bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extracting quantitative dielectric properties from pump-probe spectroscopy
Authors: Ashoka Arjun , Tamming Ronnie R. , Girija Aswathy V. , Bretscher Hope , Verma Sachin Dev , Yang Shang-Da , Lu Chih-Hsuan , Hodgkiss Justin M. , Ritchie David , Chen Chong , Smith Charles G. , Schnedermann Christoph , Price Michael B. , Chen Kai , Rao Akshay 
Published: March 2022

AbstractOptical pump-probe spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the study of non-equilibrium electronic dynamics and finds wide applications across a range of fields, from physics and chemistry to material science and biology. However, a shortcoming of conventional pump-probe spectroscopy is that photoinduced changes in transmission, reflection and scattering can simultaneously contribute to the measured differential spectra, leading to ambiguities in assigning the origin of spectral signatures and ruling out quantitative interpretation of the spectra. Ideally, these methods would measure the underlying dielectric function (or the complex refractive index) which would then directly provide quantitative information on the transient excited state dynamics free of these ambiguities. Here we present and test a model independent route to transform differential transmission or reflection spectra, measured via conventional optical pump-probe spectroscopy, to changes in the quantitative transient dielectric function. We benchmark this method against changes in the real refractive index measured using time-resolved Frequency Domain Interferometry in prototypical inorganic and organic semiconductor films. Our methodology can be applied to existing and future pump-probe data sets, allowing for an unambiguous and quantitative characterisation of the transient photoexcited spectra of materials. This in turn will accelerate the adoption of pump-probe spectroscopy as a facile and robust materials characterisation and screening tool.
Identification of plasmon-driven nanoparticle-coalescence-dominated growth of gold nanoplates through nanopore sensing
Authors: Huang Bintong , Miao Longfei , Li Jing , Xie Zhipeng , Wang Yong , Chai Jia , Zhai Yueming 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe fascinating phenomenon that plasmon excitation can convert isotropic silver nanospheres to anisotropic nanoprisms has already been developed into a general synthetic technique since the discovery in 2001. However, the mechanism governing the morphology conversion is described with different reaction processes. So far, the mechanism based on redox reactions dominated anisotropic growth by plasmon-produced hot carriers is widely accepted and developed. Here, we successfully achieved plasmon-driven high yield conversion of gold nanospheres into nanoplates with iodine as the inducer. To investigate the mechanism, nanopore sensing technology is established to statistically study the intermediate species at the single-nanoparticle level. Surprisingly, the morphology conversion is proved as a hot hole-controlled coalescence-dominated growth process. This work conclusively elucidates that a controllable plasmon-driven nanoparticle-coalescence mechanism could enable the production of well-defined anisotropic metal nanostructures and suggests that the nanopore sensing could be of general use for studying the growth process of nanomaterials.
RNA G-quadruplex in TMPRSS2 reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Liu Geng , Du Wenya , Sang Xiongbo , Tong Qiyu , Wang Ye , Chen Guoqing , Yuan Yi , Jiang Lili , Cheng Wei , Liu Dan , Tian Yan , Fu Xianghui 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection continues to have devastating consequences worldwide. Recently, great efforts have been made to identify SARS-CoV-2 host factors, but the regulatory mechanisms of these host molecules, as well as the virus per se, remain elusive. Here we report a role of RNA G-quadruplex (RG4) in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Combining bioinformatics, biochemical and biophysical assays, we demonstrate the presence of RG4s in both SARS-CoV-2 genome and host factors. The biological and pathological importance of these RG4s is then exemplified by a canonical 3-quartet RG4 within Tmprss2, which can inhibit Tmprss2 translation and prevent SARS-CoV-2 entry. Intriguingly, G-quadruplex (G4)-specific stabilizers attenuate SARS-CoV-2 infection in pseudovirus cell systems and mouse models. Consistently, the protein level of TMPRSS2 is increased in lungs of COVID-19 patients. Our findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection and suggest RG4 as a potential target for COVID-19 prevention and treatment.
Trends in oxygenate/hydrocarbon selectivity for electrochemical CO(2) reduction to C2 products
