bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
All-natural 2D nanofluidics as highly-efficient osmotic energy generators
Authors: Tang Jiadong , Wang Yun , Yang Hongyang , Zhang Qianqian , Wang Ce , Li Leyuan , Zheng Zilong , Jin Yuhong , Wang Hao , Gu Yifan , Zuo Tieyong 
Published: April 2024

AbstractTwo-dimensional nanofluidics based on naturally abundant clay are good candidates for harvesting osmotic energy between the sea and river from the perspective of commercialization and environmental sustainability. However, clay-based nanofluidics outputting long-term considerable osmotic power remains extremely challenging to achieve due to the lack of surface charge and mechanical strength. Here, a two-dimensional all-natural nanofluidic (2D-NNF) is developed as a robust and highly efficient osmotic energy generator based on an interlocking configuration of stacked montmorillonite nanosheets (from natural clay) and their intercalated cellulose nanofibers (from natural wood). The generated nano-confined interlamellar channels with abundant surface and space negative charges facilitate selective and fast hopping transport of cations in the 2D-NNF. This contributes to an osmotic power output of ~8.61 W m−2 by mixing artificial seawater and river water, higher than other reported state-of-the-art 2D nanofluidics. According to detailed life cycle assessments (LCA), the 2D-NNF demonstrates great advantages in resource consumption (1/14), greenhouse gas emissions (1/9), and production costs (1/13) compared with the mainstream 2D nanofluidics, promising good sustainability for large-scale and highly-efficient osmotic power generation.
Discovering a mitochondrion-localized BAHD acyltransferase involved in calystegine biosynthesis and engineering the production of 3β-tigloyloxytropane
Authors: Zeng Junlan , Liu Xiaoqiang , Dong Zhaoyue , Zhang Fangyuan , Qiu Fei , Zhong Mingyu , Zhao Tengfei , Yang Chunxian , Zeng Lingjiang , Lan Xiaozhong , Zhang Hongbo , Zhou Junhui , Chen Min , Tang Kexuan , Liao Zhihua 
Published: April 2024

