bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oxidative cyclo-rearrangement of helicenes into chiral nanographenes
Authors: Shen Chengshuo , Zhang Guoli , Ding Yongle , Yang Na , Gan Fuwei , Crassous Jeanne , Qiu Huibin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractNanographenes are emerging as a distinctive class of functional materials for electronic and optical devices. It is of remarkable significance to enrich the precise synthetic chemistry for these molecules. Herein, we develop a facile strategy to recompose helicenes into chiral nanographenes through a unique oxidative cyclo-rearrangement reaction. Helicenes with 7~9 ortho-fused aromatic rings are firstly oxidized and cyclized, and subsequently rearranged into nanographenes with an unsymmetrical helicoid shape through sequential 1,2-migrations. Such skeletal reconstruction is virtually driven by the gradual release of the strain of the highly distorted helicene skeleton. Importantly, the chirality of the helicene precursor can be integrally inherited by the resulting nanographene. Thus, a series of chiral nanographenes are prepared from a variety of carbohelicenes and heterohelicenes. Moreover, such cyclo-rearrangement reaction can be sequentially or simultaneously associated with conventional oxidative cyclization reactions to ulteriorly enrich the geometry diversity of nanographenes, aiming at innovative properties.
Antigen-driven EGR2 expression is required for exhausted CD8+ T cell stability and maintenance
Authors: Wagle Mayura V. , Vervoort Stephin J. , Kelly Madison J. , Van Der Byl Willem , Peters Timothy J. , Martin Ben P. , Martelotto Luciano G. , Nüssing Simone , Ramsbottom Kelly M. , Torpy James R. , Knight Deborah , Reading Sinead , Thia Kevin , Miosge Lisa A. , Howard Debbie R. , Gloury Renee , Gabriel Sarah S. , Utzschneider Daniel T. , Oliaro Jane , Powell Jonathan D. , Luciani Fabio , Trapani Joseph A. , Johnstone Ricky W. , Kallies Axel , Goodnow Christopher C. , Parish Ian A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractChronic stimulation of CD8+T cells triggers exhaustion, a distinct differentiation state with diminished effector function. Exhausted cells exist in multiple differentiation states, from stem-like progenitors that are the key mediators of the response to checkpoint blockade, through to terminally exhausted cells. Due to its clinical relevance, there is substantial interest in defining the pathways that control differentiation and maintenance of these subsets. Here, we show that chronic antigen induces the anergy-associated transcription factor EGR2 selectively within progenitor exhausted cells in both chronic LCMV and tumours. EGR2 enables terminal exhaustion and stabilizes the exhausted transcriptional state by both direct EGR2-dependent control of key exhaustion-associated genes, and indirect maintenance of the exhausted epigenetic state. We show that EGR2 is a regulator of exhaustion that epigenetically and transcriptionally maintains the differentiation competency of progenitor exhausted cells.
Human ribonuclease 1 serves as a secretory ligand of ephrin A4 receptor and induces breast tumor initiation
Authors: Lee Heng-Huan , Wang Ying-Nai , Yang Wen-Hao , Xia Weiya , Wei Yongkun , Chan Li-Chuan , Wang Yu-Han , Jiang Zhou , Xu Shouping , Yao Jun , Qiu Yufan , Hsu Yi-Hsin , Hwang Wei-Lun , Yan Meisi , Cha Jong-Ho , Hsu Jennifer L. , Shen Jia , Ye Yuanqing , Wu Xifeng , Hou Ming-Feng , Tseng Lin-Ming , Wang Shao-Chun , Pan Mei-Ren , Yang Chin-Hua , Wang Yuan-Liang , Yamaguchi Hirohito , Pang Da , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Yu Dihua , Hung Mien-Chie 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHuman ribonuclease 1 (hRNase 1) is critical to extracellular RNA clearance and innate immunity to achieve homeostasis and host defense; however, whether it plays a role in cancer remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that hRNase 1, independently of its ribonucleolytic activity, enriches the stem-like cell population and enhances the tumor-initiating ability of breast cancer cells. Specifically, secretory hRNase 1 binds to and activates the tyrosine kinase receptor ephrin A4 (EphA4) signaling to promote breast tumor initiation in an autocrine/paracrine manner, which is distinct from the classical EphA4-ephrin juxtacrine signaling through contact-dependent cell-cell communication. In addition, analysis of human breast tumor tissue microarrays reveals a positive correlation between hRNase 1, EphA4 activation, and stem cell marker CD133. Notably, high hRNase 1 level in plasma samples is positively associated with EphA4 activation in tumor tissues from breast cancer patients, highlighting the pathological relevance of the hRNase 1-EphA4 axis in breast cancer. The discovery of hRNase 1 as a secretory ligand of EphA4 that enhances breast cancer stemness suggests a potential treatment strategy by inactivating the hRNase 1-EphA4 axis.
