bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular regulation and therapeutic implications of cell death in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Wang Enze , Zhou Sijing , Zeng Daxiong , Wang Ran
Published: July 2023

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a clinical and pathophysiological syndrome caused by changes in pulmonary vascular structure or function that results in increased pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial pressure, and it is characterized by pulmonary endothelial dysfunction, pulmonary artery media thickening, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and right ventricular hypertrophy, all of which are driven by an imbalance between the growth and death of pulmonary vascular cells. Programmed cell death (PCD), different from cell necrosis, is an active cellular death mechanism that is activated in response to both internal and external factors and is precisely regulated by cells. More than a dozen PCD modes have been identified, among which apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and cuproptosis have been proven to be involved in the pathophysiology of PH to varying degrees. This article provides a summary of the regulatory patterns of different PCD modes and their potential effects on PH. Additionally, it describes the current understanding of this complex and interconnected process and analyzes the therapeutic potential of targeting specific PCD modes as molecular targets.
Decoding a cryptic mechanism of metronidazole resistance among globally disseminated fluoroquinolone-resistant Clostridioides difficile
Authors: Olaitan Abiola O. , Dureja Chetna , Youngblom Madison A. , Topf Madeline A. , Shen Wan-Jou , Gonzales-Luna Anne J. , Deshpande Aditi , Hevener Kirk E. , Freeman Jane , Wilcox Mark H. , Palmer Kelli L. , Garey Kevin W. , Pepperell Caitlin S. , Hurdle Julian G.
Published: July 2023

Severe outbreaks and deaths have been linked to the emergence and global spread of fluoroquinolone-resistant Clostridioides difficile over the past two decades. At the same time, metronidazole, a nitro-containing antibiotic, has shown decreasing clinical efficacy in treating C. difficile infection (CDI). Most metronidazole-resistant C. difficile exhibit an unusual resistance phenotype that can only be detected in susceptibility tests using molecularly intact heme. Here, we describe the mechanism underlying this trait. We find that most metronidazole-resistant C. difficile strains carry a T-to-G mutation (which we term PnimBG) in the promoter of gene nimB, resulting in constitutive transcription. Silencing or deleting nimB eliminates metronidazole resistance. NimB is related to Nim proteins that are known to confer resistance to nitroimidazoles. We show that NimB is a heme-dependent flavin enzyme that degrades nitroimidazoles to amines lacking antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, occurrence of the PnimBG mutation is associated with a Thr82Ile substitution in DNA gyrase that confers fluoroquinolone resistance in epidemic strains. Our findings suggest that the pandemic of fluoroquinolone-resistant C. difficile occurring over the past few decades has also been characterized by widespread resistance to metronidazole.
Mesitylated trityl radicals, a platform for doublet emission: symmetry breaking, charge-transfer states and conjugated polymers
Authors: Murto Petri , Chowdhury Rituparno , Gorgon Sebastian , Guo Erjuan , Zeng Weixuan , Li Biwen , Sun Yuqi , Francis Haydn , Friend Richard H. , Bronstein Hugo
Published: July 2023

Neutral π-radicals have potential for use as light emitters in optoelectronic devices due to the absence of energetically low-lying non-emissive states. Here, we report a defect-free synthetic methodology via mesityl substitution at the para-positions of tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl radical. These materials reveal a number of novel optoelectronic properties. Firstly, mesityl substituted radicals show strongly enhanced photoluminescence arising from symmetry breaking in the excited state. Secondly, photoexcitation of thin films of 8 wt% radical in 4,4’-bis(carbazol-9-yl)-1,1’-biphenyl host matrix produces long lived (in the order of microseconds) intermolecular charge transfer states, following hole transfer to the host, that can show unexpectedly efficient red-shifted emission. Thirdly, covalent attachment of carbazole into the mesitylated radical gives very high photoluminescence yield of 93% in 4,4’-bis(carbazol-9-yl)-1,1’-biphenyl films and light-emitting diodes with maximum external quantum efficiency of 28% at a wavelength of 689 nm. Fourthly, a main-chain copolymer of the mesitylated radical and 9,9-dioctyl-9H-fluorene shows red-shifted emission beyond 800 nm.
Volcanic evolution of an ultraslow-spreading ridge
Authors: Stubseid H. H. , Bjerga A. , Haflidason H. , Pedersen L. E. R. , Pedersen R. B.
Published: July 2023

Nearly 30% of ocean crust forms at mid-ocean ridges where the spreading rate is less than 20 mm per year. According to the seafloor spreading paradigm, oceanic crust forms along a narrow axial zone and is transported away from the rift valley. However, because quantitative age data of volcanic eruptions are lacking, constructing geological models for the evolution of ultraslow-spreading crust remains a challenge. In this contribution, we use sediment thicknesses acquired from ~4000 km of sub-bottom profiler data combined with 14C ages from sediment cores to determine the age of the ocean floor of the oblique ultraslow-spreading Mohns Ridge to reveal a systematic pattern of young volcanism outside axial volcanic ridges. Here, we present an age map of the upper lava flows within the rift valley of a mid-ocean ridge and find that nearly half of the rift valley floor has been rejuvenated by volcanic activity during the last 25 Kyr.
Spatial immunophenotypes orchestrate prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer with Miller-Payne grade 4 following neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Ma Jianli , Deng Yuwei , Chen Dawei , Li Xiaomei , Yu Zhiyong , Wang Haibo , Zhong Lei , Li Yingjie , Wang Chengqin , Li Xiang , Yu Jinming , Zhang Qingyuan
Published: July 2023