AbstractSolanaceous plants produce tropane alkaloids (TAs) via esterification of 3α- and 3β-tropanol. Although littorine synthase is revealed to be responsible for 3α-tropanol esterification that leads to hyoscyamine biosynthesis, the genes associated with 3β-tropanol esterification are unknown. Here, we report that a BAHD acyltransferase from Atropa belladonna, 3β-tigloyloxytropane synthase (TS), catalyzes 3β-tropanol and tigloyl-CoA to form 3β-tigloyloxytropane, the key intermediate in calystegine biosynthesis and a potential drug for treating neurodegenerative disease. Unlike other cytosolic-localized BAHD acyltransferases, TS is localized to mitochondria. The catalytic mechanism of TS is revealed through molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis. Subsequently, 3β-tigloyloxytropane is synthesized in tobacco. A bacterial CoA ligase (PcICS) is found to synthesize tigloyl-CoA, an acyl donor for 3β-tigloyloxytropane biosynthesis. By expressing TS mutant and PcICS, engineered Escherichia coli synthesizes 3β-tigloyloxytropane from tiglic acid and 3β-tropanol. This study helps to characterize the enzymology and chemodiversity of TAs and provides an approach for producing 3β-tigloyloxytropane.
Integrated 2D multi-fin field-effect transistors
Authors: Yu Mengshi , Tan Congwei , Yin Yuling , Tang Junchuan , Gao Xiaoyin , Liu Hongtao , Ding Feng , Peng Hailin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractVertical semiconducting fins integrated with high-κoxide dielectrics have been at the centre of the key device architecture that has promoted advanced transistor scaling during the last decades. Single-fin channels based on two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are expected to offer unique advantages in achieving sub-1 nm fin-width and atomically flat interfaces, resulting in superior performance and potentially high-density integration. However, multi-fin structures integrated with high-κdielectrics are commonly required to achieve higher electrical performance and integration density. Here we report a ledge-guided epitaxy strategy for growing high-density, mono-oriented 2D Bi2O2Se fin arrays that can be used to fabricate integrated 2D multi-fin field-effect transistors. Aligned substrate steps enabled precise control of both nucleation sites and orientation of 2D fin arrays. Multi-channel 2D fin field-effect transistors based on epitaxially integrated 2D Bi2O2Se/Bi2SeO5fin-oxide heterostructures were fabricated, exhibiting an on/off current ratio greater than 106, high on-state current, low off-state current, and high durability. 2D multi-fin channel arrays integrated with high-κoxide dielectrics offer a strategy to improve the device performance and integration density in ultrascaled 2D electronics.
VC-resist glioblastoma cell state: vessel co-option as a key driver of chemoradiation resistance
Authors: Pichol-Thievend Cathy , Anezo Oceane , Pettiwala Aafrin M. , Bourmeau Guillaume , Montagne Remi , Lyne Anne-Marie , Guichet Pierre-Olivier , Deshors Pauline , Ballestín Alberto , Blanchard Benjamin , Reveilles Juliette , Ravi Vidhya M. , Joseph Kevin , Heiland Dieter H. , Julien Boris , Leboucher Sophie , Besse Laetitia , Legoix Patricia , Dingli Florent , Liva Stephane , Loew Damarys , Giani Elisa , Ribecco Valentino , Furumaya Charita , Marcos-Kovandzic Laura , Masliantsev Konstantin , Daubon Thomas , Wang Lin , Diaz Aaron A. , Schnell Oliver , Beck Jürgen , Servant Nicolas , Karayan-Tapon Lucie , Cavalli Florence M. G. , Seano Giorgio 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) is a highly lethal type of cancer. GBM recurrence following chemoradiation is typically attributed to the regrowth of invasive and resistant cells. Therefore, there is a pressing need to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying GBM resistance to chemoradiation and its ability to infiltrate. Using a combination of transcriptomic, proteomic, and phosphoproteomic analyses, longitudinal imaging, organotypic cultures, functional assays, animal studies, and clinical data analyses, we demonstrate that chemoradiation and brain vasculature induce cell transition to a functional state named VC-Resist (vessel co-opting and resistant cell state). This cell state is midway along the transcriptomic axis between proneural and mesenchymal GBM cells and is closer to the AC/MES1-like state. VC-Resist GBM cells are highly vessel co-opting, allowing significant infiltration into the surrounding brain tissue and homing to the perivascular niche, which in turn induces even more VC-Resist transition. The molecular and functional characteristics of this FGFR1-YAP1-dependent GBM cell state, including resistance to DNA damage, enrichment in the G2M phase, and induction of senescence/stemness pathways, contribute to its enhanced resistance to chemoradiation. These findings demonstrate how vessel co-option, perivascular niche, and GBM cell plasticity jointly drive resistance to therapy during GBM recurrence.
Engineering is evolution: a perspective on design processes to engineer biology
Authors: Castle Simeon D. , Stock Michiel , Gorochowski Thomas E. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractCareful consideration of how we approach design is crucial to all areas of biotechnology. However, choosing or developing an effective design methodology is not always easy as biology, unlike most areas of engineering, is able to adapt and evolve. Here, we put forward that design and evolution follow a similar cyclic process and therefore all design methods, including traditional design, directed evolution, and even random trial and error, exist within an evolutionary design spectrum. This contrasts with conventional views that often place these methods at odds and provides a valuable framework for unifying engineering approaches for challenging biological design problems.
Efficient tandem electroreduction of nitrate into ammonia through coupling Cu single atoms with adjacent Co3O4
Authors: Liu Yan , Wei Jie , Yang Zhengwu , Zheng Lirong , Zhao Jiankang , Song Zhimin , Zhou Yuhan , Cheng Jiajie , Meng Junyang , Geng Zhigang , Zeng Jie 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe nitrate (NO3−) electroreduction into ammonia (NH3) represents a promising approach for sustainable NH3 synthesis. However, the variation of adsorption configurations renders great difficulties in the simultaneous optimization of binding energy for the intermediates. Though the extensively reported Cu-based electrocatalysts benefit NO3− adsorption, one of the key issues lies in the accumulation of nitrite (NO2−) due to its weak adsorption, resulting in the rapid deactivation of catalysts and sluggish kinetics of subsequent hydrogenation steps. Here we report a tandem electrocatalyst by combining Cu single atoms catalysts with adjacent Co3O4 nanosheets to boost the electroreduction of NO3− to NH3. The obtained tandem catalyst exhibits a yield rate for NH3 of 114.0 mg$${}_{{{{{{\rm{NH}}}}}}_3}$$

