explore the contributions of conserved loop regions toward DSB substrate specificity and utilization. In addition, we present multiple crystal structures of Polλ in synapsis with varying biologically relevant DSB end configurations, revealing how key structural features and hydrogen bonding networks work in concert to stabilize these tenuous, potentially cytotoxic DNA lesions during NHEJ.
A litmus test for classifying recognition mechanisms of transiently binding proteins
Authors: Chakrabarti Kalyan S. , Olsson Simon , Pratihar Supriya , Giller Karin , Overkamp Kerstin , Lee Ko On , Gapsys Vytautas , Ryu Kyoung-Seok , de Groot Bert L. , Noé Frank , Becker Stefan , Lee Donghan , Weikl Thomas R. , Griesinger Christian
Published: July 2022

Partner recognition in protein binding is critical for all biological functions, and yet, delineating its mechanism is challenging, especially when recognition happens within microseconds. We present a theoretical and experimental framework based on straight-forward nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation dispersion measurements to investigate protein binding mechanisms on sub-millisecond timescales, which are beyond the reach of standard rapid-mixing experiments. This framework predicts that conformational selection prevails on ubiquitin’s paradigmatic interaction with an SH3 (Src-homology 3) domain. By contrast, the SH3 domain recognizes ubiquitin in a two-state binding process. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations and Markov state modeling reveal that the ubiquitin conformation selected for binding exhibits a characteristically extended C-terminus. Our framework is robust and expandable for implementation in other binding scenarios with the potential to show that conformational selection might be the design principle of the hubs in protein interaction networks.
Intestine-enriched apolipoprotein b orthologs are required for stem cell progeny differentiation and regeneration in planarians
Authors: Wong Lily L. , Bruxvoort Christina G. , Cejda Nicholas I. , Delaney Matthew R. , Otero Jannette Rodriguez , Forsthoefel David J.
Published: July 2022

Lipid metabolism plays an instructive role in regulating stem cell state and differentiation. However, the roles of lipid mobilization and utilization in stem cell-driven regeneration are unclear. Planarian flatworms readily restore missing tissue due to injury-induced activation of pluripotent somatic stem cells called neoblasts. Here, we identify two intestine-enriched orthologs of apolipoprotein b, apob-1 and apob-2, which mediate transport of neutral lipid stores from the intestine to target tissues including neoblasts, and are required for tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Inhibition of apob function by RNAi causes head regression and lysis in uninjured animals, and delays body axis re-establishment and regeneration of multiple organs in amputated fragments. Furthermore, apob RNAi causes expansion of the population of differentiating neoblast progeny and dysregulates expression of genes enriched in differentiating and mature cells in eight major cell type lineages. We conclude that intestine-derived lipids serve as a source of metabolites required for neoblast progeny differentiation.
Inclusion of infrared dielectric screening in the GW method from polaron energies to charge mobilities
Authors: Umari Paolo
Published: July 2022

We introduce in the many-body GW scheme the modulation of the screened Coulomb interactionWarising from the macroscopic dielectric response in the infrared. We derive expressions for the polaron binding energies, the renormalization of the effective masses and for the electron and hole relaxation times. Electron and hole mobilities are then obtained from the incorporation of appropriate scattering rules. Zinc-blende GaN and orthorhombic MAPbI3are used as test beds finding fair agreement with results from rigorous electron-phonon coupling approaches. Although limited to polar phonons, our method has a negligible computational cost.
XGBoost model for electrocaloric temperature change prediction in ceramics
Authors: Gong Jie , Chu Sharon , Mehta Rohan K. , McGaughey Alan J. H.
Published: July 2022

An eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) machine learning model is built to predict the electrocaloric (EC) temperature change of a ceramic based on its composition (encoded by Magpie elemental properties), dielectric constant, Curie temperature, and characterization conditions. A dataset of 97 EC ceramics is assembled from the experimental literature. By sampling data from clusters in the feature space, the model can achieve a coefficient of determination of 0.77 and a root mean square error of 0.38 K for the test data. Feature analysis shows that the model captures known physics for effective EC materials. The Magpie features help the model to distinguish between materials, with the elemental electronegativities and ionic charges identified as key features. The model is applied to 66 ferroelectrics whose EC performance has not been characterized. Lead-free candidates with a predicted EC temperature change above 2 K at room temperature and 100 kV/cm are identified.
Coloured filters can simulate colour deficiency in normal vision but cannot compensate for congenital colour vision deficiency
Authors: Álvaro Leticia , Linhares João M. M. , Formankiewicz Monika A. , Waugh Sarah J.
Published: July 2022

Red-green colour vision deficiency (CVD) affects ~ 4% of Caucasians. Notch filters exist to simulate CVD when worn by colour vision normal (CVN) observers (simulation tools), or to improve colour discrimination when worn by CVD observers (compensation tools). The current study assesses effects of simulation (Variantor) and compensation (EnChroma) filters on performance in a variety of tasks. Experiments were conducted on 20 CVN and 16 CVD participants under no-filter and filter conditions (5 CVN used Variantor; 15 CVN and 16 CVD used EnChroma). Participants were tested on Ishihara and Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue tests, CVA-UMinho colour discrimination and colour naming tasks and a board-game colour-sorting task. Repeated-measures ANOVAs found Variantor filters to significantly worsen CVN performance, mimicking protanopia. Mixed-model and repeated-measures ANOVAs demonstrate that EnChroma filters do not significantly enhance performance in CVD observers. Key EnChroma results were replicated in 8 CVD children (Ishihara test) and a sub-sample of 6 CVD adults (CVA-UMinho colour discrimination and colour naming tasks) for a smaller stimulus size. Pattern similarity exists across hue for discrimination thresholds and naming errors. Variantor filters are effective at mimicking congenital colour vision defects in CVN observers for all tasks, however EnChroma filters do not significantly compensate for CVD in any.
Association of the triglyceride-glucose index with weight-adjusted appendicular lean mass in Chinese adolescents aged 12–18 years old
Authors: Zhou Jinyu , Bai Ling , Tong Lingling , Jia Leina , Ding Wenqing
Published: July 2022

There is no study exploring the association between triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and skeletal muscle mass in Chinese adolescents. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore the association between TyG index and appendicular lean mass (ALM) in Chinese adolescents. In this study, 1336 adolescents (805 boys, 60.25%) aged 12–18 years in China were randomly selected through a stratified cluster sampling. According to the tertiles of TyG index, we separated all participants into three groups, and LM was measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. The TyG index was negatively related to ALM/weight in Chinese adolescents whether stratified by gender (boys: β = − 0.293; girls: β = − 0.195; all P < 0.001). After adjusting for age and BMI, a significant correlation between the TyG index and ALM/weight was observed only in boys (β = − 0.169, P = 0.001). The highest TyG index tertile was significantly associated with low ALM/weight after adjusting for all covariates in the full sample (OR = 3.04, 95% CI 1.12–8.26, P = 0.029) and boys (OR = 4.68, 95% CI 1.22–17.95, P = 0.025) only in overweight/obese group. Our findings suggested elevated levels of TyG index may be a risk factor of low ALM/weight in Chinese adolescents, especially in boys.
Physiological responses and adaptations to high methane production in Japanese Black cattle
Authors: Kim Minji , Masaki Tatsunori , Ikuta Kentaro , Iwamoto Eiji , Nishihara Koki , Hirai Makoto , Uemoto Yoshinobu , Terada Fuminori , Roh Sanggun
Published: July 2022