Some triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients evaluated as Miller-Payne 4 with ypN0 after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) who have better prognoses should avoid escalation of therapy. We aim to identify these patients by evaluating pretherapeutic spatial distributions of immunophenotypes. Our retrospective study in patients with TNBC assessed as Miller-Payne grade 4/5 with ypN0 showed that Miller-Payne 4 with ypN0 group had poorer 5-year disease-free survival (DFS, 63.8% vs. 83.0%, p = 0.003) and the 5-year overall survival (OS, 71.0% vs. 85.5%, p = 0.007) than Miller-Payne 5 with ypN0 group. High TILs were significantly associated with better DFS and OS in patients with Miller-Payne 4 and ypN0 (both p = 0.016). Spatially, detected by multiplexed ion beam imaging by the time of flight combined with proteomics, tumors assessed as Miller-Payne 4 and ypN0 with good prognosis exhibited an inflamed phenotype, with dominant CD8+ T cells on tumor center, few scattered CD68+ myeloid-derived cells far away from T cells, and deposit of increased activated molecules of lymphocyte. While those with poor prognoses presented excluded phenotypes, with few CD8+ T cells restricted to invasive margins and a high density of CD14+CD68+CD11c+ myeloid cells. A good classifier model based on 29 spatial immunophenotypes was established by the random forest algorithm (AUC = 0.975), for identifying patients with Miller-Payne 4 and ypN0 who had favorable prognoses. We also observed similar signatures in patients with Miller-Payne 5 and ypN0. Taken together, spatial immunophenotypes may assess the prognosis in TNBC patients with Miller-Payne 4 and ypN0 after NACT.
A framework for individualized splice-switching oligonucleotide therapy
Authors: Kim Jinkuk , Woo Sijae , de Gusmao Claudio M. , Zhao Boxun , Chin Diana H. , DiDonato Renata L. , Nguyen Minh A. , Nakayama Tojo , Hu Chunguang April , Soucy Aubrie , Kuniholm Ashley , Thornton Jennifer Karlin , Riccardi Olivia , Friedman Danielle A. , El Achkar Christelle Moufawad , Dash Zane , Cornelissen Laura , Donado Carolina , Faour Kamli N. W. , Bush Lynn W. , Suslovitch Victoria , Lentucci Claudia , Park Peter J. , Lee Eunjung Alice , Patterson Al , Philippakis Anthony A. , Margus Brad , Berde Charles B. , Yu Timothy W.
Published: July 2023

Splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) could be used to treat a subset of individuals with genetic diseases1, but the systematic identification of such individuals remains a challenge. Here we performed whole-genome sequencing analyses to characterize genetic variation in 235 individuals (from 209 families) with ataxia-telangiectasia, a severely debilitating and life-threatening recessive genetic disorder2,3, yielding a complete molecular diagnosis in almost all individuals. We developed a predictive taxonomy to assess the amenability of each individual to splice-switching ASO intervention; 9% and 6% of the individuals had variants that were ‘probably’ or ‘possibly’ amenable to ASO splice modulation, respectively. Most amenable variants were in deep intronic regions that are inaccessible to exon-targeted sequencing. We developed ASOs that successfully rescued mis-splicing and ATM cellular signalling in patient fibroblasts for two recurrent variants. In a pilot clinical study, one of these ASOs was used to treat a child who had been diagnosed with ataxia-telangiectasia soon after birth, and showed good tolerability without serious adverse events for three years. Our study provides a framework for the prospective identification of individuals with genetic diseases who might benefit from a therapeutic approach involving splice-switching ASOs.
Global climate-change trends detected in indicators of ocean ecology
Authors: Cael B. B. , Bisson Kelsey , Boss Emmanuel , Dutkiewicz Stephanie , Henson Stephanie
Published: July 2023

Strong natural variability has been thought to mask possible climate-change-driven trends in phytoplankton populations from Earth-observing satellites. More than 30 years of continuous data were thought to be needed to detect a trend driven by climate change1. Here we show that climate-change trends emerge more rapidly in ocean colour (remote-sensing reflectance, Rrs), because Rrs is multivariate and some wavebands have low interannual variability. We analyse a 20-year Rrs time series from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite, and find significant trends in Rrs for 40% of the global surface ocean. The climate-change signal in Rrs emerges after 20 years in similar regions covering a similar fraction of the ocean in a state-of-the-art ecosystem model2, which suggests that our observed trends indicate shifts in ocean colour—and, by extension, in surface-ocean ecosystems—that are driven by climate change. On the whole, low-latitude oceans have become greener in the past 20 years.
Transcriptomic and lipidomic profiling of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues in 15 vertebrates
Authors: Liu Pengliang , Li Diyan , Zhang Jiaman , He Mengnan , Li Yan , Liu Rui , Li Mingzhou
Published: July 2023

The storage of lipids as energy in adipose tissue (AT) has been conserved over the course of evolution. However, substantial differences in ATs physiological activities were reported among species. Hence, establishing the mechanisms shaping evolutionarily divergence in ATs transcriptomes could provide a deeper understanding of AT regulation and its roles in obesity-related diseases. While previous studies performed anatomical, physiological and morphological comparisons between ATs across different species, little is currently understood at the molecular phenotypic levels. Here, we characterized transcriptional and lipidomic profiles of available subcutaneous and visceral ATs samples across 15 vertebrate species, spanning more than 300 million years of evolution, including placental mammals, birds and reptiles. We provide detailed descriptions of the datasets produced in this study and report gene expression and lipid profiles across samples. We demonstrate these data are robust and reveal the AT transcriptome and lipidome vary greater among species than within the same species. These datasets may serve as a resource for future studies on the functional differences among ATs in vertebrate species.
Broadband high-efficiency 3-bit coding metasurface in transmission mode based on the polarization conversion technique
Authors: Karimipour Majid , Heydari Mohammad Bagher , Aryanian Iman
Published: July 2023