Molecular characterization of a new highly divergent Mobala related arenavirus isolated from Praomys sp. rodents
Authors: Simo Tchetgna Huguette , Descorps-Declère Stephane , Selekon Benjamin , Kwasiborski Aurelia , Vandenbogaert Mathias , Manuguerra Jean-Claude , Gessain Antoine , Caro Valérie , Nakouné Emmanuel , Berthet Nicolas 
Published: May 2021

AbstractArenaviruses represent a family of viruses that are naturally present in rodents belonging to subfamily Murinae, Neotominae or Sigmodontinae. Except for Lassa virus, little information is available on other Old-World arenaviruses. Here, we describe strain AnRB3214, a virus isolated from a presumed Praomys sp. rodent in the Central African Republic in 1981 and assigned to Ippy virus based on antigenic similarity. The strain was simultaneously sequenced on Illumina NovaSeq 6000 and MinION Mk1B devices and analysed with various bioinformatics tools. We show that the best genome coverage and depth were obtained with the Kaiju and Minimap2 classification and identification tools, on either the MinION or the Illumina reads. The genetic analysis of AnRB3214 fragments showed 68% to 79% similarity with the Mobala and Gairo mammarenaviruses at the nucleic acid level. Strain AnRB3214 had a truncated nucleoprotein smaller than that of other Old World arenaviruses. Molecular clock analysis suggests that this strain diverged from Mobala virus at least 400 years ago. Finally, this study illustrates the importance of genomics in the identification of archived viruses and expands on the diversity of African arenaviruses, because strain AnRB3214 is either a variant or a close relative of Mobala virus, and not Ippy virus.
Earliest evidence of marine habitat use by mammals
Authors: Wroblewski Anton F.-J. , Gulas-Wroblewski Bonnie E. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractEvidence for the earliest invasion of the marine realm by mammals was previously restricted to Eocene (48.6–37.8 Ma) skeletal remains. We report incontrovertible ichnofossil evidence for brackish-water habitat use by at least two mammalian species in southern Wyoming during the late Paleocene (58 Ma). These are the first Paleocene mammal trackways recorded in the United States and only the fourth documented in the world. Multiple tracks preserved in restricted marine deposits represent animals repeatedly walking across submerged to partially emergent tidal flats. Hundreds of tracks are preserved in planform and cross-sectional exposure within five horizons along a 1032 m tracksite. Four prints exhibit five clear toe imprints, while two others distinctly display four toes. Some tracks penetrate beds populated by dwelling traces of marine bivalves and polychaetes in the upper layers and sea anemones at the base. Candidates for the five-toed tracemakers are pantodonts such asTitanoides,Barylambda, andCoryphodon, which have been recovered from late Paleocene strata throughout western North America. The four-toed tracks provide the earliest evidence of previously-undescribed large artiodactyls and/or tapiroids, mutually supporting recent molecular phylogenetic studies that place the origin of Cetartiodactyla near the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary (~ 67.7 Ma). Collectively, these trackways irrefutably demonstrate the utility of ichnological data in reconstructing the evolutionary history and adaptive behaviors of extinct taxa beyond the evidence provided by body fossils alone.
