bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Massive, long-lived electrostatic potentials in a rotating mirror plasma
Authors: Kolmes E. J. , Ochs I. E. , Rax J.-M. , Fisch N. J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHot plasma is highly conductive in the direction parallel to a magnetic field. This often means that the electrical potential will be nearly constant along any given field line. When this is the case, the cross-field voltage drops in open-field-line magnetic confinement devices are limited by the tolerances of the solid materials wherever the field lines impinge on the plasma-facing components. To circumvent this voltage limitation, it is proposed to arrange large voltage drops in the interior of a device, but coexist with much smaller drops on the boundaries. To avoid prohibitively large dissipation requires both preventing substantial drift-flow shear within flux surfaces and preventing large parallel electric fields from driving large parallel currents. It is demonstrated here that both requirements can be met simultaneously, which opens up the possibility for magnetized plasma tolerating steady-state voltage drops far larger than what might be tolerated in material media.
Modulate stress distribution with bio-inspired irregular architected materials towards optimal tissue support
Authors: Jia Yingqi , Liu Ke , Zhang Xiaojia Shelly 
Published: May 2024

AbstractNatural materials typically exhibit irregular and non-periodic architectures, endowing them with compelling functionalities such as body protection, camouflage, and mechanical stress modulation. Among these functionalities, mechanical stress modulation is crucial for homeostasis regulation and tissue remodeling. Here, we uncover the relationship between stress modulation functionality and the irregularity of bio-inspired architected materials by a generative computational framework. This framework optimizes the spatial distribution of a limited set of basic building blocks and uses these blocks to assemble irregular materials with heterogeneous, disordered microstructures. Despite being irregular and non-periodic, the assembled materials display spatially varying properties that precisely modulate stress distribution towards target values in various control regions and load cases, echoing the robust stress modulation capability of natural materials. The performance of the generated irregular architected materials is experimentally validated with 3D printed physical samples — a good agreement with target stress distribution is observed. Owing to its capability to redirect loads while keeping a proper amount of stress to stimulate bone repair, we demonstrate the potential application of the stress-programmable architected materials as support in orthopedic femur restoration.
Firing feature-driven neural circuits with scalable memristive neurons for robotic obstacle avoidance
Authors: Yang Yue , Zhu Fangduo , Zhang Xumeng , Chen Pei , Wang Yongzhou , Zhu Jiaxue , Ding Yanting , Cheng Lingli , Li Chao , Jiang Hao , Wang Zhongrui , Lin Peng , Shi Tuo , Wang Ming , Liu Qi , Xu Ningsheng , Liu Ming 
Published: May 2024