The main drawback of the transmissive focusing metasurface (TFM) is its low operational bandwidth and aperture efficiency. Increasing both of these radiation characteristics simultaneously is a major challenge for these structures. This paper introduces a novel multi-state coding metasurface that utilizes system-level and element-level synthesis approaches to enhance frequency bandwidth and aperture efficiency. Unlike most of the TFMs proposed in this field, the proposed novel element consists of only two dielectric layers. The multi-frequency phase synthesis (MFPS) approach, a well-established broadband technique, is utilized for the system-level synthesis approach. An optimization algorithm is utilized to balance the phase error in the whole band in terms of gain variations and aperture efficiency. At the element design level, a PCT-based wideband technology is utilized and implemented by a subwavelength non-resonant element. The element is composed of three C-shaped metallic patterns, and the metal layers are printed on both sides of two identical dielectric layers without using any metalized via in the configuration. By simply changing the angle of arc curves in all layers, eight states of phase quantization are achieved. The amplitude of the transmitted wave with rotated polarization is larger than 0.9 from 12.3 to 16.5 GHz, except for state 4, which has an amplitude greater than 0.5 at the beginning of the band. A 25 $$\times $$
×
 25-element TFM was designed, fabricated, and tested using the aforementioned broadband technique (MFPS along with PCT-based wideband technology). The measurement results show that the 1-dB gain bandwidth of the antenna is 12.3–16.5 GHz, which is equivalent to 29%. The maximum measured aperture efficiency is 53.6%, occurring at 12.8 GHz. The proposed metasurface is classified in the group of broadband high-efficiency TFMs.
Sleep quality is a predictor of muscle mass, strength, quality of life, anxiety and depression in older adults with obesity
Authors: Genario Rafael , Gil Saulo , Oliveira-Júnior Gersiel , Leitão Alice Erwig , Franco Tathiane , dos Santos Sales Ruan Célio , Ferriolli Eduardo , Busse Alexandre Leopold , Filho Wilson Jacob , Gualano Bruno , Roschel Hamilton
Published: July 2023

We aimed to investigate associations between sleep quality with selected quantitative and qualitative parameters of health in older individuals with obesity. Cross-sectional assessment (n = 95 men/women; ≥ 65 years; BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) of sleep quality, body composition, handgrip strength, quality-of-life, anxiety/depression. Mean PSQI score was 6.3. Poor sleepers (n = 49) presented lower appendicular lean mass (ALM) (16.2 vs 17.8 kg; p = 0.0273), ALM/BMI (0.47 vs 0.53 kg/BMI; p = 0.0085), fat mass (48.6 vs 46.6%; p = 0.0464), handgrip strength (19.7 vs 22.0 kgf; p = 0.0542) and handgrip/BMI (0.57 vs 0.66 kgf/BMI; p = 0.0242) than good sleepers. They also had higher anxiety (8.6 vs 5.6; p = 0.0100) and depression (4.8 vs 3.2; p = 0.0197) scores, worse health-related quality-of-life and lower scores in mental (62.8 vs 73.0; p = 0.0223) and physical (52.9 vs 67.3; p = 0.0015) domains. Adjusted models showed that PSQI was negatively associated with ALM (β = − 0.13, 95% CI − 0.25; − 0.01) and health-related quality of life on physical (β = − 2.76, 95% CI − 3.82; − 1.70) and mental (β = − 2.25, 95% CI − 3.38; − 1.12) domains, and positively associated with anxiety (β = 0.57; 95% CI 0.26; 0.87) and depression (β = 0.31; 95% CI 0.13; 0.49). Poor sleep quality associates with impaired selected quantitative and qualitative parameters of health. Additionally, sleep quality was shown as an independent predictor of ALM, health-related quality-of-life, anxiety and depression in older individuals with obesity.
PhysVENeT: a physiologically-informed deep learning-based framework for the synthesis of 3D hyperpolarized gas MRI ventilation
Authors: Astley Joshua R. , Biancardi Alberto M. , Marshall Helen , Smith Laurie J. , Hughes Paul J. C. , Collier Guilhem J. , Saunders Laura C. , Norquay Graham , Tofan Malina-Maria , Hatton Matthew Q. , Hughes Rod , Wild Jim M. , Tahir Bilal A.
Published: July 2023