Handgrip and sex-specific cardiometabolic risk factors in Hispanic/Latino migrant farmworkers
Authors: Raed Anas , Bilz Jessica , Cortez-Cooper Miriam , Young Lufei , Chen Li , Cromer Pamela , Zhu Haidong , Mazzoli Andrew , Parikh Samip , Bhagatwala Jigar , Dong Yutong , Sun Zhuo , Layman Debbie , Dong Yanbin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractStudies have suggested that handgrip strength might be a marker for cardiometabolic risk (CMR), but it has not been studied in Hispanic/Latino farmworker population. This study aimed to characterize absolute and relative handgrip strength in Hispanic/Latino farmworkers, and investigate the sex-specific association between handgrip strength and CMR factors. CMR factors and seated isometric absolute (the sum of both hands) and relative (absolute handgrip strength divided by body mass index) handgrip strengths were collected in 173 Hispanic/Latino farmworkers (mean age 35.1 ± 0.7 years; 49% female). The absolute and the relative handgrip strengths were 89.2 ± 1.8 kg, 3.3 ± 0.1 kg among males, and 56.5 ± 1.9 kg, 1.9 ± 0.1 kg among females, respectively. Age was correlated with absolute (r = − 0.17, p = 0.03) and relative handgrip strengths (r = − 0.28, p < 0.01). In males, absolute handgrip was related to triglycerides (r = − 0.25, p < 0.05), whereas relative handgrip was related to waist circumference (r = − 0.32, p < 0.01), waist/hip circumference ratio (r = − 0.36, p < 0.01), high-density lipoprotein (r = 0.24, p < 0.05), and triglycerides (r = − 0.35, p < 0.01). In females, absolute handgrip was related to fasting plasma glucose (r = − 0.28, p = 0.03), whereas relative handgrip was related to waist circumference (r = − 0.38, p < 0.01) and fasting plasma glucose (r = − 0.22, p < 0.05). Males had lower absolute handgrip strength when their triglycerides levels were at risk (p = 0.021), and lower relative handgrip strength when their plasma glucose (p = 0.034) and triglycerides (p = 0.002) levels were at risk. Females had lower relative handgrip strength when their plasma glucose (p = 0.001) and blood pressure (p = 0.004) were at risk. This study suggests that handgrip strength may be associated with sex-specific CMR factors in a Hispanic/Latino farmworker population.
Elevated transaminases and hypoalbuminemia in Covid-19 are prognostic factors for disease severity
Authors: Wagner Jason , Garcia-Rodriguez Victor , Yu Abraham , Dutra Barbara , Larson Scott , Cash Brooks , DuPont Andrew , Farooq Ahmad 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPrognostic markers are needed to understand the disease course and severity in patients with Covid-19. There is evidence that Covid-19 causes gastrointestinal symptoms and abnormalities in liver enzymes. We aimed to determine if hepatobiliary laboratory data could predict disease severity in patients with Covid-19. In this retrospective, single institution, cohort study that analyzed patients admitted to a community academic hospital with the diagnosis of Covid-19, we found that elevations of Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) at any time during hospital admission increased the odds of ICU admission by 5.12 (95% CI: 1.55–16.89; p = 0.007), 4.71 (95% CI: 1.51–14.69; p = 0.01) and 4.12 (95% CI: 1.21–14.06, p = 0.02), respectively. Hypoalbuminemia found at the time of admission to the hospital was associated with increased mortality (p = 0.02), hypotension (p = 0.03), and need for vasopressors (p = 0.02), intubation (p = 0.01) and hemodialysis (p = 0.002). Additionally, there was evidence of liver injury: AST was significantly elevated above baseline in patients admitted to the ICU (54.2 ± 15.70 U/L) relative to those who were not (9.2 ± 4.89 U/L; p = 0.01). Taken together, this study found that hypoalbuminemia and abnormalities in hepatobiliary laboratory data may be prognostic factors for disease severity in patients admitted to the hospital with Covid-19.
A robust polyfunctional Pd(II)-based magnetic amphiphilic nanocatalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction
Authors: Aghahosseini Hamideh , Saadati Mohammad Reza , Rezaei Seyed Jamal Tabatabaei , Ramazani Ali , Asadi Narges , Yahiro Hidenori , Mori Masami , Shajari Nahid , Kazemizadeh Ali Reza 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHerein, a robust Pd(II)-based polyfunctional magnetic amphiphilic artificial metalloenzyme was prepared by anchoring a Pd(2,2′-dipyridylamine)Cl2bearing hydrophilic monomethyl ether poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) chains on the surface of amino-functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles. The 2,2′-dipyridylamine (dpa) has shown excellent complexation properties for Pd(II) and it could be easily anchored onto functionalized magnetic support by the bridging nitrogen atom. Moreover, the bridging nitrogen atom at the proximity of Pd(II) catalytic center could play an important role in dynamic suppramolecular interactions with substrates. The leaching, air and moisture resistant [Pd(dpa)Cl2] complex endow the dynamic and robust structure to the designed artificial enzyme. Moreover, the water dispersibility of designed artificial metalloenzyme raised from mPEG chains and the magnetic nanoparticles core which could function as protein mimics endow it other necessary characters of artificial enzymes. The prepared artificial metalloenzyme displayed remarkable activity in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction employing low-palladium loading under mild conditions, with the exceptionally high turnover frequency, clean reaction profile, easy work-up procedure, good to excellent products yields and short reaction times. The designed air- and moisture-stable artificial metalloenzyme could recycle more than fifteen times with easy separation procedure in aqueous solution under aerobic conditions without any noticeable loss in activity.