AbstractNeural circuits with specific structures and diverse neuronal firing features are the foundation for supporting intelligent tasks in biology and are regarded as the driver for catalyzing next-generation artificial intelligence. Emulating neural circuits in hardware underpins engineering highly efficient neuromorphic chips, however, implementing a firing features-driven functional neural circuit is still an open question. In this work, inspired by avoidance neural circuits of crickets, we construct a spiking feature-driven sensorimotor control neural circuit consisting of three memristive Hodgkin-Huxley neurons. The ascending neurons exhibit mixed tonic spiking and bursting features, which are used for encoding sensing input. Additionally, we innovatively introduce a selective communication scheme in biology to decode mixed firing features using two descending neurons. We proceed to integrate such a neural circuit with a robot for avoidance control and achieve lower latency than conventional platforms. These results provide a foundation for implementing real brain-like systems driven by firing features with memristive neurons and put constructing high-order intelligent machines on the agenda.
A potent Henipavirus cross-neutralizing antibody reveals a dynamic fusion-triggering pattern of the G-tetramer
Authors: Fan Pengfei , Sun Mengmeng , Zhang Xinghai , Zhang Huajun , Liu Yujiao , Yao Yanfeng , Li Ming , Fang Ting , Sun Bingjie , Chen Zhengshan , Chi Xiangyang , Chen Li , Peng Cheng , Chen Zhen , Zhang Guanying , Ren Yi , Liu Zixuan , Li Yaohui , Li Jianmin , Li Entao , Guan Wuxiang , Li Shanshan , Gong Rui , Zhang Kaiming , Yu Changming , Chiu Sandra 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe Hendra and Nipah viruses (HNVs) are highly pathogenic pathogens without approved interventions for human use. In addition, the interaction pattern between the attachment (G) and fusion (F) glycoproteins required for virus entry remains unclear. Here, we isolate a panel of Macaca-derived G-specific antibodies that cross-neutralize HNVs via multiple mechanisms. The most potent antibody, 1E5, confers adequate protection against the Nipah virus challenge in female hamsters. Crystallography demonstrates that 1E5 has a highly similar binding pattern to the receptor. In cryo-electron microscopy studies, the tendency of 1E5 to bind to the upper or lower heads results in two distinct quaternary structures of G. Furthermore, we identify the extended outer loop β1S2-β1S3 of G and two pockets on the apical region of fusion (F) glycoprotein as the essential sites for G-F interactions. This work highlights promising drug candidates against HNVs and contributes deeper insights into the viruses.
Fluorescent fatty acid conjugates for live cell imaging of peroxisomes
Authors: Korotkova Daria , Borisyuk Anya , Guihur Anthony , Bardyn Manon , Kuttler Fabien , Reymond Luc , Schuhmacher Milena , Amen Triana 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPeroxisomes are eukaryotic organelles that are essential for multiple metabolic pathways, including fatty acid oxidation, degradation of amino acids, and biosynthesis of ether lipids. Consequently, peroxisome dysfunction leads to pediatric-onset neurodegenerative conditions, including Peroxisome Biogenesis Disorders (PBD). Due to the dynamic, tissue-specific, and context-dependent nature of their biogenesis and function, live cell imaging of peroxisomes is essential for studying peroxisome regulation, as well as for the diagnosis of PBD-linked abnormalities. However, the peroxisomal imaging toolkit is lacking in many respects, with no reporters for substrate import, nor cell-permeable probes that could stain dysfunctional peroxisomes. Here we report that the BODIPY-C12 fluorescent fatty acid probe stains functional and dysfunctional peroxisomes in live mammalian cells. We then go on to improve BODIPY-C12, generating peroxisome-specific reagents, PeroxiSPY650 and PeroxiSPY555. These probes combine high peroxisome specificity, bright fluorescence in the red and far-red spectrum, and fast non-cytotoxic staining, making them ideal tools for live cell, whole organism, or tissue imaging of peroxisomes. Finally, we demonstrate that PeroxiSPY enables diagnosis of peroxisome abnormalities in the PBD CRISPR/Cas9 cell models and patient-derived cell lines.
LaCl3-based sodium halide solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity for all-solid-state batteries
Authors: Fu Chengyu , Li Yifan , Xu Wenjie , Feng Xuyong , Gu Weijian , Liu Jue , Deng Wenwen , Wang Wei , Abeykoon A. M. Milinda , Su Laisuo , Zhu Lingyun , Wu Xiaojun , Xiang Hongfa 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTo enable high performance of all solid-state batteries, a catholyte should demonstrate high ionic conductivity, good compressibility and oxidative stability. Here, a LaCl3-based Na+ superionic conductor (Na1−xZrxLa1−xCl4) with high ionic conductivity of 2.9 × 10−4 S cm−1 (30 °C), good compressibility and high oxidative potential (3.80 V vs. Na2Sn) is prepared via solid state reaction combining mechanochemical method. X-ray diffraction reveals a hexagonal structure (P63/m) of Na1−xZrxLa1−xCl4, with Na+ ions forming a one-dimensional diffusion channel along the c-axis. First-principle calculations combining with X-ray absorption fine structure characterization etc. reveal that the ionic conductivity of Na1−xZrxLa1−xCl4 is mainly determined by the size of Na+-channels and the Na+/La3+ mixing in the one-dimensional diffusion channels. When applied as a catholyte, the NaCrO2||Na0.7Zr0.3La0.7Cl4||Na3PS4||Na2Sn all-solid-state batteries demonstrate an initial capacity of 114 mA h g−1 and 88% retention after 70 cycles at 0.3 C. In addition, a high capacity of 94 mA h g−1 can be maintained at 1 C current density.
A facile synthesis of α,β-unsaturated imines via palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenation
Authors: Zhao Chunyang , Gao Rongwan , Ma Wenxuan , Li Miao , Li Yifei , Zhang Qian , Guan Wei , Fu Junkai 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe dehydrogenation adjacent to an electron-withdrawing group provides an efficient access to α,β-unsaturated compounds that serving as versatile synthons in organic chemistry. However, the α,β-desaturation of aliphatic imines has hitherto proven to be challenging due to easy hydrolysis and preferential dimerization. Herein, by employing a pre-fluorination and palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenation reaction sequence, the abundant simple aliphatic amides are amendable to the rapid construction of complex molecular architectures to produce α,β-unsaturated imines. Mechanistic investigations reveal a Pd(0)/Pd(II) catalytic cycle involving oxidative H–F elimination of N-fluoroamide followed by a smooth α,β-desaturation of the in-situ generated aliphatic imine intermediate. This protocol exhibits excellent functional group tolerance, and even the carbonyl groups are compatible without any competing dehydrogenation, allowing for late-stage functionalization of complex bioactive molecules. The synthetic utility of this transformation has been further demonstrated by a diversity-oriented derivatization and a concise formal synthesis of (±)-alloyohimbane.
Discovery of fungal onoceroid triterpenoids through domainless enzyme-targeted global genome mining
Authors: Tang Jia , Matsuda Yudai 
Published: May 2024

