bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molluscan Nervous Systems
Authors: Benjamin Paul R , Kemenes György , Staras Kevin 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Neural circuits generating reflex and rhythmic behaviours in gastropod molluscs have the advantage that they can be analysed at the level of single identified neurons. The most important advances are in the understanding of learning and memory. The ability to analyse the mechanisms of this adaptive behaviour by integrating information at the behavioural, electrophysiological and molecular levels is a major advantage. However, these behaviours and their underlying brain mechanisms are far simpler than those in another group of mollusc, the cephalopods. These ‘brainy’, fast moving molluscs have basic forms of learning such as habituation and associative conditioning, but they also have more sophisticated behaviours characteristic of vertebrates, such as social and spatial learning. Unlike gastropods, they have separate visual and tactile memory systems. Recent developments at the cellular and circuit level show that a learning and memory centre in the octopus brain manifests vertebrate‐like learning mechanisms, such as long‐term synaptic potentiation.

The ability to identify single neurons and determine their synaptic connections is an important concept in molluscan nervous systems.

This illustrates an important principle of circuit design that generation of the appropriate behaviour depends both on synaptic connectivity and on the ion channel complement present in neuron.

No single factor is involved, but behaviours rely on combinations that include both synaptic connections and electrical (intrinsic properties) of the neurons themselves.

An important conclusion from our work is that the ensemble properties of the whole network are required to produce behaviour. This combined with the redundancy of some elements, argues for a distributed type of organization, with neurons having overlapping and complementary functions.

Associative conditioning involved both pre‐ and post‐synaptic processes.

Both neuronal and cellular processes are involved in memory consolidation.
Plant Chloroplasts and Other Plastids
Authors: Finkemeier Iris , Leister Dario 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Plastids are a group of organelles that are characteristic of plant cells. They have derived in an endosymbiotic event from a cyanobacterial ancestor and still exhibit many bacterial features. Plastids are able to perform many specialised functions that are essential for plant growth and development, such as photosynthesis, nitrate and sulfate assimilation, the synthesis of amino acids and fatty acids, storage of carbohydrates and lipids or the formation of colours in some fruits and flowers. To accomplish this, their membrane systems exert specialised transport functions, including the import and sorting of proteins and the exchange of metabolites in case of the two envelope membranes, as well as proton and electron transport in the case of the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts. Moreover, plastids communicate with the nucleus by retrograde signalling to adjust the expression of nuclear genes according to the metabolic and developmental state of the organelle.

Plastids are of bacterial origin.

Several forms of plastids exist with different functions and composition.

Chloroplasts, the photosynthetically active plastids, are bounded like the other flowering plant plastids by a double membrane but contain in addition the chlorophyll‐containing thylakoid membrane system, the site of photosynthesis.

Plastids are essential for the assimilation of nitrate and sulfate as well as for the synthesis of aromatic compounds.

In contrast to animals, the major site of fatty acid biosynthesis in plants is within the plastid.

Plastids import most of their several thousand different proteins because the corresponding genes are located in the nucleus.

Various metabolites are imported in or exported from plastids through specific translocators within the envelope.

Plastids communicate with the nucleus by as‐yet‐mostly unknown messenger molecules.
Chelicerata (Arachnids Including Spiders, Mites and Scorpions)
Authors: Shultz Jeffrey W 
Published: April 2021

