bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SlZHD17 is involved in the control of chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism in tomato fruit
Authors: Shi Yuan , Pang Xiaoqin , Liu Wenjing , Wang Rui , Su Deding , Gao Yushuo , Wu Mengbo , Deng Wei , Liu Yudong , Li Zhengguo 
Published: December 2021

AbstractChlorophylls and carotenoids are essential and beneficial substances for both plant and human health. Identifying the regulatory network of these pigments is necessary for improving fruit quality. In a previous study, we identified an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, SlMYB72, that plays an important role in chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism in tomato fruit. Here, we demonstrated that the SlMYB72-interacting protein SlZHD17, which belongs to the zinc-finger homeodomain transcription factor family, also functions in chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism. Silencing SlZHD17 in tomato improved multiple beneficial agronomic traits, including dwarfism, accelerated flowering, and earlier fruit harvest. More importantly, downregulating SlZHD17 in fruits resulted in larger chloroplasts and a higher chlorophyll content. Dual-luciferase, yeast one-hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assays clarified that SlZHD17 regulates the chlorophyll biosynthesis gene SlPOR-B and chloroplast developmental regulator SlTKN2 in a direct manner. Chlorophyll degradation and plastid transformation were also retarded after suppression of SlZHD17 in fruits, which was caused by the inhibition of SlSGR1, a crucial factor in chlorophyll degradation. On the other hand, the expression of the carotenoid biosynthesis genes SlPSY1 and SlZISO was also suppressed and directly regulated by SlZHD17, which induced uneven pigmentation and decreased the lycopene content in fruits with SlZHD17 suppression at the ripe stage. Furthermore, the protein–protein interactions between SlZHD17 and other pigment regulators, including SlARF4, SlBEL11, and SlTAGL1, were also presented. This study provides new insight into the complex pigment regulatory network and provides new options for breeding strategies aiming to improve fruit quality.
Preputioplasty as a surgical alternative in treatment of phimosis
Authors: Osmonov Daniar , Hamann Claudius , Eraky Ahmed , Kalz Almut , Melchior Diethild , Bergholz Robert , Romero-Otero Javier 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPreputioplasty denotes various surgical techniques directed at resolving phimosis without the need for radical or partial circumcision. This narrative review summarizes the best-known surgical techniques of preputioplasty. A MEDLINE and EMBASE-based literature search of original manuscripts and case reports published in English has been carried out using the following key words: “circumcision”, “partial circumcision”, “phimosis”, “paraphimosis”, and “preputioplasty”. Six different procedures are explored in more detail and illustrated. The complication rates of all surgical procedures presented here are reported to be low. In cases of medical (rather than cultural and religious) indications, foreskin-preserving procedures present useful alternatives to circumcision in the routine clinical practice of urologists and pediatric surgeons.
Intermittent BRAF inhibition in advanced BRAF mutated melanoma results of a phase II randomized trial
Authors: Gonzalez-Cao Maria , Mayo de las Casas Clara , Oramas Juana , Berciano-Guerrero Miguel A. , de la Cruz Luis , Cerezuela Pablo , Arance Ana , Muñoz-Couselo Eva , Espinosa Enrique , Puertolas Teresa , Diaz Beveridge Roberto , Ochenduszko Sebastian , Villanueva Maria-Jose , Basterretxea Laura , Bellido Lorena , Rodriguez Delvys , Campos Begoña , Montagut Clara , Drozdowskyj Ana , Molina Miguel A. , Lopez-Martin Jose Antonio , Berrocal Alfonso 
Published: December 2021