NH

3

h−1 cm−2, which exceeds the previous values for the reported Cu-based catalysts. Mechanism investigations unveil that the combination of Co3O4 regulates the adsorption configuration of NO2− and strengthens the binding with NO2−, thus accelerating the electroreduction of NO3− to NH3.
Self-condensation-assisted chemical vapour deposition growth of atomically two-dimensional MOF single-crystals
Authors: Luo Lingxin , Hou Lingxiang , Cui Xueping , Zhan Pengxin , He Ping , Dai Chuying , Li Ruian , Dong Jichen , Zou Ye , Liu Guoming , Liu Yanpeng , Zheng Jian 
Published: April 2024

AbstractTwo-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have a wide variety of applications in molecular separation and other emerging technologies, including atomically thin electronics. However, due to the inherent fragility and strong interlayer interactions, high-quality MOF crystals of atomic thickness, especially isolated MOF crystal monolayers, have not been easy to prepare. Here, we report the self-condensation-assisted chemical vapour deposition growth of atomically thin MOF single-crystals, yielding monolayer single-crystals of poly[Fe(benzimidazole)2] up to 62 μm in grain sizes. By using transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution atomic force microscopy, high crystallinity and atomic-scale single-crystal structure are verified in the atomically MOF flakes. Moreover, integrating such MOFs with MoS2 to construct ultrathin van der Waals heterostructures is achieved by direct growth of atomically MOF single-crystals onto monolayer MoS2, and enables a highly selective ammonia sensing. These demonstrations signify the great potential of the method in facilitating the development of the fabrication and application of atomically thin MOF crystals.
Optimal quantum key distribution networks: capacitance versus security
Authors: Cirigliano Lorenzo , Brosco Valentina , Castellano Claudio , Conti Claudio , Pilozzi Laura 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe rate and security of quantum communications between users placed at arbitrary points of a quantum communication network depend on the structure of the network, on its extension and on the nature of the communication channels. In this work we propose a strategy for the optimization of trusted-relays based networks that intertwines classical network approaches and quantum information theory. Specifically, by suitably defining a quantum communication efficiency functional, we identify the optimal quantum communication connections through the network by balancing security and the quantum communication rate. The optimized network is then constructed as the network of the maximal quantum communication efficiency connections and its performance is evaluated by studying the scaling of average properties as functions of the number of nodes and of the network spatial extension.
Hunting for quantum-classical crossover in condensed matter problems
Authors: Yoshioka Nobuyuki , Okubo Tsuyoshi , Suzuki Yasunari , Koizumi Yuki , Mizukami Wataru 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe intensive pursuit for quantum advantage in terms of computational complexity has further led to a modernized crucial question of when and how will quantum computers outperform classical computers. The next milestone is undoubtedly the realization of quantum acceleration in practical problems. Here we provide a clear evidence and arguments that the primary target is likely to be condensed matter physics. Our primary contributions are summarized as follows: 1) Proposal of systematic error/runtime analysis on state-of-the-art classical algorithm based on tensor networks; 2) Dedicated and high-resolution analysis on quantum resource performed at the level of executable logical instructions; 3) Clarification of quantum-classical crosspoint for ground-state simulation to be within runtime of hours using only a few hundreds of thousand physical qubits for 2d Heisenberg and 2d Fermi-Hubbard models, assuming that logical qubits are encoded via the surface code with the physical error rate of p = 10−3. To our knowledge, we argue that condensed matter problems offer the earliest platform for demonstration of practical quantum advantage that is order-of-magnitude more feasible than ever known candidates, in terms of both qubit counts and total runtime.
Structural, angiogenic, and immune responses influencing myocardial regeneration: a glimpse into the crucible
Authors: Baccouche Basil M. , Elde Stefan , Wang Hanjay , Woo Y. Joseph 
Published: April 2024