AbstractChelicerata is the group of arthropods that includes extant marine sea spiders (Pycnogonida) and horseshoe crabs (Xiphosurida), mainly terrestrial Arachnida (spiders, mites, scorpions, etc.), and extinct fossil groups, including sea scorpions. Most chelicerates have two body regions, a prosoma bearing feeding and leg‐like appendages and an opisthosoma bearing respiratory structures and other organ systems. The vast majority are predators that can have significant impacts on prey populations. Arachnids are notable for ingesting primarily liquified food and for a variety of predatory adaptations, including venoms and silken webs. Chelicerates probably first evolved in the Cambrian, but the earliest fossils are known from the Ordovician. Among extant arthropods, they form the sister group to the mandibulates (insects, crustaceans and myriapods). Within Chelicerata, sea spiders are the sister group to the horseshoe crabs and arachnids. Relationships among fossil groups and among the 11 extant arachnid orders are uncertain.The chelicerates form one of the most numerous and species‐rich groups of animals and are rivaled in diversity only by the insects.The chelicerate body consists of two regions: an anterior prosoma (or cephalothorax) that bears the eyes, mouthparts and six pairs of appendages and a posterior opisthosoma (or abdomen) that houses most of the respiratory, digestive and reproductive organs.The extant chelicerates include two marine groups, Pycnogonida (sea spiders) and Xiphosurida (horseshoe crabs), and the terrestrial Arachnida (spiders, mites, scorpions, whipscorpions and several other orders).The vast majority of chelicerates prey on other animals and are ecologically important in terrestrial systems for their effect on insect numbers, but many mites feed on plants or are parasitic.The chelicerates are extremely ancient, with the earliest fossils of several living and extinct forms found in Silurian and Devonian strata.Among the extant arthropods, Chelicerata is the sister group to Mandibulata, the clade that includes myriapods, crustaceans and insects.The phylogenetic relationships of many fossil groups and most the arachnid orders remain uncertain.
Mumps Virus
Authors: Duprex W Paul , Rima Bertus K 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Mumps virus causes a childhood disease that is characterised by swelling of the salivary glands (parotitis) and the testes (orchitis). Though it causes what is usually a mild disease infection, in adolescents and adults, it can be seriously discomforting and lead to meningitis and other sequelae. It was the main cause of viral meningitis before vaccines controlled the numbers of cases. Some of the clinical signs develop only after the onset of immune responses and may result from immunopathological reactions. Its pathogenesis is not well understood and relatively underresearched for a human pathogen. Mumps virus is a nonsegmented negative‐stranded ribonucleic acid virus belonging to the family
Paramyxoviridae
. The molecular description of the virus, the understanding of the genome expression and the role of most viral proteins, though far from completely understood, have advanced in recent years, and we are now able to introduce mutations into the virus at will.

Key Concepts

Mumps virus is a relatively simple‐enveloped, negative‐sensed RNA virus which contains only seven genes.

Mumps virus is a highly infectious agent which causes a relatively mild systemic disease in susceptible individuals.

A highly efficacious vaccine has been developed, although the molecular basis of the attenuation remains an enigma.

Inadequate virus attenuation caused aseptic meningitis in vaccinees and resulted in the withdrawal of mumps vaccines and public resistance to vaccination in the 1990s. In some countries, such as Japan, this led to the complete cessation of national vaccination programmes.

Recombinant mumps viruses have helped to define the molecular determinants of neurotropism.
Extinction: Late Devonian Mass Extinction
Authors: McGhee George R , Racki Grzegorz 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe Late Devonian mass extinction, which occurred 371.9 million years ago (Ma), is one of the ‘Big Five’ mass extinctions in Earth history. Suggested main proximate causes of the crisis include oceanic anoxia and climate swings. The severe loss of biodiversity affected both marine and terrestrial ecosystems and animal (especially metazoan reefs) and plant communities. Both high‐ and low‐temperature stresses due to rapid climate switches and oxygen deprivation due to anoxia have been implicated as kill mechanisms in the mass extinction. The ultimate trigger for these kill mechanisms is still conjectural, but a crucial role of Eovariscan tectono‐volcanic events has recently been highlighted, coupled with episodic expansion of terrestrial vegetation due to greenhouse effect driven by magmatic outgassing. Oceanic anoxia may have been triggered by the land‐derived nutrification pulses. Postulated triggers of global cooling include the lag‐time volcanic winter but superimposed on atmospheric carbon dioxide downdraw due to biological and tectonic factors and chemical weathering of terrestrial rocks.Key ConceptsEarly lobe‐finned fishes and tetrapod (four‐limbed) vertebrates were severely impacted by the Late Devonian mass extinction.The destruction of Devonian‐style metazoan reefs triggered a permanent change in global marine ecosystems.Both oscillating temperature stress (from hyperthermia to hypothermia) and oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) are implicated in the Late Devonian mass extinction.Catastrophic mantle plume and arc volcanism is debated as a main trigger of the Late Devonian mass extinction.Bolide impact (in ocean?) can only be seen as an additional source of stresses in the global ecosystem.
Nitrate Additives Coordinated with Crown Ether Stabilize Lithium Metal Anodes in Carbonate Electrolyte
Authors: Gu Sichen , Zhang Si‐Wei , Han Junwei , Deng Yaqian , Luo Chong , Zhou Guangmin , He Yanbing , Wei Guodan , Kang Feiyu , Lv Wei , Yang Quan‐Hong 
Published: April 2021