In this study, using enteric methane emissions, we investigated the metabolic characteristics of Japanese Black cattle. Their methane emissions were measured at early (age 13 months), middle (20 months), and late fattening phases (28 months). Cattle with the highest and lowest methane emissions were selected based on the residual methane emission values, and their liver transcriptome, blood metabolites, hormones, and rumen fermentation characteristics were analyzed. Blood β-hydroxybutyric acid and insulin levels were high, whereas blood amino acid levels were low in cattle with high methane emissions. Further, propionate and butyrate levels differed depending on the enteric methane emissions. Hepatic genes, such as SERPINI2, SLC7A5, ATP6, and RRAD, which were related to amino acid transport and glucose metabolism, were upregulated or downregulated during the late fattening phase. The above mentioned metabolites and liver transcriptomes could be used to evaluate enteric methanogenesis in Japanese Black cattle.
Oncogenic role and potential regulatory mechanism of topoisomerase IIα in a pan-cancer analysis
Authors: Wang Xiaobo , Wang Jinhua , Lyu Li , Gao Xin , Cai Yinuo , Tang Bo
Published: July 2022

Topoisomerase IIα (TOP2A) plays an oncogenic role in multiple tumor types. However, no pan-cancer analysis about the function and the upstream molecular mechanism of TOP2A is available. For the first time, we analyzed potential oncogenic roles of TOP2A in 33 cancer types via The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Overexpression of TOP2A was existed in almost all cancer types, and related to poor prognosis and advanced pathological stages in most cases. Besides, the high frequency of TOP2A genetic alterations was observed in several cancer types, and related to prognosis in some cases. Moreover, we conduct upstream miRNAs and lncRNAs of TOP2A to establish ceRNA networks in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (SNHG3-miR-139-5p), kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (TMEM147-AS1/N4BP2L2-IT2/THUMPD3-AS1/ERICD/TTN-AS1/SH3BP5-AS1/THRB-IT1/SNHG3/NEAT1-miR-139-5p), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (SNHG3/THUMPD3-AS1/NUTM2B-AS1/NUTM2A-AS1-miR-139-5p and SNHG6/GSEC/SNHG1/SNHG14/LINC00265/MIR3142HG-miR-101-3p) and lung adenocarcinoma (TYMSOS/HELLPAR/SNHG1/GSEC/SNHG6-miR-101-3p). TOP2A expression was generally positively correlated with cancer associated fibroblasts, M0 and M1 macrophages in most cancer types. Furthermore, TOP2A was positively associated with expression of immune checkpoints (CD274, CTLA4, HAVCR2, LAG3, PDCD1 and TIGIT) in most cancer types. Our first TOP2A pan-cancer study contributes to understanding the prognostic roles, immunological roles and potential upstream molecular mechanism of TOP2A in different cancers.
Amelioration for an ignored pitfall in reference gene selection by considering the mean expression and standard deviation of target genes
Authors: Esfandiarpour Ghazal , Mokhtari Mohammad , Javadirad Seyed-Morteza , Kolahdouzan Mohsen , Almuslimawi Ahmed
Published: July 2022

Routine tissue-specific reference genes are often used in expression studies, but target genes are not taken into account. Using the relative RT-qPCR approach, we evaluated the expression of three target genes. At the same time, meta-analyses were conducted in various ethnic groups, genders, and thyroid cancer subtypes. When eight common reference genes were examined, it was discovered that some of them not only lacked consistent expression but also had considerable expression variance. It is worth noting that while choosing a reference gene, the mean gene expression and its standard deviation should be carefully addressed. An equation was developed based on this, and it was used to perform statistical analysis on over 25,000 genes. According to the subtype of thyroid cancer and, of course, the target genes in this investigation, appropriate reference genes were proposed. The intuitive choice of GAPDH as a common reference gene caused a major shift in the quantitative expression data of target genes, inverting the relative expression values. As a result, choosing the appropriate reference gene(s) for quantification of transcription data, and especially for relative studies of the expression of target gene(s), is critical and should be carefully considered during the study design.
Characteristics and mortality of 561,379 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Germany until December 2021 based on real-life data
Authors: Kloka Jan Andreas , Blum Lea Valeska , Old Oliver , Zacharowski Kai , Friedrichson Benjamin
Published: July 2022