AbstractGenomics-guided methodologies have revolutionized the discovery of natural products. However, a major challenge in the field of genome mining is determining how to selectively extract biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) for untapped natural products from numerous available genome sequences. In this study, we developed a fungal genome mining tool that extracts BGCs encoding enzymes that lack a detectable protein domain (i.e., domainless enzymes) and are not recognized as biosynthetic proteins by existing bioinformatic tools. We searched for BGCs encoding a homologue of Pyr4-family terpene cyclases, which are representative examples of apparently domainless enzymes, in approximately 2000 fungal genomes and discovered several BGCs with unique features. The subsequent characterization of selected BGCs led to the discovery of fungal onoceroid triterpenoids and unprecedented onoceroid synthases. Furthermore, in addition to the onoceroids, a previously unreported sesquiterpene hydroquinone, of which the biosynthesis involves a Pyr4-family terpene cyclase, was obtained. Our genome mining tool has broad applicability in fungal genome mining and can serve as a beneficial platform for accessing diverse, unexploited natural products.
LINE-1 retrotransposons contribute to mouse PV interneuron development
Authors: Bodea Gabriela O. , Botto Juan M. , Ferreiro Maria E. , Sanchez-Luque Francisco J. , de los Rios Barreda Jose , Rasmussen Jay , Rahman Muhammed A. , Fenlon Laura R. , Jansz Natasha , Gubert Carolina , Gerdes Patricia , Bodea Liviu-Gabriel , Ajjikuttira Prabha , Da Costa Guevara Darwin J. , Cumner Linda , Bell Charles C. , Kozulin Peter , Billon Victor , Morell Santiago , Kempen Marie-Jeanne H. C. , Love Chloe J. , Saha Karabi , Palmer Lucy M. , Ewing Adam D. , Jhaveri Dhanisha J. , Richardson Sandra R. , Hannan Anthony J. , Faulkner Geoffrey J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractRetrotransposons are mobile DNA sequences duplicated via transcription and reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate. Cis-regulatory elements encoded by retrotransposons can also promote the transcription of adjacent genes. Somatic LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposon insertions have been detected in mammalian neurons. It is, however, unclear whether L1 sequences are mobile in only some neuronal lineages or therein promote neurodevelopmental gene expression. Here we report programmed L1 activation by SOX6, a transcription factor critical for parvalbumin (PV) interneuron development. Mouse PV interneurons permit L1 mobilization in vitro and in vivo, harbor unmethylated L1 promoters and express full-length L1 mRNAs and proteins. Using nanopore long-read sequencing, we identify unmethylated L1s proximal to PV interneuron genes, including a novel L1 promoter-driven Caps2 transcript isoform that enhances neuron morphological complexity in vitro. These data highlight the contribution made by L1 cis-regulatory elements to PV interneuron development and transcriptome diversity, uncovered due to L1 mobility in this milieu.
Coupling enzymatic activity and gating in an ancient TRPM chanzyme and its molecular evolution
Authors: Huang Yihe , Kumar Sushant , Lee Junuk , Lü Wei , Du Juan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractChannel enzymes represent a class of ion channels with enzymatic activity directly or indirectly linked to their channel function. We investigated a TRPM2 chanzyme from choanoflagellates that integrates two seemingly incompatible functions into a single peptide: a channel module activated by ADP-ribose with high open probability and an enzyme module (NUDT9-H domain) consuming ADP-ribose at a remarkably slow rate. Using time-resolved cryogenic-electron microscopy, we captured a complete series of structural snapshots of gating and catalytic cycles, revealing the coupling mechanism between channel gating and enzymatic activity. The slow kinetics of the NUDT9-H enzyme module confers a self-regulatory mechanism: ADPR binding triggers NUDT9-H tetramerization, promoting channel opening, while subsequent hydrolysis reduces local ADPR, inducing channel closure. We further demonstrated how the NUDT9-H domain has evolved from a structurally semi-independent ADP-ribose hydrolase module in early species to a fully integrated component of a gating ring essential for channel activation in advanced species.
Exploring Alashan Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus alashanicus) Diversity: Metagenomic and Transcriptomic Datasets from the Helan Mountains
Authors: Zhao Yao , Deng Siwei , Zhang Zhirong , Chen Junda , Teng Liwei , Liu Zhensheng 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study investigates the adaptive strategies of the Alashan Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus alashanicus) in response to habitat changes, as rodents are sensitive indicators of ecosystem changes. Despite its ecological importance, the genome and microbiome of this species have not been thoroughly studied. This research fills this gap by presenting the first comprehensive metagenomic and transcriptomic datasets of the species. Transcriptomic data was collected from five tissue types, including heart, liver, cecum, muscle, and blood, resulting in the assembly of 72,156 unigenes. Metagenomic sequencing identified predominant bacterial groups such as Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Urovircota, and Proteobacteria. Our workflow involved RNA and DNA extraction, library preparation, assembly, and annotation, yielding valuable insights into gene discovery, microbial composition, and further genome and microbial function studies. In conclusion, our findings have significant implications for understanding the adaptive mechanisms of this species in response to environmental changes.
Insights from modelling sixteen years of climatic and fumonisin patterns in maize in South Africa
Authors: Gbashi Sefater , Adelusi Oluwasola Abayomi , Njobeh Patrick Berka 
Published: May 2024

