bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SUMOylation disassembles the tetrameric pyruvate kinase M2 to block myeloid differentiation of leukemia cells
Authors: Xia Li , Jiang Yue , Zhang Xue-Hong , Wang Xin-Ran , Wei Ran , Qin Kang , Lu Ying 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLeukemia arises from blockage of the differentiation/maturation of hematopoietic progenitor cells at different stages with uncontrolled proliferation of leukemic cells. However, the signal pathways that block cell differentiation remain unclear. Herein we found that SUMOylation of the M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2), a rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme catalyzing the dephosphorylation of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate, is prevalent in a variety of leukemic cell lines as well as primary samples from patients with leukemia through multiple-reaction monitoring based targeted mass spectrometry analysis. SUMOylation of PKM2 lysine 270 (K270) triggered conformation change from tetrameric to dimeric of PKM2, reduced PK activity, and led to nuclear translocation of PKM2. SUMO1 modification of PKM2 recruits and promotes degradation of RUNX1 via a SUMO-interacting motif, resulting in blockage of myeloid differentiation of NB4 and U937 leukemia cells. Replacement of wild type PKM2 with a SUMOylation-deficient mutant (K270R) abrogated the interaction with RUNX1, and the blockage of myeloid differentiation in vitro and in xenograft model. Our results establish PKM2 as an essential modulator of leukemia cell differentiation and a potential therapeutic target, which may offer synergistic effect with differentiation therapy in the treatment of leukemia.
Dissecting human embryonic skeletal stem cell ontogeny by single-cell transcriptomic and functional analyses
Authors: He Jian , Yan Jing , Wang Jianfang , Zhao Liangyu , Xin Qian , Zeng Yang , Sun Yuxi , Zhang Han , Bai Zhijie , Li Zongcheng , Ni Yanli , Gong Yandong , Li Yunqiao , He Han , Bian Zhilei , Lan Yu , Ma Chunyu , Bian Lihong , Zhu Heng , Liu Bing , Yue Rui 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHuman skeletal stem cells (SSCs) have been discovered in fetal and adult long bones. However, the spatiotemporal ontogeny of human embryonic SSCs during early skeletogenesis remains elusive. Here we map the transcriptional landscape of human limb buds and embryonic long bones at single-cell resolution to address this fundamental question. We found remarkable heterogeneity within human limb bud mesenchyme and epithelium, and aligned them along the proximal–distal and anterior–posterior axes using known marker genes. Osteo-chondrogenic progenitors first appeared in the core limb bud mesenchyme, which give rise to multiple populations of stem/progenitor cells in embryonic long bones undergoing endochondral ossification. Importantly, a perichondrial embryonic skeletal stem/progenitor cell (eSSPC) subset was identified, which could self-renew and generate the osteochondral lineage cells, but not adipocytes or hematopoietic stroma. eSSPCs are marked by the adhesion molecule CADM1 and highly enriched with FOXP1/2 transcriptional network. Interestingly, neural crest-derived cells with similar phenotypic markers and transcriptional networks were also found in the sagittal suture of human embryonic calvaria. Taken together, this study revealed the cellular heterogeneity and lineage hierarchy during human embryonic skeletogenesis, and identified distinct skeletal stem/progenitor cells that orchestrate endochondral and intramembranous ossification.
The role of spin in the degradation of organic photovoltaics
Authors: Ramirez Ivan , Privitera Alberto , Karuthedath Safakath , Jungbluth Anna , Benduhn Johannes , Sperlich Andreas , Spoltore Donato , Vandewal Koen , Laquai Frédéric , Riede Moritz 
Published: January 2021

AbstractStability is now a critical factor in the commercialization of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Both extrinsic stability to oxygen and water and intrinsic stability to light and heat in inert conditions must be achieved. Triplet states are known to be problematic in both cases, leading to singlet oxygen production or fullerene dimerization. The latter is thought to proceed from unquenched singlet excitons that have undergone intersystem crossing (ISC). Instead, we show that in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells the photo-degradation of C60via photo-oligomerization occurs primarily via back-hole transfer (BHT) from a charge-transfer state to a C60excited triplet state. We demonstrate this to be the principal pathway from a combination of steady-state optoelectronic measurements, time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance, and temperature-dependent transient absorption spectroscopy on model systems. BHT is a much more serious concern than ISC because it cannot be mitigated by improved exciton quenching, obtained for example by a finer BHJ morphology. As BHT is not specific to fullerenes, our results suggest that the role of electron and hole back transfer in the degradation of BHJs should also be carefully considered when designing stable OPV devices.