The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is characterized by poor outcome and a high mortality especially in the older patient cohort. Up to this point there is a lack of data characterising COVID-19 patients in Germany admitted to intensive care (ICU) vs. non-ICU patients. German Reimbursement inpatient data covering the period in Germany from January 1st, 2020 to December 31th, 2021 were analyzed. 561,379 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19. 24.54% (n = 137,750) were admitted to ICU. Overall hospital mortality was 16.69% (n = 93,668) and 33.36% (n = 45,947) in the ICU group. 28.66% (n = 160,881) of all patients suffer from Cardiac arrhythmia and 17.98% (n = 100,926) developed renal failure. Obesity showed an odds-ratio ranging from 0.83 (0.79–0.87) for WHO grade I to 1.13 (1.08–1.19) for grade III. Mortality-rates peaked in April 2020 and January 2021 being 21.23% (n = 4539) and 22.99% (n = 15,724). A third peak was observed November and December 2021 (16.82%, n = 7173 and 16.54%, n = 9416). Hospitalized COVID-19 patient mortality in Germany is lower than previously shown in other studies. 24.54% of all patients had to be treated in the ICU with a mortality rate of 33.36%. Congestive heart failure was associated with a higher risk of death whereas low grade obesity might have a protective effect on patient survival. High admission numbers are accompanied by a higher mortality rate.
Dissecting the roles of Haspin and VRK1 in histone H3 phosphorylation during mitosis
Authors: Cartwright Tyrell N. , Harris Rebecca J. , Meyer Stephanie K. , Mon Aye M. , Watson Nikolaus A. , Tan Cheryl , Marcelot Agathe , Wang Fangwei , Zinn-Justin Sophie , Traktman Paula , Higgins Jonathan M. G.
Published: July 2022

Protein kinases that phosphorylate histones are ideally-placed to influence the behavior of chromosomes during cell division. Indeed, a number of conserved histone phosphorylation events occur prominently during mitosis and meiosis in most eukaryotes, including on histone H3 at threonine-3 (H3T3ph). At least two kinases, Haspin and VRK1 (NHK-1/ballchen in Drosophila), have been proposed to carry out this modification. Phosphorylation of H3 by Haspin has defined roles in mitosis, but the significance of VRK1 activity towards histones in dividing cells has been unclear. Here, using in vitro kinase assays, KiPIK screening, RNA interference, and CRISPR/Cas9 approaches, we were unable to substantiate a direct role for VRK1, or its paralogue VRK2, in the phosphorylation of threonine-3 or serine-10 of Histone H3 in mitosis, although loss of VRK1 did slow cell proliferation. We conclude that the role of VRKs, and their more recently identified association with neuromuscular disease and importance in cancers of the nervous system, are unlikely to involve mitotic histone kinase activity. In contrast, Haspin is required to generate H3T3ph during mitosis.
Identification of pyroptosis-related long non-coding RNAs with prognosis and therapy in lung squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Yi , Wang Yuzhi , Yin Xiaoqing , Huang Yi
Published: July 2022

Pyroptosis is a type of programmed cell death with an intense inflammatory response. Previous studies have shown that pyroptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of lung cancer. However, the prognostic value and drug targets of pyroptosis-related lncRNAs in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) have never been studied. In the present study, we identified 1468 pyroptosis-related lncRNAs in LSCC by performing Pearson correlation analysis between the pyroptosis-related genes and the lncRNAs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The whole set was divided into a training and a test set with a 1:1 ratio. Univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses were conducted to establish an 11 multilncRNA signature in the three sets. The signature divided LSCC patients into the low-risk and the high-risk groups. Kaplan–Meier analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) indicated that the prognostic signature had a promising predictive capability for LSCC patients. Besides, the association of microenvironment and immunotherapy response with signature was also analyzed. Moreover, 28 potential compounds targeting signature were screened as possible drugs to treat LSCC. Finally, a nomogram model was constructed to offer the quantitative prediction and net benefit for the prognosis of LSCC patients. In conclusion, the 11 pyroptosis-related lncRNAs and their signature may be promising prognostic factors and therapeutic targets for patients with LSCC.
The efficiency of a clinical pathway to guide combined applications of interventional pulmonology in undiagnosed pleural effusions
Authors: Liu Yuan , Geng Lili , Xu Jian , Sun Mei , Gao Na , Zhao Jing , Han Xue , Zhang Xiaolin , Zhao Xiaohui , Jiang Ling , Zhao Junjun
Published: July 2022