AbstractLithium metal anodes (LMAs) are promising for next‐generation batteries but have poor compatibility with the widely used carbonate‐based electrolytes, which is a major reason for their severe dendrite growth and low Coulombic efficiency (CE). A nitrate additive to the electrolyte is an effective solution, but its low solubility in carbonates is a problem that can be solved using a crown ether, as reported. A rubidium nitrate additive coordinated with 18‐crown‐6 crown ether stabilizes the LMA in a carbonate electrolyte. The coordination promotes the dissolution of NO3− ions and helps form a dense solid electrolyte interface that is Li3N‐rich which guides uniform Li deposition. In addition, the Rb (18‐crown‐6)+ complexes are adsorbed on the dendrite tips, shielding them from Li deposition on the dendrite tips. A high CE of 97.1% is achieved with a capacity of 1 mAh cm−2 in a half cell, much higher than when using the additive‐free electrolyte (92.2%). Such an additive is very compatible with a nickel‐rich ternary cathode at a high voltage, and the assembled full battery with a cathode material loading up to 10 mg cm−2 shows an average CE of 99.8% over 200 cycles, indicating a potential for practical use.
Entropy production and chemical reactions in nonequilibrium plasma
Authors: Thimsen Elijah 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn this work, methods based upon nonequilibrium thermodynamics are elucidated to predict stationary states of chemical reactions in nonequilibrium plasma, and limits for energy conversion efficiency. CO2 splitting is used as an example reaction. Expectations from the theoretical framework are compared to experimental results, and reasonable agreement is obtained. The key conclusion is that the probability of observing either reactants or products increases with the amount of energy dissipated by that side of the reaction as heat through collisions with hot electrons. The side of the reaction that dissipates more energy as heat has a higher probability of occurrence. Furthermore, endergonic chemical reactions in nonequilibrium plasma, such as CO2 splitting at low temperature, require an intrinsic energy dissipation to satisfy the second law of thermodynamics—a sufficient and necessary waste. This intrinsic dissipation limits the maximum theoretical energy conversion efficiency.
Construction of Hybrid Bi‐microcompartments with Exocytosis‐Inspired Behavior toward Fast Temperature‐Modulated Transportation of Living Organisms
Authors: Chen Haixu , Wang Lei , Wang Shengliang , Li Junbo , Li Zhenhui , Lin Youping , Wang Xiaoliang , Huang Xin 
Published: April 2021

AbstractInspired by the unique characteristics of living cells, the creation of life‐inspired functional ensembles is a rapidly expanding research topic, enabling transformative applications in various disciplines. Herein, we report a facile method for the fabrication of phospholipid and block copolymer hybrid bi‐microcompartments via spontaneous asymmetric assembly at the water/tributyrin interface, whereby the temperature‐mediated dewetting of the inner microcompartments allowed for exocytosis to occur in the constructed system. The exocytosis location and commencement time could be controlled by the buoyancy of the inner microcompartment and temperature, respectively. Furthermore, the constructed bi‐microcompartments showed excellent biocompatibility and a universal loading capacity toward cargoes of widely ranging sizes; thus, the proliferation and temperature‐programmed transportation of living organisms was achieved. Our results highlight opportunities for the development of complex mesoscale dynamic ensembles with life‐inspired behaviors and provide a novel platform for on‐demand transport of various living organisms.
Positive effect of the addition of polyaniline on the anticorrosive property of polyethersulfone two‐layer composite coating
Authors: Wang Hongyue , Zhu Shiyang , Yao Hongyan , Di Yizeng , Shu Meng , Li Jiahao , Zhang Bo , Cao Guangzhao , Guan Shaowei 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn order to prepare a coating with better corrosion resistance, the double‐layer coatings are designed to work together in this article. The double‐layer coatings are made of polyethersulfone and epoxy resin as the matrix resin. Polyaniline (PANI) of different contents was added to the matrix resin by weight to form the primer coats, which was named as d‐0, d‐20, d‐40, d‐60. And polytetrafluoroethylene was introduced into the matrix resin to prepare the surface coats. A two‐layer coating was prepared by coating the surface layer on the primer layer, named as S‐0, S‐20, S‐40, S‐60. The surface morphology of the primer coatings and the cross section morphology of the two‐layer coatings were determined by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The anticorrosion property of the coatings was studied by water absorption, adhesion, salt spray corrosion acceleration test and electrochemical impedance test. The results indicate that the 40 wt% PANI composite coating shows the best corrosion resistance.
Supramolecular Nanodrugs Based on Covalent Assembly of Therapeutic Peptides toward In Vitro Synergistic Anticancer Therapy
Authors: Hong Huadong , Zou Qianli , Liu Yamei , Wang Shaozhen , Shen Guizhi , Yan Xuehai 
Published: April 2021

