bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Boar seminal plasma improves sperm quality by enhancing its antioxidant capacity during liquid storage at 17°C
Authors: Kou Zhongyun , Hu Bingyan , Li Yuqing , Cai Rui , Gao Lei , Chu Guiyan , Yang Gongshe , Pang Weijun 
Published: June 2022

SummaryThe objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of seminal plasma (SP) on boar sperm quality, antioxidant capacity and bacterial concentrations during liquid storage at 17°C. Boar sperm was diluted with Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) consisting of 0, 25, 50 and 75% (v/v) of SP. Total motility, progressive motility and dynamic parameters were assessed by the computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system. Acrosome and plasma membrane integrity were measured by FITC-PNA/DAPI and SYBR-14/PI staining, respectively. In addition, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected using commercial assay kits. Bacterial concentrations were assessed by turbidimetric assay. Our results showed that 25% SP markedly improved total motility, progressive motility, sperm dynamic parameters, acrosome integrity compared with 0, 50 and 75% SP (P < 0.05). In addition, 25% SP significantly increased T-AOC but decreased MDA content and ROS levels compared with 0, and 75% SP (P < 0.05). Moreover, 25% SP significantly decreased the bacterial concentrations in extended semen compared with 50% and 75% SP, however, which was higher than with 0% SP (P < 0.05). These results suggest that 25% SP can promote boar sperm quality through enhancing its antioxidant capacity during liquid storage.
How would 401(k) ‘Rothification’ alter saving, retirement security, and inequality?
Authors: Horneff Vanya , Maurer Raimond , Mitchell Olivia S. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractMany nations incentivize retirement saving by letting workers defer taxes on pension contributions, imposing them when retirees withdraw their funds. Using a dynamic life-cycle model, we show how ‘Rothification’ – that is, taxing 401(k) contributions rather than payouts – alters saving, investment, consumption, and Social Security claiming patterns. We find that taxing pension contributions instead of withdrawals leads to delayed retirement, somewhat lower lifetime tax payments, and relatively small reductions in consumption. Indeed, the two tax regimes generate quite similar relative inequality metrics: the relative consumption inequality ratio under taxed-exempt-exempt (TEE) is only 4% higher than that in the exempt-exempt-taxed (EET) case. Moreover, results indicate that the Gini measures are also strikingly similar under the EET and the TEE regimes for lifetime consumption, cash on hand, and 401(k) assets, differing by only 1–4%. While tax payments are higher early in life under the TEE regime, they are slightly lower in the long run. Moreover, higher EET tax payments are also accompanied by higher volatility. We therefore find few reasons for policymakers to favor either tax approach on egalitarian or revenue-enhancing grounds.
Activated chemical bonds in nanoporous and amorphous iridium oxides favor low overpotential for oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Lee Sangseob , Lee Yun-Jae , Lee Giyeok , Soon Aloysius 
Published: June 2022

AbstractTo date, the search for active, selective, and stable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has not ceased and a detailed atomic-level design of the OER catalyst remains an outstanding (if not, compelling) problem. Considerable studies on different surfaces and polymorphs of iridium oxides (with varying stoichiometries and dopants) have emerged over the years, showing much higher OER activity than the conventionally reported rutile-type IrO2. Here, we have considered different metastable nanoporous and amorphous iridium oxides of different chemical stoichiometries. Using first-principles electronic structure calculations, we investigate the (electro)chemical stability, intercalation properties, and electronic structure of these iridium oxides. Using an empirical regression model between the Ir-O bond characteristics and the measured OER overpotentials, we demonstrate how activated Ir-O bonds (and the presence of more electrophilic oxygens) in these less understood polymorphs of iridium oxides can explain their superior OER performance observed in experiments.
