bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Variation, Degradation, and Bioavailability of Dissolved Organic Matter in the Changjiang Estuary and its Adjacent East China Sea
Authors: Ji Chong‐Xiao , Chen Yan , Yang Gui‐Peng 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSystematic surveys to examine seasonal variation, degradation, and bioavailability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Changjiang Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea were conducted in July 2016 and February 2017. Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA) were higher in July than in February. THAA and chlorophyll a (Chl‐a) were positively correlated in July, but not in February. The carbon normalized yields of THAA (THAA‐C%) in surface waters in July and February were not significantly different. However, degradation index (DI) values in the surface water were higher in February than in July. Compared with outer estuary, the inner estuary had lower THAA‐C% and DI values in both surveys. Solar radiation experiments showed that THAA and THAA‐C% values increased with time at station A6‐11 in the oceanic water but declined at C3 in the freshwater, possibly due to the different origins, chemical compositions, or initial degradation states of the DOM at the time of collection. Microbial incubation experiments showed that accumulated DOC and DON in surface waters were bioavailable to the microbial community of the surface layer, but recalcitrant to the microbial fauna from the bottom layer. Leucine (Leu) was selectively consumed, while glycine (Gly), threonine, and alanine appeared to be recalcitrant in summer (July) microbial incubations; and histidine, Gly, and methionine were preferentially consumed, while aspartic acid, serine, phenylalanine, and Leu were recalcitrant in winter (February) incubations.
Danger-associated molecular pattern molecules take unexpectedly a central stage in Nlrp3 inflammasome–caspase-1-mediated trafficking of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells
Authors: Thapa Arjun , Adamiak Mateusz , Bujko Kamila , Ratajczak Janina , Abdel-Latif Ahmed K. , Kucia Magda , Ratajczak Mariusz Z. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractLike their homing after transplantation to bone marrow (BM), the mobilization of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) is still not fully understood, and several overlapping pathways are involved. Several years ago our group proposed that sterile inflammation in the BM microenvironment induced by pro-mobilizing agents is a driving force in this process. In favor of our proposal, both complement cascade (ComC)-deficient and Nlrp3 inflammasome-deficient mice are poor G-CSF and AMD3100 mobilizers. It is also known that the Nlrp3 inflammasome mediates its effects by activating caspase-1, which is responsible for proteolytic activation of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) and their release from cells along with several danger-associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs). We observed in the past that IL-1β and IL-18 independently promote mobilization of HSPCs. In the current work we demonstrated that caspase-1-KO mice are poor mobilizers, and, to our surprise, administration of IL-1β or IL-18, as in the case of Nlrp3-KO animals, does not correct this defect. Moreover, neither Caspase-1-KO nor Nlrp3-KO mice properly activated the ComC to execute the mobilization process. Interestingly, mobilization in these animals and activation of the ComC were both restored after injection of the DAMP cocktail eATP+HGMB1+S100A9, the components of which are normally released from cells in an Nlrp3 inflammasome–caspase-1-dependent manner. In addition, we report that caspase-1-deficient HSPCs show a decrease in migration in response to BM homing factors and engraft more poorly after transplantation. These results for the first time identify caspase-1 as an orchestrator of HSPC trafficking.
Organic photovoltaics for simultaneous energy harvesting and high-speed MIMO optical wireless communications
Authors: Tavakkolnia Iman , Jagadamma Lethy K. , Bian Rui , Manousiadis Pavlos P. , Videv Stefan , Turnbull Graham A. , Samuel Ifor D. W. , Haas Harald 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe show that organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are suitable for high-speed optical wireless data receivers that can also harvest power. In addition, these OPVs are of particular interest for indoor applications, as their bandgap is larger than that of silicon, leading to better matching to the spectrum of artificial light. By selecting a suitable combination of a narrow bandgap donor polymer and a nonfullerene acceptor, stable OPVs are fabricated with a power conversion efficiency of 8.8% under 1 Sun and 14% under indoor lighting conditions. In an optical wireless communication experiment, a data rate of 363 Mb/s and a simultaneous harvested power of 10.9 mW are achieved in a 4-by-4 multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) setup that consists of four laser diodes, each transmitting 56 mW optical power and four OPV cells on a single panel as receivers at a distance of 40 cm. This result is the highest reported data rate using OPVs as data receivers and energy harvesters. This finding may be relevant to future mobile communication applications because it enables enhanced wireless data communication performance while prolonging the battery life in a mobile device.