The diagnostic procedure of pleural effusion (PEs) is challenging due to low detection rates and numerous aetiologies. Hence, any attempt to enhance diagnosis is worthwhile. We present a clinical pathway to guide combined application of interventional pulmonology (IP) for tracing causes of undiagnosed PEs. Subjects with undiagnosed PEs were identified in the Hospital Information System of Dalian Municipal Central Hospital from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2018. Eligible subjects were divided into a group of combined tests and a group of medical thoracoscopy (MT). Optimal and subsequent diagnostic tests were performed depending on the guidance of the clinical pathway by matching profitable chest lesions with the respective adaptation. As the guidance of clinical pathway, common bronchoscopy would be preferentially selected if pulmonary lesions involved or within the central bronchus, EBUS-TBNA was favoured when pulmonary lesions were adjacent to the central bronchus or with the enlarged mediastinal/hilar lymph nodes, guided bronchoscopy would be preferred if pulmonary nodules/masses were larger than 20 mm with discernible bronchus signs, CT-assisted transthoracic core biopsy was preferred if pulmonary nodules were less than 20 mm, image guided cutting needle biopsy was the recommendation if the pleural thickness was larger than 10 mm and pulmonary lesions were miliary. MT was preferred only when undiagnosed PEs was the initial symptom and pulmonary lesions were miliary or absent. A total of 83.57% cases of undiagnosed PEs were eligible for the clinical pathway, and 659 and 216 subjects were included in the combined tests and MT groups, respectively, depending on the optimal recommendation of the clinical pathway. The total diagnostic yields in the combined tests and MT groups were 95.99% and 91.20%, respectively, and the difference in total diagnostic yield was statistically significant (χ2 = 7.510, p = 0.006). Overall, clinical pathway guidance of the combined application of IP is useful for tracing the causes of undiagnosed PEs. The diagnostic yield of undiagnosed PEs is significantly increased compared with that of MT alone.
Resting-state functional connectivity of salience network in schizophrenia and depression
Authors: Huang Huan , Chen Cheng , Rong Bei , Wan Qirong , Chen Jingang , Liu Zhongchun , Zhou Yuan , Wang Gaohua , Wang Huiling
Published: July 2022

To explore the salience network (SN) functional alterations in schizophrenia and depression, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 29 patients with schizophrenia (SCH), 28 patients with depression (DEP) and 30 healthy controls (HC) were obtained. The SN was derived from data-driven group independent component analysis (gICA). ANCOVA and post hoc tests were performed to discover the FC differences of SN between groups. The ANCOVA demonstrated a significant group effect in FC with right inferior and middle temporal gyrus (ITG and MTG), left caudate, and right precentral gyrus. Post-hoc analyses revealed an opposite altered FC pattern between SN and right ITG and MTG for both patient groups. The DEP group showed a reduced FC between SN and right ITG and MTG compared with HC whereas the SCH group showed an increased FC. In addition, the SCH group showed decreased FC between SN and left caudate, and enhanced FC between SN and right precentral gyrus compared to the other two groups. Our findings suggest distinct FC of SN in schizophrenia and depression, supporting that the resting-state FC pattern of SN may be a transdiagnostic difference between depression and schizophrenia and may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of these two disorders.
Comparing methods for immobilizing HIV-1 SOSIPs in ELISAs that evaluate antibody binding
Authors: Dam Kim-Marie A. , Mutia Patricia S. , Bjorkman Pamela J.
Published: July 2022