Development of efficient aqueous organic redox flow batteries using ion-sieving sulfonated polymer membranes
Authors: Ye Chunchun , Wang Anqi , Breakwell Charlotte , Tan Rui , Grazia Bezzu C. , Hunter-Sellars Elwin , Williams Daryl R. , Brandon Nigel P. , Klusener Peter A. A. , Kucernak Anthony R. , Jelfs Kim E. , McKeown Neil B. , Song Qilei 
Published: June 2022

AbstractRedox flow batteries using aqueous organic-based electrolytes are promising candidates for developing cost-effective grid-scale energy storage devices. However, a significant drawback of these batteries is the cross-mixing of active species through the membrane, which causes battery performance degradation. To overcome this issue, here we report size-selective ion-exchange membranes prepared by sulfonation of a spirobifluorene-based microporous polymer and demonstrate their efficient ion sieving functions in flow batteries. The spirobifluorene unit allows control over the degree of sulfonation to optimize the transport of cations, whilst the microporous structure inhibits the crossover of organic molecules via molecular sieving. Furthermore, the enhanced membrane selectivity mitigates the crossover-induced capacity decay whilst maintaining good ionic conductivity for aqueous electrolyte solution at pH 9, where the redox-active organic molecules show long-term stability. We also prove the boosting effect of the membranes on the energy efficiency and peak power density of the aqueous redox flow battery, which shows stable operation for about 120 h (i.e., 2100 charge-discharge cycles at 100 mA cm−2) in a laboratory-scale cell.
The renal lineage factor PAX8 controls oncogenic signalling in kidney cancer
Authors: Patel Saroor A. , Hirosue Shoko , Rodrigues Paulo , Vojtasova Erika , Richardson Emma K. , Ge Jianfeng , Syafruddin Saiful E. , Speed Alyson , Papachristou Evangelia K. , Baker David , Clarke David , Purvis Stephenie , Wesolowski Ludovic , Dyas Anna , Castillon Leticia , Caraffini Veronica , Bihary Dóra , Yong Cissy , Harrison David J. , Stewart Grant D. , Machiela Mitchell J. , Purdue Mark P. , Chanock Stephen J. , Warren Anne Y. , Samarajiwa Shamith A. , Carroll Jason S. , Vanharanta Sakari 
Published: June 2022

AbstractLarge-scale human genetic data1–3 have shown that cancer mutations display strong tissue-selectivity, but how this selectivity arises remains unclear. Here, using experimental models, functional genomics and analyses of patient samples, we demonstrate that the lineage transcription factor paired box 8 (PAX8) is required for oncogenic signalling by two common genetic alterations that cause clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in humans: the germline variant rs7948643 at 11q13.3 and somatic inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor (VHL)4–6. VHL loss, which is observed in about 90% of ccRCCs, can lead to hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF2A) stabilization6,7. We show that HIF2A is preferentially recruited to PAX8-bound transcriptional enhancers, including a pro-tumorigenic cyclin D1 (CCND1) enhancer that is controlled by PAX8 and HIF2A. The ccRCC-protective allele C at rs7948643 inhibits PAX8 binding at this enhancer and downstream activation of CCND1 expression. Co-option of a PAX8-dependent physiological programme that supports the proliferation of normal renal epithelial cells is also required for MYC expression from the ccRCC metastasis-associated amplicons at 8q21.3-q24.3 (ref. 8). These results demonstrate that transcriptional lineage factors are essential for oncogenic signalling and that they mediate tissue-specific cancer risk associated with somatic and inherited genetic variants.
Genome evolution and diversity of wild and cultivated potatoes
Authors: Tang Dié , Jia Yuxin , Zhang Jinzhe , Li Hongbo , Cheng Lin , Wang Pei , Bao Zhigui , Liu Zhihong , Feng Shuangshuang , Zhu Xijian , Li Dawei , Zhu Guangtao , Wang Hongru , Zhou Yao , Zhou Yongfeng , Bryan Glenn J. , Buell C. Robin , Zhang Chunzhi , Huang Sanwen 
Published: June 2022

AbstractPotato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world’s most important non-cereal food crop, and the vast majority of commercially grown cultivars are highly heterozygous tetraploids. Advances in diploid hybrid breeding based on true seeds have the potential to revolutionize future potato breeding and production1–4. So far, relatively few studies have examined the genome evolution and diversity of wild and cultivated landrace potatoes, which limits the application of their diversity in potato breeding. Here we assemble 44 high-quality diploid potato genomes from 24 wild and 20 cultivated accessions that are representative of Solanum section Petota, the tuber-bearing clade, as well as 2 genomes from the neighbouring section, Etuberosum. Extensive discordance of phylogenomic relationships suggests the complexity of potato evolution. We find that the potato genome substantially expanded its repertoire of disease-resistance genes when compared with closely related seed-propagated solanaceous crops, indicative of the effect of tuber-based propagation strategies on the evolution of the potato genome. We discover a transcription factor that determines tuber identity and interacts with the mobile tuberization inductive signal SP6A. We also identify 561,433 high-confidence structural variants and construct a map of large inversions, which provides insights for improving inbred lines and precluding potential linkage drag, as exemplified by a 5.8-Mb inversion that is associated with carotenoid content in tubers. This study will accelerate hybrid potato breeding and enrich our understanding of the evolution and biology of potato as a global staple food crop.