Facilitative lysosomal transport of bile acids alleviates ER stress in mouse hematopoietic precursors
Authors: Persaud Avinash K. , Nair Sreenath , Rahman Md Fazlur , Raj Radhika , Weadick Brenna , Nayak Debasis , McElroy Craig , Shanmugam Muruganandan , Knoblaugh Sue , Cheng Xiaolin , Govindarajan Rajgopal 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMutations in human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3 (ENT3) encoded by SLC29A3 results in anemia and erythroid hypoplasia, suggesting that ENT3 may regulate erythropoiesis. Here, we demonstrate that lysosomal ENT3 transport of taurine-conjugated bile acids (TBA) facilitates TBA chemical chaperone function and alleviates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in expanding mouse hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Slc29a3−/− HSPCs accumulate less TBA despite elevated levels of TBA in Slc29a3−/− mouse plasma and have elevated basal ER stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and radiation-induced apoptosis. Reintroduction of ENT3 allows for increased accumulation of TBA into HSPCs, which results in TBA-mediated alleviation of ER stress and erythroid apoptosis. Transplanting TBA-preconditioned HSPCs expressing ENT3 into Slc29a3−/− mice increase bone marrow repopulation capacity and erythroid pool size and prevent early mortalities. Together, these findings suggest a putative role for a facilitative lysosomal transporter in the bile acid regulation of ER stress in mouse HSPCs which may have implications in erythroid biology, the treatment of anemia observed in ENT3-mutated human genetic disorders, and nucleoside analog drug therapy.
The lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase CbpD promotes Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence in systemic infection
Authors: Askarian Fatemeh , Uchiyama Satoshi , Masson Helen , Sørensen Henrik Vinther , Golten Ole , Bunæs Anne Cathrine , Mekasha Sophanit , Røhr Åsmund Kjendseth , Kommedal Eirik , Ludviksen Judith Anita , Arntzen Magnus Ø. , Schmidt Benjamin , Zurich Raymond H. , van Sorge Nina M. , Eijsink Vincent G. H. , Krengel Ute , Mollnes Tom Eirik , Lewis Nathan E. , Nizet Victor , Vaaje-Kolstad Gustav 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe recently discovered lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), which cleave polysaccharides by oxidation, have been associated with bacterial virulence, but supporting functional data is scarce. Here we show that CbpD, the LPMO of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is a chitin-oxidizing virulence factor that promotes survival of the bacterium in human blood. The catalytic activity of CbpD was promoted by azurin and pyocyanin, two redox-active virulence factors also secreted by P. aeruginosa. Homology modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, and small angle X-ray scattering indicated that CbpD is a monomeric tri-modular enzyme with flexible linkers. Deletion of cbpD rendered P. aeruginosa unable to establish a lethal systemic infection, associated with enhanced bacterial clearance in vivo. CbpD-dependent survival of the wild-type bacterium was not attributable to dampening of pro-inflammatory responses by CbpD ex vivo or in vivo. Rather, we found that CbpD attenuates the terminal complement cascade in human serum. Studies with an active site mutant of CbpD indicated that catalytic activity is crucial for virulence function. Finally, profiling of the bacterial and splenic proteomes showed that the lack of this single enzyme resulted in substantial re-organization of the bacterial and host proteomes. LPMOs similar to CbpD occur in other pathogens and may have similar immune evasive functions.