BNIP3L/NIX-mediated mitophagy protects against glucocorticoid-induced synapse defects
Authors: Choi Gee Euhn , Lee Hyun Jik , Chae Chang Woo , Cho Ji Hyeon , Jung Young Hyun , Kim Jun Sung , Kim Seo Yihl , Lim Jae Ryong , Han Ho Jae 
Published: January 2021

AbstractStress-induced glucocorticoids disturb mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics; however, instead of being removed via mitophagy, the damaged mitochondria accumulate. Therefore, we investigate the role of glucocorticoids in mitophagy inhibition and subsequent synaptic defects in hippocampal neurons, SH-SY5Y cells, and ICR mice. First, we observe that glucocorticoids decrease both synaptic density and vesicle recycling due to suppressed mitophagy. Screening data reveal that glucocorticoids downregulate BNIP3-like (BNIP3L)/NIX, resulting in the reduced mitochondrial respiration function and synaptic density. Notably, we find that glucocorticoids direct the glucocorticoid receptor to bind directly to the PGC1α promoter, downregulating its expression and nuclear translocation. PGC1α downregulation selectively decreases NIX-dependent mitophagy. Consistent with these results, NIX enhancer pre-treatment of a corticosterone-exposed mouse elevates mitophagy and synaptic density in hippocampus, improving the outcome of a spatial memory task. In conclusion, glucocorticoids inhibit mitophagy via downregulating NIX and that NIX activation represents a potential target for restoring synapse function.
The complex structure of GRL0617 and SARS-CoV-2 PLpro reveals a hot spot for antiviral drug discovery
Authors: Fu Ziyang , Huang Bin , Tang Jinle , Liu Shuyan , Liu Ming , Ye Yuxin , Liu Zhihong , Xiong Yuxian , Zhu Wenning , Cao Dan , Li Jihui , Niu Xiaogang , Zhou Huan , Zhao Yong Juan , Zhang Guoliang , Huang Hao 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 is the pathogen responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like cysteine protease (PLpro) has been implicated in playing important roles in virus maturation, dysregulation of host inflammation, and antiviral immune responses. The multiple functions of PLpro render it a promising drug target. Therefore, we screened a library of approved drugs and also examined available inhibitors against PLpro. Inhibitor GRL0617 showed a promising in vitro IC50 of 2.1 μM and an effective antiviral inhibition in cell-based assays. The co-crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 PLproC111S in complex with GRL0617 indicates that GRL0617 is a non-covalent inhibitor and it resides in the ubiquitin-specific proteases (USP) domain of PLpro. NMR data indicate that GRL0617 blocks the binding of ISG15 C-terminus to PLpro. Using truncated ISG15 mutants, we show that the C-terminus of ISG15 plays a dominant role in binding PLpro. Structural analysis reveals that the ISG15 C-terminus binding pocket in PLpro contributes a disproportionately large portion of binding energy, thus this pocket is a hot spot for antiviral drug discovery targeting PLpro.
Scaling of sensory information in large neural populations shows signatures of information-limiting correlations
Authors: Kafashan MohammadMehdi , Jaffe Anna W. , Chettih Selmaan N. , Nogueira Ramon , Arandia-Romero Iñigo , Harvey Christopher D. , Moreno-Bote Rubén , Drugowitsch Jan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHow is information distributed across large neuronal populations within a given brain area? Information may be distributed roughly evenly across neuronal populations, so that total information scales linearly with the number of recorded neurons. Alternatively, the neural code might be highly redundant, meaning that total information saturates. Here we investigate how sensory information about the direction of a moving visual stimulus is distributed across hundreds of simultaneously recorded neurons in mouse primary visual cortex. We show that information scales sublinearly due to correlated noise in these populations. We compartmentalized noise correlations into information-limiting and nonlimiting components, then extrapolate to predict how information grows with even larger neural populations. We predict that tens of thousands of neurons encode 95% of the information about visual stimulus direction, much less than the number of neurons in primary visual cortex. These findings suggest that the brain uses a widely distributed, but nonetheless redundant code that supports recovering most sensory information from smaller subpopulations.