At the beginnings of the funerary Megalithism in Iberia at Campo de Hockey necropolis
Authors: Vijande-Vila Eduardo , Díaz-Zorita Bonilla Marta , Morell-Rovira Berta , Olalde Íñigo , Sánchez-Barba Muñoz Lydia P. , Domínguez-Bella Salvador , Emslie Steven D. , Becerra-Martín Serafín , Rubio-Salvador Ángel , Fernández-Sánchez Diego Salvador , Cantillo-Duarte Juan Jesús , Alemán-Aguilera Inmaculada , Moreno-Márquez Adolfo , Molina-Piernas Eduardo , Ramírez-Amador José Luis , Gómez-Sánchez María Leticia , Botella-López Miguel C. , Rodríguez-Vidal Joaquín , Ramos-Muñoz José 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThe excavations undertaken at the Campo de Hockey site in 2008 led to the identification of a major Neolithic necropolis in the former Island of San Fernando (Bay of Cádiz). This work presents the results of the latest studies, which indicate that the site stands as one of the oldest megalithic necropolises in the Iberian Peninsula. The main aim of this work is to present with precision the chronology of this necropolis through a Bayesian statistical model that confirms that the necropolis was in use from c. 4300 to 3800 cal BC. The presence of prestige grave goods in the earliest and most monumental graves suggest that the Megalithism phenomenon emerged in relation to maritime routes linked to the distribution of exotic products. We also aim to examine funerary practices in these early megalithic communities, and especially their way of life and the social reproduction system. As such, in addition to the chronological information and the Bayesian statistics, we provide the results of a comprehensive interdisciplinary study, including anthropological, archaeometric and genetic data.
Comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genome of ethnodrug Aconitum episcopale and insight into its phylogenetic relationships
Authors: Xia Conglong , Wang Manjiong , Guan Yunhui , Li Yunfei , Li Jian 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAconitum episcopale Leveille is an important medicinal plant from the genus Aconitum L. of Ranunculaceae family and has been used as conventional medicine in Bai, Yi, and other ethnic groups of China. According to the available data and Ethno folk applications, A. episcopale is the only Aconitum species that has detoxifying and antialcoholic property. It can detoxify opium, especially the poisoning of Aconitum plants. Aconitum species have been widely used for their medicinal properties, and it is important to be noted that many of the species of this plant are reported to be toxic also. Distinguishing the species of this plant based on the morphology is a tough task and there are also no significant differences in the chemical composition. Therefore, before application of this plant for medicinal usage, it is very important to identify the species which could be life-threatening and exclude them. In this paper, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of A. episcopale was acquired by Illumina paired-end (PE) sequencing technology and compared with other species in the same family and genus. Herein, we report the complete cp genome of A. episcopale. The whole circular cp genome of A. episcopale has been found to be of 155,827 bp in size and contains a large single-copy region (LSC) of 86,452 bp, a small single-copy region (SSC) of 16,939 bp, and two inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 26,218 bp. The A. episcopale cp genome was found to be comprised of 132 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 37 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), eight ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and two pseudogenes. A total of 20 genes contained introns, of which 14 genes contained a single intron and two genes had two introns. The chloroplast genome of A. episcopale contained 64 codons encoding 20 amino acids, with the number of codons encoding corresponding amino acids ranging from 22 to 1068. The Met and Trp amino acids have only one codon, and other amino acids had 2–6 codons. A total of 64 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified, among which mononucleotide sequences accounted for the most. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. episcopale is closely related with A. delavayi. Cumulatively the results of this study provided an essential theoretical basis for the molecular identification and phylogeny of A. episcopale.