AbstractMycotoxin contamination of agricultural commodities is a global public health problem that has remained elusive to various mitigation approaches, particularly in developing countries. Climate change and its impact exacerbates South Africa’s vulnerability to mycotoxin contamination, and significantly threatens its’s food systems, public health, and agro-economic development. Herein we analyse sixteen years (2005/2006–2020/2021) of annual national meteorological data on South Africa which reveals both systematic and erratic variability in critical climatic factors known to influence mycotoxin contamination in crops. Within the same study period, data on fumonisin (FB) monitoring show clear climate-dependent trends. The strongest positive warming trend is observed between 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 (0.51 °C/year), and a strong positive correlation is likewise established between FB contamination and temperature (r ranging from 0.6 to 0.9). Four machine learning models, viz support vector machines, eXtreme gradient boosting, random forest, and orthogonal partial least squares, are generalized on the historical data with suitable performance (RMSE as low as 0.00). All the adopted models are able to predict future FB contamination patterns with reasonable precision (R2 ranging from 0.34 to 1.00). The most important model feature for predicting average FB contamination (YA) is the historical pattern of average FB contamination in maize within the region (ΣFBs_avg). The two most significant features in modelling maximum FB contamination (YM) are minimum temperature from the CMIP6 data (Pro_tempMIN) and observed precipitation from the CRU data (O_prep). Our study provides strong evidence of the impact of climate change on FB in South Africa and reiterates the significance of machine learning modelling in predicting mycotoxin contamination in light of changing climatic conditions, which could facilitate early warnings and the adoption of relevant mitigation measures that could help in mycotoxin risk management and control.
Approximating the nuclear binding energy using analytic continued fractions
Authors: Moscato Pablo , Grebogi Rafael 
Published: May 2024

AbstractUnderstanding nuclear behaviour is fundamental in nuclear physics. This paper introduces a data-driven approach, Continued Fraction Regression (), to analyze nuclear binding energy (B(A, Z)). Using a tailored loss function and analytic continued fractions, our method accurately approximates stable and experimentally confirmed unstable nuclides. We identify the best model for nuclides with $$A\ge 200$$