Functional lung imaging modalities such as hyperpolarized gas MRI ventilation enable visualization and quantification of regional lung ventilation; however, these techniques require specialized equipment and exogenous contrast, limiting clinical adoption. Physiologically-informed techniques to map proton (1H)-MRI ventilation have been proposed. These approaches have demonstrated moderate correlation with hyperpolarized gas MRI. Recently, deep learning (DL) has been used for image synthesis applications, including functional lung image synthesis. Here, we propose a 3D multi-channel convolutional neural network that employs physiologically-informed ventilation mapping and multi-inflation structural 1H-MRI to synthesize 3D ventilation surrogates (PhysVENeT). The dataset comprised paired inspiratory and expiratory 1H-MRI scans and corresponding hyperpolarized gas MRI scans from 170 participants with various pulmonary pathologies. We performed fivefold cross-validation on 150 of these participants and used 20 participants with a previously unseen pathology (post COVID-19) for external validation. Synthetic ventilation surrogates were evaluated using voxel-wise correlation and structural similarity metrics; the proposed PhysVENeT framework significantly outperformed conventional 1H-MRI ventilation mapping and other DL approaches which did not utilize structural imaging and ventilation mapping. PhysVENeT can accurately reflect ventilation defects and exhibits minimal overfitting on external validation data compared to DL approaches that do not integrate physiologically-informed mapping.
Cytoskeletal disarray increases arrhythmogenic vulnerability during sympathetic stimulation in a model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Cserne Szappanos Henrietta , Viola Helena M. , Ito Danica W. , Lim Seakcheng , Mangala Melissa , Holliday Mira , Barratt Ross Samantha , Semsarian Christopher , Hill Adam , Dixon Rose E. , Hool Livia C.
Published: July 2023

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) patients are advised to avoid strenuous exercise due to increased risk of arrhythmias. Mice expressing the human FHC-causing mutation R403Q in the myosin heavy chain gene (MYH6) recapitulate the human phenotype, including cytoskeletal disarray and increased arrhythmia susceptibility. Following in vivo administration of isoproterenol, mutant mice exhibited tachyarrhythmias, poor recovery and fatigue. Arrhythmias were attenuated with the β-blocker atenolol and protein kinase A inhibitor PKI. Mutant cardiac myocytes had significantly prolonged action potentials and triggered automaticity due to reduced repolarization reserve and connexin 43 expression. Isoproterenol shortened cycle length, and escalated electrical instability. Surprisingly isoproterenol did not increase CaV1.2 current. We found alterations in CaV1.2-β1 adrenergic receptor colocalization assessed using super-resolution nanoscopy, and increased CaV1.2 phosphorylation in mutant hearts. Our results reveal for the first time that altered ion channel expression, co-localization and β-adrenergic receptor signaling associated with myocyte disarray contribute to electrical instability in the R403Q mutant heart.
Multilayer 3D bioprinting and complex mechanical properties of alginate-gelatin mesostructures
Authors: Ahmadi Soufivand Anahita , Faber Jessica , Hinrichsen Jan , Budday Silvia
Published: July 2023

In the biomedical field, extrusion-based 3D bioprinting has emerged as a promising technique to fabricate tissue replacements. However, a main challenge is to find suitable bioinks and reproducible procedures that ensure good printability and generate final printed constructs with high shape fidelity, similarity to the designed model, and controllable mechanical properties. In this study, our main goal is to 3D print multilayered structures from alginate-gelatin (AG) hydrogels and to quantify their complex mechanical properties with particular focus on the effects of the extrusion process and geometrical parameters, i.e. different mesostructures and macroporosities. We first introduce a procedure including a pre-cooling step and optimized printing parameters to control and improve the printability of AG hydrogels based on rheological tests and printability studies. Through this procedure, we significantly improve the printability and flow stability of AG hydrogels and successfully fabricate well-defined constructs similar to our design models. Our subsequent complex mechanical analyses highlight that the extrusion process and the mesostructure, characterized by pore size, layer height and filament diameter, significantly change the complex mechanical response of printed constructs. The presented approach and the corresponding results have important implications for future 3D bioprinting applications when aiming to produce replacements with good structural integrity and defined mechanical properties similar to the native tissue, especially in soft tissue engineering. The approach is also applicable to the printing of gelatin-based hydrogels with different accompanying materials, concentrations, or cells.
The effect of single dose albendazole (400 mg) treatment on the human gut microbiome of hookworm-infected Ghanaian individuals
Authors: Appiah-Twum Francis , Akorli Jewelna , Okyere Lydia , Sagoe Kate , Osabutey Dickson , Cappello Michael , Wilson Michael D.
Published: July 2023

Microbes play a key role in human gut homeostasis, metabolic, immunologic and physiopathology of the body. A longitudinal study conducted during 2018–2021 in the Kintampo North Municipality in Ghana demonstrated low hookworm infection cure rates following treatment with a single dose of 400 mg albendazole in some communities. To investigate associations between hookworm infection and the gut microbiome, we examined stool samples from consented participants who were either cured or remained infected after treatment. At each time point, stool was collected prior to and 10–14 days after albendazole treatment. We used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of DNA extracted from stool samples to investigate the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota and to identify potential microbial biomarkers associated with treatment outcomes. Hookworm infection was associated with increased species richness (p = 0.0093). Among treated individuals, there was also a significant variation in microbiota composition at 10–14 days following single-dose albendazole treatment. Individuals cured of hookworm infection after treatment showed a significant reduction in microbiota composition when compared to their pre-treatment state (ANOSIM; p = 0.02), whilst individuals who failed to clear the infection showed no change in microbiota composition (ANOSIM; p = 0.35). Uninfected individuals and those who were successfully treated were similar in their microbial composition and structure. We also found that the abundance of Clostridia spp. was increased in infected individuals pre- or post-treatment. Predictive functional profiling revealed the enrichment of two pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase subunit pathways in individuals who remained infected after treatment (p < 0.05), alluding to an upturn of strictly anaerobic commensal bacteria such as Clostridia spp. This study suggests a relationship between human gut microbiome dysbiosis and albendazole therapy outcomes of hookworm infection. Future studies will further characterize specific biomarkers identified within this study to establish their potential for assessment of pharmacological responses to anthelminthic therapies, as well as explore the possibility of using probiotic supplementation as an adjunct treatment to increase albendazole effectiveness against hookworm.
Electro-vibrational stimulation results in improved speech perception in noise for cochlear implant users with bilateral residual hearing
Authors: Geerardyn Alexander , De Voecht Katleen , Wouters Jan , Verhaert Nicolas
Published: July 2023