Estrogen hormone is an essential sex factor inhibiting inflammation and immune response in COVID-19
Authors: Li Fuhai , Boon Adrianus C. M. , Michelson Andrew P. , Foraker Randi E. , Zhan Ming , Payne Philip R. O. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAlthough vaccines have been evaluated and approved for SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention, there remains a lack of effective treatments to reduce the mortality of COVID-19 patients already infected with SARS-CoV-2. The global data on COVID-19 showed that men have a higher mortality rate than women. We further observed that the proportion of mortality of females increases starting from around the age of 55 significantly. Thus, sex is an essential factor associated with COVID-19 mortality, and sex related genetic factors could be interesting mechanisms and targets for COVID-19 treatment. However, the associated sex factors and signaling pathways remain unclear. Here, we propose to uncover the potential sex associated factors using systematic and integrative network analysis. The unique results indicated that estrogens, e.g., estrone and estriol, (1) interacting with ESR1/2 receptors, (2) can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 caused inflammation and immune response signaling in host cells; and (3) estrogens are associated with the distinct fatality rates between male and female COVID-19 patients. Specifically, a high level of estradiol protects young female COVID-19 patients, and estrogens drop to an extremely low level in females after about 55 years of age causing the increased fatality rate of women. In conclusion, estrogen, interacting with ESR1/2 receptors, is an essential sex factor that protects COVID-19 patients from death by inhibiting inflammation and immune response caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, medications boosting the down-stream signaling of ESR1/ESR2, or inhibiting the inflammation and immune-associated targets on the signaling network can be potentially effective or synergistic combined with other existing drugs for COVID-19 treatment.
Phase I 270° single-incision percutaneous spinal endoscopy for decompression treatment of thoracic spinal stenosis
Authors: Li Yuefei , Bi Jingwei , Sun Zhaozhong , Ren Jiabin , Liu Xin , Sun Ning , Wang Jianye , Li Rui 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThis study aimed to explore the feasibility of Phase I percutaneous spinal endoscopy with a 270° single incision in the ventral and dorsal dura mater for decompression treatment of thoracic spinal stenosis (TSS). Phase I percutaneous spinal endoscopy with a two-path (posterior and posterolateral approaches) single incision with a 270° decompression was performed in four cases of TSS with compression in the ventral and dorsal dura mater. The affected intervertebral space was located during the surgery, and the ossified ligamentum flavum in the ventral and dorsal dura mater was removed via laminectomy, which formed a decompression space in the thoracic cord. Next, posterolateral transforaminal expansion and plasty were performed to remove the ventral intervertebral disk. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, thoracic spinal cord function score of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) (11-point method), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. No dura mater or thoracic nerve injury occurred during the surgery. The symptoms of weakness in the lower extremities improved after the surgery. The postoperative magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography examinations showed compression removal and dura mater bulging. The postoperative VAS, JOA, and ODI scores improved compared with the preoperative scores. Two surgical trajectories, posterior and posterolateral approaches, were established by a single incision using thoracic spinal canal decompression with Phase I 270° single-incision percutaneous spinal endoscopy. The posterior approach was performed mainly by translaminar unilateral fenestration and bilateral decompression in the ventral and dorsal dura mater, whereas the posterolateral approach was performed by decompression in the ventral dura mater to the midline of the vertebrae. This surgical method could be applied as a safe and feasible minimally invasive treatment for TSS with compression on both the ventral and dorsal dura mater.