Authors: Peng Hong-Jie , Tang Michael T. , Halldin Stenlid Joakim , Liu Xinyan , Abild-Pedersen Frank 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe electrochemical conversion of carbon di-/monoxide into commodity chemicals paves a way towards a sustainable society but it also presents one of the great challenges in catalysis. Herein, we present the trends in selectivity towards specific dicarbon oxygenate/hydrocarbon products from carbon monoxide reduction on transition metal catalysts, with special focus on copper. We unveil the distinctive role of electrolyte pH in tuning the dicarbon oxygenate/hydrocarbon selectivity. The understanding is based on density functional theory calculated energetics and microkinetic modeling. We identify the critical reaction steps determining selectivity and relate their transition state energies to two simple descriptors, the carbon and hydroxide binding strengths. The atomistic insight gained enables us to rationalize a number of experimental observations and provides avenues towards the design of selective electrocatalysts for liquid fuel production from carbon di-/monoxide.
Oncogenic gene expression and epigenetic remodeling of cis-regulatory elements in ASXL1-mutant chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Authors: Binder Moritz , Carr Ryan M. , Lasho Terra L. , Finke Christy M. , Mangaonkar Abhishek A. , Pin Christopher L. , Berger Kurt R. , Mazzone Amelia , Potluri Sandeep , Ordog Tamas , Robertson Keith D. , Marks David L. , Fernandez-Zapico Martin E. , Gaspar-Maia Alexandre , Patnaik Mrinal M. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractMyeloid neoplasms are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders driven by the sequential acquisition of recurrent genetic lesions. Truncating mutations in the chromatin remodeler ASXL1 (ASXL1MT) are associated with a high-risk disease phenotype with increased proliferation, epigenetic therapeutic resistance, and poor survival outcomes. We performed a multi-omics interrogation to define gene expression and chromatin remodeling associated with ASXL1MTin chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). ASXL1MTare associated with a loss of repressive histone methylation and increase in permissive histone methylation and acetylation in promoter regions. ASXL1MTare further associated with de novo accessibility of distal enhancers binding ETS transcription factors, targeting important leukemogenic driver genes. Chromatin remodeling of promoters and enhancers is strongly associated with gene expression and heterogenous among overexpressed genes. These results provide a comprehensive map of the transcriptome and chromatin landscape of ASXL1MTCMML, forming an important framework for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting oncogenic cis interactions.
Targeted introduction of heritable point mutations into the plant mitochondrial genome
Authors: Forner Joachim , Kleinschmidt Dennis , Meyer Etienne H. , Fischer Axel , Morbitzer Robert , Lahaye Thomas , Schöttler Mark A. , Bock Ralph 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe development of technologies for the genetic manipulation of mitochondrial genomes remains a major challenge. Here we report a method for the targeted introduction of mutations into plant mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that we refer to as transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) gene-drive mutagenesis (GDM), or TALEN-GDM. The method combines TALEN-induced site-specific cleavage of the mtDNA with selection for mutations that confer resistance to the TALEN cut. Applying TALEN-GDM to the tobacco mitochondrial nad9 gene, we isolated a large set of mutants carrying single amino acid substitutions in the Nad9 protein. The mutants could be purified to homochondriomy and stably inherited their edited mtDNA in the expected maternal fashion. TALEN-GDM induces both transitions and transversions, and can access most nucleotide positions within the TALEN binding site. Our work provides an efficient method for targeted mitochondrial genome editing that produces genetically stable, homochondriomic and fertile plants with specific point mutations in their mtDNA.
Fully integrated parity–time-symmetric electronics
Authors: Cao Weidong , Wang Changqing , Chen Weijian , Hu Song , Wang Hua , Yang Lan , Zhang Xuan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractHarnessing parity–time symmetry with balanced gain and loss profiles has created a variety of opportunities in electronics from wireless energy transfer to telemetry sensing and topological defect engineering. However, existing implementations often employ ad hoc approaches at low operating frequencies and are unable to accommodate large-scale integration. Here we report a fully integrated realization of parity–time symmetry in a standard complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor process technology. Our work demonstrates salient parity–time symmetry features such as phase transition as well as the ability to manipulate broadband microwave generation and propagation beyond the limitations encountered by existing schemes. The system shows 2.1 times the bandwidth and 30% noise reduction compared to conventional microwave generation in the oscillatory mode, and displays large non-reciprocal microwave transport from 2.75 to 3.10 GHz in the non-oscillatory mode due to enhanced nonlinearities. This approach could enrich integrated circuit design methodology beyond well-established performance limits and enable the use of scalable integrated circuit technology to study topological effects in high-dimensional non-Hermitian systems.
Water cycles in a Hadean CO2 atmosphere drive the evolution of long DNA
Authors: Ianeselli Alan , Atienza Miguel , Kudella Patrick W. , Gerland Ulrich , Mast Christof B. , Braun Dieter 
Published: March 2022