AbstractComplete cardiac regeneration remains an elusive therapeutic goal. Although much attention has been focused on cardiomyocyte proliferation, especially in neonatal mammals, recent investigations have unearthed mechanisms by which non-cardiomyocytes, such as endothelial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, and other immune cells, play critical roles in modulating the regenerative capacity of the injured heart. The degree to which each of these cell types influence cardiac regeneration, however, remains incompletely understood. This review highlights the roles of these non-cardiomyocytes and their respective contributions to cardiac regeneration, with emphasis on natural heart regeneration after cardiac injury during the neonatal period.
Metabolomic insights in advanced cardiomyopathy of chronic chagasic and idiopathic patients that underwent heart transplant
Authors: de Oliveira Raphaela M. , Paiva Mariana U. B. , Picossi Carolina R. C. , Paiva Diego V. N. , Ricart Carlos A. O. , Ruperez Francisco J. , Barbas Coral , Atik Fernando A. , Martins Aline M. A. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractHeart failure (HF) studies typically focus on ischemic and idiopathic heart diseases. Chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) is a progressive degenerative inflammatory condition highly prevalent in Latin America that leads to a disturbance of cardiac conduction system. Despite its clinical and epidemiological importance, CCC molecular pathogenesis is poorly understood. Here we characterize and discriminate the plasma metabolomic profile of 15 patients with advanced HF referred for heart transplantation – 8 patients with CCC and 7 with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) – using gas chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Compared to the 12 heart donor individuals, also included to represent the control (CTRL) scenario, patients with advanced HF exhibited a metabolic imbalance with 21 discriminating metabolites, mostly indicative of accumulation of fatty acids, amino acids and important components of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. CCC vs. IDC analyses revealed a metabolic disparity between conditions, with 12 CCC distinctive metabolites vs. 11 IDC representative metabolites. Disturbances were mainly related to amino acid metabolism profile. Although mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of metabolic flexibility may be a central mechanistic event in advanced HF, metabolic imbalance differs between CCC and IDC populations, possibly explaining the dissimilar clinical course of Chagas’ patients.
Gross morphology and adhesion-associated physical properties of Drosophila larval salivary gland glue secretion
Authors: Beňo Milan , Beňová-Liszeková Denisa , Kostič Ivan , Šerý Michal , Mentelová Lucia , Procházka Michal , Šoltýs Ján , Trusinová Ludmila , Ritomský Mário , Orovčík Lubomír , Jerigová Monika , Velič Dušan , Machata Peter , Omastová Mária , Chase Bruce A. , Farkaš Robert 
Published: April 2024

AbstractOne of the major functions of the larval salivary glands (SGs) of many Drosophila species is to produce a massive secretion during puparium formation. This so-called proteinaceous glue is exocytosed into the centrally located lumen, and subsequently expectorated, serving as an adhesive to attach the puparial case to a solid substrate during metamorphosis. Although this was first described almost 70 years ago, a detailed description of the morphology and mechanical properties of the glue is largely missing. Its main known physical property is that it is released as a watery liquid that quickly hardens into a solid cement. Here, we provide a detailed morphological and topological analysis of the solidified glue. We demonstrated that it forms a distinctive enamel-like plaque that is composed of a central fingerprint surrounded by a cascade of laterally layered terraces. The solidifying glue rapidly produces crystals of KCl on these alluvial-like terraces. Since the properties of the glue affect the adhesion of the puparium to its substrate, and so can influence the success of metamorphosis, we evaluated over 80 different materials for their ability to adhere to the glue to determine which properties favor strong adhesion. We found that the alkaline Sgs-glue adheres strongly to wettable and positively charged surfaces but not to neutral or negatively charged and hydrophobic surfaces. Puparia formed on unfavored materials can be removed easily without leaving fingerprints or cascading terraces. For successful adhesion of the Sgs-glue, the material surface must display a specific type of triboelectric charge. Interestingly, the expectorated glue can move upwards against gravity on the surface of freshly formed puparia via specific, unique and novel anatomical structures present in the puparial’s lateral abdominal segments that we have named bidentia.
Aerobic vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, and vaginal candidiasis among women of reproductive age in Arba Minch, southern Ethiopia
Authors: Aklilu Addis , Woldemariam Melat , Manilal Aseer , Koira Getahun , Alahmadi Reham M. , Raman Gurusamy , Idhayadhulla Akbar , Yihune Manaye 
Published: April 2024

