bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of the structure order in the transport and magnetic properties of high-entropy alloy films
Authors: Chen Jia-Wei , Chen Shih-Hsun , Shafer Padraic , Tzeng Wen-Yen , Chen Yi-Cheng , Luo Chih-Wei , Wu Wen-Wei , Yeh Jien-Wei , Chu Ying-Hao 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe fabrication and development of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with exceptional functionalities is a rapidly expanding field with numerous applications. When the role of entropy in HEAs is considered, the extrinsic factors, such as the existence of grains and different phases, need to be separated from the intrinsic configurations of the atomic lattice. Here, we fabricated the CoCrFeNi2Al0.5 HEA/muscovite heterostructures, and some were prepared as epitaxial bilayers and others were prepared as an amorphous system. These two systems are classified into atomic-site disordered (ASD) and structurally disordered (SD) states, respectively, without the extrinsic effects for the determination of the crystal lattice role in high-entropy states. In this study, we determined the role of the structure order in correlation with the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of HEAs using a combination of energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, magneto-transport, ac magnetometry, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy with magnetic circular dichroism. The ASD state showed fully metallic behavior. In contrast, the SD state showed a metallic behavior with intense magnetic saturation, which was called Kondo-like behavior, under 50 K with a low-temperature coefficient of resistivity of ~64 ppm/°C. The difference between the saturation magnetic moment and the electron relaxation behavior in the ASD and SD states resulted from the existence of the structural order affecting the atomic distance and periodicity to modify the exchange interaction and tune the electron-phonon interaction for scattering. The ferromagnetic behavior contributed by Co, Fe, and Ni atoms was probed by X-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism to understand the magnetic interactions in the ASD and SD states.
Spin relaxation of electron and hole polarons in ambipolar conjugated polymers
Authors: Carey Remington L. , Giannini Samuele , Schott Sam , Lemaur Vincent , Xiao Mingfei , Prodhan Suryoday , Wang Linjun , Bovoloni Michelangelo , Quarti Claudio , Beljonne David , Sirringhaus Henning 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe charge-transport properties of conjugated polymers have been studied extensively for opto-electronic device applications. Some polymer semiconductors not only support the ambipolar transport of electrons and holes, but do so with comparable carrier mobilities. This opens the possibility of gaining deeper insight into the charge-transport physics of these complex materials via comparison between electron and hole dynamics while keeping other factors, such as polymer microstructure, equal. Here, we use field-induced electron spin resonance spectroscopy to compare the spin relaxation behavior of electron and hole polarons in three ambipolar conjugated polymers. Our experiments show unique relaxation regimes as a function of temperature for electrons and holes, whereby at lower temperatures electrons relax slower than holes, but at higher temperatures, in the so-called spin-shuttling regime, the trend is reversed. On the basis of theoretical simulations, we attribute this to differences in the delocalization of electron and hole wavefunctions and show that spin relaxation in the spin shuttling regimes provides a sensitive probe of the intimate coupling between charge and structural dynamics.
TET2-mediated tumor cGAS triggers endothelial STING activation to regulate vasculature remodeling and anti-tumor immunity in liver cancer
Authors: Lv Hongwei , Zong Qianni , Chen Cian , Lv Guishuai , Xiang Wei , Xing Fuxue , Jiang Guoqing , Yan Bing , Sun Xiaoyan , Ma Yue , Wang Liang , Wu Zixin , Cui Xiuliang , Wang Hongyang , Yang Wen 
Published: January 2024

AbstractInduction of tumor vascular normalization is a crucial measure to enhance immunotherapy efficacy. cGAS-STING pathway is vital for anti-tumor immunity, but its role in tumor vasculature is unclear. Herein, using preclinical liver cancer models in Cgas/Sting-deficient male mice, we report that the interdependence between tumor cGAS and host STING mediates vascular normalization and anti-tumor immune response. Mechanistically, TET2 mediated IL-2/STAT5A signaling epigenetically upregulates tumor cGAS expression and produces cGAMP. Subsequently, cGAMP is transported via LRRC8C channels to activate STING in endothelial cells, enhancing recruitment and transendothelial migration of lymphocytes. In vivo studies in male mice also reveal that administration of vitamin C, a promising anti-cancer agent, stimulates TET2 activity, induces tumor vascular normalization and enhances the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy alone or in combination with IL-2. Our findings elucidate a crosstalk between tumor and vascular endothelial cells in the tumor immune microenvironment, providing strategies to enhance the efficacy of combinational immunotherapy for liver cancer.