AbstractDew is a common form of water that deposits from saturated air on colder surfaces. Although presumably common on primordial Earth, its potential involvement in the origin of life in early replication has not been investigated in detail. Here we report that it can drive the first stages of Darwinian evolution for DNA and RNA, first by periodically denaturing their structures at low temperatures and second by promoting the replication of long strands over short, faster replicating ones. Our experiments mimicked a partially water-filled primordial rock pore in the probable CO2 atmosphere of Hadean Earth. Under heat flow, water continuously evaporated and recondensed as acidic dew droplets that created the humidity, salt and pH cycles that match many prebiotic replication chemistries. In low-salt and low-pH regimes, the strands melted at 30 K below the bulk melting temperature, whereas longer sequences preferentially accumulated at the droplet interface. Under an enzymatic replication to mimic a sped-up RNA world, long sequences of more than 1,000 nucleotides emerged. The replication was biased by the melting conditions of the dew and the initial short ATGC strands evolved into long AT-rich sequences with repetitive and structured nucleotide composition.
The cancellation heuristic in intertemporal choice shifts people’s time preferences
Authors: Sengupta Arjun , Savani Krishna 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBuilding on past research in risky decision making, the present research investigated whether the cancellation heuristic is evident in intertemporal choice. Specifically, the cancellation heuristic posits that whenever choice options are partitioned into multiple components, people ignore seemingly identical components and compare the non-identical components. We nudged people to employ the cancellation heuristic by partitioning both the smaller earlier reward and the larger later reward into a seemingly identical component and a non-identical component. Given diminishing marginal utility, we hypothesized that people would perceive an identical difference between the smaller earlier reward and the larger later reward as being subjectively greater when both amounts are smaller in magnitude, thereby increasing the relative attractiveness of the larger later reward in the partition condition. We conducted four studies, including two incentive-compatible lab experiments, one incentive-compatible lab-in-the-field experiment, and one survey study using choices among both gains and losses. We consistently found that this choice architecture intervention significantly increased people’s likelihood of choosing the larger later reward. Furthermore, we provide evidence of the underlying mechanism-people’s intertemporal decisions shifted to a greater extent in the cancellation condition, particularly if their marginal utility diminished faster. The findings indicate that two features of human psychology-diminishing marginal utility and the cancellation heuristic-can be simultaneously utilized to nudge people to make decisions that would be better for them in the long run.
Virtual reality reduces COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the wild: a randomized trial
Authors: Vandeweerdt Clara , Luong Tiffany , Atchapero Michael , Mottelson Aske , Holz Christian , Makransky Guido , Böhm Robert 
Published: March 2022

AbstractVaccine hesitancy poses one of the largest threats to global health. Informing people about the collective benefit of vaccination has great potential in increasing vaccination intentions. This research investigates the potential for engaging experiences in immersive virtual reality (VR) to strengthen participants’ understanding of community immunity, and therefore, their intention to get vaccinated. In a pre-registered lab-in-the-field intervention study, participants were recruited in a public park (tested: $$n = 232$$

n
=
232

, analyzed: $$n = 222$$

n
=
222

). They were randomly assigned to experience the collective benefit of community immunity in a gamified immersive virtual reality environment ($$\frac{2}{3}$$

2
3

of sample), or to receive the same information via text and images ($$\frac{1}{3}$$