A cochlear implant is a neuroprosthetic device that can restore speech perception for people with severe to profound hearing loss. Because of recent evolutions, a growing number of people with a cochlear implant have useful residual acoustic hearing. While combined electro-acoustic stimulation has been shown to improve speech perception for this group of people, some studies report limited adoption rates. Here, we present electro-vibrational stimulation as an alternative combined stimulation strategy that similarly targets the full cochlear reserve. This novel strategy combines the electrical stimulation by the cochlear implant with low-frequency bone conduction stimulation. In a first evaluation of electro-vibrational stimulation, speech perception in noise was assessed in 9 subjects with a CI and symmetrical residual hearing. We demonstrate a statistically significant and clinically relevant improvement for speech perception in noise of 1.9 dB signal-to-noise ratio. This effect was observed with a first prototype that provides vibrational stimulation to both ears with limited transcranial attenuation. Future integration of electro-vibrational stimulation into one single implantable device could ultimately allow cochlear implant users to benefit from their low-frequency residual hearing without the need for an additional insert earphone.
Medication abortion via digital health in the United States: a systematic scoping review
Authors: Kumsa Fekede Asefa , Prasad Rameshwari , Shaban-Nejad Arash
Published: July 2023

Digital health, including telemedicine, has increased access to abortion care. The convenience, flexibility of appointment times, and ensured privacy to abortion users may make abortion services via telemedicine preferable. This scoping review systematically mapped studies conducted on abortion services via telemedicine, including their effectiveness and acceptability for abortion users and providers. All published papers included abortion services via telemedicine in the United States were considered. Articles were searched in PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar databases in September 2022. The findings were synthesized narratively, and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines were used to report this study. Out of 757 retrieved articles, 33 articles were selected based on the inclusion criteria. These studies were published between 2011 and 2022, with 24 published in the last 3 years. The study found that telemedicine increased access to abortion care in the United States, especially for people in remote areas or those worried about stigma from in-person visits. The effectiveness of abortion services via telemedicine was comparable to in-clinic visits, with 6% or fewer abortions requiring surgical intervention. Both care providers and abortion seekers expressed positive perceptions of telemedicine-based abortion services. However, abortion users reported mixed emotions, with some preferring in-person visits. The most common reasons for choosing telemedicine included the distance to the abortion clinic, convenience, privacy, cost, flexibility of appointment times, and state laws imposing waiting periods or restrictive policies. Telemedicine offered a preferable option for abortion seekers and providers. The feasibility of accessing abortion services via telemedicine in low-resource settings needs further investigation.
A versatile Plasmodium falciparum reporter line expressing NanoLuc enables highly sensitive multi-stage drug assays
Authors: Miyazaki Yukiko , Vos Martijn W. , Geurten Fiona J. A. , Bigeard Pierre , Kroeze Hans , Yoshioka Shohei , Arisawa Mitsuhiro , Inaoka Daniel Ken , Soulard Valerie , Dechering Koen J. , Franke-Fayard Blandine , Miyazaki Shinya
Published: July 2023

Transgenic luciferase-expressing Plasmodium falciparum parasites have been widely used for the evaluation of anti-malarial compounds. Here, to screen for anti-malarial drugs effective against multiple stages of the parasite, we generate a P. falciparum reporter parasite that constitutively expresses NanoLuciferase (NanoLuc) throughout its whole life cycle. The NanoLuc-expressing P. falciparum reporter parasite shows a quantitative NanoLuc signal in the asexual blood, gametocyte, mosquito, and liver stages. We also establish assay systems to evaluate the anti-malarial activity of compounds at the asexual blood, gametocyte, and liver stages, and then determine the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of several anti-malarial compounds. Through the development of this robust high-throughput screening system, we identify an anti-malarial compound that kills the asexual blood stage parasites. Our study highlights the utility of the NanoLuc reporter line, which may advance anti-malarial drug development through the improved screening of compounds targeting the human malarial parasite at multiple stages.
A prolonged stress rat model recapitulates some PTSD-like changes in sleep and neuronal connectivity
Authors: Lo Yun , Yi Pei-Lu , Hsiao Yi-Tse , Lee Tung-Yen , Chang Fang-Chia
Published: July 2023

Chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibits psychological abnormalities during fear memory processing in rodent models. To simulate long-term impaired fear extinction in PTSD patients, we constructed a seven-day model with multiple prolonged stress (MPS) by modifying manipulation repetitions, intensity, and unpredictability of stressors. Behavioral and neural changes following MPS conveyed longitudinal PTSD-like effects in rats for 6 weeks. Extended fear memory was estimated through fear retrieval induced-freezing behavior and increased long-term serum corticosterone concentrations after MPS manipulation. Additionally, memory retrieval and behavioral anxiety tasks continued enhancing theta oscillation activity in the prefrontal cortex-basal lateral amygdala-ventral hippocampus pathway for an extended period. Moreover, MPS and remote fear retrieval stimuli disrupted sleep-wake activities to consolidate fear memory. Our prolonged fear memory, neuronal connectivity, anxiety, and sleep alteration results demonstrated integrated chronic PTSD symptoms in an MPS-induced rodent model.
FAM201A encodes small protein NBASP to inhibit neuroblastoma progression via inactivating MAPK pathway mediated by FABP5
Authors: Ye Mujie , Gao Runnan , Chen Shiyu , Bai Jianan , Chen Jinhao , Lu Feiyu , Gu Danyang , Shi Xiaoting , Yu Ping , Tian Ye , Tang Qiyun , Dong Kuiran
Published: July 2023