Enantioselective construction of six- and seven-membered triorgano-substituted silicon-stereogenic heterocycles
Authors: Chen Shuyou , Mu Delong , Mai Pei-Lin , Ke Jie , Li Yingzi , He Chuan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe exploitation of chirality at silicon in asymmetric catalysis is one of the most intriguing and challenging tasks in synthetic chemistry. In particular, construction of enantioenriched mediem-sized silicon-stereogenic heterocycles is highly attractive, given the increasing demand for the synthesis of novel functional-materials-oriented silicon-bridged compounds. Here, we report a rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective construction of six- and seven-membered triorgano-substituted silicon-stereogenic heterocycles. This process undergoes a direct dehydrogenative C−H silylation, giving access to a wide range of triorgano-substituted silicon-stereogenic heterocycles in good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities, that significantly enlarge the chemical space of the silicon-centered chiral molecules. Further elaboration of the chiral monohydrosilane product delivers various corresponding tetraorgano-substituted silicon-stereogenic heterocycles without the loss of enantiopurity. These silicon-bridged heterocycles exhibit bright blue fluorescence, which would have potential application prospects in organic optoelectronic materials.
Control of oviductal fluid flow by the G-protein coupled receptor Adgrd1 is essential for murine embryo transit
Authors: Bianchi Enrica , Sun Yi , Almansa-Ordonez Alexandra , Woods Michael , Goulding David , Martinez-Martin Nadia , Wright Gavin J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDysfunction of embryo transport causes ectopic pregnancy which affects approximately 2% of conceptions in the US and Europe, and is the most common cause of pregnancy-related death in the first trimester. Embryo transit involves a valve-like tubal-locking phenomenon that temporarily arrests oocytes at the ampullary-isthmic junction (AIJ) where fertilisation occurs, but the mechanisms involved are unknown. Here we show that female mice lacking the orphan adhesion G-protein coupled receptor Adgrd1 are sterile because they do not relieve the AIJ restraining mechanism, inappropriately retaining embryos within the oviduct. Adgrd1 is expressed on the oviductal epithelium and the post-ovulatory attenuation of tubal fluid flow is dysregulated in Adgrd1-deficient mice. Using a large-scale extracellular protein interaction screen, we identified Plxdc2 as an activating ligand for Adgrd1 displayed on cumulus cells. Our findings demonstrate that regulating oviductal fluid flow by Adgrd1 controls embryo transit and we present a model where embryo arrest at the AIJ is due to the balance of abovarial ciliary action and the force of adovarial tubal fluid flow, and in wild-type oviducts, fluid flow is gradually attenuated through Adgrd1 activation to enable embryo release. Our findings provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in embryo transport in mice.
Triptonide is a reversible non-hormonal male contraceptive agent in mice and non-human primates
Authors: Chang Zongliang , Qin Weibing , Zheng Huili , Schegg Kathleen , Han Lu , Liu Xiaohua , Wang Yue , Wang Zhuqing , McSwiggin Hayden , Peng Hongying , Yuan Shuiqiao , Wu Jiabao , Wang Yongxia , Zhu Shenghui , Jiang Yanjia , Nie Hua , Tang Yuan , Zhou Yu , Hitchcock Michael J. M. , Tang Yunge , Yan Wei 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThere are no non-hormonal male contraceptives currently on the market despite decades of efforts toward the development of “male pills”. Here, we report that triptonide, a natural compound purified from the Chinese herbTripterygium Wilfordii Hook Fdisplays reversible male contraceptive effects in both mice and monkeys. Single daily oral doses of triptonide induces deformed sperm with minimal or no forward motility (close to 100% penetrance) and consequently male infertility in 3–4 and 5–6 weeks in mice and cynomolgus monkeys, respectively. Male fertility is regained in ~4–6 weeks after cessation of triptonide intake in both species. Either short- or long-term triptonide treatment causes no discernable systematic toxic side effects based on histological examination of vital organs in mice and hematological and serum biochemical analyses in monkeys. Triptonide appears to target junction plakoglobin and disrupts its interactions with SPEM1 during spermiogenesis. Our data further prove that targeting late spermiogenesis represents an effective strategy for developing non-hormonal male contraceptives.