Petascale pipeline for precise alignment of images from serial section electron microscopy
Authors: Popovych Sergiy , Macrina Thomas , Kemnitz Nico , Castro Manuel , Nehoran Barak , Jia Zhen , Bae J. Alexander , Mitchell Eric , Mu Shang , Trautman Eric T. , Saalfeld Stephan , Li Kai , Seung H. Sebastian 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe reconstruction of neural circuits from serial section electron microscopy (ssEM) images is being accelerated by automatic image segmentation methods. Segmentation accuracy is often limited by the preceding step of aligning 2D section images to create a 3D image stack. Precise and robust alignment in the presence of image artifacts is challenging, especially as datasets are attaining the petascale. We present a computational pipeline for aligning ssEM images with several key elements. Self-supervised convolutional nets are trained via metric learning to encode and align image pairs, and they are used to initialize iterative fine-tuning of alignment. A procedure called vector voting increases robustness to image artifacts or missing image data. For speedup the series is divided into blocks that are distributed to computational workers for alignment. The blocks are aligned to each other by composing transformations with decay, which achieves a global alignment without resorting to a time-consuming global optimization. We apply our pipeline to a whole fly brain dataset, and show improved accuracy relative to prior state of the art. We also demonstrate that our pipeline scales to a cubic millimeter of mouse visual cortex. Our pipeline is publicly available through two open source Python packages.
A stapled lipopeptide platform for preventing and treating highly pathogenic viruses of pandemic potential
Authors: Bird Gregory H. , Patten J. J. , Zavadoski William , Barucci Nicole , Godes Marina , Moyer Benjamin M. , Owen Callum D. , DaSilva-Jardine Paul , Neuberg Donna S. , Bowen Richard A. , Davey Robert A. , Walensky Loren D. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe continued emergence of highly pathogenic viruses, which either thwart immune- and small molecule-based therapies or lack interventions entirely, mandates alternative approaches, particularly for prompt and facile pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. Many highly pathogenic viruses, including coronaviruses, employ the six-helix bundle heptad repeat membrane fusion mechanism to achieve infection. Although heptad-repeat-2 decoys can inhibit viral entry by blocking six-helix bundle assembly, the biophysical and pharmacologic liabilities of peptides have hindered their clinical development. Here, we develop a chemically stapled lipopeptide inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 as proof-of-concept for the platform. We show that our lead compound blocks infection by a spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 variants, exhibits mucosal persistence upon nasal administration, demonstrates enhanced stability compared to prior analogs, and mitigates infection in hamsters. We further demonstrate that our stapled lipopeptide platform yields nanomolar inhibitors of respiratory syncytial, Ebola, and Nipah viruses by targeting heptad-repeat-1 domains, which exhibit strikingly low mutation rates, enabling on-demand therapeutic intervention to combat viral outbreaks.
Dental morphology in Homo habilis and its implications for the evolution of early Homo
Authors: Davies Thomas W. , Gunz Philipp , Spoor Fred , Alemseged Zeresenay , Gidna Agness , Hublin Jean-Jacques , Kimbel William H. , Kullmer Ottmar , Plummer William P. , Zanolli Clément , Skinner Matthew M. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe phylogenetic position ofHomo habilisis central to debates over the origin and early evolution of the genusHomo. A large portion of the species hypodigm consists of dental remains, but they have only been studied at the often worn enamel surface. We investigate the morphology of theH. habilisenamel-dentine junction (EDJ), which is preserved in cases of moderate tooth wear and known to carry a strong taxonomic signal. Geometric morphometrics is used to characterise dentine crown shape and size across the entire mandibular and maxillary tooth rows, compared with a broad comparative sample (n = 712). We find that EDJ morphology inH. habilisis for the most part remarkably primitive, supporting the hypothesis that theH. habilishypodigm has more in common withAustralopithecusthan laterHomo. Additionally, the chronologically younger specimen OH 16 displays a suite of derived features; its inclusion inH. habilisleads to excessive levels of variation.