Increasing evidence indicates that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is one of the most important RNA regulators in the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma (NB). Here, we found that FAM201A was low expressed in NB and a variety of gain and loss of function studies elucidated the anti-tumor effects of FAM201A on the regulation of proliferation, migration and invasion of NB cells. Intriguingly, we identified the ability of FAM201A to encode the tumor-suppressing protein, NBASP, which interacted with FABP5 and negatively regulated its expression. In vivo assays also revealed NBASP repressed NB growth via inactivating MAPK pathway mediated by FABP5. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that NBASP encoded by FAM201A played a tumor-suppressor role in NB carcinogenesis via down-regulating FABP5 to inactivate the MAPK pathway. These results extended our understanding of the relationship of lncRNA-encoded functional peptides and plasticity of tumor progression.
Impact of conformation and intramolecular interactions on vibrational circular dichroism spectra identified with machine learning
Authors: Vermeyen Tom , Cunha Ana , Bultinck Patrick , Herrebout Wouter
Published: July 2023

Vibrational Circular Dichroism (VCD) spectra often differ strongly from one conformer to another, even within the same absolute configuration of a molecule. Simulated molecular VCD spectra typically require expensive quantum chemical calculations for all conformers to generate a Boltzmann averaged total spectrum. This paper reports whether machine learning (ML) can partly replace these quantum chemical calculations by capturing the intricate connection between a conformer geometry and its VCD spectrum. Three hypotheses concerning the added value of ML are tested. First, it is shown that for a single stereoisomer, ML can predict the VCD spectrum of a conformer from solely the conformer geometry. Second, it is found that the ML approach results in important time savings. Third, the ML model produced is unfortunately hardly transferable from one stereoisomer to another.
Action of the general anaesthetic isoflurane reveals coupling between viscoelasticity and electrophysiological activity in individual neurons
Authors: Adam Casey , Kayal Celine , Ercole Ari , Contera Sonia , Ye Hua , Jerusalem Antoine
Published: July 2023

General anaesthetics are widely used for their analgesic, immobilising, and hypnotic effects. The mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear, but likely arise from alterations to cell microstructure, and potentially mechanics. Here we investigate this hypothesis using a custom experimental setup combining calcium imaging and nanoindentation to quantify the firing activity and mechanical properties of dorsal root ganglion-derived neurons exposed to a clinical concentration of 1% isoflurane gas, a halogenated ether commonly used in general anaesthesia. We found that cell viscoelasticity and functional activity are simultaneously and dynamically altered by isoflurane at different stages of exposure. Particularly, cell firing count correlated linearly with the neuronal loss tangent, the ratio of mechanical energy dissipation and storage by the cell. Our results demonstrate that anaesthetics affect cells as a whole, reconciling seemingly contradictory theories of how anaesthetics operate, and highlight the importance of considering cell mechanics in neuronal functions, anaesthesia, and clinical neuroscience in general.
An approach for prospective forecasting of rock slope failure time
Authors: Leinauer Johannes , Weber Samuel , Cicoira Alessandro , Beutel Jan , Krautblatter Michael
Published: July 2023

Rock slope failures globally account for most single-event landslide disasters. Climatic changes in mountain areas boost failure activity and the demand for reliable failure time forecasts. State-of-the-art prediction models are often confused with high-frequency slope deformation data. Prospectively, they provide ambiguous forecasts as data filtering, starting point definition and forecast uncertainty remain arbitrary. Here, we develop a prospective failure time forecast model that applies multiple filtering and inverse velocity percentiles to minimize subjective decisions. We test the concept with 14 historic slope failures of 102-108 m3including 46 displacement datasets from different sensors. After automatic detection of the onset of acceleration, the failure time of all events is forecasted to within −1 ± 17 h for higher-frequency data and −1 ± 4 d for daily data with a final mean uncertainty of 1 ± 1 d and 7 ± 4 d that is estimated in real-time. This prospective approach overcomes previous long-standing problems by introducing a robust and uniform concept across various types of catastrophic slope failures and sensors.
Continuous decrease in soil organic matter despite increased plant productivity in an 80-years-old phosphorus-addition experiment
Authors: Spohn Marie , Braun Sabina , Sierra Carlos A.
Published: July 2023

The objective of this study was to understand how eight decades of tillage affected soil element dynamics. We measured soil chemical properties and the14C:12C ratio (Δ14C) of organic carbon in one of the oldest cropland experiments in Europe with different levels of phosphorus addition. Soil total and organic phosphorus stocks in the uppermost 20 cm did not differ significantly between the control and the phosphorus addition treatments after 80 years, indicating plant phosphorus uptake from the subsoil. Crop yields increased from 220 g dry weight m−2in 1936 to more than 500 g dry weight m−2in the 2010s. The soil total organic carbon and total organic phosphorus stocks decreased by 13.7% and 11.6%, respectively, in the uppermost 20 cm of the soils during the experiment, irrespective of phosphorus addition. Based on modeling of Δ14C, we show that the mean transit time of carbon in the soil was below 10 years, indicating that a large share of the carbon inputs to soil is quickly respired. Our results suggest that the current agricultural practice at this long-term experiment is not sustainable because it led to a continuous decrease in soil organic matter over the last decades, despite increases in plant productivity.
Digital Learning and Teaching in Chemistry—What We Know and What We Wish to Investigate Further
Authors: Dori Y. J. , Peretz R. , Ngai C. , Szteinberg G.
Published: July 2023