Flexible and efficient perovskite quantum dot solar cells via hybrid interfacial architecture
Authors: Hu Long , Zhao Qian , Huang Shujuan , Zheng Jianghui , Guan Xinwei , Patterson Robert , Kim Jiyun , Shi Lei , Lin Chun-Ho , Lei Qi , Chu Dewei , Tao Wan , Cheong Soshan , Tilley Richard D. , Ho-Baillie Anita W. Y. , Luther Joseph M. , Yuan Jianyu , Wu Tom 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAll-inorganic CsPbI3 perovskite quantum dots have received substantial research interest for photovoltaic applications because of higher efficiency compared to solar cells using other quantum dots materials and the various exciting properties that perovskites have to offer. These quantum dot devices also exhibit good mechanical stability amongst various thin-film photovoltaic technologies. We demonstrate higher mechanical endurance of quantum dot films compared to bulk thin film and highlight the importance of further research on high-performance and flexible optoelectronic devices using nanoscale grains as an advantage. Specifically, we develop a hybrid interfacial architecture consisting of CsPbI3 quantum dot/PCBM heterojunction, enabling an energy cascade for efficient charge transfer and mechanical adhesion. The champion CsPbI3 quantum dot solar cell has an efficiency of 15.1% (stabilized power output of 14.61%), which is among the highest report to date. Building on this strategy, we further demonstrate a highest efficiency of 12.3% in flexible quantum dot photovoltaics.
Endonuclease G promotes autophagy by suppressing mTOR signaling and activating the DNA damage response
Authors: Wang Wenjun , Li Jianshuang , Tan Junyang , Wang Miaomiao , Yang Jing , Zhang Zhi-Min , Li Chuanzhou , Basnakian Alexei G. , Tang Hong-Wen , Perrimon Norbert , Zhou Qinghua 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEndonuclease G (ENDOG), a mitochondrial nuclease, is known to participate in many cellular processes, including apoptosis and paternal mitochondrial elimination, while its role in autophagy remains unclear. Here, we report that ENDOG released from mitochondria promotes autophagy during starvation, which we find to be evolutionally conserved across species by performing experiments in human cell lines, mice, Drosophila and C. elegans. Under starvation, Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta-mediated phosphorylation of ENDOG at Thr-128 and Ser-288 enhances its interaction with 14-3-3γ, which leads to the release of Tuberin (TSC2) and Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3 (Vps34) from 14-3-3γ, followed by mTOR pathway suppression and autophagy initiation. Alternatively, ENDOG activates DNA damage response and triggers autophagy through its endonuclease activity. Our results demonstrate that ENDOG is a crucial regulator of autophagy, manifested by phosphorylation-mediated interaction with 14-3-3γ, and its endonuclease activity-mediated DNA damage response.
Pseudo-bilayer architecture enables high-performance organic solar cells with enhanced exciton diffusion length
Authors: Jiang Kui , Zhang Jie , Peng Zhengxing , Lin Francis , Wu Shengfan , Li Zhen , Chen Yuzhong , Yan He , Ade Harald , Zhu Zonglong , Jen Alex K.-Y. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSolution-processed organic solar cells (OSCs) are a promising candidate for next-generation photovoltaic technologies. However, the short exciton diffusion length of the bulk heterojunction active layer in OSCs strongly hampers the full potential to be realized in these bulk heterojunction OSCs. Herein, we report high-performance OSCs with a pseudo-bilayer architecture, which possesses longer exciton diffusion length benefited from higher film crystallinity. This feature ensures the synergistic advantages of efficient exciton dissociation and charge transport in OSCs with pseudo-bilayer architecture, enabling a higher power conversion efficiency (17.42%) to be achieved compared to those with bulk heterojunction architecture (16.44%) due to higher short-circuit current density and fill factor. A certified efficiency of 16.31% is also achieved for the ternary OSC with a pseudo-bilayer active layer. Our results demonstrate the excellent potential for pseudo-bilayer architecture to be used for future OSC applications.