1
3

of sample). Before and after the intervention, participants indicated their intention to take up a hypothetical vaccine for a new COVID-19 strain (0–100 scale) and belief in vaccination as a collective responsibility (1–7 scale). The study employs a crossover design (participants later received a second treatment), but the primary outcome is the effect of the first treatment on vaccination intention. After the VR treatment, for participants with less-than-maximal vaccination intention, intention increases by 9.3 points (95% CI: 7.0 to $$11.5,\, p < 0.001$$

11.5
,

p
<
0.001

). The text-and-image treatment raises vaccination intention by 3.3 points (difference in effects: 5.8, 95% CI: 2.0 to $$9.5,\, p = 0.003$$

9.5
,

p
=
0.003

). The VR treatment also increases collective responsibility by 0.82 points (95% CI: 0.37 to $$1.27,\, p < 0.001$$

1.27
,

p
<
0.001

). The results suggest that VR interventions are an effective tool for boosting vaccination intention, and that they can be applied “in the wild”—providing a complementary method for vaccine advocacy.
The effect of spermidine on autoimmunity and beta cell function in NOD mice
Authors: Karacay Ceren , Prietl Barbara , Harer Clemens , Ehall Barbara , Haudum Christoph W. , Bounab Kaddour , Franz Joakim , Eisenberg Tobias , Madeo Frank , Kolb Dagmar , Hingerl Kerstin , Hausl Markus , Magnes Christoph , Mautner Selma I. , Kotzbeck Petra , Pieber Thomas R. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSpermidine is a natural polyamine which was shown to prolong lifespan of organisms and to improve cardiac and cognitive function. Spermidine was also reported to reduce inflammation and modulate T-cells. Autophagy is one of the mechanisms that spermidine exerts its effect. Autophagy is vital for β-cell homeostasis and autophagy deficiency was reported to lead to exacerbated diabetes in mice. The effect of spermidine in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we examined the effect of spermidine treatment in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a mouse model for type 1 diabetes. NOD mice were given untreated or spermidine-treated water ad libitum from 4 weeks of age until diabetes onset or 35 weeks of age. We found that treatment with 10 mM spermidine led to higher diabetes incidence in NOD mice despite unchanged pancreatic insulitis. Spermidine modulated tissue polyamine levels and elevated signs of autophagy in pancreas. Spermidine led to increased proportion of pro-inflammatory T-cells in pancreatic lymph nodes (pLN) in diabetic mice. Spermidine elevated the proportion of regulatory T-cells in early onset mice, whereas it reduced the proportion of regulatory T-cells in late onset mice. In summary spermidine treatment led to higher diabetes incidence and elevated proportion of T-cells in pLN.
Prediction of topological Dirac semimetal in Ca-based Zintl layered compounds CaM2X2 (M = Zn or Cd; X = N, P, As, Sb, or Bi)
Authors: Feng Liang-Ying , Villaos Rovi Angelo B. , Maghirang Aniceto B. , Huang Zhi-Quan , Hsu Chia-Hsiu , Lin Hsin , Chuang Feng-Chuan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractTopological Dirac materials are attracting a lot of attention because they offer exotic physical phenomena. An exhaustive search coupled with first-principles calculations was implemented to investigate 10 Zintl compounds with a chemical formula of CaM2X2 (M = Zn or Cd, X = N, P, As, Sb, or Bi) under three crystal structures: CaAl2Si2-, ThCr2Si2-, and BaCu2S2-type crystal phases. All of the materials were found to energetically prefer the CaAl2Si2-type structure based on total ground state energy calculations. Symmetry-based indicators are used to evaluate their topological properties. Interestingly, we found that CaM2Bi2 (M = Zn or Cd) are topological crystalline insulators. Further calculations under the hybrid functional approach and analysis using k · p model reveal that they exhibit topological Dirac semimetal (TDSM) states, where the four-fold degenerate Dirac points are located along the high symmetry line in-between Г to A points. These findings are verified through Green's function surface state calculations under HSE06. Finally, phonon spectra calculations revealed that CaCd2Bi2 is thermodynamically stable. The Zintl phase of AM2X2 compounds have not been identified in any topological material databases, thus can be a new playground in the search for new topological materials.
Effect of noise sensitivity on psychophysiological response through monoscopic 360 video and stereoscopic sound environment experience: a randomized control trial
Authors: Jo Hyun In , Lee Kounseok , Jeon Jin Yong 
Published: March 2022