AbstractReproductive tract infections (RTIs) are a persistent public health threat worldwide, particularly among women in low-income countries of Africa, including Ethiopia, where drug resistance is also a growing problem. It is crucial to address this problem to ensure women's health and well-being. A cross-sectional study was carried out among a cohort of 398 women of reproductive age who sought medical attention at the Gynecology Department of the Arba Minch General Hospital, southern Ethiopia, from January to June 2020. They were chosen through systematic random sampling, and a pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The collection of vaginal and/or cervical swabs were done to diagnose bacterial vaginosis (BV) and aerobic vaginitis (AV) using Nugent and AV score analyses, respectively. The swabs were subjected to standard microbiological culture techniques to detect the isolates causing AV and vaginal candidiasis (VC). The susceptibility profiles of the causative agents of AV were checked by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were also done. Aerobic vaginitis was the predominantly diagnosed RTI (n = 122, 30.7%), followed by BV (n = 117, 29.4%) and VC (n = 111, 27.9%). The prominent bacteria of AV were Escherichia coli (n = 36, 34.2%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 30, 28.5%). The overall rate of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria was 65.71% (n = 69). History of abortion (p = 0.01; AOR = 4.0, 95% CI = 2.1, 7.7) and the habit of using vaginal pH-altering contraceptives (p = 0.01; AOR = 4.7, 95% CI = 2.5, 8.8) have the greatest odds of RTI. The high prevalence of RTIs in our study warrants an urgent intervention to minimize the associated morbidities and complications. The overall rate of MDR bacterial isolates necessitates the implementation of an effective surveillance program in the study setting.
Phylogenetic relationships, selective pressure and molecular markers development of six species in subfamily Polygonoideae based on complete chloroplast genomes
Authors: Feng Zhan , Zheng Yan , Jiang Yuan , Pei Jin , Huang Linfang 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe subfamily Polygonoideae encompasses a diverse array of medicinal and horticultural plants that hold significant economic value. However, due to the lack of a robust taxonomy based on phylogenetic relationships, the classification within this family is perplexing, and there is also a scarcity of reports on the chloroplast genomes of many plants falling under this classification. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis by sequencing and characterizing the complete chloroplast genomes of six Polygonoideae plants, namely Pteroxygonum denticulatum, Pleuropterus multiflorus, Pleuropterus ciliinervis, Fallopia aubertii, Fallopia dentatoalata, and Fallopia convolvulus. Our findings revealed that these six plants possess chloroplast genomes with a typical quadripartite structure, averaging 162,931 bp in length. Comparative chloroplast analysis, codon usage analysis, and repetitive sequence analysis demonstrated a high level of conservation within the chloroplast genomes of these plants. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis unveiled a distinct clade occupied by P. denticulatum, while P. ciliinrvis displayed a closer relationship to the three plants belonging to the Fallopia genus. Selective pressure analysis based on maximum likelihood trees showed that a total of 14 protein-coding genes exhibited positive selection, with psbB and ycf1 having the highest number of positive amino acid sites. Additionally, we identified four molecular markers, namely petN-psbM, psal-ycf4, ycf3-trnS-GGA, and trnL-UAG-ccsA, which exhibit high variability and can be utilized for the identification of these six plants.
Comparing the efficacy of concomitant treatment of resistance exercise and creatine monohydrate versus multiple individual therapies in age related sarcopenia
Authors: Elgizawy Eman I. , Amer Ghada S. , Ali Eman A. , Alqalashy Fatma S. , Ibrahim Marwa M. , Latif Asmaa A. Abdel , Shaban Anwar M. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAging-related sarcopenia is a degenerative loss of strength and skeletal muscle mass that impairs quality of life. Evaluating NUDT3 gene and myogenin expression as new diagnostic tools in sarcopenia. Also, comparing the concomitant treatment of resistance exercise (EX) and creatine monohydrate (CrM) versus single therapy by EX, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and CrM using aged rats. Sixty male rats were equally divided into groups. The control group, aging group, EX-treated group, the CoQ10 group were administered (500 mg/kg) of CoQ10, the CrM group supplied (0.3 mg/kg of CrM), and a group of CrM concomitant with resistance exercise. Serum lipid profiles, certain antioxidant markers, electromyography (EMG), nudix hydrolase 3 (NUDT3) expression, creatine kinase (CK), and sarcopenic index markers were measured after 12 weeks. The gastrocnemius muscle was stained with hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) and myogenin. The EX-CrM combination showed significant improvement in serum lipid profile, antioxidant markers, EMG, NUDT3 gene, myogenin expression, CK, and sarcopenic index markers from other groups. The NUDT3 gene and myogenin expression have proven efficient as diagnostic tools for sarcopenia. Concomitant treatment of CrM and EX is preferable to individual therapy because it reduces inflammation, improves the lipid serum profile, promotes muscle regeneration, and thus has the potential to improve sarcopenia.