AbstractCombination treatment with BRAF (BRAFi) plus MEK inhibitors (MEKi) has demonstrated survival benefit in patients with advanced melanoma harboring activating BRAF mutations. Previous preclinical studies suggested that an intermittent dosing of these drugs could delay the emergence of resistance. Contrary to expectations, the first published phase 2 randomized study comparing continuous versus intermittent schedule of dabrafenib (BRAFi) plus trametinib (MEKi) demonstrated a detrimental effect of the “on−off” schedule. Here we report confirmatory data from the Phase II randomized open-label clinical trial comparing the antitumoral activity of the standard schedule versus an intermittent combination of vemurafenib (BRAFi) plus cobimetinib (MEKi) in advanced BRAF mutant melanoma patients (NCT02583516). The trial did not meet its primary endpoint of progression free survival (PFS) improvement. Our results show that the antitumor activity of the experimental intermittent schedule of vemurafenib plus cobimetinib is not superior to the standard continuous schedule. Detection of BRAF mutation in cell free tumor DNA has prognostic value for survival and its dynamics has an excellent correlation with clinical response, but not with progression. NGS analysis demonstrated de novo mutations in resistant cases.
Nicotine-mediated OTUD3 downregulation inhibits VEGF-C mRNA decay to promote lymphatic metastasis of human esophageal cancer
Authors: Wang Meng , Li Yue , Xiao Yunyun , Yang Muwen , Chen Jinxin , Jian Yunting , Chen Xin , Shi Dongni , Chen Xiangfu , Ouyang Ying , Kong Lingzhi , Huang Xinjian , Bai Jiewen , Lin Chuyong , Song Libing 
Published: December 2021

AbstractNicotine addiction and the occurrence of lymph node spread are two major significant factors associated with esophageal cancer’s poor prognosis; however, nicotine’s role in inducing lymphatic metastasis of esophageal cancer remains unclear. Here we show that OTU domain-containing protein 3 (OTUD3) is downregulated by nicotine and correlates with poor prognosis in heavy-smoking esophageal cancer patients. OTUD3 directly interacts with ZFP36 ring finger protein (ZFP36) and stabilizes it by inhibiting FBXW7-mediated K48-linked polyubiquitination. ZFP36 binds with the VEGF-C 3-‘UTR and recruits the RNA degrading complex to induce its rapid mRNA decay. Downregulation of OTUD3 and ZFP36 is essential for nicotine-induced VEGF-C production and lymphatic metastasis in esophageal cancer. This study establishes that the OTUD3/ZFP36/VEGF-C axis plays a vital role in nicotine addiction-induced lymphatic metastasis, suggesting that OTUD3 may serve as a prognostic marker, and induction of the VEGF-C mRNA decay might be a potential therapeutic strategy against human esophageal cancer.
Time-resolved study of holeboring in realistic experimental conditions
Authors: Hornung J. , Zobus Y. , Roeder S. , Kleinschmidt A. , Bertini D. , Zepf M. , Bagnoud V. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe evolution of dense plasmas prior to the arrival of the peak of the laser irradiation is critical to understanding relativistic laser plasma interactions. The spectral properties of a reflected laser pulse after the interaction with a plasma can be used to gain insights about the interaction itself, whereas the effect of holeboring has a predominant role. Here we developed an analytical model, describing the non-relativistic temporal evolution of the holeboring velocity in the presence of an arbitrary overdense plasma density and laser intensity profile. We verify this using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, showing a major influence on the holeboring dynamic depending on the density profile. The influence on the reflected laser pulse has been verified during an experiment at the PHELIX laser. We show that this enables the possibility to determine the sub-micrometer scale length of the preplasma by measuring the maximum holeboring velocity and acceleration during the laser-plasma interaction.
Footprint evidence of early hominin locomotor diversity at Laetoli, Tanzania
Authors: McNutt Ellison J. , Hatala Kevin G. , Miller Catherine , Adams James , Casana Jesse , Deane Andrew S. , Dominy Nathaniel J. , Fabian Kallisti , Fannin Luke D. , Gaughan Stephen , Gill Simone V. , Gurtu Josephat , Gustafson Ellie , Hill Austin C. , Johnson Camille , Kallindo Said , Kilham Benjamin , Kilham Phoebe , Kim Elizabeth , Liutkus-Pierce Cynthia , Maley Blaine , Prabhat Anjali , Reader John , Rubin Shirley , Thompson Nathan E. , Thornburg Rebeca , Williams-Hatala Erin Marie , Zimmer Brian , Musiba Charles M. , DeSilva Jeremy M. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBipedal trackways discovered in 1978 at Laetoli site G, Tanzania and dated to 3.66 million years ago are widely accepted as the oldest unequivocal evidence of obligate bipedalism in the human lineage1–3. Another trackway discovered two years earlier at nearby site A was partially excavated and attributed to a hominin, but curious affinities with bears (ursids) marginalized its importance to the paleoanthropological community, and the location of these footprints fell into obscurity3–5. In 2019, we located, excavated and cleaned the site A trackway, producing a digital archive using 3D photogrammetry and laser scanning. Here we compare the footprints at this site with those of American black bears, chimpanzees and humans, and we show that they resemble those of hominins more than ursids. In fact, the narrow step width corroborates the original interpretation of a small, cross-stepping bipedal hominin. However, the inferred foot proportions, gait parameters and 3D morphologies of footprints at site A are readily distinguished from those at site G, indicating that a minimum of two hominin taxa with different feet and gaits coexisted at Laetoli.
Amantadine inhibits known and novel ion channels encoded by SARS-CoV-2 in vitro
Authors: Toft-Bertelsen Trine Lisberg , Jeppesen Mads Gravers , Tzortzini Eva , Xue Kai , Giller Karin , Becker Stefan , Mujezinovic Amer , Bentzen Bo Hjorth , B. Andreas Loren , Kolocouris Antonios , Kledal Thomas Nitschke , Rosenkilde Mette Marie 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe dire need for COVID-19 treatments has inspired strategies of repurposing approved drugs. Amantadine has been suggested as a candidate, and cellular as well as clinical studies have indicated beneficial effects of this drug. We demonstrate that amantadine and hexamethylene-amiloride (HMA), but not rimantadine, block the ion channel activity of Protein E from SARS-CoV-2, a conserved viroporin among coronaviruses. These findings agree with their binding to Protein E as evaluated by solution NMR and molecular dynamics simulations. Moreover, we identify two novel viroporins of SARS-CoV-2; ORF7b and ORF10, by showing ion channel activity in a X. laevis oocyte expression system. Notably, amantadine also blocks the ion channel activity of ORF10, thereby providing two ion channel targets in SARS-CoV-2 for amantadine treatment in COVID-19 patients. A screen of known viroporin inhibitors on Protein E, ORF7b, ORF10 and Protein 3a from SARS-CoV-2 revealed inhibition of Protein E and ORF7b by emodin and xanthene, the latter also blocking Protein 3a. This illustrates a general potential of well-known ion channel blockers against SARS-CoV-2 and specifically a dual molecular basis for the promising effects of amantadine in COVID-19 treatment.
Auto-oxidation of exfoliated MoS2 in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone: from 2D nanosheets to 3D nanorods
Authors: Nualchimplee Chakrit , Jitapunkul Kulpavee , Deerattrakul Varisara , Thaweechai Thammanoon , Sirisaksoontorn Weekit , Hirunpinyopas Wisit , Iamprasertkun Pawin 
Published: December 2021