AbstractTherapeutic peptides have attracted significant attention in clinical applications due to their advantages in biological origination and good biocompatibility. However, the therapeutic performance of peptides is usually hindered by their short half‐lives in blood and inferior activity. Herein, supramolecular nanodrugs of therapeutic peptides are constructed by covalent assembly of chemotherapeutic peptides through genipin cross‐linking. The resulting nanodrugs have intense absorbance in the near‐infrared region and high photothermal conversion efficiencies, leading to the possibility of photothermal therapy. The combination of photothermal therapy and chemotherapy using the nanodrugs shows synergistic therapeutic effects on cancer cells. Hence, covalent assembly not only maintains the chemotherapeutic activities of the peptides but also triggers supramolecular photothermal effects, demonstrating that the covalent assembly of therapeutic peptides through genipin cross‐linking is an efficient approach in constructing supramolecular nanodrugs toward synergistic anticancer therapy.
Impact of novel systemic therapies on the first‐year costs of care for melanoma among Medicare beneficiaries
Authors: Gogebakan Kemal Caglar , Mukherjee Kumar , Berry Elizabeth G. , Sonmez Kemal , Leachman Sancy A. , Etzioni Ruth 
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUNDSince 2011, the therapeutic landscape of melanoma has changed dramatically because of the adoption of immune checkpoint inhibitor and targeted therapies. The authors sought to quantify the effects of these changes on short‐term treatment costs by comparing the first‐year cancer‐attributable costs in novel (2011‐2015) and historical (2004‐2010) treatment eras.METHODSThe authors estimated the first‐year cancer‐attributable and out‐of‐pocket (OOP) costs by cancer stage at diagnosis by using a case‐control approach. Patients aged ≥67 years with melanoma results were used to calculate the total direct costs of treatment during the first year after the diagnosis of melanoma in the US Medicare population older than 65 years. Costs were reported in 2018 dollars.RESULTSCosts increased with the stage at diagnosis. Average first‐year cancer‐attributable costs per patient for stage IV patients increased significantly by 61.7% from $45,952 to $74,297 after the adoption of novel treatments. Per‐patient OOP responsibility decreased by almost 30.8% across all stages of cancer but increased by 16.5% for stage IV patients from 2004 ($7646) to 2015 ($8911). The total direct cost of treatment for persons with melanoma older than 65 years increased by $16.03 million (4.93%) from $324.68 million in 2010 to $340.71 million in 2015. The largest increase in yearly total cost, $23.64 million (56.53%), was observed among stage IV patients.CONCLUSIONSThe direct cost of melanoma increased significantly in the Medicare population, particularly for advanced‐stage disease. Prevention and early detection initiatives may reduce the economic burden of melanoma.
CAR‐NK cells: the next wave of cellular therapy for cancer
Authors: Daher May , Melo Garcia Luciana , Li Ye , Rezvani Katayoun 
Published: April 2021