A rotary mechanism for allostery in bacterial hybrid malic enzymes
Authors: Harding Christopher John , Cadby Ian Thomas , Moynihan Patrick Joseph , Lovering Andrew Lee 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBacterial hybrid malic enzymes (MaeB grouping, multidomain) catalyse the transformation of malate to pyruvate, and are a major contributor to cellular reducing power and carbon flux. Distinct from other malic enzyme subtypes, the hybrid enzymes are regulated by acetyl-CoA, a molecular indicator of the metabolic state of the cell. Here we solve the structure of a MaeB protein, which reveals hybrid enzymes use the appended phosphotransacetylase (PTA) domain to form a hexameric sensor that communicates acetyl-CoA occupancy to the malic enzyme active site, 60 Å away. We demonstrate that allostery is governed by a large-scale rearrangement that rotates the catalytic subunits 70° between the two states, identifying MaeB as a new model enzyme for the study of ligand-induced conformational change. Our work provides the mechanistic basis for metabolic control of hybrid malic enzymes, and identifies inhibition-insensitive variants that may find utility in synthetic biology.
Automating parameter selection to avoid implausible biological pathway models
Authors: Magnano Chris S. , Gitter Anthony 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA common way to integrate and analyze large amounts of biological “omic” data is through pathway reconstruction: using condition-specific omic data to create a subnetwork of a generic background network that represents some process or cellular state. A challenge in pathway reconstruction is that adjusting pathway reconstruction algorithms’ parameters produces pathways with drastically different topological properties and biological interpretations. Due to the exploratory nature of pathway reconstruction, there is no ground truth for direct evaluation, so parameter tuning methods typically used in statistics and machine learning are inapplicable. We developed the pathway parameter advising algorithm to tune pathway reconstruction algorithms to minimize biologically implausible predictions. We leverage background knowledge in pathway databases to select pathways whose high-level structure resembles that of manually curated biological pathways. At the core of this method is a graphlet decomposition metric, which measures topological similarity to curated biological pathways. In order to evaluate pathway parameter advising, we compare its performance in avoiding implausible networks and reconstructing pathways from the NetPath database with other parameter selection methods across four pathway reconstruction algorithms. We also demonstrate how pathway parameter advising can guide reconstruction of an influenza host factor network. Pathway parameter advising is method agnostic; it is applicable to any pathway reconstruction algorithm with tunable parameters.
Effects of antithrombotic drugs on the results of fecal immunochemical test in colorectal neoplasms screening
Authors: Ibuka Takashi , Adachi Seiji , Horibe Yohei , Ohno Tomohiko , Mabuchi Masatoshi , Suzuki Yusuke , Yamauchi Osamu , Takada Eri , Iwama Midori , Saito Koshiro , Arao Masamichi , Takai Koji , Araki Hiroshi , Shimizu Masahito 
Published: February 2021

AbstractFecal immunochemical test (FIT) is widely used as a colorectal cancer screening tool. Antithrombotic drugs may affect the screening performance of FIT for colorectal tumors. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of antithrombotic agents on FIT accuracy in screening for colorectal neoplasms. This retrospective study enrolled a total of 758 patients who underwent both FIT and total colonoscopy. The effect of antithrombotic drugs on FIT accuracy in detecting colorectal neoplasms (CN), including colorectal cancer (CRC), advanced adenoma (AA), and non-advanced adenoma (NAA), was examined. Of the 758 patients, 144 (19%) received antithrombotic drugs (administration group). In administration group, 61/144 (42%) cases had CN [CRC:14, AA:15, NAA:32] and 217/614 (35%) cases had CN (CRC:43, AA:56, NAA:118) in non-administration group. The prevalence of CN was not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.1157). There was no significant difference in sensitivity or specificity of the detection of all types of CN with or without taking antithrombotic drugs. Neither the positive predictive value nor negative predictive value of FIT was affected by antithrombotic drug administration. Taking antithrombotic drugs may not have a large impact on sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, or negative predictive value of FIT in screening for CN.