We have therefore introduced a novel preparation route for MoO3 nanorods from exfoliated 2H-MoS2 via the auto-oxidation of a mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and water via the sonication-assisted exfoliation of MoS2.
Efficient computation of Hash Hirschberg protein alignment utilizing hyper threading multi‐core sharing technology
Authors: Abu‐Hashem Muhannad , Gutub Adnan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDue to current technology enhancement, molecular databases have exponentially grown requesting faster efficient methods that can handle these amounts of huge data. Therefore, Multi‐processing CPUs technology can be used including physical and logical processors (Hyper Threading) to significantly increase the performance of computations. Accordingly, sequence comparison and pairwise alignment were both found contributing significantly in calculating the resemblance between sequences for constructing optimal alignments. This research used the Hash Table‐NGram‐Hirschberg (HT‐NGH) algorithm to represent this pairwise alignment utilizing hashing capabilities. The authors propose using parallel shared memory architecture via Hyper Threading to improve the performance of molecular dataset protein pairwise alignment. The proposed parallel hyper threading method targeted the transformation of the HT‐NGH on the datasets decomposition for sequence level efficient utilization within the processing units, that is, reducing idle processing unit situations. The authors combined hyper threading within the multicore architecture processing on shared memory utilization remarking performance of 24.8% average speed up to 34.4% as the highest boosting rate. The benefit of this work improvement is shown preserving acceptable accuracy, that is, reaching 2.08, 2.88, and 3.87 boost‐up as well as the efficiency of 1.04, 0.96, and 0.97, using 2, 3, and 4 cores, respectively, as attractive remarkable results.
A novel image‐orientation feature extraction method for partial discharges
Authors: Li Ze , Qian Yong , Wang Hui , Zhou Xiaoli , Sheng Gehao , Jiang Xiuchen 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPartial discharge identification is of great significance in monitoring power equipment. Although substantial work has been done in partial discharge pattern recognition, most studies have been performed in noise‐free environments. To improve the accuracy of partial discharge pattern recognition, this paper introduces a partial discharge image feature extraction method based on upright speeded‐up robust features. Each group of phase‐resolved pulse sequence data is converted into grayscale images to construct a sample library of partial discharge defects. Upright speeded‐up robust features is used to extract features in grayscale images. The improved support vector machine is used to achieve the best classification of partial discharge sources. The sensitivity of local features to different phase resolutions and different image resolutions of partial discharge phase‐resolved pulse sequence patterns was investigated, and the optimal phase resolution and image resolution were used to construct phase‐resolved pulse sequence patterns. In addition, the recognition effect of this feature extraction method under different noise conditions was also analysed. The results prove that upright speeded‐up robust features can effectively deal with noisy data. The results of this research can provide references for the storage setting and recognition of three‐dimensional images of on‐site partial discharge data.
High performance single stage power factor correction circuit
Authors: Ghazali Masoud , Adib Ehsan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHere, a new single stage single switch soft switching PFC (power factor correction) converter is presented and analysed. The proposed converter combines buck AC‐DC converter and forward DC‐DC converter and applies an auxiliary circuit to eliminate input current dead angle. Furthermore, soft switching is attained and switching losses are eliminated resulting in high efficiency. Another merit of the proposed converter is the partial direct transmission of input power to the output that helps to improve efficiency. Experimental results are presented which justify the above mentioned points and show less than 5% THD in the nominal load. Comparison with other similar single stage PFC converters is performed and shows the proposed converter provides the lowest THD while high efficiency is attained.
Sterbende spirituell begleiten
Authors: Heller Birgit , Heller Andreas 
Published: December 2021