Researchers and teachers worldwide seek creative and efficient ways to move from teacher- to student-centred classrooms, as well as to switch the mostly summative, assessment of learning, to a more formative, assessment for learning. This is especially necessary for online and digital learning environments in chemistry. This book provides high-school teachers, and university lecturers and instructors with theory and practice to support their pedagogical decisions regarding engaging in online, or virtual, teaching, learning, and assessment methods for chemistry courses. Technology has been integrated into classrooms with varying degrees of success, and the COVID-19 pandemic has forced educators to turn to digital learning to support their students. This book is motivated by a desire to collect and share effective and cutting-edge practices in teaching chemistry digitally. Furthermore, teaching chemistry digitally has the potential to bring greater equity to the field of chemistry education and foster access to quality learning, and this book will contribute to that goal. With more than 70 authors from nine countries, our book presents the ways digital learning and teaching of chemistry are being implemented around the world. At the same time, because of the universal nature of technology, the topics shared in this book will apply to chemistry teachers, researchers, and learners globally.
Anodic and cathodic stripping voltammetry for metals sensing
Authors: Singh Sima , Cinti Stefano
Published: July 2023

This chapter introduces the fundamental ideas of voltammetry, such as adjusting the voltage and measuring the current that results from electrochemical reactions. The procedure known as stripping analysis can be divided into two stages: electrolytic deposition of a part of the metal ions in solution at the working electrode is frequently employed to pre-concentrate the metals during the first step of the process, which is referred to as the deposition stage. After the pre-concentration comes to the stripping stage, also known as the measuring step. During this process, the precipitate is dissolved. The main focus of this chapter is on anodic and cathodic stripping voltammetry, both of which are used to detect metals. This chapter discusses the theory that underpins the techniques as well as the potential applications of stripping analysis for the detection of analytes in a variety of real-sample such as water, soil extracts, and biological fluids (blood and saliva) with a high degree of specificity, sensitivity (detection limits of ppb), and reliability. The chapter also covers the theory that underpins the techniques and the potential applications of stripping analysis. The analysis of water for the presence of analytes is the primary topic of this chapter. Electroanalytical methods are given a concise explanation in this chapter, along with their mode of operation and the various phenomena that can be investigated with the help of these methods. In addition, a few other applications of electrochemical sensors and a general review of these sensors are discussed.
An electroanalytical overview of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)
Authors: Salagare Shridevi , S. G. Manjushree , Adarakatti Prashanth S.
Published: July 2023

The development of sustainable energy and extremely sensitive sensors has become increasingly important as global energy and sensing demand has risen drastically in this century. Electrochemical energy storage devices, electrochemical sensors, and electrocatalysis technologies like the O2 reduction reaction, O2 evolution reaction, rapid depletion of fossil fuels, H2 evolution reaction, CO2 reduction reaction and N2 reduction reaction are all highly wanted. The performance of these devices is highly dependent on the electrode materials, which has sparked a lot of interest in the development of new electrode active substances. Metal–organic frameworks with redox-activity (MOFs) are regarded as viable candidates for active substances for such electrochemical applications due to their remarkable structural designability, large specific surface area, and tunable active sites. This chapter covers the processes of MOFs, design techniques for MOF electrodes, and a detailed summary of current MOF developments in electrochemical sensing, electrochemical energy storage, and electrocatalysts. Finally, the challenges and prospects of MOFs in practical applications are thoroughly discussed, paving the way for the development of MOF-based electrochemical devices.
Nanoliter atmospheric pressure photoionization-mass spectrometry for direct bioanalysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Tan Siyuan , Yin Xinchi , Feng Lulu , Wang Juduo , Xue Zhichao , Jiang You , Dai Xinhua , Gong Xiaoyun , Fang Xiang
Published: July 2023

A nanoliter atmospheric pressure photoionization (nano-APPI) source was developed and used for the direct analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in single-cell samples.
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of a gold core–silver shell-sponge substrate for detection of thiram and diquat
Authors: Sun Chao , Ye Li , Wang Lizheng , Hu Zhiming , Ding Jianjun
Published: July 2023

Aiming at the difficulty of traditional pesticide sampling, a low-cost and convenient flexible surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) gold core–silver shell-sponge (Au–Ag-sponge) substrate was synthesized by chemical reduction.
An electron acceptor with an intrinsic quinoidal core for bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells and photodetectors
Authors: Feng Haozhe , Yin Bingyan , Pan Langheng , Liu Xinyuan , Kim Seoyoung , Zhao Yanfei , Huang Xuelong , Yang Changduk , Duan Chunhui
Published: July 2023

An electron acceptor with a quinoidal dipyrrolopyrazinedione core was synthesized for organic solar cells and photodetectors, which offered an efficiency of 6.7% and a detectivity of 4.1 × 1013 Jones at 800 nm, respectively.
C–H⋯C hydrogen bond and alkali metal C⋯Z⋯C (Z = Li, Na, K) analogues –N-heterocyclic carbenes in coordination spheres of protons and alkali metal cations: crystal structures and theoretical analysis
Authors: Grabowski Sławomir J.
Published: July 2023