Simultaneous absolute quantification and sequencing of fish environmental DNA in a mesocosm by quantitative sequencing technique
Authors: Hoshino Tatsuhiko , Nakao Ryohei , Doi Hideyuki , Minamoto Toshifumi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe combination of high-throughput sequencing technology and environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has the potential to be a powerful tool for comprehensive, non-invasive monitoring of species in the environment. To understand the correlation between the abundance of eDNA and that of species in natural environments, we have to obtain quantitative eDNA data, usually via individual assays for each species. The recently developed quantitative sequencing (qSeq) technique enables simultaneous phylogenetic identification and quantification of individual species by counting random tags added to the 5′ end of the target sequence during the first DNA synthesis. Here, we applied qSeq to eDNA analysis to test its effectiveness in biodiversity monitoring. eDNA was extracted from water samples taken over 4 days from aquaria containing five fish species (Hemigrammocypris neglectus, Candidia temminckii, Oryzias latipes, Rhinogobius flumineus, and Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), and quantified by qSeq and microfluidic digital PCR (dPCR) using a TaqMan probe. The eDNA abundance quantified by qSeq was consistent with that quantified by dPCR for each fish species at each sampling time. The correlation coefficients between qSeq and dPCR were 0.643, 0.859, and 0.786 for H. neglectus, O. latipes, and M. anguillicaudatus, respectively, indicating that qSeq accurately quantifies fish eDNA.
C-reactive protein is a predictive factor for complications after incisional hernia repair using a biological mesh
Authors: Janet Julien , Derbal Sophiane , Durand Fontanier Sylvaine , Bouvier Stephane , Christou Niki , Fabre Anne , Fredon Fabien , Rivaille Thibaud , Valleix Denis , Mathonnet Muriel , Taibi Abdelkader 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe introduction of biological or absorbable synthetic meshes has provided an alternative to conventional repair for incisional hernia. The ability to predict the development of complications after hernia surgery is important, as it guides surgical planning and patient management. This retrospective study assessed whether the postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) level can predict complications after incisional hernia repair using biological mesh reinforcement. Patients who underwent incisional hernia repair surgery using biological meshes between February 2009 and February 2015 were screened for study inclusion. Patients included in the study were divided into two groups: those with and without postoperative complications. The two groups were analysed based on sex, surgical operation, length of intensive care unit stay (ICU), complications and mortality. Laboratory values, including white blood cell (WBC) count and CRP levels, were determined preoperatively and up to postoperative day (POD) 10. Postoperative complications requiring further management occurred in 32 of the 60 patients (53.3%). Among 47 patients, the mean CRP and WBC levels were 6.6 mg/L and 9.073 G/L in the group without complications vs. 141.0 mg/L, 16.704 G/L in the group with complications (p < 0.001). Patients with complications also had a longer ICU stay (10.1 vs. 0.6 days, p < 0.0001). A cut-off was 101 mg/L and offered 80.00% sensitivity (IC 61.43% to 92.29) and 95.24% specificity (76.18% to 99.88%) for postoperative complication. The rate of postoperative complications before POD10 was 95% in the group with CRP > 100 mg/L vs. 46% in the group with CRP < 100 mg/L (p = 0.000372). A high postoperative CRP level (> 100 mg/L) up to POD10 may serve as a predictor of postoperative complications in patients undergoing incisional hernia using biological meshes.
Shift a laser beam back and forth to exchange heat and work in thermodynamics
Authors: Albay John A. C. , Zhou Zhi-Yi , Chang Cheng-Hung , Jun Yonggun 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAlthough the equivalence of heat and work has been unveiled since Joule’s ingenious experiment in 1845, they rarely originate from the same source in experiments. In this study, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrated how to use a high-precision optical feedback trap to combine the generation of virtual temperature and potential to simultaneously manipulate the heat and work of a small system. This idea was applied to a microscopic Stirling engine consisting of a Brownian particle under a time-varying confining potential and temperature. The experimental results justified the position and the velocity equipartition theorem, confirmed several theoretically predicted energetics, and revealed the engine efficiency as well as its trade-off relation with the output power. The small theory–experiment discrepancy and high flexibility of the swift change of the particle condition highlight the advantage of this optical technique and prove it to be an efficient way for exploring heat and work-related issues in the modern thermodynamics for small systems.