AbstractT cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have revolutionised the field of cellular therapy for cancer. Despite its success, this strategy has some recognised limitations and toxicities. Hence, there is growing interest in developing novel cellular therapies based on non‐αβ T‐cell immune effector cells, including NK cells that offer clear advantages in cancer immunotherapy. As a result, NK cells are being explored as an alternative platform for CAR engineering and are becoming recognised as important players in the next generation of cellular therapies targeting cancer. In this review, we highlight preclinical and clinical studies of CAR‐NK cells derived from different sources and discuss strategies under investigation to enhance the antitumor activity of these engineered innate immune cells.
Metal‐Free Synthesis of Selenodihydronaphthalenes by Selenoxide‐Mediated Electrophilic Cyclization of Alkynes
Authors: An Shaoyu , Zhang Zhong , Li Pingfan 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA transition‐metal‐free, selenium mediated electrophilic cyclization reaction was realized through a one‐pot procedure between simple alkynes and triflic anhydride‐activated selenoxides to give selenium containing dihydronaphthalene products. This method gave good to very high yields for all products, including selenium‐substituted phenanthrene, dihydroquinoline, 2H‐chromene, and coumarin, which can be further transformed to other functionalized compounds.
Ecological interactions shape the evolution of flower color in communities across a temperate biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Skeels Alexander , Dinnage Russell , Medina Iliana , Cardillo Marcel 
Published: April 2021

AbstractProcesses driving the divergence of floral traits may be integral to the extraordinary richness of flowering plants and the assembly of diverse plant communities. Several models of pollinator-mediated floral evolution have been proposed; floral divergence may (i) be directly involved in driving speciation or may occur after speciation driven by (ii) drift or local adaptation in allopatry or (iii) negative interactions between species in sympatry. Here, we generate predictions for patterns of trait divergence and community assembly expected under these three models, and test these predictions in Hakea (Proteaceae), a diverse genus in the Southwest Australian biodiversity hotspot. We quantified functional richness for two key floral traits (pistil length and flower color), as well as phylogenetic distances between species, across ecological communities, and compared these to patterns generated from null models of community assembly. We also estimated the statistical relationship between rates of trait evolution and lineage diversification across the phylogeny. Patterns of community assembly suggest that flower color, but not floral phenology or morphology, or phylogenetic relatedness, is more divergent in communities than expected. Rates of lineage diversification and flower color evolution were negatively correlated across the phylogeny and rates of flower colour evolution were positively related to branching times. These results support a role for diversity-dependent species interactions driving floral divergence during the Hakea radiation, contributing to the development of the extraordinary species richness of southwest Australia.
Vedolizumab Immunogenicity With Long‐Term or Interrupted Treatment of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Wyant Timothy , Yang Lili , Lirio Richard A. , Rosario Maria 
Published: April 2021

AbstractPatients in the GEMINI 1 or 2 study (NCT00790933; Eudra CT2008‐002784‐14) with ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease had low immunogenicity rates after vedolizumab treatment for up to 52 weeks. We report immunogenicity rates from the GEMINI long‐term safety (LTS) study using a new drug‐tolerant electrochemiluminescence assay, including analyses in patients who received continuous vedolizumab induction and maintenance in GEMINI 1 or 2 and long term safety, or vedolizumab induction and placebo maintenance in GEMINI 1 or 2 followed by re‐treatment in long term safety (treatment interruption). Patients were enrolled in GEMINI long term safety from GEMINI 1, 2, or 3, or as de novo vedolizumab‐treated patients; all received vedolizumab 300 mg intravenously every 4 weeks. Vedolizumab antidrug antibody (ADA) status was determined by electrochemiluminescence assay; ADA‐positive samples were characterized by neutralizing activity. Vedolizumab ADA data were available for 1753 patients: 1513 continuously treated with vedolizumab before/during GEMINI long term safety, 240 re‐treated after treatment interruption. Among continuously treated patients, 36 (2.4%) were ADA positive (15 persistently, 20 neutralizing ADA positive). Among re‐treated patients, 53 (22.1%) were ADA positive (42 persistently, 40 neutralizing ADA positive). Longitudinal immunogenicity rates increased during placebo maintenance (19.4% at week 52), then decreased in GEMINI long term safety to rates (0 at the final visit) similar to continuously treated patients. ADA positivity was 1.1% vs 2.5% (continuous treatment) and 23.1% vs 22.0% (re‐treatment) among patients with and without infusion‐related reactions, respectively. Long‐term vedolizumab treatment was associated with generally low immunogenicity rates; vedolizumab–re‐treated patients had higher rates during placebo maintenance, which decreased during re‐treatment. No relationship was observed between immunogenicity and infusion‐related reactions.