A Cambridge Structural Database, CSD, search was performed to find structures where a proton or an alkali metal cation is a coordination centre that interacts withN-heterocyclic carbene, NHC, ligands.
Regulating excitonic effects in non-oxide based XPSe3 (X = Cd, Zn) monolayers towards enhanced photocatalysis for overall water splitting
Authors: Kishore Amal , Seksaria Harshita , Arora Anu , De Sarkar Abir
Published: July 2023

Dielectric environment effects on exciton behavior in non-oxide 2D materials: implications for photocatalysis and next-generation optoelectronics.
A surface-engineered Si photocathode with synergistic Ni–graphene core–shell for efficient hydrogen evolution
Authors: Seong Chaewon , Ryu Hyesu , Rho Hokyun , Bae Hyojung , Mane Pratik , Lee Sang Hyun , Ha Jun-Seok
Published: July 2023

A surface-engineered Si photocathode with a Ni–graphene core–shell structure is designed to enhance hydrogen evolution performance for water-splitting applications.
Near room temperature stepwise spin state switching and photomagnetic effect in a mixed-valence molecular square
Authors: Kamilya Sujit , Mehta Sakshi , Lescouëzec Rodrigue , Li Yanling , Pechousek Jiri , Semwal Mohini , Mondal Abhishake
Published: July 2023

Two-step thermo-induced spin-state switching was observed in a mixed-valence [Fe2Fe2] molecular square complex. The desolvated sample exhibits ON/OFF photo switching and reversible spin-state switching with lower T1/2 value.
Detection of ship emissions from distillate fuel operation via single-particle profiling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Anders Lukas , Schade Julian , Rosewig Ellen Iva , Kröger-Badge Thomas , Irsig Robert , Jeong Seongho , Bendl Jan , Saraji-Bozorgzad Mohammad Reza , Huang Jhih-Hong , Zhang Fu-Yi , Wang Chia C. , Adam Thomas , Sklorz Martin , Etzien Uwe , Buchholz Bert , Czech Hendryk , Streibel Thorsten , Passig Johannes , Zimmermann Ralf
Published: July 2023

A novel marker approach can detect individual particles from ship emissions in the atmosphere via resonant ionization of aromatic hydrocarbons.
Effect of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain Shirota supplementation on clinical responses and gut microbiome in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Yang Xiaodong , He Xiaoqin , Xu Shaoqing , Zhang Yi , Mo Chengjun , Lai Yiqiu , Song Yanyan , Yan Zheng , Ai Penghui , Qian Yiwei , Xiao Qin
Published: July 2023

The current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showed that Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain Shirota supplementation improved non-motor symptoms and specific gastrointestinal symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients.
Development of a tissue construct with spatially controllable stiffnessviaa one-step 3D bioprinting and dual-crosslinking process
Authors: Pagnotta Giorgia , Becconi Maila , Malferrari Marco , Aiello Donatella , Napoli Anna , Di Lisa Luana , Grilli Stefano , Rapino Stefania , Focarete Maria Letizia
Published: July 2023

AlgMa bioink obtainedviaa green synthetic route and a dual crosslinking process is characterized by rheology to study the effect of crosslinking on cell viability and to fabricate bioprinted tissue models with spatially controlled stiffness.
Colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic biosensor for quantitative detection of S100B in serum samples
Authors: Ye Liya , Xu Liguang , Kuang Hua , Xu Xinxin , Xu Chuanlai
Published: July 2023

A double antibody sandwich colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic biosensor for quantitative detection of S100B in serum.
The implication of mesenteric functions and the biological effects of nanomaterials on the mesentery
Authors: Liu Guanyu , Bao Lin , Chen Chunying , Xu Jianfu , Cui Xuejing
Published: July 2023

The mesenteric functions, influence on diseases, and interaction with nanomaterials.
Synthesis and in vitro photodynamic activity of aza-BODIPY-based photosensitizers
Authors: Hlogyik Tamás , Laczkó-Rigó Réka , Bakos Éva , Poór Miklós , Kele Zoltán , Özvegy-Laczka Csilla , Mernyák Erzsébet
Published: July 2023

New aza-BODIPY derivatives as potential photosensitizers were synthesized. The bis-triazolyl-TEG derivative (14) showed superior phototoxicity against the A431 cell line with an excellent photo-to-dark toxicity ratio acting in the nanomolar range.
Visible-light-mediated radical reactions of indoles withpara-quinone methides using eosin Y as an organophotoredox catalyst
Authors: Rekha  , Sharma Sonam , Vijaya Anand Ramasamy
Published: July 2023

Using eosin Y as a photoredox catalyst, a visible-light-mediated functionalization of indoles withp-quinone methides leading to indolyldiarylmethanes has been developed.
α-Amido sulphones as useful intermediates in the preparation ofC-chiral α-aminophosphonates and α-aminophosphonic acids
Authors: Gbubele Joseph D. , Misiaszek Tomasz , Siczek Miłosz , Olszewski Tomasz K.
Published: July 2023

α-Amido sulphones were used to obtain α-aminophosphonates and α-aminophosphonic acids. Additionally, the use of a chiral auxiliary enabled their asymmetric synthesis with precise control of the configuration at a new stereogenic carbon center.