SummarySpiritual Care umfasst die spirituelle Begleitung kranker und sterbender Menschen sowohl im Rahmen verschiedener etablierter religiöser Traditionen als auch im Horizont individualisierter Spiritualität und Sinnsuche. Die verschiedenen Entwürfe zu Spiritual Care folgen ethischen Grundprinzipien, die zwar verschieden akzentuiert werden, aber generell bedeutsam sind: Mitgefühl/Empathie, Verantwortung, Absichtslosigkeit, Demut und Dienst. Steht Spiritual Care im Dienst klinischer Interessen, wird Spiritualität instrumentalisiert. Spiritual Care ist keine planbare Technik, sondern wächst aus Beziehungen.
Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood in a Child Harboring a Novel TBC1D24 Mutation: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Cordani Ramona , Pisciotta Livia , Mancardi Maria Margherita , Stagnaro Michela , Prato Giulia , Giacomini Thea , Morana Giovanni , Walsh Peter , Ghia Twinkle , Nobili Lino , De Grandis Elisa 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAlternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC) is a rare neurological disease characterized by early-onset recurrent paroxysmal events and persistent neurological deficits. TBC1D24 gene variants have been associated with a phenotypic spectrum having epilepsy as the main clinical manifestation. Herein, we report the case of a child affected by developmental delay, polymorphic seizures, and nonepileptic episodes characterized by hemiplegia or bilateral plegia, pallor, hypotonia, and dystonic postures without loss of consciousness that resolved with sleep. Noteworthy, the patient fulfills all the diagnostic criteria for AHC. An epilepsy gene panel revealed a novel TBC1D24 mutation. This variant may be considered a PM5, according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. TBC1D24 gene variants are associated with various clinical features, and increasing data confirms the association with permanent and paroxysmal movement disorders. Our report suggests that the TBC1D24 molecular analysis could be considered in the diagnostic workup of AHC patients.
Dynamics of a single polyampholyte chain
Authors: Silmore Kevin S. , Kumar Rajeev 
Published: December 2021

Polymers that feature both positive and negative charges along chains, known as polyampholytes, represent a class of materials that hold promise for a new generation of energy storage devices, the design of which will require knowledge of the underlying structure and dynamics. Here, we develop a theory based on the Rouse model for the dynamic structure factor of a single polyampholyte chain in the weak coupling regime (negligible intramolecular electrostatics) or subjected to weak external electric fields (governed by linear response). Neglecting effects of small ions, we find deviations in scaling from the classic Rouse theory and make predictions for scattering experiments performed on polyampholytes. We find that, under weak coupling with arbitrarily strong fields, the dynamics are highly dependent on the charge distribution and consequently look at two representative examples—random charge densities and periodic charge densities—with different scaling properties. Under weak fields, the dynamics are largely independent of charge distribution. Finally, we investigate the influence of hydrodynamic effects and the implications of including inertial effects in the model.
Observing the base-by-base search for native structure along transition paths during the folding of single nucleic acid hairpins
Authors: Hoffer Noel Q. , Neupane Krishna , Woodside Michael T. 
Published: December 2021