Salt tolerance of selected halophytes at the two initial growth stages for future management options
Authors: Alhaddad Fedae A. , Abu-Dieyeh Mohammed H. , ElAzazi El-Sayed Mohamed , Ahmed Talaat A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractScarcity of water and the small area of the agricultural land are considered as the crucial environmental issues challenged the Arabian Gulf countries. In this study, experiments were conducted to identify the salt tolerance during the germination and the seedling stages of some native halophytes in the State of Qatar. Seeds of eight native species (Salsola setifera, Halopeplis perfoliata, Caroxylon imbricatum, Suaeda aegyptiaca, Acacia tortilis, Limonium axillare, Tetraena qatarensis and Aeluropus lagopoides) were investigated. Except for Tetraena qatarensis, Acacia tortilis and Suaeda aegyptiaca, all achieved ≥ 30% of seed germination at a concentration of 200 mM NaCl. Around 30% of Salsola setifera seeds were able to germinate in a salt concentration of 400 mM. Germination recovery of seeds that have been treated with 800 mM NaCl for 3 weeks was the greatest for Halopeplis perfoliata (94%) and the lowest for Aeluropus lagopoides (22%). Five halophytes were investigated for seedling growth under saline irrigation ranged from 0 to 600 mM NaCl. No significant differences obtained in growth biomass of seedlings of each of Caroxylon imbricatum, Suaeda aegyptiaca and Tetraena qatarensis between saline and non-saline treatments.
Entropic measure unveils country competitiveness and product specialization in the World trade web
Authors: Teza Gianluca , Caraglio Michele , Stella Attilio L. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe show how the Shannon entropy function can be used as a basis to set up complexity measures weighting the economic efficiency of countries and the specialization of products beyond bare diversification. This entropy function guarantees the existence of a fixed point which is rapidly reached by an iterative scheme converging to our self-consistent measures. Our approach naturally allows to decompose into inter-sectorial and intra-sectorial contributions the country competitivity measure if products are partitioned into larger categories. Besides outlining the technical features and advantages of the method, we describe a wide range of results arising from the analysis of the obtained rankings and we benchmark these observations against those established with other economical parameters. These comparisons allow to partition countries and products into various main typologies, with well-revealed characterizing features. Our methods have wide applicability to general problems of ranking in bipartite networks.
Applicability of a nationwide flood forecasting system for Typhoon Hagibis 2019
Authors: Ma Wenchao , Ishitsuka Yuta , Takeshima Akira , Hibino Kenshi , Yamazaki Dai , Yamamoto Kosuke , Kachi Misako , Oki Riko , Oki Taikan , Yoshimura Kei 
Published: May 2021

AbstractFloods can be devastating in densely populated regions along rivers, so attaining a longer forecast lead time with high accuracy is essential for protecting people and property. Although many techniques are used to forecast floods, sufficient validation of the use of a forecast system for operational alert purposes is lacking. In this study, we validated the flooding locations and times of dike breaking that had occurred during Typhoon Hagibis, which caused severe flooding in Japan in 2019. To achieve the goal of the study, we combined a hydrodynamic model with statistical analysis under forcing by a 39-h prediction of the Japan Meteorological Agency's Meso-scale model Grid Point Value (MSM-GPV) and obtained dike-break times for all flooded locations for validation. The results showed that this method was accurate in predicting floods at 130 locations, approximately 91.6% of the total of 142 flooded locations, with a lead time of approximately 32.75 h. In terms of precision, these successfully predicted locations accounted for 24.0% of the total of 542 locations under a flood warning, and on average, the predicted flood time was approximately 8.53 h earlier than a given dike-break time. More warnings were issued for major rivers with severe flooding, indicating that the system is sensitive to extreme flood events and can issue warnings for rivers subject to high risk of flooding.