Single-cell analysis of Schistosoma mansoni identifies a conserved genetic program controlling germline stem cell fate
Authors: Li Pengyang , Nanes Sarfati Dania , Xue Yuan , Yu Xi , Tarashansky Alexander J. , Quake Stephen R. , Wang Bo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSchistosomes are parasitic flatworms causing one of the most prevalent infectious diseases from which millions of people are currently suffering. These parasites have high fecundity and their eggs are both the transmissible agents and the cause of the infection-associated pathology. Given its biomedical significance, the schistosome germline has been a research focus for more than a century. Nonetheless, molecular mechanisms that regulate its development are only now being understood. In particular, it is unknown what balances the fate of germline stem cells (GSCs) in producing daughter stem cells through mitotic divisions versus gametes through meiosis. Here, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing on juvenile schistosomes and capture GSCs during de novo gonadal development. We identify a genetic program that controls the proliferation and differentiation of GSCs. This program centers around onecut, a homeobox transcription factor, and boule, an mRNA binding protein. Their expressions are mutually dependent in the schistosome male germline, and knocking down either of them causes over-proliferation of GSCs and blocks germ cell differentiation. We further show that this germline-specific regulatory program is conserved in the planarian, schistosome’s free-living evolutionary cousin, but the function of onecut has changed during evolution to support GSC maintenance.
A metal-free photocatalyst for highly efficient hydrogen peroxide photoproduction in real seawater
Authors: Wu Qingyao , Cao Jingjing , Wang Xiao , Liu Yan , Zhao Yajie , Wang Hui , Liu Yang , Huang Hui , Liao Fan , Shao Mingwang , Kang Zhenghui 
Published: January 2021

AbstractArtificial photosynthesis of H2O2 from H2O and O2, as a spotless method, has aroused widespread interest. Up to date, most photocatalysts still suffer from serious salt-deactivated effects with huge consumption of photogenerated charges, which severely limit their wide application. Herein, by using a phenolic condensation approach, carbon dots, organic dye molecule procyanidins and 4-methoxybenzaldehyde are composed into a metal-free photocatalyst for the photosynthetic production of H2O2 in seawater. This catalyst exhibits high photocatalytic ability to produce H2O2 with the yield of 1776 μmol g−1h−1 (λ ≥ 420 nm; 34.8 mW cm−2) in real seawater, about 4.8 times higher than the pure polymer. Combining with in-situ photoelectrochemical and transient photovoltage analysis, the active site and the catalytic mechanism of this composite catalyst in seawater are also clearly clarified. This work opens up an avenue for a highly efficient and practical, available catalyst for H2O2 photoproduction in real seawater.
A complete dietary review of Japanese birds with special focus on molluscs
Authors: Morii Yuta , Kitazawa Munehiro , Squires Theodore E. , Watanabe Megumi , Watanabe Yoshiaki , Saito Takumi , Yamazaki Daishi , Uchida Akitomo , Machida Yoshiyasu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBirds often hold important positions in the food webs of ecosystems. As a result, interactions between birds and their prey have attracted attention not only in ecology, but also in fields like agriculture and conservation. Avian food resources are well researched in Japan, however there is no database critically reviewing molluscs as a food resource for birds. Here, we present a new database reviewing dietary information for all Japanese bird species. In addition to addressing general diet categories and specific food habits for each bird, we include detailed data on the molluscan prey observed for all species that consume them. The information within this database was collected through intense literary review to provide a complete look at bird species historically present around the country. We also include new information on snail species found in the upper digestive tract of harvested wild birds. This database is publicly available in the Zenodo repository. The information should aid research around the Japanese archipelago, especially projects involving birds or molluscs.
A comprehensive database of active and potentially-active continental faults in Chile at 1:25,000 scale
Authors: Maldonado Valentina , Contreras Martín , Melnick Daniel 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn seismically-active regions, mapping active and potentially-active faults is the first step to assess seismic hazards and site selection for paleoseismic studies that will estimate recurrence rates. Here, we present a comprehensive database of active and potentially-active continental faults in Chile based on existing studies and new mapping at 1:25,000 scale using geologic and geomorphic criteria and digital elevation models derived from TanDEM-X and LiDAR data. The database includes 958 fault strands grouped into 17 fault systems and classified based on activity (81 proved, 589 probable, 288 possible). The database is a contribution to the world compilation of active faults with applications among others in seismic hazard assessments, territorial planning, paleoseismology, geodynamics, landscape evolution processes, geothermal exploration, and in the study of feedbacks between continental deformation and the plate-boundary seismic cycle along subduction zones.