AbstractNoise sensitivity is a crucial factor affecting subjective psychophysiological responses to the acoustic environment of various indoor and outdoor spaces. This study examines how noise sensitivity or hyperacusis affects the recovery of emotional and autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses when experiencing various monoscopic 360 video and stereoscopic sound environments (urban and natural) that represent the actual environment. A total of 60 general participants with mild depression, stress, and anxiety were examined using a survey to investigate individual characteristics, including noise sensitivity, and K-means clustering was used to classify them into sensitivity groups. Emotional and physiological responses were measured using the Korean edition of Profile of Mood States and by assessing heart rate variability, respectively. Overall, the emotional recovery effect was greater in the natural than the urban environment, and the homeostatic mechanism of the ANS was better maintained, thereby increasing stress resistance. Noise sensitivity did not have considerable effect on psychophysiological recovery in the natural environment, but had a significant effect on emotional response in the urban environment. This can be used as basic data in seeking customized emotional recovery for individuals using monoscopic 360 video and stereoscopic sound technology in the future.
Effect of serum sample storage temperature on metabolomic and proteomic biomarkers
Authors: Valo Erkka , Colombo Marco , Sandholm Niina , McGurnaghan Stuart J. , Blackbourn Luke A. K. , Dunger David B. , McKeigue Paul M. , Forsblom Carol , Groop Per-Henrik , Colhoun Helen M. , Turner Charles , Dalton R. Neil 
Published: March 2022

AbstractProspective biomarker studies can be used to identify biomarkers predictive of disease onset. However, if serum biomarkers are measured years after their collection, the storage conditions might affect analyte concentrations. Few data exists concerning which metabolites and proteins are affected by storage at − 20 °C vs − 80 °C. Our objectives were to document analytes affected by storage of serum samples at − 20 °C vs − 80 °C, and to identify those indicative of the storage temperature. We utilized liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and Luminex to quantify 300 analytes from serum samples of 16 Finnish individuals with type 1 diabetes, with split-aliquot samples stored at − 80 °C and − 20 °C for a median of 4.2 years. Results were validated in 315 Finnish and 916 Scottish individuals with type 1 diabetes, stored at − 20 °C and at − 80 °C, respectively. After quality control, we analysed 193 metabolites and proteins of which 120 were apparently unaffected and 15 clearly susceptible to storage at − 20 °C vs − 80 °C. Further, we identified serum glutamate/glutamine ratio greater than 0.20 as a biomarker of storage at − 20 °C vs − 80 °C. The results provide a catalogue of analytes unaffected and affected by storage at − 20 °C vs − 80 °C and biomarkers indicative of sub-optimal storage.
Gut-derived butyrate suppresses ocular surface inflammation
Authors: Schaefer Laura , Hernandez Humberto , Coats Rosalind A. , Yu Zhiyuan , Pflugfelder Stephen C. , Britton Robert A. , de Paiva Cintia S. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractDry eye is a common ocular inflammatory disorder characterized by tear film instability and reduced tear production. There is increasing evidence that homeostasis of the ocular surface is impacted by the intestinal microbiome. We are interested in investigating the potential role of microbially produced small molecules in mediating the interaction between the intestinal microbiota and the ocular surface. One such molecule is butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by certain members of the gut microbiota through fermentation of dietary fiber. Here we show that SCFA transporter SLC5A8 is expressed in vivo in murine conjunctival and corneal epithelium. Pre-treatment of in vitro corneal epithelial cultures or bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) with phenylbutyrate (PBA) reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory Tnf expression. Corneal epithelial cultures and BMDCs isolated from Slc5a8 knockout mice are unable to respond to PBA pre-treatment, suggesting that SLC5A8 is required for the protective effect of PBA. The treatment of mice undergoing desiccating stress (DS) with oral tributyrin, a prodrug form of butyrate, reduces inflammation at the ocular surface in vivo, and this effect partially requires SLC5A8. Finally, expression analysis on conjunctival tissue isolated from mice subjected to DS with and without tributyrin treatment revealed that treatment downregulated genes involved in Type I interferon signaling. Together these data support our hypothesis that SCFAs produced in the gut participate in the maintenance of ocular surface homeostasis.