Significance
Theoretically, biopolymers fold by each residue searching for its native conformation. The elementary steps in this search are very brief, however, making them difficult to detect. Here, we do so by measuring transition paths—the part of folding trajectories in which molecules pass through the high-energy transition states—in DNA hairpins. We find brief pauses within the transition states corresponding to microwells expected theoretically from the search by each nucleotide residue for the conformation required for native base pairing, which is slowed by fluctuations into/out of unfavorable conformations. Spatial differences in the pausing reflect local variations in these fluctuations. These high-resolution measurements probing the elementary events underlying folding elucidate previously inaccessible properties to confirm and extend our understanding of folding.
Collective self-optimization of communicating active particles
Authors: Zampetaki Alexandra V. , Liebchen Benno , Ivlev Alexei V. , Löwen Hartmut 
Published: December 2021

Significance
Chemotaxis is a common trait in microorganisms, enabling them to communicate for achieving a common goal. While many existing models have focused on agents moving always toward (or away from) other agents in the system, here we formulate a generalized model where the agents seek an optimal value of the chemical field. This creates effective interactions which lead to attractions or repulsions and notably also contain significant nonpairwise contributions. The latter induce aperiodic patterns beyond those seen in generic chemotaxis models and allow all group members to approach the optimal state. Our results establish the concept of optimal field interactions as a route for collective self-optimization of biological or synthetic agents, relevant for analyzing their communication rules or controlling them.
Mg2+-dependent conformational rearrangements of CRISPR-Cas12a R-loop complex are mandatory for complete double-stranded DNA cleavage
Authors: Son Heyjin , Park Jaeil , Hwang Injoo , Jung Youngri , Bae Sangsu , Lee Sanghwa 
Published: December 2021

SignificanceCRISPR-Cas12a has emerged as attractive molecular scissors alternative to Cas9 owing to its unique features including fewer off-target effects, an alternative protospacer-adjacent motif sequence, pre-CRISPR RNA processing activity, and indiscriminate single-stranded DNase activity. However, despite these advantages, Cas12a has not been well utilized as recently reported base and prime editors because it does not have complete nickase variants, unlike Cas9. In this study, we provide a thorough understanding of the mechanisms that govern the generation of complete double-stranded DNA breaks by the single catalytic site of Cas12a using single-molecule fluorescence assays to improve our ability to develop a rational design for more potently engineered Cas12a including the nickase form. This would extend the range of genome editing applications of Cas12a.
Canine sexual dimorphism inArdipithecus ramiduswas nearly human-like
Authors: Suwa Gen , Sasaki Tomohiko , Semaw Sileshi , Rogers Michael J. , Simpson Scott W. , Kunimatsu Yutaka , Nakatsukasa Masato , Kono Reiko T. , Zhang Yingqi , Beyene Yonas , Asfaw Berhane , White Tim D. 
Published: December 2021

SignificanceHumans have the proportionately smallest male canines among all anthropoids and little canine sexual dimorphism. However, the evolutionary emergence of this defining condition remains unclear because until now we have lacked a reliable method of determining dimorphism in weakly dimorphic fossil species. Using a probability-based method we recently developed, we estimated canine size dimorphism in the ∼4.5 million-year-oldArdipithecus ramidusand found it to be weak and comparable to that of modern humans. Our analysis of >300 fossils spanning 6 million years shows that male canine size reduction occurred early in human evolution, broadly coincident with the adoption of bipedality. This suggests a profound and evolutionarily deep sociobehavioral shift that minimized male–male aggression, most likely mediated by female choice.
Gyalidea roseola
. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Authors: Minter D. W. , Cannon P. F. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

A description is provided for
Gyalidea roseola
, a lichen-forming fungus occurring on rock in natural and undisturbed environments and also on mining spoil. Some information on its dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Austria, Finland, Italy, Sweden, UK and Canada (British Columbia)) and associated organisms and substrata (lead mining spoil, rock (calcareous, schist, siliceous), soil and
Cystococcus
- or
Leptosira
-like photobionts).