Drug repositioning in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using gene co-expression and drug–gene interaction networks analysis
Authors: MotieGhader Habib , Tabrizi-Nezhadi Parinaz , Deldar Abad Paskeh Mahshid , Baradaran Behzad , Mokhtarzadeh Ahad , Hashemi Mehrdad , Lanjanian Hossein , Jazayeri Seyed Mehdi , Maleki Masoud , Khodadadi Ehsan , Nematzadeh Sajjad , Kiani Farzad , Maghsoudloo Mazaher , Masoudi-Nejad Ali 
Published: June 2022

AbstractLung cancer is the most common cancer in men and women. This cancer is divided into two main types, namely non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Around 85 to 90 percent of lung cancers are NSCLC. Repositioning potent candidate drugs in NSCLC treatment is one of the important topics in cancer studies. Drug repositioning (DR) or drug repurposing is a method for identifying new therapeutic uses of existing drugs. The current study applies a computational drug repositioning method to identify candidate drugs to treat NSCLC patients. To this end, at first, the transcriptomics profile of NSCLC and healthy (control) samples was obtained from the GEO database with the accession number GSE21933. Then, the gene co-expression network was reconstructed for NSCLC samples using the WGCNA, and two significant purple and magenta gene modules were extracted. Next, a list of transcription factor genes that regulate purple and magenta modules' genes was extracted from the TRRUST V2.0 online database, and the TF–TG (transcription factors–target genes) network was drawn. Afterward, a list of drugs targeting TF–TG genes was obtained from the DGIdb V4.0 database, and two drug–gene interaction networks, including drug-TG and drug-TF, were drawn. After analyzing gene co-expression TF–TG, and drug–gene interaction networks, 16 drugs were selected as potent candidates for NSCLC treatment. Out of 16 selected drugs, nine drugs, namely Methotrexate, Olanzapine, Haloperidol, Fluorouracil, Nifedipine, Paclitaxel, Verapamil, Dexamethasone, and Docetaxel, were chosen from the drug-TG sub-network. In addition, nine drugs, including Cisplatin, Daunorubicin, Dexamethasone, Methotrexate, Hydrocortisone, Doxorubicin, Azacitidine, Vorinostat, and Doxorubicin Hydrochloride, were selected from the drug-TF sub-network. Methotrexate and Dexamethasone are common in drug-TG and drug-TF sub-networks. In conclusion, this study proposed 16 drugs as potent candidates for NSCLC treatment through analyzing gene co-expression, TF–TG, and drug–gene interaction networks.
In-situ γ-ray analysis of ground surface radioactivity using portable HPGe γ spectrometer
Authors: Wu Zeqian , Wang Bairong , Sun Jian , Wang Yuqi , Zhao Changwei 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAs essential high-end equipment for nuclear emergency monitoring, the portable HPGe γ spectrometer currently lacks supporting in-situ measurement methods, limiting its role and value in emergency missions. For this practical problem, this paper studies the measurement of ground surface radioactivity by portable HPGe γ spectrometer in nuclear emergency monitoring in view of the particularity of nuclear emergency source items. Firstly, the detection efficiency of point sources at different horizontal distances when the spectrometer is installed at the height of 1 m from the center of the detector to the ground is calculated. Secondly, the concept of effective contribution distance is defined and analyzed. Thirdly, the point source detection efficiency is obtained using the numerical integration method of calculation. Integrate to calculate the detection efficiency of the surface source, and then calculate the radioactive surface activity of the surface. Finally, the effectiveness of the method is verified through experiments.
Cryptic in vitro ubiquitin ligase activity of HDMX towards p53 is probably regulated by an induced fit mechanism
Authors: Calderon-González Karla Gisel , Medina-Medina Ixaura , Haronikova Lucia , Hernychova Lenka , Bonczek Ondrej , Uhrik Lukas , Hrabal Vaclav , Vojtesek Borivoj , Fahraeus Robin , Hernández-Monge Jesús , Olivares-Illana Vanesa 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
HDMX and its homologue HDM2 are two essential proteins for the cell; after genotoxic stress, both are phosphorylated near to their RING domain, specifically at serine 403 and 395, respectively. Once phosphorylated, both can bind the p53 mRNA and enhance its translation; however, both recognize p53 protein and provoke its degradation under normal conditions. HDM2 has been well-recognized as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, whereas it has been reported that even with the high similarity between the RING domains of the two homologs, HDMX does not have the E3 ligase activity. Despite this, HDMX is needed for the proper p53 poly-ubiquitination. Phosphorylation at serine 395 changes the conformation of HDM2, helping to explain the switch in its activity, but no information on HDMX has been published. Here, we study the conformation of HDMX and its phospho-mimetic mutant S403D, investigate its E3 ligase activity and dissect its binding with p53. We show that phospho-mutation does not change the conformation of the protein, but HDMX is indeed an E3 ubiquitin ligase in vitro; however, in vivo, no activity was found. We speculated that HDMX is regulated by induced fit, being able to switch activity accordingly to the specific partner as p53 protein, p53 mRNA or HDM2. Our results aim to contribute to the elucidation of the contribution of the HDMX to p53 regulation.