Curbing action potential generation or ATP-synthase leads to a decrease in in-cell pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in rat cerebrum slices
Authors: Grieb Benjamin , Uppala Sivaranjan , Sapir Gal , Shaul David , Gomori J. Moshe , Katz-Brull Rachel 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDirect and real-time monitoring of cerebral metabolism exploiting the drastic increase in sensitivity of hyperpolarized 13C-labeled metabolites holds the potential to report on neural activity via in-cell metabolic indicators. Here, we followed the metabolic consequences of curbing action potential generation and ATP-synthase in rat cerebrum slices, induced by tetrodotoxin and oligomycin, respectively. The results suggest that pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity in the cerebrum is 4.4-fold higher when neuronal firing is unperturbed. The PDH activity was 7.4-fold reduced in the presence of oligomycin, and served as a pharmacological control for testing the ability to determine changes to PDH activity in viable cerebrum slices. These findings may open a path towards utilization of PDH activity, observed by magnetic resonance of hyperpolarized 13C-labeled pyruvate, as a reporter of neural activity.
Histidine-rich glycoprotein as a prognostic biomarker for sepsis
Authors: Kuroda Kosuke , Ishii Kenzo , Mihara Yuko , Kawanoue Naoya , Wake Hidenori , Mori Shuji , Yoshida Michihiro , Nishibori Masahiro , Morimatsu Hiroshi 
Published: May 2021

AbstractVarious biomarkers have been proposed for sepsis; however, only a few become the standard. We previously reported that plasma histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) levels decreased in septic mice, and supplemental infusion of HRG improved survival in mice model of sepsis. Moreover, our previous clinical study demonstrated that HRG levels in septic patients were lower than those in noninfective systemic inflammatory response syndrome patients, and it could be a biomarker for sepsis. In this study, we focused on septic patients and assessed the differences in HRG levels between the non-survivors and survivors. We studied ICU patients newly diagnosed with sepsis. Blood samples were collected within 24 h of ICU admission, and HRG levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Ninety-nine septic patients from 11 institutes in Japan were included. HRG levels were significantly lower in non-survivors (n = 16) than in survivors (n = 83) (median, 15.1 [interquartile ranges, 12.7–16.6] vs. 30.6 [22.1–39.6] µg/ml; p < 0.01). Survival analysis revealed that HRG levels were associated with mortality (hazard ratio 0.79, p < 0.01), and the Harrell C-index (predictive power) for HRG was 0.90. These results suggested that HRG could be a novel prognostic biomarker for sepsis.
Faster monitoring of the invasive alien species (IAS) Dreissena polymorpha in river basins through isothermal amplification
Authors: Carvalho Joana , Garrido-Maestu Alejandro , Azinheiro Sarah , Fuciños Pablo , Barros-Velázquez Jorge , De Miguel Ramón J. , Gros Verónica , Prado Marta 
Published: May 2021

AbstractZebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is considered as one of the 100 most harmful IAS in the world. Traditional detection methods have limitations, and PCR based environmental DNA detection has provided interesting results for early warning. However, in the last years, the development of isothermal amplification methods has received increasing attention. Among them, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has several advantages, including its higher tolerance to the presence of inhibitors and the possibility of naked-eye detection, which enables and simplifies its potential use in decentralized settings. In the current study, a real-time LAMP (qLAMP) method for the detection of Dreissena polymorpha was developed and tested with samples from the Guadalquivir River basin, together with two real-time PCR (qPCR) methods using different detection chemistries, targeting a specific region of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome C oxidase subunit I. All three developed approaches were evaluated regarding specificity, sensitivity and time required for detection. Regarding sensitivity, both qPCR approaches were more sensitive than qLAMP by one order of magnitude, however the qLAMP method proved to be as specific and much faster being performed in just 9 min versus 23 and 29 min for the qPCR methods based on hydrolysis probe and intercalating dye respectively.
3D modeling of a superconducting dynamo-type flux pump
Authors: Ghabeli Asef , Pardo Enric , Kapolka Milan 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHigh temperature superconducting (HTS) dynamos are promising devices that can inject large DC currents into the winding of superconducting machines or magnets in a contactless way. Thanks to this, troublesome brushes in HTS machines or bulky currents leads with high thermal losses will be no longer required. The working mechanism of HTS dynamo has been controversial during the recent years and several explanations and models have been proposed to elucidate its performance. In this paper, we present the first three-dimensional (3D) model of an HTS flux pump, which has good agreement with experiments. This model can be beneficial to clarify the mechanism of the dynamo and pinpoint its unnoticed characteristics. Employing this model, we delved into the screening current and electric field distribution across the tape surface in several crucial time steps. This is important, since the overcritical screening current has been shown to be the reason for flux pumping. In addition, we analyzed the impact of both components of electric field and screening current on voltage generation, which was not possible in previous 2D models. We also explored the necessary distance of voltage taps at different airgaps for precise measurement of the voltage across the tape in the dynamo.