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are used to evaluate binding of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) and polyclonal sera to native-like HIV-1 Env SOSIPs. Methods for immobilizing SOSIPs on plates differ, which can lead to variable or, in some cases, misleading results. Three methods used to immobilize SOSIPs were compared to determine how antigen immobilization methods affect Env conformation and ELISA results. HIV-1 SOSIPs were directly coated on polystyrene plates, captured by a monoclonal antibody against a C-terminal affinity tag, or randomly biotinylated and coated on a streptavidin plate. Binding of bNAbs with known epitopes were compared for each immobilization method. Binding of bNAbs targeting the V1V2, V3, CD4 binding site, and gp120/gp41 interface was comparable for all antigen immobilization methods. However, directly coated HIV-1 SOSIP ELISAs showed detectable binding of 17b, a CD4-induced antibody that binds a V3 epitope that is concealed on closed prefusion Env trimers in the absence of added CD4, whereas antibody-immobilized and randomly biotinylated Env-coated ELISAs did not show detectable binding of 17b in the absence of CD4. We conclude direct coating of HIV-1 SOSIPs on ELISA plates can result in exposure of CD4-induced antibody epitopes, suggesting disruption of Env structure and exposure of epitopes that are hidden in the closed, prefusion trimer.
Cardiovascular changes after pneumonia in a dual disease mouse model
Authors: Bartlett Benjamin , Ludewick Herbert P. , Verma Shipra , Corrales-Medina Vicente F. , Waterer Grant , Lee Silvia , Dwivedi Girish
Published: July 2022

Residual inflammation in cardiovascular organs is thought to be one of the catalysts for the increased risk of cardiovascular complications seen following pneumonia. To test this hypothesis, we investigated changes in plaque characteristics and inflammatory features in ApoE−/− mouse aorta and heart following pneumonia. Male ApoE−/− mice were fed a high fat diet for 8 weeks before intranasal inoculation with either Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 4 (test group) or phosphate buffered saline (control group). Mice were sacrificed at 2-, 7- and 28-days post-challenge. Changes in plaque burden and characteristics in aortic root and thoracic aorta were characterized by Oil red O and Trichrome stains. Inflammatory changes were investigated by FDG-PET imaging and immunofluorescence staining. We found TIGR4-infected mice present with increased plaque presence in the aortic root and thoracic aorta at 2- and 28-days post-inoculation, respectively. Aortic wall remodelling was also more pronounced in mice challenged with pneumococci at 28 days post-inoculation. Aortic root plaques of infected mice had reduced collagen and smooth muscle cells, consistent with an unstable plaque phenotype. Pneumonia alters plaque burden, plaque characteristics, and aortic wall remodelling in ApoE−/− mice. These effects caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4, may contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular complications seen in survivors of this infection.
Luminescent early-late-hetero-tetranuclear group IV – Au(i) bisamidinate complexes
Authors: Uhlmann Cedric , Feuerstein Thomas J. , Seifert Tim P. , Jung André P. , Gamer Michael T. , Köppe Ralf , Lebedkin Sergei , Kappes Manfred M. , Roesky Peter W.
Published: July 2022

Reaction of the ethynyl compound [{HCCC(NDipp)2}2Au2] with n-BuLi followed by Cp2MCl2 (M = Ti, Zr) leads to two group IV – gold(i) heterobimetallic complexes with different photoluminescence properties.
Towards a relationship between photoluminescence emissions and photocatalytic activity of Ag2SeO4: combining experimental data and theoretical insights
Authors: Pinatti Ivo M. , Tello Ana C. M. , Pereira Paula F. S. , Trench Aline B. , Teodoro Marcio D. , Rosa Ieda L. V. , da Silva Albérico B. F. , Longo Elson , Andrés Juan , Simões Alexandre Z.
Published: July 2022

A systematic theoretical and experimental study was carried out to find a relationship between photoluminescence emissions and photocatalytic activity of Ag2SeO4obtained by different synthesis methods.
Multifunctional dual emissive fluorescent probe based on europium-doped carbon dots (Eu-TCA/NCDs) for highly selective detection of chloramphenicol, Hg2+ and Fe3+
Authors: Ahmed Farid , Iqbal Shahzad , Xiong Hai
Published: July 2022