The juxtamembrane linker of synaptotagmin 1 regulates Ca2+ binding via liquid-liquid phase separation
Authors: Mehta Nikunj , Mondal Sayantan , Watson Emma T. , Cui Qiang , Chapman Edwin R. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSynaptotagmin (syt) 1, a Ca2+ sensor for synaptic vesicle exocytosis, functions in vivo as a multimer. Syt1 senses Ca2+ via tandem C2-domains that are connected to a single transmembrane domain via a juxtamembrane linker. Here, we show that this linker segment harbors a lysine-rich, intrinsically disordered region that is necessary and sufficient to mediate liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Interestingly, condensate formation negatively regulates the Ca2+-sensitivity of syt1. Moreover, Ca2+ and anionic phospholipids facilitate the observed phase separation, and increases in [Ca2+]i promote the fusion of syt1 droplets in living cells. Together, these observations suggest a condensate-mediated feedback loop that serves to fine-tune the ability of syt1 to trigger release, via alterations in Ca2+ binding activity and potentially through the impact of LLPS on membrane curvature during fusion reactions. In summary, the juxtamembrane linker of syt1 emerges as a regulator of syt1 function by driving self-association via LLPS.
Creating pairs of exceptional points for arbitrary polarization control: asymmetric vectorial wavefront modulation
Authors: Yang Zijin , Huang Po-Sheng , Lin Yu-Tsung , Qin Haoye , Zúñiga-Pérez Jesús , Shi Yuzhi , Wang Zhanshan , Cheng Xinbin , Tang Man-Chung , Han Sanyang , Kanté Boubacar , Li Bo , Wu Pin Chieh , Genevet Patrice , Song Qinghua 
Published: January 2024

AbstractExceptional points (EPs) can achieve intriguing asymmetric control in non-Hermitian systems due to the degeneracy of eigenstates. Here, we present a general method that extends this specific asymmetric response of EP photonic systems to address any arbitrary fully-polarized light. By rotating the meta-structures at EP, Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase can be exclusively encoded on one of the circular polarization-conversion channels. To address any arbitrary wavefront, we superpose the optical signals originating from two orthogonally polarized -yet degenerate- EP eigenmodes. The construction of such orthogonal EP eigenstates pairs is achieved by applying mirror-symmetry to the nanostructure geometry flipping thereby the EP eigenmode handedness from left to right circular polarization. Non-Hermitian reflective PB metasurfaces designed using such EP superposition enable arbitrary, yet unidirectional, vectorial wavefront shaping devices. Our results open new avenues for topological wave control and illustrate the capabilities of topological photonics to distinctively operate on arbitrary polarization-state with enhanced performances.
Nonlinear transport and radio frequency rectification in BiTeBr at room temperature
Authors: Lu Xiu Fang , Zhang Cheng-Ping , Wang Naizhou , Zhao Dan , Zhou Xin , Gao Weibo , Chen Xian Hui , Law K. T. , Loh Kian Ping 
Published: January 2024

AbstractMaterials showing second-order nonlinear transport under time reversal symmetry can be used for Radio Frequency (RF) rectification, but practical application demands room temperature operation and sensitivity to microwatts level RF signals in the ambient. In this study, we demonstrate that BiTeBr exhibits a giant nonlinear response which persists up to 350 K. Through scaling and symmetry analysis, we show that skew scattering is the dominant mechanism. Additionally, the sign of the nonlinear response can be electrically switched by tuning the Fermi energy. Theoretical analysis suggests that the large Rashba spin-orbit interactions (SOI), which gives rise to the chirality of the Bloch electrons, provide the microscopic origin of the observed nonlinear response. Our BiTeBr rectifier is capable of rectifying radiation within the frequency range of 0.2 to 6 gigahertz at room temperature, even at extremely low power levels of −15 dBm, and without the need for external biasing. Our work highlights that materials exhibiting large Rashba SOI have the potential to exhibit nonlinear responses at room temperature, making them promising candidates for harvesting high-frequency and low-power ambient electromagnetic energy.