A
≥
200

, achieving precise predictions with residuals smaller than 0.15 MeV. Our model’s extrapolation capabilities are demonstrated as it converges with upper and lower bounds at the nuclear mass limit, reinforcing its accuracy and robustness. The results offer valuable insights into the current limitations of state-of-the-art data-driven approaches in approximating the nuclear binding energy. This work provides an illustration on the use of analytical continued fraction regression for a wide range of other possible applications.
Impact of LaZnFe2O4 supported NiWO4@D400-MMT@CMS/MMA nanocomposites as a catalytic system in remediation of dyes from wastewater
Authors: Fouda Safaa. R. , Hassan Salah A. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHerein, a novel nanocomposite based on lanthanum zinc ferrite and nickel tungstate was created by incorporation between (MMT-jeffamine-400) nanoparticles (NPs), chloromethyl styrene as a binder and polymethyl methacrylate monomer using solution polymerization. The as-designed nanocomposites were employed to confiscate xylenol orange “X.O” as an acidic dye and rhodamine B “RhB” as “an amphoteric dye” from colored wastewater. The impact of several parameters such as solution pH, initial dye concentration, the effect of time, and the effect of temperature was explored. The consequences indicated that the pure organoclay had negligible adsorption while that composed of organoclay with PMMA@CMS-polymer incorporated with LaZnFe2O4@NiWO4 particles detached more than 90% for xylenol orange (XO) and 93% for “rhodamine B” molecules. Electrostatic interactions are the predominant factor in the adsorption of cationic and amphoteric adsorbates, as proven by zeta-potential measurement. Additionally, the adsorbent may be regenerate and utilized up to five times with good adsorption capabilities by adding sodium hydroxide. As a result, the removal can be effectively accomplished using the nanocomposite as an adsorbent. The actual and theoretical adsorption capacity values for both dyes at all doses were closely matched, which supported the adsorption kinetics data that fit the pseudo-first order rate model well. The adsorption data’s correlation values (0.995 for XO and 0.98 for RhB) indicated that both dyes’ Langmuir adsorption would perform well. Furthermore, the adsorption of XO and RhB dyes on the adsorbent is confirmed to be a viable reaction by the negative values of ΔGo. The enhanced adsorbent material for the removal of amphoteric and anionic dyes from waste water is the synthesized LaZnFe2O4 supported NiWO4@D400-MMT@CMS/MMA nanocomposites, which exhibits a reusability affinity of up to five cycles.
Introduction of sugar-modified nucleotides into CpG-containing antisense oligonucleotides inhibits TLR9 activation
Authors: Yoshida Tokuyuki , Hagihara Tomoko , Uchida Yasunori , Horiuchi Yoshiyuki , Sasaki Kiyomi , Yamamoto Takenori , Yamashita Takuma , Goda Yukihiro , Saito Yoshiro , Yamaguchi Takao , Obika Satoshi , Yamamoto Seiji , Inoue Takao 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAntisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are synthetic single-stranded oligonucleotides that bind to RNAs through Watson–Crick base pairings. They are actively being developed as therapeutics for various human diseases. ASOs containing unmethylated deoxycytidylyl-deoxyguanosine dinucleotide (CpG) motifs are known to trigger innate immune responses via interaction with toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). However, the TLR9-stimulatory properties of ASOs, specifically those with lengths equal to or less than 20 nucleotides, phosphorothioate linkages, and the presence and arrangement of sugar-modified nucleotides—crucial elements for ASO therapeutics under development—have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we first established SY-ODN18, an 18-nucleotide phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide with sufficient TLR9-stimulatory activity. We demonstrated that an unmethylated CpG motif near its 5′-end was indispensable for TLR9 activation. Moreover, by utilizing various sugar-modified nucleotides, we systematically generated model ASOs, including gapmer, mixmer, and fully modified designs, in accordance with the structures of ASO therapeutics. Our results illustrated that introducing sugar-modified nucleotides in such designs significantly reduces TLR9-stimulatory activity, even without methylation of CpG motifs. These findings would be useful for drug designs on several types of ASOs.
All-optical control of skyrmion configuration in CrI$$_3$$ monolayer
Authors: Kazemi M. , Kudlis A. , Bessarab P. F. , Shelykh I. A. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe potential for manipulating characteristics of skyrmions in a CrI$$_3$$

3

monolayer using circularly polarised light is explored. The effective skyrmion-light interaction is mediated by bright excitons whose magnetization is selectively influenced by the polarization of photons. The light-induced skyrmion dynamics is illustrated by the dependencies of the skyrmion size and the skyrmion lifetime on the intensity and polarization of the incident light pulse. Two-dimensional magnets hosting excitons thus represent a promising platform for the control of topological magnetic structures by light.