In this study, we developed a dual emissive fluorescent nanoprobe based on europium doped carbon dots (Eu-TCA/CDs) for the selective detection of chloramphenicol, Hg2+ and Fe3+ in aqueous medium.
Green sweet potato leaves increase Nrf2-mediated antioxidant activity and facilitate benzo[a]pyrene metabolism in the liver by increasing phase II detoxifying enzyme activities in rats
Authors: Yang Ray-Yu , Zongo Abel Wend-Soo , Chen Yu-Chen , Chiang Meng-Tsan , Zogona Daniel , Huang Chun-Yin , Yao Hsien-Tsung
Published: July 2022

Green and purple SPL consumption may enhance the Nrf2-mediated hepatic antioxidant activity and modulate xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and transporters via different mechanisms.
Readily tunable surface plasmon resonances in gold nanoring arrays fabricated using lateral electrodeposition
Authors: Mehla Sunil , Selvakannan P. R. , Bhargava Suresh K.
Published: July 2022

A low-cost and scalable lateral electrodeposition method is presented for fabrication of high aspect ratio gold nanoring arrays that exhibit multiple surface plasmon resonances in the visible to near-infrared region.
Deoxyfluorinating reagents as tools for γ-amino-α-hydroxyphosphonate modification
Authors: Kaźmierczak Marcin , Dutkiewicz Grzegorz , Koroniak Henryk
Published: July 2022

Deoxyfluorinating reagents such as DAST and PyFluor can be successfully employed as tools for selective modification of γ-amino-α-hydroxyphosphonates.
Chain-folding regulated self-assembly, outstanding bactericidal activity and biofilm eradication by biomimetic amphiphilic polymers
Authors: Barman Ranajit , Ray Debes , Aswal V. K. , Ghosh Suhrit
Published: July 2022

Chain-folding regulated hierarchical self-assembly of cationic host defense peptide mimicking amphiphilic polyurethanes exhibit excellent antibacterial activity and biofilm killing.
Modification of silica nanoparticles by 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and 5-bromosalicylaldehyde as new nanocomposites for efficient removal and preconcentration of Cu(ii) and Cd(ii) ions from water, blood, and fish muscles
Authors: Gad Hanem M. , El Rayes S. M. , Abdelrahman Ehab A.
Published: July 2022

Herein, silica nanoparticles were modified by 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and 5-bromosalicylaldehyde to produce new nanocomposites which were abbreviated as N1 and N2, respectively.
Ergodic capacity analysis of multiple IRS‐aided dual‐hop DF relaying system
Authors: Qian Panpan , Sun Qiang , Zhang Zihan , Zhao Huan
Published: July 2022

Intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) is regarded as a promising emerging technology, which has shown enormous potentials for performance enhancement. This paper investigates the multiple IRS‐aided dual‐hop DF relaying system for both single‐user and multi‐user scenarios over Nakagami‐m fading. Based on a scenario with non‐orthogonal multiple access users, tight upper bounds for the ergodic capacity in perfect channel state information(pCSI) scenario are first derived, and then approximate expressions are obtained in imperfect CSI (ipCSI) mode. Moreover, the performance of multiple IRS‐aided DF relaying system are compared with multi‐IRSs‐only system and DF relaying‐only system. Finally, all the analytical results are verified using Monte Carlo simulations.
On the achievable secrecy transmission rates by Alamouti space‐time block coding in time‐selective fading channels
Authors: Kim Dongjin , Kwon Girim , Lee Hoojin , Chae Seong Ho
Published: July 2022

In this letter, the authors study the security performance of Alamouti space‐time block coding (STBC) with two different linear detection strategies, linear maximum likelihood (LML) and zero‐forcing (ZF), over time‐selective Rayleigh fading channels. Specifically, the connection and secrecy outage probabilities for general temporal correlation when the legitimate receiver and eavesdropper adopt the LML and ZF detectors are first derived. Then the secrecy transmission rates for various combinations of LML and ZF detectors at the legitimate receiver and eavesdropper are derived. The authors also found that the optimal control of the codeword rate and secrecy rate can maximize the secrecy transmission rates.
Influence of smartphone traffic application information on drivers’ route choice behaviours
Authors: Qi Xinyi , Ji Yanjie , Yu Jiajie , Bu Qing , Samal Dmitry Ivanovich
Published: July 2022