Quantitative analysis of printed nanostructured networks using high-resolution 3D FIB-SEM nanotomography
Authors: Gabbett Cian , Doolan Luke , Synnatschke Kevin , Gambini Laura , Coleman Emmet , Kelly Adam G. , Liu Shixin , Caffrey Eoin , Munuera Jose , Murphy Catriona , Sanvito Stefano , Jones Lewys , Coleman Jonathan N. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractNetworks of solution-processed nanomaterials are becoming increasingly important across applications in electronics, sensing and energy storage/generation. Although the physical properties of these devices are often completely dominated by network morphology, the network structure itself remains difficult to interrogate. Here, we utilise focused ion beam – scanning electron microscopy nanotomography (FIB-SEM-NT) to quantitatively characterise the morphology of printed nanostructured networks and their devices using nanometre-resolution 3D images. The influence of nanosheet/nanowire size on network structure in printed films of graphene, WS2 and silver nanosheets (AgNSs), as well as networks of silver nanowires (AgNWs), is investigated. We present a comprehensive toolkit to extract morphological characteristics including network porosity, tortuosity, specific surface area, pore dimensions and nanosheet orientation, which we link to network resistivity. By extending this technique to interrogate the structure and interfaces within printed vertical heterostacks, we demonstrate the potential of this technique for device characterisation and optimisation.
Proximity to Photosystem II is necessary for activation of Plastid Terminal Oxidase (PTOX) for photoprotection
Authors: Calzadilla Pablo Ignacio , Song Junliang , Gallois Patrick , Johnson Giles Nicholas 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe Plastid Terminal Oxidase (PTOX) is a chloroplast localized plastoquinone oxygen oxidoreductase suggested to have the potential to act as a photoprotective safety valve for photosynthesis. However, PTOX overexpression in plants has been unsuccessful at inducing photoprotection, and the factors that control its activity remain elusive. Here, we show that significant PTOX activity is induced in response to high light in the model species Eutrema salsugineum and Arabidopsis thaliana. This activation correlates with structural reorganization of the thylakoid membrane. Over-expression of PTOX in mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana perturbed in thylakoid stacking also results in such activity, in contrast to wild type plants with normal granal structure. Further, PTOX activation protects against photoinhibition of Photosystem II and reduces reactive oxygen production under stress conditions. We conclude that structural re-arrangements of the thylakoid membranes, bringing Photosystem II and PTOX into proximity, are both required and sufficient for PTOX to act as a Photosystem II sink and play a role in photoprotection.
Shape morphing of hydrogels by harnessing enzyme enabled mechanoresponse
Authors: Zhang Kuan , Zhou Yu , Zhang Junsheng , Liu Qing , Hanenberg Christina , Mourran Ahmed , Wang Xin , Gao Xiang , Cao Yi , Herrmann Andreas , Zheng Lifei 
Published: January 2024

AbstractHydrogels have been designed to react to many different stimuli which find broad applications in tissue engineering and soft robotics. However, polymer networks bearing mechano-responsiveness, especially those displaying on-demand self-stiffening and self-softening behavior, are rarely reported. Here, we design a mechano-controlled biocatalytic system at the molecular level that is incorporated into hydrogels to regulate their mechanical properties at the material scale. The biocatalytic system consists of the protease thrombin and its inhibitor, hirudin, which are genetically engineered and covalently coupled to the hydrogel networks. The catalytic activity of thrombin is reversibly switched on by stretching of the hydrogels, which disrupts the noncovalent inhibitory interaction between both entities. Under cyclic tensile-loading, hydrogels exhibit self-stiffening or self-softening properties when substrates are present that can self-assemble to form new networks after being activated by thrombin or when cleavable peptide crosslinkers are constitutional components of the original network, respectively. Additionally, we demonstrate the programming of bilayer hydrogels to exhibit tailored shape-morphing behavior under mechanical stimulation. Our developed system provides proof of concept for mechanically controlled reversible biocatalytic processes, showcasing their potential for regulating hydrogels and proposing a biomacromolecular strategy for mechano-regulated soft functional materials.