Direct reprogramming of epithelial cell rests of malassez into mesenchymal-like cells by epigenetic agents
Authors: Yoshida Koki , Uehara Osamu , Kurashige Yoshihito , Paudel Durga , Onishi Aya , Neopane Puja , Hiraki Daichi , Morikawa Tetsuro , Harada Fumiya , Takai Rie , Sato Jun , Saitoh Masato , Abiko Yoshihiro 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe DNA demethylating agent, 5-Azacytidine (5Aza), and histone deacetylase inhibitor, valproic acid (Vpa), can improve the reprogramming efficiencies of pluripotent cells. This study aimed to examine the roles of 5Aza and Vpa in the dedifferentiation of epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM) into stem-like cells. Additionally, the ability of stem-like cells to differentiate into mesenchymal cells was evaluated. ERM was cultured in embryonic stem cell medium (ESCM) with 1 µM of 5Aza, or 2 mM of Vpa, or a combination of 5Aza and Vpa. The cells stimulated with both 5Aza and Vpa were named as progenitor-dedifferentiated into stem-like cells (Pro-DSLCs). The Pro-DSLCs cultured in ESCM alone for another week were named as DSLCs. The stem cell markers were significantly higher in the DSLCs than the controls (no additions). The mRNA and protein levels of the endothelial, mesenchymal stem, and osteogenic cell markers were significantly higher in the Pro-DSLCs and DSLCs than the controls. The combination of a demethylating agent and a deacetylated inhibitor induced the dedifferentiation of ERM into DSLCs. The Pro-DSLCs derived from ERM can be directly reprogrammed into mesenchymal-like cells without dedifferentiation into stem-like cells. Isolated ERM treated with epigenetic agents may be used for periodontal regeneration.
Dynamics of the immediate behavioral response to partial social exclusion
Authors: Dewald-Kaufmann J. F. , Wüstenberg T. , Barton B. B. , Goerigk S. , Reinhard M. A. , Musil R. , Werle J. , Falkai P. , Jobst A. , Padberg F. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSocial rejection and exclusion (ostracism) represent main stressors in daily life and even threaten mental and physical health. Abundant data from subjective measures in social exclusion paradigms are available, but the dynamic behavioral response is largely unexplored. Here, we applied modified variants of the Cyberball paradigm in two consecutive experiments to investigate the adaptive behavioral and emotional reactions to partial social exclusion. In experiment 1, 68 healthy participants (females, mean age 24.76 ± 4.05 years) played 2 min inclusion, 5 min partial exclusion and 2 min total exclusion. In experiment 2, 94 healthy participants (48 females, mean age 34.50 ± 12.08 years) underwent an experimental condition (2 min inclusion, 10 min partial exclusion) and a control condition (12 min inclusion only) in randomized order. In experiment 1, behavioral responses to partial exclusion showed two characteristics: (1) an immediate increase in ball passes to the excluding player followed (2) by a later return of participants’ behavior to baseline. This finding was replicated for both genders and in comparison to a control condition in experiment 2. The dynamic behavioral response observed here may point to overlapping principles of cooperation in this ball tossing paradigm and serves as a novel experimental proxy.
New method for visualizing the dose rate distribution around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant using artificial neural networks
Authors: Sasaki Miyuki , Sanada Yukihisa , Katengeza Estiner W. , Yamamoto Akio 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study proposes a new method of visualizing the ambient dose rate distribution using artificial neural networks (ANNs) from airborne radiation monitoring results. The method was applied to the results of the airborne radiation monitoring which was conducted around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by an unmanned aerial vehicle. Much of the survey data obtained in the past were used as the training data for building a network. The number of training cases was related to the error between the ground and converted values by the ANN. The quantitative evaluation index (the root-mean-square error) between the ANN-converted value and the ground-based survey result converged at 200 training cases. This number of training case was considered a rough criterion of the required number of training cases. The reliability of the ANN method was evaluated by comparison with the ground-based survey data. The dose rate map created by the ANNs method reproduced ground-based survey results better than traditional methods.