The active traffic management system disseminates traffic information to drivers to guide their route choice, so as to alleviate traffic congestion. Most drivers are highly dependent on mobile navigation APP, and the display form of mobile navigation information is of great importance. In order to improve drivers’ compliance with guidance information, this research accommodates for information that disseminate time attribute (when to provide the traffic information) and display format attribute (voice navigation or not, flat map or three‐dimensional [3D] map) and also explores the interaction effects between individual and trip characteristics. A revealed preference (RP) and stated preference (SP) survey consisting of 831 respondents is conducted in Nanjing, China. Then three kinds of panel logit model are established to fit the survey data. According to the model results, it is found that drivers with aggressive style are more sensitive to travel time, and drivers who are familiar with the road network are more sensitive to the 3D map with voice navigation format. The results of parameter estimation are also used for the trade‐off analysis of various exogenous variables. The findings of this study provide useful insights for the development of mobile navigation APPs, personalized path recommendation and congestion pricing strategies.
Trojan asteroids and the co-orbital dust ring of Venus
Authors: Xu Yang-Bo , Zhou Lei , Lhotka Christoph , Zhou Li-Yong , Ip Wing-Huen
Published: July 2022

Context. Co-orbital asteroids have been thought to be the possible source of the zodiacal dust ring around the orbit of Venus, but the conclusions about the orbital stability and thus about the existence of Venus Trojans are inconsistent in the literature.

Aims. We present a systematic survey of the orbital stability of Venus Trojans that takes the dynamical influences from General Relativity and the Yarkovsky effect into account.

Methods. The orbits of thousands of fictitious Venus Trojans were simulated numerically. Using a frequency analysis, we describe their orbital stabilities and the dynamical mechanisms behind them. The influences of General Relativity and of the Yarkovsky effect, which were previously either neglected or oversimplified, were investigated in long-term numerical simulations.

Results. The stability maps on the (a0, i0) plane and (a0, e0) plane are depicted, and the most stable Venus Trojans are found to occupy low-inclination horseshoe orbits with low eccentricities. The resonances that carve the fine structures in the stability map are determined. General Relativity decreases the stability of orbits only little, but the Yarkovsky effect may drive nearly all Venus Trojans out of the Trojan region in a relatively short time.

Conclusions. The Venus Trojans have a poor orbital stability and cannot survive to the age of the Solar System. The zodiacal dust ring found around the orbit of Venus is more likely a sporadic phenomenon, as the result of a temporary capture into the 1:1 mean motion resonance of dust particles that were probably produced by passing comets or asteroids, but not by Venus Trojans.
How to achieve exceptional points in coupled resonators using a gyrator or PT-symmetry, and in a time-modulated single resonator: high sensitivity to perturbations
Authors: Nikzamir Alireza , Rouhi Kasra , Figotin Alexander , Capolino Filippo
Published: July 2022

We study the rise of exceptional points of degeneracy (EPD) in various distinct circuit configurations such as gyrator-based coupled resonators, coupled resonators with PT-symmetry, and in a single resonator with a time-varying component. In particular, we analyze their high sensitivity to changes in resistance, capacitance, and inductance and show the high sensitivity of the resonance frequency to perturbations. We also investigate stability and instability conditions for these configurations; for example, the effect of losses in the gyrator-based circuit leads to instability, and it may break the symmetry in the PT-symmetry-based circuit, also resulting in instabilities. Instability in the PT-symmetry circuit is also generated by breaking PT-symmetry when one element (e.g., a capacitor) is perturbed due to sensing. We have turned this instability “inconvenience” to an advantage, and we investigate the effect of nonlinear gain in the PT-symmetry coupled-resonator circuit and how this leads to an oscillator with oscillation frequency very sensitive to perturbation. The circuits studied in this paper have the potential to lead the way for a more efficient generation of high-sensitivity sensors that can detect very small changes in chemical, biological, or physical quantities.