De novo biosynthesis of the hops bioactive flavonoid xanthohumol in yeast
Authors: Yang Shan , Chen Ruibing , Cao Xuan , Wang Guodong , Zhou Yongjin J. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe flavonoid xanthohumol is an important flavor substance in the brewing industry that has a wide variety of bioactivities. However, its unstable structure results in its low content in beer. Microbial biosynthesis is considered a sustainable and economically viable alternative. Here, we harness the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the de novo biosynthesis of xanthohumol from glucose by balancing the three parallel biosynthetic pathways, prenyltransferase engineering, enhancing precursor supply, constructing enzyme fusion, and peroxisomal engineering. These strategies improve the production of the key xanthohumol precursor demethylxanthohumol (DMX) by 83-fold and achieve the de novo biosynthesis of xanthohumol in yeast. We also reveal that prenylation is the key limiting step in DMX biosynthesis and develop tailored metabolic regulation strategies to enhance the DMAPP availability and prenylation efficiency. Our work provides feasible approaches for systematically engineering yeast cell factories for the de novo biosynthesis of complex natural products.
A soft magnetoelectric finger for robots’ multidirectional tactile perception in non-visual recognition environments
Authors: Xu Yizhuo , Zhang Shanfei , Li Shuya , Wu Zhenhua , Li Yike , Li Zhuofan , Chen Xiaojun , Shi Congcan , Chen Peng , Zhang Pengyu , Dickey Michael D. , Su Bin 
Published: January 2024

AbstractRobotic fingers with multidirectional tactile perception are of great importance for the robotic exploration of complex unknown space, especially in environments in which visualization is not possible. Unfortunately, most existing tactile sensors for robotic fingers cannot detect multidirectional forces, which greatly limits their potential for further development in navigating complex environments. Here, we demonstrate a soft magnetoelectric finger (SMF) that can achieve self-generated-signal and multidirectional tactile sensing. The SMF is composed of two parts: a ‘finger’ covered with a skin-like flexible sheath containing five liquid metal (LM) coils and a ‘phalangeal bone’ containing a magnet. Due to the changes in magnetic flux through the LM coils caused by external forces, diverse induced voltages are generated and collected in real-time, which can be explained by Maxwell’s numerical simulation. By the analysis of the signals generated by the five LM coils, the SMF can detect forces in varied directions and distinguish 6 different common objects with varied Young’s moduli with an accuracy of 97.46%. These capabilities make the SMF suitable for complex unknown space exploration tasks, as proved by the black box exploration. The SMF can enable the development of self-generated-signal and multidirectional tactile perception for future robots.
Schistosoma mansoni vaccine candidates identified by unbiased phage display screening in self-cured rhesus macaques
Authors: Woellner-Santos Daisy , Tahira Ana C. , Malvezzi João V. M. , Mesel Vinicius , Morales-Vicente David A. , Trentini Monalisa M. , Marques-Neto Lázaro M. , Matos Isaac A. , Kanno Alex I. , Pereira Adriana S. A. , Teixeira André A. R. , Giordano Ricardo J. , Leite Luciana C. C. , Pereira Carlos A. B. , DeMarco Ricardo , Amaral Murilo S. , Verjovski-Almeida Sergio 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSchistosomiasis, a challenging neglected tropical disease, affects millions of people worldwide. Developing a prophylactic vaccine againstSchistosoma mansonihas been hindered by the parasite’s biological complexity. In this study, we utilized the innovative phage-display immunoprecipitation followed by a sequencing approach (PhIP-Seq) to screen the immune response of 10 infected rhesus macaques during self-cure and challenge-resistant phases, identifying vaccine candidates. Our high-throughputS. mansonisynthetic DNA phage-display library encoded 99.6% of 119,747 58-mer peptides, providing comprehensive coverage of the parasite’s proteome. Library screening with rhesus macaques’ antibodies, from the early phase of establishment of parasite infection, identified significantly enriched epitopes of parasite extracellular proteins known to be expressed in the digestive tract, shifting towards intracellular proteins during the late phase of parasite clearance. Immunization of mice with a selected pool of PhIP-Seq-enriched phage-displayed peptides from MEG proteins, cathepsins B, and asparaginyl endopeptidase significantly reduced worm burden in a vaccination assay. These findings enhance our understanding of parasite-host immune responses and provide promising prospects for developing an effective schistosomiasis vaccine.